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Today’s quotable

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In a brief final address to the ILGOP, outgoing chair Don Tracy thanked those gathered at the breakfast, saying, “many of you – well, most of you – have helped the party along the way.”

Tracy announced his resignation last month, citing party infighting as a frustrating distraction from the work of fighting Democrats who dominate Illinois politics.

“I just ask that you keep helping the Illinois Republican Party grow bigger – become a bigger tent party,” he said. “And take back Illinois from the crazy, dysfunctional Democrats.”

posted by Isabel Miller
Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 10:17 am

Comments

Maybe if you took ILGOP back from “crazy, dysfunctional Republicans”, you’d win the occasional statewide race.

Comment by JoanP Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 10:22 am
No matter how bad the Democrats get locally, and boy are some of them really putting that to the test right now, I will still never vote for a Republican.

Good luck to your party, Mr. Tracy.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 10:29 am
==become a bigger tent party==

The Illinois Republican Party, based on their actions, seems to have no interest in making their tent any bigger. It’s right wing or nothing it seems to me.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 10:48 am
=crazy, dysfunctional Democrats=

Maybe not crazy but there is plenty of dysfunction within the local Dem circles…

Stacy Davis Gates
Tiffany Henyard
Brandon Johnson
Ed Burke

Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 10:48 am
“I just ask that you keep helping the Illinois Democratic Party grow bigger – become a bigger tent party,” he said. “And keep Illinois out of the hands of the crazy, dysfunctional Republicans.”

Fixed it for ya.

Comment by Huh? Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 10:54 am
@JoanP wins.

=seems to have no interest in making their tent any bigger.=

Currently it is more of a small tarp that could maybe cover a couch and not much of a tent.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 11:02 am
The state GOP under Don Tracy became a tiny private club with no clue how to win elections. Tracy brought a new level of secrecy and closure. About a year and a half ago he even stopped announcing state party meetings. He won’t be missed.

Comment by Jan Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 11:09 am
Tracy knows JoanP is right, but “telling it like it is” is verboten in Dear Leader’s party.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 11:24 am
==with no clue how to win elections==

Those taking over have no clue either or they wouldn’t be advocating making the party even more conservative. I’ve not seen the Republicans do anything that would make them more palatable to allow them to win a statewide election.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 11:26 am
Dysfunctional Democrats-who hold every state office including a Governor that walks to a third term simply by announcing his candidacy.

Rebubs live in their own world, and no amount of reality will change it.

Comment by Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 11:38 am
To be clear, no one said the Illinois Dems’ ability to consolidate and amass political power is “dysfunctional.”

The record is abundantly clear on that point

Comment by JB13 Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 11:43 am
Just more projection from the ILGOPs.

Crazy is thinking a majority of voters want to roll back rights, arm citizens without any checks, tell people who they can and cannot love, etc. That’s crazy.

Dysfunction is hosting a statewide political convention that divides their tiny party even further.

I’ll take a lecture from Don Tracy on crazy, dysfunctional things right after I listen to a podcast from Donald Trump extolling the virtues of decency in political discourse.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 11:48 am
Dysfunctional would explain the entire political landscape throughout the world.
Until the GOP can attract moderates, can fundraise, can create messaging, can find good candidates, then I think they’ll have a chance.

Comment by Frida's boss Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 11:55 am
“no one said the Illinois Dems’ ability to consolidate and amass political power”

Which is in large part because Republicans are MAGA and Awake Illinois types. That is a recipe for big losing. Thankfully there are lots of mirrors if the ILGOP wants to identify the problem.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 12:00 pm
You can make your tent as big as you want but as long as it’s a circus big top, the moderates will stay away.

Comment by Proud Papa Bear Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 12:00 pm
Re: become a bigger tent party

Begin by asking who is not in your tent currently, and ask why. Also consider those you exclude, and why.

Build a bigger tent will not fill it.

Comment by H-W Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 12:07 pm
Should have ended with “Building a bigger tent.”

Comment by H-W Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 12:08 pm
He knows crazy well.

Comment by Big Dipper Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 12:16 pm
==Currently it is more of a small tarp==

It’s a single sleeping bag.

Comment by Big Dipper Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 12:18 pm
Pot, meet bigger, darker kettle.

Comment by TJ Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 1:12 pm
Until IL Repubs start moving away from the hard-right wing, they offer little to the average person, and won’t lure Dems away. But so far it still ain’t happening.

Comment by thisjustinagain Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 1:20 pm
“Until IL Repubs start moving away from the hard-right wing”

That is practically impossible, sadly. Those voters are beyond sick of establishment types who they think sell them out over and over. They want to be in charge: “the people.”

Though disaffected GOP can’t form it’s own party big enough to win, it can form organizations that influence elections in their favor, throwing their support behind candidates who align more with their views. These folks could sway presidential elections.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 1:30 pm
The Republican big tent is, as noted, a circus big top with lots of clown acts and a few pride swallowers coming back under the big top.

Comment by West Side the Best Side Thursday, Jul 18, 24 @ 1:56 pm