Ok,
So what happens if Jack Cunningham does enter the Aurora mayor race.
Well, it changes a bunch of things fairly quick and fairly significantly.

First, I don't care how many elections Jack has lost vs. the number he has won, he has very real people skills and is great on the stump. Jack is very, very good at networking and encouraging others to network.

Second he still has an organization from past races that can be fired up fairly quick.

Third, I think he has some of his own money he can toss into the race as well.

Fourth, he has the 'gravatas' that some people feel that Richard is lacking and has a wider experience base than Tom has.

Fifth, he has been very generous to Republicans in the past with time, talent and treasure. If he runs he will expect and most likely get some repayment of each.

Sixth, with his city experience in the 70's he is more 'Old School Aurora' than anyone.

All that being said I think he will end up not running when all is said and done. If I am wrong I think his entry into the race will lead to the following.

Someone else made this point over at Ricks first, Bill Wyatt would be done.

His entry would have an imediate impact on both Tom and Rich, with the biggest being on Tom.

There will be some 'Kendal County' backlash (really hard to explain unless you are from around here and even then it's a bit tough) that will help Jack.

I think the race will really come down to who can win on the outskirts of the city (DuPage,Kendall,Will) and the far West side of the city.

Then again I might be nuts. I still don't think Jack will do it.

OneMan

Bret Farve had his 200th consecutive start last night. Wow, considering in all 200 of those games there were 11 large fast players that had a primary goal of hitting him as hard as they could.

OneMan

Clerk ponders run for mayor: "Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham could be the next candidate to throw his hat in the ring for Aurora mayor.
Cunningham, 65, is weighing his third run for the top political office in the city of Aurora. Workers are gathering signatures on nominating petitions that are due to be filed next week, and Cunningham is buoyed by a poll he says shows him in contention with three of the other four announced candidates, Tom Weisner, Richard Irvin and Bill Wyatt."

-- Putting Jack in the race changes a bunch of the dynamics. From money to party affiliation. I still kind of doubt he will do it, but if he does he has the money and the political skill to win it.

OneMan

From Sara's Spot: Some Perspective on Domestic Partner benefits.

"My company, a cool progressive software company, offers domestic partner benefits. I originally proposed the idea back in early 2000. "

-- I am cool with this, I guess the only thought I have is that any single person (unmarried by the definition of the law of the state they live in) should be able to pick one other person (with a max of one per year) for this right. So if I was single, I could make my brother or even my aunt as my 'second person'.

My logic on this is more of a 'cool benefit' thing than any sort of ant-'Domestic Partner' thing.

Also from a capitalist pig thing it would make sense in terms of attracting good workers.

OneMan

A guest Column in the Beacon News from Richard Irvin...Leadership means identifying, fixing problems: "An effective leader in any organization must have the ability and courage to identify what is broken before it can be fixed. A prospective leader who avoids the challenges at hand by only focusing on positives will only maintain the status quo."

-- Follow the Link for more.

From the SJ-R.COM - Bernard Schoenburg Column:

"So, when Blagojevich visited Springfield shortly before the 2002 primary, I asked him if he would take a state car and driver if elected governor, and I wrote a column with some of his responses.
'I don't know,' Blagojevich said then. 'Do you get one? I never even thought about that.'
On further reflection about accepting a driver, Blagojevich said: 'I hope not. Yeah, I'd like to be my own person.'
I asked if that meant he would drive himself around as governor.
'Well, I don't know about that,' he said. 'I might have a staffer drive me, right? I don't know ... We're speculating. We've got a long way to go. We haven't even won the primary yet.'
Blagojevich made those comments at the state AFL-CIO headquarters on March 9, 2002, just 10 days before the primary.
It was surprising that he had no idea that governors had security, given that he had been a state representative for four years and was in his third two-year term in Congress at the time. It showed he either didn't get around governors much or paid no attention to his surroundings."

-- I forgot all about the 'Governors have drivers?' comment from the Blagozo.

Lawmakers reject tax to bail out CTA: "Gov. Blagojevich urged lawmakers Wednesday to reconsider a controversial business tax to bail out the Chicago Transit Authority, but the idea was quickly dismissed by critics as a legislative turkey.
The governor's Thanksgiving Eve call focused on a $65 million tax that would be imposed on major employers who buy bulk software directly from manufacturers but don't have to pay state sales tax on their purchases."

-- Yeah, that's the ticket. Tax software in Bloomington to pay for the CTA. Do they just sit around his office in Chicago and try to come up with different things to tax.

OneMan

From Crains Chicagobusiness.com:

"Some are wondering whether Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who lately has been acting like America's pharmacist, has crossed that line. Now, his actions are sparking a really juicy rumor that's been bouncing between Washington, D.C., and Springfield in recent weeks.
The rumor: Officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are first-class PO'd that Gov. Blagojevich, in their view, is hot-dogging about importing pharmaceuticals and finding hard-to-get flu vaccine � items that theoretically fall more within the purview of the department than a politically ambitious governor. Department officials are said to be so miffed that they're holding up approval of a Medicaid waiver Gov. Blagojevich needs to fill a $430-million hole in the fiscal 2005 state budget.
At this writing, it's impossible to say for sure how much of this is urban legend. What is known for sure is that, while all sides officially insist they're sure everything will be handled correctly, everyone also is making book on whether Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson is a forgiving sort.
'The governor has spent an enormous amount of time beating the hell out of that department. It's not helpful,' says a top, top source in Illinois' congressional delegation. 'If we called Thompson on this right now, he'd just laugh.'"

