Mike Pence to Run for Minority Leader

Human Events Online ^ | Nov 08, 2006 | Robert B. Bluey

[BufordP]

Rep. Mike Pence (R.-Ind.), leader of the conservative Republican Study Committee, is expected to announce later today that he will run for House minority leader, according to sources on Capitol Hill.

Pence’s announcement will come after significant Republican losses in the House yesterday. Although some races have yet to be decided, the GOP is on the verge of losing 30 seats in the House and on the brink of handing control of the Senate to Democrats.

As the conservative leader of the GOP in the House, Pence is positioned to offer a strong challenge to current Majority Leader John Boehner (R.-Ohio), who is expected to announce his intentions soon. Speaker Dennis Hastert (R.-Ill.) is almost certain to vacate any leadership role. Meanwhile, Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R.-Mo.) will deliver a major address at the Heritage Foundation tomorrow about the future of conservatism.

There is already movement among conservatives to fill the roles of minority whip and conference chairman. Rep. John Shadegg (R.-Ariz.), who ran for majority leader earlier this year, is strongly considering a bid for the whip job, according to Capitol Hill sources. And Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R.-Tenn.) is maneuvering for Republican conference chairman. The Pence-Shadegg-Blackburn ticket would offer a slate of conservative leaders for the GOP caucus.

[SMM48]

We will have a politically correct illegal immigration policy rammed down our throats. Good-bye fence, Welcome to the United States.

[ConservativeGadfly]

No to KBH for NRSC. She is on the board of Vital Voices -- with all kinds of feminists. No way.

[ilovew]

My philosophy is you're an obnoxious jerk.

[BufordP]

Its illustrative of how far he will go. And he didn't break any commandments in the process.

Did you read the article? Are you disappointed that there were conservatives behind the scenes trying to stop the Prescription Drug Benefit program? I thought "go-along-to-get-along" RINOs is one of the main reasons we lost the House?

[CWOJackson]

An ironic effect of those who wanted to teach the GOP a lesson regarding the borders...turn it over to the DNC.

[hilaryrhymeswithrich]

Agreed...I think Mike is tough, but not alienating...he sticks to his conservative beliefs without seeming smug or unreasonabe...he is no bumbling country dude ambling along....Mike can do more as the party not in power than, I'm afraid, we did in power. He has to hold the line/......

[dforest]

This is true. He isn't for a very tough immigration policy. Thinks we should have Ellis Island places and that all illegals will actually leave and go to these places to sign up to come in legally. Good conservative, but his immigration idea is pretty far fetched.

[SUSSA]

Pence is not all that conservative. He opposes privatizing Social Security and supports the Bush/Kennedy Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. We need to do better than Pence or we're looking at a very long run in the minority.

[JSDude1]

MIke Pence is MY Congressman, and a damn fine man. I really hope that Conservatives and Republicans take over "leadership in the house (and Senate)". This may not be as bad for Conservatism as doom-and-gloomers think..

We really do need to return to Conservative principles as a party, as a people, and as a nation.

God Bless America, and God Be With US for the Next 2 years.

-Jeremy (JSDude1 Freeper)

[BufordP]

No doubt!

[Red in Philly]

Some of the ultra hard liners on illegal immigration here explain to me how come Graf and Hayworth lost so bad in Arizona, the epicenter of the illegal immigration crisis.

[p[adre29]

Blunt is my critter, but Pence would be a good start to putting a "face" on the Republicans in Congress for '08.

We've got to get moving NOW.

Exactly. first thing to do is cut our losses, so Good-bye Denny Hastert, the Wm Jefferson thing was just too much for me.

Second, purge the staffs on the Hill of the gay mafia, they cannot be trusted period.

thirdly, decide if any of our incumbent losses are salvageable, do it now, go through the numbers and find the ones who lost because our base didn't perform.

Fourthly, Decide what our core issues are TODAY and make them known to everyone who will listen.

Fifthly, *gasp* listen to us, the two issues that everyone knew about Taxes and Homeland Security wasn't enough to win. We need more issues.

sixthly, we simply HAVE to get better at media relations, we lost when we had a strong economy and low unemployment and lowering gas prices.

seventh, kick anything Neoconish out, they have led us down a terrible path.

[rightinthemiddle]

sixthly, we simply HAVE to get better at media relations, we lost when we had a strong economy and low unemployment and lowering gas prices.

_____

Marketing and advertising. We have to use the MSM, not avoid it.

I know of what I speak.

[Barney Gumble]

John Boehner is a wimp. Pence! (or Shadegg)

[griswold3]

Yes Yes Yes!!

[p[adre29]

When the dimms raise everyone taxes, that will be a great place to start to build media relations.

Then there is the War in Iraq, GWB's political millstone. Our political millstone.

[kenth]

Who's Elizabeth Dole?

[eleni121]

Can you summarize Pence's background?

[BufordP]

Are you on drugs?

PENCE CALLS NEW SOCIAL SECURITY PLAN ‘A GOOD START DOWN THE RIGHT PATH FOR REFORM

PENCE VOICES GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT PRESCRIPTION DRUG BILL

[petitfour]

That was an interesting article. (the one about stalwarts . . .) I did not know that Nick Smith held out and that the corrupt dude from California waved a checkbook at him, signaling that Smith's son would not be getting any party support in his bid for the seat Smith was vacating. I don't know all the machinations that took place in the meantime, but I did just check to see who won Smith's former district. Tim Wahlburg (sp?) is the new CONSERVATIVE Congressman from Southeast Michigan. That is good news.