Posted on 11/03/2004 7:08:29 AM PST by NCPAC
This is my first (and likely last) vanity, but I wanted to point out one of the sadder notes within all the well-deserved GOP euphoria over last night's election.
Congressman Phil Crane (R-IL) was defeated in his bid for re-election. This saddens me greatly, as Crane was one of my first political heroes - as well as one of the true leaders of the New Right that took Washington by storm in the early 1980's.
While serving in Congress, Crane took a long-shot at capturing the GOP nomination for President in 1980, running against - and to the right of - eventual winner, the one and only Ronald Reagan. I supported Crane in that primary, and immediately jumped to RR when Crane went down.
As has been his style, once losing to Reagan in in the primary, Crane stumped for Reagan in select states for the remainder of the election cycle.
While it's true Crane has had some "interesting" moments in his career, it is also true that he was truly one of the trail blazers of the conservative movement: Always willing to stump for conservatives, unapologetic in his rightist views, Phil Crane will be missed - by me, at least.
Thank you, Congressman Crane foryour years of unwavering leadership and service. You've done yourself, and everyone anywhere on the right, proud.
He was also a drunk and an adulterer who turned steadily more liberal with time.
No tears here.
Basically we have to blame George Ryan and D. Hastert for this mess. G. Ryan for leaving the ILL GOP in such a mess, D. Hastert for forcing Fitzgerald to not run for re-election and thus leading to Keyes and Obama and huge Dem turnout......D. Hastert is an evil man and should be removed from all power. I hate D. Hastert, he is a fat, evil, evil man who should be removed from the GOP
What is with the GOP in Illinois?
If I recall, Congressman Crane was one of the MOST vocal opponents of the giveaway of the our Canal in Central America. For these efforts he will always have my gratitude.
I rec'd a mailer from Melissa Bean, who at no time ever indicated she was a Democrat. She made it sound like the R leadership had lost faith in Crane. She also had a typo in her letter (about gun 'puchases'). Ugh.
I wish we were "missing" Arlen Spectre too.
Thank you for posting this touching tribute. I remember Phil when he was a dashing young conservative who inspired us all with his courage, convictions, and charisma. Yes, the years took their toll. But, as with all great stars in the galaxy, we best remember them when they were at their apex.
I take it you were part of Terry Dolan's National Conservative Political Action Committee?
I don't know anything about him, but he can thank the Illinois GOP for imploding. George Ryan, the Alan Keys fiasco etc.
Hastert should go as speaker. We could do better.
Excellent Vanity. I had lost track of him years ago, and I didn't know he was still in Congress. He was a trailblazer at a time when "conservatism" as we know it was almost nonexistent.
From what I understand, Bean doesn't even live in the district.
A 20+ year incumbent has no one to blame but himself for failure. Who do you think you are expecting Hastert to 'force' Fitzgerald to run for releection?
I lived in Phil Crane's district for 10 years. I certainly never thought I'd see the day that he lost an election.
George Ryan (the former governor) did more to destroy the Republican Party in Illinois than anyone else. It'll be years before we win any post higher than Treasurer. As for Crane, he had a great ACU rating, but for some mysterious reason, it tailed-off last year. He's a dinosaur. His district is probably the most solidly R in the state of Illinois. (I should know, I live in it). If he can't get more than 50% of the vote, aloha.
What GOP in Illinois?
When the GOP took the House in 1994, one of the BEST things they did was eliminating the senority for committee chairs,a nds also term limiting the same chairs. They're gonna be in control of the House for another 10 years...at least, and one of the things they shoudl start doing, to avoid getting ossified, is to start encouraging the old bulls to retire....grooming people to replace them..It's like a baseball team..ideally you want to trade an established star just BEFORE his numbers start to decline..
I was completely stunned when I heard that last night. I'm SO embarrassed by this state I can hardly stand it.
They have a LOT of work ahead of them.
Judy Baar Topinka is what's wrong now. That and the fact that over the last 15 years, the Illinois GOP has become a carbon copy of the Daley machine, right down to the massive corruption. Illinois should change it's name to the "People's Republic of Daley". I think I'm gonna move out ASAP!
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