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* We’re a bit late to the game on this. From April 30…
Adam Kinzinger came to Texas this week to hunt unicorns.
The Illinois congressman was looking for Republicans who, like him, see former President Donald Trump as a scourge on their party and a threat to democracy. Kinzinger met privately with one sympathetic Republican, former President George W. Bush, on his first day in the state. And on the second, he had lunch with Michael Wood, the only openly anti-Trump Republican competing on Saturday in a crowded special election for a seat in Congress.
Kinzinger, a 43-year-old Air Force pilot who flew missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, is positioning himself as a leading antagonist to Trump in a party that is largely refusing to move on from the former president. The congressman’s nascent political organization, Country First, has endorsed every House Republican who voted to impeach Trump for inciting the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. And as Kinzinger eyes a potential run for higher office himself, he came to Texas to test how many other Republicans share his outlook.
Kinzinger’s hope lies in Wood, another fresh-faced combat veteran, who is fighting to stand out in a field of 23. If none of the candidates on Saturday’s ballot earns 50% of the vote, the top two will compete in a runoff election later in the spring.
* May 4…
Michael Wood — a strongly conservative Republican, small business owner, military combat veteran and handsome father of four — finished in fifth place among Republicans with just 3.2% of the vote in a special election Saturday in Texas’ 6th U.S. Congressional District.
Wood, who’d been endorsed by the Dallas Morning News as “a bridge to the GOP regaining its focus,” was the only Republican to speak ill of former President Donald Trump among the 11 members of his party in the open, 23-candidate field. He’s reminiscent of Illinois U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Channahon, also a strong conservative military man with anti-Trump bona fides.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 7, 21 @ 2:41 am
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Rep. Kinzinger,
Bud, the party we once knew now refuses honesty, truth, and facts.
Even worse? You call out others, the cult of personality will go Q on you. Endorsing or showing support for a candidate that isn’t fully indoctrinated in being a cult follower, they barely stand a chance.
Think on this, congressman, a candidate who will quote the leader of National Socialism is more likely to represent a district in a general election …than another who recognizes that a sitting president incited an insurrection. Cults are like that.
You’re trying. I appreciate it. The road is going to be chock full of losses like this. It’s the climate of the cult. You’re gonna see, read, hear all kinds of “that’s what he gets for being a “R _N_” and far worse than I can write here. Just know, it’s folks in the public like you still trying to make honesty, truth, and facts… something BOTH parties should want in candidates.
My best. Keep plugging.
Oswego Willy
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 7, 21 @ 7:51 am
The primary system at present is the enemy of moderates.
As I recall, about 12% of eligible voters cast a vote for Clinton AND Trump in the 2016 primaries.
Was talking about this with a good friend of mine who doesn’t vote in primaries, but always votes in generals. He said he wished we had an open primary with a run off. He is a mostly non-political person, who said he doesn’t like to be pigeonholed as a “member” of a party.
I tried to explain the fallacy of “primaries don’t matter” to him, and he understood, but I suspect he won’t vote in future primaries.
The purity tests are hurting our country. I think if we want more candidates that are mainstream, we need to look at revamping how we conduct primaries.
I live in the 15th. I feel like I have basically zero representation. What have Miller, Bailey and Miller accomplished? If I had something I needed done, I’d be afraid to ask for their help. Would be the kiss of death. Who on the other side of the aisle can they work with?
I know posters here think those of us Downstate are all crazy, but I just don’t believe that. We have our share, but our bigger issue is that almost no moderate people here vote in primaries.
Primary turnout is abysmal.
Comment by BCOSEC Friday, May 7, 21 @ 8:15 am
We can only hope that the GOP never regains its focus.
Comment by Collinsville Kevin Friday, May 7, 21 @ 8:23 am
It is Texas I am surprised that guy finished 5th and out of 23 so that could be considered a plus. Anyway I realize Kinzinger is probably trying to get national recognition and national money but I wish he could come back to Illinois and de Trump it.
Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, May 7, 21 @ 8:30 am
there were 23 candidates and almost no local news on them. two major papers in the district and maybe 5-6 stories on the race over a 4 month period. all the coverage was on local (mostly mayoral) and school board races. for me, the surprise was that the “winner” (top vote getter) moved nairy a hair over that time (to be fair, her deceased husband had only won the seat in 2018), staying at 18% the entire period. the other candidate who got into the runoff had run against the deceased in 2018 in the primary and focused on the small rural county he represented in the state house (iirc) — which everyone else neglected because tarrant county had ~75% of the voters. but that was all he needed.
wood got lots of national press, including kinzinger’s visit/endorsement but voters hadn’t heard of him (either one, actually). maybe this lands in the moral victory category, but remember that trump endorsed the widow at the last minute and moved the scale not one bit. i don’t think either endorsement did a thing in this race…
Comment by bored now Friday, May 7, 21 @ 9:07 am
It’s probably going to be at least another cycle or so before we get clarity on things. Whether willingly or unwillingly they’re still being held hostage by the former President and I don’t see that changing in the near term. The best approach for Kinzinger may be to see if the party moves away from Trump on its own. It may or may not.
Comment by Pundent Friday, May 7, 21 @ 9:19 am
I’m happy to know there’s still a few thoughtful conservatives, but you guys need to found a new party for yourselves.
Comment by Cheryl44 Friday, May 7, 21 @ 9:19 am
Kudos to AK for doing the right thing, even though its unpopular.
Comment by South of Springfield Friday, May 7, 21 @ 9:26 am
I am glad he is sticking with it.
To some extent the timing on this with redistricting is beneficial as well. If his district changes significantly he can always refer to that to save face.
Representative Kinzinger found his principles late, but he found them. May his efforts be more than a footnote.
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, May 7, 21 @ 9:43 am
“The primary system at present is the enemy of moderates.” BINGO
More and more, a big part of the electorate’s choices are limited. Do want the extremist from the right, or the extremist from the left? And then they take office and fight like heck. It’s corrosive.
Comment by Feldy Friday, May 7, 21 @ 9:45 am
He may have taken a strike, but he had the guts to come up to the plate.
Need more like him.
Comment by Teddy Salad Friday, May 7, 21 @ 9:48 am
I guess Republicans shouldn’t listen to Democrats advice on how to win elections.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, May 7, 21 @ 10:06 am
=Do want the extremist from the right, or the extremist from the left?=
Look at where the GOP is now losing in Illinois. Look at the candidates they choose to run. Look at districts they used to hold and who’s beating them. It’s not extremists from the left.
Comment by Pundent Friday, May 7, 21 @ 10:12 am
=== Do want the extremist from the right, or the extremist from the left?===
The “whataboutism” is strong here.
Context?
The insurrection incited by the president wasn’t the left, and in many ways it wasn’t the right either.
What it was… angry, white, racist who were (and still are) conspiracy theorist who took joy in being part of an insurrection… they made %&@+ t-shirts and sweatshirts for the insurrection, for cripes sake.
It’s buying into a cult. A cult of personality devoid of honesty, truth, and facts.
It’s not both sides. Not here, not in that Texas race, not in the politics of today… and McConchie is indeed facing the same opponent, but he’s framed, and he will be embraced, by the worst elements of American society.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 7, 21 @ 10:21 am
@ Collinsville Kevin
Are you suggesting that a one-party state is health for democracy? Really?
I think it’s in everyone’s interests that both parties remain competitive that that the Trump cult loses its following before any other Willie Stark types get lined up to follow him.
Comment by The Ford Lawyer Friday, May 7, 21 @ 10:32 am
Scary. I support Kinzinger and the few who are fighting to restore the GOP and take it back from its current authoritarian state. The party is now a cult because of the GOP base, all bought in to the dangerous lie that the election was stolen from Trump. Some or many GOP leaders know it’s not true, but in their love of power they don’t care. For all the GOP crying about Christianity being under attack, selling out and being corrupted by earthly power is the very opposite of Christian.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, May 7, 21 @ 10:35 am
He’s doing the right thing, in the wrong way.
He needs to appeal to Trump voters, not insult them. It’s quite in the interest of Trump, and Democrats that Trump gets as much publicity as possible.
AK needs to speak to the needs of the Trump voters, and essentially ignore Trump. Let him fade away.
