Moving the Illinois GOP “Forward”

By Ron Brzoska

No. The title does not mean that I believe that Republicans should embrace the Obama “Forward” agenda. Rather, I believe that the Illinois Republican Party needs to make a bold step in order to have any future at all. The Illinois Republican Party must replace its triumvirate of leadership: House Minority Leader Tom Cross, Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, and Chairman Pat Brady.

The results on Election Day for Illinois republicans have been termed a “bloodbath.” This true; very true. Like any sports franchise, or any company that has been beaten so badly by its competition that the status quo leaves the organization uncompetitive going forward, a change in management is necessary.

Representative Tom Cross and Senator Christine Radogno have done very little to stop the Madigan/Quinn agenda. Not only do they routinely stay silent until after the votes have taken place, but they seldom offer any type of Republican counter. Cross and agenda have not offered a vision from their caucuses that gives the Illinois voter an alternative to exansion of government and its burdens imposed by the Democrats. There is no battle cry and therefore no battle, only a rout.

Representative Tom Cross and Senator Christine Radogno have seen their caucuses shrink to ineffectual levels. The Democrats have veto-proof majorities in both houses of the General Assembly. This has reduced Illinois Republicans to a relevancy equal to the Libertarian Party or the Green Party. Our Republican legislators now are nothing more than a protest vote. But what has either Cross or Radogno done to increase the number of Republicans in the Illinois General Assembly? There were 20 state senate races with no Republican challenger. There were 39 state representative races without a Republican challenger. How do they or the party expect to reverse the tide if they don’t even try? What have they done to bring candidates in or help the ones that do run? We aren’t seeing it. Since the election the rank-and-file and precinct committeemen like myself have waited for answers. We have waited for something uplifting. We have waited for a plan. We have waited for something … anything, and received nothing.

What I have said goes double for Chairman Pat Brady. Afterall, Representative Cross and Senator Radogno have their jobs as legislators to tend to as well as being party leaders. Chairman Brady’s only job is to be the party leader. Pat Brady has presided over the failed governor’s race. Not only were Republicans unable to defeat the unpopular legacy of scandal-ridden Rod Blagojevich, Pat Quinn, but the loss allowed the Democrats to gerrymander the district maps to favor their party. This was during the 2010 election cycle that was a boon to Republicans across the country. Brady should have been replaced after that debacle. He was not, and we paid for it in 2012. The state convention was a failure. We didn’t attempt to run candidates in 59 state races. We almost ran out of money (Thank you Sandy Stuart for making that an “almost”). We lost five congressman. I can’t name one GOP success story that can be attributed to the management of Pat Brady.

When the rank-and-file consider their leaders to be losers, they tune them out. Think of Ozzie Guillen. Think of Mike Ditka. Think of the bosses that you may have had that you had no confidence in. This is where we are now. These three people must go. This is not about the direction of ideology to the left or right. This is about no longer falling backward and moving forward. Results mandate a change, not more of the same.

Cudos to the Lemont Tea Party

The Lemont Tea Party recently released a press release stating that they would not be supporting Illinois State Senator Christine Radogno or State Representative Jim Durkin based on their voting records. Below is the press release:

                OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE, NOVEMBER 3, 2011

The executive committee of the Lemont Tea Party voted to NOT endorse Republican State Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno and Republican State Representative Assistant Minority Leader Jim Durkin due to their poor voting records.

For Further Info Please Contact: Bill Montgomery at (630)803-7076 or

Deb Stelton at (630)972-9090

They included voting record notes that appear to be notes shown on Doug Ibendahl’s website www.republicannewswatch.com.

Radogno’s record – http://republicannewswatch.com/wp/?p=6710

Durkin’s record – http://republicannewswatch.com/wp/?p=6150

Many times we all complain (myself especially) about the RINOs. I have been a conservative since Ronald Reagan became president. Being a conservative meant that I fit in best with the Republicans. However, there are times…more and more over the years… when the Republican Party has disappointed me and I’m ashamed to say I’m a Republican, or I question how people who constantly vote against the party’s platform are elevated to leadership. This is why I’m most at home with the tea party. I know it’s not what brings everyone to the movement, but I know that I’m not the only disenfranchised conservative.

Which leads me to…

The Republican Party has been trying to co-opt, or otherwise take the tea party under its umbrella. The Homer/Lockport Tea Party encouraged it’s members to do petition walks for Radogno and Durkin. I asked them what the heck they were thinking based on Radogno and Durkin’s voting records. They didn’t address Radogno and said they are trying to convince Durkin to support conceal carry. Needless to say, I was disappointed in Homer/Lockport as their actions give credence to left’s belief that the tea party movement is just a part of the Republican party. I think that the tea party is used and abused by the GOP establishment. We are the enthusiastic “boots on the ground” that does all the grunt work on the front lines, but our concerns and preferred candidates are more often than not, on the outside when the dust settles.

The Lemont Tea Party has put the establishment on notice and told them that they will not be used. Their respect and aid must be earned. Many tea parties, like I illustrated above, are afraid or choose not to buck the establishment. Lemont showed courage by making a public statement. For that, I’m proud of them.

 

This Is Why There Is a Tea Party

Yesterday I attended the Downers Grove Township Republican Organization meeting. The September meeting was billed to be a big event for us since the petition season has begun and elected officials were in large supply hoping that the face time would translate into support and votes. It was a full house with the candidates and their representatives lining three of the room’s four walls. The meeting was carried on as normal with the introduction of the elected officials when Illinois Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno decided to make a few comments after her introduction.

Senator Radogno lamented about the division that exists in Downers Grove Township over the 81st state seat. The candidates petitioning for the Republican side that we know about are State Senator Ron Sandack (the new map put him in the same district as Senator Radogno), Debbie Boyle (a member of the District 99 School Board), and Charlie Schneider of Naperville. The root of the controversy is the polarizing effect of Senator Sandack. Senator Radogno as well as the township’s other state senator, Kirk Dillard, had thrown their support behind Sandack even before he announced he was running. This has caused what Senator Radogno feels is a backlash against her. In her scolding of the DGTRO she accused members (no name or names mentioned) of removing her sign from the local campaign headquarters because of her support for Sandack. She admonished the committeemen for chosing to support another Republican candidate, and gave a pre-scolding for the rumors (emphasis on rumors - this is not true) she has heard that if Sandack wins the primary, some “R”s would turn into “D”s and support the Democratic Party candidate in his race and hers. We were told that we need to be unified as Republicans. “Ron Sandack is in my caucus and I will continue to work with him,” Senator Radogno said. This was not a plea. This was an ORDER to do as we were told.

SENATOR RADOGNO, WITH YOUR VOTING RECORD, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TELL ME HOW TO BE A REPUBLICAN.

Some committeemen walked out of the room to calm down after the minority leader’s whiny display. I coped by chewing my gum harder.

The keynote speaker was the new Chairman of the DuPage County Republican Party, Randy Ramey. Ramey is looking to rebuild the county party by actually working, rather than coasting like his predecessor, Dan Cronin. I commend him for that. What I have a problem with is his “good cop” approach to play off Radogno’s “bad cop.” Ramey was not as direct, and did not mention the 81st District, but he said that we run into the problem of being divided, where the democrats do not. He talked about how they have their primaries and after it is over they are unified, while Republicans have a hard time doing that. He said that after the primary, we need to get behind the winner (naturally) and speak with the same message.

Oh…we may have a problem here chairman. For too long, Illinois Republicans have been pushing conservatives to the back of the bus to maintain their little fiefdoms in Springfield. While this has been going on, Blagojevich and Quinn have been ruining our state. That was on YOUR watch. You may not have been County GOP Chairman, but you have been in the leadership.

Thousands of us are getting involved. We just can’t vote for the “R” anymore and hope you guys get your heads out of your asses long enough to save ours. It is time for us to help ourselves. Senator Radogno and Chairman Ramey, you have to start listening to us. Ignoring us doesn’t beat us into submission. It makes us look for alternatives like Florida and Texas. It makes us look to ourselves for new leadership so we don’t have to leave our beloved homes. This is why I and many others have found the tea party.  Wake up.

Who Will Run Against Radogno?

I have asked myself this question before. Now I feel the need to ask this question publicly. Illinois Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno has exemplified the failings of the Illinois Republican Party. She has helped take the party away from its platform and made it into a “me too” party that is hard to differentiate from the Democrats. Her latest failing was her support of Illinois SB2185, the Illinois DREAM Act which allows the children of illegal aliens to be eligible for scholarships to state schools and sets up the mechanisms to promote these scholarships. My friends at the DuPage Tea Party questioned the senator about her support for SB2185. Below is the senator’s reply along with my commentary in italics.

From: Dupage TeaParty9:38pm May 4

Please explain why you voted Yes to SB 2185 which sets up a private scholarship fund for children of Illegal Aliens provided by the Illinois College Funding Program. Wasn’t the General Assembly Scholarship just terminated for lack of funding just this year?

From: Christine Radogno

Thank you for your inquiry. I appreciate the opportunity to clear-up any misconceptions about Senate Bill 2185, the legislation that has become known as the Illinois DREAM Act.

Senate Bill 2185 allows students who are non-U.S. citizens to participate in the state’s college savings programs (which require personal, not taxpayer-financed contributions). Why would a personally funded scholarship require government sanctioning or involvement?  The scholarship fund you referenced would be financed entirely through private donations, and does not rely on any state funding. So explain to me again where government needs to come in? Finally, the measure advances guidance counselor training on working with students who are undocumented immigrants. And who provides the training? The state, according to SB2185. This training comes to zero cost, even though it is done by the state to public school counselors? Stop lying to me senator. There is also a provision for a PR campaign in the bill. Will this advertising be free? If policy is good. It doesn’t need advertising after the fact. Again, stop lying to me senator.

I opposed previous versions of the measure that included creation of an Illinois driver’s certificate. However, SB 2185 as amended does NOT include that provision. Thank goodness that you draw the line at drivers licenses. In its current form SB 2185 does not allow for driver’s licenses nor does it advance any taxpayer expenditures for undocumented immigrants. Senator Radogno, you should immediately resign from your position as minority leader. By using the term “undocumented immigrants” instead of telling the truth and saying “illegal immigrants” you have abandoned the platform of the Republican Party. You are using terms used by the Democrats. You cannot represent the Republicans if you do not represent the party platform. The ILGOP party platform is for LEGAL immigration. Not rewards for illegal behavior and incentives for people to come to Illinois illegally.

I’m very glad you asked about the General Assembly scholarship program. As you may know, I have long been an opponent of this program. This program forces state universities to waive tuition for students picked by politicians, with no criteria or requirements regarding the student’s needs or academic achievements.

One of the ironies of the legislative scholarship program is that the General Assembly doesn’t even provide any funding for the program, but simply forces state colleges and universities to absorb the cost of these students – which means that other students have to absorb the cost through higher fees and tuition. I continue to push for complete elimination of the legislative scholarship program, but my efforts so far have been blocked by the majority party. I applaud your opposition Senator Radogno, but what have you done to end this practice? It would seem that ending a program that imposes a hardship on all college students and their parents through higher tuitions would produce a groundswell of public support that would turn into enough bi-partisan support to get this done. Try harder. Lead. Don’t be a victim of being in the minority party. Your answer is a loser’s answer.

Although the legislative scholarship program remains in effect, many legislators—myself included—have opted to discontinue participation. Excellent.

Again, thank you for your interest. If SB 2185 changes from its current form, I will reevaluate my position on the measure.

Christine Radogno

I thank Senator Radogno for responding to the questions posed by the Dupage Tea Party. I still find inconsistencies with the senator’s position against the General Assembly scholarship program and her vote to pass the Illinois DREAM Act. Both programs crowd out scholarships and tuition for students that played by the rules in favor of courting special privileges. Illinois SB2185 sanctions and approves a leg up for the children of law breakers. It condones and rewards illegal immigration. This past week Governor Pat Quinn, a Democrat, decided to withdraw Illinois from some federal immigration enforcement programs. Instead of leading the opposition and enforcing the law, Minority leader Radogno is following the improper policies of the Governor. This is an official vote of no confidence from this citizen. I only have one question left…

Who will run against Christine Radogno?