The RNC race: It’s Michael Steele
For those of you interested, the balloting is taking place on the Republican National Committee chairmanship.
Incumbent Mike Duncan just pulled out.
Lots of conservatives breathing a sigh of relief. But who will take over?
Hot Air is tracking. Stacy McCain is live at the RNC.
And up-to-the-second reports on Twitter. Just search #rnc or #rncchair. Or go to tcotreport.
Update: Michael Steele is in the lead.
Update: Katy’s Conservative Corner has liveblogging of the proceedings. The latest:
UPDATE: 2:42 Latest vote total: Dawson 62, Steele 60, Anzuis 31, Blackwell 15. Time for Blackwell and Anzuis to think of getting out and making this a two horse race. Many conservatives are complaining that the GOP needs a Black chairman so we can look like we “care” about minorities. Your blogger thinks that choosing a chairman based on race would be for all the wrong reasons.
More soon. RNC is now in a proxy meeting. More soon!
Update: 2:57pm Eastern. Reports that Ken Blackwell is about to withdraw.
Update: 3:07pm Eastern. Blackwell withdraws. “I put my fullest support by the candidate that I think will…inspire hope, work with policy leaders, and have leadership/vision to pull us together and then to pull Americans together…behind Michael Steele.” Burst of applause.
Andy Roth wonders: Will Blackwell’s endorsement translate into actual votes for Steele?
Update 3:28pm Eastern: Steele 79 Dawson 69 Anuzis 20
Anuzis withdraws. No endorsement.
Recess for 15 minutes.
85 votes needed to win. Anuzis holds the kingmaker’s key.
Update 4:06pm Eastern. It’s Michael Steele.
PJTV interview with Steele here.
Flashback: The vile bile we have to put up with.
Flashback: Schumer’s dumpster diving
See what others have said
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Trackbacks
- The RNC race: Duncan pulls out Update: Latest round: Steele 60, Dawson 62; Blackwell about to withdraw; Blackwell endorses Steele — But As For Me
- The RNC race: Duncan pulls out Update: Latest round: Steele 60, Dawson 62; Blackwell about to withdraw; Blackwell endorses Steele; 5th ballot: Steele 79 Dawson 69 Anuzis 20; Anuzis withdraws, no endorsement — But As For Me
- The RNC race: Duncan pulls out Update: Latest round: Steele 60, Dawson 62; Blackwell about to withdraw; Blackwell endorses Steele; 5th ballot: Steele 79 Dawson 69 Anuzis 20; Anuzis withdraws, no endorsement — But As For Me
- Dan Cleary
- The New Face Of GOP Leadership « Jane Q. Republican
- New RNC chairman - Michael Steele! | Fire Andrea Mitchell!
- Michael Steele: Win Baby, Win « JoHNBRoDiGaNDoTCoM
- Steele Prevails As RNC Chair « The Underground Conservative
- The RNC race: It’s Michael Steele — But As For Me
- The RNC race: It’s Michael Steele — But As For Me
- Mitt Romney Sucks « JoHNBRoDiGaNDoTCoM
- [VIDEO] Yes I Cantor! « JoHNBRoDiGaNDoTCoM
- Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator
- Congrats Michael Steele, Now Get To Work (UPDATED) | Democrat=Socialist
- Southern Appeal » RNC Chairman Michael Steele
- “Scary Looking Gun” Grabber Michael Steele Wins Republican National Committee Chair | THE GUN TOTING LIBERAL™
- Meet the new RNC Chair « The Daley Gator
- Video: Michael Steele becomes first black RNC chairman « MarkRadulich.com
- Steele Wins « 36 Chambers - The Legendary Journeys: Execution to the max!
- Tel-Chai Nation
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They are going to work so hard to discredit him. I feel for the guy. Maybe Sarah will get a break. With the collapse of the media they may not have enough reporters to go through both citizens’ garbage.
The libs like Chappy will start the ragging anew on Palin because they know she is a real conservative with a chance to win back America from the communists.
