BREAKING: RNC chair Mike Duncan withdraws bid for re-election

By GottaLaff

UPDATE: Ken Blackwell just dropped out, too, per MSNBC.

UPDATE: Saul Anuzis just dropped his bid, too.

That is what is flashing on MSNBC right now. I'll get details.

UPDATE:

Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele got the most votes in the third round of balloting for the Republican National Committee chairmanship. He got 51, but that wasn't enough.

Because 85 votes are required for elevation to the helm of the party, the RNC will vote a fourth time.

None of this bodes well for current GOP chairman Mike Duncan. He is seeking re-election, but has watched his support erode steadily with each round of voting. He got 44 votes in the third round.

No, it didn't bode well for him at all.

Mike Duncan dealt blow at RNC meeting

By GottaLaff

Oh-h, suh-nap!

What was supposed to be a boon for Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan turned into a bust Tuesday when a group widely seen as aiding his reelection campaign canceled a planned straw poll at the last minute.

Meeting in Washington, the Conservative Steering Committee, a group of 90 conservative members of the RNC, spent Tuesday interviewing all six major candidates for chairman. But members voted to reject a straw poll, which was supposed to gauge whether the group deemed candidates conservative enough to lead the RNC.

Though Indiana national committeeman Jim Bopp Jr., who organized the steering committee, has told The Hill that the group admits members regardless of their chairman preference, the straw poll had been seen as a vehicle for Duncan supporters who were aiming to give his candidacy a boost with just three weeks to go before RNC members vote. A victory in the straw poll might have given Duncan the ability to claim an early lead in advance of the Jan. 31 vote.

Seen as perilous for most candidates, the straw poll died at the hands of an alliance of attendees backing former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele and former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell. Duncan backers largely supported the straw poll, while those backing other candidates split, according to sources who were present.

He was just grasping at straws, I guess.

RNC Chair "Outraged"- Brings Up Rezko

I've looked everywhere for this video. It sincerely was the blueprint for feigned outrage and strawman hunting. Cesca has more on that here.

In an interview with MSNBC’s Norah O’Donnell, RNC Chairman Robert M. "Mike" Duncan -- who is running for reelection to his RNC chair post -- continued his criticism of President-elect Obama for his lack of a forceful response yesterday to the Blagojevich news.

“As an American, I am very disappointed,” Duncan said, adding that Obama had an “opportunity” yesterday. “We have a lot of unanswered questions,” he continued. “He needs to answer the charges” that he was an intermediary between Blagojevich and the SEIU, Duncan alleged.

“Let’s talk about the we,” he continued. “Did he have an intermediary? What about Tony Rezko? Where did he fit in all this? …

“Barack Obama has an opportunity to be a different kind of president. … As an American I am outraged.”

Challenged by O’Donnell that there is no evidence that Obama and Blagojevich had a close relationship -- either during the campaign or through the transition, Duncan said, “I’m not sure there was good relationships going on, but there were connections.”

Duncan continued, “I don’t have evidence,” but Obama “needs to step forward”

Does this qualify as an ongoing investigation? RNC: Obama's statement on Blagojevich 'insufficient'

By GottaLaff


Watch even a few seconds of this video. I'll wait... ::tapping fingers, humming:: All done? Good. Now read this:

RNC Chairman Robert "Mike" Duncan said in a statement that Obama's "comments on the matter are insufficient at best."

"Given the president-elect's history of supporting and advising Gov. Blagojevich, he has a responsibility to speak out and fully address the issue," Duncan said.

If you reacted the way I reacted to that bloated pustule of G.O.P. hypocrisy, then you just sprayed a mouthful of water all over your computer screen, followed by blindly groping for a Kleenex to dry the tears of laughter streaming from your eyes.

VIDEO-- Fox's Cavuto: Voters reconsidering Democratic victory

By GottaLaff

Via Think Progress:

In a Politico op-ed published today, RNC Chairman Mike Duncan tried to squeeze the maximum propaganda benefit from Tuesday’s reelection of Saxby Chambliss (R-GA). He claimed that the (very predictable) Republican victory “proved” that the 2008 election had not given progressives a mandate, and that the country remained fundamentally conservative:

[...] Georgian’s [sic] clearly sent a message that any rhetoric about a liberal mandate is nothing but hot air.

[...] Fox Business host Neil Cavuto suggested yesterday that Chambliss’s win was “a sign that voters are already reconsidering the Democratic victory they gave the country last month.” [...]

As staunch conservative Charles Krauthammer noted yesterday on Fox News, “If the Republicans can’t win a straight up Senate race in Georgia, they ought to disband and join a country club.”

Yeah, I guess one win in a state that Obama didn't carry, one state in a general election that Obama won by a landslide, is a real reversal of public opinion.

VIDEO: RNC Launches Feel Good Website

By GottaLaff



Poor, desperate Rebubbies! They need a comedy binky too! Looks like they're giving us another one of our own though, considering they included none other than GW Bush in this "feel good" video:

The Republican National Committee today stepped back into the competition for allegiances today, launching a new website that invites Republicans to declare their support for the party and share the reasons they considered themselves to be Republicans. RNC chairman Mike Duncan is said to want a second term -- his staff insists they haven't discussed the idea with him -- so this might be interpreted as the beginning of Mr. Duncan's volunteer listening tour.

UPDATE: Link to website: http://www.republicanforareason.com/intro.aspx