CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in GOP Day

Re: GOP Day

Take out the trash — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 10:54:43 -0000

"T.J." weighs in with more dishonest gibberish.

"Topinka fought the Keyes appointment tooth and nail." Actually we have no way of knowing that. After Topinka helped destroy Jack Ryan, she closed all the meetings to pick a replacement. The only people with any say at all were the same 19 State Central members who also picked Topinka to be Chairman, a year or so prior. In other words, her allies. Topinka created such a trainwreck, there was no better candidate to come forward. That Barthwell woman certainly wasn't. Topinka's committee went with Keyes out of desperation, desperation they themselves created.

Topinka helped destroy the Republican voters' choice from the primary, and she didn't even have anyone ready to replace him! What an irresponsible goofball!

And if Topinka really did "fight tooth and nail" then obviously even her own committee, the very one she chaired, thought she was a joke. Obviously she had lost even their respect by then and even they wouldn't listen to her.

And here's more nonsense: "The only people who thought that were Ron Paul people who went with intent to sabotage it." This "T.J." loon obviously can't testify about the "intent" of the Ron Paul folks.

In fact the only disgraceful behavior at that convention was by the misfits "T.J." is obviously aligned with.

Miscreants like T.J. should really be in the Democrat Party, but of course the Dems don't want them.

T.J. is a good example of why the Illinois GOP is dead today. The thing finally just collapsed under the weight of all the lies, incompetence and misinformation.

Re: GOP Day

T.J. — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:23:33 -0000

This is rife with basic inaccuracy.

With regards to McKenna, he still â€˜runsâ€™ the ILGOP. Right into the ground. It is his (and Judy BAARs) policies that have been in no small measure responsible for the contraction of the Republican party in Illinois. There are those that will blame Bush and/or Ryan, but you have to admit that the Repubs have run some pretty pathetic candidates in the last few election cycles. Alan Keyes anyone?

McKenna ran that time, and Topinka fought the Keyes appointment tooth and nail. The chairman has no control over such an appointment.

It was on life support before, but Andy McKenna and his misfit team pulled the plug back in June at our state GOP convention in Decatur. That shameful affair disgusted even the most optimistic Republicans.

The only people who thought that were Ron Paul people who went with intent to sabotage it.

Re: GOP Day

Ghost — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:44:29 -0000

The GOP need only follow a simple process to rebuild in Illinois, stop supporting or standing up to be counted with corrupt governors, no matter how much money they offer you.

Re: GOP Day

Not Now — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:24:04 -0000

I think that the leadership of the state GOP is more interested in controlling the money flowing from the national party.

Does it matter to them when they and their friend holding campaign contracts reap the financial benefits?

The insiders are aware of how and on whom the money is being spent. And they seem very protective in the intent to keep the status quo.

Whether they win elections or not they benefit from others not gaining access to their spending decisions.

Re: GOP Day

markg8 — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:28:02 -0000

wordslinger what makes you think Peter Fitzgerald would have anything to do with the current band of miscreants in the Illinois Republican party let alone the lunatics on the national stage? What makes you think Patrick F. wants anything to do with the Republican party these days other than another shot at putting Karl Rove and Kjellander in jail?

Re: GOP Day

GOP'er — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:29:47 -0000

The Illinois GOP is completely dead. It was on life support before, but Andy McKenna and his misfit team pulled the plug back in June at our state GOP convention in Decatur. That shameful affair disgusted even the most optimistic Republicans. Few obviously saw a need to waste their time in Springfield yesterday.

The only hope now is that after the next disaster in November, Republicans will find their spines and kick more of these bums out.

Re: GOP Day

paddyrollingstone — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:49:57 -0000

I like Vanilla Man's comparison of the GOP to a fleet of White Chevy Astro Vans. Myself, I prefer this analogy to the GOP: All the charm of an airport waiting room.

Re: GOP Day

archpundit — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:25:30 -0000

Ummmm...so a losing primary candidate in Missouri is the McCain surrogate the Illinois GOP gets?

Ouch.

Re: GOP Day

train111 — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:14:43 -0000

Sorry to say it, but the only thing right now more dysfunctional that the Democratic Party controlled state government is the Illinois GOP.
Give me a good reason why we should trade the dysfunctional guys we know for the more dysfucntional ones that we don't know?

train 111

Re: GOP Day

Team Sleep — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:59:40 -0000

Now I'm really glad I stayed at work and didn't go to this. Ay-yi-yi! What a mess. I'm not even going to comment because I've pontificated before as to how awful the GOP leadership is.

One thing I will say is that who would want to come down to Springfield for less than a day from places like Rockford, DuPage County, Joliet, etc.? What reason would someone other than a county chairman, state rep or senator or party official have to make that trek?

What's really shocking, in my mind, is that Ozinga, Oberweis, Greenerg, et al - McKenna's "self-funders" - didn't bring people down. Why not? What a good rallying point. Jack Ryan did it five years ago and it actually created a buzz. I know that probably scares the GOP, but it would be refreshing.

Re: GOP Day

PhilCollins — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:24:04 -0000

NimROD, I agree that the Republicans have run some pathetic candidates. McKenna persuaded Dr. Sauerberg to run for the U.S. Senate, although Sauerberg is pro-choice, pro-gun control, and pro-Hillarycare. McKenna should have remained neutral, before the primary, or supported a candidate who supports the republican platform.

Re: GOP Day

Reality — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:16:04 -0000

Criticism of the State GOP Leadership is spot on but, in response to this quote:

"Where the Democrats had well over 1,000 cheering and sometimes booing members at their State Fair rally Wednesday, Republicans drew a more sedate and mannerly crowd of 350."

DO we really want to count bussed in union workers and paid staffers / state employees???

Re: GOP Day

NimROD — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:47:31 -0000

===People still cannot spell â€œBaarâ€ after all these years? And McKenna ran once ever.===

I know it is 'Baar'; I mistyped. With regards to McKenna, he still 'runs' the ILGOP. Right into the ground. It is his (and Judy BAARs) policies that have been in no small measure responsible for the contraction of the Republican party in Illinois. There are those that will blame Bush and/or Ryan, but you have to admit that the Repubs have run some pretty pathetic candidates in the last few election cycles. Alan Keyes anyone?

===If Republicans announce x- then respond on blog that they stand for nothing and they hang out with Rod and JBT.===

Is there anything factually inaccurate about the statements that:

a) The Republicans currently stand for nothing? and

b) They have been climbing into bed with the governor on the capital plan?

If the ILGOP actually does stand for something; I wish someone could clue me in on it. One thing is for certain - the party leadership isn't doing much of a job of getting their message out to potential voters. What is the platform of the ILGOP? Lower taxes? Less government? Furthering the governor's agenda? I sure don't know anymore.

With regards to the capital project, the Republicans SHOULD oppose this bond-debt funded boondoggle that the governor is trying to sell to the voters (especially since the claim of 700k new workers is so far-fetched as to boggle the imagination). Instead, they are in full Ted Stevens mode - grabbing at any tax dollar possible without regard to the eventual consequences. Never underestimate the potential for a desperate politician to sink to new depths.

Re: GOP Day

wordslinger — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:37:03 -0000

Actually, the Action Agenda is pretty good. I especially like this one:

"Prohibit unpaid obligations of the State from being transferred from one fiscal year to the next, thereby ensuring a true â€œbalanced budgetâ€."

That's good for Day One. The question is what do you do on Day Two, when you actually have to live with it? Especially when you have this other action item?

--Protect taxpayers by requiring a three-fifths majority vote for any tax increases.==

Seriously, if you can tell me how to do it, I'm on board.

Re: GOP Day

VanillaMan — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:35:01 -0000

==â€œI donâ€™t know how you go down further,â€ said DuPage County Stateâ€™s Attorney Joe Birkett, whoâ€™s considering a 2010 run for governor or attorney general, offices heâ€™s failed to win before.==

Good question, Joe.

Alan Keyes, Steve Sauerberg, Jim Oberweis, Chris Lauzen, Stu Umholtz, Carole Pankau, and you? The Illinois GOP candidates have been as exciting as white rental fleets of Chevy Astro vans.

Illinois voters have repeatedly shown that they would prefer a rusted out, corrupted, unreliable Democrat to you because failure is more interesting than what the GOP is offering.

Re: GOP Day

Rich Miller — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:22:06 -0000

===If Republicans announce x- then respond on blog that they stand for nothing and they hang out with Rod and JBT.===

It was Sen. Brady who brought up Rod, not anyone on the blog today.

Take it easy, Easy.

Re: GOP Day

Ghost — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:19:10 -0000

Why does the GOP not run Raymond Poe?

Re: GOP Day

Easy — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:18:37 -0000

It's like template responses on any state GOP topic...

If Republicans announce x- then respond on blog that they stand for nothing and they hang out with Rod and JBT.

Any new material out there?

Re: GOP Day

T.J. — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:10:15 -0000

As long as you keep running the Judy Barr Topinkas and Andy McKennas of the world - we will not support you.

People still cannot spell "Baar" after all these years? And McKenna ran once ever.

Re: GOP Day

Bass Man — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:06:52 -0000

I've said this before...the biggest problem with the ILGOP is that they didn't throw G-Ryan under the bus when they knew he was going toward his Waterloo. But then again, the party leader was just as corrupt. The only way I see them regaining their stature is to re-build ground up with those in office today that actually stand for something, and try to make a difference. The party needs to get away from the "what can you do for me" strategy of compromise and go toward a "here's our plan...what's your's" style of governing, then debate the thing. The ILGOP cannot just whine about what's not happening, they better start suggesting real solutions, otherwise those of us who do vote republican will just sigh and hope for next time...in true Cub fashion.

Re: GOP Day

wordslinger — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:04:54 -0000

Where do you start to rebuild this thing? You have to get a winner.

I guess Plan A would be Pat Fitzgerald doing the White Night thing.

Plan B: What about Peter Fitzgerald? He can run an I told you so campaign and take credit for Pat Fitzgerald. He did win statewide once.

Re: GOP Day

Captain Flume — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:55:12 -0000

Maybe the Repubs were all out setting mouse traps.

Re: GOP Day

Rich Miller — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:50:09 -0000

===this post would not have been any different if there would have been 5000 Râ€™s there.===

How do you figure?

Re: GOP Day

Anon — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:45:22 -0000

this post would not have been any different if there would have been 5000 R's there.

Re: GOP Day

Ghost — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:36:56 -0000

Thos pice remind me of the verizon commercial where the majority of the crowd tunr out to be cardboard cutouts.