Illinois Republicans-Any Hope in 2010?

SUNDAY UPDATES:  4/19/2009

I can’t bring myself to devote any time to writing about former Governor Illinois Blagojevich’s appearance on a tv reality show in Costa Rico if he’s allowed to leave the country.  You can read about it here and here.

FOR REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR:

How could I forget Paul Vallas. If he decides to run, he may knock the rest of the Republican field out of the box.  In 2001, he narrowly lost to Blagojevich when he ran against him for Governor, in the Democrat Primary.  He indicated he’ll come back to Illinois, this time, on the Republican ticket.  Yes, the political line is becoming grayer and grayer.  Will it take Republicans electing a former Democrat as Governor, to get back in power again?  Can or will they come together to do that if a strong conservative Republican candidate does not ride to the rescue.

I forgot also that he’s already indicated he’s interested in something else.

Back in February, Carol Marin reported that Vallas said he was coming back to Chicago to run for Cook County Board President.  That position is currently held by former County Board President John Stroger’s son, Todd.

The Stroger saga is a subject for an entire article.  Let’s leave it that son Todd has not been up to the task, and is an attractive target in his next election coming up in 2010.  Chicago Tribune columnist, John Kass, long ago renamed Todd Stroger “Urkel” and Kass’s nickname for current US Senator Roland Burris, “Tombstone”, referencing Burris real tombstone which is already prepared with his list of accomplishment including “Trail Blazer”.

A further glimpse of  Sen. Burris’s, ummmm. . . self-confidence. . . his children are Roland II and Rolando.

This from the Chicago Tribune today on Stroger:

His political career already rocked by an unpopular sales-tax increase, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger provided more self-inflicted damage as a saga plays out over his hiring and firing of a patronage worker with a sordid criminal history.

But back to Republican names circulating for Governor:

MATT MURPHY:  Downstaters ask, “Who?”, just like those upstate ask the same when you ask them about Bill Brady, but his name is being bantered about up North.

While central and southern Illinois GOP Party Chairmen may find Il State Senator Bill Brady an attractive conservative Republican, with only $300,000 in his campaign fund, and a debt of over 1/2 million dollars; can he raise the needed $$ to be viable?

Dan Proft shown here with WLS’ Don and Roma

DAN PROFT:  Dan Proft’s name is also in the mix for a possible Republican Gubernatorial bid.  Proft has a consulting firm currently under a bit of scrutiny for procuring no-bid municipal contracts in Cicero.  I’ve heard two descriptions of Proft and they run a wide gamut; from “nice guy”, to “opportunist.”

WIND radio personality, Cisco Cotto, suggests Proft is the latter following a disagreement in how the speakers were handled at Chicago’s “Tea Party” last week.

Here’s a portion of Cotto’s remarks on Proft’s appearance at the Tea Party, where Cotto was refused a speaking opportunity:

I wondered on the radio why the organizers would keep an anti-tax, anti-government waste, local talk radio host from speaking at the event, but would ask a man whose firm has benefited handsomely from no-bid municipal contracts to speak.  I also wondered whether multiple and diverse sources who are telling me that Dan Proft has a desire to be an elected official are correct and that this event is actually being used to raise his profile.  Only time and transparency will tell us whether those things are true or not.

I hope this event isn’t being co-opted away from those at the grassroots who are angry about the direction of our country.  That would be an injustice equally as large as the topic of the protest.

CHRISTINE RADOGNO:  After some emails; I was reminded Radogno made a commitment not to seek state-wide office when she accepted her role as Illinois State Senate Leader.  She won’t be on the state-wide ticket for Republicans.

SECRETARY OF STATE:   Republicans need to admit there is no way in God’s green acres that anyone can beat Jesse White.  So what do they do?  Get a quality sacrificial lamb who wants state-wide name recognition.  An Hispanic woman perhaps?  She takes one for the team, and begins building name ID for a future run.  The question remains;  is there even anyone in the Republican Party motivated to try?

