• azis1

  +1

  Before any move to revamp/reshape the Republican Party, there must be a complete overhaul and major house cleaning of the RNC and other self-serving Republicans who used the RNC as their "Candy Store". It needs to be made openly and LOUDLY CLEAR who these people are. With their "What's in it for me?" attitude, and their Carl ROVEAN mean-spiritedness, they all need to be placed on the 'trash heap of dismal failures'. Some of the "snakes-in-the-grass" are:  John Boehner; Mitch McConnell; Mel Martinez; Carl Rove (who is now pandering at Fox News) and "No Rove it was not cute on election eve when you brought the Fox News staff packets of cookies with the Fox News Logo", and if Fox News has any smarts, which I believe they do, they should send you packing! I have been a fervent supporter of President George W. Bush, and still hold him in esteem as he did much, while under considerable strain and pressure, to keep us and our country well protected from serious threats to our way of life, literally, as we enjoy it. I have worked as a GOP Team Leader, Grass Roots Leader and member of many RNC advisory groups over the past 8 years or so. I was also a member of President Reagan's Transition Staff. I have attended many meetings,dinners and galas at RNC functions for the past several years, however, I have never witnessed such 'bombastic vacuity' as I did during the past 2 1/2 years at these functions/meetings. Activists, major donors and grassroots leaders at these functions, begging for guidance on what directions to take in the GOP primary, what GOP candidate to support during the 2008 Presidential elections, etc., only to be given, and I am repeating this phrase "ample doses of bombastic vacuity" leaving the GOP Grassroots leaders in a state of total confusion and utterly rudderless. Mel Martinez (slick Mel) at one meeting stated "Don't worry right now about receiving any directions on what GOP candidate to support, we have to stop Hillary Clinton from getting the Democratic nomination, that is our prime objective"... and "We need more money to keep the RNC strong, viable" ... etc. Slick Mel was one of the first to jump ship and go to the McCain camp, with out even saying "Adiós"... Just prior to this, at a major fundraising dinner in Washington, where I was in attendance,  supposedly for the top GOP Primary Presidential candidates, and where only Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee  and Ron Paul spoke, this was a $1,000 plus a plate dinner, packed with GOP Party faithful coming from all across the US, again hoping to hear all the candidates and to develop some sense of direction and cohesiveness. Of course  Ruddy Guiliani and Fred Thompson were present but snubbed the party faithful by not speaking at the sold out dinner (they spoke to a very, very small group over a few cocktails, and left). McCain never even showed up but 'slick' Mel then addressed the packed house saying Thompson and Governor [sic] Ruddy Guiliani left due to prior commitments, (C'mon Mel this major fund raiser was planned well in advance, and maybe the two that left smelled the rat)... McCain, according to Mel, was tied up in the Senate, really Mel?? You see folks, right from the beginning, people like 'slick' Mel Martinez (General Chairman of the RNC), were deceitful and playing with a 'marked deck of cards', as they were all for McCain, secretly. 'Slick' Mel and the other "cronies" who milked the RNC for all they could, misleading party faithful with their "sleight of hand rhetoric" by not furnishing any sense of direction as to a GOP candidate, only keeping up the Carl "Rovean" mantra to defeat Hillary Clinton, duh Carl you succeeded there!! Yes, the RNC was a "playground" for Mel Martinez, Rove, Boehner, McConnell et al, they milked it, manipulated it and alas totally brought the RNC crashing down. Well, in closing I will miss Boehner stumbling to the podium with a glass of wine in his hand (yes, two years ago at a private RNC dinner) and Mitch McConnell, answering a question about working with a Democratic Senate majority, this was at a very select, invitation only, RNC luncheon, during 2007. Mitch said that it really was not that hard as Senators are elected for 6 years, that they enjoy a "unique friendship" between Republicans and Democrats, and that eventually someone needs a favor from either side of the aisle, with the balance of power being not too skewed, so "We all get along pretty well", according to Mitch. Well dear Mitch, after the November 2008 elections, I think the balance of power is more skewed than ever, but if it is "the country club" atmosphere that you allude to, I just wonder, what are you doing there? Is it for your self-aggrandizement? Do you really, and truly represent the true ideals of the GOP or are you self-serving?
      While listening to Laura Ingraham on Fox News this morning, I learned of a new web-site,  www.rebuildtheparty.com , and here is a gist of what directions it wants to take:
  [2008 made one thing clear: if allowed to go unchecked, the Democrats' structural advantages, including their use of the Internet, their more than 2-to-1 advantage with young voters, their discovery of a better grassroots model -- will be as big a threat to the future of the GOP as the toxic political environment we have faced the last few years.
  The time is now to set in motion the changes needed to rebuild our party from the grassroots up, modernize the way we run campaigns, and attract different, energetic, and younger candidates at all levels.]
  For all Republicans interested in re-building a viable, vibrant Republican Party, please visit:
   www.rebuildtheparty.com.
  We need new, fresh leadership at all levels of the GOP, and for all the GOP faithful, Independents and Reagan Democrats who feel that you were "punched in the gut and kicked to the curb", please send your comments to www.lauraingraham.com, she has it together and again, visit and support: www.rebuildtheparty.com.

