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The Last Days of the GOP
Limbaugh is also hectored by his celebrity rival Newt Gingrich, who alone among the zombie Republicans has presented himself on TV as supporting Scozzafava as “adequately conservative.” Gingrich appears tormented on Fox when he argues that dumping the party nominee for a hireling of the Club for Growth is “not a good precedent”–an observation that might have come to Gingrich long ago when he first set himself up as leader of the right-wing purge of the GOP.
What’s the worst that can happen? From the national vantage point, a Hoffman win would demonstrate no more than the sabotage potential of outsider money in a special election. Owen still may win in the fractured low turnout that’s expected, and certainly the Democrats look well-positioned to grab yet another blue seat in the Empire State next year. For the remains of the Republican Party, Hoffman’s instant success would feed the fantasy that the party only performs credibly when it is guided by intolerance, inheritance, cynicism, and nihilism.
The enthusiasms of the New York 23rd will swiftly fade as the Republican right-wing rallies for next year’s Apocalypse-lite mid-term elections, though the footnote may read that this special election was a marker when the party of Ike, Nixon, Ford, and the Bushes began its autumnal stroll into the oblivion of a bootless cult.
John Batchelor is radio host of the John Batchelor Show in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
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Investigative journalist and syndicated columnist Diane Dimond has covered the Michael Jackson story since 1993 when she first broke the news that the King of Pop was under investigation for child molestation. She is author of the book, Be Careful Who You Love—Inside the Michael Jackson Case. She lives in New York with her husband, broadcast journalist Michael Schoen.
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Clive Irving is senior consulting editor at Conde Nast Traveler, specializing in aviation—find his blog, Clive Alive, at CliveAlive.Truth.Travel.
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John Batchelor is radio host of the John Batchelor Show in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
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John Batchelor is radio host of the John Batchelor Show in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
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John Batchelor is radio host of the John Batchelor Show in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
AlanD2
What a pleasure to watch conservatives self-destruct!
sadie101
I look forward to the day when this country can proudly be a one party system. Democracy is only for fools, and the AlanD2 knows it!
Maezeppa
Sorry, Hon - AlanD2 is not anti-Democracy. If the Republican party were decent and reputable we'd welcome the balance. As it is, y'all are just thugs and robbers.
estcruzer
Make sure you distinguish between the Party, the Party Leaders and Strategists and Republicans in general. The party used to be lead in a manner that was consistent with: "a philosophy that was tolerant, obedient, respectful, curious, generous, kind, liberty-loving". Something happened on the way to the coliseum about 40 to 50 years ago that seems to have change the philosophy in favor of something more thuggish. I believe that it is time that Republican's retrieved their courage, honor and self image and took their party back from the thugs. Don't you?
estcruzer
ACORN: see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Community_Organizations_for_Ref orm_Now before reading the very one-sided conversation below about this organization.
sadie101
@Maezeppa
sorry hon? this is so emblematic of liberals, sexism. hon? really? do you also endorse boy for black men?
bigotry is so not cool.
If the liberal party was not so overun with sexists nut jobs like Olbermann and Matthews, and i can now add Maezeppa to the list, it would be a fine day. As it is my party, the democratic party has taken on sexism as their thuggery! There are plenty of fiscal conservatives who are social liberals, like me i suppose, and then there are the sexist thugs, who use sexism (hon or boy to denigerate on the basis of race or gender.) oh shame!
nightdragon09
Alan... I think you are confusing "conservatives" with "Republicans". While Republicans aren't exactly a popular brand these days and have a low party ID in most polls... according to the latest Gallup poll, it just so happens that roughly 40% of voters identify themselves as "conservative" these days, and 36% identify themselves as "moderates"... but only 20% of voters are proud to call themselves liberal... good luck on getting 40% of the country to "self-destruct" lol!
http://www.gallup.com/poll/123854/Conservatives-Maintain-Edge-Top-Ideolo gical-Group.aspx#
The hard truth of the matter is that it's the conservatives who are sick and tired of choosing between Democrat and Democrat-lite. It's the same as choosing between Bud and Bud-Lite... you have a choice between piss and watered-down piss... not exactly something to get enthusiastic about.
