House GOP Moves To Right The Campaign Ship

Washington Post: Republican Leadership Makes Changes As Rank-And-File Grows More Critical

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Ben Pershing.

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Reeling from drubbings in three special elections in the past two months, House Republicans yesterday unveiled a series of tactical and personnel changes at their campaign arm designed to forestall more losses in November.

After losing seats in GOP strongholds in Mississippi, Louisiana and Illinois, rank-and-file House members have grown more critical of the leadership of National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole (Okla.) and House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (Ohio), who have repeatedly butted heads themselves.

The two men agreed on a prescription that includes a detailed "audit" -- run by GOP Reps. Tom Davis (Va.) and Pat Tiberi (Ohio) -- of the mistakes made in the three special-election losses.

"Did the advertising work well, or didn't it work well? How was the ground game?" Boehner asked. "There's a lot that we can learn out of those three races that will help us as we set ourselves up for the fall."

The most significant move announced yesterday was a change in the party's approach to competitive Republican primaries. Leaders will now wade into those contests to help the best general-election candidates emerge, a shift from Cole's previous decision to stay out of primaries. In the Illinois and Louisiana special elections, party leaders believe that chances of success were hampered by subpar nominees.

Republican nominees also will be aided by the establishment of new fundraising committees that will collect cash during the primaries and turn it over to the eventual winner for the general election. And Boehner is installing a key ally, Ed Brookover of the consulting firm Greener & Hook, in the upper echelons of the NRCC.

Party strategists say the question remains whether the GOP's electoral woes are the result of tactical mistakes or a larger identity problem in the national party. Republican leaders have been working to address the latter issue by rolling out a new legislative agenda.

"You don't turn the Queen Mary around overnight," Davis, a former NRCC chairman and critic, said of the GOP's recent losing efforts. "We need more of a facelift than just shuffling at the NRCC."

"I don't blame the candidates," agreed Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.). "I don't blame the committee. The Republican Party as a whole has a credibility problem."

[kansas1946]

Well, I can tell them what the problem is with their campaigns. The candidates have an "R" by their name. The ship has already sunk.

[stn_sage]

RepubliCON leaders talk about their political woes as a result of credibility or image problems.

In other words, they see the problem as an inability to persuade or convince the public they''re doing the job---regardless of whether ''the job'' is any good!

They CAN''T even identify the problem!

The problem is NOT how do we convince, persuade, propagandize the public---but rather, WHERE and HOW do we change our positions on the issues to coincide with the NEEDS of the public?!

It''s really VERY SIMPLE! That they can''t figure this out, shows how hopeless they truly are!

I hope this helps you lameazzes out!

[sgtrds-e4]

George W. Bush pis*sed in the political water of America for nearly 8 years now while the republicans in the Congress held on to it for him and helped him direct the stream. Now they wonder why no one wants to vote for them? They ARE ignorant!

[dmgenet]

Probably more dog and pony show. How about getting real people to run instead of corporate stooges? The feet do the talking not the mouth!

[mcvet]

Action speaks loudest. Yes, I believe they are worried. Yes, I believe they know they have voters not happy with them. No, I don''''t think they can turn it around in time to make a difference...but they won''''t be alone in the crying the game because democrats are in for some surprises if they don''''t put up and shut up now..they have virtually no excuse for not getting things done now...no more republican-in-the-way excuses. Any down time and inactivity is all on them. They don''''t know how to act when they can''''t blame someone for something. Voters are sick of politicians. Pelosi needs an *** and then tape her big mouth shut so the rest can get to work.


