Posted on 07/31/2009 12:08:12 PM PDT by Daniel T. Zanoza
He is one of the most liberal members of the United States House of Representatives. He is a staunch defender of abortion rights and he recently voted for the largest tax increase in American history--Cap and Trade. Who am I talking about? U.S. Representative Mark Steven Kirk of Illinois' 10th Congressional District.
Earlier this month, Kirk threw his hat into the ring, seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2010. Oh, and one more thing...Kirk will never win the seat currently held by Roland Burris who was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill the office vacated by President Barack Obama.
It is a never-ending broken record which seems to play over and over in the Illinois GOP. For that matter, this long-playing sour tune can be heard in Republican circles on a national level as well. From Judy Baar Topinka to Sen. John McCain, there is a myth that simply will not die when it comes to ...
(Excerpt) Read more at rffm.typepad.com ...
Can Kirk win a GOP primary?
Left-wingers win GOP primaries all the time.
Does he have a conservatie challenger in the primary?
“Republican” has to mean something tangible! It is supposed to define a particular political belief system, it isn’t just the name of a social group or club.
Republican != Conservative any more.
There’s 4 other declared Republicans, none first-tier. Eric Wallace looks the best of the bunch:
http://www.wallaceforillinois.com/
Michelle Bachmann should be an object lesson for us. She ran on conservative principles and won in a very dem state. This idea that we have to be more like “them” is just damned annoying
Even if he has a conservative primary challenger, the state run media in Illinois will crucify him/her. Then in the general, all of Kirk’s liberal “friends” will desert him for the real McCoy Democrat, who, Madigan took a pass, will probably be black maybe female. Kirk couldn’t go out to traditional GOP area with a pro abortion and cap and tax record. It will decimate the farm economy, which is everything outside the county metro area around Chicago.
Even if he has a conservative primary challenger, the state run media in Illinois will crucify him/her. Then in the general, all of Kirk’s liberal “friends” will desert him for the real McCoy Democrat, who, Madigan took a pass, will probably be black maybe female. Kirk couldn’t go out to traditional GOP area with a pro abortion and cap and tax record. It will decimate the farm economy, which is everything outside the 6 county metro area around Chicago.
More than likely at this point, the Dem nominee will be a young Caucasian male named Alexi Giannoulias, the State Treasurer, and a Combiner (surprise, surprise). Frankly, if he faces off against the leftist Kirk, it’s better Giannoulias wins, because I expect he will be indicted before long for criminal malfeasance and the seat will be open again by 2012.
That would be an interesting scenario. A lot of us within Illinois were surprised Blago got indicted before Giannoulias did. Giannoulias is so blatantly corrupted that even Mike Madigan wouldn't touch him with a 50 foot pole, and tried to take him out in the RAT primary. The only reason Giannoulias won is the Treasurer's office is he was an old basketball chum of Obama's (who personally cut campaign ads endorsing Giannoulias) in a huge year for the RATs.
Another long shot but possible outcome is Kirk's "personal life" getting the Jack Ryan treatment, which would force Kirk out of the race. Though I'm sure the GOP establishment would replace him with another RINO like Judy Biggert rather than tolerate a conservative winning.
Wallace actually beating Kirk in the primary looks unlikely (shame we don't have a first tier candidate) but I'm not ready to give up. I think Kirk's supporters underestimate conservative wrath at Mark Kirk. Most of us who don't live in his district have been dying to register our disgust with the man, and would crawl over broken glass to vote against him.
I think IL has open primaries. If you want reform close them.
Closed primaries are only one aspect. We have a serious corruption problem in the IL GOP, with respect to the wing that aligns itself with the “bipartisan” Combine. They need to be run out of the party, period.
Field is right about the combine being responsible for the bulk of corruption in Illinois. Check out Kirk and Giannoulias background and you'll find that they were both bankrolled by convicted felon Tony Rezko when they were "up and coming" politicians. It's a win-win scenario for the combine whether Kirk or Giannoulias is elected Senator. Both will be a loyal ally of the Obama agenda and will cover for the crooks in this state. Kirk has some gall to run as a "reformer".
Is Alexi Giannoulias Obama's next "not the man I knew"?
Mark Kirk: The Unreformer - accepts campaign cash from convicted felons
I was surprised when I read this:
http://www.fairvote.org/?page=1801
“Illinois Must vote in primary of same party as last primary the voter participated in. Loosely enforced. Voters may change party affiliation at polls or caucus.”
Either loosely means “not at all” or this is false. Every time I’ve voted they ask which ballot I want. IIRC you check it off when you sign your name.
I can’t recall if they asked which party I wanted to register with when I registered or not.
Fairvote is the only source I can find that says this so it may be false.
If it’s true the law is simply ignored.
you can relax ... fairvote is, indeed, wrong on this
I noticed the same primary rules. When I vote, in primaries, the poll worker usually asks which ballot I want. Illinois registration forms don’t ask for a party.
2001-’08, I was registered in North Chicago, and my precinct was about 90% black. During the Mar. 2006 primary, the poll worker didn’t ask which ballot I wanted. I said, “I want a republican ballot,” but she gave me a democrat ballot. I gave it back and said, “I asked for a republican ballot.” She didn’t know where they were and asked someone else who found a few ballots.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.