NY 23 From the Horse’s Mouth

For those around the country who somehow thought that they understood the politics of New York’s 23 district (or, “The North Country” as we call it) and feel they had a grasp on how “awful” a choice Dede Scozzafava was, they should read this editorial from the local paper. Here’s one of the key portions, explaining just how she wound up as the nominee from what I fully admit is a flawed selection process.

North country Republican leaders could have tapped Scozzafava almost two years ago to be their candidate for the special election for the state Senate, but instead they chose Will Barclay. They learned too late that they had made a mistake when Barclay couldn’t get enough support in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties, Scozzafava’s turf.

Some thought Scozzafava would bolt the party after that slight, but she stayed loyal. And when another special election came around, this time for Congress, she was rewarded in part for that loyalty. And while a lot of special interest groups declared she failed the litmus test to be a Congressional Republican, those who understand the dance in Northern New York — pro-union, pro-NRA, pro-choice, pro-military, etc. — knew she would appeal to that most precious of voting blocs: The one that gives you 51 percent.

Bloggers, commentators, outside agitators, etc. will put their Texas two-step spin on this election as to “what it really means.” Great! Let the dance begin!

But somebody somewhere should note that this sure-bet GOP district is now held by a Democrat because Republicans around the country somehow got it in their heads that to save a village you have to destroy it.

They’re an ornery bunch up there, and in the aftermath of the battle one of the most frequently heard comments seems to be a sense of bitterness over the intrusion of the national media and the demands of other types of Republicans from around the country trying to tell their voters what it means to be conservative. The results should have been predictable, I suppose.

Next year, I can almost guarantee you, things will go back to the status quo. The primary will produce another GOP candidate who would be totally “wishy washy” and unacceptable to Rush Limbaugh or Michelle Malkin, the voters will completely ignore the “wisdom” of the blogosphere and national media, and elect them like they always have. And maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be, eh?