News Break: Michael Steele will not be RNC Chairman...

[fraga]

Republicans rejoice...

[Oh, Gee!!]

http://afrojacks.com/images/stories/thats_racist_animated_11197.gif

[RandomGuy]

GOP chief drops out of race for re-election
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110114/ap_on_el_ge/us_gop_chairman

http://sites.google.com/site/gafbousa/_/rsrc/1281375219294/news/top20muppetswithfacialhair/mrJohnson.jpg?height=254&width=320

[RandomGuy]

When asked about his future plans, Mr. Steele stated he might try his hand at a dude ranch.

http://sites.google.com/site/gafbousa/_/rsrc/1281375216204/news/top20muppetswithfacialhair/300px-DocHoliday.jpg

He may also get his own cooking show, with his slightly paler younger brother:

http://sites.google.com/site/gafbousa/_/rsrc/1281375218186/news/top20muppetswithfacialhair/Swedish-chef.jpg?height=320&width=229

[fraga]

Hibily bibily...

[Winehole23]

Hobo-roller (http://www.gazette.net/stories/110706/princou134628_31968.shtml) got rolled. Good riddance.

[ElNono]

Good news for the GOP indeed. What a tool this guy was...

[boutons_deux]

tool?

he was transparently (oops!) a token black,

"Look here, Americans. We Repugs can do blacks, too"

(... a few weeks after a black was elected to WH)

Or as dubya told the NAACP: "I value the black vote" (not black people).

[ElNono]

You can talk about skin color all you want...
I'm merely referring to his abilities or lack of) as chairman of the RNC.

[Stringer_Bell]

I'm disgusted at the disregard for Mr. Steele's accomplishments and merits that landed him the RNC Chair. You all act like the only thing he ever did was be born black.

Well, he IS black. Whatever, I hope the RNC pick a woman next. With big titties.

[Yonivore]

It's because he's black. (Oh wait! It appears as though someone I have on ignore may have already played that card. My bad.)

It's because he's was a lousy Chair who squandered the GOP's treasury without much to show for it.

[Duff McCartney]

It's because he's black. (Oh wait! It appears as though someone I have on ignore may have already played that card. My bad.)

It's because he's was a lousy Chair who squandered the GOP's treasury without much to show for it.

They did just make massive gains in the Senate and House. I don't know how much you could put on Michael Steele but they did do something. That said he was pretty much a tool. I think what annoyed me most about him was how he tried so hard to make himself have street cred. I wasn't born well off, but shit I have more street cred than he ever will.

[ChumpDumper]

I don't see why Republicans say they are against affirmative action when their party chairman and VP candidate were the most high profile affirmative action hires in political history.

[Yonivore]

They did just make massive gains in the Senate and House. I don't know how much you could put on Michael Steele but they did do something.
He's not much of a Tea Partier, so far as I know.


That said he was pretty much a tool. I think what annoyed me most about him was how he tried so hard to make himself have street cred. I wasn't born well off, but shit I have more street cred than he ever will.
There were the spending scandals under his watch. Made him appear elitist and out of touch.

[clambake]

I don't see why Republicans say they are against affirmative action when their party chairman and VP candidate were the most high profile affirmative action hires in political history.

boom

[Yonivore]

boom
And that's what I'm talking about in another thread.

That you believe Steele was an Affirmative Action hire is your racism showing. Steele was a successful Republican politician, elected to office by an electorate. In much the same way, he was elected to the RNC Chair post.

Racists.

[clambake]

And that's what I'm talking about in another thread.

That you believe Steele was an Affirmative Action hire is your racism showing. Steele was a successful Republican politician, elected to office by an electorate. In much the same way, he was elected to the RNC Chair post.

Racists.

nope. i just said boom.

[Yonivore]

nope. i just said boom.

To this:

"I don't see why Republicans say they are against affirmative action when their party chairman and VP candidate were the most high profile affirmative action hires in political history."

[fraga]

Blammy!!!

