Posted on 11/26/2005 1:13:16 PM PST by RWR8189
WASHINGTON -- There is no doubt Rep. John Boehner of Ohio is quietly enlisting support from fellow House Republicans to elect him as majority leader in January. The question is whether Rep. Tom Reynolds of New York also is campaigning to be majority whip.
Reports of a Boehner-Reynolds ticket have circulated in Washington, but Reynolds vigorously denies it. If he does run for whip, Reynolds would be accused of cutting and running from his duties as House Republican campaign chairman because of the difficult 2006 midterm election ahead.
A special election in January would mean House Republicans have given up on Tom DeLay getting rid of his criminal indictment in Texas in time to resume the majority leader's chair in this session of Congress. Majority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri has been acting leader.
CHENEY AND DELAY
Eyebrows raised in Washington's political circles when it was announced that Vice President Dick Cheney has opted to go to Houston Dec. 5 for a Tom DeLay fund-raiser instead of attending the annual White House Christmas party for members of Congress.
Cheney's support of sidelined House Majority Leader DeLay is no surprise. But the vice president's presence at the White House party would be desirable in hopes of bolstering the sagging morale of the Republican lawmakers.
A footnote: Word of ex-DeLay aide Michael Scanlon's guilty plea in the Jack Abramoff scandal has sent a wave of fear through the Washington Republican establishment. Scanlon appears to have cut a deal for possibly naming names and pointing fingers in return for a lighter sentence.
DEMOCRATIC DROUGHT
Just as Democrats had envisioned the promised land with enhanced prospects for gaining control of the House in the 2006 elections, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) fund-raising hit a bump in the road.
The DCCC, which did well in September by raising $5.4 million, fell off the cliff in October by bringing in just $1.6 million. Republicans continue to outdo the Democrats consistently in House fund-raising.
A footnote: The Senate Democratic campaign committee continues to lead its Republican counterpart. But even the most optimistic Democrats concede it is highly unlikely they can pick up the necessary six Senate seats to retake control.
ROOKIE BLUNDER
Rep. Jean Schmidt, the most junior member of the House after a special election in Ohio, was not only booed by Democrats after she implied that Democratic Rep. John Murtha was a "coward" for suggesting U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq. She also was privately denounced by Republicans.
She undermined the Republican leadership strategy of rejecting troop withdrawal but not criticizing Murtha, a decorated Marine war veteran who is popular on both sides of the aisle. Schmidt must have not gotten the message, but she later apologized for what she said.
A footnote: Schmidt nearly lost the special election because of lukewarm support from conservatives, who disliked her voting record in the Ohio legislature on gun control issues.
RUDY AND BLACKS
While former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is shown by polls to be the most popular possible Republican presidential candidate with the party's voters nationally, he is viewed as a disaster in the 2008 election by prominent African-American Republicans.
The black Republicans, engaged in a difficult uphill struggle to broaden the party's base, say the overwhelmingly favorable voter response to Giuliani's handling of the 9/11 disaster did not apply to African-Americans. They report that the black attitude toward Giuliani remains shaped by the record of police shootings in New York under his watch.
Specifically cited is Giuliani's support of the police in the shootings of Amadou Diallo and Patrick Dorismond, both unarmed black men.
Copyright 2005 Creators Syndicate
Giuliani is a good pick for a blue state office, but he would not win nationally.
Much has been made of Mr. Delay... but he is not the Repub. party.. most all of the elections are going to be decided by local issues anyway. If we get new leadership, fine. We can just move on..
Novak's a Rockafeller Pub at best, I never considered him a conservative. I've been reading (laughing at) him for years.
Typical RINO
"Boner"... now that's funny.
I like John Boehner but he isn't tough enough to go against those Rats.
The media keeps pushing their spin about Rep. Schmidt callint Murtha a coward. It was my impression she merely read a letter from a constituent that said" Cowards run , Marines dont run." Now that isnt calling Murtha a coward,its saying if the shoe fits wear it.
Like Cinderrella's glass slipper it seems to fit pretty well.But then it fits a lot of Representatives, and some Senators,some of them Republicans.
I quit reading after seeing Bob Novak and "Republican." [yawn]
Novak is a source I really have questionable faith in, more hit and run then consistent...
If the above IS true, however? Doesn't bother me a damn bit. If I had the choice to spend time with Delay...or Congress? I'm choosing Delay without hesitation.
Always was, always will be. That colors his outlook on everything.
He is not a credible source other than giving he dems something to cheer about now and then.
Novak has always been a registered Democrat. Conservative for a Democrat (i.e. moderate), but always a Democrat.
They have no one to blame for that but the RINOs w/i their midst. McLame, McSphincter, and Mr. Elizabeth Taylor--take a bow!
W needs to start kickin' some butt or the wheels are goin' to come off altogether.
The term 'checkered-pants' was made for him. I firmly believe he thinks Republicans are more effective as the minority... and that conservatives are rubes.
"Novak has always been a registered Democrat. Conservative for a Democrat (i.e. moderate), but always a Democrat.
Do you have a source for that?
I always thought he was a pubbie.
Don't have copies of all the quotes. Used to watch him in mid-80s on Crossfire. He made it clear then. He's mentioned it several times in columns too...at least one occasion when he was covering events at the Dimwit National Convention.
However, here is some supporting evidence.
NOVAK: I'm a registered Democrat actually. CNN Transcript - Evans, Novak, Hunt & Shields Daniel Patrick Moynihan Discusses Campaign 2000 - April 29, 2000
Bob Novak spent several minutes telling the audience he was a registered Democrat and had been so for many years.Think Progress » Novak Criticized Carville For “Foul Mouth,” Said He Was “Poisoning America”
There is more. Google it.
Thanks for the info.
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