Video: Welcome new RNC chairman Mel Martinez!
posted at 4:40 pm on November 14, 2006 by Allahpundit
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He’ll be able to “carry our message,” says Bush. Which is true, if by “our” he means “me and Karl.”
Speaking of chairmen, the cretinous wretch who once responded to Americans swinging from a bridge in Fallujah with the words “screw them” breaks down what this is really all about:
Also, doesn’t half the Republican base currently have a rage on for brown people from south of the border? Those little xenophobic bigots should have a field day with this call.
Crochet that onto a pillow and lay your weary head upon it the next time the nutroots starts shrieking about Republicans using racial demagoguery to win elections.
Update: Choke on it.
Update: The DNC lists some of its problems with Mel Martinez. What’s not mentioned?
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BOO! BOO! WE WANT STEELE! WE WANT STEELE! SI SE PUEDES! OOOPS!
Drtuddle on November 14, 2006 at 4:42 PM
yay…………………………………………………………………..and there was much rejoicing………………….
seejanemom on November 14, 2006 at 4:42 PM
yaaaay……………………………………..(chirpchirpchirpitychirp)……..
seejanemom on November 14, 2006 at 4:44 PM
uh, guess i’ll go back to Warren and Assad.
Editor on November 14, 2006 at 4:44 PM
I’ll frickin’ start voting democrat if that’s all they care about. I’m done.
Griz on November 14, 2006 at 4:46 PM
Bush, what the hell are you doing?
Dont make me start calling you Chimpy McHitlerbushburton.
benrand on November 14, 2006 at 4:47 PM
I feel like I’ve I just been Miered….
seejanemom on November 14, 2006 at 4:49 PM
CAll your RNC. They don’t vote to appoint him until January.
stenwin77 on November 14, 2006 at 4:50 PM
I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Bush 41 betrayed the base too and left the party in worse condition than he found it. Like father, like son.
thirteen28 on November 14, 2006 at 4:52 PM
…check out Mr. B…check out the gestures, body language, verbal hints…you know, all that quasi-scientific crapola tht people who haven’t the smarts to discuss substance talk about….
This is a *VERY* tired man. No heart in it at all.
Well…he’s earned it….
Puritan1648 on November 14, 2006 at 4:52 PM
this year is getting worse and worse.
First we lose both houses. Then “Joementum” goes back to his party, and now this.
I think the Republican party is practically in peices about now.
One Angry Christian on November 14, 2006 at 4:55 PM
You know, in all fairness, no kidding here, he IS tired. I can see it. His hair is SooooooOO gray compared to 2000. I worry for what my own HUNKY HUSBAND’S job is doing to him.
I pray for that man in the White House. I pray for his wife.
It really is more job than one person can do alone, I believe that.
seejanemom on November 14, 2006 at 4:57 PM
What exactly is “our message” these days?
SouthernGent on November 14, 2006 at 5:01 PM
Great job Democrats! You succeeded in turning a solid Democrat into a mercenary.
Side Note: Since I joined The Democratic Hive, those red spots on my “bathing suit” area cleared up.
Thanks Democrats! Who knew it could be so good?!
natesnake on November 14, 2006 at 5:03 PM
When it rains, it monsoons.
spmat on November 14, 2006 at 5:07 PM
Gee….another f*!cking great move from the ministry of
bright ideas. /Sarcasm
They might as well put a “kick me” sign on every republican candidate for 08 right now.
I have a sneaking suspicion that if amnesty passes, America as we know it is over and done. This will be nothing more than the Mexican Northern Resource Area (if it isn’t already).
Well, I’m off to the ammo store again this friday it seems.
quax1 on November 14, 2006 at 5:31 PM
Who? Wha..? I’m sorry I almost dozed off there during the introduction of our vibrant and dynamic new leaders.
CP on November 14, 2006 at 5:37 PM
But we are willing to help, just not help abandon what conservatives stand for. Just to be liked by children of the devil?! No, not ever.
ScottG on November 14, 2006 at 5:41 PM
Whats missing?
