Steele To Succeed Mehlman? A Distinct Possibility
This, according to the Washington Times, would be a boon to the RNC.
Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman, whose party just lost both chambers of Congress, will leave his position in January, and the post as party chief has been offered to Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele.
"It is true," Mr. Mehlman told The Washington Times when asked about reports last night that he would resign. "It's something I decided over the summer. No one told me I needed to. In fact, folks wanted me to stay."
Mr. Mehlman said he "told the White House over the summer it was my decision" to leave the RNC post, "win, lose or draw."
Also last night, Republican officials told The Times that Mr. Steele, who lost his bid for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, has been sought out to succeed Mr. Mehlman as national party chairman. Those Republican officials said Mr. Steele had not made a decision whether to take the post, as of last night.
Other Republican Party officials said some Republican National Committee (RNC) members, including state party chairmen, have mounted a move to have Mr. Steele succeed Mr. Mehlman.
But they said that President Bush's political adviser Karl Rove, who is Mr. Mehlman's mentor, would rather see Mr. Steele serve in the president's Cabinet, perhaps as secretary of Housing and Urban Development. These officials said no one has actually offered Mr. Steele either the RNC post or a Cabinet post.
Pardon me for disagreeing with the Rovian genius himself, but a position as the Secretary of HUD is hardly worth the talents that Michael steele brings to the table. President Bush, I'm sorry to say, is virtually a lame duck president now. Now before anyone goes off half-cocked on that statement, let me remind our readers that the president is preparing to secure the White House for the GOP in 2008. He is going to push his agenda still, but he has to play nice with the children in the room. If he doesn't, they're going to go Lilliputian on him; that is, they'll try to tie him down so his agenda can't move forward. (They'd be wise to remember that as president, he does have the veto pen, and they don't have the needed two-thirds majority in BOTH Houses to repass what they send him.)
Michael Steele would be superb in the role as the RNC chief (though I did say a day or two ago that they need someone that is more technocratic in that role). But the RNC has been trying to get more minorities into the party, and Michael Steele can help them do that. In addition, he is a fine judge of talent and abilities for candidates simply waiting in the wings. Finally, with him at the head of the RNC, we might possibly be able to cut the legs out from underneath some of the RINOs in the party that cause problems for us in Congress. REMEMBER that Lincoln Chafee was still being handed fuinds from the RNC in this last election despite ALL of his mistakes. He failed to support the war, failed to vote in favor of Chief Justice Roberts, and even stated he didn't vote for President Bush in 2004. With that sort of traitorous behavior to his party is it any wonder why people weren't contributing to the RNC and NRSC as much as they had in the past?
It's 2006 now, and we have two years to gear up for another more solid run at regainging the majority, and maintaining the White House. It's time we seek out candidates that follow the conservative ideology bettewr than their RINO brethren. However with that thought in mind, we also have to remember the demographics, and we have to remember that ours is a big tent. We have room for people like Olympia Snowe and John McCain, but these people are slowly wearing out their welcome amongst the Republican base. Maybe with Michael Steele at the helm of the RNC, some changes can be made; changes that will better serve the party in terms of expressing our ideas.
Finally, he brings a charisma and experience to the position that is equal to, if not better than, Ken Mehlman. He is an eloquent speaker, and a fresh face for the party when we need it most. See, the changes needed for the next two years goes beyond the leadership in the House and Senate. It starts from the top and works it's way down. The president has promised to work with the Democrats as best he can (while he reminds them that he is still the president; a fact that John Murtha ignorantly dismisses). The GOP in the House and the Senate have also said they will do their best to work with Democrats. But this isn't a "roll-over" as many of the pundits on the Left have proclaimed. It's called picking your battles, and now it's more important for the GOP to do that.
See, the GOP has just as much to prove as the Democrats do. The Democrats have to prove to America that they were right and we were wrong. We have to prove that the Democrats are wrong, and that we deserve a second chance. That will be the tale of the tape in '08, and Michael Steele is a fine person to help the GOP achieve those ends. Besides, who wouldn't want to witness a debate bewteen Michael Steele and Howling Mad Howie Dean? That is a debate I'd be willing to TiVo.
