Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady today released the following statement in response to Pat Quinn’s comments last night at the Heartland Cafe in Chicago.
Quinn said, “We cannot allow the right wing, all of those people on cable TV who don’t wish the President any good at all. They’re a bunch of haters…”
Pat Brady: “I can understand Pat Quinn’s frustration that he has failed at his job as governor, but to start blaming conservatives who question the President or who care deeply about how to solve Illinois’ $13 billion deficit is the height of arrogance. They’re not haters, Governor. They’re citizens, they’re people, and they’re voters.”
If you listen to the audio from the GOP tracker, the rest of the Quinn quote is “They’re a bunch of haters, a lot of them, on those TV shows.”Audio…
Quinn wasn’t talking about Illinois citizens upset about Quinn’s many failures or the state’s horrific budget deficit. The governor was talking about the cable TV goofballs, who don’t even live here. Personally, I can’t bear to watch cable “news,” whether it’s Fox or MSNBC. Shrill haters all. It creeps me out after about 2 minutes. It’s just a vast wasteland of hate.
Together with a conservative political action committee, the state GOP has teamed up with an infamous anti-Obama birther who’s helped to recruit tea party activists to oversee the vote as official poll workers and independent poll watchers […]
This effort has placed [state GOP chairman Pat Brady] in league with one of the tea party movement’s more unusual characters. The project’s coordinator, Sharon Meroni, is an infamous anti-Obama birther who filed objections against 32 Illinois candidates for failing to provide adequate documentation of their citizenship.
Meroni, who blogs under the pseudonym “Chalice Jackson,” also helped launch a petition demanding Obama’s resignation for “high crimes and misdemeanors.” “Who truly would have believed…that there was ANY chance America could be in the hands of a usurper government?” she wrote in another court filing to contest Obama’s citizenship, which the McHenry County Grand Jury dismissed. Meroni is now helping to select the election judges—as official poll workers are called in Illinois—and poll watchers that the joint project will dispatch on Election Day.
Meroni (who blogs under the name “Chalice Jackson”) went into a McHenry County court in late 2009 seeking to challenge the citizenship of Barack Obama. Her website has some similar themes.
However I had never heard of her until this summer when she filed 31 frivolous objections against the petitions of independent and new party candidates…. Meroni didn’t care about the number of petition signatures or any of the other claims made in the typical petition challenge. Meroni instead wanted every candidate to produce a birth certificate.
But the [IL GOP] was apparently inadvertently too candid on its own website about the efforts, and has since scrubbed the earlier references to the RNLA’s training program. Also scrubbed: the party chair’s statement that “ballot integrity will be a key ingredient to our success.”
–Personally, I can’t bear to watch cable “news,” whether it’s Fox or MSNBC. Shrill haters all. It creeps me out after about 2 minutes. It’s just a vast wasteland of hate.–
Amen. They’re a cancer on American society.
Mr. Brady, Quinn didn’t say conservatives. He said right-wing, and qualified it with those on cable TV. Conservatives are not haters, and not all righ-wingers are, either. But right-wingers on cable TV are haters, and they do it for a buck. So do the “liberal” screamers.
Personally, I believe the hammer of Liberalism on the anvil of Conservatism has forged the last, best hope for Earth that we call the United States. We need a lot more of it, not all this turgid ignorance.
Hmmm, “shrill haters all” on Fox News. I watch Special Report hosted by Bret Baier. His frequent guests include Charles Krauthammer, Mara Liasson and Juan Williams. Hardly the shrill haters they are accused of being. Negative generalizations about whole groups based on the actions of a few in that group is not really fair, is it?
First, Mother Jones? We’re going to take that seriously as evidence of a vast and nefarious GOP plot to keep Dems from the polls? What’s next? Quoting the Daily Worker?
Second, as far as I can tell, these evil plot to hijack our democracy like someone mugging a woman in a parking structure is … recruiting election judges?
Please.
Rich, you’re better than this peddling of hysteria.
- CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:33 pm:
I don’t watch cable news, or any TV news for that matter. You shouldn’t either.
But quoting Mother Jones is a little absurd. And so what if she’s a birther? You want me to go through the long list of cranks I’ve encountered at Democratic or liberal events and then tar and feather an entire group with it?
Ok, let’s give it a shot.
I spoke at the Peoria League of Women Voters a few years ago. At the end of the event I was given an “enlightening” lecture from an individual who not only supported abortion, but believed in forced abortion and sterilization because “those people” shouldn’t be allowed to have children.
So that means the League of Women Voters supports 1920s era euthanasia. Discuss.
Absurd?
Of course it’s absurd. So let’s not pick and choose here. Because I bet I can find a few truthers in the Dem ranks too.
Rich, AMEN on your “vast wasteland of hate” quote.
But, I’m confused on the comment in the article that Meroni is “helping select the election judges…” Uh, as an election judge, that’s not something that’s done by random individuals. It’s done by the election commission (or whatever it’s called in that jurisdiction) and the members must be balanced between Rs and Ds, go through specific training, and certain jobs must be overseen on that day by members of opposing parties at all times. I may be personally partisan, but I am rabidly nonpartisan (that may be an oxymoron!!) when it comes to voter participation!
Anybody hear the Sarah Palin clips lately on WBBM 780 (yesterday maybe)? “Old Glory has never waved higher and prouder than when it’s raised by you teapartyers!!!!” Gag. Talk about shrill, it’s unbearable. Sarah, it’s a cool medium. No reason to scream.
It’s not that she’s just a birther. This person has filed lawsuits. That puts her above the fold. Also, those goofy challenges of candidates. She’s not just somebody who watches teevee and screams “Where’s the birth certificate?” She’s an activist.
I don’t see her affiliated with any tea party leadership I’m aware of.
And I’m saying even though she may be a crank, that doesn’t mean she’s going to be engaging in jack-booted voter suppression tactics like Mother Jones indicates in the article you link.
Rich, I only posted a few names as I have limited time at the moment. I think that since you felt the need to respond in that way I found more time. I find that the majority of the folk who appear on Fox News are not shrill in any way. There are a few lightening rods (O’Reilly and Beck) but the rest…I just don’t see it.
Greta VanSusteren…shrill? (boring,yes,but shrill?)
Greg Gutfeld….shrill? (silly,yes but shrill?)
Steve Doocy….shrill?
Gretchen Carslon…shrill? (vapid at times but shrill?
Brian Kilmeade…shrill?
Brit Hume…shrill?
Neil Cavuto…shrill?
Shepard Smith…shrill?
Mike Huckabee…shrill?
Chris Wallace…shrill?
Brenda Buttner…shrill?
I could go on but my fingers got tired. Point out the screamers, yes, but to paint them all as shrill haters is not appropriate. Saying you watched for a few minutes and determined that they are “shrill haters ALL” is fallacious reasoning.
- Small Town Liberal - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:49 pm:
- an individual who not only supported abortion, but believed in forced abortion and sterilization because “those people” shouldn’t be allowed to have children. -
So did the Illinois Democrats specifically ask this individual to recruit like minded poll workers?
People wonder WHY the ILGOP keeps getting smoked in elections?? It’s because we are the party of “Hey, we have a chance …let’s see how we can blow up again.”
I have come to the conclusion that 1994 was indeed an act of pure landslide luck!
Since Pate won the IL Senate with an actual plan and that plan helped him keep his majority, it’s safe to say, right now, there is no leadership that has long-term vision, or if that vision makes any political sense!
What does it say that Pate makes the most sense, and the moderates think THEY know better, and right-wing conservatives think being at 25% or lower IS a majority?
If Kirk and Brady lose … do NOT blame the Dems … we shot ourselves in the foot … again.
What is it with the birthers, anyway? If they don’t know they are tagged as delusional they should at least know that they aren’t doing a single thing positive for the GOP and are not moving political discourse forward one bit. Any organized political group that is seen as being involved in any birthers should be hog tied and horse whipped (metaphorically speaking, of course).
All birthers should be sent up to Tranquility Base, on the moon. Oh….wait a minute….I forgot that man never landed on the moon, it was on a movie set. Oh well.
- Small Town Liberal - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:57 pm:
- And what does being a birther have to do with vote supression as an election judge… just asking… -
I don’t know, but the GOP must think they’ll be good at it if they’re recruiting them. Ask them.
===I don’t see her affiliated with any tea party leadership I’m aware of.===
Wait, I thought the Tea Party was organic, just a bunch of regular folks who want to return to the bedrock principles of limited government as laid out in the Constitution, not an organized political group. Now it has leaders? How are they chosen? Who keeps the membership lists up to date?
Sounds to me like Moroni is just another like-minded moth attracted to the Tea Party flame. And before the Tea Party disavows her, remember: she’s this-close to getting the President removed from office on a technicality. This-close I tell you.
