* I told subscribers about this fight earlier today, so I’ll just leave this here…
House Republican David McSweeney reacts to our story, “I think Jim Durkin should resign as a leader. He is a corrupt insider.” McSweeney voted for Durkin for leader but now calls him a “fake Republican,” “ineffective leader” and adds “I certainly would never vote for him again.” https://t.co/CRbgHTV3uv
Republican State Rep David McSweeney tells me, “It’s time for Durkin to resign. He’s not a real Republican. He is a fake Republican. I think the time is now for a woman to lead the party.” McSweeney says @McCombieforIlli, @AveryBourne and @RepMcDermed would all make good leaders. https://t.co/ya9xAopIBF
Maybe if McSweeney concentrates on this nonsense, we can get a break from his constant mantra of we have to cut everything, He never gives examples he just rails on and on about what he thinks people want to hear. (He is and always has been an empty suit)
McSweeney would like to be leader, which is fine and all but this story, which is self-inflicted and highlights why the HGOP isn’t all that smart on the political side, but this in of itself isn’t enough to call for Durkin to step aside.
I want to be behind both Durkin and Brady, and for the most part I am… but this circular firing squad couples with rubes wanting a new state outside “She-Caw-Go” is worrisome to building GOP majorities that are founded with Murphys and Beaubiens… not separatist unfamiliar with collar county diversity.
But, the HGOP has members begging to be Alabama, Arkansas, or Mississippi, so speaking rationally about that caucus is a tough ask for anyone.
The story stinks, but calling on him to resign over this is overreacting. And I don’t know how being corrupt, if he is corrupt, would make him a fake Republican.
===Will Peter (Breen) disown Durkin three times before the rooster crows?===
Even “term limited” Breen won’t do that.
He disavowed Rauner, burned his ships, gave a mea culpa, then came back to Rauner anyway.
Phonies gonna phony.
What more troubling is the Eastern Bloc HGOP and their continued existence in a conversation about not only Illinois but the entire GOP and it’s regionalism thinking.
Purity in all thing is not how parties are built.
Trust as leader and this story doesn’t help with a fractured caucus either.
Oh, it’s a fractured caucus, when regionalism becomes accepted in open discussions.
@Wordslinger, I’m wondering the same. Is McSweeney on a one-man publicity seeking crusade, or are there other HGOPers who are looking for an excuse to revolt?
Who made it ok for McSweeney to define a true Republican?
I don’t meet his definition of a true Republican either, I guess.
I am neither a Rauner nor a Trump supporter.
Former Enron banker and failed congressional candidate David McSweeney has spent his entire political career attacking fellow Republicans. He is loathed by most sane Republicans. He has never been part of the HGOP caucus & prefers to play footies with liberal Democrats from Chicago (gasp). Who is he to call anybody a fake Republican?
People like McSweeney and the Eastern Bloc are a cancer in the Republican Party. Unfortunately, since they represent hard-core GOP districts, there’s little that can be done to remove these tumors. Hopefully Speaker Madigan will do the GOP a favor and map as many of these cancers together as possible. Separatists mapped together - now that would be fun for everyone (banned punctuation).
McSweeney and his Twitter amuse me. He likes to complain, in all caps I might add. I asked him once if he had any ideas or plans that he could share or if he he just liked to grandstand. He blocked me for about a week.
McSweeney does not even participate in the House GOP Caucus meetings at the Capitol. He is the antithesis of a team player.
Discussing this in the context of McSweeney is silly as he has ZERO influence with any GOP member, let alone leadership.
Using McSweeney, Caucus of one, as an example of some kind of anti-Durkin movement really casts sunlight on the shallow journalism that would report such a thing. DO YOUR HOMEWORK Mr. Maxwell.
Oswego Willy commented on every line of my comment.
I’m touched( and that’s not snark).
O.W. - you are much more forgiving of the GOP than I am. I can barely forgive the fringe elements for destroying us. I’ve got one foot out the door and would go … if there was somewhere to go.
