The Cows Still Won't Come Home - Lincoln Day Dinner 2006

More of a chicken than a cow, this pic of Oberweis is more flattering than he deserves.

Just returned from the Peoria Republican Lincoln Day Dinner. I want a law that no politician or want to be politician will be allowed to make a impromptu speech. If an impromptu speech is required, a timing device will be implemented and said Pol/Speaker will limit him/herself to three minutes. Five tops. I paid my $50.00. Let me eat already! Aaron Schock was the Master of ceremonies and the always respectful young lad came with a well prepared, rehearsed, and funny speech. Just about everyone else rambled on and on and on...

My favorite part of the evening was when Pat Ward sang "America the Beautiful." I don't know the woman, apparently she is a county board candidate for the First District. Can I tell you? The woman can sing. I loved her. Ms. Ward is African-American, came swathed in gold lame, and her voice and style would have done the best gospel choir proud. I nearly put my hands up in the air and started swaying. At the last second I regretfully realized that I was neither black or Baptist and that I was in a room filled to capacity with other uptight, timid white folks also on the verge of shouting, "Praise the Lord and/or Jesus!" Fortunately, we all controlled our repressed selves, but we did give Ms. Ward a standing ovation.

This event was advertised as a "Unity Dinner" and all four Republican candidates Governor for promised to come, regardless if they won or lost. I know. I figured it was worth the price of the ticket just to see if Oberweis and Gidwitz could face a room of fellow Republicans after blatantly and repeatedly breaking the 11th Commandment. (For "Independents," Democrats, and those too young or don't care to remember, Ronald Reagan decreed that No Republican shall speak ill of another Republican.)

Well of course, neither Gidwitz or Oberweis had the testicular fortitude to show. No big surprise, really. However, a Schock aide told me that Aaron originally called Oberweis and invited him to the Dinner, asking Oberweis to show only if he emerged the victor. Oberweis said, "Win or lose. I want to be at your Dinner. I will come no matter what." Thus, the event was hailed as a "Unity Dinner."

Oberweis was the first to cancel, the day after the primary. Heh. Gidwitz was a no show, still off somewhere licking his wounds. Bill Brady attended, sat at the head table, and gave a great speech for Topinka. Kinda got the feeling he would be making copies or licking stamps for her campaign starting tomorrow.

Gidwitz and Oberweis refused to sign the Republican Code of Campaign Ethics, which among other things, had candidates promise to abide by the 11 Commandment. Oberweis may have took second overall, but he did not do particularly well here. Neither did Gidwitz.

Many State big wigs were there. Schock, McKenna, Leitch, LaHood, Risinger, and Topinka (who was a bit over caffeninated/hyper and spoke for WAY too long). Fewer folks from the City attended. Mayor Ardis, George Jacob, and Patrick Nichting showed, but John Morris, Bob Manning, and Eric Turner were no shows. Morris missed an opportunity to cozy up to State party leaders!? Gosh, I sincerely hope there wasn't a death in the family or something. Oh, and Chuck Grayeb wasn't there either.

I didn't see Zan or David Ran$burg- even though they purchased a table. Neither were his (former?) buddies Teplitz or Thetford. In fact, of all the City politicians who ran this time last year and who repeatedly stated oh how important the Republican Party and Principles were to them- only Ardis and Nichting bothered showing up this year. As Ran$burg's Campaign Manager, Maloof was at the Dinner last year, but could not be bothered this year. I think mostly volunteers filled the room. Most people present had stuffed envelopes, made calls, written checks, etc. for people who, in hindsight, stood for self promotion and not for Republican ideals, beliefs, or principles.

I know, I know. Not shocking. Just disappointing.

There were some local politicians who were present tonight and who are present at just about every Republican function- regardless of who is at the helm. Merle Widmer, Reg Willis, Bonnie Gavin, Mary Haynes and as previously mentioned, Pat Nichting. If you're not Republican and maybe even if you are- you probably don't care. Maybe you don't appreciate the Party's ideals, and that's fine. I don't like all of them either. That isn't my point.

The elected and unelected are suppose to stand for something win or lose. Didn't they tell us they were running because they were scared for our City/County/State/Country and wanted to do anything to improve the situation? Didn't they say they loved our great City/County/State/Country and just wanted the opportunity to serve? Participate in the process? Make government better? Didn't they give us the feeling that were they not running for office they would be out collecting litter or working at a soup kitchen?

I know, I know. Not shocking. Just disappointing.