Dick Armey Heads to NY-23 for Hoffman

Monday, October 19th at 4:45PM EST

27 Comments

It has been much rumored, but not fully confirmed until now. Dick Armey, the House Majority Leader after the 1994 Conservative Revolution will go to New York to campaign for Doug Hoffman.

In an exclusive conversation with RedState, Armey explains his reasons.

“We win when we are us. We lose when we are Democrat lite,” he told me. In New York’s 23rd Congressional District, two Democrats and a Republican are running for Congress. One of the Democrats just happens to have an “R” next to her name and the Republican is running on the Conservative Party ticket thanks to the way the candidates were chosen.

“We attract people by being small government conservatives,” Armey told me. “Big Government Republicans, though they call themselves Big Government Conservatives, do not win. I would tell the Republican Party leadership it cannot win if it insists on recruiting and supporting candidates out of step with the voters.”

I asked Armey what he’d say to the Republicans who are backing the very liberal Dede Scozzafava. He said he would “say listen to Ronald Reagan. Reagan said good policy is good politics. My position is to support the candidate who supports policies good for America. That’s what Reagan did too.” He continued by saying it was “baloney” that Hoffman could not beat Scozzafava. “People are largely disaffected with Obama and we need to draw sharp distinctions,” he said.

In Scozzafava, the GOP is running a candidate “who doesn’t draw a distinction. She says ‘vote for me, I’m just like him.’”

Armey said he does not think the establishment within the Republican Party really understands the mood of the country right now. “There is a sharp difference between now and November. If we knew then what we know now, I doubt Obama would have been elected,” he said.

Dick Armey has always been an uncompromising leader of small government “leave me the hell alone” conservatism. He’s now headed up to New York to campaign for a like minded candidate in Doug Hoffman. You can help.

27 Comments Leave a comment

What is the possibility that Owens wins witha plurality vote?

suzieQ (Diary) Monday, October 19th at 5:13PM EST (link)

In other words, if Hoffman splits off a chunk of the conservative vote from Scozzafava, then Owens wins with a plurality but not the majority?

“Andy Stern, the head of the Service Employees International Union, is the union leader who probably best understands the challenge of the world market and the need to make American union members productive in the face of world competition.” – Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich Co-Sponsored a Global Warming Bill Calling for ‘International Agreement on Population Growth’

“I would have signed the assault weapon ban that came to his desk. I said I would have supported that and signed a similar bill in our state.” – Mitt Romney 2008
Gun Owners Of America on Mitt Romney

Headed into 2010

Hooah_Mac (Diary) Monday, October 19th at 5:30PM EST (link)

The Republican party is better served with an Obama lover with a D after their name than an Obama lover with an R. The R helps us in no way and muddles the message.

Best Case : Hoffman wins – Additional conservative in Congress

Middle Case: Owens wins – Liberal in that seat

Worst Case: Scozzafava wins – Liberal in that seat AND the conservative message is muddled, making it harder to make the case against President Obama and the Democrat Congress

-Priorities-
1. Mission 2. Soldiers 3. Everything Else

Also keep in mind that Scozzafava

Illinicon (Diary) Monday, October 19th at 5:48PM EST (link)

is backed by Kos in this election and in the past has been endorsed by ACORN and the Working Families Party in the past and I am sure they support her this time around to but wont annouce because they know how radioactive they are.

My Potus shortlist

declared candidates:

1. Tim Pawlenty
2. Herman Cain
3. Gary Johnson
4. Rick Santorum

among declared and rumored candidates:

1. Rick Perry
2. Tim Pawlenty
3. Rudy Giuilani
4. Herman Cain

I do believe someone needs to SMACK the NRCC upside the head....

JadedByPolitics (Diary) Monday, October 19th at 5:59PM EST (link)

they are so far off kilter as to be irrelevant…oh yeah they are irrelevant! Man their coffer’s will most certainly suffer behind this act of stupidity!

Unified Patriots – How-To:
Activists Taking Action

Kos's backing...

naraht Monday, October 19th at 10:19PM EST (link)

Kos’s backing has less to do with Scozzzafava being to the left of Owens (which he *may* be on the issues of gay rights and abortion) and more to do with the fact that with two candidates that are almost identical on position, Kos would rather see a Republican in Congress than a Blue Dog.

McHugh’s Democratic opponents normally didn’t break 40%, but with this being a three way race, the Democrat may not have to.

Expected Post election media spin… (assuming the winner gets a plurality)
Owens wins — One Less New York Republican, New York following New England
Scozzafava wins — No change, Republican keeps Republican seat in a squeaker, winning considerably less of the vote than McHugh
Hoffman wins — Anger at both Democrats and Republicans rising, will he join the Republican Caucus?

Also, I think who wins will have effects in the relationship between the New York Republican Party and the New York Republican Party…

Hoffman CAN win this...

jerseygalnny Tuesday, October 20th at 8:06AM EST (link)

Hoffman can win this, and if he doesn’t, it will likely go to the Democrat. Either way, the GOP gets that knock upside the head another commenter spoke of. I agree also, that DeDe winning is the worst case scenario.

