Guns and abortion never came up in the race

Not correct, I live in the district. When I came out of church last week, there were flyers on all the cars stating that Tedesco is pro-life and Murphy is not.

If you mean that Tedisco did not drill this in his campain adds, then you are corect.
And yes, I voted.

Steele is supposed to help get people elected, that is true. But the people who are actually running need to be the ones who take the message to the people. I think one election, either way is not enough to evaluate Steele. After all if there was a better more conservative candidate to run in this district he or she should have stepped up to the plate. At some point rank and file need to do more than complain, they need to get actively involved.

I think Democrats should wait before they rejoice here, win or lose this is too close to call a bewether for either side.

Steele’s RNC is sticking it to the base and we are just starting to push back.

I worked for the RNC for a while. I got assigned to working with congressional candidates, many of whom did not want to hear my ideas for recruiting new voters. They just wanted to stand on the base. I quit when I saw how hopeless it was / is.

I’m a Libertarian now with no real party to look to as the LP blows in its own way. I am seriously thinking of running as a dem seeing how I could do or say anything and get away with it.

Guns are very big and taxes are very big, but spending is not that critical. It is an odd setup in NY, and it takes very precise polling to win there.

That being said this was a very winnable race and whoever they had doing their polling and turnout needs to have their names publish so we can know never, never to hire them.

On the other hand, Tedisco went into this race with a substantial double-digit lead over Murphy. Instead of immediately professing opposition to Porkulus, which would have resonated in this district, Tedisco took a long time to make up his mind about it, which Murphy skewered in campaign ads. Guns and abortion never came up in the race despite Murphy’s vulnerability on the issues. Losing steam in the manner that Tedisco did against a candidate significantly farther to the left than Gillibrand might look as though Republicans will fare poorly in the coming midterms.

Thats the ticket, Ed. If Steele’s RNC could not get a message to resonate in a majority Republican district, 2010 is looking bleak. The message is not only not getting through, it is not being delivered. Tedisco was a lousy candidate and Republicans deserve better. Steele’s RNC is sticking it to the base and we are just starting to push back. : ))

I disagree. Gillebrand won 62 – 38 last November, and this race was 50 – 50 only three months after inauguration. I see a trend; it is just early days.

Vashta.Nerada on April 1, 2009 at 12:03 PM

I sure hope you’re right. I’m just in a bad funk these days. I’m surrounded by Obama worshippers. My kids, including my son the pilot who’s losing his weapon in the Flight Deck program, even thinks this guy is great and see’s no problems with the rest of his agenda.

I was raising those kids during the Carter years, obviously they’re too young to remember. But the crap seems to be hitting the fan a whole lot faster than what went down in the 70′s.

HA has become safe haven for me. At least I know there are others that think like me even if they don’t always agree with me.

No, but Denver is trading Cutler.

Snowed In on April 1, 2009 at 12:23 PM

Thank you. You really fooled me on the Vick thing.

Pretty remarkable, given that this was a Dem controlled seat, won by Obama, Clinton and Schumer in past elections. And Murphy lead this outside the margin of error just a few days ago.

What caused the sudden drop for Murphy? My guess is the last minute Dem strategy to link Tedisco to Palin. It backfired big time.

Seriously?

myrenovations on April 1, 2009 at 12:15 PM

No, but Denver is trading Cutler.

If and when the sea change comes in the 2010 and 2012 elections, it better come with a clear message that government must be made radically smaller.

JudetheFossil on April 1, 2009 at 12:15 PM

Amen. Republicans also have to get some younger and better candidates. Tedisco looked old and tired next to a youthful and energetic Murphy. I realize that in a special election sometimes it is best to run the person with the highest name ID, but in this era of “change” it is important for people to feel they really are voting for change.

petunia on April 1, 2009 at 12:17 PM

My point is is that if Tediso won, Ed’s post this morning would have been “epic fail for obama. he has no coat tails” Something to that effect.

But it wasn’t a win, so it’s meaningless this morning.

Is it really? I don’t know. But the spin makes me dizzy.

“I do swear [name] that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Queen Sarah of Wasilla, regina Alaska, queen regnant of the fifty independent states, YOU BETCHA!!!!!”

I’m all in. For today anyways.

Oddly enough, Joe Namath was just signed by the Atlanta Falcons.

Knucklehead on April 1, 2009 at 11:58 AM

I really think it’s more like they haven’t seen the bill for it yet. Or the effects. Give it a year or so and things will change. If people are still content to be dumb in 2010; then they are ready for serfdom.

Ed. Let’s be honest. If Tedisco won walking away, it would have been a major rebuke for Obama.

lorien1973 on April 1, 2009 at 12:09 PM

What this really proves is that in a district that is pretty evenly inclined to vote either way–both sides campaigned like crazy– and even with an inferior canidate the Republicans likely won during the honeymoon of the smartest President ever!!!

This probably means the anger at the Republicans is easing and the playing feild is flattening out. It really is too close to call an out and out victory either way… but is a slight win for whoever really gets a slight win.

In other words it is what is is. Really.

Way OT: I think the ‘Limbaugh Letter’ is from someone on the left. Definitely not Coulter. It’s got the feel of the stereotypical Seminar caller: “I’ve been a lifelong conservative, but I’m going to vote against common sense and fundamental American values this time around because ________.” Seen here in the form of: “I’ve been a lifelong Limbaugh, but (I envy his wealth and he has too much and I’m a humble school teacher and I went to Columbia and one must be lib to be intellectual yadda yadda yadda)

OT:

Micheal Vick signed by NY Jets

faraway on April 1, 2009 at 12:04 PM

Seriously?