They always hate the people they expect to live on the victim reservation, woman, Hispanics, Blacks, who think for themselves and realize Marxism and the Dems denigrating paternalism don’t work.
I’m guessing that guessing is not one of your stronger points.
Well this would be the most important feature of any alleged fundraising site, wouldn’t it?
And did you take any note of the language I was using? It was word for word what people were saying about Obama for doing the same thing.
Sheesh.
THAT is a yawn.
Having met Michael Steele twice I know I am impressed-the man can get things done. If he is doctrinaire Conservative enough we will see, I think he is, he claims he is.And John McCain he ain’t.
I have had quite a few fork lift drivers, loaders, and order fillers work for me over the years. ILMC would not do well amongst them with his smart alec mouth—but it would be fun to watch.
Unlike voting for ANY idiot with a (D) behind his/her name?
Would you like that list?
I have stated my desire many times that Sarah Palin becomes the facer of the Republican Party. I heartily endorse her nomination in 2012.
No, sorry. The seat must go to his wife! It’s tradition. Oh wait, that wouldn’t apply to Rs….
Come on soap…I was just trying to get a rise out of Bill.
And FYI, I voted for 4 dems, 2 repubs and one independent.
I once thought as you do, but it’s like drinking salt water when you are desperately thirsty. It’s a very seductive idea to grab onto, but it just won’t work.
You did notice that I referred to the official White House (whitehouse.gov) site, didn’t you? No, I suppose not. Actually, when I first wrote that post, I included the phrase “minus the blank to enter your credit card number”, but I figured everybody here was smart enough to figure that out. My mistake.
Yes. I see that it talks about Obama and his agenda and whatever briefings the Press Office has for the day.
Kinda like it did with Bush, the few times I visited the site then.
but I guess you see what you want to see, don’t you?
Somehow I just can’t see you pulling the (figurative) lever for her.
I endorse her nomination. I never said I endorsed her election.
Let’s roll!
I think you forgot to mention “best election loser”.
No, with Republicans it goes to the daughter.
What? Caroline not available? She’s more than qualified!
Dear Mr. Steele,
Tonight celebrate heck take all weekend if you like.
Monday the first order of business is to find conservative candidates to run in 2010 against rino GOP senators
example arlen specter in PA, as well as the dems.
Just to be clear, you will not get a penny from me by standing aside incumbants.
hugs,,B
New Hampshire winters wreak havok on her complexion.
Hey, guys. Ilovemycountry bought a thesaurus. Instead of “you people”, he used “you folks”.
Way to expand the vocabulary, ILMC. Bravo.
(I’m so proud of the little guy. In a few more years, he might actually make his first real argument.)
Congratulations – he doesn’t strike me as very smart or even good for America, but you guys seem to like that about your leaders.
From Wikipedia:
“Steele ran for a Maryland United States Senate seat being vacated by retiring senator Paul Sarbanes, but he lost the 2006 election to Democratic Congressman Ben Cardin.”
Wow, a thesaurus and a reference to wikipedia in the same day?!
I feel faint.
baaawwaaahhhaaaa!!!!!!
You had to realize I was typing when you posted, so why the abuse?
STOP FIGHTING GUYS!
I hate seeing conservative-on conservative violence!
Chap,
One good jib/jab deserves another.
Losing an election as a Republican in a Dem leaning state isn’t always a bad sign.
Put it this way, Maine’s two babes have won elections as Republicans in a hevaily Demonratic state, and they have done it by being Demonrat in all but name.
I think a lot of people’s worry about whether Mitt Romney’s conservatism was real came from the hoops he jumped through, like being pro-abortion before he became pro-life, in order to win in the People’s Republic of Massachusetts.
Not sure who likes abuse more:
lgm or Ihatemycountry
I wasn’t 100% sold on Romney myself, (Duncan Hunter supporter- sent him $25) but when it came down to Romney vs McCain, I, like almost everyone with a brain, realized nobody could be worse than McCain.