Give to Hoffman, vote for Hoffman

Challenge to winner a factor

maddog (Diary) Tuesday, October 20th at 8:30AM EST (link)

I like your analysis Hoaah. I’d like to add to it if I may.

Challenging the winner is also a factor.

Middle case. Owens wins. If there is a liberal D in the seat we can challenge with a real conservative the next cycle. This is still an R district and we as conservatives have a chance to win to win this seat back next time.

Worst case. If Scozzafa wins, it’ll be much harder for us to primary an incumbent in our own party (look at Lindsay Graham.) Open seats and seats held by those Members mismatched with a district’s politcal leanings are always easier to win (Owens). We as conservatives will have a much harder time winning this seat back if a liberal Republican wins now.

I fear we may be stuck with Scozzafava if she wins. We are not stuck if Owens wins.

Donation problems...

patlandy Tuesday, October 20th at 7:29AM EST (link)

What the heck is wrong with these webmasters when it comes to secure donations???….
I clicked on the link provided in this article and was directed to a page displaying an http:// link instead of an https:// link.. so..
I went to hoffman’s site and clicked on donate and was directed to an https:// site… fine, I filled out the form and clicked “submit” and got a popup that said that while I the information I was sending was encrypted, it was being sent over an unencrypted link and could be intercepted…… I clicked anyway and guess what?…. I got a popup that said “your donation did not go through” go back to the donate page and try again….
Come on people…. how the heck can we compete with the left on the “tech” side of politics if we can’t even put together a secure method of donating to out candidates????

Is there a run off?

Kayla Monday, October 19th at 5:41PM EST (link)

Will there be a run off between the top 2 vote getters or will the one with the most votes win?

I Don't Think So, Nope - Plurality Wins (nt)

IJB Monday, October 19th at 7:28PM EST (link)

Is there a run off?

Kayla Monday, October 19th at 5:41PM EST (link)

Will there be a run off between the top 2 vote getters or will the one with the most votes win?

Show me the money -

wgsampson Monday, October 19th at 6:24PM EST (link)

The NRSC – John Cornyn – has come under merciless (but justified) attack for its decision making. Much of it from Redstate – Thanks. I think there is a corelation between that, and the fact that over the past couple of months the NRSC has had its clock cleaned by the Dems in fundraising. While the NRCC has been better, for the most part, is this going to turn the fundraising tide against them? It should.

Seriously GOP? Thank you Armey & Redstate

Elizabeth Christian (Diary) Monday, October 19th at 6:37PM EST (link)

I completely agree with the scenario’s by Hooah_Mac. Way to go Dick Armey & all here fighting for the REAL Republican – what is the idiots in the NRCC & Newt Gingrich thinking? An ACORN endorsed, KOS backed, Margaret Sanger award winning candidate – a Republican (yeah right) – seriously GOP??? The GOP’s worst enemy = idiot endorsements of RINO’s & the GOP itself!!! 1st endorsing Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio & now a far left candidate with ties to the most radical groups on the left over a conservative – yeah somebody needs to slap the GOP up side the head!!!

Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.
~Benjamin Franklin

This Is About Sending A Message

crosley (Diary) Monday, October 19th at 6:41PM EST (link)

Question:What is the possibility that (Democrat) Owens wins with a plurality vote?
Answer: Almost 100%

Scozzafava was an awful choice, and if I lived in that district I would probably be voting for Hoffman, but this is really about teaching the NRCC and Republican elites a lesson by handing them a defeat and creating a spoiler vote, it’s not about Hoffman actually winning. It’s a protest vote, and unfortunately it’s a protest vote that will give Democrats a victory.

I personally wouldn’t donate money or expend any energy into Hoffman’s campaign outside of my vote because there is zero chance he will win. There’s not a single 3rd party congressman in the House, and this district has enough Democrats to easily put Owens over the top if the Republican vote is even a bit splintered. You would have to convince at least 90% of Republicans voting in that district to vote against the Republican and vote for a 3rd party. It’s never going to happen.

In 2010, Republican voters will be able to nominate a candidate that actually has at least some common cause with conservatives.

that is my thinking

kyle8 (Diary) Monday, October 19th at 6:47PM EST (link)

voting for the Republican even when they are a flaming lefty, has gotten us nowhere. Forcing them to put up at least a moderate/right leaning candidate because they know we will stay home is the only way to get any change.

“Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty”
Kyle

This is about learning

wgsampson Monday, October 19th at 6:47PM EST (link)

I keep thinking about one of the final scenes in the movie “War Games” were Matthew Broadrick teaches the Computer, Joshua, how to play tic-tac-toe. The hope was that the computer would learn – in time. Will they learn?

Should only use this tactic once in a blue moon

crosley (Diary) Monday, October 19th at 6:58PM EST (link)

I think this tactic should be used VERY sparingly. The last time I can think of where I would have voted 3rd party in order for the Democrat to win was Sen. Lincoln Chaffee.