-- OneMan

There is a thread going over at Rick's on the mayors race in Aurora.

It's an interesting thread, I am a bit bummed that I actually live in Aurora and this thread is on his blog and he lives in Naperville. Sigh...

OneMan

Found a new blog today (she actualy links to me) from someone else in Aurora...Sara's Spot. Take a look.

It would appear the comptrolers office is providing Rich with some more scoop (basically refuting my numbers).

It turns out they want do to 10 years of 100 Million to get to 1 Billion. So they feel the numbers are workable. Rich says they will be sending him the spreadsheet.

So go to the Capitol Fax blog to get the latest on this.

A) Thanks Rich for linking to me so at least the finacial issues related to this are part of the either now.
B) OneMan can only run the numbers that he has from things like press-releases.

Thats my story and I am sticking with it.

Rich has some info from the Comptrollers office on this post and my numbers here. Follow the link.

(Slightly updated since the CapitolFax link) U.S. Newswire : Releases : "Illinois Comptroller Proposes Stem Cell Research Institute..." :

"Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes today proposed the creation of a state-funded institute that will award $1 billion in stem cell research grants over the next decade, instantly placing Illinois on the cutting edge of 21st century medical science.
Legislation drafted by Hynes will create and fund the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute (IRMI), which will be modeled largely on the recently established California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The institute will receive $15 million in start-up funding in 2005 to establish and staff the Institute as well as fund initial grants and loans to research institutions.
Long term funding for IRMI will come from a $1 billion bond issuance, to be voted on by the public in a ballot referendum in the 2006 general election. The funding will allow the Institute to issue roughly $100 million annually in grants and loans to fund stem cell research at Illinois universities and other advanced medical research facilities around the state. The initial appropriation, as well as the bond debt service, will be paid for by a 6 percent tax on elective cosmetic surgery such as facelifts, liposuction and Botox injections."

-- Ok, lets run some numbers. $1 billion in new debt financed by taxes on facelifts. So assuming the bonds will be 20 year notes you are looking at an interest rate of at least 5.11% so 5.11% of 1 billion the interest alone is $51,100,000.00 a year, so how much cosmetic surgery do you need to tax at 6% to get $51,100,000 , you need about $850,000,000 in 'cosmetic surgery' to tax just to cover the interest.

To give you an idea what sort of volume that financial nut will require the whole 'schebang' (follow the link for other costs) for a liposuction is about $5,000. So to cover it with just liposuction 170,000 people would have to get the procedure yearly or roughly everyone in Aurora and about a 1/3rd of Naperville. Or about 1 out of every 70 people in the state will need to spend about 5K on cosmetic surgery every year. So over 20 years 1 in 3.5 people in the state will need to have 5K worth of cosmetic work done.

In 2003 Americans spent about $9.4 Billion (from a report from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) on these procedures. So lets assume that in 2004 it will be $10 Billion so 8.5% of all cosmetic procedures will need to take place in Illinois to meet his number. Illinois has about 5% of the US population. .

Keep in mind you haven't paid a dollar of principal that would be about another 50 Million a year that would require about 1.7 Billion a year in cosmetic surgery. Or about 20% of all money spent in the US on cosmetic surgery.

Think about it.

OneMan

Chicago Tribune | Alan Keyes makes a downtown move: "Alan Keyes will relocate at least some of the operations of his Washington, D.C.-based foundation and a companion political action committee to Chicago following his recent decision to leave his Calumet City apartment for a downtown condominium, a spokeswoman for the former Senate candidate said today.

Keyes' lease for a second-floor unit in a south suburban two-flat ended last week, said campaign spokeswoman Connie Hair.

By then, the Republican, who was trounced Nov. 2 by Democrat Barack Obama, had settled into his new downtown digs. He moved the week after the election, while he still had a campaign staff around to help him, Hair said.

Illinois Republican Party spokesman Jason Gerwig told the Associated Press the party had no comment on Keyes' plans."

-- I have a comment, go back to Maryland. Please!

OneMan

Chicagobusiness.com: "Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes is preparing to wade into the deep and contention-filled waters of stem-cell research.
The comptroller, one of the state's top two fiscal officers, has scheduled a press conference for midday Tuesday at which he will announce a major proposal to create a state-funded stem cell research program, according to a statement put out by his office. "

-- Umm first can we afford such a thing? Is he going to run for Governor and trying to steal some Blagozo health thunder?

