Mehlman Quits

There are so many falling Republicans that I have run out of metaphors and analogies to describe the situation.

And I am a former High School English Teacher...

From The AP

Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman, whose party lost both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections, will step down from his post when his two-year term ends in January, GOP officials said Thursday.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because Mehlman had not yet made his intentions public.

Brian Jones, an RNC spokesman, declined to comment beyond saying that an announcement about Mehlman's future with the party would be made in the days ahead.

and...because i know it makes you old timers so happy:

BREAKING

as in everyting about the Republican Party.

As their lengthy obituary grows, I'd like to propose another name and another policy to add to the list: Marge Spellings and the No Child Left Behind Atrocity.

Anyone that continues to believe in or support this policy needs to have his/her head checked. It's either have your head checked or believe Bush and the architects of this law...the same architects that brought you "ENDURING FREEDOM"...really had their hearts and minds into crafting a critical and engaged populace rather than a blindly obedient worksheet completing workforce.

This community has rightly come out against everything evil and incompetent about this administration. It is time we called an end to corporate control of "public schools." It is time we called for an education that prepares citizens to participate in holding their communities, this country, and this world, together in integrity and usefulness.

And since we are rightly on a Feingold tip: He opposed this legislation before it came out...

I know education isn't a particularly sexy issue, but it is the future of this country.

•  Thoughts on the next one to go?

  I say Spellings...

  by DeweyCounts on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:13:40 PM PDT

  •  Rove

    I have no reason... just wishful thinking.

    by Olds88 on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:16:49 PM PDT

    •  shit

      i left that off the pole...is it wrong of me to go back and change it?

      by DeweyCounts on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:17:27 PM PDT

      •  i added rove

        do you think, ehm, he'll come from behind?

        by DeweyCounts on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:18:56 PM PDT

        •  Come from behind?

          Ewwwww.

          Sorry, I just came from a Mehlman diary.

          by ChiGirl88 on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:28:19 PM PDT

      •  Rove on the Pole?

        So you're saying the Karl-is-gay rumors are true?!

        Or is he a stripper?

        by kath25 on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:31:10 PM PDT

        •  yes

          who do you think is most suited to get him off?

          by DeweyCounts on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:32:38 PM PDT

          •  Most Suited?

            Why, any lobbyist in a three-piece Armani, of course!

            by kath25 on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:35:58 PM PDT

            •  oh god

              you win...

              by DeweyCounts on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:42:52 PM PDT

              •  No, we ALL win! :-) n/t

                by kath25 on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:49:00 PM PDT

    •  rove is pulling

      a head...

      by DeweyCounts on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:32:13 PM PDT

    •  Unfortunately, no

      Because without Rove, Dumbya is nothing.  He'll keep him behind the scenes maybe, but just wait 'cause Rove will be back with his new chapter of traitorous smearing in 2008, for whichever Repuke takes on his services.

      by chingchongchinaman on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:03:19 PM PDT

  •  Karen Hughes..

    An unnnecessary position created by Bush to award a crony...More of your tax dollars being spent frivolously.

    by gladkov on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:22:59 PM PDT

    •  that's another good one...

      by DeweyCounts on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:23:51 PM PDT

    •  wasted tax dollars

      on a waste of a human being

      arent you glad karen hughes has done a GREAT job of selling the wonders of this administration

      by distributorcap on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:41:53 PM PDT

•  Scaping the Goats

  After their humiliation, the remaining Republicans are going to go looking for people to blame.  No doubt we'll see their customary grace and integrity in full view during the process.

  The Foley scandal gives the religious authoritarians the opportunity to conduct the anti-gay pogrom they have long desired, in their own party at least.  Aunt Toms like Mehlman had better look out.  There are going to be lots of RIF's in Congressional Republican staffs, and if I were a gay staffer there I'd be polishing up my resume fast.

  Krystallnacht for gay Republicans is nigh.  I wish I could muster some sympathy.

  by Dallasdoc on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:15:01 PM PDT

  •  i know

    is it crass of me to say they brought it on themselves?

    by DeweyCounts on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:16:52 PM PDT

    •  No

      Merely stating the obvious.  As a gay man, I've always referred to the Log Cabin types as "Jewish Nazis."

      by Dallasdoc on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:22:35 PM PDT

      •  Yep...

