Reading Election Night Tea Leaves and Wearing Lucky Neckties

Updated 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Source: http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/

Chris Christie was obviously wearing his; as was Robert McDonnell. The GOP is officially breathing again. It was a great day for Republicans Tuesday. It happened exactly one year after we took our worst shellacking since the 1960s. And, what did President Obama do while his party was getting whooped in two states which voted for him last year? The official statement from the White House is that he did not even bother to watch any of the results as “they just didn’t matter and didn’t reflect ...

on him: They were locally driven.”

For the past year I have been saying the current President is one of the biggest megalomaniacs in history. And Tuesday night he proved it again. While the state of New Jersey, which is one of the bluest, was falling and the State of Virginia was being swept by Republicans (which has not happened since Reconstruction), the President refused to acknowledge any of it mattered. I wonder if he was wearing his lucky tie.

However, we all know who definitely was not: Doug Hoffman. This is the man who ran on the Conservative ticket in NY-23, a district in Upstate New York that has been Republican since the Civil War. Well, in the immortal words of Jacques Clouseau, “Not Anymore!” Doug Hoffman was defeated garnering only 46% of the vote. The projected winner, the Democrat Bill Owens, garnered 49% and the liberal Republican who withdrew last week received 5%. She proved to be the spoiler.

I find this race in NY-23 to be very disturbing. It is a race that garnered national attention when Sarah Palin, the Queen of the Far Right, decided to support the Conservative Candidate and not the Republican. Before that, the race was hardly being looked at. NY-23 is a district which borders on Canada and Vermont. It is more than 90% white and skews Republican by a margin of more than five percentage points. The area has been Republican for as far as anyone can remember. But, last night, it elected a Democrat. Why?

The Republican Party nominated Dede Scozzafava to run without a primary. Ms. Scozzafava is one of the most liberal Republicans in the history of the Party. She is not pro-life, supports same-sex marriage and has strong ties to Labor — positions which are opposed by the majority of the Party. She does support the Bush tax cuts and is against Cap-and-Trade. It was rumored during the election that she hinted she might caucus with the Democrats if elected.

Obviously the nomination of Ms. Scozzafava was a big mistake. By nominating her, the Party allowed a three way race to occur thereby guaranteeing a Democrat victory. Of course, it did not help, that upon quitting the race five days ago, Ms. Scozzafava gave her support, not to the Conservative Hoffman, but to the Democrat Owens. The Party should have run a primary before nominating Scozzafava or, at the least, seen the power of the conservative movement and nominated someone more in line with the mainstream Republican platform.

But, that is not really what disturbs me about the race in NY-23. What disturbs me is the ramification of what happened there to the rest of the country and to the 2010 election The Republican Party seems to be splintering into two halves, the conservatives and the moderates. The Conservatives are being supported by Ms. Palin and a large group of right-wing pundits. They are represented by the Tea Party organizations and the States’ Rights Groups. I am probably one of them.

However, without the moderates; the center of the political spectrum, the Party will not regain control of the Federal Government. There is simply not enough on the Far Right to support a majority anywhere in the country. The moderates and independents win elections. And, boy was that clear last night.

All of the exit polling shows that McDonnell and Christie won because there was a major swing in the independent voter to the Republicans. These swing voters stated they were against huge government spending, the failed stimulus package and were in fear for the future of their children. The majority of these independents voted for Obama in the last election.

We need them, these independents. We must do whatever is necessary to maintain their support. We cannot swing to the far right and expect to do anything in 2010. If we do, there will be a lot of Democrats wearing their lucky ties. If we continue to attract the moderates and independents as happened Tuesday, it will be a large group of Republicans wearing theirs.

46 comments on this story

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Frank DeMartini 2 months, 4 weeks ago on Wordpress

Reagan Did. Anybody that is smart can.

Growltiger 3 months ago on Wordpress

So far as those who say choosing between two evils is still choosing evil, I'd argue that there are degrees of evil. The savage who beheaded a living, screaming Daniel Pearl on video cam was evil. So, too, is Bernard Madoff who robbed hundreds of people of their livings. So was the judge who sentenced dissenters to the gulags in the old USSR. There are always the lessor of two (or three) evils ... See all content Hide content

Growltiger 3 months ago on Wordpress

I think we're both libertarians. Unfortunately the Libertarian Party is wacko. I was a card carryming member until 9-11 when their pacifistic tendencies got the best of me. Afghanistan YES, Iraq NO. They were against BOTH.

Mjolnir 3 months ago on Wordpress

"Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil."

Jerry Garcia

Tennessee_Jed 3 months ago on Wordpress

Growltiger – you raise some interesting issues, of course. Personally I tend to be a rock solid fiscal conservative while being all over the place on so called "social issues." I suppose I tend to generally be more libertarian, e.g. "live and let live" on most social issues. It is the fiscal part that has always caused me to vote Republican, and losing there way on fiscal ... See all content Hide content

LLOROB 3 months ago on Wordpress

As reported on Drudge the demo candidate broke 4 campaign promises the day he got in.

