Ah Topinka is running. I am ecstatic.

[DanCa]

Do you really think the right wing whacko base of the repuke party will vote for a prochoice woman? All we have to do is air commercials and write letters to the daily herald saying that prolifers can't vote for Topinka. Yep I am thourghly happy that Topinka's running I was more concerned about that prick Joe Birkett.

[tritsofme]

1. Thompson and Edgar were both pro-choice

and they didn't seem to have a problem voting for them.

[mopinko]

2. it was a different time

they would never get away with that today. that wing of the party has been smothered in the same way that progressives in the dem party are being shoved out today.

[DanCa]

5. Corrine Wood part two

Just look at what happened too Corrine Wood when she ran and how they turned on her.

[davsand]

3. It will be a low turnout primary for Dems, High turnout for the GOP.

The Dem ticket is not too heavy on excitement this year, we have no Senate races, and our current Gov is not all that well liked in certain circles. The GOP, however, is shaping up to have a BIG old cat fight, and THAT should be a hell of a lot of fun to see.

My opinion is that Topinka MIGHT make it alive out of this Primary, unless the conservative wing of the GOP talks a few people out of running. IF they can reduce the conservative choices, then it will be one hell of a brawl. Even if they can't reduce the number of candidates, Topinka might find her dirty laundry getting aired in the Primary and THAT oughtta be a real show.

Kevsand was reading me an article last night from the conservatives here and they were already bashing hell out of Topinka for not being "conservative enough" on the issue of abortion or gay rights. They were even talking about her at the Gay Pride parade, as I recall.

Best case is Blag faces the Milk Nazi in the General, IMO. Worst case is Topinka...



Laura

[DanCa]

4. With respect I cant see the base turning out in droves for Topinka.

I mean you said that they are allready bashing her for not being conservative enough on social issues. But I do do agree that the gop primairy will be fun to watch.

[davsand]

7. The GOP will at least have a horse race to watch.

You are right in saying JBT probably won't mobilize that many voters by herself. What I'm expecting, however, is that the GOP rank and file will at least bother to show up and vote--unlike the Dems who really don't HAVE any high profile state races to get fired up about. It is going to fall on state House and Senate races along with primaries for Congressional seats to turn out the Dems.

I'm not thrilled at the in-fighting going on already in the Dem party (just consider the fireworks already in the Duckworth/Cegalis thing and you will see an example) because I'm very concerned about divisive primaries and party unity for the General. We can't afford to have too many of our people trashed by fellow Dems in the primaries if we want to win.

I honestly think we are gonna see a lot of "backlash voting" in this General, and the mud slung in primaries could color that significantly. (I'd much rather see the GOP in the position of trashing each other!) I seriously am worried about Dems ripping on each other just to provide interest in their races. We need to hang onto the State Senate and House here in Illinois and we won't do it if voters are all pissed off from a nasty primary...

Regards!



Laura

[billyf65]

6. Problem is...

...some will vote for Rauschenberger. Some will vote for Brady. Some Oberweis. No one's voting for Gidwitz.

And your nominee is...Judy Baar Topinka.

It would take an extraordinary effort by one of those guys to pull away. But who? Rauschenberger is a hack with a pack of vultures for consultants. Oberweis is nuts. Brady's too green.

Anything is possible - and to be sure, Rauschenberger might be right on with the Topinkajevich commentary. But if I had to lay down a bet - it would be on JBT.

[il_lilac]

8. I hope your right

I've been pretty worried about her running. She does have a pretty strong base. Of course I live in her home town.

[benny05]

9. For those of us who work for the State/Downstate

JBT running might be very formidable. Blago lost my re-election vote when he decided and persuaded the lege to raid my pension to pay for pork in Chicago. There are plenty of folks who would vote for a pro-choice, pro-family republican around where I live, albeit they may hold their noses doing so.

I'm more interested in the race between Tim Johnson and David Gill for Congress.

[raising2moredems]

10. The cannibals are already out...

Raushie is already foaming at the mouth. A letter to the editor in our local paper claims Judy is "ultraliberal" and in the "wrong party" because she is pro-choice (of course initial person said pro-abortion, which is a dead giveaway), and pro-gay/pro-lesbian. Actually is Judy is a true republican but there are so few of them left, few recognize one. I agree that the repuke party has been hijacked and I'll be very surprised if she wins the nomination. I don't think Edgar can pull her through the primary. And until the religious nuts are purged from the repuke party, they'll not have much pull in our state.

[barb162]

12. Judy BT is really like an old Thompson Republican, a moderate

[barb162]

11. Yes to your question; they certainly will vote for her

[Chicago Democrat]

13. She's gonna win...

IMO...


Can you say 'worse approval ratings than Bush' can you Blago?


doesnt make me happy at all...