In June 2004, the IL GOP State Central Committee should have nominated a state legislator, for the U.S. Senate. At that time, three of the previous four U.S. senators, from Illinois, had been state legislators. Those three were Peter Fitzgerald, Carol Moseley-Braun, and Paul Simon. The exception was Dick Durbin. The SCC should have asked then-State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger to run. If he declined, they should have asked ex-Sen. Pat O’Malley to run.
BRAVO!!! You and DJ hit the nail on the head! 2004 was a joke, for those that don't believe in the combine what better example is there than the 2004 Senate Election? Ryan was great, and I agree with DJ we don't know if the stories were true, his ex-wife never verified them.
And as hardcore IL FReepers you guys remember Mike Ditka was gung ho on running and suddenly dropped out? There is no doubt in my mind that the Obama/Axelrod machine got dirt on Ditka, far worse than flicking off a camera during a Bears game. (For the record during the 2004 election between Keyes and Zero I wrote in Mike Ditka and I stand by that decision proudly!!!)
One thing I hate is hypocrisy. We all were pissed and screaming carpetbagger when Hillary ran for the Senate in NY. IMO Alan Keyes was worse because the Combine chose him based on his color not his chance of winning.
And to EV who is a mod from what I'm told. I respect and have nothing but good things to say about Keyes however, I will always stand by my gut. He was the wrong choice. We had many other options to oppose Zero but the stupid IL GOP run by the Country Club Republicans decided to pander. The alternative to Keyes was a no name black woman. The Combine made the entire 2004 Senate election about race.
It will go down in history as one of the worst examples of political correctness to occur on planet Earth.