John Kass has a column today about how the Hull wack job helps 'Danny!'. It is an interesting read and I suggest you take a look at it. However I still think it will end up helping Obama more...

OneMan

Ryan gets the Sun Times endorsement: "Our endorsement goes to Ryan, a 44-year-old trader turned teacher. His campaign emphasizes three vital issues -- fighting terrorism, fixing education and cutting taxes. None of these issues are distant or theoretical to Ryan. Unlike Blair Hull, whose candidacy reeks of bored wealth seeking distraction, Ryan is a rich man who has a record of not just concern, but action on salving the wounds of war, on improving education, as well as hands-on experience in the world of finance and investing. "

-- Nice words, but the same holds true as the Trib endorsement. Does this really mean anything in terms of votes?

Still More Zorn.. Hull's biggest mistake isn't in divorce file: "Hull's mistake was not to write off such voters from day one--accept that some people will never forgive or look past such behavior--and make a full and apologetic disclosure back last summer when few people were paying attention to the 2004 Senate race."

-- I think Eric nails this one.

Well the Trib and Daily Herald endorsed today. Both went with Steve. Not really a surprise and I feel comfortable with their logic. However I guess the question I would have is.. Do people really listen to newspapers about this sort of thing? Ergo if the Trib endorsed him he is worthy of my vote?

I have also started seeing more Steve signs and some Kathria signs as well. The only think tho is in some locations whomever is putting up the Kathuria signs is putting them next to Gery Chico signs.

Hull's stormy divorce records unsealed: "Sept. 25, 1997: 'Blair threw a remote control across the room and called me a 'f------ c---.' '"

-- Click on the article to read more romance words from Blair 'I should have kept them sealed' Hull...

I saw the new Obama ad last night (the one with Paul Simon's daughter) , nice. I think out of the Democrats he has by far the best TV ads and I suspect is going to get the most bounce out of them at this point.

Chicago Tribune | Hull's ex-wife called him violent man in divorce file: "For her part, Sexton, 49, alleged a pattern of emotional and mental abuse by Hull. On March 12, 1998, she asked a Cook County Circuit Court judge to issue an order of protection against Hull, in part, because she alleged Hull had threatened her life.

'I am in great fear that if this court does not enter a protective order in my favor and against Blair, as well as exclude him from my residence in which I am residing with my child ... Blair will continue to inflict mental, emotional and physical abuse upon me as he has done in the past,' Sexton alleged to obtain a court order to keep Hull away from her. 'At this point, I fear for my emotional and physical well-being, as well as that of my daughter.'

Sexton outlined several incidents in which she accused Hull of becoming violent, profane and verbally abusive. During one, she alleged that he 'hung on the canopy bar of my bed, leered at me and stated, `Do you want to die? I am going to kill you....''"

-- Unless this is some sort of bolierplate language that appears in Divcorce filings. I think he is toast.

Yet another Poll this time from the Institute for Metropolitan Affairs. This one may cheer up Danny a bit, it still has him behind Hull but ahead of Obama. Yet more strong numbers for Ryan but then again the only number that counts is the one on Primary Day.

Go to the bottom and look at the 'instant runoff' results

OneMan

MSNBC - CIA slipped bugs to Soviets: "In January 1982, President Ronald Reagan approved a CIA plan to sabotage the economy of the Soviet Union through covert transfers of technology that contained hidden malfunctions, including software that later triggered a huge explosion in a Siberian natural gas pipeline, according to a new memoir by a Reagan White House official."

-- Ok this is going to sound really small but... Cool

Source of the Jack Ryan, abortion funder thing Looks like someone forwarded some e-mails they shouldn't have. This was a major strectch anyway. I think the example in the article kind of sums it up

When told about the two e-mails, Jason Miller, Ryan campaign manager, responded, "McKenna runs TV ads promoting ethics, and then he launches a smear campaign against Jack Ryan. This is nothing but gutter politics."


Miller continued, "On the issue of ethics and honesty, he has as much credibility as Ken Lay. Perhaps he wants to muddy the water and distract the fact that his company gave money to Lisa Madigan and Dick Devine."


Attempting to equate today's charges with the reality of First Health Group's involvement with abortion, Miller gave the illustration of a person purchasing pornography with a credit card and blaming the scanning device for the evil of the purchase.

-- Nothin else to say. OneMan

Rosie O'Donnell Marries Her Partner: "Rosie O'Donnell married her partner of six years in San Francisco this afternoon, an act that she said was 'inspired' by President Bush's call for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriages."

-- I thought you were inspired to marry someone because you loved them not because of the US constitution. Shows what I know...
OneMan

From the Sun Times, Mancow endorses Danny Hynes: "'Morning Madhouse'' ringmaster Mancow Muller is endorsing Dan Hynes for U.S. Senate, touting the Democrat to listeners of his WKQX-FM (101.1) show.
Cook County Assessor Jim Houlihan helped convince him. 'I had one of the best nights of my life with [Houlihan] at Gibsons,'' said Muller.
Muller, who makes a reported $3 million annually, plans to donate to Hynes' campaign. The $12,000 limit? 'Hell no, I don't love him 12 grand,'' said Muller. (He acknowledges giving $1,000 to Gery Chico as a favor for a friend 'but as far as me officially backing anyone, Dan Hynes is the one and only.'')
Mancow doesn't endorse often. 'My last was Gov. Ryan, who won and turned out to be a big schmuck. But I have high hopes for Dan,'' he said."

-- Yeah, that will push Danny to victory. Now if only Bubba the Love Sponge would reveal who he is endorsing.

Chicago Tribune | Scare tactics on immigration: "Even allowing for the occasional hyperbole that is bound to creep into a heated political campaign, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jim Oberweis' campaign of TV and radio spots on immigration do not meet minimal standards of accuracy or fairness."

-- The trib editorial page puttin the smackdown of Jim. Guess he won't be getting their endorcement. Read the entrie interview.

From My Way News: "John Hogan, president of 1,200-station Clear Channel Radio, told members of the House Energy and Commerce telecommunications subcommittee he was 'ashamed' of the 'Bubba the Love Sponge' show. The program, which aired on stations in Florida, recently brought a $755,000 proposed fine from the Federal Communications Commission for sexually explicit content and other alleged indecency violations."

-- Interesting dude that you feel that way once someone is giving you a hard time. So all of a sudden you started listening to your radio stations or did you just start to care all of a sudden?

The Urban Institute has a new report out about minority graduation rates. I think Jack Ryan has refered to ubran education as the biggest social justice issue facing Amercia today. Is it? Is there anything government can do?

Also Jack is taking some hits today because he is on the board of a medical claims processing company the processes claims for a state that allows one of their medical programs to pay for abortions. I think this going to play for a day or two tops. The Hull story is a better read and it hasn't made page 1 yet.

OneMan

The Blog of the guy who hosts a public access political show in Chicagoland. I have a dish so I haven't seen it.

Anyway he talks about the LaHood endorsement being a sign that the 'establishment' may make McKenna offically 'their guy' and a Hastert endorsement may be coming. Well the Hastert endorsement didn't help Oberweis last time and the last thing I think any candiate wants this time around is to be thought of as the 'Establishment guy'.

Is there anyone who likes the 'establishment' of the GOP at the state level in this state?

OneMan

Some more stuff going on. There are some new Polls out from SurveyUSA. Including one showing Obama taking the lead from Hull. Is it because of the divorce thing or is it from Obama's new TV ads (the best of the season I think actually just saw it again on Nightline)? Good question I think but again, it is getting interesting....

However on the GOP side they are showing Jack with a big lead and some interesting numbers deeper in the graphs. Also it shows a dip on Oberweis and I think it covered the time period that the radio ads were running but not the TV ads. It will be interesting to see what the next round of numbers show. I think the chopper ad is going to turn people off.

Chicago Tribune | Oberweis ads rile immigrant groups: "Whatever the ads' effect on the race, even the Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies, which wants to limit immigration, said Oberweis' statistics appear inaccurate.

'Oh no, that's not possible,' said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the group, when told of Oberweis' claims.

Oberweis' campaign cited a 2002 Washington Times article, which reported that more than 10,000 illegal immigrants cross each day from Mexico into the United States, for a total of 3.65 million a year.

But Steven Camarota, research director at Krikorian's group, said the 10,000-a-day figure was only an extrapolation of the average of 3,300 illegal immigrants arrested each day as they crossed the border in 2001. Camarota said 'very, very rough' estimates indicate only 1 out of 3 attempted illegal crossings are prevented by Border Patrol.

However, a January 2003 report by federal immigration officials estimated the total undocumented population in the United States at 7 million, and that 968,000 people illegally immigrated to the United States in 1999--only a quarter of the number Oberweis cites."


-- But filling Solder Field every week sounds cooler. Hey I have an idea Jim, why not suggest that we make the penalties harsher for hiring illegal imigrants.