His current approach isn’t working. You don’t double down on failure.
Comment by Fav Human Friday, May 7, 21 @ 10:38 am
=== I think it’s in everyone’s interests that both parties remain competitive===
Kinda…
As you mentioned, the Trump cult would need to leave the party and by the looks of it, that ain’t happening anytime soon;
Trump weighing in to replace the House Whip
Trump having folks fawn over him and visit Mar-a-Lago
Even Lindsey Graham, with 5 years remaining in his new term said he can’t see a “GOP” without Trump.
For me… why I fight as I do… why I don’t “give up” and look to Kinzinger as a beacon..
“I think it’s in everyone’s interests that both parties remain competitive”
See, I don’t see Dems as the “enemy”… and I don’t see the 80% of Republicans I agree with as the enemy either.
The cult that has infested the party formerly known as the GOP… there’s no other choice.
If you choose to embrace a party that courts racist, insurrectionists, conspiracy theorists… you are hurting the country and the real of the two party system actually functioning… and the enemy of democracy.
Either this cult, the GOP, will implode, or after redistricting and the hatred still be embraced, this new cult of GOP will bring to bear serious worries to the idea of the American experiment learning after this failed insurrection and save the country from the cult.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 7, 21 @ 10:44 am
=== He needs to appeal to Trump voters===
Normally, boy, I’d agree.
Those in cults need reprogramming.
Trump is going NOWHERE.
===Trump weighing in to replace the House Whip
Trump having folks fawn over him and visit Mar-a-Lago
Even Lindsey Graham, with 5 years remaining in his new term said he can’t see a “GOP” without Trump.===
It’s dark times. The “appealing to” part is very far from being a next step.
With great respect.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 7, 21 @ 10:47 am
=AK needs to speak to the needs of the Trump voters, and essentially ignore Trump.=
But Trump demands the continued attention of his voters and GOP leaders. While I agree with the sentiment I’m not sure if it works given the current reality.
Comment by Pundent Friday, May 7, 21 @ 10:55 am
Maybe someone could explain how disparaging 75 million Americans as members of a fringe, racist cult who have 50 US Senators and 6 less Congressmen is a recipe for future success in the Republican party
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, May 7, 21 @ 11:13 am
=AK needs to speak to the needs of the Trump voters, and essentially ignore Trump.=
It is not clear that “Trump voters” will show up when Trump is not on the ballot. (note that the candidate Trump endorsed in the Texas race did not win either) Many (most?) Republicans in office appear to assume that they need to bow down at the alter of Trump and pander to his loyal followers. It remains to be seen if this will continue to be a winning strategy when the name Trump is not on the ballot.
The other disturbing strategy is the push to limit ballot access. The Republicans seem to think the path to victory is not wooing more voters with attractive policies, but, rather, making it as difficult as possible for people of color to vote. Again, it remains to be seen if this will be a winning strategy OR if folks will get mad and cast votes in opposition regardless of the barriers put in their way.
The disappointing part of this is that these Republicans seem to recognize that their policies are not popular, so they need to win by distraction (I love Trump!) or by denying the oppositions’ voters access to the polls. Kinzinger is clearly rejecting the first strategy; I’d like to see him reject the second one as well.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, May 7, 21 @ 11:15 am
===He needs to appeal to Trump voters, not insult them===
I believe appealing to the “Trump voters” is what got the GOP to where they are today. Donald Trump secured the Republican nomination in 2016 with fewer than 45% of the “popular vote” and had a majority of pledged delegates because the GOP’s primary process favors a “winner take all” approach instead of proportional delegates in several states. Trump didn’t even win majorities in the primary until April when his ascension was basically a certainty.
Allowing winner take all and the egos of too many young GOP senators allowed him to take the nomination. Appeasement to Trump voters is what go the GOP to where it is now and Trump spread like a cancer throughout every institution within their party.
Ignoring the extremists that supported the overthrow of a Democratically elected government isn’t exactly the way you fix things. My concerns for the GOP is that it may be too late to drag the party back into the “advocating for the acceptable denial of human rights for women and people of color” and when the party distanced themselves from people that were child rapists instead of whatever it is they’re doing with Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan.
The GOP platform of the last 10 years has been built on bigotry and intolerance and nothing else. It’s not like they have a list of structural reforms and projects or a plan for addressing climate change or global security or anything.
Even here in Illinois state legislators tout their need for pension reform and the only reform they offer is an unconstitutional insistence to not pay it.
The GOP has no clothes and a majority of the party are people that are fine with that as long as they can believe they’re in on the Big Lie.
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, May 7, 21 @ 11:22 am
Today’s GOP is a combination of Trump/QAnon cult. It’s a major problem because we need a normal, functioning conservative party. We don’t have one. Kinzinger knows this. So does Liz Cheney. But they’re fighting a short-term losing war.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, May 7, 21 @ 11:49 am
=== Maybe someone could explain===
Like I said, the racist, insurrectionists, conspiracy theorist are embraced. Even by you. Right here.
You’re embracing them.
You have needed reprogramming since Rauner.
Now it’s reprogramming for the cult you embrace.
It can’t be explained to you. Those in cults need to first realize… they’re in a cult.
Think on this;
Liz Cheney… telling the truth about the election… the cult leader “no likely”… Liz Cheney being removed for honesty and truth.
The first rule in leaving a cult… realize it’s a cult.
The party that hasn’t seen what Kinzinger sees as damaging the United States wants Kinzinger gone too.
The intervention for those willing to see honesty, truth, and facts begins when those let go. Like you, they don’t let go, they embrace the cult harder.
===75 million Americans as members of a fringe, racist cult who have 50 US Senators and 6 less Congressmen is a recipe for future success in the Republican party===
I mean… yikes, man.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 7, 21 @ 11:49 am
It is not merely about January 6th. Liz Cheney is going to be removed because Wyoming is a conservative Republican state that does not align too well with a Beltway moderate/liberal.
Comment by Practical Politics Friday, May 7, 21 @ 12:00 pm
Yikes Man the fringe racist cult actually picked up minority support in 2020 and did so by electing a record 35 women to Congress
Despite his election defeat, President Donald Trump can boast a success that has intrigued pollsters - he was more popular with ethnic minority voters than in 2016.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54972389
The much bigger issue is the record 35 Republican women who will serve in Congress next year, breaking the previous record of 30 and a sharp increase from the 13 GOP women elected to the House of Representatives in 2018.
https://www.npr.org/2020/11/13/934249216/how-a-record-number-of-republican-women-got-elected-to-congress
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, May 7, 21 @ 12:16 pm
=== Yikes Man the fringe racist cult actually picked up minority support in 2020 and did so by electing a record 35 women to Congress===
(Pause)
How many people of color?
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 7, 21 @ 12:23 pm
===Beltway moderate/liberal. ===
You need a nap. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 7, 21 @ 12:23 pm
- Lucky Pierre -
Two real important points you are now embracing.
You do support Trump, and all he stood for…
… you are still seeing that the needed racists, insurrectionists, and conspiracy theorists are fine to embrace if they can win seats.
I liked you better as a Raunerite bot.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 7, 21 @ 12:25 pm
=== It is not merely about January 6th. Liz Cheney is going to be removed because Wyoming is a conservative…===
I’m gonna stop ya here, “Cowboy”… she will remain in congress, it’s her leadership role in the caucus.
If you really don’t know how things are going, maybe take a couple seconds off OAN and get some facts.
Geez Louise…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 7, 21 @ 12:27 pm
What will happen after Trump is gone? Will the GOP be utterly devoid of credibility or direction, trying to return to what it was before Trump and pretend he didn’t happen? GOP Sen. Cassidy said it best when he voted to impeach: no democracy or country is as big as only one person. It’s a very short statement but one of the most powerful, from anyone of either political party.
https://www.wafb.com/2021/02/13/cassidy-votes-convict-president-donald-trump/
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, May 7, 21 @ 12:45 pm
“Kinzinger met privately with one sympat Kinzinger met privately with one sympathetic Republican, former President George W. Bush, on his first day in the state.”
I think was Kinzinger is missing is people don’t want the GOP to go back to: Wars in Middle East, Lehmann Brothers, Halliburton and Karl Rove.
Somewhere there must be a path in middle.
Comment by Jockey Friday, May 7, 21 @ 12:48 pm
We need a modern Thaddeus Stevens to step up as the old new GOP. Only someone like that can restore what the Republicans once stood for and bring about the changes to better our Country.
Comment by FormerParatrooper Friday, May 7, 21 @ 1:01 pm
=== modern Thaddeus Stevens===
He, and Lincoln, would likely be Democrats today.
Let’s not forget, the “party of Lincoln” now embraces insurrectionists and racists who storm the Capitol with Confederate flags held high.
After 1964, the slow silent march that the GOP had was reversing who they were in 1860
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 7, 21 @ 1:05 pm
===(note that the candidate Trump endorsed in the Texas race did not win either)===
In fact she did.
Comment by Eric Zorn Friday, May 7, 21 @ 1:06 pm
I like what Kinzinger is trying to do. Its not just about politics - Kinzinger is trying to do the right thing regardless of how popular or unpopular it is. I actually wish he focused more on efforts here in IL and would re-consider a run for the Governor’s mansion.
Comment by Cluster Friday, May 7, 21 @ 1:08 pm
BCOSEC - I think you are spot on. Primaries are being won by the fringes when the seats are “safe”. Considering that most seats are “safe”, that’s a lot of extremists in office.
Comment by Cluster Friday, May 7, 21 @ 1:10 pm
===re-consider a run for the Governor’s mansion===
Kinda hard to get on the national news every day from Springfield.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 7, 21 @ 1:48 pm
Rep. Kinzinger over-rushed to become famous. He blew his opportunity to become an effective national leader and help move the Republican party more centrist the day he voted for a meaningless impeachment. I suspect he did not have the full facts at his disposal when he made that decision. I suspect he did not adequately factor in his existing constituents’ wishes when he made that decision. I also suspect he was lured into thinking he was more popular and influential than he actually is from his many invited appearances on the Sunday shows of the time. Over seventy-five million voters cast a ballot for President Trump in 2020. They are most certainly not all idiots or cultists or racists despite the running media narrative. Many of them voted for Trump not because they are hopeless worshipful Trumpists”, but because in their considered judgement they believed that despite his flaws he was a better choice for America than the alternative.
I really had hopes for Kinzinger and have been tracking him for well more than a decade. I am disappointed to find his political instincts were so faulty and that his personality is so arrogant. I think he is done and probably doesn’t know what hit him.
Comment by Responsa Friday, May 7, 21 @ 2:53 pm
=== He blew his opportunity to become an effective national leader and help move the Republican party more centrist the day he voted for a meaningless impeachment. I suspect he did not have the full facts at his disposal when he made that decision. I suspect he did not adequately factor in his existing constituents’ wishes when he made that decision.===
A popular insurrection of the United States government incited by a president of the United States is an insurrection all the same… and should be impeachable.
Huh… on the side of racists, insurrectionists, and conspiracy theorists?
=== I really had hopes for Kinzinger and have been tracking him for well more than a decade. I am disappointed to find his political instincts were so faulty and that his personality is so arrogant. I think he is done and probably doesn’t know what hit him.===
Yes(?)
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 7, 21 @ 3:04 pm
He could just be a moderate Democrat
Comment by Anon E Moose Friday, May 7, 21 @ 3:16 pm
=== He could just be a moderate Democrat===
Just call him a “R_N_” and be done with it.
Pathetic.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 7, 21 @ 3:20 pm
The day after Trump shuffles off this mortal plane…what a day that will be for the Grand Old Party?…The Party of What?…standing for what?…having what redemptive value?…I really wonder.
Comment by Dotnonymous Friday, May 7, 21 @ 3:22 pm
= Over seventy-five million voters cast a ballot for President Trump in 2020. They are most certainly not all idiots or cultists or racists despite the running media narrative.=
Nobody said they were. And I’m sure that there are many among those 75 million that are just as disgusted with the President’s actions following the election as Kinzinger is.
But here’s the thing, if you still support a President who actively sought to undermine our democracy and incite a violent insurrection post-election, you’re part of the problem.
Comment by Pundent Friday, May 7, 21 @ 3:52 pm