9/17, "NY GOP: The gang that can't vote straight," NY Post, Dan McLaughlin, commentary
"The party has neither the strong bosses needed to force a candidate like Lazio into the right race, nor the open primaries and vibrant grassroots that might have headed off disastrous nominations like Tedisco and Scozzavafa.
- Establishment Republicans have been overthrown by reform-minded Tea Parties in Florida, Alaska and Utah while making accommodations with them in Massachusetts, Texas and Ohio.
But New York's Republicans remain clubby, insular, content in the minority and
- unafraid of their voters.
The Conservative Party, which ought to act as a check on the establishment, has too often instead split the electorate and retarded the growth of an internal momentum for reform that characterizes the two-party system in most states. (This year, the Conservatives gave their line to familiar insiders like Lazio and DioGuardi -- for no obvious principled reason.)
Maybe missing out on the wave this fall will prompt New York's Republicans to copy the success of other state parties -- to adopt a more coherent message and let in more grassroots sunshine."
- From what I can discover, independent voters are not allowed to vote in NY primaries. You have to be registered as a Republican or Democrat (or possibly a Conservative) to be able to vote. When I registered in NY years ago, I wanted to register as an independent, but didn't only because I was told I wouldn't be able to vote in primaries. ed.
via RedState.com
