Via the Peoria PunditGrandson of Blagojevich aide gets post

: "The grandson of a top aide to Gov. Rod Blagojevich was awarded a $7,000 contract to recruit college students for state jobs despite a freeze on state hiring."

I really enjoy reading about Obama's primary money rasing issues considering he rased at least 4.3 Million or roughly the same as Danny!.

I wonder if Herman Cain will get the same level of fauning media coverage as Obama. Oh wait he is a Republican...

OneMan

Forgotten Benefactor of Humanity - 97.01: "

Norman Borlaug, the agronomist whose discoveries sparked the Green Revolution, has saved literally millions of lives, yet he is hardly a household nam"

-- Won the Nobel peace prize as well. It's an old article but still an interesting read.

A West Virginia man is suing an airline company, alleging it didn't notify him that drinking alcohol at night might adversely affect passengers before he fell down an escalator at Southwest Florida International Airport. "

-- If you are so dumb as to need a warning about this you shouldn't be drinking.

The IL Leader has Sen. Lauzen's comments on why he voted the way he did on the breastfeeding bill. I think Archpundits comments are right on the mark with this. Again I see Chris' logic with this vote, I don't agree with it but I see the logic behind his vote and give him credit for being honest about the fact that things were moving fast.

I never really thought about the feeding in class thing, that would have made learning difficult.

OneMan

Chicago Tribune | Jackson says breast-baring was accident: "Jackson says breast-baring was accident"

-- I only caught the start of Letterman before I fell asleep but that was funny. It had Dave and Janet (she was dressed modestly with a Hello my name is tag) looking at each other awkwardly until Dave said 'So hows Tito?'

Over at RandomAct there are some thoughts on ballot access and the like as it related to Bush in IL and in general.

Have to say I agree with him on this, I think that virtually all of the signature requirements are a bit daft. For example I had to get 10 signatures to be a committeeman canidate or a singificant (well over 20%) of the total votes cast in my pct.

OneMan

Todays Tribhas a story on the Blagos support of lowering the FOID age and it has this great quote in response to the 'If you are old enough to go fight in Iraq" statement:

"'Does he mean they should get scud missiles too?' said House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago). Currie said she was 'quite surprised' by the governor's position."

-- Surprised? Not me, this helps counter the $200 FOID or the whole Gun Ban Rod thing from the last election. He is working it downstate. Can't run for President in 4 years if he doesn't get re-elected.

OneMan

I also was able to catch Jack Ryan on At Issue on WBBM. I think he did a good job and presented reasoned answers to the questions.

I think they spent to much time 'working the angles' on the custody things trying to get an answer they wanted.

Now for the issues, I will highlight them a bit.

Affirmative Action: Make it social-economic based vs. race based. I really agree with this and I think he presents a good argument for it. Why should an African-American from Lake Forest be treated the same as a African-American from Harvey. If the idea behind Affirmative Action is to offer a hand up this method provides it to those who 'need a lift'.

Education: This was an interesting answer (basically vouchers) since the guy asking the question wasn't quite getting Jack's answer and Jack didn't seem to get the less money point. Again the more money agrument came up.

Jobs: Make America a more attractive place to create jobs with better education and a better regulatory environmnet. Someone then asked about Obama's plan to cut taxes to businesses that spend at least X pct. of salaries and R&D in the US. Jack's point was that this might actually push some firms out of the US.

Another argument against this (mine) is that it would be fairly easy to dodge with contractors and subcontractors. How, I am a company that makes bikes, I sub out my work to a sub in the US, he then subs it out to China. As a company the only employees I have are some HQ folks all in the US and hey I sub my work out to a US company what they do with it is their business. I think the Obama plan will lead to a word of sub-contractors.

OneMan

First over at Illinois Leader the usual gang is going over the Lauzem Breast feeding vote. I still haven't heard the why from Lauzen on this and I think Archpundit has a good line on what Lauzen's logic might be on this.

Also from Archpundit. Some thoughts on the State Dem web site. Is it me or does Mike Madigan look like you just showed up to take Lisa to the prom. That is one freaky photo.

Thanks to .Archpundit I now feel obligated to continue on my Monday Morning Quarterbacking on the Primary.

So after talking about Jim, Andy and Dr. K it is time for Steve.

This is another tough one since the biggest strike against him was a lack of money. If he had money early on I think he would have won it all.


-- Joined the race earlier. Compared to Jack and Andy he joined the race rather late. That caused issues with party activists who may have backed Steve but had already picked another candidate.

-- The PR Stunt about being 'Coach of the Bears' was a bit dumb it made him look a little too much like a joke. Sort of like the beard thing. His campaign had the best one-liners and a great press staff so overall these are rather small gripes.

-- Found some way to have spent some TV money in Chicago the last week before the primary. Sell a kidney or two if you had to.

-- Played up the State Senate experience more besides 'I have x number of roll-call votes' on record. Give some examples of votes you made that were good 'anti-establishment' Republican votes. Look at the Obama ads for example.

-- Somehow leveraged the support of all of those State Senators better. I know Sen. Lauzen was working very hard for him, I don't know if that was true for others or not.

Chicago Tribune | Ryan divorce papers case goes to court referee: "A California family court judge, ruling in a case with implications for Illinois' U.S. Senate race, delayed a final decision Monday on whether court records in the divorce of Republican candidate Jack Ryan will become public....

Jeri Ryan did not appear in court but filed a brief written statement saying she opposes release of the documents."

-- The trib has coverage of the moves to unseal the Ryan custody stuff. I would like to know who the TV station is..

Daily Herald: "Republican U.S. Senate nominee Jack Ryan's campaign and the Illinois GOP appear ready to criticize Democratic Senate foe Barack Obama at every turn.
The aggressive Republican approach started with the Ryan campaign launching the 'Barack Obama Truth Squad,' a fancy term for Ryan campaign manager Jason Miller's plan to try to correct via e-mail press releases what he argues will be a slew of misstatements coming out of Obama's camp through November."

-- How about a little play on how the DSCC has been slaming Ryan since last year and as recently as March 9th. It is ok for Democrats to issue press releases like this but if a Republican asks questions it is an issue? The DSCC was going after Ryan during the Republican primary.

OneMan

Over at Do Thy Research he seems to have more about the Wheaton College ex-student cult thing. The blogger appears to be an alum so it seems he has some insights on the school and the culture that I don't have. Check it out

Hinckley resident taking Senate race to the people: " Al Franzen guarantees a vote for him in November's U.S. Senate election will get citizens a straightforward, honest politician looking out for only their best interests.
The Hinckley resident at least is straightforward and honest enough to recognize the uphill climb he has against Democratic nominee Barack Obama and Republican Jack Ryan. "


-- He has a web site up at www.alfranzen.org

SB 3211 passed the State Senate will one lone no vote. SB 3211 is the right to breastfeed act which includes a requirement that insurance cover lactation consultants. This may sound silly but if you have ever had to deal with breatfeeding issues with someone you love you will realize this is not trivial.

The only No vote was from Senator Lauzen. I have a lot of respect for Senator Lauzen but I am at a loss on this one.

I guess it might be the insurance thing that is the issue. However if you have ever had to deal with a woman who is trying to breast feed a child and is having issues with that along with her hormones you would feel that the state should pay to have someone move in.

OneMan

Jack Ryan is going to be on At Issue on WBBM 780 AM ( a large AM news station for my out of state readers) at 9:30 AM and 9:30 PM. I will miss the 9:30 AM show due to church but will try and catach the 9:30 PM

OneMan

Daily Herald: Suburban Chicago's Information Source: "'I would love an opportunity to serve my country, my state and my party,' Oberweis said last week. 'In that order.'
'I really do believe I could do an exceptionally good job as a U.S. senator or U.S. congressman,' he said."

-- Some 'whats next' from Jim.

BuzzMachine... by Jeff Jarvis: "The Daily Stern: A complaint to the FCC
: I sat down and wrote a letter to Michael Powell, head of the FCC, to see how easy it would be to use the FCC's own words to argue that if they fine Howard Stern, they must fine Oprah Winfrey. Piece of cake. Not sure I'll send it, though; I don't really want to stoke the FCC's stove with complaints. But you can send it if you want. Powell's address is Michael.Powell@fcc.gov. The letter:"

-- The dude over a buzzmachine sends a letter to the FCC complaining about Oprah. It will be interesting to see if anything ever happens with it. I doubt it. Take a read.

Gov to lower age to get gun permits solo: "Eighteen-year-olds can currently get the permits if they have their parents' consent and pass a background check, Jackson said.
'If they can make good judgments and protect our liberties on the battlefield, then I think we can trust them to use legally licensed firearms when they're out hunting,' Jackson said."

-- Then I guess they can be trusted to drink too. Just waiting for someone to bring that thought out and try to get the feds to tweak the drinking age again.

Chicago Tribune | Emerging face of HIV: "AIDS is a leading cause of death for African-Americans ages 25 to 44, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2002, the last year for which numbers are available, 21,000 new cases were reported among African-Americans, half of the new adult AIDS cases that year. More than two-thirds of women with AIDS between 1999 and 2002 were black."

-- No commentary, just think about that for a second.

People's Weekly World Newspaper Online - Obama victory inspires hopes for November: First chill out I am not saying that Obama wants the support of this outfit. That having been said.

The People’s Weekly World is the newspaper of the Communist Party, USA. Wonder if they will offer an offical endorsement, not that Obama is looking for it or anything.

Because we all have seen how well everyones implementation of Communisum has lead to better worker rights and more freedom. I mean being a communist at this point in history just seems silly.

For a fun read may I suggest the article on Dissecting dialectics. As one of the charaters in Peter Gent's book 'The Franchise' (he also wrote North Dallas 40) said 'It is a godless system that makes you read anything as boring as Das Kapital'.

OneMan

www.delawareonline.com : The News Journal : NATIONAL: "The rules issued by the Federal Communications Commission require satellite operators to allow political candidates to buy advertising time on their systems and to sell it to them at the lowest rates they offer to commercial customers. Like cable systems, satellite operators have commercial time on the networks they carry that they can sell."

-- At least this might result in better ads on my dish. The 'dish inserted' ads tend to be for moneymaking oportunities.

OneMan

KERRY vs KERRY: Intro by Don King

-- Got this from the party today. Don King?!? whats up with that?

CBC News Indepth: Federal sponsorship scandal: "On Feb. 10, 2004, federal Auditor General Sheila Fraser released the hotly-anticipated results of her audit of the controversial government advertising and sponsorship program run by the federal Public Works Department.

DETAILS: Report and key findings

She found that $100 million was paid to a variety of communications agencies in the form of fees and commissions and said the program was basically designed to generate commissions for these companies rather than to produce any benefit for Canadians. "

-- Things get strange in Canada. I guess this doesn't really relate to anything but after catching a report on this on one my DirectTV channels that gets Canadian news I figured I just had to blog it.

