Posted on 01/03/2005 2:04:18 PM PST by RWR8189
Everyone in Washington is swooning over Illinois's new Democratic senator, Barack Obama. He hadn't even been sworn in when he made the cover of Newsweek.
Mr. Obama may indeed be destined for political stardom, but before Obama fever fully takes hold it's worth noting how little national attention has been given to the senator he's replacing: Peter Fitzgerald. The 44-year-old maverick Republican is choosing to retire after one term in part because his brave crusade against political cronyism had so alienated key figures in his own party that the GOP state committee actually declined to endorse him for re-election.
The U.S. Senate would not function with 100 members such as Peter Fitzgerald, who is both self-righteous and a political loner. But it needs some members like him and Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold, another senator who sometimes bucks conventional political wisdom.
Mr. Fitzgerald came to Washington determined to do what he could to clean up what the Chicago Tribune calls "the chronic corruption that stains [Illinois] with the image of a Louisiana, a New Jersey." His chief nemesis was fellow Republican George
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
The ILGOP hated Peter Fitzgerald because he wouldn't play their game and took a real stand against corruption.
So when do the people of this country stand up against the political corruption THAT IS WASHINGTON, D.C. and its state-level surrogates??? When will the complacent and ignorant voters rebel against this runaway corruption, which is costing our country dearly??
Earth to the voters -- Earth to the voters???
Go to HELL, IL! :-(!
Thought you might be interested in this.
Shame on career politicians of both parties. Forget the days of govt for the people. Now, people exist to support govt and people who run them. Everyone I know who work for the govt talk as if they are spending their own money. There is no longer a respect for tax-payers.
The ILGOP cut off their nose to spite their face. Fitzgerald could have beaten Obama.
He should have waited till he had been reelected to go after corruption in IL.
Does anyone know why he decided to bow out of the Senate?
The Illinois Republican establishment threatened a well-funded primary challenge.
So, instead they got that guy who took his wife to swap parties and ended up with Obama, is that it?
I really hate to see Fitz go. He knew the deck was stacked against him. He knew that the Dems would put a lot of money into the race and without Republican party support in a state that has been trending blue, he couldn't fend off a challenge with his own money.
The best vote I ever cast was for Senator Peter Fitzgerald.
About sums it up. THey're happier with Obama. He'll "play ball" when it comes to the corruption game.
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