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* It’s convention week, so I generally give people latitude when they act all exuberant. Here’s Greg Hinz…
The goal: Snag a couple of congressional seats from Democrats, grab a seat on the Illinois Supreme Court, defeat Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated income tax amendment. And maybe even make Donald Trump competitive in what now is very much donkey country.
So says Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider, asserting that a mix of law-and-order concerns among voters and ethical stumbles by Democrats make those goals achievable. […]
“The president can win in Illinois,” said Schneider, a former member of the Cook County Board who got the job leading his party at the behest of then-Gov. Bruce Rauner. “Sitting here, 71 days out, I’m not saying that he will. But there is a lot going on.”
* Rachel Hinton at the Sun-Times…
In a livestream Monday afternoon, Schneider said “we need to make Illinois Republican again.”
He pointed to looting that has roiled the city in recent months, as well as the heavy security presence around Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s home while “terrible crimes and murders and shootings” happen in the city as reasons why the state should swing to the right.
“So, we can institute policies that are positive for the people of Illinois, to keep people from leaving our state,” Schneider said. “Or, as I always say, we’re going to need a wall around Illinois just to keep people in.”
Schneider said Lightfoot has barricaded four blocks in her neighborhood but she hasn’t protected “our downtown and our Loop and our Magnificent Mile.”
Illinois Republican Party chairman Tim Schneider said on Monday that President Donald Trump can win the state.
“Our side has the energy going this election. Who really cares about Sleepy Joe and Kamala Harris,” Schneider said. “People aren’t rushing out the door to vote for Joe Biden.”
The “lawlessness in Chicago” will put Trump on the victory path, Schneider said.
* But this particular issue hovered over the entire convention yesterday…
“This convention is going to be one of optimism, one of leading the American people,” said Demetra Demonte, a Republican National Committeewoman.
Demonte had to cancel her trip to Charlotte after being exposed to someone with COVID-19 two and a half weeks ago.
She did not contract the virus and has just been invited by the President to attend his acceptance speech in Washington Thursday. She believes his pre-COVID record on the economy, and his push for law and order will make him an appealing candidate for suburban women.
“Donald Trump is a man of action,” she said. “He is a man who says what he will do and he does what he says he is going to do.”
It’s kinda difficult to make the case that all is well when your party is forced to hold a mostly remote convention.
* Mark Brown dumped cold water on the upbeat mood…
Despite having a member of their own party in the White House, or partly because of that fact, these are tough times for Illinois Republicans, probably the worst in memory.
Coming up on two years since Bruce Rauner vacated the governor’s mansion, taking his money with him, the Illinois GOP has no statewide elected officials, faces super-majority opposition in both chambers of the Legislature and can claim only five of 18 members of Congress. Party coffers are anemic, if not quite bare.
To top it off, President Donald Trump is so unpopular in the state, particularly among the Chicago suburban voters who once gave Illinois Republicans an even chance, that no quick turnaround seems likely.
It’s so bad that Jim Edgar, the state’s last popular Republican governor, revealed Monday that he, too, is voting for Joe Biden for president.
And the kicker…
For now, though, they’re the party of Trump, who seems to want nothing to do with them.
Ouch.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:23 am
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“It’s kinda difficult to make the case that all is well when your party is forced to hold a mostly remote convention.”
Whenever i hear all is well, all i can think of is Kevin Bacon.
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:27 am
=== “The president can win in Illinois,” said Schneider, a former member of the Cook County Board ===
This says SO much in ONE sentence. LOL
Note: Raunerites still run the state party apparatus, they are now Trumpkins.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:27 am
I’ve been laughing about this since I saw the Crain’s headline yesterday
Comment by lol Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:27 am
Snag a seat on the supreme court? Which seat would that be?
The Karmeier dear is already Republican. Nobody ran for the Republican nomination in the Cook County race.
Even if Kilbride loses retention, the Republicans can’t win it until 2022.