OneMan

SJ-R.COM - Governor's guards criticized: "Goudie's reporting team tracked the governor and his security detail for three months through the Democratic National Convention in Boston and a fall trip to California.
Massachusetts provided state police cars and officers to protect other governors at the convention, according to the report. Blagojevich was accompanied by six Illinois state police cars and 12 officers. The hotel tab for the security detail was said to be $23,000, not including the cost of flying some of the guards to the convention.
Goudie said the expenses at the Democratic convention were based on state police expense accounts the station obtained under the Freedom of Information act.
The report quoted DNC delegates as describing Blagojevich's entourage as 'a security spectacle,' with state policemen at times carrying luggage and a baby stroller. Goudie reported one guard is expected to carry the governor's hairbrush. "


State police seldom traveled out of state to guard Gov. George Ryan and Gov. Jim Edgar and did not accompany them on personal vacations, according to a former state police officer interviewed for the report. Gov. James Thompson did use state troopers as bodyguards on vacation, according to the report.


-- Dude, the hairbrush is very important. You have seen the guys hair.

OneMan

Chicago Tribune | Blagojevich donors get state jobs: "Like presidents giving ambassadorships and honorary posts to political allies, Illinois governors have long appointed friends and contributors to state positions.

Yet an examination of Blagojevich's appointments provides the latest example of how a governor who vowed to end business as usual in state government has appeared to perpetuate it in at least some respects."

-Follow the link, remember kids he is the one who said he wanted to be the guy who was no longer behind business as usuall. The Trib story also points out his problems in actually apointing people to the ethics boards.

OneMan

Over at the Osborne Blog he has this
Os-blog: revisiting the College Repub fundraising scam: "

Can't let this story go away. And at least some people in the CRs organization aren't, and good for them.

But someone needs to press the Illinois state CRs and the NIU CRs on this, especially given the role of one student who serves as a leader in both groups as student trustee for NIU and a county board member.

A story in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune says that 79% of the money raised went to more fundraising costs (interesting and questionable, an audit would be very revealing) and the rest went to a 'campus recruiting drive'

Documents like this one (caution, large jpg file) that the Northern Star has relating to CR questionable voter registration practices story that reference a 'campus canvass' suggest to me that there is a strong possibility that the NIU CRs received some benefit from the scam."

-- Ok, first read the entire link, he doesn't have comments so I am going to make mine here. First I am not defending the fundraising thing at all, that whole thing just strikes me as a bit daft. Secondly OneMan was a CR at NIU back '88-'91 and was also a Deputy Registrar for DeKalb county via the Student Association so I have some old school knowledge and bias. I am also currently a deputy voter registrar.

For the registration thing, as I understand it. It is wrong (morally) and against the law for me to refuse to register anyone who wants to register who meets the requirements to register. So if I have a table set up in a dorm (I used to register people in Lincoln hall) I have to let anyone who could prove residency and would swear to being allowed to vote register to vote. Cool

As I understand it however if someone wants to go around my neighborhood (or campus) and ask people about their views and then asks them if they are registered to vote it is ok and legal for someone to give me a list of people who are not registered and who trend Republican or whatever and I can decide what doors I am going to knock to ask if the are registered and offer to register them.

that's what this canvas plan sounded like, find students who would tend to be Republicans and go register them.

As for the one guys point in the Northern Star story about just having people do the mail in form. He has a point, it is quicker for someone to deal with than having to fill out the voter card and then getting it to the county.

OneMan

PJStar.com - Journal Star News: " Because Gov. Rod Blagojevich could not secure a promised keystone of his administration this month, city officials won't soon see the cornerstones of two buildings they envisioned.
Construction of two streets through the vacant, 65-acre downtown-area site, where the city hopes a Peoria Area Technology Park will someday rise, was put on hold until at least next year.
Mayor Charles Dobbelaire acknowledged that depressing conclusion Friday, which passed without $11.5 million in state funding from the Legislature's completed fall veto session.
'We don't look for the funds now,' he said.
Without the money, which Blagojevich promised early this year as part of his Opportunity Returns statewide capital improvement program, the two roads and plans for significant construction along them must wait, Dobbelaire said."

-- Was this one of the projects he didn't want to name before he asked for the money?

Indian Gaming Law Takes Effect: "A bill that required the governor to get the General Assembly's OK before signing a deal for an American Indian casino has become law now that the House has overridden Gov. Rod Blagojevich's veto.
The 106-8-2 vote in the House on Tuesday follows a 52-4 veto-override vote in the Senate last week. The bill's chief sponsors were State Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Clare, and State Rep. Bob Pritchard, R-Hinckley, both of whom represent an area near Shabbona that a Kansas-based Indian tribe is eyeing as the possible site for a casino-resort development.
The Native American Gaming Compact Act re-quires the governor to submit Indian gaming proposals to the General Assembly, which would have 30 days to approve them. If legislators take no action in that time, the proposal is dropped.
Blagojevich vetoed the bill in July, arguing that it violated the separation of powers between the state's legislative and executive branches.
Federal law gives governors control over negotiations with Indian tribes that want to open casinos. "

-- Interesting.

From Carol Marin at the Sun Times...Where's the love for governor in Springfield?: "Why in the world do so many Democratic politicians seem to so openly despise their first Democratic governor in 30 years?"

