Campaign Hi-jinks, Part II
Aug. 3rd, 2004 07:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mojosmomThe Illinois Republican Party is pathetic. I'm sorry, but even as an independent-mostly-Democratic voter, it is painful to watch them self-destruct.
Here's the latest: the moderate and conservative wings are battling it out to choose a candidate to oppose Barack. So who do they come up with? Moderate: Andrea Grubb Barthwell, a janey-come-lately to the party who pulls Democratic primary ballots and contributes to Democratic candidates. Conservative: Allen Keyes, who may be articulate and bright as all get out, but has NO ties to Illinois.
And does anyone else think it's a coincidence that they're both African-American? Go ahead, call me cynical.
The State Central Committee was supposed to choose a candidate today. Instead, they narrowed it down to Barthwell and Keyes, and will decide tomorrow. One commentator, however, suggested that the decision was deferred in hopes they could come up with a third candidate who would satisfy both factions.
The sad part is, the Republican Party does have folks who could have run a good race. Judy Baar Topinka, for one, but she's saving it for a gubernatorial run two years down the road. A couple of other folks who ran in the primary, like Jim Oberweis. Despite his faux pas re: immigration, he'd have pulled the conservative vote, has name recognition, and the money to put together a campaign. Heck, he's got a campaign put together.
Frankly, I think it's a slap in the face to all the other primary candidates. You're not telling them just that they're not good enough, but that there are no Illinois Republicans good enough. There's a hell of a statement to make.
Ain't we got fun?
Here's the latest: the moderate and conservative wings are battling it out to choose a candidate to oppose Barack. So who do they come up with? Moderate: Andrea Grubb Barthwell, a janey-come-lately to the party who pulls Democratic primary ballots and contributes to Democratic candidates. Conservative: Allen Keyes, who may be articulate and bright as all get out, but has NO ties to Illinois.
And does anyone else think it's a coincidence that they're both African-American? Go ahead, call me cynical.
The State Central Committee was supposed to choose a candidate today. Instead, they narrowed it down to Barthwell and Keyes, and will decide tomorrow. One commentator, however, suggested that the decision was deferred in hopes they could come up with a third candidate who would satisfy both factions.
The sad part is, the Republican Party does have folks who could have run a good race. Judy Baar Topinka, for one, but she's saving it for a gubernatorial run two years down the road. A couple of other folks who ran in the primary, like Jim Oberweis. Despite his faux pas re: immigration, he'd have pulled the conservative vote, has name recognition, and the money to put together a campaign. Heck, he's got a campaign put together.
Frankly, I think it's a slap in the face to all the other primary candidates. You're not telling them just that they're not good enough, but that there are no Illinois Republicans good enough. There's a hell of a statement to make.
Ain't we got fun?
