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Today’s rant

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Illinois

* Tri-County Tea Party leader Rick Newton, whose group spans DuPage, Cook and Lake counties…

Over four months after the Republican primary election, we continue to hear conversations among conservatives about the uncertainty/lack of comfort with Bruce Rauner as a candidate for Governor. In my opinion, however, I sincerely believe that it’s time for anyone in Illinois whose political beliefs lie anywhere right of center (and even a little to the left!) to come to grips with reality. Not only is the primary over, but more importantly, this state is in the throes of a veritable economic death spiral.

Yet, we have people who would normally vote Republican who continue to quibble over degrees of conservatism while our state is bleeding jobs, money, and people! Do we truly believe that re-electing Pat Quinn to work in tandem with the Michael Madigan and John Cullerton will create even a modicum of meaningful, positive improvement for this state? Not only should our answer to that question be a well-deserved “Hell no!”, but it shouldn’t require deep thought.

Yes, from a conservative’s viewpoint, the Illinois GOP has ample room for improvement – but its ability and willingness to become more aligned with its own party values is not going to happen overnight. That’s going to take strong grassroots efforts to make that happen and that’s where we in the TP movement exert the most influence.

The good news is that Bruce Rauner has a viable chance to be elected Governor of Illinois. But because he’s opposing an incumbent, because Illinois politics is a cesspool of corruption and selfishness, and because the state’s Republican Party is too often its own worst enemy, we cannot afford to succumb to the distractions that would divert our focus.

It’s time for the whining to stop and for all of us to ask voters to put on their big boy/big girl underpants and recognize what’s at stake. Bruce Rauner can win this election, but it can’t happen without conservatives all rowing in the same direction and with optimal energy.

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 8:57 am

Comments

There is truth in Newton’s message but no group has done more to divide the GOP than the Tea Party. It’s ironic that now Mr. Newton is calling for unity and the TP movement to exert more influence.

Comment by Stones Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:02 am
Glad to hear that conservatives are actually aware of some of Rauner’s positions even though he has been adept at keeping them under wraps.

Comment by Jimbo Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:03 am
Well said. Considering how the Republican’s have been shooting themselves in the head since Alan Keys they will hopefully realize the greater good, getting rid of Quinn is better than the parts.

Comment by OLK 73 Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:04 am
No sale.

Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:05 am
Rauner is a tea party conservative, so why wouldn’t they support him?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:07 am
Someone should brake the news to Newton that he doesn’t have to score any brownie points with roeser anymore.

Comment by William j Kelly Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:20 am
When you have been marginalized for a while you find comfort in your purity….

Purity Of Essence there Mandrake…

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:22 am
—
Rauner is a tea party conservative, so why wouldn’t they support him?
—

HAHAHAHAHAHHA

Comment by RonOglesby - Now in TX Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:24 am
When you compromise yourself, you get what you get.

Like Bruce Rauner, this Tea Party person sounds more and more like a Career Politician…

“Hear what we preach, just ignore what we say and do.”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:27 am
==Considering how the Republican’s have been shooting themselves in the head since Alan Keys==

Oh, that’s not really fair to say, is it? They’ve been shooting themselves in the foot since at least a few years before 2004

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:31 am
Someone is getting worried the rank and file GOP voter is going to sit out this election … and they may be right.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:31 am
===Someone is getting worried the rank and file GOP voter is going to sit out this election … and they may be right.===

“Exactly right.”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:35 am
“this state is in the throes of a veritable economic death spiral”

Such a flair for the hyperbolic & dramatic. Never mind that the unemployment rate is lower then it has been in years.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:39 am
You can’t win with a loser.
You can’t demand purity with all your candidates.
You can’t keep losing every race since 1998.

You can’t float out there in the ocean, surrounded by sharks, and give the only rescue ship you’ve seen in 16 years every excuse in the book why his boat isn’t good enough for you.

Illinois is so screwed up right now, we have an incumbent governor who can’t even tell us why he should be reelected. He can’t even brag about his accomplishments. He goes around the state as though he is a big mope, struggling to make it through the day. He is flat out not wanting to win.

So what are you going to do you reluctant GOPers? Keep coming up with ridiculous excuses to avoid Rauner?

If the GOP loses the race this time - its Whig-time for that bunch of losers.

Sign up or shut up.

That is the message I’m reading here and it is the right one.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:43 am
Rauner is promising to raise taxes even the Dems haven’t thought of raising.

So apparently the tea folks have not in fact been taxed enough already.

Comment by too obvious Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:45 am
LOL - i didn’t take much to steer some “tea party leaders” to Rauner in the primary. Show us the money! Probably about 5 dollars. I’d bet that’s all it took.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:49 am
Rank and file and establishment Republicans are all in for Rauner. Quinn is a disaster and Republicans recognize they have a real opportunity with Rauner, Topinka, and Cross. Illinois voters are souring on Democrats. Dubin can’t get much above 51%.

Comment by Apocolypse Now Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:50 am
It absolutely needed to be said. Perhaps some R voters will not listen and will never be able to accept the reality of politics in Illinois, but good on Newton for at least trying.

