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* Politico…
Before knowing the extent of Iowa’s debacle, Gov. J.B. Pritzker tweeted that Illinois should be first to hold a Democratic primary. “If you’re looking for a state whose people represent the diversity of America, look no further than Illinois. It’s time for the most representative state in the country to be the first in the nation.” He linked to a 2016 NPR story that lists Illinois as “the perfect state” to host the first Democratic presidential contest.
We spoke to Anne Caprara, Pritzker’s chief of staff, late last night — given she knows something about waiting on Iowa. In 2016, Caprara worked for Priorities USA, Hillary Clinton’s super PAC. “I remember that that result went late into the night and it was a very close win by Hillary. So, I think there was a general sense coming out of Iowa that nothing had been decided,” she told Playbook.
And we can say the same today. Like her current boss, Caprara sees Illinois as being a better fit for the Democrats’ first foray into presidential primaries. “We are the most representative of the rest of the country. We have a rural population, urban population and representation of literally every ethnic group in the country and all sorts of business and manufacturing. It makes sense that Illinois should help decide who the Democratic nominee is.”
That NPR story is here.
Thoughts?
…Adding… Caskey had some pretty funny insights into this topic last night. A sample from his thread…
America you think Iowa has mess? This is just a stupid app crashing. Chicago will BRING IT. Republicans will love to scream about us. You get every race on the planet to court. At LEAST three people will get caught buying votes with beer. And we have legal weed!
— Willary (@WillCaskey) February 4, 2020
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:29 am
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The only way it would work is if they bifurcated the primary with the Presidential primary by itself early on but keeping the down ballot races later in March. Otherwise campaigns will be going all out in November and December right in the midst of the holidays and I don’t think anyone wants that.
Comment by Powdered Whig Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:31 am
I’d rather not have hordes of candidates and staffers running around the state for up to a year ahead of time and get bombarded with advertising. No thanks.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:33 am
“Don’t make no waves, don’t back no losers”
Being first negates being that kingmaker state.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:36 am
By every measurable statistic, I believe the answer is yes Illinois *should* go first.
Do I want Illinois to go first? Absolutely.
Finally, we should keep the same primary date in mid-March and all other states should go after us. Winter primaries suppress turnout.
Comment by Sean Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:38 am
There are 49 states, plus DC and Puerto Rico, thinking that today. Illinois has no particular claim to going first.
Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:39 am
God, no! I get enough campaign mail, e-mail, and phone calls without being first in the nation.
Comment by ChuckIL Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:39 am
Why not? The Democratic party side, Illinois is very loyal to the Democratic party. Why shouldn’t it go first? It’s in the middle of the country. Candidates can show what they have in rural, suburban , and city settings.
Comment by Steve Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:39 am
Every state should have their primaries on the same date.
Comment by SAP Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:39 am
“If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere”
Lol
I don’t think any state should always go first, I honestly think it should be random, or at least rotate. But if other states decided to move their primaries after ours I wouldn’t hate it
Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:40 am
I’d prefer all states hold their primaries and caucuses on the same date. May or June would minimize weather impacts, and the length of the general election campaign.
Comment by Independent Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:41 am
Yes, because Illinois is by far more racially representative than Iowa. And we do straight voting, not caucuses, which seems so much more straightforward after watching last night.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:41 am
If you want the best candidate, that could win independent votes nationwide, I say no. The best barometer States for that would be one like Ohio.
If you want the State best representative of your Party, then yeah.
Comment by fs Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:42 am
Illinois Democrats are hardly “reasonable and moderate” and cannot claim to be” the most representative state in the county”
A bill on whether to continue a federal ban on the illegal sale of the synthetic opioid fentanyl split Illinois’ U.S. House delegation right down the middle this week, renewing a battle over whether dangerous drugs should be treated as a criminal matter or a health problem.
Nine Democrats—notably including freshmen Sean Casten of Downers Grove and Lauren Underwood of Naperville—voted against the bill, which passed the House by an overwhelming 320-88 margin after earlier unanimous Senate approval and now is on its way to President Donald Trump for his signature.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:45 am
“Illinois has no particular claim to going first.”
Read the NPR link.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:46 am
#Willeryisright
Comment by Winderweezle Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:48 am
Correction
Willary is right.
I hate it when I mess up my own comedy.
Comment by Winderweezle Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:50 am
Maryland would be the best state to go first.
The issue with Illinois, while seemingly mirroring the nation, the politics, as a state, are now far too tilted, by the erosion of the former GOP, and a GOP primary, the first too, might bring a Proft/Uihlein type winner, pushing an actual party nominee even further right than South Carolina, for example.
It’s not all about Democrats.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:50 am
Pretend for a moment that the first in the nation primary were happening in Illinois now.
16 year olds mysteriously registered to vote.
Undocumented residents registered and voting.
Hundreds of ex-cons “mistakenly” kicked off voter rolls.
Iowa’s scandal is not being able to count. Yawn.
We are at peak news value ready to go first.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:52 am
-I’d prefer all states hold their primaries and caucuses on the same date.-
Only issue is logistics but overall I am not against this idea, Independent.
About Illinois being first, not a fan but that is due to the debacle last night and I am tired.
Comment by SpfdNewb Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:57 am
Yes. We’ve got all the key messaging targets as a testing ground for candidates–urban voters, suburban, rural; left, right and center; manufacturing, agriculture, high tech industry; American and National League; tying to legacy to Reagan, Obama and Lincoln; a rich food culture with high stakes decisions in hotdog condiments and pizza choices; rail, highway and waterway; billionaires and poor people. And they’ll all have to eat an Asian carp dish right before a news conference.
Comment by Earnest Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:00 am
Two words: Petition challenges.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:00 am
Flaherty has valid points.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:05 am
Illinois, with its many delegates, often plays a large role in determining the nominee once the field gets narrowed down after a month or two of primaries. It is still a rather good position to be in.
Comment by WestTown TB Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:07 am
=== Illinois Democrats are hardly “reasonable and moderate” and cannot claim to be” the most representative state in the county”===
If *anything*…
The total and complete obliteration of Raunerism, the humiliation of Bruce Rauner, Rauner failing, even at quitting, and the total lack of statewide Raunerites outside the super-minority status Raunerites enjoy…
… that shows Democrats are willing to fight against Rauner-like oppression (vetoes and stopping overrides) and understanding agendas need cooperation of many factions to make laws too.
You’re making the point *for* Illinois, - Lucky Pierre -, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:08 am
“Illinois? First? I dunno about having Illinois going first, or deciding something so critical”
- Richard M. Nixon, maybe.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:12 am
One of the first four, sure, but I’d prefer a national ranked choice primary sometime in the early spring myself. Nothing is more representative of the US than, uh, the US.
The Presidential campaign is too drawn out as it is.
Comment by ChicagoVinny Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:13 am
Illinois hosting the first in the nation primary would be an admirable goal.
In order to meet this goal, Illinois can demonstrate it’s maturity and ability as a state party to host the first in the nation primary by instituting broad reforms to make their actual party apparatus more inclusive and the leadership reflective of the active members of the party rather than being made up of mostly elected officials.
Some major issues to address:
When was the last time the Democratic Party of Illinois had a convention?
When was the last time the Democratic Party of Illinois created a concise platform?
What does the Democratic Party of Illinois plan to do or what reforms do they plan to enact to address that the chair of their party is also the House Speaker and is at the center of an organization which may have aided in retaliation against victims of sexual harassment and hostile work environments?
Are they (both parties really) prepared to address the expectation that caucus staff are required to “volunteer” or work on campaigns for a salary generally below market in order to retain their positions as caucus staff?
Are they prepared to lobby the governor to make changes so that precinct committee people, county parties, district apparatuses, and the State Central Committee are more inclusive and provide better access for people of lower incomes, mobility issues, or situations that make it difficult for them to be able to run on a ballot or fund raise to run for a party position?
I think it’d be great for the State of Illinois to shoot to be first in the nation, but we’ve got a lot of work to do before that happens.
We’re literally in the middle of a situation where the GOP super minority is fractured with ultra-right wing separatists and the Democratic Party’s dealing with State Senators wearing a wire to inform on other State Senators because of a broad sweeping federal investigation which still hasn’t ended yet and is long over due.
First in the nation isn’t the kind of microscope I would be inviting if I were a shot caller in either major party organization.
The Iowa Democratic Party messed up a reporting system by relying on an app. Okay. Well they (the IDP and the Iowa GOP both) also have a caucus every two years where precincts meet, select delegates to county conventions and submit platform planks, the county convention turns out a county platform and selects delegates to the District and State conventions which also turns out platforms and selects delegates to the national convention and or the DNC members.
Say what you will about caucuses being undemocratic, but Iowans rebuild their parties every two years and reaffirm their leadership every two years and produce platforms every two years.
And their party leaders aren’t known for whining about not receiving enough political graft or getting their people hired and Iowa’s hiring/firing scandals don’t involve decades long consent decrees that are willfully defied by folks that don’t get that this stuff is illegal.
I’m being hard on the Democrats because the Democrats are pushing this at the moment, but there’s the Illinois GOP literally just sold itself to a billionaire a few cycles ago and abandoned every principle they had to do so while also, somehow, letting a Nazi get on the ballot.
I clean before I invite company over.
Illinois should too.
Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:16 am
No. Start all primaries on June 1 until the conventions. The perpetual running for office leaving no time for governing is becoming more exclusive to those who can afford it, and less inclusive.
Illinois can then be the first Tuesday in June.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:18 am
Candy Dogood nails it again. We have a rising star, people.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:19 am
Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan — really any of those states where there’s a variety of demographics and a mix of urban/rural would be such a vast improvement over Iowa going first.
Comment by Driving a car Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:20 am
#willitplayinPeoria
Comment by Cornerfield Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:23 am
We could use the economic boost.
Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:27 am
“”I clean before i invite people over.”"
boom
Comment by walker Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:31 am
Great, more phone calls to not answer.
Comment by Bruce (no not him) Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:32 am
=== - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:19 am:
Candy Dogood nails it again. ===
This.
Comment by Birdseed Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:32 am
so it’s the Illinois GOP that sold itself to a billionaire huh?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:36 am
The Nation: “The Iowa Democratic primary was a disaster. It couldn’t have been done any worse.”
Illinois: “Hold my beer.”
Comment by Birdseed Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:36 am
In a state that Reagan won twice and George HW Bush won in 1988, Democrats have enacted marriage equality, equal pay, all kids, Living Wage, legalized cannabis, and won super-majorities in the legislature and every constitutional office. Oh, and produced a two-term Democratic President.
To steal from Abraham Lincoln: Send all the state party leaders whatever Democrats are drinking in Illinois.
Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:38 am
I was of the belief, like - Louis G Atsaves -, of a shorter primary season;
8 regions, closely mirroring only in electoral votes (~67 to 72) and these regions vote every Tuesday for 8 weeks. Beginning May-ish, finish at the end of June.
Candidates drop out, weekly, and more intense scrutiny leading up to the conventions
An aside;
- Candy Dogood -, that’s doggone good.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:38 am
=== billionaire===
Nah.
It was bought by a multi-multi millionaire bust-out artist for $50 million of hostage money.
Feel better?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:40 am
This is a moment of state unity and we should all band together to defeat the corn devils across the border
Comment by Will Caskey Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:42 am
I’m with Candy. Can you imagine the Chair of the Illinois party, today, explaining why the phone app failed?
Comment by WH Mess Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:45 am
It’s probably best that when your party is bought by a billionaire Governor, who is paying top staff out of his own pocket and single handedly funding the campaign for a constitutional amendment, to not accuse the other side of doing what you are.
Maybe you can stop with the ruse that the Democrats do anything without the union’s approval as far your “hostage taking” nonsense.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:46 am
=so it’s the Illinois GOP that sold itself to a billionaire huh?=
More like a multi-millionaire but yes, with complete capitulation because he didn’t want any “problems”. And not only that, he made the party completely irrelevant. Now I wouldn’t take away that all millionaires and billionaires are lousy at governing. If anything Pritzker has proven that it is possible to be wealthy and govern.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:50 am
- Lucky Pierre -
“I’m frustrated too but taking steps to reform Illinois is more important than a short term budget stalemate”
On this we agree;
=== who is paying top staff out of his own pocket===
A horrible and damaging precedent for other governors, short-sided to what others now will face as governors.
