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Race for the RNC Takes Shape

Submitted by Patrick Ruffini on Sun, 10/19/2008 - 03:51
in

On Friday, Marc Ambinder provided the latest scuttlebutt on the potential candidates for RNC Chairman. The names mentioned in the piece, in this order, include:

  • Alec Poitevint, National Committeeman for Georgia, and the piece says, favorite of McCain insiders, though whoever leaked that was probably not trying to do him any favors.
  • Chuck Yob, former National Committeeman for Michigan
  • Katon Dawson, chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party
  • Jim Greer, chairman of the Florida Republican Party
  • Chip Saltsman, Mike Huckabee's campaign manager and former chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party
  • Saul Anuzis, chairman of the Michigan Republican Party

We'll be following this race very closely starting November 5th (assuming there is a race and McCain doesn't win). This job becomes symbolically more important if Republicans are the out party, as the chairman becomes one of the three public faces of the party with the House and Senate Republican leaders. This probably means the most public RNC Chairman's race in the party's history this winter.

The big question to my mind is if a grassroots favorite will emerge from this pack a la Howard Dean. RNC rules were recently changed to welcome candidates from outside the committee -- though in practice this had been waived to make room for many of the President's appointments.

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My favorite Grassroots RNC Chairman

Submitted by davidfarrar on Sun, 10/19/2008 - 08:22.

 I nominate:

      Gov. Sarah Palin

 to be our next RNC Chairwoman.

Let's all start a grassroots effort right here and now at  good, old TheNextRight to get Sarah Palin in as our party's Chair, on the assumption, of course,  she is free to accept such a position after the election.

Is there a second?

 

ex animo

davidfarrar 

 

YAY!!

Submitted by Jim Dandy to th... on Sun, 10/19/2008 - 10:59.

I'm with ya, youbetcha!!!

Bad Idea, Annoying graphics - I would go for Newt

Submitted by Freedoms Truth on Sun, 10/19/2008 - 22:14.

My wife says McCain/Palin will win, and she is always right. So Palin will be busy. But  even If Obama wins, Sarah Palin will go back to Alaska and run the geographically largest state in the nation. RNC job is too much of a distraction for a Governor or VP.

What we need is a very articulate man without a current political portfolio who can rally the base and who has enough name ID and a sense of good political strategy to get us up off the mat. They guy will need to have intellectual heft too. I SAY WE LET NEWT GINGRICH HAVE A GO.

Newt Gingrich led the charge of the Congressional minority in 1992-1994 and won the House. He more than anyone will know how to respond, and it was he who help bring up the one success of the season for Republicans.  

I dissent

Submitted by Ironman on Sun, 10/19/2008 - 09:16.

I don't think it is in Sarah's best interest to do this.  A party chairman ends up getting locked in to a very partisan persona.

An interesting opinion...

Submitted by davidfarrar on Sun, 10/19/2008 - 09:53.

 I wonder if anybody else here at the "Next Right" shares your opinion, especially as it relates to "movement politics"?

 

 

ex animo

davidfarrar

 

My take on it...

Submitted by Darvin Dowdy on Sun, 10/19/2008 - 22:05.

...is that Sarah should let it be known that whoever is chosen "must" have her blessing or there's going to be "heck" to pay.  There is only one reason why the GOP is even viable right now.  And that reason is Sarah Palin. 

Whatever happens on 11/4/08, Sarah Palin has garnered the support of millions and millions of solid loyal base supporters.  That won't change in the event of a loss, therefore, decisions within the GOP Hierarchy do not go without her stamp of approval.  That , of course, is if Sarah is the determined leader that I think she is.   At least so far I don't see any foot prints on her from people walking over her.  Darvin Dowdy

Can anyone suggest grassroots RNC chair candidates?

Submitted by johnson springs on Sun, 10/19/2008 - 10:33.

Can anyone suggest candidates for RNC chair who might represent a new direction for the GOP? If so, some indication of the candidate's views would be helpful.

We are fast approaching a crucial crossroads for the party where choices will be made that determine whether we can compete for voters who are increasingly identifying as Democratic. We can choose to insulate the base and harden our positions on our traditional issues or we can reassess how conservative principles can fashion policy and position candidates that appeal to a wider demographic.

In my view, the stakes could not be higher over the next 2 years.

"Evolve or die". Give me a break

Submitted by davidfarrar on Sun, 10/19/2008 - 23:15.

"Evolve or die!" Give me a break!

What kind of political nonsense is this? I can't believe what I am reading here.

 

 Do you believe the people now screaming for Sarah Palin at her rallies are screaming at her to "Evolve or die"?

Do you believe the people standing in line for hours just to get a glimpse of Sarah Palin are doing so because they hope to convince her to change her policies so she can appeal to a wider demographic?

