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Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

cermak_rd — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:01:30 -0000

The IL GOP party platform this year was not something the average IL voter is going to support. Besides, party platforms are things the activist base (of either party) knock together in order to make them feel like their in control of the party. Then the candidates come along and ignore them. It's what happens.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

Reclaimillinois.com — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:29:50 -0000

Let's face it, both sides of the aisle need to be held accountable for the mess we are in. Lots of new representation with integrity and backbone is in order.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

IL watcher — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:27:42 -0000

Bubs, the chief dealer of "whiny rubbish." LOL

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

Bubs — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:46:04 -0000

GOP'er:

Whiny rubbish. You are obsessed with intra-party infighting. That is part of the problem.

Gingrich didn't hand people a platform, he identified issues that would be voted on if the GOP obtained control of the House. That is what people what to hear about.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

reformer — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:29:42 -0000

I wonder if Andy would apply the same standard he applies to Quinn to the last Lt. Gov, Corinne Wood? The former has been quite critical of the Governor over the years, while Wood never said a peep about Ryan's corruption.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

GOP'er — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:08:47 -0000

A "contract" just represents more lip service. You have to have officials of integrity, or a piece of paper is meaningless.

The GOP already has essentially the same thing as a "contract" - it's called the Platform. Illinois Republicans actually adopted a pretty good one this year at their state convention.

One of the first things many Republican state reps and senators did this year was to shamelessly violate the no new gambling plank.

When some people talk about "unity" what they really mean is "just shut up and let the same misfits keep conning voters."

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

Ahoy — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:01:44 -0000

Memo to Illinois Republican Party:

If you want to capitilize on this, start recruiting better candidates and have a legislative agenda.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

Bubs — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:57:16 -0000

Cermak-

The "Contract" concept is not just for the voters, as the GOP will need it for unity. As "GOP'er" shows, unity is in short supply. The Conservative vs. Moderate feud has been ripping the party apart for years, and doing the Democrats' job for them.

A list of concrete proposals that all can rally around would do a lot. It's best to keep abortion, gay rights and such off the list. That will drive certain obsessed elements crazy, but it will be better to speak to the average citizen and state what the GOP will do to repair all the damage. There is so much damage at this point.

With George Ryan in jail, Bob Kjellander gone, and Cellini and Vrdolyak looking at jail time, 2010 represents a vital chance to break the Combine and remold the Illinois GOP into a vehicle for positive change for Illinois citizens.

For sure, there are elements in the GOP that like the Combine and do not want that change, as well as faux "reformers" that want change on their own self-promoting terms.

But it can be done if the State leadership is willing to set the goal.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

GOP'er — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:53:22 -0000

Someone said, "donâ€™t forget that Peter Fitzgerald chose not to run again because he had succeeded in antagonizing just about the entire state region by region. He didnâ€™t have a snowballâ€™s chance and knew it."

That's just absurd, but it's typical of the kind of destructive, dishonest talking points that the Hastert/Cellini/Kjellander wing (of which McKenna is a part) was putting out back then. They made it clear to Peter that if he ran for reelection, he would have no "party" support. He would have to rely solely on his personal fortune.

Peter Fitzgerald "antagonized" some people alright, people like Bill Cellini, Dennis Hastert, George Ryan, Mayor Daley, the McKennas, Bob Kjellander, etc. etc.

But the citizens of Illinois view Peter as a hero.

If the likes of Andy Junior had their way, Blago wouldn't be under arrest today, because Peter wouldn't have been allowed to bring in a real independent prosecutor like Patrick Fitzgerald in the first place.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

I'mTellingYou — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:50:24 -0000

DisenfranchisedConservative
How about Larry Bomke. He seems like a straight shooter. Just a thought.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

What we have to look forward t — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:48:07 -0000

This is an interesting Illinois Issues article from February, 1980 about the "Honest Quinn".

http://www.lib.niu.edu/1980...

and I also know a former agency director who can vouch for this.

"During 1975, Quinn was considered one of the infamous "ghost payrollers" of the Walker administration. The former governor placed dozens of assistants on agency payrolls where the employee did little or no work and did not report to supervisors there. Walker was accused of attempting to disguise how he had expanded the number of employees in the governor's office because of his campaign pledge not to do so.

Quinn was one of those employees. He was hired in January 1973 as an $18,000 a year assistant and was given a title indicating he would be a liaison to the public. The following year, he was given a pay raise to $20,000. The next year, he was shifted to the payroll of the Illinois Industrial Commission and received a raise to $23,000. At that point, Quinn became the target of legislative inquiry. Legislators, many in open confrontation with Walker, grilled agency directors about their payrolls when they appeared before appropriations committees. The chairman of the Industrial Commission, during one question session, admitted Quinn did not work full time for the agency. The lawmakers also accused Quinn of being "in conflict of interest" because he telephoned legislators seeking support for proposed constitutional amendments while on the commission payroll."

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

Been There — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:40:57 -0000

anon @2:33. You can't pass a law like that retroactivly. Once he's in, the law in place at that time would apply.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

cermak_rd — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:39:42 -0000

Oh, and as for McKenna's fight with Peter Fitzgerald goes, don't forget that Peter Fitzgerald chose not to run again because he had succeeded in antagonizing just about the entire state region by region. He didn't have a snowball's chance and knew it.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

cermak_rd — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:37:54 -0000

I don't know that the GOP needs a brilliant contract with IL scheme at this moment. I think if they can bring forth some non-sullied, non-ideologue moderate candidates they could do quite well. Where the GOP has gone off the track in IL has been to follow the national GOP move to the right on social issues (abortion, abstinence, GBLT issues) without convincing their fellow citizens to lurch that way as well. Part of the reason G. Ryan won out over Poshard was that Poshard was seen as being too conservative on some of those issues.

Get away from those issues (as the IL Dems have done on guns) and the IL GOP should be able to recover.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

anon — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:33:13 -0000

Been There,

Yes, and the requirement that the appointee serve until the next congressional election is statutory, not constitutional and can be changed if the legislator wants to act, hence the part where I said a new law be enacted.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

OneMan — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:32:28 -0000

== Fast forward. The Democrats are leading the effort to impeach a Democrat Governor ==

Because he was friggin arrested by the FBI for trying to sell a senate seat, lets not pretend this is some sort of 'profiles in courage' moment for the IL Democratic party

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

kidder — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:28:27 -0000

There he goes again, what Republican supported George Ryans reelection?? I can't think of a single one. Not even his LG.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

Been There — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:24:09 -0000

===You enact new legislation that calls for one. Per the 17th Amendment, an appointment to the Senate is only temporary until an election is held. ====
anon @ 1:08, the Illinois law that relates to the U.S. Constitution reads

"the Governor shall make temporary appointment to fill such vacancy until the next election of representatives in Congress, at which time such vacancy shall be filled by election"

The US Constitution give the state the ability to say what election would apply. In Illinois we would need all of the Congressmen to resign at the same time and then have the governor pick the same date for an election to their seats. Then we could have an early special election for the Senate seat. I'm not saying it wouldn't be a bad idea if they all resigned but don't hold your breath. Roland keeps on rolling until 2010.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

Bubs — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:19:50 -0000

I too sometimes have issues with the State GOP leadership, more towards their demand for total control of everything in the Party.

But it is good to see McKenna come out swinging. That is his job right now, so don't knock him for it.

His other job is to sit down with GOP leaders and potential candidates across the state to create that "Contract with Illinois" concept for 2010. It is a winner, and the only way back to political relevance.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

there he goes again — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:19:31 -0000

The hypocrisy of the Republicans is stunning. Silently they sat by while allegations and evidence of corruption involving former Governor George Ryan piled up. They supported his re-elections and quietly watched him get farther and farther into legal troubles without saying a word.

Fast forward. The Democrats are leading the effort to impeach a Democrat Governor.

Huge difference. GOP hypocrisy in full force early this new year of 2009.

Stay tuned.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

GOP'er — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:18:04 -0000

Folks, get real. Stop pretending this is some kind of Democrats vs. Republicans thing.

Both labels are in this thing up to their filthy eyeballs.

Yes, plenty of Dems like Mike Madigan and Pat Quinn have lots to be ashamed of and plenty to explain.

But for crying out loud, don't forget GOP boss Bill Cellini (now under indictment) was a big fundraiser for Blago. And one of McKenna's main advisers, and members of his State Central Committee, was a Blago contributor and even served on Blago's transition team! That's Skip Saviano. This is all the tip of the dirty iceberg.

And Andy McKenna is so hostile to reform, he was reportedly ready back in 2004 to run against Senator Peter Fitzgerald in the primary because he was a reformer! We wouldn't be in this mess regarding this senate seat in the first place if McKenna and his henchmen didn't try to undermine the few good Republicans we have had.

My point is, there are no white hats in this thing. They are all (D's and R's) running around looking for cover, being opportunistic, dishonest and hypocritical beyond belief.

Unfortunately, in a state as blue as Illinois, it's not good enough for the Republicans to just break even on the hypocrisy front.

A month or so from now the Dems will have cleaned house of Blago. They'll be moving forward. Meanwhile the IL GOP will be back to square one, getting ready for its next huge embarrassing statewide blowout.

I would say one last thing to OneMan and whoever else who want to write off internal governance as "meaningless" or "it doesn't matter." I would just ask, how has that Fannie Mae-style attitude worked for the IL GOP?

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

kidder — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:14:55 -0000

NfN...your nose is in something but its not news. It seems to be up the backside of the blago cochair. Say want you want about Mckenna, Topinka and Birkett but they were right and your guy and his statewide blago appologist were loving up on him. That isnt an MOU it is an I Love You.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

Bill Baar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:14:49 -0000

The Illinois GOP is a little bigger than McKenna by the way. He's the mechanic. He's not the idea guy. Cross has done well I think on National shows.

Have to admit there is no real script on how to react when the opposition puts on a three ring circuls like this.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

Six Degrees of Separation — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:13:55 -0000

Maybe this is really a golden opportunity for the Greens, Libertarians or even a revived Solidarity Party, since apparently "everyone" in the 2 majors is tainted. Come on now, T.I.I., throw in the towel already.

Re: McKenna, ILGOP try to take advantage

Easy — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:10:09 -0000

the wild conspiracy theories flowing are fascinating, but irrelevant. Madigan, jones endorsed Rod, helped him get elected twice, approved his wily budget schemes and now have to deal with a mess they helped create--Rod and the disastrous state Illinois is now in.