If Scozzafava didn't have an (R) next to her name, you'd never know she was a Republican, judging by her record, and you sure as hell wouldn't confuse her with a conservative. The last straw was when the GOP's so-called "leaders"... Gingrich, Steele, etc., threw their support behind Scozzafava because they preferred that voters embrace a false sense of party unity by voting for the "safe and moderate" choice, as opposed to voting for their core beliefs. The RINOs put party above principles (as usual), and the conservatives soundly rejected them.
southernyankee
There was a time when people in the republican party could actually vote for person who they wanted to represent them. You had a mix of liberals, moderates and conservates. The sad thing is you have the leaders of the republican party forcing people to vote the way them want them to vote even if they vote against their own state's interests. That is what happened when Jeffers (can't remember his name) wanted to vote for his state and the republican leaders were trying to force him to vote a certain way. He ended up becoming an independent and then retired when his term was over. To me that is why republicans lost in 06 and 08. You see the problems with the democrats that have the opposite problem. You have liberals, moderates, and blue dog conservates. No one is winning. We can't get a decent health care for all of us because god forbid if anyone really cares about the citizens. God forbid if the republicans would meet Obama half way. No they are to busy trying to win the next election and the democrats are to busy fighting themselves. This is a sorry state this country is in. But for the love of god why would people in district 23 vote for a man that doesn't know any local issues? Why would they do that. I live in the south. I hope this southern mentality doesn't spread like a cancer to the rest of the country. Some people in the south follow these idiots over the cliff before they realize that they really don't give a damn about the poor working class. These people only vote for these kind of people because they are afraid of change in the great country. If quitter Palin wins this country will lose and god help us.
liberaljesus
you fail in one area here with your poll. conservatives can be republican, democrat or independent, your poll doesnt not break it down into parties....thats where your whole argument falls to pieces. If you truly believe that only conservatives are republican, then explain bluedog democrats......FAIL!
AlanD2
nightdragon09: What good does it do you to have have 40% of voters identify themselves as conservative when only 20% of Americans identify themselves as Republicans?
Especially with 56% identifying themselves as liberal or moderate? After all, this includes the 53% that voted for Obama in 2008. I doubt that many of them are going to be voting Republican any time soon given the extreme conservatism of today's Republican party.
If your "big tent" no longer has room for moderate Republicans like Scozzafava, you - conservatives and Republicans - are in for a long stay in the wilderness.
johnwr3
What the left doesn't get is conservatives are the majority ideology in our country. A recent Gallup Poll states that fact very clearly with 40% Conservative, 35% Modeate and 21% Liberal and that hasn't changed for decades. More people today, over 50% are pro-life, and pro-defense, too. Dems are kidding themselves if they think things are going well for them. 2010 is going to be a blood bath.
Caradog
That's because FEAR suffuses the electorate and the polls. I'm from Western NY, and lemme tell ya, we've been mixing big helpings of fear into our gruel for decades - lost jobs, high crime, rising blood pressure - fertile territory for wrath-o'-God and They're Comin' After Yer Guns. Unless the voters want to follow Michigan and Ohio down the path of broken glass, better stop voting in rich white guys with a good college handshake.
solomon
That patsy Winston Churchill said it all " when you are 25 if you are not a liberal-you have no heart" "When you are 50 if you are a liberal - you have no brain" which are you?? I am over 50 and look at reality.... so do the majority of working americans.. note WORKING americans..WE will somehow keep it together till 2012 then throw the leftie america hating BUM out!
tbones
In order to make political gains in recent years, at a national level, the Republican party has courted the far-right. They have used the far-right as a political weapon (tea parties, town halls etc.) but now those chickens are coming home to roost. This is what the military calls "blowback". Had to happen eventually.
cathay
Which I fear will happen to the Democratic Party for not only courting the far Left but allowing it to hijack the party.
I cannot believe how many Democrats have not learned the consequences of allowing fringe fanatics to take over a party!