Watched Nightline last night and saw a ton of canidate ads.
First tho I wanted to share this response in the Trib to the Oberweis 'Chooper Ad'

One of Oberweis' rivals in the March 16 primary, Sen. Steve Rauschenberger (R-Elgin), is "puzzled by a millionaire candidate who buzzes around in a corporate copter, peddling his ... fear-all-immigrants message," said Charlie Stone, a spokesman for Rauschenberger.

Ok, some thoughts on the Ads
Obama Bio ad. Mrs. OneWoman (also a Republican) liked his ad the best and felt it was the most effective.
Hynes Ad Not bad, but was blown away by the Obama ad, also made Danny seem nervous. Talked about his 'detailed' jobs plan. Look forward to checking it out.
McKenna I think I saw a McKenna ad, guess the fact I don't remember says something right there.
Jack 21K a year ad, funny. However I just don't see him kickin it at home waiting for the pizza guy.
Hull A ad showing all of the Dem. Senate canidates saying they are all good people. However he is the only one not taking any PAC money and no donations over $100. I guess they feel the Sun Times poll numbers on spending your own money are something to build off of. No matter what tho, at least Nancy Skinner was in a political ad now.

I feel popular today. I had a 'personalized' phone message from Andy McKenna (I wonder how many first names he had to record) as well as a flyer from him today as well. I have to say the personalization on the phone message was nice. Still not going to vote for him tho.

The new Oberweis ads are on-line now. Clever, but again isn't the issue not people coming here to drive down wages but work going to where wages and costs are low. Are people coming here and taking manufactoring jobs? I don't see how this is going to be a winning issue. Time will tell.

OneMan

Hull says he's OK with releasing divorce record: "Earlier Monday, Hull released a statement acknowledging he was 'accurately' accused of striking Sexton in the shin during an argument in 1998 when their marriage was falling apart. They were later divorced, and a judge sealed the file.
Joining Pappas in calling for Hull to seek to make the records public were radio personality Nancy Skinner and health care consultant Joyce Washington."

-- This is going to get a lot more play then he expected. Look for even more Hull drug trip ads.

Oberweis ads make illegals top issue: "Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jim Oberweis is upping the volume on campaign rhetoric aimed at President's Bush's immigration reform plans with a new series of TV commercials that hit the airwaves today.
The 30-second spots feature footage of the Aurora dairy mogul talking about illegal immigration from the passenger seat of a helicopter flying over downtown Chicago.
'Illegal immigrants are coming here to take American workers' jobs, to drive down wages and to take advantage of government benefits such as free healthcare,' Oberweis says, as the camera pans to an aerial shot of the Soldier Field stadium on the lakefront.
'How many? Ten thousand illegal immigrants every day. That's enough to fill Soldier Field every single week.'"

-- I still don't think this is a 'win on' issue but we will see how the enhanced media helps him out.

Chicago Tribune | Opponents take aim at Hull on his divorce, other issues: "Democrats running for theU.S. Senate on Monday said former securities trader Blair Hull should expect full public scrutiny of his messy divorce, and one candidate said he should release sealed divorce files, which include a partial order of protection filed against him by his ex-wife."

-- It's time to start going after the front runner. The big question is, when are we going to see an attack ad on this from one if the Dems, if so who and when.
My Guess, yes you will but not from a canidate but a special interest group.

Just got a Steve e-mail promoting his new radio spot. A cute ad, however not everyone running against you is a millionare Steve and Wright as served in public office. So either you don't feel you are running against him or you have chosen to ignore him so you make a better sound bite.

Figured out the link http://www.doyoulikefreedom.com/

OneMan

My Way News: "Education Secretary Rod Paige called the nation's largest teachers union a 'terrorist organization' during a private White House meeting with governors on Monday."

-- That was smooth. Why even say something like that? Does it help the dialog at all or just cause people who disagree with you to dig in their heels?

Kathuria appears to be blogging, sort of. Enjoy

I saw the new Jack Ryan ad during todays Nextel NASCAR race on Fox.. So I guess he is looking for the NASCAR dad vote.

The same Sun Times article has some truly excellent whining from Gery Chico about how much Hull is spending.

"Chico said the U.S. Senate is "being overrun by millionaires'' and called for the removal of limits on donations to candidates, which, for this Democratic primary is $12,000.

"If a person who's independently wealthy can dip into their own resources, why can't I go to someone with that kind of money and ask them to help me?'' Chico said."

-- Yeah if these poll number tell you anything it is that you should be able to get all of your money from one dude if you want. Because if some guy gives you a million dollars am I sure that he would get the same level of support and service from you as everyone else.

So instead of buying your self a Senate seat you should be able to buy a senator instead. What sort of political bizzaro world are you working in.

Gery that you so fail to get it that it is almost funny.

Gery is the perfect sterotypical Democrat: Nothing is his fault. I am not leading because he has more money, waaaaaaa!

OneMan

Wealthy hopefuls lead Senate race: "Asked how they would view a candidate who spent millions of his or her own money to pay for campaign commercials, 42 percent said they would be 'more likely'' to vote for such a candidate. Thirty-four percent said such a financial status would have 'no impact'' on their decision to vote for the candidate.
Voters aren't sold on the notion that ultra-rich candidates can't represent them fairly. Asked is it possible for a very wealthy candidate to understand the problems and concerns of ordinary citizens, 48 percent said 'yes'' and 16 percent responded 'not sure.''"


-- For the actual poll numbers follow the article links. I think however these two questions revealed the most interesting answers. It would appear that perhpas the impact of the Ryan scandals has been to create a public that wants their canidates to have gotten less from people who may want to influence the process.

Then again I may just be wacked.

There are some posts over at Illinois Leader showing fresh poll numbers for senate showing both Hull and Ryan opening up their leads. It' still kind of early but a three weeks and change (24 days I think). One of the posts says the poll shows most people don't have a problem with a canidate spending a ton of their own money on a race and surprising numbers actually liking the idea.

There has been a little fire to go with the smoke on the Blair Hull divorce thing. ABC in Chicago has a story on it with feedback from women's groups who are looking for answers (check out the picture of a younger Blair Hull). The Trib has some more on the incident.

After reading the Trib piece I have my own opinion on what happened. However I suggest you read both stories to form your own opinion. I will suggest you ask yourself one question. If what describied happened on an episode of COPS would they have removed someone from the residence? I don't know the answer to that but that has always been my Mendoza line on that sort of thing.

I feel confident however that groups alligned with the other democrats are going to start to hammer Hull on this. Depending on how it gets spun, it may get a lot of play. So far the senate race has been largely ignored by the electronic media. This story may change that.

OneMan

Oberweis was on Lou Dobbs, tonight. A quick transacript is here he talks about illegal imigaration (not for too long it looks like). Read the transcript yourself if you are interested. However I don't see how making this 'his issue' is going to work for him. The ecconmic reality is the jobs are moving to where these people are coming from. That's the issue more than illegal imigrants. I think he is getting some bad advice on this.

OneMan

2 of groups top 5 Ridiculous Lawsuits of 2003 from IL!: "Who's Judging For The Common Good?
CG announces it's Top 5 Ridiculous Lawsuits of 2003

A critical part of the role of judges is deciding who can sue for what, but these days anyone can sue for just about anything.

Common Good has begun what it plans to make an annual event by announcing the top five ridiculous lawsuits of 2003. While the circumstances in these cases are serious, sometimes even tragic, judges who fail to eliminate unreasonable or extortionate suits only add to America's growing fear of litigation and undermine the common good."

-- One case is about a back-yard luge run and mentions the intellegent discent by justice Thomas. The other one is about a child that was burned by spinning the lazy susan at a Chinese restruant and causing the hot tea to spill.

OneMan

Zorn makes two good points today in his blog. First that Gary Barnet needs to learn how really say sorry. Secondly about the Trib asking for more info on the Order of Proctection that is in his sealed divorce.

Just remember Blair, the coverup is allway worse than the actual deed. I am sure the other front runners are waiting for you to trip over this and if you do all you'll have for all that money spent is some yard signs.

OneMan

MediaDailyNews 02-20-04: "Candidates running for state and local offices are moving online, too. Take Blair Hull, for example. The democratic candidate from Illinois running for U.S. Senate dropped over $70,000 on Chicago Sun-Times and CNN Web site ads in fourth quarter 2003, and an additional $22,400 on online ads in January."

-- That is real spending for the internet. Then again I see more banner ads for Hull then I do anything else (even subject wise) on the internet. I think Steve's spending on google keywords is going to give a better bang for the buck.

Well the Gov. has relased his budget (at least part of it) it will be interesting to see how much media Steve gets as the GOP budget guy in the state senate.

The Backroom: "Political consultants deserve some digs, too.
'Next to every one of these well-intentioned novice millionaires stands someone making $8,000 to $12,000 a month telling them, 'Give me the money, and I will get you into the club with the 100 most exclusive decision makers in America,' ' Rauschenberger griped to reporters. "

-- I guess it is good work if you can get it. Again most attempts to buy US Senate seats don't work. However if a good consultant gets you elected isn't the money for the consultant well spent.

