Word: gop
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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Ohio Republican John Boehner's upset victory today in the race to replace Tom DeLay as House Republican majority leader is a perfect reflection of the GOP's current quandary-the party recognizes the need for real reform ahead of midterm elections next fall, but also fears too much of it. After all, for Capitol Hill, where incumbency usually rules the day, Boehner's second-round win by a margin of 122-109 against front-runner and current Majority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri for the party's number two spot amounted to storming the Bastille. "Boehner looked as shocked...
...Even if he really wanted to, Boehner, 56, would have a tough time leading a Republican revolution. Thanks to a House GOP conference vote yesterday to limit the leadership positions up for grabs, the 15-year veteran of the House will be sandwiched between the old guard, with Dennis Hastert of Illinois staying in the top job as Speaker of the House and Blunt keeping his post as number three in the party hierarchy. "Blunt?s a good man, but he couldn't overcome the relationship with DeLay," said Joel Hefley, a congressman from Colorado who was ousted as head...
...Still, it wasn't change for change's sake that Republicans were after with today's vote. The real issue for the GOP is how many members lose their jobs in November, and whether the party could actually lose control of the House along with them. Republicans are still trying to gauge whether voters will care more about moving the Republican agenda forward or giving the appearance of a clean break with the DeLay-tainted past...
...market a party that is still struggling to find a unified, winning message. The Dems' leaders are divided on Iraq, haven?t agreed on what policy ideas they will offer in the fall and haven?t yet figured out how to convince Americans they?re as tough as the GOP on terrorism, which Rove said last week will again be the key issue for the GOP come November. Asked about the prospects for the fall, Emanuel declined and said, ?my job is to affect races and not predict them.? He and Schumer may be impatient, but after twelve years...
...star receiver for the Superbowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s, Lynn Swann was used to making his own winning plays. But in his race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in his home state of Pennsylvania, Swann may have just been handed the game, thanks to an ill-advised comment by his chief opponent's campaign manager. James Seif, a widely respected and seasoned political operative, was on the Pennsylvania Cable Network Wednesday night discussing the campaign of former Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton when he derided Swann as ?the rich white guy in this race.? Even though Seif seemed...