The circular firing squad
Thursday, Apr 9, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Today started with a complaint by WIND’s Cisco Cotto that he had been banned from speaking at the April 15th “tea party”…
“They’ve told me only people from WLS will be given mic time at the rally,” AM 560 WIND’s Cisco Cotto told his talk show audience this morning. “The guy who is the big name is WLS commentator Dan Proft. This guy is positioning for something here…”
Cotto said there’s rumors Proft is running for governor in 2010.
“I think there’s something inherently wrong with the big headliner having huge no-bid contracts with the town of Cicero,” Cotto said. “I’m wondering if people are being duped, and this is just a scam to raise someone’s profile.”
* Proft responded…
“Cotto was completely out of line, and I do have something to say about his cheapshots,” an angry WLS commentator Dan Proft told Illinois Review this afternoon. “What he said was based on no facts, and his temper tantrum because he’s not invited to speak at the Chicago Tea Party is ridiculous.” […]
“I’ve been cheap-shotted before by people more talented than Cisco Cotto.”
* The tea party organizers also dissed National GOP Chairman Michael Steele…
Not only has the Chicago Tea Party organizers rejected the volunteer participation of AM 560 WIND’s Cisco Cotto and Big John Howell, they’ve also told Republican National Chairman Michael Steele he won’t be appearing at their noon Daley Plaza rally on April 15th.
* The Chicago Young Republicans then stepped in and invited Steele and Cotto to their own, separate afternoon tea party…
The Chicago YRs responded via press release this afternoon to today’s controversy over who’s invited and who’s not to the Chicago Tea Party rally on April 15th. Emphasis appears on the “all” and the fact that all Chicagoans and media, including WIND’s Cisco Cotto and Big John Howell, will be welcomed at the CYRs April 15th event, later that afternoon.
This is why I prefer coffee.
- Joe in the Know - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 3:48 pm:
Dan Proft for Governor? If that wasn’t so sad, it would be funny. Because the Republican Party in Cook County and Illinois is in such disarray, Dan Proft, the vacant, vapid, vile spokessnake for the Town of Cicero might be the best the Repubs could put forth.
- Sweet Jane - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 3:51 pm:
I have to say that all this fuss over tea parties and who and who isn’t invited is making me both envision lots of outstretched pinky fingers as well as laugh my *ss off. The 12-year-old-girliness of it all is just too much! THIS is what the Republican party has become?
Rich, I’m with you - coffee for me as well. It’s an adult beverage.
- Chicago Law Student - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 3:54 pm:
If this is what the national and state Republican party wants to be focused on - please pour me a cup of tea!
- Scooby - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 3:56 pm:
I think it would be better if it was a Mr. T party.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 3:56 pm:
That awful site you linked to has an online poll asking who should be the ILGOP nominee for Governor. Proft is currently in or very near the lead.
While I would never encourage anyone to visit that scary place, those that do should click on Proft’s name just to give the inevitable train wreck a little nudge…
- Ghost - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 3:57 pm:
The GOP needs to take Greens CFax guest column to heart. It was a well reasoned explanation of their current woes that this news illustrates in part. And Green even provides a nice solution/roadmap out of the dark.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 3:59 pm:
===Proft is currently in or very near the lead.===
I just voted for him, and he’s now in the lead.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 3:59 pm:
What is with these guys? The far Right Wing and the extreme Right Wing can’t even get along? Good luck picking up the Suburban Women and Cook County Reagan Democrats you need to win anything.
Enjoy basking in your purity as you go the way of the Washington Generals.
Next state GOP caucus: A phone booth near you.
- dan l - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 4:04 pm:
ILGOP = totally dysfunctional.
What’s funny is that they have all of these outlets between the internet and radio of people who could maybe make a difference—yet not a single one even comes close to landing a meaningful punch.
Instead, here we are watching Fran Eaton trying to troll Cisco Cotto.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 4:10 pm:
Do you think Paul Revere and George Hewes argued like this back in the day?
- Johm Bambenek - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 4:13 pm:
There are Republican candidates out there running on a seriousness of purpose, like Adam Andrzejewski.
- The Shadow - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 4:14 pm:
This is a small fringe and has nothing to do with the state GOP.
Proft IS seeking support for Governor, judging by his calls out to DC and putting out feelers across the state.
Proft is unelectable, given the fact that he has not held prior office, has created a lot of enemies in the GOP over the years, and his association with people in Cicero and Chicago Heights.
Don’t be distracted by this nonsense. The GOP will have a respectable ticket in 2010.
- dan l - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 4:19 pm:
Proft is unelectable, given the fact that he has not held prior office, has created a lot of enemies in the GOP over the years, and his association with people in Cicero and Chicago Heights.
Agreed. Maybe with a haircut though……..
Don’t be distracted by this nonsense. The GOP will have a respectable ticket in 2010.
You really think Jim Edgar is willing to come back?
- Plutocrat03 - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 4:35 pm:
The only one who thinks that Dan Profit can run for Governor is to no great surprise. Dan Profit.
The problem is whether the dysfunctional state GOP can get their (insert body part here) out of their collective (insert plural of other body part)
The same people in charge voluntarily selected Alan Keys for crying out loud. Why should we expect an intelligent choice this time?
- Gene Parmesan - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 4:41 pm:
Plutocrat03, I would respectfully disagree with your assertion that the only person who thinks Proft can win is Proft. There seems to be these “Illinois Review”-esque folks that love to remind us of there hopelessly unelectable fringe candidates. For instance, Ms. Pulido; or now that the 5th CD race is over, we seem destined to hearing ad nauseum about Mr. Andrzejewski. They got a barrel full of these folks over there.
- Levois - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 4:50 pm:
Why do you prefer coffee? Are you getting a headache? lol
- Ned Racnad - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 4:51 pm:
The real question is: which tea party will Alan Keyes attend?
- Scooby - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 4:52 pm:
I pity the fool that doesn’t speak at the Mr. T party.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 4:59 pm:
I think we should mention Keyes’ name to persons in these groups. If they get all starry eyed, we know which group to avoid. Proft sounds like a piece of work.
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 5:14 pm:
Damn! I just voted for the nutjob, err Proft, but he’s fallen to third place behind Bill Brady and Adam “I Have No Idea Who The Heck That Is….”
- Eighty - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 5:32 pm:
I would cry tears of joy if Proft won the GOP primary. Hell, I’d cry if he entered the race at all. Christmas come early!
- fedup dem - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 5:33 pm:
If we get real lucky, Proft runs for governor, wins the Republican nomination by a narrow margin on February 2, and then has the FBI knocking on his door the next morning as they pull a Blago raid on Proft’s boss, Cicero Town President Larry Donimick!
- Frank Booth - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 5:47 pm:
The way this is shaping up, Rod Blagojevich could seek and win the GOP primary for governor in 2010 from federal prison. He is the only proven anti-tax candidate in case you haven’t heard.
I’d take Tim Nuekirk’s statewide chances over Proft any day. Better ads too.
- proudstatecopper - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 6:33 pm:
This is the same Proft who along with Mayor Dominick welcomed with open arms and a high paying job a Blagojevich security commander who resigned in disgrace from the State Police.
- anon - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 7:31 pm:
yikes…no wonder they have trouble winning races in illinois
- James Rockford - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 8:07 pm:
Forget about a haircut for Proft….how about if he just washed his hair once a week or so.
- Joe Schmoe - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 9:17 pm:
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. The last time we talked this much about hair, Blago was governor…..
- soccermom - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 9:19 pm:
I saw that Andrew Andrzejewski is now winning quite handily. Not having a clue as to who he was, I went to his website and saw that he is the eldest of seven children. I guess his nieces and nephews are all voting for him. In Illinois Republican circles, that makes him a guy with a serious voter base.
- Bobs yer - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 9:27 pm:
Cicero R’s are about as Republican as Fast Eddie. How about skipping the cheap trick ‘fake R’ stories and getting serious?
- Gregor - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 9:59 pm:
Is it just me, or has WLS’s programming become 99 percent republican all the time now?
- Levois - Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:22 pm:
I really don’t understand the infighting. It seems irrational.
- JJ - Friday, Apr 10, 09 @ 5:16 am:
Why is everyone beating up on Dan when it is clear that he has nothing to do with the Tea Party? The CYR tea party is outrageous. They are having Andy McKenna speak and they are calling it “nonpartisan.” Those kids are a joke.
- dan l - Friday, Apr 10, 09 @ 7:44 am:
JJ:
Well, mainly the strike out troll between Dan and Fran…..
- Anonymous - Friday, Apr 10, 09 @ 7:51 am:
The circular firing squad known as the IL GOP continues and as a Dem, I love it.
- carbon deforestation - Friday, Apr 10, 09 @ 8:18 am:
Circular firing squad indeed!
State in crisis, Dems waiting for the first domino to fall, major tax increases on the horizon . . . who can save the Dems from themselves? Ladies and gentleman, its . . . The Illinois Republicans!
All Democrats over to my house for blueberry squishies and microwave burritos!
- dan l - Friday, Apr 10, 09 @ 8:53 am:
That’s interesting. I was always under the impression that Julie Johnston was a Proft sock puppet.
I seem to remember the name randomly posting swoons over the great and greasy one. I guess twenty something girlfriend fits too.
- dan l - Friday, Apr 10, 09 @ 9:46 am:
Actually: strike everything.
It’s gotta be some half-ass PR gag to generate interest in their bake sale.
- Anon - Thursday, Apr 23, 09 @ 9:22 pm:
JJ on April 10th is probably Julie Johnson.Proft is a good spokesman,but too expensive for the residents of Cicero to pay for.But who hired him?,Larry Dominick.