Comment by Socially DIstant watcher Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:29 am
I’m sure Trump’s grant of clemency to blago was just the move he needed to endear illinois voters to him and shift this state into firm Trump country
Comment by Woof Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:29 am
Two options here:
1. Schneider says Trump can win because he believes it.
2. Schneider says Trump can win to fire up pro-Trump Republicans to turnout to vote for other down ballot candidates.
I’m gonna go with option 2 here, but it’s still entirely dishonest.
Comment by CubsFan16 Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:31 am
He can’t win Illinois. That’s preposterous. He can and will do better than many on this site believe.
Comment by Fighter Of Foo Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:32 am
===It’s kinda difficult to make the case that all is well when your party is forced to hold a mostly remote convention.===
To wit, from Hinz’ article:
===They had to get COVID-19 nasal swab tests “up to your brain” before leaving here and after arriving there, have to sign daily disclosure forms, wear masks “24/7” and wear GPS monitors so convention health officials can know where they were and who they met with, in case someone becomes ill.===
So that’s what they’re doing at the RNC, but sure, go ahead and open schools ad everything else. Nothing to see here
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:32 am
The recap of the endemic Raunerite failures, the humiliation of Rauner who apparently left, and no sense that a colossal reset is needed to be a competitive Republican Party…
… but this is a full repudiation of Raunerites, Trumpkins, and all the terrible policy and politics both men tout;
=== It’s so bad that Jim Edgar, the state’s last popular Republican governor, revealed Monday that he, too, is voting for Joe Biden for president.===
Can’t be with Edgar more, all day.
Help me help you… remove the Raunerites come January and rebuild around the Thompson/Edgar/Topinka thoughts, and the Reagan Rule of inclusiveness.
Schneider sounds like a drowning man convincing himself the anvil that is his own pedigree and Trump is a life preserver, and dunking to the bottom is “winning”
Let’s decide January 2021 is a time to start anew.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:32 am
=== He can and will do better than many on this site believe.===
The benchmark is a 16 point loss.
Let’s say, (I don’t believe this at any level of honesty) Trump loses by 12… that’s a “big” improvement, yet a blowout by any measure.
The goal of the exercise is win seats, not hope blowouts look better than last time
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:35 am
This is why you don’t get high on your own supply.
Comment by ChicagoVinny Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:36 am
Hot off the press from fantasy land. Population: ILGOP
==“People aren’t rushing out the door to vote for Joe Biden.”==
They don’t need to if they vote safety from home using a vote-by-mail ballot.
Comment by twowaystreet Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:37 am
Hey Mr. Schneider, Rauner changed his voter registration to Florida ad Trump’s Illinois campaign co-chair Rodney won’t even say he is voting for Trump.
You need to quit hitting the pipe so hard.
Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:38 am
My questions:
1. What are they smoking?
2. Isn’t it rather early in the day to be smoking it? And in such large quantities?
3. Why aren’t they sharing it with the rest of us?
Comment by Lynn S. Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:38 am
==Schneider said Lightfoot has barricaded four blocks in her neighborhood but she hasn’t protected “our downtown and our Loop and our Magnificent Mile.”==
What is Schneider talking about? Outside of those primo blocks in Logan Square, the main place Lightfoot has staffed up has been the central business district, complete with raised bridges. It’s been one of the bigger criticisms of her during this - valuing barely-occupied, expensive properties over neiggborhood residents’ safety.
Comment by Roadrager Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:39 am
The city is out of control and fear it spilling to suburbs is a motivating factor to have suburban moms hold there nose. How about all the businesses that are going to be shuttered? Who do you think these important folks will turn out for? Biden ? Because he is NOT trump? The motivation factor is for trump. I don’t like him personally. But, when you ask who is better at cutting through all of the issues. Joe has 40 plus years. I would vote for Tulsi 10x if I lived in cook if she was on the ballot.
Comment by Fighter Of Foo Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:39 am
The Republican party’s troubles in Illinois begin with Schneider, the guy is so out of touch and politically unadept. How is this guy supposed to run the statewide party when he couldn’t even win his own election. ILGOP is a dumpster fire. They need to revamp or it’s just going to get worse and worse. It may already be too late.