The best part of this is the woman who worked for their rail service who is a gold medalist in the biathalon who claims that her domestic partner kept Canada out of the Iraq war, racecar driver Jacques Villeneuve was paid $12 million in a secret sponsership deal. To see more about what she had to say go here.

Chicago Tribune | Eric Zorn's Notebook: "If the guy doesn't like him, he can turn the dial. In this particular persons case, he must have some sort of twisted fascination with being disgusted if he has all the time in the world to devote to something he finds so offensive.

Neither he, nor anyone else, has a right to legislate what others can or cannot listen to. This is getting a bit ridiculous. The minority is always 'driving' the majority here"


Joseph F: While not a listener of Mr. Muller's show, I do support his lawsuit against the self-appointed harassment of David Smith.

Smith has set himself as some sort of half-pint FCC (hard to do, since the FCC is pretty darn pint-sized itself, and has no realistic overview over a private broadcast such as Mr. Muller's).

Muller is being harassed, and has every right to sue someone trying to force him off of a private broadcast that Mr. Smith could easily turn off every morning, rather than waste his and ours time by tuning in.

-- From the Zorn blog.

I guess the first thing is that there has to be acceptance of the right of the government to regulate broadcast frequencies.

Without government regulation of broadcast frequencies their would be complete anarchy since interferance would be the rule. Since the only rule would be who could issue the most powerful signal.

Perhaps the two most valuable things that a broadcaster 'owns' are it's frequency and the power level it can use on that frequency. Both of these are granted by the government and can be taken away by the government. So the government has a vested interest in how these public assets are used, that's why stations are expected to participate in the Emergency Broadcast system and provide public service time.


If people think it is ok to hear people talk about
spanking frank while watching porn, as well as some other examples. Then either elect people who will appoint the people who review these complaints and reject them or go to court and show that these statements do not breach community standards or get the Supream Court to rule that the FCC has no right to regulate what is indecent but not obscene.

Using the argument of some of his defenders anything and everything should be fine in the name of 'free speech' on a government licensed frequency. So payola should be ok, the use of the Seven dirty words should not be a problem.

I don't really listen to the guy (not my cup of tea) and I agree with the idea of 'If you don't like it turn off the radio'. However without some gov. involvement you would have complete anarchy.

To use a bad metaphor, I may not like the idea that the city says I can't have nude dancers in my bar but if I want to keep my liquor license I need to meet their rules. My only recourse is to get people elected who will change the rules.

Finally as a free tip to the pro-Mancow forces, if you started complaining about Spike O'Dell and the like the FCC still has to work on those complaints and would have less time to focus on Mancow.

OneMan

DJWinfo offers some scoop on the The Quinn Admendment I think this is a classic 'Tax someone else tax'. Why else point out it will impact only 2% of the population. I have said it before and I will say it again. I don't buy the 'education funding' argument. What this would end up doing is freeing up general revenue funds for stupid stuff.

OneMan

POLIS ~a Chicago blog: "Ponce grilled him about the sealed records, asking him outright if he was protecting himself under the pretense of shielding his son. Jack answered a big no. If the records do surface, as rumors suggest they will, this pronouncement will nail him to the wall. "

-- Polis offers his thoughts on Ryan's interview on Chicago Tonight (I wished I had seen it). My thought is that it may just turn out that the sealed part of the custody records may basically be sealed to protect his son. If that turns out to be the case a lot of people are going to end looking really stupid and scummy.

I wish someone would have some gripes about him besides the custody stuff.

Deserted by Doctors, India's Poor Turn to Quacks: "India's public health spending is among the lowest in the world at $4 a person per year, less than 1 percent of its gross domestic product, the United Nations Development Program says. The United States spends about $2,000 a person, or almost 6 percent of gross domestic product."

-- NYT, registration required. I have an idea, why not spend less on developing nukes and rockets and more on your own people. Simple OneMan rule if you have nuclear wepons or a nuclear wepons program you obviously have enough money so you don't need any government aid.

Mancow's indecency foe 'rolling up his sleeves': The guy who Mancow is suing is taking a job with the Illinois Family Institute. Does anyone know where I can find a copy of the suit on-line. Also does anyone remember Keith VanHorn suit and the 1.6 million dollar settlement. Parts of the case went fairly far up the food chain.

Ex-Wheaton students flee what they call 'definitely evil' cult: "Several of the former members and their families are considering suing Wheaton College, which they blame in part for failing to protect the students from Golwalla, Pardon said. Pardon claims the cult leader's master's thesis was actually written by Andrew Wolfe and that the college is aware of it.
'What does someone have to do to have their degree taken away?' he said. 'He uses [Wheaton's] institution, in the degree that he has from [them] as a character reference, lending him credibility.'"

-- I guess my question is why is it the duty of a college to protect adults from stuff like this?

Chicago Tribune | Some steamed by Oberweis chairman's ads: "Some steamed by Oberweis chairman's ads"

-- The Trib today looks at the business impact Oberweis' run for the senate is having on the family dairy.

BBC NEWS | Business | Retailer in a state over incest: "Bob Wise has demanded that the firm immediately remove and destroy a range of T-shirts carrying the slogan 'It's all relative in West Virginia.'
Mr Wise said the shirt depicted 'an unfounded, negative stereotype of West Virginia'.
Abercrombie, known for its 'preppy" casualwear.

-- Does "Preppy" mean frigin expensive. The shirt sells for $24. Then again OneMan doesn't shop at Abercrombie since he can't imagine spending $24 on a t-shrit and they don't carry big and tall.

This is sort of like the Voting is for Old People t-shirt thing.

Now read carefully. They are T-Shirts, if you let a T-Shirt influence your worldview or even your local view then you need to get out of your basement more.

Just chill.

OneMan

BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Oregon county bans all marriages: "Until the state decides who can and cannot wed, officials in the county have said no-one can marry - even heterosexual couples. "

-- Rember this is the same state that gave us Western Oregon Univ.

BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Battle over rights for foetuses: "Rights for foetuses, they argue, are being placed squarely above those of their mothers. Precisely what is necessary, Ms Rowland's detractors retort, if unborn babies are to be saved from callous mothers. "

-- Besides for the funny way they spell fetus in the UK, this is the BBC's take on the rights of the unborn.

Is there any reason why protection for the unborn is a bad thing? Shouldn't a crime against an unborn child be a crime against it and not just the mother. Is the risk of this being applied to abortion providers the only objection someone can have.

When Mrs. OneMan was pregnant I would have done anything to protect my unborn children and I would have considered any sort of crime or physical insult on Mrs. OneMan to be also an attack on my child. I would have been upset and offended if the law did not consider that as well.

Should an attack that causes a woman to misscarry a baby be treated the same way as an attack that breaks her arm?


OneMan

Chicago Tribune | Eric Zorn's Notebook: "Well, well. The vulgar, infantile Erich 'Mancow' Muller, host of 'Mancow's Morning Madhouse' WKQX-FM (101.1) is also a petulant hypocrite."

-- Follow the link for more about the Mancow from Zorn.

Political Shades of Green Clash:
On the other side, movement leaders, including Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope and Kennedy, head of Waterkeeper Alliance, say taking a stand against immigration risks alienating Latino and Asian immigrants who may represent the future of conservation."

-- Why not take a stand on something because you think it is right or wrong. Not because it may tick people off you want to agree with you down the road. Isn't that the role of NGOs? To take strong stands on issues based on a set of core beliefs reguardless of their overall popularity. Follow the link.

OneMan

OneMan

Chicago Tribune | `Mancow' sues man who complained to the FCC: "'This is what the FCC is supposed to do--take complaints,' said Frank Pirruccello, a media and entertainment lawyer. 'This guy is just asserting his right to make complaints. For Mancow to sue [him] is going to be tough, because it could have a chilling effect, and that's something courts aren't likely to do.'"

-- Couldn't have put it better myself Frank. Interesting how this story was at the top of the Trib web page this morning.

OneMan

I also got a thanks e-mail from Andy! (I got two in fact) that were caught by my spam filter. He talks about helping President Bush win but yet like the others could not bring himself to type the name of the guy who beat him. Do Democrats have this same problem.

OneMan

The move to stop Red Cross Blood Drives at WOU continues. You can read some quality mis-informed opinion here. If we start setting health policy based off of political correctness (and thats what this is folks, PC is over used but that what this is) we are in big trouble.

Some medical conditions appear in some groups be they economic, ethnic or social more than others. Why are they not defending the IV drug users?

OneMan

Mancow suing critic over indecency crusade: "'Judgment day has come for those who hide in the shadows, twisting Bible verses and hiding in government offices while using another government office to attempt to destroy my radio station, my wife, my widowed mother and my future children,' Muller said in a statement."

-- Umm, first I fail to understand how you can destroy the children that someone does not have. I don't see how contacting the FCC to complain about something even if he does it all the time is actionable. We'll have to see what the suit says. It has already had one effect, I have already edited the first few lines of this comment three times.

It will be interesting to see if anyone comes to the defence of the guy Mancow is suing (pay for his attorneys). I suspect at least a few groups will be more than happy to defend this guy. Also discovery is a two way street and what both sides learn on this may be interesting.

To learn some more about the stuff this guy has complained about look here.

OneMan

First thanks to Eric Zorn for the link, my hits are up today and I am sure he is the reason.

Lets take a look at Jim Oberweis. Follow the links for Andy and Kathuria
For some other thoughts on what Oberweis did right or wrong go here.


Where do I begin here, I think he of all of the candidates had the most lost opportunities.

-- Failed to get people to really understand his bio. I guess they figured since he ran 2 years ago there was no need to do the bio thing again. Wrong, the man had a great story that no one heard. High school teacher and chess coach called to save the family business. Early bio TV ads would have been worthwhile (see Jack Ryan)

Imagine the ad (with a voice over done by a somewhat older folksy sounding narrator).

Jim Oberweis went to xyz U and then came home to Aurora, IL to be a teacher and taught xyz as well as coach the school chess team. He taught his students the value of HW and effort (picture of young teaching Jim with perhaps a quick Voice over of a former student). Founded a financial company that created millions of dollars of earning for hard working families.
Then had to step in save the family business. Not only did he save it, he grew it from a x sized company to a y sized company.

Jim Oberweis, knows what it takes to improve education, meet a payroll and create real jobs right here in Illinois.

The ex-teacher thing was a positive why not mention it? I suspect 90%+ of the voters did not know he used to be a teacher. I think the failure to play up his bio was the biggest single mistake of this entire race on the Republican side and a close second to Hull and the divorce.

-- Moved way to far to the right. For moderate Republicans who supported him 2 years ago he seemed like a totally different candidate and the hard right didn't trust him from his comments last time.

-- The illegal alien thing wasn’t all-bad, but he should have kept to talk radio and made it more of a law enforcement issue. Most people at some level understand and don’t fault someone coming here to give their family a better life. By making the employers the bad guys it makes it more palatable. Also the anti-exploitation angle would have worked better. All of these would have worked to make the message sound less anti-Mexican immigrant as well as less shrill. Also the immigrant stuff defined him as ‘pissed guy in a chopper’

-- Been seen more at GOP events last time he ran I used to see Jim all the time (he would bring ice cream) not the case this time. The little thing of ice cream did buy a bit a good will with the guys in the party.

-- White background yard signs can be an issue with there is snow on the ground (the lack of contrast with the bigger background made them hard to read)

-- Avoided drug importation: First because Blair Hull owned that issue and it made Oberweis sound like a democrat. Secondly pulling this with a less than a week to go before the election was just too late. I can see the logic of ‘Lets get the GOP voters who would have crossed over to Hull on this issue’.

-- I think he would have had the most success playing up the ‘outsourcing’ thing as a businessman. Images like call centers in Banglore India would have worked for him. That should have been his ‘economic issue’ tie that in with identity theft and information security you could have had a winner of an ad.

-- Never should have let Ryan be the lone guy defining himself early, Jim should have done the same thing.

Thanks

OneMan

Oberweis camp defends immigration stance: "In the end, though and despite what his campaign staffers contend Oberweis' reliance on a single, polarizing issue to catapult him to the GOP nomination proved to be his undoing, experts say."

-- Some post election thoughts from Jims local paper (The Beacon News). I haven't done my Jim 'what he should have done differently' thing yet, so this will have to hold you over.

More Sneed Stuff...: "Bizarre political partners?
It should be noted that several of the legislative accomplishments credited to Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Barack Obama were either sponsored or co-sponsored by DuPage County's Republican chairman, state Sen. Kirk Dillard.
**P.S. Dillard and Obama worked on many issues with the late Sen. Paul Simon, including ethics and death penalty reforms. Obama recently gushed over his working friendship with Dillard at a DuPage County NAACP meeting."


-- Interesting? A bit hard to tell.

Telegraph | News | Lib Dems call for assisted suicide and for teenage right to see porn: "The Lib Dems also voted overwhelmingly to reduce the legal age for teenagers to view pornography in sex shops from 18 to 16 years."

-- And I thought the Democrats in the US were entertaining at times (The Lib Dems are party in the UK). However you combine the porn thing with the let 16 year olds in California vote thing and you might have something for the US..

OneMan

Jeff over at Public Affairs talks a bit about Dick Kay and some recent comments of his on WTTW. Jeff does a fairly good job talking about this so I will just recommend you follow the link. The only thing I would add to Jeff's comments is I think that Eric Kroll would also make a good addition to the show.

All I have to say I think Dick Kay just doesn't get Republicans at all.

OneMan

We are a democratic state, the GOP might as well write us off.... I read this all the time and it blows my mind. Up untill 2000 we generally voted for the guy who won the White House. Back in the 90's (only 10 years ago) every state officer was a Republican (besides one U of I trustee). I am in my mid-30's and cant recall a single Democratic gov. besides our current one.

Has the state changes that much or are we just that quick to give up. I think it is the later. I know guys who are going to work hard to get more democratic votes in DuPage county an idea that seemed silly even 4 years ago not so silly now.

So we have to choices work hard or just give up. I vote for work hard. Lets end the right vs. left issues in the state party. The RINO hunting amd the overall pitty party we have had for the last two years and get to work.

OneMan

MATT DRUDGE // DRUDGE REPORT 2004: "Former White House terrorism advisor Richard Clarke tells Lesley Stahl that on September 11, 2001 and the day after - when it was clear Al Qaeda had carried out the terrorist attacks - the Bush administration was considering bombing Iraq in retaliation. Clarke's exclusive interview will be broadcast on 60 MINUTES Sunday March 21 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network."

-- I suspect this episode is going to get huge numbers.

Next on the what they should have done different list. Andy McKenna.

A) Spent some more time working for someone besides his father. I am the president of my dads company doesn't impress when you are running against people with backgrounds that have had a bit more variety. Like State Senator, teacher, General....

B) Pitched the 'vanishing jobs thing' very differently.
-- I suspect most industrial workers don't vote in GOP primaries so illustrations of white collar jobs going away would have made better example. He should have owned the 'outsourcing' thing
-- Given more real examples of cause and effect, real examples of other countries not living up to trade agreements.
-- Used examples from your time at the paper company as president

C) This one is really petty but, he always struck me a the grown up version of the kid who would run home and cry to mom if he was pushed to hard. The man needed a bit of an edge, Oberweis had an edge, Ryan even had a bit of an edge. He needed to create the impression that he would stand up to something.
D) He needed to dress less like a school dean.
E) Not gone negative at the end. It helped Steve more than it helped him or hurt Jack.
F) Developed a more forceful speaking voice, again there seemed to be no sense of passion when he spoke.
G) Avoided the impression that he was going to run even if Fitzgerald was going to run for another term. Fitzgerald is truly loved by big chunks of the party because he was his own man in a party that suffered because too many guys just were willing to go along to get along.
H) Spent more of your own money and spent it smarter. Better media earlier may have helped. The day Ryan started sending mailing he should have been doing the same thing. He could have and should have defined himself earlier in the race with the party faithful. Since his resume was less impressive than Ryan's this was all the more important.

The only problem is even with this advice I think Andy would have been meat if he ended up running against Obama. The self made man (even if you think he is half baked) vs. The guy who always worked for his dad would have made Andy an easy mark.

OneMan

DJInfo talks about the coverage of the Quinn Tax at IL Leader.

Again this whole 'trust fund' thing just leaves me at a loss. Does anyone really think this would end up being 'extra' money and not just end up replacing existing funding and free up money for other stuff.

If the Democrats want to change the way we fund education in this state, then they should just go ahead and do it. They have the Gov. and both houses down in Springfield they have what they need to get it done, if they wanted to.

Chicago Tribune | Ryan quits 2 corporate boards: "Ryan quits 2 corporate boards
Abortion foes had questioned tie to 1"

What they should have done different in hindsight

Kathuria:

a) Should have been going to a lot of Republican events the day he even thought about running for US Senate. He needed to be better know by the people in the party
b) Should have been registered to vote years ago
c) As soon as he started getting a little bit of buzz he needed to start fund raising in the South Asian comunity around the country as hard as he could.
d) He should have spent some money on radio early. People think Indian they think he sounds like the guy in the ads for 'Max Madson'.
e) Don't put your resume on your website without the understanding that it is going to get picked apart.
f) Needed to learn how to fill out an FEC form. If he had moved up in the polls enough to be noticed he would have been hammered on how his forms seem incomplete.
g) If you claim to be a health care expert don't put out position papers like this. Or even worse in multiple drafts that get drug companies and pharmacies confused.
h) Spend less money on yard signs. I swear on RT 59 I have seen a yard sign for every vote he got.

OneMan

The Perioa Pundit has some thoughts on the Libertarian Canidate for Senate

Ok some more on why the attempt to ban the Red Cross from Campus for Blood Drives at a school in Oregon is bothering me.

First it's stuff like this that makes elements of the left really hard to take seriously. It's things like this that give the impression that folks are more than willing to sacrafice others to promote their ideals. This is how you get your movement marginalized folks. In a heartbeat. Just like these guys are trying to do with same-sex marrage.


This creates the impression that people are willing to let other people die because you disagree with a medical policy. Why not fight for the fact that at the same time you can't give blood if you have been in a malaria zone or if you ate beef in UK during a given period.

Does anyone really think that eliminating men who have had sex with other men is a unreasonable way to reduce the risk of AIDS getting into the blood supply? There is often a shortage of blood in this country and campus blood drives are an effective method of increasing the blood supply.

If nothing else this has made be double-check to see if I can give blood yet (I gave a few weeks back).

OneMan

I got an e-mail from Steve today at least he mentions Jack Ryan by name

Here ya go.....

I want to congratulate Jack Ryan on running a great race. I have pledged my support to his campaign and encourage you to do the same.

In addition, I want to commend all the other GOP candidates--Jim Oberweis, Andy McKenna, Jonathan Wright, John Borling, Norm Hill and Chirinjeev Kathuria. Republicans can stand proud that we fielded such fine candidates.

Finally, and most importantly, I want to thank you for all your help. You truly deserve the credit for our late surge and strong finish. Your thoughtfulness, generosity and friendship never cease to amaze me--I am eternally grateful.

But we have come too far to stop now. So take a deep breath, relax and get ready--I'll be back.

My sincere thanks,

Steve

MTV.com - News -J.J. Jackson, One Of MTV's First VJs, Dies At Age 62: ".J. Jackson, remembered as one of the first faces of MTV, died Wednesday night in Los Angeles of an apparent heart attack, according to friends and former business associates. He was 62."

-- Oneman feels old and bummed now..

Las Vegas SUN: Students Protest Blood Drive Screening: "Two student legislators at Western Oregon University have launched a drive to ban Red Cross blood drives on campus, claiming the donor screening process discriminates against gays."

-- It has to do with the 'If you are a man have you had sex with a man even once since 1977' question. More than just the Red Cross asks that question other blood banks do too. Read the article To learn more about the Organization that is voting on this go here. To read the groups take on it go here. FYI they seem to be aware that it is an FDA rule.

This is what the ballot looked like for the election that elected her. To learn more about WOU you can visit their web site as well.

Ok, this is beyond stupid.

Last post of the morning. Zorn has a blow by blow of the night over at Obama HQ. It is a fun and interesting read. Over at the Hilton Towers (where Ryan was) it was people at a 'sponsorship' show that seemed a bit confused about what was going on.


OneMan

I know Jeff over at Public Affairs . Does a better job at reviewing the media than I can I am going to toss my two cents in. When I got home from the Jack Ryan party ($6.50 for a import beer, I guess thats why we are Republicans) I caught the end of everyones coverage.

Andy Shaw on channel 7 seemed almost unable to hide his glee at the Obama win. Yes I know Obama's win was a big story but come-on show a little control Andy. I kept waiting for Andy to say "I wish he would ask me to go have a malt with him"....

Also Dick Kay, citing 'internet chatter' is a bit silly when it comes to the Jack rummors. If you are going to talk about it that much then be a man and do so.

Chicago Tribune | Republican aims to unite party, but divorce issue refuses to fade: "Democrats began homing in on it within hours after the ballots were counted. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the national campaign organization trying to regain control of the Senate for the party, distributed an e-mail Wednesday to reporters with the heading 'Divorce issue haunts Ryan.'"

