Announcing...Illinois Republican Party Victory Conference

Why are they having a victory conference when there's no possibility of getting a conservative governor until 2006 and it's unlikely we'll have a conservative legislature any time between 2003 and 2011?

HAH! Good luck to them!

For those FReepers who don't follow the news out of Illinois:

A part fell off a truck.

Happens all the time, doesn't it? A part fell off a semi on the expressway.

A part fell off a truck and got stuck under a van. The fuel tank ripped open, and the van burst into flames. The minister who was driving got out, and so did his wife and 3 of his kids. The other 6 kids burned to death. Answers were sought. The driver couldn't give them right away, since he didn't speak English. But, you're supposed to speak English as a condition of getting a CDL. Turns out that some Secretary of State office officials were taking bribes. Turns out they were taking the bribes and using them to take care of their "obligation" to monetarily support the Secretary of State's election campaign.

The Secretary of State when all this went on happens to now be the Governor of Illinois. He's already passed on running for re-election because of this. Meanwhile, the evidence that the U.S. Attorney for Northern Illinois has uncovered during "Operation Safe Roads" has extended all through Illinois' state government power structure. All kinds of big-time Illinois Reflublicans have been indicted and convicted. The state GOP chairman, State Rep. Lee Daniels, has had to resign his party position (although he's kept his position as House Speaker).

Unbelievably, there's actually a bill in the Illinois Assembly to outlaw partisan activity by Illinois employees while on the clock, and to outlaw requiring state employees from being required to contribute to their party to keep their jobs. This would be a radical change of practice for both parties, but it might just pass. Of course, it'll be roundly ignored.

And a recent indictment named a mysterious person known only as "State Official A", and ascribed participation to various criminal acts to him. It's widely suspected that "Official A" is the sitting Governor. Newspaper editorials have opposed his resignation basically only because he doesn't have much longer to serve. The U.S. Attorney (appointed on the recommendation of Illinois' Reflublican Senator), who works 14 hour days and locked up a bunch of Mafioso in his last job in NYC, has greatly raised the morale in his office and is going after this like a dog after raw meat. He says he's nowhere near done. It's suspected that the Governor may yet be indicted. His closest advisors have been, and they're getting squeezed. It's getting harder and harder for the Governor to maintain plausible deniability.

Sure, sure, the Democrats hardly have their hands clean in Illinois. But they steal money, they don't torch little kids. It's going to be the Reflublicans in the papers for the next few months, and it's going to be a tough election for the GOP in Illinois this year....

The fact that we have FINALLY rid the party of the "leadership" provided by George Ryan, Corinne Wood, Lee Daniels, and Manny Hoffman is "victory" enough for me. Now conservatives have a chance to rebuild the party they wreaked. Of course we warned them in 2000 election AND the April primary that this sort of disaster would happen if they kept the establishment in place because it was "there turn". But no matter. Now they have to admit WE were right.

We knocked off several RINOs in the primary and now is the opportunity to bring the GOP back from the brink. Note the new chairman of the Cook County Republican Party, Maureen Murphy. Here's how Murphy was described at the national convention in 1996: At the state party convention in mid-June, Edgar asserted his position on the issue by successfully pushing for the election of an abortion rights supporter -- state Gaming Commission member Gayl Simonds Pyatt of Pickneyville in southwest Illinois -- as Hyde's Illinois counterpart on the national platform committee. Edgar's effort deterred a prospective bid for the position by state Rep. Maureen Murphy, an conservative, abortion rights opponent from the Chicago suburb of Evergreen Park. Despite these tensions within the state party, the Illinois delegation is one of the least likely to create dissension in the aisles in San Diego.

Well, times change and the old guard is going bye bye after following Thompson Republicanism for 25 years. Edgar, though moderate, is NO George Ryan fan and has gone to bat for conservatives before-- even when they beat his "perfered" candidate in the primary.

Big GOP establishment candidates like Jim Ryan may well lose in November, but let's work with the good guys we got to get as many conservative nominees as we can to get office in November. All politics is local, and showing how grassroot conservatives did better than statewide big shots will put us in effective to take back this state in four years.

Sure, sure, the Democrats hardly have their hands clean in Illinois.

The irony is that King George is not just a RINO as the term is conventionally used (i.e. to refer to mushy spineless Republicans)--for all practical purposes King George is a LEFT-WING DEMOCRAT. He ran well to the left of his challenger in 1998 on a number of issues, and has governed to the left of his challenger's positions on all the others.

I wish he'd admit he's a Democrat; he certainly governs like one.

there's no possibility of getting a conservative governor until 2006 and it's unlikely we'll have a conservative legislature any time between 2003 and 2011

It's unlikely we'll ever have a conservative gubmit in Il
Illinois has gone the way of NY and CA
You heard it here first. It's just a matter of time until Chicago has it's own income tax. Just like NYC.

"Of course we warned them in 2000 election AND the April primary that this sort of disaster would happen if they kept the establishment in place because it was "their turn". But no matter. Now they have to admit WE were right."

Uh, what? Who warned who that the leadership of the Illinois State GOP would collaspe because of widespread corruption and the deaths of innocents? That's what we're talking about here, not public acceptance of moderate vs. conservative Reflublicanism.

"All politics is local,"

A quote usually attributed to the late Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill, D-Mass., and he could give lessons in liberal politics to the Kennedys. And did.

"and showing how grassroot conservatives did better than statewide big shots will put us in effective to take back this state in four years."

The upcoming election will almost certainly see a change in GOP office holders, and will create an opportunity for those outside the current GOP power structure to get elected, or otherwise gain a seat at the GOP's table. Whether the winners will get credit due to their conservativism or due to their lack of identification with corruption remains to be seen. As I recall, true conservative candidates got flogged in the primary election, which ran before the pervasivness of corruption in the GOP structure became apparent.

Your comment on Thompson Reflublicanism dominating the GOP for the last 25 years is true. But ask yourself why it's been so successful? Could it just be that Illinois voters *prefer* moderate Reflublicanism? Downstate is conservative, but the Reflublicans in the Chicago suburbs don't seem to be, and Downstate alone won't win a GOP candidate statewide office. It's true, though, that it can put a lot of conservatives in the Illinois Assembly.

For non-Illinoisans: James Thompson, who's still around, was first U.S. Attorney and then Governor of Ilinois. A moderate Reflublican, he was very popular and has led to a number of moderate Reflublican candidates winning the Governor's seat in Illinois. The Edgar mentioned above was his successor. He was a fairly colorless Governor (having first been Secretary of State), but legitimately projected competence and moderation. However, he didn't like making deals with the movers and shakers in Springfield, and didn't serve booze in the Governor's Mansion. So he left after (I think) 2 terms, and is now at the University of Illinois. He's been asked to come back and take the Chairmanship of the Illinois GOP, but rumor has it he's not eager to mix it up with the Springfield dealmaking crowd and may well turn it down.

Party politics in Illinois is based on a Springfield/Chicago axis. Chicago has had Democratic mayors since what seems like forever. The current one is Mayor Richard M. Daley, Mayor Richard J. Daley's son, and it looks like he's as masterful at politics as his dad. Outside of a 2-term abberation after Richard M. Daley died, the Mayor of Chicago has been named Daley since 1954. Mayor Daley is very definitely in charge of Chicago (and his friends very definitely get rich off of that), mostly has his way with Cook County, and generally gets what he needs from the GOP boys downstate. He, like his dad, seems to be more comfortable dealing with Reflublican governors, because that way there's no question who's the most influential Democrat in the state.

>> Uh, what? Who warned who that the leadership of the Illinois State GOP would collaspe because of widespread corruption and the deaths of innocents? That's what we're talking about here <<

People like Senator Fitzgerald and state Senator O'Malley (the "reform" candidate for Governor in the GOP primary) had been warning the GOP for AT LEAST two years now they should repudiate George Ryan and dump his cronies from the leadership ASAP. There were countless conservative activists in Illinois like Tom Roesar who warned the GOP that Lee Daniels was a seedy leader who had lost 4 out of 5 election under a REPUBLICAN drawn map and would be a disaster as Chairman. The license-scandal thing had been brewing since 1998 and many Republicans, including myself, told GOP officials during that election that it would come back to haunt Ryan. All this feel on deaf ears. Jim Ryan said George was a "great governor" until George "choose" not to run again, Lee Daniels got the chairmanship and prompty drove the party downward, the statewide nominees were all the "default" choices of the GOP establishment and most of 'em are doing horrible in the polls now that they have to face Democrats.

"We" the grassroot conservative Republican activists, we were. The old guard was wrong.

>> As I recall, true conservative candidates got flogged in the primary election, which ran before the pervasivness of corruption in the GOP structure became apparent. <<

Unabashed liberal RINOs (i.e. Corinne Wood, Allan C. Carr, etc.) lost in the primary, but it's true that most conservatives lost to the moderate establishment Republicans. The GOP leadership, of course, told us that their moderate establishment candidates were the ONLY ones who "could win" against the Democrats. Now those candidates are doing anything but. Ironic, eh?

>> Could it just be that Illinois voters *prefer* moderate Reflublicanism? <<

Since the GOP has not nominated a solid conservative for Governor since the 50s (and he won two terms), we really have no way of gaging the success of moderate vs. conservative Republicans in gubernatoral races. The moderates managed to win the general election for 25 years, true, but with varing success. I can certainly tell you voters do not like turnout liberal Republican governors, given how popular George Ryan and Ogilvie were at the end of their single-terms.
For our U.S. Senate races, the last time we nominated a "moderate", he got his butt throughly kicked by Carol Mosely-Braun, but then four years later the GOP nominated the "conservative" candidate against Mosely-Braun and he's currently in office after all the moderates predicted he had no shot at winning. The moderates lost two senate races and so did the conservatives. When it comes to local races, the "moderate" Republican leader in the Illinois Hosue, Lee Daniels, LOST four out of five election, whereas the conservative Republican leaders in the Senate WON five out of five. (remember, in Illinois house districts all are drawn within Senate districts, which should made it easier on Daniels) Go figure.

I think Cook County voters perfer liberal candidates and downstate voters perfer conservative candidates. "Moderates" advantage in my area may well be a disadvantage downstate because it hurts GOP turnout.

>> Party politics in Illinois is based on a Springfield/Chicago axis. Chicago has had Democratic mayors since what seems like forever. <<

1930. Cermak.

We've had Democrat mayors for 70+ years and Republican governors for 26+. All that may change in this election if a 'RAT wins the governorshp, while getting the general assembly. And, of course, they keep control of Cook County. That's one-party rule and I think it would create a backlash in Illinois because it's all been a very centrist state whose voters tend to balance out Republicans and Democrats. If it doesn't create a backlash to cause Republicans to win downstate, then it might create a backlash in the moderate suburbs and cause them to finally vote solid Republican after 20 years and give Republicans back some offices in Cook County. A Republican last held a county-wide office in Cook 10 years ago. But Stronger, the Democrat incumbant running the Cook County board, is very old, corrupt, senial, and unpopular. The Republican nominee is head of the Chicago NAACP and very popular with blacks who ususally vote Dem.

In any case, we're looking at a rough ride ahead. Should Fitzgerald be the only statewide Republican left holding office after the November election (sort of like Helms in North Carolina after '98), he may very well be able to remold the party in his own image. Hmmm.

I've lived in this great state 8 years. I'd say you've summarized what I've seen of Republican politics in Illinois in the last 8 years.

I was an O'Malley fan. I'm still an O'Malley fan. There's NO WAY I won't vote for Jim Ryan over Bagoshits any day. If Ryan doesn't get the lead out, he may as well roll over. This should be a walk for him to the Governor's office. I'm highly miffed that this is a race. I wish those folks in Chicagoland would get it in gear. As usual, you can depend on us Republicans south of I-80.

Jim Ryan will be the next Governor of the State of Illinois; he will likely win by a landslide. While he would not be my personal pick for Governor of this great state, at least he is a Republican - and a conservative one at that.

I wish those folks in Chicagoland would get it in gear.

I'm trying Endeavor, I'm trying.

Bookmarking 'til I return on Sunday and Bumping Chicagoland Chapter members & others...

"The license-scandal thing had been brewing since 1998 and many Republicans, including myself, told GOP officials during that election that it would come back to haunt Ryan."

There were some people who did do this, that's true. But the old U.S. Attorney went out of his way to let people know that he wasn't looking at George Ryan in all of this, and that got George through the election. Then that U.S. Attorney got replaced by a much better one, and he's been going after all of George's buddies to beat hell. Looks like he's zeroing in on George, too. Time will tell.

"The GOP leadership, of course, told us that their moderate establishment candidates were the ONLY ones who "could win" against the Democrats. Now those candidates are doing anything but. Ironic, eh?"

True, but they'd be doing a lot better if not for the scandal. Few forsaw this going as far as it has. Especially ironic because the new U.S. Attorney was appointed on the recommendation of the current Reflublican Senator.

"I can certainly tell you voters do not like turnout liberal Republican governors, given how popular George Ryan and Ogilvie were at the end of their single-terms."

Ogilvie went down because he helped put in the state income tax, so there you have a fair statement. But Ryan would probably have been re-elected if not because of the corruption scandal. His politics weren't a factor.

"For our U.S. Senate races, the last time we nominated a "moderate", he got his butt throughly kicked by Carol Mosely-Braun, but then four years later the GOP nominated the "conservative" candidate against Mosely-Braun and he's currently in office after all the moderates predicted he had no shot at winning."

Something's wrong with this analysis. Senate terms are 6 years long if no one dies. She served a full 6 year term, not 4 years. And she lost not just because of her politics, but because she was viewed as incompetent and because there were some irregularities in how she and her family handled their income taxes.

