Archive for November, 2009
The Year of the Republican
Long time no post.
John Deere is on a hiring freeze, people are losing their jobs left and right, and as unemployment hits 11% in Illinois the RICO Board* voted to give themselves a 4% pay raise. The exception: the lone Republican, 1 of 25. The year of the Republican is near.
Paul Krugman admits it: “The longer high unemployment drags on, the greater the odds that crazy people** will win big in the midterm elections…”
The Illinois GOP Party Chair says, “the Republican revolution starts in Rock Island county” — to a room full of gubernatorial candidates, press, and a live broadcast across the state. When Rock Island County is mentioned by GOP leaders without the terms “corrupt” or “little Chicago,” the year of the Republican is near.
Watch as the local Dems play the who is more conservative game (also known as the Schilling Effect), shrinking the ideological playground in a desperate attempt to combat reality. The reality: they are Democrats who have no qualms about spending other peoples money and that is a losing argument when people are losing their jobs.
While the local machine is busy disenfranchising their own candidates, a Dispatch/Argus reporter revives an old column to watch their every move. That political column hasn’t existed for 10 years.
For Illinoisans, 2010 will be the year of the Republican.
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*RICO: the Racketeering Influence and Corrupt…or the Rock Island County Board.
**crazy people are also known as Republicans in some places outside of Illinois.
The Schilling Effect: the fear of being held accountable, and the subsequent change in behavior because of that fear. Typically presents itself in public officials, namely Congressman Phil Hare.
Ahern and Hare play the “who is more conservative game”: http://qcexaminer.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/something-for-everyone/