Michael Steele

UPDATE: Jason Rosenbaum correctly points out that the RNC document does not list any open seats currently held by Republicans. I feel silly.

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The same Republican National Committee presentation that outlines a fundraising plan to capitalize on fear and the promise to save America from Barack Obama's alleged socialism makes no mention of the U.S. Senate race in Missouri in its list of key targets.  Check out slide 21 of the RNC Finance Leadership Meeting presentation:

Perhaps the RNC is simply following through on Michael Steele's promise to flush bad candidates down "the crapper."

Politico's Ben Smith:

The Republican National Committee plans to raise money this election cycle through an aggressive campaign capitalizing on "fear" of President Barack Obama and a promise to "save the country from trending toward socialism."

The strategy was detailed in a confidential party fundraising presentation, obtained by POLITICO, which also outlines how “ego-driven” wealthy donors can be tapped with offers of access and "tchochkes."

The fringe and the mainstream have become one.

Check out the full presentation here.

The Chairman of the Republican Party totally understands what it's like to struggle through a rough economy.  Regarding President Obama’s long-stated plan to let income tax rates return to higher levels for families making more than $250,000 a year, Steele said: 

"Trust me, after taxes, a million dollars is not a lot of money." 

I don't know 'bout you, but banking a million dollars in one year seems like a lot of money to me.

Looking to reconnect with the common man, Michael Steele and the Republican National Committee are gathering at a beachfront resort in Waikiki today for their winter meeting.

Michael Steele is no doubt looking to Roy Blunt for guidance on how to entertain corporate donors on the beach, while still asking for votes from the folks who couldn't afford to set foot on their resorts.  Blunt, of course, has a long history of meeting with moneyed supporters under the cabana.

US News & World Report's Washington Whispers blog:

"He's become our Howard Dean," says a top Republican leadership aide. Steele's latest remarks that the party won't take control of the House in the November midterm elections—a prediction he later backed away from—have revived talk of replacing him. But senior party officials say they plan something worse: just ignoring Steele. "It's going to be out of sight, out of mind," says one aide. And firing him won't work. "That would just expedite the talk show where he bashes us all the time," he says.

So said the St. Louis Tea Party leader and 97.1 FM radio host Dana Loesch after the RNC Chairman cancelled a scheduled interview with her.

You can watch video of a "fake interview" Loesch conducted with Steele after the cancellation (she plays both herself and Steele) -- it's actually pretty funny. 

h/t St. Louis Pushes Back

"Michael Steele makes a number of old-time Republicans very nervous. He comes out of a different background. He went to seminary ... he's African-American ... But I think he's pretty close to what we need. He's different, he's gutsy and he's going to make a number of Republicans mad."

~Newt Gingrich, today

 It sounds like Michael Steele may done a little too much in the way of flushing Republican leaders down the crapper. The Hotline:

Even a private venting session in which top aides were allowed to voice their frustration has not slowed criticism. [RNC research director Jeff Berkowit] made the point that Steele has tried to walk back his comments through several appearances on other news outlets, but Congressional aides said he hasn't done enough.

"He has made no progress in walking back the recent comments. In fact, he dug the hole deeper by appearing unprepared and uneducated" on his party's actions on the Hill, a top House aide told Hotline OnCall. "Aides are collaborating with each other, both on and off the Hill, on ways to keep him quiet."

Apparently Republican leaders and their staffers don't like it when you poo-poo their records and commitment to conservative ideals.

This sort of wrangling about what it means to be a 'genuine' tea partier is interesting, especially given the controversy regarding this Saturday's faux tea party in Poplar Bluff.

Steve McQueen is the co-founder of the Quincy, IL Tea Party; Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer spoke at (at least) one of their events last year.

Just posted on the Star's Prime Buzz blog:

RNC chief Steele to GOP: "We screwed up" (and that includes you, Roy)

Talk about friendly fire.

Rep. Roy Blunt, the Republicans’ hope to hold onto a Missouri Senate seat next year, took a not-so-veiled shot today from his own party chairman.

Irrepressible national GOP chief Michael Steele says in his new book that Republican leaders who ran the show in Washington in recent years “screwed up,” the AP reports...

RNC Chairman Michael Steele on the mistakes of the Republican Party, as he sees them.

RNC Chairman Michael Steele is still flushing GOP leaders down the crapper in his new book:

In "Right Now: A 12-Step Program for Defeating the Obama Agenda," released Monday by Regnery Publishing, Steele says the GOP should acknowledge where "we most glaringly compromised our principles" in the past decade and hold its elected officials accountable.

"We must support Republican officials who assert these principles," he writes. "When elected Republicans vote against Republican principles, the voters must withhold their support - withhold it vigorously and consistently."

...[T]he GOP chairman directly or indirectly criticizes:

• President George W. Bush for not vetoing any spending bills during his first five years in office. He calls Bush and other Republicans "enablers for big government" and derides the Bush administration's Troubled Asset Relief Program as "a massive government slush fund."...
• Republican lawmakers in general, who allowed spending to rise from 2001 to 2004, went along with TARP and McCain-Feingold, and supported the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit.

"We must quickly learn our lessons, return to our principles and move on," Steele concludes.

KY3's Dave Catanese reported last night that right-wing radio host Vincent David Jericho is no longer working for KSGF, based in Springfield.  Jericho, you may remember, made national news with RNC Chairman Michael Steele in August; Jericho accused Rep. Roy Blunt of infidelity and said former Governor Matt Blunt "betrayed every single Missourian that worked so hard to get him elected." 

From Catanese's story about Jericho's departure from KSGF:

In August, Jericho, who had been on the air with KSGF for more than five years, made national news during an interview with Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele. Steele said he agreed with the often bombastic host on a point he was making about politicians "who can't behave themselves." "When stuff gets in the crapper, you got to clean it out," said Steele, leaving the impression to many that he was referring directly to Congressman Roy Blunt.

Jericho has also been a vociferous critic of Blunt and 7th District executive director Mavis Busiek. "If you don't kiss Mavis Busiek's ring, and if you aren't 800 years old, they don't let you in," Jericho said on his program during the Steele interview.

Listeners were 'left with the impression' that Jericho and Steele were talking about Blunt, because, you know, Jericho was talking about Blunt, and Steele agreed with him.

An enterprising web developer has created an amusing "Keepin' It Real With Michael Steele" website, playing off the amusing photos Steele recently took with RNC interns. Here for instance, is Steele with the cast of Jersey Shore.

As part of RNC Chairman Michael Steele's ongoing "off the hook" public relations campaign, he explained yesterday how white Republicans are scared of him.

Stand by for a correction and/or clarification of the Chairman's remarks from the RNC.