-- Feel free to read her take on it. Here is some of mine.

A) I would argue once campaign season comes around and they start running ads about how much debt and financial tricks he has pulled he will go down in the collars.

B) Anti-Daley is not going to play well long term.

c) Don't mess with Mike Madigan, don't forget Blagozo put a serious smack down on Lisa over the Thompson center thing. Politics or not, no dad forgets something like that.

d) The problem with the out of state inner circle isn't that they are from out of state, it's that they don't seem to understand Illinois.

e) Donwstate saved him the primary from losing to Vallas when Rod had a lot more cash.

f) Lots of people in his own party and across the aisle don't trust him. Look at all the MOU's the guy had to sign.

OneMan

Chicago Tribune | Blagojevich bid to get flu vaccine hits snag:

-- It appears that the company they want to buy from and the state have different versions of the story.. That's the way to solve the problem, call out the drug company. I am sure that will not tick them off at all.

OneMan

This whole DeLay Rule Thing is going to blow up in our faces. What's the harm 'if' he gets indictment in having him step down, defend him self and when acquitted he retakes his role. That shows leadership, not this case-by-case stuff.

OneMan

A reald world example of is it ok to torture (or threaten to) someone if it is to save a kidnaped child..

A former Frankfurt deputy police chief took the stand on Thursday to answer charges he threatened a suspect with torture. The defendant says he got permission from a state interior ministry to make the threat.

For Wolfgang Daschner, the choice on Oct. 1, 2002 was between following the letter of the law, or perhaps saving the life of a kidnapped child. In the end, he opted to try to save the child and set off a roiling debate over the law and its limits, and where one draws the line in matters of life and death.


The 61-year-old former deputy police president is accused of telling an interrogator to threaten intense pain on the kidnapper of 11-year-old Jakob von Metzler, the son of a banker who had been abducted on this way home from school.


"We wanted and had to save Jakob's life," he told the court. "I want to make it clear that at no time did I give the order to torture."

Magnus Gäfgen, left, at his trial in 2003, accompanied by his lawyer, Hans Ulrich Endres
Daschner wrote a memorandum in his files remarking that the kidnapper, Magnus Gäfgen (photo, left), would be questioned anew after threats of "the infliction of pain under medical supervision." According to Daschner, the threat was the only way to possibly save the child. However, Jakob at that point was already dead.


Despite his intentions, under German law, torture is illegal. Daschner is being charged in a Frankfurt regional court with serious coercion in office. He faces a sentence of between six months and five years. The 51-year-old interrogator, who received the instructions from Daschner, faces similar charges in court.

Rick Klau has some thoughts about the Mayors race in Aurora.

It will interesting to see if any of the other candidates reach out to Rick at all, since he is Naperville Township Dem Chair and a big chunk of Naperville Township is in Aurora.

OneMan

From Tenn...

Three eighth grade boys can no longer attend Clinton Middle School after administrators said they violated the district's zero tolerance policy on weapons. The weapon in this case is an earring.

Around noon Tuesday, after Alan Vanhuss put an earring in his right ear his science teacher sent him to the principal's office. "They told me it was considered a dangerous weapon and I wasn't allowed to pierce my ear in school and it's zero tolerance."

-- I feel safer now, don't you?

Been thinking about what truth girl has been blogging about. I think part of the reason that 'evangelical' don't get as motivated by social justice issues as even other Christians do is due to a host of reasons.

The 'morality' issues are much more closer to home and easier to influence by acting on a local level. Finding a solution to poverty is much harder than keeping Playboy out of the pick-n-save.

More established large denominations (in general) have had long standing groups that work on social issues (usually as part of mission work) in various parts of the world and so giving and dealing with those issues is a bit more institutionalized than in large evangelical autonomous congregations.

It is a lot easier to see quick results when complaining about a boob on TV than poor drinking water in the Sudan.

The arguments of 'social justice' from some who push that in the religious community is sometimes coupled with a strong 'Americans consume too much, exploit the world to much, etc...' that just turns people off. You can motivate people to help others without the 'You are sinning in this way' stuff.

Just some thoughts

OneMan

Been reading Truth Girl's blog the last couple of days. It's a good read.

Found out about a new site a couple days ago and got an e-mail from 'em today. No Chicago Casino, they raise some interesting points. The most interesting point I read about recently is how much of the take a Chicago casino will take away from the casinos in the suburbs.

Follow the read link, it's worth a read.

From The Trib and other places...

Illinois will give Ameriquest Mortgage Co. nearly $25 million in state grants and tax credits as it expands its loan servicing operation, a move that could create 1,500 jobs, state officials said Tuesday.

-- Or roughly 16K per job.

Hey if you want to use some Astroturf to gripe to the FCC about hearing bad words during Saving Private Ryan go here.

Oh my God someone said the F word on TV, who will think of the Children. Standing around and screaming Sinners accomplishes nothing.

Gov reneges on pledge, takes gambling money: "Gov. Blagojevich pledged during his campaign that he wouldn't take contributions from gambling interests, according to a survey that bears his signature.
But nearly two years into his term, Blagojevich has accepted nearly $250,000 in cash and free air travel from the horse-racing industry -- a sum that raises questions about where his flirtation with gambling as a fix for the state's cash woes might lead.

--Snip

Blagojevich on Feb. 17, 2002, signed a survey from ILLCAP, Illinois Church Action on Alcohol Problems. The question above his signature on the one-page document reads "Will you accept campaign contributions from gambling interests?" Blagojevich -- or someone from his campaign -- circled "No."

Says it was an oversight

Blagojevich said that pledge is broader than what he intended because he draws a distinction between the "outdoor, pastoral, historic" flavor of horse racing, and the calculated, house-wins-most-bets nature of casinos.

The fact he signed off on such a sweeping pledge in a candidate questionnaire was an oversight made in the hectic days before the March 2002 Democratic gubernatorial primary, the governor said.

"That was probably a questionnaire answered by a staffer during the campaign when I was out campaigning somewhere. He or she probably thought it reflected my views," said Blagojevich, who didn't address how his signature got on the document.

As to his real views, the governor said he sees nothing wrong with accepting horse-racing contributions.

"I view it as a different kind of industry. It's been an industry that's been here a lot longer. It employs 40,000 people who work in Illinois," he said. "I equate it a lot like baseball, our national pastime -- outdoors, pastoral. It's historic. And unlike baseball, the horse-racing industry has been struggling. It hasn't been able to have a renaissance like baseball has had."

-- Umm, let me get this right. Horse Racing isn't like casinos because they are outside or because they don't have neat jets for you to fly around in?

The nature of horse racing, parimutuel enusurse that the house get's it's cut, infact it is part of the very definition of parimutuel gambiling (follow the link). Just like casinos know they should expect to see X% of the overall handel of what is gambled due to the laws of statistics, the same is true of horse tracks.

The horse racing industry is struggling, so the way to help it is to fly in their jets and take campaign money from them? How does that help unless they are using the donations to get access to push their view forward?

OneMan

Where does Blagojevich stand on new casinos? Only he knows: "In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Blagojevich remained on the fence. At one point, he called his acceptance of a deal a 'big, big if' but then served up tantalizing hints that he might go along under the right conditions.
Never in the interview did Blagojevich outline what parameters he'd accept in a gambling deal, nor did he stake a specific position on a gaming proposal being pushed by Senate Democrats. That reflects the likelihood the governor won't come off the dime before lawmakers' scheduled departure from the Capitol on Thursday. "

-- Rod, Leadership is the ability to have an opinion, state that opinion in a clear and understandable way and then act on it and stick with it.

OneMan

Getting my Zorn on
Aging the Ageless Daniel Barenboim, 62. (Took all of 2 minutes on google to figure that out).

PJStar.com - Journal Star News:

"The tree-planting ceremony to honor slain secretary of state security guard William Wozniak was held last week, and it drew a considerable crowd.
Acting as emcee, Rep. Rich Brauer, R-Petersburg, said, 'I'd like to introduce someone who needs no introduction - the governor.' Up popped Jim Edgar, not Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Edgar was there because Wozniak was hired when Edgar was secretary of state. Blagojevich wasn't there because he had other things to do.
Intentional or not, it was a good zing by Brauer."
-- From the same article

By the way, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg participated in a conference call with Blagojevich about flu vaccine. During that call, Bloomberg referred to Blagojevich being in Springfield. In fact, Blagojevich was in Chicago.

Why in the world would anyone think Blagojevich was in the state capital?

State construction mired in legislative Catch-22:

"SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's plea for three (b) billion dollars in new state construction is being ignored in the fall legislative session.

It's caught in a legislative Catch-22: Lawmakers don't want to approve the funding without seeing a specific list of projects. Blagojevich says it's senseless to announce projects without a way to pay for them."

-- Ummm, Rod. Why not annouce them as projects you would like to do and then try and get funding. Did you ever think since they made you sign all of those MOU's that they might not just want to 'Trust You' on this.

OneMan

From :: Tom Cross for Illinois - Welcome to JoinCross.com! :::

"Irvin for Aurora Mayor
I went walking on the west side of Aurora with Richard Irvin, who is running for Mayor of Aurora.

He's a great candidate, and he's a Republican.

Stay tuned to Turn Illinois for some updates on Richard.

This is the second biggest city in Illinois, people!!!

We can work together to get a young, African American, Republican Mayor elected!

That's a huge deal for the ILGOP. Talk about rebuilding all you want. Here's an actual opportunity to rebuild.


Hey...Andy...if you're listening. This is a race that matters to the ILGOP"

-- Have to second the positive thoughts on Richard.

Questions likely doom gambling expansion efforts:

The issue has been especially touchy since the spring 2003 session, when Blagojevich toyed with the idea of backing an expansion but ended up rejecting the idea and publicly scolding lawmakers.

Now legislators, particularly Madigan, want to know exactly where Blagojevich stands before they will take action.

