* October 27…
I told subscribers more than a month ago about the possibility that Darren Bailey could run for Mike Bost’s congressional seat in 2024. Bost has a nothing-burger race, but he’s up on broadcast TV and his campaign told me they’ve also made “hundreds of thousands of grassroots voter contacts to ensure folks understand all Mike Bost is doing to fight for our conservative values in Congress.”
* December 7…
The Main Street Caucus today penned an official letter to their congressional colleagues in support of Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House.
“We are confident the gavel will only elevate his ability to effectively champion and communicate our Members’ policies and priorities. With the solid leadership team our Conference has already nominated, we will advance initiatives by finding common ground rooted in our principles– not by simply compromising beliefs,” wrote the Caucus. “Americans on ‘Main Street’ and throughout our nation have experienced a striking decline in their quality of life under divisive, unresponsive Democrat rule in Congress. This upcoming speakership election is our opportunity to gather together and light the right path for America.”
The Main Street Caucus is a group comprised of Members focused on governing and delivering common-sense, conservative solutions on the kitchen-table issues facing Americans. The current Co-Chairs of the Main Street Caucus are Representatives Pete Stauber, Don Bacon, and Mike Bost.
Full letter is here.
* Today…
Hmm.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 11:36 am:
===“hundreds of thousands of grassroots voter contacts to ensure folks understand all Mike Bost is doing to fight for our conservative values in Congress.” ===
It also looked a bit like he might have been inappropriately using his official congressional mail by sending mail too close to election day to constituents with no prior contact to the office.
- Chicago Republican - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 11:38 am:
If Bailey thinks he can beat Mike Bost…he should dial all the people that have ran against him for the last 40 years. Ask them how it turned out.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 11:43 am:
===It also looked a bit like he might have been inappropriately using his official congressional mail by sending mail too close to election day to constituents with no prior contact to the office.===
Chuy Garcia just did the same thing. My wife and I each got a taxpayer funded letter from him, telling us how wonderful he is and how glad he is to represent us.
Just like the old machine pols used to do. Happy new year to you too, Chuy. I hope you’re in Congress for years to come.
- Gonna Happen - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 11:45 am:
Same guy that just lost in a hugely embarrassing way and dragged the entire party down with him? Maybe go back to the farm and stop destroying what’s left of the party dude.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 11:45 am:
If 2/3 of the GOP House delegation was Bailey and Mary Miller come 2025… that’d be something
If Bost walks, does that mean an open seat and Jason Plummer eying that seat too?
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 11:48 am:
===Just like the old machine pols used to do.===
Report it to congress. It can be worth the effort and there’s a pretty long list of people who suffered consequences for abusing their official mail.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 11:57 am:
Bost just voted for McCarthy on the first ballot. McCarthy has also already lost 4 GOP votes and they’re only on the Bs.
- Furtive Look - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 12:02 pm:
Is there really any difference between these two?
- Big Dipper - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 12:05 pm:
Imagine the corny speeches he would give on C-SPAN.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 12:11 pm:
=== Maybe go back to the farm and stop destroying what’s left of the party dude.
The conservative/MAGA movement cannot fail, it can only be failed.
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 12:12 pm:
@ChicagoRepublican - I would not get so cocky after Mary Miller took down Rodney Davis just last cycle.
- NIU Grad - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 12:12 pm:
GOP: The Party of Chaos.
McCarthy has already sold his soul to Trumpism and has given the crazies everything they have asked for, and it’s still not enough.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 12:13 pm:
===Imagine the corny speeches he would give on C-SPAN.
And the Southerners ask, what is that accent anyway?
- DuPage Dad - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 12:16 pm:
Mike Bost hasn’t lost an election in 28 years and has the entire Metro East sewn up, including Little Egypt. Good luck to the farmer from Louisville at the edge of the district.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 12:26 pm:
LaHood voted for McCarthy too. Miller for voted for Gym Jordan, who apparently has found his missing jacket.
Going to be more ballots, maybe lots more, before we have a Speaker. Can’t wait until they have to approve raising the debt ceiling or something else vital to our country. Bunch of nihilists in that party.
- Excitable Boy - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 12:47 pm:
- I hope you’re in Congress for years to come. -
I hope Lightfoot is paying you a boatload to stay on the ship with her, it must take a lot of Dramamine.
Pretty sure Bost has proven his far right bonefides over the years, and he invented assaulting stacks of paper. Meanwhile Bailey was living in a downtown high rise in Chicago while Bost was working his district.
I don’t think the leadership vote is going to hurt him much.
- The Way I See It - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 12:48 pm:
The nonsense going on in Congress now is exactly what it would look like if the Eastern Bloc was a part of a majority in the GA - silly legislation, grandstanding, pointless investigations, nothing of substance achieved.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 1:12 pm:
===it must take a lot of Dramamine===
Lol. More like ketamine.
- Rudy’s teeth - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 1:12 pm:
Oh, please. No more Bailey for Anything commercials in the universe.
Wonder if Bailey will hire Charles Thomas in this round? We know he’s a farmer.
- Pundent - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 1:20 pm:
=Pretty sure Bost has proven his far right bonefides over the years=
As did Rodney Davis. Whether or not Bailey can beat Bost remains to be seen and I would put the money at about even right now. Because the one thing that we know is that for 56% of the GOP voters in this state Bailey best represents their “brand.”
- Franklin - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 1:31 pm:
Will JB spend $50 million on Bailey again next election?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 1:36 pm:
===Will JB spend $50 million===
I guess JB can get lemmings to vote for Bailey at any time, as that what you’re saying?
- Chicago Republican - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 2:45 pm:
== hisgirlfriday ==
Bost didn’t vote for the investigation into Trump over January 6th. Davis did. Trump flew into Murphysboro and endorsed Bost over Patrick Kelly a few years ago. So even if Bailey runs against him, the trump factor is neutralized.