* Illinois Review has finally begun to cover the cancellation of Saturday’s meeting that was initially called to eject IL GOP Chairman Pat Brady from office. They’re running some reacts. For instance, Joe Walsh…
“In order for the Illinois Republican Party to move forward, Chairman Pat Brady must step down. Pat, in his position as Chairman, can not publicly attack the Party Platform. If he had said the Republican Party must embrace Obamacare, we would be calling for his resignation. If he publicly said we should raise the individual income tax in Illinois, we would demand he step down. The same is true here. The Party Platform supports traditional marriage between one man and one woman and Chairman Brady has not once, not twice, but at least three times publicly refuted that plank in the Platform.
“The majority of Illinois Republicans support traditional marriage and the energetic base of the Party overwhelmingly supports traditional marriage. Republicans can not win statewide without its grassroots devoted base. And this silent majority will not vote nor work to win in 2014 as they should if the current Party Chairman is still in place.
“Pat should do the right thing and resign. If not, the State Central Committee has to vote him out. If he is not replaced soon there will be a schism in the Party that will destroy our ability to win in 2014.”
* Chris Robling…
“We still need reconciliation, and we always need to hear each other very carefully. I am always for that and this might be a great time to start, but we must do so with our focus on 2014. Especially with the SEC finding that Illinois lied to the bond markets, we Republicans are united to reduce the size, scope, waste and bloat of our corrupt and oppressive state government.
“We who consider ourselves Republicans have more than enough to do to rescue our fellow taxpayers and residents in every neighborhood of our beloved state from the serial catastrophes of Democrat domination, wherever and whenever we can. If you consider yourself a Republican, I ask no more than that you put your shoulder to that wheel with me and I am your brother. My litmus test is defeating oppression.
“The clock is ticking. We need a statewide ticket, organization, fundraising and volunteers. In the counties, we need lengthy lists of candidates for county offices. What we do here can foretell the national effort to retake the White House from the Chavez-respecting Obamists. Let’s light the candle that starts that brushfire – let’s do this.”
Discuss.
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- Samurai - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 8:58 am:
– If [Brady]is not replaced soon there will be a schism in the Party that will destroy our ability to win in 2014.–
Thank goodness. There is only a large gapping ideological divide in the GOP; not a schism.
- Carl Nyberg - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 9:00 am:
I expect the Democrats are terrified of Joe Walsh calling for the ouster of Pat Brady over gay marriage.
There are so many votes to be gained when the GOP purges the apostates over that issue.
And “Chavez-respecting Obamists”… boy, that’s an insult that rolls off the tongue. Again, I’m sure the Dems are terrified that when the Republicans knock on doors in Chicago that Chicago Democrats are going to flip to the GOP as soon as they hear “Chavez-respecting Obamists”.
- Muffin Man - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 9:08 am:
As a Republican, I find myself in agreement with Joe Walsh( which is “strange”).It isn’t like I have ever been a big Joe Walsh fan in the past but lately I agree with Joe on the issues. Pat Brady is a good guy but “he chose poorly” (as the Templar Knight guarding the Holy Grail explained to Indiana Jones). It is time for a fresh face and new leadership. The GOP has been lost in the desert for long enough. They (and the Illinois taxpayer) needs a Moses to take them to the Promised Land. Pat ain’t Moses. And, most of us Republicans are getting tired of “making bricks”.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 9:15 am:
Did Walsh poll people who are registered Republicans on their views? Because I have to wonder if it is true the majority of them care one way or the other. I would think, at least among the reasonable, they’re more concerned about, say, the budget than they are about who gets to marry whom.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 9:17 am:
It’s fun to watch the Republicans continue to shoot themselves in the foot over this gay marriage thing. It may be appealing to the ultra-conservative police in the party, but to the rest of the real world it’s just ridiculous. They are definitely making sure that their stance against gays is burned into the minds of everybody. Unfortunately that’s a losing cause. But when have people, like those at the Illinois Review, been concerned with winning.
As for Chris Robling, it’s interesting rhetoric. I wasn’t aware I was being oppressed. I’m glad somebody pointed that out. And, I’ll have to make a note that I love Chavez. I had no idea. Give me a break, will ya.
- Stones - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 9:19 am:
Robling would find himself much more relevant if he didn’t use silly terms such as “Chavez-respecting Obamists”. He is trying to be clever but ends up sounding like a fool.
- bored now - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 9:22 am:
one of the more surprising things that i learned in illinois is that illinois’ democrats are more conservative than (most) democrats elsewhere (outside the south) and illinois’ republicans are more liberal than (most) republicans elsewhere (outside of the northeast). doesn’t mean that either side likes it…
- train111 - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 9:24 am:
“Chavez-respecting Obamists” Seriously guys–makes me want to go sign up for the GOP today.
