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FAQ - Republican Congressional Leadership
Hat Tip TownHall.com & Hugh Hewitt)1) How could this have happened? The entire weight and heft of the right-wing blogosphere stood behind a campaign to change the House leadership and nothing happened. Kos holds a putz-fest in Vegas and virtually the complete Democratic establishment comes to kiss his ring. Is the right wing blogosphere only capable of getting congressional types to give us a few minutes of their time on conference calls? The right wing blogosphere has to deal with the facts. The politicians just arent that into us. 2) But how come the Democrats are so into the blogosphere and the Republicans arent? How come we dont generate fear and respect like the Kosfather? Because all we do is opine, and often in an annoyingly independent way. While all of us root for the Republican Party, were also pretty expressive when members of the party let us down. We might carry a little water, but as a group, I bet the Republican establishment thought of us as more as a pain in the neck than an asset during the last campaign season. I know I wont be on George Allens Christmas card list. 3) And Kos is different? Yes. Although he rips Democrats when hes of a mind to do so, he also brings something else to the party. He brings volunteers and money and buzz. Although my modem might well explode as I type these words, Jon Tester would not be a senator starting in January if it werent for the Daily Kos. Same for Jim Webb. He never would have made it out of the primary. 4) Okay. So we should be more like Kos? Not me. I have no interest in being a tool for the Republican Party, or at least not anymore so than I already am. But, and again my modem might explode, there is no denying that the Daily Kos is an asset to the Democratic Party in terms of winning elections. Or at least it was this past cycle. 5) Back on topic how disastrous were the Republican leadership choices? Eh. It would have been nice to have seen a new Newt Gingrich coronated, but Im not sure theres such a being in the Republican caucus. Besides, the congressional leadership just wont be all that important over the next couple of years. 6) Now you tell me, after I waste a week of my life on conference calls with these guys who seem to think book larnin is beneath them. Whys that? Because starting in about four months, the presidential race gets engaged. The message that comes from the party will be formed in that contest, every bit as much as the Democrats message in the second half of 03 came from the fire-breathing mouth of Howard Dean. 7) But how about legislation? Wont the lack of leadership hurt us there? Well, well probably cut-and-run on the minimum wage, but other than that I dont see any Democratic boondoggles that will pass with a veto-proof majority. So all in all, it should be two years of stasis in Congress, which incidentally will beat the hell out of the last four years. (See prescription drug benefits for more details.) 8) But how about the war? As you all know by now, Ive had doubts raised this week about whether our Republican members of Congress actually understand the war beyond the battle in Iraq. As for the Democratic members of Congress, fuhgeddaboutit. A plane could crash into the Pentagon and they still wouldnt get it. The case for the war will have to be made by the White House and the presidential candidates. Personally, I have a lot more hope for the presidential candidates doing it competently than the White House. 9) Whats been the reaction in the blogosphere about the same Republican congressional leaders being re-signed for the 110th congress? The reactions that Ive read and that have come in my inbox have ranged from panic to outrage to outraged panic. Doesnt seem like anyone is very happy today. 10) And yet youre not on the verge of despair? Not at all. Despair was last week with the election results, the shameful timing of the Rumsfeld firing and the Gates naming. The dye was cast then. Theres nothing that could have happened in the Republican leadership conference that could have put lipstick on this pig of a month. Besides, Im very excited about my Leave No Congressman Behind education plan. Posted by: FOTSGreg 2006-11-18 |
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