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Is the Republican Party dead?

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Illinois

* Much has already been made of this and more will be, I’m sure…

Spurred on by two presidential candidates with local ties and a primary that actually meant something, suburban voters were picking Democratic ballots in potentially historic fashion Tuesday.

Across the region, voters were consistently pulling more Democratic ballots than Republican in an area once considered a GOP Eden.

Early results showed nearly 30,000 more Democratic ballots than Republican cast in both Will and Lake Counties. In DuPage County, nearly 16,000 more Democratic ballots were pulled.

Kane was the only suburban county where Democrats weren’t clearly favored. And there it was essentially even.

* Also…

Last night on CL-TV in Chicago, Chicago Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson declared doom for the Illinois Republican Party for the next 20 to 40 years. He reviewed the George Ryan administration and the 2004 Alan Keyes debacle, saying the party lacks direction and leadership.

Then, he said, with a smug expression, “It may take a generation for the Illinois Republican Party to rebuild its strength in Illinois.”

* Steve Sauerberg’s Senate campaign, such as it was, has to be a huge disappointment for the IL GOP, even though he won.

* The 14th Congressional District was not a terribly bright spot, either. In 2004, George W. Bush won the district with 56 percent. This year, the two parties split it about even. And in the congressional primaries, the Republican candidats got about 2,500 more votes than the Democrats, or about 51 percent of the total vote. The Obama Effect may not carry into November, however, so these raw numbers may not hold up. Still, Democrat Bill Foster may end up giving Jim Oberweis a real run for his money, if he can survive any potential recount.

* Cook County is a mess for the GOP. The Democratic vote there was overwhelming.

* But it wasn’t all death and destruction for the Republicans. Aaron Schock’s monumental win over two candidates was a definite bright spot. There weren’t many others.

* Here’s a broad roundup of congressional stories to chew on…

* Lipinski, Shock likely headed to victory

* Schock wins 18th District

* Davis surpasses opponent for nomination to Congress, will face Shimkus

* Another war veteran to face Roskam

* Morgenthaler, Greenberg To Face Roskam, Bean

* Geneva millionaire gets edge for Democratic nomination in 14th Dist.

* Biggert breezes to win in campaign for sixth term

* Baldermann takes on job as candidate

* Sauerberg wins GOP Senate contest to face Durbin

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 1:32 pm

Comments

I think that reports of the ILGOP death are greatly exaggerated, yes the ILGOP is bad shape at the moment but its not at the point were it can be called dead out of it for the next 20-40s. One or two good candidates at the statewide level have the ability to change everything around.

Comment by RMW Stanford Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 1:40 pm
Well yes the ILGOP is not in a position to retake anything that’s been lost cause they have shifted way way toward the left and rejected conservativism. It doesn’t have to be this way, but party leaders think being like Democrats is the only way to win and their base continues to stay home cause they think they’ve been abandoned. Geez, they should just stop pretending to be what they’re not and change their party affliation.

Comment by Crimefighter Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 1:43 pm
Sangamon County Clerk Joe Aiello
General Primary February 5, 2008

* * * * * * * * * UNOFFICIAL RESULTS * * * * * * * * *

Cumulative Summary

MAIL ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND PROVISIONAL BALLOTS WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THESE TOTALS UNTIL AFTER FEBRUARY 19, 2008.
THESE RESULTS REFLECT EARLY VOTING, GRACE PERIOD AND IN PERSON ABSENTEE BALLOTS CAST PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY FOR ALL PRECINCTS. BALLOTS VOTED IN PRECINCT ON ELECTION DAY WILL BE INCLUDED AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.

Party Voting Analysis
Party Ballots Cast Percent
Democratic 20,790 52.51%
Green 71 0.18%
Republican 18,275 46.16%
Proposition Only 457 1.15%
Total 39,593 100.00%

Comment by Poli-Sci Geek Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 1:43 pm
In a perverse way, the GOP is now suffering for its past success. The gubernatorial victories of the Thompson-Edgar-Ryan era allowed the party to paper over serious differences. It also stunted the farm system as potential talent never got the chance to move up the ladder.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 1:44 pm
Whats interesting to me is the Ryan indictment appeared to topple the whole party with it. But looking at the dem side, it appears that even if Blago gets indicted he would not bring donw the dem party. My best guess on this is blago fighting with Hynes, Lisa Madigan, Mike Madigan,m Quinss, and at time Jesse White has created a divide between his name and the dem party as a whole. So instead of the repub getting a big boost from a Blago indictment everything looks poised for this to give them little boost.

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 1:52 pm
I don’t know what to say. They won’t grow a farm system. They don’t seem to mind cannibalism. They want to be Democrats. Is there an Illinois version of Ron Paul. LOL!!! No that’s sarcasm if not a solution.

Comment by Levois Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 1:54 pm
So the bright spot for the IL GOP is Aaron Schock? Dear Lord . . . . .

Comment by Some Guy Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 1:54 pm
I’m not so sure that moving rightward is going to help the GOP. When the GOP was doing well in IL, it governed as a centrist party. IL is not a culturally conservative state and due to its ethnic makeup it may never be so.

Additionaly, a major hurt for the GOP is that they are moribund in Cook County. It used to be, when the GOP could win statewide, that the GOP could get a lot of votes out of the Cook County burbs to counter the Dem vote coming out of the city. Now, the GOP comes out of Cook County down a boatload of votes that just cannot be made up elsewhere. Additionally, the Dems have made inroads in traditional GOP strongholds, so that again it’s hard to make up the huge Dem vote advantage coming out of Cook.

I’m not saying it’ll take it 20-40 years, but I think a new plan needs to be formulated.

Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 2:14 pm
Yeah, I think you’re right Cermak!

Comment by Levois Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 2:16 pm
What the Republican Party needs to do is chip away at the edges of the Democratic controlled offices. This is the way the Dems did it. There was a spell, not long ago, when the only races the Democrats could win statewide was the Treasurer’s office. Does everyone forget that. What happened was the Democrats took advantage of week replacements to the seats vacated by advancing Republicans, a reverse domino effect as it were.

The Republicans could take back the Attorney General’s office if Lisa Madigan were to ascend to the US Senate or Governor’s office. A candidate with a statewide network, like Jim Durkin will have with the McCain operation, or a Tom Cross could win that race over a John Fritchey or Jack Franks.

Comment by Joe in the Know Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 2:17 pm
I don’t know how you can only single out the Republicans. The entire political landscape in IL is a huge mess. The national scene is not any better and possibly worse. Both parties have failed us miserably. The system is broken.

Comment by Vole Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 2:20 pm
The problem isn’t strategy, it’s demographics. Trying to thread the needle with a magic candidate isn’t going to change who votes here.

The Republicans might win a statewide office from time-to-time, but for the forseeable future, it’s a minority party as the Republican Party is a party of social conservatism in a state that socially moderate to liberal. Moving hard right while the state moves lighly left means you lose until the demographics or the message changes. The national GOP is clearly continuing it’s rightward drift so the Illinois GOP is stuck.

Comment by archpundit Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 2:25 pm
I singled them out because their numbers are so horrible.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 2:25 pm
Sadly I agree. And, it gets worse. If Barack is at the top of the ticket come November, say goodbye to 3 congressional seats. (Kirk, Weller, Hastert)

Comment by member of the il gop Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 2:26 pm
People that pulled Dem ballots may not necessarily vote straight Dem come fall. I, for one, can’t wait to vote fo McCain even though I always take a Dem ballot. The GOP is not lost in this state so long as Blago and his team of clueless Dems continue to not lead us anywhere economically or otherwise.

Comment by Niles Township Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 2:36 pm
The Illinois GOP never transitioned to the conservative Reagan GOP model we saw nationally from 1978-2004. Instead, Illinois continued with moderate Republican governors that were more comfortable with John Anderson, Bob Michel, Charles Percy and Jim Thompson. Illinois Republicans foresaw a Thompson presidency by 1984.

