* From WUIS…
Running against [Attorney General Lisa Madigan] will not be easy. She’s a three-term incumbent, has one of the richest campaign funds in Illinois, and happens to be in one of the state’s most powerful political families.
But none of that is deterring [Republican] Paul Schimpf, a retired Marine Corps lawyer from the town of Waterloo.
“Unlike four years ago or eight years ago, I actually think there are a number of reasons that Democrats — not Republicans, but Democrats — would vote against Lisa Madigan,” Schimpf says. […]
“Who can you trust to protect your religious liberty? Who can you trust to be an honest broker on the pensions issue? Who can you trust to actually fight corruption?” Schimpf asks. “I can do a better job than Lisa can.”
Discuss.
- Nearly Normal - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 12:25 pm:
Well, he certainly is from a town with an appropriate name–Waterloo!
“Waterloo, Waterloo,
Where will you
Meet your Waterloo?”
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 12:26 pm:
Bless him.
Advice?
You want to be relevent after this run, run like Rutherford and Quinn when they took on “politcal heavyweights”.
You want to be a step removed from Jason Plummer, run like Steve Kim did.
Best of luck, godspeed… and thank you for your service to the United States …
And thanks for taking on a task very few would even ponder.
- MrJM - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 12:29 pm:
“Who can you trust to protect your religious liberty?”
Well, my lucky rabbit’s foot hasn’t let me down yet!
– MrJM
- Nearly Normal - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 12:33 pm:
Well said, OW!
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 12:39 pm:
Ooh rah, Marine. Thank you for your service.
I hope you read this blog and take heart in the comments of folks like Oswego Willy. Just because you face a daunting, near impossible task doesn’t mean you should ignore common sense and go all wiggy on us. (Not that a Marine would go all wiggy - just sayin)
- Will Caskey - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 12:39 pm:
Not how I’d personally want to spend a year of my retirement but to each their own.
- Bill White - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 12:41 pm:
Yes, indeed. Bless him.
Now, the IL GOP candidate for Governor will be under pressure to campaign with someone who believes their religious freedom requires the ability to discriminate against gay people.
http://www.schimpf4illinois.com/issues
- Mmmmmmm - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 12:42 pm:
Do I smell an upset in the making????
Nah, just the smoke coming from Lisa’s head stewing about not having Q dog in a one on one race>>>
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 12:47 pm:
Thank you for your service! Anything can happen from now until Election Day! Go for it! Giving voters an alternative is key in a Republic.
- Gregor - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 12:49 pm:
More people will be interested in the passing of Jerry G. Bishop than in this campaign.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 12:57 pm:
When you look at governmental religious persecution around the world, it’s sad to see an American lump his country in with that lot. Very sad, indeed.
Unless, of course, you want to build a mosque somewhere. Then, some Constitutional scholars in government will go all out to intimidate and shut you down.
Because 1.6 billion Muslims need to wear the jacket for 19 hijackers. Forever.
Just like 2.1 billion Christians must bear the burning Cross of the Klan or the hate of Westboro Baptist.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 1:01 pm:
Well now we know the answer to the future Illinois Political Trivia game of “who lost to Lisa Madigan in 2014?”
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 1:05 pm:
Well, I guess we keep pictures of the whole slate together on a “back burner” on the ideas list…
I still thank him for his service to our country.
- MEP - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 1:08 pm:
This is one of those, I’m going to run to increase my name recognition and then run for office later on. Have you read his bio? Don’t tell me you don’t have political ambitions and you are just an everyman, but run for office two months after retiring from the military.
Disclaimer: That is not to say he didn’t serve honorably or was not genuine in his desire to serve, just that the timing seems convenient.
- Stones - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 1:10 pm:
Paul who?
- too obvious - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 1:10 pm:
Best gop could hope for.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 1:10 pm:
From the party that wanted to make Alan Keyes one of the most powerful men on the planet…
- MOON - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 1:14 pm:
This should be a GOP Year.
I doubt Lisa will loose but her margin of victory will be less than before.
The GOP should pick up a couple Senate and House seats.
I think the Governors race will be close and whether or not Quinn wins depends a great deal upon who the GOP winner is in the primary.
- TooManyJens - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 1:14 pm:
“Who can you trust to protect your religious liberty?”
Not the people who think my employer’s religious beliefs should dictate my healthcare options, that’s for sure.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 1:16 pm:
===I doubt Lisa will loose but her margin of victory will be less than before.===
2010 was the best GOP year since 1948. Keep that in mind.
Also, it’s “lose,” with one “o” please.
Pet peeve of mine.
- Chavez-respecting Obamist - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 1:17 pm:
“Who can you trust to protect your religious liberty?”
