Says he’d be willing to serve as RNC Chairman.
Newt Gingrich has let it be known that, if Republicans want him, the former U.S House speaker is willing to serve as chairman of the national party and lead it out of the wilderness it’s blundered into.The question is whether the 168-member Republican National Committee is open to the match.
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Newt needs to cut out this coyness crap.
He tried the same thing with a Presidential run. He even set up the American Solutions workshop as a bi-partisan sham which he himself exposed as a vehicle to draft him for President when Fred Thompson stole his thunder.
If Newt wants to retake a leadership role within the Republican party, he needs to grow a sack, fill it with balls, and stand up in front of his competition and announce his intentions.
Join the movement here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43970401257
I’m not joining any “movement” (or facebook) unless Newt puts his own capital out there first.
Leader’s lead. They don’t sit around waiting to be drafted.
I like Newt and he has good ideas but I don’t think he’s what’s needed as head of the RNC right now.
How many wives/girl friends has Newt had so far?
He reminds me of that Scottish character in the Austin Powers movies.
3 wives, but the head of a Party needs to be able to organize as well as effectively communicate, raise money and keep factions together. it’s not a policy making role. Newt has proven he can do all of that.
Who do you think we should have up there Buzz?
Icarus, the vote is made by 168 people at a meeting. what kind of capital should he put out first?
He needs to make phone calls and talk to the RNC members. he may send somwe direct mail to all of them too. he may host a hospitality suite at the meeting in Miami.
what are you looking for?
A public statement that says, “this is an office I WANT (“I’m willing to take it” isn’t the same). Followed by why he wants it, what must be accomplished under his leadership, and some idea how he’s going to do that.
The RNC members aren’t the type to draft anyone. Frankly, a large number of them probably look down on Newt, given the self-important view many have of themselves.
Trying to get a groundswell from the grassroots to be drafted as President is one thing. Those tactics won’t work on the RNC.
I hope Newt knows how to give seminars to politicians on running Nationalized Insurance Companies and Banks. Jason, how does it feel to be competing with a Nationalized Insurance Company? Which Senate Candidate would have called for public hearings before opening up the U.S. Treasury to AIG?:
AP
Government provides record aid package to AIG
“Monday November 10, 12:12 pm ET”
By Jeannine Aversa, AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a record bailout of a private company, the government on Monday provided a new $150 billion financial-rescue package to troubled insurance giant American International Group, including $40 BILLION FOR PARTIAL OWNERSHIP.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081110/aig_bailout.html
I’m sure there are plenty of people worthy of consideration. A name that immediately comes to mind is Michael Steele. He’s dynamic, conservative and doesn’t have Newt’s baggage.
Buzz, all good stuff for a talk radio host or a Fox News commentator, but Steele has never brought together the diverse factions of the gop and got all of them on the same message..
Icarus, most of these RNC members face some sort of election in their own states as well. they have to answer to a group of voters too.
Vic, I have no clue what you are talking about. I dont work in insurance.
So being Lt. Governor of Maryland and head of the Maryland GOP doesn’t count? Steele has done those things as well as heading GOPAC.
I have no personal animus toward Newt I just think he’s not the right man for the job. We need to look to the future, not the past.
Shep, that was for Jason Pye. Anyone in politics now needs to have experience running Nationalized Insurance Companies and Banks.
shep, steele also has practical experience as a county chair and as the state chair of the maryland gop and was on a winning ticket in a state that doesn’t elect a whole heck of a lot of gop’s–i like newt, i really do, but moving forward i would agree w/ buzz that steele might be a more exciting, invigorating choice for a party recovering from a couple of defeats the last couple of years…
i actually had had steele would succeed mehlman instead of martinez and that other guy, duncan? splitting duty as head of the party…
yes, Steele won in a good year for the GOP and was out of office 4 years later.
did he turn his county Republican as chairman? Maryland sure isnt friendly GOP territory.
once again, politics is one of the only professions where you can fail and still be promoted.
by the way, GOPAC wasnt exactly dynamic in this election. it hasnt been since newt was involved. Show me real hard accomplishments for Steele or anyone else for that matter, that can compare to what newt did and I will give them a fair shake. (and sorry for any typos. It’s not easy typoing with thumbs.)
Is Haley Barbour available? I’d take him over Newt.
I’d go for that, Bill.
Haley’s still got 3 years left as Governor of Mississippi. I doubt he’ll be giving that up for a job he once had when our party was relevant.
Obviously, Newt has already been doing some political jockeying inside the RNC. Some are asking for him to stand up and announce his desire for the chairmanship publicly. That is exactly what he did today.
It will not be easy, but Newt Gingrich may be the right Conservative to lead, not just a political party, but a grassroots movement, in the rebuilding of a humbled and defeated GOP.
he sure has been a leading voice on energy policy.
I don’t have a problem with Newt, per se. He does have an amazing gift for nearing the achievement of greatness, and then shifting the spotlight to himself via a public, personal failure.
However, he does have the ability to focus the issues on our side, as well as craft a victory strategy to implement them when he chooses to stay focused.
My problem here is that saying you’ll accept a position isn’t the same as getting down and dirty to fight for it. It saves face for him if he loses, but makes it a lot less likely for him to win, as well as indicates to me that he may no longer be in true fighting form.
Well, nobody asked me, but MY problem with Newt is that he is nearing the age when his current wife will reach that “throwaway age” that will enable Newt to pick-up a new relationship with some cutey-pie RNC intern and give us a repeat of defending yet another embarrassing incident from him.
And, DON’T think he won’t do it. He’s only done it…what?..twice before? nahhh..can’t happen again. He’s REALLY “faithful” this time.
newt would be good as a strategist, but not the face of the party.
seems to me it’s time for a new, innovative leader like maybe bobby jindal, jc watts or paul ryan. any of those guys would send out a strong message about change coming to the gop.
Bobby Jindal needs to finish his reform of LA, so that he’ll have a real resume when its his time on the national stage. He needs to focus on being the governor that LA needs him to be. If he can do that for a few more years, he’ll have his chance at President. He doesn’t need to try to be the face of the RNC right now.
I personally would like the face of the Republican party to be someone associated with the contract with America, who actually honored the term limits and/or took a lead role in fiscal cuts.
Watts, John Kaisich, etc.
I’m a big fan of Newt’s, but agree with Icarus – he needs to grow a sack an put himself on the line. He sounds too much like Ross Perot, when asking the people to draft him.
Three points (1) Is it likely RNC members from blue states will want Newt? (2) Are GOP governors going to hand over the party direction to someone with only Washington experience? (3) Can Newt get his required quota of national TV face time and still have enough time to build an effective 50 state strategy?
Once again, I see all of you only meantioning people who look good on television, but no one with practical experience.
As Progressive Dem brought up, there are not ust the two Congressional Chambers to bring together on message, but the Governors as well.
Newt has shown that he likes air time, but so do the rest of the people mentioned. If you all want a talking head for a party chairman, we can keep Duncan there. He hasn’t done too bad on the air.
Howard Dean became DNC Chairman because he was a successful candidate for Governor, and was re-elected, unlike Steele. Dean also figured out how to tap into the power of the Internet for both fundraising and grassroots organization. Dean brought new voters into the Democrat party and focused them or organization.
If Ron Paul hadn’t decided he wanted to take his ball and go home, he might have been the best contender.
I’d rather have President Newt, and RNC Chair Chip Saltsman.
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