Gingrich Joins Cantor’s Effort To Remake GOP

Meet the new boss...

Newt Gingrich has joined Eric Cantor’s new effort to remake the GOP for the future, a Cantor spokesperson confirms.

“Speaker Gingrich will be joining the National Council for a New America as one of the members of our national panel of experts,” Cantor spokesperson Joe Pounder tells me, confirming a Chris Cillizza item based on anonymous sources.

(snip)

Cantor’s group has taken some hits from Mike Huckabee and other conservatives who argue that the group has de-emphasized social issues in an effort to rebrand the GOP at the expense of social conservatives. Rush Limbaugh slammed the group as a “scam.”

How will Rush justify his hatred of the group now that his bff Newty has joined?

Family Research Council Slams GOP's New National Council for a New America

The fundies are a harsh mistress.

"If you don't know where you're going, any road will lead you there." For the Republican Party that African proverb seems incredibly apropos. In another step away from its conservative roots, Republican members of the House unveiled The National Council for a New America in hopes of recasting the Party's ailing identity. The effort only underscores the Republicans' present identity crisis, as the GOP leadership kicked off the campaign devoid of the values that once caused voters to identify with the party.

Via Dan.

Rep Mike Pence flails on Morning Joe

Man, I just don't get what these guys think. Pence posted this video himself on YouTube! He doesn't make a coherent point in the 3+ minutes, plus Scarborough smacks him around about ticking off Rush. Alternative universe fer shure.

Quote of the Day

This'll get them back in power!

Overheard at the NCNA "town hall" yesterday-

On the subject of education, one attendee declared that “people learn more from listening to Rush Limbaugh than they do in high school or college.”

h/t John.

GOP "Huddles" In Virginia

I've been searching for more info on the NCNA (also North Carolina Nurses Association) meeting in Arlington today, but all I could find was this sorry article and an equally sorry clip in an AP Top Stories round up. AP describes it as "GOP huddles in Virginia". Ha! I find it amusing that the only protesters at the "event" were the great unwashed 21% griping about immigration and calling the NCNA "RINOS". It's going to be a long slog for the Republican Party.

New GOP Group To Hold Townhalls

Gotta posted about their "rebranding" effort here.

"The NCNA will bring together citizens from across the country to begin a dialogue with the American people through a series of forums, town halls, and an online effort that will engage people in a discussion to meet our common challenges and build a stronger country through common-sense ideas," the letter says.

I sincerely look forward to the intellectual back and forth.