Does he mean his God-given right to persecute homosexuals? Or is he anti-Muslim? Because those are the two things that pop into my head when I hear an American complain about their lack of religious liberty.
- Wallinger Dickus - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 1:21 pm:
Jerry G. Bishop? Damn. Off to the Big Houby Day Parade in the Beyond.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 1:54 pm:
From me to Mr. Schimpf: Thank you for your service.
From GOP to Mr. Schimpf: Thank you for your sacrifice.
- Snucka - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 1:55 pm:
If this guy is the nominee, I think Lisa can beat her 65% from 2010.
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 2:02 pm:
Wow, lots of words put into this man’s mouth.
- Bill White - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 2:05 pm:
@DuPage Dan
In his own words:
=== Obamacare. Our country will not regain its economic vitality until Obamacare is repealed. Obamacare, as implemented by the Department of Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Service, and Department of Labor, represents a threat to the rights of Illinois citizens and I will vigorously scrutinize its legality as we move forward. ===
Obamacare threatens the rights of Illinois citizens?
- Statey McGrady - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 2:18 pm:
MOON, you said it depends… Which GOP winner has the best shot at the crown?
- olddog - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 2:19 pm:
== Obamacare threatens the rights of Illinois citizens? ==
Sure. When your base thinks their “religious liberty” needs to be protected, you’ve got to sound all wiggy about all kinds of things.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 2:36 pm:
=== Who can you trust to be an honest broker on the pensions issue? Who can you trust to actually fight corruption?” ===
Very fair questions.
As to the question of religious liberty, it is fascinating to see some project their own stereotypes and assumptions onto someone else so quickly.
The last time I checked, “religious liberty” applies equally to Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs and others in this country.
If the man is making a point concerning the encroachment of bureaucracy and harassment into the realm of one’s private religious practice, then we have something.
If the man is simply using code language to say, “I am a white male and we are the only ones being oppressed right now” to rile up primary voters then it’s not quite a winning issue.
Can we at least wait to find out a bit more about the man before we tar and feather him as some sort of fundamentalist?
The man only risked his life for our country. He deserves an open mind and the benefit of the doubt for now.
- MOON - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 2:37 pm:
STATELY
To early to tell but do not count Rauner out.
- TooManyJens - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 2:54 pm:
==As to the question of religious liberty, it is fascinating to see some project their own stereotypes and assumptions onto someone else so quickly.==
He mentioned that specifically in the context of things Lisa Madigan wasn’t doing a good job of. It’s not stereotyping to be aware of what “religious liberty” issues Republicans have been hitting Democrats with lately.
- QAZ - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 2:58 pm:
“The man only risked his life for our country.”
Because the Marines are famous for putting lawyers out there walking point with the grunts, right?
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 3:03 pm:
=== Because the Marines are famous for putting lawyers out there walking point with the grunts, right? ===
Great. Let’s start ranking Marines and their roles in order of sacrifice, shall we? Whose service is more noble than another’s?
Please.
If ordered to grab a gun and go to anywhere on earth, he would have.
That, in my book, counts as risking his life.
- Just Observing - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 3:08 pm:
I hope he is practicing his election night defeat speech.
- Chavez-respecting Obamist - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 3:08 pm:
Formerly, if he’s going to use the code words, we get to assume he’s speaking in code.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 3:10 pm:
=== It’s not stereotyping to be aware of what “religious liberty” issues Republicans have been hitting Democrats with lately. ===
Respectfully, @TooManyJens, lumping him in with those other Republicans and making that assumption is.
Until we know what this person is thinking or believes for himself, then it certainly is stereotyping to assume that his motivations or meaning are somehow anti-minority, etc.
I’m not saying he is or isn’t the same as others. I am merely saying, let’s wait to know a bit more about the man before painting him with a broad brush.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 3:11 pm:
- QAZ -,
I was watching “A Few Good Men” the other night on the Military Channel and the “commercial break” guest was a Marine JAG who explained that Marine JAG members go through exactly the same training as Front Line Officers, and line experience is the “rule not the exception”
Know of what you speak, please, especially speaking for members of the Armed Forces, who, at any time, could indeed be on a front line, where most of us are not.
Dope.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 3:15 pm:
@Chavez-respecting Obamist - you may have a point. You may not. We’ll know well enough in a few more weeks or months once we learn more.
The guy is a political novice, to the best of my knowledge.
All I am saying is, let’s give the guy a chance and learn a bit more about him instead of making such assumptions.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 3:18 pm:
@OswegoWilly - no joke, this is exactly what I had in mind while typing that.
Take your filthy telepathy machine and get out of my head, lol.
Thanks for having my six.
