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* This has, indeed, been the chatter of late. JBT is mulling a bid for treasurer or comptroller…
Confirming chatter among GOP insiders, former state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka says she has been asked and is considering running in the 2010 elections, most likely either for her old job or for Illinois comptroller.
“I’m out here scandal free in a state that is fraught with corruption,” Ms. Topinka, 65, said in a phone interview Monday morning. “I have people who are asking me to do this. People in the party, people in my old office. They’re asking me to think about it.” “I really don’t know yet,” Ms. Topinka added. “You could say I am ruminating.” […]
In addition, the Topinka camp recently received results of a poll taken on her behalf. It reportedly shows her with near-universal 87% name recognition — a huge plus — and indictates that her positives have recovered from the pounding they took in the Blaojevich media blitz.
Ms. Topinka Monday said the GOP needs “a little bit of pizzazz” because the party, frankly, “has not had a good run.
* Bob Schillerstrom is also looking at a statewide bid, likely governor. He’s apparently gonna hold his own “tea party” on tax day without calling it such…
DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom is giving suburban residents a chance to address how a state tax increase would impact their families and businesses.
A “Tax Day Speakout” will be held at 6 p.m. April 15 at Ashyana Banquets, 1620 75th Street, Downers Grove. […]
Set to coincide with the IRS filing deadline, “Tax Day Speak Out” encourages residents to share their financial realities and offer their insights into the impact of a tax hike.
…Adding… As several commenters have noted, Schillerstrom strongly supported the General Assembly’s move to increase the sales tax in order to bail out mass transit. One wonders whether this will be a topic of discussion on 4/15.
* State GOP Chairman Andy McKenna says the obvious: the 2006 gubernatorial primary was a waste of money and counterproductive…
Though McKenna stopped short of proposing a slating process for endorsing candidates for statewide office as Democrats have done in the past, he said, “Where possible, both the Republican organizations and donors are going to try to coalesce around candidates they feel can get the job done.”
“Primaries of themselves aren’t bad,” he said. “They’re bad if they become negative and people use it to try to destroy other candidates.”
…Adding… Charlie Cook has published his new “partisan voting index.” Click here to see it. Progress Illinois has put the Illinois data into a spreadsheet and compared pre 2008 election data to post 2008 election data…
Democratic gains in the suburbs and GOP gains downstate.
…Adding More… Halvorson gets her first opponent…
Illinois Republican Henry W. Meers Jr., has filed paperwork to organize a campaign against first-term Democratic Rep. Debbie Halvorson in the 11th District south and west of Chicago.
Meers, a self-described conservative, is a real estate investor and a frequent donor to the Republican Party.
According to CQ MoneyLine, Meers has donated in recent years to the Republican National Committee and to former Rep. Jerry Weller, among other GOP organizations and candidates. He also gave to the 2004 Pennsylvania Senate campaign of then-Rep. Pat Toomey, a conservative who narrowly lost to Sen. Arlen Specter in a Republican primary, and to the 2008 New Mexico Senate campaign of then-Rep. Steve Pearce, who defeated the more moderate Rep. Heather A. Wilson in a primary but then lost decisively to Democratic Rep. Tom Udall in the general election.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 1:58 pm
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I think she should use Rod’s “What is he/she thinking?” query as her campaign slogan unless Giangreco and Co. won’t allow it…
Comment by Anonymous45 Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:05 pm
JBT should not run again. JBT didn’t have the drive or desire to win the governor’s race and it showed. That name recognition isn’t everything, in fact, I think a lot of people when they hear that name brought up will remember the bad taste in their mouths.
Comment by Segatari Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:07 pm
Funny, I don’t remember Chairman Bob tea-bagging when he was lobbying lawmakers to let him raise taxes in DuPage sans public vote to bailout his budget.
Comment by Frank Booth Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:12 pm
Ahem, Segatari: Judy left a bad taste in people’s
mouths??
The only Republican that could win Executive office in IL in my opinion is Rep. Aaron Schock and he sems to be thoroughly enjoying his tenure in DC…
Comment by Anonymous45 Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:12 pm
Topinka is still the person who stayed mute when as head of the state GOP the party nominated Alan Keyes — easily the equal to Rich’s Pudillo in terms of dispicability — to be one of the most powerful people on the planet. Deal breaker for me (and my moniker notwithstanding, if the Dems truly offer a Mike Madigan Monopoly as their choice for governor, my vote is up for grabs, though most likely I’m leaving the Gov oval blank…)
Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:15 pm
(sorry for the lack of clarity — I meant to incorporate by reference our host’s comments on the GOP’s far-right candidate for the 5th Congressional district)
Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:16 pm
State GOP Chairman Andy McKenna says the obvious:
I need to stop antagonizing a large part of my party.
Oh, i don’t think he DID say that. Actually, he should talk with Christine R, his Senate leader. She’s been a pleasant surprise, maybe she can give him some good ideas.
Comment by Pat Collins Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:18 pm
===Topinka is still the person who stayed mute when as head of the state GOP the party nominated Alan Keyes ===
I don’t think she was “mute.” Perhaps I think that word means something different than you do.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:20 pm
“Pizazz?” Dig that crazy hep cat lingo. 23 skidoo.
It’s a free country, but seriously, doesn’t the GOP have something of a generational problem, among others, in this state? Ideally, don’t you build a statewide party by using these lower statewide offices to try out and groom younger, less-known candidates for the Big Show?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:26 pm
McKenna should immediately commence the draft Edgar, aka, Blinky, movement so we can get it out of the way and still have time to also cycle through Oberweis’s perpetual charge at the windmill. Really, McK’s leadership seems to continually leave a bitter aftertaste - sorta like a wine gone sour. It is so far past time for refreshing and motivating GOP leadership that it is simply pathetic.
Comment by A Citizen Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:27 pm
87% name recognition but no other results from the poll are released? That says something right there.
Comment by ChiTownGuy Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:27 pm
Topinka should run for Gov. on the slogan “What were you thinking in 2006?” OR “I’ll give you another chance.”
I continue to be amused that when Republicans or Democrats bash JBT, it’s usually with stuff pulled from Rod’s 2006 campaign, much of which was wrong or at best, a mischaracterization.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:30 pm
===It is so far past time for refreshing and motivating GOP leadership that it is simply pathetic. ===
I see comments like this all the time here, yet nobody ever seems to have an alternative candidate they’re willing to suggest. Do you have one?
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:34 pm
===Ideally, don’t you build a statewide party by using these lower statewide offices to try out and groom younger, less-known candidates for the Big Show? ===
Usually, yes. Now, though, they just need to win something, get some patronage jobs so they can put people in place for the future, etc.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:37 pm
Schillerstrom undoubtedly will not mention the tripling of the RTA sales tax on the collar counties, but I surely will if runs for a statewide office.
Comment by Cal Skinner Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:40 pm
Now, though, they just need to win something, get some patronage jobs so they can put people in place for the future, etc.
If JBT won her old office back, she could get some patronage jobs so the GOP could put people in place for the future. Worked wonders last time she was the lone GOP state office holder.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:41 pm
“I’m out here scandal free” maybe you can say indictment free, but Topinka’s administration was rife with insider bits with Cellini, campaign staff mixing with office staff, and the awarding of the college fund contract. The Chicago Tribune printed an
article that said the USAttny’s Office was looking at her in 2004. Nothing came of it, but that article is out there.
Comment by Amy Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:42 pm
Rich, I wish I had too many to select from - your critique is well deserved. I have always felt Rauschenberger (sp?) with his in depth budget expertise would be welcome. Also lest we forget JBT was the last statewide GOP’r left standing before taking on exgov. A run for lesser office would be a probable success for her. I guess I am still nostalgic for the Ogilvie days - my form of Don Quixote type hopes.
Comment by A Citizen Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:44 pm
===I have always felt Rauschenberger (sp?) with his in depth budget expertise would be welcome. ===
Yeah. His great success at running statewide and for party office would be a welcomed addition to the state GOP.
*cough*
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:46 pm
Now that was just plain mean. - Do you have a suggested savior in mind?
Comment by A Citizen Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:48 pm
Comeon on Rich, belly up to the bar and commit to your favored poison. The designated driver standing on the sidelines has no fun at the party.
Comment by A Citizen Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:52 pm
I don’t endorse party chairpersons. I critique. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:53 pm
Well perhaps a little cross party horse trading then - I’ll give the Dems McK, Edgar, Obie etc. in return I want . . . uhhhh - Nevermind, that won’t work either, but it would damage the dems and level the field a bit.
Comment by A Citizen Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:59 pm
True, formerly Democratic strongholds in the southern part of Illinois such as Gallatin County and Williamson County have been moving towards the GOP, but if I were the Dems I’d take DuPage in place of any of those in a heartbeat. It takes a whole lot of Gallatin Counties to equal one DuPage County in terms of statewide voting numbers.
train111
Comment by train111 Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 3:02 pm
Topinka shouldn’t run, statewide, in 2010. Too many Illinois Republicans ran for statewide office, lost, and ran in a second statewide campaign, thinking that the first campaign would help them win the second race. However, those candidates usually lost the second race. In 1996 and ’98, Al Salvi ran statewide races and lost both of them. In 2002, ’04, and ’06, Jim Oberweis ran statewide campaigns and lost all of them. In 2002 and ’06 Joe Birkett ran statewide campaigns and lost both of them. In 2004 and ’06, Steve Rauschenberger ran statewide campaigns and lost both of them. If Brady runs, statewide, in 2010, he’ll lose again, and I don’t want him to lose another campaign. If she runs, statewide, in 2010, she’ll lose again. She should run for Congress, against Rep. Lipinski.
Comment by ConservativeVeteran Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 3:03 pm
Candidate for governor? Adam Andrzejewski seems to be building a fair amount of support and certainly qualifies as fresh, new talent.
Candidate for party chair? No idea, throw out ideas.
Comment by John Bambenek Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 3:05 pm
I also wanted to make the comment that I think it is time that the GOP move away from the old guard and look for new fresh faces to bring the party back to what it was. New blood is needed, trotting out old war horses is not the way to re-establish the party in the state. However I can see Rich’s point that we should bring a solution rather than just criticize the candidate offered.
Then I try to think of someone to suggest, and it brings me back to my point, I can’t. And I guess that is the problem. Who are the new young guns of the GOP? Where are the GOP Amy Madigans, Giannouliases? I had hoped that Ray Lahood would run for Governor when he retired. He is not young but would have been a fresh face.
Comment by Irish Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 3:08 pm
===look for new fresh faces to bring the party back to what it was===
Try reading that a time or two. You’ll hopefully see the inherent problem in your argument.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 3:10 pm
*IF* LMad runs for Governor, Hynes runs for AG, Alexi has already committed to the Senate. Rutherford running for Treasurer is a smart play. If Comptroller race is open, JBT would be smart to run there. Gov race is competitive, but, in theory, Rutherford and JBT could be strong competition especially if those seats are open, so even if GOP loses Gov race, they’d at least have statewide offices again potentially.
Comment by John Bambenek Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 3:12 pm
from the cook report…”Of course, it should be noted that an Obama home-state effect is a major reason why both Hawaii districts and six suburban Chicago districts appear on this list.”
Comment by colt 45 Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 3:23 pm
And your point is what?
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 3:30 pm
Rich, I’m in your fan club but to say that
1)primaries are bad for the GOP, and
2)Patronage politics is the solution
makes no sense whatsoever. Patronage didn’t do us any good nationally (mike brown?) and a healthy debate and testing of candidates in Illinois is not the worst thing imaginable. Insiders spent all last year bashing the democrats for their acrimonious primary and all that did was give the one better campaign infrastructure for the fall.
As for Judy, bringing back old leaders going nowhere is worse than letting Democrats continue to screw things up and letting young guns emerge eventually.
Comment by Shore Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 3:32 pm
it should be noted that an Obama home-state effect
And your point is
Not my point, but we dont know how “long term” that effect will be until 2010. And that wont’ do us much good in the meantime, so lets accept the data.
To me, it says Andy McK really DOES need to swallow hard and make peace. Does anyone really think the district that sends C. Lauzen to the Senate is +4 D?
I do not. But I do think some hard work is needed. I also think a lot of hay can be made there, and in Cook, if the hard work is applied.
Comment by Pat Collins Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 3:36 pm
Shore, where did I say primaries are bad?
Also, all patronage is bad? Really? Seriously? You’re using HeckuvajobBrownie as your example?
Wow.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 3:39 pm
“Topinka should run for Gov. on the slogan “What were you thinking in 2006?” OR “I’ll give you another chance.””
Yup, calling out the voters, that’s always a smart play.
Comment by colby Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 3:41 pm
“- Frank Booth - Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 2:12 pm: Funny, I don’t remember Chairman Bob tea-bagging…”
I know you’re being serious here, but you may want to google the term!
Comment by Ken in Aurora Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 3:52 pm
I’m pretty sure he knows what it means. You’re gonna throw a tea bag party, you gotta accept the jokes that go with it.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 3:54 pm
Does anyone really think the district that sends C. Lauzen to the Senate is +4 D?
