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* It used to be, Bernie or somebody would ask statewide candidates if they’d ever smoked pot. Now, there may be a new question for Republican hopefuls…
Former state senator Paul Schimpf (R-Waterloo) and 2022 GOP gubernatorial hopeful said he had no regrets voting for former President Donald Trump in 2020, but acknowledged that Trump “had his day in court” and “did not win.”
* It’ll be fun to hear Bailey answer this same question…
For the past week, State Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Louisville, has been teasing an “important announcement about the future of Illinois” on Monday night.
Bailey is expected to announce he’s running for Illinois governor in the 2022 election.
His kickoff event is scheduled Monday from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Thelma Keller Convention Center in Effingham.
Bailey has already announced a multi-day tour through downstate Illinois with events in Marion, Highland, Bloomington, Utica, Loves Park and Shorewood throughout this week.
* Back to Schimpf…
Schimpf also broke with former Illinois Republican Governor Bruce Rauner and said he thought the U.S. Supreme Court “wrongly decided” the case of Janus vs. AFSCME when the high court ruled in favor of an Illinois state worker who objected to paying non-member union dues.
“I would say I’m a centrist on union issues,” Schimpf said. “I think that unions play a positive force for good. When I think they are they are right, I will agree with them. For instance, I am opposed to right to work. But when I think they are wrong, for instance, when the unions heavily pushed for an increase in the minimum wage for Illinois teachers, I voted against that.”
His lifetime AFL-CIO voting record as of the end of 2019 was 35 percent.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 9:21 am
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Voted against a minimum wage for teachers.
But he’s centrist on union issues.
With Bailey, at least, one expects this type of double talk nonsense.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 9:26 am
There’s a needle that needs to be thread;
Can’t be seen as wholly anti-Trump, but make sure you acknowledge all the bad, sincere, real honest bad Trump brought in the United States, and also be accepted enough of a conservative that when you run to the middle in the gevwrsl it’s not flat out phony.
Pritzker would probably be so happy if Bailey won the primary. The burying of Bailey, swamping him with Trump and such..,
Schimpf… a real Raunerite that voted for Trump… but a “greater than zero” union score… unless Schimpf has $50 million laying about I don’t know about…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 9:32 am
You can walk to Wisconsin from Loves Park -how is that downstate?
Comment by Prairie Fire Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 9:34 am
Breaking with Republicans on Janus is very interesting to me. “Downstate moderate” is going to be a verry narrow path for Schrimpf to walk, but it would be a good way to stand out in the field.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 9:36 am
Schimpf is running for Congress, not Governor. His routine, as seen when he ran for Attorney General, is to pursue an office where he has no chance of winning, in order to build name recognition and a fund raising base. Then when Bost reaches his max on his congressional pension he can leap to that seat. It’s not a bad strategy, but Schimpf isn’t foolish enough to actually want to be Governor of Illinois.
Comment by Gravy Bond Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 9:37 am
=Several times Bailey has introduced legislation as its chief sponsor that died before a vote was ever taken. These include multiple attempts to allow public schools to display the phrase “In God We Trust” on school buildings, requiring an ultrasound and waiting period for people seeking abortions, and several attempts at ethics reform and term limits for officers of the Illinois General Assembly.
Outside of his work in government, Bailey is a farmer and alongside his wife, Cindy, is co-founder of Full Armor Christian Academy, a private school offering preschool through 12th grade education in Louisville.=
So he is a closet socialist who then rails on socialism and does not understand the US Constitution.
And he wants to be my governor?
I honestly hope the primary is divided enough that he gets the nod. I look forward to seeing him get blistered for a year.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 9:38 am
Looks like the old Curly v. Shemp debate is about to come into play again.
Comment by Bedford Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 9:42 am
- Gravy Bond -
The goal of the exercise is.. to keep losing… keep being defined by opponents… in hopes that someone retires to again be in a crowded primary?
LOL… “ok, go with that”
Schimpf was trying to be a judge, as I recall.
This seems more like a fall back plan right now until he can’t raise enough money for bumper stickers or one campaign cell phone bill.
Plus… gotta get signatures. Hies that gonna go?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 9:52 am
So Schimpf usually sides with unions? Against right-to-work and Janus decision, but opposed IL minimum wage hike.
Where does Schimpf stand on worker classification in IL? Does he favor a state law like California’s AB5 or the Federal PRO Act legislation? Does he support the ABC test to determine if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor/freelancer/gig economy worker?
Are 1099 workers’ livelihoods at risk with Schimpf?
Comment by John Lopez Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 9:54 am
=== His lifetime AFL-CIO voting record as of the end of 2019 was 35 percent. ===
This reminds me Paul Ryan attempting rebrand the GOP with an anti-poverty agenda that was terrible for poor people.
Comment by sounds about right Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 9:56 am
OW beat me to it. If your strategy is to build a base by losing you may want to consider a new line of work.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 9:56 am
==When I think they are they are right, I will agree with them.==
Jeez, don’t fall over yourself with that full-throated endorsement. /S
Comment by Jocko Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 10:08 am
Shorewood is Chicagoland
Comment by Blake Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 10:09 am
=== Shorewood is Chicagoland ===
More specifically that shorewood/plainfield pocket is the southern Illinois of chicagoland.
It’s a perfect target audience for what Bailey… does.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 10:22 am
@JS Mill -
What part of anything Bailey has done makes him seem like a closet socialist?
Comment by Actual Red Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 10:28 am
===- Gravy Bond - Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 9:37 am:===
He might wind up in congress which would bring better representation to Southern Illinois than Mike Bost — but this might be really dependent on how that district gets cut.
Otherwise, in my opinion he is angling for Governor with some flexibility. In a straight primary against Bost with the current make up of the district it would be challenging, but Bost hasn’t exactly been campaigning and has actively avoided campaign events which were well advertised and able to be attended by anyone interested.
Of course there’s not really much evidence that Mike Bost enjoys being a member of congress and given his positions of being actively against federal programs on which his constituents rely, I would suspect he’s not interested in helping people.
Especially not those living in rural poverty in his district.
===If your strategy is to build a base by losing you may want to consider a new line of work. ===
This works strategy works a lot, though. There’s a lot of folks that get elected to U.S. House or U.S. Senate on their second run, even David Gill got really close once. If you step outside of Illinois it’s a typical consideration for someone challenging an incumbent to plan to run again even if they lose.
Inside of Illinois we’ve had several legislators that wound up in our assembly after a failed statewide bid.
Bringing up Abraham Lincoln might be bad form, but he also lost his first campaign for the General Assembly. He also kind of famously lost a U.S. Senate campaign in 1855 and again in 1858. So, yes, losing is a way to get your name out there. Name recognition is important and can sometimes take years to build, and if you’re shoving on the Overton window it might take a little longer.
Let’s not pretend, especially in Illinois, that losing an election doesn’t help a competent politician secure a brighter political future just because every once and a while a lunatic runs. Running for congress even got an Illinois Nazi the most press they’ve gotten since the Blues Brothers.
This isn’t just a rule for politics either. I’ve said no to plenty of people who have asked me to dance, but I’ve never said yes to someone that didn’t. How you ask and how you act when I say no can dramatically influence my response the next time I’m asked to dance.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 10:31 am
===Bringing up Abraham Lincoln might be bad form, but he also lost his first campaign for the General Assembly. He also kind of famously lost a U.S. Senate campaign in 1855 and again in 1858. So, yes, losing is a way to get your name out there.===
This ain’t the 1850s
As an example, Rauner spent money, won, didn’t have to lose.
I look at the Erika Harold model of “losing to lose… to keep losing”, or Jeanne Ives… or Jim Oberweis… or Dan Proft.
The Schimpf thing, to lose is embarrassingly ridiculous to a man who can’t wholly finance his effort, is already trying to thread a needle that won’t help in a district that would elect Bost, and losing or coming in 4th, 5th… in a gubernatorial primary to rebrand…
… dude is wasting everyone’s time and effort with that outcome.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 10:39 am
Anyone else old enough to remember Bruce Rauner’s first primary run? He also said he was a “centrist” on union issues.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 10:40 am
What Lester Holt’s Mustache said-
“If you want to join a union, join a union.”
What Rauner didn’t say, publicly, is that he believed they should have zero power and no negotiative standing.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 10:59 am
=@JS Mill -
What part of anything Bailey has done makes him seem like a closet socialist?=
The taxpayer funded farm subsidies and massive public funded tax breaks on fuel and equipment.
Those kind of redistribution of wealth things.
I don’t actually have an issue with them, but I do have an issue with farmers who rail against socialism and welfare when they themselves are recipients of the very same.
Most Americans didn’t pay attention in History class when we taught them about the grange movement and other agrarian based movements of the 19th and early 20th century that were populist/socialist.
Bailey is a total hypocrite and I hope he gets the nomination because it will be a hoot.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 11:19 am
JS Mill wrote:
=but I do have an issue with farmers who rail against socialism and welfare when they themselves are recipients of the very same=
Precisely. When I used to go the the café (it’s been more than a year), I would sit there, listen to them, and finally say, “why don’t you just take the money, then shut-up”.
Comment by Stix Hix Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 12:05 pm
IMO. Shemp is useless.
JsMill. On the farmer thing, I agree with you 100%. If you want some interesting reading, look up PPP recipients in Illinois. The number of unnamed farmers who received this handout is incredible. I know multiple multimillionaires who took the money. The feds should be forced to reveal all the names.
Comment by Blue Dog Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 12:21 pm
FYI, you can google “Farm Subsidy Database” to see an exact dollar amount.
Comment by Stig Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 12:23 pm
If there was a farmer in Union county that didn’t cut hay off his CRP land, I don’t know who it was.
Comment by Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 12:32 pm
The former President has made it clear that he has no use for Republicans who may feel conflicted on his presidency. He demands 100% support 100% of the time. And with the legal and financial troubles he’s now facing he sees his supporters as somewhat of a human shield to provide the protection that he enjoyed while being President. So expect Bernie to keep asking the question of all Republican candidates and expect Trump supporters to demand a clear and unequivocal response. Their leader demands it.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 12:56 pm
===I look at the Erika Harold model of “losing to lose… to keep losing”, or Jeanne Ives… or Jim Oberweis… or Dan Proft.===
I qualified my remark with the term “competent politician.”
You are correct that running to lose does not promise better results. To some extent I’d like to think of it as “running to win, but maybe not this cycle.” But that requires there still being a chance to win next cycle.
===dude is wasting everyone’s time and effort with that outcome. ===
It can be hard to convince someone not to dip their toe in the water to see how cold it is. Maybe they’re blind to the ice, maybe they think they’re a polar bear that can thrive under the ice.
The end of a public career can be a difficult thing to stomach when it doesn’t go as planned. If Schimpf’s plan A was to be a judge he perhaps didn’t have a plan B. Not many Big Law firms in Southern Illinois.
But if he’s planning on running as an Anti-Trump candidate, the party needs one of those to allow for their Trump vs. Not Trump battle to carry itself out. Kinzinger could use someone else to help him carry the banner.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 1:14 pm
Hasn’t maskless Bailey already been spreading it throughout downstate Illinois?
Comment by Jibba Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 1:27 pm
Will The Darlings be opening the event?
Comment by S. Side Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 1:33 pm
Well this solves my dilemma about 2022. Look folks you have to offer up desirable people to win. Do bette mr
Comment by thoughts matter Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 3:49 pm
Dillard got 37% of the vote in 2014, to Rauner’s 40%.
Dillard got there with the support of the IEA and AFSCME.
1/3 of all union members in Illinois vote in the GOP primary.
Bailey is going to get the QAnon vote, but Ken Griffin and the rest of the Combine wont touch him with a ten foot pole if he wins the primary, we all know it.
I wouldnt count Schimpf out early.
Comment by Ferris Wheeler Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 4:23 pm
===I wouldnt count Schimpf out early.===
What’s his path in the General?
No Qs or conspiracy theorists, no Trumpkins, was a Raunerite, so moderates aren’t a slam dunk….
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 4:28 pm
I have listened to Shemp, in person, on numerous occasions. Boring is a compliment.
Comment by Blue Dog Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 4:37 pm
These two republican’ts should bother coming to my door, won’t vote for them. Ever.
Comment by Huh? Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 5:42 pm
—-Dillard got there with the support of the IEA and AFSCME
AFSCME backed Dillard late. If they would have backed him sooner, could have knocked Rauner out early.
Comment by Southern Dude Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 6:42 pm
===What’s his path in the General?===
Denounce the election results and lead the secession of the Peoples Republic of Downstatia.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Feb 22, 21 @ 7:59 pm