McHenry County Blog

Mary Alger, who designed this GOP Tea Party logo, was at the McHenry County Republican Central Committee meeting last Saturday in support of Tonya Franklin's candidacy.

There must be a dam at the Illinois-Wisconsin border.

The water from Wisconsin’s boiling tea kettle didn’t spill over the state border last Saturday when the McHenry County Republican Party decided no candidate against Jack Franks was better than Tea Party activist Tonya Franklin.

I can’t help but note what Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady had to say about Wisconsin Scott Walker’s victory–the only Governor in U.S. history to survive a recall election:

“I enjoyed seeing all of the energy from Illinois Republicans over the past few weeks for Scott Walker and I know that energy will carry over to the Illinois Republican State Convention this weekend and to our elections this fall.

“I look forward to personally congratulating (Republican National Committee Chairman) Reince Priebus on Friday in Tinley Park for all his work in ensuring victory tonight.”

The abdication of the 63rd District seat to 7-time Mike Madigan supporter “Chainsaw Jack” Franks was three days before our state party leader’s praised that same energy.

Some may find some irony in the flat out rejection of the offer to take on a McHenry County GOP Establishment-predicted suicide run from a woman who had the energy to campaign in Wisconsin.

Not to mention for a month volunteering in Florida four years ago helping John McCain try to win the state on her own dime.

Ironically, McHenry County GOP Chairman seems more interested in not losing McHenry County to Barack Obama in 2012 as he did in 2008, than having a chance to beat Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks.  (From email discouraging Precinct Committeemen from attending the Special Meeting Saturday at which a crucial step could have been taken that could have led to a Republican opponent to Jack Franks being on the ballot: “We are committed to help elect our Congressmen, our State Senators and Representatives, our County Board candidates and most of all, electing a Republican President.“  Emphasis added.)

On the CNN fall election may last night while the analyst was debating on whether to change the color in Wisconsin from solid blue to pale blue, I noticed Illinois was the brightest of blues.

National commentators don’t share Tryon’s belief that Mitt Romney can carry Illinois this fall.

Carrying McHenry County will, at best, give bragging rights to local Republicans, while beating Jack Franks could make a difference in who controls the Illinois House.

A slim possibility, I will admit, but still a possibility, given what happened north of us.

Above the state line, Tea Party activists–even from Illinois–have been embraced by Republican leadership, including the Chairman of the National Republican Party Reince Priebus: “Thank God for the Tea Party.”

“We’re not in competition with the Conservative Movement. We’re just part of it,” Priebus said in an interview on Breitbart. “We need to have a party about addition and multiplication, not division and subtraction.”

Priebus, a Wisconsin resident, said,

Tea or Kool-Aid in the 63rd. Which did you prefer?

“Courage is on the ballot in Wisconsin.

“We need more people to run for office and govern like they campaigned.”

Can’t help but wonder how he would react to the McHenry County Republican Party’s defeatist attitude.

And, arguably, the Party Leadership’s policy of, how did the National Chairman put it?

“Division and subtraction.”

Kool-Aid in the 63rd District better than Tea?

A perspective from the Left (“The Political Environment, Progressive reporting from Wisconsin and the region. Scott Walker Recall Updated Frequently.”) on the Wisconsin election points out:

“But Walker got to spend and benefit from $35-$50 million, and an advantage over Barrett by something like 7:1 this time, so where’s Walker’s growth? Yes, he won, but not in a landslide.”

We Ask America had the race at 54-44-4, the 4 being undecided, but warned that differential turnout was what the contest was all about.

Wisconsin election results, almost final, from Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

I was listening to Milwaukee’s WTMJ coming home from a sleep apnea study this morning at Centegra’s Algonquin outpost and heard that no poll had predicted a Walker victory.

I guess, as with the mainstream media’s missing We Ask American’s poll on the Joe Walsh-Melissa Bean 2010 election, the commentator just didn’t look closely enough at this Illinois emerging source of information.

A McCormick Foundation analyst was interviewed.

Commenting on the effect the victory would have nationally, he said, “The political dynamic is certainly different.”

"You can't win the race, if you're not in the pool," as the swim coaches say. The McHenry County Republicans have forfeited the 63rd State Rep. contest.

But, as the swim coaches say,

“You can win the race, if you’re not in the pool.”

And, no one in the McHenry County Republican Party leadership will be wearing this sweatshirt at this weekend’s GOP State Convention in Tinley Park:

"Whatever it takes" may be the motto of one swim team, but it doesn't fit the McHenry County Republican Party.

"Reclaim Wisconsin, Recall Walker," urges this yard sign.

Recall elections are coming up Tuesday in Wisconsin for Governor Scott Walker, his Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and Republican State Senator Van Wanggaard, who represents Racine County and the deciding vote in the State Senate.

These two yard signs appear to be lit at night. They say, "Stand with Walker."

Republicans, of course, are trying to keep Wanggaard in office so the Democrats don’t take control of that body in Madison.

United Wisconsin has a sign saying, "Recall Walker."

Danielle Rowe is recruiting people to go to Racine to help encourage Republicans to vote between now and when the polls close on Saturday.

This sign says. "Walker for Sportsmen."

And, if you don’t have time to go in person, there are lists that could be provided so you could make phone calls from home.

You can make phone calls from home now through the primary election by signing up at myscottspot.org.

Milwaukee seeks to be the Democratic Party's candidate to oppose Republican Scott Walker. He is Milwaukee's Mayor.

Here’s what is hitting mailboxes from Danielle Rowe in the 52nd District the end of the fourth week of February. She is running against Dave McSweeney and appointed State Rep. Kent Gaffney.

Click to enlarge either image.

A press release from State Rep. candidate Danielle Rowe. She is facing off against appointed incumbent Kent Gaffney and David McSweeney.

LT. GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN STANDS WITH DANIELLE ROWE

ISLAND LAKE – Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch is standing with conservative reformer Danielle Rowe because she is the only candidate in the 52nd District race who can bring revolutionary change to Illinois.

Wis. Lt.. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch

Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch had this to say about Danielle Rowe,

“Gov. Scott Walker and I, along with Republicans in the State Legislature, turned things around in Wisconsin by translating conservative grassroots principles into public policy.

“As a result, we’ve grown jobs, fully funded our state pensions and balanced our state budget without raising taxes.

“Danielle Rowe is exactly the type of conservative, grassroots leader Illinois needs in its General Assembly.

“I believe Rowe will do what she says when it comes to standing for pro-growth economic policies that respect the small business owner/operator and standing against the profligate tax-borrow-spend culture in Springfield that has decimated Illinois’ economy.

“My only fear is that Rowe will be so effective in Springfield she may drive Chicago Democrats north of the border to hide out in Wisconsin.”

Danielle Rowe

“I am honored to have such a prominent conservative woman standing with me in my campaign,” Rowe said.

“She is a fighter and I am a fighter.”

“We don’t accept the status quo and we challenge the false premises and bad policies that have led to economic devastation in our states.

“We need revolutionary reforms like those in Wisconsin to turn our state around.”

“The voters in our district have a clear choice,” Rowe said.

“I support the reforms of Governor Walker and Lt. Governor Kleefisch and my opponents do not.”

“I support the revolutionary change Governor Scott Walker and Lt. Governor Kleefisch have delivered in Wisconsin.

“Walker & Kleefisch inherited a $3.6 billion budget deficit and they stopped runaway spending and borrowing, balanced the budget in one year without raising taxes and created tens of thousands of private sector jobs as a result of their improved business climate.

“My opponents represent the status quo in Illinois and a continuation of the same old, failed policies that got us into this mess in the first place.”

Putting her grassroots conservative principles into policy action is what led to Danielle Rowe’s endorsement by the Illinois Tea Party.

Rowe is the first woman and first State Representative candidate ever endorsed by the statewide tea party organization.

Rowe’s campaign has also been highlighted by American Grizzlies United and Organizing 4 Palin.

Danielle is the only state representative candidate in the entire country to have earned that distinction from the Sarah Palin supporting grassroots organization.

Rowe went to Wisconsin and stood with Republican Governor Scott Walker and Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch when they were fighting for revolutionary change in early 2011.

Rowe returned to Wisconsin last summer to help coordinate the State Senate recall campaigns against Democrat legislators who fled to Illinois instead of doing their jobs and voting up or down on real reforms.

When we at Wisconsin Dells, we again stayed at the Kalahari Resort.

The bottom of one of the larger waterslides at the Kalahari Resort in the Wisconsin Dells.

The main draw was the water park, of course, even though the lazy river was closed “because someone did something bad,” according to one of the lifeguards.

The “bad” was seen being scooped up with a net by my son and his friend.

They must have put a good dose of chlorine into water. Maybe enough to cause the rash on my son’s face on Saturday night.

While walking back to the room on the far, far side of the resort we passed a banquet room filled with political types.

There seems to be a vibrant contest of lieutenant governor in Wisconsin. There were signs for Dave Ross, Brett Davis and Rebecca, who must have a long last name, because it isn't on her poster. (I looked it up. It's Kleefisch.)

Posters on the door.

Former Congressman Mark Neumann had his gubernatorial pamphlets at the front table. It turns out he is a homebuilder, just as Bill Brady, the Illinois GOP candidate for governor.

Pamphlets on the check-in table.

On the way to a restaurant (ribs for me), we passed the room again.

$35 a ticket. Hear the Republican primary candidates in Wisconsin.

There were some folks sitting outside whom I took to be staffers. Most had the name “Lee” on them.

Conquering my inhibitions, I asked,

“What’s a Lee?”

Turns out one of the young people was Chad Lee, the Republican candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 2nd District. That’s located north of Rockford.

Wisconsin 2nd District Republican congressional candidate Chad Lee was sitting outside the banquet.

“I’m running against the Nancy Pelosi of the Midwest,” he told me. He added that he was a businessman and had no primary opponent.

He handed me his card.

The front of the campaign card Chad Lee handed me.

“You’re name doesn’t stand out enough,” I told him.

The front of Chad Lee's last palm card.

He handed me another card, which I think he said was the fourth version, the first one being the fifth version.

I suggested that his name was easier to read on the fourth version, although looking at the fifth version more carefully, I do like the way his face is presented. But I do think more contrast would be helpful on the name, rather that the shaded effect you see.

Learning we were from Illinois, he told me his grandfather was a Chicago fireman who had retired in Monee, down in Kankakee County.

Thinking of the April 6th Rockford Tea Party Express stop, I’m wondering if Lee will attend.

The Rockford TV stations do cover the southern part of his district. Since Joe Walsh, the GOP candidate from the 8th district is attending and virtually none of his constituents can view Rockford TV, it seems to me that it might be worth the time for Lee to try to get some Southern Wisconsin face time on TV.

I even sent him an email suggesting that.