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Kass Points Out Jack!’s problem

ArchPundit June 24, 2004 No Comments

I don’t care about his sex life. It’s his judgment that worries me.

The politics were a natural extension, from Hull to Ryan. Yet Ryan persisted in thinking that his own divorce files would remain sealed. He chirped and flashed those teeth, a mannequin of a political candidate animated only by his own narcissism.

It takes great ego to run for high public office, to withstand competing agendas and their agents, and constant criticism, both valid and spiteful. But persisting in the belief that the information in those files wouldn’t come out suggests a mind unwilling to face reality.

The U.S. Senate is not a place for people like this.

And a man who still thinks he can win political office after being accused by his wife of having taken her to sex clubs and asking her to have sex in front of strangers has a serious wattage deficiency.

If you disclosed early and dealt with it in a forthright manner that avoided the feeding frenzy, it would draw a couple stories from time to time, but I still think it was manageable.

But most importantly RYAN KNEW THERE WAS AN UNREDACTED FILE OUT THERE ONCE ROD MCCULLOCH POINTED OUT THE ALLEGATIONS IN MARCH! It was pointless to argue about whether the files should be released there was a copy floating around. Ryan knew McCulloch had seen the contents because McCulloch was accurate and kept on going like it was no big deal.

The GOP has dodged a bullet by the Trib suing to open the sealed files.

Lyin’ Ryan

ArchPundit June 24, 2004 1 Comment

One of the more unfortunate headlines for Jack! is from Human Events Online

I don’t think even Team Ryan can say Human Events is a part of the liberal media conspiracy.

Also, note that Eric Zorn is keeping his confidence with Jack! even though Jack! lied to him-while the Human Events folks are saying to hell with off-the record–you lied.

National/State Split

ArchPundit June 24, 2004 No Comments

Rich Miller in today’s Capitol Fax runs down a split between national leadership and local leadership in the GOP over Ryan:

Washington insiders continued to publicly support Ryan yesterday. A mostly pro-Ryan article in The Hill yesterday quoted Washington, DC Republicans as saying that Illinois GOP leaders ought to butt out of their business.

“Congressman LaHood is out of line,” said Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), who is chairman of the Senate Republican Conference. Santorum was referring to comments made by Ray LaHood that Ryan should drop out.

The Hill even quoted from a list of supporters that Ryan produced, which
included one group that just about nobody has ever heard of, the Virtue PAC out of Kankakee County.

Today’s edition appears to ignore the whole thing, even though Ryan is in DC
for another scheduled fundraiser.

* Local leaders seemed unconcerned about criticism by Washington politicians..
Cook County Republican Chairman Gary Skoien was highly critical of Ryan
yesterday, as was state GOP money bags Ron Gidwitz.

Even DuPage County Republican Chairman Kirk Dillard had some unkind remarks for Ryan. State Sen. Dillard had, up until yesterday, attempted to avoid the controversy. ABC-7 reported last night that DuPage precinct committeemen were ordered to stop campaigning for Ryan.

Other reports came in that a GOP chairman in downstate Pike County had ordered Ryan signs pulled from the county fairgrounds, where Ryan was scheduled to appear but has now been disinvited. Several county chairmen said yesterday they don’t want Ryan to come to their areas.

The Republican US Senate nominee in 2002, Jim Durkin, said he thinks Ryan
should drop out, as did a handful of people on the GOP State Central Committee

Why the different reactions? In DC every wants to circle up the wagons and fight an ideological fight. In Illinois. that’s the Party’s meal ticket you are tampering with and it’s personal–he lied to several local folks.

Losing the DuPage committee people is pretty much the end whether Ryan realizes it or not.

Capitol Fax also has good stuff on the special session, but that is for subscribers so pony up if you are a big junkie or in the business.

Late Night Joke Fest

ArchPundit June 24, 2004 1 Comment

From the Capitol Fax:

Craig Kilborn of the “Late Show” also got into the act. “The Senate race in Illinois has been thrown into chaos as Republican candidate Jack Ryan admitted he took his ex-wife, actress Jeri Ryan, to a Paris sex club and asked her to get it on with him in front of another couple. It’s nice to see Republicans reaching out to Democrats.”

Explainer: Why the Records Were Unsealed

ArchPundit June 24, 2004 3 Comments

Essentially, they are public records

Jack Ryan just has bad lawyers to go along with a bad campaign staff. Also, the article is a rather effective rebuttal to the laughable talking points by the Ryan campaign.

What is Ryan Thinking?

ArchPundit June 24, 2004 4 Comments

Okay, here are two quotes from Ryan and different times:

During the divorce:

We did go to one avant garde nightclub in Paris which was more than either one of us felt comfortable with. We left and vowed never to return.

Tuesday:

“She says three times over eight years [of marriage], we went to places that she felt uncomfortable,”

Clearly Jack is avoiding the issue of whether he did go three places, but I can safely say I don’t know anyone who’d parse their words like this if they weren’t trying avoid admitting perjury. ‘She says’ can clearly mean he is addressing the worst case scenario, but who the hell would say it like that? If it isn’t true, you’d say that under these conditions.

Well, if my ex-wife’s lies were true, they wouldn’t be a big deal.

No. Doesn’t pass the smell test. Certainly not enough for a prosecution, but enough to wonder what the hell.

And no, I don’t think he should be prosecuted for perjury if he were to admit he lied in the depositions. The lie was immaterial to the case and while unethical, is more stupid than anything (if a lie).

Don’t Even Think About Fitzgerald

ArchPundit June 24, 2004 No Comments

Some of the suggestions that Peter Fitzgerald might be asked to take on the race if Jack! jumps out miss a couple important issues Peter has.

1) Peter is a crappy campaigner. I’m being generous too.

2) Peter’s numbers sucked in an NRSC poll a year ago and he has been flying even lower on the radar of most voters since then.

3) Peter has enemies. Mostly for all the right reasons, but the Speaker is still smarting over the appointment of Patrick Fitzgerald, but more importantly from Wednesday’s Hill:

If Ryan is dumped, don?t look for the Hastert camp to ask Fitzgerald to run again. The bad blood between the two just got worse. Hastert?s team is steaming over Fitzgerald?s request to the acting inspector general at the Treasury Department to investigate whether the Air Transportation Stabilization Board has faced ?any inappropriate political pressure or intimidation?? in considering the loan application of Chicago-based United Airlines. Though Fitzgerald did not mention Hastert by name, the Speaker is a target of the letter. Hastert did call Treasury Secretary John Snow on United?s behalf. Hastert spokesman John Feehery called the Fitzgerald letter was ?outrageous.??

No way does the Republican Central Committee go for him with the Speaker in opposition. Ironically, Peter did a good thing. Or perhaps expectedly.

It’s Always Kjellander’s Fault

ArchPundit June 23, 2004 1 Comment

Doesn’t necessarily make it not true, but there are few Leader articles that don’t go back to him and today is no exception. Rod McCulloch is saying that Kjellander pressured him to keep the contents of the files under wraps during the primary.

“Kjellander was the only one in the state party who told me to keep my mouth shut about what I saw,” McCulloch told IllinoisLeader.com. “He said that the President hated Oberweis, and that he [Kjellander] would take care it after the primary. He told me just to let it go.”

Interesting insight into Oberweis’ position in the party.