- TooManyJens - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 3:21 pm:
I’m just saying, if I were running as a Democrat and said I wanted to “take on the 1%,” I would expect people to know that I was talking about the wealthiest 1% and their disproportionate power. Because that’s what “the 1%” means in our political discourse right now, especially coming from someone left of center. If instead I meant, say, that we should crack down on the fastest 1% of speeding drivers, I wouldn’t be doing a good job of communicating.
He may be a novice, but I bet he has advisors who aren’t.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 3:33 pm:
- Formerly Known As… -,
As I know you would have mine.
Much respect, and I will try to get that telepathic machinery out of there shortly …
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 3:59 pm:
==If the man is making a point concerning the encroachment of bureaucracy and harassment into the realm of one’s private religious practice, then we have something.==
No, you don’t have something. Who are all of these people who’s religious liberty is in jeopardy because I’d like to know about it. People too often mistake religious liberty with being able to do anything they want in the name of religion (aka thinking you don’t have to abide by state contracting rules in the case of Catholic Charities). Enough with this “I’m so persecuted as a religious person” nonsense.
- Robert the Bruce - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 4:01 pm:
“And after I get crushed, hey, maybe I can be somebody’s Lite Guv running mate next time,” continued Schimpf.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 4:02 pm:
You can park it next to the karma machine!
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 4:02 pm:
===Who can you trust to protect your religious liberty?===
I can’t wait to read his brief in support of the proposed Mosque in Des Plaines.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 4:13 pm:
=== Who are all of these people who’s religious liberty is in jeopardy because I’d like to know about it. ===
For example: You don’t think Muslims have come under increased, and often unwarranted, scrutiny in both public and private areas since 9/11?
You don’t think that a Sikh walking down the street or going through a security checkpoint might “happen” to be subject to additional searches or a stop-and-frisk just because of their dastar?
You don’t think that the final rule issued on June 28th acknowledging the health care law encroaches too deeply on the rights of religiously affiliated nonprofit organizations doesn’t exist?
“The administration has now issued its final rule (on June 28); that rule is designed to ensure employees will receive contraception coverage but that the nonprofit employer with religious objections will not bear the cost or otherwise have any connection with the coverage.” - www.aclu.org/reproductive-freedom/challenges-federal-contraceptive-coverage-rule
What world are you living in?
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 4:23 pm:
@Formerly:
I’m probably living in the same world you are living in (at least I hope). You may give the benefit of the doubt but I choose to live in the real world. This guy wasn’t talking about Muslims or Sikhs. If he was then I might agree. But I will guarantee you he wasn’t.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 4:25 pm:
@Formerly:
Ask the guy who’s religious liberties he is interested in protecting? If he says anything but Christianity I’ll public apologize.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 4:25 pm:
@Demoralized - and you may well prove to be right. In fact, I’d say odds are on your side much more than mine on this one.
Perhaps it is a futile hope of mine.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 4:25 pm:
… “publicly” apologize . . . sorry
- 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 4:33 pm:
Only a Marine would take on such a difficult mission.
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 5:29 pm:
Mr White,
There is a long list of GOP AGs thruout the country who are engaged in just that - a fight against Obamacare. He ain’t lying - he is upfront about his views. If you like them, OK, if you don’t, vote for someone else.
I was actually noting Chavez-respecting Obamist’s comment along with words - not specifically about the Obamacare bit, but thanks for noticing.
- x ace - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 5:31 pm:
Military Lifer Mentality Clouds Reality
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 5:34 pm:
QAZ - re your comment about the Marine. As a father of a new Marine I say to you….bite me.
History is replete with stories of Marines in jobs not normally associated with combat - like the story of cooks having to take up arms when the need arise. Look up the story of the USMC. “Every Marine is first and foremost a rifleman”. Ready to take up arms no matter what their MOS.
- McClurg Court - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 6:24 pm:
Is he related to Mike Schrimpf, who quoted as a spokesman for Bruce Rauner on CBS2’s website last month?
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 6:40 pm:
@McClurg Court - different last names, by one letter. “Schimpf” vs. “Schrimpf”.
- The DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 10:20 pm:
If you read his bio he started out as an Infantry grunt before going to law school at SIU.
The question is who does he back for Gov? With 4 candidates and him being the only one for AG they all have to at least ask him for his supporters.
- Just Me - Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 1:03 am:
He better hope a Republican wins the Governor’s Mansion, then he’ll be taken care of just fine.
- x ace - Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 4:18 am:
The guys campaign biography says he was assigned to Infantry first , then later the Marines gave him a law school education.
Infantry duty appears peace time.
But was at Guantanamo. ( If with “Jessop” that coulda been dangerous}
Hope this guy can “Handle the Truth”. He’s beat.