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You are here: Home / Economics / C.R.E.A.M. / You are a magnet, I am Steele

You are a magnet, I am Steele

by DougJ|  October 16, 20102:23 pm| 37 Comments

This post is in: C.R.E.A.M., Politics

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Crooked Timber points out that something remarkable has happened with respect to outside spending by Republicans in the 2010 elections: most of it is coming from 527s and 501c’s, rather than from the RNC, RSCC, and NRSC, as it traditionally has (“outside spending” here is defined to be spending done by someone other than the candidate’s own committee). Here’s a comparison of 2006 and 2010 outside spending.

Some of this may be a result of the demise of the RNC. National committees tend to raise a lot more money when they control the White House and having Michael Steele at the top of the RNC can’t help. Karl Rove’s Crossroads group in particular may be a magnet for money that would normally have gone to the RNC; it’s possible that when they put Haley Barbour back in charge of the RNC, this will all change.

But it’s also possible that this represents a sea change, that the Republican party committees are on their way to marginalization. These things are complicated, but Citizens United, the outsourcing of Republican messaging to Fox and talk radio, and the rise of an alternatively branded conservative pseudoparty (I’m talking about teatards here) may mean that in the future the Republican party will not be a political party in the usual sense, that instead of being controlled by party operatives acting as filters (or pass throughs) for special interest influence, it will be run directly by corporations and conservative media, with no middle man at all.

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Reader Interactions

37Comments

  1. 1.

    Nick

    October 16, 2010 at 2:31 pm

    Clearly, if Obama had used the bully pulpit…

  2. 2.

    Bob Loblaw

    October 16, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    I think it’s probably just a leadership issue, and not a wholesale structural shift. Barbour’s RGA has been doing very well this cycle.

  3. 3.

    Violet

    October 16, 2010 at 2:35 pm

    If Cheney becomes truly dead, rather than walking dead, would that change things?

    How long does Michael Steele’s term run? Will he be around after the elections?

  4. 4.

    Michael

    October 16, 2010 at 2:36 pm

    This is getting spooky. This looks like Sinclair’s vision of fascism in America in mid-happening.

  5. 5.

    DougJ is the business and economics editor for Balloon Juice.

    October 16, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    @Bob Loblaw:

    Good point.

  6. 6.

    Stillwater

    October 16, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    it will be run directly by corporations and conservative media, with no middle man at all.

    First off – and most importantly – Awesomest post title ever.

    Secondarily, I’m not sure I follow your suggestion. Fox News is all about puppet theater. And insofar as Rove represents a challenge to the GOP establishment, it’s because he wants to be the gatekeeper, not because he wants to eliminate gatekeeping.

  7. 7.

    Cermet

    October 16, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    But corporations are people, too. Just ask AO Roberts (note: his ass is for rent, cheap.)

  8. 8.

    Michael

    October 16, 2010 at 2:42 pm

    @Violet:

    If Cheney becomes truly dead, rather than walking dead, would that change things?

    No, it makes it worse. Wretched as he is, there is actually some measure of restraint that his presence imposes on the teatards. Without that, the psychosis that drives the right will be complete.

    At that point, it will be a potent form of Bircher bullshit in the drivers’ seat, with the ignoranc connivance and support of a GOP mainstream that has been conditioned over the past 30 years to believe an incomprehensible mix of incongruent and stupid economic theories.

  9. 9.

    DougJ is the business and economics editor for Balloon Juice.

    October 16, 2010 at 2:43 pm

    @Stillwater:

    But Rove has no official role in the Republican party. I guess you’re right he’s a gate keeper of sorts, though.

  10. 10.

    arguingwithsignposts

    October 16, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    @DougJ is the business and economics editor for Balloon Juice.:
    I think you should provide us a link to all your title refs., DougJ. For some reason, I thought of Stevie Nicks’ “Leather and Lace.”

  11. 11.

    Davis X. Machina

    October 16, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    In the present business climate it appears that owning outright, rather than renting through an agent, is the way to go.

  12. 12.

    CT Voter

    October 16, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    Wait. Haley’s not running for president?

    You just ruined my day.

  13. 13.

    MikeJ

    October 16, 2010 at 2:51 pm

    @arguingwithsignposts: Walter Egan, Magnet and Steel.

    I may be wrong, but I seem to remember that Linda Ronstadt sang backup on it.

  14. 14.

    CT Voter

    October 16, 2010 at 2:52 pm

    @arguingwithsignposts: 80s music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GYyEaQnT60

  15. 15.

