Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

The way forward

Posted in:

Illinois

When former state GOP leader Pat Brady said President Donald Trump’s rhetoric about women and minorities “hurts” Republicans, some guests at Monday’s City Club event booed. “Whether you like it or not,” Brady told the City Club crowd at Maggiano’s Banquets, “We have to come up with an Illinois strategy that bifurcates us away from the president’s message or we won’t be able to recruit people.”

Monday’s contentious scene is just another indication of how divided the Republican Party is after that blue-ish wave swept Illinois. The event was titled “Illinois GOP: Now What?”

At one point Brady also called out Dan Proft, who runs a right-wing PAC, for funneling $1.2 million to a primary candidate challenging Illinois House Republican leader Jim Durkin—who ultimately won. That kind of financial support could have benefited Erika Harold, Brady said of the GOP attorney general candidate who fell short. Brady wants financial support to carry candidates through the general election. But Proft, also a panelist, disagreed, saying, “Competition produces better goods and services. Primaries are for improving the quality of the caucus and generals are for growing the caucus.”

There was a glimmer of unity. Proft agreed with Brady on the need to do a better job recruiting young people, women and minorities. So now what?

* Daily Line…

Proft, who backed 22 far-right legislative candidates with money from his Liberty Principles PAC, only won a handful of those districts, where most of the candidates were also incumbents and relied more upon the party’s infrastructure than Proft money. Proft said Monday that he nearly stepped away from the election cycle back in August when he first saw polling evidence of a Blue Wave.

“I’ll tell you something i haven’t said publicly: I looked at these races…that my little group supported pre-Labor Day,” Proft said. “And the numbers I saw coming from suburban races — I had a conversation internally with our group: “should we sit this election out?” Because they were that bad.”

Proft didn’t end up pulling his support, but acknowledged he did not do particularly well on Election Day. However, Proft said he wasn’t about to change his methods. […]

“If these two sides can constantly focus on what the real opposition is, and that should be the Democrats — look at what they’ve done to the state, you don’t need me to go through all the numbers,” McQueary said. “That should be the focus of every conversation that these two gentlemen have and party should have going forward.”

* WLS AM…

State Republicans took a shellacking in the midterms. Former state chairman Pat Brady told the City Club it’s in part because they were out-organized by the Democrats on the fundamentals, like getting out the early vote.

“Listen, I’m not using this as an excuse at all, but they had $171 million to play with. They had gold-plated everything. It was something none of us has ever seen, but the reality is it’s what we have to face in 2020. That’s what we’re up against.”

The state GOP does have a billionaire – Governor Bruce Rauner – but whether he going to be willing to spend even more millions on organization after his loss remains to be seen.

I just don’t think that much of anything is going to change between now and 2020, when President Trump is likely to be on the ballot for reelection. The suburbs are gonna be brutal yet again for Republicans.

They should focus mostly on Downstate (where the President will help), while doing the best they can to defend suburban incumbents and make an effort at picking off some of the fluke Democratic winners. Start early, work hard and smart and hold Gov. Pritzker to his promise to veto a redistricting map that isn’t fairly drawn and then help make sure his veto isn’t overridden by Democratic super-majorities.

Also, find a way to get Dick Uihlein back on the same page. With Rauner and his checkbook making an exit, these primaries will only drain the resources necessary for the general election.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 10:40 am

Comments

===”Primaries are for improving the quality of the caucus and generals are for growing the caucus.”===

Clever line. Unfortunately, Dan Proft’s idea of improved quality of candidates does not translate into a larger caucus. In fact, if he keeps improving the quality of the GOP candidates, they’ll be caucusing in a smaller phone booth soon.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 10:44 am
They also seemed to admit the Fire Madigan nonsense s*, but seemed committed to continue it. Katrina looked very bad suggesting the Tribbies mountain of interviews mad them well informed. You should post the City Club video link to show how clueless this group was.
Focusin’ downstate might make sense if anyone lived there
Remember Uline gave to Roy Moore so what “page” are you lookin’ for?

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 10:45 am
Illinois is now an extremely Blue state. None of this matters much. Many Republicans have moved out of state- enough to change the things at the margin. Even if the Republicans became more like Democrats , they’d still lose in Illinois. Why not vote for the real Democrat instead of the Republican-lite?

Comment by Steve Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 10:46 am
The reality is Proft makes his dough making “primaries for purity”. Brady sees the conservatives as wholly the enemy while supporting Raunerism. It won’t get better soon until 60/30 and 80% Reagan Rule are the standard. Not holding my breath.

So… Proft needs the purity battles to make his cash, appease Uihlein, and try to cobble his folks in to disrupt the GOP Caucuses. This is silly on its face, Proft talking the good of primaries…. to divide.

The question I’d be itching to ask the panel and my golfing friend is;

“When POTUS runs in 2020, how will this new post Rauner ILGOP see that in hurting/helping here in IL?”

How can the GOP build in IL during Trump? The collar counties alone…

And I agree with Rich;

It may be 2022, and with a new map that probably won’t help, or 2024, again with that new map, when building the ILGOP can see some growth.

I’ll know in 38 seconds, once the new GOP here is seen which years to think about turning a corner. Sadly.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 10:48 am
===Many Republicans have moved out of state===

Please cite this, also with the party affiliation breakouts.

Thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 10:50 am
I live in a suburban area that flipped. Trump has branded the Republican party and that toxic brand won’t fly around here for a very long time, if ever.

Comment by Dome Gnome Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 10:51 am
===Why not vote for the real Democrat instead of the Republican-lite?===

It’s this thinking that is ruining the ILGOP. It plays into the IPI/Proft/Uihlein narrative.

What’s next, Edgar is Dem-lite?

Ugh.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 10:52 am
I was at the event yesterday and overall I felt some interesting ideas were brought up during the program.

==They also seemed to admit the Fire Madigan nonsense s*, but seemed committed to continue it.==

I respectfully disagree with your observation. They seemed to mutually agree, that they need to start focusing on issues, rather than Mike Madigan. Proft even said that it was a losing strategy for the ILGOP to take the stance of, “We are not Mike Madigan”. They all agreed that he is bad for Illinois politics, but he shouldn’t be the center of attention nor the focus of their campaigns.

Comment by JakeCP Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 10:52 am
===Why not vote for the real Democrat instead of the Republican-lite?===

Competition and a healthy exchange of ideas really is silly, isn’t it?

Comment by People Over Parties Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 10:53 am
Proft’s idea of “improving” the candidates through the primary process is to have candidates who are so conservative they can’t win in the general.

Comment by Just Me Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 10:54 am
===Competition and a healthy exchange of ideas really is silly, isn’t it?===

When it’s based on a purity test and Slytherin thinking… no, it’s not too great to build a majority party.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 10:54 am
Proft does not understand that he only wins districts where Madigan and Cullerton created safe Republican seats to crowd a bunch of republicans in so as not to dilute other districts making it possible to elect more dems. His brand of fire brand conservative with the idea of letting the state burn down do nothing to enhance the republican cause or to elect a majority of republicans to the house or senate. All it does is inflate his ego and and let him think that he is a force in Illinois politics. So deluded!

Comment by the old man Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 10:56 am
They keep saying that Rauner is a billionaire, but it still isn’t true. Sorry to nag on this point, but facts are necessary for clear thinking.

Comment by perry noya Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 10:56 am
Will moderate Republicans make a comeback when the big money donors are or could be the likes of and Uihlein and Ricketts? With Rauner we had anti-union zealotry and deliberate sabotage of budgets. With Ives we still have anti-unionism but with hateful social policies.

There are strong forces pushing the ILGOP away from where it needs to go, in my opinion.

** If these two sides can constantly focus on what the real opposition is, and that should be the Democrats — look at what they’ve done to the state, you don’t need me to go through all the numbers,” McQueary said. **

Republicans were governors for much of the last 40 years. Rauner delibeately caused more damage in his term than anyone for the same time period. Why doesn’t McHurricane acknowledge that? I sincerely hope she leaves Illinois, with her Illinois Exodus narrative focusing. But she probably won’t, because she’s another privileged phony, with her great job and state income tax that has been low for decades.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 10:56 am
The Illinois Republican Party should just drive the democratic agenda as far and as hard as they can. Throw in the towel and take every democratic proposal and triple down on it. $15 minimum wage…make it $40 an hour. Press for a 9 or 10% income tax hike. Push a massive expansion of abortion access and wide sweeping gun laws. If you cannot stop anything, you may as well join the party.

Comment by Saluki Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 10:57 am
===no, it’s not too great to build a majority party.===

I agree, I was referring to the state needing two healthy major parties instead of an overbearing party that has no one challenging them. For that to happen, ILGOP must be welcoming, inclusive, and running non-extremist candidates.

Comment by People Over Parties Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 10:59 am
ILGOP’s big problem is that after years of claiming Democrats can’t run the state, they got a Republican Governor and he did objectively worse. You can’t position yourself around that. You just have to wait for people to forget Rauner.

That won’t take long. Rich is probably right that Trump will take up too much oxygen in 2020, but by 2022, Democrats won’t get any mileage out of “Remember how bad Rauner was?” just as Republicans’ “Forever 2014″ strategy didn’t work this year.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:00 am
===The Illinois Republican Party should just drive the democratic agenda as far and as hard as they can. Throw in the towel and take every democratic proposal and triple down on it. $15 minimum wage…make it $40 an hour. Press for a 9 or 10% income tax hike. Push a massive expansion of abortion access and wide sweeping gun laws. If you cannot stop anything, you may as well join the party.===

(Sigh)

Or…

Talk about inclusion, women, minorities.

Talk about checkbook issues.

Talk about schools, funding, higher education.

Talk about the trades, education, Reagan Democrats.

What’s ridiculous is the thoughts of “either be Dem-lite, attack Dem-lite, or purge anyone who isn’t pure”

Does the ILGOP want to stand for… anything?

That’s the question.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:01 am
I can’t say I’ve voted Republican often, but I doubt I’ll ever do it again. And you can thank Trump, Proft and Rauner for my attitude.

Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:02 am
Proft’s vision of “improving the quality of the caucus” is the equivalent of kissing moderates goodbye forever.

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:03 am
What Proft and his compatriots refuse to recognize is that pro-choice, pro-LGBTQ, pro-gun control fiscal conservatives can win all over the suburbs and become the heart of a GOP majority in Illinois.

But they’d rather lose elections than work with candidates that don’t drink their own preferred flavor of Kool Aid. More pragmatism and less ideology would be a big step forward for the ILGOP, but what do I know. I’m glad they still fight each other with more zeal than they bring to fight my team. I’d like to have a vibrant, two-party state, but I’m good with this too.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:05 am
===Many Republicans have moved out of state- enough to change the things at the margin===

Fake news alert.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:06 am
What Proft doesn’t seem to grasp (or maybe he doesn’t care, since he’s got a business to run) is that Trump is different from prior GOP Presidents.

When George W. Bush was President, people might have thought others were wrong for associating with the GOP, but most would not find the choice offensive.

Right now? I would have a tough time telling any clients or colleagues that I back the party of Trump.

Proft wants purity, but as others have noted, that makes for weaker general election candidates.

Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:10 am
===Republican Party should just drive the democratic agenda as far and as hard===

The one thing I can always count on with you is that you will consistently argue like a child.

That’s not a compliment, btw.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:12 am
–Proft agreed with Brady on the need to do a better job recruiting young people, women and minorities.–

Gee, Dan, with those goals in mind, do you really believe you can do better than your spot below?

I thought it was your masterpiece. Young people, women and minorities didn’t come running to your welcoming, happy big tent after that?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZwKZf2jtHI

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:12 am
===Fake news alert.===

Lol. It’s easier to believe they left the state than it is to believe they voted for Democrats intentionally, and many because they are repulsed by the rhetoric and behavior of President Trump and other Republicans.

They moved out of Illinois. Yeah, that’s the ticket. The Republican voters moved. That explains the election.

