WASHINGTON DC (CNN) – Call it a first step in the Republican Party's push to return from the political wilderness.
The six candidates running to lead the GOP's national committee face off today at a debate in Washington. The debate for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee comes two months after the party lost the White House and lost seats in both houses of Congress. It also comes on the day that President-elect Barack Obama, just back from vacation, spends his first full day in nation's capitol as he prepares to take over the presidency.
The challenge for which ever of the six candidates who wins the chairmanship is to broaden the party's appeal with younger voters and minority voters. Republicans fared poorly with both groups at the polls in November. The party also needs to improve its appeal to moderate voters and to voters in the Northeast and the West, two regions where the GOP was basically shutout in the general election.
The debate, which will take place at the National Press Club, is being hosted by Americans for Tax Reform, a coalition of taxpayer groups, businesses and individuals opposed to higher taxes. Grover Norquist, ATR's president and a leader among fiscal conservatives, organized the debate and will serve as moderator.
Norquist says the candidates will all be asked the same questions, some of which will come from bloggers and party activists. Norquist wants to know what "the candidates have done in the past and what they would do as RNC chairman" on such subjects as technology, illegal immigration, and appealing to younger voters.
"My goal is to let the candidates showcase themselves," says Norquist.
The showdown, according to Norquist, will also the first time there will be a public debate for the chairmanship of the Republican party. It will be followed later in the week by two unprecedented behind-closed-doors meetings of RNC members to discuss the candidates. Later in the month, the 168 RNC members will vote for the new chairman. It's the first open race for the chairmanship in over a decade, as President Bush has recommended the party chairmen since his first election as president eight years ago.
“There is essentially no national leader of the Republican Party right now,” said CNN Political Editor Mark Preston. “President Bush assumed that role during his two terms in the White House, and the next RNC chair has the opportunity to lead the rebuilding and perhaps the reshaping of the Republican Party.”
The candidate making the most news lately is Chip Saltsman. Last month the former Tennessee GOP party chairman and the campaign manager of Mike Huckabee's presidential run sent party members a CD that included a parody song titled "Barack the Magic Negro." At a time that the party is trying to broaden its appeal to minorities and moderates, Saltsman's move was criticized by former House Speaker and Republican party elder Newt Gingrich. It was also criticized by Mike Duncan, the current RNC chairman who's running for re-election.
“I can’t imagine that he was trying to deliver a divisive, racist message by sending that CD to the RNC members,” Preston said. “In all of my dealings with him, I never detected anything like that. But it was a tone deaf move and the controversy can’t help him.”
The other candidates sharing the stage at the press club are two other state Republican party chairmen, Saul Anuzis of Michigan and Katon Dawson of South Carolina, former Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele and former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell.
“Every one of these candidates is conservative,” Preston said. “The next RNC chair is going to be the one person who is able to rise above the pack and preach a conservative ideology at the same time offering a game plan to win back Congress and a majority of the state capitals in 2010 and the White House in 2012.”
Regardless of who wins the chairmanship, Norquist wants this public debate format to become the standard operating produce in the future, even under a future Republican president.
But that's for a future chapter. First things first.
From CNN Politics
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They can start by being more tolerant and stop lying. Republicans are just like the extremist they love to hate. Its their way or no way. Stop being opposites just for the hell of it.
Their all village idiots Jim Hall Kansas City Missouri. In order for us to ever vote republican again there has to be changes in the party no biggots, no religious fanatics, pro choice and stem cell, and stick the taxes to the greedy corporations. We were republicans at one time but never voted for the current village idiot and his cronies that are in the white house now nor the republican and his cronie that wanted to replace him (grandpa and aqua net sue) we voted Obama Jim Hall Kansas City Missouri
The first question to be asked of all of the candidates ought to be "Are you a narrow-minded, bible-thumping, bigot of the kind that's been ruining the party for eight years?" Anyone who says yes should be immediately shown the door. Then the real debate can begin.
May the best leader and human being win!
Chip Saltsman shouldn't even be considered a candidate for the Republican Party. He is promoting bigotry for the Republican party not leadership. If he was a real man and leader, he wouldn't have made that lame and ignorant CD. He needs to make a formal apology. Chip is a Dip!
Hopefully Michael Steele wins. I would say 2010 is not enough time to win over house BUT I would have said the same thing in 1992. Plus look at Blago, Rangel and Richardson. People hate corruption.
I predict Shemp will win the leadership vote with Curly a close second!
Lower taxes, eh? When I pay 1/10 of my salary in health care premiums and another tenth in out-of-pockets, and THEN pay taxes, it makes me wonder what a lower tax rate is going to be good for.
Republicans seem so interested in tax levels but not at all interested in the bottom line after American businesses and workers get saddled with outrageous health care costs.
We already have hospitals that will treat anyone regardless of ability to pay. Isn't that already socialized medicine? Shouldn't we find a more efficient and fair way of paying for this?
Hopefully these clowns will continue to only care about tax cuts and abortion...and maybe more wars. This is shaping up to be the end of our long national nightmare and the republicans will be in exile in the wilderness for the forseeable future. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Thank God they are over.
The republican party is a waste of time. Republicans have only two agendas. Find some controversey and oppose anything Obama does without offering any ideas.
I'm So-and-such running to be RNC Chairman. I'll pledge to look less like an idiot than these other people running who are more out of touch than I am.
Based on most of the insane comments by the hard-core Republicans on the blogs, I think the GOP should get Sarah Palin's witch doctor to exorcise the demons that have apparently infested the Party faithful. Good luck, GOP, you guys have a hell of a way to go.
As a former republican...the party is self-distructing by it's out-of-touch policies...the world changes, the needs of the people they are serving changes...I find them to be self-serving, selfish and arrogant any longer...not a party FOR the people..but for a select wealthy few.
Let's hope that the GOP can reorganize and get back to where it should. For far too long the religious right has been the focus of the GOP, this needs to change if the GOP can ever expect to appeal to the moderate consertative voter.
I would look forward to going back to voting Republican if the GOP can fix its problems and come back to being a party for all Americans, not just limited focus groups.
Wow this should be better than the Jerry Springer show. A room full of Republican Idiots fighting for Village Elder. Oh boy I would pay for this.
The RNC is wanting to appeal to minorities? Are they out of their minds.....the Good Ole White Boys club walls are showing cracks huh
They shoot themselves in the foot and ultimately destroy the GOP is Bush gives the world his parting shoots on the Palestinians.
A party of DOOM!
I thought Sarah Palin was the leader of your party. My vote goes for Chip Saltsman, the republican party can use all racists they can get. Let's hear it for the republicans. Losers
Ha ha ha – now that King George is being dethroned, there'll be a vote. No more dictatorship in the RNC. It's a good thing.
........and the race is on..............
The RNC faces a number of challenges and will need a chairman who knows how to connect with people on a number of different levels.
He/she will be left with the task of appealing to a nation that has become more diverse and more liberal in thinking and living.
It's not just a matter of 'preaching to the choir', it's broarder than that. It's a matter of inclusion, of expanding the base and of reaching out and touching younger voters.
will they all be joining in on a 'sing-a-long'?
Republicans you have created the biggest mess in the world,I say to all republicans who will not be supporting President Obama plans to just shut up and support Obama to get us out of this big mess that you the Republicans created in the last 8 yrs.We know that President Obama will get back to a bright future for all Americans and have the respect all over the world again. thank you political ticker and all the best in 09.
What happened to the neocons brightest star, moose killing, Sarah Pallin?
The party has a long way to go in regaining faith. I'd be surprised if it happens over the course of one election cycle.
So Rudy G wants to run for NY Senator. We here in nyc remember the community organizer speech at the RNC Rudy. I used to admire you, even voted for you over Dinkins. My how things have changed...
Republicans are doomed nobody is going to let these idiots ruin this nation again. God bless the Democrats.
This is a good start.
We need a really strong conservative to neutralize the Left Wing.
We are in financial hell and I don't believe for one nano second that we can spend a Trillion Dollars on Pork Projects and be out of this hell.
We need some brilliant conservatives to offer up a better way!
I pray daily for Devine Intervention from what is currently planed…
It will completely shut us down, without hope for recovery for Generations!
As long as our elected officials are choosing Party over Country we will never again see cooperation but division. Once an election is over Party should be in the back ground until the next election and each elected official should be doing what they can for the people. Obama is President of the United States not of the Democratic Party. Neither is any senator or other elected official to represent their party exclusively but to represent everyone. Until we get our elected official especially nationally we will not get the work done that is needed now. So people demand that all our elected officials work for the people first and for their party second.
My vote is for Micheal Steele. He is the best candidate out there!! Go Micheal!
The Republicans! What a hateful group of people.
This "party" is nothing but a bunch of war mongering racist crooks. Their "leadership" is the worst in the history of our nation and many of them should be jailed for WAR CRIMES AND TREASON, starting with Bush and Cheney.
Lets hope for the sake of the world they are through.
Hey SWEETIE. Brilliant Conservatives? Surely you jest.
Until the Republican Pary rid themselves of the likes of Rush Limbaugh and people like that idiot that sent the Magic Negro CD they will remain in the wilderness.
Sweetie, maybe they can use their time wisely by coming up with more racists songs to divide the nation. ALSO Sweetie- Sarah Palin prayed for diving intervention and said the outcome would be up to god..
So........????? anymore brilliant thoughts?
Once again I say......
UNLESS & UNTIL the Republicans STOP their vile campaigns, and STOP spewing......LIES, HATE, FEAR & DIVISION.
UNLESS & UNTIL the Republicans lose Limbaugh, Hannity, Reagan, Savage, O'Reilly and Faux News.
AMERICA WILL KEEP REJECTING THE VILE POLITICS OF THE GOP!
This at least is a start, but it needs to be about far more than who can shout the party line the loudest. There needs to be some serious evaluation about why the Republican party has lost its ability to enunciate and communicate its ideals. If they don't take a hard look at why much of the country finds them increasingly irrelevant, and why they can't stay on message, the party of Lincoln may find itself going the way of the Whigs.
The real problem for the Republicans has nothing to do with policy. They need to realize that demographics of America has changed. They need to reach out to minority groups and others.
The angry white male vote can no longer put them over the top.
Sweetie we have been neutralized by GWB long enough. Aren't you tired of being neutered, oops I mean neutralized?
Sweetie are you a prophet of God? You are sounding like one called. Did He call you and give you a message? If so, why don't you share it with All of America so that we can All move in one prophetic direction, not just Repubs. Another self professed Christian; cause God doesn't segregate and divide like your message.
Hope they do figure things out, as a young voter myself I am proud to call myself a republican, hopefully a strong leader will come out of this meeting and put the party back where it needs to be!
"Voter from Minnesota" – You lost all credibility when you elected Stuart Smalley to the Senate. What a joke.
The republicans are so far behind the ball there's no way they're going to be able to figure out how to reinvent themselves. I was a registered Repub. from 18 until just a couple of years ago. I'm only 25, and let me tell ya I will NEVER vote for a republican again! There like your grandfathers, thinking back to the good times of the 50's, 60's and 70's. Well guess what it's 2009 folks, time to get with the times. But I guess that'w what you get then all of your members are over 60 nut-jobs. Try as you might, nothing U guys do will turn it around.
Sweetie, God did answer your prayers. You just don't like the answer. Christians around this Nation prayed for God's will on the national election in November. If you do not believe that God is ultimately in control and has His plan at work in the election of Barack Obama, then you limit the God you implore. God has a plan, we just do not see or sometimes like it. If this lovely family arrived at any church in this Nation as unknowns, they would be welcomed with open arms and their testimony of faith would have been accepted without question. Unfortunately, the email lies and distortions were eagerly spread by Christians who believe that "real" Christians vote Republican (even though they did not accept McCain's testimony either). Now we have a whole community of faith sitting by in despair waiting for another answer from God. God did answer, accept His will and then go into your community and make a difference. Donate to a local food bank. God IS in control. Trust Him. Yes, there are many Christians who are Democrats and socially aware and active. You'll be very surprised in the great by and by who you'll meet behind Heaven's gates - and they'll be wondering how YOU made it in too!
Wow Sweetie....
Cant believe you go around each ticker and spew out same unbelieve nano sec crap.
Did you ever think for a sec and ask yourself how we got into this mess? With all the conservatism and rightism this country owe more than any country in the world. You never for once prayed for Divine intervention...you have always prayed for Devine...that is why nothing is working. I believe you said brilliant conservatives i guess all the ones you voted for that are in washington in the last 8 yrs are surely not.
The first thing the Repubs should do is distance themselves from the radical, extremist brand of conservatism that has overtaken their party in recent years. A good first step would be to tell the religious "wrong" to stick to religion and get the heck out of politics. They need to practice a right-of-center brand of conservatism instead of the white male redneck / talking radio heads / right wing extremist style that they've become known for. They need to learn to talk and govern from the middle. Only then will they have a chance of appealing to anyone but those narrow interests.
Ashow down to win nothing.
MY,MY, Sweetie. You are doomed to being stupid. If there was a "brilliant conservative" out there, wouldn't you rather have heard from him/her before the country went bankrupt. By the way, the reference to "devine" really seems to mark your status. Hint... Don't wait for "devine", Do something positive.
As long as the republican politicians put party over country we will continue to see further destruction of our country. Have yet to hear one face up to or admit all the mistakes they have made these last eight years. Have yet to hear them talk about unification for survival of our country.
They appear to be following the same worn out tactics of panerding, postering, distorting and attacking rather than representing the citizens of our great nation. Our country needs NO conservatives
or liberals, but politicans joined together to do what is right.
Unless the Republican party moves to a moderate stance on both fiscal and social issues, they are doomed to have a repeat of the past election. When you are running for the top office in the country and can't offer the people a plan of what you can do, outside of lowering taxes on the rich, you are going to lose. Big Time! Going negative, because you don't have any plan for the future, came across as a lead balloon.
So, if the Republican party really wants to get back on the playing field, they need to start looking at what they can really do for the people, all the people. When your base is all in backwater states, the religious right and head in the sand 'no tax' people, you are going to lose. Big Time!
The RNC faces a number of challenges and will need a chairman who has the ability to connect with people on a number of different levels.
He/she will be left with the task of appealing to a nation that has become more diverse and more liberal in thinking and living.
It's not just a matter of 'preaching to the choir', it's broarder than that. It's a matter of inclusion, of expanding the base and of reaching out and touching younger voters
the financial hell you mention is the fault of your beloved Bush and his moronic policies... that pur his and his father's personal agenda ahead of the national good.... what a pack of prohibitionist FOOLS....
Our elected officials' job is to work for the american people, NOT their party. Had they done that all along, our country wouldn't be in the shape it is now. Frankly, I don't see how they can sleep at night knowing that their party loyalty and bickering has nearly destroyed our economy!!
Sweetie, judging from your praying, "Devine [sic] Intervention" drivel, and apparent total lack of familiarity with the appropriate use of capitalisation, I expect you're one of those ignorant, bible-thumping, idiots who ruined the Republican Party in the first place.
What will leave the Republicans "without hope for recovery for Generations" is people like you persistently attempting to impose your superstitious blather on the American public.
Go away!
The GOP lost because of trying to appeal to the right so much that they scared the moderates. I voted for McCain because Obama is too far to the left for me. However, if the GOP wants to win, they have to remember that voters do remember scandals and how the economy fell apart on their watch. Now, they must present a plan to work with the Democrats to solve the problems of today. Divisive tactics do not work because the working people are the ones who get hurt. The GOP has to moderate itself or it will fall apart at the seams.
A word of advice: Get rid of everyone with the last name of BUSH.
Hey Sweetie,
If you're going to pray, pray to the divine, not to Devine. Trust you to prattle about praying to a deceased drag queen about your eating disorders. If you neutralize every idea that threatens to change the status quo, you're left with the unaltered status quo, so we should infer that you like the shape the economy's in now.
Maybe you really do pray to Devine.
What they need is a smart young whippersnapper like Obama only with wisdom and discernment. Someone who can steer this country back to it's moral fabric. There are a lot of young people who are fed up with the liberal agenda and see it for what it is even though they were never educated about the dangers of Marxism and Communism in our public schools.
Note for Sweetie:
What has put us on the road to little hope for "recovery for Generations" seems to be clearly manifesting itself right now as a result of the last 8 years...
I think the Republican party has to do some very simple things on their own road to recovery:
1. Weed out wide spread corruption in their ranks which seems to have hurt many of their incumbents in the Senate and the house over last few years(Bill Frist comes to mind quickly).
2. Find some QUALIFIED candidates who actually know what their doing(read: McCain – Yes, Palin – no way).
3. Come up with a party platform that appeals to more people: you are not going to win elections by just touting tax cuts and "traditional values"(read: deeply religious) anymore. They need a more unifying message that acknowledges both the immense changes in the world while also harkens back to TRUE conservative values(for instance remembering that our Founding Fathers intentionally separated church and state...)
Just a few thoughts...
The Republican Party is doomed. They have always been the party of the elite. Minorities are not welcome. A leopard can not change its stripes and even if minorities are included we (the people) know it is not real. If you have in doubts look at the last election and the Republican convention. Look who are in the audience/rally.
The story will be the same, the ditto heads will say that the GOP lost because they did not nominate someone who was conservative enough, are you kidding me?
The GOP needs to wake up and embrace the changing dynamic that is America. Angry old white men no longer dominate the world and they need to realize that.
Sweetie @9:50 – Get your head out of the sand, its the Republicans that did it to you. Their mantra is Party first, ego second and country a distant third. Get real. Start praying for sanity for the party and spread some of that around for yourself.
Go ahead and preach the evils of abortion, Christian prayers in school, and the outrage of gay marriage. No one other than the sheep in the deep south and the rednecks of the middle states will listen. Try some other issues other than your typical wedge "morality" nonsense and you may have a chance. Of course the dummies that don't have a problem with Barack the Magic... are hopefully going to be elected so as to seal their fate as the party of white Christians and no one else
With Grover and Blackwell around you can forget it.Both of them are poison for the party.They both may be wearing orange jumpsuits by next year anyway.
Rudy G is total trash.Human beings like him are killing the RNC party. --REALLY NOTHING CREDITABLE
@ ran
That's what the party's want. Divide and Conquer. They both want to draw a bright line down the middle and divvy up the voters. Why do you think the GOP, for example, rabble-rouses the anti-abortion-rights crowd? One issue voters are the parties' bread and butter and they will continue to play us all off each other to secure their little slices of power and fame and wealth. Now, add in that special interest groups both feed into it and feed off it. It will continue until someone steps up and is brave enough to, oh, I dunno, do something nutty like ask someone with vastly different viewpoints and positions to give an invocation at his inauguration...then tell every single divisive whiner out there to STFU.
Let's make sure that Palin wins the next election. She has the Divine guidance. She will lead us to more wars and crusades against those who terrorize the USA – God's land of milk and honeys.
We should not allow the Dems to win the next elections. All they do is restore the credibility of the US in the world as a moral leader of human rights. No way we should let this happen.
Let us pray for a president who can run this country just like George W Bush.
Forget the showdown for leadership, they need a showdown for integrity!!! I left the party when it became clear they thought more about lining their pockets than about America. The scandals were bad enough but the wholesale draining of our treasury, removing our safeguards for the economy and reducing/elmininating benefits for our military during wartime are traitorous. The escapade of the past 8 years should have these Bush Babies hanging their heads in shame. As for myself, continuing with the Republican party during the Bush Years was tantamount to becoming a communist ergo I bailed!!! Perhaps they can start a new party which follows the Constitution instead of trampling it!!!
How can a leader of the Republican party send out a CD with "Barack the Magic Negro" and then say the party wants to be inclusive? I'm a life-long Republican who voted for a Dem for the first time in 40 years and as long as the right-wing closet racists run the party, I'll continue to vote Democratic.
I hope the Rep. party can be competative again. They will push the Dems to be a better party, and that's why we are a better country.
ran–I beg to differ with you-Obama is a liberal through and through–he is not the President of the working people. We will get stiffed left, right and center. He already is proposing higher gas taxes on those of us who drive to work and millions in pork barrel spending and is not even in office.Also, he used the blacks for his election and now will not support even "one" qualified senator who was legally appointed. The man is not "who he says he is".
lolololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololol
Seriously, Sweetie, who in the Republican party is a conservative anymore? I hate to inform you but the conservatives left the republican party years ago. Conservatives are now called Libertarians.
