I have my own developing NY 23 in my own backyard in 2010

[AllentownJake]

http://towneforcongress.com/
The Tea Bagger

http://www.dentforcongress.com/

The incumbent Republican Moderate

http://www.callahanforcongress.com/

The democratic challenger.

The Tea Bagger is running as an independent so this is not going to be a primary battle as long as he can get on the ballot. Charlie is a sure vote whenever the GOP needs it but crosses the aisle when he is not needed to boost his moderate cred. John Callahan is the most popular mayor in the area and the first real shot the democrats have at the seat in 12 years.

We are considered two of the barometer districts in PA for Presidential elections. The President carried the district by 60 to 40 and the Republican Charlie Dent carried the district 60 to 40 after the democrats mounted a weak challenge.

Should be an interesting race.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. We have a couple races here too

I don't think it's such a good thing that the teabagger candidate is doing so well in NY23. He has been bankrolled by teabaggers from across the country. Give them a few months to build up their ranks even more (and seriously we laugh at them while they just get louder and bigger) and they will win more races than we care to admit in a year.

These people are so stupid they are scary. But they are also growing exponentially. We need to stop laughing at them and start organizing against them.

[ChicagoSuz219]

2. Teabaggers should take votes away from regular Republicans, not Democrats...

...this may not be a bad thing...

[AllentownJake]

4. Depends if they are running in a primary in the GOP

or as independents.

Without Tagget Corzine would be losing. However you don't want the race to be a 2 man race between Tagget and Corzine.

[ChicagoSuz219]

15. True, however...

I'm more worried about the independents who voted for Obama staying with him than I am about someone running as an independent...

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. But they are attracting lots of people who normally aren't involved

That's my fear. The far right has a history of successfully getting people to the polls on election day. I see them winning more than a few of these races next year unless we can successfully discredit them.

[ChicagoSuz219]

14. They're loud & obnoxious...

...but still only about 20% of the repub party.

[AllentownJake]

3. The head local tea bagger

was just thrown out of the local republican party over this race. In my district it weakens the incumbent republican, in districts where they are running as primary challengers they are dangerous.

You are right though, you don't really want a populist movement of crazy people who have no clue what they are talking about getting a lot of seats in congress in 2012.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. We have at least two teabaggers talking about running against our blue dog Dem

One seems to be running a serious campaign. The other is a local rw nutjob radio host who is being recruited and getting lots of attention.

And no, neither of them is taken seriously by our local or state GOP.

[HughMoran]

7. Yeah, making the Republicans more rigid and right-wing might not be so good for them

They're already half off the cliff - the teabaggers seem intent on destroying what's left (or at least marginalizing them.)

[KharmaTrain]

8. Every Teabagger Win Is A Loss For The GOOP

For those who are ready to throw the Democratic party under the bus and chase after some third party pipe dream, watch what happens here. The "ideologically pure", better known as the great unhinged have turned the rushpublican party into an inclusive and hate-filled haven for the racists, bigots and dittoheads who are intent on believing their parallel universe is utopia despite them fielding a 20% approval rating. The rushpublican national party is so weak as are many state parties that they can no longer hold back the hordes at the gates. Should the national party fight back and stand with moderates, the unhinged will revolt and if the national party goes along with the further bastardization of their party they will no longer be a national party...only one that will win in the reddest areas.

[AllentownJake]

9. The reason this is happening

is because the Bush administration was a total failure. So unless you are projecting total failure of the Obama administration the democratic party will do just fine.

Party civil wars don't develop out of success they happen out of failure, and don't bring up Nader. The Nader movement was such a small percentage of 2000. I love Al Gore but he ran as someone else than Al Gore in 2000 and the democrats still won that one. It was just close enough to steal.

[KharmaTrain]

10. I'm Addressing The Rushpublicans

I have a lot of confidence in the Democratic party and its ability to maintain its majorities despite all the attacks and sliming I'm sure that's headed its way. The party now dominates the political center...very firmly...while the GOOP continues to get pulled to the far right by the hate radio crowd.

I'm willing to bet we'll see a third party emerge in 2012...either "Libertarian" or some other populist name that will field a far right candidate...tearing the GOOP apart like when the Whig party imploded in the 1850s. Their problem is many in that corrupt party think booosh was a success and are trying to revise history and project his deficiencies on President Obama. Polls show this dog won't hunt.

[AllentownJake]

11. They have a remarkable way of coming back from the dead

Nixon resigned in 1973, Reagan was sworn in 1981.

The civil war is good for us. The longer they continue to knife each other during elections the better. I'm under no delusion that they won't make a comeback eventually.

[KharmaTrain]

12. Democrats Threw Carter Under The Bus...

Like I see some ready to do to President Obama. The Democrats fractured in 1980 with the bitter primary between Ted Kennedy & Carter as well as a third party run by "liberal" rushpublican John Anderson. It not only cost Carter the election but tore the party apart that only started to heal after repeated losses in House and Presidential races.

Yes, the GOOP eating its own is a very good thing. Sure, the Republican party can make a comeback, but not when its focused on only 20% of the electorate. It's when their party leaders decide they want to win elections and move toward the middle that they will return to national prominence. But right now they're off the edge and falling further every day. If they dare nominate a "moderate" (any left of rushbo or Atilla the Hun), the "base" will revolt. Thus why I see a third party in their future.

Cheers...

[notesdev]

13. There'll be a lot more of this too

There is a huge gulf between the people who control the GOP and the people who have traditionally voted for them, this "reject the GOP leadership" phenomenon is spreading like wildfire.

[The Magistrate]

16. That Mr. Towne, Sir, Looks Like a Helluva Fella To Send To Congress....

Let us hope he makes it on to the ballot there....