Somehow that isn't a surprise. You can't share the covers with a party that thinks like that.

The reason he won is varied and we'll get another chance soon.

To rely on those you mention above is foolish as they are going to vote more times then not, as past history indicates ... See all content Hide content

Growltiger 3 months ago on Wordpress

Dede was a liberal DEMOCRAT passing as a Republican. Smart move on her part, dumb move on the Republican Party's part to nominate her.

Growltiger 3 months ago on Wordpress

Good question. I'd say the biggest obstacle is the propaganda media. Until that is addressed, the Lefties will keep power. How to address it? The only way I know is to boycott advertisers on Propaganda outlets. BH does a lot of that with Hollywood, i.e. not going to films with lefty stars and/or produced/directed by lefty wackos.

Propaganda media always conceal the Lefty's real ... See all content Hide content

Growltiger 3 months ago on Wordpress

Wrong.

Growltiger 3 months ago on Wordpress

Interesting post. Liberals have been BIG WINNERS mainly because they disguise their true ideology. Obama appears to have definite Marxist leanings but the propanda media managed to keep that out of the news. McCain wouldn't take him on on that. Besides McCain was an awful debator. Sarah Palin was an attractive candidate, but she was toast when Gibson and Couric destroyed her on TV and Tina Fey ... See all content Hide content

LLOROB 3 months ago on Wordpress

Well, nothing quite so bold, I just don't see moderates winning anything alone unless they vote the other side. The last election had a moderate candidate and the moderate lost. A lot of people, conservatives, didn't vote because they didn't want McCain. I just don't see another moderate

candidate winning. We can't change the damage being done to us currently by a ... See all content Hide content

Growltiger 3 months ago on Wordpress

EXACTLY.

In VA this time, moderates and Independents voted overwhelmingly for a Conservative Republican who campaigned on fiscal responsibility and left his conservative viewponts at home or at his church. Do not underestimate McDonnell. He is presidential material. Unless the propaganda media can destroy him (as they did George Allen) ya'll will likely get a chance to vote for him for ... See all content Hide content

Growltiger 3 months ago on Wordpress

Moderate Guiliani vs Conservative Palin vs Leftist Obama. Wonder who'd win.

Growltiger 3 months ago on Wordpress

I guess I'm a pragmatist. All Hoffman achieved was give the Obama Admin. a claim to victory. Since Dede (and I agree she was NOT a Republican but rather a liberal Democrat passing) was filling a seat, and would have to defend in a year, why attack and demand a doctrinaire Conservative? What not take what you can get, then defeat her in a primary next year with Hoffman, a conservative Republican ... See all content Hide content

Growltiger 3 months ago on Wordpress

I basically agree. The GOP should concern itself with fiscal responsibility and fighting creeping socialism and let the social issues go. When women hear "overturn Roe v Wade" what they really hear is "you want to stuff me in a burqa – to hell with that". When African-Americans hear "end affirmative action" what they really hear is "you want to return to Jim ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

You're just plain wrong, Mr. DeMartini. Most of us don't want to commit political suicide. However, there's a point beyond which we won't go. If it comes down to it, I'll take another four years of left-wing oppression over a conciliatory John McCain-style candidate. McCain would've been much better than Obama. However, Obama has energized me in a way that McCain wouldn't ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Make mine Freedom watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfBj2H6oxog

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Queen of the Far Right? You've bought the Democrat media complex spin. Palin is the Queen of the American center right. Nothing about her is extreme. Get a clue, Frank.

3 months ago on Intensedebate

The left convinces moderates to vote for leftists, why can't conservatives convince moderates to vote for conservatives?

3 months ago on Intensedebate

40% of the country calls themselves conservative now. If moderate is halfway between them and liberals, then moderate is still left-of-center, and that's unacceptable, and also a losing strategy. McCain was considerably left of the center of America. But Beltway Republicans are surrounded by Progressives for years and years and it skews their understanding of what the middle is. Palin could easily ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

There are no moderates. There are conservatives who consider placating liberals a viable political option. Please don't make the mistake of thinking that 'moderates' swing votes. The votes in California and Maine to ban gay marriage is more "proof" that even "moderates" are conservative when it comes to social values Reconstruct your thinking. There are no moderates . ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Re: Bill Owens newly installed congressman from NY-23...He campaigned against the Health Care bill. The next day.....drum roll please....wait for it....he declared he was for it to help the people of his district. The vote just confirmed it. Even though Hoffmans' vote would have made the final tally 219-216, at least we'd know he wasn't a turncoat/traitor to the will of the people. I ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

I'll agree that swinging to the far right, where I am, won't attract people and won't win big. But I'm confused as to how swinging to the far left is able to do just that. The BIG liberals have been the BIG winners. Don't agree? Check out our Commander-in-Chief. Maybe the ignorance of the average American, by far our country's largest liability, makes us deserve the big ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

The Republican Party can be a Big tent...For everyone Center and Right Ward. Honestly, there is a time and a place for moderates. We need moderates in crucial areas, and we need Moderates to fill out the party, but there is no room for actual Liberals in the Republican Party. We can win without those, and lord knows the Democrats have more than enough without us. Now, I'd give a fair warning to ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

We need more moderates... to vote for republicans. We need more conservatives... on the tickets. Let's not confuse the two ideas.

