GOVERNOR’S IMPEACHMENT LOOMS

by George Kocan,

Communications Director, TAPROOT Republicans

The abysmal failure of Democrat leadership in Springfield has created great frustration among Republicans, most notably Dan Cronin, State Senator from the 21st District, and new Chairman of the Du Page Republican Party.

Cronin provided a political overview of the situation in Springfield at TAPROOT’s famous monthly meeting in Lombard, at the Old Country Buffet, off Roosevelt Rd., last Saturday, June 16.

He began he talk with great praise for TAPROOT Republicans who in years past presented a "impressive force" in DuPage Politics, saying that he will do anything to support the group. After all, one of the founders of TAPROOT some 42 years ago is George Ray Hudson, former State Senator. Serious contenders for office in Illinois still make their political pitches to grass-roots, conservative activist groups like TAPROOT.

Although the frustration seems to have driven some Republicans out of Springfield, most recently State Representative Joseph Dunn (96th District), it has forced Cronin to become more resourceful, impelling him to develop relationships with sympathetic Democrats based on philosophy and geography.

The incompetence and dysfunction of the Democrat Governor, Rod Blagojevich, whom the Trumpet has termed the "Boy Wonder," for obvious reasons, has also motivated Cronin to file a resolution to impeach him for "dereliction of duty." The word, ‘sociopath,’ actually passed Cronin lips, during his description of the Governor, which included the following: "He giggles his way through conversation, he is immature and has no work ethic."

There exist ancillary issues like the juvenile gangster task force, the budget and utility regulation. The duty now more than ever is to stay involved. "Somebody has to watch them (the Democrats)," Cronin said.

Regarding the budget, there has been no discussion, no negotiation, nothing happening. "Not like the old day, it was fun...I don’t know what they do all day (except) go jogging and play chess," he said.

The Governor is dedicated to his health care plan, Cronin continued, and is putting all his hopes on gambling. If that goes through, it will make Illinois the largest gambling state in the union. But, the press is not covering it.

He observed that people are less and less engaged in the process. This allows the ruling party to behave irresponsibly. It managed to pass six bills which in the past would have gotten them thrown out of office, among them installing abortion clinics in public schools. The electorate is less educated and less informed.

In DuPage County, the challenge for Republicans is to show the public that the GOP is something special. "They have governed the county for a long time. They have to show their pride and connect what we have in the county to GOP leadership," Cronin said. Unlike the Democrat-dominated Cook Co., DuPage is well run. All kinds of people want to move here and take part in its prosperity and open spaces. Republican competence in DuPage must be seen as a balance to Democrat malfeasance in Cook.

Comparing the current governor’s record with the convicted felon, former Republican Governor George Ryan, Cronin said, "Blagojevich makes George Ryan look like a Boy Scout." A federal investigation of the Boy Wonder has already started.