This is like calling the Pope a Christian leaning guy.
Dems have a 26 point advantage there.
Ihatemycountry is a deliberate troll.
lgm, I think, secretly believes he’s going to save us from this evil conservatism by continuously pointing out how much worse the GOP is (in his mind) all the time. However, he’s had a good joke here and there thrown in and he keeps it cordial. (i.e. I wouldn’t call him a troll except when he’s deliberately trying to change the subject)
So, in that regard, Ihatemycountry is doing lgm a service by lowering the bar.
Have a nice weekend everybody – you all are awesome.
Hateyourcountry: So he lost a race to a Democrat in trying to replace another Democrat. This happened in a state that is so blue, they have blue crabs! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist).
If the Dems ran a convicted felon for any office in MD (which they probably have, we just don’t know about it), they can pretty much get close to a majority just because the candidate has a (D) after his/her name.
I was pleased when Steele was Lt Gov of a blue state and am pleased he is now the GOP chairman (it has nothing to do with furniture or sex).
Now, let him gird his loins and join the fray. The GOP has new leadership and change is in the air — and I don’t mean the foul stench coming from the Dem’s bailout garbage!
Come on, I would rather be a folk than an all!
Now, will Steele clean house? Probably not. He certainly doesn’t have a mandate, with six ballots required. Even if he did, I don’t know if he has the (pardon the pun) steel to de-fund the RINO’s and such.
Even so, from what I know of him I like him, and I wish him all the best. If he can move the needle even a little bit, his term will be worth it.
you people… you folks… you guys (#119) and now… “You all”
Don’t waste them all in a single post. You’ll have nothing left for the weekend.
flenser, thanks for the link and ruining my day! The RNC has just elected a squish as Chairman.
Challeneg one- early open primaries in lib leaning states, like New Hampshire.
IN 2008, since there was a real race for the Dem nomination, it was “Independents” and “Moderates” who gave states like New Hampshire to McCain.
In 2012, B Hussein O probably runs unchallenged, and Axelrod, Emmanuel and Obama can tell Markos Zuniga who to tell his Kos Kids Klub readers to vote for in the GOP primaries, to really screw any chance of winning 2012.
I don’t know if they’d pick David Duke or Christine Todd Whitman or Mark Foley or who, but they’d do their best to nominate someone that would make Mondale’s loss to Reagan look respectable.
chappy is doing a good imitation of one on this thread.
As a lifelong southerner I prefer to be part of y’all.
Steele will do a fine job.
I found this site that summarizes Steele’s positions.
He could be more Conservative. He’s pro-life but thinks precedent should be respected. And, he needs a re-direct on Affirmative Action. But, I’m with whoever said earlier that the perfect is the enemy of the good.
Don’t trust, do verify.
On a bright note, I hear that this Steele fellow is black! That seems to be a big deal these days.
I am pretty sure that was Bill Grant.
Oh wait no. That was just every other post by Bill Grant.
Dose it tell you stuff like this?
flenser, I didn’t see it anywhere, but where does Steele stand on illegal immigration? Please don’t tell me he supports “comprehensive immigraiotn reform”.
flenser,
yeah, we saw that already from you today. Thanks.
Here’s what his Immigration stand is:
Opposes amnesty for undocumented workers. (Aug 2006)
Secure our borders immediately; meaningful reform later. (Aug 2006)
Do you know why? Because Laffey would have gotten about 20% of the vote in the general had he gotten the nomination.
Linc at least gave them a legitimate shot. He may be a RINO, but that little R is pretty quantum when it comes to control of committees.
I received a fund raising letter from Steele this week, no mention at all of illegal aliens……….. very telling to me. I sent him my last McCain peso.
Interesting idea, but practically speaking I suspect Republican uneducated forklift operators are scarce as hen’s teeth.
loves2rumba: Hateshiscountry could only qualify as a forklift — they are both useful tools!
