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November 14, 2006

Today's Blogometer: "The Harriet Miers Of RNC Chairs"

It's notoriously hard to measure the effect bloggers have on events in DC. While the netroots receive no arguments when claiming they defeated Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) in 8/06, it's less clear (outside of Dan Rather) how many scalps righty bloggers can claim. They played roles in Sen. Trent Lott's (R-MS) exit from leadership as well as the withdrawal of WH counsel Harriet Miers nomination to SCOTUS. The frosty reception for Sen. Mel Martinez's (R-FL) RNC chair nomination has set up another Blogger vs. Beltway battle. Can the blogging base of the GOP send the WH another message?

RNC: Kos To Lead "Martinez For Chairman" Campaign

Sen. Mel Martinez's nomination to RNC chair is sparking outrage in the righty blogosphere. RedState's Thomas claims "a lobotomized sea lion" could do a better job, but the line most picked up throughout the right 'sphere belonged to RedState commenter spainishirish who described Martinez as "The Harriet Miers of RNC chairs."

Both Hot Air and RedState have polls up showing readers overwhelmingly against the Martinez nomination. Other negative righty reax include:


  • Right Angle Blog's Robert Bluey writes: "GOP Overtly Panders to Hispanics"

  • Right Wing News reports: "I talked to more than a half dozen bloggers and congressional aides tonight about the selection of Martinez and there was not one soul who was the slightest bit enthusiastic about his selection."

  • National Review Online's Kathryn Jean Lopez shares: "The reaction I've heard most often today in response to? "I don't get it."

  • Michelle Malkin reminds readers of Martinez's position on immigration and pleads with GOP state chairman to reject the nomination in Jan.

Even DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas chimes in: "This is good for us. ... Republicans think this will make Latinos -- the widest-swinging swing voters today -- more receptive to the GOP. But given he's Cuban, there's a wide culture gap between them and most other Latinos. We're not culturally homogenous. And politically, Cubans have more in common with Vietnamese immigrants than they do other Latino groups."

Continue reading today's Blogometer.


Posted at 12:37 PM

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