The irony of the birthers is that, if Obama was removed from office, wouldn’t the Tea Party evaporate too?
Memo to Pat Brady: lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas.
As far as I can tell, RenePAC was tasked by the ILGOP to handle the project and RenePAC got Meroni to find judges. What I don’t see is that this was intended to raise an Army of Birthers to rampage polling booths across the Great Land of Lincoln like some B Zombie Flick.
So unless you’re just throwing crap against the wall like “ZO NOES!! The Chamber is taking foreign moneys!!!!!”, I’d like you to back up the claims here. Otherwise you’re literally peddling in socialist hysteria (as if the name Mother Jones wasn’t clue enough for you).
DD, Rich called out MSNBC as haters, too. If you feel the need to defend the virtuous world view of Rupert, Roger, Glenn, Hannity and the gang who debase the word “conservative,” then maybe you should do the same for their counterparts on MSNBC or whatever other crew debases the world “liberal.”
None of them care about being grownups and working out problems reasonably with civility and good will, it’s all about stirring the pot for the money.
JB, if Mother Jones has the goods, what’s the problem? Drudge and The National Enquirer broke the Monica story. Should that have been discounted, considering the sources?
I don’t see any goods, that’s the point. I just see conjecture. Drudge and the Enquirer had at least some backup to their story.
All I see Mother Jones doing is saying “ZO NOES! TEABAGGERZ WILL STEALZ THE VOTEZ!!!!” Sources? none.
- Small Town Liberal - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:08 pm:
- I’d like you to back up the claims here. -
I didn’t make any claims, I’m as clueless as you as to why the GOP would want a birther to recruit election judges. Are you telling me if the Illinois Dems hired a truther to do the same thing you wouldn’t be spreading the word to your readers? I kinda doubt it.
I can’t do the same for MSNBC, I watched them for about 2 minutes and found them to be shrill haters all.
For those who are truly shrill haters (and they are there, on both sides), I agree that they are about the money. Being an adult, I realize this and generally don’t watch them or listen to them.
It’s not hard, really.
What can be hard is to listen to those on both sides who are willing to take as hard a look at themselves as they do the other side. I find that happens here often enough to make it worthwhile to check in.
Rich, I’m with you on cable news. I’d throw in WLS and WAND also. We’re all better informed without them. But every time you quote that idiot Ibendahl your credibility takes a hit. C’mon, the guy who called the cops on JBT? He doesn’t add anything to the knowledge base.
It seems to me labeling someone a “hater” is the modern equivalent of labeling someone a “nazi”. It is supposed to end all rational discussion of substantive issues. What’s the saying, the first person to call the other “nazi” loses?
Lately it’s been Brady killing everyone’s puppies, then calling Brady corrupt, now he’s lashing out at haters. In desperation perhaps, Quinn seems like he’s racing to the bottom. What’s next, Brady the closet homosexual? Granted, that’s a rightwing tactic, but how low can Quinn go?
Last, Quinn statement wasn’t as clear as your quote–I’d like to know what he said between “haters” and “on those TV shows”.
It’s gotta be frustrating for any campaign to have words taken out of context. As a political operative, what would be your response if your opponent’s surrogate completely took a quote out of context and bashed it?
- Small Town Liberal - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:16 pm:
- I wouldn’t care. -
You might not care, but I’d stake my life savings that you’d write about it. As would every other right winger with an audience.
I’m too busy trying to get things done than to do oppo on freaking volunteers. But if you’re gonna bet, I’d make double-sure not to even tweet about it… can’t have you running around with disposable cash now.
To take a left turn (see how I did that? I didn’t even try), the discussion of the magazine “Mother Jones” should lead us all to learn about and, I believe, to celebrate the life of one Mary Harris Jones, born in County Cork and buried down the road from The Dome in Virden.
There’s a sign for a historical marker off of I-55 south of Springfield, and I’m a sucker for historical markers, to my wife and kids’ dismay.
Back in the day before Progressives like the Roosevelt boys led us into this long, painful, downward spiral of unimagined freedom, liberty, security, opportunity and wealth, old Mary was standing up and leavening some of the nastiest excesses of the emerging Industrial Revolution.
Besides her life’s work,she left us great words to live by:
“Pray for the dead, fight like hell for the living.”
The ILGOP is now desperately short of cash, thanks to Brady turning off all sorts of major donors, so they have to take whatever help they can get. Also, the ILGOP is working very hard to get on Jack Roeser’s good side (the side where the checkbook is located), and Sharon Meroni is linked up with Jack’s Renaissance PAC.
I’ve met Sharon Meroni, and did not detect frothing at the mouth, or fangs, etc. She was a very pleasant person.
The GOP has every right to gear up for Election Day. But there is not a lot of hard evidence that election fraud is still rampant, even in strong Democratic areas, and previous major GOP pollwatcher efforts in Chicago found very little to complain about. But the Kirk-Giannoulias race could be just like Coleman-Franken in Minnesota two years ago, down to a handful of votes after millions counted. I don’t blame Kirk a bit for doing it.
Rich,
I saw that video earlier but didn’t get around to sharing. That guy is great but it kind of makes me made. We get Brady Quinn and Cohen, and New York gets the “too damn high guy”. We lose again.
>The governor was talking about the cable TV goofballs, who don’t even live here. Personally, I can’t bear to watch cable “news,” whether it’s Fox or MSNBC. Shrill haters all. It creeps me out after about 2 minutes. It’s just a vast wasteland of hate.
Either they’re haters…or the truth is so unbareably painful that you chosen to live in a fantasy world over reality in order to escape from it.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 5:16 pm:
Time to take a breath people!
Ibendahl tried to talk some sense to Meroni? That’s like Bud Abbott trying to explain baseball to Lou Costello!
Ibehdahl who is now with the Illinois Constitution Party and who writes endless broken record type of anti-GOP articles while claiming to still be a Republican, tried to talk some sense to Meroni?
And people are taking that seriously?
Why is the GOP being linked to “Patriot’s Heart Network” (who?) for “proof” of a direct “link” to the Illinois GOP?
And Quinn has his fangs out and is lashing out at Brady big time now. Just like he did to Hynes during the primary. Run against Patrick Quinn and be prepared to be nastily slimed. For someone who has been in politics since the 1960’s, he sure has a thin skin. Wild reckless charges? A ton of “Do you still beat your wife?” questions? Now is the time for that garbage.
What’s next? A smashed window at a campaign office? Slashed tires? Stolen yard signs? I would think that the readership here is intelligent enough to see through all this garbage. Maybe not!
I know its just a few days until this election ends, but can everyone take off the tin foil hats now?
There are complete knuckleheads on the right and knuckleheads on the left. Why not just call all of them what they are: knuckleheads!
And then move on to something more substantive.
(PS: Kirk has been doing heavy poll watching and voter integrity work over the past few elections. In 2008, I was a Kirk poll watcher in North Chicago. Ever poll watch for most of an election day? B-O-R-I-N-G! So why is everyone freaked out over this now?)
Take off those tin foil hats! And accept the fact that the Tea Party will soon rule the world! LOL!
–It seems to me labeling someone a “hater” is the modern equivalent of labeling someone a “nazi”.–
C’mon, man. Are you serious?
First of all, no one said that but you. It’s hard to begin to explain how someone can be a money-grubbing hateful gasbag, extreme left or right, and still not be a Nazi. You have to know that. What’s your motivation?
What a surprise Louis Atsaves is blindly defending the state gop and a birther. This is how the IL GOP got in the ditch in the first place. Thank you Lou.
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 5:51 pm:
I seem to recall during the primary Pat Brady referring to conservatives who weren’t supporting Mark Kirk as being “fringe.” Maybe not as bad as calling someone a “hater” but still shows a lot of hypocrisy.
PJW, “birther” usually denotes someone who doesn’t believe Obama is qualified to be president because he wasn’t born in the U.S.
Not to be confused with a “truther” who believes the 9-11 terror attacks were an inside job by the U.S. government.
Sometimes, but not always, the same people will be both.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 10:15 pm:
Too Obvious: I’m defending a birther I just called a knucklehead?
- Good Government Guy - Wednesday, Oct 20, 10 @ 2:36 pm:
Rich,
If you don’t watch cable news, how can you say that they are “haters”?
If I think Oprah is a hater but I don’t watch her am I not unqualified to speak about my opinion?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:25 pm:
–Personally, I can’t bear to watch cable “news,” whether it’s Fox or MSNBC. Shrill haters all. It creeps me out after about 2 minutes. It’s just a vast wasteland of hate.–
Amen. They’re a cancer on American society.
Mr. Brady, Quinn didn’t say conservatives. He said right-wing, and qualified it with those on cable TV. Conservatives are not haters, and not all righ-wingers are, either. But right-wingers on cable TV are haters, and they do it for a buck. So do the “liberal” screamers.
Personally, I believe the hammer of Liberalism on the anvil of Conservatism has forged the last, best hope for Earth that we call the United States. We need a lot more of it, not all this turgid ignorance.
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:26 pm:
Hmmm, “shrill haters all” on Fox News. I watch Special Report hosted by Bret Baier. His frequent guests include Charles Krauthammer, Mara Liasson and Juan Williams. Hardly the shrill haters they are accused of being. Negative generalizations about whole groups based on the actions of a few in that group is not really fair, is it?
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:26 pm:
Sharon Meroni is a Tea Partier? That’s news to me.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:30 pm:
DD, taking one or two exceptions and claiming it proves everyone is like them is fallacious reasoning.
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:30 pm:
After reading the articles…
First, Mother Jones? We’re going to take that seriously as evidence of a vast and nefarious GOP plot to keep Dems from the polls? What’s next? Quoting the Daily Worker?
Second, as far as I can tell, these evil plot to hijack our democracy like someone mugging a woman in a parking structure is … recruiting election judges?
Please.
Rich, you’re better than this peddling of hysteria.
- CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:33 pm:
Yikes now Gags Brady is gagging himself
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:35 pm:
JB, the IL GOP is defending cable TV screamers and working closely with a birther and you think I’m the one peddling hysteria?
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:40 pm:
Rich-
I don’t watch cable news, or any TV news for that matter. You shouldn’t either.
But quoting Mother Jones is a little absurd. And so what if she’s a birther? You want me to go through the long list of cranks I’ve encountered at Democratic or liberal events and then tar and feather an entire group with it?
Ok, let’s give it a shot.
I spoke at the Peoria League of Women Voters a few years ago. At the end of the event I was given an “enlightening” lecture from an individual who not only supported abortion, but believed in forced abortion and sterilization because “those people” shouldn’t be allowed to have children.
So that means the League of Women Voters supports 1920s era euthanasia. Discuss.
Absurd?
Of course it’s absurd. So let’s not pick and choose here. Because I bet I can find a few truthers in the Dem ranks too.
- Katydid - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:41 pm:
Rich, AMEN on your “vast wasteland of hate” quote.
But, I’m confused on the comment in the article that Meroni is “helping select the election judges…” Uh, as an election judge, that’s not something that’s done by random individuals. It’s done by the election commission (or whatever it’s called in that jurisdiction) and the members must be balanced between Rs and Ds, go through specific training, and certain jobs must be overseen on that day by members of opposing parties at all times. I may be personally partisan, but I am rabidly nonpartisan (that may be an oxymoron!!) when it comes to voter participation!
- Pioneer P. - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:41 pm:
Anybody hear the Sarah Palin clips lately on WBBM 780 (yesterday maybe)? “Old Glory has never waved higher and prouder than when it’s raised by you teapartyers!!!!” Gag. Talk about shrill, it’s unbearable. Sarah, it’s a cool medium. No reason to scream.
- VoterUSA - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:42 pm:
I hope the tea-pots and the GOP get closer and closer…It turns the Indi’s off, and makes the Dem look good.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:42 pm:
It’s not that she’s just a birther. This person has filed lawsuits. That puts her above the fold. Also, those goofy challenges of candidates. She’s not just somebody who watches teevee and screams “Where’s the birth certificate?” She’s an activist.
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:45 pm:
I’m not defending her as mainstream.
I don’t see her affiliated with any tea party leadership I’m aware of.
And I’m saying even though she may be a crank, that doesn’t mean she’s going to be engaging in jack-booted voter suppression tactics like Mother Jones indicates in the article you link.
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:46 pm:
Rich, I only posted a few names as I have limited time at the moment. I think that since you felt the need to respond in that way I found more time. I find that the majority of the folk who appear on Fox News are not shrill in any way. There are a few lightening rods (O’Reilly and Beck) but the rest…I just don’t see it.
Greta VanSusteren…shrill? (boring,yes,but shrill?)
Greg Gutfeld….shrill? (silly,yes but shrill?)
Steve Doocy….shrill?
Gretchen Carslon…shrill? (vapid at times but shrill?
Brian Kilmeade…shrill?
Brit Hume…shrill?
Neil Cavuto…shrill?
Shepard Smith…shrill?
Mike Huckabee…shrill?
Chris Wallace…shrill?
Brenda Buttner…shrill?
I could go on but my fingers got tired. Point out the screamers, yes, but to paint them all as shrill haters is not appropriate. Saying you watched for a few minutes and determined that they are “shrill haters ALL” is fallacious reasoning.
- Small Town Liberal - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:49 pm:
- an individual who not only supported abortion, but believed in forced abortion and sterilization because “those people” shouldn’t be allowed to have children. -
So did the Illinois Democrats specifically ask this individual to recruit like minded poll workers?
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:51 pm:
STL-
As I recall, this person was an official with that chapter of the LWV. I’d have to go back and figure it out and I’m mistaken.
And what does being a birther have to do with vote supression as an election judge… just asking…
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:52 pm:
People wonder WHY the ILGOP keeps getting smoked in elections?? It’s because we are the party of “Hey, we have a chance …let’s see how we can blow up again.”
I have come to the conclusion that 1994 was indeed an act of pure landslide luck!
Since Pate won the IL Senate with an actual plan and that plan helped him keep his majority, it’s safe to say, right now, there is no leadership that has long-term vision, or if that vision makes any political sense!
What does it say that Pate makes the most sense, and the moderates think THEY know better, and right-wing conservatives think being at 25% or lower IS a majority?
If Kirk and Brady lose … do NOT blame the Dems … we shot ourselves in the foot … again.
What is happening?
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:53 pm:
What is it with the birthers, anyway? If they don’t know they are tagged as delusional they should at least know that they aren’t doing a single thing positive for the GOP and are not moving political discourse forward one bit. Any organized political group that is seen as being involved in any birthers should be hog tied and horse whipped (metaphorically speaking, of course).
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:57 pm:
All birthers should be sent up to Tranquility Base, on the moon. Oh….wait a minute….I forgot that man never landed on the moon, it was on a movie set. Oh well.
- Small Town Liberal - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 3:57 pm:
- And what does being a birther have to do with vote supression as an election judge… just asking… -
I don’t know, but the GOP must think they’ll be good at it if they’re recruiting them. Ask them.
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:01 pm:
Rich,
= Negative generalizations about whole groups BASED ON THE ACTIONS OF A FEW in that group is not really fair, is it?=
=taking one or two exceptions and claiming it proves everyone is like them=
And just where did I say that “it proves everyone is like them?”
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:01 pm:
===I don’t see her affiliated with any tea party leadership I’m aware of.===
Wait, I thought the Tea Party was organic, just a bunch of regular folks who want to return to the bedrock principles of limited government as laid out in the Constitution, not an organized political group. Now it has leaders? How are they chosen? Who keeps the membership lists up to date?
Sounds to me like Moroni is just another like-minded moth attracted to the Tea Party flame. And before the Tea Party disavows her, remember: she’s this-close to getting the President removed from office on a technicality. This-close I tell you.
The irony of the birthers is that, if Obama was removed from office, wouldn’t the Tea Party evaporate too?
Memo to Pat Brady: lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas.
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:02 pm:
STL-
As far as I can tell, RenePAC was tasked by the ILGOP to handle the project and RenePAC got Meroni to find judges. What I don’t see is that this was intended to raise an Army of Birthers to rampage polling booths across the Great Land of Lincoln like some B Zombie Flick.
So unless you’re just throwing crap against the wall like “ZO NOES!! The Chamber is taking foreign moneys!!!!!”, I’d like you to back up the claims here. Otherwise you’re literally peddling in socialist hysteria (as if the name Mother Jones wasn’t clue enough for you).
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:06 pm:
DD, Rich called out MSNBC as haters, too. If you feel the need to defend the virtuous world view of Rupert, Roger, Glenn, Hannity and the gang who debase the word “conservative,” then maybe you should do the same for their counterparts on MSNBC or whatever other crew debases the world “liberal.”
None of them care about being grownups and working out problems reasonably with civility and good will, it’s all about stirring the pot for the money.
JB, if Mother Jones has the goods, what’s the problem? Drudge and The National Enquirer broke the Monica story. Should that have been discounted, considering the sources?
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:07 pm:
wordslinger-
I don’t see any goods, that’s the point. I just see conjecture. Drudge and the Enquirer had at least some backup to their story.
All I see Mother Jones doing is saying “ZO NOES! TEABAGGERZ WILL STEALZ THE VOTEZ!!!!” Sources? none.
- Small Town Liberal - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:08 pm:
- I’d like you to back up the claims here. -
I didn’t make any claims, I’m as clueless as you as to why the GOP would want a birther to recruit election judges. Are you telling me if the Illinois Dems hired a truther to do the same thing you wouldn’t be spreading the word to your readers? I kinda doubt it.
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:11 pm:
STL-
I wouldn’t care. Recruit whoever you want to be an election judge. I care more about what the judge does than what they think.
At best, I might mock them for hiring a truther. Mother Jones, on the other hand, says, “see a birther” therefore she will steal the vote.
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:12 pm:
Word,
I can’t do the same for MSNBC, I watched them for about 2 minutes and found them to be shrill haters all.
For those who are truly shrill haters (and they are there, on both sides), I agree that they are about the money. Being an adult, I realize this and generally don’t watch them or listen to them.
It’s not hard, really.
What can be hard is to listen to those on both sides who are willing to take as hard a look at themselves as they do the other side. I find that happens here often enough to make it worthwhile to check in.
- Been There - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:15 pm:
Rich, I’m with you on cable news. I’d throw in WLS and WAND also. We’re all better informed without them. But every time you quote that idiot Ibendahl your credibility takes a hit. C’mon, the guy who called the cops on JBT? He doesn’t add anything to the knowledge base.
It seems to me labeling someone a “hater” is the modern equivalent of labeling someone a “nazi”. It is supposed to end all rational discussion of substantive issues. What’s the saying, the first person to call the other “nazi” loses?
Lately it’s been Brady killing everyone’s puppies, then calling Brady corrupt, now he’s lashing out at haters. In desperation perhaps, Quinn seems like he’s racing to the bottom. What’s next, Brady the closet homosexual? Granted, that’s a rightwing tactic, but how low can Quinn go?
Last, Quinn statement wasn’t as clear as your quote–I’d like to know what he said between “haters” and “on those TV shows”.
- Nick42 - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:15 pm:
I’m waiting for a ban to kick in here…
It’s gotta be frustrating for any campaign to have words taken out of context. As a political operative, what would be your response if your opponent’s surrogate completely took a quote out of context and bashed it?
- Small Town Liberal - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:16 pm:
- I wouldn’t care. -
You might not care, but I’d stake my life savings that you’d write about it. As would every other right winger with an audience.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:16 pm:
===I’d like to know what he said between “haters” and “on those TV shows”===
“A lot of them”
- Been There - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:22 pm:
Thanks Rich. I also meant WLS-AM and WIND-AM.
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:26 pm:
STL-
I’m too busy trying to get things done than to do oppo on freaking volunteers. But if you’re gonna bet, I’d make double-sure not to even tweet about it… can’t have you running around with disposable cash now.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:28 pm:
Look, all I have to say is “The rent is too damn high.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4o-TeMHys0&feature=player_embedded
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:33 pm:
To take a left turn (see how I did that? I didn’t even try), the discussion of the magazine “Mother Jones” should lead us all to learn about and, I believe, to celebrate the life of one Mary Harris Jones, born in County Cork and buried down the road from The Dome in Virden.
There’s a sign for a historical marker off of I-55 south of Springfield, and I’m a sucker for historical markers, to my wife and kids’ dismay.
Back in the day before Progressives like the Roosevelt boys led us into this long, painful, downward spiral of unimagined freedom, liberty, security, opportunity and wealth, old Mary was standing up and leavening some of the nastiest excesses of the emerging Industrial Revolution.
Besides her life’s work,she left us great words to live by:
“Pray for the dead, fight like hell for the living.”
- OneMan - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:36 pm:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8itfydwXryo
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:42 pm:
OneMan …
My rent is …
- Bubs - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:44 pm:
The ILGOP is now desperately short of cash, thanks to Brady turning off all sorts of major donors, so they have to take whatever help they can get. Also, the ILGOP is working very hard to get on Jack Roeser’s good side (the side where the checkbook is located), and Sharon Meroni is linked up with Jack’s Renaissance PAC.
I’ve met Sharon Meroni, and did not detect frothing at the mouth, or fangs, etc. She was a very pleasant person.
The GOP has every right to gear up for Election Day. But there is not a lot of hard evidence that election fraud is still rampant, even in strong Democratic areas, and previous major GOP pollwatcher efforts in Chicago found very little to complain about. But the Kirk-Giannoulias race could be just like Coleman-Franken in Minnesota two years ago, down to a handful of votes after millions counted. I don’t blame Kirk a bit for doing it.
- Jaded - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:45 pm:
Rich,
I saw that video earlier but didn’t get around to sharing. That guy is great but it kind of makes me made. We get Brady Quinn and Cohen, and New York gets the “too damn high guy”. We lose again.
Here is the rap song.
http://tv.gawker.com/5667676/listen-to-jimmy-mcmillans-rent-is-too-damn-high-rap-song
Even better.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:45 pm:
Hey Rich,
How much would you PAY to see Plummer, Simon, and Jimmy “The Rent is …” on the same stage …
I think I would pay … someone’s rent.
- Segatari - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:45 pm:
>The governor was talking about the cable TV goofballs, who don’t even live here. Personally, I can’t bear to watch cable “news,” whether it’s Fox or MSNBC. Shrill haters all. It creeps me out after about 2 minutes. It’s just a vast wasteland of hate.
Either they’re haters…or the truth is so unbareably painful that you chosen to live in a fantasy world over reality in order to escape from it.
- Pat Robertson - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:46 pm:
==Memo to Pat Brady: lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas.==
Amen. And if you want proof, look at Quinn.
A plague on both their houses.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:49 pm:
We now have a post to discuss that “Rent is too damn high” video… https://capitolfax.com/2010/10/19/tonights-us-senate-debate/
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 4:57 pm:
There should be a Jimmy McMillan appreciation society…
That campaign is the reason third parties and indies should be at debates.
- D.P. Gumby - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 5:03 pm:
I prefer the Christine O’Donnell auto tune–
http://www.thedailybeast.com/video/item/christine-odonnell-im-not-a-witch-auto-tune
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 5:16 pm:
Time to take a breath people!
Ibendahl tried to talk some sense to Meroni? That’s like Bud Abbott trying to explain baseball to Lou Costello!
Ibehdahl who is now with the Illinois Constitution Party and who writes endless broken record type of anti-GOP articles while claiming to still be a Republican, tried to talk some sense to Meroni?
And people are taking that seriously?
Why is the GOP being linked to “Patriot’s Heart Network” (who?) for “proof” of a direct “link” to the Illinois GOP?
And Quinn has his fangs out and is lashing out at Brady big time now. Just like he did to Hynes during the primary. Run against Patrick Quinn and be prepared to be nastily slimed. For someone who has been in politics since the 1960’s, he sure has a thin skin. Wild reckless charges? A ton of “Do you still beat your wife?” questions? Now is the time for that garbage.
What’s next? A smashed window at a campaign office? Slashed tires? Stolen yard signs? I would think that the readership here is intelligent enough to see through all this garbage. Maybe not!
I know its just a few days until this election ends, but can everyone take off the tin foil hats now?
There are complete knuckleheads on the right and knuckleheads on the left. Why not just call all of them what they are: knuckleheads!
And then move on to something more substantive.
(PS: Kirk has been doing heavy poll watching and voter integrity work over the past few elections. In 2008, I was a Kirk poll watcher in North Chicago. Ever poll watch for most of an election day? B-O-R-I-N-G! So why is everyone freaked out over this now?)
Take off those tin foil hats! And accept the fact that the Tea Party will soon rule the world! LOL!
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 5:29 pm:
–It seems to me labeling someone a “hater” is the modern equivalent of labeling someone a “nazi”.–
C’mon, man. Are you serious?
First of all, no one said that but you. It’s hard to begin to explain how someone can be a money-grubbing hateful gasbag, extreme left or right, and still not be a Nazi. You have to know that. What’s your motivation?
- too obvious - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 5:30 pm:
What a surprise Louis Atsaves is blindly defending the state gop and a birther. This is how the IL GOP got in the ditch in the first place. Thank you Lou.
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 5:51 pm:
What the hell is a birther?
- just sayin' - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 6:05 pm:
I seem to recall during the primary Pat Brady referring to conservatives who weren’t supporting Mark Kirk as being “fringe.” Maybe not as bad as calling someone a “hater” but still shows a lot of hypocrisy.
PJW, “birther” usually denotes someone who doesn’t believe Obama is qualified to be president because he wasn’t born in the U.S.
Not to be confused with a “truther” who believes the 9-11 terror attacks were an inside job by the U.S. government.
Sometimes, but not always, the same people will be both.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Oct 19, 10 @ 10:15 pm:
Too Obvious: I’m defending a birther I just called a knucklehead?
- Good Government Guy - Wednesday, Oct 20, 10 @ 2:36 pm:
Rich,
If you don’t watch cable news, how can you say that they are “haters”?
If I think Oprah is a hater but I don’t watch her am I not unqualified to speak about my opinion?