3 months ago on Intensedebate

The "need" for moderates is Machiavellian. We cannot offer respect for moderates, because they are, by definition, our sunshine patriots. On our side when they're tired of taxes, and on their side when they need moral convenience. Where is the strength in that? Conservatives are getting on their feet now. They are learning to speak without the help of the media. They are learning to ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Frank DeMartini: There is always mention of, "the Big Tent", and how Republicans should always try to include everyone under that tent, a tent defined and encouraged by the statist liberal. The same statist liberals that are currently gleefully destroying the Nation, sir. Sir, could you please tell me WHY we should always do what our political enemies tell us to do? If I were the enemy of ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

The United States is a conservative nation, overwhelmingly. This nonsense of coddling the far left's lunacy that's destroying this nation and calling it "Moderate" is insane! Why the NYS Republican Party selected a liberal moron that made Obama look like a skinflint Sunday school teacher is beyond me. NitsnBolts is right, the Republican Party MUST get serious about ideas, and here's ... See all content Hide content

clstrout 3 months ago on Twitter

Reading Election Night Tea Leaves and Wearing Lucky Neckties: Big Hollywood (blog)

They are represented by the .. http://bit.ly/Xx93z

3 months ago on Intensedebate

What you call the right wing was about where John Kennedy stood, and the "moderates" and independents will not hesitate to support those candidates over socialists any day of the week. What needs to happen is the Republican party needs to quit being afraid of ideas, and get solidly on the side of limited government and individual rights. If the party doesn't do that it's less than ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Didn't we try the moderate thing last presidential election? Uh--it didn't work.

3 months ago on Intensedebate

I object to the implication that Independents and "moderates" are interchangeable. The Independents I know are simply people who didn't want to declare a party affiliation but are either decidedly liberal or conservative in their principles and vote accordingly. Moderates, on the other hand, as defined by the likes of Scozzafava to McCain, claim party affiliation but seem to go out of ... See all content Hide content

Tweets that mention Big Hollywood » Blog Archive » Reading Election Night Tea Leaves and Wearing Lucky Neckties -- Topsy.com 3 months ago on Wordpress

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Big Hollywood and Fernando Colon, Michael Chavez. Michael Chavez said: Reading Election Night Tea Leaves and Wearing Lucky Neckties http://bit.ly/2S53tP [...]

The_Great_Satan 3 months ago on Wordpress

However, without the moderates; the center of the political spectrum, the Party will not regain control of the Federal Government.

True enough, but who are these moderates, Scozzafava and Specter? Does this argument apply to liberals that purge their moderates like Lieberman? This whole notion of appealing to moderates is how we end up with spineless RINO's. Make the Conservative argument ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

However, without the moderates; the center of the political spectrum, the Party will not regain control of the Federal Government. True enough, but who are these moderates, Scozzafava and Specter? Does this argument apply to liberals that purge their moderates like Lieberman? This whole notion of appealing to moderates is how we end up with spineless RINO's. Make the Conservative argument and ... See all content Hide content

Tennessee_Jed 3 months ago on Wordpress

Democrat lite is a losing hand. If there had been a primary, Hoffman would have won. Moderates will support our side.

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Democrat lite is a losing hand. If there had been a primary, Hoffman would have won. Moderates will support our side.

LLOROB 3 months ago on Wordpress

I'm speaking without even a hat, if you believe the Texas adage all hat and no cattle.

I would ask you to reverse your theory that the Republicans can not win without the moderates.

I ask can the moderates win without the conservatives. My anecdotal experience is a lot of

conservatives are not going to vote for McCain style candidate again. I agree a third party is no ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

I'm speaking without even a hat, if you understand the Texas adage all hat and no cattle. I would ask you to reverse your theory that the Republicans can not win without the moderates. I ask can the moderates win without the conservatives. My anecdotal experience is a lot of conservatives are not going to vote for McCain style candidate again. I agree a third party is no answer certainly not a ... See all content Hide content

Krig_the_Viking 3 months ago on Wordpress

This is exactly what happened in Canada in the 90s with the Reform party.

3 months ago on Intensedebate

This is exactly what happened in Canada in the 90s with the Reform party.

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