Illinois Review

If the Hair Fits...

from the Schillerstrom for Governor campaign

NAPERVILLE – Republican Bob Schillerstrom on Tuesday responded to the Illinois Republican Party launching an Ethics investigation into its former Chairman, Andy McKenna:

“I appreciate the decision of the Illinois Republican Party to investigate the conduct of its former Chairman, Andy McKenna. Andy had an opportunity to lead the Republican Party, and quit early. He had the opportunity to recruit candidates for Governor, and picked himself. He had the chance to lead Illinois Republicans with integrity, and chose to use Party resources to advance his personal interest instead.

“McKenna is not an ‘outsider’ or a ‘quiet cure’ for what plagues our state. Just the opposite, his behavior illustrates the same cynical nature that Illinois residents have come to know so well from their politicians. He may as well have a wig on.

“After all, if the hair fits, why not wear it?”

Illinois Governor's Race: What Should a Conservative Do?

by John Brown's Ghost

Last night, I was talking to a person I respect tremendously in terms of their conservative take on the issues.  They related to me a recent meeting they had with a number of other conservatives.  At the end of the meeting, this person asked the assembled handful of people who they would vote for in the Governor's race.  There were five different answers.  Surprising, but when you read the daily back and forth comments here on Illinois Review, it is not tremendously surprising.

In this year's Governor's race, there are two very apparent things that come to mind.  A) None of the candidates are really lighting the world on fire, and B) if there was EVER a year to take back the Governor's mansion (Rod never used it, so I don't know if we are taking it back or not), this would be the year.  Good grief, the Democrats have run the state into the ground, so you would think voters would be ready for a new start with Republicans.  That is why point A above is so distressing.

IR Caption Contest: Who's saying what?

GOP candidate Adam Andrzejewski posted the photo below on his Facebook page with the title "Posterous Photos," something maybe should have been titled "Preposterous Photo"?  Nevertheless, it occurred to us that this should be a featured Caption Contest photo for our clever and creative IR readers. 

So, in this photo taken during a recent Chicago Tribune editorial meeting, we have GOP gubernatorial candidates Dan Proft, Adam Andrzejewski, Bob Schillerstrom and Bill Brady.  Obviously, the conversation is spirited.   We weren't in there, so let's speculate.  Who's saying what in this photo?

Illinois Review asks Bob Schillerstrom about state budget cuts

As part of our ongoing series of questions and answers with 2010 GOP gubernatorial candidates, we asked DuPage County Chairman Bob Schillerstrom what cuts he would make to shrink state government, and he answered...

More questions with other GOP candidates for governor on Illinois Review HERE and HERE.

Schillerstrom: Yawn. Springfield Leader endorses party insider

from the Schillerstrom for Governor campaign

NAPERVILLE – Gubernatorial candidate Bob Schillerstrom on Thursday released the following statement regarding 16-year State Representative and current Republican Leader Tom Cross’ endorsement of former U.S. Senate Candidate and former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna for Governor:

“Our campaign promises to overturn a Springfield culture that has landed Illinois in fiscal crisis, delivered double-digit unemployment and earned a national reputation for corruption. We look to bring new leadership and a dramatically different approach to state government that will end the quick-fix, reactionary mentality that defines Springfield today.

Schillerstrom wins Milton Township straw poll

from the Schillerstrom for Governor campaign

NAPERVILLE – Bob Schillerstrom on Monday thanked the Milton Township Republican Organization for its support in the 2010 Straw Poll for Governor last weekend, where the candidate won more than 50 percent of the vote in a field of seven candidates and solidified suburban support in a region with more than 118,000 residents and 25,000 Republican voters.

The victory by Schillerstrom follows endorsements from 8 of the 9 DuPage County Township Republican Organization Chairmen, and 60 of the county’s 72 Township government officials.

McKenna says Schillerstrom's accusations are "more inside politics"

Yesterday, Illinois Review posted GOP gubernatorial candidate DuPage Co Chairman Bob Schillerstrom's criticism of former IL GOP chairman Andy McKenna allegedly misusing party resources to prepare for his own candidacy, and this morning Public Affairs' Jeff Berkowitz reports McKenna's response at his announcement yesterday in Chicago:

As to Republican Gov candidate Bob Schillerstrom’s allegations that McKenna, Jr. was getting proprietary information [as Party chairman] from the potential candidates at the same time as he was planning to run for something, that’s just “more inside politics.” McKenna tried to move on, saying he is going to talk about job creation, solving the spending problem, solving the corruption problem.

When challenged that he didn’t answer the above question, McKenna said the state party does polls at all times, it does that as it goes forward in election cycles…

Schillerstrom responds to McKenna announcement

from the Bob for Illinois campaign

NAPERVILLE – Gubernatorial candidate Bob Schillerstrom on Tuesday released the following statement regarding former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna’s decision to run for Governor:

“Andy McKenna accepted a leadership position running the Illinois Republican Party when it was in desperate need of unity and new direction. During his years as Chairman, Illinois Republicans did not win a single statewide race, our Party became more divided than ever, and ultimately Andy quit early, saying it was better for the Party to move forward with new leadership.

“Now he says he wants to be Governor.

GOP primary candidates impress Union League Club members

At this morning's Union League Club of Chicago's Republican gubernatorial forum, attendees left impressed with the presentations of all GOP candidates vying to win the February 2, 2010 nomination.  Forum organizer Chris Robling said all five candidates -- Adam Andrzejewski, Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, Dan Proft and Bob Schillerstrom have bright futures in Illinois politics and through their performances today demonstrated the value of an open and intense primary nomination process.

"Each one of the five have sharpened how they present their positions, their speaking abilities have improved vastly, and each one has a huge future in Illinois politics," Robling said. "Across the board, they have issue mastery, and are keenly aware of the difficulties being faced by Illinoisans.  After traveling throughout the state, they know well how badly the system built by Illinois Democrats is of, by and for the insiders, and each one is very serious about changing things in Illinois." 

A Brady supporter's take on University of Springfield GOP gubernatorial forum

Last Wednesday, five current gubernatorial candidates shared ideas with students and local Republicans at the University of Springfield. Brady supporter John Ackerman provides his take on the proceedings.

The forum was an opportunity to see the real differences in the candidates. Five of them participated in the forum: Adam Andrzejewski, Bob Schillerstrom, Kirk Dillard, Dan Proft and Bill Brady.

Adam Andrzejewski was the most disappointing of the participants. His only real accomplishment was getting a few jabs in at Bill Brady. At one point, while answering a question about what made him the best candidate, he pointed out that Brady wears Ostrich Boots and drives a nice car and that these showed that he was not a downstater? He started out jabbing at Brady with his opening address and rarely answered a question without mentioning him. It reminded me of a saying I heard once: when you are the lead dog in the pack the rest are just barking at your backside.