Thanks Dexter. That’s better than the current clowns running the party into the ground. But I would much rather see a guy who claims “no amensty EVER” and follows up with “attrition and enforcement of the laws”. Anytime, I see secure the border first then we will discuss reform later, a red flag goes up. Ususally, that means reduce illegal entry across the border (not halt completely and ignore the 100 other ways illegals enter) then give amensty. Oh well, will give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
On January 30th, 2009 at 5:08 pm, chapoutier said:
Redundant, eh? So I don’t need a bigger sledgehammer..
I hear the republicans tried to run zombie Reagan but he tried to eat “Buddy” Cianci’s brain and choked on his toupee.
Nice theory, but 1) Buddy was still in jail at the time and 2) he has given up the toupee (he was not allowed to have it in prison).
I know cause he lives in my building.
I am ecstatic. I’ve always admired Michael and emailed him a few times in the past to encourage him to run for President.
Hopefully now our party will start showing some backbone. They actually showed some common sense.
Well done, Michael.
10 Things You Didn’t know about Michael Steel
1. Michael Steele, who was adopted as an infant, was born at Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George’s County, Md., on Oct. 19, 1958 – AIR FORCE!!! And was born on the most perfect day of the year
2. He grew up in a family of Democrats. Steele credits his mother, Maebell, and Ronald Reagan with turning him toward the Republican Party. He’s familiar with the Dark Side but turned toward the light.
3. One of the first in his family to go to college, he earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. Steele also spent a few years at the Augustinian Friars Seminary at Villanova University, in preparation for the priesthood – WELL rounded education – I knew I liked him for some reason
4. After graduating from law school in 1991, Steele joined Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, an international law firm, based in Washington, D.C. In 1997, he left and worked briefly at the Mills Corp., a real estate development firm based in Virginia, as in-house counsel. He then went out on his own, starting a consulting firm, the Steele Group. – lawyer…. hmmmm…. well he was raised in a nest of Democrats…
5. He was elected chairman of the Maryland Republican Party in December 2000. Destined for greatness
6. Steele became the first African-American elected to statewide office in Maryland, taking office as lieutenant governor in January 2003 Historically the first elected black in any office is Republican
7. In 2004, Steele was tapped to speak at the Republican National Convention, That was the year that black guy from Chicago addressed the
CopycatsDemocrats8. When Sen. Paul Sarbanes, a Democrat, announced he would not seek re-election, several prominent Republicans, including President Bush, persuaded Steele to run for the Senate seat. Betcha the guy who beats him is out of a job come 2010
9. On Feb. 1, 2007, Steele was named the chairman of GOPAC, a political action committee working to elect Republicans to office following in the illustrious footsteps of Newt – shame his elected party members didn’t do crap to help him
10. A devout Catholic, Steele is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Landover Hills, Md. He regularly attends services with his wife, Andrea, and their sons, Michael and Drew. Betcha he doesn’t elbow the priest off the alter and make campaign speeches from the pulpit – the Democrats favorite election venue
Michael Steele is AWESOME! He’s the antidote to Obama. He’s got everything Obama’s got (okay, that’s not saying much) and everthing Obama doesn’t have.
This is the most exciting thing since Sarah Palin.
Congratulations Whig Party, I mean RNC on re-election Mel Martinez, I mean Michael Steele.
Let’s have Sarah Palin win America back from North Korea, the only remaining Communist country.
But running the country, like flying a 747, takes skillz. The Palin/McCain campaign crashed.
Will Rush say that Steele became RNC Chair only because he is black, the same way Rush said Sec Powell supported then Sen Obama only because of race?
I hope not.
Sec Powell gave compelling reasons to support then Sen Obama, and there are compelling reasons that former Lt Gov Steele got this post. Anyone, including Rush, who suggests it was because of race, misses the mark by a mile.