Honestly, you don't want to see a neutralized Democratic party because then we have yet another 4 years going by of a whole lot of nothing being accomplished. You know, similar to the last 8.
If the branches of our government cannot work together, then we need to find people who can. Republican or Democrat; it doesn't really matter as long as they are working for the people.
Demand unity and condemn division.
Its our country. It's up to us to make it better.
How quickly Liberals forget history. Have they forgotten that in the past 40 years, America has elected 7 Republicans to the Presidency compared to only 4 Democrats? Have they already forgotten that Conservatism won every place in was on the ballot during this past election? Every single liberal initiative (example: Prop 8 in CA) was voted against in the election of 2008. John McCain is no Conservative. He never has been, and therefore his defeat is not a defeat of Conservatism. Obama has actually become more conservative since he won: He is likely to keep troops in Iraq until 2011, he is going to send more troops to Afghanistan, he admitted he is against gay marriage, he is going to renew the Bush tax cuts, and on and on. So Liberals, we are still a right-center country!!!
Oh, Sweetie, please don't talk about 'neutralizing' your fellow Americans. It's so devisive. And praying isn't going to help!
Sweetie January 5th, 2009 9:50 am ET
We are in financial hell .....I pray daily for Devine Intervention …
LOL – How many times are you going to post the same thing to different stories?
Since "conservatives" have had control for most of the last 8 years, why didn't you trot out your "brilliant conservatives" then to prevent the current mess?
If the republicans are going to focus on neutralizing the left wing, then they are wasting their time. This country has become centrist. There are no brilliant conservatives, because they don't even realize this fact, or the fact that divine intervention has already come to America.
hahahahahahahaha, laughable. he that is defeated is defeated and he that is defeated will be defeated again.
RNC has no choice but to try to include those it has rejected for so long. However, this is not ONLY about becoming more diverse, but more inclusive as a whole. Stop the negative and divisiveness. As long as they have racist, arrogant, old white men running the party, it will be doomed.
In other words, Rush and the likes can't be representative of the party. Unless they want a repeat of the 2008 presidential election.
The republican party just seems out of touch to me. Maybe they should try some community organizing so they could be more inclusive. I Dont think they will lead again until they make their tent bigger.
I honestly hope they can get back on track. I am a Conservative Independent who has always voted Democrat, but I am rooting for the Republican party. I would like to see them evolve into a party that is more open about welcoming people of all backgrounds, nationalities, and races....
"I pray daily for Devine Intervention from what is currently planed…"
Hey "Sweetie" – Pray? That's the kind of action that got us in this mess in the first place!
We don't need prayin' we need doin'.
The very first thing the GOP should do to mount a comback as a mainstream political party is...Dump the evangelical mumbo-jumbo along with all the "values" BS. That's what doomed the GOP in the first place...
PS: It's "divine" Sweetie – "Devine" as in Andy is the name of an actor. You must be a good home-schooled republican type...
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BEEN UNVEILED. THEY
ARE NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF THUGS, ROBING TAX
PAYERS, WITH BUSH AS THE HEAD OF THE GANG.
Message to Republicans:
I'm afraid we will have to accept Democratic control for the next century to fix the mess your party is responsible for.
Don't even think of running for office in the next decade - the Democrats will rebuild our nation.
The Republican Party will rise again. I feel strongly that we need people like Gov. Palin with strong moral values leading the party. We sure as hell do NOT need any comments on here from the Dems – they need to stick to fixing their scandals and not throw stones at us – The GOP!!
A name like sweetie sounds like trailer trash. Unless the Repuplicans moderate the influence of the Sweetie bible thumpers I am not going to vote for them.
My guess is that the most reactionary fear-mongering right wing conservative that expresses the most religiosity and vitriol against the democrats will win. This persona that I just described seems to be the type of person that the remaining GOP faithful prefer. They want an attack machine, not an organization that compromises for ideal solutions. Such a "conservative" will do just fine in the south and the west. The major population centers (i.e. majority of electoral votes) will continue to reject this antiquated ideology. Therefore, there will be no hope for a GOP comeback in 2010 or 2012. Perhaps this party will have better luck in the latter part of the next decade. But this would require an entirely new identity that bears little resemblance to the current party platform.
Wow. Don't know much bout the rest of 'em, but Blackwell and Steele are just plain awful. It's not that they are too conservative, but that they are the worse yes men ever. They tote the party line harder than the most devout republican, regardless of whether they are right or wrong. The only original thoughts they posses have been programmed into them. I truly believe they are still ardently defending Bush, and not like Condi just saying to let history be the judge. They are the yes men the RNP calls in whenever they need a black voice to speak up on their behalf. Blackwell played a role in getting Bush the nod in Ohio in '04.
With that in mind, please select one of them. I will guarantee their leadership will tank the RNP worse than Palin/Limbaugh in '12. Matter of fact, I believe their leadership would all but insure that ticket.
I'm kinda interested in watching this "debate". What time will it be? What channel will it be on (maybe one of the C-SPANs)?
VoterFromMinnesota. Judging entire political parties rather than judging the candidates on an individual basis. Reeeaaaal enlightened.
The blind leading the blind.... it will be interesting to see how the GOP is going to "appeal" to the middle. It would be nice to have more options when voting, but as long as the republican neo con whack jobs are leading the party I have a feeling it will be all down hill from here (for them).
