Republican and Conservative political analysis and commentary

The Hill reports that former Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who resigned from Congress earlier this year after being indicted on political money-laundering charges and also under a cloud because of his connections to shady lobbyist Jack Abramoff, has "announced the launch of an Internet-based grassroots organization aimed at raising money and uniting Republican activists to take back and hold the GOP majority in Congress, according to a release today."

The new organization, comparable to the left’s MoveOn.org, is called GAIN (Grassroots, Action, and Information Network) and will be hosted on www.tomdelay.com, a blog that will feature comments from DeLay and other conservative bloggers and activists.

Forgive me for saying so, but is Tom DeLay really the guy Republicans want and/or need as the public face of the new Republican insurgency? DeLay is, number one, a great political organizer and strategist - a political pit bull. But he's also polarizing, and a big fat target for Democrats and the liberal media. As a long-time Washington insider, DeLay doesn't fit the profile of an outsider to lead the Republicans back from the wilderness. Republicans don't need to be lead by the guy the Democrats hate the most - they need to be lead by someone who, without compromising conservative principles, can gain the support of moderate Democrats the way that guy named Ronald Reagan did two decades ago.

DeLay isn't, and never will be, that guy.

But give him props for trying.

The Hill says "GAIN’s goal is to unite conservatives in "restoring American government to its constitutional roots and advancing the conservative first principles of order, justice and freedom."

The site was developed and set to launch before the Nov. 7 elections, but the Republicans’ heavy midterm losses prompted DeLay to alter the concept to "reflect the need for Republicans to change course."

"The Democrats didn’t win this election, Republicans lost it, and the most important lesson we can take from our defeat is that conservatives must act on our first principles," DeLay said in the release.  "We must organize and act to protect the very principles of order, justice, and freedom that are the touchstones of our nation’s founding, and that’s what the blog and GAIN will work to accomplish."

The organization will strive to develop support in every congressional district, allowing GAIN to play "an active role in local, state and federal political life by effectively advocating for conservative first principles at every level of government."

According to the website, members of GAIN will receive weekly notices and event alerts, insider political information on the 110th Congress, and the opportunity to participate in "monthly online strategy sessions" with DeLay and others.

"As the Democrats have clearly figured out, grassroots activism and communication are critically important components of any successful political movement.  If the past two election cycles have taught us anything, it’s that a strong, focused, and activated grassroots network is key to achieving victory," DeLay said.  "This entire operation is designed around finding conservative individuals in each congressional district and motivating them to act on behalf of our principles."

It would be easier, of course, if DeLay had held on to conservative principles when he was House Majority Leader, rather than worked so hard to hold on to power by selling the party to K Street. Republicans might still hold the Congress today.

Update: Beldar says, "I don't think he's been a productive public face for the Republican Party, though, nor an appropriately parsimonious steward of the public piggy-bank. We'll see how he turns out as a blogger.

Update: The Dallas Morning News notes that DeLay's "G.A.I.N." blogosphere network will have an annual membership fee. That's nuts.

Update: The Washington Times report on DeLay's new blog quotes David All, spokesman for Rep. Jack Kingston, Georgia Republican and one of the more tech-savvy staffers on Capitol Hill, as saying that DeLay's controversial image will help make the blog a big hit.

"He just infuriates the left," said All. That rage will help make Mr. DeLay's political blog an instant sensation, he said. "On the right, no one questions his agenda. He is conservative, he believes in our party," he said.

Oddly, Mr. All said, being cast into the minority could open the blogosphere more to Republicans as they grope for any sort of political power. "You really need to be in the minority to get the Internet," he said. "Democrats had it four years ago with Howard Dean. Republicans now have a great opportunity, and that's what Tom DeLay can play into."

I respect Rep. Kingston and his staff for their understanding of the new media, but I stand by my original gut reaction: Tom DeLay's blog may be a success in terms of traffic, but DeLay is the wrong guy to have as the online face of the Republican insurgency.

Update: The Hill  has a follow-up story on DeLay and his new blog.