CNN

The Republicans are well on their way to turning themselves into the permanent minority party for the next 20 years. As a moderate Republican myself, I am appalled by the way that the embittered, loud-mouthed, knuckle-dragging Neanderthals on the extreme right are taking over the party. If I resided within this particular congressional district, I'd vote for the Democrat candidate on Tuesday just to send a "message" of my own. Governing coalitions are built in the political center, not at the extremes.

It never fails to make me gag when I hear the likes of Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh blissfully extolling the virtues of Ronald Reagan when, measured by their own uncompromising standards of what constitutes a "true conservative", he would have been just as much a "RINO" as the rest of us.

To ThinkAgain:

Stop trashing Conservative Values and the GOP. You are obviously on welfare and eating government cheese! Maybe if YOU were punished by higher taxes and government intervention in your life for working hard and building some wealth in life, you wouldn't spew your rancor so much! Obviously, you probably don't have a clue in what I'm referring to but Barry will take care of you! Keep on believing!

Well, if the ultra Conservative pinhead wins, I guess we'll know that corporations run the country. And fix elections

They are being led by the anti-christ Sarah Palin. She rules the ignorant masses that adore her. She is about to print her own money. But she will be smyth down

libtard love peoples again the law like corruptions and illegal aslong get more voting fraud

she was the first one to endorse Hoffman....and now a Conservative will move into Congress and begin the process of overturning the work of the Pelosi/Reid mob.....we should have it all overturned after the 201o midterm elections.....

Obama is ONE and DONE.

I applaud the fact that a conservative won.
To me, this IS NOT about religion, gay rights, or abortion.
This is about the loss of freedom and liberty (you might recall, we went thru this once before, a couple hundred years ago).
The government just took over ~ 30% of the private sector what with the banks, life insurance, and automotive industries. It now wants energy and healthcare.
Capitalism is "economic democracy". We, the people, decide what goods and services are worth via our "dollar votes".
How many examples do we need to show that a loss of economic freedom is accompanied with a loss of individual liberty.
I just hope this isn't "too little, too late".

I cannot believe how stupid some of the comments are on here. Wake up people. Do you think one party would be a good idea? We need multiple parties to tear down the establishment of this corrupt two party system that is destroying this country. WAKE UP ! USE YOUR BRAINS IF YOU HAVE ANY.

Meet Republi-ban...a sister organization of Taliban. They will not allow any law to pass.. Good or bad. Filibuster is what they believe in.

Dede is what I call sacrificial goat.

Ralph October 31st, 2009 4:51 pm ET

"Since when is someone a "fundamentalist", "bigot" or "nutjob" for standing for values most Americans approve? Here's a newsflash. Most Americans are Pro-Life. Most Americans to include President Obama disapprove of gay marriage. Most Americans don't care for higher taxes and more spending by a federal government that is out of control. Here's more information for those on the "Left" who are uninformed. The plurality of Americans (42%) consider themselves Conservative while only 21% identify themselves as liberal/progressive. The U.S. is a center-right country. We don't want the politically correct version of socialism that the Euro-trash embrace. Most Americans believe in God, guns, and country. It is about time we have elected officials who share those same values. Nancy Pelosi and her crowd represent a tiny minority. Why should they be allowed to cram their views down our throats? It is time for a Revolution in this country as we aside those who don't represent the views of real Americans. The Revolution begins with one step and the election of Hoffman in New York."

So why did Republican lose control of just about everything in the last election?

Nice speech anyway. Who's talking points are you repeating?

Wake up, folks! If this can happen in NY State, Palin can run on a conservative line in the Bible and mountain states to the right of the republican nominee in 2012, and WIN! If Owens wins on Tuesday, it is the template for a run for Sarah!

Shelton

To further follow up on your point, the Republican Party used to be a ideologically-diverse party. Now, less than a quarter of the party's senators are moderates. George W. Bush (more conservative than his father George H.W. Bush) won thin election victories (one of them controversially handed to him), because he kicked his party further towards the right. When John McCain ran against him in 2000, he was more moderate than he is now. Had McCain won the nomination against Bush, he probably would have been president. Instead, the Bush people slandered him viciously before the South Carolina primary, and eventually lost the nomination.

Its amazing how people bring up Sarah Palin, either positively or negatively, in response to articles that have nothing to do with her.

Bren October 31st, 2009 12:49 pm ET

"This is GREAT news!!

This could mean 3 Republican wins on Tuesday!!!!"

Scozzafava wass the Republican candidate. Read the title of the article again.

The reason she lost was because she did not support the rights of women to be raped and not have justice in a court.
GOP stands for geth to the already born
Corporations right to rape American workers
Womens right to be raped
Taxcut for the filthy rich
trickle down prosperity as we are seeing right now
exporting of American jobs
sanford morality, foley appreciation, palin intelligence and cunningham honesty
Rights of banks to plunder
The only tax payer right the GOP supports is the right to taxpayer to pay the filthy rich the money they lost in gambling.
Bombing innocents around the world to pacify egos
The GOP never paid for the war or the rebuilding
Hope they pay in the elections

As a life-long resident of the 23rd district, I thank Dede for offering herself to the voters. I have voted for her myself in other elections and I'm a registered Dem. While I have not agreed with all of her views, she worked hard for her Assembly District. Hoffman scares me to death because he is a zealot that has no regard for the average Joe in this district. His admission that he opposes the construction of Interstate 98 and the expansion of Fort Drum and other earmarks for the poorest district in the Northeast is the wrong approach for our region. With only 2 days left before the election I will be on the phone, walking the streets and doing whatever I can to help Bill Owens win. Thanks ultraright for getting me off the couch to defeat your candidate!

I like it. Personally I don't know anything about her, but I really do think the right prescription right now is hard right to balance out the extreme far left we have running (and destroying) the country.

Shelton in VA October 31st, 2009 5:17 pm ET

""It is very sad that moderates no longer have a voice in the part of NO! The GOP keeps digging their grave deeper one election after another. I'm sure the Democratic party will welcome your views, Ms. Scozzafava."

The Democrats already have a candidate in that race. Don't the people in that district deserve options? I heard someone say on the news that that is a conservative region. In all fairness, they deserve a representative that reflects their views..."

There were 3 candidates, now there are 2: Hoffman who is a Conservative and Owens who is a Democrat.

How can anyone in their right mind vote for Hoffman a Conservative Republican? Lets go forward ...not backwards...with Owens.

It's ok to spend out of control when Bush was Pres. for a war in Iraq and deny the public option to millions of uninsured Americans AND let our country's info-structure (Champlain Bridge in NY state is closed) collapse! Now all of a sudden Pelosi,Reid,Obama are to blame?

Wake up people, we have to rebuild our country first then help the rest of the world. Vote Demoratic, vote for Owens! I am.

She was for Card Check so the Union Bosses can strong arm you into joining them without a secret ballot. After the Unions killed industry in Ohio, where I origionally am from, and other midwestern states with their mafia style tactics and corruption I do not want to join a Union and will never support one unless they are changed back to what they were origionally created for instead of the political corruption and money hungry lawyers they are now. Also she is too the left of conservative democrats which makes her not a centrist.

We have a liberal president and congress, hell bent on giving away yours and my liberty and freedom, right under our noses....and liberals call conservatives bad.... Open your eyes, open your ears (somewhere besides CNN and the rest of the liberal media) before the constitution is abolished and your your freedom has been destroyed.

Liberals are like puppets...they have someone else tell them what to say and believe..Think for yourself's. I can spot a lier very easily and we have one on Pennsylvania Ave,!!

This is what they are doing to this country, they what it their way and the hell with anyone else. There is no compromise, it's their way or no way. The big question is: Are the voters going to fall for this type of politics?

The Republican Party is doing itself a great disservice by making itself a pure "conservative" party. The party's umbrella was once big and wide and there were even liberal Republicans, for example, Teddy Roosevelt. Even when Reagan was president, there were liberals and Reagan often said that if you agreed with someone 60% of the time, you are both friends. The state of affairs with Republicans is turning pathetic and if the "pure conservative" run continues, the party might never win a national election again, but remain a minority for years to come.

How can YOU bring democracy in the rest of the world when there is no difference between YOU and TALIBAN. Republicans will have no problem living side by side with Talibans because they behave the same way.

SHE WAS NOT BAPTIZED BY THE the lords of republicans; Archbishop Rush Limbaugh, Bishop Sean Hannity and Rev. Dr. Glenn Beck.
So called Christians in republican party found the lord in Rush Limbaugh and he his their lord and master.
Chantilly, Virginia

Say goodbye to three elected seats, socialist-crats.

I feel that these bloody waters in this race and the way it was ran will only bring out more and more sharks..

Good to see the Sarah Palin factor playing out in New York. She quit her job in Alaska and now New Yorkers are letting her tell them who to vote for. Maybe New Yorkers aren't so tuff or smart.

Go Owens,the Democrat. That place is dreary and needs new ideas. My husband is up there onthe base, Ft. Drum. They need a Democrat not those conervatives without any ideas. Go Obama!!!

Well, I just hope Owens, the Democrat, wins. Republicans are disgraceful. They have no suggestions. All they do is say no to Obama because they want him to fail. My husband is up there in Watertown on the base at Ft. Drum counseling the soldiers. They need a rep with ideas, not a conservative stuck in the past. It is a bit of a dreary place but there re some nice towns up there. New ideas are needed. Go Owens. Go Obama.

Hey republicans!
The key to your survival is not to swing farther to the right, but rather to center. These things go in cycles, I hated to have seen Reagan become president yet there was no denying the country needed to get rid of excesses.
It's the time again, to get rid of excesses, but this time the ones sown by the GOP. I'm sure the pendulum will swing again the other way.
Till then vote democrat, they are the only game in town right now, no matter what the right wingers say. Don't believe me? check your 401K.

Ralph,
I've got some shocking news for you, are you sitting down? Most Americans no longer approve of your so called "values", so we voted your "value" people out.
Most Americans are pro-choice. The Majority supports abortion in case of rape, incest, or harm to the mother. You conservatives can't even get there. The law of the land on abortion can be changed but not to what the right wing conservatives want. I'm going to watch my wife die during childbirth because Rush Limbaugh's "Values" demand it? No, never will happen. Civil war II would start.
Gay marriage? Who cares anymore, it's beside the point. The majority may not like it, but they don't want to hear about it. It's almost a non-issue.
The government ran by your people got everything out of control and that's why everybody voted them out of power.
If your percentages about how people consider themselves are correct, then why did they vote the way they did in November? We are paying attention and staying informed and that's why we voted the Republicans out.
The U.S. is a no longer a center-right country. We have a strong constitution that would have to be shredded to become socialist.

Most Americans used to believe in God, guns, and country. We are electing people who represent us and share our values. Again, that's news to you I guess, but in November 2008, we elected Democrats to run the country.
Nancy Pelosi is the leader of the democratic party. That makes her a leader of the majority of Americans who helped elect the majority. She is not in a tiny minority, she is in a large majority.
It's Revolution time because the Repubs lost power? I say that the "Real" Americans just stepped up in November and voted. Its time to celebrate not revolt. At least that's what the majority of Americans want.
If there is revolution again, it will lose on my street in Florida. We got as many guns as you guys do.

MOST Republicans, though not all, do NOT think that women should stay home and clean, as the popularity of Sarah Palin surely shows.

I respect her for bowing out like this, but I really do support the movement against her. Not that I am necessarily against moderate Republicans, but in what way, and how much? The support for same-sex marriage I don't agree with, but can deal with. However, I could never support a pro-choice candidate.

Further, I support the running of moderate Republicans in liberal leaning areas with traditions of Democratic leanings, to win the left-of-center over. This district is traditionally Republican.

Further, I'd love to see a viable third party in this country, and to have even one seat belonging to someone who's neither Republican, Democrat, nor Independent would be great.

Ryan: "Hopefully this, and the Republican backing of Hoffman, is a sign that the GOP is moving back towards small government, where they should have been all along, as the party of Lincoln and Reagan, not Bush and McCain."

Uhm, didn't the national debt balloon under Reagan... and oh yes, he also increased taxes.

And after the Civil War, didn't the states loose power (in this area, I certainly agree with Lincoln).

You wacky conservatives and your revisionist history. It's just so cute!

Any bad news for GOP is goodnews for America

Another thing CNN restricts posts co that liberals nut jobs outnumber rational conservative Americans by a large margin. Then they close comments. Does anyone believe this far left state run media outlet ever tells the truth about anything?

Upstate NY ... the reality, much to do about nothing!

wow! it stinks of liberal fear in here. This what happens when a radical leftist sneaks his way into the white house. The truth is america is right wing conservative. we have been waiting for real conservatives to show themselves. ACORN and conservative dissatisfaction is the only reason black ceasar is in office. You can keep spewing the liberal fascist talking points that this is a divided party, but the truth is this the tea party movement taking back this country from all you american hating douchebags! After 2010 and 2012 America will be no place for socialists. you have been warned! So, ponder that and have a nice weekend

This is going to be a bloodbath... the libs will whine and come up with excuses why their boy lost, and it will be buckets of sour grapes... but the truth is that, thank God, the country is starting to wake up. You can only spend so many trillion dollars before We The People figure out what's going on and start the move to restore sanity, real sanity, to state & federal elected "officials"...

Only 1102 days to go to 11/6/12.

I know a party that would welcome your views come on and join.

I am sick & tired of hearing how the republicans are ruining the party by trying to go back to our conservative roots!! We have ruined the party by going more LIBERAL!! If we wanted a liberal in office we would vote DEMOCRAT!!

The biggest proof is McCain. He was the most liberal canidate we had on the other side & he didn't win. He only got as many votes as he did because of Palin!! We do NOT want liberals in our party!! We are the party of the elephant, not the RINO!!!

The conservatives who were bitter about her nomination STILL don't get it. Nobody cares what they think, say, or do. They will continue to see their supporters more and more marginalized until soon the conservative party will cease to exist for all intents and purposes.
"Abortion, abortion, abortion, abortion" – that's all they can say. It's always the same old, tired mantra from these old white men.
They only care about themselves and other rich white people. They have power for the past few years and we voted them out in both houses of congress and in the Presidency. Why? Because we are sick of hearing them and seeing them. They add nothing to help our country. They are full of hatred for all democratic.

