Michael Steele, Who?

With the historic and ground breaking election of Barack Obama, I guess Republicans are feeling left out, seems it's time to get their black man, too. Now, I am not one to downplay African-American Leadership in either political party. Representation is representation, but doesn't it seem a little fishy that Michael Steele was named the RNC's chair just after the election of an African-American to the highest office in the nation? I mean, who is Michael Steele? I wonder do Republican strategist think their base is so stupid to fall for such ploys? Then, I remember this is the party that was so excited over Sarah Palin, and then I not surprised at all. Is the Republican party setting the stage for 2012? Maybe, but it's possibly too early to speculate about our next President.

Nonetheless, in a recent speech to House Republicans, Steele states, "Bipartisanship is overrated." Now, I ask in a time of economic downturn in the United States, shouldn't our politicians do all they can to work together? Shouldn't bipartisanship be atop both party's list? Unfortunately, for us (hard-working Americans) whom actually believe government can work, speeches such as Steele's reinforce old school political separatist ideologies. And, I realize Democrats are just as guilty, (Harry Reid) please stand up. Yet, in a circuit of talk show interviews, Steele has suggested that the Republican party resume the ways of Newt Gingrich's philosophy, the "contract with America" message. Steele is blatantly branding. He's trying rile up the Republican base and engender conflict with Democratic leadership in the White house. If they can create conflict with enough dissenting voices in Washington, win the House and Senate back in 2010 and keep the bulk of their party entrenched in revisionist history about the way things used to be, then they'll have successfully made the old dogma, new again. Republican leadership is not interested in trying to cooperate with Democrats or solve America's economic problems. Instead they are interested in gaining power, maintaining power and winning elections. Still, even though Democrats do have the majority in both houses, and don't really need Republican support, it would be nice to see some conciliatory acts.