Listen, if you really want a new right rather than just write about it, now is the time to take political advantage of three things: First, it's a proven fact, Sarah Palin has the ability to stir the silent majority up as nobody else has been able to do since Reagan.

Secondly, we just may be the party out of power come election time.  As such, hopefully, it will be in a position to restructure. If McCain wins, all the better. Sarah Palin can use our efforts to help decide the next RNC.  In fact, our efforts on the part of Sarah Palin for the RNC Chair will help get even more of her supporters to the polls in support McCain on election day.

And thirdly, if Sarah Palin can restructure the party, using the Internet, for the 2010 elections, putting Sarah Palin Republicans into Congress, she will be ready to run for the presidency by 2012 and move the GOP into position to convert her "political movement" into a sustaniable political philosophy for the next six elections -- something Reagan was never able to do.

 

    "Evolve or die!" Give me a break!

      We have not yet begun to fight

 

 ex animo

davidfarrar

 

I basically agree w/you...

Submitted by Darvin Dowdy on Sun, 10/19/2008 - 23:53.

...but I don't think Palin should tie herself up in that "lower" position of  RNC chair.  Too limiting.  She is in a position to make some demands as to who ends up sitting in that chair.  But the question remains,  will she? She has carved out this incredible place for herself but will she, on behalf of all those adoring conservative voters at those rallies, begin to take control of the GOP?  Wrest control of it away from these globalist/elites?  She has definitely earned the right but will she demand her rights?  We'll have to wait and see.   I mean, my gosh, we're so used to doormats like George Bush and John McCain who roll over and allow democrats to wipe their soiled feet upon them.  Thats what we're used to!   She really has an opportunity here to show us what she has.  It'll be interesting to watch. DD

PS: really is warming the cockles of my heart to see Farrar going to bat for Repub's.  We really need his vote especially now to cancel out Colin Powells.   It might even, like Chris Matthews, start to send a tingle up my leg.  I wish could get a visual image of what that would look like, though.  I just can't visualize it, if you you know what I mean?

There is nothing like the Chairmanship's position...

Submitted by davidfarrar on Mon, 10/20/2008 - 09:42.

...of a party to take control of the party.  As soon as Gov. Palin steps into the Chairmanship's position her supporters, many of whom will already be Executive Committee members of their local and state organizations, will have a profound influence within the party itself. Chairwoman Palin can simply build on that support, while keeping in the public eye and  gaining invaluable national and international experience.  This type of preparatory political groundwork has never been openly advocated before, never even been contemplated before to my knowledge.

Clearly, it is obvious to all, we fiscal conservatives simply cannot proceed as before. We must upgrade our political structure, not our ideology, or be overwhelmed by those political systems who have upgraded their structure.

To get the gist of what we are really talking about here, read this little propaganda piece from Real Clear Politics, entitled: "The Palin Split".

 One thing more: Colin, who?

ex animo

davidfarrar

 

I think Palin should not waste time to become the RNC chairman

Submitted by Big Ben 4 liberty on Mon, 10/20/2008 - 13:04.

but I do hope we get some better party leaders soon.  I will be voting to re-elect Se. McConnell here in Ky but I don't want him to remain as Senate GOP leader.  And I think Mike Duncan (who is from Inez, Ky) should resign as of yesterday.

Palin is the route to a regional party

Submitted by johnson springs on Mon, 10/20/2008 - 13:56.

But perhaps that is the best solution for the purists in the crowd.

I am sorry...

Submitted by davidfarrar on Mon, 10/20/2008 - 16:08.
...I don't see anything "regional" about the spontaneous crowds Sarah Palin draws wherever she goes. Many times they are even larger than Obama's constructed crowds. And while I am perfectly aware the MSM and the Left has and will continue to try to paint Sarah Palin in as a bible-thumping, anti-abortionist, racist, her political appeal comes from her identity with the common people, the silent majority. It is they who turn out to see her in their thousands. It is they who see in her a way, perhaps their only way, to have their voices heard.
 As a political party, we can do no better than to stop, go back to our roots and restructure our party to once again listen to the needs, wants and political aspirations of the common people, the common crowd, the "vulgus", as Billy Kristel recently wrote about and declared himself to be among. Go figure!

 

ex animo

 

 

 

davidfarrar

 

Dave, my man you are beating your head against the wall

Submitted by Big Ben 4 liberty on Mon, 10/20/2008 - 18:09.

This liberal troll wants to think and believe the worst about Palin, no matter what facts you present what a dynamic and skillful leader she really is, he just wishes he had one of those "Sarah Palin is a Cunt" t-shirts the nutroots losers currently think are cool and funny.