2004

One More Note on McCulloch

ArchPundit June 22, 2004 No Comments

In the earlier posts on McCulloch–back when he released a statement–I essentially said there were two choices:

Either he was telling the truth and should be viewed as a good Republican trying to save the Party

or

He was lying and passing around dirty tricks.

Option one was clearly true in this case–anyone who does a search on McCulloch in the back files should take the descriptions in that context–looking back they sound harsher on him than they should. The criticisms were in context of if the files weren’t true as were the compliments in context of the allegations being accurate as to what was in the file.

We Don’t Need No Steenkin’ Excerpts

ArchPundit June 22, 2004 No Comments

The Smoking Gun has the good parts

Defense of Marriage

ArchPundit June 22, 2004 8 Comments

Austin Mayor beat me to this in comments, but let me suggest that there is something a might bit hypocritical about the following stance:

I believe that marriage can only be defined as that union between one man and one woman. I am opposed to same-sex marriages, civil unions, and registries.

I believe that we are all equal before God and should be before the law. Homosexuals deserve the same constitutional protections, safeguards, and human dignity as every American, but they should not be entitled to special rights based on their sexual behavior.

The breakdown of the family over the past 35 years is one of the root causes of some of our society?s most intractable social problems-criminal activity, illegitimacy, and the cyclical nature of poverty.

As an elected leader, my interest will be in promoting laws and educating people about the fundamental importance of the traditional family unit as the nucleus of our society.

In the wake of the recent Massachusetts State Supreme Court ruling that has spawned similar lawsuits in other states, it seems likely that defending traditional marriage and codifying that defense will be required at the federal level. As such, as a United States Senator, I would support legislation such as Senator Bill Frist?s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), provided the language remains clear in the defining of traditional marriage and protecting the traditional family unit.

Today vs. Yesterday in the Leader

ArchPundit June 22, 2004 4 Comments

Public Sex Very, Very Bad

Public Sex, whatever

UPDATE: But, of course, the good Kevin McCulloch has written in to defend Jack!

It was after all the Chicago Tribune who pronounced the poll results recently showing Obama with a 22% lead. Only problem was – that most likely the Chicago Tribune used the same polling company that their subsidiary (and continual embarrassment) the Los Angeles Times used when it showed a heavy favoring of Kerry win a national poll against President Bush.

But the reason these media outlets stink is because they refused the request of not only Jack for his sealed records to remain sealed but also Jeri – who wanted them sealed to prevent embarassment to her son. The judge even supported Jack’s claim that the unsealing of the documents WOULD have a negative impact on the nine year old (EAT THAT ZORN).

At the end of the day – what you have in the documents is a she said (wild stories of sex clubs) – from a woman who DID admit adultery vs. the word of a man that ALL involved – including the ex-wife say was faithful, kind and loving.

Look the divorce was ugly – Jeri had to make Jack look bad on some level – because she was committing adultery – so she says some wild things that probably were not true – or at least greatly exagerated so that she could get what she wanted out of the divorce.

Has anyone else ever had a spouse lie/exagerate to win more in a divorce proceeding – you know they have.

Even after the release of these documents you still got zip, nada,, zero, NOTHING. LaHood needs to put a cork in it. Better yet just switch parties because he’s perfect at running ground strategies for the dems.

These documents proved nothing – and in the absence of proof – Jack must be supported and be supported from the top of the party down.

And in case you have forgotten there is an opponent in this race who wants to raise your taxes, stop fighting the war on terror, get same sex marriage legalized, and make abortion so on demand that his own daughter won’t have to have his notification for her to get one. His name is Barack Obama – and he is far more dangerous than these unproven claims by a woman who needed to asuage her guilty conscience.

GOP – its time to grow up and be adults. I suggest you start before you have a state that you don’t recognize and you don’t like…

Committed to liberating all of Middle Earth…

Shades of the Jeri Lynn is lying defense about to emerge–problem is if you back her into a corner, wouldn’t that be forcing her to admit to perjury? Serious question, but I’m assuming court filings as such are considered to be under oath–aren’t they?

Zorn’s Tongue Lashing

ArchPundit June 22, 2004 No Comments

On the affair is quite good

Let me point out something else from Jack’s statement:

e just spent a weekend in this country thinking about fatherhood. I couldn’t be with my son this weekend, but he sent me the most beautiful picture. It’s a picture of him in a James Bond costume. He’s got an oversized tuxedo on, and he’s got a hat that is way too big, and kind of askew. He’s got this look on his face, and I think he’s trying to be cunning, but he looks a little bit sad. It’s the most adorable picture that a Dad could ever want. And, of course, he writes this “I love you” note in large handwriting that’s kind of shaky.
==================
What Dad would not try to keep information about your child that might cause them harm away from their eyes? And even the things that Moms and Dads say to each other about each other ? these things should be kept away from children.

