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Keyes' candidacy will expose rift within GOP
St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 08/07/2004 | Kevin McDermott

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 ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: alan; alankeyes; carpetbagger; grifter; hehasfaithingod; heisprogun; heisprolife; hypocricy; keyes; sameashillary; saveamerica; stophillary
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To: Amelia

Santa is a Democrat. I know this, because he believes in passing stuff out to people who haven't done anything to deserve it.


461 posted on 08/08/2004 12:38:35 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet (Some of my best friends are white, middle-class males.)
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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
The ears have walls. Or the eyes have walls. Or maybe it's the walls have ears. I don't know. Something like that.

Damn, I haven't done any of that kind of stuff in years!

462 posted on 08/08/2004 12:39:28 PM PDT by Scenic Sounds (Sí, estamos libres sonreír otra vez - ahora y siempre.)
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To: Scenic Sounds

Don't expect the Media to pick our Candidates.

If you like someone, donate something to their campaign.

At least you know you're on the Side of Right!!

http://www.klaymansenate.com

And Watch Hillary Scream!! :)


463 posted on 08/08/2004 12:41:27 PM PDT by Joy Angela (No More DINOs - Democrats In Name Only AKA The Enemy Within)
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To: Scenic Sounds

LOL


464 posted on 08/08/2004 12:41:56 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet (Some of my best friends are white, middle-class males.)
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To: loveliberty2

Regarding Keyes' remarks about "evil"--in the August 2001 speech referred to, he never called GWB "evil," he spoke of evil several times, and the real danger of making decisions that opened the door to evil, as in this passage from that speech:



Nice speech you link to but in case you didn't or don't know it that isn't the speech in question.... one day too early and at the wrong location.


465 posted on 08/08/2004 12:43:20 PM PDT by deport (Please Flush the Johns......)
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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet; deport
Oh look what I found on Klayman's page; one of his big issues!

Introduce legislation to allow any taxpayer to bring suit to challenge the legality of any federal tax or audit.

466 posted on 08/08/2004 12:45:48 PM PDT by Howlin (Saving Private Hamster)
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To: The Libertarian Dude
When the Hildabeast comes a-knockin' in 2008, there had better be a black man or woman on the GOP ticket. That bitch is going to cause us no end of trouble.

True. The Hildebeast is knocking at our door.

Someone's got to STOP Her!

467 posted on 08/08/2004 12:49:58 PM PDT by Joy Angela (No More DINOs - Democrats In Name Only AKA The Enemy Within)
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To: Howlin

Klayman will be back filing those lawsuits come the 1st of Sept or not to long afterward I suspect. Just a guess, but look for a big Press Release announcing his return to the 1/4 million dollar job at JW shortly after he comes in sucking hind teat in the August 31 primary in FL.


468 posted on 08/08/2004 12:50:38 PM PDT by deport (Please Flush the Johns......)
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To: Howlin

That must be Klayman's "plan" to create more jobs....for lawyers. LOL


469 posted on 08/08/2004 12:52:50 PM PDT by Carolinamom
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To: EternalVigilance

Bump for True Believers in the American Way!!

Just the fact that Keyes is in the race is
going to expose the FRAUD of fake Democrat candidates
who try to seduce young people into voting anti-american.

No wonder the Kerry's and the Clinton's are
so afraid of men like Keyes and Klayman and
try to scare off support for these great men
through their Media Whores!

The more negative press I read
the MORE I LOVE Keyes and Klayman
just for stirring up the dust!

It's time to stand up to the Democrat Elite.

This is STILL the United States of America.

Let's ACT like it.


470 posted on 08/08/2004 12:54:34 PM PDT by Joy Angela (No More DINOs - Democrats In Name Only AKA The Enemy Within)
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To: deport

As if that one wasn't bad enough, suggesting the President was insincere about the effort he made to come to a reasonable decision.

That's what bugs me.

If he could cut that sort of thing out, I'd probably love the guy. I actually liked him at one time. (Just like I liked McCain for about a week.)


471 posted on 08/08/2004 12:54:44 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet (Some of my best friends are white, middle-class males.)
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To: Graybeard58
I keep reading articles like this bashing Republicans, and I keep checking to see if they're editorials or an opinion column. Haven't found one yet. These "articles" should be on the op-ed pages.

The left is getting desperate!

472 posted on 08/08/2004 12:57:21 PM PDT by jeffc
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To: EternalVigilance

There are a couple posters here who FREAK out
whenever True Patriots are mentioned.

Makes me wonder what side
these screamers are on.


473 posted on 08/08/2004 12:57:42 PM PDT by Joy Angela (No More DINOs - Democrats In Name Only AKA The Enemy Within)
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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet

I thought Klayman quit being a conservative and became non-partisan after Bush was elected...or was that just Judicial Watch?


474 posted on 08/08/2004 12:59:25 PM PDT by Amelia ("....so I certainly wouldn't imitate it.")
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To: Amelia

I don't know. I don't care. LOL

BTW: Did you ever order a Judicial "watch"?


475 posted on 08/08/2004 1:02:28 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet (Some of my best friends are white, middle-class males.)
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To: Amelia

I'm not sure I follow the heavy emphasis on having criticized Bush...as long as a person supports the party nominee at the end of the day, are they not allowed to voice disagreement on specifics?

Bush seems to enjoy a working relationship with John McCain - including campaigning together - despite the fact that McCain is constantly carping at his heels from the left on some point or other. Are we not a big enough party that I can say "I think Bush has been dismal on sealing our borders" and yet still be a supporter of his re-election?

One does not have to be a "Bush Republican" to be a Bush supporter. Would the party and the country not be better served with the voicing of a diversity of opinions rather than goose-stepping "talking points" like the Dims use?

Take, for instance, the most notorious quote - the one which sinkspur has tattooed on the back of his right hand, about "the evil you know". Which is better, for one to recognize an evil policy decision and say so, or to keep one's mouth shut and allow it to go unchallenged?

Now, one might disagree that in that particular case, that specific decision was "evil"...but the mere fact that one who finds it to be so raises his voice in protest is honorable, not something to be vilified.

Make it something we agree about and see how it fits - if GWB had, for some reason, nominated a pro-choice judge to the SCOTUS...should those of us who are pro-life hold our tongue and be "Bush Republicans" who dare not criticize? Or should we call it an evil choice? Which is the more honorable path? And may no mistake, it is perfectly reasonable to read that comment as saying Bush has allowed an evil idea, or philosophy, or policy "behind the lines" as it is to read it as saying Bush himself is evil. And, in fact, given that it's not been an issue since, it's likely the former given that Keyes is not the sort of fellow to call you evil once and never go back to that well again.

I think the party is big enough to handle disagreement.


476 posted on 08/08/2004 1:03:14 PM PDT by WillRain
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To: Amelia

I thought Klayman quit being a conservative and became non-partisan after Bush was elected...or was that just Judicial Watch?



Oh, he's non-partisan alright. He'll sue anyone if'n he can find someone to be the plaintiff. Shucks he'll go over to International Court of Justice in the Netherlands at The Hague if necessary to do so.


477 posted on 08/08/2004 1:04:33 PM PDT by deport (Please Flush the Johns......)
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To: EternalVigilance
Conservatives are an intelligent lot. They understand the smear campaign that is going on here, who is doing it, and why.

We also understand that puppet candidates like Bill and Hillary Clinton and Kerry are pushed to the front of the pack by a slobbering Left-Wing Media Whores until somehow, they manage to win a race.

We're sick and tired of being manipulated.

Send in REAL Men and Women.

It's TIME to SEND Keyes.

478 posted on 08/08/2004 1:04:36 PM PDT by Joy Angela (No More DINOs - Democrats In Name Only AKA The Enemy Within)
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To: joesbucks
If Keyes speaks at the convention he will be what Pat Buchanan was in 1992.

If you mean that he'll be the victim of an insane amount of left wing propaganda spin to portray him as a hate-monger, then yes, I agree.

That's why he'll never be given a prominent slot. This convention as been too carefully packaged as "centerist" for them to risk that.

479 posted on 08/08/2004 1:07:16 PM PDT by WillRain
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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet

It's okay to ask quesitons. But never will you
find a perfect person to run in a major race.

Look at what Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton get
away with!!

The left uses our sense of right and justice
to defeat our candidates.

And then their evil wins the final battles.

Nice trick. I think it's time we turn the tables
on the little game.

Let the questions be asked, but NEVER FORGET
the EVIL that resides on the Left.

Let that TRUTH guide your vote and your support.


480 posted on 08/08/2004 1:08:08 PM PDT by Joy Angela (No More DINOs - Democrats In Name Only AKA The Enemy Within)
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