RNC scraps plans to develop a policy think tank.
RNC scraps plans to develop a policy think tank.
Last December, the Republican National Committee announced plans to build a “new, in-house think tank aimed at reviving the party’s policy heft.” Former RNC Chairman Mike Duncan wrote a memo to RNC Committee Members explaining the concept behind the so-called “Center for Republican Renewal.” “The Republican Party must not cede the policy field to the Democrats,” he wrote. “The Center for Republican Renewal will be dedicated to that proposition.” Greg Sargent reports that the GOP think tank was a short-lived concept:
The Republican National Committee, under new chairman Michael Steele, has quietly killed an ambitious plan to create the Center for Republican Renewal, a big in-house RNC think tank intended to develop new policies and ideas in order to take the party in a new direction, a Republican official who was directly informed of the decision by RNC staff tells me. […]
The decision to kill the Center leaves the RNC with “no policy office,” at least for the foreseeable future, according to the GOP official with direct knowledge of the decision.
During his victory speech, incoming RNC Chairman Michael Steele said, “We will cede no ground to anyone on matters of principle — on matters that matter to the people of this country.”
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Why do they need a policy think tank when they have Rush Limbaugh?
February 6th, 2009 at 11:01 amOh good! I’d hate to see the RNC muck their principles up with stuff like “policy” and “thinking”. That stuff is for librulls
February 6th, 2009 at 11:01 amNevar says
February 6th, 2009 at 11:03 am$*&$*(#$()()%#!
You beat me to the punch-line.
Great minds think alike. (:-D)
Instead they are going to have” Joe the Plumber” tell them what to do His rousing speech at their retreat made them all realize he knows more than they do
February 6th, 2009 at 11:04 amISN’T THINKING A FORM OF EMASCULATION?
OH GOP….JUST FORGET THE THINKING PART AND GET TANKED.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:07 amThis is a bad economic sign… The wingnut welfare is drying up.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:07 amI really wish that the repubs would do something big and good – because I believe that you do your best work when facing a strong opponent. The country would greatly benefit by two strong parties which each have the strength to debate their ideas and arrive at the best. At the same time, seeing the repubs, I laugh at a repub think tank.
But by scrapping the think tank, it appears that the repubs have given up on even raising themselves to the level of a bad joke. Rush is the declared head. Steele, the policy director isn’t even on the speakers list of their confab and as such appears as a shameless pander, in the line of Sarah Palin. Even jokes like Palin and Joe the Liar seem to be the ones floating to the top of the leadership.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:11 amDuring his victory speech, incoming RNC Chairman Michael Steele said, “We will cede no ground to anyone on matters of principle — on matters that matter to the people of this country.”
February 6th, 2009 at 11:12 am““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““
The above should have read: “We will cede no ground to anyone on matters of our goal to destroy the country, on matters that matter to the elite and corporations.”
I think I finally understand what a think tank is…
February 6th, 2009 at 11:14 amthat squarish white thing with the shiny handle, right behind the Holey Seat.
I think that the republicans are saving up the money they would have spent on a “think tank” to finance their smear campaigns during the 2010 election cycle.
This is purely a strategic decision for them. They are allocating their resources toward something that they do well — smear campaigns, fear-mongering and unfairly destroying their opponents.
“Think tank” . . . not so much. After all, they would spill millions of dollars and most certainly end up with the same monomaniacal “thought” they have been riding on for the past two decades — “tax cuts are good; goverment is bad”.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:18 amNevar says;
I think what you’re referring to #9 is the ‘GOP stink tank’
snicker :-)
February 6th, 2009 at 11:19 amThe think tank wouldn’t have a lot to do. They only have one policy, tax cuts for the rich! Oh, I forgot, no gay marriage, no flag burning, no contraception, and some others I can’t remember right now.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:19 amI don’t see why this should come as any surprise. The repubs have no intention of “changing their direction” despite the claims otherwise.
They are quite comfortable with the same agenda they’ve become accustomed to: tax breaks for the rich, fearmongering, laughable “props” like Joe the Plumber and Caibou Barbie, obstructionism, all wrapped up in a slew of thinly veiled sexist and racist remarks, which they will later claim were “taken out of context.”
Change is scary, so they will stay right where they are.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:20 amObviously a wasted exercise.
Republicans don’t think. They follow obediently.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:24 amPfeh! They’ve been doing great without this “policy” stuff for at least the last eight years, they don’t need to start doing it now.
.
Nevar Says:
I think I finally understand what a think tank is…
that squarish white thing with the shiny handle, right behind the Holey Seat.
That’s why Joe the Plumber is such a leading voice in modern conservatism today.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:28 amYou can’t call yourselves a “think tank” if all your ideas are stupid.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:28 am“We will cede no ground to anyone on matters of principle — on matters that matter to the people of this country.”
You have absolutely no idea what matters to the majority of the people in this country and you should really, really stop trying to pretend that you do.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:31 amthis has made my day.
this is fantastic.
no, you don’t need or want a “think tank” when all you have to do is listen to and repeat Rush “Porkulus” Limbaugh.
Thank you for this!
–Mo Rage
February 6th, 2009 at 11:33 am…crud… I think you are right.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:35 amjoe the plumber is a one man think tank.
with a snake in one hand and a plunger
in the other he’ll figure it out.
* * *
go joe!
• •
February 6th, 2009 at 11:35 amStep 1. Think
Step 2. Develop Policy
Step 3. Start a policy think tank.
On second thought the GOP policy is TAX CUTS!!! No need for thinking!
February 6th, 2009 at 11:36 amNutWrench Says:
You can’t call yourselves a “think tank” if all your ideas are stupid.
NutWrench, they HAVE no ideas. They have Pavlovian reactions. To “think,” one must have that connection between two neurons called a “synapse,” a conduit, of which there are thousands in the human brain. Most repugs, however, would require one MORE neuron in order to have a single synapse.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:40 amBen Smith reports that “Steele has requested the resignations of the entire RNC staff and signaled a dramatic turnover at the party organization.”
Oh, my god! It’s Putney Swope!
February 6th, 2009 at 11:40 amThis is an awesome comment from John Cole at Balloon juice (via Digby):
I really don’t understand how bipartisanship is ever going to work when one of the parties is insane. Imagine trying to negotiate an agreement on dinner plans with your date, and you suggest Italian and she states her preference would be a meal of tire rims and anthrax. If you can figure out a way to split the difference there and find a meal you will both enjoy, you can probably figure out how bipartisanship is going to work the next few years.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:40 amA lot of old white men are going to have to pass away before a breath of fresh thinking has a chance to enter the GOP.
How quickly they forget that they were and still are ‘elitists!’ Now, in an attempt at self-flagellation to repent for their massive political and policy failures, the GOP spurns and soils the word ‘elite’ and equates it with being educated enough to be able to think things through and see past one’s personal interests.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:40 amYou’re a little late to the picnic, Steele. You see, your party bent America over the icebox and SODOMIZED her with the children watching and everyone else as well. So no one really wants to talk to you right now. Go clean yourself up and go away.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:43 amHow does Michael Steele as the Repub Party Chair go over with the base in the South? Just wondering.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:46 amdeebaser Says:
…The wingnut welfare is drying up.
I suggest a GOP dunk tank to pay for their think tank.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:47 amRNC Chairman Michael Steele also said “Drill Baby Drill”
The modern day GOP is bereft of any semblance of intelligence.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:47 amSteele has requested the resignations of the entire RNC staff and signaled a dramatic turnover at the party organization.
Did someone whisper “uppity” yet?
February 6th, 2009 at 11:49 amstewarjt Says:
How does Michael Steele as the Repub Party Chair go over with the base in the South? Just wondering.
Oh, you hadn’t heard? David Duke just loves him!
Racists Threaten To Abandon GOP Over Election Of First African-American Party Chairman
‘”I am glad these traitorous leaders of the Republican Party appointed this Black racist, affirmative action advocate to the head of the Republican Party because this will lead to a huge revolt among the Republican base,” he wrote.’
February 6th, 2009 at 11:52 amgummitch Says:
Oh, my god! It’s Putney Swope!
No one got the reference? How old am I, anyway?
February 6th, 2009 at 12:05 pmJust more outsourcing, now to right-wing Israel, and the Saudis can chime in.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:08 pmThe GOP doesn’t need one. They have Joe the Phony Plumber and Rush Limbaugh filling that purpose already.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:08 pmThe only purpose of reichwing think tanks is to develop STRATEGIES for implementing their pre-existing policies/ideologies. They don’t want a think tank to come up with new policy, they want one to tell them how to get their policy effected.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:15 pmRepublicans can think?
February 6th, 2009 at 12:16 pmFor the life of me I cannot understand why the RNC would need a hefty apparatus like a think tank to develop and promote their policies. A 5 year old could develop GOP policies..it goes something like this:
Money – good
Religion – good
Guns – good
Liberals – bad
Abortion – bad
Teh gays – bad
Just saying . . .
February 6th, 2009 at 12:20 pmWell, short memories make for silly mistakes. They don’t need a think tank, because they already have their new direction:
When pressed to clarify, Sessions said he was not comparing the House Republican caucus to the Taliban, the Muslim fundamentalist group. “I simply said one can see that there’s a model out there for insurgency,” Sessions said before being interrupted by an aide.
