D. Ferrell's blog

Illinois will be ugly in 2008 for Republicans for so many reasons - Obama is a Chicago guy, this year is just plain awful for the GOP, Illinois is a blue state in recent elections, and the Illinois GOP is a big mess (think Alan Keyes for Senate).

All that said, the Illinois GOP should not and can not sit on its hands. In any half-way decent year for Republicans, the conviction of Tony Rezko, and the dark cloud of at least implicit corruption over the governor's office, would be a great opportunity for Illinois candidates. 

This "culture of corruption" should be pushed aggressively, and all local/statewide Democratic candidates with any ties should have the Blagojevich weight tied to their legs. Illinois Republicans can show some leadership by attempting to answer the questions being asked on this website, namely, where do we go next, and who is fit to lead us?

Nothing will prevent the 90-10 or 80-20 races close to Chicago. But in this election and beyond, Illinois Republicans have a reason to vote, a reason to get fresh GOP faces in the race.

The greatest factor in the upcoming debacle, both statewide and national, is Republicans who don't want to vote. Even in Cook County, where I know I will be cancelled out early by a dead or otherwise ineligible voter, I see a need to vote, and a need to encourage other Republicans to vote.

First, some disclosures. I can't decide if I'm a paleo- neo-, libertarian, or some combination of the three. And I served in the military, including a stint in Iraq. For those reasons, I may not have the same reservations as many conservatives show in voting for McCain. But there are two things I think people of all stripes should keep in mind when considering whether to vote or stay home.

1) Character counts, and McCain is a man of character. Chalk this one up under intangibles, but I think McCain shows tremendous character. Yes, his positions have changed, as others have pointed out. But when the Senator speaks, he has an authenticity neither of the Democratic candidates can match. It's often an exasperating authenticity, but it's real nonetheless. Maybe it's too much Straight-Talk kool-aid for me, but I'll take him over the other two. 

2) If conservatives only vote for true conservatives, have conservatives ever had an occasion to vote? Again, I concede McCain does things I dislike (campaign finance, gas-tax demagoging, etc.). But don't conservatives often vote for the so-called lesser of two evils? Do we really think we're that much different from liberals in that we will rarely get an 'orthodox' candidate?  

Staying home gives a two-vote swing to Obama/Clinton. Look at the Congress he'll work with, the judges he'll appoint, the war that can't be retroactively undone, and consider what the next president will work with in the next four years. McCain is the best scenario, even if he isn't the future of conservatism.