Putting Steele in HUD sounds like something Clinton would've done "hey, let's put the black guy over at HUD and call it progress!" Reeks of a ploy to me, whether it is or not, I think that's how it would be perceived.

speaking for the RNC is a way better idea...what would his hard-core responsibilities include and does he have the background for them? What did he do before he was Lt.Gov? I thought there was something about a monastery or something...I like what I've seen from him and would like to know more.

Seriously, can you even begin to picture it? For the next two years at every big event - starting with the '07 SOTU, we get to hear bitching and vein popping from the Scream and extremely well articulated Republican points from Steele...and I'll be blunt about it...blacks would see white ex-governor of lily white VT and black ex-LtGov of MD...also partially a racial ploy, but if everyone just treats him like the head of the RNC instead of the black head of the RNC (like the Democrats would do - hey looks it's black senator obama!), which is how it should be, pretty soon it would be seamless, as it should be.

I think I like this idea more and more the more I think about it. There has to be some more digging, though, first, because he's come out against Bush on stuff and we can't have infighting for the next two years if R's want to accomplish anything. Just look how fast people went from 'Colin Powell for President!' to 'Can you believe what Colin Powell said?' His being black or being well-spoken shouldn't be 'enough'. Hopefully the rest of the package is appealing. And it should happen soon.

No. No. No. I really respected Steele's efforts in Maryland this year, but the fetish with this guy has to stop.

The GOP needs the best possible guy to lead the RNC for the next two to four years. A smart strategist, a good fundraiser and a policy maven with an appealing public image. While Steele would probably score decently on most of these points, I seriously doubt he is the best guy in the country for this post.

Steele's Senate race was largely sound and fury signifying nothing. Steele did not perform all that well the race, given the non-entity he was running against. African-Americans did not rally around him as many had hoped. Someone like Gilcrist or Ehlich could have also lost the Senate race by 10 points (or less) against Cardin.

But maybe not...I think that's the point people are making. The Dems put an insane leftist in charge and we made fun of him for years...and his party just grabbed a second third of the federal government from the supposedly super organized and detail oriented mehlam and mastermind rove. I agree that we need heavies in the backroom doing the day to day strategy, making sure the bills get paid, making sure the donations pour in...but maybe it's time to take a page from the popularity-contest party and put an articulate, reasonably well-liked guy out there as the 'face' of the party. See the difference?

kewgardens has a good point, even if he downplays Steele's campaign a bit - certainly, he didn't draw the required proportion of the black vote to win.

But beyond that, Steele campaigned on his independence and differences from the White House on a variety of issues. Of course, such a stance was his only chance in dark blue Maryland, but it would be an awkward one to occupy upon taking the reins of the RNC.

If he were able and willing, though, we can get people for the nuts and bolts. Mehlman was good enough to handle both ends, media and mechanics, but that is unusual, historically. Take Dean, for example. Democrats had a couple of Mehlman types in the past - McAuliffe and Ron Brown were both quiet adept at the detail work - but both sides generally prefer a good media presence as the primary qualification for the chairmanship.