Sweetie, I'm afraid the last brilliant Conservative died. His name was William F. Buckley, Jr. A big "who cares" to a debate to decide who gets to be the "Titular Head of an Empty Empire" that the GOP has become. No doubt, they'll put in some cracker who start making racist jokes. The laugh is on us. Where's are two party system? Check 19th century history and the Whig Party.
Someone might want to fill them in on how in a turd contest, the winner, although pronounced better than all others, is still a turd.
I don't know how the Republicans can run down PE Obama already as he's not even in office yet and they saw absolutley nothing wrong with the state of the economy etc that was on Bush's watch!!
Really amazing!!!
Sweetie, it was the conservatives that put us in this financial hell and there are many studies of the actual consequences of the conservative monetary policies that back that up. There are also many studies showing that the left wing financial policies actually help more people than the right wing policies. Believe what you will, but the left wings financial policies (NOT what the right wing says they are but what they ACTUALLY are) have been shown to be better for the over all economy than the conservative policies.
So long as the GOP espouses more tax cuts for the wealthy, more intolerance both racially and ideologically, more divisive tactics, more confrontation, more dirty and negative campaigning, and less coopertion in government, it will never return to power. This party is deathly ill and needs a thorough housecleaning. Hardcore and mean-spirited elements like Giuliani, Palin, Rove, Norquist, McConnell, Boehner, Chambliss, Coburn, Limbaugh, Coulter, and O'Reilly must all go before this party can heal itself and ever return to anything resembling a majority party.
Sweetie, Republicans are responsible for bankrupting the world and America. They only want to make money for 1% of the population and they don't deserve to see the White House again for another 100 years if ever. There are no brilliant conservatives, only racist, greedy and obstructionist conservatives. Obama is at least putting 'qualified' people into positions that Bushco put their buddies into. Give the man a chance and you won't be disappointed. How could anyone EVER vote for a Republican again?
How about the Republicans try to find a real Conservative? They haven't had one in national politics in a LONG time.
The Republicans have a long hard road to hoe........they lost it big time this year and will continue to lose as long as they have people like Rush Limbaugh spewing his venum all over the radio waves, and the likes of the reporters on Fox........Republicans are afraid of change and as long as they will not except change they will be doomed to repeat the election results of 2008 over and over again......
WOW!!! WHAT A LINEUP!! hahahahahahahahahaha
George W. Bush's 8-year reign of terror and ruin will not easily be forgotten. He doomed the Rethuglicans more than anyone.
That and Sarah Palin's lack of experience and intelligence.
Bottom line here folks. When will we stop crying and do something as american citizens. have you forgotten the beauty of this country? Think and think Hard. We controll this country what we did with bush is OUR fault untill we realize that we will keep giving up power to these guys because we dont want the responsibility but we want to complain. how many of you really got out and helped this time around ask?
Jim: Sorry bud, but you never were a Republican!!
This guys face belongs on a, "Three Dollar Bill" !
ALL THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO DO IS STEAL,LINE THEIR POCKETS, APPEAL TO THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY THEY ONLY APPEAL TO PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH WHO ARE RACSIT IF YOU VOTE REPUBLICAN THEN YOU ARE JUST LIKE THE REST OF THEM
Can we actually get a conservative this time and not "liberal lite?"
For those who are saying "we've had eight years of conservatives," I'd say you don't know what you're talking about. We have not had eight years of conservatives... we haven't had ANY years of conservatives... at least not since 1994-1996. A real conservative wouldn't have proposed half of the BS championed by GWB... a real conservative would have stood on principle and not "gone along" to get along with Republican big spenders. Really guys, a filibuster is a GOOD thing when your buddies decide to impersonate liberals and spend, spend, spend.
Conservatives got saddled with GWB last time, and we got saddled this time with "Mr. Middle-of-the-Road-no-spine-gotta-make-liberals-like-me" John McCain. Can we at least dig up Goldwater's bones and run them against the next hippie? At least his bones would be more conservative than any of our recent candidates.
No more liberals in "republican" clothing!
(Can you hear me, Mike Bloomberg?)
After huge losses at the ballot box in 2006 and 2008, you think the Republicans would get the message.....move to the center rather than stay out on the extreme right wing..... but no, the base of this pathetic party is too worried about how the country is changing and does not look so lilly white anymore. Palin was a perfect answer for this out of touch group....and should they put up more Palin's in the future, the party will face extinction...which is should if it does not reform.
Keep pushing the trickle-down stuff, GOP. And while you're at it, be sure to keep Palin as your poster child. That should keep you out of trouble for the next two or three election cycles at least. Dear Lord, are you right wingers really this dumb?
Put the candidates on an island and let them play "Survivor".
"showcase themselves?" no, enough shows, we need integrity
and... “I can’t imagine that he was trying to deliver a divisive, racist message by sending that CD to the RNC members,”? to consider such candidate to lead the GOP is nothing different than the last decades. there are plenty of English vocabularies for this racist candidate to use on PE Obama for political purpose, but Barack the Magic "Negro"? we don't need strong conservatives, we need TRUE conservatives. a political party doesn't represent conservatism which is a philosophy favor tradition. GOP represent what tradition? did they not spent more than enough money on pork barrels themselves? our country needs TRUE/REAL conservatives to balance the liberals but not a racial political party who use it as a brand or slogan.
don't deceive our young generation with diversity and not divisive views from one race, not one nation. because we see outside the box and have more access to the international news than ever to be balance and well inform from all spectrum. we don't want our future to be decide or ruin by the frogs in the well. be real!
