Well, the Illinois GOP has finally found a candidate to face Democratic opponent Barak Obama in the Senate race. After the much time deliberating, they chose someone who represented their values.
They chose Alan Keyes.
Who lives in Maryland.
Who lost twice in senatorial races in his own state.
Who was an also-ran presidential candidate in 1996 and 2000.
Who is as the Chicago Tribune noted is from the "right wing of the right wing of the Republican Party."
The conservatives are happy of course that they finally have one of their own running in a race after having to deal with moderates who did such shocking things like accept gays or tended to think that it's none of the government's business to pry into a woman's health decisions.
According to the Tribune, the GOP had the chance of nominating an an African American woman who was more moderate and maybe would have had some chance of challenging Obama. But no, instead they chose purity over pragmatism.
I think it's safe to predict that Obama will win a landslide that will make Mondale vs. Reagan look like it was too close to call.
Keyes will make for an interesting campaign and will lose again (this time in a different state) and then leave for the East Coast with the state GOP looking like a bunch of idiots. I'm hoping the moderates will get angry enough that they will quash the nutjobs once and for all.
For now, let me just say, congratulations, Senator-elect Obama.
Posted by Dennis at August 6, 2004 10:36 AMI'm glad to see Obama tested in at least some fashion.
And if Keyes is in fact trounced, perhaps the IL Republicans will learn that they need to run a more moderate candidate.
This is a test for Obama and what hopefully will be an "I told you so" for whatever centrist leadership exists in IL.
Posted by: dorsano at August 9, 2004 06:02 PMOh well, I live in upstate New York. My city councilman used to live around the block from me. He now lives in Florida. He did so for a few months before the paper did a story on it and pressured him to resign. He said he will this month (after whining about the "unreasonable" criticism) but wouldn't have done so otherwise.
Posted by: Brian at August 7, 2004 11:05 AMBut on the bright side Tim Meadows will be working again...;-) Oh, like SNL won't shred this at some point in the coming fall?...