I just noted that Brad Jones, a more conservative Republican, is preparing to challenge Congressman Sherwood Boehlert. Boehlert has long had conservative challengers in Republican primaries, and his recent stand on Social Security probably encourages them.
NYCO mentions a piece on moderate New York Republicans, and links to another WAMC story that includes comments from Congressman Boehlert on the Republican Main Street Partnership:
Former Congressman Amo Houghton of New York, now retired, started this because he felt very strongly that the moderates weren't really well organized, and yet he also had the feeling that the moderates really spoke for the majority of the American people. And you know, I thought he was right, because the extremes of the left and the right are usually rejected by the majority in favor of something that represents a compromise, a coming together of the two extremes....
When all is said and done, you can be so pure that you insist on having everything the way you want it, if you're on the left or the right. But if you put your feet in cement and refuse to give, you're never going to make any progress. Progress comes when people on the left and the right come together.
Another New York Republican seems to have annoyed conservatives this week, as the New York Times (registration required) reports that Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno "will boycott New York's Conservative Party conference on Monday, his aides said on Friday, as punishment for the party's refusal last July to endorse his re-election." Nassau County Executive (and Democrat) Thomas Suozzi, of Fix Albany, will be speaking there, however.
NYCO also finds that rules reform in the New York State Assembly may have practical results. The vote turned out the same in the end, perhaps, but the getting there was much more interesting.
Posted by simonstl at January 29, 2005 10:52 AM