Grover Norquist? Are they serious? The Republican party is the new Flat Earth Society. Everyone knows they're wrong but them.
Sweetie January 5th, 2009 9:50 am ET
This is a good start.
We need a really strong conservative to neutralize the Left Wing.
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Never mind the left wing OR the right wing.
How about we try something different, like governing from the center?
Oh yeah, that's right. Most of Obama's cabinet are centrists, along with a few liberals, and a few conservatives.
Why didn't Bush think of that? Wasn't he supposed to be a uniter, not a divider?
On the other hand, the entire country is united on one thing.
We all HATE Bush!
Wow Ray Fisher, you really want to play the integrity card on Republicans? Lets look at the other side Governor Rod Blagojevich, Governor James McGreevey, Governor Elliot Spitzer, Congressmen William Jefferson, Congressman Charlie Rangel. I can keep going if you want. The Democratic Party is the party of corruption, they don't even know what integrity is.
The GOP is DOA....good riddance!!!!!!
Lisa M January 5th, 2009 11:38 am ET
How about the Republicans try to find a real Conservative? They haven't had one in national politics in a LONG time.
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There's no such thing as a real conservative any more.
Conservatives stand for smaller governments.
However, in the past 40 years, even with conservatives, government has grown, not shrunken.
The only time government has shrunken was under Bill Clinton.
Remember, he actually balanced the budget, and for the first time in the past 50 years, the national debt actually DROPPED!
In other words, the closest thing we had to a REAL conservative was Bill Clinton!
To Mary/Michigan:
You state that PE Obama will not support Burris even when the majority of African-Americans voted for him......first of all, PE Obama was not elected president over one group of Americans, he will be president over ALL americans.
Secondly, Burris is a bootlicker of the fallen governor of Chicago and does not deserve support from any group of Americans. When will you repugs get it, your divisiveness does not work. buy a clue! PE Obama will be sworn in as President of the United States of America, if you don't like it, leaveeeeeeeeeee.
Please talk to the burnin bush for the next 30 years until you have found yourself. Meanwhile let the donkeys lead us to the Promise Land.
I never understood why God separated the human race by language. Now I know why he did it. If one IDIOT becomes the leader and jumps off the cliff, everybody will jump off the cliff too. By separating the human race, if one leader jumps off the cliff with his followers, at least the rest will stay put. Thank you God. You are WISE.
This is like crewmen fighting over who wants to take the helm of the Titanic......the ice has already done the damage and the ship is headed for the bottom.......there is no glory is laying claim to the GOP helm at this point.
The republican party has shown that they are still living in the 20th century. Their ideas are old, their record as far as legislation goes is abominable, and their answers are making cutesie songs with their biggotry showing.
No wonder they got stomped in November- If they don't "change"- they'll never come out of their funk.....
That's fine by me!
Watch they will all attack each others moral standing and then be revealed as hypocrites.
What the GOP has to do is distance itself from the far-right lunatic fringe. Those folks sure make a lot of noise but they simply are not what regular Americans are. This really is a right-center country, and the fact that the Democrats are winning most of those right-center votes shows how out of touch the Republicans really are. People on the extreme right like Palin are handing the right-center votes to the Democrats who already have the center, left-center, and far left votes. Come on, you Republicans, use your heads...
To Noah who says a defeat of John McCain was not a defeat for conservatism.......I get it...your saying that since John McCain wasn't conservative enough 53% (that would be a 6 percentqage point over Mccain) elected the most liberal United States senator as the 44th President.
Noah.....You're an IDIOT! Propositions are always loaded. If you based your theory on Propostions results, both Women and Minorities in many states would still be unable to vote.
When Republicans in toto recognize that Neo-coservatism is a dinosaur, when they develop new ideas instead of simply looking for a new voice, perhaps and only perhaps they can increase their voice. Personally, I think it is finally over. It will take Devine Intervention to change the facts.
What sickens me most as an American is that Bush and the NeoCons got to so thoroughly trash this nation by sabotaging democracy HERE via two tampered-with elections while exporting "democracy" to (conveniently) oil rich Iraq with an illegal and immoral war based on lying to our people, Congress and the UN. And to think that they'll walk away with lifetime medical and pension benefits the rest of us serfs could only dream of. The NeoCons are traitors and war criminals of the highest order, with the blood of over 1 million people on their hands.
Dear Rorschach,
Re your comments on "trickle down” economics, please tell us the names of all the poor people who have hired you to work for them.
Because, if you can't name one (and I know I can't personally), then you have indeed benefitted from supply-side economics.
If demand side economics had any validity, that would make sub-saharan Africa an economic powerhouse, because they have all the want and demand in the world. All the demand in the world won't make products, goods and services magically appear without first having the “top down” capital investment from investors to create them (ie "trickle down").
Of all the jobs I’ve ever worked, and I’ve worked since my early teen years, I’ve never once been offered a job by a poor man. This fact of life might not fit into your utopian worldview, but it’s the truth and it’s the way of the world. Deal with it.
