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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

Is it really ‘fringe’? And is the game coming on for Pat Hughes?

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  January 24th, 2010 at 12:49 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Pat Brady, the Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, says the anti-Mark Kirk element within the GOP is ‘fringe.’

That’s actually not quite true and is precisely why so many conservatives in Illinois don’t like Brady or Kirk — they feel repeated disrespected and treated as fringe.

In fact, considering how active the Illinois Tea Party movement is in opposing Kirk, Brady is, in effect, calling all of those activists fringe. He might want to be careful.

Conservatives across the country are seriously considering a last minute air-drop of support into Illinois for Pat Hughes. The thinking goes that the last minute effort to help Scott Brown put him over the finish line and the same could be done in these last eleven days before the Illinois GOP primary.

If conservatives come out early next week in an organized fashion, throw a pile of targeted money into Illinois, and rapidly drive up Pat Hughes’ name identification, the polling in Illinois suggests Hughes will win.

He is not polling well against Kirk right now, but then he has significantly lower name identification. All the polling suggests Kirk’s support is very week and once people find out about Hughes, they break overwhelmingly for Hughes.

It’ll be interesting to see if it is game on for Hughes in Illinois. We’ll see what conservatives do come Monday or Tuesday of this week.

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COMMENTS

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  • redneck_hippie

    Haven’t seen polling but there is an increase of Hughes yard signs in my neighborhood this weekend. Kirk’s cap and tax vote needs to be punished, and this is the best way I can think of to do that.

  • wolfster38

    A vote for Kirk is a vote for progressive cap & tax. Hughes is getting a following. Hopefully Drudge will take this up also. It would be a nice change to have our taxes cut with Hughes. In Obama’s home state that would send a message.

    Kirk=RINO

  • red131

    How do we jump on board? Is there going to be a money bomb for Hughes. Imagine if we could push Patrick Hughes across the line and slap Mark Kirk for his cap and tax vote at the same time!

  • rightklik

    Correction: And “is” the game coming on for Pat Hughes?

  • rightklik

    Money bomb: How about Wednesday?
    Can we get Hughes on Hannity?

    We can do this…bombard talk radio and the internet with ads. Hit Mark Kirk constantly in the blogs and on Twitter.

  • wolfster38

    For Patrick Hughes
    Please help
    http://www.patrickhughesforsenate.com/

  • jtkell100

    Erick I think you may be wrong on this one. Judge Don Lowery is gona be the winner. I suggest you google or yahoo him and read all the news. I am donating to him today.
    Judge Don Lowery for Senate from Illinois. Best common sense credentials I have seen in a long time. He is the only one that has a chance to win against the Dem. in the General election. He can win hands down. We must work fast. I have no dog in this fight except being a loyal conservative Tea Party supporter. This race has slipped up on us. Please help get the word out.Please check him out and tell your neighbors. Thanks
    http://www.judgelowery4ussenate.com/wordpress/

  • AndrewHyman
  • RedBeard

    Do these elitist Republicans live in sealed rooms? Are they deaf? What is it that keeps them from understanding the world around them?

    I’ve got your fringe right here, Mr. Brady. :-(

  • redneck_hippie

    in the ranking of creditworthiness:

    “…rates Illinois’ general obligation debt at A1 (only California’s is worse).”

    http://www.forbes.com/2010/01/20/united-states-debt-10-business-wall-street-united-states-debt.html?boxes=Homepagelighttop

    Please. If anyone of influence (and we all have influence) is reading this, my advice is that we need to pay attention to the political landscape post-Brown (R-MA) and also the fact that:

    The Whole Country Will Be Bailing Out States like CA and IL if things don’t get turned around.

  • http://www.erickerickson.org Erick Erickson

    I have been intently focused on this race. The judge lacks the organization, man power, and money to win. All he can do is be a spoiler for Hughes and help Kirk.

  • jfindl2

    what Hughes 4th quarter fundraising numbers are looking like?

  • jtkell100

    We will just have to see about that. What about the endorsements.

