Redstate

I live in Orem, but am moving to Jackson next week for a new job.  

Sent Cannon UT-3 an email, but he's already announced for Boehner.  :(  

Cubin (WY) looks to still be unannounced, so I sent her one.

I'll call later today too.

Hugo Chavez's pal Jose Serrano vote on this election? Please let me know, I'll be more than happy to contact him

have you called yours?

My congressperson? is Sheila Jackson Leigh, so I don't think we can count on her support.

And e-mailed my Congressman too--to no avail. For whatever reason Tom Tancredo has decided to back Blunt.  Heavy sigh...

I called Rep. King in NY-3.

Is there a comprehensive list somewhere of who have endorsed who so far?

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/011106/tally.h
tml

Which, due to inflation, is completely worthless.  I am in Blunt's territory, have met him and like him, so don't doubt my bias.

OTOH, I like Shadegg because I am VERY interested in the success of the platform of the RSC and he seems to be a point man there.

However, it has been my (possibly less than astute) observation that a man with a fire in his belly and leadership in his heart isn't late to the fight.  When Dick Armey and Newt tore through the barricades in '94, they did it out of such a great desire it had turned to a New Hampshire motto (you know:  Live Free or Die).

I'm not at all sure that Shadegg has that fire.  And without that fire, are we getting another Frist?  This position is a position for a 'hammer'.  Shadegg may turn out to be alright, but I'm concerned that even with the extreme level of support he is getting from the bloggers, which to a certain extent represent the R grassroots, he still hasn't lit a fire where it really matters:  among his fellow congresscritters.

He's not the one that said he should get the job because he's "less tainted than the others" is he?

Here.

I think that's the most comprehensive coverage of the three candidates you'll find anywhere.  It really helps that you can listen to each of them in their own words and make up your mind.

Frankly, I'm still going for Blunt.  I'm tired of this leadership race tearing through the soul of this party.  it's not right.  

Blunt has the public votes so I'm encouraging my Congressman to vote for him.

That's that.

lowry,national review online; says gaining today:

The sense from the Shadegg people lately is that they are gaining. It's very hard to know what that means, though, since they aren't playing the names-and-numbers game the way the other campaigns are--partly, no doubt, because they don't have as many names and numbers, partly because people are afraid of sticking their necks out by openly declaring for Shadegg.

For Blunt, BTW.

that looks like it's a pro-Blunt ad.  Clickthrough and check it out.  At least that's what I heard from the other editors since I have an adblocker on Firefox I don't see them at all.

I'd love to see the IP address scornedpundit's coming from...

It's not pro-Blunt anymore than it's pro-anybody Republican.  But I do think that the Kossacks are hoping for a Blunt leadership in the house.  I get the impression that they've hoped the leadership transition there would be seamless, so they can keep up the attack all the way through this year.    

TPM or TPMCafe recently, so I'm not very well-apprised of the current liberal scuttlebutt on the Republican leadership.  The MSM has been strangely quiet about the leadership transition, and I think they're doing that because they want to be able to say the Republicans elected the status quo.  Rationally, if they were interested in anything as important as the Republican Leadership in the House, I would have expected to see at least an opinion piece or two on the contenders, but so far, IIRC, zip.

Doing no research on the topic, I believe that house leadership races are not usually very public events.  It is only because the blogosphere's readers are political junkies that it is getting play here.  I think it's good that the process is more transparent and noticed now, but I doubt in the past that vying members would write their opinions in the WaPo to convince the guy three doors down to vote for them.  This is the ultimate insider issue.

As for the Blunt ad.  I may not have been clear.  It is an attack ad against Blunt.  The headline makes it look like it is a supporting ad.

I contacted my rep about the leadership race early on and got back his comments in the mail this weekend.

I had seen McCotter on a list for Blunt at some point, but looking at the list linked in this thread it (accurately) shows McCotter on board for Boehner.  I suggested Pence to him before Shadegg entered the race.

Rep. McCotter's letter to me was classy and on point.  I excerpt it here:

...

In this election I am supporting Mr. Boehner.

...

In response to specific concerns expressed by some constituents about these candidates, rest assured I will continue to oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants; support border security; promote discipline within federal spending; and push for a balanced budget amendment.

