(IL) GOP hoping to overcome big obstacles

[UpInArms]

http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/14129686.htm

SPRINGFIELD - These are tough times for the Illinois Republican Party.

Their former leader is on trial on corruption charges. The biggest name in the party decided not to run for governor. The people who did run are slinging mud and calling each other names like "moron."

And whoever wins the nomination for governor in Tuesday's primary gets the pleasure of challenging an incumbent with a huge campaign fund in a Democrat-leaning state.

"It's wonderful, if you're into abuse," said Maureen Murphy, a member of the GOP State Central Committee.

Ethics and corruption have dominated the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. The candidates are simultaneously trying to distance themselves from former GOP Gov. George Ryan, now awaiting a jury's verdict on charges of racketeering and fraud, and tear down Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The GOP front-runner, state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, has been hit with accusations that she is part of a corrupt network of political insiders. One challenger has accused her of ordering her staff to shred a potentially embarrassing document. The document was eventually released to the public.

...more...

[davsand]

1. After YEARS of GOP domination in Illinois I am loving this.

We put up with HOW MANY years of GOP domination?

Ryan did one term, Edgar had two terms, Thompson had fourteen years (three full terms, one two year term...) We put up with those idjits WAY too long.

Gawd. The memory of it makes me ill.

You have got to know that I really enjoyed watching Keyes' campaign for Senate, the Ryan trial, and now this GOP primary for Governor.

Some days it is good to be an Illinois Democrat...



Laura

[Mechatanketra]

2. We're still putting up with it.

The state finally puts Dems in charge of both the executive and legislature ... and we end up with a "Democratic" governor who keeps deadlocking his own party.

The end result is that the Democrats won't have been able to FIX any of the damage the GOP did, because Rod won't take the damn cuffs off them ... which means he's essentially buying a share of that damage, and when voters go to the polls, they're going to think of it as Democratic screwups.

If these shades remain unaltered (read: if people aren't bright enough to replace Rod in the primaries), I foresee another 2 terms of GOP governors. I don't think any scandals will stick to Topinka, and she's going to look like a creative reformer next to Rod. (My mother, a generally Dem-leaning library director who embraces with a giddy smile the "militant librarian" label floated by our Justice Department, is tentatively looking forward to a Topinka election). If you're a one-trick pony, and your one trick is "minimize taxes", you're in the wrong party ... at least, I ought to be able to say that. :mad: