June 2, 2009, 9:00 am
Obama to Name N.Y. Congressman the Army Secretary
Representative John M. McHugh, a Republican congressman from New York, will be nominated by President Obama to be secretary of the Army, according to officials, as the administration continues to reach into the ranks of the opposition for executive appointments.
Mr. Obama formally offered the Pentagon position to the lawmaker on Monday afternoon, and his nomination is expected to be announced later on Tuesday, officials said. Mr. McHugh would join former House Republican colleague Ray LaHood of Illinois, the secretary of transportation, in the Obama administration.
The nine-term House member, who represents a sprawling northern New York district that includes the Fort Drum Army base, is the senior Republican on the Armed Services Committee and has a solid reputation with members of both parties for his knowledge of military affairs. He also serves on the Board of Visitors for the United States Military Academy at West Point.
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Democrats say they would have a chance at winning the seat though it would still favor a Republican candidate. If Democrats were able to flip the representation, it would leave only two Republicans in the state’s 29-member House delegation with redistricting looming after the 2010 Census. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/obama-to-name-ny-congressman-the-army-secretary/?hp That Palin Woman: Support Doug Hoffman Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 9:28pm
I am very pleased to announce my support for Doug Hoffman in his fight to be the next Representative from New York's 23rd Congressional district. It's my honor to endorse Doug and to do what I can to help him win, including having my political action committee, SarahPAC, donate to his campaign the maximum contribution allowed by law.
Our nation is at a crossroads, and this is once again a "time for choosing." <snip>
And best of all, Doug Hoffman has not been anointed by any political machine.
Doug Hoffman stands for the principles that all Republicans should share: smaller government, lower taxes, strong national defense, and a commitment to individual liberty.
Political parties must stand for something. When Republicans were in the wilderness in the late 1970s, Ronald Reagan knew that the doctrine of "blurring the lines" between parties was not an appropriate way to win elections. Unfortunately, the Republican Party today has decided to choose a candidate who more than blurs the lines, and there is no real difference between the Democrat and the Republican in this race. This is why Doug Hoffman is running on the Conservative Party's ticket.
Republicans and conservatives around the country are sending an important message to the Republican establishment in their outstanding grassroots support for Doug Hoffman: no more politics as usual.
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=157794838434 Rush Limbaugh livid: GOP has death wish
10/27/09
"Now, Hoffman wanted to run as a Republican. He is a Republican. He was passed over by the GOP, who picked Scozzafava instead. So he's running on the Conservative Party ticket because the GOP passed him over, but this is a wakeup call for both parties," he said.
"I know the temptation for a third party is tempting,
but right now conservatism is on the ascendancy, it's actually good to be a conservative, and this is the time to reassert control over the Republican Party. It's not going to be easy but the Democrats, the far left didn't go out and form a third party. They took over the Democrat Party," he said.
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=114260 11/1/09
The new survey of the NY-23 special election from Public Policy Polling (D) finds Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman with a solid lead over Democrat Bill Owens, in a race that has seen a topsy-turvy weekend as moderate GOP nominee Dede Scozzafava dropped out and endorsed Owens.
The numbers: Hoffman 51%, Owens 34%, and Scozzafava (whose name remains on the ballot) 13%, with a ±2.3% margin of error.
In a strict two-way matchup, Hoffman leads Owens by 54%-38%.http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/11/poll-hoffman-leads-owens-in-ny-23.php Steele: Scozzafava backlash was the primaryTuesday, November 3, 2009
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele on Tuesday questioned party leaders in upstate New York for using a committee process to select a congressional candidate, but said the ensuing public discourse served as a de facto primary that led to conservatives getting the best candidate.
"What you saw was a primary process -- that would have happened -- unfold before your very eyes," Mr. Steele said about the efforts of high-profile conservatives and others that in part led Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava to quit three days before Tuesday's election.
"Maybe you should have a primary the next time instead of having 11 guys in a room sit around and select your nominee," he added.
"There's some lessons to be learned here." http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/nov/03/steele-scozzafava-backlash-was-primary/ White House Sees 'Ramifications' for 2010 in New York Congressional RaceNovember 03, 2009
The conservative rebellion against a moderate Republican candidate for Congress in upstate New York has "ramifications" for the 2010 elections, the White House said Tuesday, while dismissing as "navel-gazing" any speculation about the impact of the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races.
But Gibbs was willing to acknowledge that the White House has some interest in the special election for New York's 23rd Congressional District seat.
"I do think there are interesting tidbits that we see coming out of New York 23," he said.
Gibbs' remarks were meant more as a warning to the Republican Party than Democrats, however.
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"I think there are a host of primaries that will affect 2010 next year that pit moderate Republican candidates and conservative Republican candidates," Gibbs said. "I think many in the Republican Party hung out a sign ... that moderates need not apply.
"I do think that has ramifications for next year," he added. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/03/white-house-sees-ramifications-new-york-congressional-race/ New York's 23rd Congressional District Democratic candidate Bill Owens celebrates his victory at Democratic headquarters in Plattsburgh, N.Y., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009YOU can call him "Barack Obama" ........ *I* will call him...... THE CHESS MASTA!!!!!! :fistbump:
(and lol ..... even as I post this, the Countdown rerun from earlier this evening has O'Donnel asking Fineman how he thinks the President should spin their pending loss in NY-23. ;) )