What was that first promise about pulling troops out of Iraq? ...no, no, not the 18 month promise; not the safely promise, ...before that... his first one?
The difference between Democrats who are corrupt is that they have personal problems which mark them as unpalatable to the American people. There's no systemic corruption within the Democratic Party.
But Republicans are nearly a complete Party of crooks.
Jack Abramoff, Duke Cunningham, Tom DeLay are just the tip of the iceberg, just the very outside edge of a criminal gang. The whole Republican Party is so infested with criminals that have stolen the American public, I'm never voting Republican for the rest of my life on that principle alone.
Ever.
If I find the Democratic candidate unacceptable, I'll plan to vote Libertarian or write in my own choice.
And politician that chooses to put an [R] beside his or her name will never again get my vote.
It's the systemic corruption of the Republican Party
@Don Alexander Carson City Nevada – yeah let's play the GOP corruption games – I see your five democrates and raise you 13 corrupt republicans:
Gov. Matt Blunt (MO)
Rep. Roy Blunt (MO), House Republican Whip
Gov. Ernie Fletcher (KY)
Gov. Bob Taft (OH)
Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (OH)
Rep. Bob Ney (OH)
Ralph Regula (OH)
Gov. Frank Murkowski (AK)
GOP official and fundraiser Thomas Noe (OH)
Rep. Randall "Duke" Cunningham (CA)
Rep. Jerry Lewis (CA)
Rep. John Doolittle (CA)
State Treasurer Lorelee Byrd (NE)
Good luck with this one. I am very interested in who they choose to lead them. If "Barack the Magic Negro" is any indication that the Republicans want an inclusive party you sure fooled me.
If the Republicans do not seek open debate to include non whites and young people they will wander in the dark for many years.
They might want to consider a rebranding and possibly a new name for their party.
I hate to be the one to give bad tidings, but it will be at LEAST 2020
before we get a Republican in the White House, period.....
They may be the majority in the House and/or Senate sometime in the Future, but definitely NOT in the White House.....
It will be a Democrat til then...
Larry C.
Houston, Texas
I'd much rather have the republicans discuss their strategy and direction in public than in some back room someplace. The back room approach gave us the double speak, wedge issue, with us or against us polarization we've seen since the 80's. It's not helpful. There is a point to actual conservatism. This is not the time for that brand of tough love, but there is a point. However, what the GOP has been pushing isn't conservatism, it's mean spirited divisiveness and scorched earth politics.
I hope they give up on the social engineering and just preach their platform. Winning at all costs costs more than America can afford.
Noah January 5th, 2009 10:59 am ET
How quickly Liberals forget history. Have they forgotten that in the past 40 years, America has elected 7 Republicans to the Presidency compared to only 4 Democrats?
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Couldn't have said it better Noah: And look at where we are because of it? Two wars and an economy that is the worst since the great depression. Perhaps it's time we stop electing conservatives, ya think?
I sincerely hope that the GOP can get back to its true roots. Only then will it be able to rise from the ashes of its divisiveness and polarizing backlash.
I agree, it will be interesting to see how the GOP will try to appeal to those groups of voters. I don't see them making inroads with those groups anytime soon.
15 days and counting! GOODBYE George. Worst president this country has ever had! SAY NO TO EVER PUTTING ANOTHER BUSH IN POWER!
The GOP trying to return from the political wilderness?As anybody out there ever been to one of those"corn mazes"?
The republicans are clueless. I was almost leaning repub at one time, but as a black female they always inject racial topics into everything. Why must race come up in half of republican discussions. Can why are they going after Blackwell and Steele, these two black guys are just there to gloss over the fact that the RNC lacks diversity. I'm a born again christian, and muslim is not a bad word, even though I don't agree with their beliefs. Never again, this happy now independent voted for Obama and will campaign for him. He's more christian than Guliani, Sarah Palin, and Dobeson put together.
I thought to myself, if those R-idiots think that going further right is going to help, they they have another thing coming. What Rush and Hannity fail to realize, is that the country is tired of old angy white men who embrace big business. If Sarah Palin was able to get McCain more votes because he was not conservative enough, then why did he go from being 49% in polls to being 42% in the polls. Why did 60% of the country think she was unqualified. If republicans are so good at big business, the why aren't they trusted with the economy.
I am not fan of GWB, but at least he seem like he tried. Let's be honest, he's stubborn, he shots from the hip, he's not smart, and he's not a good business man, but his party is what sunk him. He can thank Rove and Cheney for his demise, and I hope Cheney ends up in jail one day.
"The candidate making the most news lately is Chip Saltsman. Last month the former Tennessee GOP party chairman and the campaign manager of Mike Huckabee's presidential run sent party members a C.D. that included a parody song titled "Barack the Magic Negro"." That quote from this story speaks volumes about the true Republican party. Chip Saltsman is no idiot. He knows his target audience better than most and knows exactly what they crave – bigotry, homophobia, xenophobia just to name a few. I think they have found their man. The challenge for the new chairmanship is to broaden the party's appeal with younger voters and minorities. They need to come out of denial (through therapy) and realize that there is no appeal to broaden and they will have better luck in the next four years trying to get a square peg through a round hole.