How Steele Did It

I didn't pay much attention to the race for the chairmanship of the RNC; I was too busy re-adjusting to life at UNC. I did pick up enough, though, to be surprised when Michael Steele won. I knew right-wing bloggers were crazy for Steele, but I thought it was just a passing craze. I didn't think he could translate that into actual votes. After all, it's the party insiders who pick the chairman, not the properieter of http://conservativecommentaryandopinions.blogspot.com. Note: not a real blog. Yet.

Politics magazine looks at how he won. Let's see...he exploited a desire for change, utilized new technology--particularly the internet--to rally supporters, and staffed his campaign with young, eager talent. Boy, where have I heard that one before? No, I don't think it was the McCain campaign...hmmmm...can't quite put my finger on it.

Republicans everywhere will be thrilled to read these lines:

Steele carries three Blackberries and is prone to flurries of past-midnight emails, and he made a convincing case that he would bring the GOP’s campaign technology into the digital age.

That's a welcome change, especially when the last public face of the party admitted he barely knew how to use a computer. Granted, using a Blackberry doesn't make you a technical wizard. That's like saying heating up a Hot Pocket makes you a cordon bleu chef. But it's a start, and that's what the GOP needs right now--a little push to get them going. Well, maybe more than "a little" one.