        Having a percentage of your party wanting to murder gay people is a bit of a problem..Well, many Republicans wouldn't mind if I were lynched but they are good on other issues...

        by gladkov on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:25:53 PM PDT

  •  Yep, Larry Craig..watch out...

    by gladkov on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:24:04 PM PDT

•  Maher on Larry King Last Night

  Maher:

  "republican voters tried to vote a straight republican ticket, but they couldn't find any straight republicans!"

  by Superpole on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:16:55 PM PDT

  •  That was of course.

    Promptly removed from the transcripts...chickenshits..

    by gladkov on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:26:23 PM PDT

    •  really?

      REALLY?

      by DeweyCounts on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:27:46 PM PDT

      •  Yesereebob

        by gladkov on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:28:47 PM PDT

        •  if at any point in time it was safe

          for that "joke" now is the time. it's time for all homosexuals who have suffered under conservativism to have a good laugh, to relax, and to help the rest of us make this world a better place.

          by DeweyCounts on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:31:28 PM PDT

          •  This homosexual

            Still feels oppressed. I live in Connecticut and have been with my partner 11 1/2 years. We don't have a burning desire to get married but I believe all the people who want to should. Now some states are even passing "No domestic partner" laws - very scary.

            by gladkov on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:33:30 PM PDT

            •  i empathize

              there's a lot of work done before equal rights is more than a nice phrase.

              by DeweyCounts on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:37:56 PM PDT

            •  On the bright side...

              this political movement is really three decades old.  It's pretty remarkable to think about how much the world has changed since Stonewall.  We've certainly had a grim 6 years but I feel like the clouds are already lifting.  We've had our steps back and now we're ready to move forward again.

              (And much for the better: I think we've also seen the peak of the evangelical involvement in politics.  Much easier to get the people's business done without these absolutists involved!)

              by vernonlee on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:54:52 PM PDT

          •  No more anti-gay ballot initiatives!

            I hope this wave means no more anti-gay ballot initiatives. After we pick up 10 more Senate seats in 2008, maybe we can pass a marriage equality act.

            by kath25 on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:33:39 PM PDT

            •  Meanwhile...

              ...we could start by working on the passage of an Employment Non-Discrimination Act.  Fair housing protections for GLBT people?  There is so much that could be passed to help all gay people, not just those in relationships.

              by rserven on Fri Nov 10, 2006 at 06:04:08 AM PDT

    •  Odd....

      Looked for it on YouTube and found one titled:

      "Bill Maher outs GOP party chair Ken Mehlman as gay"

      Except, the page didn't have the video but had this:

      "This video has been removed at the request of copyright owner Cable News Network LP, LLLP because its content was used without permission"

      It's odd since they have several Maher appearances on Larry King still on YouTube....

      Huffington has a comment on the censorship...

      "BM: A lot of the chiefs of staff, the people who really run the underpinnings of the Republican Party, are gay. I don't want to mention names, but I will Friday night..."

      Not a fan of outing people and this is no exception. Not happy with people who work for bigots either. Still, it should be up to the individual and not Billy what they chose to disclose publicly.

      by Hedwig on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:36:00 PM PDT

•  I get the joke but

  I think your diary will get a LOT more attention if you spell "Mehlman" correctly in your title!  I almost missed it, and I was looking specifically for it.

  by oscarsmom on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:18:07 PM PDT

  •  i know and changed....

    i'm just having so much damned fun!

    by DeweyCounts on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:20:30 PM PDT

  •  i changed the title entirely

    by DeweyCounts on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:30:09 PM PDT

•  Include All the above

  by drmah on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:19:09 PM PDT

  •  That gets my goat...er vote! n/t

    by maggiemae on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:44:29 PM PDT

•  I hear Ann Coulter is going to be his

  replacement, because they need someone a little more forceful in the position.

  by shpilk on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:23:07 PM PDT

  •  Replace...

    "forceful" with "manly"

    by Hedwig on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:24:10 PM PDT

    •  I didn't want to be a "zexist pig" about it

      by shpilk on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:38:36 PM PDT

      •  Actually...

        I was referring more to Mehlman than Mr Coulter. :)

        by Hedwig on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:23:43 PM PDT

        •  ya, so was I

          but I am treading on eggshells .. the word 'forceful' is good enough for those to imagine the rest.

          :)  

          by shpilk on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:40:34 PM PDT

        •  The reason shpilk might be...

          ..."treading on eggshells" is because the "Ann is a Man" crap is offensive to some of us.  Apparently you either haven't got the message or don't care.  The first case can be remedied.  The latter is worrisome.

          by rserven on Fri Nov 10, 2006 at 07:08:59 AM PDT

•  On education

  I will be posting diaries shortly about NCLB and the Democrats.

