(2) We as a party need to get back to the basics of our party – a promotion of smaller government, personal liberty and responsibility, preserving, protecting and promoting the Constitution in every aspect of legislation and government operation, a promotion of quality in government programs and swift and sure consequences for those in government who are wasteful, fraudulent, or neglegent.

(3) Also, one of my pet peeves in this electronic age is the huge amount of color photo quality print materials I get in the mail from the RNC – I always feel like every penny I’ve donated comes back to me in printed (and wasteful) materials trying to get me to donate more. I’m already on the team, and except for the one color photo of the President and First Lady each year, (which is something I appreciate getting). I’d love for that money to go to the undecided voter and be used more productively….learn the lessons of the 2008 election cycle with the internet and maximizing free or almost free ad space.

(4) We are a more diverse party than we are given credit for and this needs to be maximized.

(5) Let’s not keep trying to retread candidates – some fresh strong candidates at the local, state, and federal level will help us build our party back into the majority. Let’s find some more people Like Mike Pense, Bobby Jindall, and Sarah Palin…people of character, committment, and passion for quality public service.

(6) January 1, 2009, as the new Congress is sworn in we need to be ready to be an effective party – even if we can’t win on certain legislative battles, we have got to take positions, fight the good fight (and know what that good fight is). I’d like to see weekly, even daily conference calls that the ‘everyman’ RNC member can participate – even daily online polls with a commentws section…so you are getting actual timely feedback.

(7) I’d like to see a discussion for instance on health care reform that is not simply focused on health insurance. Tom Daschell is reaching out are we creating a forum to put together effective programs. So far, the agenda has not focused on anything except the old agenda items…which obviously are not working for us as a party or for the American people. Simply posting a position is not the way to go, interaction online is key.

Welll, there are my 7 cent’s worth.

Ken Blackwell represents the heart and soul of the Republican Party, and he is every bit as articulate as Mr. Steele, and yes for what it’s worth he’s African American (although that shouldn’t matter).

Whoever the chairman ends up being, that person needs to lead a complete overhaul of the Party. As a local committeeman who also attends many state committee meetings in PA, I have practically written a book on what has brought our party down. Here are some of the more salient points: local committee and state committee terms should be two years. The lazy in our party succeeded in extending them to four years because they didn’t want to be bothered to have to circulate petitions every two years (nevermind that US Reps must do the same). Second, we must do away with the unholy practice of “proxy voting” which encourages laziness and absentee participation. Lastly, we need to reform the sham endorsement processes that we have throughout our party. We should encourage more open primaries, and if for some reason we feel compelled to endorse, the process should have integrity, including a supermajority for endorsement, and a rugged screening process for candidates. Typically, someone in PA can earn a local party or state party endorsement without ever being asked any questions whatsoever about their positions, or without having their record scrutinized. That must end. Now. We can absorb ourselves with technology and hiring the best looking and most articulate people, but until we get back to the fundamentals, we’ll keep losing and losing badly.

Last question first For those who are active in the Republican Party, we clearly understand the RNC bylaws and obviously we know who can and cannot vote for the RNC Chair. Allowing others outside of the RNC Members to vote on the chairman would be like liberals wanting illegal aliens to be able to vote for president. I find it interesting that some of those supporting Saul Anuzis for chairman are libertarians who are not identified with the Republican party. This alone would give me pause as to voting for Saul. When people outside of the GOP advocate for a person then I see an agenda outside of the principles and stated beliefs and platform of the Republican party.

Currently, I favor two individuals: Michael Steele and Ken Blackwell. Their willingness to continually stand and clearly for Conservative beliefs and principles in the past even when verbally attacked and abused by members of their own race and by RINO republicans or by those with agendas other than the broadly stated conservative principles of the Republican Party.

However, I also support them because either of them could accomplish the following critical items needed to Rebuild the Republican Party during an Obama administration without being labeled extreme Republican racists.

A major concern is growth! However, the RNC does not need to sacrifice one of the wings of the conservatism to grow the party. What we need is a RNC Chair who can clearly and repeatedly articulate the conservative Republican position while standing on issues in the middle of liberal controlled Washinton, D.C. It definitely should not matter if the person knows and is friends with democrats. This is not a friendship position but a leadership position representing republicans and the republican message. In addition, the RNC Chair should not owe allegiance to just one or two wings of the conservative movement but should broadly and effectively advocate for all aspects of the conservative movement and the stated party platform approved by its members and the stated principles and beliefs of the National Republican Party.

With the exception of the Republican National Convention 08, the previous RNC chair and executive staff were not active or effective in working with the conservative new media (bloggers and others). The RNC has constantly tried to retain control of all media and have not broadly communicated with new media conservative activists who are active in Web 2.0 social networking via FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, Ning groups, Google groups and more. The result is an expanding conservative network outside of the RNC.

We need an RNC Chair who we can trust is committed to the Rebuilding the Republican Party while NOT using the RNC as a stepping stone to public political office and who is not controlled by the an elected politician as existed under the current President and his advisors.

When the RNC delegates pick the next RNC, will they select someone who is a standard bearer of repeated activities and procedures that do little to advance Republicanism or will they select someone that support the the RNC taking stands on critical issues, in the RNC rebuilding the party, in the RNC aiding States in developing future candidates, and an RNC expanding its relationships and standings throughout the United States? Most active party members want to see a revitalized party, but leadership does not occur in a vacuum. We need a new chair that can competently communicate Republican principles, take clear and concise competent stands on issues, and can work with the new media talent to advance the Republican Party. If this does not occur, the RNC is doomed to revisit this issue again and again or remain a minority party in D.C.

I’m concerned about the accounting standards because of the theft of funds hence I look for a person who has CEO capabilities and knows how to husband our donations and translate that into winning campaigns by reiterating candidate’s message.

It would be even more effective if the many conservative single issue 527s also coordinate in States that clearly need their focus.

We need penetration on a Federal, State. Local and School Board level because all levels of government need to be reduced. Truly competative markets need to be recreated to remove the insertion of gov’t and to rebuild the economy.

The Chair should be able to articulate why everyone should give to both their candidates and to the Party.