Cognitive dissonance is hard.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:12 am
===What Proft doesn’t seem to grasp… is that Trump is different===

I don’t think he has ever really embraced Trump. Ives didn’t either.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:13 am
—-”If these two sides can constantly focus on what the real opposition is, and that should be the Democrats — look at what they’ve done to the state, you don’t need me to go through all the numbers,” McQueary said.— I have absolutely no idea why the Tribune is a failed newspaper- s/

Comment by West Sider Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:15 am
=== I can’t say I’ve voted Republican often… ===

I am a lifelong Democrat, and I have crossed over on many occasions if I thought the Republican was a better candidate. I did it on a couple of races this time, for people who were NOT “Trumpies”. But like Cheryl44, I doubt I will be doing much of that in future.

Comment by Mr. Smith Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:22 am
Hard to see a road to redemption for republicans in Illinois. They have been part of the problem for my lifetime in Illinois. Rauner was just the most recent Republican failure, and it’s clear he was a massive failure on almost any measure possible.It’s clear that the voting public is willing to buy into the Democratic Kool-aid. They are able to ignore that Mr. Madigan cares far more for power than fixing what isn’t working in Illinois. But the Democrats have no hesitation in spouting the continual falsehoods about how Republicans will take away everyone’s rights. Look for a third party to grow in the coming Democratic junta here.

Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:25 am
It’s also important to remember that Proft and Besler were set to be the political arm of Raunerism, (with IPI handling the governing arm) and Rauner, realizing how big of an error it was… to Diana Rauner’s brand… got rid… sorry, Besler moved on from Rauner.

Proft was ready to take Raunerism.

Once Rauner moved on, Proft and Ives helped implode Rauner.

My point?

Proft is in this for Proft. First, last, always.

The rest is positioning for grifting.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:27 am
You can’t look at Ohio and claim that Illinois isn’t similar. The Ohio GOP is sucessful. Find out how.

ILGOP has been a failure before Rauner. Then they failed with Rauner. Leadership should be accountable for the Rauner fiasco.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:27 am
Democrats can’t know what it will take to save ILGOP anymore than Taco Bell knows how to save Denny’s.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:30 am
It’s not all bad news for Republicans though. As Chicago continues to decline in population there’s at least a little hope. If things continue on in Chicago like they are , Republicans will not have to talk about public school reform at CPS because there will not be many students left. CPS has lost a whopping 17.6 % of its students since 2002.
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/cps-enrollment-drops-by-10000-students/11275345-2706-4a5e-8c2d-762932cbca15

Comment by Steve Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:32 am
===You can’t look at Ohio and claim that Illinois isn’t similar===

Except for one big thing: A city the size of Chicago.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:35 am
Vanilla Man, what you, and countless others in the ILGOP fail to grasp is that many IL Democrats are Democrats because we don’t feel like we have a real choice.

Look at the AG race. I’m not wild about Kwame. I thought he did a pretty terrible job on the conceal carry bill, ultimately caving to the ILNRA. He’s a nice guy, but nice is not a great qualification for AG.

So does the ILGOP nominate a career prosecutor? Does the party nominate someone who has real legal experience trying cases? How about a career administrator who has the ability to run an office?

No. They go for a stunt-candidates by nominating someone best known for being a model, and who also holds far right views on abortion.

It was a wasted opportunity, and it far too typical of the ILGOP.

So yes, IL Dems can tell the IL GOP what the IL GOP needs to win, since if the IL GOP took those steps many of us would join the IL GOP (assuming we can get past the whole Trump thing).

Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:36 am
@NeverPoliticallyCorrect

Junta? Huh, I don’t remember the forcible coup General Madigan led to take over the State of Illinois. Must’ve been hush-hush. Tell me, do you think it’s connected to Q-Anon? Lol.

Comment by Chicago_Downstater Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:39 am
Trump didn’t cause ILGOP losses at the state level, the Rauner failure caused it. ILGOP is a failure at the state level and not a player nationally. ILGOP has been failing since Clinton, W, and Obama were presidents.

ILGOP is a failure, surrounded by GOP Midwestern state successes. Every state around this one has a strong GOP state party. ILGOP is a singular failure.

The party of business needs to fire its failures.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:40 am
The Trump tax code change certainly didn’t help in many suburban districts that are in higher tax Blue states. That 10K SALT cap was a way for the GOP to tax its’ enemies in Blue state America. It certainly was an attack on New York , New Jersey, California, and northern part of Illinois. The new federal tax code does make it more challenging on high tax Blue states to raise taxes at the state and local level. Just ask Yale or University of Chicago how they feel about paying up under the new tax code….

Comment by Steve Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:41 am
I’m not in ILGOP.
They are failures.
Kwame caved?
Harold extreme?
You just proved my point.

Following your advice is unsuitable since you want two Democratic parties.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:46 am
===You can’t look at Ohio and claim that Illinois isn’t similar===

You absolutely can. The urban/suburban population is dispersed throughout the state in a number of metro areas.

The Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati metros are nearly equal in population.

https://ohio.hometownlocator.com/cities/msa/

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:46 am
- Steve -

Was it the taxes that people haven’t felt “yet” until April…

… or healthcare and Obamacare?

How did Underwood run against Hultgren?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:47 am
Many people forget that the Trump tax code change was a tax increase for certain Congressional districts. The GOP has abandoned the Grover Norquist “tax cuts for everyone” and gone to taxing their enemies. Their enemies are the Blue states with high state and local taxation. Mike Madigan is not dumb. He knows the federal tax code change will have a giant effect on all state governments. When you can’t write off more than 10K, it changes things….

Comment by Steve Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:49 am
- Steve -

Underwood… Hultgren…

What was the theme that Nurse Underwood had?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:50 am
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Toledo together are the Chicagos in Ohio.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:51 am
When former state GOP leader Pat Brady said President Donald Trump’s rhetoric about women and minorities “hurts” Republicans, some guests at Monday’s City Club event booed.

This attitude is why the IL GOP got thumped in the burbs.

Comment by PP Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:51 am
I “get” those of the core base that hang on to Trump for better or worse and why they do. That said, as much as he may be solidifying that core, he’s alienating the margins and and not winning new people to the party. There are good GOPers out there like Sen Anderson, Rep Demmer and Rep McCombie that are not zealots. Until they find a lot more of them in the suburbs, the GOP in Illinois is through. It should be a no-brainer that shoring up the base and tolerating abusive dialog at the cost of the middle and the next generation of voters is self-defeating.

Comment by Shemp Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:51 am
===Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Toledo together are the Chicagos in Ohio.===

LOL

Are they contiguous, one mayor, one city council, one county?

This is like saying Pittsburgh and Philly are one.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:54 am
NeverPC - if the GOP hasn’t been the party that is actively trying to take people’s rights away (voting rights, abortion, gay rights, labor rights, social security, pre-existing conditions for medical, etc) then you let us know who the real culprits are. /s

Comment by Ike Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:54 am
ILGOP has failed to do what the GOP has successfully done across the Midwest. The problem lies with ILGOP.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:55 am
===Trump didn’t cause ILGOP losses at the state level===

You really need to get out more.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:56 am
LOL?
Really?
I’m suggesting something beyond the petty nonsence going on in ILGOP and recommending that ILGOP look at a successgul Midwestern GOP - but you laugh?

It is a solid suggestion beyond your smugness.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:58 am
===recommending that ILGOP look at a successgul Midwestern GOP===

You mean like passing right to work laws? You’re advocating the same thing that Rauner did.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 11:59 am
Between the Democrats suggesting that ILGOP become a less corrupted Democratic party and the ILGOP apologists, this posting should be open minded. So sorry to have suggested ILGOP reform and try what actually works with voters in other states.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:03 pm
Ohio turned away from RTW, by a GOP governor, no less.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:04 pm
===recommending that ILGOP look at a successgul Midwestern GOP===

Wisconsin, Michigan… they turned blue as well…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:05 pm
–Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Toledo together are the Chicagos in Ohio.–

No. They’re different and very competitive with one another.

You can walk across a bridge from Cincinnati to Kentucky, Cleveland is across the lake from Ontario. It’s a shorter drive from Cleveland to Niagara than it is to Cincinnati.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:05 pm
So you’ve now resorted to victimhood VMan?

Illinois isn’t other states. It’s politics cannot be compared. Period.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:05 pm
===Ohio turned away from RTW, by a GOP governor, no less.===

“Ohio turned away from RTW, by a referendum, no less.”

So, there’s that.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:06 pm
Illinois might be surrounded by right to work states but the voters in Illinois don’t care. Businesses who are thinking about coming here might care. But, voters in Illinois don’t want the right to work laws. So, it’s not doable. Yeah, it makes Illinois less competitive but that’s what the voters want. Unions are powerful in Illinois. Unions raise costs of operating things. That’s what voters want. Rauner found out he was the Governor in the wrong state for his political views.

Comment by Steve Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:09 pm
VMan, Ohio’s white non-Hispanic population is 80.5 percent of total. Illinois’ white non-Hispanic population is 61.2 percent of total.

The same strategies will not work in the two states.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:11 pm
VanillaMan, I’m not suggesting that the ILGOP become a “less corrupted” Democratic party. I’m suggesting that if they could tolerate more pro-choice, pro-gun control candidates, and candidates who didn’t aggressively attack LGBTQ Illinoisans, they’d win more elections.

I’d love to hear you respond to that. Can the ILGOPs ever concede that Illinois is a pro-choice state? Is there any room for sensible gun legislation in your party? Why must you insist on demonizing your neighbors because of their sexual or gender identification?

If you can get past those three issues, I think you’d be able to elect more Republicans. If you can’t, you won’t. It ain’t rocket science. It’s addition.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:11 pm
===But, voters in Illinois don’t want the right to work laws.===

… same with Ohio, Missouri…

You should read up.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:11 pm
==said President Donald Trump’s rhetoric about women and minorities “hurts” Republicans, some guests at Monday’s City Club event booed==

I’ve never understood this group of followers that Trump has that seem to be ok with how he acts. They seem to eat up his rhetoric while those with sanity view it as vile and un-presidential. The only people that think how he acts is great are those people who are die hard supporters. They seem to forget that he was elected by a group of people who are generally angry at the system and at their economic situations. They aren’t going to tolerate his childish actions. They want results. They don’t want a big baby.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:12 pm
===Unions raise costs of operating things.===

If you just wanna say Labor makes too much money, say so.

You want lower wages.

I hear ya, so just say it. Why won’t you say it?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:13 pm
OW

This is from the same person who declared Republicans are leaving the state. Consider the source.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:17 pm
===I’m suggesting that if they could tolerate more pro-choice, pro-gun control candidates, and candidates who didn’t aggressively attack LGBTQ Illinoisans, they’d win more elections.

…

If you can get past those three issues, I think you’d be able to elect more Republicans. If you can’t, you won’t. It ain’t rocket science. It’s addition.===

Perfectly said.

Also perfectly why Brady and Proft are not the ones who can bring back the ILGOP…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:17 pm
===This is from the same person who declared Republicans are leaving the state. Consider the source.===

Too true.

Refuting fake news is tiring, lol.

Happy thanksgiving,

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:18 pm
===Trump didn’t cause ILGOP losses at the state level===

After walking 5 consecutive weekends and knocking on doors, I am convinced that Trump was a strong factor in many ILGOP losses this past election.

After the City Club Luncheon I attended, a well known GOP poster got angry with me over the above comment. When I asked him if he walked any precincts, his response was “no,” he didn’t have to, and that all candidates should have still embraced Trump.

He was one of the guys booing. Nuff said.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:26 pm
I should have added that my precinct walking was up in Lake County. I know the perception is different in Southern Illinois.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:28 pm
Trump and Rauner were both terribly under water.

Rauner losing by 15 points wasn’t Trump when Rauner was considered the most vulnerable and worst Republican governor in America.

Trump hurt Roskam and Hultgren.

Rauner hurt himself.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:29 pm
–Illinois might be surrounded by right to work states but the voters in Illinois don’t care. Businesses who are thinking about coming here might care.–

In 2017, Illinois was third in the nation in new or expanded corporate facilities. The Chicago metro was first among those over one million population.

But the Rauner/IPI/Tronc propaganda machine was too invested in its “Death Spiral,” “Illinois Exodus” chanting points to actually pivot to a positive message, based in facts.

https://siteselection.com/press/releases/180305_GOV_CUP.html

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:35 pm
There can be no unity as long as Brady continues to be out there bashing the conservatives. Does he not get that?

Comment by Hysteria Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:37 pm
===There can be no unity as long as Brady===

If you’re demanding silence from Brady, who holds no actual party or government rank or position, then you’re the problem.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:39 pm
@Vanillaman -

Ohio is 79 percent white, non-Hispanic. Illinois is 60 percent white, non-Hspanic.

The GOP’s traditional race politics do not play here. And yet, days from the General Election you party’s standardbearer was defending himself from the Proft acolytes by loudly proclaiming he opposes “sanctuary cities” and blaming immigrants for gang violence.

Recruit more women, minority, and younger candidates is swell advice. Tough to recruit candidates though when the GOP policies are notably antagonistic to those constituencies. Oh, and voters BTW are smart enough to see when someone’s politics are still adverse. See Erica Harold, Alan Keyes, and Ken Dunkin.

As for refusing to take advice from Democrats? I would say Democrats understand the weaknesses of the GOP better than just about anyone. And Democrats - see Kaegi, Preckwinkle, etc. - have more experience beating Democrats than the GOP does.

Democrats did not rise from the ashes of 1994 in Illinois by resolving to do the same thing, only harder, and expect a different result. They shifted strategies and policies and rethought their tactics. They were well-positioned to take advantage when the GOP over-reached in 1996 & 1998.

And, they just did it to the GOP again.

Comment by Thomas Paine Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:43 pm
Also: Illinois has about 300,000 more college graduates than Ohio, another constituency where traditional GOP tropes are failing.

Comment by Thomas Paine Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:48 pm
GOP should blame Chicago and that big bad Madigan more

Comment by low level Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:50 pm
Illinois is now quite blue, but still not as blue as Mass or Maryland.

Two states that just re-elected Republican governors.

While I really hope Pritzker does well, in so doing a few feathers will be ruffled. That, combined with the possibility of a Democratic President elected in 2020 will give ILGOP an opening for the governors mansion in 2022.

Who’s to run? That’s their choice, but I hope the field includes some women and someone of color. Maybe Harold will get her act together finally.

Comment by DarkHorse Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 12:58 pm
==After walking 5 consecutive weekends and knocking on doors, I am convinced that Trump was a strong factor in many ILGOP losses this past election.==

Yup. He was the first thing people wanted to talk about when I canvassed. And not all of them were against him, and Madigan was the second thing they wanted to talk about so there’s that, but he dominates political thought like no other.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 1:01 pm
===Maybe Harold will get her act together finally.===

Maybe she can start by winning.

Jason Plummer is a state Senator. Harold is still looking to win at… anything in elections.

I’d ask Proft and Brady this too;

Beaubien… Murphy…

Would you say that caucus, a majority caucus, was filled fully with your expected members?

We need both the Beaubiens and Murphys to be a majority.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 1:04 pm
Judy Baar Topinka (RIP) seemed like she had a pretty good template for running as a Illinois Republican and winning pretty often….

Comment by Chicago Bars Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 1:05 pm
personally i love it when McQuery opines on the way forward. Voters and readers of her paper seem to be really taking to her desire for drastic measures a la New Orleans

Comment by low level Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 1:09 pm
“maybe she can start by winning”

Hard for a candidate to win when they haven’t even figured out who they are.

In 2014, she runs as a very principled conservative. Her speech at CPAC was really terrific on those points. This year, she’s like: “my beliefs don’t matter. I’ll enforce the law”.

What’s she going to run as next time?

