Question of the day
Who do you think Judy Baar Topinka should choose as her running mate?
posted by Rich Miller @ 11/28/2005 10:40:00 AM
58 comments
Who do you think Judy Baar Topinka should choose as her running mate?
posted by Rich Miller @ 11/28/2005 10:40:00 AM
58 comments
58 Comments...
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Pat Quinn
GOD. It never hurts to have GOD on your side. It would please the conservatives and since the office does nothing anyway, it wouldn't really piss off the liberals all that much. What does it matter. She should just not choose one, convince the rest of the party to not run for the office and run on the platform of abolishing the office and give second in command to the AG. What do you think?
Poe
Think Poe, he is a naturally counter to many of her weaknesses.
Just wish he was a little better on the stump
Someone with strong conservative ties.
Whether we like it or not, the Republican Party has a strong conservative wing, and JBT probably ignores it at her peril.
Younger rather than older, as well, because Blago will no doubt make an issue of her age, albeit
not directly, if she advances to the general.
Not sure who that would be.
Any truth to the rumor of Rauschenberger or Brady stepping down to Lt. Gov. or Treasurer?
I vote for Poe, too. He has been out working in the trenches to build the Republican party. He has been out meeting the people and trying to get others to do the same thing.
Yea -- the long awaited for Topinka/Poe ticket. Now the republican party of illinois has reason to scream and shout.
Why doesn't she just run side by side with Blago?
About a dimes' worth of difference between the two.
I agree with the above poster. I am a proud IL GOP and I dont see a lick of difference between Topinka and Blagojevich. Both have been investigated by the Feds, both support gay rights, both are anti-gun, both are pro-choice, and both are for expanding wellfare.
How does this help the Republicans? Let alone the state.
Poe is a terrible choice. Its amazing that he was state rep for so many years.
He has done nothing to distinguish himself outside of the catering business.
Good grief.
Pat O'Malley
Ed Vrdolyak
Poe. And when she wins, she should appoint Rauschenberger as Budget Director. Brady is too far to the right to be electable in Chicago. I'm a registered Dem and I'd vote for her if the Dems don't have someone great running against Bragojev.
Betty Loren Maltese.
Handsome pant suits and heavy eye makeup for all!
Unquestionably Poe -
Poe has already been around the state trying to rejuvinate the Republican Party Base.
He is not strong on the stump, but his record more than makes up for it in both the primary and general elections.
Poe is strong in the Ag Sector . . . The number one business in Illinois, and the only business in Non-Chicago Illinois.
Poe is strong in the business community. Hell the guy has owned and ran several small businesses. Thus he knows how the current Blago tax structure is killing business.
Poe has been a leader within the Republican Caucus, dysfunctional as it may be, and has a proven ability to raise both money and votes in areas where he is strong.
Lastly, and in response to the question presented, Poe presents an excellent counter-balance to Topinka's inherent weaknesses. Namely, he is Pro-Life and is staunch conservative.
Poe delivers where Judy cannot, the South both in terms of money and dollars.
Imagine every little town parada with a huge 18 wheeler with Topinka Poe in 2006 rolling through it.
P.S. The BBQ rocks.
What is Topinka's ol pal George Ryan doing these days? How about Kjellender? Or Cellini?
Rep. Jim Watson is the obvious choice. Strong downstater plus Sox fans will love him because of his good luck charm for Reinsdorf.
Where is JBT going to announce?
Is the public invited.
I heard, Cicero, this week, but nothing more.
Seems a little off topic, but.....
are we sure she is running? If she is, wouldn't the announcement be getting more publicity, or at least attempted publicity, arranged by her staff.
And...does she have a campaign website? It would seem to be
a must-have in 2005-6 environment but I can't find it.
Witness links Topinka, lobbyist
From Thanksgiving day
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/kanestory.asp?id=125177)
How can anyone be so blind and selfcentered? How is JBT going to be able to take advantage of all of the sleeze when she has the same smell coming from her own offices.
Here is a copy of a email she had sent out from a state worker
From: SORENG1@aol.com [mailto:SORENG1@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2005 10:26 PM
To:
Subject: Topinka for Governor Official Announcement Tour
Friends,
Treasurer Topinka is finally making it official...she is running for Governor! I would like to invite you to show your support by attending one of the kick off events in your area.
All Events Will Be Taking Place On Wednesday, November 30th, 2005
Chicago Event - 9:30 AM
Klas Restaurant
5734 West Cermak Road
Cicero, IL
Peoria Event - 1:15 PM
Byerly Aviation Hanger
6100 West Everett McKinley Dirksen Parkway
Peoria, IL
Marion Event - 3:30 PM
Williamson County Regional Airport
Main Terminal
10400 Terminal Drive
Marion, IL
Springfield Event - 6:00 PM
The Inn at 835
835 South Second Street
Springfield, IL
If you have any questions about the kick-off event or are unable to attend, but would like to help in some other way, please feel free to give me a call at (773) 297-3232.
Jim Soreng
Jim Watson would be a good choice. It's a shame Mike Bost isn't interested because he is a former Marine, is conservative on the social issues and is a Southern Illinois guy. Roger Eddy would be another good choice, but he would have to get an awful lot of signatures in a very short amount of time. I guess it will be Poe. Does JBT really have another choice at this point? I don't think there's enough time for JBT to bring someone into the race with her.
Rolando Cruz
That doesn't appear to be a state e-mail address or a state phone number.
Poe provides downstate balance lacking on the Dem ticket.
Rumor has it that Judy has been talking to former Senator Duane Noland. He would be a GREAT choice. Farmer, hunter, pro-life, great personality and able to speak on the stump. Probably one of the best-liked legislators in his day.
Jim Watson would also be an excellent choice. He's a former soldier and served in the Gulf.
Terry Cosgrove ;)
Spanky the Clown. Or Oberweis. Same diff.
Mike McDermott!!
Steve, if you check, you'll see that Jim Doreng is in dfact an employee of the Treasurer's office. While the number and email address are not state related, it is still poor judgement on the part of the JBT campaign to have a treasurer's office employee sending out political announcements. Isn't she still under federal investigation for this very subject?
Jim Soreng is the correct name of the Treasurer's office employee sending out political email for Topinka -- not Doring.
If the Illinois Republican Party had any sense (and there has been no evidence of that recently) the obvious choice would be Rauschenberger. The far right has to realize that they simply will not win the top job in Illinois. However, JBT can win. A Rauschenberger Lt. would give the far right a statewide win and position Rauschenberger for either the top job or perhaps an eventual run for the U.S. Senate.
In the alternative, how about Dave Syverson (spelling?) of Rockford. As punishment for dumping Keyes on the party, he should be forced to run for Lt. under JBT, and also to carry her bags and mow her lawn.
If it is off state time an employee can do what they want.How many do you think each politican has working for them after hours.
TOPINKA - CAMPAIGNING WITH STATE RESOURCES
Looks like Topinka never learned her lesson from having her state staff act as campaign staff.
Are the Feds still around in the Tres Office?
This is very, very poor judgment on her part.
More reasons why her rinky dink operation is not ready for a governors race.
Obie please organize your campaign and get on the airwaves and in the press to save us from this liberal, pro-homosexual, pro-choice Topinka candidacy! Where are you Brady and Rauschy? Please be the voice of reason.
I am a moderate Republican, but Judy goes to far to the left.
This is not what the Republicans need!
anon 12:48...why would topinka pick a pro lifer for a running mate? She is pro choice amongst other things. Note a real Republican valued type of person is she?
Barr-Topinka picking a pro-lifer or any other person further to the right just compunds her problem of flip-flopping on abortion, homosexuality, and guns.
She tells a different story depending on who she is talking to. Of course, as Tres she has never been called out on this.
That will change.
If you are going to attack someone, spell their name right ... BAAR ... not BARR
Thanks
Sorry Mrs.GOP but if you help get Blago in for a second term by not voting for the choice of the majority of republicans then you need to change that to Mrs.Democrat.
Not sure what Soreng did wrong here..if it was a govt email account, and on state time, then yes, I'd see the problem.
Otherwise, I think someone's trying to make hay out of a non-issue...nice try though.
Looks like Doug Ibendaul and Cathy Santos are busy on the boards today. LMAO
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Brian Hynes for Lt. Gov! Did anyone happen to see the hysterical piece in Crain's 40 Under 40 on Brian? Editor in Chief of the Sun Times. Guess he is certain to make Susanna's Night Out if he and Yusef Jackson buy the Sun Times!
Noland !!!!
Larry Bomke
Patrick Daly would be excellent, young, conservative, lawyer.
Dan Proft!
Rod McCullough
Does Poe have a chance with Jay Wavering running the show? Wasn't he one of Tristano's chief deputies when the "alleged" illegal activities occured under Daniels?
Does anyone know?
Hey 2:41 PM, Anonymous! What's wrong with giving Blago another 4 years? It's going to be fun to watch the ground open up and swallow him when all of his *gaffes* get exposed.
here's a hint
thiNKa athlete.
LG candidate? There are plenty of former GOP state senators out there- I'm sure a downstater would be interested.
My, how the disgruntled office-seeking rejects and wanna-bes (Milk Dud, Roeser, Raush, Ibendull, Weigand, O'M...) and their hacks come out from under their rocks at the mention of the name Topinka. Every one of them sought a political job and were rejected- and now they are trying to take down the only Republican statewide officeholder. They about killed their cause with last year's Jack Ryan/Alan Keyes debacle, and now they are disingenuously trying to hang that albatross around JBT's neck, to "reform" the GOP.
Andy Ezard
She'd have to be an idiot to "pick" a running mate. Maybe she is that stupid.
But "picking" an ultra-conservative running mate alienates the very liberal Republicans and pro-choice, pro-gay rights activists she is counting on to win. Never alienate your base.
Heck, why not Corinne Wood? She's experienced.
Anyone but Poe!
Many good, intelligent people are out there, such as Rauschengerger, Birkett, Duane Noland, Brady, Radogno, Jim Durkin.
Republicans need someone who will be an asset, not a liability.
I agree that Topinka many have problems. I however do not think she would hire the likes of Robin Black who was I.D.O.T. Chief of STaqff or Millette or for that matter people pocking tens of thousans of dollars of poor and need kids money. This is a dog and pony show and most of the animals are on the otherside
Alan Keyes in drag. This way she can cover all of the bases which she seems to always attempt to do when it is politicly expedient for her purposes. She is entertaining, not afraid to make a witty comment if the mood strikes her, appealing to the female gender, and most importantly she has the name recognition that everyone says is needed to defeat Rod. No matter who Judy aligns herself with as a running mate, it will be doomed to failure. The conservatives in the Illinois GOP simply will not vote for her because when they view her, they see the ghost of George Ryan all over again. She will not be able to get over that hurdle. Many Democrats will also share that same view. She could have Edgar Allan Poe as her running mate and it still would not be going anywhere. Sad but true. She "chose poorly" when she was choosing her friends in Springfield while under King George's reign.
For those of you who have not met Mr. Poe I offer this brief description. Remember the TV show called "Green Acres"? Well Mr. Poe is like an old version of Mr. Hainy. Thats the guy that would drive around in an old pickup truck and try to peddle junk to Mr. Douglas. I'm not saying Mr. Poe peddles junk, just that he comes accross that way and he looks like him.
Trust me, Mr. Poe is not on Judy's short list of running mates; however, Brady and Rauschenberger are.
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