Judging from the 2006 and 2008 crushing defeats, it’s obviously time to rebuild the GOP.
Where do we start? Again 2012 isn’t the answer. It won’t matter who the nominee is in 2012 if we don’t work for it starting tomorrow. Here is my list of priorities going forward.
Senate leadership
I like Kyl better than McConnell but really I think we need whoever will be better at organizing and blocking liberal excess in the Senate. This is our key battleground in stopping Obama and his Congressional allies. Also, we need someone who will be an effective spokesman in our efforts to redefine the Republican party in the minds of moderates and independents. Who do you think we should have as our Senate leadership?
RNC Chairman
I think Newt would be the best for this, unless he is planning on running in 2012. We need to redefine the party in the minds of most voters. We need to re-organize our fundraising and we need an effective spokesman to put in front of the media. I think Newt is the best man for the job, but I think Fred and Romney could be very good as well. Since none of those three are likely, who do you think will be the best RNC Chairman?
Canidate Recruitment for 2010
We have a real chance to close the gap in the House and in the Senate, but how well we do will depend on candidate recruitment. Here is a quick list of Senate seats and potential candidates who could be game changers if we get them to run.
CA – Arnold
CO – John Elway
HI – Linda Lingle
IL – ??? No idea but whoever has the seat will have been appointed by a corrupt Governor and it will probably be a bitter Dem primary battle. Any ideas here?
NV – ??? Was going to say Porter, but it looks like he will be a 2008 casualty, and Guinn is too old. If Reid stays in leadership he will probably be a better target, but either way he will be vulnerable. Any ideas?
ND – Hoeven – This seat would be a tough pickup since Dorgan is popular, but it is the type of seat we win in a good GOP environment with a good candidate.
We would need to get a good candidate in KS in case Sebelius runs. Also we need to make sure our incumbents run, especially those in purple states like Grassley, Specter etc.
What other Senate candidates are vulnerable and who can we recruit?
After we do all of this then in January of 2011 let’s start to worry about 2012.
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Dan McLaughlin
Neil Stevens
Daniel Horowitz
Take Arlen off your 'keep' list...
seattle_ite Wednesday, November 5th at 6:29AM EST (link)…and I’m on board. Think Fred would make a great spokesman, or Zell, if we could get him to flip.:)
Yes, I agree.
Uma Richie (Diary) Wednesday, November 5th at 6:37AM EST (link)I am heartily sorry for voting for Specter in his last contested primary. Never again will I put seniority over principle for an egregious RINO.
Arlen will either die in office from Lymphoma
c17wife (Diary) Wednesday, November 5th at 7:01AM EST (link)or he will retire. Then, in his place we will have either Fast Eddie or Chris Matthews in his place. Pennsylvania, like MI, is probably lost forever now.
Duty is ours, outcomes belong to God.~Mike Pence
Welcome back to sanity:)
seattle_ite Wednesday, November 5th at 7:01AM EST (link)Can’t understand the old canard, “He’s a crook, but he’s MY crook.” That’s the mentality we supposedly abhor, when applied by the left.
Seniority isn’t always the best qualifier, as we have ample examples to prove. Integrity and solid vision is key.
The idea that Specter has to go is the exact wrong idea
dskinner11 (Diary) Wednesday, November 5th at 12:40PM EST (link)I don’t like any of his moderation, especially on social issues, but when PA has gone that blue recently how can we wish a non-corrupt GOP caucusing Senator would go away?
With what we have to defend in 2010 we can’t afford to lose incumbents.
If we are going to be a national party we are going to have to recognize that Senators and Congressman that we like in the West or South have no chance of getting elected in some parts of the country. Because of that we need to be okay with them when the deviate from conservative orthodoxy just like the Dems let their Senators from MT, ND, etc deviate.
Hmmmmm...
seattle_ite Wednesday, November 5th at 3:26PM EST (link)…maybe because, when he decides to ‘moderate’, it’s usually in the wrong direction concerning some pretty critical issues to conservatives?
Of course, I may be wrong.