  Posted 11/8/2008 respond (flag)

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Young Republicans Push Internet Organizing Priority
The Atlantic Politics Channel — ... Tonight, they're launching a website, www.rebuildtheparty.com, and will ask RNC chairman candidates to support their platform, which puts a premium on Internet organizing and technology. ...

And Speaking of Eric the Stupid
Eschaton — HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

Dreams of the Weed King
Whiskey Fire — ... Translated: The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that you've got it made. ...

We Can Rebuild the Party
Patrick Ruffini — ... Earlier this evening, a group of under-40 operatives pulled back the curtain on RebuildTheParty.com, a 10-point action plan for the next RNC Chairman. ...

We Can Rebuild the Party
The Next Right — ... Earlier this evening, a group of under-40 operatives pulled back the curtain on RebuildTheParty.com, a 10-point action plan for the next RNC Chairman. ...

Interesting Reading
California Conservative — ... John’s on the right track but he isn’t the only person on the right track. Erick Erickson of Redstate, Patrick Ruffini of the Next Right and others have started a project called Rebuild the Party. Here’s a little teaser of what they’ve come up with: ...

Young GOPers rally to push technology, youth outreach
Jonathan Martin's Blog — ... "Rebuild the Party" will push the next RNC chair,, chosen in January, to make bridging the digital divide between the two parties the top priority. ...

Daily Digest: Never Review a Transition on Opening Night...
techPresident — ... But members of Team Obama aren't the only ones who have been busy. Familiar online conservatives Patrick Ruffini, Erick Erickson, Mindy Finn, Michael Turk; Justin Sayfie, former spokesman for Gov. Jeb Bush; and others have launched RebuildTheParty.com. Their dream GOP: a bottom-up, Internet-driven party, and they're pushing for the next RNC chairperson to embrace their principles. This cadre of young(ish) Republicans isn't the first group of conservatives to attempt ...

Forward-Looking Campaigning
California Conservative — ... President-elect Obama’s use of the Internet. Having visited Obama’s campaign website, I know that President-elect Obama used it for everything from fundraising to GOTV operations to event planning. President-elect Obama’s online fundraising was unprecedented. While this study is sobering, it also highlights the fact that we need to find solutions to our problems. Fortunately, some very talented people are working on this. The principles and ideas at this website are this week’s must reading. Here’s an example of how we reform the ...

Republicans meet to perform autopsy on its rotting corpse
pandagon.net - we are the public option — ... Bible-beaters, people who vote against their own interests, and bigots. Sadly that’s their base, and it doesn’t look like the America of the future; their world is shrinking. You know they have no clue about what to do when this happens: In a sign of how far the party has fallen, the Republicans set up a hotline and website yesterday appealing for suggestions from the public on how to rebuild. Here you go… http://www.rebuildtheparty.com/ One reader went over and saw what some of the ...

Alert the Media, and other notes: Hugh Hewitt
Hot Air » Top Picks — ... , starting at 10 am CT.  We’ll discuss the elections, the road ahead for conservatives, and the necessary rebuilding of the Republican Party. As long as we’re on that subject, be sure to check out Patrick Ruffini’s new project, Rebuild the Party .  They’ve already got some great ideas on how the GOP needs to change in order to compete in 2010 and beyond.  Be sure to sign the petition and start talking about it.