Do you not realize what a disaster that would be?  Why does Blunt deserve to be leader?  He's been in Congress for the least time, he's a major pork bareller, and he's been terrible as interim leader.

Why would we want to make him permanent?

And that quote got taken wildly out of context.

I think Shadegg's got that fire.  I certainly RSC has that fire.  Shadegg used to lead them.

For more info, got to www.clubforgrowth.org

They have them for Bohener and Shadegg as well.

For what it's worth, I also think Kos is rooting for Blunt.  I don't, however, think it's a strong rooting interest.

One thing that distinguishes the kossacks is their lack of understanding regarding the subtler parts of politics.

...I didn't live in the white liberal part of Houston that gets lumped into Sheila Jackson Lee's impoverished district, I'd be riding my congressman hard. I'm already riding my parents' congressman, Ron Paul, as hard as I can.

I e-mailed every GOP Representative in Texas, though - often having to find zip codes and addresses in their district in order to get through! :-)

I e-mailed my congressman, Greg Walden.  He's the only Republican of 5 in the state (although geographically, his district is bigger than the other four combined).

I've seen nothing from him on his website.  I'll post his response if I get one.

I'm in Florida's 15th. In direct response to my urgent phone calls (I can't prove this, of course, but it stands to reason), Dave Weldon announced for Shadegg late last week.

...he is not as far from K street as one might think.  Here is what Weisman has to say in today's WaPo:

"Shadegg, who has framed his entire candidacy around a clean break from the status quo, has also come under criticism. His chief of staff, Elise Finley, is a former lobbyist for the giant utility Southern Co."

I'd call my Oregon representative, but I live in Corvallis and am represented by Pete DeFazio (D-Hippieville/Eugene)

Is your district bigger than the other three combined in terms of population as well?

I don't see Pete's name on any of the lists - but it notes that Shadegg is not releasing names of supporters, so it would be on the endorsing member to announce the support.

The Hill gives Blunt 95 votes.  That doesn't sound like a winner to me.  Last time I checked we had over 200 Republicans in the House (anybody know if Luis Fortuno, the PR Delegate who caucuses with us gets a vote on this?) so Blunt would be short based on that count.

....wants you to think he's backing Blunt.  Wouldn't Kos just say he's in favor of the person he'd actually LEAST want to have running the opposition?  That way when people say "oh this is who Kos wants" it scares off their Republican support and plays right into his hands.

I can see why Kos would want Blunt in there, so he can keep making the same old tired charges about corruption.  But all of the leadership candidates, Blunt, Boehner and Shadegg have all pledged varying levels of reform.  I'm sure Kos would have a field day with Shadegg in there too, because he would start trudging out the "Taking away kids school lunches" and "kicking poor people off health care" attacks if Shadegg follows through on promises to cut social programs.

Forget about Kos.

The 5th CD in Oregon is large area-wise, but other than Portland, Oregon doesn't have many population centers. It covers Southern, Central and Eastern Oregon, but it's mostly mountains with a few towns/cities (Medford/Bend/Grants Pass).

Alas, my representative is . . .

Boehner!

I know, I can still call him, and tell him to vote for somebody else . . .

Here's the link to the map of Oregon...

http://ftp2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd108_gen/ind_pdf/Oregon/OR_CDloc
.pdf

Shadegg, go ahead and call with an "attaboy".  I did, and it was well appreciated (by the lowly staffer who answered the phone).

A little positive feedback couldn't hurt, right?

The same Congresswoman Lee who thinks Neil Armstrong's footprint is on Mars (scroll to "TEXAS SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED"):

You do remember what this absurd woman did several years ago, don't you?  NASA, which happens to be headquartered in Houston, was having a press conference to discuss an unmanned vehicle that was on its way to the planet Mars.  Ms. Sheila Jackson Lee astounded every third-grader in her district by asking if that Mars explorer would be able to get a picture of that American flag that the astronauts left up there.  Your government schools at work, I guess.

And the one who wants more black names for hurricanes? (Same link, very next paragraph.)

Kyle, I really feel for you. Maybe you can sue the government for taxation without (intelligent) representation.

Kos is irrelevant.  I was trying to explain the nature of said ad.

