Republican National Committee Confirms Washburne as National Finance Chairman
We recently got around to reporting in the paper that Highland Park resident Ray Washburne, the managing partner of Highland Park Village, had been nominated for the position of national finance chairman with the Republican National Committee. Well, word came down last week that the gig is officially his. So, anybody care to guess which candidate Washburne will be drumming up cash for at the top of the GOP ticket in 2016?
Dan Branch. Right on the heels of his Texas school finance reform victory.
From state representative to U.S. president? That seems like a steep gradient.
Great choice, Rising Star! I would vote for Dan Branch in a heartbeat.
Steep gradient? Oh right, the guy in the seat now was a U.S. Senator for 6 months before he decided to run…. Clearly, experience is not a requirement for the job.
“Community Organizer” to “President” seemed less likely.
@Rising Star, Hopefully we have learned something from that debacle. Hopefully, Americans won’t make the same mistake twice.
The Republican Party has lost the popular vote in five of the past six presidential elections, going all the way back to 1992. That’s astounding. It’s no longer a mere trend, it has become the norm. The Republican candidate actually winning the popular vote for president would now be an anomaly.
Washburne will do fine raising $$$, as Republicans always do. It isn’t heavy lifting, after all, and financial competitiveness is not the problem.
@John Galt. Obama was an Illinois State Senator from 1997–2004, somewhat like Dan Branch, and then a U.S. Senator from 2005–2008. He announced his candidacy in 2007, not 2005. Several steps in that “steep gradient” of yours.
@Rising Star. There were also several professional steps between community organizer and legislator, including receiving a law degree at the same school as did Ted Cruz, practicing law, which Dan Branch also does, and teaching constitutional law at Robert Bork’s former law school.
You like Branch and don’t like Obama. I get it.
Popular vote = vote who feels most entitled to a handout. Is this a great country or what? #tippingpoint
I thought Dan Branch was born in Canada.
@CDO, you write “Popular vote = vote who feels most entitled to a handout.” No, popular vote = popular vote, meaning the people who vote. I didn’t misunderstand this in civics class, but repubs have lost the popular vote in five of the past six presidential elections. Seems to be what we call at the 19th hole a salient point.
@”FactChecker” I stated “he decided to run.” I did not say “he announced his candidacy.” As I am sure you are aware and will admit, those that run for office begin doing so long before they officially declare it. Both Obama and Branch have very limited experience, but that does not seem to be a critical item for voters.
@Jackson As long as we have the electoral college, the national popular vote is technically irrelevant.
@John Galt. Did you read Obama’s mind as to when “he decided to run?” As you will admit, those that run for office begin considering it long before they decide. Perhaps Dan Branch is considering a national run. Perhaps you are.
I don’t agree that Obama has “very limited experience,” but you’re right that experience may not be a requirement: Massachusetts Republicans have selected a Senatorial candidate who bragged that he had no experience in office.
@”FactChecker” He was officially quoted as early as 2006 that he was considering a run for president. Many in the press were discussing it in 2005.
Gomez: US Naval Academy, Navy Pilot, Navy SEAL, HBS MBA, successful career in financial services, part of which was working for Erskine Bowles. He has contributed to Obama and several other Democrats. Seems like enough experience to be 1 of 100 senators. Doesn’t mean that he would get my vote.
@CDO..It sure is a great country. Growing up, I was on a public food program, what about it? I received, and now I give back as much as possible.
Some folks need help, it worked with me. Not everyone is as blessed as a few who are given what they have, just because. It would seem Republicans could find candidates that voters can identify with. For disclosure, I vote for Republicans and Democrats.
@John Galt, or should I say “John Galt.” So we agree. Obama was *considering a run* in 2006 but we do not know that he had decided to run. And since Gomez’s previous political experience was a failed run for town selectman, experience *in office* was not “a critical item for voters” in the MA Republican party.
@John Galt, you write that “As long as we have the electoral college, the national popular vote is irrelevent.” Not true. The popular vote in any given state determines who wins the electoral college vote from that state. Far from being irrevelent, technically or otherwise, the popular vote is, in fact, intrinsically linked to the electoral college vote.