Duncan Has A Comeback Plan?

According to Politico he does.  This sounds more like a “save my job” plan.  The plan that Duncan espouses comes out on the heels of the recent Saxby “Gang of (enter number here)” Chambliss victory in Georgia.  Interestingly, the RNC claims to have gotten its act together following the loss of more seats in the House and Senate and the Presidency earlier in November.  Now, RNC Chairman Mike Duncan comes out and claims success after winning ONE race.  This makes the case to clear out the establishment (and Duncan) all the more stronger.

Duncan has been an unfortunate chairman.  He came in to the top leadership position after serving as a quasi-co-chairman with Senator Mel Martinez.  Once Martinez had resigned, Duncan became head honcho.  Since he has been in charge though, true to his establishment upbringing, he has been a disappointment.  Not only did he sell out the platform that he claims to be at the head of, he helped pioneer some of the worst campaigns in history.

Duncan is an artifact, to say the least, of a time in the GOP that the base is trying to move past.  If Duncan and his ilk are allowed to stay at the helm, don’t expect to much to change.  His politics and his campaign methods have been consistent of the now almost extinct Northeastern Republican mold.  The members of the RNC are at least somewhat awake and will not in all likelihood re-elect Duncan.  But if by some misfortune that Duncan finds himself re-elected, the base will find that nothing will change.

Unfortunately, the others running against Duncan do not bring much change either.  Michael Steele, while campaigning for RNC chairman yesterday, told a group that he felt that we needed more moderate candidates to revive the party.  I wonder if Steele is in touch with the events of the last year.  McCain is a moderate.  Chambliss, the only glimmer of hope for Duncan, is a moderate.

Whomever the next chairman is, they must remember this, when a Democrat and a Democrat-lite face off in an election, the Democrat wins.  The candidates that bear the GOP nomination must stand firm on principles consistent to those in the platform.    The GOP elected officials must have the fear of God in breaking away from those principles when serving in office.  The next GOP chairman must be able to do those two things.  If they can’t, don’t expect anything anytime soon.

-RedVA