The recent New York State Conservative Party convention in Albany may have represented the twilight of their existence. Many are coming to the conclusion that some minor parties, such as the Conservatives, are yesterday’s news. Their future demise can be traced to the profound impact of former GOP Governor Pataki. This group was founded in 1962 to provide a philosophical conservative alternative to the liberal Republican party then dominated by the late Governor Rockefeller, Senator Javits, State Attorney General Lefkowitz and NYC Mayor Lindsay. Building upon Barry Goldwater’s 1964 defeat, they ran Bill Buckley for NYC Mayor in 1965. His well defined philosophical conservative positions gave them both credibility and 13.5% of the vote. In 1966, building upon both the Goldwater and Buckley campaigns, they ran Paul Adams for Governor — capturing Row C from the Liberal Party. They reached their peak in 1970 electing James L. Buckley Senator with just Conservative Party endorsement. They continued to play a critical role in electing D’Amato to the Senate in 1980, 1986 and 1992, along with Reagan President in 1980 and 1984 along with Bush in 1988. With the election of Pataki as Governor 1994, they morphed into a subsidiary of the Republican Party. Political patronage became more important than philosophical principles. They shared in Pataki’s victory by becoming beholden to the Governor in accepting various jobs in his administration. Pataki’s fiscal policies of multibillion dollar budget increases above the rate of inflation and accompanying multibillion dollar debt would have made their former adversary — the late 1960′s and 1970′s national leader of the GOP’s more liberal wing — Governor Rockefeller roll over in his grave! Others went to work for GOP Assembly and State Senators who received their endorsement. They are now part of the permanent Albany establishment which their ancestors decades earlier fought. Not biting the hand that feeds them, they ignored his liberal tax and spend financial mismanagement and endorsed Governor Pataki for two additional terms in 1998 and 2002. Their 1960′s leadership would have supported Rochester businessman Thomas Galisano who was much closer to their limited government free enterprise positions of old.
The Liberal party following the same path of patronage over ideology eventually becoming irrelevant — losing ballot status and was replaced by the Workers Family Party. While their leadership worshiped at the alter of Pataki/Bruno GOP Political Patronage — Libertarian, Green, Working Families and Independence parties still stand for divergent philosophical principles. In 1998, the Independence Party received more votes for Governor claiming Row C and dropping the Conservatives to Row D for the first time in 30 years.
In the 2006 Governors race, many political commentators wrote that the Conservatives might not be able to find a candidate and raise sufficient funding to support securing the 50,000 votes necessary to maintain permanent ballot status. Luckily, former GOP Assembly minority leader John Faso ran for Governor and secured these votes.
From their successful times in the 1960′s, the Conservative Party has morphed into the Conservative Political Patronage Party, losing much of their vim and vigor. They have been unable to assist Republicans from losing eight State Senate seats including Queens own Serf Maltese reducing them to minority status. There are few elected officials who win outright or whose margin of victory was a result of votes captured on their line.
In the end, their impact continues to diminish on the political landscape as they enter the twilight of political history. Their leadership and enrollment base continues to both age and decline. Fewer new and younger voters are registering Conservative. As a result, don’t be surprised if Rick Lazio as their 2010 candidate for Governor fails to attract 50,000 votes necessary to maintain permanent ballot status. Even if successful, they may drop behind both the Independence and Working Families parties to Row E.
The announcement by former Governor Spitzer’s "Manhattan Madam" call girl operator Kristin Davis considering running for Governor as the Libertarian Party candidate is a breath of fresh air for those who cherish individual civil and economic liberties. Those authentic conservatives including Tea Party movement supporters who advocate returning to limited government accompanied by a minimal amount of confiscatory taxation to support only essential service along with Pay as Go budgeting; means testing for all government assistance programs; abolishment of all member item pork barrel spending, balanced budgets; actual surpluses and down payments to reduce long term debt may abandon the Conservative Party for the Libertarian Party.
Ms. Davis could attract the 50,000 votes necessary providing Libertarians
with permanent ballot status. That would send the traditional
Democratic/Republican monopoly a real message for change in the status quo! The Green, Working Families and Independence parties provide real alternatives to the Liberal Party. A Libertarian Party with permanent ballot status could do likewise with the Conservative Party.