Umm. Isn’t it time for Durkin to term limit himself anyway? All that talk of term limits for leaders and members during Rauner’s term but he has yet to step down and walk the talk.
McSweeney represents the (mostly) same district that Beaubien did.
This is odd, as it is aimed at gaining support from hard Rs.
BUT at the same time McSweeney is carrying water for a bill to make Jack (”I swear I am not pushing this bill so I can run for the position later”) Franks even more powerful as McHenry County board chair.
I dont see how being Franks’s toady works well with this.
I totally agree that Durkin (and his former boss, Lee Daniels) are Madigan’s eager punching bags, but it would be more believable if he wasn’t simultaneously carrying Franks’ water.
===…you are much more forgiving of the GOP than I am. I can barely forgive the fringe elements for destroying us. I’ve got one foot out the door and would go … if there was somewhere to go.===
I’m not. It’s just that these folks will flame out or implode the party forever.
Maybe so, but it wasn’t Democrats that voted for them, it was Republicans. Just like Republicans and not Democrats voted for McSweeney. Try as you might, the big r is still after their names and it will always be the Republicans, not the Democrats, who elected them. Stop trying to pretend otherwise.
- Retired Educator - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:06 pm:
Maybe if McSweeney concentrates on this nonsense, we can get a break from his constant mantra of we have to cut everything, He never gives examples he just rails on and on about what he thinks people want to hear. (He is and always has been an empty suit)
- wordslinger - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:09 pm:
I figured McSweeney was up to climbing the ladder somehow, given the way he’s been traveling the state.
He’s all-in now; there’s no walking back “corrupt insider.”
But, shouldn’t he have tried this before the caucus elections? He knew the results of the election in November. He voted for Durkin.
- Ok - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:09 pm:
Has been always about the the twitter retweets with him.
- Arsenal - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:11 pm:
==I figured McSweeney was up to climbing the ladder somehow, given the way he’s been traveling the state.==
I thought he was gearing up for a (quixotic, of course) US Senate run.
- wordslinger - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:14 pm:
–Failed fake “Republican” Leader –
That doesn’t make any sense.
If he’s a “fake” Republican, he has not failed, because he’s the Republican leader.
If he’s a failed Republican, then he’s not fake, just a failure.
I’m thinking this McSweeney guy is not into nuance.
He’s just a simple investment banker from Barrington, a regular guy.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:15 pm:
===I’m thinking this McSweeney guy is not into nuance===
Nope.
- Leon Durham - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:16 pm:
I guess this is the true meaning of #GoodFriday
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:17 pm:
To the Post,
McSweeney would like to be leader, which is fine and all but this story, which is self-inflicted and highlights why the HGOP isn’t all that smart on the political side, but this in of itself isn’t enough to call for Durkin to step aside.
I want to be behind both Durkin and Brady, and for the most part I am… but this circular firing squad couples with rubes wanting a new state outside “She-Caw-Go” is worrisome to building GOP majorities that are founded with Murphys and Beaubiens… not separatist unfamiliar with collar county diversity.
But, the HGOP has members begging to be Alabama, Arkansas, or Mississippi, so speaking rationally about that caucus is a tough ask for anyone.
- Suzzz - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:20 pm:
I don’t some reporters are giving some trolls too loud of a voice, but I am living for this drama. *eats popcorn*
- Suzzz - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:21 pm:
** I think
- Perrid - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:22 pm:
The story stinks, but calling on him to resign over this is overreacting. And I don’t know how being corrupt, if he is corrupt, would make him a fake Republican.
- wordslinger - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:30 pm:
I think McSweeney is playing a mischievous game to put McCombie, Bourne and McDermed on the spot.
Is there any indication they want to be part of his shenanigans, are is he trying to get them to rule out a bid for leader to get them out of the way.
Has any legislative leader been muscled out of the spot during a session? I can’t think of one.
- Fixer - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:42 pm:
Just when you think the crazy is starting to subside in Illinois, someone puts a mic in front of a member of the Eastern Bloc…
- Henry Francis - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:44 pm:
Will Peter (Breen) disown Durkin three times before the rooster crows?
- wondering - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:45 pm:
Fake Republican? Sure wouldn’t want to meet a real one.
- You Bet - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:48 pm:
McSweeney is a Caucus of one. He has bee quietly attempting to gain traction for himself as Leader since he got to Springfield.
He doesn’t even attend House GOP Caucus meetings at the Capitol. If there is a “fake” Republican in the building, it is McSweeney.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:49 pm:
===Will Peter (Breen) disown Durkin three times before the rooster crows?===
Even “term limited” Breen won’t do that.
He disavowed Rauner, burned his ships, gave a mea culpa, then came back to Rauner anyway.
Phonies gonna phony.
What more troubling is the Eastern Bloc HGOP and their continued existence in a conversation about not only Illinois but the entire GOP and it’s regionalism thinking.
Purity in all thing is not how parties are built.
Trust as leader and this story doesn’t help with a fractured caucus either.
Oh, it’s a fractured caucus, when regionalism becomes accepted in open discussions.
- Roman - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:51 pm:
@Henry Francis, nice Good Friday reference.
@Wordslinger, I’m wondering the same. Is McSweeney on a one-man publicity seeking crusade, or are there other HGOPers who are looking for an excuse to revolt?
- a drop in - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:53 pm:
I’m against him. I was always against him. Except when I was for him.
- wordslinger - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:58 pm:
Topicality is key to comedy.
- thoughts matter - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 12:59 pm:
Who made it ok for McSweeney to define a true Republican?
I don’t meet his definition of a true Republican either, I guess.
I am neither a Rauner nor a Trump supporter.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 1:12 pm:
===Who made it ok for McSweeney to define a true Republican?===
The ILGOP, it’s always in vogue to decry “true” or “real”
===I don’t meet his definition of a true Republican either, I guess.===
Brother, it’s a tough spot. I’m rooting for traditional GOP things but we may be past those norms. Still, I’ll fight for the party to none past this.
===I am neither a Rauner nor a Trump supporter.===
Neither were Republicans. They hijacked the parties they led.
- Oof - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 1:16 pm:
Has it occurred to McSweeney that maybe his party lost seats because of conduct like his own?
- Professor - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 1:17 pm:
I have said this before: “What ever happened to the Republican Party of the 1970’s and 80’s.” McSweeney is just another anomaly(being polite).Too bad!
- Fake Phil Crane - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 1:24 pm:
Former Enron banker and failed congressional candidate David McSweeney has spent his entire political career attacking fellow Republicans. He is loathed by most sane Republicans. He has never been part of the HGOP caucus & prefers to play footies with liberal Democrats from Chicago (gasp). Who is he to call anybody a fake Republican?
People like McSweeney and the Eastern Bloc are a cancer in the Republican Party. Unfortunately, since they represent hard-core GOP districts, there’s little that can be done to remove these tumors. Hopefully Speaker Madigan will do the GOP a favor and map as many of these cancers together as possible. Separatists mapped together - now that would be fun for everyone (banned punctuation).
- theq - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 1:24 pm:
McSweeney and his Twitter amuse me. He likes to complain, in all caps I might add. I asked him once if he had any ideas or plans that he could share or if he he just liked to grandstand. He blocked me for about a week.
- You Bet - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 1:26 pm:
McSweeney does not even participate in the House GOP Caucus meetings at the Capitol. He is the antithesis of a team player.
Discussing this in the context of McSweeney is silly as he has ZERO influence with any GOP member, let alone leadership.
Using McSweeney, Caucus of one, as an example of some kind of anti-Durkin movement really casts sunlight on the shallow journalism that would report such a thing. DO YOUR HOMEWORK Mr. Maxwell.
- PublicServant - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 1:36 pm:
===Has it occurred to McSweeney that maybe his party lost seats because of conduct like his own?===
That would involve introspection. So, I’m guessing no.
- thoughts matter - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 1:45 pm:
Oswego Willy commented on every line of my comment.
I’m touched( and that’s not snark).
O.W. - you are much more forgiving of the GOP than I am. I can barely forgive the fringe elements for destroying us. I’ve got one foot out the door and would go … if there was somewhere to go.
- walker - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 1:50 pm:
Amazing how Wordslinger gets it right in one.
- Real - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 1:51 pm:
Umm. Isn’t it time for Durkin to term limit himself anyway? All that talk of term limits for leaders and members during Rauner’s term but he has yet to step down and walk the talk.
- Fav Human - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 2:01 pm:
McSweeney represents the (mostly) same district that Beaubien did.
This is odd, as it is aimed at gaining support from hard Rs.
BUT at the same time McSweeney is carrying water for a bill to make Jack (”I swear I am not pushing this bill so I can run for the position later”) Franks even more powerful as McHenry County board chair.
I dont see how being Franks’s toady works well with this.
I totally agree that Durkin (and his former boss, Lee Daniels) are Madigan’s eager punching bags, but it would be more believable if he wasn’t simultaneously carrying Franks’ water.
- Demoralized - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 2:02 pm:
Rep McSweeney is the Donald Trump of Illinois, at least as far as his Twitter habits go. He doesn’t have much else to offer.
- JAH - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 2:07 pm:
The problem is McWeeney doesn’t know that Durbin is not Durkin
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 2:11 pm:
===…you are much more forgiving of the GOP than I am. I can barely forgive the fringe elements for destroying us. I’ve got one foot out the door and would go … if there was somewhere to go.===
I’m not. It’s just that these folks will flame out or implode the party forever.
It’s one or the other.
- Fav Human - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 2:22 pm:
these folks will flame out or implode the party forever.
Oh, please. Is the D party what it was in the 70’s? No.
Did it flame out? Don’t think so.
Why is it ok for them to go hard to port, but going to starboard is a complete disaster??
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 2:26 pm:
===…going to starboard is a complete disaster??===
Because going “angry, old, white, racist” is shrinking the party already?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 2:28 pm:
===…going to starboard is a complete disaster??===
Add “rural” and “counties don’t vote” to my “angry, old, white, racist”… then give it a think.
- Honeybear - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 3:03 pm:
So glad to see your posts OW.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 3:07 pm:
- Honeybear-
Too kind. Thanks.
Other fish frying, to keep the Good Friday theme a-goin’
Nice to be back today, and your welcome is much appreciated.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 3:30 pm:
===They hijacked the parties they led.=+=
Maybe so, but it wasn’t Democrats that voted for them, it was Republicans. Just like Republicans and not Democrats voted for McSweeney. Try as you might, the big r is still after their names and it will always be the Republicans, not the Democrats, who elected them. Stop trying to pretend otherwise.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 3:50 pm:
Oswego Willy, I was going to put your photo on a milk carton but all I could find was this. And I really don’t want someone to find Ricketts instead.
https://capitolfax.com/wp-content/ScreenShot20140407at12.50.06PM.png
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 3:58 pm:
- Da Big Bad Wolf -
Worry not, I wasn’t “Billy Batts”ed either. Frying other fishes, nothing more.
Great link, thanks, I think picture gets the true me, perfectly.
Agreed, right now I’m not a big Ricketts fan either.
Miss this place a lot. Glad to sneak in today. Thanks for that link.
Now, the HGOP… things haven’t changed…
- Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 4:16 pm:
One day OW is gonna make a fortune and move on. This site will never be the same.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 4:22 pm:
- Rich Miller -
I hear frying fish is indeed lucrative.
To your very kind thought, Rich… you’ll be the FIRST to know.
Sam/Frank
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 7:05 pm:
===Stop trying to pretend otherwise.===
LOL
Raunerism included an uber-left costal, limousine liberal social agenda, one that any Dem governor would beg for, especially a liberal one.
It was the anti-union, starve the beast, hurt everyone part of Raunerism that deviates from the liberal parts of Raunerism
You keep ignoring that, lol