[clambake]

Blammy!!!

yoni thinks blammy makes you a racist against a black man and a white woman.

[RandomGuy]

There were the spending scandals under his watch. Made him appear elitist and out of touch.

That makes him different than normal Republicans how?

[admiralsnackbar]

That makes him different than normal Republicans how?
He probably concluded each scandal with a rakish "Booyah, bitchez!"

Y'know... elitist.

:lol

[nkdlunch]

:lol at this coming out in MLK day

[George Gervin's Afro]

token black guy goes down

[Yonivore]

token black guy goes down
Why would you suggest Steele was a token and, therefore, that he wasn't qualified to be RNC Chair?

[Drachen]

I think his skin color may have played a major role (not the total reason, but a major role) in the reason why he was elected. That being said, I believe his skin color had nothing to do with his not being re-elected. Damn that guy was incompetent.

[boutons_deux]

saying nothing about his qualifications, but

the race-bating,
racist Repugs,
party of the haves vs the have-nots,
dominated by old Southern racist white guys and
racist rural red-staters,
health-reform-is-slavery-reparations,
we-value-the-black-vote (not black people)
destroyer-of-black-assisting-ACORN,
etc, etc

... elected a black guy a few weeks after the country overwhelming elected a its first black President over an old white guy.

[Yonivore]

I think his skin color may have played a major role (not the total reason, but a major role) in the reason why he was elected. That being said, I believe his skin color had nothing to do with his not being re-elected. Damn that guy was incompetent.
I don't know why you would insist race had something to do with him being elected to the Chair.

He was a successful Republican Lt. Governor from Maryland and former chair of GOPAC. He certainly had the requisite experience and political philosophy for job.

[Winehole23]

I don't know why you would insist race had something to do with him being elected to the Chair.Suggesting it was irrelevant (or even not considered) in 2008, is naive.

[Yonivore]

Suggesting it was irrelevant (or even not considered) in 2008, is non-liberal.
There. Fixed.

[Winehole23]

Because the GOP, as we all know, is immune to cynicism and worldly calculation. Naturally.

[Yonivore]

Because the GOP, as we all know, is immune to cynicism and worldly calculation. Naturally.
No, because there's no evidence Steele's ascension to the RNC Chair had anything to do with more than his political credentials.

The left is the side mired in identity politics.

[Winehole23]

The left is the side mired in identity politics.However that may be, you've got it worse than anyone on this board.

[Yonivore]

However that may be, you've got it worse than anyone on this board.
I'm not the one saying race played a role in his election to the post.

[Drachen]

No, because there's no evidence Steele's ascension to the RNC Chair had anything to do with more than his political credentials.

The left is the side mired in identity politics.

I honestly believe that it was the approach he took after his election that led me to believe that his race had something to do with it...

I will, however, be completely honest in saying that I do not know who his competitors were, so there is a possibility that I am completely wrong.

That behavior of his immediately after election though, makes for a compelling argument.

[Yonivore]

I honestly believe that it was the approach he took after his election that led me to believe that his race had something to do with it...

I will, however, be completely honest in saying that I do not know who his competitors were, so there is a possibility that I am completely wrong.

That behavior of his immediately after election though, makes for a compelling argument.
And, what behaviors were those?

[coyotes_geek]

If the new chair is an old, angry white guy, I'll believe that race didn't have anything to do with Steele's appointment.

[Yonivore]

If the new chair is an old, angry white guy, I'll believe that race didn't have anything to do with Steele's appointment.
It's a young white guy, what's your point? Oh, and these aren't appointments. They're elected to the position.

[Drachen]

All of his quotes about bringing the RNC to the "hood" etc...

[coyotes_geek]

It's a young white guy, what's your point? Oh, and these aren't appointments. They're elected to the position.

My point is that those doing the voting are casting their ballots based on who they think can market the party to certain demographics.

I don't have a problem with the practice, but let's at least acknowledge what it is.

[Yonivore]

My point is that those doing the voting are casting their ballots based on who they think can market the party to certain demographics.