    Partial List of Endorsements of Don Lowery for U. S. Senate for Illinois:

    Illinois Conservatives; Independence Caucus; Illinois Conservative Action Network (ICAN); Kane County Associated Precinct Committeepersons (KCAP)

    Illinois State Rifle Association has designated Don Lowery as their preferred candidate for U. S. Senate for Illinois.

    Numerous Illinois Tea Party Groups; Numerous Illinois 912 Groups; Numerous Illinois Mayors; Numerous Illinois State, County, and Local public officials

    Numerous Republican County Chairpersons including the following counties: Franklin, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Randolph, Richland, Saline, Union, Williamson. This partial list is being updated regularly.

  • sta46

    for the money bomb.
    Jim Demint is ultimately going to need one as well. RINOs (think McConnell) are pi**ed at him for doing their jobs for them and thus he will probably get zip from the RNC and we definitely need to keep him around!

  • http://dezignworx-ae.com tsquare

    More room to say that if you’d heard any of the Andy Martin radio ads describing Mark Kirk as being gay and ‘a de facto pedophile’ while claiming that he, Andy Martin is the only ‘true’ conservative

    Completely disgusting…

  • redneck_hippie

    Someone needs to get the hook for that guy.

    Who do you like for Governor?

  • joayn

    Hughes’ campaign manager, asking when’s the money bomb? Sent him some encouragement and what can we do to help you message.

    And if I may humbly suggest, can we all participate in a little astroturfing for the Hughes campaign this fine Sunday and get the message out? First “the Kennedy seat,” next “the FNG’s seat.” Seriously, if Hughes wins this, it would be BTS!

    How about it, guys, are we ready to Brown this race or what?

    msullivan@patrickhughesforsenate.com

  • http://rgeorgedunn.blogspot.com R. George Dunn

    It is true that Judge Lowrey has the support of near all teaparty groups. But this lack of truth was not available after the MA Brown #MASen. So what has happened is Hughes received the initial wave of support from MA. Had we of known of the Independence Caucus endorsement of the Judge on 1/10/10, it would have been the Judge on fire nationally.

    It is true that the Judge is the better candidate. Yet, even so, the difference between Kirk and either Hughes or the Judge is immense. We need to create a plan of action that is dependent on who is polling better, the Judge or Hughes.

    Yet, with Erick, NewsMax, Tea Party Nation and Michelle Malikin coming out swinging for Hughes, gives evidence that it will be Hughes who wins the day. Either way, we need to find some way to reward Hughes or the Judge if either would collate behind the leading poller. Maybe in the next US Senate position that opens in Illinois.

    I really like Judge Lowrey. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK6-L-cZSD0

    Have you heard him speak on issue of Executive order for INTERPOL http://tinyurl.com/y9829pw

    nine days in not a long time to wind up. The grassroots network will have to do the work.

    We must form Candidate Caucus Coalitions to win if more then one Patriot on the Primary ballot. Let us learn from this race.

  • joayn

    Great money bomb amount. Affordable and meaningful.

    Thanks, Erick!

    Thanks, Supremes!

    Thanks, Obie – you’re the one!!

    http://www.patrickhughesforsenate.com/Home.aspx

  • http://rgeorgedunn.blogspot.com R. George Dunn

    Adam Andrzejewski is known as the Tranparency Advocate. He is the Best pick, but he is an underdog http://www.adamforillinois.com/

  • jtkell100

    Mr. Dunn, I really like your post but I received the folling E-mail from Tea Party Nation last week. I still think the Judge can win.

    It has come to our attention that there is another conservative candidate running in the Republican primary in Illinois. His name is Judge Lowery and his website is located here. We are told he is an excellent choice and a true-blue conservative.

  • redtillimdead

    From what I read, he was very dissapointed in Hughes organization.
    Do you think it felt good to win Ted Kennedy’s seat? I think DeMint does. I also think he knows it will be even sweeter to win Obama’s seat. Therefore, he is not supporting Hughes as he wants to win this seat. I do too.

  • Renascent

    If there is going to be “a last minute air-drop of support into Illinois”, please consider Adam Andrzejewski. The Governor’s race is far closer than the Senate primary!

  • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

    sends message to everyone.

  • Stan(ley) Pruss

    From the US campaign finance disclosure web site
    http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/cancomsrs/
    Mark Kirk $3,176,582 cash on hand as of 1/13/2010, no debt
    Hughes $22,561 also 1/13/2010, $247K debt, spent $493k of $518k receipts
    Lowery $10,196 as of 12/31/09, only $20k receipts

    I’ll vote for Hughes and ask others to also, but the combine kept this election so early for just this reason. No time to build support.

  • redneck_hippie

    is anchored as a conservative Republican running against the combine. He supported Fred! in the 2008 primary.

    Unfortunately, not a frontrunner, either.

    http://www.proft2010.com/

  • joayn

    primary winner? Or do you think he’ll just sit this one out?

  • redneck_hippie

    sense in the General for governor.

  • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

    support is “week?”…. of course, he meant “weak” since we’re nit-picking the big guy ;-) lol It is, in a warped way, of course, “nice” (well, perhaps not that word, but I think peeps know what I mean) to see the big guys making the same silly errors we can also make – so as we don’t feel so bad when we make them too.

    Can we get back to the important point of the piece now?!?!? ;-)

  • Brian Hibbert

    As I’ve mentioned before. I attended a conservative candidate forum in Bloomington that was sponsored by several GOP county chairs. The theme of the day was “anybody but Kirk”. They aren’t fringe, they are the party base!

    I’ve also mentioned a few times, that I had a difficult time choosing between Hughes and Judge Don Lowery. I chose the Judge because I met him and he’s such a genuine, down to earth person. There’s nothing fake or campaign gloss about him. I also like that he’s a judge who would be able to question judicial nominees without stepping on the “hypothetical case” issue. And he’s got an undergrad degree in economics with a free market outlook.

    I would be happy with a Hughes victory, but will be even happier with a Don Lowery victory.

  • Stan(ley) Pruss

    Dan Proft and Adam A are splitting their common base. McKenna, Ryan & Dillard lead pols & have more money. Dillard may be least bad of those three RINOs. I would vote for Adam if I thought he was close, but its too little too late.

  • redneck_hippie
  • http://rgeorgedunn.blogspot.com R. George Dunn

    We need a poll of the Illinois Primary ASAP.

    If Lowry is anywhere close to being in this race, call upon our National Leaders to make an historic event. Many are thinking it is money that is driving the Revolution, but it is not TV, it is the many on e-mail, on hyperspace that spread truth faster then a Warbler.

    If Hughes has the full momentum, call upon the Patriots to send forth the greater strength Candidate for the Quest. We are trailblazing in this and are starting with races in our face. Let us find unity in our growing pains and exemplify our Quest of winning this civil war with the Nationalists of the GOP.

    Being as the Winner of the Year by the Paul Weyrich Group, let we Patriot Conservatives bring our focus timeline issues through Erick.

    Is there any polls out there on Illinois?

  • sta46

    that’s going to need a money bomb. he’s taking verbal shots on a daily basis from the entrenched RINOs. He gave us our very best Christmas present so we will have to reciprocate with our efforts and our $$$

  • Brian Hibbert

    If we can get turnout well above average downstate, the Judge is likely to win. Kirk isn’t well liked downstate (except by the center-left media).

  • http://www.downstateiladvocate.com anacreon

    We conservatives need every ounce of help here in Illinois! We vote in about 10 days!

    What Brady said was insulting to the Tea Partiers, 9-12ers, and conservatives here in Illinois. What’s even more insulting is Pat Brady has since tried to back pedal and say he was talking about Andy Martin. Whatever. He got burned and now he’s realizing the backlash for calling us anti-Kirk people “fringe element” types.

    To my knowledge, there is going to be a protest Tuesday at 2:30pm in Will County by Tea Partiers and some GOP County Chairmen against Pat Brady and his tacit (at first) and open (now) support of Mark Kirk.

