Tea party wins in northeastern primaries could bode well for Democrats

[Beau_Ouiville]

'In the era of the “tea party,” is the moderate northeastern Republican in danger of going completely extinct? Tuesday’s primaries could give a clue.

Although tea party candidates have bumped off establishment favorites in GOP primaries this year, such results have generally come in conservative states where the victors also have a serious shot at winning in November.

The Northeast, meanwhile, is known for a more moderate, even liberal, electorate.

In these parts, moderate congressional Republicans have seen their numbers decline over the past few election cycles, with many longtime officeholders sent packing by the Democrats.

That is less likely to happen in this political environment, but the split within the GOP could be just as damaging:** If contenders backed by tea party groups manage to win several closely watched northeastern primaries Tuesday, their victories are likely to have the effect of handing those seats to the Democrats in November. **"

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/14/AR2010091402465.html

Be careful of what you hope for!

 

[NotCrazyDan]

It’s worth the risk. Either we get a truly conservative congress this time, or we over-reach and the Democrats continue to drive the country over a cliff.

Then we’ll get it next time.

 

[the_phoenix]

In these parts, moderate congressional Republicans have seen their numbers decline over the past few election cycles, with many longtime officeholders sent packing by the Democrats.

Be careful of what you hope for!

If Democrats are winning elections against moderate congressional Republicans anyway, what does the Tea Party have to lose by supporting candidates with stronger convictions?

 

[Digitonomy]

If Democrats are winning elections against moderate congressional Republicans anyway, what does the Tea Party have to lose by supporting candidates with stronger convictions?

Well, in this scenario they would be displacing Republicans who have NOT yet been defeated by Democrats.

 

[bbarrick8383]

If yankees keep voting democrats in office they deserve what they will get.

 

[the_phoenix]

Well, in this scenario they would be displacing Republicans who have NOT yet been defeated by Democrats.

Or you could also have said by changing which word you emphasized,

“Well, in this scenario they would be displacing Republicans who have not YET been defeated by Democrats”

?

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

I’ll take my chances, thanks.

Pro-abortion, pro gun control ain’t my idea of Republican.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Well, in its lurch to the far left, the Democrat party leaders have certainly sawed off the limbs on which a number of “moderate” Democrats have traditionally sat. It’s not terribly surprising that the “moderate” Republicans are getting the same treatment. The difference is that in the Democrat party it came from the top, and in the Republican party it came from the grass roots.

Whether the extremes are good for either party remains to be seen. But there is no particular merit, I suppose, in either party having candidates who aren’t really what they purport to be. One is tempted to think that, since the Independants control outcomes anyway, at least nationally, it might be just as well for each party to present clear visions of what it stands for. Sometimes “bright lines” of separation are a good thing.

It seems fairly clear that a lot of the “blue dog” Democrats are going to get fatally strangled, and the party become even more leftist, because the concentration of power at the top proved too irresistable for the “blue dogs” to continue pretending that they’re independent of that power. It also seems fairly clear that the Republicans’ own profligacy and seediness when last in power has caused the uprising from below that now besets the “powers that be” in that party. Both parties are being “purged” of their respective mugwumps.

Different causes, but the results are the same. I think we all know now, if we didn’t before, what the Democrat party stands for. There isn’t a lot of time left for the Republicans to present a clear and unified message, but perhaps they can. It might not even be required of them in this election if the individual candidates’ messages are appealing to the voters. But if the Repubs come out on top in November, they darn sure better have a unified message thereafter, or they’ll just be in trouble again.

 

[Digitonomy]

Or you could also have said by changing which word you emphasized,

“Well, in this scenario they would be displacing Republicans who have not YET been defeated by Democrats”?

Yes, I could have. However, it would have been a more doubtful argument to imply that the defeat of these Republicans who have thus far survived Democratic challenges is inevitable.

 

[irishpatrick]

The Tea Party is simply dividing conservatives, as I predicted many months ago. They are becoming quite brash and arrogant in their approach, with some saying they do NOT need the GOP establishment to win. All that will do is allow the Democrats to have an opening in November to retain just a few seats in Congress and maintain control. If the Dems keep Congress, this nation is cooked. We cannot survive another two years of the left controlling things.

