Friday, January 30, 2009

Final RNC Ballot - UPDATED Below - Steele wins



168 voters (including proxies)
Simple Majority needed to win.

Mike Duncan: 52

Michael Steele: 46

Katon Dawson: 28

Saul Anuzis: 22

Ken Blackwell: 20


Picture is from Patrick Ruffini via his Twitter page, the KK budget doesn't allow me to travel.

You can watch it on CSPAN
Follow Ruffini on Twitter here.
Follow Chris Cillzza on Twitter here.

Or I'll have the results for you.

Let the horsetrading begin!

Second Ballot

Mike Duncan: 48

Michael Steele: 48

Katon Dawson: 29

Saul Anuzis: 24

Ken Blackwell: 19

Third Ballot

Michael Steele: 51

Mike Duncan: 44

Katon Dawson: 34

Saul Anuzis: 24

Ken Blackwell: 15

Steele is positioned to win this unless the Southern/Conservative Vote makes a deal with Duncan.

Round Four


Katon Dawson: 62

Michael Steele: 60

Saul Anuzis: 31

Ken Blackwell: 15

5th Ballot


Michael Steele: 79

Katon Dawson: 69

Saul Anuzis: 20

Final Ballot

Michael Steele: 91

Katon Dawson: 77

My reaction to follow.

119 comments:

  1. With Duncan scoring 52 votes on the first ballot, I think he is in the drivers seat. I think we will eventually see Dawson and Blackwell's votes go his direction.

    I'll have the other votes, and reaction later today.

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  2. This is not good news. The guy is a dud.

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  3. He is, but he keeps Iowa first. That's ALL that matters, people and don't kid yourself otherwise.

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  4. Hmmm..he keeps Iowa first. Must be why Strawn stood up to talk for him.

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  5. Duncan will keep Iowa first. Good move by Strawn to throw his support behind Duncan.

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  6. Strawn choice is turning out to be wise.

    Can you imagine GOPAL there today? Wow. The thought alone sends a shiver down my leg...and not the Kris Matthews's type.

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  7. How long is the C-SPAN delay? They haven't counted the votes yet on C-SPAN.

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  8. You watching the second ballots being cast.

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  9. I don't care who goes first. I care about Republicans winning elections.

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  10. Whoever wins, we are in deep S**T. Seriously, none of those guys understands that we need to appeal to the youth. Chip Saltsman was a great candidate who had success in Tennessee. Too bad about the CD, he would have been great.

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  11. Steele as RNC Chairman?? Bye, bye Iowa and hello RINOs.

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  12. yeah, he would have been great!, the media would have ate him up HEADLINE: GOp picks guy tied to racist song, subheadline: chose him over two well qualified black candidates

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  13. I think Dawson is in position to pick up a bunch of votes in the 4th round.

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  14. yeah 12:45 Steele is a real RINO I tell yeah, and sucks that every Republican in IOWA is a hard core conservative

    give me a break!

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  15. Why do we want Duncan? Simply because he wants to keep Iowa first? Where has the guy been. Activists even have never heard of him.

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  16. is 12:45 Kim Lehman?

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  17. Iowa being 1st is the most important thing, if you are an Iowan you understand that

    Iowa being 1st means we influence what happens,and it sure does help our economy both directly and indirectly

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  18. 1:03: I hope your tongue was firmly in your cheek when you wrote that.

    Keeping Iowa first in the nation is not that important if we keep electing Democrats.

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  19. Steele and Anuzis are about to make a deal, Blackwell is looking to make a deal with someone? Dawson and Duncan are looking like closer than ever.

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  20. Duncan out, oh Shit!, that means his votes will go to Dawson, Blackwell's will go to Steele.

    If Steele and Anuzis win Iowa is in trouble, all 3 of our representatives voted against Steele and Anuzis. Lehman actively campaigned against Steele

    We are screwed

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  21. Don't think that Blackwell's conservative votes woudl go to Steele. Conservatives like the small states going first.

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  22. If Steele wins and yanks the caucuses from us, the blood will be on Lehman and Scheffler's hands for actively campaigning against him. If the caucuses go, they are squarely to blame, and there goes any hope of influence anyone in this state will ever have again.

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  23. I agree with 1:28... if First in the Nation status gets yanked from Iowa...Lehman and Scheffler will be lucky to lead a line of geese in Iowa ever again.

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  24. If Steele wins, Iowa would be screwed no matter who the committeepeople were, or if they voted for him or not.