Once the holy rollers and neocons infiltrated and hjacked the Republican Party it was only a matter of time before it would degenerate into the Bush/Cheney abomination the nation endured for the last 8 years.
Wake up Democrats! The so called "progressives" at MoveOn.Org, ACORN,
Huffington Post, DKos are NOT Democrats! They are to the Democrat Party what the neocons and Religious Right are to the Republican party; the crazies in the basement who have debased each party's platform.
nortonclybourn
What the Hell are you talking about? Your fear of ACORNS is truly pathetic.
diamondgirl
I am an indepentent and I agree with you.
cathay
@nortonclybourn, what's pathetic is your inability to counter argue my position with any semblance of rational discourse.
For all the ridicule that the far Left heaps on the far Right, both sides share the same psychology, if not ideology. The ignorant and misinformed foot soldiers being lead by the nose by a shamelessly duplicitous leadership.
If you were an educated individual with a thorough knowledge of American Political history you would know exactly what I'm talking about.
liberaljesus
You must be insane or just really drunk or high on meth cathay.
southernyankee
Hey buddy in your disgust were is the outrage for Fox News (Republican party Network), Limbaugh, Savage, WSJ, and some of the extreme right. You can't just call out the left. I am sick and tired of hear the MSM is liberal. It is a rightwing talking point. One thing you should have learned from talk radio and Fox New who coordinated their talking points together yelling and screaming over and over. The more they say it the more your suppose to believe it. You buy the line about ACORN an organization that helps the poor. The republican party has been trying for many many years to defund any liberal organization. You just choice to igorne it.
RFrank
ACORN took over the Democratic Party? Some how I missed that.
cathay
@liberaljesus,
You need to stop projecting. I'm simply well educated, informed and havn't surrendered the ability to employ critical thought. If you too possessed the above mentioned traits then you would be able to debate or disagree with my view without resorting to name calling.
cathay
@southernyankee,
What part of neocons, religious right, Bush/Cheney did you miss in my comment????
I knew about ACORN's corrupt practices long before FOX started covering it. In fact, FOX was rather late in reporting. I prefer to get my news from REAL journalistic sources and not the cheerleaders from any of the corporate networks.
ACORN helps it's hierarchy much more than it "helps" the poor. It was'nt $1 million that Dale Rathke embezzled from the "non-profit" organization ...it's actually $5 million that's missing.
The DEMOCRATIC AG from Louisiana issued subpeonas earlier this month for their financial records. The DEMOCRATIC AG from Nevada has already indicted ACORN after their offices were raided. It's state after state that this organization is in trouble. They don't care about the poor. They only care about attaining political power.
Just because Republicans have their crooks does'nt make it ok for us (Democrats) to turn a blind eye to the same crap on our side.
This is why the country is in such a mess. Not only self-serving and incompetent politicians in DC but blindly partisan voters who are more than ready to point out the inconsistencies and corruption on the other side but we refuse to hold representatives from our own party accountable.
And it's BOTH Republicans AND Democrats doing this! This juvenile approach to politics by so called educated voters voting straight party lines as if these were rival soccer teams and the voters behaving like stupid hooligans "Hurray for our side!"
Regardless of whether or not there's an R or a D after a politician's name, tax paying citizens will suffer the same consequences. Or do you believe that being robbed and lied to by someone with a D after their name is any less painful than when it's done by someone with an R instead?
estcruzer
re ACORN: see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Community_Organizations_for_Ref orm_Now for the Wikipedia description. All organizations can have rotten apples (just look at the Republican Party for an example(s)). The question is, what does the organization actually accomplish, so before you believe what others (who just might have very narrow agendas not in line with your best interest) say about ACORN --- CHECK YOUR FACTS!!!
diamondgirl
I am an independent, and I agree with you too. A conservative not a republican
roadblock
I sit here and have watched this match up for a while --
how I long for the days of the teddy kendenys and the jessey helms --
2 men that stood as far apart as the east to the west but the thing that you knew was WHERE they stood !!!
Ok so that is the reason Iam an Independant for the reason I will NOT have anyone to tell me how to vote
too may times I have seen a canidate step up and spew the partys logo and vote JUST the opisit
he may be not well spoken but you dont have to guess where he stands ---the rino R and the libiral D if you lay them down side to side and remove their I.Ds you couldent tell them apart it is time the R party quit pandering to the Iwill reach across the Isle canadates and look for people that have REAL BACKBONES AND CONVICTIONS
Desertpenguin
I can't think of anything that entertains me more than watching the death of the republican party.
The hatred, the shouting, the ignorance, the lies.
I absolutely love it.
cjlands
It is heartwarming - like sunshine on a cloudy day!
kilroy
It will be pretty entertaining when the wingnuts take over the GOP and nominate Pailin and then chameleons like Batchelor (who simultaneously lament the wingnuts here on the Beast while celebrating them on Right Wing Radio/Human Events) have to pretend to support the wingnuts to us all.
Oh well, I guess as long as the cash is green, the chameleons will write whatever they're paid to write.
oliverckerr
It will be interesting to see who wins the election. All politishinz are dirt bags. Giving up your integrity goes with the job. You do the bidding of Money & Power or you are out. We need to
DUMP THE 535.
I should make a bumper sticker.
michaelslevinson.com
This user is no longer registered.
CommonSensePleeze
They're all betting on this race because it's Republican Territory....
Not One Democrat has Won that District in 140-Years!!
Spartann
As I started to read this article, I asked myself if I really wanted to continue. I agree there's alotta BS going on up in the 23rd, but ya gotta admit it's become one of the best stand-up routines in years. That being said, the comedian of the hour is now John Batchelor, cause none of you bitches on the left has the moral high ground when it comes to this topic.
Come on folks, seriously look at the kinda lopsided hit job the dude comitted to internet ink... Hell all you gotta do is change the names to Soros, MoveOn.org, or John Dean (to name a few) and you will have penned an article by the GOP.
Exposed for what it is, I can't help but think Batchelor is auditioning his perverse writing skills in an effort to attract the attack dogs over at MSNBC, i.e.,Olbermann or Madow . One can only hope before his misbegotten political harmony fades in to discord, he doesn't try to run over a few safety patrol guards in the cross-walks too.
This user is no longer registered.
nightdragon09
"...cause none of you bitches on the left has the moral high ground when it comes to this topic."
Excellent post Spartann... truer words were never spoken!
Also, has everyone forgotten already about the President himself trying to oust the sitting Gov of NY in order to run someone more favorable to the President in next year's election?
Or how about what's going on in NJ... where Jon Corzine's campaign is more or less being run by the Obama administration, and Corzine himself is propping up 3rd party candidate Chris Daggett's campaign in order to bleed votes from Christie because there's no way Corzine wins in a 2-man race with Christie.
It is highly hypocritical of the writer to accuse national conservative figures of influencing a state election, when the Dems are doing the exact same thing, backed by the most powerful man in the world, the President himself!
nortonclybourn
What Obama did is party politics. The Republicans have their own party and their own strategy, but they were sandbagged by nutcases who don't care whether Republicans actually win or are in power. In fact, the more democrats are in power, the more Beck and Limbaugh & co. can go on the air and whine and wring their hands. They could not care less about the Republican party's opinioin of who should represent the 23rd in NY.
whipmawhopma
Spartann - Interesting. I couldn't help but think that Stanley Crouch helped Batchelor write this article. And District 23 sounds like a science-fiction movie with Jim Carrey in it.
southernyankee
Here is the crazy thing to me. I don't even care if you are on the left or the right. This man doesn't live in the district. He doesn't know the local issues. I would have a problem with some guy coming in to where I live to hjack an election that he doesn't even live. Don't you people who live in that district have a problem with that? I would, and I would feel that way if I was a republican or a democrat. This shows me if he gets elected he won't be representing this district I live in, he will be representing the Palin republicans leaders who will have to fall in line. People we should all be afraid of this.
Picachu
But as all the wingnuts posting here would tell you, it's okay for some guy from Arkansas to dump a ton of money on a NY election to rig it, just as long as the seat doesn't end up in the hands of some liberal left wing nut - that would just be wrong.
Granite
As much as I enjoy the comedy stylings of Tea Baggers, Birthers, Rush, Beck, Palin, etc., I cannot understand where the intelligent Republicans are in all this. Ashamed and hiding in intimidation? Are the holding back waiting for the crazy henchmen to succeed so then they can come out of hiding, jump out and yell, "Surprise! We're back!"
Since no one has come out strongly against these crazies and there antics, I am left to assume there is no one in the republican party with any leadership skills.
The sideshow has taken center stage.
AlanD2
Granite: A lot of intelligent Republicans have left the party and become independents - or Democrats. I have seen a lot of their stories here in various DB threads.
The sideshow has taken center stage because Republicans have nothing else to offer. The lack of a Republican health care reform bill is just one sad example of this.
diamondgirl
I was with you until you went to Health Care, the Conservative/non Republicans do not want Government Run Health Care, and we do like the Republican view of what the bill should be. You just don't know what it is because you don't watch fox and the government run media doesn't show it.
WE are all against the Dems Health Care Bill. The Dems have not accepted any input to the bill from the Republicans. Truth be known if the Rep were in there wouldn't even be a discussion about Health care.. and we know that..
liberaljesus
diamond girl....there is no republican bill. what are you talking about?
AlanD2
diamondgirl: Six months ago, Congressional Republicans promised us their version of a health care reform bill.
I have not heard of one being put forward. Please let me know if you have.
As to input to these bills from the Republicans, the first four Congressional committees that passed versions of health-care reform bills accepted a total of 183 GOP amendments. I assume the Baucus bill - the fifth and last one to pass out of committee - also had Republican amendments.
So, to put it politely, diamondgirl, you are a bit mistaken in your assertion - something all too common from conservatives.
liberaljesus
I dont watch fox because I cant stand to listen to lies and cry babies like glenn beck...lol
Picachu
You're damn right i don't listen to fox. I would rather listen to a punch of turkeys gobbling their hysterical mass call than listen to the hyper-biased idiocy cranked out by Faux news. You madam, are obviously a fox droid.
osea65
Republicans are back!!!! Get over it and start running for the exists Alan. We are going to take all those seats back, and then some!!!! Radical and intolerant Obama lackeys like you , are making it so very easy!!!!
whipmawhopma
Granite - I don't know about intelligent Republicans, but the reasonably intelligent ones bailed out and are hanging out with the Democrats and Independents at least in terms of voting. Not all of them certainly.
I suspect Charles Krauthammer is still a registered Republican and votes that way, but I also suspect that he's in 'internal' or 'mental' exile from the reality that is the current Republican party, waiting for less-activist conservativism to make a comeback.
sophia5
When the Moose Lady and Carnival leaves town,
Mitt Romney will emerge as a legitimate Republican Nominee
for President.
Maezeppa
Oh, that would be so great. The birthers and teabaggers will excoriate him as a Mormon they consider Satanic and the rest of us will numbly watch the cartoons of the vacationing Mitt, robotically tooling down the highway with his dog strapped to the top of the family car, hosing it down at pit stops.
Caradog
Oh, Mormon - like, um, GLENN BECK?!
Mormon Downey, Jr. himself.
AlanD2
What makes you think he will do better in 2012 than he did in 2008, Sophia?
politicalpam
Romney has no chance of being nominated. He has remained silent about district 23. Huckabee did the same and has been denounced as a RINO. Teabaggers too stupid to have noticed his lack of participation. But they will remember.
