Napolitano To States: Tell Residents To Stay Off The Roads

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano spoke via telephone on Wednesday with leaders in several states impacted by the ongoing blizzard.

Among them were Delaware Governor Jack Markell, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin, and Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty. Following the conversations, Napolitano released the following statement:

“We are continuing to monitor this winter storm closely and are infrequent communication with our state and local partners across the impacted region...I urge all residents to heed the warnings of local officials and prioritize safety by staying off the roads unless absolutely necessary. This is a team effort and we will continue to work with our partners as the storm develops and the recovery process begins.”

A statement released by DHS said that FEMA has deployed state liaison officers to the emergency operation centers in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. According to the statement, Napolitano will continue contacting additional Mayors and Governors as the storm progresses.

The National Weather Service announced that as of 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, the seasonal snowfall total in Washington, D.C. stood at 54.9 inches, breaking the previous all-time seasonal snowfall record for the city of 54.4 inches set in the winter of 1898-99.

RNC Chairman Congratulates GOP Gubernatorial Winners, Claims They Signal "Republican Renaissance"

By Laura Smith - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele congratulated new Republican Governor elects, Bob McDonnell for Virginia, and Chris Christie for New Jersey, citing their victories as signs of a "Republican renaissance."

"The Republican renaissance has begun," said Steele. “The message was sent yesterday. It’s not about the change we need, it’s about the change we want.”

“As recently as a couple of months ago, Republicans were written off," Steele added. "Many of you were writing our epitaph."

He went on to say that independents played an important role Tuesday night, explaining that Republicans won independents 2-1.

“The real heroes last night, who brought home the victory, are the Republicans, Independents and yes, even Democrats, who spoke up against an incredibly arrogant government in Washington that has put our country our freedoms and our economy at risk with unprecedented spending,” he said.

A reporter asked Chairman Steele if he thought the loss of third party conservative candidate Dough Hoffman in New York's 23rd Congressional district should have been a warning to conservatives that they should back off the local party process. Steele responded, “There should have been, in New York 23, a primary process. There should have been a process that involved something other than having individuals in coordination with the state party make that decision. This is what happens in hot contestant races when you have that type of process in place.”

Gov. Pawlenty's Support Of Controversial Candidate Raises Eyebrows

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) came under fire from Democratic party organizations Wednesday for participating in Bob McDonell’s (R) controversial campaign for Virginia’s governorship.

“Pawlenty is in Virginia today fundraising for a man who has stated that working women destroy families,” said Donna Cassutt, the Associate Chair for Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party during a conference call, referencing McDonell’s recently unearthed college thesis in which the candidate described women in the workplace as “detrimental” to families.

“[Pawlenty] is selling his soul to further his ambition,” Cassutt added.

The Minnesota Governor has been rumored to be a key contender for the 2012 Presidential election.

McDonell's thesis, which was written in 1989, has garnered additional controversy for opposing abortion in the cases of rape or incest and condemning homosexuality. McDonnell dismissed the thesis as a mere academic exercise and has stated that he no longer subscribes to many of the views he once expressed.

The Democratic National Committee also took not of Pawlenty’s campaign appearance, and implied an ideological link between the two Republicans.

“By coming down to campaign for Bob McDonnell ... Governor Pawlenty has completely embraced this man who holds views that are utterly antiquated not just for this century, but for the last century,” argued DNC Press Secretary Hari Sevugan.