Posted on 08/07/2004 7:24:44 PM PDT by Graybeard58
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - At one point during last week's Republican leadership gathering in Chicago, the debate over conservative activist Alan Keyes grew so contentious that journalists standing outside the closed doors heard - and reported - the shouting.
The Illinois Republican State Central Committee later barred reporters from the entire floor where they were meeting to choose their party's new candidate for the U.S. Senate.
But with Keyes' candidacy likely to become official Sunday, it will be much tougher for Republican leaders to hide the internal strife in their divided party.
On Wednesday night the committee formally asked Keyes - a former United Nations ambassador and two-time presidential candidate who has never lived in Illinois - to run against Democratic candidate Barack Obama for Illinois' open Senate seat. All indications are that Keyes will accept, kicking off his campaign Sunday at a Chicago-area rally.
Keyes will replace Jack Ryan, whom Republicans nominated in the primaries for the Senate. Ryan bowed out of the race last month amid embarrassing sexual allegations.
While Keyes' candidacy solves one problem for the GOP, it generates another: His far-right views on most major issues will, once again, highlight the deep fissure in the Illinois GOP between moderates - like former Govs. Jim Edgar and James Thompson - and the more conservative wing, which has been trying for years to move the party rightward.
"The state party is divided in the same way the national party is divided. The difference in Illinois is that the more moderate branch tends to run the board," noted political scientist John S. Jackson of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. "The hard-right decided they wanted this ... but it will magnify the fault lines" with moderates.
Shouts and silence
The first rumblings of that fault line were heard through the cl
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
If the ump starts changing the strike zone and calls outside balls strikes,
SWING OR STRIKE OUT.
You have no idea just how funny you are,but that's good. We've been laughing AT you for days now.I must say,though,that since dropping the claim of being the thread nanny,your tone hasn't changed at all.
Lusting for blood? I wasn't, but I probably should have been, looking back on it now. I supported Keyes in this race, but you've effectively taught me my lesson. I won't make this mistake again. I couldn't care less what happens to him at this point.
Way to go!
I respect your comments, and, in part, agree that Keyes supporters are sometimes - despite my pleas - overly crass.
However, I would ask that you view their comments in the context of having debated nopardons, howlin, and a few other rather strident opponents here for several days.
I have pleaded with both sides for a cease fire. but neither side wants to lay down arms first - perhaps neither side wants to lay down arms at all.
More's the pity.
P.S. If he loses, take a good long look in the mirror.
You are nearly alone in thinking him "not brilliant
oBAmasama also considers Keyes brilliant because he turned his butt around in Mississippi and hauled it back to Jesse's lap at full speed when he heard that Hurricane Keyes was on the way.
Poor Obywanabama. He though it was going to be easy sailing.
I certainly haven't predicted it. I have said it is possible, because it is.
But the chances are lower when our ranks are shot through with defeatist talk.
You're a reasonable person and I appreciate your kindness. Thank you. More people on FR on all sides should be like you (including me).
Try? Sure.
Succeed? not with anyone who thinks for themselves. and the braind dead are liberals already so no great loss.
You're looking for a conservative icon - and Keyes ain't it.
Self proclaimed "true conservatives" such as Apes are void of the word tact in their vocabulary.
That said I wish Alan Keyes the best. He will give the radical leftist Obama some competition and bring national attention to the race.
But then,your lengthy screeds are the only allowed...right? Or perhaps the vocabulary threw you. Sorry,I'll dumb it down again,so that you are able to comprehend what I write without having to resort to a dictionary.Or are you just not up to dealing with logic and erudite prose,unless Alan says/writes it? LOL
I tried.
I knew Ronald Reagan.Alan Keyes is NO Reagan;not on any level.
and became more Sarptonesque/Jacksonesque than "principled".
Two further points:
1. What happens here is hardly representative because this place is refuted to be a bastion of conservatism. I make replies here I'd never bother with on my other favorite site because it has no presumption of conservatism, quite the opposite in fact. That being the case, folks tend to get a bit snippy when their definition of "true Conservative" conflicts with someone Else's. It really has little application in the real world.
2. With all due respect, EV and others have not addressed you and those who agree with you one bit more disrespectfully than you and a few others have addressed them. I have no idea who started it but you are BOTH guilty of over the top rhetoric and emotionalism. You need look no further than your last few CAPITAL LETTER SCREAMING RANTS to see that.
Someone here has to be the first to stand down and be an adult. I'd love to see it be keyes supporters, since they are the ones who need to win converts, but from your point of view, it would behoove you to cool your jets if you are going to play the victim of abusive Keyes supporters.
All this crap serves the reputation of neither side.
These people flip flop and lie,worse than Kerry
I truly would like to maintain a civil tone with you, maam. But there is a lot of history behind this particular battle, and there is precious little grounds for trust.
I get along quite well with most people, and have no desire to be at war with anyone.
But the attacks on Alan are unreasonable and detrimental to the conservative movement.
Whether you like it or not, Alan represents the conservative constituency in our Party...there are damn few who unswervingly do.
If some harsh words on FR have changed your mind about supporting Alan in this race, it seems fair to question the depth of that support.
But Alan's detractors have been overruled. It doesn't matter whether you support him now or not. This seat is not going to be given to the Dems without a fight. You should be glad and just shut up til its over. If that sounds harsh, I'm sorry. But it's the truth.
Many of the folks here who don't necessarily like Alan either have done exactly that, for the good of the cause.
I did the same in 2000. As you know, GW was not my first choice. But when he became the nominee, I threw him my unequivical support, which he has since earned in spades. We still have our disagreements, but I love and respect him as a leader, and work very hard for his reelection.
Have a nice day.
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