Tea Party-backed Republicans spur U.S. party switches

[highplainsdem]

Source: Reuters

Tea Party-backed Republicans spur U.S. party switches
By Ellen Wulfhorst
NEW YORK | Tue Nov 2, 2010 2:00pm EDT

(Reuters) - For lifelong Republican Joe Errigo, deciding to cross party lines and support a liberal Democrat for New York governor wasn't nearly as difficult as one might expect.

Republican candidate Carl Paladino -- backed by the conservative Tea Party movement -- raised such political hackles he spawned a "Republicans for Cuomo" movement supporting Democrat Andrew Cuomo.

-snip-

"When I saw his website, I said nobody could be that dumb," said Errigo, an upstate New York Assemblyman, of Paladino, a Buffalo developer and political newcomer.

-snip-

In Delaware, where Christine O'Donnell has Tea Party support, Republicans backing Democrat Chris Coons include a former state judge and former U.S. Congressman. A "Republicans for Coons" Facebook site reads: "Because we just can't support Christine O'Donnell."

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6A04A620101102

[lillypaddle]

1. Bwahaaaaaaahaaaaa

That's wonderful!

[saigon68]

16. The Baby Daddy

[CoffeeCat]

2. I have wondered about this dynamic...

I was heavily involved in the Obama campaign, as many other
DUers were as well.

One thing was evident. There were many, many Republicans (some
who voted for Bush) who were now defecting and voting for Obama.
The reason they were coming on over to our side, according to
their own words--was because of their perception that the Republican
party had gone wildly radical. Bush was too far right for them.

The tea party didn't even exist then!

So now we have the tea party. The looneycats have an even greater
presence and influence in the Republican party.

Are we really to believe that those disaffected Republicans, who thought
the party was too wingnutty two years ago--are suddenly attracted
to an even nuttier party and will vote Republican now?

I'm sorry. I just don't buy it.

I am also wondering about the "anger vote". John King had a U.S. map
that showed that the majority of Americans are voting out of anger.
King assumed that this was due to anger at Obama. Oh really? There's
plenty of anger in the Democratic party. Anger at the tea partiers,
anger at the Republicans in general. Yes, many Dems might be lukewarm
on Obama. Many Progressives are disenfranchised. However, we are still
voting and we are angry as hell at the tea party.

Frankly, I'm incensed that the tea party even exists.

So don't count out the Dems tonight!

[Kolesar]

4. Well said

I know that a lot of republicans identified as "independents" after the bush reign. So when pundits talk about independents, they are viewing a group that is more RW than the independents of a decade ago.

[txaslftist]

7. The Tea Party doesn't exist.

It's just another Newt Gingrich bandwagon, like the so-called conservative revolution and the contract with America.

Just another incarnation of the same old same old GOP.

[callous taoboy]

8. It's like the barn in that Don Delilo book, White Noise.....

Some picturesque barn in rural PA was photographed so many times because of what a picturesaue barn should represent that the barn ended up not existing.

[txaslftist]

9. that's a bit too existential for me..

they took so many pictures of the barn that it vanished? Like its soul was stolen like some South Seas Aborigine??

I need to step away from the bong for a sec.

[callous taoboy]

37. The bong and Delilo go together like ice cream and chocolate sauce.

[Kennah]

17. Very True

I have trouble seeing how the various Tea Party factions will ever play nice together:
- Establishment party neocons
- Religious fundamentalists
- Libertarians
- The unemployed and Social Security recipients who have more in common with the 99ers than the Tea Party nutjobs

[savalez]

12. here here!

[rocktivity]

3. Candidate for this year's "You Call This NEWS?" award

After nearly a year of singing "When The Repubs Come Marching In," the MSM notices Dem-leaning teabaggers just hours before the polls are to close? The walkback has begun--As they say in that beer commerical, "HERE WE GO!"

:rofl:
rocktivity

[goforit]

5. Wish his action would affect Floridas tea party

[lark]

35. As a fellow Floridian, I so feel your pain & anguish today

I just can't get over having Rick Scott for governor. I never expected that, even in our redneck state.

[Tx4obama]

6. In my Houston neighborhood I've seen: Republicans for Bill White (D-TX) for Governor signs. n/t

[lovuian]

10. Yep

Me too
Remember Perry didn't want Unemployment checks from the Feds ...but then he wasn't unemployed

[myrna minx]

11. Very interesting.

:D

[GoCubsGo]

13. There's a similar dynamic like that here in SC

Lots of the republicans here don't like Nikki Haley. I think it's as much that she's a Sanford protege, as it is her being a tea-bagger. Unfortunately, I don't think there are enough of them to make much of a difference.

[Independem]

14. The Truth about TeaParty

The Truth about TeaParty

Turns out that the “tea party” movement sweeping the nation is disproportionately composed of individuals who have higher-than-average incomes. It’s also disproportionately composed of men. And disproportionately composed of white people. And disproportionately composed of self-identified conservatives. And disproportionately composed of self-identified Republicans.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/289821

They are Not Grass Roots, They are Business people that are Republicans that want Power no matter the cost, for the Rich and Greedy.

[Love Bug]

15. Hopefully, the start of a trend!

[TNLib]

18. I kind of wonder if we're going to see a Tea (looney) Party backlash

I think even for some repukes the tea party candidates may be too insane.

[distantearlywarning]

19. I have a Republican friend living in NY.

It is not typical for her to vote anything but a straight-party ticket. She held her nose and voted for McCain/Palin in 2008, because she couldn't bring herself to vote for a Democrat.

She told me she is voting for Cuomo today because she absolutely cannot stomach Paladino, who she considers to be a complete whack-job and totally incapable of doing the job.

[yellerpup]

32. Lots of Republicans in NY yesterday's election

voted a straight party line, except for senators and the governor. Interesting to observe. In our area Cuomo got 127K+ votes vs. Paladino's 66K+ votes. Record turnout, too, second only to 2008--rare turnout when Obama took 70% of our precinct with 843 votes. Yesterday's totals were around 600 in a precinct of 1,100. Paladino motivated lots of people in our area to get to the polls.

[alarimer]

20. I welcome this trend and hope it increases once the Tea Party actually has to govern.

They will prove themselves to be utterly incompetent and corrupt.

[Vincardog]

21. The tea party will NEVER have to govern. They will never have a majority and NO ONE will drive them

to work and tell them exactly what to do. Well Caribou Barbie will tell them but not drive them.

[tomg]

22. Actually,I was talking to

a guy tonight that I really respect ( as much as I often disagree with him): a fiscal conservative but a social liberal. He is a young guy who has worked on republican campaigns. He and I are both absentee ballots overseas - and he had a split ticket in a tight state ( as he admitted far more dem than republican). As he said, he just could not vote for the Tea Party folks in his state. He actually liked a lot of what Obama has done ( interestingly, where I disagree with Obama) and thought his party had really lost it. I think we might see more of this than we expect.

[MadMaddie]

25. I think you may be on to something

I think a lot of true Republicans may not say outloud who they are really voting for.

[tomg]

27. I am beginning to think

that quite a number of people who are decently conservative are as fed up with the insanity on the right as we are. I am pretty far left and make no bones about it, and i know my friends won't ever come over to my point of view. But they don't demonize me, nor I them. As long as we ( the left) stay sane and don't demonize conservatives or lump all conservatives with the xenophobic, or racist or homophobic Know-Nothings, we become a reasonable choice, relative to the alternative.

I don't think that it means we compromise our values (and that is my real fear - after a republican takenover, of course - that if we hold the house, the Dems will see that moving right is the answer). But it means that both sides take principled and reasoned positions that are opposed. as long as the current Republican Party is one predicated on nothing but fear and trembling, the Democrats represent a reasonable alternative. Now, I only hope that we start to represent a reasonable left alternative to the Republican irrational right alternative ( as a note: I believe there is a reasonable and honest right alternative; it is simply one that I whole heartedly oppose and feel is not viable).

[WillyT]

23. K & R !!!

:kick:

[Zambero]

24. And if Palin is the 2012 GOP nominee...

Small wonder the Karl Rovian "GOP Boys Club" is sweating bullets over this prospect of certain crushing defeat. It would be one giant resounding THUD of a grand finale for the Tea Pary movement.

[riverbendviewgal]

26. Here is an amazing video.

Made by CBC....We have some very good journalists here.
The video is about the Tea Party....It really shows what they think.

It is so sad....My condolences . My brother is a redneck Bubba living in NJ. He hates Obama.

I really think the Tea Party has started due to racism....

Anyway just watch the video.

http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/The_Passionate_Eye/1274903384/ID=1631294071


Crashing the Tea Party
RELATED LINKS:
»Crashing the Tea Party25
»The Passionate Eye websi...
November 1, 2010Shows > The Passionate Eye
How the Tea Party movement is shaking up American politics, prior to the US midterm elections.

[Historic NY]

29. Not allow to be streamed outside of Canada....is what I get

[laundry_queen]

33. Wonder why that is?

Is there a site you can see it on? I know I can't get The Daily show from the US comedy central site, I have to go to a Canadian tv site to see it. Maybe somewhere there's a site that will allow you to see it? That's a real shame you can't, the Passionate Eye is an excellent program. It's probably controlled like that by some gov't regulation so American's don't get educated. Wouldn't want that to happen.

[anachro1]

28. Stupidity

always wins out.

[Number23]

30. I'm rec'ing all positive news and intelligent posts today!

This is my fourth rec today. And I've been on DU for 5 hours!! :hi:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

31. 4 of the top 6 PTBers lost...I hope the that someone burned the pink tutu's after Dashle's loss.....

Harry PLEASE DON'T DO IT?!?!

OMG OMG.....Harry just put on his "PINK TUTU"....they just don't get it do they?!?!

I guess they never learn

[annabanana]

34. k&r . . .n/t

[Laelth]

36. Proof that not all Republicans are insane.

What other value it has, I can not say.

-Laelth

[Liberalynn]

38. All I can say is Thank All the Lucky Stars Above

that psycho Pal didn't getin.