These guys need to tamper down the goofy rhetoric before they can even be taken somewhat seriously.
train111
- frustrated GOP - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 9:41 am:
Wait, name a GOP Gov that supported the part platform? And I mean one that actually got elected. GOP Gov. spend a lot of time in the general election smoothing feathers of moderates over the party platform. I guess platform is more important than the big tent idea.
- Whatever - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 9:43 am:
Robling and Walsh share much in common: they love the sound of their voice, enjoy attention, and have an outsized opinion of their relevance. Chances are, neither really speaks for rank-and-file GOPers who are eager for leadership and change.
- How Ironic - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 9:44 am:
He could have at least made it ‘Chavez-respecting Obamanistas’. What a tool. Keep it up ILGOP, just go ahead and write off 2014, and maybe even 2016 with your foolhardy exclusion tactics.
You may have a ‘big tent’, but it sure doesn’t do any good if all the seats are empty except for a select few purists wondering where the audience went.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 9:45 am:
Reading both many times, I have come to one conclusion that I think “an overwhelming majortiy” in My party will agree…
1) Whoever is chosen to replace Pat Brady will have their hands full.
2) It is not going too be easy to Un-Ring these bells with the likes of Walsh and Oberweis on “talking points” to back-peddle what will be easy to use against us.
3) Even a Majority, or even …”an overwhelming majority” is still not enough to win Elections in Illinois, given the 29% Republican ID and the increased “Indie” ID growing by the Oberweis and Walsh soundbite. We all need each other, sorry guys.
4) The ILGOP looks more like the H&SGOP Caucuses, and not too much like the Illinois Voters. Look across the aisles, H&S Members of My Party … that is Illinois. Your Caucuses look more like each other, than all the citizens of this state.
Something to think about, as Walsh is trotted out to sing from the same “Back-peddle Songbook” as Oberweis…
You can’t say its NOT about ONE specific plank issue that DID come up, but about other plank issues that NEVER came up, no matter how Oberweis or Walsh want to wish that away.
- Anonymour - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 9:49 am:
I believe the audience for the Illinois GOP is, in Lyndon Johnson’s phrase, outside the tent . . . . [I don’t want to get banned.]
It’s a shame that Illinois doesn’t have a real GOP. It needs it.
- Endangered Moderate Species - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 9:51 am:
“serial catastrophes”, “defeating oppression”, “Chavez-respecting Obamists”.
The Right continues to dish the rhetoric that turns people off.
- Excessively Rabid - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 9:51 am:
If the party chairman can’t say parts of the platform are wrong and need to change before the GOP can win an election, all is (remains) lost. His job is to position the party to win elections. As long as the social right-wingers remain in control, that will never happen in Illinois.
- MrJM - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 10:06 am:
“Chavez-respecting Obamanistas”
I just can’t imagine why more people don’t take this clown seriously…
– MrJM
- Deep South - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 10:26 am:
The GOP says they only need to improve their “messaging” to win in 2016?
Nah…it’s their platform that needs to change…always has been. And “Chavez-respecting Obamists” is priceless….priceless I tell you. I’m gonna be laughing all day.
- Kasich Walker, Jr. - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 10:30 am:
What’s there not to respect?
Chavez nationalized the oil industry for his nation. Maybe I, too, would become an Obamanista if Barack did the same in the US — while removing cannabis from schedule 1, of course.
Hugo attempted his own coup against tyrants who slaughtered protestors in the streets in the early 90s.
- Skeeter - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 10:53 am:
Chris Robling thinks he’s fighting oppression?
And then these guys wonder why they can’t win in Illinois.
Absolutely clueless.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 10:56 am:
Sorry, but both sides in this dust up are NOT talking to the rank and file Republicans such as myself, nor have they considered OUR views on the subject.
The extreme right wing cults who flit into and out of the party based on whether their noses are out of joint exclaim that the Illinois GOP cannot win without them, for THEY are the base of the party and indispensable.
The cults war against “the establishment” who war back on the cults.
Walsh correctly calls the rest of us the “silent majority.” Well, it is high time that the cults and others claiming leadership in the Illinois GOP start talking to US “silent majority” of Republicans.
They will find out how ticked off we are at both sides for helping to destroy the party. For their joint lack of leadership. And after talking to us, they will ignore what we tell them and proceed with the endless path of destruction
Such is the life of a stalwart Republican in Illinois. Ignored. Abused. Ridiculed by his own party members.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 11:01 am:
Robling, you crack me up buddy. Not sure which is better, “Democrat domination”, “defeating oppression” or “Chavez-respecting Obamists.” All are classic Robling-isms that put a smile on my face in the “oh Chris, you wacky character.”
