Fred Malek led Northwest Airlines and Marriott, served in the Office of Management and Budget, worked as a Special Assistant to President Nixon, and was a member of Sen. John McCain’s leadership team during the presidential campaign.
Oh, and for two years he’s been blogging.
Malek’s most recent post takes a critical look at the leaders of the Republican Party, pondering which 10 elephants are marching the party forward now or have the promise to do so in the future.
Malek throws CBO Director Doug Elmendorf, a Democrat, into the list for his “character and courage” in scoring the Democrats’ health care proposals accurately–e.g. giving them terrible marks. President Obama called Elmendorf to the White House–presumably for a chew out/charm session–and hopefully the budget wonk will stick to his guns and continue to do his job admirably. Elmendorf, meanwhile, stated on his blog that the meeting won’t affect CBO’s work.
2009 gubernatorial candidates Bob McDonnell (Virginia) and Chris Christie (New Jersey) made the list. Both men are leading in this year’s only two state-wide races, perhaps looking for a repeat of “1993 with the victories of George Allen in Virginia and Christie Todd Whitman in New Jersey.”
In the list of tomorrow’s leaders, Malek points to two now-familiar names: Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty. He also, however, picks out Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi, who took over the Republican Governors Association from Mark Sanford after his Argentine scandal. Making the list as well are moderate GOPers (and probable Senate candidates) Charlie Crist, Mark Kirk, and Mike Castle, as well as Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan who holds an influential position as ranking member of the House Budget Committee.
Read more of Malek’s analysis here.
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