Who is leading the Republican party

[Siddhartha]

There isn't a GOP leader right now. Looking back, neither the Democrats or Republicans have had a "leader" so soon after loosing a presidential election and not having control of either house of Congress.

Mr Steele, the head of the RNC, could be considered for this role but can anyone list the last four heads of the DNC? Probably not, outside of the party structure no one cares about the head of the national committee.

 

[Tab3076]

Originally posted by: Mani
He may not be a politician or it's technical "leader", but you're naive if you don't think Rush is the most powerful and influential member of the party - he may as well be its leader.

In his recent interview with Hannity he admitted that he's the real conservative and is a major but unofficial leader of the party.

He also said he's a "moderate".

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: Tab3076

Originally posted by: Mani
He may not be a politician or it's technical "leader", but you're naive if you don't think Rush is the most powerful and influential member of the party - he may as well be its leader.

In his recent interview with Hannity he admitted that he's the real conservative and is a major but unofficial leader of the party.

He also said he's a "moderate".

Well compared to Hitler.

 

[Schmide]

I'm not a republican and don't really like the guy, but I increasingly see Lindsey Graham SC putting forth the republican position at least when you see the press conferences. I would never agree with more than 10% of his positions, but he does produce a level headed rhetoric.

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
It should be John McCain! His moderate views and siding with Democrats will win elections! Oh, wait...

You're dumb, McCain swung to the right to try to win

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: Phokus

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
It should be John McCain! His moderate views and siding with Democrats will win elections! Oh, wait...

You're dumb, McCain swung to the right to try to win

McCain was a clearly right-wing Republicans, with a handful of moderate-right 'exceptions' used for his marketing campaign as a 'maverick'. He just wasn't nutty right like others.

Really 'moderate' (forget 'liberal') Republicans were not to be heard from, which reset the goal posts for the definitions, making 'right-wing' the new 'left-wing'.

 

[Tab3076]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: Tab3076

Originally posted by: Mani
He may not be a politician or it's technical "leader", but you're naive if you don't think Rush is the most powerful and influential member of the party - he may as well be its leader.

In his recent interview with Hannity he admitted that he's the real conservative and is a major but unofficial leader of the party.

He also said he's a "moderate".

Well compared to Hitler.

Moonie, you're one of the few who make me keep coming back to this forum.

 

[Docnasty]

I don't think there is a definitive Republican/Conservative leader at the moment. I do like my governor Mark Sanford. He has tried to reduce taxes and overall size of government in the state but has been cock-blocked most of the time.

Whoever runs for the GOP in 2012 needs to be a man's man, someone rugged and who is unapologetic about their values. I'm thinking like the Clint Eastwood of politicians.

 

[Elias824]

There isnt any "Leader" in the sense that everyone really follows them, but usually the or presidential nominee will set the standard's for the party. Well even most repubs want to separate themselves from bush, and mccain isnt really anybody to take his place. There really isnt anyone right now to be the voice or leader of the party, one reason I think they are doing so terrible right now but im sure somone new will show up in the next few years, probably somone we dont know of right now.

 

[MagicConch]

They are in an unenviable position. On one hand, they want the personality that can shamelessly woo special interest $, but they are a little frightened after Bush of putting up another puppet they could lose control of. Even if they do get over that and choose their puppet, they are still a little screwed. I mean they are competing with a guy who gets to be champion of the people while having massive deficit spending, big defense, big construction, taxpayer-funded billion dollar bailouts, etc. Everybody will want to ride this gravy train for 8 years at least b/c (1) they can't be blamed by the damage the spending will do since the left supported it also (2) for a rare moment they get support of groups they traditionally don't. And if Democrats actually decide to make this a permanent arrangement, I don't see any need for a 'special interests' party and Republicans will have little choice but to either die out or become the conservatives they pretend to be.

 

[RaistlinZ]

Originally posted by: Docnasty
I don't think there is a definitive Republican/Conservative leader at the moment. I do like my governor Mark Sanford. He has tried to reduce taxes and overall size of government in the state but has been cock-blocked most of the time.

Whoever runs for the GOP in 2012 needs to be a man's man, someone rugged and who is unapologetic about their values. I'm thinking like the Clint Eastwood of politicians.

Clint Eastwood 2012! Seriously, who can argue with a president who looks like this?