Owens is comparing Hoffman to Bush? Good. Bush had less than 6% unemployment....What's it at now?

Most people in NY-23 will be comparing Hoffman to Bloomberg, who endorsed Hoffman.

I'm sorry.....StillThere?'s comments are right in front of me... he/she said "and take back what our ancestors and families fought so hard to achieve."

The founding fathers were conservative Republicans...not tax and spend liberals like Obama.

Here is the Republican Southern strategy writ large. It is, by all metrics, a losing proposition. Consider this: if Hoffman wins, the Dems shrug it off because it's a long-standing Republican stronghold. They'll spin any decent vote count as progress in a tough district. The win would embolden far-right GOP strategists to try the same thing in 2012 in riskier districts, and chill their moderate members, probably to disastrous effect. That's a big win for Dems. If Hoffman loses, it puts another district in the blue and repudiates Palin, and we all know how she reacts to being wrong. Lots and lots of finger-pointing and demonstrations of her political ADHD. It will definitely be interesting to see what happens, but I think the GOP stepped right into it.

The problem for the GOP is that they don't understand this district. DeDe would have been a relatively loyal Republican in Congress. However MOST of her support is going to go to Owens the Democrat. This helps the Democratic candidate here. Hoffman does not even reside in this district and has shown he does not understand our needs. If she would have stayed in the race it would have split the vote allowing Hoffman to possibly win. With her out, the Democrat wins.

My dear, the Republicans ate one of their own!! Well, hopefully, the Democrat, Bill Owens will beat the conservative, Hoffman by a landslide and win. Sarah Palin had a role in the cannibalization of Dede Scazzofava. This proves how ruthless the Republicans really are. They will do anythng to win and keep power at any cost!!

The end of the Obama era is in sight.

I am deeply disappointed.
Does every Republican have to think the very same way about every single issue?
That means that Republicans are relieved of the responsibility to think, ever, at all, for themselves. They can ask, "OK, I'm a Republican: what do I think–about socialism, about Communism, about God, about abortion, gay rights, and the new dog catcher?"
My PRIMARY political orientation has always been Republican...but it's beginning to have a different affect.
I wonder...we know that times change–am I changing, too?

Republicans are the American Taliban..........only if it's Clinton.

Us Taliban like Palin just fine. It's RINO's and Libs we can't stand.

StillThere?............Please stop paying attention to bi-partisan politics..

Spoken like a true Democrat. What do you think "bi-partisan" means?

That'll teach 'em. Run it by Tubby first before you do anything.

Cutting through all of the partisan hyper-ventilating here reacting to today's news, here's the bottom line:

Hoffmann will win the election on Tuesday because his views reflect the views of the voters of this district better than those of his opponent.

And also, because 80%+ of the voter enthusiasm is on his side of the ledger, not Owen's.

There. You read it here first.

"Carl Justus October 31st, 2009 3:22 pm ET
It is unfortunate when we have political party that is run by a bunch of so called "right wing idiots" that cannot stand for a person to have their own ideas about what is wrong with America and will spend their time, money and family togetherness to represent the country and those from the distric that elects them."

You're not following the action here, buddy. The GOP bosses put forth a liberal, and the PEOPLE of the district would not support her. And regarding the comments of many about the supposed narrowminded of conservatives, when is the last time the Dems promoted a candidate that was pro-life, pro small government?

The GOP conservatives harping about her views on same-sex marriage and abortion is truly setting them back to their old Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson base. They don't want government to run people's lives yet they want to tell gay and lesbians they cannot choose to get married and women have no choice over their own bodies. What a group of dinosaurs! I hope the Dem wins!!

Not enough in "Lock Step" eh?

"Republicans Eating Their Young"

Thank God she drops out.
Now we know what is takes to be a GOP.
I can guarantee you fools that at this pace the GOP will never see the light of the white house again.
Reducing your party to one minority uneducated religious wackos and brain washed nuts will not help you win nationaly.
Very soon the party will be split into 2 with will confirm my views.

"Vote out corrupt career politicians (Dodd, Rangle, Waters, Reid, Boxer, Frank....)"

I agree, career politicians become much too preoccupied with polls and elections to be effective leaders. But let's not forget people like Boehner, McCain, Grassley, McConnell, Hutchinson, etc...

Reading all these silly comments by uneducated, uninformed, intolerant liberals is quite interesting. It's obvious that most didn't read the article, nor are from NY.

I'm not a New Yorker, but am always happy to see everyday Americans running for office. We don't need career politicians that have no idea what it is like to hold a real job (Obama, McCain, Dodd, Frank, Reid, Pelosi...).

We need less 'Harvard' lawyers and more successful private citizens in government.

the conservatives and evangelicals will destroy America!

Kick all RINOs to the curb. If they want to act like Democrats, go be Democrats!

Moderate? She was to left of the Democrat. May she go work for her husbands union.

Ryan,

Hopefully this, and the Republican backing of Hoffman, is a sign that the GOP is moving back towards small government, where they should have been all along, as the party of Lincoln and Reagan, not Bush and McCain.
----------

We have not been the party of Lincoln for a while because we would have produced a Pres. Obama instead of the Democrats. As far as Reagan goes, how can we tout the values of Reagan and then support Medicare and Medicade just to win votes. He was vehemently against those two programs.

I find it absolutely amusing that the only Republicans that the liberals like is a liberal Republican. The problem is that liberals won't EVER vote for a Republican, liberal or not. Liberals used to love John McCain until he ran against another liberal, a Democratic one. Republicans will never again allow the Democratic Party to pick our candidates. Get used to it now. Conservatives outnumber Liberals in this country 2 to 1. Gee, 20% of this country classify themselves as Liberal; don't try to use the term Progressive, it's like you are embarrassed to call yourselves liberal. When Conservatives like Reagan run the Republican Party again, then you'll see us align ourselves with the Republican Party. We don't like slackers waiting in line for a free handout. We work for a living, pay taxes, volunteer to help the needy, and donate our hard earned money for charity. Hoffman is a Conservative Republican who will trounce Owens. It's the wakeup call that has you liberals trembling in your panties when you see VA, NJ, and NY-23 go RED.

With the infighting in the Republican Party with these two candidates, makes the Democratic Party lookso so good.

Let me see; only 20% of the people consider being republicans, and the moderates are being pushed out of the party, that will leave the likes of Beck, Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity and those crazy Tea Party People. Don't these people realize that it is going to require more that these people to win back the White House?

Why?? Did Bush or Cheney endorse him & sink his campaign?

This great news!

Forcing the "moderate" republican out to be replaced by another neo-con Fable Following "christian" in this republican domain for over a hundred years, will only empower the lunatic fringe and followers of Saint Sarah of the Silly to believe they have a chance in winning in a national general election.

This will bode very badly for repubiklans in 2012, put keep those blinders on and keep shrinking the base(your already down from 21% to 20%) so that eventually, it will be the size of a revival tent.

Please!

I won't vote for anyone supported by the likes of the hateful and spiteful Glenn Beck, Rush LImbaugh, et al. and I definitely won't vote for anyone supported by Sarah Palin!!

Richard Nixon was a liberal Republican, it just shows now how much the cnservatives have taken overthe Republican party. They don't care as much about lower taxes and smaller government, all they care about is stopping gay marriage and abortion.

