Alexander Wins GOP Conference Chairmanship
Written by Sam on December 6th, 2007
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) won a hotly contested leadership race for Republican Conference chairman today, defeating Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.).
The vote was 31-16.
In choosing a folksy moderate best known lately for trying to broker bipartisan compromises on the war in Iraq, Senate Republicans have at least for now embraced some middle ground in their leadership hierarchy.
Alexander’s ascension to the No. 3 spot in Republican leadership may come as welcome news to his friends on the Democratic side of the aisle. But he was not necessarily the choice of party conservatives who want to more firmly embrace a more ideological, fiscally conservative future for the Senate Republican conference.
Alexander’s victory completes a reshuffling in the Republican leadership brought about by the sudden retirement of Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.). Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), who was unopposed, was officially appointed as minority whip to take over from Lott, while Alexander moved up to Conference chairman to replace Kyl.
I knew Alexander was going to win this so it came as no surprise whatsoever, but overall the leadership has still moved a little to the right. With Kyl replacing Lott as Whip that puts us a step or two ahead altogether. It could have been worse.
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Come on, Kay was the best choice for this spot. At least she never stabbed Bush in the back over the War.
As our leadership goes further and further to the right risk running off a cliff in erms of mass appeal to voters.