this is GOLD -- found it at FR

[Barad Simith]

I don't visit FR often, but I did today in hopes of finding the inevitable conspiracy theories to the effect that the Democrats are responsible for the anti-Kerry swift-boat ad, in order to make * look bad.

While I was there, I found these two opinion pieces in the same post:

GOP turns serious race into a sideshow
Sunday, August 8, 2004

The state's Republican Party apparatus not only badly fumbled its replacing of Jack Ryan on the U.S. Senate ballot but it made a laughing stock of itself in the process.

It is almost inconceivable to us that the GOP leaders could not have found a viable candidate from our own state before instead turning to Maryland talk show host and ultra-conservative spokesman Alan Keyes to run in Ryan's place.

We should know today whether Keyes has taken the bait. No matter; the state GOP has managed to turn what should be a serious contest for a serious office into a circus sideshow.

Keyes has never lived in Illinois, has no visible political or personal ties to the state, surely has little knowledge of our unique problems and issues, is completely out of the mainstream of Illinois public opinion. Indeed, as an arch-conservative with strong right-wing views on national issues, he is not even in the mainstream of Illinois Republican politics.

the rest:
http://www.starnewspapers.com/star/spedit/all/08-ez1.htm

The second piece:

GOP chooses Keyes; is this 'The Simpsons,' or what?
Tom Houlihan
Sunday, August 8, 2004

Listen closely. Do you hear it? That persistent drumbeat, getting louder all the time?

It's the groundswell of support for Alan Keyes' run for United States Senator from the state of Illinois.

Of course you don't hear it. Because it's not just not there.

It's hard to tell when the process of picking a Republican Senate candidate became an episode of "The Simpsons."

the rest:
http://www.starnewspapers.com/star/spedit/houlihan/x08-hhn.htm

Some of these freepers were really on a roll:

"At least Keyes has an American name."

and:

"This is good. They wouldn't be this upset if he didn't have them worried"

But when one of them brought up Hillary's run for the Senate in New York, "Howlin" replied with:

"Hillary Clinton owned a house in New York from September, 1999. She also ran in a primary. Let's at least try to keep our side honest."

Regarding the same issue, "kennedy" wrote:

"If I lived in Illinois, I would vote for Keyes over Obama without any hesitation; however, I have to agree that there is no way to reconcile Keyes running for Senator of a state where he does not live (and as far as I know has never lived) with what he said about Hillary running as Senator in NY."

====================

I don't like to spend a lot of time there, so I didn't read any more. If anyone cares, the freeper thread is:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1187565/posts

[carpediem]

1. running keyes only shows desparation.

It makes them look foolish.

[billybob537]

2. Wait a minute Keyes is a black Republican.

Does this mean ? He has to hate himself, discriminate against himself, exploit himself, deny himself benefits, and make thinly veiled racial jokes about himself?

[Spiffarino]

8. LO-freakin'-L! n/t

[Inland]

3. Keyes's qualification--doesn't mind running and losing

He's run a lot of races, never won, and never really seems to mind. I think that necessary qualification pretty much rules out anybody with any other qualification.

[Bake]

5. Running is just a "job" to Keyes

He pays himself a nice salary out of the campaign funds, so when he loses, at least he has something to show for it!

Bake

[Carni]

4. Keyes campaign manager was FR's PR person

I don't know about NOW but Connie Hair was working for both Keyes and Freerepublic in 2000...I can find links somewhere if anyone cares!

[MichiganVote]

6. Keyes is a political mercenary

[Cha]

7. Yeah, they feel pretty much about it like we

do. It's probably one of the more stupid republican tricks of this election...that and the swifty liar smear campaign..and bush going out unscripted.

[no name no slogan]

9. Wonder if he'll surf Michael Moore's moshpit THIS year?

Alan Keyes is the worst sort of political animal: the kind that will do/say anything to get elected. This animal knows no party bounds, and is only interested in one thing: GETTING ELECTED.

See also: Norm Coleman, Zel Miller, many many more...

[BillZBubb]

10. Maybe they "Wellstone" Obama

Then Keyes wins the seat. Heck, it worked for them last time. I would not put anything past them.

[buycitgo]

11. he'd STILL lose

that wig guy could win as a write in candidate

[BillZBubb]

12. Well that's what I thought would happen in Minn. too,

but the doofuses elected Coleman. How a weasel like that got elected in a former good state is beyond me. Minnesota has really been sliding down hill for a while now.

But, you are right, Illinois is much more progressive than Minnesota.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Hell, I don't think Diebold could save Alan Keyes

Or even Jeb and Cruella. Now for Republicans, that's hopeless.

Why doesn't the Illinois GOP just nominate "a candidate to be named later." The way things stand, they'd have as good a chance as they do now.

[hatrack]

16. Yeah, what happened to Wig Guy???

Definitely a better choice than Keyes, and better fashion sense too!

[Norquist Nemesis]

14. The news tonight reported ...get this ...

Keyes said it was God! ROFLMAO!!!

The worst part was all of the smiling freaks surrounding him in the crowd clapping and slapping him on the back. :puke:

[Lerkfish]

15. like the california recall wasn't enough of a circus....

nothing like this sort of crap to convince you that the republicans are desperate.