Bush picks former Montana Gov. Marc Racicot to head Republican National Committee

AP ^ | 12-05-01 | SCOTT LINDLAW

[Oldeconomybuyer]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Montana Gov. Marc Racicot pledged aggressive efforts to raise money and attract minorities to the GOP after President Bush moved Wednesday to install the loyalist as head of the Republican National Committee.

Racicot said he will keep his job with a Washington law firm, making him a lobbyist with an open door to the White House.

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[ambrose]

Racicot said he will keep his job with a Washington law firm, making him a lobbyist with an open door to the White House.

Let's put aside the ethical considerations of this for a moment. Don't you think that the RNC should have a fulltime chairman?

[Dog Gone]

He's doing this as an unpaid volunteer? That's going beyond the call of duty.

Good choice. I know he'll do a much better job than Gilmore.

[Dog Gone]

Let's put aside the ethical considerations of this for a moment. Don't you think that the RNC should have a fulltime chairman?

Usually the way these things work, the law firm is just happy for you to have your name on the letterhead and to refer in some new clients.

The chances of him doing any actual case work during his stint as RNC chairman are pretty small.

[Donald Stone]

Bump !!!!!

[ambrose]

Even rainmaking takes up a lot of time.

[Media2Powerful]

He's too liberal for me to get excited about. When I get mailings asking for money, I assure you Gilmore would have inspired me to give more than Racicot. I think I'll just give to individuals and not the GOP from now on.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

I liked Racicot's work in Florida and have nothing against him, but think the position needs more of a Washington "insider". JMHO.

[hchutch]

Racicot will inspire me more, if only for one reason:
HE CAN KICK TERRIBLE MCAWFUL'S BUTT!

Racicot's the type of moderate to work with if there ever was one. Not 100%, but a team player who will fight for our guys.

[hchutch]

Forget the insider crap. I think Racicot will do fine. He's a fighter and a team player.

[Major Matt Mason]

Don't you think that the RNC should have a fulltime chairman?

Nothing like giving the Dems something else to sqwuak about. The Repubs are truly the "Stupid Party", aren't they?

Racicot comes across in this article as being arrogant (possibly done on purpose, of course), which is something we don't need. He did do a nice job in FL, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be a good chairman; in fact, his record as governor of MT suggests that he could be bad for conservative Republicans.

The real measure of his success, at least as far as conservatives are concerned, will be how the RNC treats conservative candidates during his tenure.

[GreatOne]

"He has got a fine history of winning races and he'll translate that into practice come next fall, the 2002 races," Bush said

Except for the state of Montana, where he is the only person who can dethrone Baucus. Not a solid conservative, almost assures the loss of a winnable Senate seat, which all translates into the DemoRats holding onto the Senate, none of the excellant conservative judicial nominees get onto the bench, and Bush gone in 2004. Lovely!

[deport]

Well the pick seems to be bringing out the democrats to grip about it... Means it must be a nemis in their side..

[Media2Powerful]

I'm going to resist grumbling too much because I really like Bush. However, I am NOT happy about this choice. It really will effect my giving to the party. (not that I give that much, usually only $50 - $100 a year, but now it will be zero)

[hchutch]

The Dems are already grumbling about it. I take that as a good sign, IMO.

Give Marc a chance. After his first face-off with Terrible McAwful, you'll love the guy!

[KLT]

Great Choice....I think Marc Racicot will be great as head of the RNC....Plus, he makes a great appearance...and speaks eloquently.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Gilmore resigned Friday amid friction with the White House.

What friction was that?

[SuziQ]

Racicot comes across in this article as being arrogant (possibly done on purpose, of course), which is something we don't need.

I don't agree. I think we need someone who's as willing to be 'in your face' as anybody the Dems can put up there. From what I saw of him during the post-election period, I'm convinced he can do that with no problems. I remember him being very firm and not backing down to the media who were CLEARLY not on his side, but doing so in a way that didn't come across as nasty.