Sidenote -- While I think they're both losers, I do think the "culture of corruption" narrative packs more punch than the "stealing from babies" narrative.

I believe that Central Oregon (where I'm from) which in in the 2nd, is the fastest growing part of the state.  So, while the districts should have been roughly equal in population when they were drawn, the 2nd has probably grown faster than the other 4.  You'll probably see the 2nd get smaller in area in 2010...maybe we'll be able to get another Republican congressman (might see some crazy gerrymandering to keep it 4 to 1).

With all this talk on the Majority Leader campaign, what about Majority Whip. Like it or not, leaving this race to the C column is like going on vacation and only reserving a room for the first night.

In vision, experience, and integrity, a clear frontrunner is defined in Todd Tiahrt (R-KS). Congressman Tiahrt's balanced approach and teaming attitude are simply a part of his everyday character. And unlike others, he does not shy away from the tough issues. Instead, Todd has risen to respect among his colleagues for tackling economic competitiveness, jobs growth, and heartland values. A conservative voice of reason on the powerful Appropriations Committee, Tiahrt now uses the Leadership Liaison position as an effective platform to listen. He is loyal to his Party, loves his family, and a tenacious consensus builder.

Oh, and speaking of that 'fire' from the Republican Revolution of '94...that's where Todd came from. Tell your congressman today.

I did mean the 2nd CD...really I did.  :)

Kudos.

I contacted my Representative by mail, email, and phone and got no replies.  

At this point, I think Republicans are worse than Democrats were going into 1994.  

Yet, to me, the solution isn't to vote Democrat this coming 2006 election.  

We need a reform oriented, citizen based legislature.  

What do you base that assertion on?

...the 95 votes are public, which is a much higher number of votes than Boehner or Shadegg can claim.

The vote, as you know, is secret, and no one is going to be bound by a public committment, rashly given.

Blunt looks like he's grasping at straws, and his tools o' the trade -- whip promises and whip threats -- have no power over those casting secret ballots.

Rep. Hart is a listed backer of Boehner, but the gentleman I spoke with stressed that it is a secret ballot, and they are very interested in all of the calls they are getting--- and that the volume of calls is surprising to them.

Have you called your representative?

...is not exactly an unbiased source.  Take him with a grain of salt.  His articles on GOP budget policy alternate between how we're starving children and the elderly on one hand, and how we're letting entitlement spending grow out of control on the other hand.

On the Chris Matthews show this weekend, one of the 4 pundits offered as his end of the show prediction that "Roy Blunt will win on the 1st ballot."  With all the enthusiasm here for Shadegg, I think we've lost touch with just how much support Blunt has from his colleagues.

Because there are probably people calling to support the other guys so you want to make sure he knows he is backing the right guy. Otherwise he might think his constituents are rooting for someone else unopposed and sway him to change his mind.

Per his office, as of today undecided.

Threw my 2 cents for Shadegg.  

Not.Holding.My.Breath.

each candidates own website. This will give you other info on where they stand on issues and pet projects, etc.

http://johnshadegg.house.gov/

http://johnboehner.house.gov/

http://www.blunt.house.gov/

You can also get their voting history and interest group ratings, etc here:

http://www.vote-smart.org/index.htm

Disclosure: I'm rooting for Shadegg

... that if ever I run for office, I'm not going to have a chief of staff.  I'll be my own chief.  Cause these chiefs keep getting tied to pet causes, and I'm going to be pronounced guilty by association.

Nobody heard of Scooter Libby until a year or two ago (and believe me, you don't forget a name like that), and now he's proof-positive that Cheney and even Bush himself are calling up newspapers handing out the NOC list.

So this is my call to reform the federal gov't: ban chiefs of staff!

So I think your call was in vain.

last night.  Coincidence?  I think not.

While your point is a good one, the fact is that after one vote, someone gets eliminated if there is a need for a second vote. If Boehner is the one knocked out, then it is good that Rep. Hart has heard from her folks that they would prefer Shadegg to Blunt.

I've never really been impressed with Chris Matthew's ability to understand conservatives or republicans except to bash us.  Why is that indicative of anything other than what the chattering heads think or want to think is true?

and just e-mailed Barbara Cubin as well.  Maybe the two of our messages together will inspire a vote change -- she is currently publically supporting Roy Blunt.  Ugh.

The neat thing about living in Wyoming is that we have more influence on our Congresswoman.  For example, last summer I e-mailed her regarding the FairTax, and then two days later she publically announced her support for it.  Pretty cool.  Maybe if we get enough folks contacting her regarding Shadegg she will change her mind.

support is divided among backers of these two ... if one of them doesn't drop out, that's good news for Blunt, I fear.

Just contacted my rep from Texas, Congressman Culberson, about voting for Shadegg.  The guy I spoke with said he had been getting a LOT of calls and it is causing some second thoughts.  May not change his vote, but they are hearing, and listening.

Keep up the good work!

My Rep, Ginny Brown-Waite, has come out for Blunt, but I've called and emailed to request she support Shadegg.

In case anyone else is wondering, the aide handling this issue for Brown-Waite is Jennifer Cunningham, 202-225-1002.

He's a pretty solid conservative, from what I recall.  Not surprising he'd go for Shadegg.

Call and tell him that if he doesn't make the run-off you want him to throw his support behind Shadegg.

Sweeney in NY, don't know offhand which district, though I think it might be 19. I called last week when the "Support John Shadegg" thread was up then, and I asked that Rep. Sweeney support Rep. Shadegg. Seeing that my mother and father live a stone's throw away from me, they're going to get a call--tonight. Hopefully, they'll call tomorrow.

I emailed Congressman Ryan of Kansas.  The reply I got said:

Thanks for your e-mail. Congressman Ryun is a public supporter of John Shadegg for Majority Leader.

I called all the Republican representatives from my state (WI). Here's the breakdown I got

Ryan - Shadegg

Sensenbrenner - Shadegg

Petri - uncommitted (although listed as a Blunt supporter)

Green - uncommitted - unlisted

I passed my preference for Shadegg onto Green and Petri.  

I urge you to call ALL the republicans in your state.  You may not be represented by them but they are your States party representatives...and in that you are as much their constiuent as your own rep.  Call them all!  Be honest, but let them know it's your political party and that you care.

I still would seriously consider gouging my own eyes out before supporting John McCain in the 2008 Republican primary, but he is on the Good side of this issue:

We Hear...

That Sen. John McCain, who is to endorse Rep. John Shadegg for Maj Leader at a 3:15 Capitol presser, has already started calling around to some of his GOP pals in the House.

One thing to offer an endorsement to his fellow AZ'an and pork-buster, but quite another to actively whip support for his bid.

I had asked whether Shadegg isn't too tainted or at least potentially too trainted to survive the Abramoff scandals. This was reported by NPR and other media a few weeks ago...

"Shadegg Sets Sights on House Leadership

Morning Edition, January 17, 2006 · Steve Inskeep talks to Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ), the latest to jump into the race to succeed Tom DeLay as House majority leader. Though Shadegg also accepted money from lobbyist Jack Abramoff, he insists he's more committed to reform than his two main rivals -- the current acting majority leader Roy Blunt (R-MO) and John Boehner (R-OH)."

Now that may seem like brushing crumbs off your sleeve, but when the media begin covering the Abramoff tell-all, Shadegg could be pulled under the water and wounded beyond repair. The question of dirty laundry is a serious one, reformer or not.

Shadegg would be pushed. It is just garden variety liberalism attacking the nemesis of the poor, education, and the downtrodden.

Please put this at the top of the page.

Just a suggestion.

Wow!  we all love McCain when he gets behind our guy, huh? But otherwise he's the scourge of the earth and virtually a Dem.  Gotta love it.

When McCain is trying to silence political speech that doesn't conform to his ideal of What Political Speech Should Be, he's worse than a Democrat.

But he usually is on the right side of things when it comes to the budget.  Unfortunately, he's usually in the minority on those types of issues.

I called his office in a last-ditch effort at getting him to vote for Shadegg. Luckily, I think he's predisposed to doing so and I haven't seen him announced anywhere. He represents the district I grew up in while Sheila Jackson Lee represents me in The Heights now. Of course, I told Rep. Paul's office I was still from El Campo, though :-)

I've also e-mailed everyone in the GOP delegation - including Culberson! :-)

Fingers crossed! :-)

How Cute!