If I had to call it, Mike Duncan is the front runner for election at RNC Chairman. No bones about it. Whether you might like it or not, Duncan is the guy to beat. The majority of the 168 men and women who will vote, like him and think he can do even better without having to stand in Bush’s shadow.
I talked to Mike Duncan on Monday. We weren’t really talking about his race. He said he was going to make an announcement today, but I knew which way he’d choose.
My first question was about these latest elections. The GOP has done surprisingly well without Obama’s name on the ballot and, frankly, did not do too terribly in some places with Obama’s name on the ballot. Duncan said, “It just means Republicans haven’t forgotten how to win elections.” Though the November elections were bad, Duncan thinks there were three big factors at play against the GOP simultaneously: (1) head wins were blowing against them with the war and economy, (2) most parties do not hold the White House for a third terms, and (3) the historic nature of the election.
Those won’t be factors in 2010.
I did ask Duncan how he sees his role, independent of whether or not he did decide to run again. He said the GOP needs to take a breath and listen. Accountability, he said, was key.
As for goals: solid recruitment, to Duncan, is key. He is mindful that candidates must fit their districts. “We cannot give up on Republican ideas,” he told me, “but candidates will match up differently in each district.” I took this to mean — and he is right — that a Jim DeMint could not win Massachusetts and a Rudy Giuliani could not win South Carolina. We have to be conscious of local issues and local values.
I asked him what things he wanted people to take away from both the November election and the December runoffs. He said, “Our programs work” and “Obama does not translate to other candidates.”
He Will Still Have to Deal With Obama
youthgrunt Wednesday, December 10th at 12:22PM EST (link)He still has to preside over a run against Obama in 4 years. He seems to have blinders on the last two elections. But let’s say that he was hampered by Bush during his time as Chair. Let’s even say that he is a competent and conservative leader. Even then, you have to take the last two elections as a call for “change”. There is simply no reason to expect that Duncan will take the RNC in a different, better direction in a second term as compared to what has happened recently.
He gets the same answer I gave to the RNSC when they wouldn't change leadership.
NightTwister Wednesday, December 10th at 12:59PM EST (link)Not a dime from me.
That doesn’t mean I won’t be doing what I can to help elect conservative Republican candidates. I just won’t be doing it with them.
Get Connected in Colorado.
Same for me
kat Wednesday, December 10th at 1:32PM EST (link)n/t
“Democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” Thomas Jefferson
Join the RedState Strike Force
You said it night...
AceInTX Wednesday, December 10th at 9:44PM EST (link)When you’re in a hole…stop friggin diggin!!!!
House Conservatives Fund
Michael Williams for Senate
Toomey US Senate
SarahPAC
Front runner?
Diogenes314 Wednesday, December 10th at 1:04PM EST (link)Possibly, but more likely the face of the 2008 election. After a performance like this, heads are likely to roll and right or wrong, Duncans will be one of them.
Hugh Hewitt interviews withDuncan and Chip Saltsman.
Missing the preview and crossing fingers…
Message brought to you by Diogenes
The Last American Liberal.
Let’s all compromise-everyone should just agree with me.
Friends Don’t Let Friends Vote Democrat.
Who can rally the republican troops? Ken Blackwell
drakefallington Wednesday, December 10th at 1:09PM EST (link)I think the big question here is: who can rally the republican troops whenever it seems like all hope is lost. We all know that the next four years are going to hold a few surprises. The Dems control the white house and the congress. A lot of republican leaders are going to be tempted to move towards the middle to try and recapture some of the independents & swing votes that leaned towards Obama.
But, what we must remember is that this is still (regardless of what anyone says) a right leaning control. Bush almost lost in 2000 because he moved towards the middle after the primary. He won by a landslide in 2004 because he just concentrated on motivating his base.
Republicans need a RNC Chairman that can stand up against the pressure to move towards the middle, and focus on motivating our base. Our base seems diminished now, but it will grow and grow as more and more of Obama’s ideas fail.
Personally, I strongly support Ken Blackwell for the RNC Chair position. I support him because he has all the qualities we need in a chair:
First, Blackwell is a strong fiscal conservative who supports limited government and low taxes. Supporting limited government throughout the Obama years will be difficult, but if we do it I believe we will prevail in the end.
Second, Blackwell has a long track record of winning difficult elections.
Third, he has broad appeal. Blackwell is an African American from Ohio. He’s a former ambassador to the UN.
Finally, Blackwell can rally the republican troops. I think we are going to see more and more influential, conservative republicans come out in support of Blackwell because rallying around such a strong fiscal conservative is clearly what must happen to preserve our injured party.
I support Blackwell too...
AceInTX Wednesday, December 10th at 9:50PM EST (link)but the issue here is…we don’t vote for the RNC Chair…there are 168 members who vote for the RNC Chair and control thae Party…It’s the same bunch of losers we had in 2006 and 2008 so nothi8ng has changed!
