NY-23: We are on the verge of winning a house seat that we lost 2-1 last year

[CTLawGuy]

because of RW purists.

There are three candidates in this race, Bill Owens (D), Dede Scozzafava (R), and Doug Hoffman (Conservative). Sarah Palin made big news endorsing Hoffman because Scozzafava is not conservative enough. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/morning-fix/morning-fix-10.html?wprss=thefix

Also, Michelle Bachmann is into the act: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/10/22/796133/-NY-23:-Palin-and-Bachmann-Agree...Down-With-the-GOP

Sarah also said: "there is no real difference between the Democrat and the Republican in this race." Sound familiar? *Nader* (Cough).

As a result of this schism caused by Palin/Bachmann and their followers, this Daily Kos Poll shows:

Bill Owens (D) 35
DeDe Scozzafava (R) 30
Doug Hoffman (C) 23

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/10/23/7301/6188

Just to compare, in 2008

John McHugh (inc.) (R) 65
Michael Oot (D) 35

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York%27s_23rd_congressional_district

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The point of this is, let's not make the same mistakes the R party is making here. We have no business winning this seat with a "conservative" vote adding up to 53% to the "liberal" vote of 35%, but now it will be possible with the R party's own little Nader.

You may not like everything Obama or other Democrats do, but the answer isn't a third party, it is to work within the party we have to get better candidates by using primaries. The key to survival is unity come GE time.

[WePurrsevere]

1. That's our district...

the 3 voting adults here are all Dems and will be voting for Owens (although I'll be holding my nose while using the new voting machine). Owens doesn't look to bad from what specific info we can find on him. Do you happen to know where he falls within the Dem party?

[CTLawGuy]

2. from what little I know he's not horribly liberal

but what do you expect from that district. Any D is better than any R.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

3. I do not agree that any D is better than any R

That's the Rahm Emanual philosophy and it is what is causing our party to be filled with DINOs and Blue Dogs. If I WANT Republican viewpoints and philosophies than I always have the option of voting for the Republican.

I don't see that importing those philosophies and viewpoints into the party is a good thing.

[NNN0LHI]

4. Thats all well and good if you like Supreme Court justices such as Antonin Scalia

Because thats what you get when the Republicans are in control of everything.

I don't think comparing Dems to Republicans as the same thing is a good thing.

I will take the Rahm Emanual philosophy over someone on an anonymous political chat site any day.

Because he understands these things.

Don

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

8. That's always trotted out as the argument of last resort

although in the very near future, if we continue bringing in Blue Dogs, we will end up with the same Supreme Court nominees as a Republican Pres since eventually those will be the only ones allowed to be considered in order to pass the fragile sensibilities of both the Blue Dogs and the Republicans. I'm not sure how much longer you're going to be able to continue with that one.

We're building a coalition against ourselves. (If you consider ourselves to be tradition pro labor, environmentally responsible, socially liberal, civil rights oriented Democrats. You know, like we used to be, or rather, at least pretended to be)

[Vidar]

5. Congratulations.

[motorcity]

6. Scozzafava is supposed to be a moderate R, but what moderate R hasn't gone to the right

once elected? Just like Sestak has forced Specter to the left in PA, I think Hoffman is going to force Scozzafava to the right if she happens to win.

Owens will probably be a mediocre D, but Scozzafava will vote with the Rs whenever they want, which will be always.

[KharmaTrain]

7. The Shapes Of Things To Come...

Firstly...good luck to Mr. Owens...it'd be nice to get yet another pick-up and this one could be a lose/lose for the rushpublicans. Should Scozzafava finish third, it'll be a major slap at the RNC and Mikie Steele while energizing the wingnuts who look like they're not only ready to challenge anyone who is left of Atilla the Hun and ready to lose elections on "principal" which is fine with me.

The good thing for Owens is that he'll have a full year to establish himself and will have incumbency in his favor. Meanwhile the rushpublicans will continue to form circular firing squads. Their travels into the political wilderness could last a good long time...and that's great news for this country.

[Bitwit1234]

9. I am from Minnesota

I can not and will not understand how Bachmann won her seat again. I do know that she had help from a crooked preacher..more later...who used his TV church to support her, give speeches and urge people to vote for her.

This guy is so crooked. He bought his house, his cars, his airplane and his boats with church money...then he leased them back to himself for 1/10 of the real cost. People have been urging the state to investigate but with Phewlenty as governor, and who knows how much he contributed to him, he wont do it.

[CK_John]

10. This district will not be around after 2010. So I would look for a surprise. n/t

[RoccoR5955]

11. WHEN Owens is elected, there will be only 2 to go

to make NY a totally BLUE state!