GOP Sends Out Invitations But None Of The Popular Kids Want To Come To Their Party

The departure of the universally loathed Bush-Cheney team hasn't done much to revive the battered Republican brand-- not if you believe the surveys that show that only 1 in 5 voters admits to being a Republican or if you see the dismal-- and still declining-- approval ratings for the GOP congressional leadership. This morning the Gallup poll shows that Americans of every single age group-- from 18 year olds to people over 60 prefer Democrats to Republicans. Watch:

just hit this thing and the guy will give you the scoop

And, after a great big thumbs down from GOP supremo Rush Limbaugh, the Eric Cantor/Mitt Romney/Jeb Bush ill-starred rebranding initiative, and "listening tour"/pizza party is a big dud, especially among the Republican base.

There aren't any Democratic-Republican contests coming up between now and November, 2010 but what all this is doing is absolutely killing GOP congressional recruiting efforts. The clownish antics of RNC head Michael Steele, the stunning catastrophe the GOP suffered in NY-20, the ugliness of their extremely unpopular strategy of obstructionism, the ugliness of utterly abandoning their constituents to become lockstep adherents of piggish capitalism, and the likelihood that the Republican congressional rump will not just remain a minority but will shrink into even greater irrelevance, are combining to send first tier recruits running for the hills.

Even though Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) has proven herself to be one of the most mediocre members of the freshman class, a bumbling idiot who votes with Republicans even on the most popular Democratic issues-- like yesterday's Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act (which even 60 Republicans felt compelled by public opinion to support!)-- the only Republican who could have probably dispatched her, state Rep. Bill Konopnicki, pretty much said thanks but no thanks. In Virginia, Republicans were counting on Thelma Drake to pick herself off the mat and slug it out with Blue Dog Glenn Nye again. Nye hasn't been supporting Obama's program and would probably not get much enthusiasm from Democrats who pay attention. Nevertheless, Drake just announced she's not interested. Right now the only candidate the Republicans have for the seat is an African-American former Virginia Beach party chairman, Chuck Smith, who would probably have as much of a shot to win as I would. As long as the GOP is admitting minorities, maybe they'll try bringing back former closet case/former congressman Ed Schrock, who represented the district before being outed on a gay phone-sex and pick-up service.

Meanwhile the Florida Republican Party chairman, Jim Greer, has been considered the GOP's best bet to take on another weak Democratic freshman, Suaznne Kosmas. This week the Orlando Sentinel reported that he'll be taking a pass on that one. Expect to see a lot more message like this from Republicans around the country:

“I am grateful to those who encouraged me to seek this office. While I certainly appreciate the honor of consideration, I feel at this point in time I can better serve the Republican Party of Florida by completing my second term as Chairman."

Some of the messages will say "at this point in time I can better serve the party by completing my obligations as" a goat cheese maker or as a crack cocaine cooker or as a dishwasher at the Olive Garden on 4th Street. Nobody wants to be with the sore loser team. Tom Ridge, apparently, is so enjoying his stint as a lobbyist for Albania that he's stopped taking frantic phone calls from John Cornyn, as has Illinois congressman Mark Kirk whose 53-19% polling lead over Roland Burris hasn't persuaded him to get into the race.

After Dean Heller excused himself to go to the men's room and then climbed out the back window, the GOP hasn't been able to find a legitimate candidate willing to run against Harry Reid. Right now they're trying to decide between a New York bankster, John Chachas, who once spent some time in Ely, Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki who would have to run his campaign from a prison cell since he's been indicted for stealing state funds (but when he was state Treasurer, not as Lt Governor), or a former state assemblywoman, Sharron Angle, a Club For Growth religious extremist (and Scientology shill) who is considered so far to the right that should she ever break her losing streak and get into any public office again-- not likely-- she would give Michele Bachmann and Virginia Foxx a run for their money when it comes to TV bookers looking for hysterical lunatic fringe Know Nothings to spout nonsense in front of a camera.

Even the absolute worst excuse for a Democrat outside the Old Confederacy, Idaho reactionary Walt Minnick, who votes with the GOP more frequently, at least on important matters, than with Democrats, looks like he'll skate to an undeserved re-election in an overwhelmingly red district with no credible challenger. Minnick beat a neo-fascist incumbent with just 51% of the vote in 2008-- while McCain McCain got 62% of the vote in the district (somewhat less than Bush's 69% but still proof positive that ID-01 is one of the most backward and ignorant districts in America). But yesterday Idaho Treasurer Ron Crane, the GOP's first choice for the seat, announced that he will not be running. A local KKK grand dragon or Aryan Nation fuehrer may be all the GOP will manage to field.

Although Arnold Schwarzenegger has bowed out of challenging Barbara Boxer, she will have a GOP challenger, kind of. Chuck DeVore, a sad sack fifth tier opponent from Irvine, has somehow been diverted into making his clownish race a pissing match with ex-Eagles superstar Don Henley. The Hill is more hopeful than most about Republicans being able to recruit credible Senate candidates, even if their efforts to find any potential winners in the House races have come to naught.