Posted on 08/08/2004 6:26:50 PM PDT by Jeff Blogworthy
Republicans in Illinois have been scrambling to the fill the void left by U.S. Senate Nominee Jack Ryan. The Republican resigned amid a sex-scandal controversy, but now Republicans have chosen a new candidate.
Nearly six weeks of looking for a replacement U.S. Senate candidate came to an end on Sunday afternoon.
Former presidential candidate and current Maryland resident Alan Keyes has thrown his hat into the Illinois Senate Race where his biggest opponent will be Democrat Barack Obama.
In a perfect setting this would have not unfolded obviously. Is he the right guy? Were going to know that November, says Senator Dan Rutherford.
U.S. Republican Representative Dan Brady says while Keyes has criticized other candidates for running in states where they don't live, these circumstances are different. And that Keyes will have to try to appeal to voters.
Not just republicans, but to try to resonate with independent voters. I think one on one, it will be very interesting, says Brady.
And though Keyes is not a state resident yet, officials with the Republican State Committee say it's just a minor detail.
He will establish a residency in Illinois, which is not hard to do. He just signs a lease somewhere and moves to Illinois, says Mary Alice Erickson from the Republican State Committee.
And Senator Dan Rutherford says Keyes is more in tune with local issues than others might give him credit for.
I don't think that on the national scope Illinois issues arent too different from those of Maryland or California, says Senator Dan Rutherford.
This will no doubt be an uphill battle for Alan Keyes, says Brady.
So for now, Keyes will focus on campaigning aggressively in Illinois and making up for lost time.
This is the first U.S. senate election with two African American candidates representing the major parties.
So no matter who wins, Illinois will definitely elect it's fifth black senator come November 2nd.
LMAO! Yeah...security for socialism...what-a-country. Don't worry...a good portion of the 'bots are prolly retiring in the next 5-7 years anyway. They're just making sure "they get theirs".
And maybe I could spend the time looking thru your posts during the Clinton admin bashing all his socialistic policies...true instances of hypocrisy I'm sure...as Bush socialism is ok with you...but I don't have time for that; and most people already see you as the party hack you are anyway.
Any charismatic, forceful leader is going to get groupies, some of whom are wierd. There are also Bush-bot zombies. That doesn't mean Bush shouldn't be re-elected.
Interesting question in an editorial in the Washington Post this morning - would the Ill. Republicans have sought out Keyes if Obama wasn't black? Apparantly all the candidates they considered were black. Keyes has lost two Senate races in his home state, and two runs for President, he doesn't come into this as a strong candidate.
I'm really disappointed in Keyes, it seems he's putting a lot of self-interest ahead of the principles he's spoken out on in the last few years.
Be my guest. If you have the nerve.
Go here: ny.lp.org/
Once there, go to the bottom of the New York Libertarian Party's homepage and click on Archived News for 1998.
Once that page comes up, read down to the following date:
5/6/98.
One of the newslines under 5/6/98 states:
"Ambassador Alan Keyes asks for LP nomination for U.S. Senate, but convention chooses Bill McMillen to run against D'Amamto."
Sorry, WillRain, but this is not a "bogus story." Keyes wanted to run as a Libertarian for Senate from New York in 1998 (before Hillary ran - and was blasted by Keyes for doing so - as a Dem) and was rejected by the Libertarian convention. THEN he came back and ran for President as a Republican. A FACT is a FACT.
That's exactly what the media wanys you to think. Obama is so readically pro-abortion he even voted against the legislation which made it illegal for "doctors" to slaughter infants born alive in the course of a failed abortion. Don't be fooled for a second. He's a Stalinist who wears a mask of moderation.
Yes, you have one sentence. no exposition, no back up, nothing to give it any context or weight. It could just have easily been a Keyes loving local who proposed recruiting him for all that sentence gives you. and there's a discussion on another thread which quotes someone who was there describing the situation and it implies exactly that. that someone there proposed Keyes and that the party didn't know enough about him to pick him - odds are Keyes still doesn't even know it happened.
Don't be so gullible.
How exactly does an arch conservative stand any chance of forcing Obama to the left? If anything, having Keyes ranting and raving will make Obama look like a pragmatic moderate.
This move really demonstrates the lamentable state of Illinois Republican politics. It's embarassing for them, quite frankly.
I'd suggest you read this before being so positive.
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:M6GcbPuRQBsJ:www.ny.lp.org/essays/goodman/good98a.htm+alan+keyes+libertarian+party&hl=en
I think it can only be explained in terms of overall worldview. Keyes is an unabashed religious (Roman Catholic) conservative. There are quite a few folks who may think of themselves as conservative, chiefly on taxes and economic issues, but they are to varying degrees liberal on core ideas concerning right and wrong, which is reflected in positions regarding abortion, the homosexual agenda, racial preferences, multiculturalism, and illegal immigration, and so forth.
The so-called moderates (actually liberals - not leftists like the Democrats are - but liberals nonetheless) have been running the Republican party since 1988, and sided with the Democrats to put out the brushfire rebellion that erupted in 1994. They have steadily moved the party to the left, to the point where we have a "conservative" president who signed a bill establishing a new government entitlement, vastly expanded the government (and deficits), signed Soros-sponsored "Campaign Finance Reform" which guts the 1st amendment, worked to permanently enshrine racial preferences, and insists on open-borders in a time of war.
While some on the Paleo-right (Buchanan & Co.) view the Iraq war as an imperial adventure for Israel's benefit (a ridiculous argument on Buchanan's part), or for the benefit of globalist corporations, Keyes supports the war as being a necessary component in the war we're in against Islamic jihadis. Keyes is also a strong supporter of Israel who argued his support on the basis of the shared moral culture of Israel and the US. Neo-cons (an element of the liberal Republicans) should have no issue with either position. But on the social issues, they abhor him.
There also seems to be an element of extreme partisanship which has arisen within Republican ranks. These folks will relentlessly attack anyone who dares to question or criticize statements, policies or decisions made by George W. Bush or the Republican hierarchy, often using leftist-style smears of "racist", or "extremist" against the dissenters. Because Keyes failed to fall in line behind Bush fast enough, he' s a pariah. Because Keyes is a religious conservative who views believes that policies, including economic policies, are subject to moral principles, he's an extremist - a religious fanatic like Osama Bin Laden.
That's why we were treated to the sight, here in Illinois, of various "movers and shakers" among the Country Club Repubs attending a barbecue to shake hands with Barack Obama after Jack Ryan's self-immolation, a guy who supports the slaughter of infants born alive after a failed abortion. I guess they think he's a "moderate" - not a religious fanatic at all - Thank God.
Even the Chicago Bulls have a chance at the start. it will depend on who listens to the facts, and if they load Keyes up with the proper info on Dem corruption in the state of illinois, as the dems did with George Ryan.
The corruption of the truck for hire scanda, and the no bid contracts in city hall would be a great opener, while debating the family values and the war on the U.S. by terror nations and the U.N., Keyes can really score.
Ops4 God BLess America!
You are right. He pontificates with every answer. He must learn to be more concise. Its a turn off, like a know it all. Can someone please tell him this? He will win if he stops telling all America what to do, and focus on winning.
i just made a donation on Keyes2004.com, anybody have an idea how the early fundraising is going? That's going to be the first referendum in this campaign.
That may work in other states but not in Illinois. The most recent Republican governor is under indictment, and crooked politicians on both sides of the political spectrum are expected.
very astute analysis. thank you
No chance, the guys got 26% and 39% in previous senate races, and that was in his home state. This is a joke, the IL GOP ought to be ashamed. We could have sent you a good Republican from Ohio, instead you've got to go clear to the eastern seaboard.
No. He is a loser, big time four way loser.
Well if you consider this a smart move, then consider it is made by the same people who told Ditka to run and play with his football!
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