- Skeeter - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 11:03 am:
Let me get this right — the party that wants to tell consenting adults who they can marry is worried about oppression?
- Chad - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 11:03 am:
Having been at the platform committee meeting for each of the last 7 state conventions, I can confirm that the process is not really that thoughtful. The basic document rolls forward from previous years, and is rooted in “moderate” work product originally written by staffers from the Thompson/Edgar organizations. It has been amended through the years by generally conservative folks on the committee, who concentrate on whatever conservative issue interests them. About 2/3 of the proposals from individual committee members are adopted by the committee, often with very brief discussion. The document is always approved by voice vote on the floor, and with no discussion. The result is an inconsistant document that contains some provisions which are harshly conservative. It is nothing more than a sense of the platform committees that have contributed to it over the years. It is not reasonable to hold all members or leaders of the party to this document.
- Wensicia - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 11:22 am:
The far right would change the messenger, but refuses to modify/adjust the message. Not a winning strategy.
Light the candle that starts the brushfire? What will you have left but your party’s ashes?
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 11:40 am:
On the Illinois Review site just below this issue, they posted a video interview with Jan Schakowsky in which she supposedly admits the agenda is to come after everyone’s handguns. In the interview, she clearly says, “I’m not against handguns”, but the putz interviewer puts the text up on the screen claiming she said “I’m against handguns.” Right wing fantasies are just priceless, whether from Robling or their gotcha video guys.
- reformer - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 12:26 pm:
As a Democrat, I favor keeping Brady in charge, given his track record in the 2012 and 2010 elections. Yep, he’s the answer for the flagging GOP.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 12:36 pm:
-Sorry, but both sides in this dust up are NOT talking to the rank and file Republicans such as myself, nor have they considered OUR views on the subject-
Lou, what is the point? What is it that the rank and file “silent majority” republicans perceive as the reason the party is being destroyed? From where I sit the problem with the GOP is intolerance on social issues. The GOP needs to focus on economic conditions, health care, education, etc. and stay out of preaching “family values.”
- scurvydog - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 12:52 pm:
“Republicans can not win statewide without its grassroots devoted base.”
Seems to me its the appeal to moderates that makes or breaks elections.
- Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 1:13 pm:
What this party needs in 2013 is Alan Keyes.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 1:19 pm:
Anonymous, I’m not disagreeing with you in principle. But give me a break with the “energetic base” of the base representing the “silent majority” argument put forth by Walsh (and others).
The “energetic base” has drowned everyone else out including true Republicans who DO represent the silent majority. And what they are bellowing do not always represent true Republican principles. But now they are OUR spokesmen? I. Don’t. Think. So!
And while we are at it, let’s also have former Gov. James Thompson and former Congressman Porter explain why they each endorsed a Democrat for election to State Rep and State Senate respectively, to the astonishment of the true Republicans who are the silent majority who were working for solid Republicans these guys decided to not endorse in favor of their Democratic opponents. They want to keep Brady in place. Which Republican candidates will THEY sandbag next?
And I’m the guy who doesn’t work his precinct hard enough or the right way, or his Township hard enough or the right way, according to both sides. I’m sick and tired of being taken for granted by both sides of this civil war.
Neither side is speaking for me right now. Both sides are hurting me and my true fellow Republicans.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 1:24 pm:
Robling is an insufferable gasbag. Yet he is what passes for an ILGOP intellectual. Go figure. No wonder they can’t win election.
Oppression? I don’t think oppression means what Robling thinks it means.
- Knome Sane - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 1:32 pm:
If a party is hell-bent on dousing themselves in gasoline and lighting themselves on fire, it’s probably best to just stand back and watch.
- Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 2:09 pm:
Is it really news when we hear the ILGOP is not working well? Maybe Rich can forgo any more reporting on the Party silliness? The real news story will be when (or if) it gets straightened out!
- Chavez-respecting Obamist - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 3:18 pm:
Sorry, but someone has to use it.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 4:05 pm:
Cmon 47, you don’t find Robling amusing at all in his way the heck over the top-ness?
- Kasich Walker, Jr. - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 4:11 pm:
Rare respect for Hugo.
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/03/12/hugo_chavez_depicted_as_tyrant_for_challenging_western_oil_domination_mcquaig.html
- county chairman - Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 9:51 pm:
it is refreshing to know the sec blamed politicians and not state workers it is to bad the sec does not have prosecuting powers or the remaining spin doctor politicians would be in jail