who's john cox, and why should we care? (more importantly, why does he think he has the right to appropriate reagan's image for his campaign? grrrrrr.)
As a Republican activist for nearly 40 years, I was astonished by a syndrome within the Party that I believe began in the late 1970's. Then, a Chicago Young Republican activist named Bob Hall decided to leverage his ability to hold successful Rush Street cocktail parties (who couldn't) into political success. First, he ran for local office and lost. Next, he ran for State Senator, and lost. After that, he ran for County wide office, passing off his prior failed campaigns as "achievements" and "experience". After losing for county office, he believed he "achieved" the base for his next big move, a race for Illinois Comptroller. Governor Thompson, who wanted to control the nominations for the state wide ticket, discerned the root of the problem and simply bought off Hall by giving him a state job. Unfortunately for Bob, the transaction hit the news and Bob was embarrassed out of his state job by stories on the deal in the Chicago dailies. In any event, Bob Hall created a legacy that has been attempted many times since by Republicans in Cook County.... creating a "record" of failed campaigns,foisting them off as significant accomplishments, and leveraging them to run for an even bigger office in the next cycle.
In recent times, it appeared that Jim Oberweis and John Cox were battling it out for the privilege of becoming the "Bob Hall" of our era. In fairness to Oberweis, he is a successful millionaire who has always run for high office, not leveraging the small into the mighty.
But now Cox has clearly won the honor. Indeed, he has now far surpassed Bob Hall by reaching beyond even Bob's wildest dreams....John Cox, with no prior political experience, started by running for Congress and losing in the primary. Next, he ran for the U.S. Senate, losing in the primary after attempting to leverage his "Congressional" experience. After nosing around for a chance to run again for the Senate or for Governor, he more realistically settled for slating as the Republican candidate for Cook County Recorder, and lost to a Machine hack. Now, John comes forward as the next Republican pick for President of the United States.
Bob Hall, move over, your record has been eclipsed. The pattern will no longer be called a "Bob Hall"; it will henceforth be known as puling a "John Cox." Congratulations, John, on your first "victory".
Wasn't there some Dem klutz down in Springfield in the '70's who ran for darn near every office and lost? Didn't he run a campaign against a 20+ year Congressman with some ads showing him dumping the incumbent's mailings in the trash? What was his name again? Oh, yeah, it was Richard Durbin.
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Sometimes I am speechless. This is one of those moments.
9 comments:
If Durbin runs and wins, we could have Dick vs. Cox.
This is a joke, right?
who's john cox, and why should we care? (more importantly, why does he think he has the right to appropriate reagan's image for his campaign? grrrrrr.)
bored now, if you have to ask, you won't understand the joke.
alas, this happens sometimes...
As a Republican activist for nearly 40 years, I was astonished by a syndrome within the Party that I believe began in the late 1970's. Then, a Chicago Young Republican activist named Bob Hall decided to leverage his ability to hold successful Rush Street cocktail parties (who couldn't) into political success. First, he ran for local office and lost. Next, he ran for State Senator, and lost. After that, he ran for County wide office, passing off his prior failed campaigns as "achievements" and "experience". After losing for county office, he believed he "achieved" the base for his next big move, a race for Illinois Comptroller. Governor Thompson, who wanted to control the nominations for the state wide ticket, discerned the root of the problem and simply bought off Hall by giving him a state job. Unfortunately for Bob, the transaction hit the news and Bob was embarrassed out of his state job by stories on the deal in the Chicago dailies. In any event, Bob Hall created a legacy that has been attempted many times since by Republicans in Cook County.... creating a "record" of failed campaigns,foisting them off as significant accomplishments, and leveraging them to run for an even bigger office in the next cycle.
In recent times, it appeared that Jim Oberweis and John Cox were battling it out for the privilege of becoming the "Bob Hall" of our era. In fairness to Oberweis, he is a successful millionaire who has always run for high office, not leveraging the small into the mighty.
But now Cox has clearly won the honor. Indeed, he has now far surpassed Bob Hall by reaching beyond even Bob's wildest dreams....John Cox, with no prior political experience, started by running for Congress and losing in the primary. Next, he ran for the U.S. Senate, losing in the primary after attempting to leverage his "Congressional" experience. After nosing around for a chance to run again for the Senate or for Governor, he more realistically settled for slating as the Republican candidate for Cook County Recorder, and lost to a Machine hack. Now, John comes forward as the next Republican pick for President of the United States.
Bob Hall, move over, your record has been eclipsed. The pattern will no longer be called a "Bob Hall"; it will henceforth be known as puling a "John Cox." Congratulations, John, on your first "victory".
Oh, dear God...
Please let this be true.
Wasn't there some Dem klutz down in Springfield in the '70's who ran for darn near every office and lost? Didn't he run a campaign against a 20+ year Congressman with some ads showing him dumping the incumbent's mailings in the trash? What was his name again? Oh, yeah, it was Richard Durbin.
I know Dick Durbin, I have worked with Dick Durbin
John Cox, My Friend, You are no Dick Durbin...
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