It’s good to see Steele. I remember the senate race, where the black people called him all sorts of names…oreo, Uncle Tom, etc.. It proved to me that it wasn’t race; it was liberalism they wanted. They wanted handouts. It also showed me that they weren’t interested in being “free” at all. They much prefered being “slaves” to whoever would give them the biggest handout. I was disgusted. Michael Steele is a man I would vote for in an election.
Why I opposed Micheal Steele
The first thing Mr. Steele should do is go to Men’s Warehouse and buy a pair of pant with balls in them! That way, we’ll at least know that he has a pair! No more playing nice!! Call the Dems what they are – NeoFascists. (see Mussolini)
On January 30th, 2009 at 6:02 pm, chapoutier said:
LOL! Of course he does!
Give my regards to Vincent the next time you catch him snatching your morning paper or siphoning your gas tank.
Congrats Michael Steele. He is eloquent and very intelligent. Hopefully, he will target the huge black middle class with the truth about the Republican party and conservatism. Many people have conservative values and lifestyles but vote Democrat because “My whole family is Democrats”.
YES! I greatly admire Michael Steele!
Well said, from a guy who voted for a man who believes we have at least 57 states, and maybe a couple of more.
You’re one funny guy. Yeah, running the country takes (allow me to lower my IQ to room temperature for two syllables) Mad Skillz, and it looks like your guy ain’t got ‘em.
But feel free to give us a yell when he finds someone for his cabinet smart enough to click ‘next’ in Turbotax.
K?tnx!Bai!
Good question Misscheryl, I’m sure uneducated forklift drivers are held in higher esteeem within our society than…hmmm…oh yeah, lawyers…which of course, makeup the vast majority of Congress.
Cue the Liberals commenting he’s only a token. Cue the alternate universe where as if Michael Steele hadn’t won it was proof of evil Republican’s lack of diversity.
Hey man theres lots of Communist countries, including the largest nation on the planet one another right next door.
Also remember that we just elected a member of the Chicago “New Democratic Socialist Party”, friend of Bill Ayers, and student of Marxism as our dear leader. The (accidetally) admitted wealth redistribution scheme has begun, alongside a convenient “failure” of capitalism. Prosperity and individual rights are being villianized every time they open their mouths. Government is expanding and laws are being prepared to silence criticism.
I wonder if you think calling them Communists is blowing it out of proportion. But if Communism isn’t what you voted for, you have to be at least a little nervous. More likely you’re coming up with a snappy comeback about how this is all Bush’s fault.
And if by “running the country” you mean “Rules for Radicals” style youre right Obama has mad skilzz, its all in your perspective I guess. On the other hand, I bet Sarah can gently hold an egg too.
Ssshhhhh! lgm doesn’t realize we know who his handlers are. Let him down play their role as Edgar Bergan to his Mortimer Snerd.
To the elitist snob who made the comment about uneducated forklift operators:
At least the forklift guy works for a living unlike you who lives on welfare and dreams of the day that all get to be on the welfare. Screw you and your lazy arse. I’m getting real tired of the far left’s disdain for people who try to work for a living. At least the forklift guy tries while you sit around and do nothing to advance humanity beyond anything of being theives with an entitlement mindset.
Every time we find one Obama appoints him to a cabinet level position.
Are you busy for the next few years?
My litmus test:
Steele was 100% against the bailouts.
Everybody else on the ticket either supported at least one, or remained quiet about them.
I am happy Steele won for that reason alone.
Are you sure Steele the one?… My conservative nostrils still smells a rat.
Michael Steele rocks. I’ve seen him speaking many times and he’s a genius. Sure he’s taken positions some of us won’t like, but hey! Reagan is gone and I’m not running for office any time soon, so let’s let Michael do the job for now. I believe Michael Steele will do a good job running the party that Frederick Douglass rightly and proudly called “The Party of Freedom and Progress.”