    I IMPLORE national conservatives to get involved in the Illinois Senate Primary! Help us take our party back!

    Go to www.patrickhughesforsenate.com to help.

    Kirk is being pushed on us conservatives/Tea Partiers/9-12ers by Brady, Shimkus, Schock, Johnson, McCain and others. We’ve had enough!

  • http://www.downstateiladvocate.com anacreon

    by talking to voters, and walking precincts, Hughes has most of the support of conservatives and Tea Partiers/9-12ers. There are some farther south in Illinois that support Lowery. Arrington has some support in Chicago, and I have yet to meet a Kirk or Thomas supporter face to face.

    Our best shot is Hughes. The other candidates are great people and good conservatives, there’s no doubt about that. But at this time, we need to rally around 1 conservative to show Pat Brady and the other “powers that be” that we want our party back and we will not tolerate Mark Kirk as our nominee.

    I have also talked with many of the “fringe element” voters who have said they will not vote for Kirk in the general as well. What good does it do us to nominate someone like Kirk if the voters aren’t going to vote for him in November?

  • shadowtax

    I sure hope the tea parties can get their act together in time.

  • redneck_hippie
  • http://rgeorgedunn.blogspot.com R. George Dunn

    The Tea Party Nation came out for Hughes, and has since resolved by considering the true conservative Judge Lowrey. Here is the announcement e-mail by Independence Caucus who vetter the Judge and endorsed him on 1/10/10:

    http://rgeorgedunn.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-caucus-has-horse-in-illinois-senate.html

    The number of endorsements by Pariot groups is large for the Judge. But again, the polls will tell us where to place our hyperforce. I hold the Judge as a surprise, and Hughes as we’ll see. Now we are down to eight days. We need a poll.

  • http://rgeorgedunn.blogspot.com R. George Dunn

    If the two will get together and flip a coin, one could drop out to throw suppor to the other. Greater is he who humbles himself before the Lord.

    Same holds true for the Senate Race.

  • kuksool

    I have not seen any recent polls on the IL primaries. The media is fawning over Kirk and his “New Kind of GOP Leadership” theme.

    The IL GOP is portrayed as a party of crooks (George Ryan) and flakes (Alan Keyes & Jim Oberweis).

    Hughes & Lowery debating over who speaks for the Tea Parties will divide the conservative and allow a RINO to slip thru. Its often the case in IL, conservative bicker over each other red and the RINO wins the divided field.

  • http://rgeorgedunn.blogspot.com R. George Dunn

    Imagine that. The Shadow is getting worried they will lose control of the GOP if the RINOs are gone. DC Shadow Power is sending the Media out to defend the Nationalists, more then their own Dems if need be.

    I am waiting for the First Patriot to get on the Democrat ticket. That would be awesome. Patriots, make sure the Democrats have a Patriot candidate to choose too, in the primary.

    Illinois Patriots know who they support and the #ilsen can claim it to their own candidate, but if they are lying, it weakens their candidate considerable. Someone is thinking the Judge has a large following and has been promoted by the Patriots for a while. That means e-mails and doors knocked on. Word of mouth is priceless~

  • http://www.downstateiladvocate.com anacreon

    Pat Brady has allowed Kirk to hide in his ivory tower in Chicago avoiding his challengers in a debate.

    The Chicago media has all but worshiped at the Altar of Kirk – especially The Trib. It’s sad day when the NY Times did a better job detailing the Illinois Senate Primary that a newspaper in our own state.

  • brewster73

    Are you out of your mind? While Lowery seems to be a fine man, he has no money or name recognition outside of a few sparsely populated counties and he lacks the time to make up for those deficiencies.

    Patrick Hughes, on the other hand, has endoresements from Laura Ingraham and Mark Levin, two very well respectied national media personalities. Their endorsements are enough for some listeners to vote for Hughes, and enough for others to open their wallets. There will be even more publicity for Hughes this coming week.