southernyankee
I hate to tell you he won't win in the south. Period. Lets hope the moderate and liberal republicans push back. DiamondGirl you need to get the hell off of fox. I want you to know my husband retired from the military and we have a government healthcare plan that is wonderful and we have never had a problem. You need to stop by the bullshit from Fox. You need to read other newspapers. Your republicans did not put anything on the table. All they keep saying is NO. So I don't know how old you are but I am will to bet your younger. You should stop and think about your parents if they are old and have medicare. If they didn't have that government insurance what would you do? Let your parents die. You all are good at singing the song yet do you know how many senators and congressmen/women have medicare a government insurance policy? Over 56. Don't believe me, look it up. If it were up to republicans we wouldn't of had social security or medicare. So you don't know what the hell you are talking about. Believe me. Do you know that John McCain had government health coverage since he was a kid free? He is retired from the military and I am sure he gets 100% tax free retirement because of his wounds (and rightfully so, I don't begrudge him that). Since he is retired from the military and over a certain age he gets free medical care from the military and medicare. He pays nothing for health care for himself. But his wife and one daughter am sure are covered under government health care. My husband spent over 21 years and we pay quarters less than what my son pays in one month. Why is that? It is a disgrace what is going on here. I have lived in europe and have friends in Canada and not one of them would trade the government insurance for what we have. They have excellant care. Stop buy the fox line. Read and get educated.
saskia520
Great, hope mitney runs. The phony Xtian fundies will eat him and his six wives alive.
DANSHANTEAL
WHENCE CAME SO MUCH VENOM FROM MR. BATCHELOR? HEAVY-DUTY ANGER. IF THE 23RD IS POOR, BLAME MR SCHUMER AND HILLARY AND THE STATE LEGISALTURE. I THINK THERE IS AN INDEPENDENT MOVEMENT ASTIR IN THE LAND. IT BLOWS A FRESH BREEZE. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT REGARDLESS WHO SUPPLIES THE MONEY?
AlanD2
What's wrong with your "Caps Lock" key?
LookintoDelight
What? Batchelor writing a column I agree with?
So John, you've finally woke up and smelled the coffee or
manure as the case may be.
Sarah Palin (aka Joan of Snark) was but the first nail in the coffin. And one crazy after another, not to mention their
spokeselephant Rush, & Glenn Dreck keep coming to the forefront for their 15 minutes as examples of the Grand OLd Party.
politicalpam
The Hoffman win is a threat to GOP leadership and he will be welcomed with little more than lip service. However, the monster will now demand to be fed and the national GOP will be forced to cater to the extreme of their party. The national GOP is now facing a bloodbath. They will continue to loose seats in the House and Senate and White House. It is even possible the GOP will disappear entirely to be replaced by the new Conservative Party. TeaBaggers have already denounced Lindsey Graham, Huckabee and Gingrich. It won't take long for the people of the 23rd to realize that they have elected a congressman who knows nothing about their issues or his constituency. He will be voted out in his first reelection campaign. My thanks to Beck, Hannity, Limbaugh and Fox. I am especially grateful to Gingrich and Rove. They believe the GOP to be nothing more than a political machine that needed to be tweaked just enough to get more than 50% of the votes. Their focus was upon developing the "base" rather than paying attention to the founding principles of their party and doing the work of the voters. The Democrats now have an opportunity to do what is right for the country for what looks like decades to come.
neverlate
This is a great time to be a conservative. Nothing gets the intellectual juices running more than a frontal attack from the leftist obama ditto-heads, and the necessity to protect our country from their ruinous agenda!
The fact that these idiots are bound and determined to pass a huge health care entitlement that we can't pay for will galvinize the country against them, and we will be back in power in no time. See you in November!
LookintoDelight
The dittoheads are all on the right these days.
liberaljesus
true conservatives do not exist at the moment. being batshit crazy is not the same as being conservative. none of the so-called conservatives today would ever get a handshake from W F Buckley. In fact Buckley would call you what you are....whack job Goldwater nutbars!
AlanD2
It sure is a great time to be a conservative, neverlate. All you have to do is say "No!"
No thinking required, which is no doubt a great relief for you...
whipmawhopma
The Last Days of the GOP is overstated, but a dark shadow has certainly been cast over Mordor by the Nazgul. Or in the case of NY District 23, a comedic shadow has been cast over Fordor by the Nozdruls.
Thank you.
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