Splitters!
Firedoglake — ... "Divided we stand"...no...wait...um... "united we flail" ...no, that's not it. Crap, I think I wrote it down on a Wendy's napkin. Look in the back seat of my car.... Oh, here we go: Peoples Front of Republicans Republican Peoples Front Republican Popular People's Front Front of Republican People Who Wish They Were Popular

Three New Websites To Check Out
Nice Deb — ... Patrick Ruffini is already picking up the pieces from the 2008 Republican trouncing, and has a new website where he’s already full of ideas on how to proceed. Those of you interested in the future of the party might want to check out: Rebuild the Party.com. ...

And So the Rebuilding Begins…
The Moderate Voice — ... I was going to blog about this sooner, but it looks like there is already an effort among Republicans to retool and renovate the GOP. Called “Rebuild the Party,” it’s a group of young conservatives under the age of 40. In many ways, they have learned from the Obama campaign and are using technology to help in finding ways to modernize the party. ...

The Internet Should Kill 2012 Talk
The Next Right — ... So, I implore you, quit focusing on 2012, and focus on 2010 and on showing the Republican Party can rebuild at the state legislative, Congressional, and statewide levels in 2010. (That's where we're starting with Rebuild the Party.) Start blogging about potential candidates for Congress now. Even if we somehow manage to unseat Barack Obama in 2012, it won't mean very much if our ranks in the House and Senate remain decimated, and we've redistricted into oblivion until 2022. ...

The GOP Gets Off to a Bad Start
Pajamas Media — ... gave an interview which provided a cogent assessment of the economy and outlined sound fiscal policies, without engaging in a trace of partisanship. And a group of young bloggers put forth a game plan for web organizing and communication. These hints of progress and forward-looking thinking suggest that the best ideas won’t be coming from Washington, at least not from the Old Guard of leaders who led the party into ruin. In the weeks and months ahead Republicans will need to craft a tone which does not reek of excessive partisanship. Republican strategist Todd Harris ...

2012 Speculation
Weekly Standard Blog — ... So, I implore you, quit focusing on 2012, and focus on 2010 and on showing the Republican Party can rebuild at the state legislative, Congressional, and statewide levels in 2010. (That's where we're starting with Rebuild the Party.) Start blogging about potential candidates for Congress now. Even if we somehow manage to unseat Barack Obama in 2012, it won't mean very much if our ranks in the House and Senate remain decimated, and we've redistricted into oblivion until 2022. ...

Newt for RNC chair?
Hot Air » Top Picks — ... an emeritus status that will have people paying attention when he speaks.  As RNC chair, his political baggage becomes irrelevant, allowing him to focus on party- and agenda-building instead of running for office. Most importantly, Gingrich understands the technological tools that escaped the GOP in 2008.  American Solutions has established a very impressive grassroots structure for policy, which could easily be adopted and adapted to the RNC.  As Patrick Ruffini has been arguing at Rebuild the Party , the RNC needs to close the technology gap with the DNC in a hurry.  ...

Responding to a Big News Day on the GOP's Future
The Next Right — ... I am now a proud coalition member of RebuildTheParty.com, and today's newspapers are highlighting stories and opinion pieces on the future of the GOP. ...

More thoughts on what next
Stubborn Facts — ... - and, most importantly, to focus on winning back majorities in state legislatures lest we find ourselves redistricted into oblivion. He's right; I also see Ruffini's fingerprints on this commendable effort. ...

Understanding Electoral Defeat
democracyarsenal.org — ... , and the young Turks of groups like The Next Right and Rebuild the Party, will gain increased currency in conservative ranks. This is a healthy process. ...

"Rebuild the Party"
Sound Politics — "Rebuild the Party" There are two over-arching components in the process the national GOP moving forward after the events of November 4th: 1) Internal improvements: on that topic, I have publicly endorsed the " Rebuild the Party " plan put forward by some of my fellow comparative youngsters, in leadership positions of the conservative online world. Republicans raised the bar with GOTV in 2004. Democrats have done likewise in 2008 through integrated use of technology in campaign operations. That deficit must not be allowed to fester. 2) External improvements: much to be said on ...

Put Me in the "No, But Persuadable" Camp on Michael Steele
RedState: Conservative News and Community — ... There is also this: at this time, the GOP needs a work horse, not a show horse. There are enough big egos in the party apparatus in D.C. already competing for air time. Lt. Gov. Steele would, I'm afraid, cause friction among the big egos as he became a dominate voice in the party — and that would disrupt more than help. We need someone who can bring all the egos together and rebuild the party. ...

