Republican leaders announced Thursday—after leaking it before President Obama's press conference Wednesday—the creation of a new group called the National Council for a New America - not to be confused with the Project for a New American Century (PNAC).It's easier to say what the NCNA isn't than what it is. It's not a nonprofit—or a for-profit. Maybe it's non-for profit?
But, it's not a fundraising organization.
It's not a partisan apparatus or subwing of the RNC.
It's not a social gathering or a pig roast.
Maybe it's just a bunch of guys hanging out together playing darts.It is, in the words of an NCNA spokesman, "a caucus seeking to find the solutions that will improve the lives of every American." All along, we, the public, thought that was Congress. We must have been wrong.
OK. So what does the NCNA do? Over the next few months, the NCNA will hold a series of town-hall meetings around the country in order to "engage people in a discussion" and drum up new conservative policy ideas. New ones. Not the old ones. New Republican ideas, like...then there's...oh, and we can't forget.....
The point, according to one of its founders, is to "take the discussion outside of Washington, to make sure ideas shaping policy here in Washington is coming from outside and from the American people."
Sounds great. Like it was stolen from John McCain's playback during his presidential run. That went well.
So anyone can join? Yes! The NCNA is officially nonpartisan. Its introductory letter uses the word "Republican" only twice—once to emphasize that "this is not a Republican-only forum." The other to say it is a Republican idea.
So anyone can join? Yes! The NCNA is officially nonpartisan. Its introductory letter uses the word "Republican" only twice—once to emphasize that "this is not a Republican-only forum." The other to say it is a Republican idea.
So who's in charge of this nonpartisan organization?Well, Republican House Minority Whip Eric Cantor is heading it up.
Then there's House Minority Leader John Boehner, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Haley Barbour, Jeb Bush, Bobby Jindal, Mike Pence, Pete Sessions, Roy Blunt, Mitch McConnell, Jon Kyl, Lamar Alexander, John Cornyn, and John Thune.
They've also reached out to Sarah Palin, but no word yet on whether she'll be participating. Normally, she doesn't carry a cell phone on her snow machine.
If you're wondering where the "nonpartisan" part comes in, you'll have to wait. The NCNA has not gotten around to inviting any Democrats yet. (Or to putting up a Web site, for that matter.) And no Democrats have thus far reported an interest in joining.
Dubious branding aside, the NCNA may be just what the Republican Party needs - the style of President Obama mixed with the confusion of the Republican party.
We expect very little to come from this latest effort by Republican leaders to "find themselves."
We expect very little to come from this latest effort by Republican leaders to "find themselves."
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