I don't have a problem with the practice, but let's at least acknowledge what it is.
What? Conservatives? Do you seriously believe anyone thought Steele would appeal to liberal blacks?

And, Drachen, how'd that "bringin' it to the 'hood'" work out for him?

Sorry, I don't buy it.

[ChumpDumper]

yoni believes all blacks are either liberals or Michael Steele.

He is mired in identity politics.

[CuckingFunt]

The left is the side mired in identity politics.

As if the constant identity politics accusations aren't also identity politics...

[coyotes_geek]

What? Conservatives? Do you seriously believe anyone thought Steele would appeal to liberal blacks?


No. But I do seriously believe that they were deliberately looking for someone to try and break the old, angry white guy stereotype.

[Yonivore]

No. But I do seriously believe that they were deliberately looking for someone to try and break the old, angry white guy stereotype.
That was a stereotype fostered by Democrats, not one conservatives gave much weight. Maybe that's what drives your impression of Steele's election, I don't know.

Frankly, I never saw it as a matter of his race. He was a charismatic, successful politician with conservative ideas and good communication skills.

[Yonivore]

As if the constant identity politics accusations aren't also identity politics...
No, that's actually ideology politics. Something to which I do confess.

[admiralsnackbar]

No, because there's no evidence Steele's ascension to the RNC Chair had anything to do with more than his political credentials.

The left is the side mired in identity politics.

You've never been disrespectful to me, so I'd like to act in kind, but respectfully... isn't it suspicious that you can so write-off most conflicts in this world as being left/right?

Michael Steele is a good guy, and I don't doubt he's achieved more than I ever will. That said, from day 1 it was obvious that he was not qualified to lead the RNC. Not even remotely.

So how do we reconcile the fact that he's a successful politician, but a disaster as RNC Chairman? Because his brand of affable Republicanism was out of step with that of the hard-line majority of the party -- that's why (Steele would be fine among 80s Repubs, but not this crop).

Which leaves the question: why did they vote him in, in the first place? Especially at a time when most of the country couldn't afford gasoline and Steele was running against the original "Drill Here, Drill Now" guy, Katon Dawson?

Are you seriously going to tell me there was no racial component in the GOP's vote? That they weren't playing identity politics as much as any other politician of any other party would because they had just been shellacked 2 election cycles in a row for running negative campaigns (on identity politics platforms like Scary Gay Marriage as much as used-up talking points from the Newt days) and were showing poorly in polls regarding their current and historical inability to attract minorities to the Party? That it was just a happy coincidence that the GOP elected it's first black Chairman the very same year the country elected it's very first mixed-race president? Nigga pleez.

[ChumpDumper]

lol good communication skills.

Dude talked out of his ass more than you do, yoni.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

--Leo Tolstoy

[boutons_deux]

"That was a stereotype fostered by Democrats, not one conservatives gave much weight"

yep, conservatives never admit they are bastards, racists, hate-mongers. Nixon's Southern (racist) Strategy was brilliant, and it worked.

The entire southern Repug Congressional delegation is and has been racist, and throw in the Western assholes, and the picture is complete.

[admiralsnackbar]

Eh. Some folk go for quality, others for quantity.

[ChumpDumper]

Eh. Some folk go for quality, others for quantity.Not directed at you.

[admiralsnackbar]

Not directed at you.

Ah -- apologies, then.

[Yonivore]

You've never been disrespectful to me, so I'd like to act in kind, but respectfully... isn't it suspicious that you can so write-off most conflicts in this world as being left/right?
It's a political forum and most of the conflicts are over politics -- mostly falling on partisan lines. There are issues which don't fall left or right but, those are rarely discussed here.


Michael Steele is a good guy, and I don't doubt he's achieved more than I ever will. That said, from day 1 it was obvious that he was not qualified to lead the RNC. Not even remotely.

So how do we reconcile the fact that he's a successful politician, but a disaster as RNC Chairman? Because his brand of affable Republicanism was out of step with that of the hard-line majority of the party -- that's why (Steele would be fine among 80s Repubs, but not this crop).

