Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: “Train Wreck”
Next Post: Sunday afternoon shorts
Posted in:
One of Jack Roeser’s Family Taxpayer Network online publications attempts to take Bill Brady to task and ends up making itself look foolish in the process (nothing new there).
Bill Brady’s been running a dishonest campaign and making childish attacks on Jim Oberweis from day one.
And then they make a childish attack of their own.
If we wanted a pretty-boy weasel for Governor – we could just keep the one we’ve got.
ArchPundit has more.
UPDATE: Oberweis defends the straw game.
He says he took the bold step of asking them to play a game of chance to try to break the logjam of candidates he fears will split the vote. Brady and Gidwitz refused to play.
UPDATE: Part 3 of FTN’s attack on Brady is now online.
Look, we don’t dispute that Bill Brady has probably voted right 80% of the time. If a conservative bill makes it to the floor – sure, Brady will likely vote in favor. Brady’s representing a very conservative Senate district. He’s hardly sticking his neck out. […]Bill Brady is no Senator Chris Lauzen for example. And so it really shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that Brady has been endorsed by so few of his own Senate colleagues.
posted by Rich Miller
Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 1:48 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: “Train Wreck”
Next Post: Sunday afternoon shorts
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Can someone explain to me why any one would vote for the Milkman? If you wanted to vote for a conservative, then why not vote for the younger, more exciting, and more qualified Brady (who is also a successful businessman, although not at the same level of Oberweis) instead of the tired old embarrassment Oberweis, who’s never had any government experience in his past?
There really is absolutely no reason to vote for Oberweis when you have the option of voting for Brady. Oberweis is the one who should be criticized for splitting the conservative vote from Brady, not the other way around.
Comment by Springer Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 3:15 am
Who needs expensive comedy clubs when you have free entertainment from the paranoid Little Napoleons of FTN? The stuff tonight has had me had me absolutely rolling on the floor!
Comment by Anon Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 3:49 am
Exciting? Brady is about as exciting as watching paint dry.
Comment by Anon Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 5:20 am
Oby please shut up !!!!!!! & your “buds” too !! This attachment to the posting reads like “Pravda”. Some one should record this stuff, save the clippings, handouts ect. & the first sign this guy tries to file to run for ANY office including the office dog catcher of Sugar Grove …start a steady diet of that stuff to voters & cut him off before he starts. Perhaps a boy-cott of his products … that will get his attention. If anyone has mis–represented in this race it’s none other than Oby-won ! Hey Ob any new legislators join your endorsement list lately ????? Also, at a gathering last night, Ob’s folks were shoving about 10 pieces of literature at us while we’re eating ! How annoying !! Always in your face !!! Always telling us who NOT to vote for but never telling us why vote for him !! Wonder though what they DIDn’T want us to read of Shafley’s letter as it was visibly cut off below her signature …instead of an 8 1/2 by 11 it was more like 8 1/2 by 9 3/4. This guy and his campaign is the reason people stay home !!! Please everyone vote !! Let’s somehow unite afterwords if nothing else !!! If Oby-won wins it would be a tough one & I know MANY will not for the way he’s acted !!!!
Comment by anon Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 5:50 am
Has everyone forgotten that the FTN backed Jessie White a couple of years ago. Yes that fine outstanding conservative Jessie White. Jack and the FTN operate on hate and revenge, this time they are with NObieOne, when jack gets mad at him they will be against him. You say no that can’t be true they are a principled conservative org. Well there is a long history of switching horses when something dosen’t go Jack’s way. Example they used to be strong supportors of Senator Rauschenberger, he said NO, now they turned against him. This is Pride, Predijuice and Revenge, sounds like a movie Perhaps S.P.E.C.T.O.R. from one of the James Bond movies. This is not someone interested in conservative values or advancing the movement. Bill Brady has stayed above the nonsense, He is a true conservative and a practicing Christian. It shows in every conversation he has. If you want real ethics vote Brady, he hasen’t used false ads or haedlines to win. He hasen’t gotten personal and he is the real deal, he wasn’t Pro Choice two wears ago and loose an election and now says he is Pro Life. If we the people don’t see through the phony’s then we get what we ask or vote for. Now is the time to make the decision and vote Brady. Judy is what she says she is a LIBERAL, if you want a liberal then vote JBT, that is an easy choice. However if you want Honesty, ethics and a straight shooter (backed by the Illinois Rifle Pac) then vote Brady.
Comment by The Conservative Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 7:09 am
Oh, dear, this takes me back to my student teaching days in the third grade. Let’s put them in their corners until they calm down and can play together like civilized children.
Play with scissors? Not these guys!
This is why the conservatives cannot get their act together. Moderate Republicans are appalled.
Comment by Nearly Normal Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 7:20 am
I like Jim Oberweis as a person but I couldn’t vote for him for governor. He is like a Richochet Rabbit who bounces back and forth off of the walls saying whatever pops into his head for media attention. What will he say or do next? I am a conservative Republican that will cast my vote for either Gidwitz or Brady. Gidwitz falls someplace between liberal and conservative or, in other words, somewhere between Judy and Bill Brady.
The mistake that F.T.N. made was in not backing Rauschenberger (a very viable candidate)when he was going to run for governor. They both (FTN & Rauschie) brought what the other needed to the campaign table.Rauschie needed funding and FTN needed a credible candidate for governor.
Instead, they got Oberweis who is a good guy but is simply a political wannabe. To put it in NRA terms, Oberweis is similar to a shotgun with a scope mounted on it. Whenever Oberweis pulls the trigger, he may hit the target but he destroys everything around the target as well.
Judy is the Daisy BB gun that we all loved as a kid. Unfortunately, it doesn’t shoot very far and it can never quite hit the target because it lacks the power necessary to reach the target. The fact that the barrel appears to be slightly bent doesn’t help it’s accuracy either. It has to be cocked by someone each time before it can “pop off”.
Brady and Gidwitz are the high powered rifles that have scopes mounted on them for taking down the big game. Unfortunately, when Andy McKenna and Kjellander went on safari, they forgot to bring the high powered rifles from home with them. Instead, they mistakenly brought the Daisy BB Gun with the bent barrel.
The Big Game are safe from the hunters for another 4 years. It’s not likely that their Daisy BB gun will be able to bring down a trophy worthy for their den. The cape buffalo, elephants, tigers, donkeys, and bears can sleep easy for another four years.
Comment by Beowulf Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 8:55 am
This reminds me of pre-school squabble, not 3rd grade. I have worked with both age groups. And I don’t think a time-out will work.
At this point, I would not be proud to be a member of this FTN group. I wonder who their members are?
Comment by Marta Elena Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 9:21 am
Here’s the bottom line. Within 72 hours, we don’t have to hear from Oberweis anymore, or until he decides to jump into the presidential race with John Cox.
Jack, Doug, and Cathy can take it back to Pyongyang, where smear propaganda like this would be appreciated by the Dear Leader, Kim Jong-Il.
They could receive the Order of Kim Il Sung for their work and be raised up as national heroes.
Comment by Apex Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 9:28 am
Oberweis has been beating up on Brady for months about his vote to allow undocumented children educated here to have the opportunity to pay the same in-state tuition as their classmates at Illinois colleges and universities.
So bravo for Brady pointing out Oberweis’s hypocrisy for profiting from the work of undocumented workers cleaning his ice cream stores! (They were paid $3.23 an hour! Oberweis’s excuse: “I know nothing….”)
Comment by Elder Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 9:49 am
This just proves that paranoia and mental disorders are contageous. Perhaps if Bi-Polarweis(tm) had used extra stregnth tin foil, he would have not been affected so badly.
Comment by Wumpus Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 9:51 am
If I have to hear one more time whose the more “CONSERVATIVE” candidate i’m going to vomit. Oberweis is amusing, maybe he should try some comedy. Brady’s people obviously aren’t in touch with reality if they think a pro-life pro-gun and pro-creationism in the classroom will unite the party and beat Rod…CMON, maybe if this were 1940…but it’s not. I love your enthusiam for your candidate but let’s get real, it’s not going to happen and no point turning into nutjobs like Oberweis and his OberweisYouth…I can’t wait til Wednesday when JBT is the parties nominee and we can get down to Beating Rod not the I’m more Conservative than you contest…
Comment by ISU REP Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 11:42 am
This is a very interesting and well written report on FTN Jon Zahm did a couple of years ago.
“Family Taxpayers Network- Still Conservative?
by Jon Zahm 10/26/1999
The Family Taxpayers Network (FTN), is a Carpentersville organization whose mission is to “champion a good moral and economic climate” and has been considered a leading conservative group throughout the 1990’s. In recent years however, FTN seems to have lost its focus on conservative values and principles and has taken off on an inexplicable course.
This all seems to trace back to the Republican Primary of 1998 when FTN President and founder Jack Roeser made the decision to endorse Ravi Singh for State Representative in District 42. Despite many warnings from conservatives, including me, Jack put the weight of his organization behind a 25-year old candidate who had only voted in one election, had questionable district residency, and no electoral experience.
The result was a fourth place finish, but the Singh candidacy almost cost the real conservative in the race, Tim Schmitz (R- Batavia), a victory by ciphoning off some conservative votes.
FTN made another shocking endorsement decision in the fall of 1998 in the race for Secretary of State. They endorsed liberal Democrat Jesse White. Roeser cited Al Salvi’s position change from pro- gun rights to pro- gun control as the main reason for the change of support away from Salvi, a former ally. The intellectual problem with that argument is, however, that Jesse White carries a lifetime “F” rating from the National Rifle Association for his voting record in previous years as a State Representative.
FTN is making the same mistakes all over again in their endorsements for 2000. For example, in the Kane County Recorder’s race, FTN is supporting Elgin Library Board member Sandy Wegman. Sandy is a nice lady who has done good work on the library board opposing tax increases, but why run in a Republican Primary against a CPA, MBA from Batavia, John Malkowski, who has much more experience and has won two precinct committemen elections and three school board races in five tries for a perfect record. Plus, Sandy ran for State Representative as a pro-abortion candidate in 1992- how can the supposedly conservative FTN justify that? Also, in 1996, her neighbors in Elgin Precinct 1 voted against her 89 to 34 in her committeman race against Ed Anderson. How can that local response translate to a victory in a vast County?
Also, FTN is supporting Meg Gorecki for State’s Attorney. There is already a conservative in that office- incumbent David Akemann. Why not support him? He is doing a great job and has been actively involved helping several conservative candidates such as Peter Fitzgerald, Jim Ryan, and Al Salvi (the 1996 Senate race). This will only result in a split of conservative votes.
I am confident though, that just as in the Singh race, Wegman and Gorecki will not earn enough votes to win, and conservatives (Malkowski and Akemann) will prevail.
FTN has been very effective in certain areas. For example, they did great work opposing huge tax increase proposals from Dundee School District 301 and Harper College. FTN puts out good information on current issues- especially educational choice, and has a good database system for producing voter lists for candidates of their choice. I hope they continue efforts on these good issues.
Mr. Roeser, through his success as a businessman, has amassed great wealth. In 1990 he spent $1 million on a quixotic run for Governor against Jim Edgar in the primary. The result- 25%. If only Jack had used that money- say $50,000 in each of 20 different key Illinois House and Senate campaigns, the result would probably be a larger Senate majority and a Republican, and conservative, leadership team in the House.
As a conservative who does work with Family PAC, I am all for positive alliances with other conservative groups like FTN. But it is hard now when there seems to be a two front war to fight- one against the RINOS (Republicans in Name Only) and the other with renegade quasi- conservatives like FTN.
The good news is that, even with the two fronts, we true conservatives will prevail because we have truth on our side, not to mention almost all of the key conservative political strategists and workers in the Chicago metro area.”