    Citizen_X

    October 16, 2010 at 2:54 pm

    @Michael: I’m sorry, I don’t understand: Cheney provides restraint?

    Cheney was last thought to be an “Establishment Republican” way back when he was on the Bush 2000 ticket. Since then, he’s been one of the most radical politicians, foreign-policy-wise, and (along with his thug daughter) is admired by, what, 10% of the population? Other than being outflanked to his right by pro-genocide types like Pam Atlas or Michael Savage, I don’t see the restraint here.

    @arguingwithsignposts: maybe a mix tape is called for.

  16. 16.

    mistermix

    October 16, 2010 at 2:55 pm

    Now, I told you, so you ought to know:

    The NRCC is just coming off a huge mismangement scandal, so that and Steele might be reasons why this is a one-time thing.

  17. 17.

    DougJ is the business and economics editor for Balloon Juice.

    October 16, 2010 at 2:57 pm

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    Link.

  18. 18.

    Steve

    October 16, 2010 at 3:03 pm

    @DougJ is the business and economics editor for Balloon Juice.: Rove sure failed his gatekeeper test on Christine O’Donnell. Also witness his failed campaign to get the GOP to be something other than the anti-Latino party. I’m starting to think his most effective role is as official bogeyman for the left.

  19. 19.

    Ross Hershberger

    October 16, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    So which is the dog and which is the tail? I thought Fox just regurgitated GOP talking points, but maybe now they’re originating them and Steele & co have to follow.

  20. 20.

    arguingwithsignposts

    October 16, 2010 at 3:08 pm

    @DougJ is the business and economics editor for Balloon Juice.: @CT Voter:
    @MikeJ

    Thanks. Song I know, but never knew the title of. And definitely, a mixtape is called for.

  21. 21.

    am

    October 16, 2010 at 3:09 pm

    http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/theclog/2010/10/07/nc-gop-declares-victory-nearly-a-month-before-the-election/

    Apparently the NC GOP is already sending out invitations to its 2010 victory party. You really want to see that kind of overconfidence get knocked down a little, but I fear the worst.

  22. 22.

    Ross Hershberger

    October 16, 2010 at 3:10 pm

    I think it’s partially a leadership issue. I’ve been waiting for 2 years for a new central command to develop in the GOP. If there is one after McGrumpy’s humiliating defeat in 2008 they’re well hidden.
    The GOP is busy trying to keep its rebellious colony Teatardia under control. That’s reducing their focus and wasting their resources. They were a well oiled machine under Rove but now one of the wheels wants to go off in its own direction and things just aren’t working as efficiently.

  23. 23.

    Wile E. Quixote

    October 16, 2010 at 3:13 pm

    @Violet:

    If Cheney becomes truly dead, rather than walking dead, would that change things?

    I won’t be sure he’s dead until they cut his head off and bury him at a crossroads with his mouth full of garlic under the light of a full moon. Damnit. If we could just find those coffins full of his native soil that he sleeps in we’d have it made.

  24. 24.

    MikeJ

    October 16, 2010 at 3:13 pm

    @Ross Hershberger: I think they’d have an easier time keeping the teatards under control if the chair of the RNC wasn’t, well, you know, it’s not that they’re racist or anything….

  25. 25.

    Karen

    October 16, 2010 at 3:14 pm

    So how long until the corporations stop funding behind the scenes and just own the country directly?

  26. 26.

    Wile E. Quixote

    October 16, 2010 at 3:20 pm

    @Stillwater:

    First off – and most importantly – Awesomest post title ever.

    I don’t know, I still think that It’s Only a Paper, Moon is better but that this is pretty damned excellent.

    I have this dream where I get on Jeopardy and the topics are “Comic Books”, “Science Fiction”, “Astronomy”, “American History” and “UNIX commands” and I just clean up and own the place. I have this nightmare where I get on Jeopardy and one of those topics has been replaced with “Popular Song Lyrics” and that my opponent is DougJ (DougJ is the business and economics editor of Balloon Juice) and I’m forced to say, on national television, “I got nothin here Alec”.

  27. 27.

    Ross Hershberger

    October 16, 2010 at 3:25 pm

    @Karen:

    So how long until the corporations stop funding behind the scenes and just own the country directly?

    Already in the works. Look for that in Year of the Trial Size Dove Bar, Q2.

  28. 28.

