NY-26th -- Not 73% Republican anymore.
May 24, 2011 9:04 PM Subscribe
Kathy Hocul has won a heavily Repubican NY-26th district.... Just about a year and change after the Republican "landslide" and their announcement to reform Medicare, railing against the Ryan plan -- seems to have helped her win an improbable election as a Democrat in a Republican district.
Medicare absolutely needs to be reformed. In my view, Ryan is not how to do it, but it was the first serious try. After an election like this one, is Congress even try to touch it?!
Medicare absolutely needs to be reformed. In my view, Ryan is not how to do it, but it was the first serious try. After an election like this one, is Congress even try to touch it?!
This post was deleted for the following reason: Even with fixing the link this basically needs the editorial cut out of it to be okay as a MeFi post, maybe someone else can try again? -- jessamyn
Youz fuck wit da' Medicare, youz fuck wit da' old folks.
Don't fuck wit da' old folks.
posted by Avenger at 9:15 PM on May 24, 2011
Don't fuck wit da' old folks.
posted by Avenger at 9:15 PM on May 24, 2011
In one of his lovely cable-news talking-head montages, Jon Stewart had a segment where he collected clips of 24-hour news networks using the phrase "referendum on Obama" or something similar after republican victories in the fall. New York Times aside, I'm not imagining the phrase "referendum on republicans" will see any serious use. They'll probably just keep quoting Corwin's "‘This is so outrageous no one would ever believe it.’ Apparently some people did." quip.
posted by Rinku at 9:15 PM on May 24, 2011
posted by Rinku at 9:15 PM on May 24, 2011
I wonder how much this result has to do with the traditional Republican voters bloodlust being satiated after Obama announced Osama's death, as opposed to the Health Care thing.
posted by Effigy2000 at 9:16 PM on May 24, 2011
posted by Effigy2000 at 9:16 PM on May 24, 2011
Considering Republicans have a 6-7% registration advantage this is fantastic. This is bad news for Erie county executive Chris Collins who has spent his career destroying health services for the many impoverished people in Buffalo. As in, closing health centers in the poor black neighborhoods of Buffalo but leaving them open for the wealthy in Amherst.
I can't get too excited for a Dem winning in a Republican district. But for the powers behind this election this is excellent news for upcoming races.
posted by munchingzombie at 9:18 PM on May 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
I can't get too excited for a Dem winning in a Republican district. But for the powers behind this election this is excellent news for upcoming races.
posted by munchingzombie at 9:18 PM on May 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
She won because the Tea Party candidate took 9% of the vote from the GOP candidate. 43+9=52
posted by republican at 9:20 PM on May 24, 2011
posted by republican at 9:20 PM on May 24, 2011
Tea Party is the new Nader.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 9:21 PM on May 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Threeway Handshake at 9:21 PM on May 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
She won because the Tea Party candidate took 9% of the vote from the GOP candidate. 43+9=52
Unclear; the 'Bagger previously ran as a Dem, before that as a Republican.
posted by orthogonality at 9:22 PM on May 24, 2011
Unclear; the 'Bagger previously ran as a Dem, before that as a Republican.
posted by orthogonality at 9:22 PM on May 24, 2011
That Tea Party candidate is Jack Davis who is a perennial candidate and has run as a Democrat three times before in the past; often with the endorsement of the progressive Working Families Party. I assure you that any vote for him was made by the 9% of NY-26 residents who pulled the wrong leaver.
posted by munchingzombie at 9:24 PM on May 24, 2011
posted by munchingzombie at 9:24 PM on May 24, 2011
Now Reid calls for a vote on Ryan's Medicare bill in the Senate and twists the knife people can shut up about Dem's lack of strategy for one news cycle.
posted by 2bucksplus at 9:25 PM on May 24, 2011
posted by 2bucksplus at 9:25 PM on May 24, 2011
Don't be so quick to credit the Tea Party candidate, Jack Davis, for Hochul's win. In the last poll taken by Sienna before the election, 13% of Republicans and 10% of Democrats expressed support for Davis (who, as has been mentioned, ran in the district as the Democratic candidate in 2006).
Plus, the momentum of the race clearly shifted as soon as the Ryan plan became the focus of debate. I think it's reasonable to say discontent over the idea of essentially defunding Medicare drove up Democratic turnout and may have gotten some Rs to pull the D lever.
posted by Bromius at 9:28 PM on May 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Plus, the momentum of the race clearly shifted as soon as the Ryan plan became the focus of debate. I think it's reasonable to say discontent over the idea of essentially defunding Medicare drove up Democratic turnout and may have gotten some Rs to pull the D lever.
posted by Bromius at 9:28 PM on May 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Reid who just undermined Obama by demonstrating his ability to bend his knees for AIPAC.
posted by orthogonality at 9:28 PM on May 24, 2011
posted by orthogonality at 9:28 PM on May 24, 2011
« Older Henriette Coulouvrat | Flashlight worthy - Really good books Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
And not by the bullshit Ryan plan -- which is essentially, give seniors a subsidy with which to buy for-profit insurance, as opposed to the direct payment with only 3% overheard of the current system -- is exactly what Republicans scream is "Socialized Medicine" when applied to anyone under 65.
Of course, what for-proit insurer is going to other a 65 year old with multiple pre-existing conditions any decent insurance?
As usual, Republicans aren't about anyone's security -- they're about privatizing profits and socializing costs -- as in Ryan's plan to offer (paltry) subsidies to buy for-profit insurance.
Real reform consists in establishing a real Single Payer system not just for those over 65, but for everyone. Take the profit away from the insurers, and use that to cut costs.
posted by orthogonality at 9:14 PM on May 24, 2011 [3 favorites]