I heard there wasn’t much more than a hand full of people at the Repub.’s rally at the directors Lawn? Maybe the AFSCME members should have taken today off of there jobs.
Is “bolstering” attendance is more important than staying home for events and walking precincts?
- The Unlicensed Hand Surgeon - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 4:30 pm:
This is kinda fair-related: I see in the Trib where the gov referred to pigs as “Chesterfield Whites.” So, not only can’t the gov come across as black, apparently he can’t talk white either.
As I understand it, the GOPers had around 100 people at their event. The Democratic brunch hosted by the Democratic County Chairmen’s Ass’n had almost 2000 people just 24 hours before. The Republican chairman says you can’t compare the 2 because the Dems supposedly “bussed in” supporters. I was one of the supporters bussed in and I know that it was our county party which bussed us in and our county paid for it. Not the State Democratic Party or the Democratic County Chairmen’s Ass’n. Our county had to get a bus because we had so many people from our county who wanted to come. The IL Republican Party is a rudderless ship without a clue.
- Commonsense in Illinois - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 4:39 pm:
So, where’s Williamsen? Rewriting the results perhaps?
I watched you race on the web from the state fair site, you had the lead off slow fractions, but oh well, you can’t go faster than your horse. (3rd place finish in 2:10 4/5.)
Being a real harness racing fan I actually record the days action via Real Player.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 5:44 pm:
100?
They should have invited the Gov. to speak. He would have brought his own supporters (with signs), and they would have had the bonus attendance of the opposition protesters (with signs).
==MCKENNA: I’m here to say that we’re a party that stands together and stands with Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln was famous for his House Divided speech. If he were here today, he would have to tell a story of a house divided that’s even more outrageous than the one that lived in his time.==
Ugh. Who is this lamebrain?
I know his old man used to have a piece of the Bears, but why is he talking? And butchering Lincoln, no less. Dilettante.
Read his quotes about Lincoln’s House Divided Speech, one of the seminal pieces of American literature and history.
To compare the political dust-ups of today to the fights over union and slavery? I’m sorry, I usually try to laugh at the dingbats, but don’t trivialize Lincoln or his times.
Lincoln belongs to the ages. For eternity, he’s the man who made war against his brother and drove the greatest army to that time. Boys just off the farm, they left a wake of free slaves behind them. It had never been done before. The only thing comparable is the invasion of Normandy.
It’s a hell of a thing for the GOP state chairman, in Springfield, to use the legacy of Lincoln as some filler for a half-assed speech no one listened to and that he probably didn’t read before he gave it. Forgive my language.
The result is not doubtful. We shall not fail — if we stand firm, we shall not fail.
A. Lincoln
But the repubs are um standing firmly with the Gov (a second one actually) who is corrupt; using gov contracts to line his pockets, treating employees like pawns to be sacrificed instead of people. This is the man the republiucans have decided to stand firm with… seems like a good strategy if your plan is to remove your party utterly from the State.
If State Party Chair Andy McKenna, and Chairman of the County Chairman’s Association Randy Pollard had any decency, they would both resign and never show their faces again.
After the disgrace of a State Convention the GOP had in Decatur in June, no respectable person wants to be seen with these clowns.
There were at least two or three hundred there yesterday, but turnout was pathetic. As someone said, though, what was there to rally for? GO …. HOUSE REPUBLICANS?!
The speeches were pretty bad, but I think the crowd was thin because few Republicans traveled far to attend this year. I don’t blame them. Would you take off work and pay $4-a-gallon for gas to travel down and back for Steve Sauerburg? What for? Why should the party go to the expense of bussing people here when they need every penny they have to defend congressional and legislative seats?
As Brady alluded to in one of the papers, this is a “tread water” year for Republicans - whether it “should” be or not. There were even only a handful of legislators there and there was session this week. If there were huge turnout and all the speakers blasted the Democrats, all of the stories would be about how the Republicans have no message and are just running as “not Democrats.” Who cares.
The true test will be the turnout for for the Republicans in ‘09 and ‘10 when the 2010 races start to shake themselves out and there are actual candidates to rally around rather than GOP organizations like the House Republicans or Senate Republicans or the state party.
LIVE session coverage...
- Glam-Or-Party - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 4:12 pm:
I heard there wasn’t much more than a hand full of people at the Repub.’s rally at the directors Lawn? Maybe the AFSCME members should have taken today off of there jobs.
- 618er - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 4:13 pm:
One would think that after 6 years of this administration the GOP would have learned how to “bolster” attendance for their day at the fair….
- Soy Milk - Formerly Known As Napoleon has left the building - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 4:16 pm:
Cross and Watson are buddies with the Governor now, no reason to mount an opposition to him.
- Frank Booth - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 4:23 pm:
Yea Patty.
Worst to first in one year. Is a precursor for a GOP comeback?
- ShoutPolitics - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 4:27 pm:
Dring would have dominated the field.
- Walking - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 4:28 pm:
Is “bolstering” attendance is more important than staying home for events and walking precincts?
- The Unlicensed Hand Surgeon - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 4:30 pm:
This is kinda fair-related: I see in the Trib where the gov referred to pigs as “Chesterfield Whites.” So, not only can’t the gov come across as black, apparently he can’t talk white either.
