The Republican Dilemma: Good Michael or Bad Michael?

Townhall.com ^ | 1/18/2010 | Byron York

[Servant of the Cross]

The frequency of his gaffes are "Biden-like". His true self seems more moderate than conservative. But look who recently voiced support for him?!

[raybbr]

Palin has started playing the game.

The "bad Steele" causes more damage than the "good Steele" can repair.

[my small voice]

He sucks. Get rid of him. He may speak well, but he has no charisma and ZERO passion for what really matters. I am tired of the milque toast responses our idiot so-called conservatives RINOs are spewing. After Brown wins and we dismiss the Dems in 2010, it is time to defeat incumbent Repubs in the primaries and replace them. That’ll complete the house cleaning!

[almost done by half]

It would be better if they could encourage him to leave this position voluntarily if they had some safe carrot to offer him?

[chatham]

I gave up on him at his Rush Remark.

Dumb, Dumb, Dumb.

[secret garden]

I don’t care if he’s considered good or bad. I just want someone effective to do the job. Still waiting for that.

[gussiefinknottle]

we need haley barbour back.

[y6162]

It’s all about Michael. Self centered bastard.

Fire him and get someone loyal to the party.

[secret garden]

Haley may run in 2012, and that may not be a bad thing.

[Psalm 144]

How about ‘untrustworthy’ or ‘unreliable’?

In any event - FIRE THE EMPTY SUIT!

[Psalm 144]

Agree on both of these unfortunate points.

[VRWC For Truth]

Get rid of Juan McAmnesty and you get rid of Steele. AZ must vote out McTraitor.

[SharpRightTurn]

I am afraid Steele is not bright enough to be consistent.

RNC head is way over his ability and if he is allowed to continue on and the Republicans blow what should be a great year for them because they are unwilling to deal with his removal, the GOP party hacks should permanently change the name to the Stupid Party.

[Servant of the Cross]

I am afraid Steele is not bright enough to be consistent.

You got that right. A policy guy he's not.

However, I am afraid that you "go to war with the 'army' you got".

[ExTexasRedhead]

IMO Steele is gutless, spineless, and a eunuch! We need a Patton-style, tell it like it is, leader. He needs to go NOW!

How do we get rid of him now??? We need a leader with a steel backbone. A patriot that will tell the MSM and the Elites in DC to go to hell. Don’t Tread on the American People!

[Spok]

“Contributions to the RNC from big donors are down”

I don’t claim to be a big donor, but my money goes directly to candidates, NOT through the RNC.

[irish guard]

Here's the problem with a guy like Steele. Sure he presents a good face for the big tent of the party and from time to time says the right thing. But when he doesn't say the right thing, what good does that do?

We need someone heading the party who speaks conservative language all the time, who speaks for smaller government all the time, who speaks out against too much taxation and larger government all the time. When they don't we lose all the time.

Steele is probably a really nice guy, but he shouldn't lead the Party.

[pepsi_junkie]

I'm no fan of Steele, I'm sick of him doing things like agreeing with DL Hughely that a gathering of GOP is like a Nazi rally. But let's look at how his supporters would spin things, if you want him out you need to consider their argument. What's the counterargument? I can think of many, but if you want to argue against Steele you should think of some too.

Channeling a Steele Supporter: Steele came in at the low ebb of GOP support. Donations down, massive losses in two sequential elections, very little hope all around for the GOP in the near future. In his tenure, he decided to spend almost the entire war chest on the out-of-sequence elections in 2009, specifically VA and NJ. He took heat for that, left the warchest empty. But miraculously, they won! and Steele supporters would say "Miraculously maybe, but Michael Steele's decision to flow in the cash sure helped!" It was a gamble, a drastic one that would have left the party broke and without hope if if failed, but it didn't. Suddenly the momentum is with the GOP, and all things appear possible. Even Mass. might elect a republican! Donations will be back up as people sense hope for the 2010 elections! Steele architected the game changer we needed. Hurrah!

[SWAMPSNIPER]

We need someone WHO REALLY UNDERSTANDS WHAT REPUBLICAN MEANS! It is a philosophy, not the name of a social club.

Someone needs to inform the American people just how much each and everyone of us owes to the Constitution. If it were not for the Constitution Michael Steele might well be shining shoes, instead of holding high office.

[RicocheT]

We are going into a critical election [2010] and the NRC still has Michael Steele as Chairman. He is distrusted by those in the party who man the phones, get out the vote and are passionate - the conservative base. The NRC is blowing its chance to again matter in saving the USA from liberal, socialist statism. The NRC is handing the Democrats two first quarter touchdowns in the biggest Super Bowl on the planet. If you are a FR member and have some influence in a state Republican party or in the national party, please shake up the RNC.