Imagine my surprise when I read in yesterday's New York Times that Republican congressional candidate Dede Scozzafava had dropped out of tomorrow's special election in upstate New York only days before the election.
Scozzafava saw the handwriting -- and the mud -- on the wall, slung by Republicans to her extreme right. Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, Fred Thompson, Dick Armey, Tim Pawlently, Rick Santorum, Steve Forbes and James Dobson all endorsed her opponent, conservative candidate Doug Hoffman.
Some are surprised that Scozzafava has endorsed Bill Owens, the Democratic candidate. I'm not. I was a Republican for 30 years myself until last January when I voted for the person I felt best reflected my hopes for the country -- Barack Obama, a Democrat, whom, unlike many of my more progressive friends, I considered to be a moderate.
My former party, I'm afraid, has been hijacked by the extreme right wing. When I see names like Rick Santorum bubbling to the surface again, it gives me the heebie jebbies. Santorum, the sanctimonious former senator from Pennsylvania, was run out of town (Washington) for a number of alleged improprieties, including keeping a phony residence in Pennsylvania so the taxpayers would pay for his children to attend a cyberschool. Ironically, he is also an evangelical, a trait he shares with many other Hoffman supporters.
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Comments: 35
The idea that TWO parties can accurately represent the best interests of three hundred six million plus people is ludicrous.
If the current version of the others ever comes into power again we are doomed.
The 1980, and 1990's, were the period of banishment for moderates. The number of moderates fell to a handful, and the "do nothing" Congress was born.
In 2000, Karl Rove forged a coalition of Republican (some time) voters. A small fraction of moderates found a seat at this table.
Finally, in 2006, the Democratic party signed-up blue dogs, in toss-up States.
The election of Obama might continue the process, but it's not just the Republicans that need to be involved in the next move.
Prima Donna, that is the first whom I have seen used correctly in ages. It is the subject of the infinitive to be. I am impressed!
Few people whom I know have any idea about the proper use of "who/whom."
For a fun afternoon, let's get together and diagram sentences.
I know it is not that far to 2010, but I am not going to worry too much. Anything can happen between now and then.
the Libertarians and their Laissez faire Capitalism,
the economic conservative, but social liberals,
religioius conservative but economic liberal, and
the states rights, libertarian, religious who want to limit the rights of others, state by state since the U. S. Supreme Court keeps telling them no.
Perhaps we will get to watch them chew each other to useless ineffective bits.
We know none of them are interested in compromise or cooperation. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Ms S is not a moderate in any sense of the word she is so far left she makes a Socialist look like a moderate.