It is amazing how blind people can be and for the sake of pride.

 

[estesbob]

'In the era of the “tea party,” is the moderate northeastern Republican in danger of going completely extinct? Tuesday’s primaries could give a clue.

Although tea party candidates have bumped off establishment favorites in GOP primaries this year, such results have generally come in conservative states where the victors also have a serious shot at winning in November.

The Northeast, meanwhile, is known for a more moderate, even liberal, electorate.

In these parts, moderate congressional Republicans have seen their numbers decline over the past few election cycles, with many longtime officeholders sent packing by the Democrats.

That is less likely to happen in this political environment, but the split within the GOP could be just as damaging:** If contenders backed by tea party groups manage to win several closely watched northeastern primaries Tuesday, their victories are likely to have the effect of handing those seats to the Democrats in November. **"

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/14/AR2010091402465.html

Be careful of what you hope for!

If Castle had won in Delaware it would have been a liberal Democrat running against a slightly less liberal Democrat. At least this way there is one Republican in the race.

I think it is a sign of the desperation of the Democrat party that they’re getting excited about the prospect of holding on to a Senate seat they have held easily for decades

 

[Good_News_1]

At least this way there is one Republican in the race.

Castle is a Republican. You might want to look that up.

 

[Toplink_pin]

“If yankees keep voting democrats in office they deserve what they will get.”

I live here in the upstate NY region, and I agree with this. Whenever my fellow NY’ers complain about all the: incredibly high taxes, stupid restrictions (just ask any small bakery in Albany county), government disfunction, state parks closings…there are too many to list…I remind them “Well, you voted for all of this.” Of course they become indignant and stammer away.

Even though NYS has always been a Democrat state, they were more of the “blue dog” variety. As recent as 20yrs ago we had more industry and businesses; right now the biggest employer (certainly in Albany area) is state government. Everyone’s dream is to be a state worker. Or in the teacher’s union or a school system (which everyone forgets is also tax funded).

But the Democrat party of today is not the Democrat party of my father anymore. Too much far left influence today. The old Democrat party died with him.

The GOP here is basically Dem-lite. Ineffective and useless, but I think the only reason they exist is because you cannot have a tennis match with only one player so they’ve become the lapdogs of the Dem majority. They lose graciously every election cycle, but know that they will get some spoils just for playing.

I do think the Tea Party activities have opened the eyes of many. It’s good that the GOP here has been shaken up. But in a state where people always vote Democrat out of familiarity, and a state that is more left-leaning than ever before, I’m cautious when it comes to this victory.

NYS is exactly what the majority want it to be.

 

[estesbob]

Castle is a Republican. You might want to look that up.

RINO

 

[irishpatrick]

There is no hope for this nation if the left holds onto Congress. Egos need to be shelved for the sake of the nation. Yet, I seriously doubt that will happen. The Dems have to love the fact that Tea Party people are calling Republicans “not conservative enough.” A house divided against itself…

 

[Seamus_L]

To sum it up in a single sentence. The Tea Party candidate can win in November if the economy is bad enough.

 

[tomarin]

RINO

Just out of curiosity, Bob, would you also say that Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey is a RINO? Why or why not?

I ask because I’m a little obtuse about the differences between Republican and conservative.

 

[Beau_Ouiville]

Just out of curiosity, Bob, would you also say that Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey is a RINO? Why or why not?

Just like ‘brass’ means anyone above your pay grade, I have come to understand that ‘RINO’ is used to describe anyone who’s views are more moderate than the speaker but who considers himself a Republican.

 

[estesbob]

Just out of curiosity, Bob, would you also say that Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey is a RINO? Why or why not?

I ask because I’m a little obtuse about the differences between Republican and conservative.

He is a little too wishy-washy on life issues for my liking but he was light-years ahead of his opponent. Fiscally he is very conservative.

 

[Good_News_1]

RINO

Castle has been prominent in Republican politics since 1965. He has been a state legislator, governor, and member of the House of Representatives, holding political office as a Republican continuously for decades.

Far from being in name only he is someone who virtually defines what being a Republican is.

If you don’t like the Republican party, leave it.