One "baby" at the end of a sentence vs. multiple "uh"'s per sentence?

A welcome change indeed.

As an ex-(long term)registered Republican I would love to see the Republican Party get their act together and once again offer viable representation for the average American instead of just trying to manipulate public opinion based on their ability to exploit emotions for individual issues that they aren't even sincere about. To accomplish that turn around the best start would be to admit their serious failure to represent the middle-class over the last eight years, not needing to dwell long on the apology but definitely needing to acknowledge the fault, and to then declare a strong and real commitment to change their focus. Moderate conservatism is great but continuing the arrogant and irresponsible total focus on the wealthy, Special Interests and a select few while giving only apathy, the costs and an abundance of subterfuge to the majority is totally obnoxious. They have created a considerable hurdle for themselves to overcome with their persistent strong and stubborn support of the arrogant and irresponsible (likely even criminal) Bush-Cheney administration. To now seriously and foolishly neglect reaching out to the middle-class and honestly addressing the substantial and real problems facing them would be just asking for the wrath of the middle-class to fall upon them. If they adhere to their current belief that all value is found in the satisfaction of the few and continue to depend on trying to deceive the many, then they really deserve to be relegated to lastingly be the minority party or worse. Touting puppet people like Sarah Palin and focusing on politics as usual instead of honestly and responsibly approaching bipartisanship is a sure sign that they just don't get the seriousness of the problems and can't divorce themselves from their self-focus. Appointing an African-American RNC chairperson is commendable but lacks the real substance needed. Let's hope they can get the message.

Curious that Obama gets elected because of optics but Steele will be judged on mechanics more than optics.

He's Steele the one and we're still havin' fun.

Curious that Obama gets elected because of optics but Steele will be judged on mechanics more than optics.
Michael Hewitt

and Bush was elected because of electronics

The democrats have at least as much blame if not more for the economic woes we are currently enduring. Who has been in charge of Congress these last two years when the economy has tanked? Who initially caused the subprime lending crisis we now have to endure (Clinton). How is a bailout to banks helping the middle class. So far it seems to have worked well. NOT. The Goverment is not a profit organization. They spend money. To have them doling out money for bailouts is ludicrous. And regardless of what you may think about Bush, and he had many many faults. He did exactly what I needed him to do these last 8 years. Keep me and my family safe.  

Nice one nuanced.

Stop being a sore loser, Mr. Hewitt.  Obama was not elected because of optics.  He was the most qualified for the job, and will restore intellectual fortitude to the White House.

Hi Mike Hewitt,

You got that right.  When he was picked as Lieutenant Governor the local Sunpapers called him a "token black."

Any African American who dares not to toe the liberal Democrat line is subject to racism in its most hateful form.

Democrats are probably the biggest bigots there are.

the GOP will eventually nosedive into obcurity unless they learn how to resonate with the middle-class. Its elitist leadership class is mired in money, BIG money, and their vision is limited to that alone.

Curious that Obama gets elected because of optics but Steele will be judged on mechanics more than optics.
Michael Hewitt (Sent Friday, January 30, 2009 6:05 PM)
##########################

I beg to differ with your simplistic observation, sir. Obama did not get overwhelmingly elected just because he looks good (which he does!) or because he's bi-racial (I consider this a plus, but we know many who don't)--he got elected because he has the right mix of charisma, intelligence,and compassion. His educational background, work experiences, and rhetorical skills help too. He's optimistic and pragmatic at the same time. Do I wish he were a little longer in the tooth? Sure, that wouldn't hurt. But we saw firsthand how age and government experience didn't help McCain show good judgment during the Wall Street crisis last fall (or in his choice of VP).

If Obama's first week in office is any indication of how much he'll accomplish during his term, I think we're in good hands.  We don't have a president on vacation any more. Yay!!

To Michael Hewitt -- Yes, you could possibly say that Obama got elected because of optics, and so did Steele ... BOTH will be judged on mechanics more than optics(in other words, what they accomplish).  What's your problem?