  In a way, NCLB can now be tied directly to Democrats.  When it was first passed, the Dems had the majority leader in the Senate.  George Miller, in the House went along and so did Teddy Kennedy.

  At this point, if NCLB is renewed, it then becomes a Democratic policy with Bush.  The Republicans in '08 can run against it and assert the importance of local control.  It would be a winning meme for them.

  But the real reason to oppose renewal of NCLB is simply that it does not work and is not popular.  More and more testing is not a solution for kids. Many parents actually talk with their kids and understand that they are bored, not challenged and generally hate school.  

  I've got all the research lined up and ready to go.  Likely, NCLB will be the Dems first real test, and I think it is high time that we develop a pretty well-informed base of people here at DKos that NCLB requires complete overhaul--not full funding.

  by Mi Corazon on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:28:24 PM PDT

  •  Amen

    Check out this project and if you want to get involved let me know. I am working with Marion Brady and a host of others to get 1,000,000 signatures calling for an end to NCLB...we are trying to raise money for a full page add in the NYT. The ad is being constructed right now, and you can see the main points of it on the mainpage. Hopefully by Sunday we'll have a new page up and everything ready...

    by DeweyCounts on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:34:53 PM PDT

    •  How can I contribute ideas?

      I have an article ready for publication now.  It's quasi-research based, The Case Against Standardized Testing.
      I too, have a full dozen reasons, some of them overlap with what you have on the Roundtable web site and some of them are new and different.

      I am totally willing to donate it to the cause, or contribute in any way.

      by Mi Corazon on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:42:41 PM PDT

      •  well you can send the article to

        Public Resistance

        And you can contribute ideas and get on the internal mailing list by sending me an email via the addy on the  website...

        by DeweyCounts on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:45:24 PM PDT

    •  Heck, I know a large number of teachers who will

      sign that in a heartbeat! Just send it around to the various school districts and you'll get your required signatures.

      by maggiemae on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:46:49 PM PDT

      •  cheers

        please feel free to mention it to people...we are going "live" this Monday...or so the webdesigner tells me...

        by DeweyCounts on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:52:37 PM PDT

•  I can't choose one........

  I want them all sent to one of those secret prisons and used as subjects for the waterboarding refinement project.

  by Lying eyes on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:30:45 PM PDT

•  Could You Be A Member of a Party That Hated You?

  I cannot figure out how anyone could be a member of a party that hated them.

  I don't agree with everyone in the Democratic Party, but I don't find their positions offensive.

  I am often offended by the positions of Republicans.

  They want to invade my privacy.  They want to be in my bedroom to tell me who I can sleep with, and in my Dr.'s office telling me what medical procedures I can have, and listening into my telephone conversations and looking at what books I buy or borrow, and whether or not I can die with dignity or be forced to have a feeding tube shoved down my throat, etc.

  Now, I'm not really paranoid to think they are doing those things to me right now, but the principle of it bothers me.  I think the Republicans have strayed far away from the founding principles of this Country.  Yet I can't find a single Republican who will admit it.

  by R2 on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:37:45 PM PDT

•  Wow

  This week just gets better and better. I guess we've all been good little boys and girls to get Chrismukkah so early this year!

  by lirtydies on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:40:29 PM PDT

•  Jeez!

  Only about three godzillion teachers post and network here.

  I know education isn't a particularly sexy issue, but it is the future of this country.

  Sex, schmex.  This is a political blog.  No telling what Kossacks find sexy.  And I speak from personal experience!  :D

  by InquisitiveRaven on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:40:31 PM PDT

  •  I'm an educator

    And I'm damn sexy!

    by TheC on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:45:00 PM PDT

  •  Teachers?

    Teachers? On Big Orange? NAAAAAH!

    by Ari Mistral on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:06:57 PM PDT

•  Just heard about Mehlman!

  I knew there had to be a diary about it! They are just falling like dominoes, aren't they? And I am loving every minute of it--which is terrible of me, I know, but I am!

  And speaking of Enduring Freedom...I'll never get over the stupidity that led them to originally call it Operation Infinite Justice.

  by akasha on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:51:09 PM PDT

•  Rove next - then Cheney n/t

  by ZappoDave on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:54:58 PM PDT

•  Just wondering

  Do Democrats also have two year terms for their chairmen, or will is it four? I just assumed it was four since McAuliffe stayed on that long. I guess, what I trying to say, is please tell me Howard Dean isnt going anywhere. :).

  by jj32 on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:55:49 PM PDT

•  Ken Mehlman WAS OUTED on Larry King!!!

