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The Spectacle Blog
For those unfamiliar with the Pink Panther series, Peter Sellers’ Inspector Clouseau character is a bumbling French detective who wreaks havoc while incompetently investigating crimes, and yet he succeeds because he somehow manages to be there when the crimes get solved. It’s hard not to be reminded of Clouseau when reading news that RNC chairman Michael Steele is running for another two year term.
Steele has been about as pitiful a chairman as could be imagined. He’s spent money recklessly and has had difficulty fundraising in the best environment for the GOP in a long time. While communication was supposed to be his strong suit, he’s been a constant distraction with a stream of embarassing gaffes. Yet in the end, in spite of his numerous bungles and for reasons having nothing to do with him, Republicans are poised for a massive nationwide landslide next week. You can bet that as he seeks re-election he’ll be happy to tout his tremendous success in turning the party around. And as a result, he’s likely to survive. No doubt, this will drive some Inspector Dreyfus out there to insanity.
Bonus: This is one of the best Inspector Clouseau scenes:
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More Blog Posts by Philip Klein
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/10/27/michael-steele-the-inspector-c
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Clip of the Day
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All Hail The Stupid Party!| 10.27.10 @ 4:40PM
Michael Steele is THE perfect chairman for a political party known as The Stupid Party. The Stupid Party "leadership" is SO stupid they can't get out of their own way without tripping, falling, & then declaring, "We need to elect more RINOs so that doesn't happen again!" The Stupid Party indeed! Conservatives need not apply.
David W| 10.27.10 @ 4:42PM
Could you please not be so subtle and tell us how you really feel? Jeez
All Hail The Stupid Party!| 10.27.10 @ 5:04PM
I must apologize David for holding back on my true feelings. From this point forward I will give nothing but blunt observations regarding The Stupid Party. Take care & GOD bless!
Negro X| 10.27.10 @ 4:46PM
Unfortunately he is correct and in the end many republicans will vote dem at the last minute for fear of losing their entitlement scam.
c| 10.28.10 @ 11:58AM
"negro x"? you again. we know you are a sissy white, racist liberal ,pretending to be black , posting idiotic comments to provoke arguments, and you hope to provoke racial commens. go back to daily kos. to all, ignore him
Ned the Red| 10.27.10 @ 4:47PM
Who's Kato, Newt?
bill glass| 10.27.10 @ 5:24PM
As usual, you left out the part where Steele has been the most sucessful GOP leader in years, and is poised to take the lion's share of up-for-grabs seats next Tuesday. The charges mentioned about Steele are mostly bogus, and getting him back would be a good thing, not a bad thing.
Interested Conservative| 10.27.10 @ 5:36PM
Ever been to the movies Bill?
Warrior | 10.27.10 @ 5:59PM
"Living is easy with eyes closed, misundertanding all you see..." - John Lennon
All Hail The Clouseau Party!| 10.27.10 @ 7:27PM
Obviously a RINO or a Democrat. Who else would want Michael Steele back as chairman of The Stupid Party
Sheila| 10.27.10 @ 5:54PM
Steele was never elected because of ability; he was the GOP's "magic negro" response to Obama. He's the ultimate AA hire - ineffectual, incapable, and filled to the brim with self esteem. The GOP must continue to appeal to the "naturally conservative" black electorate because these outreach efforts reap such rich vote percentages, along with the usual "what have you done for me lately" whine. Tribalism + democracy + stupidity = racist idiocracy.
bill glass| 10.27.10 @ 7:04PM
Yeah, he is black - which is ok, but he is extremely likeable and friendly - and is certainly not an affirmative action hire. Michael Steele has quite a bit of experience in politics, I'm sure, and his self-esteem is more than adequate,,,but he needs that because of all the vapid attacks he's constantly receiving.
L A Stich| 10.27.10 @ 6:09PM
If he takes credit for the election results, then he ought to take credit for inventing the TEA Party, too.
Conservative Bob| 10.27.10 @ 6:56PM
The wrap on fund raising is a bit unfair. ON the day of change back in Nov 08 and in the aftermath as McCain went to Chicago to kiss his ring I swore I would neve give another dime to the GOP or the NRSC or the NRCC, I think there were many who held similar views. I really don't think the fund raising part has been easy for any of them these past 2 years.
There is little if any fire there... the book tour etc... I don't know how much freedom of action he has but we either need a stronger behind the scenes organizer or a really solid communicator. Steele has not impressed me with either.
MikeN| 10.27.10 @ 6:57PM
He should have been convinced to run against mikulski.
Ken in People's Republic of MD| 10.27.10 @ 7:50PM
That would have been an interesting race.
Dixie Pixie| 10.27.10 @ 9:11PM
Gentlemen and Ladys
Chairman Steele was hired to turn around the loses in the Northeast and Black voter bases.
As a result, the coming turnaround in Republican fortunes makes the RNC Chairman look like a genius.
He is not.
He was just standing in the right spot when luck struck.
The Inspector Clouseau analogy is spot on.
The interesting question is who will hold the RNC Chair after the showdown between the TEA Party people and the RINO / Moderate people.
If Steele holds on , the the TEA Party will have been defeated in who will control the Republican Party
tonypal| 10.27.10 @ 9:41PM
Thanks for the clip. Peter Sellers was truly a comedic genius and this clip shows him at his best.
JimH| 10.28.10 @ 9:34AM
The Tea Party should be glad for Steele. Had he been more effective the RNC likely would have put up stronger opposition to them. He seems to be more concerned with promoting himself rather than the party. That being said, it is sometimes better to be lucky than good.
JD| 10.28.10 @ 10:22AM
I supported Steele and now I regret that I did, much as many Obama supporters regret their decision. I *have* contributed to the NRCC and NRSC in the past few weeks, but the RNC has not received a dime from me in years and none of them get my support during the primary season. As far as I'm concerned it is none of their business who the rank-and-file choose to run on the GOP ticket. The voters should decide these things, period. If the national committees did a better job of recruiting and grooming candidates, we'd have better choices.
Steele needs to go, the sooner the better. He deserves NO credit for the current GOP comeback. No establishment Republican does, really. Barack Obama has been a far better fundraiser for the GOP than Steele could ever dream of, and he's only been slightly more insulting to the Republican base.
I think Steele should step down and Sarah Palin should take over at the RNC. I don't think 2012 is her year to take another run at the White House. She has to put more distance between herself and the Tina Fey caricature. A couple of years as RNC chair followed by a couple more gaining experience in a cabinet post in the administration of whoever wins in 2012 (or in working at a think tank, writing a couple of more books and travelling overseas if Obama somehow manages to get re-elected) would be a better move for her.
Regards,
JD