GOP Blood-Letting in New York's 23rd

by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist

Twenty-three is my favorite number. I was born on the 23rd day of a month, as was one of my children. It's a prime number which makes it infinitely stronger than those wimpy numbers that are divisible by other numbers. It was the number on Michael Jordan's jersey. And, I am certain that when I win Powerball, the powerball number will be twenty-three. It's a great number - what's not to love!

Today lucky number twenty-three is making political news. Earlier this year President Obama (God, I love saying "President Obama!") made news when he selected conservative Republican Congressman John McHugh of New York to be the new Secretary of the Army. McHugh took the position and thus left a vacancy in his old district - New York's 23rd. Whether Obama was playing a crafty game of political chess when he made that appointment may never be known, but nudging McHugh out of Congress has created a firestorm among Republicans - both in New York's 23rd congressional district as well as nationally.

(When Republicans are spitting fire, it is so gratifying to watch them burn each other!)

The Republican establishment in New York nominated a moderate named Dede Scozzafava to run for McHugh's seat. She is a resident of the district who apparently has a fairly good handle on the issues affecting the residents of the 23rd. But, she is "moderate" - a word that the right-wingers in the Republican party can't pronounce without spitting! (Among things that Ms. Scozzafava favors are abortion rights and gay marriage...horrors!)

So enter Doug Hoffman who grabbed the banner of the Conservative Party and is running for the same seat. Mr. Hoffman has been exposed by the local press as being somewhat of a carpetbagger who may or may not legally reside in the district and has little understanding of local issues.

Hoffman probably wouldn't pose much of a threat to Scozzafava if it weren't for his chorus of national teabaggers who have stormed into upstate New York to help him campaign. So far he is being endorsed by Sarah Palin, Rep. Michele Bachmann, Steve Forbes, lobbyist Dick Armey, columnist Bill Kristol, Fred Thompson (who has made a television commercial for him), former Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, former Senator Rick Santorum, and Kansas Congressman and Senate candidate Todd Tiahrt. Today, Minnesota governor and political whore Tim Pawlenty announced that he was also rushing to New York to support Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.

Dede Scozzafava, the actual Republican who isn't pure enough for the fascist wing of the party, is being supported by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. She also has the support of the local Republican Party and the National Rifle Association.

The relatively non-controversial Democratic candidate for Congress in New York's 23rd is Bill Owens. So far two United States President's - Barack Obama and Bill Clinton - have stopped by his district to offer their support. Can Jimmy Carter be far behind?

While the Republicans are focused on eating each other, it is entirely possible that Bill Owens could win the seat. If this GOP cannibalism is allowed to spread, 2010 will be a great year!

Go you teabaggers!