Publius II
This, according to the Washington Times, would be a boon to the RNC.
Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman, whose party just lost both chambers of Congress, will leave his position in January, and the post as party chief has been offered to Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele.
"It is true," Mr. Mehlman told The Washington Times when asked about reports last night that he would resign. "It's something I decided over the summer. No one told me I needed to. In fact, folks wanted me to stay."
Mr. Mehlman said he "told the White House over the summer it was my decision" to leave the RNC post, "win, lose or draw."
Also last night, Republican officials told The Times that Mr. Steele, who lost his bid for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, has been sought out to succeed Mr. Mehlman as national party chairman. Those Republican officials said Mr. Steele had not made a decision whether to take the post, as of last night.
Other Republican Party officials said some Republican National Committee (RNC) members, including state party chairmen, have mounted a move to have Mr. Steele succeed Mr. Mehlman.
But they said that President Bush's political adviser Karl Rove, who is Mr. Mehlman's mentor, would rather see Mr. Steele serve in the president's Cabinet, perhaps as secretary of Housing and Urban Development. These officials said no one has actually offered Mr. Steele either the RNC post or a Cabinet post.
Pardon me for disagreeing with the Rovian genius himself, but a position as the Secretary of HUD is hardly worth the talents that Michael steele brings to the table. President Bush, I'm sorry to say, is virtually a lame duck president now. Now before anyone goes off half-cocked on that statement, let me remind our readers that the president is preparing to secure the White House for the GOP in 2008. He is going to push his agenda still, but he has to play nice with the children in the room. If he doesn't, they're going to go Lilliputian on him; that is, they'll try to tie him down so his agenda can't move forward. (They'd be wise to remember that as president, he does have the veto pen, and they don't have the needed two-thirds majority in BOTH Houses to repass what they send him.)
Michael Steele would be superb in the role as the RNC chief (though I did say a day or two ago that they need someone that is more technocratic in that role). But the RNC has been trying to get more minorities into the party, and Michael Steele can help them do that. In addition, he is a fine judge of talent and abilities for candidates simply waiting in the wings. Finally, with him at the head of the RNC, we might possibly be able to cut the legs out from underneath some of the RINOs in the party that cause problems for us in Congress. REMEMBER that Lincoln Chafee was still being handed fuinds from the RNC in this last election despite ALL of his mistakes. He failed to support the war, failed to vote in favor of Chief Justice Roberts, and even stated he didn't vote for President Bush in 2004. With that sort of traitorous behavior to his party is it any wonder why people weren't contributing to the RNC and NRSC as much as they had in the past?
It's 2006 now, and we have two years to gear up for another more solid run at regainging the majority, and maintaining the White House. It's time we seek out candidates that follow the conservative ideology bettewr than their RINO brethren. However with that thought in mind, we also have to remember the demographics, and we have to remember that ours is a big tent. We have room for people like Olympia Snowe and John McCain, but these people are slowly wearing out their welcome amongst the Republican base. Maybe with Michael Steele at the helm of the RNC, some changes can be made; changes that will better serve the party in terms of expressing our ideas.
Finally, he brings a charisma and experience to the position that is equal to, if not better than, Ken Mehlman. He is an eloquent speaker, and a fresh face for the party when we need it most. See, the changes needed for the next two years goes beyond the leadership in the House and Senate. It starts from the top and works it's way down. The president has promised to work with the Democrats as best he can (while he reminds them that he is still the president; a fact that John Murtha ignorantly dismisses). The GOP in the House and the Senate have also said they will do their best to work with Democrats. But this isn't a "roll-over" as many of the pundits on the Left have proclaimed. It's called picking your battles, and now it's more important for the GOP to do that.
See, the GOP has just as much to prove as the Democrats do. The Democrats have to prove to America that they were right and we were wrong. We have to prove that the Democrats are wrong, and that we deserve a second chance. That will be the tale of the tape in '08, and Michael Steele is a fine person to help the GOP achieve those ends. Besides, who wouldn't want to witness a debate bewteen Michael Steele and Howling Mad Howie Dean? That is a debate I'd be willing to TiVo.
Publius II
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 3:20 PM
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