    El Cid

    October 16, 2010 at 3:25 pm

    This

    instead of being controlled by party operatives acting as filters (or pass throughs) for special interest influence, it will be run directly by corporations and conservative media, with no middle man at all

    Is exactly what I have been thinking for a while.

    At least it would be a bit more honest.

  29. 29.

    arguingwithsignposts

    October 16, 2010 at 3:29 pm

    @El Cid:
    There’s some precedent in Nigeria with the oil companies here.

  30. 30.

    Wile E. Quixote

    October 16, 2010 at 3:31 pm

    @Steve:

    @DougJ is the business and economics editor for Balloon Juice.: Rove sure failed his gatekeeper test on Christine O’Donnell. Also witness his failed campaign to get the GOP to be something other than the anti-Latino party. I’m starting to think his most effective role is as official bogeyman for the left.

    Wasn’t watching him walk that back awesome? I wonder how long before Karl realizes that he’s not Mark Hanna but is instead just another hired hand on the Republican plantation.

  31. 31.

    ruemara

    October 16, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    So, just like they’ve decentralized al qeda and made it even more hard to root out, the republicans are now the pit of snakes clasped to the bosoms of america. I gotta get out of this place before it explodes.

  32. 32.

    dj spellchecka

    October 16, 2010 at 3:37 pm

    one of the thing that drives me crazy is wingers handwringing over encroaching liberal fascism…strikes me it’s the other way round….the government doesn’t own the means of production…the means of production own the goverment

  33. 33.

    Moses2317

    October 16, 2010 at 4:46 pm

    Well, isn’t a big reason for the shift that the organizations that are doing the outside spending do not have to report their donors? This gives corporate interests who are funding unpopular conservative positions cover, and also allows the unpopular messages that conservatives are pushing seem more acceptable as they are able to appear to come from organizations with pretty sounding names. For example, if Exxon sponsors an ad about hating environmental regulations, everyone would realize that it comes from a corporation with an interest in destroying the environment. However, if the same ad is sponsored by Americans United For Cute Animals, people may be fooled into finding it persuasive.

    Winning Progressive

  34. 34.

    Linda Featheringill

    October 16, 2010 at 5:06 pm

    Interesting question, Doug. Headlong into corporatism?

    It might depend on the outcome of this election. Maybe this was a trial run.

    If they spend all that money and still don’t get their way, I guess they will have to do something else. But the RNC might be toast.

    If the corporation-persons do succeed, the RNC might exist as a front but will be only a shell.

    The interests of the people?

    Interesting times.

  35. 35.

    Morbo

    October 16, 2010 at 6:22 pm

    I want to break someone’s fingers at the Sunlight Foundation. The color choice on those pie charts is inexcusable. The content of them is pretty depressing, too, but that makes me want to break someone else’s fingers.

  36. 36.

    Joey Maloney

    October 17, 2010 at 2:03 am

    @MikeJ:

    I think they’d have an easier time keeping the teatards under control if the chair of the RNC wasn’t, well, you know, it’s not that they’re racist or anything….

    Not quite right. They’d have an easier time firing him for being a grifter and a dufus if he wasn’t, you know…As long as he’s Exhibit A in the Gallery of We’re Not Racist his job is assured, no matter how obvious it is that he has neither the talent nor inclination to do it.

  37. 37.

    Porlock Junior

    October 17, 2010 at 1:02 pm

    The thesis could be wrong; the decay of the party may be a circumstance that will go away, as some sensible people have argued here. I suspect that the sensible ones are wrong here, and want to explore that idea.

    Remember a year or two ago when it seemed the Republican Party was turning into a Major Fail and looked to be falling apart, perhaps giving rise to openings to the Actual Middle (which is too damn conservative, obviously, but it’s a step) with party realignment and all? Hey, this is it, the secession of the complete lunatics from what’s left — what remains — of the party. And now that it’s here, it’s way uglier than we pictured.

    We, the old ones, knew that J Edgar Hoover was bad, but who really predicted just how ghastly he really was?

    Richard Nixon was a crook from the word Go, as we Californians knew, but you didn’t have to be Billy Graham, upset that RMN used dirty words all the time, to find some surprise value in just how vile he was.

    I will not stoop to mentioning that odd Mr. Hilter, and how some people said nasty things about the concentration camps being really wicked, so wicked that normal people didn’t imagine it and couldn’t really believe it — but the bearers of the bad news didn’t know the half of it. No possible relevance here.

    But the Republican Party now is going into its predicted collapse, and it looks to be even less of a picnic for celebration of the return of some sanity than we thought.

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