  Folks, do you think the fact that Ken Mehlman WAS OUTED last night on Larry King might have something to do with this???

  What about CNN sending a cease-and-desist letter for CNN Footage posted on YouTube!!!

  See below:

  http://americablog.blogspot.com/...

  by kimg on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 07:56:48 PM PDT

  •  Perhaps

    But I think it's more likely due to the election results and his ties to Abramoff. I thought he was toast even before the election and the Dems victories just sealed his fate.

    Abramoff's "rock star"

    But maybe Ken Mehlman does have an Abramoff problem. On Sept. 29, the very day the Foleygate scandal broke and sucked up most of the media oxygen, the House Committee on Government Reform released a bipartisan report on the contacts between the White House and Abramoff. The 91-page report lists 17 different Abramoff lobbying efforts directed at the White House Office of Political Affairs when Mehlman was that office's director from 2001 to 2003.

    Displease a Lobbyist, Get Fired

    by Hedwig on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:45:03 PM PDT

•  Despite the spin about his being tired and saying

  he planned on quitting it's awfully conveeeeenient that this is announced today.

  The moral values folk want a clearing house on teh gheys in der GOP--who better to begin with than perma-tan Ken?

  by javajunky on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:04:50 PM PDT

•  Just sayin'!

  Didn't the Nazis purge their gay members? Hello, Ernst Roehm?

  Just sayin'!

  by Ari Mistral on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:06:33 PM PDT

•  go, marge, go, marge

  get yer worksheets, get yer worksheets ...

  by MarketTrustee on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:07:23 PM PDT

•  Mehlman

  will not be missed.  Lets just hope he doesn't end up on CNN as a talking head pundit.

  by MadScientist on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:09:05 PM PDT

•  metaphor

  It's raining rats and fags.

  Of course, not all gays are self-loathing GOops.

  by teresab on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:14:31 PM PDT

•  I have a theory

  I'll get trashed for this, but here goes.........

  I think we're witnessing the beginning of a regime change.  It's been brewing for a while, but with this tremendous loss by republicans, it's being accelerated.

  The coup is Poppy Bush bringing his people in to replace the "Nannies of the Neocons"  I don't know how much of this is being pushed on Junior (all?), and how much is his idea (none?), but it is happening.

  I wonder if the Bolton thing today was Junior's last "fuck you" to his Daddy.  Petulance?  Must be quite embarrassing to always need your father to come save your sorry ass from your own incompetence.

  Especially when you're in your sixties and you're fucking President!!!!

  by AlyoshaKaramazov on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:17:31 PM PDT

•  Wasn't He Mister Data Mining?

  Didn't he like to bore into and drill down into the data, looking for people with the right spending habits who supposedly were ready to vote Republican?

  The NY Times puff story on him made it sound as if he invented a whole new powerful tool for thrusting back and forth into the bowels of politics - the raw data on individual voter preferences and tendencies.  It also made it sound like he was pissed off at Rove for taking credit in 2004 for his tool.

  Some tool.  The greatest GOTV tool in the world is left limp and impotent if the product you are trying to sell is Santorum.

  by Numerian on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:20:17 PM PDT

•  The Republicans have some of the most

  unattractive representatives found on earth.  I didn't want to use the word ugly, but honest to god, Mehlman is Ugly.  Following closely behind him is McCain, and then comes Lieberman.  

  Excuse my immaturity please, sometimes it just leaks out.  Oh, and there's Hastert........

  by hopscotch1997 on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:34:01 PM PDT

  •  Rotting from the inside out...

    Just look at that Hunk O' Hunk O' Burning Stud Muffin "The Dick" Cheney. It's only a matter of time before spontaneous combustion catches up with him...

    And isn't Lieberman (technically) an independent?

    by Hedwig on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:39:53 PM PDT

    •  Lieberman an independent

      only on the outside.  On the inside........well, he enjoys kissing Bush...

      by hopscotch1997 on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:45:01 PM PDT

•  that's not fair, bolton is already dead

  bolton's renomination had a shelf life of 3 hours

  and cheney has been dead for 10 years

  and the Gates nomination is gonna be DOA, the poor guy never even had a chance to live

  by Zapp Branigan on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 09:25:58 PM PDT