"Cabinet for HUD??? Does not sound like leadership position to me and it's a demotion on the part of Rove to want to stick him there. If Steele goes there we will never hear about him again."
I think you've hit the nail on the head. There is something of a skirmish about to erupt within the GOP between those who run the party; the socialism-lite Rockefeller Republicans, and the people who've carried the water for them for the last 26 years, i.e. the actual conservatives.
What happens with Michael Steele might be a good litmus test as to where it's all heading.
As for me, I'm a Democrat so I'll cook up the popcorn. Y'all want salt? Butter?
Steele is a moderate so I wouldn't use it as a strong indicator but I'm looking more to see if new people are gonna be replacing Bush people.
I see no one from the last 6 years who will be able to rebuild and win in 2008 and that includes the oh so much vaunted Rudy. We need to start building up the new leadership to take over.