It's clear you are looking for something to be bitter and unpleasant about, but if you're going to insult, at least think about it a little, so it makes some sort of sense.

Steele will be judged on mechanics rather than optics because the RNC job is supposed to be backroom, mechanics rather than optics

Here's an identity for the Repukes:  Palin/Buchanan/Limbaugh/Bush/Cheney
Idiot the Plumber/Christi/Watson/Delay

MSN, give them a game show with Gregory as host to see which one will monopolize the most time saying nothing.  The winner gets to spend a week feeding the homeless at a shelter!

Can you say "token?"

Well of course this was the choice of the GOP. This is the supposed African American male that is the strongest opponent of Obama just right of Hannity and Fox Slop. Makes comeplete sense.

Oh please!! Not a word.  Obama was doing the Beyonce hand moves. He is a celebrity more than a President. Steele has more integrity and experience than Obama.  Let's just start there.  HUSH!! Not a word.  Steele is awesome and he represents what the new GOP is all about.  Obama, Pelosi & Reid are going down.  The bailout was there biggest mistake. Bye bye dems.  THE GOP IS COMING!!!

Can no one here read ( or see )between the lines? Am I the ONLY person on the face of the planet to see what's happening?

Steele will be judged on mechanics rather than optics because the RNC job is supposed to be backroom, mechanics rather than optics

OH! HOW CUTE THE GOP GOT THERE OWN OBAMA TOO BAD ITS AS GREAT AS THE REAL ONE.

I can hear the heart and minds changing in dixie as we speak, they are all running down to their all white members only country club to cancel their membership  with the election of Steele. oops, I forgot we are talking about the republican Party.

Curious that Obama gets elected because of optics but Steele will be judged on mechanics more than optics.
Michael Hewitt

and graduated top of his class at Harvard Law School because of optics... was elected chairman of Harvard Law Review because of optics... won the presidential debates because of optics... has a master of science degree in optics...

Get over it--Bush WAS NOT elected by electronics.  You lost, but NOW you've won.  Steele is not the man for the job.  The RNC voters caved in and we are again lost.  Maybe a third party will emerge stronger than ever to replace the exGrand Old Party.  

Steele will be judged on mechanics rather than optics because the RNC job is supposed to be backroom, mechanics rather than optics

R for BHO, Indianapolis, IN

No. Sorry. That's the bias of the articles author speaking.

There is a backroom operational portion of the job, but there is also an image part that is front and center for the job also.

Can you say "token?"

Lou Dyer Jones (Sent Friday, January 30, 2009 6:25 PM)

That's what many are saying about Obama. He sure didn't get the job on his accomplishments.

Funny, seemed to me the wall street bailout was during the Bush administration.  3 whole pages that had to be acted upon immediately with no oversite that McCain "suspended" his campaign to push through.  But we all know they were going to blame the democrats.  Want to know who is to blame?  Democrats for insisting that banks loan money to people who could not afford it, republican's for insisting on no regulation and the american people who felt they could afford a 250,000 home when they only make 60,000.00 per year.  But Bush gave them the first round of money with no oversite.

While this a step in the right direction for repubs, I hope they don't try to paint this  "we are a diverse party" story now that an African American is at the helm of the RNC. Steele was elected by 168 professional politicos who looking to create headlines and patch the holes in the sinking GOP ship.

I do hope that the GOP can become a diverse party, its good progress for this country, but I still think it will be a while before the GOP can get their base to rally (like sarah palin style) around an African America candidate. We'll see.

I still can not get over the STEELE DEMOCRAT bumper stickers his campaign gave out in 2006.  If the RNC new Chairman was proud to be a Republican why did he try to decieve voters into thinking he was a Democrat??

Repubs are still playing games for weak minded people but I think the majority of Americans are now able to see through the smoke screens. Steele has no substance and its obvious that the Repubs are deciding to go further right instead of coming to the middle. They still don't get it!

