Kyl to become new minority whip?

[Berge20]

It appears so.

Rather surprised Alexander wants the Conference Chair post, especially since he is in cycle and has been looking to moderate his stances on Iraq and other items. This will just take him in the other direction entirely, as he'll have to read the Republican talking points all day.

[ChrisAJ]

[ QUOTE ]
Lurker is correct. This is really an internal matter and public efforts to move Senators in one direction or another on their own leadership structure is futile.

Alexander thought he had the Whip job lined up last time, but counted his votes wrong (funny enough) and someone flipped on him. He's the most moderate of the ones mentioned.

Kyl is effectively a Republican mouthpiece and footsoldier. He's the current #3 behind McConnell and Lott.

DeMint is the type that goes after earmarks and government waste. Probably the most truly "conservative" of the bunch from that perspective.

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I haven't checked this morning, so news may have changed, but Burr and Hutchison are both making the rounds for Conference Chair.

Kyl probably has the Whip post locked, and Alexander has apparently endorsed him - and is angling for the Conference Chair spot he would have to vacate. Ditto Berge's inference that Alexander would be a strange choice for Conference Chair.

DeMint also angling for Conference Chair, but may have rubbed too many folks the wrong way on approps and other issues.

Cornyn has apparently indicated he would like to move from Vice Chair of the Conference to Chair the Policy Committee (defering to and avoiding a fight with his senior senator by not looking for a Conference promotion).

Not sure if folks would get irked by both Texans serving in leadership (think House GOP for years...).

[whangarei]

[ QUOTE ]
Roll Call is saying that Kyl is a near-lock to be the Whip:

Sen. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) announced Monday evening that he would seek the Republican Conference chairmanship and support Sen. Jon Kyl (Ariz.) in his bid to become the next Minority Whip, a move that all but cements Kyl’s ascent into the No. 2 Republican leadership post.

source

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That really sucks. So how bad is this in terms of our chances to get pro-poker legislation passed in the Harrahs/MGM timeframe?

[Legislurker]

One Senator can do as much damage as a Republican whip. Its not big threat to us. The people who sit on Conference Committee with the House are the most important. After that it takes 60 to pass something, one to [censored] up the works.