Watch Obama Own the Internet All Over Again
The Next Right — ... As we debate how to rebuild our party with new technology and stronger grassroots, watch for the media to fawn all over Obama's use of the Internet as President as he brings (some) of the tactics of his winning campaign to the White House. ...

2010 Senate Recruitment Project
The Next Right — ... A big part of the Rebuild platform is running everywhere and not giving any Democrat a free pass. That should start in the 2010 races for the Senate -- and it needs to start now. Look how many previously popular GOP incumbents were taken out in 2006 and 2008 because popular Democrats decided to stake their careers on taking them out. ...

My.BarackObama.gov
Patrick Ruffini — ... As we debate how to rebuild our party with new technology and stronger grassroots, watch for the media to fawn all over Obama’s use of the Internet as President as he brings (some) of the tactics of his winning campaign to the White House.It began this weekend with the release of President-elect Obama’s YouTube address and the transformation of the anachronistic radio address. This generated an explosion of media interest, even though 1) the format is not especially compelling, and 2) at least initially, ratings and comments on the video ...

My.BarackObama.gov
techPresident — ... As Republicans debate how to rebuild the party with new technology and stronger grassroots, watch for the media to fawn all over Obama's use of the Internet as President as he brings (some) of the tactics of his winning campaign to the White House. ...

Daily Digest: From the Ashes, a Blogging Class Emerges...
techPresident — ... , the time is ripe for new voices and new leadership on the right. And the left's netroots, of course, rose and flourished in opposition. But can the leaders of the online right really be gatecrashers when so many have held jobs inside the gates? The coalition list on RebuildtheParty.com, for example, includes the phrase "executive director of..." more than once. Conversely, the netroots' leaders came from seriously beyond the Beltway -- think Markos Moulitsas, Jerome Armstrong, and Matt Stoller. ...

Democrats 2004 vs. Republicans 2008
Open Left - Front Page — Four year ago, as we Democrats were on the short end of a Republican trifecta, we had to engage in soul-searching similar to what Republicans face now. The conclusion Democrats arrived at was that our problems were mainly non-ideological and related to strategy and infrastructure. This conclusion could be seen with the DNC's election of Howard Dean on a fifty-state strategy platform, in the papers produced by NDN with their New Politics Institute ...

The Way to Five Million Activists
The Next Right — ... A question I often get with Rebuild the Party is how we intend to get from Point A to Point B. That we have admirable and oftentimes lofty goals, and what we need is a roadmap for accomplishing them. ...

Daily Digest: If Obama and the Netroots Were in a Relationship on Facebook...
techPresident — ... The Next Right's Patrick Ruffini explains how the Rebuild the Party coalition he helps lead can actually achieve its stated mission of ...

How do Republicans recover?
The Next Right — ... by building a more healthy market of ideas and information - i.e., new guards - new infrastructure designed for the modern era; and yes, rebuild the party, too. ...

The Promise and Peril of Ethnic Minority Outreach
The Next Right — ... A very important part of the RebuildTheParty.com platform is to rebuild our grassroots infrastructure. One of the issues to be debated is how much our party has to centralize or decentralize our grassroots operations; but what's clear is that the fabric of our state, county and local parties has been falling apart. ...

Rebuild the Party Update: New Site & RNC Candidates Endorse
The Next Right — ... RNC Candidate Scorecard: Our new site now breaks down where all the declared candidates for RNC Chairman stand on the Plan for the Future. And the good news is that two out of four have already endorsed the plan! Former Tennessee Republican Party chairman Chip Saltsman endorsed us in ...

The Future is a 73-Year Old Man
Hit & Run — ... to Republican consultants Patrick Ruffini and Mindy Finn, midwives of a new web site designed to let conservatives share their ideas for Republican recovery. ...

Rebuild the Party ramps up
Sound Politics — Rebuild the Party ramps up An updated and enhanced website is now available for the proposed plan to improve the RNC that I've publicly supported . Much work will have to be done by various Republicans fashioning a more compelling agenda than the inconsistent mish-mash put forth by John McCain in 2008 and the comparative nothingness being promulgated by Congressional Republicans writ large in the last couple cycles. In the meantime, Rebuild the Party is a necessary step forward on the internal improvements that also must be undertaken by the GOP. Posted by Eric ...

We Got Pwnd
James Richardson's Skepticians — John McCain ’s loss ushered in broad and swift accusations of poor campaigning, poor messaging, and, in essence, taking too many pages from Bob Dole ’s failed ’96 campaign. Jilted staffers, now jockeying for jobs in the opposition, are hemorrhaging campaign secrets, and yes, rumors at light speed pace (i.e., Q: Where’s “Africa,” Sarah ...