Why do we have to distinguish African-Americans from all Americans?  An American is an American!  It makes no difference to me whether they're black, white, pink or purple!  President Obama is an American as is Michael Steele.  Their color or origins make no difference to me whatsoever.  Let's just hope they both do well in their newly acquired positions.  We, as Americans and a nation, will be better for it.

They couldn't have picked a better guy to finish off the Republican party.  

This guy was on every news show he could get on over the last few years, and defended Bush to the bitter end.  Now that he's done carrying Bush's water, he's going to try and carry the "NEW" Republican party?!?!?!

Republicans are so out to lunch that they think just putting blacks in high positions changes anything about WHO they are as a party.  They used Rice, Powell and now Steele in this manner, but everything that Republicans stand for, goes against the common man/women.....let alone minorities and women in specific.

The Republican party has just found it's latest ice age.  Congrats.

Obama did not win the election because he was vastly more qualified than McCain, he won because he was not on the Republican ticket. After 8 years of Bush no republican candidate was going to win. As for Bush wining because of electronics, if pushing a small sharpened metal rod the size of a pencil lead through a piece of paper had not been such a challenge for Florida voters it would have been over on election night.

Everyone wants to blame the Bush admin for everything...however the liberals have had control for 2 yrs and what have they done? Nothing but point fingers.  Way to go GA Girl...you are right on the money!!  

Congrats Michael Steele!!! Now please hook up with the folks at Big Hollywood and let's start by getting some sort of a media house going to put a sledgehammer to the old Liberal Plantation before they turn the whole damn country into Michigan.

Michael Steele, Kweisi Mfume, Harold Ford and Alan Keyes are now US senators despite optics... Ooops!!

The Republicans need all the help they can get for the 2012 election. All the bickering, argueing and naysaying within the Party is not what I call helping. Someday considder unifing even if you are not the persion making the top level decisions. Try it!

To Michael Hewitt -- Yes, you could possibly say that Obama got elected because of optics, and so did Steele ... BOTH will be judged on mechanics more than optics(in other words, what they accomplish).  What's your problem?

It's clear you are looking for something to be bitter and unpleasant about, but if you're going to insult, at least think about it a little, so it makes some sort of sense.

Elizabeth

I don't think there is any problem with asking the question. Unlike your response, Michael's wasn't antagonistic or defensive in his statement.

Obama is a Democrat, and he'll less judged for his mechanics (what he does) then he will for his optics (who he is). That's the way it is, the media will not hold him accountable one way or the other. Obama talked a lot about who he was during the election, that's all he really had because he had few if any accomplishments. He'll have a choice in 2012 to run on his record (if it's half way decent) or his optics (first black president to be re-elected). Again, the media will let Obama define his terms. The media will not challenge him because he is a Democrat.

Steele has no such luck. Who he is will not be a factor for the media. Just like with Palin, the media couldn't care less. The media made it all about optics for Palin (She sounds funny. What is she wearing? She's not like us.) rather then who she is (her accomplishments, her family, her upbringing, her struggles). Steele will get the same treatment. His "blackness" will not matter one bit to the media. If he fails in his job, the media will be all over him. Not like with Obama where ever chance will be given for him (Obama ) to succeed. And if Obama fails, it will be because of other factors, probably George Bush will be blamed.

Dream on Georgia Girl, your GOP is toast for a generation. The Dems got an overwhelming slice of new voters, new voters tend to stick with their party most of adult life. The bright of this is, the GOP is getting a larger percentage of a shrinking base (semi-literate white folk) Sarah's Palin fans.

majwoodman FL, try 7 1/2 years your family was kept safe. Did you forget who watch the  911 attacks happened on, your idiot in chief Bush, he missed it by that much, and the anthrax attacks, what were they, just a walk in the park, so really, how safe were you?