I’m more pragmatic about electing politicians, and I think some conservative activists sometimes get too caught up in ideological purity. I think 99% of the time, conservative interests are served better by the Republican being elected over the Democrat, even if the Republican is a moderate. But this is one of those rare times where that’s not the case.

You just have to be careful when you start encouraging 3rd party voting, it’s playing with fire.

Zero Chance Hoffman Will Win?! Really?!

IJB Monday, October 19th at 7:31PM EST (link)

What? – Do you have a direct line to God?!

If not, you have no idea what the odds are that Hoffman pulls this out.

I can pretty much guarantee his odds better than 0% (and, more importantly, his odds are getting better with every passing second).

Being facetious

crosley (Diary) Monday, October 19th at 7:56PM EST (link)

I think his chances are the same as Ross Perot’s were at becoming President.

I would love it if Hoffman won, but look at the record of third party candidacies. Their vote usually collapses on election day because people vote for the lesser of two evils. There also isn’t a single congressional seat in the US held by a 3rd party.

Let me put it this way, I would bet ANY amount of money and give that person 10 to 1 odds that Hoffman will not win this election. Any takers? I hope I’m wrong.

I understand the tactic, and I think it will be a huge wake up call to the Republican leadership, but I really don’t see Hoffman as anything else but a spoiler vote.

I know when William F. Buckley ran for mayor on the Conservative ticket, he never seriously thought he was actually going to win, he ran as a spoiler for John Lindsey.

I take the bet: 10 to 1

Chong Wednesday, October 21st at 2:23PM EST (link)

That is a good odd, Hoffman has good chance with the mental state of “We the People”. I don’t want you money when I win, just you donate it to the next 3rd party candidate in anywhere within the nation. A friendly bet, I offer just $1 to your $10. If you do win, I will still donate $10 to candidate of your choosing. Here is something else you got to think of, there are more active new voters. I am one of those new voter, I am not a party junkie.

United “We” stand, divided “We” fall

Arlen Specter got the GOP nod, but...

voxoreason Tuesday, October 20th at 10:00AM EST (link)

Realizing he didn’t have a snowball’s chance, switched over to the Dems. Sadly, sitting repub (at the time) Specter was supported by the GOP machine over former Club for Growth leader Pat Toomey, the “roll up his sleeves” conservative choice. The GOP obviously can’t compete with Dems in the machine politics area.

Here's the Club for Growth Ad:

ColdWarrior (Diary) Monday, October 19th at 7:04PM EST (link)

Hat Tip to TCOTReport (www.tcotreport.com) for posting it:

Thank you.

ColdWarrior
www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com

In 2012, will YOU become a “voting member” of the Republican Party in your precinct?

Where it all started. Twitter @kaltkrieger
Learn how to GOTV at The Concord Project and at Procinct and Unified Patriots.

DumpDede.wordpress.com

bkeyser Monday, October 19th at 10:28PM EST (link)

Dana Loesch has started a new blog here: https://dumpdede.wordpress.com/

Nice to see conservatives passionate again.

Hoffman is probably even with Dede

sapwolf Tuesday, October 20th at 5:27AM EST (link)

At this second, Hoffman is probably even with Dede (R-leftist).

He has already stated he will caucus with the GOP. I believe he is a registered Republican.

He has some fierce momentum.

Dick Armey, Club for Growth, and Fred Thompson are backing him.

The big question now going all over the internet:

Will Sarah Palin come out and support Hoffman and/or put in one or more campaign stops? Apparently, Hoffman’s campaign is begging her to help. We could see a surprise visit the final week from her.

This election is a PERFECT situation for Sarah to keep to her own words that she will help common sense conservatives no matter what their party.

If she does not help in some way, it will damage her integrity in the grassroots community and especially the Tea Party Movement.

Please, if you can spare a few bucks, send it to the Hoffman campaign. They are in danger of running out soon.

Hoffman SHOULD win this..

jerseygalnny Tuesday, October 20th at 8:09AM EST (link)

This campaign proves that the GOP does not listen to the people. Newt Gingrich and John Boehner endorse Scozzafava, and ACORN backed, pro abortion, pro gay marriage, pro card check, pro union, pro stimulus RINO.

They have proven themselves to be no more than party hacks.

Dede is imploding

RedBeard Tuesday, October 20th at 9:22AM EST (link)

http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/10/scozzafava_calls_the_cops.asp

The voters, even the libs, need to ask themselves if they wish to be represented by someone with so little backbone.

Standard-bearer for grouchy curmudgeonry since, oh, 1975 or so.

Tell it to the RNCC

Castor (Diary) Tuesday, October 20th at 11:27AM EST (link)

You get to pick: You stick with Dede ,you´ll get zero contributions from conservatives. You drop Dede and get her out of the race so Hoffman wins,then conservative cash starts rolling in.