Washington (CNN) - He walks through Washington's Reagan National Airport, arriving as he does nearly every Monday from a weekend home in South Dakota. He makes his way unnoticed.
But John Thune's anonymity may not last forever.
He is a Republican on the rise: a freshman senator who is already a member of the GOP leadership.
As head of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, Thune runs the weekly strategy session where all Senate Republicans try to find consensus on the best way to challenge President Obama and the Democratic majority.
"It's probably the most candid assessment that we have in a given week," Thune said, riding the subway to the Tuesday lunch.
With just 40 Republicans in the Senate now, Thune insists that there is still a diversity of GOP views - but one that he argues must be expanded.
From CNN Politics
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Who would vote for somebody with such a fake tan? Come on, there's no way he got that tan in South Dakota. He's worse than George Hamilton!
Republicans are not "regular guys"...they are unethical, morbid racists who rule by fear and hatred.
GOP: Evolve or die
Wow, he must be the guy on the tightrope at the GOP circus, I feel sorry for him.
"Thune runs the weekly strategy session where all Senate Republicans try to find consensus on the best way to challenge President Obama and the Democratic majority."
It would be nice if they'd spend that time and energy figuring out how to help the American people instead of ways to defeat President Obama.
Good---Thune for president 2012!
Do you want to know how you expand your views past racism, sexism, and biggotry?...
...you become a Democrat.
Another Republican on the rise. Thune INSISTS that "there is still diversity of GOP views – but he argues must be expanded"!!!! IS he kidding???
The ONLY diversity in Republican circles is the color of their ties!
Republicans have been hijacked by the extremist-fear-mongers of the far-right, their values and their politics do not reflect the majority of Americans!
When only 21% of Americans claim to be GOP.
When 55% of Americans do not know who the leader of the GOP is.
The writing is on the wall. GOP has gone over to the fringe, they are in denial.
"Thune runs the weekly strategy session where all Senate Republicans try to find consensus on the best way to challenge President Obama and the Democratic majority."
In other words, plan how to make him fail and the country along with him. Just once I would like to hear about a republican that actually thinks about the people of this country rather than his party and how to regain power.
2/3 lost their elections and are out of the senate but every time you people post an article...it's hot hot hot republican. We see where your loyalties lie...during bush's pillage of this country all we heard about was REPUBLICANS. We were told what they were doing was relevant because they were in the majority. Gee gee gee
Now that the democrats are in the majority you still have your head up republican butt. Guess your owners decreed it..push republican push republican...And by the way who in the devil has heard about anything this guy has done since the republicans stuffed the ballot box and got Daschle out of office. I don't trust the winning vote of any of the common low down cheating republicans. The only way anybody gets ahead in votes is to keep a close close close eye on that ballot box.
If he is such an up and coming leader, then why doesn't he take the leadership to ask Ensign and Vitter to resign and clean up the GOP's Senate representation.
He might be ok, as long as the southern conservative lunatic fringe doesn't have their way with him!
Why is it these guys always want to "challenge the President", on anything?
I can understand challenges when leadership needs direction, but these guys (GOP) challenge EVERYTHING. Obama is trying to give direction. When are they going to grow up... citizen up and take a stand for the people? Work together for crying out loud.
This is big business... OUR country! Work together to solve the many problems...or be fired!
It shouldn't be about party... it should be about AMERICA!!!
This "strategy session" must be of short duration. How many variations of the word "NO" are there ?
Dime a dozen! This now about the twentieth CNN declared 'rising star' of the republican party. Remember Sanford? Remember Jindal? Most people don't! They are losers!
Of course, having gone through the entire GOP roster CNN will then say at the end about the eventual nominee 'I told you so!' Of course they did! They also said the same thing about dozens of others! And yet they never came true!
By 2012 he will be more experienced than Obamessiah was when he ran for POTUS.
Watch for Thune/Cantor in 2016.
In 2010 he will have a lot more company. Far left wingers will see the sunset of their controll. Can't wait.
The GOP claims to be embrace diversity, so long as it is exactly what they believe, need proof? Read the story about Scazzy from earlier today.
Simplet Truth: Republicans are a narrow minded group of prehistoric principals, clinging on to every failed policy ever attempted, and ignorantly ignoring the fact that it was tried, and it failed. Or perhaps they know it failed, which is even worse since they still wish to pursue those same failed policies.
Let evolution continue to bring us into the future, species are mean to go extinct when they are no longer capable of making decisions based on current issues, the GOP has met it's time to die a swift and permanent death. They represent absolutely NOTHING good.
There hasn't been a good repubican since Lincoln!
A promise to control spending–and meaning it–would be a good start for the GOP. A promise to rein in government–and meaning it–would be a good next step, as would a sincere promise to return to government that respects the rights of individuals–no more of this spy-on-the-citizens PATRIOT Act crap.
And before looking for more people to join the GOP, it might be a good idea to look into getting back all the real conservatives–former Republicans–the neo-cons have alienated over the years. A lot of us don't get a lot out of narrow-minded, self-righteous, paranoia coupled with obviously disingenuous yatter about being the party of small government and fiscal conservatism–eight years of George Bush made those lies too obvious to miss.
> "Thune runs the weekly strategy session where all Senate Republicans try to find consensus on the best way to challenge President Obama and the Democratic majority."
Oh, that's nice to know. I wish they'd hold a weekly strategy session on the best way to effectively govern the nation. Isn't THAT what we're paying them for, rather than trying to stop the Democrats from getting anything accomplished?
"candid assessment" implies that these Republicans get together and tell the truth. Hmmm. Is that even possible?
Yes He is Pink enough. It is a lovely shade of you look just like me and you. , Sooooooooooooooooooo were safe. He is not as Handsome as Our President, He is better looking than Most Of the Republicans out there. He will be just what the Country is looking for. Not because he could be half as smart as our President Obama. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. But not matter stupid blunder he would make. He would be right.Right like Bush. Right like the Right and the shade of skin thats makes us all fit in. SICK
Oppose first, reason second. Exhibit (A) – "Thune runs the weekly strategy session where all Senate Republicans try to find consensus on the best way to challenge President Obama and the Democratic majority."
a young moderate is the future of the republican party? better not let Limbaugh, Palin and the other dimwits of the far right hear about this!
"Thune runs the weekly strategy session where all Senate Republicans try to find consensus on the best way to challenge President Obama and the Democratic majority."
There you have it, folks, proof positive that the GOP cares more about Party than Country.
No mention of new ideas or what they can do to better our country or help our people – just a lot of energy and noise trying to find the "right" candidate to defeat President Obama.
Our country deserves better than a bunch of power- and money-hungry doofuses running things. Been there, done that with George W. Bush & Company – and look what we ended up with!
GOP = Party Before Country