    Keep in mind that many Tea Party and 9.12 supporters as well as staunch conservatives will NEVER vote for Mark Kirk, so if Mark Kirk wins the primary they will vote for an independent conservative in November, thus splitting the vote and handing the Democrats a win.

    Please ask yourself this question: What is my desired end result? Is it to make a statement or is it to have a voice in changing the path that our country is on under the Obama administration and current Congressional leadership? If it’s the latter, can your children and great-granchildren afford for you to make a mistake by wasting your vote in this election?

    A VOTE FOR LOWERY IS A VOTE FOR KIRK;

    A VOTE FOR KIRK IS A VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

  • brewster73

    The truth is that most Tea Party groups in IL have not endorsed any candidate, but rather let their members know which candidates are conservative, as per the request of the National Tea Party organization. And while some of them may be supporting Lowery, there are just as many supporting Hughes. I know several that personally spent the weekend puting up signs for Patrick Hughes.

  • brewster73

    Hope you’ll reconsider your vote if it’s evident in the final few days that Hughes is the clear leader of the two. I’d hate for our votes to cancel each other out and ensure a victory for Kirk. A Kirk win in the primary equals a November win for the Democrats.

  • brewster73

    I live in one of the most conservative counties in IL and attended one Republican townwship meeting and a large Republican fundraiser over the weekend. My township endorsed Mark Kirk (probably following the state GOP lead) but many told me privately that they were supporting Patrick Hughes, and in fact, when walking their precincts, were not even carrying Kirk literature! Not one person told me they were voting for Kirk.

    The great divide is education. The educated voter, knowledgable about Kirk’s voting record will hopefully vote for Hughes. The voter that only goes by name recognition and Kirk ads will unknowingly vote for a Liberal Republican.

    It’s important to talk/email everyone you know so Kirk won’t know what hit him until about 8pm on February 2nd.

  • brewster73

    For those that don’t know, there are several “Tea Party” groups popping up that are unrelated to the original movement. Tea Party Nation is one of these. It is a money-making (for-profit) social networking site started by attorney Judson Phillips.

    Please take these type of endorsements with a grain of salt unless you do the research to make sure it’s a legitimate group rather than some money-making venture tryiing to capitalize on the origiinal Tea Party movement.

  • gekster
  • bs

    ie. throw a fit and vote 3rd party, then I can do without them.

  • Illinicon

    Kirk 47
    Undecided 33
    Hughes 8
    All others 3% or less each

    http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/elections/ct-met-senate-poll-20100124,0,6657184.story

  • Illinicon

    were not taking a half mil to be the PR machine for Larry Dominick, the ethically challanged Mayor of Cicero and being the campaign manager for the Allan Keyes campaign, I might believe he is serious about reform. The only reform candidate in the race is Andrzejewski, unfortunetly Proft and Bill “I have been in the State Senate for a decade and have no major accomplishments to my name” Brady are splitting the conservative vote. 1 conservative could have given the three-headed (Dillard, McKenna and Ryan) combine dragon a run for the money. As it is now the combine and conservative will be tri-split with one of the combine candidates winning getting somewhere bewteen a fifth or a quarter of the vote.

  • Illinicon

    simply because Dillard and Ryan are non-commital on not raising taxes where as the centerpiece of McKenna’s is. Not that it is a sure thing McKenna would not raise taxes, but he will be politically damaged if he does given the promises he has made. I just get the sense that Dillard or Ryan wouldnt not all that much to the right of Dan Hynes (assuming he beats Quinn, which I think he will since he has cut a 20 point deficit down to 4 in the last Trib poll). Personally I hope Andrzewski can get a surge from 1st time Tea Party primary voters on Feb. 2.

  • adamwatkins
  • red131

    I wish Jim DeMint was my senator and will send him as much support as I can. He should have a leading role in steering the next election. Send McConnell and Cornyn to the bench.

  • rick554

    My donation finger is just itching here……….

