Conservative Wanderer

“A troubled and afflicted mankind looks to us, pleading for us to keep our rendezvous with destiny; that we will uphold the principles of self-reliance, self-discipline, morality, and, above all, responsible liberty for every individual that we will become that shining city on a hill.” — Ronald Wilson Reagan

Daily Archives: 1 November 2009

Does This Represent Scozzafava’s True Beliefs, Or Just Sour Grapes?

From the Watertown Daily Times (a paper local to the NY-23 race):

Dierdre K. Scozzafava’s decision to suspend her campaign for the 23rd Congressional District seat is a shocking development in what had already been an extraordinary race.

In her statement Saturday morning, the assemblywoman explained the reasons behind her decision: “It is increasingly clear that pressure is mounting on many of my supporters to shift their support. Consequently, I hereby release those individuals who have endorsed and supported my campaign to transfer their support as they see fit to do so.”

During the day Saturday, she began to quietly and thoughtfully encourage her supporters to vote for Democrat William L. Owens.

(emphasis mine)

Now, this could be a reflection of her true political persuasion, or it could just be aimed at defeating the conservative who knocked her out of the race.

Either way, however, it’s hardly what I want to see in a Republican… candidate or elected official. I believe we need to have higher standards than that other party.

Update: More confirmation of Scozzafava endorsing the Democrat from The Hill.

Updates II and III: Even more confirmation (as if it were needed) from the NY Daily News.

Background on the Owens endorsement, and reaction from the Hoffman camp in the Watertown Daily Times.

“Me Too” Republicanism Breaking Down

Looking over the Big Three elections next week, a pattern is definitely emerging. Bob McDonnell is set to completely rout Creigh Deeds in Virginia, and liberal Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava has sunk so far in both polls and fundraising that she felt compelled to drop out and leave the battle between Pelosi’s hand picked Democrat Bill Owens and true Conservative (both in outlook and in party identification) Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election. Even in deep blue New Joisey, Democrat Jon Corzine can’t seem to get more than a point or two ahead of Republican Chris Christie, who is running on a clear Reaganite platform.

While it’s a bit early to start counting chickens, one thing is clear. The liberal wanna-be-Democrat so-called “moderate” Republicanism is failing to catch on with the public, just as it failed in 2008 with John McCain. Real Reaganite conservatism is winning even areas where Obama won handily… he won in NY-23 with 52%, and Virginia statewide with 53%.

This really should be common sense. Ford, after all, doesn’t advertise that it’s cars are just like GM’s, Geico doesn’t brag that their coverage is almost exactly like Progressive’s, and Coca-Cola doesn’t build a marketing strategy around being just like Pepsi… though they did once, and the results were so bad they reversed course in less than 90 days. In order for the Republican Party to succeed, they need to point out clearly the differences between their views and the Democrats–and, of course, they need to actually have policy differences before they can point them out! Following the Democrats’ policies just guarantees that many people will vote for the real Democrat rather than the pale imitator, and the rest will just sit home.

Of course, the lefties in the media would love to see the GOP embrace just such a “Democrat-lite” platform, because it would ensure the continuing march of what Mark Levin has aptly named Statism: the continual increase of government power over the lives of ordinary Americans. Those claiming to be conservatives who echo this call–you know who you are, and we know who you are as well–seek either the same government control or are simply too short-sighted to see beyond the next invitation to a Beltway cocktail party.

Rather than listen to such wishy-washy Republicans, let us listen instead to perhaps the greatest Republican President, Mr. Reagan, who laid out a program for victory way back in 1975:

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