Obama all the way!!! Hooray!!!

I am a young voter from this district and I am now even more scared that Doug Hoffman may win this election. As a woman I am scared for my rights and the rights of thousands of others from this district. Hoffmans ignorance to most local issues of this area also worries me. Many people contend that this is a conservative district but let me tell you that Hoffman does not represent all of us in NY23 and we will overwhelmed by these teabaggers from many other states. For the sake of this area WE NEED BILL OWENS!

Well, Thomas5, your ignorance is as sad as your convoluted logic. Claiming that "liberal" is actually the province of the 'conservatives', rather than accurately the "libertarians" is silly, but not recognizing the hypocrisy of defining today's 'conservatives' as "those that embrace individual rights, limited constitutional government, and free market capitalism" is, at best, getting one out of three correct.

Anyone who sincerely embraces individual rights and/or limited constitutional government would not use that government to prohibit the rights of individuals to determine the qualities of their marriage partner, their choice to make use of specific medical services (abortion included), or any other of the intrusive policies espoused by your heroes. And you aren't even republicans because in our republic, as defined by the framers of the Constitution, the majority was to rule – and your ilk are far from being this country's majority. You're louder, meaner of spirit and morebullying and vicious in tactic, is all.

And while I'm on the subject, you may detest those of us you so derisively call RINOs, but you are all ENORMOUSLY hypocritical CINOs – Christians in name only. You can proclaim yourself Christians, but a balanced look at your actions and the goals of them compare better with the Pharisees and Sanhedrin than with Jesus', who taught us not to be judgemental, to embrace and reach out to those who had erred, fallen from grace, found themselves in want. "As ye do unto the least of these, ye do unto Me," he said. You may mouth it for an hour on Sundays, but you walk the very opposite every other day and time. God is Love, Jesus is Tolerance and you are Hate and Judgementalism. You are repugnant to my Republican party pride.

Sarah Palin ROCKS !!!!

Regardless what Hoffman or any conservatives views, folks have the right to think for themselves. God gives all of us choices and whatever you choose, that's you have to live with. Abortion is not the only sin that is not pleasing to God, so is injustice, lying, stealing, treading on the poor for your selfish gain and yes, sex outside of marriage. Republicans, take your hypocritical pharisees and sadducees image and search the real love of God!

So now, outsiders- people who don't even live in this district will decide the winner. This is hardly democracy. The GOP has created a monster and it is eating them alive.

Ha Ha. The Republican party is O-V-E-R and right-wing extremists will never win a national election in a center-left country. Who says Bush didn't accomplish anything?

Now, who says "Sarah who?"? Well-done Sarah Palin!!!

This just goes to prove that it is not about Republican vs Democrats, but rather Conservatives vs Liberals in this country. The same reason that conservatives don't like liberal Republicans in their party is the same reason that Democrats don't like Blue-Dog Conservatives in their party. It is beyond party affiliation. It is simply Conservatives vs Liberals. Fortunately for America, Conservatives usually win out, because in an actual debate of ideas, conservative thoughts and ideas always win out.

Typical republican: Whine whine whine, give up. I see she has taken the Palin approach.

It's funny that people claim the Republicans have a low view of women. Look what happen when the Republicans introduced Sarah Palin to America. The "tolerant" liberals tore her down.

Liberals can't stand opposing view points. Liberals are the greatest hypocrits around.

Hoffman's son had alcohol problems as young as age 16. That sounds like the conservative values we should support. Let's hear it for Doug Hoffman coming into every american's bedroom and telling them how to live their private lives. That's not my idea of smaller government. He is in this race for his personal ego and little else

The Republican party must maintain its conservative values. We see in Richmond, CA what happens when liberals are left in charge of things.

It's time to let the conservative people reunite this country and put it back on the right track.

bmw says:

"So the rabid rightwing of the Republican party has forced aside a moderate Republican who more closely represented her district. Limbaugh and his lemmings are overjoyed, but in effect they are further limiting the Republican base to only those who share their narrow views. "
______________________________

This coming from a democrat? The same group that froths at the mouth whenever a blue dog does something they don't like?

Methinks thou doth protest too much.

We who live here areally aren't all that thrilled with all this national attention. Dede has ably and knowledgeably served her constituents here for many years and now we've lost that. As a Democrat i was really torn – Scozzafava or Owens, and her knowledge of Fort Drum and the impact on our area, the St Lawrence Seaway, it's commercial benefits and the major natural resource, the real jobs situation here with Alcoa, GM, the local health care systems made her be the one i wanted speaking for us in WAshington – NEITHER of the others has that background. And when asked, Hoffman dismissed questions about our "local issues". This is to be OUR representative. NO Thanks.

Let me quote a line from our local paper today – "please come to our area, eat at our restaurants, stay in our hotels, but stay out of our politics."

I absolutely agree with ForSerious: "as long as GOP candidates must toe the exact partly line they are not a polical party, but a dictatorship in waiting."

If these extremists ever get enough control to force their will upon us all, this country will no longer be the land of the free and the home of the brave because the extremists will force everyone to do as they say and will destroy anyone that dares question them.

I'm a fiscal conservative and don't agree with many of the things the Democrats do, but at this point in time the extreme right is a far bigger threat to our country, so I hope the Democrat wins this race.

Finally, a message from the Republican Party that I can believe in. Don't support the Republican candidate!

CNN is truly pathetic! Their moderator did not post my comment coz I've mentioned close relationship of Dede with ACORN (she and Lewis – head of ACORN are close friends) and SEIU, also Dede's membership with WORKER'S SOCIALIST PARTY. Dede's husband is a COMMUNITY ORGANIZER in NY.

Dede is more of a Democrat than Owen – fact!

A point of clarity. Hoffman may be a conservative but certainly not wacko like the pom pom girl Palin or the lunatic Rush. He is kind of boring actually. He is a conservative and attracted the flies like cow dung. I will vote for Hoffman because we need his financial, conservative mind to represent us. I am Libertarian and detest his view to invoke the Govt right to make personnel choices for me but right now the nations financial situation is very grave. This is not Obama's fault he inherited all of this crap but we need good people that have a clue about finance. Hoffman does that.

These Rightist Palinist goons don't quite grasp the concept of electoral politics. But it sure is fun watching them destroy themselves instead of the country. Being an extremist party isn't going to help you in national politics, and forcing extremism into the GOP everywhere in the country is a bad move as well. They may win this seat (it was GOP since the 19th century) but it obviously shows that there is a Civil War in the GOP. Keep following that "Pro-Freedom" agenda there Teabaggers! Good luck with alllll that!

I didn't see in the article one mention of Sarah Palin, yet several posts are crediting her for this "coup". I am starting to think that these are the people that are looking for a mesiah, not the Obamatrons.

"It is very sad that moderates no longer have a voice in the part of NO! The GOP keeps digging their grave deeper one election after another. I'm sure the Democratic party will welcome your views, Ms. Scozzafava."

The Democrats already have a candidate in that race. Don't the people in that district deserve options? I heard someone say on the news that that is a conservative region. In all fairness, they deserve a representative that reflects their views...

She is not extreme enough for the Taliban...and she is a woman. The Republicans think women should stay at home and clean....

