Video- GOP SOTU Response... No, Seriously

Tom over at 538 pointed this out. For some reason I started laughing the second this video started, it is so awkwardly staged. Maybe it's the "Asian male on one side, Asian female on the other, and what the hell, let's double up on the African Americans!"

Ooh, look, down in Richmond, seat of the Confederacy: A 10-minute speech by Gov. Bob McDonnell--delivered in about the same time it took him just to enter the chamber (what, no litter available?)--with a lovely rainbow coalition of Virginians of all ages, races and both genders arrayed behind him, applauding.

Those folks must be a microcosm--a veritable random sampling--of the GOP's state legislative caucuses in the House and Senate in Richmond!

Um, not quite.

GOP rebranding: Throw rocks, hope Dems screw up, or we're toast

By GottaLaff

All rise. The Cantor Council's Rock-Throwing Committee is in session.:

The newest GOP group aimed at re-energizing the troubled party will hold a second event next week, but political observers say a Republican comeback depends more on Democrats screwing up.

“For the out party to come back, the in party has to screw up. That's history,” said John Pitney, a political scientist at Claremont McKenna College.

At this point, the GOP is history.

The National Council for New America, the group launched in early May by House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (Va.), will host another event on July 22, The Hill reported Thursday.[...]

Cantor is a rising star in the party, and his group is intended to be a GOP think-tank that will help the party come up with the new arguments and ideas to return to power.

But political observers are skeptical of what new ideas will emerge. They also say it might not matter.

“Are there any new ideas in the Republican Party? I don't think so. Does it matter in the short term? Probably not,” said Charlie Cook, editor of the Cook Political Report. “They're going to succeed in the short term by throwing rocks and by attacking.”

Will they hit anything? Probably not.

The Bullying Behind GOP Young Republican Chair's "Racist" Win

By GottaLaff

The story that just won't end. I've posted about Audra Shay's winning the Young Rushpublics chairmanship here, here, and here. Now we get some behind-the-scenes crasskerfuffletrashitude:

Perhaps less remarkable than the outcome–new Young Republicans Chairman Audra Shay bragged on her Facebook page that she had pledges from the majority of delegate going in–was how the vote played out. Yesterday’s election was closed to members of the press, but The Daily Beast has pulled together an account of the vote, and the runup to it, and the details are shocking. Some highlights:

• Shay’s opponent, Rachel Hoff, was the subject of an ugly sexual innuendo whisper campaign that questioned her reasons for supporting civil unions.

• Shay’s electoral slate, dubbed Team Renewal, battled desperately–some likened it to intimidation–and, ultimately, successfully to block a motion that would have allowed delegates to cast their votes by secret ballot, for fear they’d lose.

• Near-fistfights on the floor, and finally something of a boycott, as some of Hoff’s slate of candidates lower on the ticket chose to remove their names from the ballot after her defeat.

“They just took a vote that may have set the party back 30 years,” said the co-founder of HipHopRepublican.com, Lenny McAllister, speaking from the floor of the Hyatt convention hall. “They just voted for a candidate who has a demonstrated tolerance for racial intolerance. She has joked about lynching and then claimed to be a victim. As a black man, I still don’t see what’s funny about that.”

Classy bunch, huh?

Young Republicans Choose Hate

By GottaLaff

Chip Sommedevilla / Getty Images

Original posts here and here. Freedom of choice just took on a whole new meaning:

Audra Shay, the Young Republican leader accused of endorsing racism on Facebook, was elected head of the group for GOP members under 40 this afternoon.

Audra Shay, the Young Republican leader who became the subject of a national controversy after The Daily Beast uncovered racist comments she wrote on Facebook and other social networking sites, won the race to become head of the Young Republicans by approximately 50 votes (out of about 950 voting delegates) at their national convention this afternoon in Indianapolis.

Are we surprised? No we are not. Especially not in light of this big, steaming, racist pile of Commenters at Freeperland, we aren't.

According to George P. Bush, son of Jeb Bush, “Rachel’s professionalism, hard work, and leadership will well-represent the GOP.” Sarah Huckabee, daughter of Mike Huckabee, said, “Rachel Hoff’s approach to politics and life seems to be: ‘Stand Up and Lead.’”

Change you can gag at. So much for rebranding. Just ask Ba-ba-ba-Bobby Jindal:

She ran on the platform of “Restore, Revitalize, Reinforce,” which emphasized rebranding the Young Republicans as more hip through Facebook and Twitter, and spreading "our message of lower taxes and less government to these corners and let people know that we’re here and we’ll hold the Democrats’ feet to the fire.” She was endorsed in the election by her governor, Bobby Jindal.

And here's how she deals with controversy. Those accusations about her being a racist? Well, she would have none of that!

Shay responded that the allegations against her were “political attacks” which “proves that my opponents will stoop to the lowest levels to steal this election from the jaws of victory.”

How's that for young, hip, and change-y? Yup, she'll fit right in with them cool, edgy, youthy Partiers of No Way.

Remember that Big GOP Rebranding?

By GottaLaff

Poor Rushpublics. They keep trying to improve their image, and then along come 3 more scandals and an I.Q. deficit to ruin everything. Remember that whole rebranding thing? They are now down to the Party of No-One:

Nothing in the news, and nothing on the NCNA's website. Future events haven't been scheduled, and I can't find anyone in a position of power or authority talking about Republican rebranding at all anymore.

It's possible these talks have been redirected to behind-the-scenes strategizing, but it seems more likely GOP leaders just gave up on the whole superficial endeavor. [...] I'm under the impression that rebranding efforts generally involve offering something new and fresh. Republicans had a debate amongst themselves over whether Reagan should be the template for GOP rebranding.

They need to rebrand their rebranding effort.

Then again, if they really want change, they could start by, you know, changing.

Human Events Babbin On Rebranding The GOP

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

It kills me that the first thing he lists as Bush doing wrong was... Harriet Miers? Dude runs a magazine who's top columnist is Ann Coulter. Perfect wingnut storm. And, Jeff Sessions a "new, fresh face"? Please listen to this guy.

Actor Gary Sinise floated as possible GOP savior

Major problem with this idea? Sinise is sane.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Nicolle Wallace, a top adviser to George W. Bush and John McCain’s presidential campaign, is adding a few names to the list of Republicans who might lead the GOP out of the wilderness.

Top among them? Actor Gary Sinise.

Wallace, writing on The Daily Beast, said she first heard the idea from a fellow Republican.

“The natural strengths that an actor brings to politics would come in handy to anyone going up against Obama in 2012,” she wrote. “We will need an effective communicator who can stand toe to toe with Obama’s eloquence.”

Sinise, also a musician, performs for U.S. troops and often champions veterans' causes.

She also named Generals David Petraeus and Ray Odierno as possible Republican saviors.