NY-23. What would be the best result for the national Democratic Party?

[denem]

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. Both/Either

If Owens wins, it's a major achievement due to the fact that it has long been a GOP stronghold. Plus it takes some shine off of Palin's "endorsement" of Hoffman. OTOH if Hoffman wins, it will embolden the teabaggers and they may start really squeezing the moderates out of the party.

[denem]

4. Be wary of a TeaBag GOP. You wouldn't want them still around in 12 -16 years

ready to run the country.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. What makes you think that is likely to happen?

Unless forced lobotomies are part of HCR. :shrug:

[denem]

7. Only the political cycle. I think 20yrs FDR/Truman is the longest so far.

Eventually they'll find a 'kinder gentler' teabagger with a ready sense of humor.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

9. Anything is possible.....I suppose

However, they would still need a national audience receptive to their ideology and, at least for the foreseeable future, they ain't got one and I'm not sure what kind of message that even a "kinder gentler teabagger with a ready sense of humor" could craft that would appeal to enough people to win a national election. Although I know that a segment of the population is going to remain proudly and stubbornly regressive, I would hope that eventually, as a country, we are able to progress, socially and politically, past "teabagger ideology"- or at least be able to prevent our country from being dragged back into the muck of RW ideology that we sunk into from around 1980-2008. Clinton/Gore started to move us out of that muck a little bit during the 1990's but the minor gains they achieved were tempered significantly by Newt's Congressional Republicans and largely, if not totally, reversed by Buscho (who IMHO actually took us even further back than Reagan/Bush I did) during the last 8 years. I keep hoping and praying that the past 14 years of Republican control of Congress and/or the WH has enabled the public to get Republicanism and other more malignant variants thereof (i.e. teabaggers, fundies) "out of our system" since everybody has now had an opportunity to see for ourselves what an awful job they do governing, particularly when they're in total control of the federal government.

[denem]

13. The Dems could have had 16 years if Gore had snatched 2000 back,

one way or another, but then the 1980 - 2008 degulation/trickle down/ Top 1% cycle, would not have run it's course. The Republicans are in as much disarray as the Democrats were in early eighties: They have to reinvent themselves, but how? The Fox/Limbaugh virtual reality show owns more a third of Republican votes (even if only indirectly). The problem is this a Brand most people do not want to be associated with whatsoever. It's Ugly.

It's not so much the malignant variants are "out of the system", they out in the open, and it's not pretty. When Newt has to come out warning about the fringe, you know they're in trouble.

I'm just glad it's not my problem.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

14. You're right about Newt

If NEWT GINGRICH, of all people, have to step in and say that some elements in the party have gone too far and need to be brought to heel, then, yeah, they've lost positive control of the fringe elements of their party. Not that I'M worried about it..............;-)

[adamuu]

2. It's a three-way tie

:rofl:

[adamuu]

3. You left one out.... perpetual recount

Let the suffering drag out.

[denem]

5. Oh yes - Less than 100 votes in it. Off to the courts!

[derby378]

8. I hope Owens takes it - it'll deflate the teabaggers

And it'll give Sarah Palin, Rick Santorum, et al a much-needed reality check.

[Ruby the Liberal]

10. I'm torn on this one.

A Dem capturing a century-held R seat would be sweet, but on the other hand, Hoffman has all of the personality of a paper bag and unlikely to make a dent in Washington political circles. If Hoffman emboldens the loonatick fringe enough to split the GOP in other races, that could play to our benefit.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

11. I'm with you...

This is a Republican District that Owens would be unlikely to retain in 2012 even if he wins this year. While the other hand, having Sarah Palin sticking her nose in close districts across the country could certainly work to our benefit.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

12. Maybe, maybe not

It seems like a fairly moderate district. McHugh was fairly moderate (i.e. supporting repeal of DADT), as was the *official* GOP candidate (pro-choice, pro-equal rights) who has now endorsed Owens for the seat, so the district may continue to support Owens, particularly since he will have the added advantage of incumbency. Plus, there may continue to be a split in the GOP over this seat and Owens may end up becoming the de facto "Republican" (except he will officially be a Democrat) candidate in this district. :shrug: