Illinois GOP looks to center after Keyes’ loss

St Louis Today ^ | 11-6-04 | Kevin McDermott

[mrsmith]

"The Republicans could have nominated Karl Marx and the result would have been the same. "

Karl Marx would have received more of the "moderate" Illinois Republicans' votes, and his loss would have been blamed on "not getting our message out".

What a place.

[Cicero]

The biggest screwup of all was when they got into a snit and dumped Fitzgerald. They had a safe seat and they threw it away--over what?

Do they think Obama is going to deliver pork to them?

[SJackson]

The biggest screwup of all was when they got into a snit and dumped Fitzgerald. They had a safe seat and they threw it away--over what?

You're right, though I'm not sure it it was a "safe" seat, nor is it clear that Fitzgerald would have wanted to run.

[Freepdonia]

He's a good conservative but not a good politician.

Bingo. He's just not politically savvy.

[SJackson]

What a place.

Simple solution, don't visit.

[sassbox]

I grew up in IL and it's so sad to see what's happened to the state lately. I blame the phenomenally corrupt state GOP for the sorry state of affairs. George Ryan and his gang did enormous damage. They didn't support our outgoing senator Peter Fitzgerald, so he didn't run for re-election. A pity because he was a great senator and probably could've won re-election. As for Alan Keyes, the voters didn't so much reject conservatism with him as carpetbagging and insanity. I used to like Keyes but after this campaign I realized he's a freakin' nut.

Fitzgerald, Lahood, Hastert, and many others show that true conservatives can win in Illinois. But it's going to be a long time before the state GOP cleans itself up and gets back to the point where it can run a viable campaign against governor Daley and his band of crooks.

[SJackson]

As for Alan Keyes, the voters didn't so much reject conservatism with him as carpetbagging and insanity. I used to like Keyes but after this campaign I realized he's a freakin' nut.

You're right. The loss should be viewed in the context of a poorly run campaign, not the values Keyes ran on.

[Graybeard58]

Aah I see losers like to stick together

Unlike some others (Maybe you) I vote for the right person, not who I think will win.

Keyes lost. Gloat all you want - He's still a damn sight better than the socialist baby killer Obama.

[Constitution1st]

Let's talk dem machine vote fraud in Illinois; after that investigation, I may discuss the state of the Republican party. But, first things first. This needs to be gotten into ASAP.

[Paleo Conservative]

Keyes didn't lose the election, that guy that wanted to watch his wife have sex with others in public lost it.

Absolutely.

[Charlemagne on the Fox]

If the Illinois GOP moved to the center, it would be a vast improvement, since it is currently way to the liberal side. That Topinka lady who is the IL GOP Chairman is more liberal than most Democrats in Downstate Illinois.

Spot on analysis . . . and she hopes to be the next GOP candidate for governor.

[festus]

Speaking as an IL GOP we never looked at Keyes. Yes I voted for him but I did so reluctantly. The IL GOP could not be more poorly run if the Dems had seized control of it.

And that may just be the best expliation...... Incompetence doesn't even come close.

[Bogolyubski]

Conservatives need to understand something about RINOs. They are never going to help. They will thrust a knife into your back at every single opportunity. Party loyalty works only one way for these leftists.

If conservatives are serious about gaining a powerful voice in a state party as controlled by RINOs as the Illinois Republican Party, they will need to develop a 'party within the party' from the grassroots, for all of the reasons mentioned above. They will need their owm fundraisers, theor own promotional people, etc. all the way down the line.

There are plenty of red counties in downstate Illinois, including some where Democrats hold seats from sheer tradition. These areas are the ripest targets.

[virgil]

I think this analysis is wrong. It was the corrupt George Ryan who toppled the IL republican party, not the conservative elements. Topinka and her following should join the democrat party instead of trying to silence conservatives. IL has become a safe haven for illegal immigrants thanks to the democrats in chicago. This could just as well be the reason that IL votes democrat.

[SJackson]

George Ryan was, of course, representative of conservative Illinois Republicans.

It's probably better to get rid of the opportunists from both wings and stop the "conservative" vs "RINO" holier than thou nonsense.

[virgil]

I don't know if you're being facetious, but I don't think George Ryan was very conservative. He and topinka are 2 pigs in a poke. This legal case against Ryan will go on for years or as long as Lisa Madigan can make it, and the press will trot him out everytime there is an election.

Meanwhile, the general assembly is trying to sneak in both an income tax and sales tax increase right now. Having democrats controlling the state is going to cost all of us a lot of money.

[Freepdonia]

Yea,they should stick to Republicans who take their actress wives to sex clubs so they watch her have sex with strangers.

And I said Ryan was a great candidate when?

Mr Keyes has nothing to do with the problems of the Republican party in this state,this is what happens to the Republican party when the country club bunch takes over.

I'm all for a true conservative, but not if he keeps shooting himself in the foot. Jesse Helms was as committed a conservative as anyone you could name and stuck to his principles, but he wanted to be senator. Keyes at times seemed as if he didn't.

I used to love listening to Keyes speak, but a Republican talking about reparations and the draft was just plain stupid. Who will want him to run for anything now?

[SJackson]

I don't know if you're being facetious, but I don't think George Ryan was very conservative.

I don't either, but he ran as a conservative. I admit to supporting Poshard based on his pro-life, pro-gun positions, and have been ruthlessly attacked by Keyes supporters over that characterization. He faked it, but voters, including Republicans, bought into it. People forget.