As a resident of this district, I now feel I know who I will vote for......Bill Owens, Hoffman is so far right he denies having a left hand. When Palin, Armey, et al. supported Hoffman he had lost my vote.

I'm just loving the GOP and Conservatives destroying each other.

Look at all the partisan hacks commenting on here, very few of which live in this district. The people of this area made a statement that they will not be dominated by political leaders. Why vote for a candidate when they will simply do what their leader from Northern California or Ohio tells them to do. Both parties are beyond corrupt and send out career politicians to vote on real workers' lives. Hoffman is a normal guy, sick of nanny government. Scozzafava endorsed the stimulus, as it was written. She lacks ingenuity and conviction. I hope this is the beginning of a trend and these two pathetic parties come to an end.

Hopefully this, and the Republican backing of Hoffman, is a sign that the GOP is moving back towards small government, where they should have been all along, as the party of Lincoln and Reagan, not Bush and McCain.

Notice no mention of the Conservative Party candidate... the candidate that is currently winning the election.

Hoffman's campaign was quick to respond Saturday, claiming he represents a change from normal Washington politics.

"It's time for us to send a message to Washington – we're sick and tired of big-spending, high-taxing, career politicians and by voting for me on Tuesday you will send that message loud and clear," he said.

------------–
Oh brother. I've heard these lines in every single political campaign I've ever witnessed. People – no matter who wins in this race, once the winner takes office, he will be a career politician. If you think Hoffman is going to change NY and Washington for the average American because he is an "average American", you're an idiot.

I sure hope that the New Yorkers are smarter than the conservatives of their party give them credit for

Any voter that cares about the future of this country, should make a stand here and now

Show the far right that you believe that all individuals have equal rights ... not just the individuals that agree with them

STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS, and the rights of all Americans ... Vote Owens

Thanks Goodness This Has Happened!

Now, maybe a conservative voice will be heard among all the wishy-washies out there.

I was hoping to see Hoffman trounce her and send a loud and clear message to republicans that they must be more conservative to help turn things around.

I can't call myself a republican when they vote and spend the way they do! I can only call myself a "conservative independent," which is a lot of that "independents" group politicians are gunning for.

It's no accident that the "conservative right" are called the "right!" Far too many liberals embrace behaviors that can only be called wrong.

So the rabid rightwing of the Republican party has forced aside a moderate Republican who more closely represented her district. Limbaugh and his lemmings are overjoyed, but in effect they are further limiting the Republican base to only those who share their narrow views. The Republican party continues its rightward march out of step with the majority of America.

This is great! If Hoffman wins, well another Republican won in a predominately Republican district, no big deal to the Democrats and it will embolden the wingnuts to keep attacking moderate Republicans and drive the party farther and farther to the wingnut right from which they cannot govern. However, if Owens wins, then it will be a resounding rebuke against the loud wingnut right and their tiny tiny cocktail umbrella, which might shut them up long enough for them to think about where their party is going. Gee, I almost hope Hoffman wins.......

Politics is about compromise and as long as GOP candidates must toe the exact partly line they are not a polical party, but a dictatorship in waiting.

Since when is someone a "fundamentalist", "bigot" or "nutjob" for standing for values most Americans approve? Here's a newsflash. Most Americans are Pro-Life. Most Americans to include President Obama disapprove of gay marriage. Most Americans don't care for higher taxes and more spending by a federal government that is out of control. Here's more information for those on the "Left" who are uninformed. The plurality of Americans (42%) consider themselves Conservative while only 21% identify themselves as liberal/progressive. The U.S. is a center-right country. We don't want the politically correct version of socialism that the Euro-trash embrace. Most Americans believe in God, guns, and country. It is about time we have elected officials who share those same values. Nancy Pelosi and her crowd represent a tiny minority. Why should they be allowed to cram their views down our throats? It is time for a Revolution in this country as we aside those who don't represent the views of real Americans. The Revolution begins with one step and the election of Hoffman in New York.

What difference does it make if a Republican and a Democrat believe in the same things? If the Republicans and Democrats have no difference between them then what good does it do for this country? Personally, whether I agree with Hoffman or Owen doesn't matter. To me, what matters is that there is a definite difference so that I have a clear choice.

The party of hate takes down another victim. I hope her supporters pull a Leiberman and vote for the Dem. Maybe they'll realize that there 19th century beliefs is the reason why their party is dead.

How could this be a statement for the Republicans? They haven't lost this seat in over 130 years! A pretty safe endorsement for Republicans from elsewhere. Now what would it mean to Republicans if they lose?

Its all about getting a particular party elected. No one cares what the people needs.........

Now we know that in the Republican Party, only wachos are allowed. Dede Scozzafava dropped out because she is not nutty enough. It's now clear that the Republicans are in a "purge" or "purity" mode. They will rather shrink their party and remain in the wilderness.

We hope the Republican Party see what is going on... We as CONSERVATIVES will not vote for a RINO. They better wake up in time for the 2010 election. We want them to go to Washington and represent the American people not themselves.

Be warned the rest of you republicans in name only we are coming after all of you in 2010.

It is very sad that moderates no longer have a voice in the part of NO! The GOP keeps digging their grave deeper one election after another. I'm sure the Democratic party will welcome your views, Ms. Scozzafava.

Wow! the power of Sarah Palin! Go Conservatives!

I'm a Democrat not located in NY that has been watching this process take place up there and even I felt this lady, Scozzafava, might better serve the people of her district than either of the other two candidates. I guess it really doesn't make a lot of difference on what you beleive but more in how much money you got to buy beleif with. I think she made a mistake by dropping out of the race but I do understand that it takes money to buy the loyality and votes of our citizens so there isn't to much she can do but it would be funny now to see her stop her campaign and still win the race. That would speak tons for this lady and what the people think of her.

Once again the Republican party has been hijacked by the fundamentalists, bigots, and nutjobs. The party of Lincoln has been reduced to the party of Pat Robertson, Timothy McVeigh, Fred Phelps.

There are Republicans that are too liberal? Now we have extreme right-wingers who want to take back the Washington they created by calling it a reform movement. So would Hoffman vote against both sides? That's effective.

"The local Republican leaders picked the state assemblywoman, because they felt her moderate views would appeal to centrist Republicans, independents, and even some Democrats..."

And we all know how the conservatives hate any moderate American – especially moderate republicans ... love to see the conservatives go down in flames ... again!

Sooo I guess if you believe GW Bush and Dick Cheney was your type of politican then Hoffman is the man for you.. Hmmm further proof of the decline of Conservative intellect..Maybe Beck or Rush should have run..

The Repugnicans Have The Nerve, And Twice The Arrogance To Complain About Democrats Running Interferance In Politics.

Democrats take heed; you are witnessing a paradigm shift in the Republican Party. Scozzafava lost support from the Republican Party because she wasn’t far enough to the right. The far right wing of the Republican Party is using this special election as an opportunity to demonstrate their clout. Don’t discount Sarah Palin, clearly she went head to head with Newt and won. It’s a scary fact that the supporters of the far right win are going to come out and vote.

If you believe in individual freedom and choices you better be prepared to get out and support your Democratic candidate. If you care about the environment in which you live you better get out and support your Democratic candidate. If you care about your living wages you better get out and support your Democratic candidate.

