Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009

RSS |

Twitter

analysis

Book Tour Shows Palin
Hitting a Nerve

'Going Rogue' phenomenon may foreshadow something bigger

Nov 22, 09 2:46 PM CST
Matt Taibbi

Palin: Our First WWE Politician

Pick an asshole, any asshole, and she'll rock the house

Nov 22, 09 10:44 AM CST
ROLLICKING RHODE ISLAND

Zip It on
Communion
Ban: Bishop
to Kennedy

Tobin thinks Patrick's spiritual matters should be left private

Nov 23, 09 1:21 PM CST
DAVID FRUM

Pundits Lie, Numbers Don't:
Women Despise Palin

Frum: So stop telling us how popular she is with 'the people'

Nov 23, 09 9:26 PM CST
Once-Profitable Services
Are Killing Local Budgets

Utilities, transport, even gambling, are now $3.5B drains

Nov 23, 09 11:52 AM CST
Debt-Happy US Faces Payback Time as Rates Rise

Cost of debt to skyrocket $500B in next 10 years

Nov 23, 09 7:29 AM CST
Ethics Panel Charges Sanford With 37 Violations

Civil committee slams SC gov for travel expenses

Nov 23, 09 2:25 PM CST
First State Dinner to
Reveal Obama A-Listers

Mad scramble for invitations

Nov 23, 09 1:42 AM CST
the big plan

Beck Will Host Conventions
to Educate America

He's shifting toward political organizer, plans big DC rally

Nov 21, 09 5:06 PM CST
Jim DeMint Becomes Hill's Top Tea Partier

South Carolina senator throws weight behind conservative insurgents

Nov 23, 09 7:47 AM CST
editorial

NYT to Blankfein:
Your 'Apology'
Is Bull

Editorial board schools Goldman CEO in true meaning of 'sorry'

Nov 22, 09 4:53 PM CST
Congress' New
Whipping Boy:
The Fed

Bernanke & Co. run into populist ire over Wall St bailouts, unemployment

Nov 23, 09 8:54 AM CST
Palin Pulls in Big Bucks
—for Democrats

'Going Rogue' boosts Dem fundraising to new high

Nov 21, 09 6:50 AM CST

|NEXT STORY »

ANALYSIS

Meet the Future of Conservatism

Novice Doug Hoffman is shaking up the right

By Nick McMaster| Posted Oct 21, 09 6:22 PM CDT|

(Newser) – He's a "nerdy-looking" political novice, but Doug Hoffman just may be the "conservative superstar of the future," writes Marc Ambinder. Hoffman is running as a Conservative in the closely watched special election in New York’s 23rd congressional district. Despite his lack of experience, the lifelong accountant has racked up impressive credentials: He's got big financial backers, Dick Armey is stumping for him, and Fred Thompson, Michelle Malkin, and Glenn Beck are singing his praises.

Hoffman is a hardline conservative and a populist: He’s as firmly opposed to bank bailouts as abortion or new taxes. His appeal is to conservatives who feel that Obama-age Republicans are running as “Democrat-lite,” writes Ambinder in the Atlantic. He speaks to those who believe that “if only Republicans would act like true conservatives and proclaim their conservatism loudly and proudly—they'd win.” And though Hoffman may not win—he's currently in third but trending well—he’s already having an effect on the GOP.

[Images (1)]

[Videos (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

Doug Hoffman appears in a campaign ad. (YouTube)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

A video on behalf of Doug Hoffman (YouTube)

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

He's a private citizen who had enough. That's reflective of all the people we see marching down in Washington, at the Tea Parties and events like that across the country.
- Rob Ryan, Hoffman's senior communications director

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

11.23.09

Books Are Bad for You

11.20.09

The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun

44 comments

VIEWING:

Yourself
Oct 21, 09 6:31 PM CDT

if dick armey is stumping for him, then he's bound to be as bad as the previous douchenozzle we had in power. Reply

+18

IN RESPONSE:

jamerican
Oct 21, 09 7:02 PM CDT

Thank God he is an average citizen business person and not a slimy whoring attorney who wants to make a career in Washington. America needs to stop electing attorneys to office....its like the fox guarding the hen house.

