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* UPDATED x1 - Joe Walsh responds * Yeah, that’ll work

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* Joe Walsh admits that he didn’t even try to get elected state party chairman…

From what I hear, most if not all of the members of the State Central Committee have already made up their mind as to who they are going to vote for tomorrow for the Republican Party Chairman. They’ve been lobbied for weeks by certain candidates, all the usual political deals have been cut, and it sounds like tomorrow’s silly, closed door process of a five minute speech followed by 20 minutes of questioning in private executive session is just for show.

I haven’t lobbied or spoken with any members of the SCC. My intention was to drive to Springfield tomorrow and tell them what the Republican Party needed if it wanted to avoid permanent extinction in Illinois. My message was going to be brief and clear — the next Party Chair had better be a reform conservative. Someone who can rally and energize the Party base of conservatives and independents behind our core principles of freedom, limited government, and individual responsibility and then develop a well financed plan to passionately take that message out to the rest of the voters in the State. Seems pretty simple to me. What the Party can’t do is pick another establishment insider who doesn’t know or care about its core voters.

Yeah. That’s somebody who would’ve been a great chairman. Don’t bother to do any legwork, just show up and pontificate.

Besides, there’s no way he was gonna give up his new radio gig for that party post.

*** UPDATE *** An e-mail from Joe Walsh…

your objectivity continues to amaze.

I never said i didn’t try to become chair — I said i wasnt going to lobby individual members of the SCC. My intention is to go down there tomorrow and make my case.

And…how do you know I wouldnt give up my radio gig if picked as party chair? Nobody would know that but me…

come on rich…do a little better

I doubt you can be state party chairman and host a radio show. But maybe I’m wrong.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 31, 13 @ 12:46 pm

Comments

What does it say when DeadBeatJoe claims he did nothing and yet ends up on the “short” list.
If this is not the nation’s top CFS Idon’t know what is.
Fire, Aim, Ready!

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Friday, May 31, 13 @ 12:49 pm
Joe Walsh, “Sorry, I lost my thought, what was the question again?”

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 31, 13 @ 12:50 pm
Perhaps if he had taken the same approach, he might have been re-elected to Congress. Ironic.

Comment by LincolnLounger Friday, May 31, 13 @ 12:51 pm
Walsh sounds like the geeky kid in the schoolyard who would have won every time, but didn’t try, because the other guys were cheaters.

I take it back. No need to insult geeky kids in the schoolyard.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 31, 13 @ 12:53 pm
“Dear Joe Walsh,

Thanks. Whew!

Signed,

Everyone Sane”

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 31, 13 @ 12:56 pm
Sure gets a lot of press for being a nobody.

Comment by Hickory Friday, May 31, 13 @ 1:08 pm
So in a nutshell, I can make the same claim….

Comment by OneMan Friday, May 31, 13 @ 1:09 pm
Speaking as a Democrat at heart I would love to see Joe Walsh as Republican Chairman.

Comment by Stones Friday, May 31, 13 @ 1:28 pm
Dear OW: Thanks for the only laugh in a miserable day (@12:56)

Comment by LincolnLounger Friday, May 31, 13 @ 2:08 pm
Hilarious.

He doesn’t submit a resume.

He doesn’t pick up the phone to ask anyone for support.

He disrespects the person who nominated him by not lifting a single finger in pursuit of the position.

And somehow it’s everyone else’s fault.

OK. If you say so.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, May 31, 13 @ 2:08 pm
Dear Joe…

If a vote involves a small number of people, wouldn’t you in some way shape or form want to communicate with them individually?

Putting a lot of faith in your oratorical skills.

Comment by OneMan Friday, May 31, 13 @ 2:15 pm
So the solution to the IL GOP’s woes are to elect someone as state party chair who refuses to campaign for the position he is seeking? And that shining example will bring about the election of a Republican governor in Illinois and more Republican victories across the board. Declare as a candidate, refuse to campaign, but give a speech right before voting and you shall be victorious. All these years of working hard in campaigns was all for naught. The Joe Walsh manner is so much easier! To the promised land!!!!

Comment by Sage Friday, May 31, 13 @ 2:22 pm
–I said i wasnt going to lobby individual members of the SCC–

so it’s essentially just a show and he’s not trying. He obviously doesn’t know how to get things done… which would make him a bad party chair.

Their are of course other reasons, like the fact that he’s nuts, but this is just another.

Comment by Ahoy! Friday, May 31, 13 @ 2:25 pm
He wants to get publicity with another speech; I doubt he cares about the party chairmanship. He’s become too much of a lone wolf to be the head of any political faction, even the fading Tea Party.

Comment by Wensicia Friday, May 31, 13 @ 2:26 pm
Of course you’re correct, Rich. However, I’ve long thought he would only seriously seek the job if it paid a salary as it does in some other states.

It’s sad, really. He first ran for the state legislature as a self-described “liberal Republican” and was a champion of gay rights. After a series of failed business ventures and financial woes, he transformed himself into the walking Court Jester of the Lunatic Fringe. He howls about “principles” and “family values”, but there is a pattern that suggests he has little familiarity with either.

He’s so serious about this venture that he suggested in his IR “column” that “maybe” he wouldn’t even make the drive to Springfield tomorrow. But then, there will be microphones.

Comment by LincolnLounger Friday, May 31, 13 @ 2:28 pm
- LincolnLounger -

You’re welcome.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 31, 13 @ 2:32 pm
Few people seems as entitled as Mr Walsh does. Odd, that.

He better watch out: The crazy beat just got a lot more competitive, now that Ms Bachmann is leaving her job. Good luck, Joe! You are a son of Illinois, after all.

Comment by vise77 Friday, May 31, 13 @ 2:32 pm
You can be a state party chair and host a puppet show though.

Comment by Jimbo Friday, May 31, 13 @ 2:33 pm
My only hope is that his rhetoric-only approach to party chair means he’s really running for governor after all!

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, May 31, 13 @ 2:35 pm
He just confirmed my opinion of people who can’t be bothered to use the shift key.

Comment by Chaves-respecting Obamist Friday, May 31, 13 @ 3:11 pm
C-rO, Rich probably just chopped off the last part of his email:

“Sent from my iPhone”

The ellipsis abuse must end though. I will not stand for such a blatant display of over-dramatic rhetoric…

Comment by ChrisB Friday, May 31, 13 @ 4:05 pm
Why anybody would want to be ILL-GOP State Party chair is beyond me, especially after a quarter-century of allowing ILL to be a fly-over state.

It’s like being the one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest.

Comment by Been-there-done-that Friday, May 31, 13 @ 7:49 pm
It’s sad when someone doesn’t recognize when their 15 minutes are up.

Comment by Nice kid Friday, May 31, 13 @ 8:02 pm
not going to vote going fishing his or her loyalty will have been already decided a party chair to who or whom

Comment by fake county chairman Friday, May 31, 13 @ 9:42 pm
Joe Walsh: making the gop smaller one letter at a time.

If the gop loved him the gop would simply give it to him, and move his show from WIND to ‘LS.

Comment by New Name Friday, May 31, 13 @ 11:39 pm
How much is WIND — aka Hot Air — paying this guy? I know he has never held a real job in his entire life just like his kind — Rush Hannity Beck

Comment by Anonymous Saturday, Jun 1, 13 @ 1:35 pm
maybe don tracy

Comment by fake county chairman Saturday, Jun 1, 13 @ 2:18 pm