Free Republic

Newt is a has-been who had a major part in squandering the Republican Revolution.

He's full bore in favor of entitlement spending and global warming nonsense.

Newt is a drag on the GOP, part of the problem and not part of a solution.

Jindal is a politician first, and a conservative second - if at all.

Just because you're ignorant doesn't mean everyone else is.

Jindal is a believing Christian for one, which anchors him on social issues.

He's also a very good and smart administrator which stands him in good stead in practical budget and policy matters.

And he's a good, principled campaigner, which has paid off for him with political success.

So stop spreading your lies and ignorance around FR and give Jindal a chance to show what he can do.

Sununu's a fine guy, and he lost in large part because of the Democrat political climate.

But of course he is not what one looks for in an RNC chairman.

He does have a future in NH politics.

Moving right on social issues will cement us as a permanent minority party. Keep those planks in the platform, but lets not become a party of government telling you how to live your life

Yeah, we should be the party that says it's not a big deal to kill your children.

Great idea.

Republicans should refocus on individual liberty and protection from the government, which is the most direct and necessary antidote for the recent rise of Big Brother socialism.

The absolute protection of the individual's right to life must be a cornerstone of that philosophy, along with an unrestricted internet and media, the right to keep and bear arms, fighting for freedom of religious worship, speech, and practice (the right to refuse to dispense drugs for abortion and euthanasia, the right to speak up for religious beliefs without being prosecuted for being "anti-gay", as is done in Canada and elsewhere, et cetera) - the right to choose one's one health care and investments rather than being dictated to by the government.

Good gawd!!! I live in South Carolina and while Sanford brings conservative ideals to the table the guy is about as dynamic as a rock.

Still on your anti-Sanford jihad, I see.

I’m in South Carolina. Running the GOP Party here is like running the Democrat Party in Vermont.

I guess that's why the party was inept and bankrupt and the state was being run by Jim Hodges.

Now, I'm not saying the turnaround is majorly due to Dawson, but the SC GOP has come a long way and still has a long way to go, and somehow I don't think Andre Bauer and Tom Ravenel will be leading it into the future.

Katon Dawson:

http://www.cas.sc.edu/poli/WestForum/OtherInterviews/031117DawsonSCRepChair/PrestonSeminar%20Dawson%20031117%20Text.htm

If Dawson is too old for you, how young do you want? Do they have to be in their 40's? 30's? Is he a bad candidate because he's from a state where Republicans have been successful and already have reform underway?

I'm still learning about the guy but you seem to have rejected him out of hand just because he chaired a state party.

Dawson, the country's third longest-serving state GOP chairman,

Have you seen how South Carolina has done politically? Dawson has been party chairman throughout the Sanford years, iow since 2002. He's not exactly an old fart, either: 52. Party rebirth is going to have to come up from the state level.

Katon is extremely popular with the party’s base. His successful efforts to turnaround the SCGOP’s debt left behind by the poor management of Henry McMaster along with his recent well publicized policy positions has turned him into a favorite among the party faithful. Dawson would not have to give up his chairmanship if he ran against Graham, which would allow him to garner the necessary level of earned media most fringe candidates would struggle to get.

http://shotpolitics.com/exclusive-draft-katon-movement-has-started.htm

KY - I would really like Geoff DAVIS to run (those Davis-Lucas races confuzzled me!) Richie Farmer ran on his sports 'career'. Maybe Grayson, but he should stay in state govt for now.

AK - Little Lisa won't get a strong primary challenge. She's done a lot of fence-mending, and the GOP has enough work to do replacing Stevens and maybe Young.

KY - I would really like Geoff Lucas to run. Richie Farmer ran on his sports 'career'. Maybe Grayson, but he should stay in state govt for now.

ME - Snowe is safe. Collins just destroyed Allen in a Democrat year by calling him a party line liberal (which he is). Baldacci's popularity really suffered during his governorship.

GA - Isakson will stay put.

NC - Burr will be fine. Saved by the Democrat majority.

OK - I could see Tom Cole running.

