HOLLYWOOD
02-02-2009, 09:09 AM
Obviously, the Post's Chris Cillizza is another media fool, if not on the "take".
House Republicans' Stand Against Stimulus Provides Fodder for Democratic
Washington Post
By Chris Cillizza
Monday, February 2, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/01/AR2009020102112.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/01/AR2009020102112.html)
5 Republicans to Watch
Speaking of Steele, his election last week as RNC chairman -- he is the first African American to hold that post -- means he will play a prominent role in determining the direction of a party demoralized by significant losses at the ballot box in the past two elections.
Who else will be leading that discussion? Here's The Fix's ranking of the five most influential -- and powerful -- voices in the party today. These are the players to watch over the next few years as the GOP seeks to dust itself off and start moving toward majority-party status again.
5. Mark Sanford: Sanford is using his national platform as chairman of the Republican Governors Association to its hilt -- penning a series of op-eds touting his unapologetic fiscal conservatism. Sanford is the spokesman of the Club for Growth wing of the party, and, in case you forgot, he comes from South Carolina -- a state with a big say in the early days of the GOP presidential nominating contest.
4. Bobby Jindal: Jindal continues to insist he will not run for president in 2012, and we believe him -- to a point. Because he is up for reelection in 2011, he has no choice but to say the presidential race doesn't interest him. And, in truth, how Jindal manages the next few years will be critical in determining whether he will keep up the momentum built in late 2008. The state faces massive budget problems, and how Jindal deals with them will be a major test for the youthful governor.
3. Mitt Romney: Romney is the party's smartest and best messenger on the economy and therefore will be front and center in the debate over the way forward. Romney is also keeping his political operation running through his Free and Strong America PAC. Will Romney fall short of grabbing the GOP brass ring again in 2012?
2. Haley Barbour: Barbour is the rare combination of keen party strategist and elected official. (Trust us, there aren't that many out there.) And he has the added bonus of not being a serious candidate in 2012 -- a guy who helped invent lobbying in Washington isn't exactly the right profile to challenge President Obama in four years. Barbour is the early favorite to chair the Republican Governors Association in 2010, and from that perch he will have a huge opportunity to influence the party's message in the midterm elections.
1. Sarah Palin: Few are neutral in their assessments of the Alaska governor. People love her or hate her, and anything she does is news. Her appearance at the Alfalfa Dinner drew big coverage on cable and even on the local news. What other Republican in the country can draw that sort of attention? Answer: None.
House Republicans' Stand Against Stimulus Provides Fodder for Democratic
Washington Post
By Chris Cillizza
Monday, February 2, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/01/AR2009020102112.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/01/AR2009020102112.html)
5 Republicans to Watch
Speaking of Steele, his election last week as RNC chairman -- he is the first African American to hold that post -- means he will play a prominent role in determining the direction of a party demoralized by significant losses at the ballot box in the past two elections.
Who else will be leading that discussion? Here's The Fix's ranking of the five most influential -- and powerful -- voices in the party today. These are the players to watch over the next few years as the GOP seeks to dust itself off and start moving toward majority-party status again.
5. Mark Sanford: Sanford is using his national platform as chairman of the Republican Governors Association to its hilt -- penning a series of op-eds touting his unapologetic fiscal conservatism. Sanford is the spokesman of the Club for Growth wing of the party, and, in case you forgot, he comes from South Carolina -- a state with a big say in the early days of the GOP presidential nominating contest.
4. Bobby Jindal: Jindal continues to insist he will not run for president in 2012, and we believe him -- to a point. Because he is up for reelection in 2011, he has no choice but to say the presidential race doesn't interest him. And, in truth, how Jindal manages the next few years will be critical in determining whether he will keep up the momentum built in late 2008. The state faces massive budget problems, and how Jindal deals with them will be a major test for the youthful governor.
3. Mitt Romney: Romney is the party's smartest and best messenger on the economy and therefore will be front and center in the debate over the way forward. Romney is also keeping his political operation running through his Free and Strong America PAC. Will Romney fall short of grabbing the GOP brass ring again in 2012?
2. Haley Barbour: Barbour is the rare combination of keen party strategist and elected official. (Trust us, there aren't that many out there.) And he has the added bonus of not being a serious candidate in 2012 -- a guy who helped invent lobbying in Washington isn't exactly the right profile to challenge President Obama in four years. Barbour is the early favorite to chair the Republican Governors Association in 2010, and from that perch he will have a huge opportunity to influence the party's message in the midterm elections.
1. Sarah Palin: Few are neutral in their assessments of the Alaska governor. People love her or hate her, and anything she does is news. Her appearance at the Alfalfa Dinner drew big coverage on cable and even on the local news. What other Republican in the country can draw that sort of attention? Answer: None.