Here’s something that really frustrates us, because we don’t want to see Dick Durbin become the next Majority Leader once Harry Reid is removed from Congress next year — we do not want to see Democrats maintain control of the Senate, but that’s apparently what Republicans, at least in Illinois, really DO want.
Last night, we talked to some Republican friends of ours, and the topic of Rudy Giuliani came up. We’re upset Giuliani decided against taking out Kirsten Gillibrand in New York — because, as we told you, and we sincerely do mean this, we want to see every last Senator voting for the monstrous and unconstitutional Healthcare Rationing bill to be booted from the Senate. Giuliani would have beaten Gillibrand, and that would have been one more GOP Senator in Washington. As it stands now, Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer will both be re-elected in New York, when Republicans had the chance to take one of those seats away with Giuliani. Why didn’t they take it?
It’s the same story here in Illinois.
Republicans are going to allow Alexi Giannoulias, the scion of the mob banking Giannoulias family (and close personal friend and b-buddy (the “b” stands for basketball, though we can see why clarification was needed) of the current president), to take Roland Burris’ place in the Senate next year. Running Mark Kirk for Senate is worse than running Jack Ryan (then Alan Keyes) back in 2004. It’s clear Republicans don’t want to win that Senate seat. Kirk not only has infuriated conservatives and moderates in Illinois by supporting Cap & Tax, but he’s a fatally flawed candidate who Democrats are going to expose as a liar and adulterer in the general election. It is an open secret in Illinois that Kirk is gay, and just about everyone in Republican circles has heard the salacious details of his nocturnal antics, as revealed by his own wife in what’s been a nasty divorce. There are at least three closeted gay men in the Illinois Republican Congressional delegation, one of which is running for Senate in 2010 and the other one’s going to run against Durbin in 2014, most likely. These guys, and the Illinois GOP in general, are beyond stupid.
In a week, it will be the year 2010. Voters don’t care if you are gay, but they do care if you are a sleazeball who cheats on your wife with men and gets up to all manner of shennanigans while you are in Washington, typically involving the other closet case you share your Washington condo with. This is what happens with closet cases — instead of doing what they want to do in the open where people would accept them, they decide to have the fake wife and facade they believe voters want, and then think they can do what they want to do in secret and no one will ever find out. Well, just because Democrats didn’t expose you all the times you ran for Congress doesn’t mean they are going to let you win a Senate seat.
Democrats are going to out Kirk in the general election, and it’s going to be Larry Craig/Mark Foley in terms of ugly. They will expose Kirk as a liar, which fits into the narrative already out there about him, after he foolishly became one of only eight Republicans voting for Cap & Tax. Republicans we know feel Kirk stabbed them in the back, so they plan on stabbing Kirk right back if he’s on that ballot for the Senate. They won’t vote Giannoulias, but will vote for a crazy third party candidate or not vote for Senate at all, rather than send the lying Kirk to Washington with more power than this damn fool has now. Democrats almost don’t even need to out Kirk, or expose his roommate in Washington along with him. What Kirk did to himself with that Cap & Tax vote is enough to bring him down.
So, why is the GOP running Kirk?
Why isn’t Governor Hoeven running against Senator Dorgan when Hoeven would CREAM Dorgan in a Senate race, giving the GOP yet another Senate seat?
Why isn’t the GOP behind Chuck Devore in California, who would have a better shot of defeating Barbara Boxer than Carly Fiorina would (as much as we like Fiorina, but see that her heart just isn’t in this, considering her unwillingness to use a penny of her own massive fortune in the campaign)?
The GOP doesn’t seem to want to win Senate seats in New York (2 up for grabs in 2010), Illinois (1 up for grabs), California (1 up for grabs), or North Dakota (1 up for grabs).
That’s five seats, right there, the GOP could have if it ran good candidates against bad Democrats, and properly funded those campaigns. instead, they’re either running people who already poll 10-20 points behind the incumbent or are pushing candidates who will go down in flames in the general election once their personal scandals and baggage are made public.
Is the real GOP agenda to NOT win the Senate back…but just to win enough seats to prevent Democrats from passing anything else crazy for the next two years?
Is this the strategy, so that the House shakes out at 218-D and 217-R, with the Senate 51-D and 49-R so that Dr. Utopia and the Democrat Party have to own absolutely everything in Washington leading up to his re-election bid?
