GOP “leaders” are starting to play the blame game to explain why, unlike the rest of the country, there wasn’t exactly a Republican wave in the state.<\/p>\n
From Capitol Confidential, “Skelos: Paladino cost us statewide<\/a>“:<\/p>\n “… [Fred] Dicker asked if Carl Paladino<\/a>\u2019s position at the top of the GOP ticket did damage to Senate<\/a> races as well as other GOP losses. \u201cHe definitely hurt us,\u201d said Skelos<\/a>. \u201d \u2026 When you have somebody losing in, let\u2019s say, Queens by 70-30 if not more, it hurts you.\u201d Skelos said that Paladino could also be blamed for Harry Wilson\u2019s loss in the Comptroller\u2019s race …”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n For all his faults, Paladino was the only statewide candidate that generated any sort of grassroots enthusiasm which is why he defeated Rick Lazio<\/a> in the primary. \u00a0I actually saw Paladino’s campaign roadsigns. \u00a0I saw exactly one each for Joe DioGuardi<\/a> and Jay Townsend<\/a> in the same yard and none for Dan Donovan<\/a> or Harry Wilson<\/a> anywhere. \u00a0Whose fault is that?<\/p>\n George Marlin’s commentary to the Post hits the nail on the head, “Party establishment doomed NY GOP<\/a>“:<\/p>\n “… Because the Pataki-era<\/a> GOP lost its way and deliberately failed to nurture a new generation of viable candidates, state-party conventions in recent years designated three wannabes who were previously rejected by the voters and made their livings feeding off the government trough as lobbyists … Yesterday’s smattering of GOP victories had nothing to do with the party leadership. Republicans had just hit bottom — they hold so few elected offices in New York that in this Tea Party, “Don’t tread on me” political environment they were bound to win a few races …”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n I would go so far as to say that the few Republican victories were in spite of party leadership.<\/p>\n “… To restore the party’s credibility with the voters so it can again become a viable political force in the state, Ed Cox<\/a> and longtime county bosses like Nassau’s Joe Mondello<\/a> should resign and turn the party over to younger, energetic people … They should also invite Tea Party activists to join the GOP’s ranks and build a base-vote-driven, grass-roots party structure …”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Including gun owners.<\/p>\n