We Got Pwnd, Now What? The Race for the RNC Chairmanship
RedState: Conservative News and Community — The Republican Party is desperate to rebuild and find the Reagan incarnate. From the diaries by Erick John McCain’s loss ushered in broad and swift accusations of poor campaigning, poor messaging, and, in essence, taking too many pages from Bob Dole’s failed ’96 campaign. Jilted staffers, now jockeying for jobs in the opposition, are hemorrhaging campaign secrets, and yes, rumors at light speed pace (i.e., Q: Where’s “Africa,” Sarah? A: Ohhh, don’t ya’ know I can’t see that country from my house, so I’m not sure. Can I call you Joe? [wink]) The ...

Daily Digest: Reconsidering the Revolution's Small-Donor Base
techPresident — ... . Vargas's piece features techPresident contributors Mindy Finn and Patrick Ruffini, two of the minds behind the RebuildtheParty.com effort to remake the GOP "from the grassroots up." Bloggers on the right, says Ruffini, need to learn from the online left "to be activists, too," says Ruffini -- as concerned about down-ballot races as internecine ideological battles. These online activists are eager to lean on the party establishment from the outside, though the Republican National Committee shows signs it's willing to embrace ...

ARE THE RIGHTROOTS MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN REPUBLICAN?
Right Wing Nut House — Patrick Ruffini and Mindy Finn have a nice write up in today’s Washington Post regarding their new web effort Rebuild the Party.com. The website features a list of endorsers that constitutes a who’s who of the rightysphere as well as a plan they would like to see the GOP adopt that, ...

Are the Rightroots More Conservative or Republican?
The Next Right — ... Patrick Ruffini and Mindy Finn have a nice write up in today’s Washington Post regarding their new web effort Rebuild the Party.com. The website features a list of endorsers that constitutes a who’s who of the rightysphere as well as a plan they would like to see the GOP adopt that, ...

Strategy, Issues, or Candidates?
The Next Right — ... Rebuild our infrastructure. There is no question that the left has us beat online and in the new forms of alternative media. We need a strategy for addressing that. This is a main focus of Rebuild the Party but not the only one. ...

CHICKEN OR THE EGG?
Right Wing Nut House — ... and Rebuild the party.com was all about. I thought Pat was in the business of creating a whole new ball of wax – online activism, fundraising, candidate recruitment – everything the left is now doing online as well as transplanting some of the Obama model to the right. Certainly we can piggyback some of that on an existing organizational template through the RNC or some other party department but the bulk of what must be done has to be accomplished if not in opposition to the party (do they really want 5 million people trying to tell them what to do?) then certainly ...

The Production Cycle of Politics
The Next Right — ... policies. Here is where activist groups, media and politicians fit. The left has a superior network of implementers who are effective at shaping a coherent message (MoveOn.org) and using communications channels (full-time bloggers) to sell it. We're about to see how a politician, Barack Obama, achieves this through governing. On the right, groups like Club for Growth and online communities such as RedState fit into this portion of the cycle. Rebuild the Party is an example of an implementer. The point of this exercise is to ...

Forget the Ideas Czar or Network: We Must Create Ideas Through Peer Production
The Next Right — ... Ruffini founded the site RebuildTheParty.com, which specifically states that the Internet must be our #1 priority over the next four years. I fully agree with this, and in this vein I think we need to utilize the Internet – and specifically, the concept of peer production, which “describes what happens when masses of people … collaborate openly to drive innovation and growth” – to accomplish our goal. Peer production is what creates content for Wikipedia and empowers websites like Digg. ...

"The Left owns the Internet"
RedState: Conservative News and Community — ... We can rebuild it. We have the technology. One of our goals must be to become more adept at using the technology at our disposal to get our message heard, understood, and accepted. I will cover some of this in future diaries, but for now, RebuildTheParty.com has a great summary of what must be done: ...

Thoughts on Rebuilding: The Dead Wood
RedState: Conservative News and Community — ... As most of you know, I, several of us here for that matter, am a signer of Rebuild the Party. I have not written much about it here because too many people initially attributed it to me, but it is very much Patrick Ruffini’s idea. I did not want to start blogging about it and bolster an unfounded claim to it. ...