Comment by Anon Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 11:59 am
Here is something that I found accidentally. But it is hilarious. On Obie’s website, there is a list of people and organizations that have endorsed him. It says that the Illinois Center Right Coalition recomended him… they did… but then you go to their website and you find this: “– Bill Brady Highly Recommended for Governor of
Illinois
– Jim Oberweis Recommended for Governor of Illinois”
I guess he just expected us to take what is on his website at face-value… ha…
Comment by Lovie's Leather Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 12:08 pm
You can attack the conservatives if you like ISU REP. But if Obie tanks (which he has) Brady collects a moderate part of Obie’s vote and just half of the undecided and he beats Judy. Which would be a good thing for the party? Brady is a far better candidate for the general against Blago? Judy has too much baggage and she can’t unite the party like Brady will, to take the fight to Blago.
Comment by Anon Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 12:22 pm
The more and more I read the Family Taxpayers Network and their hatchet-job on a genuine conservative like Senator Bill Brady, the more I’m glad to know Jim Oberweis will NOT be the Republican nominee for governor come Tuesday.
– MVA
Comment by A WISE OLD MAN Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 12:33 pm
Judy can’t unite the part & everyone knows it ….remember she was Ill. GOP chair & we all saw where that went. OBY please go away &leave us alone. You are arrogant, self centered & think this is an entitlement ! Wrong ! You are wrong, wrong for governor, wrong for unity on any level, wrong for the GOP. You really want to help the party become a democrat maybe you’ll have better luck !!!
Comment by anon Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 12:36 pm
Honestly, with the division in the Republican party between the old-timey moderates and the psuedo-Reagans, can anyone unite the party? I doubt it. I just hope, come november, we have all settled on something that is better than Blago… and I will be reinstating the 11th commandment as of March 22. So if I hear the old losers come out, I will verbally castrate them…
*And before I hear how hypocritical I am for bashing Oberweis and then using the 11th commandment, the 11th commandment comes into effect after the primary season.*
Comment by Lovie's Leather Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 1:14 pm
Anon: A) if you think Moderates are going to vote for Brady in the primary…maybe you’ve been sipping too conservative koolaid…B) I don’t have a problem with Brady he’s a nice guy, but his appeal is very narrow to most of the voting public. If you see that as an attack so be it, but I see it as the truth. Many of you are saying a moderate can’t bring unity to the party but a right of center candidate can? That makes little sense, if any…
Many of us are frightened by the fact he think’s creationism should be taught in school (which I as a christian disturbs me) we have seperation of church and state in this country we need to respect the views of other even if we don’t agree with them. I know tolerance never ends the scenario, like people accusing Republican politicians who attend gay pride parades as not being “real” Republicans, sounds more like that talk of homophobic bigots than anything else.
We are a big party and EVERYONE should be welcome under the tent, thats a REAL Republican. Then you have the issue of abortion that Brady says should be completely outlawed (even of cases rape and incest!!), this isn’t South Dakota…
Illinois is a moderate state if you don’t present a middle of the road candidate in a middle of the road state, even against an unpopular incumbent, then that’s a recipe for disaster…As i’ve said in the past Kerry won this state and not Bush…Brady’s politics serve him well for his district and serves his constituents well, but as far as statewide appeal that dog don’t hunt…
Comment by ISU REP Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 3:41 pm
Thank God Brady is no Chris Lauzen…having one Chris Lauzen is enough.
Comment by Proud RINO Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 4:14 pm
ISU REP - Allow me to paraphrase the words of former Sen. Pat O’Malley: “The real schism in the Illinois Republican Party isn’t between the conservatives and the moderates; it’s between the reformers and the non-reformers.”
You and the other moderate/liberal Republicans are perfectly welcome to revile Brady and other conservatives for their beliefs. It’s certainly fair game for all the the moderate/liberal hatred that is tossed around by the conservatives. Voters will make the choices that they want to make, an in Illinois, 7 out of 10 times, they’ll pick a moderate. But then we have a conservative success story like Peter Fitzgerald, showing a conservative can win a GOP primary AND a general election. But like I said, this isn’t about conservatives, and moderate/liberals. I digress. Que sera, sera.