This is the only way we can justify what’s going on with the Illinois Senate race: the GOP doesn’t want that seat, and people in the GOP don’t like Kirk, so this is a chance to get rid of him politically by letting Democrats nuke him with the outing bomb. Kirk made a lot of enemies by voting for Cap & Tax, and is truthfully an ass to deal with who does not have a lot of support from Republicans we know. We remember clearly back in 2008 Log Cabin Republicans here in Chicago telling us they were glad McCain was the nominee because this meant McCain would have to go away after he lost — he had his chance, now he needed to get off the stage and stop being a perpetual contender for the nomination. Kirk will get his chance at the Senate bid, will fail, and the GOP will be done with him, which is what they seem to want. Of course, these fools don’t realize the rest of Illinois has to then suffer under Senator Giannoulias. The mob’s banker, cum United States Senator.
Do any of you have any better insight on what the GOP is up to with the Senate races? Because from our standpoint, they are not just missing out on some good opportunities for pickups, but they’re engaging in outright lunacy in places like Illinois.
December 28, 2009 at 1:21 pm
I think there is just too much emphasis on a person’s sexual orientation. So what if the dem’s “out” Kirk. People don’t want democrats. They have shown that they are nothing more than leftist socialists.
Michael Steele needs to go. But, if the GOP fires him they’ll brand themselves as raaaaaaaaaaaacist for booting the black guy.
Selections and Elections have consequences. So much for thinking in the short term, GOP.
Libertarians should run.
December 28, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Unfortunately, I believe the election of Steele as chairman was a response to the election of a black POTUS.
Michael Steele is too busy making the media rounds and too often making a fool out of himself.
He needs to be in the background recruiting/supporting great candidates and getting them air time.
He reminds me of Obama in this respect. It’s all about him.
There was a great candidate here in CA that probably could have beat Garomendi in a special election in Oct. But he didn’t have the $$ nor the media face time. The RNC could have made the difference. By the way, I hope David Harmer runs again in ’10.
December 28, 2009 at 4:05 pm
I don’t think that either side of this “political class” knows what is going to hit them in 2010.
Many candidates will run in SPITE of and not BECAUSE of the mainstream bull that we’ve been subjected to.
Don’t ever count out the little guy/gal. And enough with the pro-life, anti-gay BS. We’re humans trying to hold on to our Nation.
If you are pro life? Great. Pro choice? Great. Gay? Great. Not gay? Great. Focusing on these outdated and overdone issues will keep the status quo in place and we must not allow the status quo to continue. Under ANY circumstance.
December 28, 2009 at 7:17 pm
I have to agree here.
I am pro life.. but these issues make no difference as to who is in office.
Abortion will end with education.. not laws.
Vote for the person who will follow our constitution and who loves thier country.
December 28, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Fellow Republican Andy Martin is outing him.
December 28, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Well then Andy Martin is a scuzzball. An opportunist.
Being Gay in America is no longer taboo. Hell, back in 1978 I worked in a place called Der Weinerschnitzel in Houston and my favorite time of the night were the drag queens coming thru the drive through asking, “Do you toast your buns?”.
I’m a conservative but I have had many very close, very gay friends male and female. My conservatism deals with small government and personal liberties, personal responsibility and consequences if you are NOT responsible for YOURself, and a live and let live mentality. Fairness for all, religious beliefs must be put to the side. Therein lies the separation of Church and State.
Simple.
Fire the rat bastids and let’s get on with our Nation.
December 28, 2009 at 7:18 pm
my favorite time of the night were the drag queens coming thru the drive through asking, “Do you toast your buns?”.
Hahahaahahahahahaahahaha!
December 28, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I’d guess that there is a lot of job security in being a Republican backbencher, sitting back and letting the Dems look bad and take the blame.
December 28, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Not quite. The Republicans held back a lot of the crazier Democrat plans after they took Congress in 1994, but the Democrats ended up getting the credit. The Dems were praised for moving to the center, while the Republicans, who had been forcing them to do so, became The Bad Parents. The Party of No, if you will.
I believe that the GOP plan is to take just enough seats to set the general principle (that liberal policies are terrible and unpopular), but leave as much power as possible in the Obamessiah’s hands. That way, whatever shit happens is because of HIM, not them.
I think that, in the round of Congressional voting that happens after 2010, the Republicans will actually let people like Larry Elder run and take everything back. Possibly with President Palin. *crosses fingers*
Or maybe they really are that stupid and short sighted. It’s never wise to attribute too much intelligence to politicians.