One Small Step for the Right
The Next Right — To echo and build on Patrick's post. When a few of us channeled our efforts to RebuildtheParty.com, we intended to jumpstart the conversation about what the Party must do from a tactical standpoint to rebuild.  We did not intend to provide an all-encompassing manifesto that will guarantee a renewed Republican majority. Our philosophy: rather than sit around and meet behind closed doors or wait for the perfect plan, let’s get started right away making changes within the party infrastructure.  Let’s impact the conversations about what ...

An Upset in the Making?
California Conservative — ... For those of you who haven’t checked out Patrick’s 435 District plan, it’s today’s must reading. In fact, check out RebuildTheParty.com when you have the time. In fact, I’d suggest that you make time to read it. ...

The Case Against Blogs and Twitter
The Next Right — ... in 2008. And he did basically everything -- maybe with less of an emphasis on blogs. As one of the major parties in the world's most advanced democracy, we should be able to do nothing less. That means a focus on recruting 5 million people -- bloggers and non-bloggers alike, moving our fundraising online, and giving people the tools to self-organize in their own communities. ...

If Not Elected Chairman, Anuzis Should Go To State Parties & Build GOP Farm Team
The Next Right — ... Anuzis seems like someone willing to take risks. He's endorsed the RebuildTheParty.com platform and has had great state legislative recruitment success in Michigan, something that he could translate to a 435 District Strategy ( ...

The Case Against Blogs & Twitter
Patrick Ruffini — ... in 2008. And he did basically everything — maybe with less of an emphasis on blogs. As one of the major parties in the world’s most advanced democracy, we should be able to do nothing less. That means a focus on recruting 5 million people — bloggers and non-bloggers alike, moving our fundraising online, and giving people the tools to self-organize in their own communities. ...

RNC Chairman Update
The Next Right — Great roundup, though the author comes at this with a certain POV. Also, Mike Duncan is in. Of the current candidates, Anuzis, Blackwell and Saltsman have endorsed RebuildTheParty.com. -Patrick Rather than making dozens of posts about the RNC Chairman’s race, let me make a summary: Alex Knepper was quite thrilled by Michael Steele’s statement to CBN news regarding his membership in the Republican Leadership Council: Wake up people. I ...

It's Not Just the Chairman. It's the Staff.
The Next Right — ... Personnel is policy in politics as well as government. Though we certainly appreciate all the support Rebuild the Party is getting from the candidates, when one of them wins, I think it's fair to expect that they'll be hiring deputies who are simpatico with a new vision. Because that's who's going to be implementing it day to day. ...

Saul Anuzis Responds to RedState
RedState: Conservative News and Community — ... I strongly endorse the 10-point plan developed by Republican activists at www.rebuildtheparty.com. In particular, I agree that “winning the technology war with the Democrats must be the RNC’s number one priority over the next four years.” We can have great ideas and show our commitment to inclusion, but without a state-of-the-art technology platform to communicate, organize and fundraise, we can’t get the job done. While the 10-point plan is a good start, I recognize that it’s not entirely inclusive of all of the ideas the RNC should be working to implement, ...

Ducks In A Row
Hotline On Call Part Deux — ... We heard this morning that former MD Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele has decided to join three of his rivals for Republican National Committee leader in backing the 'Rebuild the Party' platform created by activists looking to jumpstart the sputtering GOP. ...

Daily Digest: 'Net Love as Litmus Test
techPresident — ... Saul Anuzis, the top choice of some wired conservatives, including our own David All. Anuzis kissed the ring of the tech-centered Rebuild the Party movement, echoing its call for the Internet to "pervade everything the committee does." Sitting RNC chair Mike Duncan, who'd like to hang on to the job, has notably not yet endorsed the Rebuild plan. ...

The Party of Ideas?
James Richardson's Skepticians — ... when he quietly announced his endorsement of Patrick Ruffini and Mindy Finn’s tech-centric “ Rebuild the Party .” While the straight-forward memo details the utter cluster-fuck Republicans have landed themselves in after 2004, the Center promises to be a positive step for the RNC after having earned a reputation of being bereft of ideas. If McCain’s loss taught us anything, it’s that we can’t cookie-cutter Karl Rove’s strategies of yester-year to drive a dynamic base to the polls. Obama certainly out-hoped McCain this cycle, but here’s hoping that we have something else ...

Daily Digest: GOP Luddism, Think-Tank Blogging, and Getting to Know Genachowski
techPresident — And Then There Was One: With sitting Republican National Committee chairman Mike Duncan signing on to the tech-fueled Rebuild the Party movement, South Carolina GOP head Katon Dawson stands as the sole announced candidate for GOP chair not yet jumping on board the grasstops effort. Duncan is showing a great deal of spunk in refusing to let himself be branded an establishment Luddite. Duncan marshals facts in his defense: "In the past two years, we grew our email list by six hundred percent to over 12 million names - - ...

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what the public thinks; it matters what 168 of us think.”
The Next Right — ... The Chairman of the Republican National Committee represents the 59 million Americans who voted Republican on November 4th, not just 168 party officials. And through county committees and state committees, WE elect the 168. We may not have a vote, but we DO have a voice. Make sure that the choice for the next RNC Chair represents YOUR hopes for the future of the Republican Party by making your voice heard at RebuildTheParty.com or ...

Are We On the Verge of a Rightroots Movement?
The Next Right — ... Rebuild the Party – When Patrick Ruffini and Mindy Finn initially started Rebuild the Party, it was simply a forward-looking plan for the Republican Party (albeit a phenomenal plan that I have enthusiastically endorsed). However, it has since blossomed into a substantial movement. Over 7,000 people, mostly ordinary citizens, have endorsed the plan. All but one of the candidates for RNC Chair has publicly announced their support for it. And over 2,100 folks have jointed the ...

Daily Digest:
techPresident — The Daily Digest will be taking a long weekend to ring in 2009 and will return Monday. Have a safe and happy start to what should prove to be an exciting year. A Connected White House...: Sure, you could spend these last waning hours of aught-eight in existential reflection on how admirably you spent the last twelve months, examining how to be a better you the year ahead. Nah. Spend them catching up the ongoing transition from wired Obama campaign to a presidential administration connecting with supporters and non-supporters alike, via the Washington ...

Technology & Message
California Conservative — ... After the election, I wrote a number of articles about the need for a radical transformation of GOP politics. Many of these articles highlighted the work of the people at RebuildtheParty.com. This morning, ...

Daily Digest: Party Hopefuls Vying for Tech Cred
techPresident — ... (which our our Mike Turk calls "a step in the right direction for the GOP"). Americans for Tax Reform's Grover Norquist heartily thanked conservative online hubs Red State and Townhall for their support. RebuildTheParty.com's Mindy Finn and Patrick Ruffini shared moderating duties with Norquist. And the most heated moment of the debate may have come when the candidates battled over the number of Facebook friends they enjoy. RNC hopeful Ken Blackwell bragged about having 4,000 amigos ...

Small Tents vs. Big Networks: Recreating the GOP
techPresident — ... But Rebuild the Party, which Julian focuses on, is a different story. That effort sets out pretty clearly the idea that the revitalization of the GOP is ball-and-chained to technology. That's a meaningful choice that steals a bit of thunder from ideology -- despite the protestations of Rebuild co-founder Patrick Ruffini that "[t]he idea that what a party stands for is more important than the tools it uses is so blindlingly obvious that I wonder exactly why people feel compelled to throw it in our faces." The compulsion to hammer on the point might come from the fact ...

Ken Blackwell Responds to RedState
RedState: Conservative News and Community — ... I’ve also proudly endorsed the Rebuild the Party plan and I ensure the RNC will use only the best new technology to recruit an online Republican army with millions of new activists. We will have the infrastructure and the talented staff in place to manage our precinct organizations, integrate social networking with our voter tracking systems, and find new and creative ways to push our message using new media technologies and ways to always stay in touch with our activists and potential voters. ...

Ted Johnson, Maegan Carberry, Teresa Valdez Klein: Rebuilding the Republican Party: Yes, Please!
Politics on HuffingtonPost.com — As Obama does his best two-step to avoid picking the wrong dude (oops, oops, whoops), the Republican Party's best and brightest are picking up where the Prez-Elect left off: community organizing. Call it smart, call it copying, or call it rebuildtheparty.com, as Mindy Finn does. As Romney's former Director of eStrategy and co-founder of RebuildTheParty.com, Finn talks with hosts Ted and Maegan about the future of the Republican Party: What went wrong in the last election? What's her ten point plan to save the party? Can the Republicans ever recapture their "personal freedom" credentials? And wasn't it the Dems ...