Chicago Tribune | Public entitled to know about Hull's history: "'As [Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Blair Hull's] second marriage to [Brenda] Sexton collapsed in 1998, Sexton filed an order of protection against him, public records show. Hull won't talk about the divorce in detail, saying only that it was `contentious' and that he and Sexton are friends.'"

-- From Zorn's column. I suggest you read the whole thing. If Hull thinks he is going to manage to keep this 'priavte' if he wins the primary he is wrong. Folks are going to be all over this sort of stuff.

Chicago Tribune | Ryan uses humor to distinguish ads: "Investment-banker-turned-teacher Jack Ryan is trying to break out of the pack of Republican Senate primary candidates by airing humorous TV and radio ads lampooning government programs.

In the 30-second spot, three people ring Ryan's doorbell and ask for money for three erstwhile programs: building 'a telescope on a volcanic peak in Mexico'; studying 'the aqua-culture of the coast of West Virginia'; and subsidizing 'foreign governments to move American jobs overseas.'

Ryan then comes on camera to say that "every home in America pays $21,000 in taxes to fund ridiculous programs like these. If you're tired of the government wasting your money, vote for me." The doorbell rings again, and Ryan says "that better be the pizza guy."

-- Look forward to seeing it.

Ads up: Hull campaign funding nears $24 million: "Get ready to see and hear even more of Democrat M. Blair Hull on TV -- perhaps as much as $201,785 a day worth.
The millionaire investor pumped another $5.2 million of his own money into his Democratic Senate bid this week, bringing his total since entering the race to nearly $24 million.
The first-time political candidate reached into his wallet for $11.3 million of that cash over the last six weeks alone, setting the stage for a saturation-level media campaign in the final four weeks before the March 16 primary.
'It is shocking, literally shocking,' said Democratic rival Gery Chico, a former Chicago School Board president. 'Jesus, what's going on here? A United States Senate seat should not be a commodity any multimillionaire can wake up one day and go purchase. It is a serious position that should be earned."


-- Well first Gery I suspect you shouldn't be quoted as using the Lords name in vain. Secondly that's the way the system works. You can now accept larger donations (up to 12K I think) since he has spent so much of his own money. Finally most guys who have tried to buy a US Senate seat have failed. Also how come at least Pappas and Danny are in the same neck of the poling world and they are not spending big bucks (heck I don't even think they are spending anything).

Barack Obama for U.S. Senate - REAL USA Corporations: "II. Spend at least 50% of its R&D budget in the United States.
Manufacturing contributes more than 60% of U.S. investment in R&D, which is the seedbed of the American economy.
III. Limit top management compensation to 50 times the lowest-paid full-time worker.
Despite increased profits and stratospheric executive compensation, Maytag is closing its Galesburg, Illinois refrigerator plant and moving it to Mexico. Galesburg, a community of 32,000, will lose 1,600 good-paying jobs with benefits. This announcement came after Maytag announced it paid its CEO well over $7 million dollars in yearly compensation.
In 1982, the average CEO earned 42 times the average worker. By 2001, the ratio had ballooned to 411-to-1. To put that in perspective, by late afternoon on January 1st of any given year, the average top executive will have earned more than the average worker will for the entire year.

IV. Operate a profit-sharing plan for all full time employees.
Fewer than half of all employees are allowed to participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan"


-- Ok there is a lot more to this plan from Obama then what I have here so follow the link to read the entire thing.

Do we want the government giving tax breaks to companies based off such things as how/where it spends it's R&D money and how much it pays their execs. Is cutting executive pay going to make any difference? Is this the sort of industrial policy that Washington is equiped to set? It is countries that tax the least and regulate the least that have the most successful economies.

OneMan

Maria Pappas - Democrat for U.S. Senate: "U.S. Senate candidate Maria Pappas today said the White House and Congress need to change their priorities and focus more on the needs of regular people and less on the lobbyists and big campaign contributors who hold sway in Washington.
Standing next to a Hummer sport utility vehicle parked in front of a Hooters restaurant, first in Springfield and later in Chicago, Pappas used the two as examples of Congress' misplaced spending priorities.
In 2003, Congress approved as part of the stimulus bill a special tax break to business owners and the self-employed to write off the entire cost of Hummers and other huge vehicles that weigh 6,000 pounds or more."


-- First, I have been to both of these Hooters locations and they are both nice places for a Beer and some wings. Oh, I don't know what a business might use a tax break on a vehicle that weighs more than 6,000 pounds for.... How about a truck or a delivery van? No I am sure the overwhelming majority of the tax breaks are going to buy Hummers. Nice sound bite short on reality.

Ok Maria, how would you encourage spending and hiring by small businesses?

Dan Hynes for U.S. Senate: "Stop those parts of the Bush tax cut that only help the wealthy and do not stimulate economic growth, while protecting middle-class tax relief such as the child tax credit and reduction of the marriage penalty. "

-- Ok time to start giving democrats a hard time. Please give three examples of tax cuts to the wealthy that do not stimulate economic growth.

"Fight to send relief to the state of Illinois so that our counties, cities, and towns don't have to cut corners on education and public safety -- and don't have to raise taxes. "

-- That's great Dan, you willing to raise taxes to do it. If not what are you going to cut out the federal budget to pay for this. If you don't have any cuts, how much to you see the deficit going up to fund this?

Invest in the high-tech industries and jobs of tomorrow by making the Research and Experimentation Tax Credit permanent; and restore funding for key investments in basic research and technology.

-- Is federal funding of R&D better than giving tax breaks to the private sector to do R&D? If so please demonstrate.

Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria For Senate: "Indian unity is an important issue. The fabric of India is similar to that of the US: multi- cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-racial. In India, as in the United States, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jews live together and respect each other's faiths. It is important that people live freely without fear of persecution or discrimination on the basis of their ethnicity or religion"

-- Yes it is, "important that people live freely without fear of persecution or discrimination on the basis of their ethnicity or religion"

Before I start this next paragraph I just want to say I have nothing against India. In fact I removed most of my examples because it seemed like I was writing an anti-India rant and that was the last thing I wanted to do. So I will just use one example from National Geographic

The way Dalits (160 million people by the way) are treated does not even remotely serve as an example of how everyone lives together and respects one another.

Sometimes I wonder when he uses these examples, does he just assume that people are ignorant about India?

WorldNetDaily: Bush's shaky primary performance: "The good news for President Bush is he won the Oklahoma Republican primary last night.
The bad news for President Bush is that a practically unknown Los Angeles T-shirt retailer, Bill Wyatt, won more than 10 percent of the vote.
It could be a sign of disenchantment in the Republican base. "

-- Is it or just people trying to be funny. One way or the other 10% (it was even higher in NH) is saying something.

From Daily Herald: "Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Dan Hynes proclaimed during last week's debate that he doesn't take campaign contributions from people who do business with his state comptroller's office.
But a look at Hynes' political donors and comptroller contracts shows he's collected more than $60,000 in campaign contributions from people and firms who have done nearly $272,000 worth of business with his office.
Hynes spokeswoman Chris Mather said the contributions were made after the firms' contracts with the comptroller's office ended.
'The numbers are taken out of context,' Mather said. 'Dan Hynes has conducted himself and his office with the highest level of integrity and ethics.'
During last week's radio debate sponsored by the Daily Herald and WBEZ 91.5-FM, Hynes offered the following response when asked about his policy on state contracts for people who contributed to his campaign fund.
'I have not accepted contributions from people who have contracts from my office as a general matter, because I try to adhere to those types of rules,' Hynes said. 'That is not a law; that is something I try to practice. I try to hold myself up to high standards.'"

-- As a general matter. Does this suprise anyone? I didn't think so. OneMan

Students cold to candidate's call for return of draft: "U.S. Senate candidate John Borling called Tuesday for a return to a kind of military draft -- a pitch made in front of some 300 Chicago high school students.
'It'll be one of the greatest experiences of your life,'' said Borling, a retired Air Force general.
Tough sell, at least to this crowd.
'I don't think you should be forced to go,'' said Nina Fuente of Steinmetz High School, who is, in fact, enrolled in Army ROTC at the Northwest Side high school.
The military draft ended 30 years ago, but Borling told the students at a television taping at WTTW studios 'we have to mobilize society to meet the demands the war on terror brings to us. We need young people to step up to the plate and say, 'I served.' ''"

-- Since I am well over draft age I am not going to comment on this. Besides the fact that in this day and age if you draft men you will have to draft women and it will be cold day before you draft my daughter.

Got an automated telephone call from the Kathuria campaign. I fail to see how this is effective one month out. Also I wonder if he got a call, oh wait a second he has no history of voting in Primaries ( or in any election) so I suspect he fails to qualify to get one of his calls.