His open the borders and ‘let every Mexican this side of Antarctica come to America’, grab some food stamps, federal housing, special teachers for spanish, special rights for spanish parents,all for free, plus we will waive all laws they might (will) break…..
what am I leaving out?
shooter on November 14, 2006 at 5:42 PM
This just totally sucks. What a tool!
tickleddragon on November 14, 2006 at 5:44 PM
This really sucks.
Ouabam on November 14, 2006 at 5:47 PM
I wonder why they are so critical of Martinez being RNC chairman. Whatever Dems are against is usually good for Republicans. Now if they were happy like they were happy about Harriet Myers I would be worried.
I think Martinez is a good choice, even though I am not for amnesty.
If you are for Giuliani in 2008 and you are against Martinez, you are not being consistent, as Giuliani is far to the left of Martinez on most issues including immigration.
The MSM attempts to hide all minority Republicans, which is why the Republican party has a hard time outreaching. There is no way that the MSM can hide the RNC chair like they hide Elaine Chao, Alberto Gonzales, Carlos Gutierrez, Alphonso Jackson, etc.
januarius on November 14, 2006 at 5:49 PM
I still don’t know much of anything about Mel Martinez.
Based on many of the responses here, I’m guessing I don’t want to know any more.
Yakko77 on November 14, 2006 at 5:50 PM
The Republicans need to grow a pair and oppose this. Bush
has becomeis a danged RINO and needs to be put in check. Amnesty together with a broken social security system and the possibility of Hillary’s healthcare will kill this country.Maybe Jesusland has a chance
Sweaty Deacon on November 14, 2006 at 5:51 PM
drtuddle,
Oops? What oops? I, for one, welcome our new illegal overlords.
SI, SE PUEDE!
Pablo on November 14, 2006 at 5:51 PM
What’s this stuff about “honorary chairman, chairman, and co-chairman”?
Here are Mike Duncan and Joanne Davidson.
He is the current General Counsel for the RNC, she has been Mehlman’s Co-chair since January, 2005.
It’s not even a slick move. Fire Mehlman, then give us more of the same, with a side of open borders.
Freelancer on November 14, 2006 at 5:54 PM
As a Tennessee voter I came real close to voting for Ford on election day. I’ve been a Republican all my life. But between Bush and Frist I don’t feel they represent my interests anymore. The only reason I went with Corker over Ford was the issue of Ford’s family members. For the most part they swim in corruption here in Tennessee. Bush and Co. are making me wish I’d went with Ford after all. At least if Ford voted against my beliefs I could blame it on the fact that he’s a Democrat. WAKE UP Bush….
SPIFF1669 on November 14, 2006 at 6:06 PM
Why is the GOP absolutely intent on self-destructing? Has the party been fully infiltrated by double-agent Democrats at all levels?!?!
mojojojo on November 14, 2006 at 6:12 PM
Meet Mel here:
The Jr. Senator from my state isn’t all that bad a guy. I’m not sure he’s the right guy for the RNC though.
conservativecaveman on November 14, 2006 at 6:17 PM
My comments are’nt showing up on Hot Air. Oh well, back to midget porn.
Scot on November 14, 2006 at 6:21 PM
of course that one showed up. yeesh.
Scot on November 14, 2006 at 6:21 PM
They’re not showing up because you’re using profanity.
Allahpundit on November 14, 2006 at 6:21 PM
Oh ok. I saw you use the S word the other night and assumed it was acceptable.
Scot on November 14, 2006 at 6:27 PM
President Bush definitely has a lot more gray hair than he did in 2000, but then so do I; it’s been a pretty hairy war…
Maybe he can get some rest on his trip to Asia, away from the Dems.
I’m not happy about Martinez and I’m certainly not happy about the way the RNC funded some races and didn’t seem to support others, but what can I do except b*tch to them when they call?
I’m not going to leave the Party, but I have the same issues the rest of you do.
Jen the Neocon on November 14, 2006 at 6:33 PM
Assume for a minute that amnesty is a great idea and that we’d all be better off if it passes –
Even then, Martinez still wouldn’t be right for RNC Chair. He’s a sitting senator. I should hope that he’s extremely busy with senatorial duties. The RNC has a short 2 years to come up with a plan AND implement it. They can’t do this with a part-timer. They need someone that can focus on the Republican agenda.