We need to start now working from the ground up till we can replace some of these clowns or we’re headed for a period like we had from 1929 to 1994 with Dems controlling congress!
House Conservatives Fund
Michael Williams for Senate
Toomey US Senate
SarahPAC
I stand by my still top rated recommended diary.
mbecker908 Wednesday, December 10th at 3:04PM EST (link)And thank you Neil for not messing with the Rec List.
Duncan is an idiot. He’s now saying he couldn’t get things done because of Bush. Posting rules forbid my commenting on that.
OK the guy is a good fundraiser. Give him a job as Director of Fundraising. But don’t let him even show up to meeting on any other subject.
This idiot has the audacity to say that “solid recruitment” is the key. So Mikie, toss up a list of your recruitment successes. Who are you working with in the sticks to bring new blood into the Party? BTW Mikie, who did you support in the primary fight for Lincoln Chafee’s Senate seat? We had the potential to bring in some new talent. Same for the primary fight for Arlen Specter’s seat.
Sorry Mikie, you’re part of a failed regime. You need to be elsewhere. Now.
You've got that right mbeck
AceInTX Wednesday, December 10th at 9:55PM EST (link)How these…limp…well…you know what I’m saying…think they can win in 2010 by doing the same thing they have the last two cycles shows just how stupid and out of touch they really are…
They keep raising money and feathering each others nests as they lose election after election and the country pays for their incompetents!!!
House Conservatives Fund
Michael Williams for Senate
Toomey US Senate
SarahPAC
Correction...Incompetence
AceInTX Wednesday, December 10th at 9:56PM EST (link)nt
House Conservatives Fund
Michael Williams for Senate
Toomey US Senate
SarahPAC
I asked Saul on twitter about getting involved in primaries....
JadedByPolitics Wednesday, December 10th at 10:03PM EST (link)and he said that the RNC does not get involved so I said ok but you give money to the NRSC and they do get involved in the primaries and he stated that they will always back the incumbant…..so ergo until that policy CHANGES there will be no dollars forthcoming from this chick and I will continue to subvert the old boy network of the idiots.
Until they are broke and the challengers in the primaries are winning WE will have no voice in this party!
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
Sad thing is...money talks...
AceInTX Wednesday, December 10th at 10:13PM EST (link)and there are just enough sheep out there that will keep sending in just enough cash for these guys to keep themselves in a position to maintain control of this party without changind a DXXXed thing!
They’ve been hit up beside the head twice…not with a 2X4 but with a 4X8 and they still haven’t gotten it!!!
Man I’m MAD with a capital F
House Conservatives Fund
Michael Williams for Senate
Toomey US Senate
SarahPAC
I don't care if they don't give money to primary challengers
mbecker908 Wednesday, December 10th at 10:49PM EST (link)but they shouldn’t give it to incumbents either.
Exactly mbecker but per Saul the RNC will give money....
JadedByPolitics Wednesday, December 10th at 10:59PM EST (link)to the NRSC and they will ALWAYS support the incumbent…..so take someone challenging McCain who by the way I will give the bulk of my donations to the NRSC will come in and dump whatever amount and give it to McCain…..SO there it is! I have to say at least he was honest about it.
The only way to beat them at their game is to give directly to conservative challengers and give the RNC NOTHING! Let the Rockefeller Republicans give to the RNC since it is a “club” and WE THE PEOPLE can give to those who RIGHTLY deserve it!
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
Yeah. And my point remains that the RNC shouldn't
mbecker908 Wednesday, December 10th at 11:06PM EST (link)pass out any cash at all to the House and Senate committees until AFTER the primaries are over.
BTW, I’m tired of the phrase “Rockefeller Republicans”. How about we change that to “Chafee Republicans”.
Ok or pick any of the squishes they are all the same!
JadedByPolitics Wednesday, December 10th at 11:09PM EST (link)nt
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
Preach it little sister!!!
AceInTX Wednesday, December 10th at 11:45PM EST (link)I’m on the Jaded bandwagon on this!
House Conservatives Fund
Michael Williams for Senate
Toomey US Senate
SarahPAC
LOL but the longer it stays up, the more likely it is that
Mike gamecock DeVine Wednesday, December 10th at 10:07PM EST (link)Duncan will cease to be an idiot. Time is not on your side.
BTW, Mikey jr, were you spanked as a child? And if so, don’t admit it online because I favor it.
smile
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
Not so gamecock. Duncan is an idiot. Pure and simple.
mbecker908 Wednesday, December 10th at 10:57PM EST (link)And for him to use Bush & McCain as foils to try to make the point that he isn’t is just over the top.
The Party needs - I was going to say “new” leadership, but since we haven’t had ANY leadership for at least five years I’ll just settle for this - leadership. I’m up for jettisoning everybody who’s held a so-called leadership position recently and getting new blood. Michael Corleone had exactly the right idea.
Just watch. If this idiot is the recipient of a hail-fellow-well-met pat on the back we’ll be right here having this discussion in ‘10 and probably in ‘12. He wants to blather about how important recruitment is, who’s he recruited and what’s his program?