Comment by Lord of the Fries Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:40 am
OW. He will lose by no more than 8%
Comment by Fighter of Foo Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:40 am
The one race that IL Republicans need to watch seriously is Cook County State’s Attorney.
The GOP has a top quality candidate running against a weak and damaged incumbent.
If the GOP ends up doing poorly, they will have hit rock bottom.
If being blown out in that one is not a wake up call, then I don’t seen any future for the ILGOP for the next 10 years at least.
Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:41 am
mag·i·cal think·ing —noun. The belief that one’s ideas, thoughts or words can influence the course of events in the material world.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:42 am
=== He will lose by no more than 8%===
When Trump loses by double that… how will that help GA races?
It’s too early in the day to imbibe.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:43 am
Trump lost Illinois in 2016 56% to 39%. Does the Democratic chair in Alabama say Biden can win there?
Comment by Steve Rogers Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:44 am
=== “our downtown and our Loop and our Magnificent Mile.”===
A wealthy white guy that doesn’t live in Chicago and didn’t represent any part of Chicago on the Cook County Board is sure claiming a lot of territory as “our” in his race baiting statement.
Tim Schneider is the adult version of those kids that say they’re “from Chicago” even though they’ve spent less time in Chicago than an Indiana school child spends in Chicago on class trips.
Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:45 am
Mr. Schneider, that’s a bold prediction. Any comment on Rauner changing his voter registration to Florida or Trump’s campaign co-chair Rodney not even willing to say he will vote for Trump.
Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:46 am
FoF, you’re looking really hard for that silver lining. It’s still a loss, whether 8 or 16 points. Kinda like those who still cling to HRC winning the popular vote, it was still a loss. Losing by “only” 8 won’t change the downballot much, either.
Comment by Jibba Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:47 am
@Fighter of Foo: That’s still losing.
Interesting question: will Republicans flip any seats in Congress or either chamber of the legislature? Will there be net gains in any of those categories? Id the answer isn’t “yes” to any of those questions, then losing by less than 8% is just losing.
Comment by Socially DIstant watcher Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:49 am
Chairman Schneider must have been partying with Trump’s kid and that Guilfoyle lady>> snort snort
Comment by NotRich Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 10:51 am
That is a might tasty morsel of reality that the Raunerites running the state party have a former governor, a felon, who is endorsing Trump with them… Rod Blagojevich.
The Raunerites running the party see Jim Edgar as unhelpful to the cult of personality.
If that’s isn’t … “messed” up…
It’s time to clean house. This cycle should be either a wake up call to rebuild with Edgar-Like thinkings… or if you double down, keep Raunerites, ignore where failures were, no mea culpas, be regional, angry, white, old…
…why then would I keep fighting to have you rise again?
January 2021 will be a serious time for serious people willing to have a real two party state.
Reading above?
Phonies who can’t keep their own seats have no business “explaining” that they understand a party and how to build it.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 11:07 am
Yes IL GOP, please keep taking advice from the guy who lost his cook county board seat to a kid that lives with his parents.
Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 11:24 am
I’d be willing to bet money that the State Dem chairs in Indiana and Kentucky have said the same thing about Biden and the State GOP Chair in Michigan has said the same thing about Trump. It’s election year bravado. What do you expect? This is the most non-story story ever.
Comment by Token Conservative Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 11:32 am
I see that Tim Schneider has used his time since being bounced from the county board to work on his comedy routine.
Comment by TominChicago Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 11:44 am
In 1984, Ronald Reagan won DuPage County with 76% of the vote and a total of 227,000 votes. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won DuPage County with 54% of the votes and 228,000 votes.
In 1984, Reagan lost Cook with 48% of the vote and over 1 million votes. In 2016, Trump lost Cook with 21% of the votes and a total of 453,000 votes.
I wonder where Mr. Schneider sees the President making up all that lost ground in the suburbs and elsewhere?