Furthermore, an RNC chair will be able to push the pure Republican agenda. A senator is going to have to compromise on some issues and vote for things they might not like/support, but that they’ve made a deal on. That’s going to be really hard for Martinez to do if he’s also the RNC chair. He’ll end up looking like a liar that says one thing as the RNC chair and then does another as a senator or he’ll be hamstringed as a senator because he can only vote the pure RNC party line so that he doesn’t end up looking like a liar.
How about spreading the wealth? Are there so few Republicans out there in the world that we’ve now got to have people do double duty as a senator and RNC chair? Or is it just possible that there is someone else out there that is qualified for the position and could do it full time?
JadeNYU on November 14, 2006 at 6:48 PM
Almost forgot, my comment earlier, sans the s word, was that Reagan gave outright amnesty to illegals and i’m pretty sure no one here thinks he was a RINO or that he destroyed the party and the country. I agree with everyone about immigration but when i hear you talk about it, it reminds me of the irrational way republicans acted in 1992. BTW, if the powers that be are stiil around, i would appreciate it if you deleted my earlier comment if possible.
Scot on November 14, 2006 at 7:02 PM
There was a time when the “country-club” wing of the Republican Party was happy to be in the minority. Does anybody else get the impression that these guys aren’t really interested in regaining the majority?
arkansasmike on November 14, 2006 at 7:03 PM
That was a ONE TIME DEAL, with supposed follow up that never happened.
We can NOT continue to do this. The point is to follow the laws, right now, and stop the flow of illegals.
We cant amnesty 12 million (7 times more than Reagan did) this year or any year.
shooter on November 14, 2006 at 7:10 PM
It’s getting harder and harder to keep the faith when President Bush STILL wants to push through this AMNESTY legislation. All one needs to do is pick up a paper (any ol’ rag will do), or halfway keep up with the TV/radio/anykinda news and KNOW that letting anybody with the determination, or the money to pay the coyotes, to ingress our Homeland.
Whatzit going to take before my President (who I voted for twice) and our duly elected legislators decide that this is not a game. Decide that if we keep playing political football, that if we keep doing our enemy’s job for them, that if we fight each other HARDER THAN WE ARE RESISTING OUR ENEMIES, we are inviting them to do their very best to do their worst.
This Is Not A Drill.
hillbillyjim on November 14, 2006 at 7:25 PM
Like you Jen the NC I am hanging in there, but it’s gettin’ kinda bumpy, ain’t it?!
hillbillyjim on November 14, 2006 at 7:27 PM
Can we secure our Southern border? SI, SE PUEDE!
Vamanos!
Pablo on November 14, 2006 at 7:28 PM
Correction:
… to ingress our Homeland IS A BAD IDEA.
hillbillyjim on November 14, 2006 at 7:29 PM
The real problem is that our nominee for president gets picked by the northeastern states. By the time anyone gets to vote in the primary, the media and the northeastern states have already picked em.
Can anyone explain the logic of having you’re presidential nominee picked by 1% of the voters? No wonder they are always just like the democrats. Heck, watching the language for the Allah police, I bet Bush is glad they one. He agrees with them on almost every issue. The republicans are the reason that most of his stuff didn’t pass.
Rustyw on November 14, 2006 at 7:57 PM
If you read the other RNC threads, you will remember that I jumped fairly enthusiastically on “The sky is falling!” bandwagon. For a bonus, I sent Martinez (my Senator) a “Please resign from the RNC” e-mail that I’m fairly sure will come back to bite me at some point in my grassroots political career.
I still would prefer a full time RNC chairman who was strong on border security. But give Martinez credit: he has a solid conservative ranking on every issue but the border. And I can tell you he believes passionately in his side of the border issue — it’s not just about getting Hispanic votes for him. So lets just say I have a disagreement with a fellow conservative.
Given a majority Democratic Congress and pro-amnesty el Presidente (oops), the amnesty thing is a given. You and I will all cheer the guys who are preparing to fillibuster, and Firecracker & Bryan will probably shoot more Vents featuring Dunkin’ Donuts and Minutemen. In the end the issue will be over in six months and we will have lost. I predict we will all get over it and forgive Mel if he succeeds in recruiting quality candidates and raising piles of money.
On the plus side, it makes me all warm and fuzzy to have Kos call me a “little xenophobic bigot.” Can we get t-shirts printed up? I judge my success by having the right enemies as well as the right friends — so Kos’s rage assures me I’m on the right (if not currently winning) side of history.
Anton on November 14, 2006 at 8:16 PM
“Our immigration policy should first and foremost ensure the security of our great Nation and those individuals posing a terrorist threat should be prevented from entering our country. I strongly oppose amnesty for illegal aliens; our immigration laws should not reward lawlessness.”
Mel Martinez during the 04 campaign
conservativecaveman on November 14, 2006 at 8:33 PM
Yeah, that’s the problem. His crowd gets really mad when you call his plan amnesty. In their minds, it’s not — it’s a path for the good guys to work themselves into citizenship (earn it) while keeping the bad guys out and recognizing the hard economic realities of the noble hard-working self-sacrificing blah blah blah blah…
Anton on November 14, 2006 at 8:54 PM
“Amnesty” and “amnesia”????
hillbillyjim on November 14, 2006 at 9:04 PM
Let’s all make nice and maybe the bad ol’ Jihadi Bastards will just go away.
hillbillyjim on November 14, 2006 at 9:05 PM
…you…want…*PUDDING*?
I should’ve stayed awake in French class….
Puritan1648 on November 14, 2006 at 9:16 PM
Martinez and his record are not the issue.
The buzz is certainly at a level where Bush and Rove can pick up on it. Picking Martinez, regardless of his potential as judged by his public utterances, especially after the expressed eagerness by Mr. Prez for immigration “reform” is a slap in the face to the base.
Now…it’s not a case, as under Clinton, of Mr. Bush sticking his finger in the wind and going with the wind. He comes up with an idea and then sends Rove to make that idea happen. That seems to be the drill. Still, he’s got two horrendous faults:
1) He doesn’t sell stuff to his base.
2) He doesn’t defend himself, his policies *OR* his base against the Left. He hasn’t so far, anyway.
He’s also got a big, throbbing *TIN EAR* when it comes to listening to the base. The whole Harriet Miers thing, and the length of time it took to react to some rather *LOUD* resistance from rather respectful supporters, goes to illustrate this point.
His two faults enumerated above have directly contributed to the poor showing last Tuesday, and he needs to regroup and rebuild. Right about now, the buzz reaching him and his go-to-guy should be that the base is p*ssed-off. His conciliatory gestures toward the morons who’ve spent the last six years excoriating is seen by me, if by nobody else, as “doormat-ism”.
Now’s the time to use…and I mean really *USE* the bully pulpit. He’s not very good at it. I’m sure that he can send in a “designated hitter” to cover for his lack of oratorical skills. Still, there’s got to be some *LEADERSHIP* here.
…all I’ve been seeing for the last week is “head down…butt-up…shut-up” from the RNC. This latest is a real breaker.
Puritan1648 on November 14, 2006 at 9:24 PM
Puritan 1648,
As usual, you have expressed the feelings of a lot of us out here in wwweirdworld, albiet far more eloquently than most.
I felt in the immediate aftermath of 9-11-01 that George W. was the man for the situation. I still believe he conducted himself well under extremely trying circumstances.
President Bush’s biggest flaw, IMHO, was not satisfactorily explaining the urgency that this world-wide threat demands. I believe that some of these policy-makers gave “us” too much credit. They assumed that we couldn’t help but see just how serious this threat is.
As the new majority (in Congress) grapples with this new realisation, and becomes entangled in the debate on action (as opposed to condemnation), I think that we’ll see some true mettle from a scant few and a huge yellow streak coloring the rest.
It was easy to holler: “Boo!”– It’s gonna be a different story calling the plays.
hillbillyjim on November 14, 2006 at 10:05 PM
(sp.)–albeit—-
hillbillyjim on November 14, 2006 at 10:10 PM
…don’t sell yourself short…you’re one of the guys whose stuff I stop to read. You can’t read every last “me, too” and all of the long screeds (like mine)…but some folks hwo post bear reading every time. You’re one.
