Republican Leadership

"The key to Republican credibility - on transparency and many other issues - is actual, unilateral leadership," wrote Jon Henke a couple of weeks ago.  He's correct, but I'll add that a major component of leadership is walking the walk before talking the talk.

Right now, millions of Americans are hopping mad about Obama's stimulus packages and for the first time in years the right is "Going Galt," as Michelle Malkin calls it.

Talk radio hosts are suddenly spending their time using libertarian and fiscally conservative rhetoric, but for the last eight years they've only provided token resistance (at best) to bloated Republican budgets. As late as today, I heard a local Republican talk show host defending Bush's spending record to a totally disbelieving caller.

Senator McCain talks a great talk about earmarks, but he (along with Governor Palin) also recently called the bailout of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae "necessary."  At the other side of this spectrum, Senator Shelby has spoken out against the stimulus package, but just took second place in the U.S. Senate pork contest. 

Regarding Alabama's other Republican Senator, Jeff Wartman writes: 

Roy Blunt announced today that he's stepping down from the number 2 position in Republican leadership, the minority whip. The GOP leadership elections will be later this month. We need to encourage our favorite conservative voices to run for, and ultimately be elected, into top spots in the House. This is a chance for grassroot action, where we can let our representatives know that the voters want conservative, principled behavior from our leaders. My thoughts are for people like Shadegg, Pence, Ryan, or Cantor, but if I'm missing someone, I'm happy to hear other suggestions.

Here's the contact infor for some representatives. Send them emails and call their offices encouraging them to throw their hats into the ring for minority whip and GOP conference chairman, the number 3 position.

- Rep. John Shadegg (AZ-3): (202) 225-3361, click here for an email form.

- Rep. Mike Pence (IN-6): (202) 225-302, click here for an email form.

- Rep. Paul Ryan (WI-1): (202) 225-3031, click here for an email form.

- Rep. Eric Cantor (VA-7): (202) 225-2815, click here for an email form.

Cantor was Deputy Whip in the past few years, and did a great job there.

One of the problems over the past 15 years was that elected GOP officials rarely, if ever, heard from their conservative constituents. When we do get in touch with them, things happen (like killing the amnesty bill.)

Whoever you like, get in touch with them and let them know you want them to play a leadership role in the renaissance of conservative Republicans.