Over at the Human Events web site, both Larry Kudlow and Jack Kemp have written articles praising the candidacy of John Shadegg (R-AZ) for the position of Majority Leader in the House of Representatives. Here is Kemp's piece and here is Kudlow's piece.

On Hugh Hewitt's web site, he has posted a short interview with Representative Shadegg under the title "Shadegg for Majority Leader".

The Club for Growth, in my view the best free-market political action organization in the country (or the world) has endorsed Shadegg, noting "Rep. Shadegg is one of only four Members of the House of Representatives to vote the pro-growth position on every key vote identified last year by the Club for Growth. To view the scorecard, click here." (Also take a look at Blunt and Boehner's records on that scorecard...don't forget Blunt is from Missouri and Boehner from Ohio.)

Now, let me be clear, if I had a vote it would go to Shadegg in a heartbeat. And I think that every passing day brings him more support. But despite that, we must recognize that he's clearly an underdog in the race. So, I urge you all to encourage your Congressman to support Shadegg, but with the caveat of "anyone but Blunt".

Roy Blunt (R-MMO) is simply too tied to the old guard, to Tom DeLay, and to big government. John Boenher (R-OH), while also a bit too entrenched for my taste and with a reputation as a big-time partier, has a consistent record of not participating earmarks although his outspoken position against them is new...probably because he's running for this job. Earmarks are the unregulated and unvoted upon pork-barrel spending projects which cause much legislation but most notoriously the Transportation Bills to balloon in cost to the taxpayer with such projects as Alaska's $230 million bridge to nowhere.

Boehner wrote this piece in the Wall Street Journal, with the catchy title of "Keep Politics Kosher: No Pork"

Roy Blunt is not a horrible guy as far as I can tell, but he's gone alone with earmarks consistently and for me that rules him out.

The next day, Shadegg has this piece in the Journal:
The Spirit of 1994
Republicans need to look again to the examples of Goldwater and Reagan.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110007828

He makes the key point that the GOP has absolutely failed in controlling the growth of government. (Shadegg was generous in not pointing to the profligate George W. Bush.)

Shadegg is clearly the best choice for the GOP and the USA, but it if seems clear that he won't win, we must encourage our Congressmen (for those of you who are represented by Republicans) to support Boehner who is the lesser of the two remaining evils (albeit not by much). Given the importance for the GOP of putting the most possible distance between themselves and the current plague of corruption, getting as close as possible to a clean sweep in the leadership is the best idea. Therefore Shaddeg is best with Boenher a distant second...anyone but Blunt!