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I have taken it upon myself to end the ridiculous notion that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is contemplating a run for the US Senate.
As of the end of 2008 Madigan had approximately $3.5 million in her Illinois campaign account, a total that is sure to grow on July 15 when fundraising totals for the first half of 2009 are made public. This money was not raised under FEC hard money regulations and cannot be used for a federal campaign. In addition, most of Madigan’s name ID and clout are on a state level, while other potential US Senate candidates have credentials that extend to DC (Kennedy’s last name; Giannoulias’ relationship with Obama and $1 million+ raised for a federal campaign).
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This past week the RNC approved a watered down version of an ill-advised resolution branding the Democrats as “socialists.” The adopted version called on Democrats to “stop pushing our country toward socialism.” While much improved from the original plan, the entire idea was flawed from the start.
While it may be accurate on some level, rhetoric like this does nothing to strengthen our base, grow our party or polish our tarnished image in the eyes of the electorate. It simply gives our opponents another opportunity to paint us as extremists out of touch with reality, and is akin to Democrats calling Republicans anarchists. Simply because something may have even a tinge of legitimacy does not mean it is smart strategy. Sometimes I worry that we play checkers while our opponents play chess.
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As I was attempting to watch the season finale of one of my favorite television shows this week, I came to a commercial break. I was watching in real-time, which I rarely do, so my fast-forward button was useless and I was forced to watch a commercial for the first time in a while. The very first commercial was a thirty second spot for a well-known pharmaceutical drug. The “ad” was really twenty-six monotonous seconds of disclaimers bracketed by the drug’s name and slogan, with occasional images of smiling people who apparently were ignorant enough to use the drug despite the many warnings of life-altering side effects, such as an “upset stomach” or possible hiccup attack.
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Arlen Specter, a Republican Senator in Pennsylvania since 1980, switched parties this week, opting to forego a tough primary battle in 2010 and caucus with the Democrats. In other news, Sasha and Malia Obama have a new Portuguese water dog named “Bo”.
I will not analyze a story that has been dissected more times by countless national pundits than President Obama’s First 100 Days (capitalized to signify the upcoming proclamation of a national holiday). The reason Specter’s switch is noteworthy in Illinois is how well the ensuing debate fits within the narrative of the conflict currently facing the GOP in our state.
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Illinois Republicans, it is time to be aggressive. When you’re last in the standings, there is no excuse for playing it safe. Let’s throw off the chains of political correctness and grab a pitchfork, because in this climate the old rulebook simply does not apply.
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