- Bussed In - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 4:30 pm:
As I understand it, the GOPers had around 100 people at their event. The Democratic brunch hosted by the Democratic County Chairmen’s Ass’n had almost 2000 people just 24 hours before. The Republican chairman says you can’t compare the 2 because the Dems supposedly “bussed in” supporters. I was one of the supporters bussed in and I know that it was our county party which bussed us in and our county paid for it. Not the State Democratic Party or the Democratic County Chairmen’s Ass’n. Our county had to get a bus because we had so many people from our county who wanted to come. The IL Republican Party is a rudderless ship without a clue.
- Commonsense in Illinois - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 4:39 pm:
So, where’s Williamsen? Rewriting the results perhaps?
- Avy Meyers - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 4:41 pm:
Hi Rich,
I watched you race on the web from the state fair site, you had the lead off slow fractions, but oh well, you can’t go faster than your horse. (3rd place finish in 2:10 4/5.)
Being a real harness racing fan I actually record the days action via Real Player.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 5:44 pm:
100?
They should have invited the Gov. to speak. He would have brought his own supporters (with signs), and they would have had the bonus attendance of the opposition protesters (with signs).
100? Really? (shakes head)
- anon - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 7:15 pm:
the fair like about everything else in ill. gov’t has lost it’s zeal. what the heck will the gop rally around ? an ineffective chairman and his crew ?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 9:50 pm:
==MCKENNA: I’m here to say that we’re a party that stands together and stands with Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln was famous for his House Divided speech. If he were here today, he would have to tell a story of a house divided that’s even more outrageous than the one that lived in his time.==
Ugh. Who is this lamebrain?
I know his old man used to have a piece of the Bears, but why is he talking? And butchering Lincoln, no less. Dilettante.
Read his quotes about Lincoln’s House Divided Speech, one of the seminal pieces of American literature and history.
To compare the political dust-ups of today to the fights over union and slavery? I’m sorry, I usually try to laugh at the dingbats, but don’t trivialize Lincoln or his times.
Lincoln belongs to the ages. For eternity, he’s the man who made war against his brother and drove the greatest army to that time. Boys just off the farm, they left a wake of free slaves behind them. It had never been done before. The only thing comparable is the invasion of Normandy.
It’s a hell of a thing for the GOP state chairman, in Springfield, to use the legacy of Lincoln as some filler for a half-assed speech no one listened to and that he probably didn’t read before he gave it. Forgive my language.
Lincoln. Springfield. GOP. Show some respect.
- Ghost - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 10:20 pm:
The result is not doubtful. We shall not fail — if we stand firm, we shall not fail.
A. Lincoln
But the repubs are um standing firmly with the Gov (a second one actually) who is corrupt; using gov contracts to line his pockets, treating employees like pawns to be sacrificed instead of people. This is the man the republiucans have decided to stand firm with… seems like a good strategy if your plan is to remove your party utterly from the State.
- GOP'er - Friday, Aug 15, 08 @ 1:33 am:
The Illinois GOP is beyond dead.
If State Party Chair Andy McKenna, and Chairman of the County Chairman’s Association Randy Pollard had any decency, they would both resign and never show their faces again.
After the disgrace of a State Convention the GOP had in Decatur in June, no respectable person wants to be seen with these clowns.
- anon - Friday, Aug 15, 08 @ 5:56 am:
mckenna I understand ….”GOP’r” …. but pollard ?? beyond mckenna’s bizzaro comments…the convention was about as good as any.
- Speaking At Will - Friday, Aug 15, 08 @ 8:21 am:
== The IL Republican Party is a rudderless ship without a clue. ==
This may be true, but does the Illinois Democratic Party even have a ship?
- Amuzing Myself - Friday, Aug 15, 08 @ 8:33 am:
There were at least two or three hundred there yesterday, but turnout was pathetic. As someone said, though, what was there to rally for? GO …. HOUSE REPUBLICANS?!
The speeches were pretty bad, but I think the crowd was thin because few Republicans traveled far to attend this year. I don’t blame them. Would you take off work and pay $4-a-gallon for gas to travel down and back for Steve Sauerburg? What for? Why should the party go to the expense of bussing people here when they need every penny they have to defend congressional and legislative seats?
As Brady alluded to in one of the papers, this is a “tread water” year for Republicans - whether it “should” be or not. There were even only a handful of legislators there and there was session this week. If there were huge turnout and all the speakers blasted the Democrats, all of the stories would be about how the Republicans have no message and are just running as “not Democrats.” Who cares.
The true test will be the turnout for for the Republicans in ‘09 and ‘10 when the 2010 races start to shake themselves out and there are actual candidates to rally around rather than GOP organizations like the House Republicans or Senate Republicans or the state party.
- so-called "Austin Mayor" - Friday, Aug 15, 08 @ 8:48 am:
Rich,
Illinois still has a Republican Party?
Really?
– SCAM
so-called “Austin Mayor”
http://austinmayor.blogspot.com
- archpundit - Friday, Aug 15, 08 @ 10:48 am:
What’s with Dring–he was a late scratch last year.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 15, 08 @ 10:50 am:
He had to fly back north with Cross - like last year.