But Deputy Governor Bradley Tusk says Blagojevich won't take the lead.

"He'll have an open mind and take a look at it," Tusk said. "We'll see what they do."

-- Heck I don't blame Madigan. Also I thought the role of the Governor was to lead, not be Captain wishy-washy. Finally is the Governor doing himself any favors by getting on Jones' bad side then again Blagozo's re-election plan may be to show it as me vs. The Four Tops. Then again I know jack.

I would just argue that it might make sense for the governor to have an actual public opinion at this point.

OneMan

sacbee.com -- News -- R.E. Graswich: Ex-lawman Waters keeps his cool as a Bush-hating attorney loses his:

A lawyer for the state Franchise Tax Board was jailed last weekend after harassing Sacramento City Councilman Robbie Waters and dozens of other people over the election of President Bush. "I was going to Bel Air to mail a letter and pick up some steaks for dinner, and this guy just went off," Robbie said. "He said, 'Hey, Robbie Waters. Why don't you punch me in the face? Your man Bush won, and you're real proud. Come on, kick me, you (expletive).'" Robbie, a former cop and Sacramento County sheriff, decided not to tangle with the man, Craig Swieso, even when he followed Robbie into the supermarket on Rush River Drive. The councilman called police and waited in the market manager's office. "For the first time in my life, I just walked away," Waters said. "I wanted to get my steaks home." Police arrested Swieso, 46, when he refused to calm down. "I made an ass of myself," Craig said. "I was confronting affluent white males about voting for Bush. They swagger like they they are tough. I was asking them how tough they really are." Swieso, who is white, spent eight hours in jail. "The inmates were incredibly polite," he said. Swieso thinks medication contributed to his outburst. "That's no excuse," he said, adding his new goal is unseating Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. ...

-- California reminds us again why it's different.

Senate Dems say a casino deal is near, GOP and City Hall doubt it: "SPRINGFIELD -- Senate President Emil Jones insisted Wednesday a gambling deal is alive, but his Republican counterpart declared it dead this fall because Democrats aren't willing to negotiate.
'From the conversations I've had with other leaders, I think, yeah, it's dead,' said Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville). 'I think there's only one leader that's really promoting this . . . and I'm not sure he's having a whole lot of success, even with his own members.'"

-- So he can't get even the Dems to go along. I am tempted to start a blog at this point covering nothing but gaming expansion in Illinois.

Chicago Casino Proposal Hits Snags: "SPRINGFIELD, Illinois � As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times: 'A bid to place casinos in Chicago, Waukegan and the south suburbs hit legislative turbulence Tuesday over an attempt to divert as much as $300 million in new casino revenues to Illinois' clout-heavy horse-racing industry.
'Getting their first look at a plan pushed by Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago), some Senate Democrats reacted with alarm to the horse-racing provision, further complicating efforts to pass a gambling package before lawmakers are set to end their fall session next week. "

-- So since the horse guys are going to impacted by new casinos they should get $300,000,000... Since when does the state compensate someone for having to deal with new competition?

Why do I also suspect that Jones' plan has some money for Chicago State.

From BBC NEWS | UK | MPs demand 'sibling' partnerships: "Siblings who live together should have the same rights as gay couples under new laws, some Conservatives have said.
They want brothers and sisters living together for at least 12 years to have the same rights being proposed under the Civil Partnership Bill.
Lord Tebbit and MPs Gerald Howarth and Edward Leigh said the Bill should be fairer to 'ordinary families'. "

-- This proposal is seens as a tactic to try and trip up the Civil Partnership bill in the UK, but it raises an interesting question. Is any partnership of two people reguardless of blood relationship worthy of 'Civil Partner' treatment?

OneMan

Some Sneed: "Tipsville . . .
Sneed hears da 'Blago boys' are already making noise about a Rod Blagojevich presidency in 2008! Believe it."

-- Oh please.. Then again he would have to win re-election for that to happen and that would be bad. Oh, well.

Carol Marin has a great column today in my opinion. A casino for Chicago? Don't bet on it in this session: "SPRINGFIELD -- It's been a long time since I have been to the state capitol to watch the Legislature and the governor do what they do -- or in some cases don't do.
The fall veto session seemed a perfect time for a tune-up. What I learned here over the last two days is that no matter how much Mayor Daley wants it or how hard Senate President Emil Jones presses for it, it looks right now as though Chicago won't be getting the go-ahead to build a casino this time around.
I can name four reasons why. Blagojevich. Daley. Jones. And Madigan. "

-- Follow the link to read the whole thing.

OneMan

SJ-R.COM - Officials honor Wozniak with tree:

"A crowd of about 100 gathered Tuesday on the east lawn of the state Capitol to dedicate a tree planted in memory of Bill Wozniak, the 51-year-old Capitol security guard fatally shot in September.
The 18-foot Marmo maple - a cross between a red and silver maple - stood against a brisk wind in the November sun as family, lawmakers and constitutional officers, both past and present, paid homage to the man who cheerfully performed his duty for 18 years.
'I can't think of anything more appropriate than a tree that will stand here and guard over the Capitol and greet visitors to the Capitol for many years, just as Bill did for many years,' said the keynote speaker, former Gov. Jim Edgar, who served as secretary of state when Wozniak was hired.