--- Ok, they had the files I don't think they would be pushing this now. As we have seen this is a bomb better used late vs. early. Read the entire thing on the Trib site. Also I think if he frames the message of 'protecting my son' correctly this can go away. Remember in the primary he didn't really have time to do that.

Also remember the media is in love with Obama right now, that will change over time.

Looks like an inability to mention the name of the guy who beat you (or in this case really beat you) on your web site is not just a Republican thing

From the Danny! site

Thank you to all those who supported Dan Hynes' candidacy for U.S. Senate and his vision to get America working again.

It was a tough race, a good race, and it brought to the fore the work we need to do to create jobs in this country and to make healthcare accessible and affordable.

Please work, as we will, to help ensure a Democratic victory in November.

Thank you again for all of your support!


--- back to oneMan
Also for those folks who joined the the Hynes Leadership Council the charges will stop next month (from the web site again). If you follow the link, take a look at the heading that appears at the very top of your browser. It says 'Dan Hynes Senate Exploratory Committee'.

-- More from the site

How long will my credit card be charged by the HLC?

We will charge a HLC member's credit card until one month after Dan's campaign for the U.S. Senate is completed. However, HLC members can amend or terminate their authorization by sending written notice to our office.

Just got an e-mail informing me that my copy of 'Dreams From My Father' by Barak shipped today. I look forward to reading it. It cost 15.90 with shipping from a seller on www.bookfinder.com

OneMan

Got my thanks e-mail from Jim

I am writing to take one last opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. So many people worked tirelessly for our cause and I can't put into words how much I appreciate the work that was done during the past year.

Seldom has any state been offered such a sterling set of candidates to choose from, and it's a sign of a strong new Republican party in Illinois. This has been a spirited race, but now is the time to unite. The choices for our country are too important, the dangers that lurk in our world today are too severe to not support the candidates we know that will back our president.

With sincere appreciation, Jim


-- Well Jim would it have killed ya to use the words Jack Ryan?

The Gadflyer: Barack Obama's Race for the Senate: "ect: Welfare, Affirmative Action, and crime to be banished from Jack Ryan's repertoire of racial code-words � they are what was. What is, and what we can expect to hear from Ryan, is his attacks or 'contrasts' between himself and Obama's 'civil rights' policy (which mostly includes safeguarding civil liberties in the new Patriot Act America), his proposed tax breaks for 'depressed areas,' his proposal to 'reform the juvenile justice system,' safeguard against 'employment discrimination', and find more money for education in 'low income' areas. "

-- Interesting read. The 'codewords' the author references were never really part of Jacks campaign in the first place. So there is really no need to get rid of them. Also Obama did fairly well (better than most expected downstate). Also I would argue right now that Obama is the frontrunner in this race, not Jack.

OneMan

Enjoy this cautionary tale about avoiding the F-bomb on NPR shows that talk about kniting. If you could develop a content delivery system that works in real-time that can be basically outside of federal regulation you will end up rich. Oh wait, someone did it's called the internet.

A internet enabled device that uses a wireless network to get datastreams is going to be huge someday. Think iPod with a wireless card. That way you can listed to Opie and Whatever, Howard and Bubba the Love Sponge without any part of the distribution channel being regulated by the feds. This may be the rare case where federal regulation leads to inovation instead of killing it.

OneMan

Enjoy this New Kerry Campaign Poster. It is kind of funny at least.

The Jim site has a "Thanks for you support and congrautlations to Jack Ryan & Barak Obama" message


-- Hey Jim how about a "Thanks, congratulations to Barak and Jack and lets now get behind Jack Ryan" message. Then again the others I have checked so far seem to think today is election day. I am expecting to see 'Thanks and support Jack' e-mails from the others, it will interesting to see if I get any.

OneMan

A.L.L. Hannah: Hannah is in Remission!: "Hannah is in Remission!
We just got a call from Dr. Weinstein and she gave us the great news that Hannah's day 14 bone marrow blast (leukemia) cell counts are between 1-3%. That puts her technically in remission!"

-- I asked you to pray for Hannah a few days back. If you did, thanks. The political stuff is fun but when things go good in 'the real world' like this, that's great. Keep praying.

Thanks

OneMan

Chicago Sun-Times Elections A useful map and results by county for the primary for the GOP Senate. The fact that Wright beat both Dr. K and Borling is impressive due to the fact he had so little to spend. We have not see the last of Wright.

OneMan

DJWinfo: "It felt like history tonight
Tonight it felt like we were a part of launching a national statesman."

-- I really need to head to work but I wanted to offer up DJ's thoughts on the Obama speech. I was at the Jack Ryan speech and he also delivered without a teleprompter ( I didn't see any notes either but I am not sure) and was very good as well. I think the Trib has both speeches on-line.

I would say the fact that Jack talked about making sure no-one takes any voter for granted in this election was very important. Also when he speaks about education there is a sense of gravatas (I know I didn't spell that right) that blows me away. I don't think any other Republican in this race besides Steve could have delivered a speech that made you feel like there were problems to fix and wrongs to right. Jack did that.

OneMan

I want the record to reflect that I think I was right on this one. The wack job on Hull did help Obama more than Danny.

So it looks like Wright beat both the General and Dr. K and Dr. K will end up DFL. I figured Dr. K would draw out a bigger South Asian vote, guess I was wrong on that one.

I will start the 'What they should have done differently in hindsight' stuff either later today or tomorrow.

Barnes�&�Noble.com - Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance: "Obama, the son of a white American mother and a black African father, writes an elegant and compelling biography that powerfully articulates America's racial battleground and tells of his search for his place in black America. 8 pages of photos. "

-- Like that guy used to say in those Time Life ads ... Want to learn more? "Read the Book". However I would suggest using www.bookfinder.com to get a copy.

OneMan

Jerry Kohn - Libertarian for United States Senate: "Who is Jerry Kohn?"

-- Besides having a name that for dyslexics like me make me think that he is in fact John Kerry he is the Libertarian canidate for US Senate.

OneMan

Yahoo! News - Ky. Politician to Hold Post From Jail: "Newsome has been working as the top county administrator from his cell under a state law that says that even convicted felons can't be removed until their appeals are exhausted. Newsome plans to appeal. "

-- Sounds like a law we should have here... :-)

Chicago Tribune | Productions like these couldn't be made in Toronto: "'O'Bama!' Musical. (PG). Cuba Gooding Jr. Gene Hackman. Musical about Irish-American Democratic political bosses led by Hackman, who rush to adopt an African-American Senate candidate (Gooding). No, I mean, they really adopt him. Includes the hit song: 'Youse Can't Run Fer Mare If Yer Stuck in Washington, D.C.'"

-- John Kass offers some movie ideas, I had the same 'can't run for mayor if you are in Washington' thought last night (but not as a song). A funny read however I think Alec Baldwin is too puffy to play Jack Ryan.

Chicago Tribune | A scam, a sham and a state's shame: "Somewhere Mathias 'Paddy [Ain't ready for reform]' Bauler is laughing his head off and hoisting a cold one."

-- Carol Marin writes in todays Trib about the Rosemont casino license. It's a good read.

Thoughts... Just got done watching Jack give his victory statement. We have a real difference between the parties in this one so it should be a good race. Interesting to see that it looks like Kathuria may end up DFL. (Dead Freaking Last) getting even less votes than Norm Hill. So much for being the only guy who could win.

The Obama blow out was a surprise, I guess the value of the organization has been demonstrated.

Also it will be interesting to see how much each vote 'cost' in terms of spending.

Hope Steve runs for Gov.

Heading home, OneMan

It's 7:01. So besides people in line. It's time to start counting.

The Jack website will have results up at their site.

Just got another Jack e-mail reminding me to vote and that there were only two hours left. Tick Tock

Just saw ad Obama ad on NBC. And the polls close in 2hrs 5 minutes. NBC's Dick Kay also just did a 'Steve Rising' piece and mentioned 'internet chat rooms' and their Ryan rummors. When NBC starts referencing 'internet chat rooms' we are looking at problems.

MSNBC offers their take on the primary today.

Someone wanted to remove daylight savings time in Illinois. The legislator responsible is now going for Pate's old seat. Thanks to Archpundit for this one. I always figured that it is states that are not too bright that skip daylight savings time.

Yes, I am looking forward to seeing some results too.

CapitolFax is reporting low turnout. Is this good for Steve? I guess we will see.

It was interesting to hear Mayor Daley say nice things about Jack Ryan today on the Channel 9 news at noon.

A new poster for Andy!

Well today is the day. The fact that the top link on the Trib web site right now is "Polls open: Where to vote, how to complain." reminds us that elections are always a fun time here in the big city. I see that Zorn has the entries for the Blog Bowl. Up I see only one guy feels that Danny is going to win and the rest (including me) are giving it to Obama. On the GOP side it looks like everyone thinks it will be Ryan.

I know now that my Steve number is low and if he pulls this off I am going not going to be dumbfounded. If Oberweis or McKenna do I will be shocked.

I am going to head off and help make democracy work. I may try and blog during the day if I get a chance.

OneMan

Chicago Tribune | Election Day tidbits get us in voting mood: "ibune reader Lonny L. is among those who have written asking if I, too, find Ryan's cadences remarkable: 'The way he says, `I'm Jack Rye-Yun' even has my 2-year-old saying it!'"

-- My 5 year old can read my Ryan yard sign. Since for whatever reason Jack didn't run ads on PBS Kids or any of the other kids channels on my DirectTV they haven't seen enough ads to parrot them. Thankfully

Got a call from Jack today, Andy doesn't seem to call anymore :-(

OneMan

Milt's File. An Extension 720 Blog. I am assuming this is really from Milt. Back when I worked for a dot com and had IPO dreams, one of them was to somehow end up hosting a radio show like Extension 720. How cool would that be a job where you get to talk to smart guys about a given subject for two hours.

OneMan

Another blog has it's thoughts on how the numbers. Yet another Democratic blogger that supports Obama. I seen one yet that supports Danny. Then again I haven't looked at a whole bunch of em'.

I would use the name of the blog but as a Republican I might be setting my self up. :-)

OneMan

Jeff over at the Public Affairs blog has been talking about the coverage of the US Senate race. Today he reviews Dick Kay. Take a look, I don't watch much local TV news anymore (more of a timing thing than anything else) so I don't really have a strong opinion.

Besides for the fact I was once right next to Jay Lavine as he as getting ready to do a 'Live shot' and it looked like his hair seemed to be made of wood. (He is a short guy relative to OneMan)

OneMan

In the 13th Cong. district a buddy of mine is running as a Dean delegate. So please give a vote to Rick Klau. If you pull a Democratic party ballot (I would recomend pulling a GOP ballot and voting for Jack Ryan) and live in the 13th give Rick your vote. He is a good man.

OneMan

The McKenna and Pappas e-mails are still getting put into my Junk folder in Hotmail. At least Pappas invited me to her 'victory party'

Ok,
Now for the OneMan endorsement: Jack Ryan (not a big surprise I suspect)
Why:
A few reasons but the biggest I feel he is the candidate that ‘gets’ the education issues that face this state and this country. The grade school, Jr. High and High School OneMan attended are now all on the state watch list. The schools I attended are funded ok, the teachers make more on average than the teachers in my yuppified suburban school district and the buildings are in good shape. However these schools are failing the students who attend them. Jack seems to be the only candidate who understands the importance of not failing these students and the long-term impacts on our country if we fail. All the illegal-immigration prevention or ‘keep jobs at home’ rhetoric in the world is not going to help if we continue to produce an underclass in this country due to the fact we fail them with their education.

I heard Jack speak once and he said ‘Urban education is the greatest social justice issue facing this generation’. I think he hit the nail on the head. I like his background in that he worked to make him self a success. When I have heard him speak I haven’t found an issue on which I am uncomfortable with his view.

I also feel that Jack is very electable in the fall.

The Others:
Steve is my second choice and he would make a good candidate and a fine senator. I have heard and considered the wise words of others recommending him. However I just think Jack is a better choice.

Jonathan Wright would be third on my scorecard at this point and I hope we have not heard the last of him.

As for the rest I guess I would go Borling then the rest as a toss up.
I supported Jim last time around but I feel he is a different candidate and a different man this time around.
I might be more comfortable with Andy if he has spent at least some real time (besides less than a year at Kraft) working for someone besides his dad, it kind of invalidates his business experience for me and without that what does he really have.
Kathuria: I have covered some of my issues with his campaign here before I have a real problem with the people will vote for me because of my (race, religion, etc) I think Dr. King had it right when he talked about people judging people on the contact of their character.

Just go vote gang. Thanks
OneMan

There is also a posting on the leader saying Channel 2 did a poll showing Oberweis with a 2% lead. Nothing yet on the Channel 2 web site. There is this poll from SurveyUSA done for WBBM-TV in Chicago. One interesting thing is shows is Oberweis does better with liberals. Surprising since he is the one calling Jack Ryan an liberal. It also shows that Steve is the only one with any real upswing. Has the mud tossing helped Steve? Looks like it has, just like I said it would.

OneMan

Thanks to Archpundit for the shout-out. He also has his senate numbers up. I am starting to think his Steve number is better than mine. There have been some guesses also posted in the forums at the IL Leader as well.

For the audio of Zorn talking about local blogs and their role go here. At the very start the host mentions One Man, never figured I would hear about myself on NPR (besides when I give money). Yes Republican OneMan gives to two different NPR stations (WBEZ and WDCB).

Chicago Tribune | Schools superintendent accuses of improper payments: "Schiller was the superintendent of the cash-strapped Caddo Parish School System in Shreveport, La., before he became head of Illinois schools in August 2002."

-- Our state superinendent of schools is from Shreveport... that's like hiring the coach of the Washington Generals to coach the Bulls. Man sometimes we are a stupid state.

First thanks to the reader who pointed out I had one of the candidate names wrong in my predictions. The big day is fast approaching and the political oddsmaker has his ‘latest line’ on the Senate primaries. He is showing Obama and Ryan on top with Ryan more of a lock on the GOP side than Obama is on the Democratic side.

The performance of Danny! is going to be a litmus test for the role to the traditional organization in the process today. Between TV, direct mail and the Shakman decree is the ‘precinct representative’ still useful?

Out in my neck of the woods the committeemen are elected on a precinct by precinct basis so they are motivated a bit differently since they have to make an effort to get on the ballot themselves. So they are bit more independent then their counterpart in the city.
One way or the other does the person walking the precinct and ringing doorbells matter? Is that effort spent better someplace else?

I could answer these but I have to have something for after the primary. :-)

Even if you think I am an idiot please Go Vote. If you don't vote then you trusting me to make choices for you, do you really want to do that?

OneMan

Oberweis protesters call for dairy boycott: "Illegal immigration not immigration itself is the issue here, Oberweis said. He said the protest and boycott shows why other politicians have been so reluctant to take a stand against illegal immigration.
'It's a shame that people stoop to that,' Oberweis said. 'I'm a strong supporter of legal immigration. I reject illegal immigration. I reject people breaking the law."


-- It's a shame that people exercise their free speech rights? It's a shame that it's going to cost you money? The actions they have taken seem reasonable to me (I may not agree but they are using a reasonable tool). People are making a free-market choice, isn't that the sort of thing a good conservative likes. People using their economic power are acting in a conservative way. They are not asking the government to do something, they are not blocking the way to a dairy with arms interlocked. You may be able to convince yourself that you are not saying 'Stop the Mexicans from coming here' but that is what people are hearing and you need to deal with that.

You are the master of the whine perhaps you should open a winery.

Ok,
One Mans Vote Pct % guesses

GOP
Ryan 30%
Oberweis 20%
Steve R 15%
McKenna 15%
Borling 10%
Kathuira 6%
Wright 3%
Hill 1%

Dem
Obama 30%
Hynes 28%
Hull 18%
Pappas 20%
Washington 2%
Skinner 2%

Turnout 30%

Well see how right I am. I suspect if anything my Steve number or my Oberweis number is a bit low on the GOP side (I think Steve is going to do a lot better than he is polling)
Democrats my Hynes number may be a bit high, I dobut it tho, my Hull number may end up being low.

Less than two days.

OneMan

Can Machine hand it to Hynes with Obama in lead?: "State Sen. Barack Obama may have passed the 'magic number.'"

Is there a magic number? That is going to end up being the $20 question in this race. How much can the pure machine deliver to Hynes, can the machine deliver like it used to, can it deliver enough? Is the committeeman walking the area worth much anymore? Even in white and ethnic areas of Chicago?

My guess, nope.

I will have my predictions up either later tonight or tomorrow.

Letters, I get sacks and sacks of letters. Today I got.
A McKenna hit piece on Jack Ryan that basically covers the company he is on the board of. It twice referes to it has 'Ryan's company' so is McDonnalds then 'Andy Sr.'s Company' since he is on the board of that. It also includes a picture of Ryan that makes him look like he is the spawn of satan. I didn't think it was posible to make that man look bad. Almost makes me think it has been retouched.

Also unlike the automated phone calls the 'personalized' county is wrong on the mailing. Also an endorsement from a party co-chair is not the way to convince people you are looking to clean up the party.

Something from Kathuria, three copies of one thing and two of another. I am seriously starting to wonder what is going on at his campaign. One flyer shows him with a guy who is no longer is campaign manager but identifies him as such and State Sen. Lauzen who is endorsing Steve.

Got two cards (with different last name spellings) from Oberweis reminding me to vote.

Finally I also got something from the Ryan campaign that is a re-print of a Steve Neal column from last year about Oberweis aka 'The Milk Dud'.

Also from a local race (for judge) I ended up getting a copy of the letter that committeeman canidate Denny Hastert sent where he lists Andy,Steve and Jack as all good senate choices.

OneMan voted today (I will out of my county on Tuesday)

Soon why OneMan voted the way he did (like you care)

Ok, time for some more pre-primary fun. One of the neat things you can do is look and see who is getting money late in the game. Thanks to the FEC you can look at both pre-primary reports that cover (1-1-04 to 2/25/04 ) as well as all donations after the 25th over a certain amount.

On the 48 hour reports there is one for Oberweis that is a bit interesting. If I were him I don't know if I would take donations from people who work for comapnies with my name in them or be concerned that they waited until now to give.

Also entertaining is the Kathuria pre-primary report. Besides the fact that it is show the same amounts for both the period of 1/1/04 - 2/25/04 as well as the entire cycle (Jack, Andy,Jim, Wright or Borling all show different amounts between the two) it also seems to be missing any individual donor information. So at least on-line (I have no idea if the FEC has better info) you can not get the name of anyone who gave to him since his October quarterly (his December quarterly is also missing individual donor information. Besides on one 48 hour donor form. There is no info at least on line. I guess my question is why. Does he not want to make his donor list public yet, is everyone else filing more information than required? I dobut I will ever know an answer to this but it does make you think.


So if you want to take a look at pre-primary reports of Kathuria, Jack, Jim, Wright, Gen Borling, Andy or Steve.

Got some canidate mail today (what a shock) a decent 'These are my endorsements' piece from Steve.
The second was an envelope that cost $2 to mail (it had stamps) from the Kathuria campaign with flyers. I guess they want me to hand these out in my pct. however with out at least a 'Thanks for handing this stuff out letter' I don't hand stuff out that is just sent to me in the mail. Also I have already walked part of my area and am not going to double back.

Started to look at some FEC stuff today, more on that later.

OneMan

: "Former Senate President and DuPage County Republican Chairman James 'Pate' Philip has endorsed Jim Oberweis for U.S. Senate in the Republican primary"

-- Is this an endoresement you really want? Along with the fact that George Ryan was talking you up doesn't just make you appear to be the 'organization' guy. Sorry, I don't think the ends up as a positive for him.

OneMan

Speaking of Kathuria he has a reference to a new poll that acording to the press release

Press Release: NEW POLL SHOWS U.S. REPUBLICAN SENATE CANDIDATE, DR. CHIRINJEEV KATHURIA, STATISTICALLY TIED FOR SECOND PLACE.


The poll also shows the top 4 all fairly close to each other which goes against every other poll I have seen. It also shows Steve with 4%. If Kathuria gets more votes than Steve I will be shocked. It appears the poll was done by Rolling Thunder Communications LLC back at the end of Febuary. I can't seem to find out more about the poll besides it appears that it was an automated poll.


Also from the same press release.
A second nonpartisan independent public opinion poll on February 27, 2004 shows Dr. Kathuria polling 4th place in the Chicago Metro region.

-- That's great however there is a reason canidates worry about downstate, because there are actual people who live there who vote and stuff. It reminds me of this set of dialog from Mr. Baseball

Jack Eliot: I'm a World Series MVP!
Skip: That was four years ago, Jack. Last season, you hit .235.
Jack Eliot: LAST SEASON, I led this team in ninth-inning doubles in the month of August!

Archpundit is reporting that Kathuria got the endorsement of the Chicago Defender today. No they don't seem to have a web site to link to and I don't see a reference on his web site for it. I figured Jack would get this one it would be interesting to read why they went with the Dr.

Life doesn't begin until 40 if you're 'young and foolish': "Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Blair Hull was, apparently, still in his 'young and foolish' phase when he was in his 40s. Congressman Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) was committing what he'd later call 'youthful indiscretions' -- a years-long affair with a married mother of three -- when he was in his 40s, too."

