In some corners of the Illinois political right a valid observation has been made about the fact that there are elected Republican Party and Republican government officials who actually do not want to win more elections.
This concept might sound odd to normal people. Why the heck would someone go to all the work of achieving the office if they are not going to use it to accomplish the work that is needed?
Some of these office holders who are content-to-lose-elections might really want to win, but they have no clue about how to win. Others in this category do not want to learn and see winning as too much work.
Then there are those who see how they can personally benefit financially from their position. My favorites in this category are the lawyers who get elected and then are able to play the part of rainmaker for their firm. Still others love playing the role of regional grand poo-bah, such as state legislators or party chairmen who then get to hold court in their little geographic area of the state and act as a king.
Throughout our history, the role of power broker can pay big in American politics. It is news to no one that many elected Democrats and Republicans very often profit financially in a manner that is not available to honest, hard-working people.
Sadly, all of these happy-to-be-losers get in the way of good people who would want to win holding those party or government offices. Thus, those on the political right pointing out the reality of the contented losers, corrupt or just useless, provide a valuable service.
The people who hold important offices but do not care about winning are a big problem in Illinois Republican and conservative politics. I would argue, though, that those who want to win and refuse to learn how to win are even a bigger problem.
It is true, unfortunately, that many of our Republican party and government elected leaders are content with just holding the office and enjoying the title that comes with it. They get pleasure out of finally being someone in life through holding a party or public office.
These men and women will never be successful, no matter how well intentioned they may be. Having been around Illinois politics for a long time, I have seen several generations of potentially talented politicians come and go, and they usually leave as clueless as they were when they came into politics.
Our hope for saving Illinois resides with the would-be leaders who can admit they are going to be losers too if they decide to continue listening to the wrong people.
Up next: Illinois Republicans and conservatives are failing in every direction.