-10

IN RESPONSE:

alkaseltzersammich
Oct 21, 09 8:12 PM CDT

Jamerican, would you rather us send plumbers to congress?

IN RESPONSE:

jamerican
Oct 21, 09 9:15 PM CDT

Yes I'd rather send plumbers to run our country instead of intellectual asshole whore politicians who are in it for power and not for the people.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

jamerican
Oct 21, 09 9:17 PM CDT

Now that I think about it plumbers are the perfect choice because it will take years to clean up the crap in the cesspool they call washington left by the prostitue politicians.

-5

IN RESPONSE:

alkaseltzersammich
Oct 21, 09 9:24 PM CDT

Interesting.

IN RESPONSE:

Deebles
Oct 21, 09 11:07 PM CDT

Sorry, all I saw was the abortion thing which turned Goldwater's Conservative party into the what? party it is today. The Federal Government is for Federal things--like fighting off an invading army. It was never meant to be about abortions, but keep railing against them-you can use your sign to cover your face from that mushroom cloud that grew while you wasted your time on shit that women have been doing for centuries. There used to be a planet on God's earth that if powdered and drank induced an immediate period. So many women dug it up thousands of years ago without saving a seed that it was lost. In your fundamentalist interpretation of a book that was written as allegory--even the guys writing it never meant it to be understood literally--can you accept that if God who made everything, all creatures great and small and the plants and gave man dominion over the all--then why did he make one that would abort you as fast as the morning after pill?

IN RESPONSE:

riffran
Oct 22, 09 4:49 AM CDT

uhhh Clinton was a democrat yourself..lol

-4

IN RESPONSE:

northeast
Oct 22, 09 7:27 AM CDT

@deebles, that's REALLY interesting. Do you remember the name of it, or where you heard about it?

IN RESPONSE:

Unaffiliated
Oct 22, 09 1:19 PM CDT

If jamerican weren't known on here as a conservative, he'd not have 35 down votes between those 3 posts. I think he's got a good point, even if he's got a bit of a dirty mouth. Career politicians do not have the interests of the people at heart. They are self-interested and will do all kinds of things to continue to enjoy the privileges they receive, party affiliations or principles be damned.

IN RESPONSE:

carbonated_turtle
Oct 22, 09 1:40 PM CDT

This is the problem with America, jamerican. There are too many idiots like you that reject intelligent people as leaders, because you're too dumb to understand what they're saying half the time. It's fine if you're stupid, just don't get involved in something that requires you to have a brain. While plumbers might be "for the people" they lack the intellectualism required to lead.

| 0 minutes ago

Cat-Lover
Oct 21, 09 6:32 PM CDT

I don't know who the future of Conservatism will be but I guess the past is a poster here: jayster999. Reply

+14

| 0 minutes ago

cornelison
Oct 21, 09 6:34 PM CDT

It's easy if you have a lot of money supporting your run for office. It's easy to get free publicity if you're supported by Fox. But it's hard to represent the people who voted for you rather than those who bought your vote. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

bewilderbeast
Oct 22, 09 4:16 AM CDT

Ka-chunk! The sound of a nail being hit squarely on the head. Politicians go to Washington OWING BIG TIME. Deeply "in debt" to their financial backers. They are not "their own men" when they get there.

| 0 minutes ago

Yourself
Oct 21, 09 6:35 PM CDT

i just re-read the article, and it leaves me confused... "if only republicans would act like true conservatives and proclaim their conservatism loudly and proudly-they'd win." then why isn't he winning? and lets not forget that even the conservatives idol of Reagan raised taxes. This idea that we can maintain our currentl lifestyle without having a source of money to pay for it is asinine. conservatism needs to be re-thought and re-visited, cause the current structure of it doesn't work!! Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Doctor_Zaius
Oct 21, 09 7:25 PM CDT

It never did!