The GOP base deals in absolutes:

Government is ALWAYS the problem
America is ALWAYS right
Abortions are ALWAYS wrong
and the list goes on and on...

But reality is not black and white, which makes their views incompatible with reality and, by extension, governance. I think that a mindset that excludes most Americans (the kind we see on a daily basis from FOX News and GOP pundits directed towards blacks, Hispanics, gays, Arabs, etc.) will never find purchase outside of the most remote backwater parts of the country.

Sounds like Hoffman struck a nerve. The GOP candidate is a
tweedle dee to Pelosi's tweedle dum, Owens. If Owens loses,
that will convince Pelosi to keep her nose out of local politics.

I'm glad she pulled out.

I hope that more people will start running, so that we can vote for people that best match our standards instead of relying on a party.

Vote out corrupt career politicians (Dodd, Rangle, Waters, Reid, Boxer, Frank....).

Dede shows great honor in doing what was right to consolidate the conservative base.
Now we need voter turnout to stop Bill, vote for Doug, the time for a fresh new approach to representation, a representative who is of the people, by the people and for the people of upstate NY.

I wonder how badly she was threatened?

She wasn't a true republican. Now, the conservative will win, as will the country with him in the congress to fight Obama's crazy, liberal agenda.

As long as the GOP is in search of "purity" within their party, rather than reaching out to become a broader one, they will ensure their obsolescence.

Has anyone else seen the CNN interview with Hoffman? He's an idiot.

Well libs, we all know who won this one and I bet to don't like it a bit: Sarah Palin. Eat your hearts out.

The real message is: "We, the Republican party, officially no longer care about local issues. We'd like you to elect an outsider who knows exactly zero about the district (and complains when asked questions about it at a debate). In future, all your representatives will stand for is hatred of gays, racial minorities, reproductive freedom and the environment. We will spare no expense to ensure that the rights of the wealthy to abuse the less-wealthy are protected."

The rethuglicans with their strongarm tactics are at it again. Hopefully Scozzafava's followers will see through this and vote for Owens, the Democrat.

Hopefully the locals in NY-23 vote democratic. The remaining so called republican candidate could give a flying fu– about the local issues in that disctrict. Its all about taking down BO. What a scam !!!

Dede was not a Republican, certainly not a conservative, and was more liberal than the Democrat in the Race. She did her self a good service by dropping out and probably gained more respect for doing so. If money was the issue, she would have had plenty if she stood for traditional Republican values. She cost herself, but at the same time was true to herself and her beliefs. The only problem is that her beliefs are not shared by those in her district.

Another step for the Republican party to move so far Right we can hardly recognize it as a party of democracy as it slips off the fringe edge into oblivion.

I told you long time ago...these GOP Republican idiots are lost in credibility...because, they messed this nation fixcally into pieces....it takes another 15 years...to recuperate....they better say yes on health care with public option....but they are taking bribes from insurance thugs...watch out...esply Mitt Rumney...the big idiot....

Best news of the day. She's not really a Republican anyway. And so begins Obama's downfall. Next comes Virginia and New Jersey...

Sign of things to come for the GOP

It is unfortunate when we have political party that is run by a bunch of so called "right wing idiots" that cannot stand for a person to have their own ideas about what is wrong with America and will spend their time, money and family togetherness to represent the country and those from the distric that elects them.

The Republicans will be making a comeback because the Libs have shown that all they know how to do is spend and waste money and even lie about the numbers of jobs that the have created. Only true conservatives will be elected and the Rinos might as well join the Democratic party.

Good for her, she realizes the only way to compete with the Dems is to be different than the Dems. Now on to the general and defeating the dems one by one.

I watched her concession interview and was impressed by her graciousness. Survival rule number 1 for politicians however in the climate were in is that closer attention is being played to what they did. Pay attention Dems!

A victory for conservatism and the rank & file.

Sarah Palin had it right all along!

NY23 is about to rock Obama's world.

It'll be fun watching Nancy Pelosi swear in a member of the 'Astro-turf' to the House of Representatives.

Such sweet irony...

So one less liberal in a race... "moderate", "centrist" is liberal...

Aaaand, the fix is in. The party leaned on her and now she is backing out so the uber-conservative, neo-nazi, right-wing character assasin can get elected. Nice work, Republican party!

Let us see what the bribe was to get her to back out. Just follow the money. If NY23 is as moderate as they appear to be, they will elect Owens over another Cheney/Bush Republican.

I pray that these bigots get defeated. Obama won the area, maybe the Dems can pull it off!!!

Watching the Radical right of the GOP is like watching reptile eat there siblings...

The move sparked a revolt among many conservatives, who were angry with what they call her liberal views on same-sex marriage and abortion.

why is the whole MSM lying about this. COnservatives were not pissed off on her mostly because of her socail moderation but because all her views were liberal. she supported stimulus when all of the republican congress voted against it. she never said a word against obama care or cap and trade. stop s[preading this lie. she supported all the social liberal causes and all the liberal economic philisophies. she was supported by accord and daily kos founder. how can she be one of our own.
please stop spreading this storyline that she was hated because she was moderate. NO actually her views were MORE liberal than the democratic nominee.

Its a shame that a rare realistic republican was driven away by the lunatic fringe.

That's the end for the Democrat, Bill Owens. If Hoffman picks up Scozzafava's voters, he'll be up by 20 points over Owens.

I am a prochoice republician and feel that the right wing is destroying the party. They shoved Palin down McCain throat which caused him to lose. The far right is the reason liberal idiots like Obama are in office.

Hoffman was the right choice for the financial health of the country. I strongly oppose his medieval views on social issues. However, we sometimes need to take the bad with the good and get some intelligence back into the congressional house.

It's good to see that the far right has added another notch on their crossbow, destroying the career of yet another moderate Republican.

The purge continues.

The GOP needs to admit what everyone knows: They care about money more than people. Period.

Just look at their policies, their laws, their ideas about regulation and taxes: They believe in a dog-eat-dog world, where I've got mine and to heck with you.

Whatever you can get away with in the name of making the Almighty Buck is OK.

It is precisely this attitude that lead to the Great Depression of 1929 and took us to the brink again under Bush.

Hoffman is cut from this cloth – and only a fool would vote for him!

There's nothing wrong with being Liberal. With Liberals, we wouldn't have:

- clean air and water
- voting rights for women and minorities
- Medicare
- Social Security
- the interstate highway system
- the dam system, including Hoover Dam and Bonneville, providing electricity across the nation
- the National Park system
- local police and fire protection

The list goes on and on .... If you like living in the United States with all these benefits listed above – thank a Liberal!

Too bad. Maybe we'll get lucky and the Republicans lose with some far right nutjob. One day they will wake up and realize that extremes are not the right path.

Hoffman is so full of it! Where was he during the Bush Administration when it was irresponsibly cutting taxes while waging not one, but TWO wars and spending money our country didn't have?

And what has been the result of all those tax cuts for the wealthy? They've taken that extra cash and invested it overseas, building factories there while closing factories here and laying off Americans.

People need to wake up to the fact that Republicans love to spout off about "small government, lower taxes, family values" till the cows come home.

The reality is they care about one thing: Money in their pocket. Party Before Country. I've Got Mine and to Heck With the Rest of You!

