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By Whitehorse Posted in Congress — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

In the focus on Republican congressional hopes & woes I bring this post.

Boehner's GOP fix: A new committee

Faced with dire predictions of an electoral bloodbath in November, House Republican leader John A. Boehner responded Wednesday by creating a committee to advise the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.), who will serve on the committee, said its existence will show that Boehner and NRCC Chairman Tom Cole “understand” that they need to work closely together.

Critics likened the plan to placing a Band-Aid on a gaping wound.

“It’s a joke,” one Republican member said. “And not even a well-written one.”

Members and aides said the 12-member committee was established as a rapid-response vehicle to coordinate strategy, fundraising and member outreach in specific congressional districts as well as to plot long-term campaign strategy with NRCC aides and others...

Rightly or wrongly, this article attempts to portray this move as a pretty impotent move.

Republicans have struggled to regroup from their crushing defeat in the last election. Fundraising has been lackluster, and Boehner had a much-publicized blowup with Cole last fall over the top two aides at the NRCC. Allies to both men downplay the fallout from that initial spat, in which the Republican leader came up short in his bid to oust the aides. But Boehner and other ambitious Republicans have created independent fundraising arms to fill the committee’s coffers in the wake of that fight.

The creation of the new group represents a public détente between the minority leader and the NRCC chairman, and in that sense it’s classic Boehner: Since becoming leader in 2006, he has shown a preference for building consensus rather than cracking skulls. The result has been a happier caucus — until recently, at least — but one in which direct confrontation, even when seemingly needed, is often avoided...

As Newt wrote, the Republicans in congress need a bold, new direction. Something that gives voters something for which to vote. More is needed, however the independent fundraising arms are a good start that may circumvent some of the "damage" done to the Republican brand.

Two other members of the group are Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor, the party’s chief deputy whip, and California Rep. Kevin O. McCarthy, whom Boehner tapped as policy chairman for the GOP nominating convention. Those two, along with Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, founded the Young Guns, a group of House Republicans who are raising money for GOP candidates challenging incumbent Democrats. The group began with 15 members and has since swelled to more than 50.

Some Republicans have grumbled that the group is a fundraising showcase for its three founders, but fellow Young Guns say they are attracted to the group because it gives them a chance to go on offense — not just to hold GOP seats and erase debt from the last election. Cantor has hired an aide to join the NRCC to help coordinate the Young Guns’ activities with the Republicans’ official campaign arm, members and aides said...

One may read the entire article at the link. I like the idea of the "Young Guns." On a congressional level, Republicans need ideas and energy, again going back to giving voters something for which to vote. It gives the opportunity also for grassroots activists to have something to support.

I have been active on a local level for a while now. I remember the excitement and energy we had in the grassroots during the 1994 election. I'm not looking to turn back the clock, however we can have a similar feeling for 2010 - with as much progress for 2008 as we can get. If only the congressional Republicans were up for it now, the democrats are not in a very strong position. I am definitely going to contact my TN Republican congresspersons and push for a platform of bold, positive ideas and energetic marketing of these ideas. I humbly suggest that as many of us as can do the same.