Which leaves the question: why did they vote him in, in the first place? Especially at a time when most of the country couldn't afford gasoline and Steele was running against the original "Drill Here, Drill Now" guy, Katon Dawson?

Are you seriously going to tell me there was no racial component in the GOP's vote? That they weren't playing identity politics as much as any other politician of any other party would because they had just been shellacked 2 election cycles in a row for running negative campaigns (on identity politics platforms like Scary Gay Marriage as much as used-up talking points from the Newt days) and were showing poorly in polls regarding their current and historical inability to attract minorities to the Party? That it was just a happy coincidence that the GOP elected it's first black Chairman the very same year the country elected it's very first mixed-race president? Nigga pleez.
I would suggest the same about Howard Dean. Sometimes you just pick the wrong guy. That doesn't make the choice racially motivated.

And, with 95% of blacks casting their vote for Barack Obama, it's not like the Republicans had any illusions about what a black RNC chair might bring to the table.

I think you're off base; we obviously disagree. Oh well.

[clambake]

they put him there to echo the hate from whitey, and avoid the race card.

[admiralsnackbar]

It's a political forum and most of the conflicts are over politics -- mostly falling on partisan lines. There are issues which don't fall left or right but, those are rarely discussed here.


I would suggest the same about Howard Dean. Sometimes you just pick the wrong guy. That doesn't make the choice racially motivated.

And, with 95% of blacks casting their vote for Barack Obama, it's not like the Republicans had any illusions about what a black RNC chair might bring to the table.

I think you're off base; we obviously disagree. Oh well.

So what made Steele more qualified than Dawson? Given he was so much more moderate than the base, and was matched against a guy who's pet political cause was enormously popular at the time -- what was the tipping point in your opinion? Honest question.

As for Howard Dean... was he a bad DNC Chairman? Seems like he did pretty well by the Dems the past few cycles.

[boutons_deux]

Howard Dean was great as campainger and political strategist, but Rahm Emmanuel thought he was too much a power rival, so he pushed HD out.

[Yonivore]

So what made Steele more qualified than Dawson? Given he was so much more moderate than the base, and was matched against a guy who's pet political cause was enormously popular at the time -- what was the tipping point in your opinion? Honest question.
Uh, I don't know Dawson from squat. I knew who Steele was before he was RNC Chair.

That's my honest answer.


As for Howard Dean... was he a bad DNC Chairman? Seems like he did pretty well by the Dems the past few cycles.
Seems he was a bit too unhinged for most moderate Democrats. But, again, that's my opinion.

[admiralsnackbar]

Seems he was a bit too unhinged for most moderate Democrats. But, again, that's my opinion.

I thought so too for the longest time until I read a few articles/interviews with the guy. Obviously he is a total liberal, but he's perfectly reasonable, which just makes me think that "Gyeagh!!!" press assasination job Rove ran on him must have been the most brilliantly simple tactic to discredit a politician I've ever seen. Even the Willie Horton ad had some political significance of a sort... Dean just screamed like a wimp! A little whisper campaign to suggest he was nutty and effeminate and... that was it for him. No muss, no fuss :lol

[Yonivore]

I thought so too for the longest time until I read a few articles/interviews with the guy. Obviously he is a total liberal, but he's perfectly reasonable, which just makes me think that "Gyeagh!!!" press assasination job Rove ran on him must have been the most brilliantly simple tactic to discredit a politician I've ever seen. Even the Willie Horton ad had some political significance of a sort... Dean just screamed like a wimp! A little whisper campaign to suggest he was nutty and effeminate and... that was it for him. No muss, no fuss :lol
If so, well-played, wouldn't you say?

[Winehole23]

that "Gyeagh!!!" press assasination job Rove ran on him must have been the most brilliantly simple tactic to discredit a politician I've ever seen.Agreed.

[Winehole23]

Besides the fact that it sounded funny I'm not quite sure how it worked.

[admiralsnackbar]

Besides the fact that it sounded funny I'm not quite sure how it worked.

