ICFST–Illinois Circurlar Firing Squad Team
After losing the last two gubernatorial races and every statewide race two years ago, when divisive primaries produced relatively weak candidates, the party’s leading donors are trying to find viable, business-oriented contenders for governor and other top posts in 2010.
“We want to put together a meaningful ticket of fresh faces, without baggage,” says Mayer Brown LLP partner Ty Fahner, chairman of the Illinois GOP’s finance committee. “That’s where we’ll put the money.”
Some members of the finance committee have been meeting privately with potential candidates over the past year.
Mr. Fahner won’t say who’s involved besides state party Chairman Andrew McKenna Jr., president of Schwarz Paper Co. in Morton Grove. But insiders say the finance committee includes top donors Michael Keiser, CEO of Recycled Paper Products Inc., Edgar “Ned” Janotta, chairman of William Blair & Co., Oak Brook investor Peter Huizenga, Goldman Sachs & Co. Managing Director Muneer Satter and Bruce Rauner, chairman of Chicago private-equity firm GTCR Golder Rauner LLC.
Why not invite Thurston Howell as well.
We were at the club and discussing the horrible state of the Illinois GOP and we thought if we threw some money at the problem, all would be solved. Well then we are all decided.
I almost feel sympathy for Illinois Review. More to the point though is that they are sadly mistaken about the base of their party. It isn’t main street Republicans and big business in Illinois–it’s social conservatives. And that’s your problem in a nutshell–the demographics in Illinois aren’t the demographics of the south. Social conservatives are no where near a majority here and where the moderate GOP was able to hold on to the Governor’s office, they did it through reducing tensions over social issues. Any such effort is likely to be met with disdain from the base of the party.
But hey, I know plenty of Republican consultants who could use the work so you got that going for you.
vs the democratic party system of….
Hey who’s kid wants to run for what?
or
My kid doesn’t have to deal with any primary
To be frank there are a lot of Republicans moderate and conservative nationally who are hoping we get cleaned out this year so that we can regroup and turn towards tomorrow, and another generation of kicking your ass. Our D.C. team is mostly k street boobs using 80’s rhetoric and the church to keep us in power when we have no agenda. That being said, your team has for the umpteenth election decided that it is above average americans which is why you are losing at a time when 80% of americans concede we have failed.
As for this crains thing, on our party mess it’s gonna to take more than anything else fresh ideas and fresh leaders. Someone who can provide a longterm vision and connect both with main street moms and michigan avenue executives. Also ran state legislators from hickville and ceo’s that don’t want to work at this won’t make a dent, so not for you to worry.
Also I don’t know who’s running Dan Seals campaign but with dems knocking off the gop everywhere else, that’s a pretty crappy job he’s doing with all the money and advantages he’s got to work with.
One Man,
That’s pretty funny. Though I can say that Lisa Madigan and Dan Hynes have done well, I suspect that isn’t who you are talking about. Well…I voted for Claypool. That counts for something, right?
gop me up,
1) the idea that democrats think they’re “above anybody” is absurd. It’s the sort of spin that sadly passes for legitimate debate on SOME blogs.
2) Dan Seals’ money and advantages? Kirk has a LITTLE bit of cash, no? And by the way, what party is Kirk in? I saw his ads on TV, and it didn’t seem to mention…I mean his issues are generally those associated with Dems, so, is he a Dem…?