--Snip--

Gov. Rod Blagojevich did not attend because he was in a meeting, said spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch. She noted that Blagojevich attended both the Capitol memorial service and personal funeral for Wozniak.

"The Wozniak family knows how saddened the governor is by their loss," Rausch said.

-- A meeting, that's the reason they came up with. Please.

Arrrrrrrrrrg....... I guess I need to root for BGSU....

Arrrrrrrrrg...

Don't forget kids 6:30 ESPN2, a chance to see a decent D-1A football game in Illinois #22 NIU vs Toledo with a win NIU clinches a Bowl Bid, the first since 1983.

OneMan wishes he can be there but will end up watching the game at home or at a tavern someplace.

Go Huskies!

OneMan

From Indiana
Ex-lottery official charged in $1 million payout scam:

"A former security officer for the Hoosier Lottery is accused of conspiring with two other men to rig a $1 million scratch-off game.
Prosecutors say William C. Foreman told two men that a winning ticket in the "$2,000,000 Bonus Spectacular" game had been sent to a store in Cross Plains, Ind.

One of those men then went to that store and bought its entire supply of the game's $20 tickets -- about $700 worth, according to court documents.

Foreman, 59, was arrested Monday and charged with disclosing confidential lottery information, a Class A felony carrying a prison term of up to 50 years.

Daniel Foltz, 31, and Chad Adkins, 28, also were arrested Monday. They face preliminary charges of Class D felony theft, with a possible prison term of up to three years.

Foreman, the secretary for the Indiana State Fraternal Order of Police, also is charged with Class C felony theft, carrying a maximum prison term of eight years.

After Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi and a team of investigators served search warrants at the lottery's Downtown Indianapolis offices Monday, Brizzi said the inquiry continues.

"It's just this one game that was compromised," Brizzi said. "I don't want to send a scare to the entire state of Indiana that the lottery is somehow fixed, because our investigation is limited to just this one game and all of the tickets have now been accounted for."

-- That's the risk with basing your budget on the lottery or casino gaming. If people end up thinking the game isn't fair then they will not play and you can have all sorts of problems.

Don't think this sort of stuff can't happen here..

OneMan

From Today Trib.

Illinois Senate President Emil Jones on Monday said Chicago's push for approval of a city-owned casino has won the key backing of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

But aides to the governor cautioned that he had yet to make up his mind about the controversial issue.
snip

Bradley Tusk, Blagojevich's deputy governor, disagreed with Jones' characterization of the governor's stance.

"I think the Senate president has a strong opinion on gaming," Tusk said. Jones "knows where he'd like the governor to be. We understand that."

But Tusk said he could not imagine the governor would support a major expansion that would be "too big or too heavy."

"We haven't made any decision on any gaming bill whatsoever," Tusk said. "We're still weighing our options."

But Jones, through a spokeswoman, later stood by his interpretation of the governor's position.

-- Sen. Jones, if I were you, I would insist that he sign a statement saying it's ok in blood. However he Blagozo flops on this and leaves you holding the bag, I think it will be time to team up with Madigan.

OneMan

Well the next big electoral adventure here in Aurora is the race for Mayor (of the second largest city in the state) the election is technically non-partisan with the first round on Feb 22nd and the second round in April.

We have
County board member Bill Wyatt, Richard Irvin, Tom Weisner and Angel Hernández. These are the current announced candidates.

Since OneMan is a Republican party offical in Aurora I don't know if I am going to come out publicaly for one candidate over an other. I have prefernce for sure, but will likely keep it to myself for now.

I will however be offering my 2 cents about the race and so-forth.

OneMan

Saw Obama on Meet the Press (or whatever Sunday morning show it was) and thought he did a very good job.

It will be interesting to see how much support he gets within the party in the Senate vs. who will be trying to knock him down a notch'. With all of the love and pub he has received you know some senators on both sides of the aisle are going to be a bit resentful.

OneMan

The Sneedster has somePolitical patter . . .:

"A Cicero resident suggests that one reason state Rep. Frank Aguilar got tubed in the election was because he flipped on his constituents by withdrawing his co-sponsorship of the bill to ban horse slaughter . . . and then voting 'no' on the bill."

-- Yeah the reason he lost to someone who didn't really mount a campaign is because he changed his vote on horse slaughter... Keep dreaming Sneed.

The SJ-R has some scoop about Blagozo's tax return (he got an extension so didn't have to file until Oct 15)

Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his wife, Patti, had a combined adjusted gross income of $227,497 in 2003, a taxable income of $170,158, and owed the federal government $37,790 for the year, according to the joint tax return filed by Illinois' first family.
The Blagojeviches got extensions past the April 15 tax deadline, so they had until Oct. 15 to pay. The administration released a copy of their federal return to The State Journal-Register on Friday.

Among the deductions was $2,385 in monetary gifts to charity, representing just more than 1 percent of their total income, or 1.4 percent of their taxable income.