I really think that's the only level it worked on, but that level was so common among all people in a kindergardenesque "sissies is funny!" kind of way, that that's all it took.

And yes, Yoni -- very well played. At the same time, it seems epically cockbite-y to destroy your opponents without even addressing their ideas. But if winning is more important than a bygone democratic selection process, what the fuck, eh?

[Yonivore]

I really think that's the only level it worked on, but that level was so common among all people in a kindergardenesque "sissies is funny!" kind of way, that that's all it took.

And yes, Yoni -- very well played. At the same time, it seems epically cockbite-y to destroy your opponents without even addressing their ideas. But if winning is more important than a bygone democratic selection process, what the fuck, eh?
Their point were being responded to, as well. Picking on that idiot was just icing on the cake.

[Winehole23]

Running for president in all 50 states is proven idiocy, for sure.

[Winehole23]

Internet fundraising? For idiots.

[jack sommerset]

Steele did a fine job.

[Winehole23]

That's why he had to go.

[jack sommerset]

New blood. New congress. Really doesn't matter at this point who the head of GOP is. Barry, Nancy and Reid are the dems biggest problems and they are not going anywhere for atleast 2 years.

[Winehole23]

atleastest.

[DJ Mbenga]

steele did what they wanted him to do. be black and republican

[Winehole23]

New blood. New congress. Really doesn't matter at this point who the head of GOP is.So the GOP should go ahead and make a leadership change for no reason at all. Good story, jack.



(down the hatch!)

[Yonivore]

So, is there a black Republican that isn't in their position due to race? I've yet to see anyone from the left suggest a black conservative could attain any position of power on merit.

They're always characterized as "tokens;" which, if I were a black conservative, I'd find pretty offensive.

[jack sommerset]

So the GOP should go ahead and make a leadership change for no reason at all. Good story, jack.



(down the hatch!)

Never said that but doesn't surprise me you came to that conclusion.

[Winehole23]

Leaving tokenism entirely to one side if we may. Mr. Steele was a terrible manager, not good at fundraising, and never terribly popular with the base.

[Winehole23]

Never said that but doesn't surprise me you came to that conclusion.Why do you think it happened, besides Steele getting bought off to bow out?

[Yonivore]

Leaving tokenism entirely to one side if we may. Mr. Steele was a terrible manager, not good at fundraising, and never terribly popular with the base.
I liked him at the time he took the helm. Like I said, he is a charismatic and successful Republican, former Lieutenant Governor, and former Chair of GOPAC. I wasn't aware of anything not to like about him at the time he was elevated to RNC Chair.

[Yonivore]

Why do you think it happened, besides Steele getting bought off to bow out?
I think the perception he was out of touch and fiscally irresponsible with RNC funds was a big reason he fell our of favor.

There were a couple of big scandals, late in his tenure, that pretty much sunk his re-election bid.

[Winehole23]

ok then

[Yonivore]

ok then
Now, back to the larger question. Can you think of a black Republican/Conservative that hasn't been characterized by the left as a "token" or that wasn't elevated to their position of power because of their race?

[Winehole23]

It's politics. It always gets thrown on the wall. Do you remember the folks who were constantly reminding Obama voters they were only assuaging their white guilt by voting for Obama? Same thing.

[ChumpDumper]

I think the perception he was out of touch and fiscally irresponsible with RNC funds was a big reason he fell our of favor.

There were a couple of big scandals, late in his tenure, that pretty much sunk his re-election bid.He also looked like a complete idiot whenever the red light above the camera went on.

Much like Palin, but of course that only endears them to people like yoni.

[Winehole23]

Anyway, limiting the focus to the time of hiring is artificial and unduly restrictive. Credentials aren't everything; character and performance count too.

[Yonivore]

It's politics. It always gets thrown on the wall. Do you remember the folks who were constantly reminding Obama voters they were only assuaging their white guilt by voting for Obama? Same thing.
No, who did that?

