41 Comments - Endangered Moderate Species - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 11:22 am: ===She said the pressure was just to great.=== Courage is often required when doing the right thing. - Demoralized - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 11:25 am: Wow, with Representative Ives anti-gay comments and this continued anti-gay bent by the Republican State Central Committee, the Republicans are doing a great job of entrenching themselves firmly in the we hate gay people camp. - Mason born - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 11:28 am: EMS Truer words were never spoken. - Frank - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 11:28 am: If Carol did not vote, would that not have lowered the necessary percentage? I guess it would depend upon the wording of the bylaws - whether it’s 60% of all members or 60% of the votes cast. Robert’s Rules of Order: In the usual situation, where either a majority vote or a two-thirds vote is required, abstentions have absolutely no effect on the outcome of the vote since what is required is either a majority or two thirds of the votes cast. On the other hand, if the vote required is a majority or two thirds of the members present, or a majority or two thirds of the entire membership, an abstention will have the same effect as a “no” vote. Even in such a case, however, an abstention is not a vote and is not counted as a vote. [RONR (11th ed.), p. 400, ll. 7-12; p. 401, ll. 8-11; p. 403, ll. 13-24; see also p. 66 of RONRIB.] - just sayin' - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 11:29 am: Would be nice to see the IL GOP state central committee accomplish something positive for once. It’s about the management stupids. [Not gay marriage.] - railrat - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 11:39 am: Victoriuos warriors when first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go first to war and then seek to win… Sun Tzu - wordslinger - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 11:47 am: At last, they’ve found another way to get widespread attention to the workings of the state GOP: a protracted intra-party fight on gay marriage. The last time they got this much attention was Ryan/Keyes. - Skeeter - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 11:53 am: The GOP’s War on Moderates continues. Do they view this as a deep moral issue? Conversely, do they think that attacking gays in the best path to electoral success? What exactly are these people thinjing? - Colossus - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 12:00 pm: Heh. Ryan/Keyes. Good times. My first election cycle (not working on that one), but that one sucked all the air out of everything else, so I have fond memories of that time. Watching Jack go down helped move me out of the GOP, he was a guy I could get behind (though I didn’t like his camera stunt with Obama). Keyes could give a helluva speech, so long as you weren’t listening to the content. The more things change… - OneMan - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 12:08 pm: Wow, Heck of a source you got there Rich. - Andy Martin - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 12:09 pm: Mr. Brady’s ability to serve has been ended; the ongoing controversy has neutered his leadership. The time for Brady to leave has long since passed. “Gay rights” is just a pretext for unhappiness over Brady’s corrupt and incompetent leadership. The “Mark Kirk GOP” is not the GOP. Andy Martin - OneMan - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 12:21 pm: The “Mark Kirk GOP” is not the GOP Ironically, it is US Senator Mark Kirk, which required him to win a general election statewide, which is much more that I guess what we would call “The Non-Kirk GOP” has been able to pull off lately. - Brendan - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 12:21 pm: Oh Andy…you are perhaps the only blog troller in Illinois worthy of his own Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Martin - AlphaBettor - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 12:30 pm: Mark Kirk is the only Illinois Republican to win a major statewide race (governor or senator) in the last 15 years. - wordslinger - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 12:34 pm: When Andy Martin throws in with you, it might be time for reflection and reconsideration. - Devices - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 12:36 pm: Just curious, how much money has winchesters team raised for the party? How many candidates have they recruited? How many precincts walked? When they act like leaders then they will be treated like leaders. - Send in the Clowns - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 1:14 pm: FYI-Devices, Bob Winchester has been a very active party leaders for decades and has probably walked more preciencts than you’ve had hot meals. As for the other SCC members looking to remove Brady, most are exactly the kind of behind the scenes activists that make up the core of any party. These are not particularly right-wing people (with some exceptions), but are people tired of Brady’s closed administration, abrasive management style and his disregard for the governance of the party. The removal of Brady will not be because of marriage equality, it will be because he ignores his Board of Directors (who hired him) and runs the party with no transparency or accountability and only answers to a small group of political opeatives who decide how the party’s resources are used. Even the moribund IL GOP spent several million on vendors and consultants last year. The central committee has little idea where any of that money is going. And anyone who questioned why the party had virtually no voter registration, early voting or GOTV effort was ignored or dismissed as a troublemaker. It is sad for those of us who want to move the party back towards its moderate core that this matter has been hijacked by a few right wingers and GOP haters among the media. - Norseman - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 1:28 pm: Willy must be sick or in a meeting. This one is ripe for him. I say get rid of them all. - Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 1:28 pm: ===Willy must be sick or in a meeting. This one is ripe for him.=== He just emailed me. He’ll be back this afternoon. - Demoralized - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 1:44 pm: @Send in the Clowns: That message hasn’t been portrayed at all because loudmouths like Oberweis have put the issue of same sex marriage front and center in this drama to oust Brady. I wouldn’t blame the media, though I know that’s a favorite boogeyman for the GOP. I would blame the GOP themselves for failing to control their own and get the message of the situation out there. If there is one thing the GOP has been consistent at it’s the lack of messaging. If I were the GOP I would start with a good messenger and build from there. Given the conservatives that hijack the party, though, I doubt that messenger will be the right one. - LisleMike - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 1:45 pm: @Norseman: “Get rid of them all”? What does that mean? One Party rule? (Well, if you look at the legislature, I guess it kind of is that now) - Eastsider - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 1:49 pm: Hey Clown caller (aka Send in the Clowns)…in your post you mention the “Board of Directors (who hired him)”. I don’t think Mr. Brady was hired because the GOP State Party Chairmanship is a VOLUNTEER position. It kills me that most of the people calling for his ouster don’t even understand the structure of the position they no longer want him to hold. - Jenny - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 1:53 pm: Cross & Kirk bullied a woman? Shocking! - Send in the Clowns - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 2:28 pm: @ Eastsider. I know the party structure. The state central committee is the governing board of the state party as stipulated by statute and the party rules. They vote to select a chairman, (or “hire” him/her, if you will), and whether or not it is a paid position is irrelevant. (FYI, in many states and at the national party level, the chairman is a paid position.) If Brady had been voted Chairman any high profle organizaiton that handled millions of donated dollars his lack of administrative and leadership skills would have led to his removal already. The marriage equality element is an unfortunate side show that futher hurts the party image. Several of the scc members who want Brady out do not object to marriage equality. He’d be nowhere near being ousted if he hadn’t alienated so many of the members of his governing board. - LisleMike - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 2:29 pm: I have opined on this in the past. Pat Brady needs to go because he has not delivered or, more importantly, given the appearance of hope for better results in the future. I could care less about SSM. I have spoken at SCC meetings and I found him rude and disrespectful of those speaking against his position on issues. The truth is we need someone to lead new Republicans. If you always do what you always did and always get what you always got and it is a good thing, stay at it. It has been the opposite with him. We don’t get and what we do get is rehashed old ideas out of touch with the base we wish to represent. (Bit of a rant, sorry, but I feel better now) - Devices - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 2:40 pm: Clown- How much money has your team raised for the party?? How many have family members working in government? What direction did they give Brady that he ignored? I was at the December meeting and no one had complaints like the I ES you allege. - Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 2:41 pm: ===If Brady had been voted Chairman any high profle organizaiton that handled millions of donated dollars his lack of administrative and leadership skills would have led to his removal already. === Um, no. You must not live in a world where CEOs of dying companies receive huge pay raises and bonuses. And where elite cultural institutions skip pension payments https://capitolfax.com/2013/03/15/illinois-isnt-alone/ - OneMan - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 2:49 pm: Clowns, I agree with you that Brady has to go, mostly for the primary stuff because at least in Kane County it showed such a tin ear that he should be kept away from the heavy machinery of the party.. But thanks to other factors the timing isn’t right and the motivation of some in tossing him, lets not kid ourselves, is wrong as well. However because of how - Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 3:08 pm: Ah, back in Kendall County! - Jenny -, So now Kirk and Cross bully women, while defending the idea of the Reagan Rule of 80% and being inclusive? Nice Drive-By - Andy Martin -, It was posted best by - wordlsinger -, ===When Andy Martin throws in with you, it might be time for reflection and reconsideration.=== Amen, - wordslinger -, hopefully the “Adults” of the party will give - Andy Martin - his due … - OneMan - Glad to be back in 308, and well done on the “Mark Kirk GOP”. Too true! - Send in the Clowns -, realize, whilr Bob Winchester has credibility that is above reproach in actual working of a political party, throwing in with the “Litmus Testers” and Blood “Oathers” so that Pat Brady will be “retired” is not changing the fact that Oberweis rand the bell of intolerance, the cancellation was meant to try to change the tenor, and yet, here we are questioning “why” because this all began with the SSM issue. It’s a stain on the Party that will not be wiped clean, especially by the “conspirators from Slytherin” Finally, - Norseman -, thanks for the “shout-out”, after the Plummer pictures came to light, I am on 24 hour “watch” at the house, with shifts, medical support, and IVs at the ready. Now, that the “House Cleaning” is done … - Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 3:17 pm: To the Post, “Retiring” Cute. but who are we fooling with …”retire Pat Brady”. Is it because “Fire …” is so DOPEY, to use it against Pat Brady would be sadly ironic and point out the dismal failures of My Party? I remember in school, that a 89.9% for a teacher I had was a “B+”. 90% was an “A”, but rounding that 89.9% was not going to happen. Students whined, cried, moped, swore, heck some even sat in the office of the instructor to argue the merits of an 89.9% is even MORE of an “A” because the student, and I am quoting, “Squeezed every ounce of learning to get that 89.SEVEN% and others who easily got over 90% did not work as hard as I did!” That student got the B+. My point? If you can do the math to understand the 60%, then do the POLITICS to get the 60%, and thenm and ONLY then, crow, whine, cheer, cry, whatever, about the criteria. That email, the “retire”ment of Pat Brady, signals to me that anger, frustration, despiration and just pure loathing is ruling the day, and being poitical savy is not in the mix. “Just get him out first, then we will fix it”, is not a strategy. Not when the “level headed” are siding with the “Blood Oathers of Slytherin”. This “Retire Brady” will work just as well for the ILGOP as “Fire Madigan” worked for the H&SGOP, and will only escalate the intolerance of the ILGOP that the ILDems are going to push … and push … and push … and so much so, all these wonderful “swing” seats lost in 2012 and will be won back in the off-year 2014, are going to fade into, “Well, we gave it such a good try. We worked SO HARD! We do all we can to win!” That … is where this WILL go. “Retire” I hope the “Slytherin Conspirators” don’t mind if I borrow that sometime … like… “Retire” the opportunity to be seen as an alternative to the ILDems…or “Retire” the chance to be seen as believers of the Reagan Rule of 80%…or “Retire” any idea of getting “Indies” to come back, ID themselves as Republicans, and work towards building a Party…. “Retire”…”Retire” … It’s cute, it catchy … like a rash, or an infection of something that use to be good, but rots to its core. I think I will “Retire” this post now. - LisleMike - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 3:27 pm: BTW @word You are so correct about rethinking any position in which you are in agreement with Andy Martin. I knew him from UofI where I was student manager of a bar. Andy was emoting on some pet issue and I asked him to leave when he resisted requests from others in the bar…..he threatened to sue me. I think he realized that as a college student, I had no assets and he found another bar. Let’s hope he can still find another bar…. - Endangered Moderate Species - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 3:37 pm: The current Dems debate and disagree with one another, but they don’t challenge the other to whom is more of a Democrat. The current GOP debates with one another and when they are in disagreement they seem to gravitate to the Conservative litmus test arguments. (examples: Schock/Rauner, Brasy/Oberweis) The majority of voters prefer independent thinking candidates and the Dems are currently providing a better environment for those candidates than the GOP. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 3:40 pm: - Endangered Moderate Species -, STOP! You are making too much sense and making me light-headed and out of balance … To further your point, - Endangered Moderate Species -, the ILDems, have a Unity Breakfast after primaries based on Unity, the ILGOP, and especially the losing sides of the ILGOP have OUR unity breakfasts based on Breakfast, and even the Menu is always up for debate. Next time, - Endangered Moderate Species -, warn me to get my smelling salts. - Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 3:43 pm: ===but they don’t challenge the other to whom is more of a Democrat.=== Sometimes they do, but mostly they don’t. That’s the big difference between the two parties. Some Republicans look upon their party almost like some folks see their religions. So, with that mindset, if you’re not agreeing with me 100 percent of the time, then you’re a heretic and should be disqualified from participation. The result is that the party shrinks, just as has happened with certain religious denominations. When you get smaller, you get more internal agreement, but then you’re smaller and, therefore weaker and appear hostile to outsiders and former members. It’s no way to run a political party. - Endangered Moderate Species - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 3:48 pm: ===breakfasts based on Breakfast=== It is the most important meal of the day. LOL - OneMan - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 3:53 pm: That’s the big difference between the two parties. Some Republicans look upon their party almost like some folks see their religions. Amen… At church you feel if someone is too far away from what you believe you can lose your literal soul. It makes sense to be very dogmatic. You are right with God and you are not looking to attract a crowd. Politics, if you don’t get necessary mass of people to agree with you more or less you are a social club. Big difference. You may take great satisfaction in feeling you are right, but unless you win elections, all you feel is satisfaction, not power. - Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 3:59 pm: ===You may take great satisfaction in feeling you are right, but unless you win elections, all you feel is satisfaction, not power. === Disagree. They don’t ever feel satisfaction. They feel the need to double down and become even more exclusive and hostile and unreasonable. It’s a vicious cycle with one ultimate result: complete irrelevance. But I do see lots of green shoots, and I’ll be writing about that Monday for subscribers. - titan - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 3:59 pm: They lost one of 19 members (5.26%) and lost only 1.4% of the weighed vote? Donovan must represent a very lightweight district, or the math is off. - Honest Abe - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 4:01 pm: According to Winchester, the email was sent to his 30 county chairmen that make up the 19th district. It was not intented to be shared with the media….However, the facts are the facts—go to town lol. - Honest Abe - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 4:04 pm: Donovan represents downtown chicago - Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 15, 13 @ 4:53 pm: ===Disagree. They don’t ever feel satisfaction. They feel the need to double down and become even more exclusive and hostile and unreasonable.=== …and that is what they never understand. If I could add to that. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.