The guy isn’t a leader any more than Bush or McCain were. They’re all just managers. And piss poor ones at that. At this point in time the Republican Party needs leadership.
I am for Steele
Mike gamecock DeVine Wednesday, December 10th at 11:18PM EST (link)1
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
I like Blackwell but Steele would be fine too.
mbecker908 Thursday, December 11th at 9:27AM EST (link)nt
My problem with Steele
RottDawg Thursday, December 11th at 9:42AM EST (link)I still cant get past his tap dance on H&C concerning Farrakhan…Blackwell is fine, but Saul seems like the right guy for the job to me!
Man is not free unless government is limited.
Ronald Reagan
Yes, I went ballistic over that too, but I think he just got caught
Mike gamecock DeVine Thursday, December 11th at 12:05PM EST (link)on a bad day and hadn’t thought it through. I do think it is part of the pathology in the black community born of 40 years of being given a pass for kookery by the dems and leftist press. I have heard Steele denounce Wright and Farrakhan later.
more later on that
But I understand your problem.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
But we did so well!
Nick Haynes Wednesday, December 10th at 10:08PM EST (link)I mean, we held onto almost 90 percent of our seats! We outraised the Dems!
But, in the entirety of the cycle, and let me be serious: what did Mike Duncan do to advance the party? The chair of the party has always been someone who goes out and preaches the message. Where was Mike Duncan over the past two years? I watch nothing but news shows and I never saw the guy. You never heard about what the Republican vision was except from officeholders-and then, it wasn’t the Republican vision, but instead their own vision. We had hundreds of different messages going around when we needed one solid, unifying message and theme uniting us. Our only theme seemed to be that we suck less than Democrats.
Mike, if you would like to articulate a vision, outline a plan or do something that shows you’re committed to winning back the House and the Senate somewhere in the timeframe of yesterday, then go ahead and lay it out. Until then, do us a favor and get out of the way, because you’re not helping.
If you’re not networking, you’re not helping.
Gamecock favors Steele, Blackwell, Dawson in that order
Mike gamecock DeVine Wednesday, December 10th at 10:10PM EST (link)btw
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
Accountability is key?
AceInTX Wednesday, December 10th at 9:41PM EST (link)hey Mike…We’ve lost seats in record numbers in two elections in a row…I and thew millions out here on the grass roots are sick of the excuses…If accountability is key….maybe you should take credit for the mess we’re in and step aside!
So Mike…and the 168 who would vote for him…ARE YOU LISTENING?
WELL?
That’s what I thought!
House Conservatives Fund
Michael Williams for Senate
Toomey US Senate
SarahPAC
Well said, Ace.
Nick Haynes Wednesday, December 10th at 10:12PM EST (link)When I was in the Navy, I was workshop supervisor. If the gear broke down, I was the one who helped diagnose it, repair it, explain to the chain of command why it broke down, and what we would do to make sure it didn’t happen again. That’s called accountability.
And if the gear kept on breaking down, causing security issues (it was an anti-missile system that I worked on), and never showed any signs of progress, not only would they find someone within the shop to replace me, but I’d be lucky if they didn’t find some way to bust me down for sheer incompetence.
If you’re not networking, you’re not helping.
If only this was Uncle Sam's Navy!
AceInTX Wednesday, December 10th at 10:16PM EST (link)(This comming from and Air Force guy) Taking a few stripes from these jerks is just what they need!
House Conservatives Fund
Michael Williams for Senate
Toomey US Senate
SarahPAC
I tell you what.
Nick Haynes Wednesday, December 10th at 10:43PM EST (link)If I had run a shop like these guys run the party, my crow (shorthand for petty officers, which are E-4 and above) would have had its wings clipped and pull off, then dragged out behind the birdhouse and shot.
And, even though I’m supposed to insert a snide remark here about the inferiority of your branch to mine, I’ll let that be and just say thanks for your service.
If you’re not networking, you’re not helping.
Ditto and please not my lack of the obligatory nark at your branch
AceInTX Wednesday, December 10th at 11:42PM EST (link):>)
House Conservatives Fund
Michael Williams for Senate
Toomey US Senate
SarahPAC
As a former Navy ET...
Diogenes314 Thursday, December 11th at 12:08AM EST (link)Most of the AF guys I met were pretty competent.
Of course, they went to our A school.
And to carry on your analogy, if nobody on your ship can get your gear up and running, you bring in a tech from my tender. Outside blood like Steele, for example.
Message brought to you by Diogenes
The Last American Liberal.
Let’s all compromise-everyone should just agree with me.
Friends Don’t Let Friends Vote Democrat.
Yeah...that's what we need for sure...
AceInTX Thursday, December 11th at 2:22PM EST (link)to bad it’s the money changers that decide all this
House Conservatives Fund
Michael Williams for Senate
Toomey US Senate
SarahPAC