 

[Schmide]

Originally posted by: RaistlinZ

Originally posted by: Docnasty
I don't think there is a definitive Republican/Conservative leader at the moment. I do like my governor Mark Sanford. He has tried to reduce taxes and overall size of government in the state but has been cock-blocked most of the time.

Whoever runs for the GOP in 2012 needs to be a man's man, someone rugged and who is unapologetic about their values. I'm thinking like the Clint Eastwood of politicians.

Clint Eastwood 2012! Seriously, who can argue with a president who looks like this?

Guns vs guns. Clint back in the day would of taken him, but this is the current cage match

Putin vs Obama

 

[ProfJohn]

Could someone tell me who was the leader of the Democrat Party between 2000 and 2008...

National parties don't tend to have leaders when they are out of power. Newt was an exception to this rule when he helped the Republicans take over congress. But for the past 8 years the Democrats really didn't have ONE leader who spoke for the party.

And I expect that over the next 4 that the Republicans won't have one either.

 

[CaptnKirk]

A long time ago in a P&N post I mentioned that the Bush Administration went into office the first time with Cheney as the VP candidate.

That itself severed the continuity of power and ascension that had been informally established in the President to VP running as his replacement.

Eisenhower - Nixon

Kennedy - Johnson

Nixon - Convict 247699

Carter - Mondale for Pete's sake (Christ!)

Reagan - Bush, Type 1 Positive

Bush - Mr. Potatoehead (That dammned near did it in then)

Clinton - Gore (Remember him ? He actually won the election and Florida too)

Bush - The 'Cloven-Hoofed' One (And the end of the Bloodline)

Obama - Hillary (It sure won't be Biden)


Maybe Vitter - Craig

 

[ProfJohn]

Actually Kirk the passing of the power from Pres to VP is not that common.

Nixon, Johnson and Bush 41 are the only presidents in the last 60+ years to have been VP first, and Johnson shouldn't count because he became VP when Kennedy was killed.

So that leaves just Nixon and Bush 41 as VPs who became the President.

Now it is very true that VPs become nominated by their parties, but they lose as much as they win. Mondale and Gore lost while Nixon and Bush won.

Look at the list again and look at all the presidents who had never won a national election: Kennedy, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, Bush and Obama were all outsiders running for the first time.

Finally, VPs or losing candidates NEVER become party leaders. By definition they are losers, who would you put a loser in charge of your party?

Mondale, Dole, Gore and Kerry all faded away after losing. Kerry is the only one who actually remained in office, but when the Dems took over he was no where to be seen.

 

[Lemon law]

PJ is full of generalities, but 2008 was the first year in which a sitting senator since 1960, was successful in using that Senate platform to win the Presidency. Normally, most people who later become President use a prior State Governorship, as their platform.

And to say McCain as a losing GOP candidate is therefore discredited, may be accurate in the McCain case, but the main cause is and remains, McCain was already too old when he ran in 2008.

As it is, a whole pile of later Presidents ran for their party VP or Presidential nominations and were unsuccessful, and later succeeded on the second or third time, and then went on to win the general election.

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
PJ is full of generalities, but 2008 was the first year in which a sitting senator since 1960, was successful in using that Senate platform to win the Presidency. Normally, most people who later become President use a prior State Governorship, as their platform.

And to say McCain as a losing GOP candidate is therefore discredited, may be accurate in the McCain case, but the main cause is and remains, McCain was already too old when he ran in 2008.

As it is, a whole pile of later Presidents ran for their party VP or Presidential nominations and were unsuccessful, and later succeeded on the second or third time, and then went on to win the general election.

What the hell are you talking about??

Your post has nothing to do with mine...

 

[soundforbjt]

I think in 2012..we'll have Bush-Cheney again...Jeb & Liz!!! Could happen.

 

[dawp]

Originally posted by: soundforbjt
I think in 2012..we'll have Bush-Cheney again...Jeb & Liz!!! Could happen.

And they will most likely lose. I dont think the country would elect another Bush or Cheney for a very long time, if ever.

 

[jonks]

Looks like Gallup was wondering the same thing OP:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/120...Seen-Speaking-GOP.aspx

Excluding "No One", guess who came in with the most votes (even among republicans)?

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life
For fuck sakes....you left wing nut jobs think Rush Limbaugh is our leader.

ahem.



ED: ah, i see the poll has it's own thread now.