Posted on 04/06/2006 12:33:54 PM PDT by Mobile Vulgus
George Will has an interesting article about our Illinois Gubernatorial candidate, Judy Barr Topinka. (A 'Straight Talk" Test For 2006)
It's mostly just straight forward discussion of the GOP's tenuous possibility to get back in political power in Illinois, with a mention of same in California and New York state. But, the article is mostly about Illinois' situation with our brash "straight talking" candidate, Judy Barr.
Most of it isn't too revealing until you get to the last two paragraphs and then you hit paydirt...
Topinka says Karl Rove urged her to run, hoping to offset in Illinois a probable gubernatorial loss in New York. Would she like President Bush to campaign for her? An aide says not exactly: "We just want him to raise money." Topinka does not demur as the aide adds: "Late at night." Pause. "In an undisclosed location."What in the heck is this woman doing? She has told all Bush voters that she doesn't want their support as WELL as telling the president -- a president whose own political director urged her to run -- that she doesn't want his help, just his cash! So, even if Rove was willing to help her, why would he do so now that she has basically told him she doesn't want the president's help?Maybe Illinois Republicans have found their John McCain. Now they will find out whether such "straight talk" works.
Does Topinka think that no one reads the newspaper?
Then, Will calls her our "John McCain"? Sure, if by calling her a person that is only out for herself with NO interest in the Party either locally OR nationally, maybe he is right in that assessment.
Illinois's GOP has been destroyed by successive waves of Ryans who have stolen their way to riches as well as a Party that has permanently eschewed any claim to ideology or principle and steered straight for pure power politics empty of meaning. And it is obvious that Judy Barr Topinka is not one who will "fix" the Party, but will leave it in much the same shape she found it, empty of meaning and out of power.
This is a stupid article. It's a dark blue state, saying you don't want Bush to be your campaign's figurehead should be obvious. That's hardly telling Bush supporters she doesn't want their help.
Political reality vs. political stupidity. Take your pick.
Don't be.
Sometimes the only way to fix something is to first utterly destroy it - then start over.
When Judas looses to ijit Blago, they'll be a complete purge of the criminal Combine element in the IL GOP, aka all of George Ryan's pals. Plus Judas only got 38% compared to the two conservatives Obie and Brady's combined 51% (if only Brady would have dropped out, Judas would be history now) so her support isn't there. Many dems crossed over just to vote for her. She's going down in smoke come Nov.
So after she, that *&%$#&%$ 'KJ', and their ilk are gone all will be well. The conservatives WILL be back running things and winning in IL :-)
Until the Gov Geo Ryan fiasco the GOP ran IL almost 'forever'. And take a look at the 'map'. IL is almost all red. Crook County gave the state to Kerry and Gore in 2000.
In my 57 years we've had like four Dem governors that I can recall, all of whom were one termers and I believe eventually wound up in jail. The same with US Senators - for eons we've had at least one Republican.
This 'IL is a blue state' thing is hogwash.
The color of the state has to do with Presidential elections. Especially when you are speaking of having the President come to campaign for someone.
And look at the numbers:
Illinois Presidential Numbers:
2004:
John Kerry - 55%
George W. Bush - 45%
2000:
Al Gore - 55%
George W. Bush - 43%
1996:
Bill Clinton: 54%
Bob Dole: 37%
1992
Bill Clinton: 49%
George HW Bush: 34%
When one state has went for the D's by at least 10 points in the past 16 years, you have a 'Blue' state. Anything else is just spin.
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