Sessions made a similar analogy last week at the House Republicans’ retreat, saying that Republicans “need to get over the idea that they’re participating in legislation and ought to start thinking of themselves as ‘an insurgency’ instead.”
February 6th, 2009 at 12:27 pmOHHHH SHYTE WE’RE ALL IN TROUBLE NOW! THE RNC WITH A POLICY THINK TANK?! IF THEY HAVEN’T BEEN THINKING ALL THIS TIME THAT EXPLAINS ALOT- LIKE – WHERE WAS THE THINK TANK WHEN THE DAMN ECONOMY SLID INTO HELL? TOO LATE FOR ALL THAT THINK TANK BS NOW!
February 6th, 2009 at 12:40 pmI think the last thing the GOP needs is another think tank. Developing think tanks always seems to be at the top of their list, and all the conservative think tanks ever produce is drivel from Kristol and similar claptrap.
If the GOP really wants to change their party into an entity attractive to voters (other than the richest 1% and richest 1% wannabees), they need to rip themselves away from the idea that tax cuts solve all problems, quit getting their thrills from bullying others, stop mindlessly whoring themselves to the evangelicals and gun nuts, consider how their actions will affect the country in 10, 20, and 50 years instead of short-term, and focus on what’s best for the country instead of what’s best for the party (even if it means working WITH the majority party instead of against them). It IS possible to be politically conservative without being a crooked greedhead out to shaft the public for personal gain.
This is the dream. Of course, I also dream of being taller and thinner. I don’t expect either dream to become reality.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:41 pmmary; I’m not at all surprised at David Duke’s reaction and others of his ilk.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:57 pmPointy heads for pointy hats.
Back when I was a kid, the idea of a government “think tank” was that you took the smartest people you could find in the world in some subject, like science or economics or whatever, and give them grants to have them work really hard and really seriously together on actual knowledge stuff to make the world a better place.
Now, thanks to Gingrich/Rove politics, a “think tank” is just another name for a hack factory, where they make up excuses for their positions and try different weasel-words (eg. “death tax”) on focus groups.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:00 pmOut on the farm, we call them sheep-dip tanks!
February 6th, 2009 at 1:10 pmThe GOP are running like dizzy roaches looking for relevance…
February 6th, 2009 at 1:17 pmthis is so freakin fun nee.
teh repugs have their “black” prez.
he’s making little cabinet members and shit.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:39 pmRepublican Think Tank — an oxymoron don’t you agree?
When they all receive talking points and marching orders, they don’t have to think.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:59 pmAnd it’s obvious that those orders are aimed at enriching themselves and denigrating the Democrats.
MissMolly @ 41…..
*sigh* I want to be you when I grow up.
~A
February 6th, 2009 at 2:20 pm#30 Patriotic Liberal
The other day, I think you posted a quote from Limbaugh, circa 2004, telling the Dems to acept their loss and sit down and shut up. I can’t find it today.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:28 pmI hear they couldn’t find a republican who can think.
February 6th, 2009 at 3:12 pm#30PLC
February 6th, 2009 at 4:01 pmI did find the quote.. at Media Matters… Limbaugh spewing his venom at Democrats in 2004 and now that the tables are turned, he is being his usual hypocritical self. (That’s the kindest description I have for the unAmerican a–hole.)
I’d unravel any riddle
For any individ’le
In trouble or in pain
With the thoughts I’d be thinkin’
February 6th, 2009 at 4:50 pmI could be another Lincoln
If I only had a brain
One-trick ponies don’t need a think tank. They don’t want to change. What they want is a PR firm to make it look like they are something other than what they are—the toxic sludge is good for you kind of PR>
February 6th, 2009 at 6:05 pmWell, I can’t argue with firing everyone at the RNC. That sounds about right. Otherwise, Michael Steele looks like business as usual. His statement about government not ever creating a single job was a real howler.
February 6th, 2009 at 7:56 pmJust in case there was anyone out there who thought the Republicans ran out of ideas, it isn’t so. They simply reject the notion of getting any ideas to begin with.
February 7th, 2009 at 10:18 amI don’t see why this should come as any surprise. The repubs have no intention of “changing their direction” despite the claims otherwise.
They are quite comfortable with the same agenda they’ve become accustomed to: tax breaks for the rich, fearmongering, laughable “props” like Joe the Plumber and Caibou Barbie, obstructionism, all wrapped up in a slew of thinly veiled sexist and racist remarks, which they will later claim were “taken out of context.”
Change is scary, so they will stay right where they are.
February 8th, 2009 at 7:06 am