FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Republican Mark Curran, who lost the U.S. Senate race in 2020 to Sen. Dick Durbin, says God wants him to run for the Illinois Supreme Court, so he’s following the call.
“We are taking on the Establishment, the Party Hacks, the Freemasons and those that could care less that Individual Liberty and Conscience Protection are no longer cherished or protected,” he told supporters in an email that was forwarded to Playbook.
Dude is kinda 19th Century. I suppose John Quincy Adams would approve, though.
*** UPDATE *** With thanks to a commenter, here’s video of then-Lake County Sheriff Mark C. Curran receiving a donation for “Shop with a Cop” from Barrington Masonic Lodge #522 in 2017…
…Adding… Great comment…
Did God say anything else to him? Since there was some sort of dialogue going on, it’d been nice of Mark Curran had asked for advice on how to get out of this pandemic. I think Mark Curran really missed an opportunity here.
If Curran is the nominee in my seat then IL Supreme Court has 0% chance of flipping
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:26 am:
Who controls the British crown?
Who keeps the metric system down?
We do, we do
Who keeps Atlantis off the maps?
Who keeps the Martians under wraps?
We do, we do
Who holds back the electric car?
Who makes Steve Gutenberg a star?
We do, we do
Who robs gamefish of their site?
Who rigs every Oscar night?
We do, we do!
Did God say anything else to him? Since there was some sort of dialogue going on, it’d been nice of Mark Curran had asked for advice on how to get out of this pandemic. I think Mark Curran really missed an opportunity here.
I’m hearing Jack Sparrow is hosting a meet and greet sponsored by… the molasses makers of the Caribbean, and the rum runners of Lords Proprietors of Carolina
The Sweedish Days parade in Geneva used to attract a ton of different Masonic groups from around the midwest, clowns, Harley guys, a 100 person bike. Was always one of the highlights of parade season was watching them after you were done marching.
The “Freemasons” is a new world order conspiracy talking point. It isn’t really QAnon, but some of the same ideas just much older. Disturbing coming from someone running for any public office let alone Illinois Supreme Court.
===As a Freemason, my response to the world domination question is “We might think about that after the Fall Golf Outing to see if there is any interest”===
From another publication:
“Claiming he’s “disliked equally by the insiders of both parties,” Curran added: “This is not my dream job nor is it something I ever contemplated running for. I always viewed a Judge as like a Referee and much less fun than a litigator. Yet, I worry about my Judgment and I believe God wants me to make this run.””
I am quite concerned about his judgement too. Less so his Judgement…
wait, Masons, like the people who are Shriners in a particular order? that was just an excuse by my grandfather to travel around, drink with the boys and have a good time.
Wow, Conscience Protection. I see the angle here. Makes me cringe to think he would be deciding cases, as “God may want him to do things” instead of following the actual laws.
And as part of the infrastructure package, I’ll make sure Illinois gets more canals. I don’t trust anything with wheels, it’s the mark of the devil. God told me so.
The Carmel v. Libertyville football game this weekend was cancelled due to COVID. I’m sure that’s all the motivation that God and Curran needed for him to run.
- people caring loudly - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 10:41 am:
@3D checkers: I will be singing that in my head the rest of the day now, thank you
Be it a slow news day, or shoddy reporting by Shia Kapos, Curran’s Blues Brothersish mission-from-God about a Mark Curran Judicial candidacy article was at best premature.
What’s worse in Kapos’ story is she again purposely omitted Kane County Circuit Judge John Noverini from among her list of Democratic candidates for the 2nd District spot on the Illinois Supreme Court.
Eric Krol broke the story of Noverini’s Supreme Court candidacy on July 18 in a Center for Illinois Politics news article.
Maybe this afternoon, Rich can use a Jake and Elwood clip describing the mission from God to close comments for weekend?
Did God use a landline, cell phone, or text message to deliver this divine message to Curran?
- thisjustinagain - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 11:31 am:
OMG, it’s a conspiracy. EVERYTHING is a conspiracy. I was never here. You never read this message. The tennis ball is in the freezer. Mark has a long mustache. And to Old Shepherd, you left out some categories ther, but not worries, I’ll help you out with that https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLpmswBKVN4
So Curran is running for another office. Perhaps an emcee to warm up the crowd— Paul Palazzolo — before Curran speaks.
A Confederacy of Dunces vibe.
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 12:12 pm:
The Freemasons still exist. According to their website (https://ilmason.org/who-we-are): “Freemasonry is a Fraternal order inculcating the precepts of equality, charity, tolerance, fellowship, and brotherly love among it members.” I can see why Curran would feel threatened by such ideals.
- Behind the Scenes - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 12:45 pm:
While it seems such fun to post a comment about something you make it evident you know nothing about…
Masons don’t wear fezzes, they wear aprons in their meeting like the operative masons the order is based on.
Shriners wear fezzes, frequently have parades, and do tremendous philanthropic work through their network of pediatric and burn hospitals in North America.
Shriners must first become a Mason to become a Shriner (frequently called Shrine-Masons), but a Mason does not have to be or automatically become a Shriner.
The freemasonry comment sounded a bit more sinister to me. This sounds much closer to the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion”, a document that was forged by tsarist secret police to incite anti-Jewish pogroms and alleges an anti-Christian takeover of international freemasonry. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Protocols_of_the_Elders_of_Zion
Some more digging into Curran’s underlying assumptions may be necessary.
===Dude is kinda 19th Century. I suppose John Quincy Adams would approve, though.===
Actually, that would be Solomon Southwick, principal organizer of America’s first third party - the Anti-Masonic Party. You can’t make this stuff up … .
To paraphrase a quote from Dorleac in “The Count of Monte Cristo”: “And if you’re thinking just now ‘Why me, oh God?’ the answer is: God has nothing to do with it. In fact, God’s never in Illinois this time of year.”
Heh, I am a republican, and a free mason and I AM TOTALLY OFFENDED AT THIS KIND OF STUPIDITY. Boy am I naive, I thought Chris Miller and Darrin Bailey were the only ones who talked directly to GOD>
“inculcating the precepts of equality, charity, tolerance, fellowship, and brotherly love”
The utter hypocrisy of this statement is why I am a recovering freemason.
In 1997, a well recommended Africa American gentleman attempted to join my Blue Lodge while I was Worshipful Master. He was twice blackballed because of his ethnicity and family background.
Once my term ended, I took a demit, resigning from freemasonry, in protest of the blatant racism of Cyrano’s blackball.
Every now and thing I meet Cyrano and apologize for his not being accepted into my lodge.
24 years later, I am embarrassed by the actions of the Blue Lodge of which I was Worshipful Master.
Shriners must first become a Mason to become a Shriner “”(frequently called Shrine-Masons), but a Mason does not have to be or automatically become a Shriner.”
You left out a few other requirement to be a Shiner.
To walk across the hot sands and become a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Shriners), you must be a member in good standing in a “Blue Lodge” of Ancient and Accepted Freemasons. Next you must be a member in good standing in either the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (Scotish Rite, or 32nd degree Mason) or the United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta (Commandry).
Most Shriners go the Scotish Rite route. Not very many Commandies around anymore.
Key note to remember, can’t be a Shriner without continuous Blue Lodge and Scotish Rite and/or Commandry membership.
Been there and done that. Am recovering member of all 4 masonic rites.
As Curran has been on the government’s payroll for some time…former sheriff of Lake County, prosecutor with the LC state’s attorney, coroner— let’s not forget about the failed Senate bid —perhaps his goal is to get back on the government’s payroll.
- Annonin' - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:21 am:
Curran has he appeal to the whacks well honed
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:24 am:
He sure didn’t mind taking a donation from them
https://www.barringtonmasons.org/photo-gallery.html
- Lake county dem - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:25 am:
If Curran is the nominee in my seat then IL Supreme Court has 0% chance of flipping
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:26 am:
Who controls the British crown?
Who keeps the metric system down?
We do, we do
Who keeps Atlantis off the maps?
Who keeps the Martians under wraps?
We do, we do
Who holds back the electric car?
Who makes Steve Gutenberg a star?
We do, we do
Who robs gamefish of their site?
Who rigs every Oscar night?
We do, we do!
- Melvin - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:26 am:
When is Curran going to take the threat of the Barbary Pirates seriously?
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:26 am:
“If I get on the bench, I’ll burn them witches.”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:26 am:
Recent A-1 filings for Reynolds Aluminum Foil in-kind contributions from folks now make total sense.
- Hmm - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:27 am:
Did God say anything else to him? Since there was some sort of dialogue going on, it’d been nice of Mark Curran had asked for advice on how to get out of this pandemic. I think Mark Curran really missed an opportunity here.
- Hmm - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:29 am:
How selfish do you have to be to just talk about yourself with God?
- Lt Guv - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:29 am:
So glad this dude left the Democratic party many, many years ago. He’s on a different planet.
- Lt Guv - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:30 am:
and clearly a hypocrite to boot.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:32 am:
I’m hearing Jack Sparrow is hosting a meet and greet sponsored by… the molasses makers of the Caribbean, and the rum runners of Lords Proprietors of Carolina
- OneMan - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:33 am:
Perhaps he doesn’t care for Fezzes.
The Sweedish Days parade in Geneva used to attract a ton of different Masonic groups from around the midwest, clowns, Harley guys, a 100 person bike. Was always one of the highlights of parade season was watching them after you were done marching.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:35 am:
“the Freemasons”
Don’t QAnon types believe Freemasons are secretly trying to take over the world with a one-world global government or something like that?
- Abu Iskandr - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:36 am:
Millard Fillmore called. He wants his party back.
- Bruce( no not him) - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:36 am:
He said God wanted him to run. Did he say God wants him to win? Maybe God just needs the laugh when he loses.
- Nagidam - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:36 am:
Former Democrat, Former Sheriff, Former US Senate candidate, current whack job Mark Curran is the gift that keeps on giving.
- zatoichi - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:38 am:
‘the Establishment, the Party Hacks, the Freemasons’ all opening for the Stones in St. Louis. Curran is on the cutting edge.
- Anon - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:41 am:
The “Freemasons” is a new world order conspiracy talking point. It isn’t really QAnon, but some of the same ideas just much older. Disturbing coming from someone running for any public office let alone Illinois Supreme Court.
- pipersls - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:42 am:
As a Freemason, my response to the world domination question is “We might think about that after the Fall Golf Outing to see if there is any interest”
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:47 am:
“It isn’t really QAnon, but some of the same ideas just much older.”
This stuff used to be fringe but now it’s seriously competing for the mainstream of the GOP.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:50 am:
===As a Freemason, my response to the world domination question is “We might think about that after the Fall Golf Outing to see if there is any interest”===
Leader in the clubhouse.
The conspiracies… what has happened to us?
- JS Mill - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:54 am:
That’s weird because I was talking to god and he wanted ME to run for supreme court. How could he want us both to do that? /s
He sounds like he is a loon and a hypocrite.
- Old Shepherd - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:54 am:
He didn’t even mention the rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswogglers, horse theives, train robbers, bank robbers, and Methodists!
- Ink-Stained Wretch - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:55 am:
Well, Donald Trump DID revive the Know-Nothing Party, so maybe Curran isn’t as anachronistic as we’d all like to believe.
- JM - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 9:57 am:
From another publication:
“Claiming he’s “disliked equally by the insiders of both parties,” Curran added: “This is not my dream job nor is it something I ever contemplated running for. I always viewed a Judge as like a Referee and much less fun than a litigator. Yet, I worry about my Judgment and I believe God wants me to make this run.””
I am quite concerned about his judgement too. Less so his Judgement…
- Northsider - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 10:00 am:
Make the 17th Century Great Again is a bold strategy, Cotton, let’s see if it pays off for him.
- biased_opinion - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 10:06 am:
Move over world, Mark Curran is *puts on sunglasses* a mission from God! He went on to say “I hate Illinois Freemasons.”
- Amalia - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 10:06 am:
wait, Masons, like the people who are Shriners in a particular order? that was just an excuse by my grandfather to travel around, drink with the boys and have a good time.
- Kyle’s mom - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 10:06 am:
This guy is going to run for Supreme Court in a dem-leaning seat? Oh goodness…
- BluegrassBoy - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 10:11 am:
Wow, Conscience Protection. I see the angle here. Makes me cringe to think he would be deciding cases, as “God may want him to do things” instead of following the actual laws.
- Frank talks - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 10:12 am:
So will he start throwing away his Jay Z music and go after the Illuminati as well?
- Steve Rogers - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 10:14 am:
And as part of the infrastructure package, I’ll make sure Illinois gets more canals. I don’t trust anything with wheels, it’s the mark of the devil. God told me so.
- Pundent - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 10:21 am:
The Carmel v. Libertyville football game this weekend was cancelled due to COVID. I’m sure that’s all the motivation that God and Curran needed for him to run.
- people caring loudly - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 10:41 am:
@3D checkers: I will be singing that in my head the rest of the day now, thank you
- Henry Francis - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 10:49 am:
Maybe Curran had just come from the Triple Rock Church?
- John Lopez - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 10:51 am:
Be it a slow news day, or shoddy reporting by Shia Kapos, Curran’s Blues Brothersish mission-from-God about a Mark Curran Judicial candidacy article was at best premature.
What’s worse in Kapos’ story is she again purposely omitted Kane County Circuit Judge John Noverini from among her list of Democratic candidates for the 2nd District spot on the Illinois Supreme Court.
Eric Krol broke the story of Noverini’s Supreme Court candidacy on July 18 in a Center for Illinois Politics news article.
Maybe this afternoon, Rich can use a Jake and Elwood clip describing the mission from God to close comments for weekend?
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 10:53 am:
Man, if you could tie the Freemasons to Michael Madigan, then you’d reallllllly have somethin’.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 11:08 am:
Accusing the Freemasons…How ridiculous. Everybody knows it’s the Illuminati.
- Northsider - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 11:23 am:
== Accusing the Freemasons…How ridiculous. Everybody knows it’s the Illuminati. ==
That’s what they want you to think.
- Rudy’s teeth - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 11:26 am:
Did God use a landline, cell phone, or text message to deliver this divine message to Curran?
- thisjustinagain - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 11:31 am:
OMG, it’s a conspiracy. EVERYTHING is a conspiracy. I was never here. You never read this message. The tennis ball is in the freezer. Mark has a long mustache. And to Old Shepherd, you left out some categories ther, but not worries, I’ll help you out with that
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLpmswBKVN4
- Anotheretiree - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 11:34 am:
He forgot to mention the commie plot of fluoridation.
- Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 11:48 am:
“the commie plot of fluoridation”
No, that’s soccer.
- Rudy’s teeth - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 12:05 pm:
So Curran is running for another office. Perhaps an emcee to warm up the crowd— Paul Palazzolo — before Curran speaks.
A Confederacy of Dunces vibe.
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 12:12 pm:
The Freemasons still exist. According to their website (https://ilmason.org/who-we-are): “Freemasonry is a Fraternal order inculcating the precepts of equality, charity, tolerance, fellowship, and brotherly love among it members.” I can see why Curran would feel threatened by such ideals.
- Lt Guv - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 12:22 pm:
“The commie plot of fluoridation”
==No, that’s soccer.==
No wonder I’m a fan of both. It’s all becoming clear now. . .
- JoanP - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 12:23 pm:
“The commie plot of fluoridation”
==No, that’s soccer.==
I thought it was the metric system.
- Behind the Scenes - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 12:45 pm:
While it seems such fun to post a comment about something you make it evident you know nothing about…
Masons don’t wear fezzes, they wear aprons in their meeting like the operative masons the order is based on.
Shriners wear fezzes, frequently have parades, and do tremendous philanthropic work through their network of pediatric and burn hospitals in North America.
Shriners must first become a Mason to become a Shriner (frequently called Shrine-Masons), but a Mason does not have to be or automatically become a Shriner.
- MisterJayEm - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 1:08 pm:
Something something the widow’s son something
– MrJM
- Foolish Sophist - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 1:12 pm:
The freemasonry comment sounded a bit more sinister to me. This sounds much closer to the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion”, a document that was forged by tsarist secret police to incite anti-Jewish pogroms and alleges an anti-Christian takeover of international freemasonry. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Protocols_of_the_Elders_of_Zion
Some more digging into Curran’s underlying assumptions may be necessary.
- SKI - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 1:55 pm:
@MrJM - Distressed by the current state of IL Politics or just this embarrassing candidate?
Freemasons - taking over the world, one pancake supper at a time.
- Springfieldish - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 2:16 pm:
It’s a sect thing. He’s a Grandmaster of Doofus Dei.
- Anyone Remember - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 2:20 pm:
===Dude is kinda 19th Century. I suppose John Quincy Adams would approve, though.===
Actually, that would be Solomon Southwick, principal organizer of America’s first third party - the Anti-Masonic Party. You can’t make this stuff up … .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_Southwick#Anti-Masonic_views
- ;) - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 2:53 pm:
To paraphrase a quote from Dorleac in “The Count of Monte Cristo”: “And if you’re thinking just now ‘Why me, oh God?’ the answer is: God has nothing to do with it. In fact, God’s never in Illinois this time of year.”
- The Old Man - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 3:13 pm:
Heh, I am a republican, and a free mason and I AM TOTALLY OFFENDED AT THIS KIND OF STUPIDITY. Boy am I naive, I thought Chris Miller and Darrin Bailey were the only ones who talked directly to GOD>
- Dotnonymous - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 3:34 pm:
2021…The year of the Way Wacky.
- Huh? - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 3:39 pm:
“inculcating the precepts of equality, charity, tolerance, fellowship, and brotherly love”
The utter hypocrisy of this statement is why I am a recovering freemason.
In 1997, a well recommended Africa American gentleman attempted to join my Blue Lodge while I was Worshipful Master. He was twice blackballed because of his ethnicity and family background.
Once my term ended, I took a demit, resigning from freemasonry, in protest of the blatant racism of Cyrano’s blackball.
Every now and thing I meet Cyrano and apologize for his not being accepted into my lodge.
24 years later, I am embarrassed by the actions of the Blue Lodge of which I was Worshipful Master.
- Huh? - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 4:02 pm:
Shriners must first become a Mason to become a Shriner “”(frequently called Shrine-Masons), but a Mason does not have to be or automatically become a Shriner.”
You left out a few other requirement to be a Shiner.
To walk across the hot sands and become a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Shriners), you must be a member in good standing in a “Blue Lodge” of Ancient and Accepted Freemasons. Next you must be a member in good standing in either the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (Scotish Rite, or 32nd degree Mason) or the United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta (Commandry).
Most Shriners go the Scotish Rite route. Not very many Commandies around anymore.
Key note to remember, can’t be a Shriner without continuous Blue Lodge and Scotish Rite and/or Commandry membership.
Been there and done that. Am recovering member of all 4 masonic rites.
- Rudy’s teeth - Friday, Aug 27, 21 @ 4:21 pm:
As Curran has been on the government’s payroll for some time…former sheriff of Lake County, prosecutor with the LC state’s attorney, coroner— let’s not forget about the failed Senate bid —perhaps his goal is to get back on the government’s payroll.
Is Curran the next Roland Burris?