December 28, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Lissette, you are giving the GOP leadership in Washington, DC, too much credit. There is no master plan. The leaders are clueless about winning and, well, leading.
If I am wrong, and you are right, the GOP plan you’ve outlined will not work. You have to approach every election with “winner takes it all” just as the song in “Mama Mia” says.
December 28, 2009 at 1:40 pm
It is already on Huffington Post, with Andy Martin making the gay claim.
December 28, 2009 at 4:12 pm
If Michael Steele had any onions, he’d come right out and say…. “So What”.
Note that there is no question mark at the end of my terse comment. A man or a woman is Gay.
So. What.
December 28, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Welcome to my frustration….
It’s just one of the reasons I left the GOP and became an Independent. They’re not only stupid, they are pussies.
I mainly left because I thought George Bush grew government too big and the party “insiders” treated Sarah Palin like crap.
These people aren’t the best and brightest but they’re better than the Socialists currently residing in the democrat party.
God help us…..
December 28, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Yes, it is frustrating being an R, especially one that actually wants to win. Hillbuzz, welcome to the “stupid” party vs. the “evil” party.
I don’t have answers for you except that establishment R’s really don’t want to fight and do the “hard work” required to win (i.e. Frum, Brooks, and McCain types). They just want to coast like you speculate in your post. The work horses in the R party are of course, the “Palinites,” the conservatives, economic and social, people who want to truly “grow” the party with real ideas not “mee-tooism.”
Redstate delves into this issue at length. The NRSC is a joke, and “picks” the wrong people a la Crist. So, Hillbuzz, its a top down problem. Once the real backbone (Palinites, etc) “take back” these campaign committees, is when you will see some real muscle. Remember Newt was a controversial figure back in 94, b/c he wanted to nationalize elections which were normally localized and it worked. So, the R’s need some new conservative leadership in DC. That’s already been the topic of many conservative strategy sessions.
December 28, 2009 at 1:45 pm
This is why we many of us have become independents and are looking towards 3d parties!!
December 28, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Yes, indeed. I can’t wait until we outnumber registered Dems and ‘Pubs.
And sure, HB, the GOP would love to take back the Senate, but they don’t know how. All they have to do is STOP trying to appease this or that fringe group and start being TRUE TO THEIR CORE PRINCIPLES.
Stop scheming and start BEING!
In the meantime, I’ll be on the lookout for Tea Party and GOOOH candidates.
December 28, 2009 at 1:53 pm
I hear you Laura, but 3rd parties are just not viable on the national level–yet. A third party vote will probably give Obama a second term.
As an aside, the Green Party has done well at the local level, however, there is no way I would have voted for Cynthia (comit me as soon as you can) McKinney for POTUS.
December 28, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I hear everyone of you about 3rd party, but the challenge is to “takeover” existing party infrastructure with new leadership. By the time, a viable 3rd party is created, socialism will have already become an entrenched way of life. Liberals know this, and will push it. Don’t fall for it. Palin even pooh-poohs this idea.
December 28, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Third parties are suicidal for any sort of real change. Anyone remember John Anderson?
December 28, 2009 at 2:35 pm
The GOOOH movement is a lot closer than you think. It might not quite be there for 2010, but I think it’ll be ready for 2012.
As for Sarah, if she went rogue all the way, she’d still win, probably by an even larger margin. It would show she’s truly walking her talk. She has the name recognition to make it work. IMO
December 28, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Agree wholeheartedly, NYET! 3rd party. Re-structure GOP by first ousting RINOS.
December 29, 2009 at 2:06 am
And which loser 3rd party will win a Senate race in 2010??
December 28, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Just sent this article to John Coryn TX and asked the same question of him.
June
December 28, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Niiiiice!!!
December 28, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Hillboyz, you have just hit the nail on the head. This is exactly what the Tea Party Patriots have been upset about. The established Republican party is shutting out the conservative candidates in spite of what the conservative base keeps clamouring for. It’s more arrogance from the ruling class. The Republican party has said, publically, that they can run whomever they wish because the public will vote for the Republican party when push comes to shove. All we can do is hope that we, ourselves, can get DeVore, Rand Paul, Peter Schiff, etc. on the ballot by voting for them in the primary.
December 28, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Great post! that is why all the polls show the American people do not trust the GOP… It is because it is our conservative base that have to vote Republican that do not trust them. I mean lets face reality folks, the tea parties were mostly to remind the republicans we are out here. If not, they would have assisted in ushering in socialized medicine with absolutely no fight. Nothing against any Dem’s out there at all, but the GOP have allowed the DNC to define them for years…. The GOP is after all the party with no GONADS
December 28, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Speaking of the Senate, check this out. Baucus is sloshed to the gills..
December 28, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Heh.. The author of the health care Senate bill speaks, inebriated, stuttering, slurring.
Question for the Boyz: How will the Death Panels affect you, based on your lifestyle choices?
I’m a smoker, so I know I ‘aint gettin nuttin’ if I get sick.
What if you have HIV or AIDS? Will you be denied treatment because of a “lifestyle choice”?
December 28, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Drunk legislating should be just as illegal as drunk driving. The case could certainly be made that the former is at least as hazardous to people’s health as the latter, especially when the subject of debate is health care reform!
December 28, 2009 at 7:43 pm
THIS NEEDS TO GO ON HANNITY– UN REAL HE IS DRUNK AS A BICYCLE// REMINDS ME OF A FAMILY MEMBER LAST WEEK
December 28, 2009 at 2:13 pm
One more thing… you are correct, voters do not care if people are gay. The GOP have allowed the Dem’s to define that argument as well.
December 28, 2009 at 2:14 pm
1) Ken Blackwell
2) Smells like it has NY-23 GOP strategy written all over it: Newt washed his hands as the good friend of Scuzzyfavors cast the deciding vote in that district as party nominee versus protection of our republic against the liberal socialist agenda that flinging a wrecking ball on the economy and our way of life. The GOP then went on to spend donation money AGAINST a conservative (Hoffman) to prop up a ridiculous libtard (Scuzzyfavors) further incensing the Tea Party activists.
3) Change at the lowest level via the Precinct Strategy may be the only avenue open to the lowly grassroots activists (hard core / granola conservatives, moderate dems, Palin Democrats, etc) because the GOP in its current mold has a spine of jello. Invade your local GOP. Get our faces out there and invade the daylights out of them.
December 28, 2009 at 2:25 pm
P.S. I think this is why the independent party movement is gaining steam despite the known drawbacks. Personally, I would not wait to turn into Republican to get down to the GOP and get things moving in the right direction because we have a higher agenda don’t we — save the republic from the wrecking balls currently in Washington Drunken Bacchus district of CRAP. Politics — it’s not just for elected officials anymore! Independents should invite themselves into the party and steamroll!
December 29, 2009 at 2:07 am
How do you know that these wonderful independents are all conservatives????
December 28, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Even more amazing is that the Republican Party seems perfectly content to let a golden opportunity to take the 60th vote in the Senate away from the Democrats in just three weeks. That would stop Obama care dead in its tracks. Yet no one is even talking about getting behind Scott Brown in Massachusetts and helping him win Ted Kennedy’s old Senate seat.
Granted electing a Republican in Massachusetts is tough but Romney won there. Ordinarily this race would be a lost cause but this is a special election. Republicans turn out way much better in a special election than Democrats. This race could be won if people will just get behind the Republican candidate.
Please go to http://www.brownforussenate.com and donate your money and time. I have no connection to this campaign and do not live in Massachusetts although I was born and raised there. See the article explaining how critical this is at http://www.marstonchronicles.info.
December 28, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Speaking of Scott Brown, here’s his latest ad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAmguPWesq0
Pubs, Indies & Dems need to support this man. He’s our best chance of stopping the HellCare Bill in 2010.
Stop talking/typing and get out the vote in Mass.
December 28, 2009 at 9:18 pm
I just sent my small donation in, and the following message to my conservative friends in Texas.
Friends:
Scott Brown is running for Teddy Kennedy’s senate seat on the Republican ticket in Massachusetts, and the Republican Senatorial Committee is doing little to support him. If you stop and think about it, this is probably the most important race of 2010 because if he can be elected, it will put a screeching halt to the Obama train wreck that is now going on. The election to fill Teddy’s seat is January 19th., so there isn’t much time.
If everyone in the nation who opposes the current health care fiasco and the rest of Obama’s socialist programs would send Scott Brown five or ten dollars, and encourage their friends who live in Massachusetts to get out and vote on the 19th we may be able to save this nation yet. There is no telling how much more damage the Democrats can do between now and the November elections.