______________________________________________________

FROM FRIDAY 4/17/09

On life-support, the Illinois Republican Party’s pulse may be beating a bit stronger.

The Democrats, following in the footsteps of the Republicans, who ruled Illinois for decades, don’t seem to know how to handle good fortune either, now paying the price for their own share of scandals.

Will the Republicans be able to take advantage of the Democrats’ misfortune, or waste an opportunity handed to them on a silver platter?  One thing you can’t change, is the huge Democrat Chicago vote.  In the past, Topinka comes to mind, a candidate can win nearly all the downstate counties but you lose Chicago, you lose.  Perhaps Republicans can get Chicago to follow in Texas’ footsteps and think about seceding from Illinois, and become their own state

Illinois’ financial woes began during former Governor Blagojevich’s reign, well before the current world-wide financial concerns.  Now, Rod is facing prison; Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D) is under scrutiny, as is newly appointed Senator Roland Burris (D).

Popular with many Republicans, and considered a “moderate” if we have to start labeling, Congressman Mark Kirk (R) recently left some wiggle room just when everyone assumed he was sure to run against Burris for the US Senate seat.  He said he would make his decision whether to run for Senate or Governor, by the end of this month.

Kirk may have already stuck a little of his foot in his mouth when he said recently:

“I think that the decision to raise taxes by 50 percent in Illinois is political suicide,” Kirk said of Quinn’s proposal to raise the tax rate to 4.5 percent from 3 percent, coupled with an increase in the personal deduction. “I think the people of Illinois are ready to shoot anyone who is going to raise taxes by that degree.”

Illinois Senator Bill Brady is popular in central and southern Illinois, but when you hit Joliet on North, they ask me, “Bill Brady who?”

If Republicans get a strong candidate to lead the ticket, they have some possibility of regaining some power.

Here’s a possible state-wide Republican ticket:

Governor     Mark Kirk? (Or will he run against Burris for the US Senate seat)  Is Bill Brady strong enough to lead the ticket?

Lt. Governor  Christine Radogno?  Any others?

Attorney General    Joe Birkett; and before you say “been there done that”, keep in mind Birkett came VERY close to beating Lisa Madigan.

Secretary of State    Jesse White says he’s going for another term, who is brave/foolish enough to can take him on?  You can’t beat this guy, sorry; he’s just TOO nice.

Treasurer     Dan Rutherford and/or  Topinka (Current Treasurer Giannoulias will run for US Senate-Burris seat)

Comptroller     Judy Baar Topinka  (If Hines goes for AG)  She could conceivably go for Treasurer or Comptroller.    Recent internal polling (we’ve been told),  shows her still very popular and still maintains high, positive  name recognition.

ANOTHER HASTERT RUNNING?

Former Congressman Dennis Hastert’s son, Ethan, may be considering trying to win back the 14th Congressional seat abandoned by the Republican  Congressman and then lost to Democrat Bill Foster in 2008, in a real upset in that Republican area.  If you remember, Foster defeated Republican Jim Oberweis, who had lost previously in 2002, 2004, and 2006 in attempts at US Senate, (twice), and Illinois Governor.

Hastert will be a strong name obviously, in that district, but as the article mentions, the son has a little baggage to deal with including working for Scooter Libby, and a 2001 DUI.  On the plus side, he’s not under investigation by the Feds.

IF I WERE MARK KIRK, I’D RUN FOR THE SENATE SEAT

President Obama’s US Senate seat, as we all are well aware, was filled by our former Gov. appointing Roland Burris.  Everyone and their brother will be out after this seat in 2010, including current State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.  With already over a million and a half dollars in his campaign kitty, Alexi has moved to the top of the preferred candidate list, but other Democrats will want this seat.

Alexi will have his own problems, however, with mob tie rumors still swirling around him.  Republican Mark Kirk can raise money; and will have a better than 50/50 shot to take this seat.  Governor?  That will be a long shot, with Democrat Lisa Madigan the odds on favorite to be Illinois’ next Governor.