Chicago Tribune: How the Illinois GOP imploded

[Tweed]

GREAT LONG story on how the Illinois GOP imploded. If you want a brief history of where the Illinois GOP was and where it is today, this article is a definite read. Even if you just want to know how the hell Alan Keyes got picked, check this article out.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0501160322jan16,1,7102893.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

Oh, and this was the Tribune's cover story this Sunday.


How Illinois GOP imploded
The party of Lincoln isn't what it used to be. Long before the Alan Keyes election debacle, long before George Ryan's troubles, the seeds for the party's downfall were planted. What would Abe say?

By Rick Pearson and John Chase
Tribune staff reporters
Published January 16, 2005


State Rep. Angelo "Skip" Saviano was mad.

His face red and his nerves frayed, Saviano glared incredulously at the political creme de la creme of the Illinois Republican Party arrayed around the horseshoe-shaped table in the Union League Club, Chicago's posh and historic rendezvous for the rich and powerful.

The Illinois Republican State Central Committee once seemed as well suited to the Union League as the painting by Monet that accents the club's wood and leather sitting rooms.

On Aug. 4, though, Saviano and the other leaders of the Illinois Republican Party seemed out of place in the rarefied atmosphere of a club dedicated to ideals like honesty and efficiency in government. The Republicans were engaged in a political scavenger hunt, desperately searching for someone to run for the U.S. Senate after their primary winner, Jack Ryan, dropped out of the race after embarrassing details from his divorce file became public.

"We need a name, we need a name," state Sen. Dave Syverson, a Rockford conservative and the state GOP treasurer, chanted to his colleagues, urging them to select Alan Keyes, the controversial Maryland talk show host, to embark on the party's "Mission Impossible"--running for the U.S. Senate against Democrat Barack Obama, who was seen as unbeatable.

[Downtown Hound]

1. One state down, 49 to go.

[DrGonzoLives]

2. It seems to me

that while the Illinois GOP is in disarray, the Democrats are quickly falling down that hole, with the numerous rumors and gossip about Blago beginning to come out. 2006 may really be the choice between the lesser of who gives a shit.

On the other hand, the Lake County Democrats, judging by their website, seem to be fairly well organized. Maybe there's some hope after all.

Oddly enough, minus the scandals, the Indiana DNC is pretty much in the same position as the Illinois GOP, except that they refuse to change leadership around to get anything done.

[More Than A Feeling]

3. Thanks for pointing this out

I really need to learn more about Illinois politics, I focus too much on the national level.

[Tweed]

4. Thanks for checking in

Yeah, I need to learn more about Illinois politics too. I think we all do. I know that's why I post here. If we can all give each other the knowledge we go have, we'd be one great organized grassroots base. I think we are definitely on the right road.