Here are a few names who are going to ruin the Democratic Party in this Country: Joe Biden, John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi, Senator Leahey, and Howard Dean. If you don't wake up and vote these people out of office Democrats will lose very quickly.

Michael Steele is an excellent choice for the GOP. Remember, more people change party affiliation from Democrat to Republican than Republican to Democrat. And those who leave the Republican party usually go to either Independent or Libertarian. Even Chris Mathews voted for Michael Steele which is not too good for Democrats.

I want to ask a question: If Obama thinks the stimulus package is so great and is going to work, why does he even want Republicans to vote for it? It would be a victory for the Democratic Party.

Yeaaaa! The Rep's have elected an American-African to head there ship. I hope he represents his people as well as Clarence did. You remember Thomas dont you he really knows how to take an order wrong or right. Good luck Steele or stole. Whatever

I AM STILL LAUGHING AT MR.STEELE AND THE GOP THEY MUST BE KIDDING TO THINK THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT. AFTER 8 LONG YEARS AND HE DIDN'T SPEAK OUT OR BECOME A VOICE HE DIDN'T SAY ANY THING NOW HE IS SO CONNECTED WITH THE PEOPLE OH MY GOD . HE IS A NUT HE IS GOOD FRIENDS WITH SEAN HANNITY THAT RACIST AND STEELE IS AN UNCLE TOM .MOST BLACKS ARE LAUGHING LIKE HELL AT HIM AND WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM.

This is an obvious ploy by the republicans to address their lack of inclusion in their party. By putting a person of color as the RNC what to they  expect to achieve? They want to prove they are progressive! HA! If anything, this is the "Sarah Palin is going to siphon off disgruntled Hillary Clinton voters" strategy repackaged and recycled.  We saw how well that worked. When it didn't, Palin was thrown out like 5 day old leftovers.
The republicans will continue to be composed of klansmen and attract that kind of voter every 2 and 4 years.  "Drill baby Drill" but get the hell out of here because America has out grown you.

Moderate GOP voters choked and picked Steele when the only other option was a radioactive member of a white-only country club. PR disaster averted for now but this tells the inside story of the upcoming fracture. Philosophical fights coming up will deeply fracture the GOP guaranteeing an Obama landslide victory in 2012. Only then will true reform take hold, perhaps with Bobby Jindal running with a female running-mate in 2016.

I/m an ex-Republican whose greatgrandfather was a delegate to the convention that first nominated Abraham Lincoln, and I'm glad to see Mr. Steele offer a renewed emphasis on old time Republican principles.  However, Steele's lackluster past causes me to doubt he knows what he's doing. These Shrubbutt/Chaingangy devotees (NEOCONS!), in my opinion, will have to leave the GOP before it can ever get its act together again.  The Regan, Bush, Chainy, McStink/Brass-faced Alaskan nutty jerk, all shave-tail RePUKES have so prostituted true Republican ideals to render the once Grand Old Party devoid of pride in its ancestry and without hope for its posterity.  What an everlasting shame!

In fact, I think every congressional district in the US whose representative voted NO to President Obama's economic stimulus plan should be denied access to any and all funds that might otherwise accrue.  Let these bastions of idiocy that send these incompetents to Congress live through some bonafide Bush-lite/Chaingang-heavy Hoover days.  I also think all RuPUKElican governors should decline and refuse to accept even one penny of economic stimulus money and/or programs.  Let them balance their states' budgets on the backs of these mean-spirited, skinflinty assholes who now posture and strut as though they know how to run our goverment world --- and AFTER they've already destroyed half the assets of the world, leaving US families destitute and ruining our country, possibly beyond reclamation.

Has anyone ever heard the term "shithead"?  It fails to be adequately descriptive of the RePUKES, but gives a tiny hint of their total depravity & incapacity as policy makers for a nation.  Pray God, deliver us from ever again letting them try to run anything.
   

