Spoke tonight with fresh, convincing Jeff Flake of
6th Arizona with regard the succession crisis in the
Republican House of Representatives, and he called on all
self-announcing candidates for leader and whip to give up their
current posts and compete as unprivileged back-bench members. This
especially applies to Roy Blunt of Missouri, who is campaigning for
leader from his whip post, which Flake explained meant that Blunt,
should he lose, would be required to advance the agenda of a man or
woman he opposed just moments before. Flake also believes it would
strengthen Speaker Hastert if he submitted himself to re-election
on February 2, though this would also mean that the Democrats get
involved in the election process separate from the Republican
leader and whip races.
Flake responded most readily to mention of John Shadegg of
3rd Arizona running for leader. "I've talked to him a
number of times," Flake told me, "and I'm encouraging him to get
in."
Flake was adamant that the Republican House needs not just a
change of leaders but a change of principles. Fiscal discipline.
End to earmarks. End to lobbyists using free travel to grab lapels.
End to DeLayism.
Later I spoke to Chuck Todd, editor in chief of the
Hotline, with regard to his tough column today on Speaker
Hastert. Todd calls on Hastert to step up and speak up about the
abuses under Tom DeLay. Todd also believes that Hastert has the
power to call for Blunt to give up his whip post while he stands
for election, and that Hastert will do this presently. Nevertheless
Todd has doubts about Hastert's intentions, The Speaker is a
creation of the Gingrich-Armey-DeLay teamwork of the late 1990s.
When and how does Hastert separate himself from the egregious
DeLayism that puts the House majority at risk?
With regard to the election of February 2, Flake urged all
members to stay uncommitted until the candidates, toe-to-toe with
each other, stripped of their mantles, present their policies to
change the culture of the Republican House. He also wants the
President's State of the Union to acknowledge that the party is in
turmoil. Good advice, though hard to imagine the White House
writing such a line while the communications team is still
searching for any and all photos of the President with the most
infamous VIP of the new century, Smilin' Jack Abramoff.
topics:
Earmarks, Oil
