Until this Summer Andy McKenna was the Chairman of the Illinois GOP. He presided over a party that saw every single state wide office lost to it. He presided over a party that tried as hard as it could to make sure that Illinois' Republican voters would be barred from voting their own leaders into place (even though Democrat voters do elect their leaders). McKenna presided over a GOP that seemed little more than a junior partner to the corruption plagued Democrats.

…and now McKena's running for governor.

And guess what? House Republican leader Tom Cross is backing McKenna.

Yep, looks like the fix is in for McKenna as far as the state party is concerned and because of that you can bet that we will see Governor Pat Quinn win his own full term by November. Either that or we will see Quinn's Democrat challenger, Dan Hynes, become the next governor. Which ever Democrat we are talking about here, the point is if McKenna is the face of the GOP for the 2010 election, a Democrat will win.

In one of the most absurd examples of political nonsense I've yet seen, Tom Cross said that McKenna is part of a "new generation of leaders" for Illinois. What "new generation" would that be, Mr. Cross? McKenna has been a long-time Combine hack helping the Illinois Democrats more than he's helped the GOP. What's "new" about McKenna, Mr. Cross?

"It’s time for a new generation of leaders in the state of Illinois and that person is Andy McKenna,” Cross said. “I think they’re exactly what this state needs. They’re what our party needs. And I am going to do what I can to see that Andy McKenna is our nominee for governor.”

I am not sure what fantasy land Tom Cross is living in, but his endorsement is evidence that it isn't a world where Illinois Republican voters can look to him for trustworthy leadership!

Cross also issued an unintentionally hilarious talking point for the McKenna campaign.

Cross also maintained that he, McKenna and other Republicans were outsiders when it came to the state’s fiscal woes because budget decisions were made by Democratic leaders without GOP involvement.

Cross, the only reason you and McKenna have become "outsiders" is because of your entire failure to lead! You want us to award you with favor because you are an outsider when the whole reason you are such is because of your abject failure to lead this state? That sounds about right for a McKenna campaign.

As I see it, it will go something like this:

Dear Illinois, I am Andy McKenna and under my leadership the entire Illinois GOP has suffered a series of set backs that has caused us to become utterly powerless, making the Party of Lincoln the laughing stock of Republicans everywhere. But now that we are "outsiders" I'd like to become your Governor. After all, why should just the Illinois GOP be a laughing stock? I say if the whole state can't be laid waste, my work isn't done! Me and Murphy say that what Illinois needs are more back room, corrupt bargains with our more powerful friends in the Democrat Party. That'll fix it! Vote McKenna/Murphy in 2010 if you REALLY want to ruin Illinois!

So, good show for Tom Cross. I just want to know one ting from Cross. How much are Democrats paying him or this effort, anyway?

I am sorry, but with the abject failure that accounts for Andy McKenna's legacy for the Illinois GOP we should be drumming him out of the party entirely, not looking to make him our next governor. (Cross posted at RedCounty.com.)