Ask George LeMieux

What we would have given to be a fly on the wall during the tense game of chicken between the Crist campaign and White House over whether Charlie Crist would join W in Pensacola Monday. At one point, CNN asked Karl Rove why Florida's Republican gubernatorial nominee would not stand beside the president. Responded a clearly miffed Rove: "You'll have to ask George LeMieux."

Early this morning in the Vinoy hotel bar in St. Pete, a band of ebullient Crist staffers donning specially made black t-shirts hoisted George "The Maestro" LeMieux into the air to celebrate his efforts. Emblazened on those t-shirts: "Ask George LeMieux."

Comments

that's wonderful.

Now the real work of governing a state begins!

let's see how well he does at that.

George has proven he knows how to run a campaign. Say all you want, but that campaign was almost flawless and done with integrity.

He will be excellent at whatever role he is put in for the Crist Administration.

Hay Demo's:
George did it with a public high school education! (IN FLORIDA)

I guess the "ask Doster" shirts are in a box somewhere with a lot of Buffalo Bills Superbowl Champs shirts.

11:36
What?

Ask Gene Smith!

(where is he this morning?)

ok
Gene,
What?

[Tony Culpepper]

Gene is crying like a baby.

[Tommy Walton]

This was the easiest of CC's campaigns, the tough ones were Education and AG which King George had nothing to do with. Raising money with W and Jeb at the top of the ticket is tough. Face facts CC would have won w/o the short statured frenchman

[The Rza]

Brett Doster is a gentleman. It's easy to critisize and attack without getting off the bench and putting it all on the line. Both George and Brett did so and both should be commended for doing what most do not have the nerve to do.

And I would ask Brett anything.

What Should the GOP Do Now?

Richard Engle, President NFRA

1) Adjust the position on Iraq. The goal of the “war” is not specific and we can’t win what we can’t define. Declare an objective goal, accomplish that, and get out. If Iraq goes to hell in a handbag after we are gone then they would have done so anyway.

2) Fire The RNC Chair. Everyone is talking about getting rid of Rummy (done) but the party leader must go. Actually, there are a number of party hacks that should be shown the door at the RNC and at most state parties. Perhaps it is even time to have a retirement party for Rove.

3) Give the Dems enough rope to hang themselves. The GOP has a great talent at beating “foot in mouth” candidates like John Kerry. The Dems will either prove themselves to be radical liberals or they will go to war with themselves. It may take some time.

4) Don’t ever do the same thing again! Tell the Party officials to stay out of the nomination process and put everything into winning in the general election. Let the chips fall where they may.

5) Stand on the platform, and let the party platform be designed by the grassroots. Let that un-fooled around with platform define the agenda. Don’t run from ideas, run to them. Sen. McCain of Arizona said with tears in his eyes that “we went to change government and government changed us”. Thank you, Senator, for including yourself in that criticism. Rep. Tom Delay said, “If you forget your principles and play to win, you lose!”

6) Regroup. Honestly, we lost by very little and can win it back with just a bit of adjustment. Seats like the Delay seat in Texas, and the Foley seat in Florida are GOP leaning seats. This election was the perfect storm and the GOP caused most of it themselves. Those who won narrowly need not walk on needles, they could not even be beat in ’06! This election defines the low point. This was not a broad shift, it was a correction. Concentrate on winning those back with serious honest conservative candidates.

7) Send Denny packing. He needs to stay in Congress as he was reelected. This may be hard but if Trent Lott can do it then so can he. Choose Mike Pence of Indiana as your leader. The Republican Study Committee has the recipe for success but more importantly, they are right.

8) Don’t crown a nominee for President. While staying out of the nominating process for other offices do the same for the Presidential. The National Convention may begin without a clear nominee. Don’t worry about it. Trust the grassroots. There may be a number of “favorite son” candidates who are actually running to give their states an opportunity to have a real voice. Don’t fight that. The more the merrier. A convention that actually chooses a nominee would revive the party and give us the best opportunity to retain the White House.

9) The Republican Party is its voters. It is to be defined by them and not by their servants. The elected officials who are Republican are not the party. The party officers are not the party. The Republican registered voters (or the voters who self identify in the 18 states that don’t have party registration) are the party.

Here is a good start. Do these and the GOP will be the majority party for the indefinite future.

[jaguar]

George LeMieux beat the crap outta Karl Rove at Tuesday's election.
All hail the new guru!

[Upset Republican]

RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman outed as gay on CNN's Larry King Live.

Who is the Lt Gov? I s/he gay or bi?

1:21 - Tommy Walton,
FYI
George ran CC's AG race.