Thanks.
Puritan1648 on November 14, 2006 at 10:57 PM
Martinez: “One of the things that I made clear as I discussed this job role with the president is I was not going to be an attack dog…”
He’ll fit right in with the rest of the neutered eunuchs running the RNC.
infidel4life on November 14, 2006 at 11:13 PM
I need some pescado de sopa,cabeza de vaca,ojos de puerco,cerebo de vaca,lengua,barbacoa,carne de cabra so I can throw up. Then have some menudo. Beware Cabras when Mexico takes over they’ll be lots of you killed for a victory meal!
Drtuddle on November 15, 2006 at 12:11 AM
So Bush is tired, Gee I wonder why.. trying to fight a world war against monsters and then being demonized by people who dont even think there is a war. Then because he doesn’t toe a conservative line 100%, is pillored by Republicans and some conservatives for not being an ideologue.
I’m sure your bitching and moaning is really contributing to his not being tired.
If I were him I wouldn’t stick out my neck and make the brave decisions that are needed to protect this country.. more than half the people dont want him to, fuck em.
VinceP1974 on November 15, 2006 at 12:35 AM
bah, suddenly profanity is banned and my carefully written world-changing opinion gets sucked into a black hole, not to be seen by anyone!
This calamity could have been prevented if the posting software would kindly advise the writer that the reader will be prevented from reading what was writen because the writing was naughty.
VinceP1974 on November 15, 2006 at 12:38 AM
Mehlman did a “whale of a job.” The kiss of death. The idiocy continues. Do y’all think there might just be something to this Bush is stupid stuff?
Valiant on November 15, 2006 at 12:41 AM
Hate to break it to you, pal, but this ain’t your father’s Republican Party. Reagan did a lot of things that conservatives nowadays actually think were “liberal”. Take, for example, paying off reparations to Japanese-Americans put into internment camps during WWII. Not only did Michelle Malkin criticize him for it, but she mocked Japanese-Americans who were thrown in those camps and claimed they deserved it. Wrote a book that spent a large amount of time justifying it, and alluding to the possibility of doing it to Arab-Muslims this time around.
And Hot Air absolutely loves Michelle Malkin.
Now you see why you lost Congress? Jim Webb used to be a Republican until you pissed him off. Bet you’re regretting that right about now.
Grebrook on November 15, 2006 at 1:04 AM
I’m so bored with by-the-numbers Grebrook.
VinceP1974 on November 15, 2006 at 3:00 AM
Michelle Malkin owns Hot Air Grebrook.
Scot on November 15, 2006 at 3:26 AM
Martinez may be a Cuban success story, but he’s a hack politician.
Time for a new party….the Conservative Party.
doingwhatican on November 15, 2006 at 3:53 AM
I’d like mine to say, “Big Xenophobic Bigot”, please. Mel is my senator and I don’t like his forked-tongue and two-faced habits since going to Scandalton, DC.
tormod on November 15, 2006 at 6:01 AM
GOOD FOR HER!! Go and find your little corner, Grebrook, and ….nah ……….not worth it.
hillbillyjim on November 15, 2006 at 8:23 AM
This is going to turn out to be a horrible idea.
WisCon on November 15, 2006 at 8:31 AM
Perhaps in the spirit of bi-partisan ship, the RNC should nominate someone like Noam Chomsky to head the Republican party…
EFG on November 15, 2006 at 12:09 PM
Poor thing. Why it seems like just yesterday when they put the gun to his head to force him to enter the race.
Tired, huh? Pick up a copy of the Last Lion and get back to me on that. Keep in mind Churchill was 65 when England entered the Second WW; Ben Franklin was in his 70’s when he signed the Declaration of Independence; Reagan was in his 70s when he took office. Maybe some Geritol would do the trick.
This is a paraphrase from Lincoln, am I right?
honora on November 15, 2006 at 1:58 PM
Under the “you can’t make this shit up” category: Bill O’R last evening, while discussing (??) the Vatican’s position against the border fence, stated that the Vatican has “secular-progressive” values.
Well there you go. Alice, Alice, come baaaccccckkkkkkk…..
honora on November 15, 2006 at 3:58 PM
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