He’s still using his child.

Assignment Desk Done

ArchPundit June 22, 2004 No Comments

Rod McCulloch was on NPR and I just chatted with him briefly.

I won’t use exact quotes since I couldn’t transcribe everything down on a spur of the moment, but the essence is his response to many of the media folks is that the next time he risks his career, believe him.

Overall, he’s a good Republican and it hurts him to see the Party hurt and this is exactly “why he did what he did–to avoid this sort of trainwreck.” He’s not happy to see this happening or gloating, but quite disappointed.

Two things stuck out:

1) Jack is continuing to be deceitful–on WBEZ this morning Jack said he did take his wife to places in the cities that made his wife uncomfortable. I’ll link to it later if I can find the archive, but this clearly means there is a creeping story coming out from Jack.

2) Party leaders who are well respected put themselves on the line and have every right to be angry.

And remember there is still the full file floating out there somewhere so anything not in the redacted version is still likely to come out.

Assignment Desk

ArchPundit June 22, 2004 No Comments

Contact Rod McCulloch and see if he feels vindicated.

LOL–Republican Morality

ArchPundit June 22, 2004 No Comments

Liberal Agit-Prop has a wonderful take on the whole deal.

He’ll be on the blogroll once I get down with some updates.

He ought to do something on the other Bennett rumor out there.

The Gaffe Pool

ArchPundit June 22, 2004 3 Comments

What stupid thing will the Jack! campaign pull next?

My virtual money is on attacking Jeri Ryan’s character so it forces her to respond publicly while also angering every suburban woman who isn’t already angry.

Add yours to comments.

A Long Walk Off a Short Pier

ArchPundit June 22, 2004 2 Comments

Or

“We did go to one avant-garde nightclub in Paris”

First, Jack lied. Regardless of the veracity–that is an embarrassing revelation. Interestingly, he is refusing to answer the question of whether this is embarrassing as if that is friggen obvious. Either your ex-wife lied about your sex life or you tried to coerce her to have sex in “avante-garde” nightclubs.

The hysterical thing about the whole deal is pointed out in today’s Capitol Fax (subscription required). Miller:

WORST PRESS CONFERENCE EVER Which political genius in Jack Ryan’s campaign scheduled a dramatic release of unbelievably damaging information on a Monday? The way this is done is you drop a ton of documents on the press corps late Friday afternoon and get the heck out of Dodge. Hopefully, the whole thing blows over by Monday, when people are paying attention again. Now, Ryan’s facing a whole week of bad news, if he’s lucky.

In Team Jack!’s defense, you can’t make a turd smell good, but not angling for a Friday release is perhaps the biggest mistake of a mistake prone campaign next to not addressing this garbage, say back last July so it could blow over.

But no, we had to do this the hard way. The only problem now is that it gives the Republicans the time to force him from the ballot (well from my perspective a problem) and replace him. While there is no statute relevant to replacing him, it is likely that a judge would institute whomever the Republican Party’s Central Committee approved. Edgar is reportedly furious with a capital A for “avante-garde” my ass for being lied to by Jack! about the content of the files. Jack! reportedly only told Edgar his side of the story. As Miller pointed out elsewhere in today’s Fax:

Needless to say, I doubt Brenda Edgar approves of this sort of behavior, even if it is only alleged behavior and even though the former Mrs. Ryan issued a statement yesterday calling her ex a good man and a loving father. Mrs. Edgar is a cocoa and cookies kind of woman. As far as I could tell, cages, whips and mattresses in cubicles were not allowed at the governor’s mansion when she was around. Sources say that Jim Edgar is one furious man right now, and probably still a little sore from having to sleep on the couch last night. “You dragged my good name into THIS?!” I pity the fool.

Unfortunately, Edgar might be mad enough to take the nomination if/When Jack! steps down from the ballot. The other rumor—Big Jim!

Talk about your slap down between the old and the new. I don’t know who wins that race, but I want to be around to watch it. I’d have to give it to Barack on youth and contrast and Big Jim being out of the spotlight for so long as well as demographic changes in Illinois. If either man happens, Barack needs cash. Badly. On the good side, I think we could say goodbye to any ads on either side about gay and lesbian rights.

Rauschenberger is probably choice three and is playing the loyal foot soldier poo-pooing the claims.

Now doesn’t Jack! take on a whole new meaning?