Political Discussions
GOP Chairmanship Race
Posted by satijournal • 1/30/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: Economy, politics, republican
After Obama's victory in November, Republicans have been looking for a black republican who uses Facebook but couldn't find both in one candidate, so now they have to choose between two.
After five rounds of balloting, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele and South Carolina GOP chief Katon Dawson were locked in a close race to reach the 85-vote majority needed to assume the party's top spot. Steele was six votes shy with 79, while Dawson had 69.
news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090130/ap_on_el_ge/republicans
Steel's ideas are more in line with democrats as far as the economy and foreign policy and all Dawson seems to have is criticism for his fellow republicans. Republicans don't seem to stand for anything any more.
User Comments
-
Now it looks like they went with Steele.
This should be interesting. -
That was about as predictable as it could get.
The GOP really needs to stop trying to find the "middle" and go back to being who they are supposed to be..
The "Not Democrats" would be a good start. -
For me, Steele's selection is interesting from a regional point of view. Both he and Kaine (DNC Chair) are from the mid-Atlantic region, Kaine from Virginia and Steele from Maryland. Steele is also interesting for not being one of those Southern Republicans who seem to comprise the majority of the party.-
Exactly, He doesn't represent the GOP base very well at all. Not a good pick.
The GOP doesn't need another "Maverick".. -
Not a good pick? That depends on your vision for the GOP. Do you just play to the regional base? Or do you take Mitch McConnell's warnings seriously (www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/18191.html)? I would go with the latter, but as a Democrat I'm perfectly happy to let the GOP shoot itself in the foot with your strategy.
Steele is no maverick. He just represents a GOP that was once more than a narrow Southern party that only pandered to its "base." I remember this GOP in New Hampshire; it no longer exists.
-
-
No I don't take his warning seriously.
The GOP suffered from an image problem this election, the real problem was that they couldn't truly bash Bush. Who by all accounts hasn't been much of a Republican at all.
Bush's popularity was record low, and yet, Obama won with only 3%. I think that 3% were lost because the "mavericks" weren't really strong Republicans either.
Obama won this election on two major fronts.
Change (which according to Bushs popularity, most wanted)
and
More of the same (Which McCain failed to counter effectively)
So no, i think that the republicans need to do two things. Achieve Distance from Bush, and establish strong values.
In essence, UNless Obama turns this around quick-smart, he'll stand on a seriously weak platform in 2012.
In a recession, Crime goes up (soft on crime)
If he doesn't turn the jobs around (How great is a middle class tax cut when you don't have a job)
In short, if this continues downwards. The GOP can quickly use the following slogan in their commercials.
So... how is that Hope and Change working for you?-
wrongspot -
I still think that Palin is as qualified as Obama is. That is not the question. I have also said that what makes her popular with some are the exact qualities that drove others nuts. As far as Fluffing her up, i was more making fun of the lefties complete blint hate of her than anything.
And yes, i would still rather have her and John in the Whitehouse than Obama/Biden. But we'll start the real work on that in about 2 years.
I do however believe that McCain/Palin would have done better if they had tried to separate themselves from Bush, and Bush from the GOP as opposed to distance themselves from the GOP by being "Mavericks".
And finally, are you arguing that the Electoral votes aren't as important as the Popular vote? Or that the swing states aren't more important than the solid party-loyal ones?
-
-
The pick of Steele is a move towards the center. There are too many radicals in the Republican party for it to have much effect in the near future, though.
-
Sati- There are far too many in the Democratic as well. I have a feeling that with all of Obama promised during the election, they may be his undoing.
-
-
Steele was my Republican Lieutenant governor, so I can tell you he is not a "Maverick" by any definition of the word. -
Did Holly write your response for you, CSI?
1)Where are you getting this 3% number? Obama beat McCain by 7% in the popular vote 53-46.
2)Yeah, Bush was so not a Republican. That explains why they ran him for President in 2000 and 2004. That explains why the Republicans in the House and Senate voted in lockstep approval for the majority of his agenda. That explains why 75% of Republicans gave him a favorable approval rating when he left office.
www.gallup.com/poll/113770/Bush-Presidency-Closes-34-Approval-61-Disapprova...
Here's a novel idea for the GOP if they want to win in 2012... how about actually governing well? How about actually helping people instead of looking down on them and saying "Screw you, I got mine." Forget establishing strong values, establish something that gets results and helps the country.-
"Here's a novel idea for the GOP if they want to win in 2012... how about actually governing well? How about actually helping people instead of looking down on them and saying "Screw you, I got mine." Forget establishing strong values, establish something that gets results and helps the country."
Well said Renal. -
Governing well? So far all I see is opposing well. At least on the House side.
-
Opposing bad ideas IS governing well.
you should read up on groupthink, it's not a good thing.
And renal, you are right, I got that number wrong.
still, the gap between Bush approval, and Republican votes during the election shows that there was separation of the two, just not big enough. Which was my point.
Edited to add: THe key battleground states that eventually won Obama the victory was much closer than that. Which is the real issue here. Not the popular vote as you well know. They were on average 2% in favor of Obama. -
CSI, did you play hockey? Defenseman, perhaps? Because that's some fine backwards skating. Next you'll be telling me the electoral college numbers are irrelevant to whatever you decide your point is after the fact.
So the "mavericks" weren't strong Republicans? You can say that after the weeks of fluffing up Palin you did here?
-
-
GOP finally getting a clue?!
I need to learn more about Steele, but at first take it seems like the GOP is beginning to figure out that most Americans are tired of divisive politics and judgmental dogma.-
Besides the Washington Post, check out the Baltimore Sun. In my area, there is also a local show that includes politics and might include old episodes on him: The Kojo Nnamdi Show (wamu.org/programs/kn/). I think that's where I began hearing about and maybe even from him over the years.
Edited to add: Yeah, the following search string turns up a lot of history, if you're interested: michael steele kojo nnamdi
-
-
Actually wonkette says it best.
wonkette.com/405901/a-childrens-treasury-of-stories-videos-from-michael-ste...-
Good one... thanks.
-
I think Blanca Dupree says it best: (
)
blancadebree.blogspot.com/2009/01/republicans-welcome-their-first-colored.h...
Hehehehehehehahahahahahahaaaaaaahhhehehee
-
Add Your Comment
Login to leave a message.
