Conservative in a Blue State: Thoughts on a tale of two elections

Two things happened in New York State yesterday that, unfortunately, will probably be lost by the state leadership in the Republican Party.  Never the less, since “all politics are local” and since at the local level where I live we had the victory, I remain happy and optimistic.

In the small town of Riverhead, on the north fork of Long Island, the Democratic incumbent for town supervisor, (going for his fourth consecutive two year term) was defeated by the Conservative / Republican candidate and the entire team of Conservative / Republican candidates running for town council (two normal terms and one special election) were elected.

This happened as a result of the alignment of the political stars.  Both conservatives and republicans were strongly behind the candidates.  Members of the 912 movement were active in giving their support.  Members of the TEA party movement were also active in giving their support.  In a generally conservative town that last year actually went with a majority for McCain (although they also gave a majority to the incumbent Democrat in Congress at the same time) even the incumbent Democratic candidate tried to invoke Ronald Reagan in his campaign mailing to the people.

In upstate New York, state party officials put in a massively liberal (pro-choice, pro-stimulus, pro-big government) so called “Republican” into office.  The Conservative party rebelled and put forth a more conservative option.  The Republican Party at the national level responded in a knee jerk reaction and supported the Liberal Progressive Republican come hell and high water.  Newt Gingrich sold whatever conservative credentials he had left in order to preserve the name of the party if not the spirit of the party.  Real conservative Republicans (Sara Palin is obvious but former Governor George Pataki is not so obvious) went behind the Conservative candidate.  Then (like I am surprised) the Republican candidate withdrew from the race and backed her support to the Democratic candidate.

With the party fractured, and the grass roots movements not in alignment with the larger “name brand” party, the election went to the Democrats.  I know the reaction of the main stream media already.  “The Republicans lost because the Conservatives tried to hijack the race.”  They will insist that the only way Republicans will win is to embrace the “dark side” of Liberal Progressive Big Government Socialism (and baby killing abortion).  They are wrong, of course, because they refuse to even look at Riverhead, Long Island, New York.

Because of the special election (the candidate of the special election takes his term as soon as the election is certified) the town board of Riverhead will turn into a Republican majority (3 Republicans, 1 Independent, and the Democratic supervisor) immediately and will turn completely Republican in January.  True conservatism does win the race and it will pay off.  Congratulations Sean Walter and the entire Republican / Conservative team!