    Mods don't like Iowa. Period.

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  25. Dawson 62
    Steele 60

    Saul 31
    Blackwell 15

    Blackwell is the lynchpin here. 85 votes is all thats needed to win. Whom Blackwell chooses to give his votes to will determine who is chair.

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  26. While Dawson is in the lead, Steele and Saul have enough votes between themselves to win it. Well played by Saul…

    Not looking good. Too many votes went to Saul, but we have to remember if he drops out, and members want to keep it within the committee, Steele isn't a member of the RNC

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  27. unless Saul & Steele work out a deal

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  28. no Cedafr, Dawson plus blackwell doesn't get you there.

    We have to hope that some of Sauls support doesn't go to Steele.

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  29. 1:40, actively campaigning against the guy who won surely does not help

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  30. "We have to hope that some of Sauls support doesn't go to Steele."


    So is krusty against steele?

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  31. God..i need some coffee..my bad Krusty..

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  32. Not really, Cedar, because if Blackwell goes to Steele, there's 85. It's still important. It's just not important if they go to Dawson.

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  33. No just Pro-First in the Nation....

    I like Steele as a communicator but I worry that he’s not going to keep people in line in terms of messing with the nomination calendar, especially if Saul puts him over the top. Sorry, just Pro-Iowa.

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  34. Geez...I don't like any candidate. They all have negatives. Would Dawson keep Iowa first. South Carolina is "first in the south", but what is they want to be "first in the nation?"

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  35. From what I have heard, Dawson has pledged to keep Iowa first in the nation. I do believe that is why Lehman endorsed him.

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  36. Blackwell has now withdrawn.

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  37. Blackwell just threw his votes to Steele...

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  38. Talk about a shock, I didn't see that one coming.

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  39. so the black guy backs the other black guy

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  40. 60 votes for Steele last round, plus 15 from Blackwell..75 for Steele..So all Steele has to do is to peel 10 away from Anuzis.

    Considering Anuzis hates Iowa first..he could be allowing enough votes to go to Steele

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  41. That is if Blackwells votes go to Steele. They could very well go to Dawson.

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  42. Yep. If Iowa's gone, we need to end Scheffler and Lehman.

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  43. Seriously, Blackwell basis is decision on the "good book" and then backs Steele who is not strong on life. WOW.

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  44. Thanks Kim!



    best Committeewoman ever?

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  45. Wasn't Steele a supporter of Romney. Yep, Iowa will be sunk since Romney hates Iowa since he lost.

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  46. Blackwell knows who his supporters are Al....I doubt they'd go to Dawson.

    There's been some horse tradin here.. Could we see a Steele/Blackwell chair/co-chair deal here???

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  47. Steele was a Giuliani supporter.

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  48. 2:17---That is WORSE than being a Romney guy.

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  49. That would be a very interesting turn of events...Obama the de facto leader of the Dems...being opposed by Steele/Blackwell if they're chair/co-chair?

    Would definately signal a new day in American politics.

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  50. Anuzis is a Romney proxy...Steele is a RINO Giuliani supporter...Blackwell is the sort of establishment conservative who just plays ball with whatever the party tells him to do for a seat at the table.

    Anuzis or Steele winning means the end of the Iowa Caucuses as we've known them, and it wouldn't have mattered who supported him.

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  51. Scheffler and Lehman need to pay for this one. Their hostility means the caucuses never had a chance. Their days should be numbered in those positions.

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  52. So Steele picks up Blackwell's 15..and 4 of Anuzis's votes.

    Dawson only gets 7 of Saul's votes.

    The devil is in details of the deal here folks

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  53. Saul is out, back nobody! wow

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  54. I wish people, and who knows they could be named Doug or Bruce (or work for guys named that) for example, would stop attacking the same people over and over again anonymously.

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  55. horsecrap, Deace! that will be the psyco wing of the party's line if we lose the caucuses, "oh it was going to happen anyway" Bull, Kim went way out of her way to try to defeat Steele

    lehman's record as committeewoman 0-2-1

    I agree with 2:14 BCWE,

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  56. Saul withdraws..DOES NOT endorse any of the other two...

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  57. Who cares. We deserve to lose the caucuses. The right wing nut jobs made it take a nosedive a long time ago. Face it, our stupid wackjob nuts lost the caucuses for us.

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  58. Here's a question..has an RNC Chair election ever gone this far? To a 6th ballot???

