The Rebuilding of the Republican party in both Houses of Congress?

[Kevin]

I wonder what course the rebuilding of the Republican Party in Congress will take?

First off in the house since the Republican leadership here sees the most screwed up.

. I think it's pretty certain at least in my opinion that both John Boehner and Roy Blunt will be sacked for someone else but who?

Perhaps for Minority Leader

Paul Ryan(R-WI)
Eric Cantor(R-VA)
Mike Pence(R-IN)

Minority Whip

Paul Ryan(R-WI)
Eric Cantor(R-VA)
Adam Putnam(R-FL)
Jeff Flake(R-AZ)

The Senate Republican Leadership seems better in it's current state then the House's, however I think Kyl would make a better Minority Leader then McConnell.

So what does everyone think in regards to this matter?

   

[Daniel Z]

Pence for minority leader and Ryan for whip.

[Keystone Phil]

Pence - Ryan for me.

We can only hope that Boehner and Blunt (and even McConnell in the Senate) are booted. I doubt Mitch is removed though.

[Lunar]

Does Mel Martinez have any real standing?

Need some non-white male faces up there, if possible..

[Keystone Phil]

Does Mel Martinez have any real standing?

...

We're looking for improvement.

[Sam Spade]

Pence - Ryan for me.

We can only hope that Boehner and Blunt (and even McConnell in the Senate) are booted. I doubt Mitch is removed though.

You should remove the first two, immediately, but Mitch is the Republican party's saving grace over the next couple of years.  You should love him immediately for the crap he'll be able to do to Reid

[Torie]

Paul Ryan(R-WI)
Eric Cantor(R-VA)
Mike Pence(R-IN)

This is the buzz actually. My congressman on Hugh Hewitt said the above was what he was pushing for, particularly Ryan. Boehner has to go. I like my used car dealer congressman more and more. Obama carried CD-48, and it was a cold shower.

[BM]

I heard on the radio today that it's looking like neither will be challenged, but it's early.  Now is not the time for complacency from them.

[Padfoot]

It would be awesome to have Specter as Minority Leader but it would never happen.  In reality though, Specter, Snowe, Collins, and the other moderate Republicans are probably going to end up being far more powerful than McConnell and Reid.  Obama & Reid need to engage the moderate Republicans ASAP if they hope to achieve anything in the Senate.

The GOP Senate whip is going to have one of the worst jobs in Congress probably.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I hear Eric Cantor is running for Minority Whip and that Adam Putnam is stepping down. Cantor didn't even wait to find out if Blunt was running again before he announced. That leaves Mike Pence to take on Boehner in a rematch. Pence will be much more effective than a dried up old Tobacco henchmen like Boehner. Pence would have a much better shot than he did last time, especially since Cantor isn't running for the same job. I also beleive that most of the congresspeople who lost or retired were people who voted for Boehner while many of Pence's supporters are in Conservative districts, younger, and were reelected. I also think Pence being much younger and newer(elected in 2000) would have a better chance appealing to the new freshmen like Erik PAulsen and Tom McClintock(if he wins). 

[Sam Spade]

I hear Eric Cantor is running for Minority Whip and that Adam Putnam is stepping down. Cantor didn't even wait to find out if Blunt was running again before he announced. That leaves Mike Pence to take on Boehner in a rematch. Pence will be much more effective than a dried up old Tobacco henchmen like Boehner. Pence would have a much better shot than he did last time, especially since Cantor isn't running for the same job. I also beleive that most of the congresspeople who lost or retired were people who voted for Boehner while many of Pence's supporters are in Conservative districts, younger, and were reelected. I also think Pence being much younger and newer(elected in 2000) would have a better chance appealing to the new freshmen like Erik PAulsen and Tom McClintock(if he wins). 

From what I've read, Paul Ryan is also interested in Minority Leader.

[Torie]

Ryan is supposed to be a smoother performer on the tube. Pence is a bit more well, you know, on a mission to save the planet from hell.

Edit: Oh dear. Ryan has a Chicago accent!  F him!  That just won't do at all.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I like Ryan a lot. But I would prefer Pence. Pence was outspoken against the out of control spending under the Republican watch and thus he is not connected to Hastert/Delay etc. Ryan on the other hand prefered to keep his mouth shut to work his way up then institute reforms(not a bad strategy either). In reality Ryan and Pence are a lot alike, but I think Pence is more convincing since he stood up to the old GOP Guard. The fight for the Congressional Majorities has changed. You have got to get your message out and I think Pence is the only one who could break the connection, in the eyes of voters, between Delay and the House Republicans. Pence also said in 2006 that either he or another GOP congressmen who hit the TV show ciircuit(Meet the Press, Fox News Sunday, C-Span) to get the message out if elected as leader.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

According to this article Blunt and Putnam are stepping aside. Cantor will replace Blunt. Pence will replace Putnam. Boehner is appearently running again. Under these circumstances I will then endorse and encourage Ryan fo Minority Leader cause I can't stand Boehner.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/06/politics/main4577999.shtml

If Ryan Challenges and Boehner and wins this will be the leadership team

Paul Ryan(R-WI)-Minority Leader (Elected 1998)
Eric Cantor(R-VA)-Minority Whip   (Elected in special election 1999)
Mike Pence(R-IN)-Conference Chair  (Elected in 2000)

Thats a nice leadership team. They also follow the rules of senority, The only reason I think that Boehner recruited Pence for Conference Chair was to save his own hide from being challenged by him and thus admits to his growing power in the House GOP. Boehner is also trying to convince reformers he is one of them. Yea in a pigs ass.

[Keystone Phil]

Let's go Ryan!

[BM]

Fox said Ryan is deciding against it after testing the waters/counting the votes.

[Brittain33]

Fox said Ryan is deciding against it after testing the waters/counting the votes.

That's really too bad. I want the 40-somethings to step up across the board.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Fox said Ryan is deciding against it after testing the waters/counting the votes.

That's really too bad. I want the 40-somethings to step up across the board.

Oh come on. How are we ever going to get this party back on its feet with Boehner. We might see a mass pull out of Finanicial support if he gets reelected Minority leader.

[Kevin]

Fox said Ryan is deciding against it after testing the waters/counting the votes.

That's really too bad. I want the 40-somethings to step up across the board.

Oh come on. How are we ever going to get this party back on its feet with Boehner. We might see a mass pull out of Finanicial support if he gets reelected Minority leader.

Yes I agree Boehner has got to go.

However no one is stepping up to challenge him.

[Brittain33]

Fox said Ryan is deciding against it after testing the waters/counting the votes.

That's really too bad. I want the 40-somethings to step up across the board.

Oh come on. How are we ever going to get this party back on its feet with Boehner. We might see a mass pull out of Finanicial support if he gets reelected Minority leader.

Boehner is nearly 60 years old. He's most emphatically not what I had in mind!

[BM]

 Paul Ryan is out due to wanting to keep time available for his family and young children.
 

Dan Lungren announced that he's challenging Boehner today.  Any thoughts on him?