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 9:57 am
LOL - i didn’t take much to steer some “tea party leaders” to Rauner in the primary. Show us the money! Probably about 5 dollars. I’d bet that’s all it took.

Replace Rauner with Quinn and tea party with Democrats and 5 dollars with government jobs and we have a winner…

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 10:02 am
It’s the right message at the right time. Doesn’t sound like an idealistic kook to me at all. He’s rallying his loyal constituency to the greater cause. He’s doing what he should be doing.

Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 10:03 am
If you read it without knowing the source, it would actually sound sane and reasonable.

Who knows. Maybe the tea party is trying to go mainstream. Perhaps they’ve figured out that borderline racism (i.e. the tea party’s embrace of birthers and hatred for immigrants) is no way to make any sort of change.

That could be.

More likely, however, I suspect this is a “one-of” after which Newton will either be kicked out of the tea party, or he will go back to the typical tea party role of purifying the GOP.

So while I do give the guy credit, I doubt it will make a difference in the long term.

Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 10:13 am
Newton is right.

Unfortunately, it is the same rant that has been made thousands of times over the years.

Sharing this dose of reality usually gets the messenger labeled a “sellout” or “establishment” type by the “purists”.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 10:14 am
It’s the same argument Dems who could stand Blago made to those who knew better and wouldn’t support Rod.

Get in line, and be quiet about it…

Compelling reason to vote for Rauner, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 10:14 am
== There is truth in Newton’s message but no group has done more to divide the GOP than the Tea Party. ==

Once the cat is out of the bag, there is no turning back.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 10:16 am
Who uses the word “modicum” any more? Sounds like Charles Emerson Winchester from M*A*S*H.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 10:17 am
No way they vote for Quinn. The whole issue will be getting them to the polls.

Let’s see the Tea Party GOTV ground game. Maybe AFP can send them some money just for that, like they did for their first rallies.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 10:18 am
=== There is truth in Newton’s message but no group has done more to divide the GOP than the Tea Party ==

Don’t think I would agree with that at the Illinois level.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 10:20 am
He’s right, but this won’t earn him points with the far right. He’s not one of us, but vote for him anyway? Good luck.

Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 10:24 am
“underpants”?

Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 10:35 am
–Rick,

Check’s in the mail.

Bruce. –

Gotta love it when Tea Party types start preaching underpants and party unity.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 10:42 am
You can’t say GOTV matters…

…and say in July it’s over.

Just sayin’

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 11:02 am
“… because Illinois politics is a cesspool of corruption and selfishness, and because the state’s Republican Party is too often its own worst enemy, we cannot afford to succumb to the distractions that would divert our focus.”

What a fascinationg accusation. What is interesting to me is that when I look inside myself I could say the same thing about me, that I am a “cesspool of corruption and selfishness.” And, from what I can see, that is true of the entire human race. If this is the case, then I can predict with reasonable accuracy that it will only be a matter of time under a different administration before the same indictment will hold true with unequivocal accuracy. But, of course, it’s easier if we don’t look inside first but rather focus on pointing fingers at others.

Comment by Skeptical Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 11:05 am
“a matter of time under a different administration before the same indictment will hold true” Exactly. After all, half of the last two Governors to go to jail is Republican. And according to Rauner himself, 1/3 of all Republican legislators are corrupt.

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 11:18 am
- Skeptic -,

You are On It.

Wonder if Rauner will name the 22 members before Election Day.

Thanks, - steve schnorf - for calling out the Dopiness.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 11:37 am
Probably rented Rick out for the Season, or Rick got a call from one of the many national conservative groups Rauner supports.

That said, Rauner cannot win without his base, and I think the message is fairly compelling.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 12:03 pm
So the Tea Party supports raising the sales tax by extending it to 32 services? And perhaps to delay some or all of the scheduled expiratio?n of the income tax hike? Really

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 12:49 pm
I am increasingly convinced that the Tea Party in Illinois is rapidly moving towards a point where it will have more tweeting, emailing, title-holding and conference-attending “leaders” than rank and file.

Comment by Percival Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 2:22 pm
It’s nice that somebody in that group gets it. Spot on Mr. Newton.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 3:13 pm
===put on their big boy/big girl underpants ===

Pants or underpants, can we please have a moritorium on this phrase?

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 4:16 pm
@Demoralized:

Unfortunately, his message is the anti-thesis of the TEA Party movement.

Rauner’s sales tax increase proposal opens the door to a sales tax hike of $8.4 BILLION according to one bipartisan plan.

Frankly, as a progressive I am all for that discussion. Half of consumption inIllinois now is exempted from taxation, which drives the tax rate on the remaining retail up, drives shoppers across state lines and fuels the underground market of sales tax cheats. “Well Mr Rauner, if I mail this necklace to your Montana address, you do not have to pay any Illinois sales tax.”

But, I am not sure that is what the TEA Party stands for.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Jul 29, 14 @ 8:22 pm