IL GOP chair: "We are miles from the beach in deep, deep water..."

[Padraig18]

Just heard it on the local news...

Judy Barr-Topinka, our State Treasurer and the State GOP Chair just said that former Gov. Ryan's indictment today was a 'devastating blow to our party' and then said "We are miles from the beach in deep, deep water, and any Republican in this State who doesn't see that is kidding themselves."

Woo HOO! :bounce:

[wryter2000]

1. Wahooooo

Ilinois for the Dems in 2004!

This is a great day to be a DU'er.

[Padraig18]

3. I thought of it as Paul Simon's Christmas gift to IL!

He would have loved it! :)

[LeftCoast]

2. Not real familiar with the situation in IL

How does Ryan's indictment cause such a huge problem for Rep's in IL?

[Padraig18]

4. Well, his is only the 66th in a long string...

The GOP here had become an open cesspit of corruption over the last 25 years, and 'the dam' finally broke with the 'license for bribes' scandal under Ryan, when he was Secretary of State; the Feds are doing a thoroughly good job of putting away the GOP for the next decade, at least.

Even Republicans in IL are turning their backs on their own party...

[LeftCoast]

5. Wow! Thanks for the info!

Looks like another state voting Dem in '04!

[Padraig18]

6. We have 3 times in a row now.

And last November, we bucked the national trend and pulled a 'trifecta', taking all 3 branches of state government, something that had not happened in almost 40 years. To put it in my Republican neighbor's words (who voted Democratic, btw), "I'm shit fed up with George Ryan and all those corrupt assholes who run the party!'.

It's a heady time to be a Democrat in Illinois, let me tell you! :)

[alcuno]

13. Illinois GOP = crime infestation.

Although Gov. Ryan did a heroic thing when he communted the sentences of all death row inmates, the licenses for bribes scandal was looming over his head. The axe has now fallen - on him and the Illinois GOP.

[Padraig18]

20. They're being squashed like bugs!

I give credit to Sen. Fitzgerald for his 'suggestion' as to whom GWB should appoint as US Attorney--- he did well.

PS--- Senator Fitzgerald was the first Republican I ever heard openly criticize Governor Ryan: he called him 'a cancer on the Republican party in this State, and little better than a common thief'. Republican though he is, Fitzgerald has got a set, I'll give him that! :P

[Padraig18]

7. Kick!

This is GOOD news, folks!

:dem:

[madrchsod]

8. poor judy

she`s done a good job in il. and there are some good repub. house and senate members. the republicans are finished in this state for awhile..now we have to keep the daley-mell machine from destroying the state...if it isn`t one party, it`s the other in il....

[Padraig18]

9. Judy has to have the worst job in IL at the moment.

Can you even imagine in your worst nightmare trying to 'sell' a GOP ticket to the voters here next year? I feel sorry for her, in a way; as you point out, she's one of the decent ones...

[Robbien]

10. People here at DU were complaining that the article did not

mention Ryan was a GOP. Here in Illinois we do not have to be told which party Ryan represents. Ryan's administration has been in the scandal news for years and years, corruption after corruption. We have been waiting impatiently for this announcement that the crap has finally floated to the top and landed where it belongs.

[Padraig18]

11. yep!

And they have a top-notch, veteran DOJ prosecutor busting it up! It's a GREAT time to be in Illinois; how often do you get to witness the methodical, legal destruction of the opposition party? :evilgrin:

[alcuno]

12. If only the worm would turn in DuPage County.

I'd like to see them go Democratic.

[Padraig18]

14. It could, MAYBE...

There are a LOT of mothers in DuPage who are looking at Iraq with a VERY wary eye. :)

[calimary]

15. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of VERMIN!!!!

Feh on them all! May there be MANY more "devastating" blows to their blinkin' IGMFU Party of Cain! Fie on their houses.

[Padraig18]

18. The US Attorney's not done yet...

... not by a long shot! Next come the county chairmen and the bakrollers, I'm given to understand. God help me, but I LOVE IT so!:evilgrin:

[Monte Carlo]

16. Wow, that's quite an admission...

... out to drift, far from refuge? Can someone give me the gist of what Gov. Ryan did to warrant such a statement?

[Padraig18]

19. Well....

... he essentially used his office (Secretary of State) as a huge cash cow to enrich himself and his buddies, then did the same thing as Governor. Anything was for sale, at the right price--- driver's licenses, prison locations, state jobs, etc. ....

[Robbien]

21. And with insider knowledge

he bought and sold land and businesses making a killing on timing issues. Also used force to get commissions on almost every big transaction going down.

The man's pockets are filled to the brim.

[Padraig18]

22. $322,000...

... and that's just what they can prove went to him in CASH--- it doesn't include the value of lots of other things he also received.

[Gloria]

17. And it looks like things are going into the drink in CT with Rowland, too

Impeachment is being mentioned, although most polled want to see the facts laid out first.......