Wonderful! I guess the Republicans can throw away all hope of becoming a wide base party again. Drive out the moderates, abandon ACTUAL conservatism and ride that far right crazy horse into oblivion. Here is one East Coast Republican that has completely given up on the GOP. As Barry Goldwater said of the religious right: "Do not associate my name with anything you do. You are extremists, and you've hurt the Republican party much more than the Democrats have."

IS ANYBODY WATCHING?

To maintain a Republican representative in NY-23 (New York's congressional district 23), the GOP has resorted to eating their own. Palin and Pawlenty destroyed Republican Dede Scozzafava's campaign for NY-23 to ensure an extreme right-wing ideologue like Doug Hoffman retains the seat for Republicans.

THE GOP IS NOW EATING THEIR OWN.

Another moderate republican candidate kicked out by the mob.
This republican mob is becoming quite worrisome.

This is absolutely pathetic. She's either way too thin-skinned and shouldn't have run in the first place, or somebody arm-twisted her out because some of her views weren't in lock step with the rest of the Republicans. I've never heard of somone just dropping out so close to an election because they questioned their ability to win.

It's a shame that the Left has been allowed to steal the term "liberal" when in reality it never belonged to them. Those on the Left claiming to be "liberal" are indeed an "L-word", but it ain't "liberal". It's "liars". Old-school classical liberalism has virtually nothing in common with today's pseudo-liberals. (Perhaps "neoliberal" would be a better description of them.) Scozzafava most definitely is a leftist, but not a liberal by any stretch of the imagination.

It's time that the term "liberal" be claimed once again by those who rightfully ARE liberal. (i.e those that embrace individual rights, limited constitutional government, and free market capitalism.) Real classical liberals are those on the Right. But true to leftist form, the pseudo-liberals are quick to redistribute that which doesn't belong to them, including terminology.

How coincidental.....a local REPUBLICAN drops out based on $$$ pressures to another nonlocal REPUBLICAN. Commercialism and theatrics at it's best.

Now let's see what happens with the legacy of the REPUBLICAN reign there in New York.

hmmmmm......

I hope all her supporters vote for Owens.

This is awful news. As a progressive who is pro-civil rights, Dede was the only palatable candidate. A Republican who supports gay marriage is worth more than a Democrat who supports gay marriage, and it would've been great to have her.

Unfortunately this sends a message to Republican politicians that they still can't support equal rights, and it says to the party that Republicans who do won't win.

I'd still rather have Owens over Hoffman, but not by much.

Hoffman wins, the beginning of the end for Obama.....

Obama-ONE and DONE.

Unbelievable. I can't believe people are allowing intellectually challenged bloggers such as Sarah Palin influence elections. Good luck Conservatives. Ha!

You shouldn't have "quit!

It's deplorable the way the GOP elitists treated Dede. She deserves better than that, as these far right fundamentalists continue to hijack my former Republican Party.

McDonnell's thesis is alive and well...
How sad.

What the Republican party needs to realize is that conservative voters are searching for conservative candidates. We do not want RINO's as we have a sufficient supply of them now. Republicans cannot win by being liberal, as proven by running McCain for president. If we wanted to vote for a liberal we would vote for a Democrat, but we would rather not vote at all than vote for a liberal, which is what has happened. Get back to your roots and Republicans have a chance, but keep running liberal or moderate candidates and we will continue to be the minority party.

In other words, either you are an arch conservative and a right-winger or you don't have any future in the GOP. And they wonder why they are at 20% !

I will be so glad when these elections are over with so the republicans can start crowing; still 2010 abnd 2012 are not here yet and as my father use to say it is not over till the fat lady sings. I do not believe that you gain anything by evil methods; but politics has always been viewed as crooked. I have never seen in all my life except for the 08 campaign such mud slinging; I guess it is fasten your seat belts for it is going to be a rocky ride.

One more victory for the Wingnuts. The loonies are now officially in charge of the Republican party.

the last thing republicans need is another Olympia Snowe! We need actual republicans, not republicans in name only!

Watching the republicans fight among themselves for control of a party that resembles a sinking ship. Can you say Titantic? Brings to mind another time when protest were everywhere. The mid sixty's. One of my favorite songs then was by Barry McGuire, The Eve of Destruction.

This should be the new theme song for the republican party. A party that brought about so much evil in this nation is finally reaping what it has sown. And they are on the eve of their destruction.

well, I was going to vote for Scozzafava, now my vote goes to Owens. Hoffman is a Sarah Palin-clone nut case. Once again the conservatives are losing elections for the GOP – thanks at lot...

In the politics of the age, I wonder what the real reason is for her backing out? Little doubt someone dug up some dirt.

is that the smell of the GOP eating its own?

That's too bad. Now they ahve a wingnut running for the seat. Hopefully the voters of NY-23 will send a message to the GOP that they're fed up with neo con boneheads.

Split The Republican Party! Formalize the ideological divide, permanently. Why can no one see that this will allow proper representation of the voters?

Dede Scozzafava drops ou of the NY23 race. Thank you, Dede!

Thank you Fred Thompson, Dick Armey, Teaparty, and SARAH PALIN

After Sarah endorsed, Hoffman got free radio and TV air time, not to mention all the donations and help that poured in.

Endorsements that followed after SARAH PALIN endorsed Hoffman:

Rick Santorum, Wholesaler-Distributor Political Action Committee, Freedoms Defense Fund, U.S. Representative Todd Tiahrt (R-Kansas), James Dobson, PhD, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)
Right Principles, Governor Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), Governor Rick Perry (R-TX), Senator Jim Demint (R-SC), Steve Forbes, Atlas PAC, National Conservative Fund, Gun Owners of American-PVF, Life and Liberty PAC, Minuteman PAC, Right Principles PAC, Term Limits America PAC, Congressman Jeff Flake – AZ, Congressman Linder – GA, The Heart PAC, NY Post, Republican Majority PAC, Family Research Council PAC, Leadership for America's Future, Conservative Opportunity Leadership & Enterprise, Associated Builders & Contractors, Citizens United Political Victory Fund
Freedom First PAC, Congressman Steve King – IA, Catholic Families for America PAC, The American Conservative Party, Rep. Mary Fallin (R-OK), Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO), Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), Rep. John C. Fleming (R-LA), Rep. Steve King (R-IA), Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ)
Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), John Bolton, George Pataki

The liberals can keep rolling out their stooge Ricky Hollywood(Levi Johnston) and keep doing their hit-pieces on her but it ain't going to do anything but bring more people to the Palin camp.

The right-wing Republican ideological pogram has claimed its latest victim. Dede has been thoroughly "cleansed" because she simply wasn't ideologically pure enough.

How sad for the legacy of Licoln, Roosevelt, and Reagan. The "big tent" party is dead.

Wow! Great!..... Go Hoffman!! Could this be the beginning of the end for the Republican Party as we know it? Will the conservatives and the Club for Growth be emboldened? Will we see infighting between Conservative Republicans and ULTRA Conservative Republicans? (The moderate Repubs have long since disappeared). Is the Republican Party on the same path as the Whigs? In the next generation will be see the Democratic and Conservative Party as the two dominate political parties in America? Rush Limbaugh for President? Oh, that would be fun!

A very nobel and classy thing for her to do.

Listen up Republicans !

Hooray for Sarah !

The GOP is so desperate and childish because they fear a Democrat may win, I think this is sad. What is not being REpublican enough and turn their back on moderates? I hope this ruins the GOP party...

It's called the "Good OLD Boys" strategy backing a PARACHUTE candidate who doesn't even live in the District. The "Lunatic Fringe" strategy. because she is a woman, she is not good enough for the Good Old Boys. what a shame.

Nothing like being shoved out of the race by your own Party. Go Bill Owens!

I live in District 23. My vote is for Bill Owens-not for Rush-Newt-Palin and the rest of the jokesters who don't care about Healthcare and who oppose President Obama at every turn-even when he speaks to our school children. What a bunch of whiners and losers.

This is great news for Democrats. The Republicans are so controlled by the Palin-Limbaugh wing of the party that a moderate nominee cannot get enough support to run a campaign. The further right the Republicans go, the better for the country since this will guarantee that their minority status continues to shrink.

a Republican quits when the heat starting coming on? And THIS is news?

Moderate Republicans will shortly become an extinct species. The acid test in the GOP is the approval of Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, or Palin. What a sad state of affairs in the GOP!

This is GREAT news!!

This could mean 3 Republican wins on Tuesday!!!!

The current state of politics is set to send this entire country even further down the toilet. Please stop paying attention to bi-partisan politics, lobbyists, and the overly wealthy who want to squash the rest of us. It is time we stand up as working class people...and take back what our ancestors and families fought so hard to achieve.

Gee, perhaps before you endorse a candidate he should actually live in the district.

All RepubliCONs should pull out of this race!

A True conservative would cut all spending, including military spending and end the 2 wars we are running on a credit card.

As an outsider watching the antic in this race Mr Hoffman should be so ashamed of himself. He does not live in the district AND he has no clue what the people who do live in the district want or need from their Rep in DC.

Mr Hoffman is an arrogant rich guy who should stay home and shut up.

I sincerely hope the voters of this district to the right thing and send a strong message to these outsiders to stay home and out of our business.

So now we have a slightly left of center Democrat versus a right wing conservative who will caucus with the Republicans.

Since the previous election had the conservative Republican winning with over over 65% of the vote it will be interesting to see if the conservative candidate can at least maintain that level of support.

Another Republican with no plan and no solutions and is ready to go to Washington, line his pockets with lobbyist money and just say NO.

Thanks Dede for refraining from becoming an obstructionist in this race. If this has been a (loosely called) conservative strategical move seen to secure Hoffman, it would have been awesome. This says a lot for the conservative movement , whose moment in context of the current crisis should weigh as necessary for balance even for those normally not swaying this way.

One Up, for what was formerly known as the silent majority!

Pulled a Palin

This is a GREAT opportunity for all conservatives to get behind Hoffman and begin the cut into liberal Democrats' total exclusion of Republican/Conservative legislators from the law development process. A vote for Owens is a vote for Pelosi!!!

Gee, now there's a surprise!

Sarah Palin is now officially the de gacto head of the Conservative, Republican, Independent, Libertarian and Tea Parties.

Iquiterad Queen of NY (must be having Palin aspirations).

mittens

Another example to show Sarah Palin knows how to get things done and they don't have to be the conventional way. Go Sarah!

What a big tent dweller!

Congratulations Mr. Hoffmann. I hope you are the next congressman from NY District 23.

Great News! I hope all advocates for the unborn babies, those who support traditional marriage, and those who support LESS taxpayer spending and government control over our lives will get out and vote for Doug Hoffman. Lets take back the country with a 3rd Party and strive for a "government of the people, by the people, for the people".

I think this is an excuse, someone got to her..Republicans will do almost anything to destroy themselves..Hoffman can't even give good answers to questions regarding the region that he wants to represent. With Dick Armey with him, he (Hoffman) can be described as a tea-bagger wanna-be. Have no idea what is wrong with this country. Elect people who don't know squat about the area or its problems, but will vote for the abortion, gay anti-rights etc, I think they call this cutting your nose off to despite your face.

You should have hung in there Dede...It's a matter of choice...

Another female quiter to keep Sarah Palin company!! At least this one quit prior to being elected!!!

The Republicans continue to self destruct!! They're now down to 20% in the latest poll...how low can they go???

That should guarantee a win for the Dems....

This is what happens when the squishy NY GOP nominates a spineless candidate like Dede. Go HOFFMAN!!!!!

Great news for conservatives.If Hoffman wins watch the dems say ya this district was a republican stronghold anyways, ignoring the fact it voted for Obama last year.I guess Palin has some political influence after all.I mean before her endorsement Hoffman was down 7.After it he went up 12 on Dede.I guess the GOPs plans to be a liberals 2nd choice is backfiring.Its tossing the RINOs outta there.So watch out Snow Collins you others, the conservatives are headed your way next.So be careful how you vote on HC.

I am former republican even though time to time I support republicans

All these years I was thinking some time democrats can’t stand the heat

This story changed my mind and this story will send wrong message to nation

Next year and 2012 republicans will struggle

Hoffman wins! Say "goodbye" to old business-as-usual politics. This is part of the beginning of the end of "talk big, do nothing" Obama.

Oh wow. She gave into the radical religious right.
Heaven help us.

This is a sad example of how the Republican party has continued it's change to a far right party out of touch with most Americans. I was a Republican for almost 30 years when I left in 2004. They continue to move right and I have not looked back. The party of Teddy Roosevelt is now the party of Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sarah palin, and Fox News. I am sorry to see one of the last of the moderate Republicans dropping out of the race, but it just reinforces my opinion that the GOP has left the bulk of America behind in it's dash to the right.

Honorable. No I am serious. I will be pleased to see Hoffman win to get his financial conservative vote in the house. The national financial security is the only issue worth considering at this time. The others won't matter if the US is bankrupt.

That is hard for me to say as I completely disagree with his conservative, dark ages view of social issues but we must set those concerns aside and get closer to a healthy balance.

Bye bye Owens. It is officially gonna be a landslide now. She did the right thing. There is no place for liberals in the republican party. The problem has been too many liberals, who are nothing more than a democrat, ruining my conservative party. This sends a loud message to blue dog dems, dont you dare sign off on obama care, or you will be replaced. Americans are finally snapping out of this spell cast by obama.

We're praying you win this one Doug Hoffman.

Now sit down before you fall down Democrats......I donated to Doug Hoffman's campaign.

The National Conservative Party is dictating to the National and State Republican Parties, i.e. the voters of NY, that the NCP knows best who should represent them in this election. The NCP is telling MIchael Steele and the people of NY that they, the voters, cannot choose who will represent them in the election. Apparently, Sarah Palin is taking over the leadership of the GOP.

Well, there goes another point for the extreme right wing fringe of the Republican party. The people in this district will blindly vote for a man who doesn't even live in the district and has no clue about their needs, locally. I'm hoping the voters will do what's in their own best interests, but history isn't on my side.

Remember this day.

The Right-wing of the Republican Party has intimidated the official GOP candidate to pull out of a race. This makes it a Democrat verses third-party Conservative election. You are going to see this more and more across America until the Right-Wing of the GOP takes over that party, and all moderate Republicans become independents or Democrats.