Posted on 10/05/2010 2:47:05 PM PDT by pissant
Are Sarah Palin and Michael Steele an item?
Not romantically, of course. But Palin’s conspicuous support for the embattled RNC chairman in recent weeks has a lot of Republican heads turning.
First, she appeared on a RNC fundraising mailer in July. Then she gave a shout-out to Steele on Fox News, painting him as more in tune with the conservative base than other members of the GOP establishment. “More power to Michael Steele,” she said.
Then, the RNC announced Palin would be headlining two fundraising “rallies” with Steele in October.
Meanwhile, Steele has made several overtures to conservatives, including warmly embracing Delaware Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell when the rest of the GOP establishment was still bellyaching over what some believe is a lost Senate seat.
Steele has also praised Tea Party activists on his national “Fire Pelosi” bus tour. At the launch event for the bus tour were two Tea Party favorites: Reps. Michelle Bachmann of Minnesota and Joe Wilson of South Carolina.
What makes Steele’s recent veer to the right surprising is that he has long-faced ideological criticism from conservatives during his tenure as RNC chair. For instance, Steele fought a push by RNC members to call President Obama a “socialist,” once referred to abortion as an “individual choice” and expressed doubts about whether the war in Afghanistan is winnable, all of which provoked rebukes from parts of the conservative establishment.
But to complicate matters further, the Washington Times reported that Palin only agreed to raise money for the RNC in return for the RNC paying hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of Palin’s legal expenses dating back to the 2008 campaign.
So what’s really going on?
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...
Who Pissant?
I don't think Mike Rounds of SD is running, and his ND counterpart, Voeven, is running for the Senate, otherwise I would have no problem supporting either one of them.
All of the other Republican Governors are RINOs - and we do need a Governor, not another legislator.
It's pathetic that the Republicans continue to pander to Blacks, hire affirmative-action types like this, overlook the faults of people like Steele, Condi Rice and Colin Powell, and end up being betrayed by them. How totally predictable.
That’s right. He wasn’t Speaker or Whip. He was Majority Leader.
And then he lost even worse as Minority Leader.
And then he failed on TARP.
He has repeatedly failed on messaging.
He’s a weak leader.
Did you watch the Representatives fade in the last GOP primary. Hunter, Tancredo, one or two others. Who was the last person to go from the House to the White House. So strike all of the Representatives off your list: Bachman, Pence, Hunter, King off your list.
Cain? Is that Herman Cain? POTUS isn't an entry level job. Also, are we really in the mood for ANOTHER un-vetted President whose biggest qualification is his minority status. A definate no, unless he runs for and wins a Governorship or Senate seat first.
I think that leaves DeMint and Barbour. Both are credible candidates but neither has the star power of Palin. BTW: I'm on record as being not much of a fan of Palin, but I'm starting to view her being the GOP candidatein 2012 as inevitable. DeMint may have the moxie to put up a good campain and give her a run. Barbour - look I hate to say this 'cause I'm an over 50 slightly chubby not very telegenic White guy too, but looks count in this age and Barbour - who was the last President who looked like him? It was certainly pre-TV.
So, of you list only DeMint survives to merit serious consideration.
Boulton has never won anything either. He did not even win Senate confirmation, he was recess appointed.
Aren't we done with hawkish neo-cons yet?
Not qualified, not likely to make it even if he tries.
You are right, but I don't think you can fairly blame him for the 2006 results. By the time Delay resigned it was a very bleak picture for the GOP. I give him credit for being willing to stand up for the job at that point.
He must take some responsibility for the 2008 bigger loss though.
He's not my all time favorite politician, but he doesn't strike me as being a total failure either.
Who would you see replacing him as Speaker of the House? (Somehow I don't think "Michelle Bachman" is a realistic answer.)
Support whomever you want
So, how is it that he screwed up so badly?
Mike Pence.
He is the GOP’s best message man in congress.
I repeat. Do not post to me again.
Take it up with JR, OK?~!
OK. Remember that I asked nicely.
You don't want to be posted to you got the solution at hand ~ don't post!
Yep. I agree. Not sure that the party works that way though.
Hey, there are guys who spent the whole season on the bench who end up with Superbowl Rings too.
I'd say he was a negligible factor in whatever victories we have. I would give more credit to 1) Pelosi, Reid and Obama for showing their true colors 2) The Tea Party 3) DeMint and Palin, who seemed to be the main drivers of alot of the candidates.
Hopefully Steele does a good job doling out cash.
Steele's most important job, in my opinion, was fixing the primary system for the GOP so that are candidates are not decided by states like New York and New Jersey that will never provide electoral votes for a GOP Presidential candidate, and by cross over Democrats.
The core Red-State Republicans are the ones who should have the most say in choosing our nominee, followed by Republicans in cross over states.
I don't like Democrats or "Independents" helping us choose candidates.
I won't put the whole blame for the 2008 debacle on the process, but it certainly did not help us get to a winning ticket with McCain/Palin.
Maybe someone else sees it and thinks Congressman Pence, or whatever, is *it*.
It's just that I noticed in 2008 that the House candidates really, objectively did just not measure up. They did not seem Presidential. That goes for most of the Dem ones, too. The worst of the Senators, like Biden, was still heads and shoulders above the best of the House guys, like Dennis Kucinich.
All that time that Senators spend staring in the mirror repeating "I look Presidential" must payoff after all I guess.
So I shouldn't post my "Palin as sock puppet of Kristol" graphic anymore?
Seriously, I hope you are right. The stories from 2008 were not encouraging, if they are to be believed.
Still, I think those days are over. Even Souvrn'rs are willing to admit they are Republicans now, so why not N'Englanders, N'Yorkers, Coloradans, etc.
We don't need spare Democrats messing with our nominations.
Also, in Midwestern red/blue states which can swing either way, or both simultaneously ~ if you allow cross-overs into your party you end up depriving the Democrats of the benefit of the wisdom of their own Farleftwingtards (who do that cross-over thing).
We really do need to encourage the Left to stick with their own.
The party needs to start working that way!
These Washington games of seniority and incumbency over principles are part of what We The People are so pissed about.
The Republicans who still just don’t get it are as good as gone.
We’re going to be doing even more house cleaning in 2012 and 2014.
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