Well, Michael Steele has been elected Chairman of the Republican National Committee, and I am personally very pleased. I spent all day camped out in the lobby of the Capital Hilton, where the election took place, and I hoped to send you some updates. Instead, I spent a lot of time fighting the hotel's WiFi system before finally resigning myself to the fact that the stupid thing was never going to work. However, I did get the chance to chat with a lot of people, and I thought the whole experience rather interesting.
A lot of hard-core conservatives seem puzzled about how Mr. Steele (supposedly the most moderate man in the race) stormed to victory over more conservative candidates. In particular, they seem flabbergasted that Ken Blackwell (the most conservative candidate..and my personal favorite) endorsed Steele when he dropped out of the race. Personally, it makes perfect sense to me. Blackwell and Steele share a commitment to radical change in the RNC. They both want to drastically improve the way we use technology, they both want to decentralize, and they both want to make a concerted effort to fight in blue states. A lot of people in the lobby thought that Blackwell's votes, and those from third-place finisher Saul Anuzis, would go to runner-up Katon Dawson (who was supposedly more conservative than Steele). However, this line of thinking made little sense to me, as both Blackwell and Anuzis seemed more aligned with Steele when it came to strategy.
In the final analysis, I think that the voters realized that the RNC Chairmanship is not a purely ideological office - but rather an administrative one. You need a leader who has a firm grasp of conservative ideals (which Steele does), but it is arguably more important to have a chairman with a bold vision and a cohesive, winning strategy for the future. Steele had the commitment to operational reform that Republicans so desperately crave, and that is why he rightly came out the victor today.
I loved your report. I hope you will have time to share more about what went on there.
ReplyDeleteGREAT report, Adam! Wow----you're right there, in the middle of history. Won't Steele do a terrific job? I hope he enlists the support of many more conservatives, and encourages them to run for office!
ReplyDeleteSteele is EXACTLY what I was talking about the other day (principles). I didn't think the GOP would do it--I got scared when I heard Duncan had a slight lead and Dawson, while not totally deserving of the bad rep he gets, it won't do anything for the "oh great, another white Southerner" eyeroll (something that Sanford will also have to counter if he throws his name into the hat for pres) that is sure to come from the all-too-important indies.
ReplyDeleteGuess between Steele, Sarah, the no-non-stimulus vote (though I'm sure McCain and the G14 will "save the day" on that one) the GOP IS serious about winning in '10 and '12. Good going, fellas.
Steele is a good choice for RNC chair. Everyone keeps talking how the GOP needs to go upscale and be more like Democrats. I disagree. Republicans lost their way in Washington in the Bush years and had to much spending and to much goverment. That is why the GOP holding up against the stimulus is big. The GOP needs to control spending and bring small government to return to power. Steele said that in his interview with Hannity last night. If they do that they can win again by 2012.
ReplyDeleteYeah for the man of Steele. He was the one I was supporting. I was pleasantly surprised with this choice. He will do great.
ReplyDeletethis is a bit off the subject. i am rying to post here instead of the sarah for vp site.
ReplyDeletethis is an out take for a sarah superbowl message:
www.thesarahpalinblog.com/2009/01/sneak-peek-at-sarah-palins-super-bowl.html
That should read that "I am trying to post here".
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I wonder how many other politicians bound up the stairs. Does Al Gore use the elevator and use up energy to get to the dining room?
Here's Sarah arrival at the alfalfa dinner:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-GxLGEIIaI
The AP or anti-palin is at it again. They try to make it out that Gov. Palin is for Obama's stimulus package. During the last month Sarah has stated that the package is to expensive and adds to much to the national debt. She has come underfire from Mark Begich and the Alaska Legislature for not asking for enough money in the stimulus. Sarah looked awesome at the Alfalfa Dinner last night.
ReplyDeleteThe one Republican governor that has come out in favor of Porkulus is Jim Sanders of Vermont, which is btw the state that Howard Dean (WE'LL HEAD THEM OFF AT THE PASS, HEYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!) came from. Notice he's being celebrated by the All Barack Channel.
ReplyDeleteSo far we got Sarah, Sanford, and Perry standing firm. Jindal is supposedly wavering (like Sarah "was", I'll believe it when I see it)
BTW Sarah has endorsed Perry in his bid for re-election. That's now two (even though Saxby's reverting to his old self, sadly).
ReplyDelete