Fitzgerald may well be the only Reflublican holding statewide office in Illinois when this election is done. And he's not beholden to any of the GOP'ers in Springfield, since he won his primary without their support. Indeed, he'd be in an excellent position to make changes.

RedWing9,

Let me know if I can be of help. Thank you for your efforts. -- E

The Illinois Republican Party Victory Conference

Oxymoron??

The fact that we have FINALLY rid the party of the "leadership" provided by George Ryan, Corinne Wood, Lee Daniels, and Manny Hoffman is "victory" enough for me. Now conservatives have a chance to rebuild the party they wreaked.

With all due respect, WE didn't rid the party of them. The Fed's are doing it. The corruption that's been rampant in the Republican Party for the last 10+ years has me disgusted enough to sit out this upcoming election at the state level. Yes, I'm that disgusted.

I do not count myself a "Republican" any longer. I count myself a CONSERVATIVE first and foremost.

Jim Ryan is George Ryan, part deux. Jim Ryan wouldn't investigate George Ryan, causing the Feds to step in. Jim Ryan put an innocent man on death row (Rolando Cruz) and even on the day Cruz was vindicated and released, Jim Ryan insisted Cruz was guilty - even though DNA evidence exonerated Cruz.

Almost EVERYONE involved in the Cruz case in the DuPage county prosecutors office has come under investigation, several are now sitting in jail themselves for their cover-up of evidence in the Cruz case.

So we're down to Jim Ryan v. Rod Blowhardovitch. I'm sitting out that race.

Joe Birkett v. Lisa Madigan - undecided if I'll vote in this race at all, but it's another choice of the lesser of two evils. Joe Birkette is Ryan's "hand picked boy" out of DuPage county for States Attorney. Birkett carries his own bad baggage. Lisa Madigan is Dem House Speaker Mike Madigan's daughter. Her campaign itself is so corrupted, her daddy has been paying her help with state funds to campaign for her. We won't even talk about the fact that she's only been out of lawschool what, 3-5 years and has NO experience whatsoever!

State Treasurer - Judy Barr Topinka v. ?? Ok, I admit it. I like Judy. She used to be my state Rep. and she's a great lady. I'll vote for her.

The rest of the ticket is absolutely WORTHLESS from this Conservative's perspective.

There are NO victories for Conservatives in Illinois this November, as far as I can see. Pathetic. It's truly pathetic what this once great state has becomme.

Excuse me while I go puke...

Let's hope it is a Conservative Republican Party.

Jim Ryan will be the next Governor of the State of Illinois; he will likely win by a landslide. While he would not be my personal pick for Governor of this great state, at least he is a Republican - and a conservative one at that.

Can you pass me some of what you've been smoking? Jim Ryan a "Conservative?" Oh that's a hoot!!! Ask him how he stands on live birth ~~abortions~~ MURDERS that have been taking place @ Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn for more than 3 years now. He wouldn't even investigate them.

In fact, all through the primaries, Jim Ryan was apologizing for his "pro life" stance. Let's get this one straight: Jim Ryan is about as pro-life as Bill Clinton is an honest man.

Got it? Good. Now remember in November: JIM RYAN IS NO CONSERVATIVE. He's George Ryan, Part Deux!!!

Well, might as well add my 2 cents.

>> Jim Ryan is George Ryan, part deux. Jim Ryan wouldn't investigate George Ryan, causing the Feds to step in. Jim Ryan put an innocent man on death row (Rolando Cruz) and even on the day Cruz was vindicated and released, Jim Ryan insisted Cruz was guilty - even though DNA evidence exonerated Cruz. So we're down to Jim Ryan v. Rod Blowhardovitch. I'm sitting out that race. <<

Jim Ryan is NOT George Ryan. The liberal media is hoping everyone thinks he's just like George, because the liberal media wants B'ag-o-$hit to win. Now if you were check B'ag-o-$hit's position, you'd find he's the one who will govern like ol' George. Jim Ryan have been incompetent but he's not an evil lying scum like George. Look at how George ran his campaign four years ago. He said he wanted a Lt. Governor with integrity and then he picked Corinne Wood, the most liberal, least experienced "Republican" figure he could find (this caused me to vote Poshard). Who did Jim Ryan pick? Carl Hawkinson, who is well known as a very conservative state Senator from downstate. He was previously nominated for the state Supreme Court. Four years ago, George actually went around running ads saying Poshard should be defeated because he wasn't a gun hater. Jim runs ads saying B'ag-o-$hit's anti-gun position is too extreme. When left-wing media people wants to believe something, that's usually a clear sign to dismiss it.

>> Joe Birkett v. Lisa Madigan - undecided if I'll vote in this race at all, but it's another choice of the lesser of two evils. Joe Birkette is Ryan's "hand picked boy" out of DuPage county for States Attorney. Birkett carries his own bad baggage. Lisa Madigan is Dem House Speaker Mike Madigan's daughter. Her campaign itself is so corrupted, her daddy has been paying her help with state funds to campaign for her. We won't even talk about the fact that she's only been out of lawschool what, 3-5 years and has NO experience whatsoever! <<

Here we go again. Joe Birkett is not Jim Ryan. Joe Birkett is not George Ryan. If you check JOE's record as DuPage County State's Attn., you'd actually find it's quite different from Jim's. Let's see...Jim Ryan went along with George's moratorium. Joe Birkett has been on record since day one saying he doesn't think it helped. Jim Ryan sued Microsoft. Joe Birkett said that was very unwise. Joe Birkett has han excellent record as a prosecutor in DuPage County, getting a 1st degree murder conviction against that Naperville mom who iced her kids and put on this big-show about being "mentally ill" at the time (another piece of garbage supported by the liberal media). I personally think Joe has done a great job and will be an outstanding A. G. He's had years of experience and if you read up why he became a prosecutor (after his mother was attacked), it's a touching story. This is a battle of good vs. evil, and I am extremely pleased that Joe won the Republican primary. Speaking of "hand-picked" candidates, his "Republican" opponent was a Mike Madigan-plant who sounded just like a Democrat because his voting record showed he was one. Some "freepers" actually voted for that RINO because Birkett was "too liberal". I wonder if they pulled the level for McCain because they thought Bush was too liberal. Same mentality.

>> State Treasurer - Judy Barr Topinka v. ?? Ok, I admit it. I like Judy. She used to be my state Rep. and she's a great lady. I'll vote for her. The rest of the ticket is absolutely WORTHLESS from this Conservative's perspective. <<

Okay, I'm trying to understand the logic you and spintreebob are using but this makes absolutely no sense. I'm supposed to believe Durkin, Birkett, and Ryan are "too liberal" and too cozy with George Ryan-- but JUDY BARR TOPINKA, of all people, is a great choice? Uh-huh. Okay, let's look at where she stands. UNLIKE those other three guys, Topinka is not only pro-abortion, but so rabidly pro-abortion that she wants ME to pay for abortion on demand (even my Democrat state rep. would NEVER support something like that). She's one of the few "Republicans" to go to the Chicago gay pride parade every year and mention how much she thinks the government should fund gay "partnerships" with health care benefits and other such garbage. I could go on and on, but check where she stands on social issues and one every one, she's as liberal as they come. And YES, that is a big deal because if she's the only statewide "Republican" left, the GOP establishment will announce it's "her turn" to run for Governor in 2006. (I think she was big cheerleader for Illinois FIRST too) Ignore her beliefs and judge her on the merits of her office, you say? I'll try. Let's see...late last year, all those Republicans like Jim Ryan that you say are George Ryan clones were running like hell away from the guy, trying to "distance" themselves from him. Only Lee Daniels, Hoffman and a lady named Judy Barr Topinka were STILL shamelessly kissing Ryan's butt. I bet she still is.
State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka praises Governor George Ryan

Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka agreed with Lt. Gov. Wood, saying, "I don't think we ever have had as good a [Republican] central committee as we have now".
And her job in office? Given the utterly chaotic condition of the state's finances, I see no reason why giving Judy yet another term is going help. Most importantly, she's the "treasurer" of Illinois and she has absolutely NO background in finance! None! All her "experience" was on the job training for the last eight years. Her opponent, BTW, is Tom Dart, a croocked lawyer and machine-candidate state rep. from Chicago (he has no background in fiance either!) The ONLY reason I'm even CONSIDERING voting for Judy is her opponent. I skipped her in the primary and I'd do it again if she were running opposed in the general. As of now, it's a tossup between her and the Libertarian candidate. (he's FAR more qualifed that her, but most Libertarian candidates support their party's kooky platform) I'll email him and see where he stands. Candidates have to earn my vote.

Just my two cents, but I'm look at candidates overall "records" and it seems to me you're voting the exact opposite way you should. Read up on these people. There is no doubt in my mind why the people who normally hate all Republicans seem to be fond of Judy.

Prediction if Blow dry or jim ruin is elected, I will have to move my weapons out of state, same as I did in CA.

BTW anybody have dickie and petey's fax numbers?

Durbin fax: 202.228.0400
Fitzgerald fax: 202.228.1372