[churchillbuff]

Did any of these papers that are criticizing Keyes' rescue mission, criticize Hillary's power play?

[KriegerGeist]

I pray for a miracle for the fine folks of Illinois. And, Dr. Keyes would be a start.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

You are right. But I would just let it go because it won't sell and this is serious business. So instead, use Hillary to Keyes' advantage. He should just say "I don't want Hillary to feel lonely." What can they say to that. It sounds nice to Hillary. It puts his liberal questioners on the defensive, since they all supported Hillary. I think that's the best option.

Or there is always Clinton's line, as Howlin suggested. LOL! "Because I can." Of course, only Clinton with his media backup singers could get by with such a flippant statement.

[PhiKapMom]

Alan Keyes is playing by the rules and like you said did not push anyone aside to get in the race. As many of you know I am not an Alan Keyes supporter, but I thank him for getting in the race to at least give the GOP a shot at winning.

Don't see how anyone can criticize him when he is playing by the rules that Illinois has on the books. If they don't like it, change the rules. If I remember right, the Illinois RATs toyed with Hillary Clinton before she chose NY to run. There is no comparison in the two -- Hillary leveraged where she could get the highest profile IMHO and chose NY. What about Bobby Kennedy -- did the same thing.

What's different then the candidate that moves to a State specifically to run. Happens all the time but most are not this high profile. Al Gore might as well have been a carpetbagger in TN when he ran for as little time as he spent in the State. Carpetbagger is a joke anymore the way people move around anyways.

The Chicago media will do and say anything to take down Alan Keyes and clear the way for Obama IMHO. Having a conservative represent Illinois would drive the Chicago machine nuts!

[Lurking in Kansas]

I agree with the rescue mission.

I feel sorry for the citizens of Illinois that they need “rescued”. If the GOP is such disarray in Illinois that they need to draft Alan Keyes (with all due respect) they are in BIG TIME trouble. There should be no reason the party can’t find a good candidate in state. Obviously they are afraid of Osmama. And speaking as a former resident of the great state of Illinois, I feel sorry for them.

I like Keyes, he is a fighter & gamer, but he is the sacrificial lamb in this race.

Good luck Alan.

[The Wizard]

Keyes was invited, the bitch slimed in on her own

[StumpyPete]

What is Alan Keyes' position on our Iraq campaign? Is Keyes an appeaser like you?

[Sloth]

It's still carpetbagging. And it stinks of racial tokenism.

[gopwinsin04]

Agreed, these are two different situations entirely.

[mcshot]

Seems to me the Dems have changed the rules by example on multiple issues like:
sex
lying,
secrets,
judgeships,
constitutional law,
carpetbagging and
staying on in the senate while running for president.
....looks like all is now fair in love, war and politics.
And I don't like it.
mc

[discostu]

Carpet bagging is carpet bagging. Keyes has never lived there, he shouldn't run for office there.

[Dr.Deth]

Nah, I ain't buying it. Alan, you should have known better.

[frossca]

IN CONTRAST, AMBASSADOR KEYES IS RESPONDING TO A CALL FOR HELP FROM AN IMPERILED ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY

I think you left out a word. Let's try...

In contrast, Ambassador Keyes is responding to a call for help from an imperiled Illinois Repulican Party establishment.

As in many "blue" states, the Illinois Republican party machine is much more moderate than the rank and file. At this point in time, Keyes is the perfect candidate. The party operatives can point to Keyes and say, "See, we are running a true conservative."

So Keyes runs, makes it a relatively competetive race but still loses. The threats to the party powerbrokers fades and they can sit back and enjoy a year or so rest before they can ruin the republican party faithful's hopes yet again.

[Just mythoughts]

The best part of Mr. Keyes running in the birthplace of Hillry Rotten Clinton is that the DNC will be forced to spend her money...... This is great!!!!

[knarf]

"Hillary was on a power trip -- Keyes is on a rescue mission. BIG DIFFERENCE"

EXCELLENT point.

[BlackRazor]

"I deeply resent the destruction of federalism represented by Hillary Clinton's willingness go into a state she doesn't even live in and pretend to represent people there, so I certainly wouldn't imitate it."

-- Alan Keyes, March 2000

I would think such strongly held philosophical beliefs would apply regardless of the differences between Hillary's decision to run in New York and this one. It's obvious Keyes has sold himself out.

[COBOL2Java]

Haven't seen this mentioned, but at the very least, whether Keyes wins or not, he will engage Obama in debate and keep Obama from gliding in to the Senate. I'm all for making the candidates pop a sweat gland instead of enjoying a coronation.

[HenryLeeII]

Yes, the difference between Ambassador Keyes and The Beast are legitimate. He was asked by the state's party to run, whereas she was not. But there is also another legitimate comparison to make: Keyes is entering the race without special court decisions overturning state election laws, unlike what the Dem'Rats did in New Jersey with Torricelli. But who are we to inject truth and historical fact into the 'Rat Media's hatchet job?

[jojodamofo]

Cool. I had been looking for some good talking points on this.

[smonk]

give the dems the same pathetic story that we got when they pulled torricelli off the ticket and replaced him with lautenberg -- if we don't send in a carpetbagger, then millions of republican and otherwise pro-life [insert other alan keyes positions here] will be disenfranchised. they will be denied their right to vote for the candidate of their choice!