General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! – Ronald Reagan at the Brandenburg Gate, West Berlin, Germany on June 12, 1987. [Full speech text here.]
I realize it’s become cliché for Republicans to talk about how much they miss Ronald Reagan. But nowhere is some of the Gipper’s spine needed more than in the Illinois GOP right now.
Reagan stood up to an Evil Empire and won the Cold War – without firing a shot. Once they faced a determined leader like Reagan, the communists realized they could never prevail.
The stakes are considerably lower in Illinois these days. That should argue for accomplishing more because the tasks at hand are much easier for Illinois Republicans compared to what Reagan faced.
But consider where we’re at. Once again the press is filled with accounts of our GOP elected officials complaining about being mistreated by Rod Blagojevich and the Democrats in Springfield. Like Rodney Dangerfield, it seems they “don’t get no respect.”
That’s tragic of course. And yes, I think we all know the Democrats are bad. But I think voters might have more sympathy if Senate and House Republicans had some positive alternative agenda to offer. (Frat boy stunts like bringing the big “We’re #1” foam fingers onto the floor just don’t do it for me.)
Instead, we see many of these same Republicans voting with the Democrats more often than not, and stuffing their campaign coffers with the same PAC money from the gambling lobbyists and the teachers’ unions.
Read More of Mr. McKenna, tear down this stonewall! off-site...Bill Baar says:
My experiences are limited, but I haven't found the GOP the most welcoming of parties... I met McKenna at a Kane County GOP event once and mentioned I did database kinds of work and was interested in volunteering... wrote him an email...no response..
Jeanette says:
I am hoping that progress will be made at the Illinois Republican Convention. The people going to the convention will hopefully hear a strategy plan to bring people back and to recruit new members. The Republicans need to do a mass mailing in Illinois to tell people they will work hard for the party and the platform. The Republicans need to remind everyday people of what it means to have Republican beliefs. They need to let people know in no uncertain terms that Republicans fight for liberty and freedom from government, for lower taxes, and the individual. They need to remember that themselves and prove it with their votes and legislation.