Instead, California and the booming US Southern and Western states embraced Goldwater Republicanism with California’s Proposition 13 and tax-payer revolts. Illinois didn’t have this. The 1976 presidential election was the last year that Illinois GOP-mentality prevailed when Midwesterner Ford won them their last victory in his nomination against Reagan. Gerald Ford won Illinois in the 1976 election over Carter.

With the political success of Thompson, the Illinois GOP was shielded by the Reagan Revolution and didn’t evolve. Instead of adapting Reagan’s memes into the Illinois GOP, North Shore Libertarian Republicans stood pat, expecting this Goldwater/Reagan movement to be shown as a short lived fad.

So, as the Thompson-Edgar-Ryan decades faded, so did the Illinois GOP. Peter Fitzgerald’s Reagan-esque political messages and his family’s fortune bought a statewide office, yet by 2006, the last of the moderate GOP candidates, Judy Barr Tompinka, left office.

Illinois has not been Republican since 1928. The Thompson-Edgar-Ryan years were a fluke in a state that is rust-belt and post industrial. The Republican party thrives in economic boom times, while voters reach for the Democrats when times get tough. The future of this state with it’s aging population, anti-business climate, it’s aging business giants like Sears, Motorola, Caterpillar, ADM and United Airlines, does not create an economic boom. So voters will want to continue electing Democrats so that while Illinois’ economic pie stagnates, their piece of it will be somehow guaranteed.

Illinois is a blue state and will remain blue until it decides to enter the 21st Century economically and governmentally. It joins Michigan, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New York as former economic giants fighting to survive in a global marketplace.

Yes. The Illinois GOP is rather dead. It could product boutique statewide Republican personalities, but does not have a governing philosphy Illinoians will embrace as the state economically stagnates. I don’t see this changing anytime soon. 20-40 years? It wouldn’t surprise me.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 2:45 pm
Good candidates that are honest and value constituent services will go a long way in rebuilding what’s left. Ideology might win or lose you 20% of the vote, either way. Personality, character, and service are valued much higher by ordinary people than politics.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 2:48 pm
Cermak…moving LEFT is NOT WORKING OUT for the ILGOP. If it were they would have won SOME of the offices…instead they lost everything. Being like Democrats just says to people, why should we vote for them instead of the geniune article? And the conservative message needs to go into Chicago and attempt to turn the bluer than midnight sections of the city toward a light shade of blue.

I guess people have to suffer much greater pain from the failed policies of liberalism before they muster enough will to go back to the tried and true principals of conservativism.

Comment by Crimefighter Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 3:06 pm
VM logic: if things are good, credit the republicans, if things are bad, blame the democrats.

Red examples of how Illinois need to be means you are holding out Aaron Schock as the future Illinois needs. he is one of those nice conservative red red republicans. If he was in charge we would have the the 21st centruy government and econmic plan of placing (nonexistant) nukes in Taiwain. Yep we definetly need Republicans to see good government and economic startegy at work.

I would be willing to bet that the State does well governmentally and economicaly under Lisa Madigan.

I suppose Mike Huckabee the red red 21’st century innovator could helps us poor blue states out by getting rid of that silly constitution and replacing it with the bilical law to bring us into the 21st century.

Seems the dems are in the 22nd century if the republican conservative models of nuclear taiwan and use of religious law are the ideals of the 21st century.

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 3:07 pm
Republican Ballots Cast - Presidential Elections

2000 781,318
2004 702,658
2008 883,647

Everyone respects the Obama effect. Don’t forget to report the increase in Republican Voters that occured yesterday.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 3:08 pm
My hunch is the IL GOP is on life support until the Democrats get their act together and raise income taxes. I don’t think even a Rod indictment would make enough difference. The Dem farm team to replace him is deep.

But a significant income tax hike could move the suburbs and parts of Chicago in a more GOP-friendly direction. Such a hike would be the right moral move, for the future of this state and its educational system, but it would get the GOP back in the game. As long as certain Dems in Springfield led by Hairboy avoid taking this step, they may remain in power, but what constructive good they can do for the state will continue to diminish.