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Posted by likeitis5050 at 02:29 PM : May 22, 2008
+ report abuse

LOL That would be fair IF you gave the Democrats the SAME chance you did the fascist. Put them in complete control of the government... let them see what they can do. If after 4 years they have NOT made the progress the people asked them to make then I will be the first to step up and say so. History say''s they can and will deliever. History say''s they will do what the people send them there to do. Let''s see. Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

Oh sure.. sit on your hands while the Worst Administration in history puts incompetent after incompetent into positions they know nothing about, fund a war the American people told you loud and clear they did NOT want you to fund and NOW... Now that the time to face up to your record... try to create another one... deny and blame!! LOL Anyone who votes for these LOSERS this time deserves the Hypocratic incompetence they bring with them. THEY can''t govern... dictate, yes, govern Not a chance. Sieg Heil Bush

[noloyalisti]

We let these guys run with the ball and they dropped it. What do they expect when ALL their policies have failed (in fact are unmitigated disasters). The GOP should not be allowed near our government since they don''t believe in it and all they want to do is ruin it.

[briannorwood]

The two men agreed on a prescription that includes a detailed "audit" -- run by GOP Reps. Tom Davis (Va.) and Pat Tiberi (Ohio) -- of the mistakes made in the three special-election losses.


NO! It was not that "mistakes were made" in the campaigns of these three losses. It is in the way the GOP has bungled and fumbled while in control of the Congress.

If they want to start blaming something, start with themselves!

[briannorwood]

12 years of malfeasance and mismanagement, and now these morons want another try!

I THINK NOT!

[singingrick]

Republicans are scrambling to repackage the same old failed policies instead of taking a good look in the mirror and changing.

Goodbye neocons.

lol!

[colvinatch]

ACOUNTABILITY! bush would have none of it, the rethuglicans in congress and the senate followed bush right over the cliff. This election is about accountability, accountibility for the worst administration this country has been throught in two generations, accountibility for croney capitalism, energy policy being written behind closed doors by the energy companies and a VP who is profiting directly from those policies, accountibility for torture, illegal spying on Americans ordered by lil bush, accountibility for trillions is debt, transferred into the pockets of their buddies. The ruthuglicans chickens come home to roost in November!

[Gary Kempf]

Republican Party as a whole has a credibility problem."

You think? What in the world may have caused that?

[likeitis5050]

Pelosi needs an e.n.e.m.a...since when is that considered dirty...other than Pelosi''s name was attached to it. Censorship can be so stupid...

[likeitis5050]

Action speaks loudest. Yes, I believe they are worried. Yes, I believe they know they have voters not happy with them. No, I don''t think they can turn it around in time to make a difference...but they won''t be alone in the crying the game because democrats are in for some surprises if they don''t put up and shut up now..they have virtually no excuse for not getting things done now...no more republican-in-the-way excuses. Any down time and inactivity is all on them. They don''t know how to act when they can''t blame someone for something. Voters are sick of politicians. Pelosi needs an *** and then tape her big mouth shut so the rest can get to work.

[jack3213]

CREDIBILITY CERTAINLY NEEDS OVERHAULING ON BOTH PARTIES. GOOD FOR THEM FOR ACKNOWLEDGING- YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON A REPUBLICAN TO ADMIT ERRORS EVEN IF IT TAKES SOME TIME- WHEN HAVE YOU HEARD A DEMOCRAT ACKNOWLEDGE THE WICKEDNESS OF THEIR WAYS?

[riptide213]

Every citizen needs to be more critical and make government and those who serve in elected office more accountable.

Make ethics the new true political correctness of this land.

Every American citizen can vote thanks to the US military protecting rights and freedoms provided to each and every citizen by our Constitution.

Write, email, phone, or go see your elected government officials to let them know how they are doing and how you feel about every political issue that impacts your life.

Vote in every and all elections, do not take that powerful privilege for granted.

Many politicians count on you NOT voting, so dont give them the satisfaction of status quo.

Challenge established good old way of pork barrel and horse trading politics. An elitist arrogant attitude of power and position must be smashed with public scrutiny and oversight.

Are politicians championing your cause? If not you then who?

Take an active role to understand issues, whats at stake, and help your elected government local, state, or national officials work for you.

Tax payers are investors in government, so what are they doing with our money?

Its up to all of us to be ultimate checks and balances for laws of the land, how public money is best spent, and where to steer government policy.

We need more guardians of liberty tree and less gluttonous fat cats lapping profits up from the lavish liberty trough.