* The Tribune profiles Leader Durkin’s potential primary opponent…
Illinois House Republican leader Jim Durkin could be getting a challenge in the March primary, a reflection of the continued and deepening turmoil within the state GOP.
Burr Ridge Mayor Mickey Straub said Monday that while he has long thought about running for higher office, the “icing on the cake” came when several Republicans joined with Democrats in July to enact an income tax hike and budget package over GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto. […]
Straub was featured Monday on WIND-AM 560’s morning show hosted by Dan Proft, a failed 2010 Republican primary governor candidate. Proft also is a political operative who was once a Rauner ally and is now at odds with the governor after he signed the abortion bill.
On his show, Proft was highly critical of Durkin. But Proft said his Liberty Principles political action committee, which got $2.5 million from Rauner last year, “did not convince anybody to run” against Durkin.
Straub said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune that he had been encouraged by many conservative groups to challenge Durkin, including getting support from Proft and Patrick Hughes. Proft and Hughes co-founded the politically tax-exempt group, the Illinois Opportunity Project.
* Meanwhile, I asked the ILGOP for a response to all this, so here is Chairman Tim Schneider’s quote…
“I am strongly supporting Leader Durkin in his primary. As Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, my sole focus is on beating the Democrats and breaking up the Madigan Machine that has destroyed this state. When Republicans are fighting each other, Mike Madigan wins and Illinois loses.”
* But I also asked for a specific comment on Dan Proft and this is what I was told…
Concerning Proft, the Illinois Republican Party has no comment at this time.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 8:48 am:
“Concerning Proft, the Illinois Republican Party has no comment at this time.”
Love that. Perfect. Emboss it on your stationary and put a banner on your website. Because what are you going to say your own creation goes Frankenstein and starts rampaging the village.
- anon2 - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 8:49 am:
Schneider is the GOP establishment, and Mayor Straub is the Roy Moore insurgent.
- Anon221 - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 8:54 am:
Dan Proft… the Steve Bannon of Illinois.
- Ha Ha Ha Haaaa - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 8:57 am:
Meanwhile, the Dems have placed a hard D as a new attorney for the House Republicans. Which is a shrewd move. Brilliant, really.
- Whatever - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 9:01 am:
“England’s difficulty is Ireland’s opportunity.”
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 9:09 am:
“When Republicans are fighting each other, bills get paid, state contracts, state colleges, K-12, Meals on wheels, etc get funding.” - fixed it for ya, Tim.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 9:09 am:
Rauner is a Raunerite, Rauner is NOT a Republican.
Heck, Rep. Jeanne Ives calls Rauner the “Manchurian Candidate”
For that to be true, that means Rauner isn’t a Republican at all.
So, while its exciting to think that there is a need for Republicans to rally around other Republicans, Rauner isn’t a Republican by any measure.
To fool voters again that Bruce Rauner is a Republican, that’s a farce of an idea given these past 30+ months as a governor.
I’m with Durkin, and all the hypocrisy and ridiculousness I should face supporting Durkin… but it’s over Proft, who has no inclination to build the GOP, but only a want to divide Republicans and make a dime or two while doing it.
As Rep. Breen freely admits his own enabling Bruce Rauner, now waking away from Bruce Rauner too, Breen is walking away from that “Manchurian Candidate”, not a Republican governor that is losing GOP support.
- cdog - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 9:22 am:
Following Rauner, a known liar, is not wise in many ways.
If Durkin likes the democrat’s platform so much, like Rauner has undeniably embraced, just be truthful and say that. Inform the voters, right?
Anyone that thinks we should be a sanctuary state, water-down voter id laws and voting controls, off fake commitments to fiscal sanity, use taxpayer money for abortions, should probably not be faking that they’re a Republican.
If you run with Rauner, you’re nothing more than a con, too.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 9:22 am:
Right off the bat, either Proft or Straub is lying about whether Proft encouraged Straub to run against Durkin.
I know who my bet is on.
- Chris P. Bacon - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 9:29 am:
Meanwhile Tim Schneider and the IL GOP support challengers to any R incumbent who had the nerve to go against Rauner on anything (such as the income tax increase, even though Rauner actually wanted it at least as much as anyone).
What a bunch of awful, dishonest hypocrites.
- Deft Wing - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 9:31 am:
Rauner is toxic. His endorsement is hurtful, especially now.
But his money is still good, right?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 9:36 am:
===But his money is still good, right?===
Until every alleged breakaway Raunerite in the GA decides to give back every dime the “Manchurian Candidate” gave last time…
Yep, the righteous indignation will subside… in lieu of 6 or 7 figure EFTs by Bruce and Diana Rauner.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 10:12 am:
When your only statewide elected official reveals himself as someone who deliberately mislead voters to support him - you better believe that the other statewide elected officials look a lot more honest.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 10:17 am:
Let’s face it, Madigan wins when the ILGOP aren’t fighting each other. He’s the Al Davis of Illinois politics.
Just win, baby.
- Steve - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 10:31 am:
Whether Republicans are fighting each other or not: Mike Madigan is still winning .
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 11:18 am:
This is gettin’ fun. Who does the CarWashKing check in with now to see which tall tale he tells. Mrs. R?
Anyone heard from Pat Brady lately
- Ghost - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 11:39 am:
Proft is right (see what I did there). The best thing for the GOP is to kick out everyone who does not share everyone of his viewpoints
- don the legend - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 12:01 pm:
Republican committeemen and women I know just blindly support Rauner. Rauner sows so much confusion with his lies and contradictions that he gets people to just give up trying to figure him out. The only thing he is consistent with is “Madigan Bad” and they lap that message up.