Needing A Newt Party

Newt running the GOP? Great idea.

Newt Gingrich has let it be known that, if Republicans want him, the former U.S House speaker is willing to serve as chairman of the national party and lead it out of the wilderness it’s blundered into.

The question is whether the 168-member Republican National Committee is open to the match.

“If a majority of the RNC thought he was needed, he would accept that appointment,” said Randy Evans’ Gingrich’s close friend and legal counsel. “He fully appreciates the urgency of the moment.”

He's conservative, smart, and competent - the last attribute being in particularly short supply. And he's not currently an RNC member. Meaning that he'd represent change. Newt ideas.

What might strike some as coyness is in fact caution. The odds are stacked against the former Georgia congressman, for several reasons.

For one thing, six days after the election of Barack Obama and substantial gains by Democrats in the House and Senate, Republicans have yet to decide whether a serious overhaul of the party is required.

Business as usual sound like a good idea? A party running so close to the middle that it fails to differentiate itself from Democrats - except to be viewed as less competent?

If a revolution is in order, then there’s the small matter of which side is issued the pitchforks, and whose castle is to be stormed. Is this a fight to purge moderates, or a battle to expand the tent?

“The RNC has to do some soul-searching and decide what level of change is necessary,” Evans said. “If that answer is bold, energetic change led by someone who has done it before, then Newt would be a good choice.”

If the party is eying a shift toward the middle, Evans added, “that isn’t Newt.”

Though he retains his reputation as a polarizing figure, Gingrich served as a sideline strategist for the GOP during the presidential season. He pointed McCain to the issue of offshore drilling. But Gingrich also helped generate skepticism over the Wall Street bailout — which McCain and other Senate Republicans supported.

A January decision is expected.

Joe Go

Where does Joe Goe? It's a tough situation for the Democrats - who want to punish Joe Lieberman for supporting McCain, but who will be able to use his help on some key votes down the road.

Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who spent the weekend campaigning with Republican presidential nominee John McCain, has returned to Washington to face the music.

Lieberman, now an independent but for years a Democratic senator, still caucuses with Democrats and chairs the prestigious Homeland Security Committee.

That may change however. Democrats were not happy with Lieberman's support of his friend, McCain, and especially for his appearance at the Republican National Convention, where he questioned Barack Obama's fitness to be commander-in-chief. (See above.)

Lieberman met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Thursday. After the meeting, Reid released a statement: "Today Senator Lieberman and I had the first of what I expect to be several conversations. No decisions have been made. While I understand that Senator Lieberman has voted with Democrats a majority of the time, his comments and actions have raised serious concerns among many in our caucus," Reid said. "I expect there to be additional discussions in the days to come, and Senator Lieberman and I will speak to our caucus in two weeks to discuss further steps."

But do the Dems still need Lieberman? It appears that they will have 56 solid votes in the next Senate, so a majority isn't a problem. But Lieberman's assistance will be crucial to reach the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster, so Reid will have to play this carefully.