Comment by Paddyrollingstone Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 11:53 am
=we’re going to need a wall around Illinois just to keep people in==
Sheesh. Ok. One more time. Project out into the future. The western third of the country is on fire and has drought conditions. The south is hot and getting pounded by hurricanes. The coasts are flooding and/or under water. Where are you going to want to live? In the middle of the country and north.
Not to mention that Illinois borders one of the largest fresh water supplies in the country, the Great Lakes.
Does Illinois have problems? Sure. But those are fixable. You can’t fix a hurricane or searing heat/wildfires, drought. Phoenix, AZ was 114F. yesterday.
But that would require thinking and planning and Schneider just wants to do ideological sound bites.
Comment by Big Jer Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 12:06 pm
“But there is a lot going on.”
What, like those suburban schools that dared to open rapidly being forced to close again? That’s going to boost the GOP in the suburbs?
Comment by Suburban Mom Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 12:19 pm
“The “lawlessness in Chicago” will put Trump on the victory path, Schneider said.”
The chaos is happening on Trump’s watch.
Comment by Muddy trail Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 12:28 pm
@Fighter of Foo
The top 20 counties, by votes cast, made up 83% of the total votes cast in 2016 of which Trump only won 33%.
In the remaining 82 counties he took 65% of the votes. So where is Trump going to pickup the significant number of votes he needs to cut his loss margin in half?
Also I can’t see Biden doing worse than Clinton in the smaller 82 counties, Clinton had 29.5% of the votes. Actually I would expect to see Biden beat those 2016 numbers by at least 2 points. So that means Trump would need to make huge gains in the few top 20 counties he carried in 2016 (McHenry, Madison, Sangamon, McLean, Tazewell, Kendall, LaSalle, Macon, Kankakee). I did the math and if he kept the exact same vote share in all the other counties, but picked up 8 points in the counties listed above he still only cuts his loss margin from -16 to -13. I just don’t know where Trump finds the votes considering his unpopularity in this State.
Comment by TrumpsSmallHands Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 12:45 pm
==The city is out of control and fear it spilling to suburbs is a motivating factor to have suburban moms hold there nose.==
The city is not out of control. The city was out of control in 1974 when homicides were up to 970. That year the Democratic Party gained four members of the House in Illinois.
Comment by Sling Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 12:51 pm
I want some clarification on the rules. If Trump loses 54% to 46%, did he lose by 8 or 4?
Comment by R A T Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 1:10 pm
==The city is out of control and fear it spilling to suburbs is a motivating factor to have suburban moms hold there nose.==
Polls also show that a majority of voters feel that Trump has done a poor job of addressing racial inequalities and has made matters worse through his actions and rhetoric. So the idea that suburban moms will somehow start seeing things differently seems a bit misplaced.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 1:36 pm
=== Trump has done a poor job of addressing racial inequalities and has made matters worse through his actions and rhetoric. So the idea that suburban moms will somehow start seeing things differently seems a bit misplaced.===
For real. And even the suburban moms I know who DO think Chicago is very dangerous (most don’t), they’re a heck of a lot more concerned about Covid, which could KILL THEIR ACTUAL FAMILIES. Who’s even going into Chicago from the suburbs right now, unless they have to for work?
Comment by Suburban Mom Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:19 pm
@ RAT: I hope you’re joking. It’s not a “rule” it’s simple math: 54 - 46 = 8.
Comment by Steve Rogers Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:29 pm
This latest pronouncement from the ILGOP is a useful measure against which to judge the lunacy of their other recent statements that allegedly represent reality.
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 3:05 pm
It’s clear he will win 90% of the counties
Comment by Curious George Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 3:38 pm
Just like Tim won re election fo the County Board? /s
Comment by low level Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 7:49 pm
So good, IL is in play? Then maybe bring him here Tim. Let’s have a Trump rally in Gurnee or Naperville.
Comment by Siriusly Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 8:14 pm
That’s hilarious. Republicans win in Illinois? I think there’s enough electoral history to determine voting Republican in a presidential election is a wasted vote.
Might as well counter that effort in establishing a third and fourth major party instead.
Comment by That's laughable Thursday, Aug 27, 20 @ 4:19 pm