IN RESPONSE:

ende
Nov 2, 09 9:31 AM CST

Or we can lower taxes and give up the 'current life' style, aka trying to emulate the welfare state. Just saying.

| 0 minutes ago

KahunaOmega122
Oct 21, 09 6:35 PM CDT

Really? I thought the future of conservatism was a hole in the ground. (Oh, I'm kidding and you know it, you Conservatrolls.) Reply

| 0 minutes ago

rajanKazhmin
Oct 21, 09 6:36 PM CDT

Conservatives... All about freedom unless you are a woman or a homosexual. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Thinker
Oct 21, 09 8:28 PM CDT

... or poor and black.

IN RESPONSE:

JoeQ
Oct 21, 09 8:29 PM CDT

Yeah that is the root of the problem with conservativism. It lacks solid principles and is inconsistently applied. When a conservative thinker tries to be consistent across the board, they fail some right wing litmus test set up by the idealogues in the party, all of whom have axes to grind. Thats why the GOP is crippled and will remain so for the forseeable future.

IN RESPONSE:

paul123
Oct 21, 09 11:05 PM CDT

You two can help yourselves to another glass of Kool-Aid

-6

IN RESPONSE:

passinthru
Oct 22, 09 12:55 AM CDT

or poor OR black.

IN RESPONSE:

Unaffiliated
Oct 22, 09 1:30 PM CDT

@JoeQ, in your second sentence, the first part is wrong, but the second part is exactly what is wrong with the Republican party. Conservatives are all about principles. If you can't state exactly where you stand on an issue, conservatives don't like it. Compare McCain's response during the last campaign to the question, when does life begin, to Obama's. McCain says, "Life begins at conception." Obama gives a much more nuanced answer and he winds up saying, "That's above my pay grade to decide." Now, I'm not saying one answer is right and the other is wrong, I'm just comparing the two for the application of principles. Conservatives most often want a definitive answer to such questions. Liberals can be quite happy to accept that such questions don't have a definitive answer and are OK with a perennial search. I CAN find good at the heart of conservative principles of self-responsibility and self-reliance. But I lament that when put into practice, conservatives have not done enough to look out for the poor and the disadvantaged. Many conservatives claim they're not against helping the poor, they just think the government shouldn't be the organization to do that. Again, in practice, I believe the government HAS to be there to protect those who otherwise fall through the cracks. Still, I don't agree with liberals on everything either, and I would be much happier if the government were indeed smaller as many Republicans claim they desire.

| 0 minutes ago

Galileo
Oct 21, 09 7:21 PM CDT

If only the Republican party would split into two parties, one for sensible Republicans and one for fire and brimstone religious nuts. That way we could marginalize the religious conservatives and get on with our lives. Reply

+13

IN RESPONSE:

JoeQ
Oct 21, 09 8:34 PM CDT

When Bush ran the first time, Karl Rove thought up the trick of getting the religious right on their side. Then the neocons followed that with leaning towards anti-intellectualism. The result is that the right lost its brains and became nutty. Now they have "thinkers" like Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber. Their pubdits are college dropouts. They are even losing support in the religious right who either (1) realize they have been played in the past, or (2) are extremists who think they are too moderate.

IN RESPONSE:

ende
Nov 2, 09 10:32 AM CST

Close, JoeQ. The history actually goes back a bit earlier. Rove was merely capitalizing on a trend that had been building since Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act which pretty much marked the official end to the Democratic control of the South. Gradually the Goldwater-lead intellectual wing of the GOP was elbowed out by these now politically homeless bible thumpers, initially as a mere pillar under Reagan's Big Tent, and then more recently as GWB's ticket to the white house.

| 0 minutes ago

ksu92
Oct 21, 09 7:21 PM CDT

Wow, a rich, white guy as a GOP star. Verry bold. Verry unexpected. Reply

+14

IN RESPONSE:

JoeQ
Oct 21, 09 8:34 PM CDT

LOL

| 0 minutes ago

kylec
Oct 21, 09 7:27 PM CDT

Fascism: the true conservatism Reply

IN RESPONSE:

ende
Nov 2, 09 10:50 AM CST

Not really true. Yes, there are some shared characteristics, but there as many shared characteristics between fascism and socialism. Really, all ideologies, as their implementation rely more heavily on the authority of the state, all approach authoritarianism and lose any distinguishing characteristics. There are many routes to tyranny, both right and left.

