Illinois conservatives operate at a level reminiscent of those who were arriving on the prairie in Conestoga wagons before the Civil War. That must change.
Start by publishing the names, addresses and telephone numbers and e-mails of each and every county Republican Chairman marking those who petitioned the good platform change in Peoria. Also the 2016 state convention delegate/alternate roster.
Add to that list, the same information as to RELIABLE state legislators and local officeholders at the county or municipal level.
Next, identify sympathetic and RELIABLE leaders of religious, issue, fraternal and social issue and taxpayer organizations. Such groups as Evangelical pastors, Conservative Catholic priests, Chassidic and other Orthodox Jews, socially conservative Mormons, Knights of Columbus, Masonic Lodges, right to life groups, family issue groups, Tea Party groups, veterans' groups like American Legion, VFW, DAV, AmVets, gun groups like NRA, GOA, 2nd Amendment Foundation, Eagle Forum, etc., etc., etc. Use your imagination as to others.
As the roster grows, analyze the county Republican committees for their remarkable number of vacancies. Apparently, each county party chairman may APPOINT a person to fill ANY vacancy. Match our RELIABLES with the vacancies and make a mass request simultaneously in all counties for appointments to the vacancies suggesting the names of RELIABLES who have agreed to serve.
I am no expert on this stuff in Illinois but it appears to me that the crucial level in Illinois is the county party committee. Once you control those, you can choose directly or indirectly (I don't know which) the next vital level: State Central Committee members (apparently one per state senate district?). Obtain a majority at that level and you can elect suitable state party leaders and take out the garbage.
Our strength is that there are a LOT more of us than there are of them. Our weaknesses are that they are far better organized and also far better funded.
I wish that I were young enough and healthy enough to do more than contribute ideas and internet warfare. Certainly Illinois natives who are capable can make major contributions of effort toward an effort to seize the party and likely succeed. A skilled organizer from out of state, arriving today to live in Illinois, could succeed. AND the organization skills do NOT have to have been acquired in politics as such. Methods are largely not ideological. An effective method will serve capitalist or communist, moralist or degenerate, etc. Our people must master basic organizing skills and methods.
If people want to have fun while organizing, they could do worse than studying Saul Alinsky's books: Reveille for Radicals and Rules for Radicals. Politically, he was scum, but he knew how to have fun. Let us create an anti-Alinsky (on policy) army of happy warriors!
Billyboy: See #40. Meant to ping you!
BlackElk, I agree with your suggestions. I hope that many people will attend a meeting of the Illinois Center Right Coalition on June 25, including leaders of pro-life, pro-gun, and tea party groups, so they can persuade their groups to cooperate better. The meeting will start at noon, at 39W140 Freeman Rd., Gilberts. We’ll hold a steering committee election, and, to vote in that election, someone must have paid dues at least 30 days before the meeting, May 26.
Each congressional district (not state senate district) has a member of the IL GOP State Central Committee. Their member from the 8th District, Ryan Higgins, supported changing the platform, last week.