- Cool, can I get away with stuff? No, resposibility is responsibility reguargless of age. Just because your only 30 or 40 don't make something you do less stupid.

OneMan

A couple of quick things. I got a shout out, sort of at least today on 848 on WBEZ at the begining of a story. They had Zorn on talking about blogs and stuff. Take a listen when it's online. It will be interesting to see if end up getting a link from them.

Anyway one thing Zorn talked about was how bloggers were not getting specific about the 'Ryan Rumors' and why. I thought about why I didn't just sumarize what was on capitalfax.com. Here is why I didn't and still wont.

A) I don't know enough about the source to trust it.
B) The charges seem a bit too out there for me to buy into it.
C) The whole 'I saw some documents' thing seem a bit to sureal for me, sort of like the proof people offer of UFO's....

Off to lunch.

Thanks

OneMan
BTW -- I will try to work on the spelling and grammer, really...

Chicago Tribune | Mr. Ryan, clear the air

The Trib had an editorial today about the Ryan divorce file and asking him to open it up. It will be interesting to see if they win their court case on it. I guess the Trib has a point however at some point this whole thing gets a bit silly.

Borling fires aide who leaked claims about Ryan: "McCulloch said he had understood Borling's move, but lamented the Sun-Times' decision not to print the unsubstantiated details of his statement. 'It would be a hell of a thing if I took this risk and got fired and nobody ran it.'"

-- Umm dude it is even worse you trash someone and then cite documents that you calim you were shown, don't have copies of and won't identifiy who showed them to you.

Chicago Tribune | Bid aimed at derailing Ryan:
McCulloch said he believed the documents were authentic because he trusted the people who provided them and they bore markings he knew to be consistent with those on court documents, including a date stamp and the notation that they had been filed in 'Los Angeles Circuit Court.'

Unlike in Illinois, which divides courts into circuits, the system in Los Angeles is called Superior Court. Portions of Ryan's divorce file that are not under seal and that he released are stamped 'Los Angeles Superior Court.'"


--- The bolding above is mine. The trib has the document story today and I strongly suggest you read the whole thing. There are a bunch of cute stuff including 'I think they were authentic' (see the above snipit) a fax sent to the Trib from a suburban park district, etc. Also as I understand it the downstate trip had been planned before this broke. The only person I see this helping is Steve. It will also be interesting to see if the identified source of this stuff ever works in politics in this state again.

OneMan

AP Wire | 03/11/2004 | Drugs, divorce dominate in U.S. Senate race: "Drugs, divorce dominate in U.S. Senate race"

-- Don't they also dominate hollywood? An AP story on the latest stuff, including changes in the Borling camp.

Ok, on to the Oberweis hit piece: He talks about several areas where Jack Ryan's views make him a liberal. Using Jim's logic then, the Pope, Dick Cheney and Tom DeLay as well as himself are all also liberals.

Follow along...


Human Life Admendment:
"The paramount right to life is vested in each human being from the moment of fertilization without regard to age, health or condition of dependency."

Ok I guess I would have the following questions, since the some of the effects of the pill can prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus wall this would make the pill (or the patch) illegal. Is a ban on the Pill something even 20% of voters want? Is this what you are proposing?

I don't see a specific reference to the 'Human Life Admendment' on Jim's website.

Death Penalty:
Yes the Death Penalty is opposed by well known liberals like the Pope. So is the Pope liberal?

I suspect the Pope would be in favor of the 'Human Life Admendment' so if the Pope is liberal then I guess that would make Jim a liberal as well.

Constitutional Amendment to Prohibit Gay Mariages: Again such well known liberals such as Tom DeLay are asking that we do not rush into anything. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the idea. Back in 2000 well known liberal Dick Cheney said about civil unions " I think different states are likely to come to different conclusions," Cheney said, "and that's appropriate." So I guess then Dick Cheney is also a liberal according to Jim's definition.

From a Christian perspective I have a question as well about this. Why is marrage the only sacrament that we care about government reconizing. If the state has civil unions, gay marrage or whatever it is still up to God to decide what he considers a marrage. If the state says two men can marry that does not mean God is going to acept it unless he wants to.

On three issues he points out, on two of them he wants to ammend the constitution. Since the 17 admendment has there been any admendment that prevented you (not the government) from doing something? I think that shows a lot of mistrust of the framers if you feel the constitution needs that much tweaking.

Just saw a new Danny! ad (right after Survivor) where they talk about 'Taking on the insurance companies to reduce the high costs of healthcare'.

Ok a free, free market lesson. If it was possible for an insurance company to charge less than other insurance companies so that everyone would use that insurance company and insurance company would do that.

If there is money to be made by being cheaper and more efficent someone would do it, see WalMart.

OneMan

The feeding frenzy is now in full swing over at illinoisleader.com and captialfax.com you should take a moment to enjoy watching the Republican Party in Illinois implode yet again.

Just got the Oberwies hit piece on Jack Ryan. I am going to go into some more depth on it later tonight (after I put the kids to bed)

One of Jack Ryan's 'liberal' positions is suposed to be the fact that he is Opposed to the death penalty just like that well known liberal 'The Pope'...

I cover more later, I still find it ironic that one of the two big things Oberweis is pushing is drug importation as position taken by our democratic gov. and democratic senate canidate Blair Hull.

Over at the Il Leader. There is a feeding freenzy over the 'Ryan rumors'. So far most of the suggestions strike me as a bit silly. Also the way people respond to posts by changing stuff makes the old game of 'telephone' apear to be amature hour.


If he did something bad or disrespectful of his ex-wife he father-in-law would have had bad things to say about him. He ex father-in-law defended him. Remember his ex-wife was the really hot chick on a show with a huge geek following.

I guess the trib is trying to get the sealed parts unselaed. Good luck. The General, Oberweis and Andy are not scoring any points with Jacks core on this. Elephants have long memories and the 'call for unity' that will occour will ring hollow if it one of these guys making it.

Also in the end I think this ends up helping Steve the most. If people start deciding to stay home it will be the Steve supporters who will still go the the polls.

Daily Herald: "Hynes, sounding much like Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich two years ago, touted his family's Irish immigrant heritage and a positive vision for creating jobs and fighting for working people"

-- Eric's take on the debate (I missed it since it was a Wed. during lent so I was at church). I want to spend a second again on the 'this is my heritage' thing. Why does the length of time your ancestors have spent in the country have anything to do with your qualifications to be a senator or anything for that matter. Does the fact your grandfather vs. your great-great grandfather came he from x have anything to do with you today?

B) Goverment fundamentally can't create jobs outside of government, it can encourage job growth but it can not create jobs.

People hire people because they need them to do stuff. The only way government can cause this to happen long term is to have an economy that causes growth.

OneMan

So the Republicans are going negative. I am sorry to say I am not surprised. I am a bit surprised that it took this long. Then again if you attack late it might be hard to counter, but I still think it is too late. Oberweis is striking me as a bit phony this time.

Does anyone really think Oberweis would have a chance in the general election?

Oberweis is like school in summer time.... no class.

Chicago Tribune | Hull concedes he took cocaine in early '80s: "Meanwhile, the Republican Senate contest veered sharply away from issues and toward the gutter as frontrunner Jack Ryan claimed to be the victim of a 'smear campaign' after rival John Borling shopped vague statements about being privy to embarrassing information regarding Ryan's 1999 divorce."

-- The speak up dude, 'I know a secret' is sophmoric and is not going to help you at all.

Chicago Tribune | Hull concedes he took cocaine in early '80s: "Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Blair Hull acknowledged Wednesday he used cocaine and marijuana until the early 1980s and had twice sought evaluation for alcohol abuse."

-- Thanks for playing, here is a copy of our home game. Again another thing you should have brought up back in August.

I guess Andy and Oberweis have gone negative with mailings (nice timing) is it too late at this point? Sorry they are four and five on my list of guys I would vote for.

OneMan

Got a Steve piece today (a single folded glossy BW 8.5 x 11). Not bad talks about his endorsements (he has a lot of them) however it almost contains too much information.

I also got an e-mail from the Andy campaign. It was a 'survey' that my spam filter in Hotmail caught, when I tried to fill it out (every field was required) and submit it (in a hotmail frame) it tossed a .net error.

I know he has to be paying someone for this stuff, doesn't anyone test these e-mails they send with spam filters and so forth? I work in technology and I would still be picking someone's foot out of my tail if I let stuff out the door that got caught by spam filters and didn't work.

Suggestion: Test your e-mails with hotmail, yahoo and other free mail clients. Lots of people use them.

Dorks.

Got the Oberweis drug price mailing today. Mrs. OneMan thinks the picture of him on the back makes him look like a used car salesman. Mrs. OneMan is not impressed with Oberweis at all. It has the tag line on the back 'To join Jim Oberweis in his fight against skyrocketing drug costs call...'

Again you just magically discovered this issue in the last week? What's up with that? Will you find another one tomorrow? Also noticed no little union logo in the corner.

Sorry Jim.

Yahoo! News - Sen. McCain Open to Being Kerry's VP: "McCain said he would consider the unorthodox step of running for vice president on the Democratic ticket � in the unlikely event he received such an offer from the presidential candidate.
'John Kerry (news - web sites) is a close friend of mine. We have been friends for years,' McCain said Wednesday when pressed to squelch speculation about a Kerry-McCain ticket. 'Obviously I would entertain it.'"

-- And if it happened it would certainly entertain me.

ESPN.com - GEN - McCain's roids rant: MLB is 'aiding cheaters': "'Sports organizations that allow athletes to cheat through weak drug testing regimes are aiding and abetting cheaters,' McCain, R-Ariz., said at the start of a hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee.
'Each of you, and particularly Major League Baseball, has a legitimacy problem,' he said, addressing top baseball and football officials in attendance. 'As your athletes get bigger and stronger, the credibility of your product in the eyes of the public gets weaker.'"

-- Right on Senator. Anyway nothin but Long ball baseball is a bit dull anyway.

Mrs. OneMan also loved the Oberweis ad: Not. She works in the healthcare industry and in fact can perscribe drugs (you know the state charges yet another fee for that license above and beyond her clinical licenses). Her big fear with the drug importation idea is that you may not be able to trust the drugs since they have different laws. Basically she wouldn't want to have to deal with a paitent and wonder, is this the canadian version or the us version of drug x they have paged me about (at least that is my guess).

Oberweis in a nutshell, cheep labor from outside the US coming in, bad. Cheap drugs from outside the US coming in, good.

OneMan

Just saw the Oberweis drug ad. At least he is trying to be more than a one issue guy. He bascially does the drugs are cheaper in Canada so why can't we buy drugs in Canada. When the ad started and he showed 'workers' and said the word border I figured it was more of the same. For more about this from him go here.