Republicans got in extra hot water after taking control of the Senate and controlling the trifecta. If you're in the majority and not planning on accomplishing anything useful, it's often better just to have divided govt so you're not stuck with the blame for your incompetence, and Republicans have been paying for it for two elections now, until the shoe is firmly on the other foot. I'm not sure how many gains Republicans will make in 2010, but losses will be scarce.

I think all the New Yorkers who have moved here have changed the politics of the state. I know that is true in Mecklenburg County.

Because North Carolina was doing so well before the Yankees came, right? Corrupt Dems have been running the state for decades.

What was that last ad? And who came up with it?

The ad attacked Hagan for holding a fundraiser in Boston hosted by one of the leaders of Godless Americans PAC and John Kerry.

The media was incensed that Dole would try to make an issue of Hagan accepting support and funding from radical Massachusetts liberals.

Dole had lost the race a while before that, though, and her only hope was on the coattails of a McCain presidential victory.

It's a shame to lose Les Merritt (running a woman against him worked), and in a normal year Merritt wins and McCrory beats Perdue.

Of significant note: Jim Long handed the baton to Wayne Goodwin, who will continue the practice of sending out insurance rebates the month before the election with his name plastered all over the cheque.

[I scratch my head over Chris Cole getting 3%; it's higher than Mike Munger, who was the only LP guy who made any news. I have to wonder if people didn't confuse "Cole" for "Dole." Cole is a perennial candidate and prolific letter-writer from the Mecklenburg area, who usually gets a fraction of a point.]

Dole did a mediocre job and was part of the Establishment Republican problem that got the GOP in the mess it's in.

Many people did not vote for her because she did a half-ass job.

Sali is a bit heavy-handed, but this race was about establishment Republicans sticking it to the Right, like the Harris race in Maryland.

I think Minnick will lose in 2010.

I assume Sean Parnell would be a candidate to replace Ted, should he leave office. Maybe Loren Leman, though I'm not sure how old he is.

Somehow I don't think Ben Stevens would cut it.

folks here were touting Jindal as POTUS material the second he got elected...even before actually when he lost first time out same as they do Michael Steele and they did Watts all of whom are less qualified than 15-20 nationally known white male GOP stalwarts

Name those white male GOP stalwarts. I would bet that a few years ago that list would have included guys like Larry Craig. Conservatives have been sick of the do-nothing party line Republicans for a long time. That's why new candidates who can actually accomplish things get such attention.

Bobby Jindal has first rate reform ideas, conservative bona fides, and political talent. Name me those 15-20 white guys who have all three. At least 15.

I'll start you off: Mark Sanford, Jeb Bush (unfortunately his family name drags him down), Tom Coburn. Now you.

The sleeper cell reference calls into question all of the rest of his analysis, IMO.

Spoken like a true establishment liberal.

Lighten up, Francis!

I *do not* like any taxes. However, logically....this is the one that makes the most sense and is the easiest to implement. Odometer was at "x" on the '08 inspection, at 'y' on the '09 inspection, so you're taxed on the difference.

If you ever leave the state you'll need to pay a different rate for that state's mileage tax.

Thus the necessity of the gubmint tracking your every move with GPS so they only charge you for miles driven in your state.

And, yes, congratulations, your gps data indicates you've been speeding and have some fines to pay!

And if you get pulled over and don't have your GPS device attached, well, good luck going to court to get your license - and car! - back.

Also, the way they're testing the system, you pay less taxes if you have a fuel efficient car and drive fewer miles. Well, that runs into the exact same revenue "problem" they're having with gas taxes! It's just easier to justify a mileage tax you pay once a year (they'll probably be nice enough to withhold money from your paycheck!) than to see the federal and state gas taxes posted on the pump every time you spend $40 to fill up.

Another fun quote:

"Perhaps a better way in terms of assessing someone's use of the roads is not how many gallons they use but how many miles they actually drive," said Walden, who is not involved in the study. "A mileage tax could be adjusted over time, as the cost of road construction goes up."

I had the exact same thought.

Two hundred Triangle drivers will be recruited this fall to road-test a satellite-technology system that might be used one day to collect highway taxes on every mile we drive -- replacing augmenting the gas tax on every gallon we buy.