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  59. Surprise, surprise, surprise. None of them are good enough for Deace. No surprises here. The guy is consistent. We're going to have to wait for Jesus to run and then he probably won't be good enough either.

    Deace, why don't you run? You're the only perfect person alive. We need you.

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  60. Duncan Hunter would have been a perfect candidate.

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  61. I'll think about running when you have the stones to post your real identity, like I do every time I give an opinion.

    Deal?

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  62. By the way, I'm simply analyzing candidates strengths and weaknesses.

    Steele is a great communicator, but he's moderate to liberal on the issues your base cares the most about.

    Anuzis is presiding over a Republican Party that can't defeat liberals, even in a state the Democrats have all but ruined. He is a Romney proxy, and his election probably means the end of the Iowa Caucuses if you look at his history.

    Dawson I don't know much about.

    Duncan presided over the last set of electoral failures.

    Saltsman I have never met, spoken to, and don't know much about. I wasn't incredibly impressed with him on television.

    Blackwell had all the right endorsements, but it's obvious he couldn't mobilize a campaign to win the race.

    Those are truthful observations. Am I lying, or have I become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

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  63. old southerner vs black guy

    come on GOP, this should be a no brainer from a PR perspective

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  64. how is Steele liberal?

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  65. Deace: You're not a Republican. You hate Republicans. You work to get Democrats elected. You voted Obama so why do you hang out here?

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  66. Steele is not a liberal.

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  67. So you think they should pick the old southerner?

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  68. How is Steele liberal??? Two words: Rudy Guiliani.

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  69. Dude, you forgot to mention I'm fat. Oh yeah, you forgot to post with your real name, too.

    Just an oversight, I'm sure.

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  70. could someone please explain to me what the NON RIGHT WING NUTJOBS that claim to vote republican believe in?

    I never hear what they do believe in that makes them an R.

    If they believe in the d platform, why don't they go whole hog and actually be one.

    WTF?

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  71. steele is a liberal because he's pro-kill. life has no value to libs. they are just tissue. like fingernail clippings to be tossed away.

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  72. so Steele is pro choice? or is he just not a life at conception person?

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  73. looks like we have a Steele Chair :)

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  74. being a romney guy is way worse than being a rudy guy. Rudy at least told you the truth about his policy beliefs. He never tried to portray himself as anything other than he was. A pro-gay, pro-kill politician.

    Romney lied about being a pro-gay, pro-kill politician.

    Rudy didn't lie. Romney did.

    Funny how all the Romney/Nussle guys are now working the Rants/Rastetter campaign.

    I recall the Romney/Nussle campaigns were both characterized by snottiness.

    Who is the person who leads the snotty strategy? The same personality characterizes the campaigns those same people work on.

    Hmmmm.....

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  75. The only snottiness seen in the primaries was Huckabee and his "I'm the real Christian" campaign.

    Hey, don't Mormons think Michael Steele is the devil's brother?

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  76. in 2009 Black is in

    its like the new soccer mom or something

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  77. Deace, did you really vote for Obama?

    Serious question from a self-admitting, nameless, pud-pulling, basment dweller.

    I didn't post my name, but at least told you more about me than my name could ever dream to do.

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  78. Sarah Palin supported McCain
    Deace supported Obama
    whose the real conservative?

    from basement dweller #2

    coming mom!

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  79. If I did vote for Obama, wouldn't your goal as a party be to woo me back? What happened to all that big tent talk and expanding the base?

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  80. Deace, why are you dodging the question? All I did was ask if you voted for Obama. I don't believe I suggested anything else.

    If you did vote for Obama, then yes, it would be my goal to "woo" you back. I would blame myself first and truely don't see a reason to blame you. If we, as Republicans, can't count on your vote, then we really need to do some soul searching.

    Please don't put your guard up so quickly and quit assuming that everyone who make a comment about you on this blog is "anti-Deace".

    Sincerely sincere,

    The self-admitting, nameless, pud-pulling, basment dweller.

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  81. Deace, actually the goal is to leave people like you behind. The party is moving on... and it's about time.

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  82. I'm not dodging questions...I voted for the lesser of two evils. I've been clear as mud on that. You're dodging your name. As are many of you. You come on these blogs, tear people down, and do so gutlessly without using your name. And you often do so by utilizing the very tactics you're accusing the people you don't like of using.

