A Weblog of Centrist Voices in American Politics
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A Weblog of Centrist Voices in American Politics | |
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November 14, 2006Mel Martinez and the GOPPresident Bush has appointed Senator Mel Martinez to head the Republican National Committee... I like the historic signficance of picking someone in the Hispanic community, but I can't help but see this as another blatant pander that lacks substance. Martinez, who I used to be a fan of, was a moderate HUD Secretary in the Bush Administration before going ultra-conservative, running a bitter campaign to win a Senate seat, and playing a lead role in the inappropriate Congressional overreach regarding the Terry Schiavo matter - a move that he now claims he regrets. This is my problem... Martinez doesn't seem to have much of a backbone. On the day after the election the RNC posted the words "recommitting our party to conservative reform" on their site... Pat wrote an excellent post at Stubborn Facts outlining a blueprint for Republicans to do just that. Adam at Redstate also correctly states: "Republicans must return to policies that unite conservative and moderates as Reagan did and the 1994 Revolution did. These are usually good governance, small government efforts that win over people who are suspect about the intentions of government... Instead of attacking lobbyists, Republicans should be attacking Congressmen and limit their abilities to distribute money in shadowy earmarks. Republicans lost the mantle of good governance and they must win it back to win over centrist voters." I would only go further and say that the party of Lincoln needs to also stop pushing a social agenda that doesn't represent the values of most Americans, or many in their own party for that matter. Although I disagree with them on social issues, the party is going to need tough leaders in Congress like Mike Pence and John Shadegg who will keep their colleagues honest on spending, government waste, and corruption. The GOP also needs the type of leadership at the RNC that can articulate a consistent message and avoid the politics of the past six years. The jury is still out, but I am not confident that Martinez is the right guy. Posted by Starbucks Republican at November 14, 2006 04:18 PMComments
Thanks for the mention, Mathew. I like Adam's point about attacking Congressmen and the process, rather than the lobbyists. The problem isn't the lobbyists. They're always going to do whatever it takes to be successful. The problem is that the rules and the ethics of those we elect allow sleazy lobbyist tactics to succeed. It's like trial lawyers. People love to complain about trial lawyers (as do I), but in the end, it's judges and juries which give the trial lawyers what they ask for. Once the judges and juries stop finding in their favor, they'll stop asking. Posted by: PatHMV at November 14, 2006 05:33 PMMcCain would have been the best choice. His reputation, although somewhat tarnished with a lot of partisanship of late, is still better than Martinez or anyone I can think of. Melman...I think he's gone because he didn't want to have to face the NAACP next year. After the Mandingo ad against Ford, who will? INRE lobbyists. Actually they are a significant part of the problem with all the money they push around. Marcus, Mehlman is gone because he failed to meet the performance standards of his job.... Republicans lost, remember? |
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