I think the high growth districts are turning more unpredictable every year. Kendall County went for Obama and Foster last election, unthinkable 10 or 20 years ago.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 4:02 pm
I am no longer Carbon Deforestation. I apologize to my legions of fans for the nom change (my 4th I believe) but Carbon Deforestation was so pre-Fitzmas.
I think JBT would probably help the GOP ticket, at the very least she is a known quantity. Most of the other candidates are going to register a big zero for voters and they may just vote Dem / party default. She’s unique, but a hard worker. She’s the only statewide candidate who ever called me personally asking for a contribution and I’m a small, small donor . . .
Rude Pundit has done a fine job talking about the tea-bagging for those readers who want some more vulgarity . . . funny stuff.
Comment by Hon. Cranial Lamb Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 4:15 pm
It’s coming together:
Kirk - Senate
Vallas - Board Prez
JBT - Comptroller
Rutherford - Treasurer
Birkett - AG
Missing a Gov candidate…
AND Meers Jr. better find the middle fast, or he won’t stand a chance.
Comment by scoot Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 4:24 pm
I hope that many Illinois Republicans want to plan ahead, to encourage good candidates, for the 2010 elections. Here are my suggestions. If you agree with me, please email or call the politicians and ask them to run. IL will have close elections for U.S. senator, governor, lt. gov., and treasurer.
Ex-Gov. Blagojevich was a three-term congressman, so the republican nominee should be a congressman. In 2000, when then-St. Rep. Tim Johnson ran for Congress (in the 15th Dist.), he promised that he wouldn’t serve more than three terms, in the U.S. House. He later changed his mind and broke his promise. Last year, he was elected to his fifth term. He should run for governor, because of his experience and his voting record. These are some of his latest interest group ratings: NRA, A; Concerned Women of America, 100%; English First, 100%; Christian Coalition, 90%; Eagle Forum, 90%; U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 84%; and NARAL, 0%. His district includes Champaign and Danville and parts of the Bloomington and Decatur areas, so he has high name recognition in some important cities. If he runs for governor, St. Sen. Bill Brady should run for his congressional seat. Congressman Johnson’s campaign email address is info@timjohnsonforcongress.com. His phone number is 217-373-1320.
St. Sen. Larry Bomke, of the 50th Dist., which includes most of the Springfield area, should run for lt.gov. These are some of his latest ratings: NRA, A; Illinois Family Institute, 100%; U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 88%; and Planned Parenthood, 0%. He’s been a state senator since 1995. His campaign email address is senator_bomke@yahoo.com. His phone number is 217-732-4433.
St. Sen. J. Bradley Burzynski, of the 35th Dist., which includes De Kalb Co. and part of the Rockford area, should run for U.S. senator. These are some of his latest ratings: NRA, A+; U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 100%; URF, 90%; AFL-CIO, 10%; and Planned Parenthood, 0%. He’s been a state senator since 1993. If he wins, he would have 18 years of experience, as a state senator, and that’s more than twice as long as Obama had, when he became a U.S. senator. Burzynski’s email address is citizensforburzynski@verizon.net. His phone number is 815-899-1988.
St. Sen. Matt Murphy, of the 27th Dist., which includes parts of Cook and Lake Counties, should run for treasurer. He’s the ranking republican on the senate appropriations committee, and he’s a member of the commerce & economic development committee. He proved that he’s committed to conservative government budgets, in March 2008, when he led the movement to allow parts of Cook Co. to secede, to avoid the increased Cook Co. sales tax rate. He’s been a state senator since 2007, but he has more political experience than Treasurer Giannoulias had, when he became treasurer. Senator Murphy’s email address is senatormattmurpy@sbcglobal.net. His phone number is 217-782-4471.
State Senators Brady, Bomke, Burzynski, and Murphy were elected to four-year terms, in 2008, so they could run, for higher offices, in 2010, without giving up their legislative seats.
Comment by ConservativeVeteran Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 4:43 pm
Scoop - I wouldn’t say 4 out of 5 spots as “coming together” when 4 of the 5 candidates have lost more than 1 statewide election. GOP has an opportunity to present a clear choice to the Dems…this might not be it.
Comment by anon Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 4:51 pm
anon, I dont think they have lost “more than one” statewide election. In Topinka’s case she is 3 wins and one loss…better than most Sox pitchers. While the Dems have Quinn and Hynes who have both lost statewide elections as well. So, I am not really sure what your point is.
