Arizona: Republican National Committee

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Democratic National Committee's Organizing for America arm is launching radio spots praising two centrist Arizona congresswomen for "taking on the lobbyists and the special interests and standing up for us and our families" and "working every day to make sure we have affordable quality health care." AZ/DC Blog: DNC ads praise Giffords, Kirkpatrick for health-care work:

The ads give some support to Democratic Reps. Gabrielle Giffords and Ann Kirkpatrick as they talk to constituents about the ongoing health-care reform debate. The House last week adjourned for its August district work period and the Senate is expected to do the same at the end of this week.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Gallup has a new poll out which asked the burning question, "Who is the main person who speaks for the Republican Party today?"

Top response: No opinion   37%

Next top response: No one 14%

That's 51% of respondents who cannot readily identify who is the main person who speaks for the Republican Party today.

Gallup had to drill down into the polling data to come up with this headline: Limbaugh, Gingrich, Cheney Seen as Speaking for GOP So that's what "RNC" stands for: Rush + Newt + Cheney = "leadership vacuum."

Let's take a look at the poll results:

Gallup analysis:

Additionally, no one person dominates even among Republicans who are able to name someone who speaks for their party.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Moonie Times has yet another EXCLUSIVE: Steele yields powers to foes in RNC - Washington Times:

Capitulating to critics on the Republican National Committee, embattled Republican Party Chairman Michael S. Steele has signed a secret pact agreeing to controls and restraints on how he spends hundreds of millions of dollars in party funds and contracts, The Washington Times has learned.

The "good governance" agreement revives checks and balances Mr. Steele resisted implementing for RNC contracts, fees for legal work and other expenditures that were not renewed after the 2008 presidential nominating contest.

The agreement, proposed by several current and former RNC officials, goes further, making 33-year RNC veteran Jay Banning, who was fired by Mr.

Posted By AzBlueMeanie:

I have never considered Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and George Voinovich (R-OH) as "moderate" Republicans, but if the conservative Politico blog wants to suggest that they are I will play along for purposes of this report. Republicans feud over Specter:

Faced with a high-profile defection and the prospect of political irrelevance in the Senate, Republicans took off the gloves Wednesday for a ferocious game of finger-pointing.

Republican Sens. Orrin Hatch and George Voinovich blamed the Club for Growth for imposing a right-wing litmus test that chased Arlen Specter out of the Republican Party. The Club for Growth blamed Specter — first for helping to ruin the GOP and then for leaving it.