Michael Steele PREDICTS The GOP WILL NOT Take Over The House Of Rep. In 2010

[Segami]

Hey Mike, get ready to duck the BIG back-hand coming your way. LOL!


Republican operatives are privately furious with RNC Chairman Michael Steele for predicting on Monday night that the GOP will not take over the House of Representatives in 2010.


One strategist called the comment "stupid," arguing that it will put the party in a bind when it comes to candidate recruitment and generally lower expectations and excitement over the 2010 elections. Others, who refused to go on the record, lamented the inevitable follow-up questions that would be asked to Republicans, such as: do you agree with the sentiments of the RNC Chairman?


And, sure enough, on Tuesday, the National Congressional Campaign Committee released a statement in which it basically slapped down Steele for his electoral prognostication.


"The NRCC's goal -- as the campaign arm of the House Republican Conference -- has always been to recapture the majority in 2010," said Ken Spain, press secretary for the committee. "Independent political analysts and even liberal columnists have stated that Republicans have a very real shot at taking back the majority in 2010. Make no mistake about it, we are playing to win."


It is extremely rare to see two campaign committees on such different pages when it comes to messaging. Steele was able to survive a rocky start to his tenure at the RNC. But the grumbling never fully died down -- and his remarks on Sean Hannity's radio show Monday night have only exacerbated the situation.


"I can't give a number yet, because like I said, we're just now beginning to look at the races," Steele said. Asked if Republicans will take back the House, he confessed: "Not this year."


"I don't know all the candidates yet," Steele added. "We still have some vacancies that need to get filled, but then the question we need to ask ourselves is: 'If we do that, are we ready?'"


<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/05/nrcc-pushes-back-against_n_411624.html>

[el_bryanto]

1. Steele is an embarrasment

I mean he's probably right, and he should get points for being truthful - but his job is to be a cheerleader. Cheerleaders should always think that their team is going to win.

Bryant

[Segami]

3. Maybe Steele is sending up smoke signals that he is ready to change political stripes..LOL!

:woohoo:

[still_one]

4. Maybe Steele is a little bit tired of the racist bullshit that has been indirectly thrown at him

since he became the token chairman of the rnc, and is giving some back

Of course he could be privy to polls which indicate this, and he is trying to motivate his base to fight harder

[Segami]

8. Well, all I can say is that Steele allowed himself to be treated as a junk-yard dog for the

Republican party. That doesn't justify the repukes actions at all, if anything, it should be treated as another form of disguised hatred.

[still_one]

15. You nailed it /nt

[Ozymanithrax]

9. Howard Dean was the best Democratic Chairman we've had in decades...

His job was to build the Democratic Party, and he did so. He was in constant conflict with the DCCC. He showed that the job was not to be a cheerleader.

Fortunately, Steel is no Howard Dean, and he would look terrible in a miniskirt with matching undies and pompoms.

[el_bryanto]

20. It depends on the question I guess.

If you ask Howard Dean if the Democrats will hold and/or gain seats he should say "They can." He obviously will want to push the party in the direction he wants it to go (as he should). But if Howard Dean really loses faith in the party to win or to govern, he should, and probably would, step down.

Bryant

[still_one]

2. The Democrats will retain the majority in 2010. The MSM echo chamber insight is wrong

again

It will even be better if companies start hiring and move the unemployment down to 8% or more

[RaleighNCDUer]

10. Agree. It might be a thinner majority than today (or it might not)

but it will still be the majority.

[still_one]

18. History and the odds are definitely with us. I agree it might be thinner, because that's what

usually happens in midterms, however, the bush legacy is not that distant, and most people realize which party was in control when all the problems occurred

[FBaggins]

5. Can't imagine why that would hurt him

There really is very little change that they will regain control this year... and it's reasonable to see his statements as "lowering expectations".

Let's face it... if they pick up 30 House seats and 6-8 Senate seats... that could be reasonably be spun as a massive victory. That is, unless expectations were that they would regain control of one or both houses.

[Alcibiades]

6. He's more of a pundit

than a functioning chairman. At least he inhabits the real reality, some of the time.

[clear eye]

7. Who thought they would?

What I heard was that the Democratic majority would shrink, not that it would be lost.

[JVS]

11. Am I the only one who thinks that his answer is smart, in that he is not setting unreasonable...

expectations?

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

12. Classic underplaying

If they pick up a bunch or flip the house, you won't be able to shut them up.

[Segami]

19. Agreed yet, the truth of the matter is that NO team wants to hear their coach go on national TV at

halftime and tell the world his team won't be able to win their division and make the playoffs even though its only halftime.

[Bitwit1234]

13. The first thing this guy has gotten correct

and every body is panning him...

[Better Believe It]

14. He's probably right. However, conservative Democrats call the shots in the House and Senate now.

Just look at the Private Health Insurance and Big Pharma Protection Act coming out of the Senate.

The 2010 elections will lead to a larger bi-partisan coalition of "centrist" and "blue dog" Democrats and Republicans. They will tighten their conservative grip on Congress and open the door to more and even greater social "reforms" .... such as cuts in social security and other "entitlement" programs.

The President will of course not fight them.

[Orsino]

16. Therefore they will?

Never seemed likely to me, but if Steele is willing to put his reputation on the line, don't we have to assume he's wrong again?

[MiniMe]

17. The RNC doesn't have the money to fund a candidate

[Botany]

21. I loves me some Steele

He is driving the republican party into the ditch

[Jamastiene]

22. Am I the only one who realizes what he is really doing?

He is trying to mobilize the base of the Republican Party to vote in droves using fear mongering tactics, as usual. Simple as that.

[Segami]

24. Not as simple as that. You give Steele & Company TOO much credit for their public misstatements.

Sometimes, their public gaffs are exactly what they are, PUBLIC GAFFS and nothing more.

[Tippy]

27. Agree...

But speaking for experience...Rethugs are still floundering so...who do they follow?

[kirby]

23. Has Steele ever been correct? n/t

[SemiCharmedQuark]

25. He's only lowering the bar so that if/when they do gain seats (and opp. parties usually do)

he can use it as a *sign* that America loves the Republicans.

[Gman2]

26. Brother is still here!