Illinois GOP picks Alan Keyes to run against Obama!

illinoisleader.com ^ | August 4, 2004

[tame]

It's official! Yahoo!

[sinkspur]

He said Bush was evil (who was "the leadership" in 2001?).

Even after reading Keyes' own words, you still deny it.

OK. But nobody else is fooled.

[LandOfLincolnGOP]

Are you going to now derail the campaign because they drafted an Easterner, or are you going to support someone who will probably fight for 80-95% of what you want from a Senator?

Well, I feel like I'm in a tough spot. I don't want to derail the campaign, and as I've been saying, my problem isn't really with the man himself. But I don't like the precedent, and I don't like what the state party has become, and I don't feel that just smiling and pretending this is wonderful is the right thing to do. How else will the party get the message that I want them to do a better job unless I and the others like me find a way to make our displeasure known.

I don't know... maybe I should start making contributions to the Maryland GOP instead and send Topinka the photocopies. =)

[mass55th]

"If I make a contribution to a candidate, I don't expect him to take the money to pay his electric bill."

That's standard practice during political campaigns. Howard Dean did it. Candidates are allowed by law to use campaign funds to make up the different in earnings they lose while they are campaigning for a public office.

[EternalVigilance]

Are you saying Keyes has a home in Illinois.

I'm sure he will in short order.

At this level, charges of being a carpetbagger just don't stick.

Ask Rick Lazio.

I hope the RATs fall into that trap.

[Senator Pardek]

Trust me - I'd be thrilled if he beat Osama Mubarak or whatever that guy's name is - but it seems so contrived.

If he claims he's a Cubs fan, I'll eat my hat.

[festus]

;So what are his chances of winning?

Slim to none and slim just left town.

Nothing against Keyes just he's arriving to this very late and flat footed and the IL GOP organization is, well, to put it politely "a marvel to behold". I can't tell if it was infiltrated, bought off or is just inept.

The dems will take this Senate seat I'd bet big $$ on it.

[Howlin]

Gracious, EV; you came out of the gate shooting people.

You have to live with Keyes' remarks, whether you want to or not.

[harrowup]

...The movers and shakers in Chicago know him, like him and respect him.

Reality Alert

There are Zero Republican movers and shakers in Chicago

And Daley and his pals are not a bit worried.

[HallowThisGround]

But remember that Lincoln himself, interestingly enough, lost some a few elections (including congressional elections) before making something of himself.
Lincoln lost one election. And in fact, he won the popular vote in that election, but the state legislature chose Douglas. Keyes has lost four elections, and the most he's ever gotten is 39%.

---

Get your history correct. Lincoln lost about 6 elections. Only won a couple State Rep races, once for congress and lost consistently before becoming President. He was considered a losing candidate.

Having lost means nothing. Having a message that matters is EVERYTHING.

[B.O. Plenty]

It is not a childish argument....and you are a fool for thinking so......and actually, I didn't like what Cheny did much and I certainly don't like what Dr. Keyes is doing.....it will only get worse in the future...the party's will just run candidates where they are needed....why don't we then just stop pretending that we have 2 Senators from the several states and just elect 100 U.S. delegates at large? Its madness....every little chip at the foundations of our system only weakens it and it don't make a difference which party takes the whack.

Dr. Keyes, a legal resident of Maryland, has no business running for the Senate from Illinois no matter how much we would all like to see him win.

[rwfromkansas]

The race was lost when Ryan quit likely.

But, perhaps we can still win if Kerry runs the campaign of a lifetime and actually gets a good campaign team this time.

[outlawcam]

Dick Cheney had a residence in Wyoming.

Well if I had the millions he has, I'd have more than one residence, too, and in multiple states. Doesn't mean I'm a resident there, though.

I don't mind that Cheney is rich. More power to him. The point is he didn't live there. Not for about a decade or so. He had to change redisencies in order to be on the ballot, and I think he's the finest VP we've probably had over the last 100 years. I'm glad he did what he did, and what he was Constitutionally and morally authorized to do, to get on the ticket.

[deport]

Has this been announced in the media......... I find nothing in the media on Yahoo or Google news and nothing saying he's been selected in the Link provided on this thread...

That being said here's a quote from Keyes today about his being selected:

Asked how he felt about making a Senate run from a state where he has never lived, he said: "As a matter of principle, I don't think it's a good idea. ... It has to be something where I would be convinced it's not only consonant with federalism as I understand it but that it's in the best interest of the state and of the nation."

That all being said, think of how this will help bring the 'stay at homers, lesser of two evils, etc' into the mix for this election... It should help energize the right wing religious base and thus help the President.... Should he win it would be interesting to see some of his speeches on the Senate floor.

Heck it may become a landslide if things continue to break correctly and maybe 70% +/- 5%........

[rwfromkansas]

He can respond that he was drafted.

[Howlin]

But there is only one right answer.

There is more than one person who disagrees with you; are you saying that all of them are liars?

[John Lenin]

Since when does the media think for you ? are you one of them mind-numbed-robots? Keyes should cream this rookie.

[dts32041]

Spoken like a true ryan pubbie.

[EternalVigilance]

I meant that it was childish to harp on it now that the course is set.

Express your disapproval and move on.

[AppyPappy]

Nobody has answered my question: does Keyes have a house near Chicago or anywhere up there?

It doesn't matter. Get on board the Republican train. Quit thinking of ways to lose.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

You are right. Not a smart move.