Posted on 07/09/2004 11:13:21 AM PDT by lonewacko_dot_com
The Illinois Republican Party took another body blow Thursday, as the candidate considered the favorite by a number of GOP leaders dropped out of the running to replace U.S. Senate nominee Jack Ryan.
State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger said his late entry into the race would have made it nearly impossible to raise the money required to compete effectively against Democrat Barack Obama...
Aurora dairy owner Jim Oberweis argues that his second-place primary finish makes him the "logical" choice.
But many Republicans remain uneasy over TV commercials Oberweis ran during the primary attacking President Bush's immigration reform plans. Oberweis insists he only opposed illegal immigration, but the ads drew fire from immigrant groups and Republicans alike.
"There is a group in the party which obviously is enamored with Mr. Oberweis because he finished second," said DuPage County GOP Chairman Kirk Dillard. "[But] an Oberweis candidacy would present unique problems when it comes to immigration and race and ethnicity, [problems] which I'm not sure we want to take on at this time."
After Oberweis, the remaining 10 names on the list are not exactly household names...
(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...
Most importantly, contact the IL GOP and let them know what you think:
Judy Baar Topinka, Chairman of the IL GOP:
chairman@ilgop.org
Chicago Office
32 W. Randolph, Suite 1700,
Chicago, IL 60601-3405
Phone: 312/201-9000
Fax: 312/201-1271
BRING BACK JACK!
Anyone who can pork the cute Borg girl in front of an audience in a Paris sex club can't be all bad.
Sounds like the Illinois Republican Party needs help. Why don't they just endorse Obama and call it a day?
Considering his stance on abortion, how much different would 'Senator Oberwies' be than 'Senator Obama?'
Please, please, Illinois Republican Party, go back to the drawing boards for a qualified candidate.
"Anyone who can pork the cute Borg girl in front of an audience in a Paris sex club can't be all bad."
Gee, what do you take him for, a Democrat?
I am sure if he was the Democrat nominee, his poll #s would shoot up on this news.
man am I conflicted:
- he's right on immigration
- he's not prolife enough
What about trying to convince Peter Fitzgerald to *stay*???
Why is he leaving anyway?
He wasn't liberal enough for the Republican party so they have been undermining him for years. He just called it quits because of that.
Until the Illinois Republican Party realizes that pro-life conservatives win elections, not pro-abortion moderates , Democrats will continue to dominate in the Land of Lincoln.
Last night I asked my wife if her mother was troubled about supporting the democratic party but being basically a good christian. My wife said that the republican party leadership in southern Illinois was some of the sleaziest, no-good bunch of crooks you could ever meet and have ruined any possibility of her mother voting for the party, even at the national level. I have no reason to doubt her.
Do something!
Why not just flood Ryan with urgings ot get back in the race. The Ryan website, www.ryan2004.com is still up. You can send him email.
As long as they can continue forcing people out with bad press, as they did in New York and now Illinois, they will. We need to take a stand to stop it here and now.
That's a serious misreading of Illinois history. Big Jim Thompson: pro-abortion rights. Jim Edgar: pro-abortion rights. George Ryan: more moderate on abortion that his Democrat opponent.
Sure, there's Peter Fitzgerald, but had he been running against anyone other than Carol Mosley Braun he likely would have lost.
By and large, Republicans in statewide elections in Illinois win or lose based on their life stance, and usually that translates to a loss for the pro-life candidate.
I don't like it, but that's the record in Illinois.
DITKA!
Pollster:
But what about his lack of pol-
"Super Fans" (Reiterate.)
DITKA!
Oberweis is a freaking RINO. This is the ONLY issue he's any good on.
Da Bearsss!!
Where's my kielbasa?
Nooooooo! That's not a Jeri Ryan joke!
Seriously, with Ditka on the ticket, probably zero chance of Bush being competitive here, and living as I do in the People's Republic of the Illinois 9th (Jan Schakowsky), there would really be no point in going to the polls.
Please, can we find a serious candidate for Senate?
I disagree with your analysis of Illinois history. The Illinois Republican Party has declined and literally disappeared under the watch of moderates.
When the Illinois Republican Party reemerges as a dominant political force, conservatives will be leading the charge.
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