RNC Debate

I just finished watching the debate between the candidates for the RNC Chairmanship. Here are my initial reactions (listed in the order they were seated and spoke):

Michael Steele - very smooth. Has a good stage persona, honed by his television appearances. But I didn't feel he was passionate about anything except getting the job, although he did well in his closing statement. He is Hannity's choice, which probably means he is also Romney's choice.

Katon Dawson - spoke well and has a solid record. He also has some negatives which will probably keep him from the chair.

Ken Blackwell - has been gathering a lot of support and may be unstoppable. He seemed to lack passion for the task ahead (IMO) and (again, IMO) spent too much time talking about me, me, me.

Saul Anuzis - just didn't come across well. Part of that was early problems with his microphone, but he just doesn't seem to have the wide range of experience necessary to take on the national chair.

Chip Saltsman - seemed like the youngster in the crowd ... oh, wait, he is. He didn't talk a lot about mechanics, but did demonstrate a passion for the battle that will be necessary to field candidates and rebrand the GOP.

Mike Duncan - in a defensive battle to keep his job in light of huge losses in the states and nationally. He didn't help himself, IMO.

cross posted from dei

Saltsman for RNC Chairman

Chip Saltsman is running to be the next chair of the Republican National Committee. His new site launched this week: Chip Saltsman for RNC Chair. Visit the site and read the information there. Chip has taken time to spell out an action plan for moving forward. Clearly, the RNC needs to address many issues to win back the support of American voters, many of whom crossed party lines because they no longer trusted the party to support their values. Chip has a plan to answer that and bring the party back to its traditional roots.

The Republican Party was not born as a party of big business or elites of any stripe. The party of Lincoln was also the party of the people. Today, the platform of the Republican party is much closer to what people say they want than that of the Democrats. Yet the public rejected Republicans in record numbers in the last election cycle. Many would argue that it was due to drift on the part of the Republican candidates. Many argue that it was due to an unpopular president and an unpopular war. Many blamed the Republican party (not necessarily correctly) for the current economic situation. Many voters seemed to feel there was no difference between the parties. And if there was no difference, why not give the new guy a chance? We will have to wait and see what havoc that thinking might have wrought.

In the meantime, we can take steps to bring the party back to the people … to set it on the right track and to build a grassroots team that will support candidates at all levels who best express the values and beliefs of the electorate. To do that effectively, we need Chip Saltsman.