The only good Republican. . .

[womzilla]

. . . is an ex-Republican.

In the last few months, two high-profile Westchester elected officials have stopped being moderate GOPs and become Democrats. This includes my state assemblyman, Mike Spano and my district attorney, Janet DiFiore. Both said, in effect, that the national Republican party was supporting an agenda that they could no longer share.

(Long-time readers might remember that my Republican state senator for many years, Nick "No Relation" Spano, was defeated last year by Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the only turned-over seat in the NY State Senate. The NY legislature is incredibly entrenched.)

Obviously, I'm very proud to have elected officials who can see the handwriting on the wall. What interests me is whether Westchester is unique, or whether there are other state- or county-level conversions going on that aren't making the national press--because, after all, the only government which matters in the eyes of the national media is The White House.

What's going on where you are?

Comments

[redbird]

Well, you know about our ex-Democrat, ex-Republican mayor.

[womzilla.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, of course--I had already forgotten, because Bloomberg was always an odd fish. As you know redbird-Bob, Bloomberg was never part of the Republican party structure--he was a Democrat who switched because he wanted to run against the Democratic candidate for mayor.

Obviously, he's a really interesting, and really encouraging case.

[avram]

[Bloomberg] was a Democrat who switched because he wanted to run against the Democratic candidate for mayor.

Specifically, he switched to avoid the crazy NYC Democratic primary process.

[stevendj.livejournal.com]

David Catania, one of two Republicans in DC city government, left the party in 2004 over their anti-gay agenda.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

Both said, in effect, that the national Republican party was supporting an agenda that they could no longer share.

What took them so long to figure that out?

Everybody who can be pried out of the Republican Party around here probably already has been so. That includes one of the local state legislators, who's been a Democrat for a couple decades now.

Our loathsome Republican ex-congressman, Ernie Konnyu, so embarrassing even to his party that he was defeated in the primary after only one term, popped up in the newspaper recently with a bratty letter about the Democratic presidential candidates. He's sure they will cause votes to flock to the Republicans. Uh-huh.

In Minnesota They Have

[shelleybear.livejournal.com]

Jim Ramstad (http://www.house.gov/ramstad/)
Even my sweetie lisbethk24 who is more of a yellow dog Democrat then I am loves this guy.
No, he hasn't bolted the party yet.
More's the pity.
I always said I'd vote Republican federally if the ticket was Lincoln Chaffee and him.
Both are old-line Republicans who I have nothing but respect for.