Some people are just slow learners.

The New York Republican Party establishment, in which “Rockefeller Republicans” still hold sway, falls into that category. Someone should remind them of what happened nationwide on November 2nd when a resurgent conservative movement gave notice that there was a resurgent conservative movement.

You may recall that old brand of liberal, pseudo-Republicanism dating back to the late fifties which included such illuminati as Nelson Rockefeller, Jacob Javits, and Louis Lefkowitz who were all confirmed RINOs long before the term was created. To a man, they opposed Barry Goldwater for president in 1964 and managed over the years to make the New York Republican Party indistinguishable from the Democrats.

Back in 2009, new age RINOs demonstrated they still knew how to win elections–for Democrats. Then, the New York Conservative Party nominated Doug Hoffman for Congress in a special election in the upstate 23rd CD. Backed by Sarah Palin and the Tea Party and opposed by confirmed RINO Dede Scozzafava and by GOP bigwigs, Hoffman was the clear favorite.

Long story short: Scozzafava dropped out of the race, appropriately on Halloween, endorsed Democrat Bill Owen, and Owen won by 2.3%

Fast forward to 2011 and another upstate special election, in New York’s 26th CD, the seat vacated by Chris Lee after he opted to audition as a centerfold instead of continuing as a congressman.

In a déjà vu moment worthy of Yogi, GOP leaders rejected conservative, decorated Iraq War veteran and Tea Party favorite David Bellavia in favor of millionairess pro-abortion Assemblywoman Jane Corwin. The move infuriated Bellavia’s backers who condemned the GOP establishment for its undue haste, for the secretiveness in its choice, and for abandonment of the party’s core principles: [http://tiny.cc/4u8rr]

Bellavia plans to seek the Conservative Party’s nomination, as does Corwin.

Considering Corwin’s pro-abortion stance and flipflopping on gay marriage, her chances are slim to none, unless the Conservative Party goes the route of the Republican Party and sacrifices principle for the entrenched, moribund establishment. In that case, Corwin, the Conservatives, and the Republicans will lose again, as they should.