-1

| 0 minutes ago

yummines
Oct 21, 09 7:32 PM CDT

well hopefully he has real brains instead of just another blabbing conservative of the likes of Beck and O'Reily. I'm actually hoping that he will give intelligent conversations and give constructive criticism. I don't hate any political group, but at this point most of the prominent conservatives do not look very intelligent at all. If conservatives start to wise up, maybe we can start having intelligent arguments again... Reply

| 0 minutes ago

dontlikenobody
Oct 21, 09 9:14 PM CDT

Face it, the future of Conservatism is in the past. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

LovinLife
Oct 21, 09 11:48 PM CDT

II disagree. Someone will step up to the plate who really believes in fiscal conservatism. This person will be willing to relegate the religious right voters back to their churches and will recognize that deregulation was tried and failed. They will embrace common-sense and populism and be able to bring these ideals together to show us that we need both fiscal conservatism and social liberalism and that these two ideals must be balanced.

IN RESPONSE:

bewilderbeast
Oct 22, 09 4:24 AM CDT

LovinLife, I hope lotsa people read what you just wrote. "FISCAL conservatism" and SOCIAL liberalism" are a recipe for the American Dream. They are what the world admires you for. Greed Capitalism, Bailout (the rich) Socialism and Warmongering are what the world will never forgive you for (and yes, one day you WILL need "the world" - that unknown place out there where 19 people live for every 1 American).

IN RESPONSE:

Unaffiliated
Oct 22, 09 1:32 PM CDT

@LovinLife, check out the Modern Whig party.

| 0 minutes ago

Spudsy
Oct 21, 09 11:53 PM CDT

Dick Army. Most macho name ever. ----Yeah, that's about the amount of thought I will expend on this story. Sorry. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

DarkFrancis
Oct 22, 09 12:27 AM CDT

Just what the GOP needs: a blinkered stick-up-the-arse hardliner with a stone-aged agenda designed to put America right back in the crapper. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

yoeydude
Oct 22, 09 5:50 AM CDT

man , jah hole , whats in your kool aid ? ,.... you high ,...... I want sum Reply

| 0 minutes ago

dino213aa
Oct 22, 09 7:27 AM CDT

There are plenty of "true conservatives" who announce their ideals "loudly and proudly"... and I still have no intention of voting for them. What makes this guy any different or any more appealing? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Monjubikahn
Oct 22, 09 1:23 PM CDT

I do believe plumbers are associated with the CIA. Once the cesspool is drained we will be able to see what is there more clearly. You might even find the lost continent of Atlantis. A plumbers approach to the legislative process would indeed be welcome. We could set a pipeline from the Treasury to the constituency. When things are a go the money flows. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Adapt-Overcome
Oct 22, 09 2:30 PM CDT

They just gave 3 GREAT REASONS NOT TO VOTE FOR HIM: Dick Armey, Glenn Beck and Fred Thompson. A lunatic, another lunatic and a lazy ass Republican who waited to late to get into the election and then was too lazy to campaign. Great support Doug Hoffman...don't quit your day job. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

cedarkey
Oct 22, 09 6:06 PM CDT

WOW!!!!!!!! There sure are a lot of unhappy, down in the dump, liberal whities on here. Maybe, just maybe if you hippie white people put down the drugs you might be able to think clearly using logic and common sense. This is a great country, be positive, be happy. Life is good. Reply

-2

IN RESPONSE:

Face-Of-RNC
Nov 11, 09 8:03 AM CST

Everything will be so much better when the christians have turned America into their version of Iran.

| 0 minutes ago

View all 44 comments »

Congress • New York • GOP • conservative • Michelle Malkin • Glenn Beck • conservative base • Doug Hoffman

from our news partners

What Would 'Seinfeld' Be Like If It Came Back Today?
(Nov 23, 09 4:09 PM CST)
Body of 'Housewives' Ex Will Be Exhumed
(Nov 23, 09 3:56 PM CST)
Fiery and Fabulous: Hollywood's Most Riveting Redheads
(Nov 23, 09 3:30 PM CST)
Was Lambert's AMA Romp Too Much?
(Nov 23, 09 1:01 PM CST)

