Before a couple months ago, I probably had most of my exposure to Michael Steele through Bill Maher’s Real Time HBO show. Steele was a frequent guest, often playing the Republican foil to smarter, more successful Democrats (after all, lieutenant governor and failed Senate candidate isn’t much of a resume in the political world). Steele was at times an effective communicator in the panel discussion context because he could disagree without being disagreeable.

That, however, is a real problem with Steele qua RNC Chair. The modern Republican Party is premised on the idea that by being disagreeable with Democrats (notably the highly popular President), moderates and independents will like them. Of course that’s a bat shit crazy premise to work from (and I am totally fine with the GOP using it), but it’s a wrinkle that makes Steele’s tenure as RNC Chair likely to be short to start out with.

The problems he’s had recently of saying whatever it is his interviewer wants to hear stem directly from his desire to be agreeable.  Naturally the GOP response has been to publicly attack him for saying reasonable things that might actually help their party (EG, Limbaugh is an entertainer, abortion is a choice). That Steele is ready to correct himself with every misstep only solidifies the perception that he is a politically weak windsock who will blow whichever way his critics want him to blow.