Will the congressional race in the 23rd district in New York show the direction

I think the Republican party is in chaos and turmoil no matter how you look at it. Much as conservatives hate him, Arlen Specter was absolutely right when he said (I'm paraphrasing) the GOP was destroying itself by trying to purify the party. To be honest, I really can't see "conservative" Democrats supporting the Republicans on very many issues because the most conservative Democrat is usually far to the left of the most liberal Republican.

I've rarely, if ever, agreed with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich but I DO agree with what he told CNN recently:

"This idea that we’re suddenly going to establish litmus tests, and all across the country, we’re going to purge the party of anybody who doesn’t agree with us 100 percent – that guarantees Obama’s reelection. That guarantees Pelosi is speaker for life. I mean, I think that is a very destructive model for the Republican Party."

I'm not really sure if nationally known political figures who had nothing to do with the district, probably had never even BEEN there, getting involved in this special LOCAL election is going to do the GOP any good in the long run or not but my guess is that it will do more harm than good.

Annie

It is too early to tell.

Either the conservatives will retake the republican party... or the more likely thing is that the conservatives will go to a more representative party.

The fact remains that America is mostly right of center, and has little tolerance for leftist ideology.

That is why the left is working so hard to try and silence any opposition, because the left cannot compete with the message of individual liberty, freedom, and limited government.