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DEL.ICIO.USMore on Gingrich and the race for chairman of the RNC
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Washington Times weighs in today on the chairmanship race for the Republican National Committee:
A behind-the-scenes battle to take the reins of the Republican National Committee is taking off between former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele.
Neither man will acknowledge his interest in the post, but Republicans close to each are burning up the phone lines and firing off e-mails to fellow party members in an effort to oust RNC Chairman Mike Duncan in the wake of the second consecutive drubbing of Republican candidates at the polls.
A bevy of backers for each man, neither of whom is an RNC member, say the committee needs a leader who can formulate a counter-agenda to President-elect Barack Obama’s administration and articulate it on the national stage.
The article quotes Randy Evans, Gingrich’s close friend and legal counsel, who was the primary source for a similar piece in this space on Sunday.
On the web site of Human Events, an article authored by Gingrich included these lines:
A number of people have asked me to consider running for Republican National Committee Chair. They have been very flattering, and I am very honored by their support.
However, my job as an American first is to develop a “tri-partisan” approach to developing solutions for the challenges we face.
I use the word “tri-partisan” to designate the concept of attracting Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to solutions that unify most Americans.
Meanwhile, the New York Times includes the following paragraph from Gingrich on the future of the GOP, but doesn’t mention any interest he might have in the RNC chairmanship:
“We need to be honest about the level of failure for the past eight years and why Republican government didn’t succeed,” said Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, who has played an increasingly assertive role in the debate over the party’s future. “Otherwise, we’ll get back in power again and do the same things again.”
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Comments
By Steeles The Man
November 11, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
Don’t need to take a step back, we need to take a step forward. Michael Steele for RNC Chairman.
By Alton E. Drew
November 11, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
Michael Steele represents a better and more forwarding looking vision for the GOP. His emphasis, while lt. governor of Maryland, was always on reduced regulation, economic growth issues and small business. These are core philosophies of the Republican party that the party needs to get back to. Gingrich helped to increase the nonsensical social conservatism that has cost the GOP. www.altondrew.com
By JUDGE KENNETH STARR
November 11, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this
Socialist Bail-Out Saxby must be defeated for conservatine capitalism.
By Hamad Meander
November 11, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
Both men are very qualified candidates for the job, evidently more qualified than the current holder of the job. I think Gingrich is a brilliant political mind with a somewhat negative public image. However, public image is not important for this job. Who can tell me what Michael Duncan looks like and where he is from? Exactly.
Let’s have Gingrich right the ship (pun intended) and have Michael Steele running for office.
By VETERANS for MARTIN
November 11, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
Six years of Failure from Saxby.
By Bitter EX democrackkk
November 11, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
Michael Steele is a phenomenal candidate, the best pick, esp. since Newt is busy.
Does Newt draw a salary anywhere these days? Is Steele still Md Lt Gov?
By Disgusticated
November 11, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
“Let’s have Gingrich right the ship (pun intended) and have Michael Steele running for office.”
I like the sound of that. But don’t knock social conservatism. We have not had any significant progress on that front in about twenty years, so how can you claim it’s held the Party back? If anything, the Party’s failure to follow through on social conservative issues (allowing a historically profound shift to the left in all areas of American culture) after making such big promises back in the 90s has contributed to lost voter confidence..
By Boots
November 11, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
Newt Gingrich has his eyes on the 2012 presidency, but carries more baggage than Zsa Zsa Gabor.
He’s very bright, but needs to work behind the scenes in a policy making capacity.
Otherwise, the Democrats will spit him out like a sunflower seed —- harking back to his hypocritical moral stands.
By Tom Becker
November 11, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
I adore Ms. Gabor!
By Andy Steinhauser
November 11, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
Newt Gingrich is simply an overzealous opportunist. When he was a no-name congressman from West Georgia, he quickly became a carpetbagger to Cobb County because so that he would have the chance to continue to serve in the House. Although he may speak words of building the GOP, his only agenda is HIMSELF. A vote for this failed leader is a vote for a man without a moral compass and a party that is destined to stay adrift.
By JW
November 11, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this
Whenever he enters, Newt is the smartest guy in the room. Remember the Contract? Newt has baggage all right, but then who doesn’t. Baggage can be checked but we need a pilot with vision and the ability and courage to articulate. Newt 2012.
By SaveOurRepublic
November 11, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
Andy Steinhauser - You’re quite correct on “Neocon” Newt. Like far too many in the Neocon infested GOP, he’s a Globalist shill (former member of the CFR). However, Steele is also a Globalist minded, “Free” Trade, Inventionalist Neocon. If the GOP hopes to ever recover from this mass backlash, they need a real (paleo)Conservative at the helm…ie - a true patriot like Dr.Ron Paul!
By Copyleft
November 11, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
“Remember the Contract on America”?
Yeah, the one that he completely failed to execute, on every point. I remember it well. Newt’s a failure and an embarrassment.
Please put him in the forefront of your GOP revitalization efforts… there’s no better way to ensure that the far right remains an irrelevant fringe cult for many, many elections to come.
By Ah
November 11, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
1/20/09: The beginning of the Curious George ERROR. Obama is a fraud and will be run out of town before the end of his first term. You Kool-Aid kids are in for a real shocker…can you say birth certificate?
By Pat
November 11, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this
Palin and Steele - w/Gingrich behind the scenes (as RNC Chair). That’s a Holy Trinity which we will need after 4 years of Muslim mania (aka Hussein Obama).
Of course, we may have had our last democratic election as The Messiah (w/help from his personal militia, military and congressional) will have all of the power.
God help us! We are witnessing the end of the America our forefathers founded.
By Claudia
November 11, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this
Newt, Newt, Newt….of course if the GOP gets back in power they will do the same things again. Thats what they campaign on …. keeping things the same and anyone who considers change or progressiveness is radical.
So I guess you are stuck in the party that created it’s own box. Sometimes solutions require changes. You won’t be challenged by any thinking in your GOP party that’s for sure.
By Claudia
November 11, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this
Newt, Newt, Newt….of course if the GOP gets back in power they will do the same things again. Thats what they campaign on …. keeping things the same and anyone who considers change or progressiveness is radical.
So I guess you are stuck in the party that created it’s own box. Sometimes solutions require changes. You won’t be challenged by any thinking in your GOP party that’s for sure.