Republicans had a good debate yesterday at the Capital Hilton as they chose a new leader. The 168-member Republican National Committee is mysterious to even the most dedicated partisans. Each state has three members, including the territories, and each has been lobbied, interviewed and cajoled since the day after our defeat to the Democrats.  Every member of the RNC is much like any member of a community board or organization. They have long toiled as elected leaders, activists, fundraisers and the truest of believers.

Almost two thirds of the entire committee were looking for change, but they were split among four challengers to the incumbent, Mike Duncan of Kentucky, himself a long-time RNC member supported by President Bush after the 2006 Election.

They are all excellent leaders, each with their own level of expertise and life experience to show the political world that Republicans are truly vested in the story of America. One, was the son of immigrant parents who put himself through school via a job in a Detroit auto factory. Another came from a working class family whose father served in two wars and had the shrapnel to prove it. Almost all has built businesses or been successful in their fields. Some had been elected and all had done the hard work of campaigning at all levels of political combat. After the third ballot, Duncan removed  himself gracefully and the scramble ensued over three more ballots.

In the end,  Michael Steele, an energetic, charismatic African-American and former Lt. Governor from Maryland, emerged and became an historic figure without having to acknowledge it. Steele will be able to inspire candidates and raise money.  He will be managing a large political operation that has $13 million in the bank and will have to compete against a Democratic National Committee and Obama’s national political group that will have little trouble collecting its tribute from the unions, environmental groups and Hollywood denizen’s.

Mike Steele is up to it. He is not someone who mulls over the past or disappointments. He looks for ideas and answers from rank-and-file and he gives no quarter. Steele is  great on his feet and his upbeat disposition will put a charge into  Republicans everywhere and remind the voters that Republicans are the party of ideas and solutions – not  promises and programs. Now we have to make those arguments real to people and live by them when trusted to represent them in state Legislatures, City Halls and Congress. Republicans also have to become truly digital and capture the many families and voters who receive information from a variety of sources that do not interface with normal political discourse of yesteryear.

Republicans have quickly regrouped this week. Their collective and total opposition to the Obama stimulus plan – the largest single seizure of private wealth and redistribution since the New Deal, showed that Republicans are not going to play the “me-too” Democrat-light game. The public knows  government doesn’t work and they know that this plan will only enrich many of the failed liberal programs that do nothing to create wealth, change irresponsible  behavior or reward investment.

It  has taken less than two weeks for President Obama to demonize business, large and small. Vice President Biden’s “throw them in the brig” line about business leaders reveals something long suspected by Republicans – that this crew has been itching to get even, and they will plunge the economy asunder to do it. Then, the liberals get to take over the economy, pick the winners and losers and put the plutocrats and Babbitt’s in the Congressional docket when it suits them.

So the battle is joined. Republicans have dusted themselves off and have wiped  the blood from their noses.

Saturday morning, as Republicans gathered for a final breakfast at the Hilton, Steele arrived by himself, and was stopped by a young African American woman, who had heard him give a speech at the National Convention in Minneapolis. It was there that Steele had given his “drill, baby, drill”  speech which brought the conventioneers out of their torpor.

“I want to get involved if I can,” she said in an almost whisper.

The  6-4 Steele took out a card, bent over and told her to call  the office and told her about the local DC Young Republican chapter.

“Welcome aboard,” he said.