To bring it back?
Once Illinois is first, and let’s say for argument’s sake it happens, Illinois’ own relevance later in primary season or at the conventions could very well be saddled with a horrendous, locked in, delegate count leaving Illinois no different than less influential states that have primaries after a nomination is all but assured.
I like playoff matchups, not spring training split squad tilts.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:53 am
I think the political types in Illinois fashion ourselves too savvy to get put in the position of going first. Don’t stick your neck out and it doesn’t get chopped off. Let some other state deal with the headaches and scrootening (to paraphrase the last Mayor Daley). Illinois should stay in a sweet spot toward the middle front of the states and let the winnowing down of the field take place largely before.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:53 am
I know we’re discussing this in a void, IL merits on their own, but reality is if we staged a -primary-, New Hampshire would put theirs in October 2023 to be in front of us. They will not be lapped. Even if the DNC made it official and took away all NH’s delegates, they’d still hold it and the candidates would still come.
Now bumping Iowa out of the first four and putting in IL as a “midwestern representative” alongside NH, NV and SC, has some merit.
Comment by ZC Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:54 am
To steal from Abraham Lincoln: Send all the state party leaders whatever Democrats are drinking in Illinois.
maybe slow your roll, Democrat’s overreach has had the net effect of a 10% rise in Trump approval since October, to an all time high of 49% according to Gallup poll released today.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/284156/trump-job-approval-personal-best.aspx
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:55 am
Nope, St Patrick parade will never be the same
Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 10:59 am
Never in a million years. And while we’re at it, let’s preemptively toss any notion that we should ever host a convention again. If Bernard doesn’t get the nomination this summer, his folks are ready to Bern Milwaukee down.
Comment by A Cop Who Votes D Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:14 am
===to an all time high of 49% according to Gallup poll released today===
“Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted January 16-29, 2020, with a random sample of 1,033 adults”
Two weeks (ridic), sample of all adults, not even registered voters.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:36 am
Iowa is a nice place for minor league ball.
Professionals play in Illinois.
It’s like the country sent our elections down to the Iowa minors to try to sort out their delivery only to have things go horribly awry.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:36 am
The DNC could just forget about counting votes and do what it claimed to have the right to do in 2016:
“[W]e could have — and we could have voluntarily decided that, Look, we’re gonna go into back rooms like they used to and smoke cigars and pick the candidate that way.”
http://jampac.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/042517cw2.pdf
See page 36 of 123
Almost no one remembers the DNC’s claimed defense in the suit brought by Sanders doners above.
Comment by Glenn Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:51 am
Or just eliminate campaign finance reform laws. Then it won’t matter so much. after all how late in 1968 did RFK jump in and have a reasonable chance of getting the nomination?? A month from now..
Comment by Fav human. Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:52 am
@LP -
Latest approval numbers for a Trump in Illinois are net -25. Down 26 to 51. Illinois Democrats must be doing something right.
Illinois provides a clear contrast, not by passing phony platforms at some hotel convention center, but by electing a governor and lawmakers with clear agendas. We hashed it out in the primary of 2018. J.B. Pritzker is the platform.
Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:54 am
Speaking of hot messes …..
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/investigations/daniel-bice/2020/02/03/dnc-host-committee-leaders-sidelined-amid-probe-toxic-work-culture/4645443002/
Comment by Moody's Blues Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:05 pm
I’m with Willy - divide the country into regions. But I would do four and go over a four month time period starting the first Tuesday in March. Rotate who goes first among the regions every four years. If a state doesn’t want to go along, reject their delegates at the convention.
The parties need to get a better handle on these primaries, or more Iowas could be the result. From what I’ve been reading, Nevada also contracted with the company that set up Iowa’s app, so we may see another debacle in a few weeks when Nevada caucuses. Unless they figure out what went wrong by 2/22
Comment by italianguy626 Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:08 pm
More realistic: turn over control of Iowa DPI to Mike Madigan. Say what you want, the votes would have been reported last night on time …
Comment by ZC Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:25 pm
I don’t know if Illinois should go first, but that multi layered mess of a caucus (although i might say that caucus is by definition messed up) shows that Iowa does not know what they are doing. they changed the process then they changed the way they calculate the results. wow. just wow. terrible.
Comment by amalia Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:44 pm
Read Greg Hinz today. Usually can tolerate what he writes but not today. There’s no way Illinois should go first. Greg called Iowa technologically challenged. I would rather be that than Illinois, which is both ethically challenged and financially challenged. Candy is right. Maybe we should clean before inviting company over.
One other person talked about having two primaries. So what if it costs more money. It is that attitude that got this state in trouble in the first place. When you are six to seven billion dollars in the hole maybe that isn’t the best time to go looking to spend money you don’t have.
Comment by Really Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 1:01 pm
New license plate idea
We are Illinois, so what if it costs more money, rich people have too much of it as it is
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 1:08 pm
I’m all for it, but it will never (and should never) happen until Mike is gone.
Comment by K3 Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 1:21 pm
–I clean before I invite company over.–
Touche. The NPR article presented a compelling argument for why Illinois should by rights go first. It really is the most representative of all states - and for this, Illinoisans should be proud.
I’m of two minds here: on the one hand, a first-in-the-nation primary might force the Illinois Democrats to clean house before the company comes.
On the other hand, it might not. And that would be another national shaming - of which we’ve had more than enough, even if most of the country isn’t aware of them.
Comment by dbk Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 1:45 pm
MrJM - I did read the NPR piece. If you handpick the indices you consider, you can develop a claim for any state to go first. That’s why people in every state are probably having this discussion today.
Many of the arguments against Illinois going first are made in this discussion. They weren’t evaluated in the NPR piece.
In any case, the historic advantages of Iowa and New Hampshire were their size and their engaged populace, Both are small enough to enable most of the voters to, if they choose, see many of the candidates. That has helped winnow the field when there are large numbers of candidates. We don’t have those comparative advantages.
Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 1:48 pm
No. Illinois is not a battleground state.
Comment by Jaguar Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 1:53 pm
Putting Michigan first would probably lead to primary campaigns both parties would prefer. Michigan is more demographically representative of the country than both Iowa and New Hampshire, and acts swingier in national and state elections than Illinois does. Aside from the demographic diversity, there are fascinating urban-suburban-rural divides that a successful candidate in either party could point to as evidence of a successful national campaign. Plus, if anything went wrong, everybody else in the Midwest could laugh at Michigan.
Comment by square pizza Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 1:56 pm
===On the other hand, it might not.===
History has proven this is usually the case. Even our diminishment clause was intended to cause us to actually fund pension liabilities. It didn’t. The decade the Rutan case occurred in by itself is shocking and the most recent Shakman litigation would have gotten a lot more attention if our house hadn’t been lit on fire by arsonists at the time.
We’ve got folks entrenched in party apparatuses and serving in exempt roles that wouldn’t pass presidential campaign vetting standards to knock doors.
Maybe now is a good time to look ourselves in the mirror and make some hard decisions, but we’re going to have to be prepared to part ways with some people and some “traditions.”
We have to open the door to nobodies that nobody sent.
Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 2:04 pm
Please No I have enough people knocking on my door interupting my the Bears stink so im taking a nap in November/December
Comment by theCardinal Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 2:30 pm
–We have to open the door to nobodies that nobody sent.–
What in your opinion is the best way to make this happen? Will MJM need to withdraw from the political stage before anything at all happens?
Comment by dbk Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 3:06 pm
Personally, I think it makes more sense to go first in a battleground state, to give either party an idea of who may be electable overall.
Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and/or Pennsylvania would all be better choices than either Iowa or Illinois. Good spread of demographics as well as truly mattering in the general election.
Comment by Danville's Finest Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 3:58 pm
=== The historic advantages of Iowa and New Hampshire were their size and their engaged populace ===
=== not a battleground state. ===
=== ay what you will about caucuses being undemocratic, but Iowans rebuild their parties every two years and reaffirm their leadership every two years and produce platforms every two years. ===
This is what institutionalized racism looks like.
