GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - August 31, 2008
COURIER NEWS & BEACON NEWS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Andre Salles writes about McCain delegates Pat and Julie Brady, Tom Cross, Penny Falcon, Mike Fortner, Dennis Hastert, Tim O'Neil, Ray Pawlak, Keith Wheeler, and Gabriela Wyatt
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/1137655,3_1_EL31_A1GOPDELS_S1.article
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1137629,2_1_AU31_GOPDELS_S1.article
THE SOUTHERN
-- Southern Illinois Republicans optimistic - Blackwell Thomas
http://www.thesouthern.com/articles/2008/08/31/local/25668540.txt
PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
-- Local delegates ready for convention Central Illinoisans excited about gathering with fellow Republicans in St. Paul - Adriana Colindres
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1886920170/Local-delegates-ready-for-convention
ALTON TELEGRAPH
-- Locals head for "historic" GOP convention - Steve Whitworth
http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/shimkus_17757___article.html/convention_think.html
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: The Combine controlled Chicago Sun-Times works hard to demoralize Illinois Republicans, again
http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/rnc/1137021,CST-NWS-illgop31.article
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: The Combine controlled Chicago Tribune promotes Jim Edgar, again
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-five-questions-for-edgar_bdaug31,0,5418111.story
-- With Palin announcement, Quayle hunt gets under way - John Kass
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kass-rnc-bdaug31,0,7613952.column
-- Palin: A woman changes the game - Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0831edit1aug31,0,3927517.story
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Clarence Page blasts Palin
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-oped0831pageaug31,0,5921458.column
DAILY HERALD
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: The Combine controlled Daily Herald works hard to demoralize Illinois Republicans, again
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=231551&src=152
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: Even with their eyes set on a hopeful future, Illinois Republican Party elders carry the party baggage into the Xcel Center this week. After all, if it wasn't for the state party's implosion during Barack Obama's 2004 Senate bid perhaps the Chicago Democrat wouldn't be the presidential nominee today. When Republican nominee Jack Ryan dropped out of the race amid a sex scandal, party officials couldn't come up with a replacement - leading social conservatives to fly in perennial lightening rod Alan Keyes. Obama trounced Keyes with more than 70 percent of the vote. Keyes is merely the most illustrative example of the state Republican Party's failure to field quality candidates. Most recently, Republicans lost the congressional seat held by retiring U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert, the longest serving House GOP speaker. "There is no question the Republican organization got comfortable and there is no question that due to failures in leadership, people got turned off to the party," says Illinois Republican Chairman Andy McKenna. "That has been a challenge." Meanwhile, House Republican leader Tom Cross is defending several more seats this year than he is able to try and win back to his side of the aisle. Most of the contentious ones are in the Northwest suburbs. Cross sees hope, but not a real change until the statewide 2010 elections. "In 2010 - I think it can be a lot better for us," he says. "We are playing defense right now. That is the bottom line." Republican officials are looking at places where the party has done well for inspiration. McKenna points to Peter Roskam's 2006 victory in a fierce, costly fight with Democrat Tammy Duckworth for U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde's old suburban seat. Party officials also see promise in the congressional bid of state Rep. Aaron Schock in Peoria, who was just 23 when he won his Springfield seat in 2005, making him the youngest Illinois lawmaker ever. Then there is Committeeman-elect Brady, of St. Charles. He was nominated by party insiders this summer to replace embattled committeeman Bob Kjellander. McKenna says Brady's background as a former federal prosecutor was fitting given his predecessor's repeated "ethical issues." "I think he is a good example of the contrast with our own past," McKenna says. Kjellander's name came up in the trial of Tony Rezko, who orchestrated a kickback scheme by trading on his clout with Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Prosecutors said conspirators in the case said Kjellander, long close to Bush insider Karl Rove, was working to oust U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. Kjellander denies the allegations and has not been charged with any wrongdoing. Regardless, finding fresh faces will be critical to moving the Republican Party forward, GOP officials say. It is clear, though, that settling on the next Republican party leaders will not be easy. In a recent Daily Herald survey, suburban Republican delegates to the convention offered a scattershot of names when asked who they wanted to be the GOP nominee for governor in 2010. Some of the delegates offered as many as three answers. Those most often mentioned included state Sen. Kirk Dillard, House Republican leader Cross, state Sen. Bill Brady, DuPage County Chairman Bob Schillerstrom, DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett and state Rep. Jim Durkin. Despite the lack of agreement and a general dispirited state, many party faithful remain ready to hit the ground running. They are looking to the convention for direction, but they are more so looking to future elections for redemption. "I know a lot of parties and social events are planned for Minnesota, which is fine," said delegate Mary Jo Mikottis of Elmhurst in a Daily Herald survey. "But I am hoping we also will be taking time and spending resources on working to win elections.")
-- Illinois convention delegates offer diversity of political experience - David Beery
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=231565
-- McCain choice of Palin brings St. Paul to life - Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=231473&src=
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: The Daily Herald charges many DuPage County police officers with racial discrimination. Why doesn't the Daily Herald identify those officers by name so they can defend themselves? The Daily Herald says "Many fellow officers refused to ride with (a black police officer) or back him up on calls. He often endured racial slurs and other bigotry." Needless-to-say, anyone who discriminates should prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=231608&src=2
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pro-animal anti-human Brien Comerford of Glenview blasts Palin
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=231593
SOUTHTOWN STAR
-- When politicians hug, you're in trouble - Phil Kadner
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/kadner/1136403,083108Kadner.article
-- Southland Republicans like Palin - Nathaniel Zimmer
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/1137392,083108palin.article
-- In Cook County, recall alive for November - Kristen McQueary
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/mcqueary/1134848,083108mcqueary.article
SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- OUTRAGEOUS: Meeks’ protest deserves a look - Editorial
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x467283276/Our-Opinion-Meeks-protest-deserves-a-look
-- Illinois economic growth ranks low - Dog Finke
http://www.sj-r.com/news/x1577094849/Illinois-economic-growth-ranks-low
-- Don't read too much into that hug - Doug Finke
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x256655514/Statehouse-Insider-Dont-read-too-much-into-that-hug
BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
-- Now it's the Republicans' turn - Larry Eichel
http://www.bnd.com/508/story/454937.html
GALESBURG REGISTER MAIL
-- LaHood praises McCain’s choice for vice president Says picking Palin shows independence - Bernard Schoenburg
http://www.galesburg.com/homepage/x802000268/LaHood-praises-McCain-s-choice-for-vice-president
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
-- Berkowitz to join Republican political consultant Charlie Johnston tonight on Roeser's radio show
http://jeffberkowitz.blogspot.com/2008/08/berkowitz-to-join-republican-political.html
REPUBLICANS FOR FAIR MEDIA
-- Obama is a "kind and decent man" -- Where's the Proof? - Daniel T. Zanoza
http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2008/08/obama-is-a-kind-and-decent-man----wheres-the-proof.html
NATIONAL JOURNAL
-- Bloggers Plan To Blanket GOP Convention - Winter Casey
http://www.nationaljournal.com/conventions/co_20080831_6158.php
CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: BEYOND OUTRAGEOUS: Allegedly pro-business Paul Merrion works hard to elect anti-business Obama. Crain's is allegedly a pro-business publication. So why does Crain's employ someone who works so hard to elect anti-business candidates? Who owns Crain's? Is it Obama or the Democrat Party?
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=30817
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Greg Hinz editorializes about the Democrat convention, etc.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/mag/article.pl?articleId=30484
AFP
-- Palin bump brings McCain 7 million dollars in a day
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWwrOiNi-Adbj8p6lhCMcOwsVm-Q
BLOOMBERG
-- Obama Has Post-Convention Lead; Palin Largely Unknown - Bob Drummond and Nicholas Johnston
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aPKiIjkkwpo8&refer=us
NEW YORK TIMES
-- Palin: Drawing Women’s Attention, Maybe Not Allegiance - Jackie Calmes
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/31/us/politics/31women.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
WASHINGTON TIMES
-- Has John McCain become the compleat conservative? - Jennifer Harper
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/31/has-john-mccain-become-the-compleat-conservative/
DETROIT FREE PRESS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Detroit Free Press outrageously argues that "hard-core conservatives. . .controlled the Republican machinery for more than two decades."
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080831/OPINION01/808310358/1069/OPINION01
DETROIT NEWS
-- Obama's outrageous vulnerabilities - Michael Barone
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080831/OPINION03/808310301
DENVER POST
-- The Republican Party gets ready - Karen E. Crummy
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_10340816
PROVO Daily HERALD
-- The company Obama keeps - Editorial
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/278774/3/
LOS ANGELES TIMES
-- Republicans head to Twin Cities with 2 preoccupations: Palin and Gustav Party officials discuss delaying the convention as the hurricane threatens the Gulf Coast. And reaction continues to pour in regarding McCain's surprise VP choice. - Mark Z. Barabak
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-stpaul31-2008aug31,0,831316.story
