Former senator visits Chicago, says GOP in bad shape

[NNN0LHI]

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=4747360

November 9, 2006 - A former U.S. senator is back in Chicago for the first time in a while. Peter Fitzgerald was asked to return to talk about his recommendation of Patrick Fitzgerald as U.S. attorney. It was a move that put the former senator out of favor among state Republican party leaders. snip

Always a bit of a maverick, Fitzgerald made enemies -- powerful ones -- in his own party. But the political history of this one-term senator will always include his decision to nominate an "outsider" as U.S. attorney. It was that process that the Illinois campaign for political reform wanted to hear about Thursday.

When Peter Fitzgerald decided not to run for a second term, he knew it would be difficult for a Republican in an increasingly Democratic state, and he knew that he had also thoroughly aggravated his own party's leadership -- the former Governor -- who is supposed to report to prison in January, and the soon to be former Speaker of the House.

Their differences reached a zenith when Fitzgerald decided to nominate someone from outside Illinois as the new U.S. attorney. The pressure to do otherwise, as Fitzgerald told the story Thursday, came from high places and powerful names -- like White House senior advisor Karl Rove.

"Karl called back and said 'We'll let you pick anyone you want as long as he's from Chicago,' " said Peter Fitzgerald, former Illinois senator.

Fitzgerald said that just wouldn't be possible, and decided to challenge the process by calling a news conference and announcing his selection of Patrick Fitzgerald as the new U.S. attorney.

[Missy Vixen]

1. Bravo to Peter Fitzgerald

>But the political history of this one-term senator will always include his decision to nominate an "outsider" as U.S. attorney.<

He used his one term of office to begin the process of cleaning up decades of corruption.

Julie

[moc]

2. He seems like a neat guy. He's the kind of politician the

GOP so desperately needs, one with integrity.

[Xeric]

3. He's a rightwing nut

Even the Republicans couldn't stand him.
He did help to destroy the Illinois Republican party though.

[moc]

5. Yikes! Didn't know that!

:blush:

[Bjornsdotter]

4. He's not

He was a huge hypocrit....I know, my kids went to school with his kid.

cheers