Banker Jack Ryan jumps in Senate race (Illinois)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 5/14/03

[LdSentinal]

Jack Ryan better self-finance a large part of his own campaign or he's basically a useless candidate.

[LdSentinal]

Ping

[Young Rhino]

Does Tom Clancy or the CIA know about this? :-)

[Diddle E. Squat]

Will Tom Clancy campaign for him?

[LdSentinal]

I don't think he would have jumped in than.

I read in another article -- perhaps by that idiot Steve Neal -- that Jack Ryan would be relunctant to spend a lot of his own money in a campaign.

[Petruchio]

I am waiting for a FReeper to test the waters . . .

[LdSentinal]

That's Ben Affleck, right? No, the other Jack Ryan. He was married to this:

[LdSentinal]

That's the article. Thanks.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Dear God, not another Ryan. I didn't realize that the luscious Jeri was his ex, which also calls into question his judgment... What the HELL was he thinking divorcing her ?!?

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Jack Ryan better self-finance a large part of his own campaign or he's basically a useless candidate."

---

I disagree. Even if he doesn't self-finance, he's better than the other names bandied about. He's a political newcomer, young, telegenic, and conservative enough to keep our base happy. If he can get the conservative vote Downstate and do well among suburban Republicans, he has a shot at winning. His biggest liability is that damn surname.

[JohnnyZ]

He's a political newcomer, young, telegenic, and conservative enough to keep our base happy.

I agree; if a conservative Republican JFK who quit his $ job to teach high school doesn't suit your fancy, who will?????????? He'll win 75% of the women, all the Republicans and gay men, and romp to victory.

If he gets support, that is. Shouldn't be tough to support the nominee in an open senate race in a battleground state.

Coincidentally, Jeri Ryan's character on Boston Public . . . what was that plot again?

[Kuksool]

If Jack Ryan officially enters the Senate race, don't be surprised if the Hollywood Left pressures Jeri Ryan to make public the reasons why she divorced ex-husband.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Oh, it wasn't a big secret, it had to do with careers. She had to make the decision whether to remain in Hollywood and continue in her role on Star Trek: Voyager or remain in Chicago, so she chose the former. She tried to persuade her husband to relocate out there and he didn't want to. I just questioned HIS judgment. I'd relocate to Mars if Jeri were my wife !

[Coop]

Wealthy candidates are taken seriously by the National Republican Senatorial Committee

Well, [clearing throat] I'm glad to hear the Senate Dems are above such disgraceful conduct.

[Kuksool]

I think Jack's decision not to support Jeri's rising acting career will hurt him. The RATS will definitiely use his divorce against him. They could run ads that say:

"Jack Ryan feels uncomfortable around strong women."

"Jack Ryan doesn't want women to have careers."

"Jack Ryan wants woman to be barefoot and pregnant."

"No wonder why Jack Ryan is anti-choice and anti-women."

Jack Ryan had better address the issue promptly.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Yup, although there may be another issue here. The rumor mill had it that Jeri was already having an affair with Trek producer Brannon Braga, so if they start attacking him and it comes out he merely divorced a cheating spouse in a long-distance marriage, that could backfire on the 'Rats. But, as I said, I really don't want to see another Ryan run for statewide office in IL, the name is poison.