What passes for the conservative intelligentsia has suddenly become hugely concerned about the doings up in New York Congressional District 23.  The Club for Growth (funded by a crotchety zillionaire from Arkansas), Tim Pawlenty (trying to put some bounce in his non-existent national awareness), Sarah Palin (who is everywhere), Fred Thompson, Glen Beck, Rushbo, Dick Armey, Newt Gingrich . . . they’re all, all in, which has now brought the Obamas to the fray.  Wow.

It’s good to see all these good conservatives taking such an interest in, where is it again?  Oh yeah, what the locals call the North Country and what the rest of us, meaning those who can find New York on a map and/or believe that there is more to the state than five boroughs, call The Adirondaks.  Or most of it.  There’s a sliver that goes right up the middle of District 23 that is part of District 20, but that’s another story.

The cause for all this excitement is a special election to fill a seat for one year for a part of the country in which there are no people and no jobs: They all left years ago (another story).  The NY State GOP put up a candidate as did the Blues.  The conservative crew can’t abide either, and particularly the GOP candidate who fails on a number of purity tests.  So they have put up a guy named Hoffman who counts among his credentials:

1. He doesn’t live in the District.  He lives in District 20.
2. He’s never run for office much less held one.
3. None of his endorsers would recognize him in a police line up.
4. He’s running as an independent (or something like that) so he doesn’t actually have a party (though he will caucus with the GOP).

And what is his plan for District 23, a part of the state being re-colonized by Amish farmers?  A corner of the country where the biggest employers are colleges, universities, a massive Army fort, and local and state government, none of whom pay taxes?  A little piece of paradise where the median income, when you factor out all the summer bugs and their summer mansions, is at or below the poverty line so they don’t pay taxes either?  A part of the state and country that is a net RECIPIENT of tax dollars?

Speaking to Glenn Beck . . .

Well, I never thought I would be in politics, but Glenn, quite frankly, I was fed up. I was fed up with what’s happening to our country. I was fed up with the out-of-control spending, taxes, government regulations on us and businesses, and I thought somebody had to step up and do something about it.

So that’s his plan for representing one of the hardest-bit parts of the country. Nothing about Jobs.  Nothing about fighting global warming which is plaing havoc in the one of the most beautiful places in the country. 

He’s going to Washington to fight the evils of taxation, something half the people in his District actually don’t pay; something that generates a huge percentage of the payrolls that do exist in the North Country. 

Like I said, it’s good to see the national conservative brain trust taking such an interest in the good and welfare of District 23.