  • dudette

    race…they predict the corrupt mobster Giannoulas will win no matter what—http://hillbuzz.org/2010/01/25/the-illinois-sente-race/
    an excerpt:

    Now, we know absolutely nothing about Patrick Hughes except:

    (1) He did not vote for Cap & Tax and things Cap & Tax is utter madness

    (2) Democrats don?t have a file on Hughes ready to go to destroy him

    Thus, 1 + 2 = Hughes is a better candidate to run in this race.

    With the Tea Party behind Hughes, and moderates and independents wary of sending the scion of the mob banking Giannoulias family to the Senate, then Hughes can win. Hughes will not force any Republicans to stay home on election day ?to teach the GOP a lesson?. Hughes is nowhere near as good a candidate as Scott Brown, and has nowhere near the appeal of a Brown candidacy. We definitely could not justifiably call Hughes ?Hottie McAnything?. But, Hughes appears to be a good man, we?d trust Hughes to be our next Senator, and, to our knowledge, Hughes has never dodged questions asked of him by shamelessly pimping his military record to distract from any ugly truths.

    We?d be happy with either Hoffman or Hughes in Washington.

    Between Giannoulias and Hughes, the clear choice is Hughes.

    A Giannoulias vs. Kirk race results in, essentially, a vote under the White House?s control no matter who wins. We would never in our lives vote for Giannoulias, but seeing Kirk up close and personal and watching how he behaves, we just won?t vote for him either. Not when this man can?t answer a simple question such as, ?Why did you betray everything you said you stood for by voting for Cap & Trade??. Kirk owes that to voters, but refuses to be honest. We just can?t vote for him.

    Now, during the general election, if it?s a Giannoulias vs. Kirk race, we will tell everyone who?ll listen about all the terrible things Giannoulias and his family have done here in Chicago. If Republicans really make the mistake of nominating Kirk, they need to be in charge of propping him up. We?ll make the case against Giannoulias, and will illustrate what a puppet of the White House?s he will be in office. A vote for Giannoulias is a vote for the Liberal-Socialist Agenda.

  • merryj1

    I don’t know Proft, nor anything about him, but I do know Larry Dominick and have known him for about 30 years. I also know Cicero and its historic political landscape. Larry is not one of the bad guys, and he is certainly not “ethically challenged.”

    Larry was always a “roll up the sleves and pitch in with the grunt work” involved citizen, from volunteer coaching Little League (where I first knew him) to helping with lawn and gardening work for the Town’s “Christmas in July” for Cicero senior citizens, to working the Little League weekly BINGO games, to whatever was needed without waiting to be asked.

    Although no one was more surprised than I was at his entry into a political candidacy, his election as Town President was the best thing that could’ve happened for the Town given the viable options at the time.

  • merryj1

    … for Andrzejewski? For Proft?

  • Brian Hibbert

    I told him I am supporting him. and I won’t go back on my word as long as the Judge keeps his (and from what I can tell, the Judge means what he says).

    I’ll make the same appeal to you. Will you reconsider your support of Hughes and vote for Don Lowery?

  • libertysroar

    Conservatives and tea party groups in Texas almost unanimously support Debra Medina over Rick Perry in the GOP primary, but we are facing the same uphill battle. When people find out about her, they support her, but she has little name recognition. To make matters worse…

    Sarah Palin, after campaigning on behalf of McCain in the GOP primary against a far more conservative candidate, will be coming here to campaign on behalf of Perry against Medina. Palin is turning into the new Gingrich.

  • jyjacobs

    in Illinois for a long time. Cap-n-Tax Kirk will disappoint us if elected, that is certain. However, I don’t think Hughes could beat Giannoulias (sp?) who is our state treasurer. He’s young, former basketball star (which would please Obama, who seems to enjoy his extracurricular activities more than keeping us safe) hugely financed by the Democrat machine and aggressive. He comes with some baggage that is always quickly dismissed by the media (his family owns a local bank in Chicago that I’ve read has given out loans that some in the media have questioned). He will surely be a rubber stamp for Obama. So what do you do in a situation like this? I think Kirk has the better chance if running against G., but I don’t trust the Cap-n-Taxer. It almost feels like Obama vs McCain all over again. I would never waste my money helping out Kirk, but I don’t think Hughes has the momentum or will gain the momentum that Brown had.

  • jyjacobs

    in Illinois for a long time. Cap-n-Tax Kirk will disappoint us if elected, that is certain. However, I don’t think Hughes could beat Giannoulias (sp?) who is our state treasurer. He’s young, former basketball star (which would please Obama, who seems to enjoy his extracurricular activities more than keeping us safe) hugely financed by the Democrat machine and aggressive. He comes with some baggage that is always quickly dismissed by the media (his family owns a local bank in Chicago that I’ve read has given out loans that some in the media have questioned). He will surely be a rubber stamp for Obama. So what do you do in a situation like this? I think Kirk has the better chance if running against G., but I don’t trust the Cap-n-Taxer. It almost feels like Obama vs McCain all over again. I would never waste my money helping out Kirk, but I don’t think Hughes has the momentum or will gain the momentum that Brown had.

  • shadowmane

    Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Tea Party folks are about being conservative, not about being Republican. The Republicans have shown that if given power, they are not conservative. If a third party candidate is more conservative than the Republican in the race, he deserves to get the seat AND our collective conservative vote.

  • kto959

    Just getting aquainted with Hughes and he looks pretty good. But I refuse to vote for a traitor, and Mark Kirk’s position on cap and tax sealed his fate with me.

  • redneck_hippie
  • shadowmane

    Well, the work is to pull that 33% into Hughes’ corner, and maybe some of that 47% will come along for the ride.

  • shadowmane

    This should not be a one party movement. We have to get ALL Americans involved in this. That means Democrats too. Once upon a time, the Democrat Party was the conservative party in the United States. We have to work to yank the reigns from the hands of leftists in both parties trying to take them over. Once we have accomplished that, we can begin the work of returning this nation to what it once was… the most dominant economic power on the planet.

  • redneck_hippie

    The Cicero talking point has been lobbed at Proft throughout. Never thought it made much sense, other than the fact that Proft is conservative so straw-grasping is obligatory by liberals and those who listen to them.

  • Stan(ley) Pruss

    http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/01/with-eight-days-left-until.html
    It shows him gaining on Kirk with 22% to 42%. Most importantly, it shows Kirk support weak, Hughes support committed. I sent Hughes $50.

  • kevan1957

    Andy Martin is the only true conservative. He is gaining ground. He is causing the opposition to focus on him. He is the REAL miracle that we need in Washington…sending the RIGHT message. My prayers and support are for Andy Martin. Kevan Corkill, San Antonio, Texas kevan@fastmail.ca

  • gusso

    IMO, only Patrick Hughes can defeat the Axelrod/Obama selected Giannoulias. Kirk would have no chance against the Chicago Democratic machine.

  • redneck_hippie

    via a radio news report. Also heard today on the local radio news the phrase, “the flailing democrat party” in reference to national congressional elections.

  • redneck_hippie
  • redneck_hippie

    That should help.

    http://www.patrickhughesforsenate.com/Home.aspx

  • bs

    3rd party pimping is verboten. The door will undoubtedly striking *your* posterior, rather than mine.

  • Illinicon

    but given the fact he has a history of hiring an excessive amount of family and friends and the sexual haressment lawsuits he is facing, he is far from a model example of what a good public servant should be.

  • allacrossamerica

    I’ve been to several events with all the candidates chasing Mr Pelosi (Mark Kirk) and there is no comparison when it comes down to truly the best. Judge Don Lowery is hands down the best of the lot.

    He’s a decorated war hero from Vietnam
    26 years of exemplary service on the bench
    Knows the constitution inside out
    Strong Pro-life advocate
    Endowment member of the NRA

    Hughes is all talk and his anemic voting record(vote only twice in his life in generals) shows his short fuse when questioned about it.

    If you are looking for the right man to send to DC to fight the scum and do not want to worry about him just becoming another Belt-way stiff…..then Judge Don Lowery is YOUR MAN FOR THE JOB!!!!