Photoshop this hypno-gizmo [Photoshop]
(27 minutes ago)
Nearly six-in-ten Mexicans say living in the U.S. is...
(43 minutes ago)
Charges dropped against dad who drove a drunken intruder away...
(1 hour, 52 minutes ago)
The Public Option, which was alive, then dead, then alive,...
(2 hours, 53 minutes ago)

Hugh Jackman To Promote Robots In Real Steel
(Nov 23, 09 11:49 PM CST)
Exclusive Video Interview: Ninja Assassin Star Rain
(Nov 23, 09 11:41 PM CST)
Tommy Lee Jones Quits Lincoln Lawyer
(Nov 23, 09 11:26 PM CST)
Judd Apatow Will Make Aziz Ansari A Star
(Nov 23, 09 10:50 PM CST)

Associated Press

Navy's newest assault ship, built with World Trade Center steel, is commissioned...
(Nov 7, 09 5:34 PM CST)
World Series Most RBIs Game
(Nov 4, 09 11:05 PM CST)
World Series Champions
(Nov 4, 09 10:56 PM CST)
Postseason Baseball
(Oct 25, 09 11:09 PM CDT)

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most important stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Meet the Future of Conservatism

Novice Doug Hoffman is shaking up the right

[Images (1)]

[Videos (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

Beck Will Host Conventions
to Educate America

He's shifting toward political organizer, plans big DC rally

MORE ABOUT:
Fox News • Glenn Beck • conservative base • small government • Glenn Beck Arguing With Idiots • Glenn Beck's 'big plan'

Far-Right
Challenger
a Threat
to McCain

Talk show host JD Hayworth gets close in new poll

MORE ABOUT:
John McCain • Arizona • primary • conservative • Senate Republicans • conservative base • poll numbers • US Senate • tea parties • JD Hayworth • McCain Hayworth • McCain Senate primary

Hoffman Can't Catch Owens
in NY-23 Race

Not enough ballots remain for him to overcome margin

MORE ABOUT:
Congress • House of Representatives • Conservative Party • Doug Hoffman • Dede Scozzafava • Bill Owens

Congress • New York • GOP • conservative • Michelle Malkin • Glenn Beck • conservative base • Doug Hoffman

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

from our news partners

Associated Press

About

Help

Tools

Site Maps

What is Newser?

Meet the Future of Conservatism

Novice Doug Hoffman is shaking up the right

[Images (1)]

[Videos (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

Related Newser Stories

the big plan

Beck Will Host Conventions to Educate America

He's shifting toward political organizer, plans big DC rally

MORE ABOUT: Fox News • Glenn Beck • conservative base • small government • Glenn Beck Arguing With Idiots • Glenn Beck's 'big plan'

poll shows dead heat

Far-Right Challenger a Threat to McCain

Talk show host JD Hayworth gets close in new poll

MORE ABOUT: John McCain • Arizona • primary • conservative • Senate Republicans • conservative base • poll numbers • US Senate • tea parties • JD Hayworth • McCain Hayworth • McCain Senate primary

finally over?

Hoffman Can't Catch Owens in NY-23 Race

Not enough ballots remain for him to overcome margin

MORE ABOUT: Congress • House of Representatives • Conservative Party • Doug Hoffman • Dede Scozzafava • Bill Owens

Congress • New York • GOP • conservative • Michelle Malkin • Glenn Beck • conservative base • Doug Hoffman

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

from our news partners

Associated Press

About

Help

Tools

Site Maps

What is Newser?

Beck Will Host Conventions
to Educate America

MORE ABOUT:
Fox News • Glenn Beck • conservative base • small government • Glenn Beck Arguing With Idiots • Glenn Beck's 'big plan'

Far-Right
Challenger
a Threat
to McCain

MORE ABOUT:
John McCain • Arizona • primary • conservative • Senate Republicans • conservative base • poll numbers • US Senate • tea parties • JD Hayworth • McCain Hayworth • McCain Senate primary

Hoffman Can't Catch Owens
in NY-23 Race

MORE ABOUT:
Congress • House of Representatives • Conservative Party • Doug Hoffman • Dede Scozzafava • Bill Owens