Comment by ZC Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 3:09 pm
On the 25th anniversary of Thompson being sworn in as governor, most of Chicago City Hall was empty due to the occupants being in Springfield to celebrate.

That tells you all you need to know about Thompson/Egar/Ryan and the old Republican Party.

The man who will lead the Republicans out of the wilderness will arrive out of his own wilderness on March 8.

When Oberwies is sworn in, he will become the undisputed leader of the Republican Party of Illinois.

No other elected Republican has wanted to be involved in building the party as much as Oberweis.

He will be the Republican candidate for governor in 2010 and will win because of the current governor no matter who the eventual Democratic nominee may be.

Comment by True Observer Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 3:11 pm
Rich: “I singled them out because their numbers are so horrible.”

I’ll concede your point.

Rather ironic considering how red much of IL actually is. Among the democrats who do attain office, how many of them are true blue liberals as a percentage of the whole? There still remains a tug toward the middle on either side, so how much does party affiliation in IL really count? A lot of dems voted for Topinka. A lot of Republicans voted for Obama. Neither party is really ginning up the cream of the crop (I’ll concede some exceptions). The Republicans will get back on top sometime — randomness loves chaos. Maybe they’ll find some roots in the message of reform and change but I won’t count on it. But at least the label still gets them into the club and on the board.

Comment by Vole Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 3:19 pm
I would agree that the ILGOP is on life support, but I do not think they are doomed to being irrelevant for the next 20-40 years. More legislative antics and demonstrations of lack of leadership like we have seen from the Dems - particularly our Governor - and the GOP will be back in the game.

Comment by GA Watcher Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 3:19 pm
Joe in the Know made some good points.

The Dems have a great farm system based on those offices and have the ability to bring in young candidates to fill those seats. Lisa, Alexi — and then on the bench we have more who are young and on their way up like Will Burns (a nice win over a strong field in 26) and Kwame Raoul, both of whom have potential for state wide office or better. With Burns, Raoul, and Reilly, the 42nd Ward has more statewide potential than the entire ILGOP.

The ILGOP just doesn’t seem to recruit well. Rather than put up a young candidate to make a name in a run against Durbin, they got a doctor who keeps getting sued for malpractice (and who actually served as a plaintiff’s expert in a personal injury case). That’s no way to run a party.

One other note: This morning I actually saw a campaign sign for somebody who was running for the 42nd Ward GOP Committeeman. Not sure where the sign was Tuesday, but that’s another matter. That sign was the first indication that I have seen of any GOP efforts in the 42nd, and I’ve live in 42 for about eleven years. Again, that’s no way to run a party.

Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 3:28 pm
Instead of “Demise of the Republican Party” it could have been captioned “No Country for Old Men” but that title is taken. The Republican Party was too busy living high on the hog and ignoring the new generations. For years we have watched the leaders take the spoils and do what they could for themselves, paying little attention to the little guy and even less attention to small business. Ideas to help with health care, pollution, energy, fiscal responsibility, immigration, jobs have all eluded the grasp of the aging and Florida/Arizona bound old leaders. They spent precious little time grooming new leaders to fill in, as their craving for power overshadowed their desire to hand off the reins. Now we have Democrats and Independents. That leaves little in the way of leadership to rebuild the Republican Party. This election is more divisive than ever because the Republican Party is essentially leaderless and swiftly moving away from conservative values. Not suggesting it is a bad thing, just new rules in play as to who the voter will side with. We’re up to our eyes in debt, having a failed energy policy, a failed immigration policy, we’re the richest country in the world yet no health care for millions, and we’re at war. Talk about a cluster, most of which has been brought to us by Republicans. But hey, not to worry…the Democrats haven’t exactly been in charge either. Perhaps the change is in fact coming and Obama could be that catalyst. The Republican Party looks like a bunch of old men who grabbed what they could and left. Those still here are tired and ineffective…old school whose time has long past. Where will our new leaders come from…adversity. And we have plenty of that. Want to see reality, look at who is voting. Most of the youth who grew up with Republican parents, are at the mall. Democrats are at the polls.

Comment by Justice Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 3:33 pm
We’re not dead but we certainly are hurting.