I seem to recall Gene Simmons saying he only voted for Obama because he was black but has since regretted that decision.

And, I do recall the suggestion that many of the 95% of black that voted for Obama did so because he was black.

But, I don't recall anyone suggesting white people that voted for blacks were doing so to assuage their guilt.

Sounds like a bed-wetting liberal excuse to explain why anybody could vote for such an idiot to be president. Because, I certainly felt no compulsion to vote for Obama and I'm white.

[Yonivore]

Anyway, limiting the focus to the time of hiring is artificial and unduly restrictive. Credentials aren't everything; character and performance count too.
And, at the point of his ascension to the RNC Chair position, I recall him being a rising star in the Republican Party.

[Winehole23]

You thought Steele was star material. How'd that turn out?

[ChumpDumper]

No, who did that?:rollin:rollin:rollin:rollin

[Winehole23]

No, who did that? You, I thought. I could be wrong. Maybe it was DarrinS or WC.

[Yonivore]

You, I thought. I could be wrong. Maybe it was DarrinS or WC.
Nope, don't think so.

[RandomGuy]

Now, back to the larger question. Can you think of a black Republican/Conservative that hasn't been characterized by the left as a "token" or that wasn't elevated to their position of power because of their race?

Not really. It is one of the dumber race-baiting tactics that Democrats level at Republicans.

That said, I will always remember watching the GOP convention footage on CSPAN once where the camera feed coming out of there was dominated rather disproportionately by the 5 African-American delegates that showed up.

The intent of the amount of air-time devoted to those delegates was rather obvious.

"Look at us, see we have black people too!"

While they may not have been "tokens", it sure seemed like they were being used to make a rather obvious point in a ham-handed way. The cynical side of my brain would use the term "cynically-manipulated", but I would give even the GOP leaders *some* benefit of the doubt.

[Yonivore]

Not really. It is one of the dumber race-baiting tactics that Democrats level at Republicans.

That said, I will always remember watching the GOP convention footage on CSPAN once where the camera feed coming out of there was dominated rather disproportionately by the 5 African-American delegates that showed up.

The intent of the amount of air-time devoted to those delegates was rather obvious.

"Look at us, see we have black people too!"

While they may not have been "tokens", it sure seemed like they were being used to make a rather obvious point in a ham-handed way. The cynical side of my brain would use the term "cynically-manipulated", but I would give even the GOP leaders *some* benefit of the doubt.
I think C-Span would be the first to tell you, they control their own cameras. You should probably ask them why they did so.

[RandomGuy]

I think C-Span would be the first to tell you, they control their own cameras. You should probably ask them why they did so.

The feed from the floor was being set by the party, if I remember correctly. Mostly it was from the huge jumbotron that was NOT controlled by CSPAN.

Sorry. You don't get to weasel out of that.

[Yonivore]

The feed from the floor was being set by the party, if I remember correctly. Mostly it was from the huge jumbotron that was NOT controlled by CSPAN.

Sorry. You don't get to weasel out of that.
Wasn't weaseling. I didn't watch the convention and I don't know to what C-Span agreed.

I just know that while the event organizers may control access, C-Span has adamantly resisted anyone else controlling content.

Prove me wrong. Your simple assertion doesn't cut it.

[RandomGuy]

Wasn't weaseling. I didn't watch the convention and I don't know to what C-Span agreed.

I just know that while the event organizers may control access, C-Span has adamantly resisted anyone else controlling content.

Prove me wrong. Your simple assertion doesn't cut it.

I have only my dim memory of the event. I can't even tell which year it was, so I am unable to prove you wrong. Hell, I might even be wrong about it being CSPAN.

The only thing I remember for certain was thinking that the way it was covered seemed pretty ham-handed.

[Yonivore]

I have only my dim memory of the event. I can't even tell which year it was, so I am unable to prove you wrong. Hell, I might even be wrong about it being CSPAN.

The only thing I remember for certain was thinking that the way it was covered seemed pretty ham-handed.
No problem. I don't remember it at all, dim or otherwise.