Cornell Daily Sun: Risley Votes to Purchase Dancing Pole: "'When people hear 'dancing pole' they think of stripping,' says Nick James '04, explaining why the approval of a $324 free-standing dancing pole might raise some eyebrows on campus. Risley Hall's 'Kommittee,' the representative body that vets such purchases at Cornell's arts-themed dorm, approved the purchase at a Feb. 8 meeting."

-- I guess they might want to put this on the campus tour. I did campus tours when I was in college (of my dorm twice a year), a mom one asked me. "Why should we ask you questions?" "Because I am the only student you will talk to who is not getting paid to do this"

'Who is willing to release their taxes?': "The debate, which also included dairy and investment magnate Jim Oberweis and Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, didn't offer sharp words between the candidates with the exception of a Ryan-McKenna exchange on gay marriage.
McKenna accused Ryan of changing his position 'at least three times in the last six months' about where the issue should be addressed: at state or federal level.
'Republicans need to stand up for what family is,'' McKenna said. 'The Constitution is the Constitution. It was a federal issue then and it is a federal issue now.'
Ryan replied that he thought the issue was better decided at the state level before the Massachusetts Supreme Court ordered the state to allow gay marriages, but then realized the federal government had to take charge."


-- Errm um poindexter (McKenna) the states do mostly regulate marriage. Items such as how old you can be to get married, if cousins or second cousins could marry etc.. For example if you include Puerto Rico in the mix the age that a woman can marry without her folks ok ranges from 15 in Mississippi to 21 in Puerto Rico and with mom and dads ok. Also what medical tests you must have or not have before getting wed.
In Mississippi there is no lower age limit with parental approval and in some states (like Mass.) it is 12.
OneMan

AP Wire | 02/17/2004 | GOP Senate candidates try to break from pack in debate: "State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger called on his wealthy opponents to get some legislative experience before running for an office as high as U.S. Senate.
Businessman Andy McKenna accused investment banker-turned-teacher Jack Ryan of changing his position 'three times in six months' on whether states or the federal government should make decisions about gay marriage.
And retired Air Force Maj. Gen. John Borling suggested dairy owner Jim Oberweis was trying to stir up fear with his strong stand against a guest worker program for illegal immigrants proposed by President Bush."

-- Going after the front runner is a debate good, in a TV ad bad. Let's remember the difference boys.

Daily Herald: "SPRINGFIELD - Jim Oberweis' campaign for the U.S. Senate is not for the lactose intolerant.
There's free ice cream during campaign stops at the suburban stores bearing his name. On his campaign Web site, Oberweis offered political survey respondents the chance at 'free ice cream for life.' Even his campaign logo has the 'I' in his last name drawn as an ice cream cone.
The Aurora resident has centered his campaign for the Republican nomination around his family's dairy business, saying his experience there makes him the most qualified of eight candidates to create jobs and craft economic policy in the Senate.
But Republican rivals and Democratic officials complain he's gone too far in mixing business and politics. Republican foe Andy McKenna of Glenview has demanded Oberweis stop running ads linking his campaign to his dairy. A downstate Democratic official recently filed a complaint with federal officials on the same topic."

-- Oberweis linked to this article in an e-mail that I got. I think the 'mixing business and politics' is getting a lot more play than his message.

OneMan

It looks like the Kathuria campaign did mail their year end to the government on time (see page 2). So I appologize for giving them flack on that. I look forward to seeing his year end donor info.

OneMan

Obama needs to step up the pace to beat Hull's money: "The CBS poll showed Obama with only 46 percent of the black vote statewide. That number should trouble his campaign, but it also presents an opportunity.
The black middle class is clued in. But as Sugar Cain says, Obama ''has to get his message out to more of the people on the lower end, who will go to the polls, but they don't know his resume.''
Hynes continues to underperform despite the fact that ''the organization candidate'' has corralled support from most of the regular Democrats, including Cook County Board President John Stroger, U.S. Rep. Bill Lipinski and his dad, former Cook County assessor Tom Hynes.
Hynes' only shot is to burst Hull's pricey bubble by going negative. If Hynes allows Hull to continue to define himself by his polished commercials, the organization candidate will end up as road kill. It's time for Hynes to get the knives out."

-- See it is not just OneMan who feels Danny! is going to go seriously negative on Hull's tail. That may give Obama a chance but if nothing else he should be spending on non-urban (BBM', XRT) radio now.
OneMan

Edwardsville Intelligencer: "Illinois Comptroller and U.S. Senate candidate Dan Hynes spoke to about 80 Madison County Democrats during a stopover last week in Edwardsville.
'In the six years that he's been in the state of Illinois, he's kept the state's books fiscally conservatively, while the president of the United States is spending money like a drunken sailor,' said state Rep. Steve Davis in a brief warm-up speech.
Hynes told the gathering that if he were elected he would make job creation a priority. He also touted his 22-point jobs plan that calls for a dollar-for-dollar match: for every dollar the government spends rebuilding Iraq, it must match it with a dollar spent at home, he said. "

-- Yeah Danny! just like the lottery is supposed to supplement educational funding, not replace it.

Firm linked to mayor, governor reaped millions: "A private roofing venture run by Gov. Blagojevich's top fund-raiser and hired by Mayor Daley's administration for work at O'Hare and Midway airports was paid $7.6 million over the past five years -- nearly $3 million more than initial city estimates, records show.
Even though the roofing maintenance contract held by BCI Commercial Roofing and Castle Construction expired at the start of the year, Daley aides extended it -- without soliciting bids -- for another nine months. If history is any indication, that could be worth another $1 million or more.
BCI is owned by Christopher G. Kelly, Blagojevich's chief fund-raiser and adviser. Castle is run by Robert Blum, Kelly's golfing pal and a big-time Blagojevich campaign donor."

-- I am shocked! Not... OneMan

Public Affairs: "Making it a hat trick, State Senator Barack Obama, picked up his third North Shore Township Organization endorsement in three weeks this afternoon when the Northfield Township Democratic Organization (Committeewoman State Rep. Elaine Nekritz (Northbrook, 57th) Presiding), meeting in Northbrook, IL, endorsed the U. S. Senate Candidacy of Barack Obama. Picking up the requisite 60% for his township endorsement, Obama got 18 of 30 votes, with the remainder split among State Comptroller Dan Hynes (8 votes) and former Chicago School Board President Gery Chico (4 votes). Obama, Hynes, Chico and Joyce Washington all spoke to the Northfield group; Hull sent his daughter Megan to speak as a surrogate and Skinner sent a semi-surrogate who stood up and complained about Nancy being excluded from the upcoming WTTW debate and possibly the WLS/ League of Women Voters Forum. Pappas, it was said, was attending a charity event in Washington, DC. Chico, interrupted by Skinner's surrogate when he was about to begin speaking to the group, indicated he agreed that Nancy should be invited to the Democratic Senate Candidate forums. For more on the Buzz re Obama-Skinner, See Suburban Edition of 'Public Affairs,' posting, below. "

-- Besides for finding another blog source for stuff (thanks Zorn). This is intersting in that again you figure that either Danny! would have this stuff in the bag due to his dad or Hull due to his $$$$. Could the Democratic side of this race end up being a 4 person race? Could someone end up winning with less than 30% of the vote? Less than 25%.
The GOP race is interesting and I am a Republican but the Demo-Derby is going to rock in terms of how it plays out.
OneMan

Chicago Tribune | GOP Senate hopefuls aligned on gun control: "Oberweis, who has made illegal immigration a key issue in his campaign, said he supports the Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act, known by the acronym CLEAR. Sponsored by Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-Ga.), the act would encourage local law enforcement to 'investigate, apprehend, detain or remove aliens.'

Critics, however, say the law would result in a fundamental change in Americans' right to freedom of movement, essentially requiring for the first time in the nation's history that U.S. citizens carry proof of their citizenship."

-- Do you have your papers? Man this could cause it to suck not to look white in some parts of America.
OneMan

Chicago Tribune | Political novice Hull uneasy in spotlight: "Private life exposed

As his financial success magnified, his private life grew more complicated. His 29-year marriage ended in 1994, and the publicity-averse Hull nevertheless became involved in a series of high-profile romances.

He married well-known real estate broker Brenda Sexton, divorced and then remarried her. Their relationship even made news broadcasts when Hull proposed the second time by way of a Gold Coast billboard. Hull said Sexton's publicist oversold the story to the media.

As his second marriage to Sexton collapsed in 1998, Sexton filed an order of protection against him, public records show. Hull won't talk about the divorce in detail, saying only that it was 'contentious' and that he and Sexton are friends.

At Hull's recommendation, Gov. Rod Blagojevich last spring appointed Sexton to direct the Illinois Film Office. The move drew criticism in the local film community, since Hull had donated nearly $260,000 to Blagojevich's campaign for governor and Sexton had little experience in the film industry.

