Posted on 07/28/2002 11:25:53 AM PDT by BillyBoy
First a little background info. For those of you who don't know, the Illinois GOP has basically been controlled by a moderate "country club" establishment for at least 30 years. Back in the 70s, the party "leadership" lined behind Gerald Ford for President over Illinois' native son, Ronald Reagan. In the 80s, they nominated and won with a "Republican" Senator who was so liberal than the state's moderate Democrat Senator, Alan Dixon, actually ranked slightly MORE consevative than him in the ACU ratings. But there's been a power struggle for control of the state GOP for most of 2002. Observe excerts in this piece from the Illinois Leader just 10 days ago:
The liberal wing of the Illinois Republican Party likes to blame the conservative wing when things don’t go right. If a liberal Republican loses, it’s the fault of conservatives who stayed home or didn’t get involved. If a conservative loses, it’s the fault of conservatives who put up a candidate “too extreme” on the issues.
The meltdown of the Illinois GOP is squarely on the back of the non-ideologues and it is they who have shown no interest in party unity. It began with George Ryan’s praise for Fidel Castro and Paul Vallas and harsh words for all three Republican gubernatorial candidates in the primary. It proceeded with Lee Daniels ascension to Chairman of the State Republican Party. It continues with the recent actions of Congressman Mark Kirk...and former Governor Jim Thompson.
Rep. Kirk blocked O’Connell [from appointment] for her failure to support him in the 10th Congressional race in 2000.
Add to this, former Governor Jim Thompson’s attendance, this past Wednesday night, at a fundraiser hosted by the law firm of Winston & Strawn for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rod Blagojevich. Thompson is the Chairman of the Board of Winston & Strawn. Isn’t that cozy? This comes amid reports that Jim Ryan is badly trailing Blagojevich in fundraising (not to mention in the polls). With GOP friends like Thompson, Jim Ryan need hardly worry about the Democrats.
The actions of the current leaders of the Illinois Republican Party are all the more curious given the GOP’s general state of disgrace thanks to George Ryan, et al. It’s a different face on the same old way of doing business and conservatives continue to be treated as a nuisance to the powers-that-be. When that changes, the GOP can begin a true rebuilding.
-- from http://www.illinoisleader.com/opinion/opinionview.asp?c=1366
That was then. Since the April 2002 Primary, the forces within the party have remained fractured and engaged in a three-way ideological bloodbath (between the unabashedly liberal RINO wing, the "finger to the wind" moderate wing, and the principled conservative wing). They were still fighting to a standstill.
Two days ago, conservatives finally got the upperhand.
The Chairmanship of the Illinois Republican Party has been up for grabs for almost a month. Lee Daniels, the moderate minority leader of the Illinois House (he lost four out of five elections under a REPUBLICAN drawn map) had been appointed chairman in 2001 thanks to lots of seniority and people owning him favors-- big time. Daniels served 7 monthes. He ended under a "cloud of investigation" for state employees as election workers on state time. The party nominee for Governor, Jim Ryan, knew he must get Daniels to resign.
The expected guy to fill the vacany was former Governor Jim Edgar, a "fiscally consevative, socially liberal" very popular leader. He wanted to take the job but had other committments. Then the party leaders asked the CEO of Quakers Oats to take the job. He didn't want to quit his day job. Then they asked Congressman Ray LaHood, the moderate-conservative rep. from Peoria who presided over the Clinton impeachment. He said no. The GOP had to settle on an intermin chairman, Dallas Ingermon. They would reconvine in three weeks to pick a new chairman. The front runner in the next two weeks appeared to be buisnessman Greg Baise, a solidly "pro-choice" Republican who had backed RINO Corinne Wood for Governor in the primary. Conservatives would not stomach Baise. Finally, Senator Fitzgerald did some arm twisting and insisted on a hard core conservative. Under pressure and desperation, the Illinois GOP leaders relented-- and our new chairman-- Gary MacDougal-- turns out to be the very person the grassroots conservative activists had urged to run for office and defeat the moderate establishment a year. From the Chicago Sun-Times, July 26th:
The new chairman of the Illinois Republican Party warned Friday of a "nuclear winter" for businesses if Democrats sweep the Legislature and win the governor's race in November. Gary MacDougal, a conservative businessman who helped rewrite the state's welfare laws, accepted the party chairmanship after several marquee Republicans turned down the post. The party's state central committee unanimously approved his appointment Friday. "Facing this job is a daunting thing," MacDougal said. "I've climbed the Matterhorn. I've climbed the Grand Teton. Those seem like molehills compared to some of the challenges we have up ahead." MacDougal conceded that Democrats, who drew the state's new legislative map, appear poised to win control of the House and Senate this year. If they do and Democratic U.S. Rep. Rod Blagojevich beats GOP Attorney General Jim Ryan in the governor's race, it would spell disaster for businesses, he said.
"I believe that Jim Ryan's opponent is owned and operated by the union bureaucrats ... and the trial lawyers," MacDougal said.... Weinberg [said] MacDougal's conservative views are out of touch with mainstream voters. "We have to have a little sympathy for Gary MacDougal," Weinberg said. "Certainly being appointed chairman of the Illinois Republican Party in July of 2002 is like being named captain of the Titanic after it already was taking on water." Republicans have struggled to distance their ticket from political scandals involving top party officials. House Republican Leader Lee Daniels stepped down as party chairman earlier this month amid allegations members of his House staff campaigned on state time during the 2000 elections. Daniels has said he was unaware of any wrongdoing. Federal prosecutors also are continuing their investigation into the trading of drivers licenses for bribes when Gov. George Ryan, a Republican, oversaw driver's license bureaus as secretary of state. MacDougal said he shares Jim Ryan's position that the [[RINO] governor should either resign or fully explain his role in the license scheme. But MacDougal also declared his party is not alone in scandal. Federal prosecutors have been asked to look into allegations the staff of Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan — the state party chairman — campaigned on state time and received improper bonuses. "I believe that the sleaze is bipartisan sleaze" MacDougal said. He called on Blagojevich to demand that Madigan resign as party chairman. "There were dark clouds around the chairman of the Republican Party, and Jim Ryan stepped up and took action and changes were made," MacDougal said. "As we speak, there are very comparable clouds around the chairman of the Democratic Party." Weinberg said Blagojevich is not considering asking Madigan to step down. "There are tremendous distinctions between what Lee Daniels is alleged to have done and the stories about Speaker Madigan," Weinberg said. "You cannot equate the two cases." Cook County Republican chairwoman Maureen Murphy of Evergreen Park, who sits on the committee that approved MacDougal, described the Democratic ballot as an "All My Children" ticket. Blagojevich, attorney general candidate Lisa Madigan, Comptroller Dan Hynes and treasurer candidate Tom Dart all have parents or close family members involved in Chicago politics.
"The pitch that these are 'fresh faces' is (erroneous)," Murphy said. Jim Ryan said MacDougal is committed to expanding the base of the party. "I would describe Gary as a fiscal conservative with a very strong social conscience," he said
Naturally, a mere change in the head of the state party from a wimpy moderate to a fiery conservative doesn't mean a conservative "take over" of the party, but due to the "meltdown" of many of the establishment leaders, reformist conservatives have slowly begun taking over many of the key positions within the party in the past few monthes. Observe:
It should also be noted that I said Fitz was the most popular Republican. That might be a reflection on other statewide Republicans as much as on Fitz.
I just returned from the NW Suburban Republican picnic. Jim Ryan's staff got quite a few people to put on Jim Ryan shirts. But a lot of people also said "No thanks" to his button or shirt. (Nobody that I know of refused one for Topinka, Birkett or Cohn.)
Jim Ryan's staff told people that Jim Ryan would arrive and speak at 3 pm. They waited and waited. He did not show up until the day's final event, the raffle, and after most people had left. Jim Ryan gave a stock speach. There was polite applause from some. Many people who were convinced to wear a Jim Ryan shirt (and whose hands were free and not holding a drink or corn) did not applaud, not even politely.
Jim Ryan (or his wife, or somebody) should have been there all afternoon shaking hands and trying to line up support. He has no where to go but up. So he need not be too cautious. If he doesn't try to get this Republican vote, where will he? If he doesn't try to help himself, why should us volunteers?
That the LP petition challenge was dropped immediately after McDougal became Chair is a good sign that some intelligence does exist. The glass is half full and half empty. 2003, 2004 actually look good. But a lot smarter race needs to be run for 2002.
PS, I'm listening to Tom Roeser while I type this. Reports from the picnic are interesting.
Don't start me on Ryan II, another weak kneed RINO.
Of Course, the worse thing that could happen to Hizzoner is a Democrt in the state house.
He would no longer be the Number 1 demo in the state.
His speech was indeed lackluster. He shows no fire in the belly and seems to be totally clueless as to what it will take to win this election. I'm about ready to just hit fast the forward button, and skip to December in order to avoid the carnage of the next few months.
Hmmm... I see you are unable to understand voting records too. What part of 90% conservative rating don't you get?
Let me spell it out for you in simple language.
Your RINOs in Maine are 100% pro-abortion. Check the primary results in Illinois and let me know how our pro-abort Republicans did in primaries where they had real competition. Just because YOUR state's "Republican voters" want liberals, it doesn't mean Illinois Republicans think that way.
Just because YOUR "Republican" Senators supported the federal airline bailout doesn't mean Fitzgerald did.
Just because YOUR "Republican" Senators supported Clinton during Monicagate, it doesn't mean Fitzgerald did.
Just because YOUR "Republican" Senators supported the marrriage and death taxes, it doesn't mean Fitzgerald did.
Just because YOUR "Republican" Senators opposed across-the-board tax cuts, it doesn't mean Fitzgerald did.
Just because YOUR "Republican" Senators supported massive new funding for the NEA, it doesn't mean Fitzgerald did.
Just because YOUR "Republican" Senators oppposed Missile Defense System Testing, it doesn't mean Fitzgerald did
Just because YOUR "Republican" Senators supported federal "Hate Crimes" laws, it doesn't mean Fitzgerald did.
Just because YOUR "Republican" Senators supported Carol Moseley-Braun for "ambassador" to New Zealand, it doesn't mean Fitzgerald did.
Just because YOUR "Republican" Senators want to force the boy scouts to hire openly homosexual scoutmasters, it doesn't mean Fitzgerald did.
Just because YOUR "Republican" Senators supported the Jeffords Dairy Cartel, it doesn't mean Fitzgerald did.
Just because YOUR "Republican" Senators opposed the Hatch amendment that forced union goons to provide detailed disclosure of funds spent on political activities, it doesn't mean Fitzgerald did.
Just because YOUR "Republican" Senators want to do away with the electoral college,, it doesn't mean Fitzgerald did.
And so on with hundreds of more votes.
I, of course, understand your frustration with your "Republican" Senators. I'd be upset with my Senator, too, if he voted with the Democrats half the time. Of course he doesn't. Maybe you want to drag Illinois down to your level and PRETEND he does because it makes things sound better. Unfortuntely for you, those gosh darn facts shows that Fitzgerald wouldn't be caught dead voting for half the stuff your girls vote for.
Oddly enough, there WAS an Olympia Snowe-clone in Illinois primary. Her name was Loleta Dickerson and she ran in the Republican primary a couple years back. She was handily defeated by NONE OTHER than U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald! Maybe you have their names confused. You see, all the Illinois Republicans who support the types of things that Snowe supporters were OUTRAGED when Fitzgerald won. They insisted the only Republicans who "could win" were liberals. Remember "No one as ANTI-CHOICE and INTOLERANT as Fitzgerald will win in Illinois?" I sure do.
Well, sorry about Loleta. I figure the Republicans in Maine will take her (and please, feel free to have her since you can't tell the difference between her and Fitz! ROTFL!) ...but here in Illinois, we only let real Republicans get the nomination for the U.S. Senate.
An astute observation! I predict that a "situation" will occur that will cause Daley to drop his support for HotRod.
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