  • allacrossamerica

    Several groups that endorsed Hughes before vetting Judge Lowery have retracted their endorsement from Hughes and awarded it to Lowery. At least 4 Tea Parties and ICAN. ISRA endorsed Lowery right out of the box and NRA should be any day now. The Sheriffs association of Illinois and a almost all papers south of I-80

  • shadowmane

    For me, I would rather vote for a third party conservative candidate than a progressive Republican. I’m not pimping 3rd Parties, either. I’m telling you that a vote for a Republican isn’t always a vote for the best conservative candidate.

  • Finrod

    From the same url:

    On the Republican side, things are more difficult for us. We?ve tried repeatedly to warn Republicans that Kirk will go down in flames in the general election. We know for a fact Giannoulias? team is prepped and ready to go, set to use every dirty trick in the book against Kirk. We?ve seen Kirk in person many times: he does not do well with voters. He is awkward, halting in his speech, and deliberately evasive in the most obvious way. Some politicians can get away with never answering a voter?s question, because they are so charming or entertaining, that the questioner walks away so star-struck by the encounter that only hours later that person realizes he or she was completely ignored and dismissed.

    That?s not how things are with Kirk.

    If he doesn?t want to answer a question, he starts telling stories about being in the Army reserves, and being stationed in Iraq. He?s a little guy, so he has to look up to most of the people addressing him, and he, without fail, comes of as condescending and naive, since he believes he?s actually putting one over on the person in front of him. At events we?ve been at, we?ve heard people, again and again, scold Kirk. ?No, that?s not what I asked you. Yes, I think it?s great you are in the reserves. I applaud you. But I asked you why you voted for Cap & Tax, and you completely ignored me and just started talking about what you wanted to talk about instead?.

    That happens ALL THE TIME.

    Kirk, and the Republicans who surround him, have no idea how angry regular people are at his Cap & Tax vote. These people are clueless. That Cap & Tax vote is all anyone we know talks about. ?Damn Mark Kirk to Hell?, is something we heard three times today. ?If he thinks I?ll vote for him after what he did with Cap & Tax, he?s nuts. I don?t trust him any further than I can throw him, that lying S.O.B?.

    And they should know, they’re local and all.

  • bs

    I hope you like your new overlords.

  • Stan(ley) Pruss

    I’ll donate $50 to any candidate of Erick Erickson choice if Lowery gets at least half as many votes as Proft. You donate if he gets less than 50%. Any takers?

  • http://www.downstateiladvocate.com anacreon

    http://www.patrickhughesforsenate.com/Home.aspx

  • Brian Hibbert

    Hello. You’re new here so I’m giving you some pointers. These are meant and constructive criticism or teaching rather than anything else….. besides, I’m a Judge Lowery supporter so I’m going to be nice.

    1. In the comment title,put something meaningful, not your name.

    2. There is a button labeled “Reply to this” under every reply. If you are responding to a specific comment by another user rather than the main article, USE IT! It really makes following threads easier for the rest of us.

    REPLY TO THIS is
    HERE!!!!
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    V

  • allacrossamerica

    I have heard both Lowery & Hughes speak side by side at least 8 times. It only took ONE TIME to realize Judge Lowery’s experience, integrity and past duty of 30 years to our country is what we need …not the hollow promises from another wanna-be politician who’s has voted only twice in general elections in his entire life!!!

    Judge Lowery blows Hughes, Kirk and all the rest away.

  • Stan(ley) Pruss

    I’ll make the offer again. If Lowery gets even 50% of the votes cast for Hughes, I donate $50 to any candidate of Erick Erickson’s choice. If he gets less than 50%, you donate. I don’t honestly know which would be a better Senator. Certainly both would be better than Kirk. But at this point in the race, Lowery helps Kirk win the nomination. In the 14th congressional race, three tea party candidates all dropped out. That left a clean choice between Hultgren & Hastert Jr. That’s what needed to happen in the Senate & Gov. races. If you don’t take the bet, one has to wonder if you are really a Kirk supporter.

  • Stan(ley) Pruss

    I meant Hughes, not Proft.