The unlikely battlefield of NY-23 is taking on epic proportions. What's interesting about it is that it's the first time the tea-party base has declared a real war on the GOP. I guess you could see the Palin nomination as the first real swipe at the Republican leadership, but it was an attempt by the GOP leadership to coopt the base fringe. This time, there's no attempt, just a brutal civil war.
According to Michelle Malkin, Scozzafava is a "radical leftist." What makes her a radical leftist?
Malkin firstly lists her support for abortion rights and marriage equality. Since abortion rights command around 50 percent of the country, and since either civil unions or civil marriage are backed by two-thirds of Americans, that would imply that half the country are "radical leftists". Yes, Scozzafava backed a bank bailout, some tax hikes, and the stimulus package. But is it now "radical leftism" to believe that the government has a reason to run deficits in the sharpest downturn in decades? Is it "radical leftism" to believe that, without deep cuts in entitlements and defense, tax hikes are essential for fiscal balance?
More to the point, Scozzafava is actually on the right of her party ... in New York State: