Today’s quotable
Friday, May 24, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Republican Party Chair Don Tracy was on WJPF Radio this week…
So for Democrats, big government’s an economic thing that they support because they benefit from it. Whereas Republicans, we Republicans, you know, we just want to be left alone to raise our families and to do our jobs. But they’re not going to leave us alone.
You know, we’re on a march to socialism now and Marxism.
And you know, they have a saying … you can vote yourself into socialism, but you have to shoot your way out.
- Homebody - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:43 pm:
On going statements like this from party leaders shows the ILGOP (and GOP as a whole) has no problems with continuing to radicalize their base. The basic premise of a functioning government that acts in the best interests of the people of the state gets painted as communism and thus some kind of existential threat. How can reasonably minded people, even those who disagree on policy issues, engage in productive good faith discussion when the political apparatus of one party is fully in rhetorical bomb throwing mode 24/7?
- NIU Grad - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:48 pm:
The fact that this isn’t making headlines across the state is just another example of how irrelvant the IL GOP is.
- democracy in the workplace - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:48 pm:
A party chair who apparently no longer believes his party can win elections should let someone else be party chair; irresponsible and incendiary.
- Give Me A Break - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:50 pm:
I wonder what happened to the Don Tracy that once ran as a Democrat for State Senate against Larry Bomke?
- bluey - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:52 pm:
The fact that this comment isn’t making headlines across the state is an indictment on reporters who have apparently decided this is acceptable behavior.
- Rich Miller - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:57 pm:
===is an indictment on reporters who have apparently decided this is acceptable behavior===
Not many people outside southern Illinois, including reporters, listen to Tom’s show. I try to as often as I can.
- Jerry - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:58 pm:
“Cuckoo” - Richard M. Daley
- Bob - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:59 pm:
Heard him on WMAY yesterday and the host called him out for repeatedly avoiding questions about Trump. The host even called him out for it.
- Old school - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:59 pm:
We must hold those who promote hate accountable.
- Frida’s boss - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:00 pm:
Well that should help
- Bob - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:00 pm:
Oops! Goofed editing that last sentence.
- New Day - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:00 pm:
So relieved Republicans have given up ever wanting anything financial from the State. Should make the final budget discussion easier. Start with gutting every last penny that would benefit Republicans? Right?
Oh wait, here in the real world that’s not how this works. At all.
- Proud Papa Bear - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:01 pm:
Republicans also want to raise other people’s families. Or at least dictate how others may do it.
- illinifan - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:10 pm:
Republicans don’t want big government and to be left alone, except when it is comes to women’s health care choices, deciding what books to read, deciding that gun policy should be locally determined, whether religion is kept out of schools just to name a few that they want to control. In other words support what they believe and do what they say. Think differently and all is wrong.
- low level - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:11 pm:
==we just want to be left alone to raise our families and to do our jobs. ==
Oh Don, you’re such a card…
- Jerry - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:13 pm:
Don wants to be left alone?
Its Republicans who tell you what light bulbs you can use (see Florida). What books you can read (too many states to name). What healthcare procedures you can have (too many states). Sounds like Socialism to me!
- Dooley1076 - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:14 pm:
Thanks for the tip about Tom Miller’s WJPF show, Rich. Looks great. Just added a short cut on my desktop.
- Norseman - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:18 pm:
=== we just want to be left alone to raise our families and to do our jobs ===
He left out the part where they don’t want to leave alone or raise families people who don’t look like them or believe like them. His party is willing to use government as a tool to attack them, censor them and banish them. Worse, to accomplish this, they will lie and threaten people who don’t agree.
- Amalia - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:24 pm:
huh? never heard that saying.
- Jerry - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:24 pm:
And the funny part Illnifan.
The judge who decided that gun decisions should be local policy, would NOT have been a gun owner when that was supposedly written over 200 years ago.
- Walter - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:30 pm:
Let’s ask Sen. Jil Tracy for her thoughts on these comments.
- TheInvisibleMan - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:34 pm:
–we just want to be left alone–
Remember, to him this does make sense.
He can’t place himself in the shoes of the people at the receiving end of what his party is doing, and is attracting so much pushback for.
“Why can’t these uppity godless peasants leave us humble and saintly royalty alone, while we keep attempting to use the power of the state to attack their bodily autonomy.”
- Big Dipper - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:34 pm:
He’s in his 70s what family is he raising?
- Arsenal - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:35 pm:
Setting aside the violent imagery…
If Republicans just want to be left alone, then they should, at some point, start leaving other people alone. Because in my adult lifetime, they’ve tried to tell me who I can marry, they’ve tried to tell my wife and daughter what they can do with their bodies, they’ve tried to tell me what recreational substances I can take, and they’ve tried to take away my family’s health care.
You want the government to leave people alone? OK. You first.
- @misterjayem - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:35 pm:
We’re on a march to socialism AND Marxism??
Golly jee‼
One McCarthy-era bogeyman would be a dire enough — but two??
However shall I sleep tonight?
– MrJM
- Big Dipper - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:36 pm:
Also if he thinks government shouldn’t interfere with businesses why was he the head of the Gaming Board?
- Hank - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:37 pm:
Notice he left out “fascism.” Thats telling.
- vern - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:40 pm:
=== So for Democrats, big government’s an economic thing that they support because they benefit from it. ===
Honestly it’s a good start for Tracy to recognize that Democratic policies benefit the majority of people in this state, which is why Democrats keep winning majorities. The next logical step should be persuading those voters otherwise. Shooting them seems like a much worse electoral strategy.
- H-W - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:43 pm:
Mr. Tracy suggests that Illinois Republicans are prepared to take up arms against Illinoisans with whom he disagrees.
Perhaps it is time for Illinois Republicans who are walking the fence of their party’s making get off that fence, and tear it down. Evil is evil. Illinoisan Republicans can either accept claims like this (that it may be necessary to kill Americans with whom you disagree), or you stand up for the founding, moral principles that all Americans are equally entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of property.
It is past time for Illinois Republicans to choose between tacitly supporting hate or supporting democracy. Stop allowing your leaders to advocate killing Americans. Stop telling yourselves that it is only political rhetoric. It is worse. Our children hear such hatred. You are teaching them to hate. Stop it.
Reign in the hate that represents you, Republicans. Choose a new leader of the Illinois GOP - one who actually wants to govern with the consensus of the people, rather than their sycophants.
- It's Just a Pill - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:45 pm:
Every time I hear this type of talk I ask “So, who are you going to shoot”. Police officers? Elected officials? It’s a dangerous rhetorical path.
- Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 2:01 pm:
I know a whole bunch of Republicans in Southern Illinois benefiting from government spending.
- Lurker - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 2:12 pm:
Don Tracy was a friend of mine and I love his family. But man, when he switched parties, he drank the koolaid hard. I’m sorry but he is beyond just being a loyal follower and I can no longer even talk to him. Sad to see the ruination.
- West Side the Best Side - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 2:35 pm:
“…we Republicans, you know, we just want to be left alone to raise our famillies…” “and your’s too. How dare you let your kid go to the library before we’ve had a chance to clean out all those woke books? And we haven’t been able to get our version of history in the schools yet either.”
Can’t think of anything civil to say about the shoot your way out part of the statement, so nothing to add other than this.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 2:47 pm:
“You know, we’re on a march to socialism now and Marxism.”
Gee, why are we a super-minority with this most generic and ancient right wing talking point? Also, does the GOP base ever get tired of baseless fears?
- Anyone Remember - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 3:02 pm:
Define “socialism” …
There are people in the Austrian School of Economics who think the US became “socialist” in 1928 … when Coolidge signed The Flood Control Act of 1928. And some of their Canadian adherents think you can build roads without government.
Define “socialism” …
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 3:17 pm:
You would think he’d be old enough to remember Perestroika.
- JS Mill - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 3:47 pm:
March to Marxism and socialism? Interesting. I guess if you want to see the actual march just watch Darren Bailey and all the other farmers (republicans that want to be left alone) “march” to the bank when those farm subsidy checks arrive.
They want to be left alone to but that second house in Florida with all that Marxist money. Turns out is spends just like regular money.
- Pundent - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 4:00 pm:
Out of ideas and relevancy Don Tracy’s pivots to advocating violence.
- old guy - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 4:01 pm:
He used to be such a nice, rational guy…
- Candy Dogood - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 6:04 pm:
===You know, we’re on a march to socialism now and Marxism.===
If there’s ever an argument to not let the previous Governor’s appointees finish their term on a board, this is it right here. No gesture of bipartisanship to a member of the modern Illinois GOP is ever returned.
Pritzker has kept people around in his administration who root for him to fail at every opportunity and often work very diligently to create that outcome. I think the Governor’s intent when he has made these decisions reflect a noble spirit but the reality is that the Governor is extending principled gestures to people who are not principled.
===you can vote yourself into socialism, but you have to shoot your way out===
I hear Mr. Tracy supports violence to overturn election results regardless of economic policy so it seems odd that he’d use a quote that this is so picky.
- Suburban Mom - Saturday, May 25, 24 @ 11:01 pm:
What — and I mean this sincerely — the frak?