Where has My Republican Party Gone?

Over the decades there have been bumps in the road and questionable activities but never anything like the disarray, confusion and outright stupidity of the present time. Thousands of dedicated party members reside in Illinois and among those are ones qualified and eager to serve in public office. Seemingly the party line is “no one in Illinois wanted to run for the U.S. Senate” so the anointed ones reach out and slate an egomaniac carpet-bagger. Although when approached many Illinoisians said “no thanks” I do recall that some, like Jim Oberweiss, were both willing and able. But, according to party insiders his position on immigration did not set well with the White House so it was no-no for Jim. Mr. Keyes may be articulate and intelligent he couldn’t find Coles County or Kewanee on a bet. Watch how quickly he cancels his lease and returns to Maryland if the political pundits are correct about his chances for election. We need to remember it was the party leadership that caved in and they need to be held responsible the next time they appear on the ballot. In the meantime too bad for Illinois.

As a senior citizen who pays for prescriptions I am quite concerned about the ever increasing cost of medications. When one looks at the political contributions of the pharmaceutical houses and the way they are protected in their never increasing search for profit you wonder just how corrupt our system is. I was shocked when one of the local TV stations mentioned that the Illinois delegations’ party at the Republican convention was sponsored by the Pfizer Pharmaceutical Co. This is the same Pfizer that withholds drug shipments to Canada in order to prevent U.S. citizens from buying their prescriptions at a lower cost. This is the same Pfizer that announced, in light of the Illinois Governor’s plan to establish foreign prescription outlets for seniors, that will limit it’s sales to England and Ireland.

First it is the anointing of a carpet bagger (who speaks out of both sides of his mouth) to represent us in the U.S. Senate and then it is our Republican leadership that lets a company like Pfizer buy their allegiance with a party.

As I asked earlier: where has my Republican Party gone?

Gene Rennels
1008 Allen Ave
West Chicago, IL 60185