* Illinois Review…
Joe Walsh for U.S. Senate 2014? While the title is just a teaser but the former Illinois congressman and current talk show host is talking about it. He spoke to about 60 people Tuesday night for the Chicago Young Republicans monthly business at the Hubbard inn.
Walsh brought up the U.S. Senate race. He said he Is giving “serious consideration” to running against Dick Durbin. Of course, he would have to win the GOP primary first.
On the other hand, last Saturday Walsh told Will County Tea Partiers he was focused on helping other candidates in 2014.
FYI, there are also rampant rumors about a possible Walsh primary bid against Congressman Adam Kinzinger.
*** UPDATE *** IR…
Within minutes of posting that former Congressman Joe Walsh told Chicago Young Republicans he’s “seriously considering” a bid against Dick Durbin in 2014, sources told Illinois Review that Walsh associates are telling people he’s taking a serious look at challenging Congressman Adam Kinzinger, and that Club for Growth is encouraging him.
“We won’t confirm to whom we have or haven’t spoken concerning a primary in the 16th CD,” Club for Growth’s Barney Keller told IR, “but we’re certainly interested in talking to a pro-growth alternative to Kinzinger.”
“Adam Kinzinger is one of the biggest RINOs in the U.S. House,” Keller said, and listed several votes Kinzinger made in the past year that were opposite of the Club’s positions. “He voted for the fiscal cliff, opposed the budget conservative Congress members supported. He was one of only ten Republicans that voted for a bill that was one of Nancy Pelosi’s pet projects for her San Francisco district.”
- OneMan - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 2:24 pm:
Sweet Sassy Molassy man… Take a break, do the radio thing for a while… Seriously….
- Stones - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 2:27 pm:
Besides supporting the President and his position on Syria, I can’t figure out what Kinzinger has done to anger the conservatives. Talk about missing the big picture!
- Jimbo - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 2:28 pm:
Give the guy a break, in the alternate universe he lives in, he’s clearly the odds on favorite.
- Mokenavince - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 2:33 pm:
Joe Walsh please go away. Unless you bring the Eagles plus the real Joe Walsh with you.
- He's Crazy - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 2:37 pm:
I hear that Walsh is on the speaking circuit in Southern Illinois including being the keynote speaker at a county GOP “victory” dinner next month near St. Louis. The local GOP in that county is touting his appearance in the local papers. Give me a break.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 2:38 pm:
@Stones - I like Kinzinger a lot more than Walsh but can’t say I blame conservatives less than enamored of him after the way Kinzinger used an anti-incumbent super pac to hide the house gop leadership money funding his ouster of the more conservative Manzullo.
- Mr. Keynes - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 2:40 pm:
Who. Cares.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 2:42 pm:
I listened to Walsh’s show several months ago. Frankly, I am not put off by his arm waving and loud talking - characteristics I must admit I share with him. Perhaps not very useful when you are trying to sell yourself but I think it is a fair representation of how he behaves in the various parts of his life.
No, what bothers me is that he is either ignorant of the facts on so many issues or he chooses to ignore the facts and the truth when he espouses his beliefs and ideas. Walsh is all bluff and bluster with no substance. An empty suit.
Joe Walsh for Senate….So What?
- walkinfool - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 2:57 pm:
dupage dan: I couldn’t have said it better.
Walsh’s style and antics don’t bother me at all. His ignorance or avoidance of easily available facts and history are disqualifying.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 2:58 pm:
Life in the fast lane
Surely makes you lose your mind
Uh huh.
- ""Edge" - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 2:58 pm:
Oh for the good ‘ole days when listening to Joe Walsh meant listening to a good tune rather than a divisive commentary.
- Aldyth - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 3:00 pm:
Please do. The entertainment value of your participation in the process cannot be overstated. Unlike your diatribes.
- ChrisB - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 3:31 pm:
Walsh might be better than a sacrificial lamb that would otherwise run against Sen. Durbin, so long as he doesn’t Akin/Mourdock/O’Donnell the race. The most frustrating thing about the GOP is that they’ve been “poised” to take over the Senate for two cycles now, and poor candidates have collectively shot themselves in the foot.
Walsh’s last campaign doesn’t give me much hope that he won’t say something insanely offensive and give ammo to the Dems nationally, though. Thank God that was only a House Seat.
- LincolnLounger - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 3:43 pm:
…so long as he doesn’t Akin/Mourdock/O’Donnell the race.
Joe Walsh will make that bunch look like pikers. In a state where the GOP is already a minority, he will certainly move independents and soccer Moms off the needle. Think what Dick Durbin’s huge warchest will do to every lunatic thing that comes out of Walsh’s mouth.
- Johnny Q. Suburban - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 3:44 pm:
Walsh as the GOP nominee would be disastrous for all downballot GOP candidates. No one’s going to be voting against Doug Truax next November. Can’t say that for Ol Joe.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 3:50 pm:
Apparently Alan Keyes isn’t available to run again.
- LincolnLounger - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 3:55 pm:
“If Walsh decided to run he would likely have to step down from his afternoon radio show on WIND 560 AM.”
Hope somebody is stocking up on Ramen for the kids. Or maybe he’ll just live off his campaign fund.
- Just Me - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 4:02 pm:
Since Durbin is going to win anyways, I actually wouldn’t mind watching this race play out.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 4:14 pm:
Club for Growth … Payton Prep Clouter Bruce Rauner … and … “RINO”.
“These are strange times we live in …”
Walsh would have a better shot at Congresswoman Duckworth than Congressman Kinzinger …and I think that says it all right there.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 4:15 pm:
If Walsh is going to challenge Kinzinger, the 16th CD Dems better get a solid candidate lined up. If Walsh could win the primary (and crazier things have happened), he would provide an excellent opportunity for the Dems to grab another Congressional seat.
- Skeptic - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 4:16 pm:
Maybe he’s counting on the Dems nominating Roland Burris to run.
- Chavez-respecting Obamist - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 4:44 pm:
Run for both Joe–that’s the ticket!
- Just Me - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 4:44 pm:
I hate, hate, hate the term RINO. Just because someone doesn’t agree with you 100% of the time, that doesn’t mean they don’t agree with you most of the time.
People who call other people a RINO might as well just give the Democrats all their money.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 4:46 pm:
Slytherin House Republicans have the RINO on the Coat of Arms being tamed by an Elephant charmer.
It’s cute.
- ChrisB - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 4:49 pm:
What’s Walsh have against military vets? Why does he keep running against them?
Speaking of shooting themselves in the foot, Club for (Democratic) Growth should try and find some open seats to target, instead of knocking off GOP reps only to do nothing in the General.
- OurMagician - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 4:54 pm:
Republicans need to retire the word “RINO”. You never hear Bill Daley calling Pat Quinn a “DINO” or any other Democrat doing that. It’s a silly catch-all, purity, litmus test word that accomplishes nothing outside of the Club for Growth members.
- Juvenal - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 6:06 pm:
Awesome! I love a good old fashioned purging. But wouldn’t a candidate no one has ever even heard of be better than Walsh?
- Skeeter - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 6:57 pm:
I think he should take another look at Gov.
How about an “All AM Radio Ticket” of Walsh/Proft?
Just think of the cross-over support.
Well, at least for the primary.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 9:08 pm:
I was at a table on a college campus recruiting for the College Democrats. A couple of students said their views were all over the place. I told them they would feel right at home with the Dems. LOL
- Demz - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 12:47 am:
I’m always in favor of inner-party fighting on the Republican side. Makes me remember that the Dems weren’t so unique in 2010.