Now Obama can be criticizing without anyone been called a raceist. Congratulations Mr. Steele, as a black female I am rooting for you. To the white media and whites in generally don't be so afraid of criticizing Obama. We blacks won't think you are racist because Obama is not this perfect individual. I am rooting for him also.

Michael Steele has never won office in his own right and used forged endorsements as Lt. Governor.  When he ran for the Senate he was embarassed over being a Republican.  He also never served one honorable day defending the US.  Would he be RNC chair if he weren't Black?

It does not matter who the GOP puts in front.  The fact of the matter is the GOP are reactive instead of proactive.  1 week as the new president and look at the action.  Get with it GOP. Americans are not as stupid as you all think we are.

The republicans have only cared about one color; and that is green. You can fool yourself like they do in to thinking they care about the American people, if you want or you can accept the truth. The only American people they care about is the ones with money. They had just as much to do with bailing out the banks and wall street. And to your surprise, they probably had investments on Wall Street. Why is it so had for people to understand when Clinton left the White House, he left a surplus. Surplus means there was extra money. When Bush, ex-governor, also involved savings and loan scandal; bought our country down. Regardless, Bush is the reason why people don't have jobs, money and losing their homes. I can't understand why people want to blame Obama, when he just took office this month. If you are going to blame someone, blame the right one. It makes no sense to close a blind eye or close your ears to the situation that American people are facing. And to add fuel to t he firs, it is the republicans that want more tax breaks; and for who? The tax breaks they are talking about does not apply to the middle class or the lower class. Regarless of what color you maybe, the tax break does not apply to you at all. It only apply to their friends and themselves. Why do we need tax breaks when people don't have jobs? Duh! They word it so perfect that somepeople rather cut off their nose to spite their face. Really, the republicans has only 2 class, the rich and the poor. If you are poor they don't have any need for you other than your vote during election time. The sooner everyone face the true facts the better everyone will be.

Comparing Steele to Obama is ludicrous, and I'm no blind running Republican.  The republican party has simply failed true conservatives who have no real representation (McCain, give me a break!)  McCain is why Obama is president!!!  Steele, like Ronald Reagan believes that limited government makes our country strong, while Obama tries convincing us that government expansion results in panacea.  Steele is proud of his country while 'citizen-of-the-world' Obama is tripping over himself and all his hippy Clintonistas to apologize to the Arab world how America has shamefully treated them.  Meanwhile, the Republicans are all too ashamed of the evils of slavery, segregation, global warming and all other idiocies to be effective for anything more than spending taxpayer money like drunken sailors.  

Steele is less likely to conduct himself the way the Republican party has over the past decade or so (reacting to idiotic liberal-leaning opinion polls), and I feel more confident 'giving him a chance' than I ever would Obama.  He's caused almost more damage in 10 days than Henry Paulson could!    

But don't believe for a minute that Obama and his horde of liberal democrats are any less corrupt than the most decadent of capitalists.  At least capitalists create something called jobs.  Liberals steal by taxing capitalists out of their trees, making their ill-informed constituencies believe they are 'looking out for them' when what they do  causes 'evil capitalists' to raise prices for goods & services (off-set their sky-high tax rates).  
Get it?  
The liberals are the ones killing us.  

Steele recognizes that while liberal media would never so much as dare to utter such common sense.

In closing, because I am not a deranged liberal who coddles a Big Brother government, or one who hates law & order, the unborn, the military, police, families and Christians, I have no confidence in the direction Obama is taking this country.  He is a defacto dictator.  Why does the venomous left who crucified Bush attack Rush or anyone not marching lock-step with them?  Why should King Obama be asked anything so racist as to why he has gone back on nearly every campaign pledge?  Raised by liberals who probably never told him 'no', insulated by them his whole life, until now, stupid, white liberal journalists all peeing on themselves whenever he enters a room.  God, they make me sick!  Are therre any real men anywhere?  At least Steele can genuinely joke about him self.  Watch we'll all be reading a Murdoch-issued 'Pravda' soon enough.

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