We’re still the party of Lincoln, and Dr. Martin Luther King, and Ronald Reagan, we’ll get through these low times and be better for it, especially with Michael Steele at the helm. As for our opponents they will forever have to suffer with the title of “The Party of the KKK, Jimmy Carter, and Nancy Pelosi” and if they whine about their liberal roots we’ll just remind them that they persecuted the most liberal president of the 20th century – Richard Nixon.
For those of us that aren’t 100% satisfied with Michael Steele, keep in mind that sometimes everyone has to settle – look at who our ‘honored opponents’ have had to settle for. Good Lord there’s some over there that still think Al Gore and John Kerry were good choices, so it’s going to be hard for us not to be smug.
Let’s do what Ted Nugent has advised in the past – support our man but hold his feet to the fire. Let the other guys give slack to slackers.
I don’t trust him
Let’s see if Mr Steele can make some hay out of this:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/30/white-house-daschle-tax-issues-shouldnt-bar-cabinet-confirmation/
Now Daschle has tax problems. Imagine if the current POTUS had an “R” after his name. Anyone see a pattern developing here?
I like Michael Steel. I worry sometimes that he is a little to friendly with Bob Beckel, but if he sticks to his principles he’ll do a fine job. He has a great blueprint for success on http://www.gop.com. Gives me hope that he will bring some sanity and practicality back to the party. I would like to see libertarians brought into our tent. I know some are “truthers” but a lot of them would sign on if they felt like the party was really for scaling back government. Look at all the money they raised for Ron Paul!
Let’s be honest: the GOP has an image problem. We just ran a partially disabled war veteran who is not a great speaker against a much younger, better speaking candidate for the Second Time in 12 Years! I respect Bob Dole and John McCain for their heroic service to our country, but the “You’re old, you paid your dues, it’s your turn” school needs to close. Nobody wants their grumpy uncle to run the country. Reagan was older than these two, but did not come off as past his prime, like Dole and McCain.
Steele can do what a White GOP leader could not. He can speak of Republican parties history of civil rights, of economic empowerment and social views far more in line with religious people than San Fran Nan. The GOP should take out full page ads in prominent African-American and Hispanic publications to get the message out.
His first order of business should be (besides fundraising, of course) is close the primaries. If you are not a Republican in 2012, either vote for Gravel or Kucinich against BHO. or stay home. Make it so DECLARED Republicans nominate their candidate, not the other party.
Finally, recruit younger, more ethnically diverse cndidates and do not ignore the celebrity factor. Like I have said before, if Ditka would have ran for the IL Senate seat in 2004. we would not have Obama today.
Congrats Michael!!!! Outstanding choice.
Chap, I’m shocked yet again! Palin 2012?!
Good! Hold his feet to the fire! Make him earn what respect he gets.
The last thing we need to be doing is blindly following someone who talks pretty – the Democrats did that and look where it landed us: not even 2 weeks into the new administration and they’re actively perusing a course of financial suicide. A financial stimulus package that stimulates nothing until the next election cycle.
They’re enthusiastically destroying the country and we’re going to need our brightest and best to restore what little can be salvaged. We’re not going to be able to do that with blind trust.
(BTW: is there such a thing as a trusting Marine? I’ve never met one… but I’ve seen the things they fly and there’s GOT to be a lot of trust there
)
Specter, Snowe, Collins, Graham, Palin, Bachmann and Carfagna?
(No, that’s not Chap in the picture…)
Kudos to my former Lt Gov. I think he will do some good things. He’ll also make mistakes but I think he is a better man because he will admit it and move on.
Frankly I’m feeling kind happy for him.
Finally, when the news broke on my way home from work, I thought about what the Baltimore Sun had written about him when he was chosen for Lt. Gov.
“He brings nothing to the ticket but the color of his skin.”
I’m afraid the Left is passing the ammo tonight (or Oreo cookies) to begin attacking anew on the the RNC Chairman.
Good Luck Michael Steele.
RE: Michael
STeele.
I am content for now to give him the benefit of the doubt. At this stage, though, the real conservative leadership is coming from conservative journalists and activists