Monday a day of reckoning for Scozzafava, Republicans

Monday could be a historic day in the North Country’s political culture.

Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, deeply unhappy with the GOP for its epic disloyalty to her campaign, will meet with GOP leaders.

They, meanwhile, are deeply unhappy with her for what they perceive as her epic disloyalty to the Republican Party, for endorsing Democrat Bill Owens.

At stake is Scozzafava’s role as the first woman ever to hold the floor-leader position in the New York state Assembly. This from POLITICO:

POLITICO has learned that Kolb will announce after the face-to-face meeting whether Scozzafava, the Minority Leader Pro Tempore, will remain as the GOP floor leader.

“Fundamentally my members are very disappointed with her endorsement of Bill Owens and aiding him in helping achieve the Nancy Pelosi health care plan in Washington,” Kolb said.

In interviews with NCPR, Scozzafava has expressed deep anger toward party officials and conservative activists for side-swiping her campaign.

But the fury towards her also continues unabated. Here’s a quote from Politico:

“I campaigned for her. I played the loyal soldier and held my nose as I worked for her and then what does she do?” said Jefferson County Republican Party Chairman Donald Coon. “She doesn’t care about the GOP. She doesn’t care about the people who worked for her. She just cares about herself.”

Where does this end? Will Scozzafava accept the humiliation (and financial blow) of being demoted?

Will Republican leaders accept that enough damage has already been done by all sides in this bloody intra-party feud?

And what role will Scozzafava’s allies — in particular North Country Assemblywoman Janet Duprey and Teresa Sayward — play in the process?

Aftershocks from NY-23 continue…

Leave a Reply