In the late 1990s, Hull made local gossip columns again when he dated auctioneer and socialite Leslie Hindman. And in 2003, he became engaged to another woman, Jennifer Goodlove, but that


-- Shows a little bit of background on Blair Hull including some of the warts. It will be interesting to see if his 'issues' start to get more play. Or if other Democrats start bringing them up.

Daily Herald: Suburban Chicago's Information Source: "If the push to legalize gay marriage ever reaches the U.S. Senate, only one of the 15 candidates running in next month's Illinois primaries would press the 'yes' button to make lawful what San Francisco officials did last week in granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Democrat Gery Chico said he supports a gay marriage measure to eliminate a patchwork of responses varying by state"

-- I saw a bunch of Gery Chico signs today (mostly on the side of various roads) today so I gues he is working on getting people to know who he is. Then again I have always thought that putting signs on what appears to be public property is a bad move.

Anyway back to his views on this. If you are going to come out in favor of same-sex marriage then you need to come up with a better reason than you want to fix the fact the states have different views....

OneMan

Rockford Register Star - Rockford's Newspaper and Website - Opinion: "The Mell ward organization appears to be behind Hull. The Hynes and Madigan organizations are behind the younger Hynes. Obama, an African-American, presumably will excel in the city's black and liberal wards. These are just visible divisions in the city's power structure.
Though candidates still court organizational support in Chicago and Democratic power still emanates from the city, strategists now say Democratic candidates must have another arm of support to be successful in the primary.
Case in point: Blagojevich's victory in the 2002 primary election. His power structure flowed from his neighborhood on Chicago's North Side. He won the Democratic nomination because of downstate support. "

-- It will be intesting to see how Chicago ends up breaking down ward by ward. I think a Senator Hynes does no good for Blago, whereas they may feel a Senator Hull would be more useful.

Lincoln Day Stuff: "State Comptroller Dan Hynes, a Democratic candidate for the Senate seat, also invoked the legacy of the Republican Lincoln while announcing a three-day bus tour of central and Southern Illinois to highlight his economic plans.

A campaign supporter referred to Hynes as 'Honest Dan,' and Hynes promised he was not beholden to the labor groups that are strongly backing his campaign. "

-- Yeah not beholden to the labor groups that are the core of his campaign. Yeah right. Three day bus tour. That's going to do the trick. Sorry dude it's time to start spending some of that labor money on ads. Most people have no freakin idea who the Sate Comptroller is.

OneMan

Democrat Files FEC comlaint about OberweisIce cream tycoon Jim Oberweis hit a rocky road Thursday, as Democrats filed a federal complaint accusing the Republican of illegally using his dairy to promote his U.S. Senate campaign.

"Oberweis is knowingly and willfully breaking the Federal Election Campaign Act by illegally using his company's corporate treasury funds to influence his election," Sangamon County Democratic Chairman Tim Timoney wrote in a complaint to the Federal Election Commission.

Timoney argues Oberweis is breaking the law by holding campaign events at his ice cream parlors, giving away free scoops at political events and running an "Ice Cream for Life Sweepstakes" as part of his race to succeed outgoing GOP Sen. Peter Fitzgerald.

-- It will be interesting to see if this goes anywhere (I doubt it) however it is interesting that either they just wanted to take a shot at Oberwies or they feel is has a legitimate shot at winning the nomination. I think he does so they are taking their shot.
However I hope this doesn't blow my chance at winning the free ice cream for life contest.....

A Springfield lawyer, Timoney also charges that Oberweis Dairy television commercials running Downstate are actually thinly disguised campaign commercials for the March 16 primary. The commercials, which feature Oberweis talking to viewers about his products, began airing shortly before Oberweis launched his campaign last year.

"I've lived here my whole life, and Oberweis Dairy I never heard of until he decided to run for U.S. Senate," Timoney said.

The complaint makes the criticism of Oberweis' tactics bipartisan. GOP primary rival Andy McKenna Jr. has called on Oberweis to end the TV spots, accusing him of illegally "co-mingling" his company and political interests.

Back to the Kathuria letter. Sorry but there is one thing is this letter is really ticking me off.

"We, as Republican activists, should encourage and support special and unique candidacies like mine. I belive it is our only hope of becoming the majority party in Illinois"

Ok where do I start on this.
a) "Should encourage and support special and unique candidacies". I have an idea, how about we support the people who will do the best job in the role. Not someone who is unqie.

b) "We, as Republican activists.". Arrrg! You are not a Republican activist.
A guy is his later 30's who just registered to vote is NOT A REPUBLICAN ACTIVIST! Part of being a Republican Acitivist is VOTING!

OneMan

It's always a good idea to file your year end statements otherwise you can get a Mailgram from the FEC. I didn't even know mailgrams were still around.

I guess Dr. K was busy, perhaps this would be a good question to ask at his fundraiser tonight.

OneMan

From the DRUDGE REPORT 2004: "A frantic behind-the-scenes drama is unfolding around Sen. John Kerry and his quest to lockup the Democratic nomination for president, the DRUDGE REPORT can reveal.

Intrigue surrounds a woman who recently fled the country, reportedly at the prodding of Kerry, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

A serious investigation of the woman and the nature of her relationship with Sen. John Kerry has been underway at TIME magazine, ABC NEWS, the WASHINGTON POST and the ASSOCIATED PRESS, where the woman in question once worked.

MORE

A close friend of the woman first approached a reporter late last year claiming fantastic stories -- stories that now threaten to turn the race for the presidency on its head!

In an off-the-record conversation with a dozen reporters earlier this week, General Wesley Clark plainly stated: 'Kerry will implode over an intern issue.' [Three reporters in attendance confirm Clark made the startling comments.]

The Kerry commotion is why Howard Dean has turned increasingly aggressive against Kerry in recent days, and is the key reason why Dean reversed his decision not to drop out of the race after Wisconsin, top campaign sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT."

-- Usually Matt does a good job with this sort of thing. Be interesting to see the impact if it is true, if it is and it has a real impact will this effect the Democrats enough to make IL relevant for the nomination. If so what impact will that have on the Senate primaries (besides removing cross over votes on the GOP side)

Pappas filed her info as required.

So I was wrong about my thought that she would wait and just take the fine. I guess that's why I am not a pundit.

OneMan

New poll numbers
CHICAGO -- Chicago's WBBM-TV released a poll Wednesday night that shows Democrat millionaire Blair Hull and Republican investor-turned-teacher Jack Ryan leading in the U.S. Senate race.


Hull and Ryan are the two candidates who have invested the most money into television ads, a crucial element in any Illinois statewide campaign.


Blair Hull, who has spent almost $19 million in his Democratic race is leading at 29%, with State Comptroller Dan Hynes and State Senator Barack Obama tied at ten points behind.

-- I expect that Danny is going to have to start spending money on TV now. Also I suspect McKennas media buys are going to go up as well.

Here is a question, will one of the Dems go negative on Hull?

OneMan


Jack Ryan, according to the WBBM-TV poll, is now at 35%, with Jim Oberweis 21%, and Andy McKenna 14%. The other five Republican candidates are in the single digits, including John Borling, who has dropped 4% from the 10% he showed in January's poll.

Got another Kathuria letter yesterday (actualy a letter with the same brochure (sp?) as the one I got last week). I will comment more later but I thought the reference to 'republican activists' was interesting from a guy who was not registered to vote for a long time.

More to come

Censor 'Scooby-Doo'? Words fail: "So the U.S. Department of Education is declaring about 200 television programs inappropriate for closed-captioning and denying federal grant requests to make them accessible to the hearing-impaired.
The department made its decisions based on the recommendations of a five-member panel. Who the five members are, only the government seems to know, and it isn't saying. But the shows they censored suggest a perspective that is Talibanesque.
The government is refusing to caption Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie, apparently fearing that the deaf would fall prey to witchcraft if they viewed the classic sitcoms.
Your government also believes that Law & Order is too intense for the hard-of-hearing. So is Power Rangers. You can rest easy knowing that your federal tax dollars aren't being spent to promote Sanford and Son, Judge Wapner's Animal Court and The Loretta Young Show within the deaf community. Kids with hearing problems can forget about watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, classic cartoons or Nickelodeon features. Even Roy Rogers and Robin Hood are out."

-- I may not agree with the fact that the government pays to caption TV shows. But it seems that at least Judge Wapner's Aniamal Court would be educational... Read the article it list more no-government funded captioning shows.

WEEK.com: Icing Down The Campaign: "Or even support a political contest that pays out a lifetime supply of Oberweis ice cream as its grand prize.

Jack Ryan, Republican U.S. Senate candidate, says, ''A corporation shouldn't pay for these ads.''

''I think it's important that voters know about the background of people. Teachers talk about their experience in the classroom. Career politicians talk about their experience in Washington,'' says Oberweis.

-- Just seems that the ethical questions about Oberweis doing this is getting a lot of play.

In between bites, potential voters listened to Oberweis's political agenda and even got to ask a few questions.

The Oberweis campaign is responsible for all costs associated with the treats. Including the lifetime supply it's raffling off later this month. "

Still more Sneed this time about Nancy: "Dateline: The Heartline... Dem senatorial candidate Nancy Skinner is looking for a date on Valentine's Day.
*The real vs. reel reason: Skinner's motives aren't just romantic. Skinner, who is 38 and single, has received minute media coverage and been shut out of senatorial debates because she ain't got da big dough.
*The plan: Skinner has posted a Valentine's date auction on her Web site in hopes of raising more campaign cash.
*The pitch: Her www.skinnerthewinner.com Web site reads: SSC (Single Senatorial Candidate) seeking DWM (Democrat with Money), who cares about the direction of this country and wants to see a courageous Democrat in the U.S. Senate who will stand up to the Republicans, for a lovely evening of political discourse and dinner. Minimum bid $1,000. Maximum Bid $12,000 (FEC Max)!

*Go get 'em, Nancy. Or as a pundit said recently: "If Nancy had money, she'd be dangerous."

-- So if I don't win the auction do I get my money back. And for 12K I would...No I am not going to be that politically incorrect. I would however expect her to wear pink...

Pssst! ...: "Sneed hears Gov. Blagojevich is being floated by top Dems as a possible veepmate of Dem presidential hopeful John Kerry. Hmmm. Blago told confidants when he was running for Guv -- that his ultimate plan was presidential."

-- Yeah like Kerry would not pick a Southerner. But imagine this, blago ends up being VP if Kerry wins. Hello Gov. Pat Quinn......

I got this in the e-mail today as a request to send it to others...

"Dear Friend,
As you may know, my friend Andy McKenna is running for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate here in Illinois. I am writing you today to ask for your help. I have made a commitment to help Andy's campaign because I believe in his vision for our state and our nation. I hope you will join me in supporting his campaign and voting for him on March 16th."

-- Sorry but I wouldn't even consider the canidate I am supporting in this race a 'friend'. Do people really feel that kind of bond with canidates they support?

Chicago Tribune | Hull proves money no object in bid for Senate: "An audience member asked the Democratic candidates for Senate which among them they would prefer as a drinking companion, and Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes did not hesitate.

'I'd have to say Blair Hull--because he'll buy,' Hynes deadpanned. 'He'll buy for everybody.'"

-- Wheareas your dad would buy Danny? At least Blair Hull as done something based on his own mertis not his dads.

N.J. Sikhs hold fund-raiser for Ill. Senate hopeful: "Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria doesn't just present himself as a Senate candidate from Illinois.
He bills his candidacy as the hope for Indian-Americans around the country who want to see someone with their heritage hold elected office in the federal government.
That's why more than 100 Indian-Americans from South Jersey attended a $100-a-plate fund-raiser in his honor Sunday at Howard Johnson Express Inn on Route 70.
The event was the latest in a series nationwide designed to encourage Indian Americans to donate money and volunteer their support to Kathuria's campaign.
'It will be a proud moment for all the Sikh community as well as the Indian community and the Asian community,' Sarabjit Singh Gujral of Burlington Township said, referring to the possibility of a Kathuria victory.
Kathuria is Sikh, of a religious group whose members usually are identifiable by their full beards and turbans. The majority of those who attended Sunday's event were Sikhs, as well.
Like many at the fund-raiser, Gujral cited the fallout from 9/11 as a major reason why he believes Indian-Americans - and Sikhs, in particular - need to be visible politically."

-- Guess this is an example of how he is going to attract people from all sorts of minority groups.

New York Daily News - City News - Ground Zero gawker sues for garbage-truck injury: "A freelance photographer who suffered brain damage after falling off a garbage truck he climbed atop to take pictures of Ground Zero is suing the carting company for $50 million.
Lawyers for the victim, Robert Levin, accuse Waste Management LLP and its truck driver of 'failure to respect the plaintiff's rights as a pedestrian,' according to court papers filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court.
The carting company's attorney said Levin's own 'negligence, carelessness and recklessness' caused him to fall off the truck on Dec. 19, 2001, at 1:40 a.m.
Levin sneaked on top of the truck, which was parked near Greenwich and Carlisle Sts. in lower Manhattan, to get a better view of the site of the terrorist attack.
'Obviously, he never thought in a million years the truck would move, so I don't think his actions were negligent,' said Levin's lawyer Howard Klar of Manhattan. "

-- Only $50 million come-on. Perhaps this will keep the guy from breeding.

Rockford Register Star - Rockford's Newspaper and Website - Opinion: "I SAW DEMOCRATIC motivation in Des Moines, Iowa, where the presidential caucus I attended was packed with twice as many people as came in 2000. Caucus-goers were unconcerned about the slight philosophical differences among John Kerry, Dick Gephardt, Howard Dean and John Edwards. They just wanted someone who could beat President Bush in November.
Similarly, at Sunday's Democratic senatorial forum in Rockford, the crowd of party faithful was large and enthusiastic. They were looking for a nominee strong enough to take a Senate seat away from the Republicans.
The forum featured five candidates. Trust me, all of them spoke with passion and unabashed liberal fervor. As in Des Moines, the people I talked to expressed a visceral desire to beat any and all Republicans in November.
I have also been to some Republican events. At the Senate candidates' forum in Belvidere last November, the GOP candidates had little passion, except maybe for Jack Ryan, the charismatic conservative who, a woman in the newsroom told me, is 'hot'.
At Sen. Dave Syverson's fund raiser at Cliffbreakers a couple of weeks ago, the usual gang of Republican contributors got together for a low-key lunch. The lone Senate candidate present, Steve Rauschenburger, gave a forgettable speech about how the process of state government has changed under the Democrats:
With Gov. Rod Blagojevich at the helm, state government operates from Chicago on a command and control model similar to that of Mayor Richard Daley's Chicago City Hall. This I didn't need a speech to know."

-- From the Rockford Register Star. Interesting opinion from a columnist from 'downstate' even tho Rockford is not South of Chicago. Is he right, do Republican's in the senate race lack passion?

Saw some Senate TV ads. Blair Hull bus ad: Not bad it makes his healthcare point. Jack Ryan Teacher/Bio ad: Also not bad at all look forward to seeing some news ones from him. Andy McKenna Bio/Clean up the party: Again I don't think 'cleaning up the party' is really a primary issue. Again the 'succesful businessman' doesn't ring with me when you realize he works for his dad's company.

Can GOP break tradition to win open Senate seat?:

At a recent senatorial debate sponsored by the City Club of Chicago, the Republicans were wittier, more free-wheeling and talked about a wider range of issues than the Democrats.

Educator Jack Ryan, a former investment banker, who did very well at the City Club debate, is the Republican that Democrats are most worried about because he has the ability to fund his own campaign.


"Oberweis denounced President Bush's proposal that would allow undocumented immigrants to legally work in the United States at jobs that would otherwise be unfilled.
It's been 10 years since California Gov. Pete Wilson hung on to his job by stirring resentment against impoverished Mexicans flocking across the border into his state. But the California GOP is still paying a price for Wilson's intolerance. Do Illinois Republicans want to repeat this mistake?"

-- Sure we want to repeat that mistake and a host of others that's what makes us Republicans :-). However Steve Neil does provide some interesting history in this column.

AP Wire | 02/09/2004 | Illinois GOP Senate candidates divided over wisdom of Medicare prescription benefit: "But the eight GOP candidates running for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Illinois Republican Peter Fitzgerald are divided over whether the legislation should have been enacted, and they are nearly united in saying that any expansion of the benefits must wait until the cost of the original bill is known.
Businessman Jim Oberweis, state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger and former state Rep. Jonathan Wright say they wouldn't have voted for the measure.
'My main concern is the estimated $400 billion cost over the next 10 years,' Oberweis said even before the Bush administration raised the projected cost to well over $500 billion.
Rauschenberger said a major flaw is that the legislation would help those who are financially well off.
Wright argues that many of the potential beneficiaries of the government-provided prescription benefit already have drug coverage under pension or other employer-provided plans."

-- Again glad to see it is via a newspaper is San Jose CA that we are able to see this story.
OneMan

Chicago Tribune | Pappas' finances remain mystery: "With the U.S. Senate primary five weeks off, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas is the only one of the five major Democratic contenders who has yet to disclose any of the information about her personal finances required by federal law.

Pappas formally entered the race Oct. 30 and was required by the federal Ethics in Government Act to have filed a financial disclosure report by Dec. 6, with details of her wealth and that of her husband, Peter Kamberos, a real-estate investor with extensive holdings."

She has been granted two extensions by Senate officials who oversee compliance with the law, but she is running up against an absolute deadline of Feb. 17. The later she files, the harder it is for her rivals to closely examine the information.