    The real question why would you vote for someone who had the record McCain had that I cited and sourced the whole way, and then still throw stones at Democrats? The real question is, again, if I did vote for Obama why doesn't the "big tent" strategy apply to me?

    I appreciate the dialogue. We can continue it in person sometime if you would like.

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  83. So, you want to be inclusive of everyone, except for social conservatives like Deace.

    Nice one, hypocrite.

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  84. Dude, the party left me behind a long time ago. And given the voter registration numbers in Iowa, I'm obviously not alone.

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  85. 3:40--we already moved left this election cycle with McCain and guess what?---We Lost. If it wasn't for are so-called "Nut jobs" we would have lost the election in 2000 and 2004. Karl Rove said that he found every So-Con in Ohio and that is how we won. So Lay off!!!!

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  86. Deace is a very pathetic figure. He despises everyone. No one is worth his support--except Huckabee, of course.

    His goal is to make himself look like God by tearing down everyone else.

    He is to be pitied. Read his post about the candidates. It sums up Deace.

    I will not change.

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  87. Why would it be our responsibility to "woo back" a hypocrite like Deace..

    He's the perfect example of "Do as I say..not as I do"...

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  88. Sorry. It should have read, "IT will not change."

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  89. I just cringe when I think of all the money that was spent on this election. Serriously, Ive seen reports that some people spent in excess of $1,000,000 on a race with a total electorate of 168 votes … That’s almost $6,000 per vote in the RNC … That’s CRAZY!

    The Iowa GOP is broke and the RNC isn’t a whole lot better and here we have candidates for RNC Chair spending that much on a campaign for a total of 168 votes? Did any of the candidates just think of picking up the phone and calling through the list of RNC voters? Did they really need to spend that much on their campaigns?

    Im not bashing any of the candidates, that’s the game they were forced to play. What upsets me is that they were forced to play that game by all of us. We ask stupid questions like “gee, you want to be RNC Chair? Well how much money do you plan to flush down the drain on your campaign to win 85 votes?”

    As a party and a movement, we really need to start rethinking our priorities … This whole thing reminds me of a multi-million dollar campaign for High School Class President. Seriously, even the RPI Chairman’s election was this bad. What did Strawn and Carroll spend on their campaign, $300? $400? Most of that in gas money traveling and web design? This could be one of those cases where the RNC could actually learn something from RPI.

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  90. Why doesnt the "big tent" strategy apply to you Steve..

    Because you hypocrite..you scream on the radio about Republicans who don't agree with 100% of the platform...asking them if they support killing 80% of a baby in the womb..

    And then you go vote for the candidate who has been hailed by NARAL as the most "pro-choice" candidate to ever run for President.

    If FOCA gets to Obama's desk..its game over for the pro-life movement you dolt. Abortion will be the LAW of the land. Don't need the SCOTUS to overturn Roe V. Wade. We'll have a nice fresh federal law that authorizes killing babies.

    And you voted for that dolt..all while tearing down our candidates who are pro-life like McCain..Miller-Meeks..etc

    You're the worst kind of hypocrite that's out there. We don't need you in our party Steve. If you want to be a Democrat..fine go ahead. See if they'll listen to your rantings about secular humanism...

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  91. Where does Deace get his ratings? I haven't listened to him since his rant on Nov. 4 about why he voted for Obama.

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  92. Deace, you are totally wrong in basing your every argument/retort/defense/weak-offense on calling for blog posters to sign their names to their postings.

    This _is_ a blog and blogs get their free-flow give and take _because_ the posters can be anonymous.

    The problem is not the anonymous posters, it is your inability to accept the unwritten protocols-du-blog. If you don't like the anonymity of the guys who're calling you names, then you might feel more comfortable not reading - and most certainly, not posting-on - blogs.

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  93. good point

    according to the Deace philosophy, don't support Guiliani, Romney or McCain because they are strong enough on abortion, but Obama... he's my man

    idiotic

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  94. wait isn't Krusty anonymous

    another deace hypocracy

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  95. Except Deace knows who Krusty is. And he gets to talk to Krusty directly. Whether or not Krusty chooses to let you know who he is, well that's entirely up to Krusty.

    What is kind of cool, though, is that staffers for RINOs who are now out of work have plenty of time to post anonymously on this blog. You guys need jobs. Oh, wait, RINOs always get their arses kicked, so you're posting here instead.

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  96. So that guy has a radio show? I have never heard of it nor him except for his comments here. I hope to hell nobody that listens to him thinks he's a spokesperson for the GOP. My God the very thought is frightening.

