Free Republic

Thursday, during an appearance on FNC’s “America’s Newsroom,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) discussed what lies ahead for the Republican Party as Donald Trump has exited the stage. While he didn’t declare that Trump was still the leader of the party, he said he thought the former president had the ability to lead.

President Joe Biden’s inauguration marks not only a new administration’s beginning but also a new chapter for the loyal opposition. The Grand Old Party lost the White House while picking up U.S. House seats, holding half the Senate, and adding to its numbers in state legislative chambers. These conflicting outcomes leave Republicans facing the difficult task of cementing blue-collar Trump voters into their ranks while regaining strength in the suburbs and making inroads with an increasingly diverse electorate. To rebuild, Republicans must decide what their party stands for. The way forward begins with clarifying what the GOP’s answers should be...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Republican National Committee wants to take more control over how the party picks a White House nominee. The RNC was to meet Wednesday in Memphis, Tennessee, to choose members who will effectively set the calendar for 2016's long list of potential presidential contenders. If the party's chairman, Reince Priebus gets his way, the GOP will pick its nominee more quickly than during past contests and have fewer debates in which candidates could criticize each other. The RNC also was expected to put penalties in place for candidates who don't follow the committee's plans.