I donated a small amount ($10.00) and am sending this message to every like minded person on my mailing list. Won’t you please do the same thing? If nothing else, wouldn’t it be a slap in the face to the Dems for a Republican to be elected to Teddy’s old seat.
Here is the link to his web page.
http://www.brownforussenate.com/senator-brown
And here is a link to one of his ads.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAmguPWesq0
Don’t delay, there isn’t much time.
If everyone could send at least $5 and encourage their friends to do like wise, we could take a big step in stopping the mess in Washington
December 28, 2009 at 2:20 pm
The GOP needs a mental enema!!
I left the GOP because of crap like this. They left their fiscal conservative stance to champion moral standards, only problem, even God gives us all a free will. Why can’t the GOP understand this?
The Tea Party movement has NOTHING to do with social issues. It is 100% fiscal, state’s rights, small government issues. However, the LMSM is doing their best to paint them as right wing social cons.
I had high hopes for Michael Steele. I like him personally but he has not been effective, in fact, he has been so all over the board on issues, direction of the party etc.. that I am concerned he doesn’t have the leadership to steer the party in the right direction during its current identity crisis.
When the GOP finally realizes that they need a generational plan, a long term plan to elect local, state and national conservatives. To encourage the infiltration of the education system, medical, legal, and finance systems then I will believe they are serious about winning. There are more socialist CEO’s right now than there are capitalist. The GOP also needs to understand that Alinsky’s methods require, depend and only work if the GOP acts like… the GOP. That means they don’t fight, they don’t correct, they don’t oppose. When the GOP acts like the Tea Party or Sarah Palin, then the alinskyites go into complete melt down mode and don’t know what to do.
On another topic, I am very, very saddened to hear that Wholefoods CEO John Mackey has been pressured to step down as Chairman of the board. He voluntarily stepped down right before Christmas due to the liberal activists pressuring the company. He still remains CEO but the board is now full blown commies. :( :(
So sad, he is one of my role models for the perfect blend of social consciousness and capitalism.
December 28, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I don’t hold out any hope whatsoever for the GOP. They are too party-centric when they should be people-centric. They have an image of being a bunch of old crusty rich guys who sip brandy on yachts and guffaw about the plight of the common man and, near as I can tell, the “Olde Guarde” of the GOP isn’t too far off from that.
They sit around and think up ways to be more “inclusive” because they think their dwindling rolls are due to the country moving further and further left… when in fact the general folks are staying pretty much constant and it’s just the PARTIES that are moving further and further left. Hence, the GOP loses all it’s traditional platforms, and the support of true conservatives at the same time.
I almost hope the GOP continues to become more and more irrelevant. I think a de facto third party should arise, led by people like Sarah Palin, who are true Constitutional conservatives and PROUD OF IT.
December 29, 2009 at 2:10 am
Sarah Palin is GOP and proud of it
December 28, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Here is a little story about how screwed up PA Republicans are (and for background, I still am a registered Democrat, but I volunteered to help Rick Santorum years ago, made some friends and then volunteered, as a registered Dem, to work for Pat Toomey, six years ago)…
Ok…here goes.
Back when Arlen Specter was a Republican, the last time he ran…he was in trouble (AS HE IS NOW) in the polls during the PRIMARY. The freaking primary!!! Running against, ta da… a real conservative, Pat Toomey.
Well the R wagons circled and George W. Bush, and Rick Santorum (who was the ideological twin of Toomey!) went out and campaigned, across PA for…ARLEN SPECTER. Yes…were those two ever good judges of charcter??? I digress…so…what happened???
Specter defeated Pat Toomey in the Primary and easily won re-election. The Snarlin One went back to DC and back to being…Arlen Specter…siding with the Dems (before switching) time and time again…and…for his support…
Rick Santorum lost the support of the Republican ‘base’ in PA. Specter NEVER campaigned for him (not that it would have helped) and lil’ Ricky got his arse beat by a suit EVEN EMPTIER than Barrys!!! Yes…Rick Santorum has the destinction of losing to a man who needs help finding his office (even though his name is on the door)…Bobby Casey (a goodly portion of our ‘seasoned citizen’ population did not realize that it was him NOT his late dad’s name on the ticket…
So…instead of having two fiscal conservatives Santorum and Toomey reping PA in the Senate (and would that change the outlook there???) we had meddling by the National Deep Thinkers (GWB to support a RINO!) and now have Casey (as senior Senator, because in true Dim fashion they stripped Benedict Arlen of his seniority) and junior Senator Specter (ie., OBAMA rubber stampers!!!) instead.
HA!
Aren’t those guys smart!!! And I ‘saw’ this as a volunteer who worked the polls and phone banks…because I never could stand Specter.
December 29, 2009 at 2:12 am
Sorry Santorum lost by 20 points. More than any other incumbent Senator in over 20 years. If you think, like a lot of conservatives do that Ricky lost soley because he supported Spector in 2004, youre nuts. Santorum lost because he was too conservative for PA…simple as that.
December 28, 2009 at 2:37 pm
O/T
REMINDER: The Hbuzz Virtual Candle Room is at your disposal. Many candles waiting to be lit in honor of your intentions.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=Hbuzz
December 28, 2009 at 4:25 pm
How does this work?
December 28, 2009 at 2:50 pm
OK, so Martin has made the accusation that Kirk is gay. And what does this mean?
It means that now Kirk will probably still win because the GOP will not want to be associated with “homophobic” comments, so Martin will become a pariah.
Kirk will probably get the nomination, and then the democrats will drop all the juicy details out, and the GOP will be labeled anti-gay while the democrats are able to use the bigots to win.
We need some strategery here! The Republican conservative played his hand incorrectly. I throw up my hands in exasperation!
December 28, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Martin has loooooooooooong been a pariah. He is mainstream only in his own mind.
December 28, 2009 at 4:08 pm
From today’s Chicago Sun-Times:
“Martin has never won elective office. His is a textbook case in explaining the power of the Illinois Supreme Court’s Character and Fitness Committee to determine who can and cannot practice law in Illinois. Although he was able to complete law school and pass the bar exam, the committee refused to grant him a law license.”
December 28, 2009 at 3:01 pm
I would assume…Illinois was pretty much a Clinton stronghold thru most of the 90s and then the Obama/Emanuel/Mafia territory during the early 2000′s so I doubt there’s much of a Republican infrastructure there or money or support. It would be like a conservative running in San Francisco on a pro-military theme. I think as the money comes in (and apparently the donations for the Republicans are on the rise and quickly) the money will be spread out to the most promising places. I have faith in Michael Steele. I think he’s a good guy. Unfortunately, it’s all about money. The Dems have an advantage because of the slush funds of billions of dollars they are pilfering out of the treasury department…we the taxpayers are paying for the DNC to maintain power and it’s sickening. And don’t get me started about ACORN.
December 28, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Okay . . . in case you want to know what the Illinois Republican Party is like from the perspective of Republican Precinct Committeeman from East Central Illinois, who happens to be gay, here’s my two cents’ worth:
Most Illinois Republicans I’ve encountered don’t care whether one is gay or not. They don’t want it thrown up in their faces. The attitude is “live-and-let-live” for the most part.
That attitude can be different when one encouters people whose religious beliefs strongly override any political positions they may take. If someone doesn’t like queers because that someone sees no redemptive value in them at all, then being gay matters.
All-in-all, most folks, even very religious ones, don’t give a rat’s rear-end whether you’re gay. A few religious types are rabid on the gay thing.
Another point: The Illinois Republic Party leadership is really out of touch with rank-and-file Republicans. Andy McKenna (party chairman until recently)? Nice guy. Out of touch. Judy Baar Topinka (previous party chairwoman)? Good woman. Not as out of touch as most. The rest of the candidates? They are all so damned boring, who really gives a damn about ‘em? B O R I N G ! !
In the 2008 Illinois Republican Convention, the grass roots were alive and well. Every one of the 102 Illinois counties was represented by a delegation. It was the best-attended convention in at least recent history, if not ever. Well over 1,000 people were present. But Andy McKenna did not pay attention to the grass roots. He pushed voice votes through and the crowd raised hell!
Bottom line: Illinois Republicans are nice. They aren’t in touch on the leadership level. And they go-along-to-get-along way too much. They don’t fight hard.
December 28, 2009 at 3:39 pm
This post got lost in cyberspace.
Okay . . . in case you want to know what the Illinois Republican Party is like from the perspective of Republican Precinct Committeeman from East Central Illinois, who happens to be gay, here’s my two cents’ worth:
Most Illinois Republicans I’ve encountered don’t care whether one is gay or not. They don’t want it thrown up in their faces. The attitude is “live-and-let-live” for the most part.