Comment by party of one Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 4:56 pm
I can picture JBT’s first commercial now: Voters entering a booth, filling in the circle for Rod and walking out doing a silly dance. Then a black screen with a black and white photo of Rod on one side and “What were you thinking?” in white type on the other side. It slowly fades to a soft color photo of JBT smiling with the words “Topinka ‘10, What have you got to lose?”
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 5:03 pm
Oh, yeah, “Sweet Judy Blue Eyes” by Crosby, etal is playing in the background.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 5:05 pm
“Primaries are bad, where did I say that?”
“says the obvious, primaries are a waste of money and counterproductive”
“all patronage is bad”
1. The ILGOP needs primaries, it needs discussion it needs to figure out how we get some fire and oh maybe become competitive again nationally here. Primaries are the best chance for us to get back in the game. I’m 25, I’ve never seen a Republican Presidential Candidate campaign in Chicago seriously in the late fall in my lifetime other than bush in 2000 once.
2. The entire british government representing 70 million people has 200 patronage jobs, I’m sure there are wards in chicago that have more than that. There’s no shortage of conservative candidate training and election programs, that’s better than a creation of a new Ryan/Tom DeLay machine for creating thoughtful candidates.
Comment by Shore Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 5:23 pm
JBT gets 38% in a primary election and then less than 45% in a general election and thinks she should run for a lesser office? Great wisdom by the GOP. Oh well, Brady got 18% in the primary and thinks he can do it this time. GOP primaries are so fun to watch.
Comment by ToughGuy Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 6:17 pm
===Does anyone really think the district that sends C. Lauzen to the Senate is +4 D?
I think the high growth districts are turning more unpredictable every year. Kendall County went for Obama and Foster last election, unthinkable 10 or 20 years ago.===
The more important fact is that Elgin and Aurora are in mostly in IL-14 but largely outside of Sen. Lauzen’s district.
Comment by muon Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 6:25 pm
It’s time for some round head Repubs to run and let the egg heads stay home.
Comment by Mike an Ike Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 7:02 pm
lol This one’s just too good to pass up.
- Rich is right in his 2:20. People must not have been listening or something.
- Scoot’s “coming together” observation is great. Perhaps we can switch our primaries to a “Battle of the Bods” version, i.e., voters can sit in a sound-proofed back room and decide of all of the GOP candidates who should run in which place. The more positions we get right, the happier we are when we go home. Perhaps we could toss in the Dems, too, to try to derail us. Wouldn’t that be a hoot?
============
“Who are the new young guns of the GOP?”
============
Why would it matter if we can’t get any of our oldsters back in to mentor? We don’t have to continue what they did, but we can learn from them and decide on our own on where we need to go.
C’mon, guys…Burris?
=========
“Nothing came of it, but that article is out there.”
==========
Yeah, well, any good PR person can “place” something “out there” nowadays and if you can’t, just post it on a blog somewhere and “make it so”.
============
“Yup, calling out the voters, that’s always a smart play.”
============
This is the one exception and the Dems know it. There were many Rs who sat the Gov’s race out for various reasons, and if we get called on it, so be it because most of us don’t need the reminder. We’d be out full force this time.
YOU GO, GIRL!!!!!!
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 7:29 pm
– The entire british government representing 70 million people has 200 patronage jobs, –
Shore, that’s a pretty absurd statement on its face. Think about what you’re saying: If elected officials throughout the UK can only fill 200 jobs, who’s running the country? Not them, but the ones who fill the jobs.
But your statement is still silly. There are something like 1,400 members of the House of Commons and House of Lords. I suspect each one has at least one assistant of their choosing, not assigned to them by the Civil Service.
Then there’s the PMs office, plus the Ministers. I suspect they get a few hires of their own choice.
Then the cities, the councils, parishes, etc. Some choices being made by elected officials.
I’ll give you this much: Whitehall is a lot less diverse than Capitol Hill or any state capital, due to a still very rigid class structure, cut among education, race and wealth. Not a lot of upward mobility in Britain, or Europe, for that matter.
Tony Blair himself said a Colin Powell or Condeleeza Rice was not possible in Britain. Barack Obama? Not a chance.
Patronage isn’t evil in and of itself, and is certainly necessary in some top jobs.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 7:32 pm
And…I’ll toss in one more, too, which the Ds already know about.
There ain’t nobody, NOBODY, in this State that can rally the troops like Judy can, did, and will do again…if we’re lucky.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 7:36 pm
“This is the one exception and the Dems know it.”