Our presidential nominee should be defined by states without any big cities.
Where people have the luxury of hanging out in coffee shops, diners or the state fair for the Vance to bump into the next POTUS.
Where - heaven forbid - there are no large blocs of voters such has African American women who tend to vote Democratic in lopsided numbers live.
And where by gosh were homogenous enough that we can come to statewide agreement on every issue from taxes and spending priorities to gun control and the death penalty.
I can understand why if you are a conservative Republican you might not want Illinois to lead. There are enough moderates in the Illinois GOP base that a pro-choice, pro-lgbt rights Republican can win statewide. But that is also the kind of nominee that puts the GOP back in contention in a lot of states.
I don’t think it will ever happen, but the US could do far worse than having Illinois lead the way, and it would be far better for both parties than having Iowa and NH winnowing our choices.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 5:35 pm
=== I can understand why if you are a conservative Republican you might not want Illinois to lead. There are enough moderates in the Illinois GOP base that a pro-choice, pro-lgbt rights Republican can win statewide. But that is also the kind of nominee that puts the GOP back in contention in a lot of states.===
Welp…
“I can understand why if you are a Moderate Republican you might not want Illinois to lead. There aren’t enough moderates in the Illinois GOP base that a pro-choice, pro-lgbt rights Republican can win statewide. But that is also the kind of nominee that the GOP won’t back, and won’t be in contention in a lot of states.”
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 5:38 pm
I mean no disrespect, but I believe Donald Trump claimed to be pro-choice and pro-LGBT.
Said he would be the most pro-LGBT President ever, or some such thing.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 6:16 pm
=== I mean no disrespect, but I believe Donald Trump claimed to be pro-choice and pro-LGBT.===
Trump was also a Democrat at one point too.
Then again, Trump says all kinds of things that have no real purpose or honesty to policy.
Trump is not the test, There won’t be another Trump again.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 6:20 pm
I defer to you of course, you know your party and particularly the subconscious better than me.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 6:36 pm
- YDD -
No, it’s a good open discussion.
The Raunerites that buried the ILGOP would do a terrible disservice to the other 49 states if Illinois were first.
I look at Oberweis or Ives even Trump, and the Eastern Bloc… and the Skillicorn folks… and the twitter lunacy folks like Wehrli… they are most organized of the disorganized ashes Rauner left and… those who see Cook and the Collars with distain, or see their own region as “folks not getting it”.
The responsibility of the GOP here to be the leader in finding a standard bearer would be such a colossal failure, those GOP operatives parachuting in for candidates would be shocked, not that the existing GOP is so terribly marginalized, they’d be shocked how fighting for relevance *IN* that minority status is seeming the only goal of those left.
There is nothing right now that exists, except for those, like yesterday, like Mr. Demmer, who is desperately trying to run away from who and what he was during the Rauner years, and that the same phony he was during Raunerism is now the phony who gleefully points to things he was against because Rauner wanted him to think that way.
The vacuum of an honesty to govern and lead within a majority mindset would make any winner of a presidential primary one who would, to win, need to pander to such a small tent of simple thinking politics.
The party that may exist after Trump deserves a first GOP state with leaders understanding the politics of governing.
That is NOT the Raunerites here.
Nope.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 6:55 pm
@Oswego Willy -
Reminds me of a chat I had with an old-school Lake County GOP lawmaker back in 2007. He was a party heretic who opposed term limits. “We already have term limits, they’re called elections” he quipped at the bar. “Not as long as you keep nominating candidates like Topinka,” I replied. What ensued was a serious conversation about the co-evolution of the parties, and the need for a strong GOP in Illinois to prevent men like Blagojevich from rising to the top of my party. Much as the GOP needs our help to rid it of men like Rauner and Uihlein.
Thanks for bringing back such a great memory.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 8:50 pm
- Yellow Dog Democrat -
The two party system is only as strong as each being a partner and foil to the other.
Be well, glad it was a good memory, governing should always focus on the good it brings, including a bipartisan manner to achieve it.
Illinois being the first primary needs the GOP to rebuild on a new (or former) foundation towards that what to govern, not the continued need to be factions of the small.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 9:02 pm