That attitude can be different when one encouters people whose religious beliefs strongly override any political positions they may take. If someone doesn’t like queers because that someone sees no redemptive value in them at all, then being gay matters.
All-in-all, most folks, even very religious ones, don’t give a rat’s rear-end whether you’re gay. A few religious types are rabid on the gay thing.
December 28, 2009 at 4:02 pm
hillbuzz guys, Rep McCathy is actively looking for people to run.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/81277.html
WASHINGTON — With visions of a Republican majority dancing in his head, California U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy is driving the back roads of America these days, looking for fresh faces to represent his party in 2010.
“I believe this will be a wave election,” McCarthy said. “This will be a national election.”
December 28, 2009 at 6:11 pm
GOOD NEWS!
Since so many Northern States have taxed their citizens to death, and those citizens have LEFT to go South, those overtaxed States are also losing HOUSE SEATS!
This Southern migration is going to make Red States even more powerful.
You can’t increase productivity by taxing productive citizens to death. They’ll just move and take their money elsewhere.
Obama and his Government “takeover” policies are seeing a backlash. Don’t write off the Republican party yet, folks. And until there is a SOLID 3rd party, I’m sticking with them. Anything is better than having Dr. Utopia in charge of our country.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/New-population-figures-give-a-boost-to-the-GOP-8685286-80169682.html
December 28, 2009 at 11:00 pm
I am a very religious, conservative woman. I don’t care about someone’s sexual orientation IF they are doing their job. Most of the religious people I personally know also have the “live-and-let-live” attitude. Do your job, and and I don’t care about your personal life.
As far as the Republicans, I think they really DON’T want conservatives in office. They LIKE the perks they have and have their own rather liberal agenda, a la John McCain, and they don’t want too many conservatives coming into office and stirring the pot! Sarah Palin was anathema to the Republican party in Alaska–why in the world would the much-worse politicians in Washington want someone like her showing them up? They are all scared to death of her–thus the absolutely hatred she generates from both sides.
December 29, 2009 at 2:01 am
Moot question because the GOP wont take back the Senate…
CT-Dodd will win but by less than previous elections
NY-Without Guliani, Gillibrand wins
PA-Spector wins 2 pts over Toomey
DE-Dems win
OH-GOP wins
IL-Dem wins
FL-GOP wins
MO-Dems win (Dem gain)
CO-GOP wins (GOP gain)
NV-Reid wins
Result no net change in the Senate
I guess the author of this piece thinks that Hoeven should be forced to win. If he doesnt want to run, boo hoo for the author.
December 29, 2009 at 2:03 am
“”Michael Steele needs to go. But, if the GOP fires him they’ll brand themselves as raaaaaaaaaaaacist for booting the black guy.”"
Why should Steele go??? At least let him stay until the 2010 elections. Yes, if Steele were fired before 2010, it would certainly be seen as racist and rightfully so.
“”Let Libertarians run”"
Why so more Democrats like Tester can win. Lets count the number of Dem Senators who owe their seats to the Losertarians…Tester, Reid,
December 29, 2009 at 8:26 am
It is nothing more than incompetence not to have top tier, balls to the wall, win in every state they can. They would have to run the table to win the Senate back. they would not do that, but I would rather have 47 seats than 41 or 40.
December 29, 2009 at 12:50 pm
The problem is not whether Kirk is gay or not. Hell, I don’t even care. The problem is all the in fighting that has been going on with the republicans. Now, yesterday the IL GOP did a wonderful thing to shed one of it’s cancerous cells by saying “Mr. Martin will no longer be recognized as a legitimate Republican Candidate by the Illinois Republican Party.”
Whoever win on February 2, 2010, the others should stand strong as a party and support them to show unity with minimal descension among the GOP. I know, it’s kinda like wishing for world peace but wouldn’t it be nice to have a republican in. Maybe it would be the start of great things to come for the future of IL politics.
January 30, 2010 at 3:18 am
[...] for Congressman Mark Kirk, who voted for the monstrosity of cap and trade, and whom Democrats will likely “expose as a liar and adulterer in the general election.” In Arizona, moderate John McCain has [...]
February 1, 2010 at 6:57 am
[...] for Congressman Mark Kirk, who voted for the monstrosity of cap and trade, and who Democrats will likely “expose as a liar and adulterer in the general election.” In Arizona, moderate John [...]