A Reminder to RNC Members: We Don't Need a Chairman. We Need Leaders.
The Next Right — ... We don't need a chairman. We need operational leaders. Even if the next RNC chairman executes some or most of the RebuildTheParty.com plan, it doesn't necessarily translate into state parties benefitting from change at the top. Chip Saltsman might know the political mechanics in Tennessee. Michael Steele might know the political mechanics in Maryland. Ken Blackwell might know the political mechanics in Ohio. But state and local party officials should not depend on the limited knowledge of the next RNC chairman and his staff to assist in building a farm team. ...

Taking RNC questions online
Sound Politics — Taking RNC questions online The team at Rebuild the Party is hosting an online forum for candidates in the race for RNC Chair. The effort is notable since Rebuild the Party is gaining significant attention within Republican ranks - including questions from two of its founders Patrick Ruffini and Mindy Finn at Grover Norquist's RNC Chair forum. The answers from the RNC candidates, watchable in the above linked videos, are worth viewing. It's also notable because the candidates are engaging, and amidst the usual riff-raff of online video submissions ...

More Technology, Please
Sound Politics — ... on the topic of the use of technology becoming a significant factor in the race for RNC Chair. The Rebuild the Party effort, of which I was ...

Maegan Carberry and Elizabeth Blackney: REAL 100 Days: Preserve Bipartisanship With Issue-Oriented, New Media Focus
Politics on HuffingtonPost.com — ... , and efforts to "Rebuild the Party" are being led by tech guru Patrick Ruffini, Jon Henke, and Mindy Finn at their website of the same name. The race for a new Republican National Committee Chairman has made public much of the internal strife in the party, from a generational perspective, the Old Guard (read: Reagan guys) are led by former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, who garnered the endorsement of Phyllis Schlafly and Saul Anuzis, who has repackaged himself as a tech-geek who understands the 'young gun' mentality, but who has ...

Video: Redefining The Republican Party
FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog — A video from Justin Germany From Team McCain From the folks at Rebuildtheparty.com - a new generation of GOP leadership. Read their 10-point action plan here. What do YOU think? ...

Why Republicans Don’t Get the Internet
The Moderate Voice — ... , had a post on the Daily Beast yesterday promising to explain it to us. Of the site featuring the video above, RebuildTheParty.com, she says: ...

CPAC Interview: Rebuild the Party
Hot Air » Top Picks — ... I missed posting this yesterday, but we had a good conversation with Rob Willington of Rebuild the Party . The new group aggregates news, coordinates grassroots efforts, and help gain new leaders better exposure. Along those lines, RTP hosted a party last night headlined by Governor Tim Pawlenty, who was in fine fighting form. He told the crowd that Republicans won’t win elections by becoming Democrats, but by converting Democrats: And I’ve got bad news for Massachussetts; I met the other Republican here at CPAC this morning.

Final thoughts on CPAC
Hot Air » Top Picks — ... such as Mark Sanford, Mike Huckabee, and Tim Pawlenty, who delivered an excellent, detailed speech exhorting conservatives and Republicans not to concede ground on health care and other supposed “Democratic” issues.  In fact, I flew back to Minnesota with Governor and Mrs. Pawlenty and had a couple of brief conversations with him.  I didn’t ask him whether he will run for a third term here as governor, but he seems ready to work on the national stage and did a big appearance for Rebuild the Party on Friday night, to a great deal of enthusiasm. Of course, it’s still far too ...

What Will the Future of Mobile Messaging Mean for the Future of Get-Out-the-Vote Operations?
The Next Right — ... Rebuilding our party doesn't only mean taking an inventory of every tool that's available and seeing how those tools fit campaigns and party organizations today; it also means seeing what the trends might be 5, 10 or 20 years from now and creating tools that can put us ahead of the curve. I do not have the proper fusing of sufficient technical skills with amazing creativity that many programmers and coders do ... which is why ...

Why a 2010 Blowout Will Not Mean Things Are Better
The Next Right — After the 2002 and 2004 elections, Republicans celebrated electoral victories that many thought would put them in the position to maintain a long-term majority. In turn, Democrats pushed the panic button and began looking for ways to turn things around. Likewise, after 2006 and 2008, it was the opposite effect, with Democrats claiming a permanent majority, and Republicans looking to rebuild. Once again, the political climate seems to be changing, this time in favor of Republicans. President Obama’s approval ratings are continuing to ...