Posted on 04/03/2010 3:23:00 AM PDT by Scanian
GOP Chairman Michael Steele is a talented guy: smart, affable, telegenic, with a gift for gab. He ran a great race for US Senate from one of the toughest states for a Republican to win, Maryland.
I should know, I lost my own Senate race there in 1986 and no Republican has won the seat in 30 years. But the best thing Steele could do now for the GOP is to step aside as chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Steele has gotten a lot of bad press this week for gross (in every sense of the word) misspending of donors' money. First, the story broke that RNC money paid for a night out for a group of young donors and staff at a bondage-theme nightclub in West Hollywood, Calif., aptly named Voyeur.
Steele didn't attend the party, and the RNC staffer who approved the reimbursement of the expenses has been fired. Nonetheless, other stories have leaked out suggesting Steele has his own problems, namely very expensive tastes. During his tenure, he's spent RNC money on private jets, limousines and four-star hotels on his frequent travels -- nearly $9,000 at the Beverly Hills Hotel on one stop.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
But the problem is: How does one become chairman to the RNC? Is he elected? Do a bunch of RINOS get together and decide who their next puppet chairman will be?
Thank you.
My recollection is that Dede Scozzafava was the brainchild of Pete Sessions and the NRCC (National Republican Congressional Committee), not Michael Steele.
GOP state committee men & women from each state get together and decide the RNC chairmanship through a ballot process.
While it's true that there is a good contingent of conservatives among this group, it's an insiders' game all the way. They would never elect a true outside like Sarah Palin to this position assuming she would even want it, which I hope she wouldn't.
Does it ever dawn on you that there is actually very little difference in the parties? Sure there are a few good repubs out there but most big govt hacks no different than the rats.
Been looking for the RNC rules. Can’t find them. I understand each state has 3 members and it takes a 2/3rds vote to replace a chairman. That would explain why the conservative and Republican base is always upset with the RNC.
Rhode Island and Vermont have as much representation on the RNC as Georgia and Texas.
The candidate for Senate in my state on the 'Pub side is certainly a better choice than the 'Rat candidate. Not perfect,of course, but a better choice than the alternative.
Thank you for your research. I too tried to find something on it, but I couldn’t either so I called for help.
Also, thank you about the 3 members and 2/3 vote information. I didn’t know that.
This brings up another question for the future: Who decides on those 3 members?
The whole thing sounds too “cluby” to me.
Thank you again.
/agreed
Hopefully the party is not deaf to this. Its symptomatic of how far Republicans still need to go.
I’m a strong advocate of a purification of the Republican party.
But I think this “there is no difference between the parties” argument is simply not factual.
There is a difference. The problem is, we are not applying enough scrutiny to those that represent themselves as on the “right.” If we were truly holding the Republican party accountable to its core values, then that would solve the problem.
We have to demand that not only there be a difference, but that there be a stark difference, and that Republicans stop apologizing and handwringing about the ridiculous “big tent” garbage. We need Republicans who are unashamed and uncompromising with our core principals. But there are some people in the party who don’t get what it means to be unashamed and unabashed about core values, and that manifests itself in the leaders we choose. The Republican Party gets the leadership it deserves, in the sense that it reflects what we are willing to go out and explain as our core principals. If we are fearful and apologetic about conservatism and free market solutions, then our leadership will be also.
She tells us of the drop in contributions to the RNC, but doesn't ascribe the REAL reason for the drop....we small contributors now diverting our donations directly to conservative candidates.
She doesn't get into the RINO isssue with any perspicacity. Yes, Steele is a poor chairman and leader, but the ultimate reason for the decline of the RNC is that it's run by, of and for RINOs......together with long-time, entrenched Beltway insiders, lobbyists and monied elites, in other words, by Republicans like Linda Chavez herself.
Leni
“The party could look to its own elected leaders. There are lots of good people to pick from: Sen. John Thune, Rep. Paul Ryan, Gov. Bobby Jindal, and Gov. Mitch Daniels — to name just a few.”
These guys would all be duds. How can you fire someone with no one in mind to replace him?
>> it’s an insiders’ game all the way
That could change, but would require a nationwide effort.
Why the heck does a mere RNC Chairman need a private jet to travel anywhere in America? Who the heck does he think he is? Nancy “ I need special military jets to travel round the country because my time is too precious” Pelosi?
Pual Ryan, the sharpest financial wizard in the GOP would be a “dud”?
On what planet is that?
“How can you fire someone with no one in mind to replace him?
Michael Steele is the only human who can do the job of RNC Chairman?
Isn’t it odd how difficult it is to uncover the RNC rules? They are spelled out somewhere. Do precinct members vote for RNC members? I can’t find out. I suspect they do. That would explain even more the problem. Only recently have precinct slots begun to fill. LA Times had an article about Tea party people in CA and AZ discovering that between 30% and 70% of the slots were empty. Add that lack of interest to the RINOs in New England and its no surprise the RNC is detached from the grass roots. But its not the RNC’s problem really. It reflects those who are active within the establishment. More conservative Republicans have to get into the woodwork in order to prevent another Steele (or get rid of this one).
“We need a wartime leader not a conciliator”
You got that right and Steele cannot grasp the nettles. IMO he’s a DEMONCRAT plant. He’s on the sidelines watching the communists score one after another with nary a word of protest.
I agree with you we need loud, clear voices like Newt or Churchill explaining how America is in imminent danger of falling into a hard tyranny. We’re almost at the point of no return.
Steele needs to go. Statesmen need to rise to the occasion or this country is going to see a lot pain and suffering.
Paul Ryan is a Policy Wonk. A very good Policy Wonk.
But I don’t think he is really good charismatic speaker or makes a great appearance on television.
Maybe Andrea Tanteros instead? Who else did you have in mind?
The difference has been socialism lite or marxism.
Until the gop starts talking about ending agencies, real cutd in spending, real cuts in taxes, and ending entitlement programs than the rest is all bs.
And Micheal Steele is? Gimme break! Steele has about as much charisma as a loaf of bread from last week. He's a turd.
Paul Ryan is a much better, far more effective speaker than Michael Steele will be if he lived to be a 1000 years. There really is simply nothing than is great about Micheal Steele. He is a terrible administrator, he is a bad policy maker, he is terrible at keeping costs down, whenever he opens his mouth he talks nonsense, he is wrong on the issues like immigration, he is confused, he is a bloody disaster!
If Paul Ryan is running the RNC’s finances, it'd be infinitely better than it is now.
Not to mention the RNC Chairs is not hired for making campaign speeches. That's what Sarah Palin is there for.
Only thing is, Pual Ryan would be wasting his talents as RNC Chairman. We need his superior financial intellect in the House, for when we take over in November.
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