« AdWatch: The Worst Thing Since Unsliced Bread | Main | New Media For The Old Line State »
January 13, 2006BELTWAY BLOGROLL
Blog Fight For House Majority Leader?
Marc Ambinder of Hotline On Call sees the makings of a blog fight for House majority leader, and you don't have to click any further than RedState to appreciate his insight.
The potential for a battle led by conservative blogs exists because of their affinity for Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind. Ambinder outlined the reasons for Pence's blog base: "Outspoken. Ornery. Fiscally conservative. Strong-willed. Not connected with the powers that be. A blogger himself. Outsider-ish (just like bloggers.)" Pence also heads the Republican Study Committee, which now has a blog as well.
Ambinder said the GOP establishment, on the other hand, might prefer someone like John Boehner of Ohio, Roy Blunt of Missouri or Eric Cantor of Virginia. None of them have blogs on either their congressional or campaign sites, and they don't appear to have a fan base in the conservative blogosphere.
At RedState, the anonymous bloggers Augustine and Blanton have made the case for a House led in part by Pence.
Augustine made his pitch for Pence last month. Noting that the RSC is "the single-most significant and effective outpost for conservative ideas in the whole of Congress," he said Pence has fought valiantly for the right -- sometimes winning, sometimes taking one for the cause and sometimes taking the GOP leadership to task for "ignoring the values of the people who elected them."
"While Pence and many of his ideological friends may, in fact, think he can be more effective as a coalition leader than as a 'leader of the party,' I respectfully disagree," Augustine wrote. "We've had quite enough of leaders who are hampered by the fact that they believe in very little, and are willing to fight for even less. It's time for an honorable and principled conservative to take a leadership role in the Republican Party."
His entry sparked a few dozen comments on the merits of a leadership bid by Pence. RedState co-founder Mike Krempasky was among those who commented, and he suggested that Pence is more valuable at the RSC. "I'm not sure that we don't get more done with Pence driving a solid block of 80 no-compromise Republicans as we would with him trying to consistently cobble together 218."
But Blanton challenged that argument in his new post on Friday. "Right now the House Republicans need Mike Pence. He's done wonders revitalizing the Republican Study Committee. It has become an effective organization. There are others there, like Jeb Hensarling [of Texas], who can keep it going. There are not many in the Republican ranks who can revitalize Republican leadership in the House as a whole. Mike Pence can, and Mike Pence should be given the opportunity."
UPDATE: There will be no blog fight on Pence's behalf, according to Capitol Report. Pence announced that he will not seek the majority leader's job.
UPDATE II: With Pence opting not to run, RedState is touting "reformer and conservative" John Shadegg of Arizona for majority leader.
Shadegg joined the race today, a day after RedState's endorsement. He also sent a letter to GOP colleagues.
"Whether we accept Boehner or Blunt (if we were forced to choose, it would be Boehner), we would be choosing a compromised leader at a time when every indication is that the Democrats intend to wage war on ethics," the site's directors wrote. "We need a better choice. John Shadegg is that choice."
Posted by | 10:14 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://amcblog.nationaljournal.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/421
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Blog Fight For House Majority Leader?:
» BLOGFIGHT!!! from Ohio 2nd
<a href="http://beltwayblogroll.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/01/blog _fight_for.php">The National Journal's Beltway Blogroll</a> is reporting that an online fight may be firing up over selecting the replacement for <a href="... [Read More]
Tracked on January 7, 2006 07:16 PM
» Reformer Steps In To House Majority Leader Contest from Ohio 2nd
The Directors of the Conservative blog portal Red State are promoting the bid of John Shadegg (AZ03) to be the next House Majority Leader.
The time has come for a new face in the House Republican leadership. Whether we accept Boehner or Blunt (if we... [Read More]
Tracked on January 13, 2006 10:46 AM
