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

[ChumpDumper]

Eh. Some folk go for quality, others for quan y.

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 su ious 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 iden y politics as much as any other politician of any other party would because they had just been s acked 2 election cycles in a row for running negative campaigns (on iden y 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? 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

[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

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 bite-y to destroy your opponents without even addressing their ideas. But if winning is more important than a bygone democratic selection process, what the , 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 bite-y to destroy your opponents without even addressing their ideas. But if winning is more important than a bygone democratic selection process, what the , 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?