McKenna should have never been retained as chairman. Plain and simple. I also don’t think Frank Watson should have remained SGOP leader. And if the HGOP loses enough members to give Madigan a super-majority, Cross should be bounced as well. If you don’t do anything or continue sieving members, there is no reason to keep you on.

The problem with the current GOP leadership is there are no real ideas or people who want to build momentum. All of the power brokers want to save their own butts and the state central folks seem to be offended when their power is challenged. If you’re young and a supporter or volunteer in the party, there seems to be a “glass ceiling” holding people down. And the people who keep getting decent campaign jobs with Republican candidates are often either not truly qualified or have done little or nothing to merit being placed in such high a position.

I disagree that no conservative candidate could ever win statewide. People like Bill Brady and John Shimkus could be very competitive in the right type of race.

Dead. Nope. But we do need a shot in the arm.

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 3:35 pm
===The Republican party thrives in economic boom times, while voters reach for the Democrats when times get tough. The future of this state with it’s aging population, anti-business climate, it’s aging business giants like Sears, Motorola, Caterpillar, ADM and United Airlines, does not create an economic boom. So voters will want to continue electing Democrats so that while Illinois’ economic pie stagnates, their piece of it will be somehow guaranteed.

So how is it that the areas hardest hit by the economy in Illinois are those areas turning Republican? Oh, and they receive lots of subsidies–farm subsidies.

This also doesn’t explain IL-9 and IL-10 that are Democratic districts doing quite well economically. Jan Schakowsky should be in a District that is awful economically. That goes to Shimkus though.

Comment by archpundit Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 3:40 pm
If the GOP wants to win, maybe it should campaign to legalize marijuana. That would definitely bring out the vote and seriously cripple Dem turnout. It’s also anti-big state gov’t. GOPers get upset when people outlaw tobacco, so why not the same enthusiasm for something that smells a whole lot nicer?

Comment by S.F. James Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 4:03 pm
SF James, sitting in the offices near the evidence locker at the Armory will change your mind REAL quick.

Comment by Crimefighter Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 4:07 pm
S.F. J, I learned way back in high school to never depend on the “head” vote. They usually forget to vote altogether. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 4:07 pm
LOL, maybe they’re savvier here (or write things down?), but the GOP needs something more than being pro-life. BTW, I like good scotch quite a bit, but not at 190 proof (i.e., the evidence locker).

Comment by S.F. James Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 4:22 pm
Rich
I agree that the IL GOP is on life support, but the primary turnout numbers should not be used as the evidence for that claim. The turnout was driven by two main factors:
For the first time ever our presidential primary was early enough to matter, our votes counted and mattered for both primaries.
Secondly, enthusiasm for the Democratic primary is very high nationally and polls show that there is a bias towards voting for a Democrat for president nationally this year.

So while the GOP in IL may be nearly dead, I don’t think that the primary turnout numbers are the best indicator of that statement’s truth.

Comment by Napoleon has left the building Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 4:26 pm
Weren’t Thompson and Edgar just a tad right of center? They were pretty darned successful, so I seriously doubt moving more to the right will help the Party.

Crazy Milkman as the savior of the GOP? Pass me a little bit of whatever you’re smoking. I’m hoping that he wins the special election, then loses the general. That way he can be known as Congressman for about nine months Crazy Milkman.

Comment by jwscott72 Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 4:39 pm
The grassroots is there. They are waiting to be engaged. So I concede Mr Pearson’s point that
“the party lacks direction and leadership”
Launched 5 months ago my website is trying to address the “direction” side of the equation. The direction to go is better communication. In this day and age no one will argue that online tareted communication is going to be a staple of building a brand, engaging the grassroots, and allowing leaders to lead.
After all these comments I am suprised that no one has mentioned redistricting. I donlt think redistricting will continue to go against the Republican party in Illinois for another 40 years. One election cycle at a time Mr Pearson.

So in sum, the direction issue is getting better with obline engagement. The same way the Headquarters on the Square gave visability in the 1950’s. It’s now online visibility. And where does the IL GOP stand in that regard? They are making strides but you still have 75….yep 75 counties GOP parties in Illinois that do not have a local party website. Out of the 25 websites online only 4 solicit and can allow for a donation to the local coffers via a credit card. Lots of work to do there and those of us who get it are going to do it.

Not 40 years….maybe 4-6 will bring major change to Illinois.

Those who are ready to start now can join me over at the Illinois GOP Network.

Comment by Mark Johnson Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 4:43 pm
Big, industrialized, urban states rarely elect way-right republican governors. Arnold in Cali is an example of what sort of GOPs are successful. Romney in Mass before he got the Reagan religion is another. New York, and NYC are other examples in the recent past and current times, no matter what Rudy claims now.

The talk about moving rightward only makes sense in a primary, where there’s enough of a hold on the party to either stop a “moderate” or “liberal” or destroy him/her for the general.

Thompson was a liberal repub. Edgar a moderate liberal. Ryan a sometimes flaming liberal. The difference is they all knew how to run a good campaign and figured out how to make peace with the Right. The Right no longer wants peace. They want the pie.

Still, here’s something to consider. Bill Clinton’s 1994 midterm was a Dem disaster. There are those who think a new Dem president might screw up as badly by the 2010 election. That could serve to unite the GOP behind someone who could win.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 4:48 pm
You guys are too partisan to even read English correctly!

I said…
“The Republican party thrives in economic boom times”

Does it say that the Republican party CREATES economic boom times? NO.

Read this again, please…
“Illinois is a blue state and will remain blue until it decides to enter the 21st Century economically and governmentally.”

Well, yeah! What’s your problem? You are the guys deducing that being a Democratic state causes the economy to fail - not me. I’m simply pointing out that as long as Illinois is not gaining influence within the economy, the political policies favoring the Democratic Party will prevail.

Geez, you people are sometimes so nutty!
Aaron Schock? What a weak and strange posting.
Try reading stuff first - OK?

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 4:52 pm
I’m pro-choice, agnostic, Jewish, tolerant of homosexuality, and pro-420, but am very anti-tax, anti-spend, anti-illegal immigration, and really believe it’s us-v.-Islam. So if I lived in IL, would I be a Dem or a GOPer? (If it matters, I like scotch and meat.)

Comment by S.F. James Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 4:52 pm
SFJ,

You’d be a libertarian, or maybe a libertarian Republican, which is not exactly a large movement in IL other than Steve Chapman’s Trib columns and the local Ron Paul supporters minus their isolationist sentiments.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 5:45 pm
VM-I got what you were saying. It was well argued, but Rich threw out the red meat and the Dems jumped all over. LOL

Using SFJ’s description of himself and Six’s analysis, I think I may be a libertarian. I should let the group decide.

On second thought, I’ll pass. I may run for office in the future. This blog is like a double edged sword. It can cut both ways.

Comment by jwscott72 Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 8:00 pm
GOP Party will continue to suffer until the party goes thru a complete overhaul. Getting out the old cronies, who are there for personal gain, and bringing in those who are leaders who are going to fight for the GOP cause, not to reap personal benefit. I personally have a hard time swallowing anything that comes out of the GOP, since the whole Alan Keys deal. So much I find myself searching for a reason to do the oppposite of what the party is pushing.

It’s time for new leadership and fast to save the party. It’s time for leaders who are truly want to lead for the cause of the GOP, not just ones who are there for personal gain.

I might also suggest the GOP find a leader thats truly involved in politics and not attempt to find the next GOP leader based upon their thickness of their wallet. Daniels and company are gone…..

Sorry for the rant Rich…….. I feel better!!!!

Comment by dumb ol' country boy Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 8:11 pm
The IL Reps are dead a a doornail. No one will even try to save the party because the current leadership is the problem.

It was not ideology that sank the party, it was the miserable way they ran the state when they were in power.

If a good person has the idea of running as a republican, he/she sees what kinds of denizens they will have to deal with and oh by the way you need to be rich, because you are expected to self fund.

All the so called leaders need to quit and the best of the remaining stock may be able to rise and start the process of restoration. I could provide a list, but all the bad players are known.

Comment by plutocrat03 Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 8:27 pm
The IL GOP is weaker now than at any time in history. And continuing to blame George Ryan is ridiculous and lame. The guy’s been out of office nearly 6 yrs now.

Old dinasaurs like Denny Hastert deserve more blame. And of course State Chair Andy McKenna is completely out to lunch.

Saying it will take 20 to 40 yrs is a bit over the top. It wouldn’t have to be that way.

But this November will certainly be another huge, huge embarrassing disaster for the IL GOP. Probably worse than 2006, if that’s possible.

Comment by GOPer Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 8:54 pm
could republicans have taken dem ballots just for the heck of it? Since we don’t register for a party….

Comment by kimsch Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 10:29 pm
This is all very interesting. “Deaths” of parties are usually reported by young people, who have little perspective, but this time it’s Rick P, who really isn’t very young.

We were dead after Watergate, just like the Ds were dead in ‘94. Think a little. The pendulum swings, and its swing is inexorable.

2 years ago getting rid of Kjellander was going to save the party. Now that that didn’t work, well, we need to get rid of McKenna, Watson, and Cross. I’m sure that will do it.

And, we need to move quite a bit to the right. That will really help us out here in Illinois. If only the GOP would campaign more strongly on guns, gays, and abortion, we would be back in the driver’s seat. Right. Can anyone say Alan Keyes? Does anyone here know the difference between primaries and general elections?

Thompson and Edgar really didn’t manage the state well, that’s the problem. Can anyone read re-elect numbers? Jesus Christ!

Oberweis is the undisputed head of the R party in Illinois? Stop taking those drugs, they are dangerous as well as illegal.

There are no magic bullets except time, decent candidates, and continued D governance. Realistically, we likely can’t take back the GA as long as the Ds control both Houses and the Gov because they therefore control re-map. The most likely solution there is probably to elect a Gov, who can impact re-map and broker a deal where we have a shot at one House or the other.

Oh, well, As Casey said, “Does anyone here know how to play this game?”

Comment by steve schnorf Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 10:40 pm
Steve,

I’ve said it before. This state has natural geographic and cultural factions, irrespective of party labels. A southern Illinoisan is likely to hold right wing views on social issues whether a D or R is after their name. A suburban woman lawmaker is fairly likely to hold a tolerant view on abortion whether a D or R is after her name. And a legislator from the south side is likely to favor government programs that give help to dependent children, whether a D or (unlikely) R is after his name. If IL becomes a true 1 party state (which some would argue the “combine” of the 70’s and 80’s was anyway), the factions would bicker and try to get leverage just as if they were differently labeled. Sometimes I think the state is more divided now than it ever was under 2 party rule.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Feb 6, 08 @ 11:00 pm
All it takes is for the GOP to develop a plan to accomplish the very reasonable; limit government growth to revenue growth, manage efficiently and effectively prioritizing the fiscal management of the state, put the general good of the state’s people above the narrow interests contrary to the general good, create a stable economic environment that creates confidence in the international business community, reform public education so that the student’s outcome is a priority over bureaucracy enrichment, and create a feeling of hope amongst those who want to do right but have been intimidated by the Republocrat combine.

Currently, those on the public payroll and dole are receiving more than their share, and they’re the primary ones drivng politics in this state.

Appeal to the “silent majority” who simply want to take care of the deserving poor, provide fair, efficient health care to those who need it, keep taxes low and fair, and give our children the value in education for which we’re paying, and you can give hope to those in the massive center of Illinois politics.

The problem is that I haven’t seen a single “leader” on either side of the aisle who’s shown any inclination to achieve these goals.

The Dems are too corrupt and arrogant in their power to move towards good government. The Old corrupt GOP leadership is either moving to Arizona/Florida or “Club Fed”.

Nature, and politics, abhors a vacuum.

We can only hope people with more principle than personal ambition in the GOP will fill that void.

Comment by PalosParkBob Sunday, Feb 10, 08 @ 7:04 pm