Comment by DarkHorse Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 1:14 pm
When we canvassed in the burbs we also got a sense that Trump was a problem. One person said he supported Trump. I responded by saying it’s okay, just vote for union rights

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 1:19 pm
I’m tired of hearing that the pro-life/more conservative part of the party has to just give that up and move toward the center for the sake of the party. Maybe it should be the other way around, or at least the center should move to the right if the right candidate came up. Like Harold. She’s smart and well-educated. And I hate to play identity politics, because that’s for the democrats, but she also happens to be a woman and a minority. Yes, she’s pro-life, but maybe she’s someone we could all rally around, so maybe, just maybe, the moderates could look past that, like they want us to look past all the pro-choice candidates, and say she’s our girl.

Comment by Hysteria Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 1:23 pm
in addition to Mass & Maryland, add Vermont. A centrist GOP governor even changed his strong NRA positions, signed sensible gun control measures and was re elected handily in Bernie Sanders home state

Comment by low level Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 1:25 pm
===the pro-life/more conservative part of the party has to just give that up and move toward the center===

Only a professional victim would think this.

Remember the big tent? You have lots of conservatives and few moderates left. You’re the majority of electeds and yet you are constantly crying about those meanie moderates. What a crock.

You need to run conservatives where they have a history of winning and not primary moderates in the suburbs.

If you want a big tent, act like it.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 1:27 pm
===so maybe, just maybe, the moderates could look past that, like they want us to look past all the pro-choice candidates, and say she’s our girl===

She got more votes than Rauner, so what’s your point?

Also, you don’t win statewide with only Republican votes, moderate or otherwise.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 1:29 pm
===Hard for a candidate to win when they haven’t even figured out who they are.===

That’s on her.

Stop running. Figure out who she is. Or… run for something where she can win.

===Yes, she’s pro-life, but maybe she’s someone we could all rally around, so maybe, just maybe, the moderates could look past that…===

Except for those pesky voters that don’t look past it…

Elections have a funny way to tell us what to look past or not.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 1:30 pm
conservative identity politics helped wipe out the GOP not just in the Illinois suburbs but other metro areas around the country

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 1:32 pm
“you will consistently argue like a child.”

It’s not easy living in the political wilderness for the last 30 years. It tends to have a negative effect on mental maturity.

Comment by Saluki Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 1:38 pm
Pat Brady is a divisive hothead with a long history of political failure. I knew Rauner was toast as soon as he hooked up with that guy.

Comment by GOPgal Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 1:40 pm
I wonder if Rauner won by losing. Fact. Taxes will have to be raised, in one fashion or another, quite significantly. There has to be some spending reduced or held flat for a few years. Pension debt will have to be addressed. Who wants to be the person who does that? I know JB promises to be that’guy’ but time will tell. Nope. Rauner won by losing.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 2:04 pm
–Also, you don’t win statewide with only Republican votes, moderate or otherwise.–

An obvious truth, strangely overlooked in some circles.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 2:06 pm
It’s the Democratic Party which is truly being taken over by its radical fringe, but funny how we never see tedious lectures to Dems here.

Comment by Rusty Bridges Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 2:47 pm
=== Democratic Party which is truly being taken over by its radical fringe,===

Not in Illinois. Try watching something other than Fox News once in a while.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 2:50 pm
–It’s the Democratic Party which is truly being taken over by its radical fringe,..–

Pritzker, Madigan and Cullerton are the “radical fringe?”

Who’s a “moderate” in your eyes? Genghis Khan?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 2:57 pm
=== Democratic Party which is truly being taken over by its radical fringe,===

Ugh.

One of the main reasons Republicans are losing to Dems is that Dems have cornered the market on reasonable thinking on positions in districts requiring… moderation.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 3:00 pm
===funny how we never see tedious lectures to Dems here===

You’re new here, aren’t you?

Also, your party just got trounced in this state. If you think everything is fine, the problem is you.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 3:04 pm
I guess were stuck with it, but the dominant two party system we have here is solely responsible for the financial mess were in. To think that a solution will come from that same dynamic duo is a bit much for me to believe. Hope. Yes. Believe
.No

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Nov 20, 18 @ 3:54 pm