In addition, Pappas is the only one of the five candidates who has not made her federal income-tax returns available to reporters. Campaign spokesman Jim Allen said Friday that Pappas intends to release her tax returns, but not those of her husband. The other married candidates filed joint returns.

Over the 14 years that Pappas has been treasurer or county commissioner, she has disclosed little information about her finances or those of her husband.

Allen said Pappas needed extra time to file the federal disclosures because she is meticulous.

He said Pappas will meet the Feb. 17 deadline. Failure to comply could bring penalties of up to $11,000 and sanctions by the Senate or the Justice Department.

-- If I were a guessing man I would guess that she will file late and just pay the fine. If Blair Hull's people could figure it out I am sure her's can as well.

OneMan

Metromix.com: Complete list of winners:

"New Age Album: 'One Quiet Night,' Pat Metheny."
-- Total off subject here for a second. It is a great CD, but it is not new age.

Grand vision or great waste?: "State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger (R-Elgin) said skeptics also huffed and puffed when Chicago's elevated train system was built, when the expressway system was proposed and when the GI Bill was approved. 'But if we do colonize Mars,' he said with a laugh, 'I propose a 1,000 year moratorium on the collection of any and all municipal, state or federal Martian taxes.'"

-- However Steve would want internet taxes collected on mars....

Daily Herald: Suburban Chicago's Information Source"Beauty is more than ballot deep
By Stacy St. Clair Daily Herald Staff Writer:


On the campaign trail, U.S. Senate candidate Chirinjeev Kathuria groans whenever he ends up next to opponent Jack Ryan in a photo.
There's just no competing with Ryan's million-watt smile.
Or his chiseled good looks. Or his toned body."

The reaction to Jack is always very strong," Kathuria said. "The initial reaction to him is absolutely different from the reaction to me."

-- Did you think the reaction in part is due to the fact you say stuff like 'I am in favor of O'Hare expansion as long as no home or business are destroyed'
--

"The guy looks like a movie star with that million-dollar smile," Democratic candidate Nancy Skinner said. "I think it's going to be a factor in the election."

While Skinner - the only blonde in the Democratic primary - believes Ryan will benefit from his good looks, she contends her appearance has been a detriment to her campaign

-- Or perhaps it is because you can't seem to raise money Nancy?

Ryan, his aides say, has been cursed with a strong metabolism. He has to make sure he eats enough or the poor guy will rapidly lose weight.

"He's on the slender side," his spokeswoman, Kelli Phiel, said. "We want him to be able to fill out a suit."

-- Can you in fact be too rich or too thin? Glad to see the papers are covering what is important in the race.
OneMan

Jack Kemp endorses Ryan for U.S. Senate: "Former GOP senator and pro quarterback Jack Kemp threw his endorsement Saturday to Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jack Ryan, then tossed souvenir footballs to fire up an enthusiastic group of Ryan backers gathered in Lincoln Park.
Kemp, the Republican vice presidential nominee in 1996, praised Ryan as a candidate who will shake up the GOP by reaching out to urban and minority voters often overlooked by other Republicans.
'We have a guy who's a super candidate. He can light a fire under the Republican Party,'' said Kemp, who also was to attend a Ryan fund-raiser Saturday."

-- Another endorsement for Jack. It will be interesting to see how this plays out as well.

Chicago Tribune | Ryan crosses traditional GOP lines

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jack Ryan clapped to the gospel music last Sunday at the Progressive Baptist Church near U.S. Cellular Field.

The congregation welcomed a newly baptized member and hugged in greeting. And then Ryan, a conservative Republican who quit investment banking to teach, took to the pulpit of the all-black church.

-- Nice piece about Jack today. It will be interesting to see if there is any primary payback from him reaching out to groups the GOP generally ignores during primary season.

Internet tax issue divides GOP Senate candidates

: "Whether and how to tax Internet transactions and commerce is a rare tax issue on which the Republican candidates for U.S. Senate in Illinois diverge.
While some of the eight candidates running in the party's March 16 primary endorse a tax moratorium, others say making the Internet a tax-free zone is unfair to traditional, bricks-and-mortar businesses.
State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger supports making sure Internet retailers collect sales taxes, saying that not doing so gives online companies an unfair competitive advantage.
Businessman Jim Oberweis says changes are needed and calls for a study to spell out when to make them.
'I'm in favor of eventually moving toward a level playing field,' he said.
Norm Hill, a retired Air Force chief warrant officer, says the Internet 'should be taxed like everything else.'
Other candidates say the Internet merits a tax moratorium because it is still developing as a marketplace.
'We want to keep the Internet industry flourishing,' said Jack Ryan, a former businessman turned teacher. 'If we put a tax on it, we slow its growth.'"


-- So I guess the question is why should the Internet be treated any differently than mail order. If I order something from a company without a 'nexus' in this state they don't have to collect sales tax. Imagine how complex it would be for on-line merchants to collect for a host of local entites. Also the differences between what gets taxed in various entities and how is mind blowing.

TheKansasCityChannel.com - Politics - Secret Service Almost Sets Up Bush Visit To Wrong City: "SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The White House apparently confused Illinois' capital city with Springfield, Mo., contacting officials to arrange a presidential visit before realizing the mistake, the governor's office said.
Rebecca Rausch, a spokeswoman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich, said the Secret Service called Springfield, Ill., this week trying to arrange a visit by President George W. Bush. But then the president's security detail realized its mistake, understanding Bush wanted to go to the Show-Me State and not the Land of Lincoln.
Bush is expected to visit Springfield in southwest Missouri on Monday to discuss the economy at SRC Automotive Inc."

--- As another famous Springfield resident would say D'oh!

Got two mailings. A nice 8 page 8.5x11 from Jack. I had my wife take a look at it and she was impresed.

Also got a brochure from the Kathuria campaign (one foled 8.5x11) sheet. Included photos of him with Chris Lauzen who is endorsing Steve. Also a nice picture of him with Senator Fitzgerald The picture in the flyer actually is a bit bigger and it appears Senator Fitzgerald is wearing sweatbands.

Under the heading of 'Protecting America's National Security Interests" it includes a reference to Akal Security . The flyer states. "Founded on the Sikh principles of excellence in service and protecting those in need". It goes on to mention several government entities they protect. It appears to be basically a security guard company. A bit of a stretch if you ask me.

It also includes a picture of President Bush meeting with Shikhs.

Finally it has the following statement at the end.

"To win in November, the Republican nominee has to get not only the Republican vote but a significant nu,ber of African/Asian/Hispanic American, Indepentant & Democratic votes. Dr Kathuria is in the best position to get these votes because of his background & hearatige"

Give me a break. Does he really think he is going to get votes outside of his ethic group because of his ethnic group....

Wow, popular day today. I would add the comments back but I wasn't seeing any comments.

Pontiac Daily Leader: News Column: "Five of the Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate seat from Illinois will be guests at the Lincoln Day Dinner in Pontiac, based on responses received as of Wednesday.
The Livingston County Republican Central Committee will hold the annual dinner on Monday, Feb. 9, at the Pontiac Elks Lodge. A reception begins at 5:30 p.m. and the dinner at 6.
State Sen. Dan Rutherford, Chenoa, (R-53rd), will serve as moderator for a forum among the Senate candidates. As of today, Senate candidates who have accepted invitations to attend the event are John Borling, Andy McKenna, Jonathan Wright, state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger and Andy Martin.
Attendance of one candidate, Jack Ryan, was uncertain as of today; one candidate, James Oberweis, has declined his invitation."

-- Jim Oberweis isn't comming. I am shocked!

Wright defends skimpy election kitty: "Oak Brook businessman Chirinjeev Kathuria was asked about his published claims he dated movie actress Salma Hayek, and he clarified: 'We were friends.' Later, he addressed a question about why he's never voted.
'In Illinois, a lot of people don't vote, especially in the primaries - probably close to 70 percent,' Kathuria said. 'So we represent the 70 percent of those people.'"

-- So you represent people who don't vote. Man that's friggin stupid.

Still trying to figure out whats wrong. Sorry.

CNN.com - FDA: Web site ships fake birth control - Feb. 4, 2004: "WASHINGTON (AP) -- An overseas Internet site is shipping counterfeit versions of a popular Johnson & Johnson birth control patch, versions that won't provide any protection against pregnancy, federal health officials warned Wednesday.
Do not use Ortho Evra patches -- or any other drugs -- ordered from the Web site www.rxpharmacy.ws, the Food and Drug Administration warned.
While the contraceptive patch is the only drug so far proved a fake from that site, the FDA said consumers should consider its other products suspect, too. Contact a health provider immediately if you've used them, the FDA advised."

-- Yeah drug importation. That's the answer.

Somethig is up with the blog today, it only seems to be publishing about half of the page. Sorry. I see what I can do.

The Back Room: "Who would give money to a man who has said he would spend up to $40 million of his own fortune to get elected to the U.S. Senate?
A. Moron, that's who.
According to Democrat M. Blair Hull's campaign finance reports, someone named A. Moron of Chicago donated $20 to the Hull campaign in December"

-- I think it is interesting that he is reporting donations of $20.