Yet you keep pushing Judy Baar Topinka for Governor for the same reasons we’ve heard a million times: she’s a moderate, she can win in November, she won’t frighten voters the way a conservative like Bill Brady would. Yet you completely ignore Judy’s history, her ties to George Ryan and the GOP pay-to-play past. At best, Judy was complicit in to the pay-to-play that was going on all around her in her buddy George Ryan’s office, and at worst she’s been a part of it herself. Yet you still push this relic of the disgraced past as the future of the GOP.
You cry foul about the deplorable way Rod Blagojevich has run the state for the past 4 years; the way he’s put a “for sale” sign on the state capitol. That chant is unanimous from conservative and moderate Republicans. Yet you push a candidate who’s neck deep in the exact same problems as Rod Blagojevich and George Ryan because she’s “an electable moderate”. The hypocrisy is tangible.
Comment by Thom Yorke Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 4:57 pm
Thom Yorke - if that schism exists, then who are the reformers, and who are the non-reformers? And how can you tell what they’ll do once they get in? Blago’s 2002 campaign rhetoric had a heavy dose of “reform”, after all. And why are those gubernatorial candidates (on both sides) touting “reform” seemingly not getting any traction beyond 20% or so? Reform isn’t the only card in this race, name recognition, political positions, and personality (or lack thereof) seem to be pretty high on the list, too.
Not that IL shouldn’t be ready for some “reform”.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 5:13 pm
Thom Yorke, I’m afraid that accusations don’t equal reality, much less perceptions in this race.
I’m a pro-gun, pro-life traditional conservative who is backing Judy. That being said, I *don’t* believe that Bill Brady is unelectable. He has a TV presence that can be packaged and sold if he can keep his mouth disciplined and stay off the subject of public school curriculum.
But back to being for Judy. Most reasonable people, including myself, don’t buy the George Ryan connection because they were separate *constitutional* officers, elected independently of each other. She’s runs a clean and model office at the Treasurer’s office, unless you’re easily swayed by images of burning trains.
And I’ll give you two words why she is *not* the past- Joe Birkett.
I do believe that Judy is the strongest candidate in November; that she is quantitatively more conservative than Rod on guns *and* the abortion; and she brings along Joe Birkett. That’s a winning combination for this conservative.
Comment by Rick Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 5:26 pm
The truth is you can’t tell what people will do once they get in. You can only look at their history and what they are saying now. Judy Baar Topinka’s history doesn’t jive at all with the “reform” rhetoric she’s spewing now.
Blagojevich campaigned as a reformer, and after 4 years we know there wasn’t even the slightest bit of truth in it. So we should toss him in favor of giving someone else a chance to clean up the mess.
Who are the reformers in this race? Brady, Gidwitz, Oberweis for the GOP and Eisendrath for Dems. You’re right that there are numerous other cards played in this race. All of the candidates, including Judy have run terrible campaigns up to this point. Judy’s name ID has been able to carry her up to this point and will probably win her the Primary. It’s really unfortunate that the other reformer candidates have been so abysmal that they’re going to let Judy take the nomination.
Judy was a willing participant in “business as usual” during the glory days of the combine. And now that George Ryan got caught, the GOP side of the combine crumbled and Dems own the state, we’re supposed to believe that Judy has had a sudden epiphany. We’re supposed to believe that she’s seen the light of the uncorrupted day.
In reality, Judy is the last vestige of the corrupt GOP past. All she knows is “business as usual”. Will she win the primary? Probably. The real loser in a Blago/JBT match up is the IL general election voters. There’s no reformer in that equation, no real choice to make. It’s a Democrat state, and the Democrat incumbent has $20 mil to destroy Judy. Blago will win four more years, because Judy can’t successfully make an issue of Rod Blagojevich’s ethical lapses over the last 4 years. She’s just got too many of her own.
Comment by Thom Yorke Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 5:40 pm
Thom: I love your guilt by association…it just makes me laugh. As for accussing Judy of being corrupt, show me your proof…PLEASE…(this is the part where you mention the hotel and loose associations at best)…Just because JBT was friends with Ryan does not mean they are of the same ilk…Likewise which of these so called reformers can beat Rod…Perhaps you should embrace the saying “It is better to be assumed a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” Spewing accusations without anything to back up it up makes you no better than those who have truly corrupted the politics in IL. The fact that you call Oberweis a reformer just shows how removed from reality you really are…
Comment by ISU REP Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 5:52 pm
ISU: Allow me to be very clear here: I don’t think any of the clowns (JBT included) running for Governor can beat Blagojevich. Would Obie work to reform Springfield if the 7th sign of the apocypolpse happened and he became governor? Sure. But the truth is, and I think you can I can agree here, he’s an idiot and couldn’t even be elected milk delivery man in his hometown.
Judy’s problems? Yes, the hotel deal. But apparently that one doesn’t count because… well you weren’t really clear on why that doesn’t count. But apparenlty for you, it doesn’t. So we’ll move on.
One of the biggest complaints against Blago is taking campaing contributions for state contracts. Judy’s proposed “ethics reform package” seeks to ban that practice. But her office has taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from entities doing business with her office. She defends it by saying she’s not a millionaire and needs the cash. So apparently pay-for-play is ok as long as you’re a “poor public servant”.
But I’m sure you’ll just dismiss this. You’d probably dismiss anything I’d have to say. You’re voting for Topinka and there’s nothing that’s going to change your mind about that. More power to you.
By all means, nominate Judy, let her lose to Rod and let us finally purge the last remaining GOP combine politican from our ranks.
Comment by Thom Yorke Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 6:19 pm
ISUP, it matters not that you think Judy is wonderful. Joe is a great guy but we all know it dosen’t matter what the Lt. Governor is. And where do you find such a thing as seperation of church and state. I know that is something invented by the liberal wing to exclude people. However there is no such thing no matter how much you profess it. Real christians vote our beliefs there is no such thing as a big tent and all are invited. I have no desire to be around homosexuals, criminals or other such like minded people. I do not dislike them but choose not to hang out with them. Because of this I vote accordingly. Couldn’t care less what you choos to call that. I know that Darkness cannot live in the light and if you lay with dogs you will get fleas.
Comment by The Conservative Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 6:41 pm
I’m hearing a lot of talk, from people that see tracking polls, that Brady might pass Oberweis by Primary Day. None of these guys would agree to that as a concept, much less a possibility, a week ago.
Comment by Bubs Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 6:51 pm
Oberweis says Republicans need to come together behind a candidate who can beat Topinka because Oberweis says Topinka can’t beat Governor Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY’-uh-vitch) in the November general election.
And Looserweis can? Please. Oy!
Comment by Central IL Stater Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 6:55 pm
I still want Bill to win this thing. Sorry ISU, I do. Especially if Looserweis gets 4th place. It will be a sweeter victory.
If JBT wins, I believe more conservative voters will NOT vote in the general election than moderates not vote for Brady if he wins.
I think Bill said it best Saturday. We need both ends of the party to win in IL and some conservative leaning dems. I just don’t know if this can happen this election cycle. I wish Looserweis had dropped out - it would have been a better race or at least a one on the issues.
To set the record straight, I personally like Judy - she’s a very nice lady. Her son’s in the Army as a JAG officer - nice guy. I just don’t agree with her politics.
Wednesday will be a nice day to relax and read the blog but it will also be a time to pray we can unite behind a candidate whoever they may be.
Quesiton: If Bill wins the primary, will the people vote for him in the general election?
Comment by Central IL Stater Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 7:27 pm
Correction from last post:
Question: If Bill Brady wins the primary, how many of the moderates will vote for him in the general election?
Comment by Central IL Stater Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 8:05 pm
It will be easier to get behind Bill then Judy.
ISU. There is a big difference between a moderate with bagage and one without. Edgar would have been one without a lot of baggage that more conservatives could back. Also there are moderates and there are liberals Judy’s closer to a liberal.
Comment by Anon Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 8:06 pm
So your saying being against abortion against foid cards and wanting to teach creationism isn’t baggage in a moderate to liberal state, get real!!
Thom: I would rather we would have gotten some money back from the Hotel via JBT’s plan than what has happened now in that we’ve got nothing back. As far as the contributions go, all the contracts are bid out. GROD on the other hand gets large donations from companies in which state contracts have not been bid out.
Bubs: I agree Oberweis should of shut up two weeks ago, he keeps digging himself into a deeper and deeper hole, I would love for him to finish in 3rd. Hopefully that would end his reign of terror!
Central: To answer your question i’d support Brady IF he wins…I’m a republican and I will support the party regardless of whether I think the candidate can actually win or not (Brady I think would be lucky to win 35% against Rod)however many of those moderates or fence sitters who are thinking about voting for JBT won’t vote for Brady…These are people who have no particular strong party allegiance…You have to think that the average person in IL who knows very little about politics will vote on what they perceive to be key issues…i.e. reproductive rights, gun control, etc…Issues that really don’t have much to do with governing, but yet still mean a lot to people. If a conservative candidate wins the nomination there are not enough votes to get him elected. The moderates and those who were on the fence will view this as another “Keyes” type candidate who is out of touch with what most of them want…I don’t hear most people crying about all of Rod’s programs (the average voter doesn’t realize we can’t pay for them). Rod and the Chicago machine would have a field day with a conservative candidate, especially Brady…He’s well spoken but he doesn’t have much political experience outside of Illinois, he isn’t the quickest on his feet and I don’t think he’ll be able to respond effectively to Rod…
Comment by ISU REP Sunday, Mar 19, 06 @ 8:42 pm
Wow.. what a bunch of weirdos!! that site gave me a great laugh! they should seriously start their own political party cuz they dont represent 99% of republicans.. lmao
Comment by Tony Soprano Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 12:55 am
Thom Yorke makes a lot of sense. The one here, not the one in Radiohead.
Comment by T.J. Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 2:44 am
ISU, I have said before this is not a moderate to liberal state. That’s why the republicans keep losing their party continues to run the most moderate people. Their Base then does not turn out and they lose. They can’t even get the assault weapons ban though the GA don’t it’s a far right issue. The homosexual rights issue had to be passed in the dead of night. I just don’t see how giving up our base for the possibility of gaining Blago moderate women vote is good math. Blago isn’t giving away free health care and child care/pre-school for nothing you know. He’s doing it to hold his pro-choice base. If the Judy’s voters think she is going to pick up that vote in the general election their mistaken.
Comment by Anon Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 7:32 am
ISU-
Let me start by saying that I am one of those moderates who is voting for Brady tomorrow…so I think he does have the ability to sway moderate voters.
I have no problem with your support of Judy, and I will gladly vote for her in the general if she wins. The problem that I have with what you srote above is in your “remove all doubt” statement. To say that any talk of Judy having ties to corruption makes someone a fool is ridiculous…the ties are definitely there and they are certainly strong enough to give a perception of problems. I am certain that you are a seasoned political activist and as such you should understand that in this world of politics it only takes perception to destroy someone…right or wrong. That being the case, Judy has done enough to make even wise and knowlegeable people ask if something isn’t right. Point is…you can’t turn a blind eye and say that Judy has no issues to answer to the people on…especially if she wants to win in the general.
By the way…can we please stop using the “koolaid” lines…overdone and provides no room for real debate and discussion. Making the koolaid and Hitler comments like we see so often are like eating McDonald’s everyday–may be quick and sufficient, but provides nothing of substance or quality.
Comment by the wonderboy Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 12:18 pm