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  97. One of Obama’s first action was to open up U.S. funding for foreign abortions and let’s not forget about Deace basically endorsing Culver for Governor.

    Culver was endorsed in the primary by Planned Parenthood, a first ever in an Iowa primary for Governor.

    Culver is a Planned Parenthood hero. And for their support he came through. He has given those baby murderers more money than any Iowa Governor ever.

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  98. We as a Republic have great problems to overcome right now, problems that go way beyond the single-issue of abortion.

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  99. that's right RINO's always get their Arse kicked is that's why Huckabee won the Republican nomination for president, oh that's right he didn't

    well at least BVP won the the primary...nope wrong 2X

    However, there is Danny Carroll as Chair of the Republican Party of Io...Damn it!

    Do we social conservatives win anything?

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  100. kiss my arse clearly has a big fat ass. oohhhh I'm so terrified by a pundit. It's sooooo scary. Oh my oh my. I'm frightened by free speech.

    How do you feel about Obama's desire to silence talk radio? Are you signed on to that?

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  101. Deace is damning everybody for not being brave like he is and listing their names- Oh please. Everybody else is using the blog for its intended purpose: expression without fear. DEACE IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO IS USING THIS BLOG TO BUILD HIS OWN CAREER. Yep, these obnoxious, controversial statements are his products. He uses his own name because it constitutes advertising for his show and mercenary recruiting of listeners. He's promoting himself- everybody else is blogging.

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  102. Why would anyone listen to him?

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  103. I make it a point to let his advertisers know I won't shop at their place of business.

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  104. Fine- don't shop where advertisers support Deace- gives me more space to do my shopping.

    And besides- those of you who hijack the comment section with your off the subject comments- I wish you would take a long, cold hike!

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  105. I think we are starting to find out that the "Deace Wing" of the party is hot happy with any candidates for any office (be it RNC Chair, President, or RPI chair.)

    Deace mentions the "party left him a long time ago." Fine, move on and go create another one.

    I for one am a social conservative - but I love the fact that the RINO's are handing the Deace wing of our party their butt's of late..

    Deace is preaching to an ever shrinking brand of conservatism - and the "watered down principles" mantra he rails on is a red herring.

    For every convert Deace brings along - he loses two, and guess what folks, that is not a formula to WIN anything....(see RNC race just completed.)

    Now back to our regular programming...

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  106. Deace is not a Republican. He despises Republicans and works against us. He claims to be this great pro-life Christian and yet he supports and votes for Obama and has worked against all Republican candidates, except Huckabee, that I know of.

    Has he ever liked any other Republican? I've never known of it. He should be thrilled with Culver.

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  107. When Steve Deace and Rush Limbaugh become the poster boys of the GOP - we are screwed.

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  108. 8:38, did you listen to Deace at all durring the 2008 elections? He had Republican legislative candidates on his program every day for like a month.

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  109. Is this the same Steve Deace who complains about those who post anonymously, but will never disclose the last name of his co-host to protect her identity?

    The same Steve Deace who preaches about morality, but actively promotes the films produced by the far left in Hollywood?

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  110. And the same Steve Deace who voted for Obama?

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  111. And the same Steve Deace who brags about taking out a no money down 100% mortgage loan on his home?

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  112. What’s wrong with that? That’s what I did. Had I not done that, my family would have never been able to get out of our apartment and own a home. 5 years later we're doing pretty well. We've never missed a payment or been late. 100% mortgages are not the problem, the problem was with people who bought more house than they could afford and bought them on adjustable rate ad balloon plans.

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  113. Who holds Deace accountable for his actions? He's always preaching about everything that is wrong with conservative/Republican's, yet you never here much from Deace on the things he does wrong. He goes after people EVERYDAY. If I had a nickel for everytime he's mentioned Doug Gross, Nussle or Grassely on this show - I'd be one rich krustte.

    I get a kick out his "followers", they claim they don't drink the kool-aid on a political level, yet lap up every drop of Deace's brew!!

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  114. Question: Has pro-life Deace ever voted for a prolife candidate?

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  115. After all we’ve been through in this financial crisis which was clearly caused by 2 million home buyers who were enticed by greedy commission chasers into becoming home buyers prematurely due to an abundance of "easy money"...could we still have NOT learned our lesson?

    The same Steve Deace who's the co-owner of a home mortgage company making no-money down loans?

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