Glad to see you discovered this issue in the last 2 years as well. I think that is the issue I have with Oberweis, he seems to have discovered all of these issues in the last couple of years. It's like he is a different guy this time around.

OneMan

I just realized, I didn't get a Andy call today. Bummer, guess he doesn't like me.

The Beacon news gives their Democratic nod to Gery Chico. Again do these endoresments really make a difference?

OneMan

Yet another poll. This one has to make Oberweis feel better (he is at least closer) and make Obama feel better than Hynes. It is interesting how different these poll numbers are from the various polls over the last few days.

Less than a week to the one that counts.

Things rich guys from the trading world can do besides run for senate.

Yahoo! News - California Lawmakers Want Voting Age Lowered to 14: "Four Democratic California lawmakers on Monday proposed giving teenagers as young as 14 the right to vote in a move that would make the often trailblazing state the first in the nation to do so.

Under the proposal, youths under the current legal voting age of 18 would be able to cast ballots in state and local elections only, although their vote would not have full weight that an adult vote would.
For example, a vote cast by a 14 or 15-year-old would be counted as a quarter of a vote, and a vote by a 16 or 17-year-old would be counted as half a vote. "

-- Yet another reason I am glad I don't live in California. A quarter of a vote. Sorry 14 year olds should not get the vote.

Congressman helps Oberweis push immigration reform: "To illustrate how porous America's borders are, Tancredo focused on Canada's acceptance of foreign refugees. He said terrorists like Osama bin Laden could enter Canada and potentially move across its borders if he 'shaved off his beard and called himself Omar the tentmaker' and declared himself a refugee."

--
'Omar the tentmaker', yeah that's an intelegent way to move the discusion forward. Give me a break did he also comment on Hans the Beermaker, Wojeck the sausage maker, Juan the taco guy?

I bet you are so glad this guy came out to endorse you. He was nice enought to provide a nice 'I am a complete nut' soundbite. It appears the Trib gave this no play at all.

Looks like I am not the only who thinks so. The Sun Times also reports Steve's response.
--
When told of Tancredo's endorsement of Oberweis and his "Omar the tentmaker" line, others in the GOP primary fired darts at the Aurora Republican and accused him of being a demagogue.

"I think this is a cynical attempt to drive up name recognition regardless of what the cost is. I'm not surprised he had to go as far as Colorado to find someone to stand up with him," said Sen. Steve Rauschenberger (R-Elgin).

-- If nothing else Steve has the best lines in this race.

Chicago Tribune | No quit in Senate long shots: "No quit in Senate long shots"

- A Trib piece about 'the rest' in the race. I still think we have not heard the last of Wright, at least I hope so.

OneMan

Chicago Tribune | REDEYE: The politics of marriage: "'THE GAZE': A spouse can be a political asset. Take Democratic Senate candidate Dan Hynes' doctor-wife Christina. She's mastered 'The Gaze'--that's the adoring look that says, 'My husband is a perfect human being.'

I caught up with Dan and Christina at a 47th Ward bingo party where I witnessed The Gaze and a historic event: The first time Christina Hynes actually called out the bingo numbers. I'm guessing it won't be the last."

-- Thanks to Zorn for referencing this. The other thing I love about that ad is how he seems to awkwardly nod as she is speaking at the begining of the ad. Danny! I think you need to drink a malted beverage before you do TV ads, you seems a bit tense.

Chicago Tribune | Disparagement of Obama votes doesn't hold up: "'Seven times, Barack Obama ducked [the issue of abortion]. ... Each time he ducked by voting `present' instead of taking a stand.'"

-- Zorn writes today about the role of the 'present' vote in Springfield it has a different meaning/purpose that you might think. Interesting read as well as a bit of a defence of Obama at the same time.

Ok, I have one more thing. This is kind of serious, relative to the poltical stuff. I guy I used to work with has a two year old daughter who was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. They are maintaining a blog on how she is doing and giving a narative of what is going on.

I am not asking you to donate money to anything. I would just ask you say a quick prayer for Hannah and for her family and a prayer for those around you in your life who are dealing with simular issues. Finally a prayer of thanks to God for what you have.

Thanks

OneMan.

Archpundit offers up his predictions on the senate races. Seem to match my own for the most part. We'll see who is right.

OneMan

Just a touch over a week until the voting starts. I expect to see more negative stuff on the GOP side soon aimed at Jack Ryan almost entirely. If you are going to have a shot against him you are going to have to get his negatives up. It may be too little too late at this point but too many rich guys have put too much of their own money into this to not at least try.

Kraft bonuses - Mar. 6, 2004: "Bonuses totaling more than $10 million were paid out to five Kraft Foods Inc. executives at the end of 2003, even as the giant food maker made plans to lay off thousands of workers. "

--The simple reason we end up having government regulation, because people ask for it. No one ever goes, "hey things are really working fine lets have the government step in".

Business actions like this will in the long run lead to regulation. This is an instance when the board should have said. "NO!" the leadership even remotly worthy of this sort of bounus has not been demonstratred. The sad thing is corporate governance should not need to be regulated. I fear that it is going to end up having to be.

OneMan

Ok, not the last post after all. Two things first my hits have gone up the last few days, so if someone linked to me or something thanks.
Secondly here is my current guesses for final resutls ( they will change)

GOP
Ryan 32
Steve R 17
Oberweis 10
McKenna 7
Wright 3
The Rest whatever

DEMO

Obma 26 (wins by less than 1%)
Hynes 26
Hull 20
The Rest whatever is left with Gery leading the way

If we know a winner before 9:00 AM on the 17th on the Democratic side I will be stunned.

OneMan

One last post tonight (I am fighting a cold or something) Eric Krol has another interesting piece about the Hull divorce today that looks at how his position has changed. Primarily as it comes to his ex-wife's money motivation.
As a side note I knew Eric in High School and College and I enjoy his writing and seeing him on TV from time to time.

OneMan

Eric Krol writes today in the Daily Herald about what is better using your own money to run or getting a lot of donations. Interesting question, I think I would argue that your own money is better.

I just remember something I recall Paul Simon once said. If I had a list of 20 people to call back at the end of a long day, I would more likely to call the guy who has given me money first. I may not have agreed with his politics but I have always had and will always have great respect for the man's character and class. If that would be the case for him then it would be the case for just about anyone.

OneMan

Daily Herald: Suburban Chicago's Information Source: "When you talk with Obama, you can't help but admire his intellect, confidence, ease in accepting challenges and compassion. Very few candidates for public office have impressed us in this way. Paul Simon comes to mind."

-- The Daily Herlad endorses Obama.

Kass writes about divorces, canidate vetting and rich guys today. He makes an good point but I suspect that most state senators don't end up getting all that vetted.

Oberweis got (or is about to get according to an e-mail I got from his campaign today) an endorsement from Tom Tancredo a Republican congressman from Colorado. He is chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus.

You can go here to see his feelings about the teaching of Western civilization and history.

This should make the difference. Jim you need to show you are more than a one-trick issue guy and this is not doing it.

ESPN.com - MLB - Orza unswayed by congressman's remarks: " 'And I didn't say that steroids shouldn't be prohibited. They in fact are. The point, conveniently overlooked by Mr. Sweeney, is that it is not banning steroids to which we object, but the manner in which he proposes -- to detect use, the unlimited, forced analysis of someone's urine, even in the absence of a particularized suspicion. I know Congressman Sweeney hasn't read our Joint Drug Agreement. But I didn't know he hadn't read the Fourth Amendment [search and seizure without probable cause].'"

-- Ok, this is a bit off the point of the senate stuff. However I think the MLB needs to realize that if they don't take a real world approach to 'roids. The appeal of the game is going to go away. In most olympic sports you are subject to off season random drug testing.

OneMan

Illinois Senate Race Attracts 7 Candidates in Millionaire Range: "'I'm one of the poorer guys compared to what I'm seeing,' Jim Oberweis, the dairy owner, said the other day. Mr. Oberweis, whose net worth falls between $7.6 million and $33.4 million, has trailed in polls in the Republican contest to Jack Ryan, a former investment banker who is worth as much as $96 million and has spent $3.35 million on his bid so far."

-- I only have at leat 7.6 million.... Waaa, Waaa, Waaa. Sorry Jim, it is not going to work. Most of the NYT article is about the Dems and Hull and points out there are a lot of millionares in this race. On both sides.

CNN.com - RNC�tells TV stations not to run anti-Bush ads - Mar 6, 2004: "WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Republican National Committee is warning television stations across the country not to run ads from the MoveOn.org Voter Fund that criticize President Bush, charging that the left-leaning political group is paying for them with money raised in violation of the new campaign-finance law.
'As a broadcaster licensed by the Federal Communications Commission, you have a responsibility to the viewing public, and to your licensing agency, to refrain from complicity in any illegal activity,' said the RNC's chief counsel, Jill Holtzman Vogel, in a letter sent to about 250 stations Friday."

-- Can you say 'Hardball'. Droping the FCC bomb on them with everything else going on is a interesting touch. I guess my question is are media outlets who run political ads responsible to figuring out how the money was raised?

The Rassmuson poll (the Sun Times reported on it) is out with some detail here. FYI, they are automated phoned polls. So use that info as you see fit.

One other quick thought. If you ever run for something and have yard signs use ones that have as wide as base as possible. Lots of yard signs I saw two days ago are now gone thanks to that wind we had up in Chicagoland yesterday.

Guardian Unlimited | World Latest | Divorce an Issue in Ill. Senate Race: "``I no longer will permit Blair to exploit my desire for privacy,'' she said in a statement. ``I will not be victimized by him again about the events surrounding our divorce.''
Last week, Sexton said she supported Hull's candidacy. "

-- This is a paper in the UK, it is an AP article but still this is getting huge play.

Chicago Tribune | Ex-wife refuses to back down from Hull: "'I will not be victimized by him again about the events surrounding our divorce,' said Sexton, whom Hull married and divorced twice within a span of three years"
I saw her [Sexton] the day after the incident, and there were no doctor's calls, there were no tears shed; it was all about, `I got to get a lawyer and get some money,'" said another Hull defender, Terry Forrest, who claimed she was Sexton's best friend at the time. "That's what she talked about. I believe it was all an embellishment and a positioning in an effort to get more money."

-- Congratulations, you have offically pissed off the ex-wife. That's not going to do you any good with this. Read the rest of the article. I really think he is screwed now.

As you have seen in about a billion other places by now Martha Stweart found guilty.
As a result the greatest single moment of schadenfreude occoured in the United States today.

The sad thing is this ends up hurting investors in her company and others who had nothing to do with what she did. Again we can learn a lesson here. The cover-up is worse than the crime. Remember that Blair Hull.

