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Re: Question of the day

Anon — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:23:38 -0000

Salesninja-

The moderates won't stay under those conditions. And you can't win a thing without them. So be sure to turn off the lights before you lock up the last GOP office.

Re: Question of the day

Salesninja — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:24:49 -0000

The Illinois GOP needs to do much to repair the damage done over the years.

1. Reinstate the direct election of State Central Committeemen. If they keep screwing up like they have been for party infrastructure and elections, lets vote for people who will get the job done and start winning elections. Democrats are more serious about winning, albeit more corrupt, their infrastructure is fine. Keep doing the same things get the same result, fix Republican infrastructure and get a different result.

2. Anyone standing in the way of change (wanting to keep the status quo) and happy with the way the ILGOP is with both arms tied behind their backs needs to go, from the IL Chairman, RNC National Committeeman from Illinois, to any state central committeemen to any elected official. Go and join the Democrats, just like Paul Froehlich, because you probably are one.

3. Stop hunting conservatives. What is this cease and desist letter sent to Raymond True of RALC and similar organizations that are run by conservatives. Wake up! 3/5 of the voters in Republican Primaries are conservative. You've alienated your base. Now you have to EARN THEIR TRUST. Hard to do once its been compromised. How is the ILGOP and statewide candidates supposed to get donations for the campaign if this Republican Party hunts its own? I won't give money to any candidate unless they prove to me they won't hunt conservatives (my best bet, true conservatives).

Fine, let the moderates stay, but you need to run quality conservative candidates that will energize the primary voters and get your base re-energized. Stop attacking conservatives, ok. Maybe contribute to a few conservative organizations like RALC, just to show you want to bury the hatchet and repair the party, ok.

Re: Question of the day

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:24:32 -0000

The GOP "phoenix" needs to burn and be reborn from the ashes. The entire "leadership", and I use the word loosely, needs to go.

As long as the current deadwood constipates he system, there won't be room for new growth.

To get back on track, the GOP is going to have to support common sense solutions to the issues Illinoisans care about.

Most Illinoisans couldn't care less about gay marriage and gun control unless it hits them in the pocket book.

As long as Roe v Wade is law, there's little point in debating abortion at the state level.

Immigration policy should be simple. Enforce the law of the land, both the letter and intent, with local law enforcement, and use all legal means currently available to protect the person and property of the citizens of Illinois from harm by illegal immigration.

On Health care, we need to create a program that provides access while demanding responsibility. Medicaid HMOs and a state voluntary pool for large group coverage for those with uncertain employment benefits makes sense. This should be the same pool to which all state employees, TRS, SURS employees should be required to belong. Let them deal with the same conditions that those of us funding their current deals must endure.

Make the means-based cost to participate and elegibililty requirements sufficient to discourage Illiniois from being the nation's dumping ground for the chronically ill.

Create a system that will fairly distribute education money from state sources to those that need it most, but include checks and balances to prevent abuse of that funding. Create state law that will prohibit schools, universities and other public agencies from approving contracts they can't afford under normal revenue growth. History has shown that when a massive infusion of funding is given to public schools, the primary result is disproportionate wage and benefit inflation, not more or better educational services. Between 1991 and 2005 state funding per pupil in Illinois increased at about double the rate of inflation. Local and federal funding increased much faster. All this excess funding did was create a rapid ramp up of expense and waste that created the financial mess we're experiencing today.

We need to also change pensions for new employees to reasonable levels comparable to those being received by the avearage Illinoisan taxpayer. Create a 401K program for new TRS and SURS employees, and do everything that can be done to minimize pension expenses, such as ending the early retirement program.

No reasonable taxpayer would complain about ending a program which gives a $120,000 per year high school counselor a $90,000 "subsidy" for the rest of their lives at he age of 55 while students can't get decent textbooks and are having sports, music and art programs terminated to pay for it.

The "Reagan Democrat" solution is the only viable choice for the GOP in Illinois, but it won't move forward under the current leadership.

Creating a strong base and organization would be a threat to GOP leadership's power, so they scuttle every attempt to allow one to grow.

A strong base might not go along with the sell outs the GOP leadership has been giving to the Dems and the special interst for decades now, and they'd rather get the piddling Dem handouts than take a chance that they'll be forced to act in their constituencies' best interests by a strong and active grassroots base.

Re: Question of the day

Captain America — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:47:09 -0000

I've read the negative feedback rearding my Patrick Fitzgerald trial balloon.Of course, I have no idea if Fitzgerald would actually be interested in running for elective office.

It may be counterintuitive.(If some were not so blinded by ideology , they would recognize that he did exactly the right thing in pursuing, indicting, and convicting Libby, who defintely perjured himslf multiple times and obstructed justice on behalf of the Vice President.)

The point is,Republican leaders hsould have the foresight and wisdom to recruit talented candidates from outside the existing pool of political "wannabes" to rebuild the party. The old cliche about "thinking outside the box" seems entirely appropriate.

The Illinois political system is systemically corrupt from top to bottom: Democrats and Republicans: Chicago, downstate, and suburbs; state,muncicipal,county governemnts;,executive , legislative, and even the judicial branches of governement. Nothing seems to be on the square in the Illinois body politic.

What better person is there to run on a platform of cleaning up Illinois government from top-to-bottom, than Patrick Fitzgerald?

Fitzgerald would be a strong law and order candidate. He strikes me as a moderate Republican. He would not be an ideologue. He'd have instant credibility with the public, running on an anti-corruption platform. He's honest, he's fearless, and as far as we know he's available. But no one is asking. I wonder why?

Couple a Fitygerald candidacy with a strong moderate blue chip Republican candidate for Cook County Board President to run against Todd Stroger in 2010, the Republican party would be on the rebound. Let's clean up the systemic corruption in Illinois. I've given the Republicans a platform,if not a candidate.

Re: Question of the day

Truthful James — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:35:59 -0000

Illinois First was generous to a fault.

Taxpayers even got projects which the citizens did not want and voted against at referendum. See Jersey County Schools

Re: Question of the day

polisci — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 01:18:59 -0000

Loyal Whig, name one person who ever said your made up quote, "if only we ran hard conservatives..."

I've never heard that. I have however heard a lot of people say, "let's not run another George Ryan crony from the old days."

And your observation, "Many people have gay relatives or friends." Maybe, but most don't think they should get married.

The GOP has done better in every state that pushed the project. Wisconsin which is much like a smaller version of IL passed their's last year. Their GOP also had the only pick-up from a Dem incumbent in a statewide race, anywhere last Nov.

Re: Question of the day

Honest Abe — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 01:03:46 -0000

Maybe the IL GOP needs to embrace Reaganism twenty-eight years after the rest of the USA got on board with the program.

Re: Question of the day

Loyal Whig — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:03:45 -0000

The Republicans relive Groundhog Day every four years. In 2010 we will again see the Edgar Watch and the hard right doing the "if only we ran hard conservatives, not me tooers, we would win.

The national party has forsaken Ill. GOPers. What works in Alabama does not work here.

The gay marriage referndum is a joke. Many people have gay relatives or friends.

What has happened to the Il. GOP is not surprising. When you write off blacks, hispanics, women, minorities of other races and religions, gays. etc, you become a party of old white males. Politics is addition, not subtraction.

No matter if individual dems get indicted-other dems will take their place.

Re: Question of the day

polisci — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 22:50:18 -0000

Topinka losing cleared a lot of deadwood. When Hastert goes, that's a lot more. McKenna I don't think has ever been "there" to begin with. He just needs to get out of the way.

The key is to get better people in to replace these knuckleheads who have run the party into the ground and eaten all the young out of fear of competent competition.

Re: Question of the day

Arthur Andersen — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 22:37:33 -0000

Objective Dem, I agree with you re: Patrick Fitzgerald as the savior of the ILGOP, but for slightly different reasons. As you say, no one knows his political leanings, and he didn't make some friends by going after Scooter (though I think in the long run throwing Dick Cheney's right hand man in the clink will prove to be politically astute) but I don't see him as the Jim Thompson type of wheeler-dealer who also happened to be a pretty good US Attorney. Fitzgerald is a different kind of guy-I don't see him as having the fire in the belly for elective office. He likes the job he has and he's darn good at it, so one would have to wonder why he would want to take on this task, even if a change of administration forces him to look for work.

YDD, the fat lobbying contract "plank" in the party platform seems to be pretty bipartisan after 4 plus years of Blago.

Holdingonto., if "pointing out the failure of the Dems" was all it took to win elections, we would all be over at the Mansion dancing to Governor Topinka's accordion. Well, maybe all of us but Bill. He would at least be invited.

Re: Question of the day

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 21:33:47 -0000

Steve S. @ 12:10 - Illinois First was the biggest pork barrel initiative this state has every seen. Had we taken that surplus of 6-10 billion dollars, and held it for a rainy day (like now) we wouldn't be facing such a budget deficit (maybe). Everybody had their hand out for this brief infusion of cash, and every politician made such his district got its share. Every little town got a new $100K+ fire station to house their 30-year old trucks, high school tracks got black-topped, school auditoriums got new sound systems, football fields got lighting systems, senior centers got new roofs, city parks got new facilities, and the list goes on and on and on....

Re: Question of the day

Team Sleep — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 20:54:33 -0000

Objective, I agree - but don't forget what Spratt, Obey and Pelosi have in store for the country: tax hikes AND increased federal spending. I have read over some of the Congressional Dem budget and it will not be cheap to balance the budget...within four years, if not longer. Families of four are looking at a reduction in tax breaks and the child tax credit will be gone. Oh, the marriage incentive tax will be gone. Looks like I decided to get married and have a kid at a good time! HA!

Pluto, JBT won three statewide campaigns and built a pretty good base of supporters who went all out for her last year. She had a good set of regional treasurers and dedicated employees. I will agree that Bobbo K needs to go, but he's not the only problem.

Re: Question of the day

Holdingontomywallet — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 19:59:08 -0000

Sure, the Republican party can rebound. They need some new faces and they need to be more aggressive in the campaigns. The Democrats have only been in power for a short time and they are leaving a bad taste in the mouths of the voters. They campaign on middle of the road issues and then show their true colors when they get into office. The public has seen enough. The Republicans have a great opportunity, but they need new blood and they need to expose the Democrats for what they are. Stop taking the criticism from the Dems and point out the failure of the Dems - that shouldn't be very difficult.

Re: Question of the day

JBTOWEL — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 19:57:52 -0000

Ronald Krol used to work under the executive director of the ILGOP. He would be awesome.

Re: Question of the day

Ben — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 19:45:55 -0000

Dan Patlak wrote a pretty good tome on the Republican Party with an analogy with Campbells soup--it still may be posted on the website Prarie run by Fran Eaton.

Re: Question of the day

Objective Dem — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 18:43:54 -0000

The Republicans use to be known for strong fiscal management. Then Reagan ran up the federal deficit, Clinton got it under control and Bush ran it up again. Anyone under the age of 50 now views the Republicans as unable to manage the budget and the Dems as fiscally sound. Ryan's over extension of the budget in Illinois reinforces this idea, with mixed results from Blago.

It will be hard for the Republicans to win back the perception of being fiscally prudent. And its not going to happen if they keep working at lowering taxes for hedge fund managers (who pay capital gains taxes for their management fees) and the super rich. It may get them money for the campaigns but ultimately it won't get them many votes.

Re: Question of the day

Plutocrat03 — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 18:38:24 -0000

Like an addict or a drunkard, the Illinois Republican party must hit rock bottom before building a foundation and rising like a phoenix.

The current State leadership such as JBT and BobK need to admit their failures and simply leave. Their take of the party has been to have a veneer of Republicanism while taking care of the good old boys network and then mismanaging what is left.

We will be paying for the Thompson, Ryan, Edgar pork for decades to come.

Rummage around the party's membership and you will find a number of individuals who actually believe in the guiding principles of minimal taxation and smaller government. They are there, just go look.

Re: Question of the day

Objective Dem — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 18:15:41 -0000

I find it funny that people are proposing Patrick Fitzgerald as a Republican candidate. First off, why does anyone assume he is a Republican. Second, he isn't married and I don't see the ideologues voting for a grown man who is single. Third, his sponsor ex-Senator Peter Fitzgerald had to fight to get his nomination through and then was literally run out of the state by the republican establishment. And I don't think the prosecution of Scooter Libby won him many friends in the Republican party.

Re: Question of the day

Bull McCabe — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:36:18 -0000

The Republican Party needs to ask themselves hard questions like:

* what is a conservative? It used to mean "fiscally responsible", now it means "anti-gay" and "Christian, family values".

* What happened to the party of Ronald Reagan? Instead of "less government intrusion", the Republican Party in Washington is all about more government rules and less rights for people. Don't believe me, see "Patriot Act". It reminds me of a (paraphrased) line from a movie (I can't remember which one): "the (government) is so far up my ass, I can taste brill cream"

* What separates the Republicans from the Democrats? Not much, other than the wedge issues designed to energize the base.

You get the idea, the Republican Party has lost their way. Especially in Illinois.

Re: Question of the day

Disallusioned — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:11:08 -0000

No the GOP can not.
1) They do not have any up and coming good candidates althought people will start throwing names around like Bill Brady or Rutherford. Bottom line no statewide winners.
2) Old guard will not get behind any newcomers they will never give up control until the party is on life support and its close now
3) Andy McKenna has already shown after last election he is not the man for the job.

Re: Question of the day

Yellow Dog Democrat — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:51:47 -0000

Schnorf is right: we know the Illinois Republican Party is against higher taxes, against reproductive rights, against gay rights, against affirmative action, against publicly-funded social programs.

What does the Illinois Republican Party stand FOR, other than fat lobbying contracts for their insiders?

Re: Question of the day

Belle — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:40:26 -0000

Not with the present bunch of leaders. They miss what is actually important to voters. The whole gay marriage thing is so yesterday.
It's wrong to even bring it up. They should be trying to get the 'today' issue of banning illegal immigrants passed.

Re: Question of the day

fedup downstate dem — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:38:09 -0000

I would consider voting for a fiscally conservative Republican, who is also a social moderate. Ethics in government, better enducation and environmental protection (remember Theodore Roosevelt?) are my top priorities. Iâ€™m not interested in gay-bashing and inserting religion into our science classrooms. Speak to me GOP. Iâ€™m listening.

Re: Question of the day

GOP'er — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:57:46 -0000

The State GOP can't advance with McKenna at the helm, he's simply lost the trust of Republicans. There have just been too many lies and too many broken promises.

Is McKenna really behind the Protect Marriage thing this time? I'll believe it when I see him actually doing something, instead of just mentioning it in front of a small group of conservatives.

Re: Question of the day

Reality — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:37:31 -0000

Nothing will change. The Democrats approach it as a business; the Republicans, for the most part, treat it as a hobby. Examples are legion.