I doubt it. Targeting Repubs who stayed home has some merit, but specifically blaming the voters for Blago (as Pot did, check his detailed description of his fantasy commercial) won’t play well. That’s just voter psychology 101, voters never want to be told they’re the problem.
“There ain’t nobody, NOBODY, in this State that can rally the troops like Judy can, did, and will do again…if we’re lucky.”
Well, another Anonymous (maybe?) was just telling us how there were a lot of Republicans who stayed home, and she got 38% of the vote in the primary…so Republicans better HOPE no one else rallies the troops like her!
Comment by colby Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 8:23 pm
The Topinka comeback tour. Stupidest idea in the history of stupid ideas.
Although it would be fun NOT to vote for her again.
Comment by Stick a fork in the IL GOP Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 8:25 pm
Stick
Just keep in mind - Fear Has Big Eyes!
Comment by A Citizen Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 8:50 pm
Ah…Judy, Judy, Judy. They’re already quakin’ and shakin’ in their boots, Sweetie.
And you’re still thinking about it? Puhleez. Please? Pretty please…
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 10:15 pm
The problem with the GOP finding good candidates who know how to win elections is that most, if not all, of the ones that would fit their mold are already elected as democrats. Guns and unions are tough ticket splitting issues but there are plenty of pro-life democrats out there that if it wasn’t for geography would be Republicans.
Comment by Chicago Anon Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 10:17 pm
Not only did Schillerstrom lobby for the tax increase. He and Brickhead Joe were leading the fight for a referendum for the tax increase when amazingly the legislature rode to their rescue. Another vote taken away from the people!
Comment by Anon1015 Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 10:18 pm
I’m going to guess that Rs will have the economy and years of Blago on their side this time around.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 10:28 pm
I can’t think of a dem legislator who has or could afford to buy jbt’s name id. That alone is probably enough to win that race. The real problem for the GOP is finding a serious Gov candidate. Roskum maybe?? Short of him, Matt Murphy?
Comment by party of one Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 10:44 pm
Ken in Aurora,
You should Google “Frank Booth”
Comment by Frank Booth Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 10:52 pm
————-
The real problem for the GOP is finding a serious Gov candidate.
=============
IMHO, I think the conditions for a Gov race are good so we’ll hopefully have quite a few great candidates who are interested.
I think everyone’s aware of, and sensitive to, how important this is to the State and to the Party overall. I’d guess that any person whose name has been tossed around so far realizes what a unique position they’d ALL be in together to help us rebuild through a decent, interesting, and inclusive race.
In a sense, the Primary itself could me more important to us than the results.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 13, 09 @ 11:49 pm
===“says the obvious, primaries are a waste of money and counterproductive”===
I think you’d better copy and paste what I wrote, which was…
===the 2006 gubernatorial primary was a waste of money and counterproductive===
Are you daft or illiterate?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 14, 09 @ 1:36 am
===Are you daft or illiterate? ===
Literary genius!!! I think my neighbors heard me laughing.
Comment by Cranky Old Man Tuesday, Apr 14, 09 @ 9:11 am
Judy would be fine running for Comptroller and would be a net plus to the ticket in that position. As for GOP party chairman, there are several that would do the job very well: Mike Stokke, Craig Burkart, Steve Rausenberger or Ron Gidwitz to name a few. There is a great deal of talent in the GOP, but attitude and a belief one can win is necessary. The present leadership is not instilling that winning attitude and not inspiring good people to get involved or to run. Unfortunately, unless McKenna exits early, we will not have the Party led by someone strong enough or respected enough to put together a winning slate and build consensus around it early. A unified slate going into this election would be formidible. Avoid the wide open gov primary that would turn into a circular firing squad, and the GOP moves into the 2010 general election with some excellent chances.
Comment by Fortunato Tuesday, Apr 14, 09 @ 9:25 am
@ Pat Collins
Does anyone really think the district that sends C. Lauzen to the Senate is +4 D?
First off, the chart puts the Congressional district as +1R. The change is +4D. Lauzen’s state senate district is only a part of that Congressional district.
Comment by Stuck with Sen. CPA Tuesday, Apr 14, 09 @ 9:33 am
===============
Well, another Anonymous (maybe?) was just telling us how there were a lot of Republicans who stayed home, and she got 38% of the vote in the primary…so Republicans better HOPE no one else rallies the troops like her!
===============
Same Anonymous made both statements. An exception–again–that anyone who was paying attention to what happened within the GOP between 03 and up to and including the Gov’s race would understand.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 14, 09 @ 8:53 pm