It is Primary Election Day and we as Republicans have some choices. After several months of coffees, meet and greets and cocktail parties designed to get to know the office seeking hopefuls, I have finally found my barometer for choosing a candidate: can he/she intellectualize the principles upon which his/her issues are based and articulate them clearly and persuasively? One of the pitfalls the Republican party needs to avoid is jumping on the populist bandwagon and failing to explain and apply the core principles that have defined the party. These principles include individual liberty, limited government and the security of our citizens to ensure the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. All too often, Republicans buy into straw man arguments in order to garner votes without respecting the intelligence and desire of voters to understand the issues. When we do that, we run the risk of sounding either unthinking, uncaring or just condescending. One example is the approach many have taken against Wall Street, all too willing to blame it as greedy, corrupt or uncontrolled. This approach fails to consider the nuances that are necessary for understanding our social, economic and political institutions. Human institutions are not that simple and history and economics show that Wall Street is just as important as Main Street and we need legislators who understand and can explain that with the voters. It is equally popular to bash the profit driven health insurance companies without recognizing their role in enabling the United States to be the best place on earth for health care. The point is that we are a party of ideas, not just labels and it is up to Republicans to be able to explain and persuade why we believe in the principles we do. When a candidate states that he is a "Reagan Republican" we need to ask what that means, does he believe in the principles that drove Reagan or is it meant to be a catchphrase for tax cuts, national security and statesmanship. How come no one says they are a Gingrich/Contract with America Republican? Like Reagan, Gingrich developed a philosophy and a plan based on certain principles which to its peril, Republicans abandoned. In today's election, I have seen some hope for the thinking in our party. Dan Proft (running for Governor) and Arie Friedman (for 10th Congressional District) demonstrate the insight into issues and can relate their policies to the principles they support and provide solutions that respect the intelligence of voters. If today does not work out for either of them, I hope and pray they stay on to develop the future of our party. Let's make thinking sexy and bring the sexy back in politics!
After seeing a screening of his new political documentary, "A Conservative in Chicago, " the Rockford Tea Party gave Republican comptroller candidate William J. Kelly a standing ovation on Saturday morning.
Here's the latest news from Kelly's campaign:
KELLY TURNING POLITICAL HEADS WITH NEW WEB DOCUMENTARY
Republican Candidate for Comptroller Planning Media Buy on Radio, TV Cable News
Conservative Titan Rush Limbaugh Defends Kelly in Video Doc
(CHICAGO) -In response to an unprecedented smear campaign against him, Republican candidate for comptroller William J. Kelly has just released a web documentary that is already turning political heads. The documentary called, "A Conservative in Chicago," traces Kelly’s odyssey through the Illinois political swamp and his battles against media bias in Barack Obama’s home town. Most recently, the Chicago Tribune "neglected" to include Kelly in its endorsement sessions and endorsed his liberal Republican opponent, Judy Baar Topinka, instead. "Journalism is truly dead," says Kelly.
Kelly's campaign says that the web documentary will be at the center of its media buys in these last weeks before the election.
The long-time conservative activist and TV personality, who has been under attack by the Daily Kos, NBC, the DC Wonkette, and others spurred by his political rivals, says that the documentary talk is a tribute to Americans everywhere who have been speaking up. “From Sarah Palin to Rush Limbaugh to the Tea Party Movement, true conservatives are forever under attack. Well, for all conservatives and Republicans who have ever tried to stand up and speak out, this video is a tribute to you. It is your story,” said Kelly.
Kelly says the documentary has an important message for Republican and conservative voters: “What does it mean to be a conservative? Does it mean that you simply say you are a conservative? If that is all it means…then every candidate in every election cycle can call themselves “conservative” when it is convenient politically. But you, as voters need to ask these candidates, “What do you mean, you are a conservative?” says Kelly.
ABOUT "A CONSERVATIVE IN CHICAGO": See for yourself the life of a high-risk conservative activist...even before the Tea Party movement began. Around the country, everyday people and conservatives like William J. Kelly have been standing up and speaking out on behalf of America. It is about time we stand up with them too.
See the second part of the web documentary, “A Conservative in Chicago,” here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6hGdqy2zYE – part 2
William J. Kelly is running on a platform to be Illinois’ first “activist” comptroller. He is the former executive director of the National Taxpayers United of Illinois. He is also an entrepreneur with an Emmy award-winning TV production company and currently hosts the multi-state sports TV series, “Sportsaholic.” For information, visit www.friendsofwilliamjkelly.com and kellytruthsquad.wordpress.com.
Kudos to Dennis Miller's radio show, last week a fan called in suggesting a season of "Survivor" where Republican and Democrat camps take on each other. I've embossed it a bit but think this makes a great metaphor for society and the direction our country is going. Check him out at: http://560wind.townhall.com/pages/dennismiller
Imagine this for a season of "Survivor" - liberals in one camp, conservatives in the other. Both are left to fend for themselves in some remote area of the world where the bare essentials are difficult to find.
Can you picture the outcome?
The Conservative camp uses the forest to build log cabins. The Liberals camp is afraid of disturbing Mother Nature so they sleep in the rain.
The Conservative camp digs a well for fresh water. The Liberal camp tries to collect rain water but soon realizes they need to take large leaves from plants to do that and there may be some endangered insects living on the plants so they go thirsty.
The Conservative camp fashions spears and bows and arrows to hunt wild game. The Liberal camp eats nuts and berries. Before dying of lack of protein, ACORN airlifts in tofu, then bills the US government.
The Conservative camp manufactures soap from animal fat (from the hunt). The Liberal camp neglects all hygiene to better become one with the land.
Right before the end of the show, Barack Obama parachutes in, takes 50% of what the Conservative camp accomplished and gives it to the Liberal Camp in the name of social justice and declares them the winner!
Pardon me for what appears below as it's not so much a blog as a list of postings from the Chicago Tribune's blog. For almost two days our hometown paper carried the story of Sarah Palin's departure as its website lead. As related sub-stories they noted their blog where people may post comments on this news story. For the entire time the Trib kept the following post as the headline: Comments: "She looks like a quitter."
I refreshed a number of times, checked back later that day and even the next. It was still there. I thought they may rotate what appeared, but, they didn't - so much for presenting unbiased coverage. On an unrelated note, the following headline appeared near the negative Palin comment, "Another jobless recovery possible." I digress, but, I mean, honestly . . .
I checked the comments and while there was a fair share of nasty ones I thought you'd like to see the below, positive ones. These are the ones the Trib wouldn't dare put on its website's cover.
By the way, did anyone else see the symbolism associated with Sarah's announcing this over the Independence Day weekend? Hmmmmmm.
Enjoy . . .
I seem to recall a Junior Senator just 2 years into his term that decided to run for President and I'm sure it had nothing to do with money or power, he just got bored representing the People of the State of Illinois. Now he is President and the country is experiencing the highest unemployment in 26 years, we're have unsustainable debt and we all own car companies.
Hope & Change!
Who else didn't finish there first term. One guess he's, the president.
Obama-Please take note. Maybe this is something you might consider doing.
Why are there no good looking liberals outside of Hollywood? Even those libs are stupid and crazy.
She couldnt do any worse than hapless Obama and blubbering Biden !!
I think that she has a plan for how she can better make a positive change in the country. I think she should have finished her term, but she and her family have been relentlessly and brutally attacked. She has had ethics complaints filed against her for such meaningless actions as wearing a jacket. The sexism has been appalling. Just look at the comments on this page. The women in the media and NOW hardly stood up for her because she is not democrat, even when she was being called the most crude names.
Well, if she is going to run for President (not really her best idea, but whatever), at least she is going to do so without trying to continue the charade of being governor of Alaska. Living here in Illinois, we, after all, had a make-believe senator for three years who used the title as a way of burnishing his "experience" credentials to run for president. Accuse Palin of naked ambition, sure. But give her points for at least not playing the dishonest "Aw, shucks, if you really want me to run, I will" canard.
At least she proved she was born in America and no Socialist for sure.
She shouldn't have any problem defeating the current incumbent in2012, Bozo the Clown could accomplish that
I hope she makes millions on the talk show and speaking tours. Maybe she will come back an kick some left wing ass politically. She scares the hell out of them.
Your humble blogger's post: While there are many Pro-Sarah comments here, I'm saddened by the vicious tone of the negative ones. You people are sooooooo worried about the chances of a true conservative winning, it couldn't be more obvious. I can't wait for January 20, 2013 - the real Independence Day.
Alright, let's begin with the disclaimers lest anyone think this blog will defend Hitler's regime in anyway, shape or form. It doesn't. This post does, however, expose a clever deception to cast aspersions on those with conservative views.
I'll illustrate by example. A few years ago while visiting New York State with my then girlfriend, of the Democratic persuasion, we struck up a conversation with a bar tender. My girlfriend loved to point out my right leaning tendencies (in jest, I think) and this encounter was no exception. The bar tender immediately replied that she hated the Christian Reich (as opposed to Christian Right). I witnessed conservative values being equated to the Nazi party as I had many times before.
Long before I converted to the right (I grew up in a Democratic household), I heard and read about Nazis being "right wing". The comparisons, even at college, were brutal. If you voted Republican, a professor declared in the classroom, you should remember that the Nazis were right wing too - clearly seething at Reagan's reelection. Common sense told me something was wrong with that analysis but I couldn't put my finger on it.
One day, I made the connection. The same professor explained the pre-eminence of communism and socialism to capitalism. Hmmmm, I wonder if Obama was in my class. Anyway, he enlightened us about the advanced political structures in Europe, how it would take the U.S. decades to catch up to our superior neighbors across the Atlantic, etc. Well, he was correct in that, considering our current direction, it took about two decades. It's odd to think of it now that Communism has failed absolutely and Europe and even China are converting from Socialism to Capitalism. I guess we're still behind our "superiors".
He noted how the leftist policies of socialism and communism would work much better than the radically-right capitalism. Then, like a lightning bolt, it hit me. I'd read William L. Shirer's The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich years before. The word itself, Nazi, is just the English phonetic sound of the abbreviation of Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, the official German name of the National Socialist German Workers' Party. In fact, Nazis of the WW II era didn't call themselves Nazis but rather Nationalsozialisten, i.e. National Socialists.
Wait a minute - National SOCIALISTS. Aren't socialists "left"? If so, why do so many refer to the Nazis as being to the right of the political spectrum? Well, in fairness, wouldn't you want to distance yourself from the Nationalsozialisten? Regardless, is equating Nazis with the "right" this something that has just entered our jargon, something that has been accepted without inspection?
So, in case you hadn't thought about it before, remember that the Nazi party was/is a leftist organization - not right leaning. In the future, don't be afraid to correct anyone who makes that mistake.
What does it really mean to be a Republican? The nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court is a perfect opportunity for Republicans to explain the core principles we are supposed to believe in. Rather than being contrary for contrary's sake, it is a time to educate the nation, the state and wavering Republicans that it is our adherence to the Constitution and the rule of law that provides for the real intellectual freedom and diversity that defines our party. This nomination can help define one of the first components of the Republican "sniff test" as we legitimately examine Judge Sotomayor's record. Unless there is some ghastly misstep, Obama will probably get his nominee through but that does not mean we can't use this opportunity to express what we stand for. Obama campaigned on the idea that judges should be persons of "empathy" who should know what it feels like to grow up poor, be a mother, be a minority, etc. and who would "actively" interpret the law to achieve "just" results. We now have a chance to confront him on what our Constitution stands for and what the separation of powers truly means. We now have a chance to act like Republicans.
"Being Republican" is an important question, not only facing the future of the party nationally but in defining our existence in Illinois. We see the debate emerging about the contrasting roles of Colin Powell and Dick Cheney. The local reaction to Obama's commencement speech at Notre Dame has brought up the roles of conservatives and moderates on the issue of life and their places in the party. Cook County Democratic candidates (I have heard through the grapevine) are considering running as Republicans, not because of republican principles, but to have a better shot at winning against an incumbent Democrat (kind of a reverse-Specter). Are there certain minimum principles that one must hold to be able to be called a Republican? In Illinois, we run a real risk of abandoning our core principles when we allow Democrats to put on our hat. What are those principles that we should expect from each of our candidates? Limited exercise of government power, the rule of and equal application of the law, adherence to the Constitution, equality of opportunity (not results), protection of innocent life and a fundamental commitment to individual self-realization. When applied, we expect lower taxes, abolishing punitive measures for success, fair and honest judges and lawmakers, security both locally and nationally and the freedom to express our opinions and views. Just running on a platform on lowering taxes is not enough, otherwise our party just becomes "Democrat-lite" or worse, the Democrat alternative for those who can't run with "D" by their name.
There are many out there clamoring for Republicans to become more "moderate" and in doing so abandon some of our core principles. We see this most often in the areas of life, abortion, the environment and education. Let me tackle the elephant in the room, life, since it is the best example of how we might let perception blur our principles. There are some that accuse "pro-lifers" of marginalizing the party. This is a huge mistake and it plays right into the Democrat strategy of dividing the party. What is at the core of Republican principles is not just the protection of innocent life, but the means and process by which we do so. Putting aside the question of when does life begin and when does it acquire rights and warrant protection, Republicans believe that the means for addressing this lie in science, religion and the hands of the people not government. This is essential for Republicans on both sides to agree on. Under Democrat principles, these questions are decided in the courts, by unelected, and in some sense, undereducated judges - single individuals making decisions that effect whole communities. Or they are decided by the executive branch, either by order or through an agency or commission such as the HHS, HUD, FCC, EPA, entrusted with administering a policy or overseeing regulations. This should trouble all Republicans, even those who are "pro-choice", that those who do not represent the will of the people, who are not experts nor accountable through election are making those decisions. On this Republicans can and should be united. The anger should not be directed at those who disagree on when life begins and how it should be protected, but against those who seek to control the issue in the courts, the media, through regulation and policy, but not law. This applies not only to life, but to other "social" issues that given a diverse society will always be "debatable". Recently, our courts and the EPA, not science, have defined carbon emissions generally as pollutants. In California, it took a federal appeals court to uphold the voters' support of Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage, by overturning a lower activist court. This is why the review of Sotomayor's record and the questioning of her judicial philosophy is so critical to reinforcing Republican political values. We have before us a judge who has openly described her role has looking out for the consequences of her decision. Rather than applying the law, as depicted by our lady Justice who holds the Scales while blindfolded, she sees the role of a judge to use the law to manipulate a desirable result. This is in contradiction to our Constitution and violates the separation of powers defined by it. We owe it to ourselves and our nation to stand up for our principles no matter how ineffectual that task may seem.
After dedicating four months to a campaign for the Republican nomination for Governor of Illinois in 2010, I have concluded it is unrealistic to continue this effort.
I am exceedingly grateful for the encouragement and support from many individuals throughout Illinois. I am appreciative of everyone who demonstrated interest, welcomed me into communities and helped me along the way.
I have engaged in extensive travel, scores of public appearances and numerous conversations about the future of Illinois government, business, societal issues and the status of the Republican Party. Because these issues are critical to the health of Illinois, my regimen of engagement and civic involvement will continue. I will rejoin the Illinois Chamber of Commerce as President and CEO effective May 1. I look forward to hearing from you at
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or at 312-983-7103.
The Doug4gov.com website will remain operational until the campaign committee is officially closed with the State Board of Elections in the coming weeks. I will continue to respond to e-mail at
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. Comments, inquiries and feedback regarding this announcement are welcome at that e-mail address.
Pardon me for what appears below as it's not so much a blog as a list of postings from the Chicago Tribune's blog. For almost two days our hometown paper carried the story of Sarah Palin's departure as its website lead. As related sub-stories they noted their blog where people may post comments on this news story. For the entire time the Trib kept the following post as the headline: Comments: "She looks like a quitter."
