You, Me, Dede, And NY-23... Oh, Yeah, And Newt And Issa

I don't know about you, but if I were Rep. Steve Israel, Senator Chuck Schumer or general all-around sleaze bucket Rahm Emanuel and I had just cut a deal with Dede Scozzafava to toss a lifetime of Republicanness away for some as yet undelineated bribe, one of the last people I would feed that info to would be anyone whose Rolodex even contained the phone number of weepy Republican blabbermouth Darrell Issa. But Issa claimed on TV yesterday that "top Democrats... promised her favors in return for her endorsement of the remaining Democratic candidate."

Issa also called on Republicans to donate promptly to Hoffman's war chest so that the party writ large could "send a message to Barack Obama that he can't buy this election."

Right-wing front organizations and hate groups have pumped over $4 million dollars into this race so far. Issa himself, who had originally endorsed Scozzafava, became frightened with Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and the other pipers wishy-washy Republicans like Issa dance to and switched his allegiance to Hoffman late in the game.

Issa and other right-wing extremists keep referring to "Democrat" Bill Owens as a "leftist." If only! On many issues-- primarily social-- he is significantly to the right of Scozzafava. Overall, though, his kind of cautious and turgid reactionary bent puts him closer to Scozzafava than Hoffman is. Except for her lifelong fealty to the Republican Party, her endorsement of Owens yesterday shouldn't come as a surprise. And if she winds up switching parties, no doubt Sheldon Silver and Andrew Cuomo are going to be delighted to welcome her onboard.

Since announcing the suspension of my campaign, I have thought long and hard about what is best for the people of this District, and how to answer your questions. This is not a decision that I have made lightly.

You know me, and throughout my career, I have been always been an independent voice for the people I represent. I have stood for our honest principles, and a truthful discussion of the issues, even when it cost me personally and politically. Since beginning my campaign, I have told you that this election is not about me; it's about the people of this District.

It is in this spirit that I am writing to let you know I am supporting Bill Owens for Congress and urge you to do the same.

It's not in the cards for me to be your representative, but I strongly believe Bill is the only candidate who can build upon John McHugh's lasting legacy in the U.S. Congress. John and I worked together on the expansion of Fort Drum, and I know how important that base is to the economy of this region. I am confident that Bill will be able to provide the leadership and continuity of support to Drum Country just as John did during his tenure in Congress.

In Bill Owens, I see a sense of duty and integrity that will guide him beyond political partisanship. He will be an independent voice devoted to doing what is right for New York. Bill understands this district and its people, and when he represents us in Congress he will put our interests first.

Please join me in voting for Bill Owens on Tuesday. To address the tough challenges ahead, we must rise above partisanship and politics and work together. There's too much at stake in this election to do otherwise.

When Lieberman endorsed McCain over Obama last year, viciously smearing his younger Senate protege during the campaign, it was widely rumored that McCain had promised to make him Secretary of State or Defense. Perhaps that's where Issa came up with the idea of a quid pro quo. Maybe, though, Scozzafava endorsed him for the precise reasons she laid out. Hoffman's extreme teabagger approach to politics is antithetic to everything a mainstream politician like Scozzafava has always stood for. The fact that he couldn't answer a single question the Watertown Times editorial board asked him about local issues certainly made her cringe. And it made her-- and plenty of others-- realize he's just the candidate of the hate-filled angry cable TV viewers who get their opinions from Glenn Beck, Ann Coulter and Sean Hannity.

Scozzafava's late nod to Owens could spell trouble for Hoffman, who is statistically deadlocked with his Democratic opponent in recent polls. The New York assemblywoman is considerably more moderate than Hoffman -- and presumably, some of her supporters are too -- so the possibility that many of her prospective voters could gravitate toward Owens on Tuesday is not totally unfathomable.

Nevertheless, Scozzafava's decision on Sunday is bound to infuriate Republicans, many of whom announced within hours of her suspension that they backed Hoffman and hoped soon to welcome him into their caucus. The Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee and a host of party leaders urged their members to do the same, in part to defeat the growing meme that Republicans were warring among themselves about the NY-23 race.

Scozzafava, however, stressed on Sunday that her endorsement was about her district's well being, not her party's appearance. She urged supporters to head to the polls on Tuesday to support Owens because he, more than Hoffman, could best represent Watertown's interests.

Fox, of course, has been lying for two days, assuring all the sheeple that Scozzafava had endorsed Hoffman or was withdrawing to make sure he'd win. And the sheeple insist Fox is a legitimate news source rather than a belief system for the emotionally unbalanced. Tomorrow's the day for NY-23. But the Republican Party problem with their obstreperous extreme right will haunt them for the next several years. Fox isn't going away-- nor is all the hatred and bigotry they spew all day and all night. The teabaggers feel empowered, and the Republican "leadership" feels cowed.

The next scalp they're looking for is Florida Governor Charlie Crist-- and they're likely to get it, as his campaign falters and Marco Rubio's surges, at least among teabagger activists and the lunatic fringe of the Republican Party. That same lunatic fringe is likely to push mainstream conservatives out of primaries in Ohio (Steve Stivers), Kentucky (Trey Grayson), Virginia (Bob Hurt), and Alabama (Martha Roby) in favor of right-wing ideologues (David Ryon, Rand Paul, Bradley Rees and Rob John) who will find it far more difficult to appeal to mainstream voters than to the deranaged Republican Party base. Stock up on the popcorn; there'll be a lot more funny tapdancing like this Fox/Newt Gingrich hilarity below: