Jack Ryan says "I'm In" the U.S. Senate race

The Illinois Leader ^

[Amish]

Jack Ryan says "I'm In" the U.S. Senate race

Thursday, May 29, 2003

By The Leader-Chicago Bureau

Ryan with Hales Franciscan students in 2002

Jack Ryan (right) of State Rep. Carolyn Pankau (R-Hanover Park) and Sid Mathias (R-Buffalo Grove) at Wednesday night's reception

Ryan with State Rep. Paul Froehlich (R-Schaumburg) at reception on Wednesday night

Ryan taught at English and prelaw at Hales Franciscan for three years -- many of those attending Wednesday's rally were in his classes (Photo taken in 2002) CHICAGO -- Today, GOP candidate for U.S. Senate Jack Ryan continued his two-day fly around the state, formally initiating his campaign to fill current Senator Peter Fitzgerald's open seat in the 2004 election.

Ryan is the first Republican to announce his candidacy. At least eleven other Republicans have expressed interest in the same position, although no one else has formally announced. The running list is: Congresswoman Judy Biggert, General John Borling, Ray Choundhry, John Cox, Jim Durkin, Chairinjeev Kathuria, M.D., former State Representative Tom McCracken, Andy McKenna, James Oberweis, State Senator Steve Rauschenberger, and former Lieutenant Governor Corinne Wood.

Ryan kicked off his campaign in a setting atypical for Republican conservatives -- at a southside Catholic high school where 75% of the students come from low income areas. But the hundreds of African-American young men surrounding Ryan were not scenic backdrop, they were his former students.

The 43-year-old Wilmette native and Dartmouth and Harvard graduate taught English grammar and prelaw courses at Hales Franciscan High School for three years and just recently returned to a lucrative business career.

After considering a run for Secretary of State in 1998 and U.S. Senate in 2000, Ryan is officially stepping into the campaign circuit for the first time.

At Wednesday's rally, Ryan attempted to make it clear that he and his campaign will set aside stereotypical "Republican white male" tactics of running campaigns in favor of George W. Bush-like "compassionate conservative" emphases.

Hales Franciscan student Haamid Johnson introduced his former teacher to the cheering crowd, saying that if people think Jack Ryan will be confused with the scandals of former Governor George Ryan, "They don't know Jack!", hinting at the theme of Ryan's campaign.

Ryan's signs have no hint of his last name, only the words "JACK!" and "U.S. Senate," a public relations trick used by Hillary Rodham Clinton when she ran for U.S. Senate in New York in 2002.

After the Hales announcement, Ryan flew to Springfield for an afternoon press conference at the State Capitol, where he was escorted by State Representative Paul Froehlich (R-Schaumburg), a conservative legislator. Ryan met with supporters at the Pasfield House in Springfield on Wednesday evening.

Today Ryan flew to meet supporters and the press in St. Clair County, Peoria, the Quad Cities, and Rockford.

While most conservatives are holding their cards close to their chests until all other candidates declare, some have already voiced their support for Ryan's bid for U.S. Senate.

Kevin McCullough, WYLL 1160AM's afternoon talk show host and conservative activist, declared his support of Ryan after the announcement yesterday.

"The only candidate that might cause me to switch support would have been Senator [Patrick] O'Malley," McCullough said. "But since it does not look like he is going to run, I can't think of a better candidate to reach out to ALL of Illinois -- no matter the hue -- than Jack Ryan!"

Elroy Leach, a black conservative activist and former state representative GOP candidate against Representative Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) in the 2002 election cycle, stood behind Ryan as he spoke to the Hales Franciscan rally on Wednesday.

"Yes, I was there behind Jack Ryan, although I am friends with John Cox and Jim Oberweis as well," Leach said today. "But I like the unique way that Ryan is going to be running his campaign and his deliberate attempt to get into the black community with a message of strong values. I'm excited about this chance to get a great candidate elected as a Republican who knows our community because he worked here and is invested here."

The only other news concerning the 2004 U.S. Senate race comes from the one of the five declared Democratic party candidates. Dan Hynes' campaign announced he was expecting the endorsement of downstate Teamsters today. Teamsters 710, one of the largest union locals in the Chicago area, endorsed Hynes last week.

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FOR A RELATED STORY SEE:

http://www.illinoisleader.com/opinion/opinionview.asp?c=6145

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Ryan's signs have no hint of his last name, only the words "JACK!" and "U.S. Senate,"

Think Jack has been reading my posts on FR ? :-)

Alas, the 'Rats can follow up the GOP cheer of "You don't know Jack !" with a rejoinder of, "But we DO know Ryan !"

[LdSentinal]

Ryan kicked off his campaign in a setting atypical for Republican conservatives -- at a southside Catholic high school where 75% of the students come from low income areas. But the hundreds of African-American young men surrounding Ryan were not scenic backdrop, they were his former students.

If he does win the Republican nomination, he should use these students in campaign ads. Heck, he should spend his millions and run those ads as much as possible in Cook County in 04'.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Absolutely. :-)

[Pubbie]

All I want is for Ryan to keep the Race close, if he can do that, then he'll drain resources away from other Democratic races around the country, be because the Dems will have concentrate money on a state they should win comfortably.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Well, we know if he wins, he'll be absolutely committed to his Senate career. After all, he gave up Jeri Ryan for his professional career...

...Y'know, I think this guy may be nuts. I wouldn't swap a career in Congress for Jeri Ryan, no way. Would you ?

[Pubbie]

"Y'know, I think this guy may be nuts. I wouldn't swap a career in Congress for Jeri Ryan"

And she's now in the clutches of David "E" Kelly (Yuck!).

Jack Ryan ain't no Strom Thurmond, cause good ol' Strom would NEVER have allowed Jeri to divorce him.

I have no idea why he got divorced (Maybe Jeri is a Democrat???), but if he is indeed nuts (And there is no reason why we can't dive into half assed speculations), then he'll fit right in with the Senate, along with Foghorn leghorn, Hitlery, Chuck Scumer, and Ted "Kegmeister" Kennedy.

: D

[fieldmarshaldj]

"And she's now in the clutches of David "E" Kelly (Yuck!)."

Worse, she's now married to that little punk Brannon Braga, who has reduced Star Trek to 'Rat Drek.

"Jack Ryan ain't no Strom Thurmond, cause good ol' Strom would NEVER have allowed Jeri to divorce him."

Strom would've retired early for Jeri. :-)

"I have no idea why he got divorced (Maybe Jeri is a Democrat???), but if he is indeed nuts (And there is no reason why we can't dive into half assed speculations), then he'll fit right in with the Senate, along with Foghorn leghorn, Hitlery, Chuck Scumer, and Ted "Kegmeister" Kennedy. : D"

Jack stayed in Chicago as her career on Star Trek: Voyager was soaring, the problem is that she was out there in L.A. all alone. Scuttlebutt had it that Braga put the moves on her and she had an affair with him in the interim. It seemed to come down to either he was going to come out to L.A. to be with her (eschewing his career in Chicago as an investment banker) or she'd have to give up her acting career and return to Chicago to be the happy housewife, and we all know what happened next. You can't neglect women like that, just ask Robert Evans with Ali MacGraw.

[Pubbie]

"Worse, she's now married to that little punk Brannon Braga, who has reduced Star Trek to 'Rat Drek."

BRANNON BRAGA??????! Hell, I could write better scripts than that nitwit can! :(

Is she still with Braga and if so why?

"Strom would've retired early for Jeri. :-) "

"Sperm" Thurmond could have easily stayed married to Jeri and stayed in Washington. : D

They don't make politicians like they used to :(

"Jack stayed in Chicago as her career on Star Trek: Voyager was soaring, the problem is that she was out there in L.A. all alone."

Ah Hollywood... Destroyer of the Traditional American family :(

"Scuttlebutt had it that Braga put the moves on her and she had an affair with him in the interim."

Maybe I'm showing my age, but who is "Scuttlebutt"?

"It seemed to come down to either he was going to come out to L.A. to be with her (eschewing his career in Chicago as an investment banker) or she'd have to give up her acting career and return to Chicago to be the happy housewife, and we all know what happened next."

How many friends of mine is THAT story applicable to... :(

"You can't neglect women like that"

You can't leave a woman that good looking working alone in another state, especially in Kalifornia, there's waaayyyy too much temptation.

But still, shame on Jeri for leaving a decent Conservative Christian businessman for some Baal worshipping Hollywood noodle-head.

And shame on Jack for not going over there and beating the stuffing out of Braga for "trespassing" on territory that isn't his, if you know what I mean. If your married to a good looking woman you've got to be ready to FIGHT for your property!

And shame on me for not clobbering Braga for ruining Star Trek! :(

[Kuksool]

{And shame on me for not clobbering Braga for ruining Star Trek!}

Ditto! Enterprise is PC revisionist history of the Star Trek Universe.

[Pubbie]

"Enterprise is PC revisionist history of the Star Trek Universe."

Plus it's a PREQUEL, somebody tell George Lucas, and the fools writing for Star Trek that it's time to call it quits, and either let the series to be dropped, or let someone else take over for you.

I shudder to even contemplate how bad Star Wars "Episode III" is going to be... I need a drink...

[fieldmarshaldj]

"BRANNON BRAGA??????! Hell, I could write better scripts than that nitwit can! :("

I'm sure Gene Roddenberry in HIS current state could write a better script.

"Is she still with Braga and if so why?"

Yup, and he probably put a voodoo spell on her. Either that, or Jeri got a hankering for dorks with small penises and huge egos. I'm sure there's a lot of those in Hollyweird, and in DC.

"They don't make politicians like they used to :("

They shouldn't make politicians how they make them now.

"Ah Hollywood... Destroyer of the Traditional American family :("

Hollywood is just where she happened to be, but the problem was their respective careers, and that could've been anywhere. They valued career over family, and that might come back to haunt Jack in his campaign. Sad to see that their little boy got caught in the middle.

"Maybe I'm showing my age, but who is "Scuttlebutt"?"

He's the ugly cousin of the little birdie.

"You can't leave a woman that good looking working alone in another state, especially in Kalifornia, there's waaayyyy too much temptation."

In any state, for that matter.

"But still, shame on Jeri for leaving a decent Conservative Christian businessman for some Baal worshipping Hollywood noodle-head. And shame on Jack for not going over there and beating the stuffing out of Braga for "trespassing" on territory that isn't his, if you know what I mean. If your married to a good looking woman you've got to be ready to FIGHT for your property!"

That's the problem. We don't know for 100% what happened in that household, only they do. Jack may have been a loving husband, but a very neglectful one. I'm sure it's something he regrets greatly.

"And shame on me for not clobbering Braga for ruining Star Trek! :("

And don't forget Rick "Vermin" Berman, too. Little rat bastards pi$$ing all over the franchise. This ain't friggin' McStarTrek.

[fieldmarshaldj]

My g/f and I would cringe every week at the mess they've made of this prequel (especially on the technology/political/historical end). The ship shouldn't look so sleek, it shouldn't go so fast, they shouldn't have such fast communications, they should avoid getting hit with weapons at all costs since it means they could be vaporized, the weapons (from hand-held on) are too modern, where the hell are the LASERS ? There aren't supposed to be phasers yet ! They f*cked the Vulcans all up. The pilot of the original Trek should've been the model and made to look older. The people should be looking like something out of a '40s or '50s Sci-Fi film (not current day, since the styles of clothes, hair, makeup are shifting from decade to decade, make it retro !). And for the love of God almighty, rip that f*cking wig off of Jolene's head. It looks like something Bobby Brady barfed up. She is a beautiful woman and Vulcan women in the original series wore their hair LONG. If they add some gray to that dreadful wig, she'll look like some ACLU bulldyke. I got about 10,000 other beefs, too...

[politicsfl]

Jim Edgar ought to run for the Senate seat.

[SunkenCiv]

Too Good to Win
by George F. Will
Washington Post
Sunday, November 2, 2003

Ryan is campaigning for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat held by Peter Fitzgerald, a Republican who is retiring. Illinois has become inhospitable to Republicans. In 1988, George H.W. Bush carried Illinois 51 percent to 49 percent. In 1992 and 1996 Bill Clinton carried it 49-34 and 54-37. In 2000 Al Gore carried it 55-43. To win in 2004, Ryan probably will have to run far ahead of President Bush... [H]e favors the basic Republican agenda -- limited government, personal responsibility, strong national defense. But he is, above all, a moralist who hopes to get the state exercised about the fact that 410,000 of its children -- 270,000 of them in Chicago -- are in failing schools, as such schools are defined by the No Child Left Behind law... Or he will win and, being intelligent and impatient, will hate life in the Senate, where grandees such as Ted Kennedy, for whom public schools are distant rumors, get away with blocking school choice for poor inner-city children.