Quad-City Times Newspaper Online - the Quad-Cities Home Page: "On Friday, the Federal Election Commission filed a 21-page complaint alleging Evans' campaign committee, the Rock Island-based 17th District Victory Fund, and the Rock Island Democratic Central Committee, violated federal law during the 1998 and 2000 campaigns. Officers of those organizations also were listed in the complaint.


The complaint says the Victory Fund, which was set up in 1998, operated as an alter ego of the Evans campaign committee and violated federal contribution limits by spending $330,000 in the 1998 and 2000 election cycles to benefit the Rock Island congressman's re-election effort. The commission says the fund operated in close coordination with Evans campaign.
.
Sixteen other allegations of election law violations range from raising money from prohibited sources to failing to report certain activities adequately.
.
It's a bunch of bunk. We fully disclosed the expenditures. We opened up the Victory Fund, but its a separately controlled entity, Evans said during a news conference called Monday to focus attention on the Republican race for the U.S. Senate nomination. Evans criticized GOP hopeful Jack Ryan on health care issues. He said the fund is now defunct."

-- Yeah that's they way to focus attention of the GOP, have the reporters ask about you FEC complaint. Can you say awkward?

Daily Herald: "Maine Township Republicans have made their selections for upcoming primary races, but without the input of some longtime members.
State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger of Elgin got the nod for U.S. Senate. Athena Burbaris of Northbrook was endorsed for the 12th judicial subcircuit.
But clouding the endorsement in both primaries is a controversy over the firing of more than a dozen precinct captains days before an endorsement session in Des Plaines at which GOP precinct captains and leaders made selections.
Robert Provenzano, one of those precinct captains, said he believes he was fired unfairly and is complaining because he was denied access to last Thursday's endorsement meeting. Provenzano said 18 precinct captains were fired.
'I'm so disappointed and sick about this,' said Provenzano, a precinct captain for 36 years and elected Maine Township highway commissioner.
'It stinks like a dead fish here.'"

-- Man I am glad I live in 'elected committeeman land'. That's just wacked.

Still more Kathuria fun: "NOW SHE'D BETTER BE AT THE FUND-RAISER
'I told you we are friends. I will invite you to the fund-raiser so you can meet her.' Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria to a reporter questioning him about why he once said he dated actress Salma Hayek, but later said he did not"

-- Heck I would buy a ticket then.

Borling, Ryan take shots at each other in Senate debate: "They traded barbs on their experience, qualifications and integrity, but the sharpest exchange came when retired Air Force Major Gen. John Borling accused investment banker Jack Ryan of weighing in on NATO without knowing who was in it.
'That's not true,' Ryan fired back. 'I had the number right. And I told you what it was.'
Borling shot back: 'My point is this: I've been in NATO four times. The heck with talking to someone who has not been involved in NATO specifically.'"

-- Now this was the suntimes lead on the forum/debate story. Makes Borling look a little grumpy.

Lots of people don't vote: "Kathuria, who has poured about $700,000 into his campaign, defended the fact that he has not been registered to vote in past elections.

'A lot of people don't vote, especially in the primary, it is close to 70 percent,' he said, 'So we represent the 70 percent of those people. Not only am I going to vote, I am going to run for the U.S. Senate and spend a lot of my money.'"

-- No, I suspect a lot of people are at least registered to vote. The fact that you never voted and not registered indicates that you had no interest in voting. Heck I have been registered since I was 18 years old.
The primary line is a smokescreen. Go ahead spend your money....

Chicago Tribune | Candidate accused of milking free publicity: "A candidate in the Republican U.S. Senate race Tuesday called on rival Jim Oberweis to stop boosting his campaign by appearing in TV ads for his family ice cream chain and demanded that the commercials be pulled.

In a statewide GOP candidate forum aired locally on WBEZ-FM 91.5--one in which Oberweis did not participate because he was campaigning in one of his ice cream stores--Glenview businessman Andy McKenna Jr. said Oberweis appeared to be skirting federal elections laws by using his business to help his campaign."

-- Interesting that this is the lead in the article. I think the fact that it appears that Jim is missing a lot of these forums (WBEZ, Naperville and others) should be of more interest.

Chicago Tribune | Blagojevich coffers add $5 million: "Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who only last week claimed his fundraising ability in Illinois had been hobbled by clashes with special interests, raised more than $4 million in Illinois during the last six months of 2003.

Blagojevich's campaign coffers were fattened by nearly another $1 million from out-of-state donations and interest on investments. The more than $5 million total for Blagojevich may represent more political cash raised in six months in a non-election year than any governor in Illinois history."

More than 150 separate donations to the governor's campaign coffers were for $10,000 or more.

He raised $300,000 from just six donors, among them Jay Wilton, the managing partner of a California firm that won the right to rebuild Illinois tollway oases and then manage them for 25 years. Wilton gave $50,000 to Blagojevich.

Another $50,000 donation to Blagojevich came from personal injury lawyer Robert Clifford, while one of Clifford's partners also chipped in $25,000. Others donating $50,000 were longtime Democratic donors Fred Eychaner and Irving Harris, the Illinois Hospital Association, and a surgical center in Rogers Park run by a leader in Chicago's Indian community.

After last month's four-day fundraising trip to California--the second such trip Blagojevich has made since taking office--the governor said out-of-state fundraising forays help maintain his independence in governing Illinois. He also said his managerial style had cramped his ability to raise money locally.

"We've been changing so many things here in Illinois, we're making so many different interests unhappy that I have to do fundraising now in places like California where they're not so angry," Blagojevich told reporters last week in Downstate Quincy.

-- Or perhaps people who don't know what you are doing in this state. BTW, the big bucks from the Oases remodeling guy is a nice touch.

OneMan

Candidate Detail Page: "2004 GENERAL PRIMARY
ANDY MARTIN
440 N. WABASH #3010
CHICAGO, IL 60611
REPUBLICAN
UNITED STATES SENATOR

FILED: 12/15/2003 2:33:00 PM
REMOVED 1/31/2004 10:30:00 AM


Campaign Web Site:
www.andymartin.com

Requests to view or copy petitions


Objections
12/22/2003 11:42:00 AM SUSTAINED Additional Information"

-- So no Andy Martin..... Sigh....

Sentinel & Enterprise Online - Local/Regional: "LEOMINSTER -- A local mother is furious after her sixth-grade son stumbled upon a Web site in school describing Russian plans to rehearse nuclear strikes against the United States.'I try to look after my kids the best I can, but when they're in school they're in their care,' said Kristin LeBlanc, mother of Joshua Gallant, a 12-year-old at Sky View Middle School.
LeBlanc said Joshua and his classmates, while doing research in social studies class, accessed an article reporting Russia was practicing for nuclear strikes against the United States.
Joshua brought home a copy of the article and told his mother other students in class were accessing pornographic Web sites.
The school district intends to investigate stronger Internet filters after LeBlanc complained about students accessing inappropriate material, said the superintendent. "

-- Gosh, what would have mom done back in the days when they had duck and cover drills. What kind of filter do you want for your kid mom, just happy news?

Chicago Tribune | Feds 'Outraged' by Halftime Show Mishap: "NEW YORK -- The chief federal regulator of broadcasting said Monday he is outraged by the Super Bowl halftime show which wound up with singer Justin Timberlake tearing off part of Janet Jackson's costume, exposing her breast.

Timberlake blamed a 'wardrobe malfunction,' but Federal Communications Commission chief Michael Powell called it 'a classless, crass and deplorable stunt.' "

-- Ok I was watching the game on a pal's hi-def projection system (really cool by the way) at all I saw was what looked like a 'pasty'. Watching the game on my ReplayTV at home. I couldn't see much of anything.

Is it worth all of this freaking out over a really hard to see nipple?

GOP Money Numbers from the Suntimes.:
"In the GOP race, Ryan added $345,228 to his kitty, bringing his campaign total to $2.1 million. He has put in $1.25 million of his own money and has said he will go as high as $3 million for the primary.
Dairy and investment magnate Jim Oberweis raised $126,922 during the period. That brings his total to $1,015,509 -- $804,178 of it his own money.
Oak Brook entrepreneur Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria lent his campaign $682,929 and raised $26,541. Kathuria has said he could put up to $3 million of his fortune into the GOP primary.
The remaining millionaire, Andy McKenna Jr., has not dipped into his fortune yet. He raised $319,955 during the period, bringing his total to $1.3 million.
State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger raised just $220,871, bringing his total to $351,031. Former Major Gen. John Borling raised $89,588, bringing his sum to $203,157."


--- Well it looks like Jack wins the fundrasing race so far. It will be interesting what the March numbers end up looking like. Then again by then we will know who spent their money well. Once the data is up on the FEC website I will try and take a look at it and offer more insightful looks.

OneMan