FYI - schadenfreude: Etymology: German, from Schaden damage + Freude joy
: enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others

Latest poll shows Ryan can take heat: "Ryan has been doing TV on and off since summer, and we only recently began TV,' Oberweis spokesman Jeff Metzger said. 'You'll see our numbers rise more quickly the more we're on TV. We're also getting some direct mail pieces out.'
John McGovern, spokesman for McKenna, said the race 'remains volatile.'
'The softness in all the numbers highlights the fact that most people seem to be responding to a vague notion of name awareness rather than a commitment to a specific candidate,' he said.
Ryan received the highest favorability rating at 64 percent, compared with 50 percent for Oberweis and 35 percent for McKenna. "

-- I would be floored if just once a guy from a campaign where the outside poll numbers showed his canidate getting beat said... "That sucks"
OneMan

AP Wire | 03/03/2004 | Senate candidates make loans to campaigns: "Another Republican candidate, businessman Chirinjeev Kathuria, reported that during the reporting period his campaign had repaid $30,000 of about $683,000 in personal loans he had made to it since last year."

-- If you start repaying the loans you made to your campaign before the election I think that is a sign your heart is not really in it.

Contribution from MJ helps Obama campaign fund soar: "Michael Jordan passed state Sen. Barack Obama a $10,000 check this week, giving the Hyde Park Democrat the highest-profile contributor of his U.S. Senate campaign.
'You don't get much bigger than Michael Jordan,' Obama said. 'We debated whether to frame it in the office, but -- pragmatists that we were -- we decided to go ahead and cash it.'"

-- Now if MJ started showing up in ads I think it would really help Obama.

Rivals hit Oberweis on immigration: "Through her publicist, Jeri Ryan declined to talk about her initial objections to sealing the files. Her father, Gerhard Zimmerman, defended Ryan, saying from his home in Southern California that Ryan would make a good senator.
Zimmerman often talks with Jack Ryan on the phone about Ryan's son, Alex, and the three regularly go out together. Zimmerman criticized the calls to open the files: 'It's a shame. It's just like Arnold Schwarzenegger out here. People come out of the woodwork and attack.''"

-- Ok, if your ex father-in-law defends you then I think you have to be ok. If there was anything at all that indicated he was 'bad' to his wife or child I think the ex-father-in-law would be the first to jump down his neck.

I just saw the latest Danny! ad (I enjoy watching nightline this time of year) talking about health care costs. To be frank it sucked. He doesn't come accross as Senatoral and/or having much gravatas when he trys to just talk to the camera.

I will give you some free advice (I would expect Hull to spend at leat 10K for this)
Dude if you want to talk about health care I will give you some advice. Use an mention your wife. Point out how her background as a doctor provides you with insight. Explain how she has told you about problems that have driven you to act. You just talking to a camera does not work.

OneMan

MSNBC - Lots of choices in Illinois Senate race: "'She's just a bundle of energy,' said campaign spokesman Jim Allen.
Allen adds that Pappas has been trying to target female voters, and that the controversy surrounding Hull and his ex-wife's affidavit makes that job easier. 'We couldn't have timed this better if we wanted to,' Allen said."

-- An interesting view from a 'national entity' on the Illinois senate race. I never really thought of the Hull divorce stuff helping Pappas, I guess it might. I am really looking forward to seeing what the polls are going to look like this weekend.

Thoughts from the DJWinfo blog: "Urban Outfitters (run by a Republican) sells a shirt: Voting is for Old People
Brilliant! To keep young people (presumably liberal/Democratic) from voting, Urban Outfitters is selling a hip T-shirt that reads Voting is for Old People.

Nice. Way to set the cultural definition of hip as 'letting other people make decisions for you.' Smart move by conservatives."

-- If a T-shirt motto keeps you from voting, perhaps it is for the best that you don't vote. Actually it is part of the vast right-wing conspiracy to keep young people out of the electoral process. The next step is a new album from Eminem titled 'Voting is only for my....'

Sometimes people need to just relax.

Senate rivals urge Ryan to unseal divorce records: "Ryan's spokeswoman said he only sought to seal portions that dealt with child custody issues in an effort to protect the couple's son, Alex, now 9. Jack Ryan said in court papers that information needed to be hidden to protect the boy from stalkers threatening his ex-wife, who gained famed on 'Boston Public' and a 'Star Trek' television series."

-- Good enough for me.

Got an e-mail last night from Julie Oberweis asking me to vote for her dad. Since it had the word 'Newsletter' in it my spam filter blocked it. I suspect at least 10% of these got eaten and deleted by spam filters.

Here is a snipit
--
For example, I can recall spending hours studying chess with my Dad before a big tournament finding it exceedingly difficult to stay focused while Dad would continue to work through various positions. In this same manner, I know that Dad will also work hard for the citizens of Illinois to represent our needs such as securing our jobs or helping to make healthcare affordable without losing focus.

-- I am surprised it mentions something besides illigal imigration.

OneMan

Obama-Ryan match a 'GQ race to watch'=The Hill.com=: "�This would be the GQ race to watch, one Republican source said of a possible Obama-Ryan contest, adding that Obama would attract millions in campaign contributions from across the country while Ryan would likely dump his own fortune into the campaign. Said another Republican aide: "They're both tall, dark and handsome. "

--The Hill offers up some thoughts on an Obama vs. Ryan matchup. Interesting read.

NBC5.com - Politics - Divorce Files Become Part Of Senate Campaign: "A spokesperson said Jack Ryan's divorce record is open. It's a child custody agreement that is sealed. The year after his divorce, Kay said, Ryan challenged his child visitation rights and won. Ryan's 9-year-old son now visits him summers and holidays. Ryan, Kay reported, will not unseal those records.
A Ryan spokesperson said the custody agreement will remain sealed to protect his son because Ryan's ex-wife, Jeri Ryan, is a public figure, an actress living in California."

-- Yes, I think a go 'f----' yourself response would be the most approprate at this time.

AP Wire | 03/03/2004 | Republican Senate candidates want Jack Ryan to release divorce records: "Ryan, an investment banker-turned-teacher who is ahead of his opponents in recent polls, did not attend the debate because of a previously scheduled fund-raiser, spokeswoman Kelli Phiel said.
But she said Ryan's divorce records, which are in Los Angeles, were never sealed and will be made available Thursday. However, records related to the custody of Ryan's 9-year-old son are sealed and will remain closed for the child's sake, she said."

-- Ok, so if the only part that was/is sealed are related to the custody of his son I think he will end up looking good if he says. "Hey you know the only thing that is sealed in my divorce is a social workers report on my son and it will be cold day in enternal darkness before I let you take one peek at that stuf" I suspect that if it is related to that the courts may keep it sealed since his son is a minor.

I suspect that would be the only 'sealed' thing at this point, I don't know if there is a social worker report or something like that. However that's what I suspect it is. I have no proof however.

Ok, more on Hull. I guess the question is going to be if enough 'happy ads' are going to be enough to work around the negative publicity. I suspect they can in fact get that done. The bigger question is the people who have endorsed him are going to be able to get their people out. I am looking forward to seeing if that can/will happen. That is going to end up being the factor I think that makes or breaks him.

I am still thinking Hull is going to pull this off, but it will be very close (might not know a winner until Wed. morning).

I guess Jack Ryan did not make the WTTW debate tonight. Don't know why. No response to the debate yet since I DVRd it but haven't

I also am seeing more Danny! signs in my neck of the woods including one on my street....
I am also seeing more Obama signs. I also found the link to the Polis blog. He's the guy who had the Oberwise taking shots from a copter line. Nice blog

I understand Maria is running TV ads haven't seen one yet however. Still a long time to go on this one kiddies.

From The Beacon News....
Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Democratic candidate for president, has scheduled a rally in Aurora in the days leading up to Illinois' March 16 primary election.

Kucinich will be in Aurora on March 13 to speak at the Prisco Community Center at Lake Street and Illinois Avenue.

The community is invited to attend the rally, which will include entertainment and appetizers. Festivities are set for 4 to 7 p.m., with Kucinich expected to speak at about 5 p.m.

-- At least they will have food.......

I read in Zorn's blog about another blog (I can't seem to get to Zorn's right now) about some guy who said the only thing that would have made the Oberweis chopper ad better was if he was flying over the border picking off imigrants with a rifle.

I think McKenna and some of the democrats strike a better chord about 'disapearing jobs' than Oberweis does with his message. The jobs are moving out of the US....

OneMan

The same trib article reports that the Illinois Federation for Right to Life is going to keep it's recomendation of Jack Ryan intact. There was some question since he is on the board of a company that processes insurance claims for abortions. The gripe was a bit of a stretch and the fact the head of IFRL PAC is a GOP county chairman that endorsed McKenna shows they didn't just follow a knee jerk reaction.

Chicago Tribune | Hull calls in press, then takes a hike: "It's never a good sign when a political candidate skips his own news conference two weeks before primary day, but that's what U.S. Senate contender Blair Hull essentially did Tuesday."

-- So I guess he is going to bunker down. It's worked in the past, I dobut it will work this time. Welcome to the Big Show

Got another McKenna call today. Again at some point I would love to find out how many different first names the poor man had to record.

Chicago Tribune | NOW puts Hull on the defensive over divorce file: "The Chicago chapter of the National Organization for Women blasted Hull's answers to the furor resulting from the release of the divorce files, saying his responses to questions have been almost dismissive of domestic violence as a serious national issue."
--
It does not appear that they have endorsed anyone in the Senate primary, yet. Why do I suspect they will endorse Danny!. Read the entire story, it seems like Hull may have reached out to them.

Just saw a Gery Chico ad were he is endorsed by Paul Vallas. Didn't Vallas lose the primary to Gov. Blago....

CNN.com - Arkansas: High hopes for Clinton library - Mar. 1, 2004: "Rutherford is pushing partnerships with Elvis Presley's Graceland and the National Civil Rights Museum, two attractions in Memphis, Tennessee, an international gateway to the mid-South that is a two-hour drive from Little Rock.
'These two places combined bring in 1 million tourists, and most of them are interested in two important interests for Clinton: civil rights and Elvis,' Rutherford said. 'We've found most international visitors spend two weeks traveling in the region. If we can get those people to Little Rock, we can get them to the other presidential cities.' "

-- How about strip clubs? Way to easy of a set up.

Chicago Tribune | Hull criticizes drugmakers, but heavily invests in them: "But they accuse him of the same thing: 'With the millions he's made off his investments in the pharmaceutical companies, in the energy companies, in the insurance industry--these special interests are bankrolling Blair Hull's campaign,' charged Chris Mather, a Hynes spokeswoman."

-- Wow that's a bit of a stretch... The title is interesting since it also has info on Hynes and Obama taking money from drug companies. Looks like the hit job on Mr. Hull has begun.