Illinois 1998

[True Democrat]

What happened?  I tried doing some research on Poshard, but was he really this conservative?

[Q]

Poshard was really popular in Southern Illinois - something of a local hero, I suppose.

I'd say that the split in this election was as much a regional as an ideological one, although by most accounts Poshard was to the right of Ryan on many social issues.  Both of these factors help to explain the Democrat's relatively poor showing in Cook County.

As an aside, Poshard places the blame for his loss on Bill Clinton, who's dealings he says cost Democratic candidates around the country in 1998.

[True Democrat]

Poshard was really popular in Southern Illinois - something of a local hero, I suppose.

I'd say that the split in this election was as much a regional as an ideological one, although by most accounts Poshard was to the right of Ryan ideologically.

As an aside, Poshard places the blame for his loss on Bill Clinton, who's dealings he says cost Democratic candidates around the country in 1998.

Was Poshard a populist (Southern populist maybe?), or just conservative?

[Q]

Was Poshard a populist (Southern populist maybe?), or just conservative?

Yes, Poshard was most certainly a populist, in the tradition of the region.  He was an excellent match for most of Southern Illinois.

[True Democrat]

I just found the map a very odd result.  I understand that some people vote on ideology, but I thought there was more party allegiance than this.

[muon2]

I just found the map a very odd result.  I understand that some people vote on ideology, but I thought there was more party allegiance than this.

Poshard was significantly to the right of Ryan on some social issues. For many voters those issues are a litmus test. He fit the mold as a traditional "Southern Democrat", and voters in the southern end of the state voted accordingly.

[HardRCafé]

Poshard was also not a thug like Ryan.

[WalterMitty]

Poshard was also not a thug like Ryan.

ryan = a great man and a personal hero of mine.

[minionofmidas]

Ryan took Rock Island.

[Q]

ryan = a great man and a personal hero of mine.

It is unfortunate that you are so inspired by corruption.

[Storebought]

ryan = a great man and a personal hero of mine.

It is unfortunate that you are so inspired by corruption.

No, he's inspired by the fact that Ryan was not a populist

[WalterMitty]

ryan = a great man and a personal hero of mine.

It is unfortunate that you are so inspired by corruption.

No, he's inspired by the fact that Ryan was not a populist

the good ryan did greatly outweighs the bad. 

[minionofmidas]

ryan = a great man and a personal hero of mine.

It is unfortunate that you are so inspired by corruption.

No, he's inspired by the fact that Ryan was not a populist

the good ryan did greatly outweighs the bad. 

Look at it this way - there is only one thing Ryan ever did that made news outside the US, or influenced anything outside Illinois in any really relevant way.
And that was certainly a good thing.

[HardRCafé]

the good ryan did greatly outweighs the bad. 

So nice to know a publicity stunt his last weekend in office absolves him of the corruption throughout his career.

http://www.sj-r.com/extras/ryan/77164.asp

[WalterMitty]

the good ryan did greatly outweighs the bad. 

So nice to know a publicity stunt his last weekend in office absolves him of the corruption throughout his career.

http://www.sj-r.com/extras/ryan/77164.asp

preventing people from being killed is a 'publicity stunt'?

[HardRCafé]

The way Ryan did it?  Absolutely.

You really don't know any of the details; do you?

[WalterMitty]

The way Ryan did it?  Absolutely.

You really don't know any of the details; do you?

it doesnt matter to me how he did it.

i dont care if he cleared death row while wearing groucho marx glasses and clown shoes.  the important thing is that he did it.

he is a modern day winthrop rockefeller. 

[Republican Michigander]

I'd vote for Poshard over Lyin' Ryan in a minute. Ryan destroyed the GOP in Illinois.

[WalterMitty]

I'd vote for Poshard over Lyin' Ryan in a minute. Ryan destroyed the GOP in Illinois.

some things are more important than party.

he did the right thing.  period.

[HardRCafé]

it doesnt matter to me how he did it.

i dont care

Good of you to stand up for ignorance and indifference.

[HardRCafé]

George Ryan guilty on twenty-two of twenty-two counts.

Hallelujah.

[Soaring Eagle]

George Ryan guilty on twenty-two of twenty-two counts.

Hallelujah.

I'm glad that the law did it's job, but the fact that a former Governor was convicted reflects poorly on the people of Illinois. Part of me wanted him to be found innocent.

[jokerman]

Really, the big thing I notice is the mediocore support in Cook County.  I'm sure that's what really cost Poshard the election.