Shadegg launches Bellweather Leadership Race

AZ Rep. Shadegg, re-elected comfortably last night, announced his bid for the Minority Leadership position in the reorganized House. Shadegg ran a dark horse leadership campaign to replace Tom DeLay as Majority Leader, losing to Rep. Boehner. Presumably, Shadegg will seek to re-launch the conservative revolution which swept him into office in 1994, his full statement is off-site:

"Last night’s election was NOT a revolution, nor was it an endorsement
of a true or real Democrat alternative. It was a rebuke of the way
Washington has conducted itself as of late. This past year, we were
presented with many opportunities to act decisively, but instead we
wavered in our responsibilities. Yet in defeat there is hope, and now
we are presented with an opportunity to reevaluate, unite, and change
course."

Shadegg appears to be one of those Republicans deeply in denial about what this election means. Many moderate Republicans see this election as a chance to reassert their leadership in the party. The coming minority leadership races in the House and Senate will be key bell-weathers for whether the GOP is going to become a more moderate and responsible party, or continue as the bomb-throwing, divisive party with a Leninist-style leadership which raised the party to the heights of power only to guide it straight into the ground. If Shadegg is elected, expect yet more of the latter.