In the previous taxable year, 2002, the family's return showed $455 donated to charity out of adjusted gross income of $302,560. A spokeswoman at the time said they had given more in cash than the amount claimed for tax purposes.

-- 1.4% of your gross to charity in 2003 and a whopping $455 in 2002? Doesn't your church give donation reports at the end of the year? For a guy taking in 220K a year those numbers are embarasing.

Mrs. OneMan and I give more that in raw dollars (to more than just Church) heck in 2002 we have more than $455 to medical charities and we don't take in anywhere near 220K a year.

What a loser, then again I bet it goes up in 2004 and 2005 as the election draws nearer.

OneMan

I was listening to NPR this afternoon/evening and at the beginning of A Prairie Home Companion and Garrison Keillor was talking about the election, he is a Democrat as is his right and he started talking about how Born Again Christians shouldn't be allowed to vote since they are 'Citizens of Heaven' and began to rail against them and the outcome of the election.

I realized something, if he had said this about virtually any other religious group (like Jews, Muslims, Hindus) it would have been very insulting. I am not a big PC guy but, I think it is interesting that it appears the Democrats now feel it is free season on Christians, but would never think of attacking another group like this.

OneMan

From Chicagobusiness.com: 40 under 40 list

LINDA CHAPA LaVIA
38
State representative
D-Aurora

State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, a former U.S. Army officer, believes military men and women who fight for national security should get job and financial security in return.

'We ask people to put their lives on the line for us, and then when they come back, we give them nothing,' says Ms. Chapa LaVia, who rose to first lieutenant in the National Guard.

The Aurora Democrat sponsored legislation that bars public-sector employers from discriminating against National Guard members and military reservists. In part because of her efforts, Illinois is now the first state to include those groups in its Human Rights Act, which forbids discrimination in employment, promotions and loans. Other legislation she sponsored ensures public-sector employees will continue to acc rue pension and other benefits while away for military reasons, including training.

'She worked tirelessly on behalf of Illinois soldiers,' says Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Ms. Chapa LaVia likes be heard, in more ways than one. 'She says the Pledge of Allegianc e louder than anyone I've ever known,' says Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, who sits next to Ms. Chapa LaVia in Springfield. 'People turn around and look at her,' he says, laughing.

To get voters' attention two years ago, she turned up the volume on her door-to-door campaign, visiting about 31,000 Aurora homes. She lost two dress sizes and won 54% of the vote and a place in Aurora's history. She was the first Hispanic elected to the Illinois General Assembly outside of Cook County and the first Democrat from her district in 20 years.

Another trait that makes her an atypical freshman: Most Springfield newbies socialize with members of their own party, because it feels safer, says Mr. Franks. But more often than not, both Democrats and Republicans join Ms. Chapa LaVia's dinner groups. (It doesn't hurt that her husband has Republican ties; he served two years ago on the citizens' advisory committee for Republican state Sen. Chris Lauzen of Aurora.) "She makes friendships based not on party labels, but on the individual she's talking to," says Mr. Franks.

-- Congratulations Linda, you deserve it. She does a great job of representing all of Aurora and has done a great job in her first term and is genuinely friendly with and able to work with citizens reguardless of what party they may be from.

OneMan

Why Americans Hate Democrats A Dialogue - The unteachable ignorance of the red states. By Jane Smiley:

"A generation ago, the big capitalists, who have no morals, as we know, decided to make use of the religious right in their class war against the middle class and against the regulations that were protecting those whom they considered to be their rightful prey�workers and consumers. The architects of this strategy knew perfectly well that they were exploiting, among other unsavory qualities, a long American habit of virulent racism, but they did it anyway, and we see the outcome now Cheney is the capitalist arm and Bush is the religious arm. They know no boundaries or rules. They are predatory and resentful, amoral, avaricious, and arrogant. Lots of Americans like and admire them because lots of Americans, even those who don't share those same qualities, don't know which end is up. Can the Democrats appeal to such voters? Do they want to? The Republicans have sold their souls for power. Must everyone?"

-- Glad to see me and all other Republicans are just stoolies of the big money boys. Who knew...
This is what honks me off about the left, their perception that if you don't agree with them you must be some right wing religious nut who can't form a complete sentence for yourself. Where as the members of the left are truly the only people who understand or care.

The arrogance of it just blows my mind. Idots like me are truly lucky to have people who can think writting today.

OneMan

CNN.com - Curtain rises on next presidential drama - Nov 4, 2004: "Other Democrats who might seek the presidential nomination in four years include Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana and Govs. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois and Tom Vilsack of Iowa. "

--- Please, Please, Please make it happen. I so want to see that. Since I have been mocking Blagozo for a while, it could make me and the word Blagozo famous.

The Sneedster had this little Sneedling today

Is a new Republican Party in Illinois looming?

*Answer: It is if you talk to top GOP fund-raiser Tom Grusecki (Northern Builders).

*Fly 'em: Grusecki, who was disgusted when Alan Keyes was chosen to run for the U.S. Senate when Jack Ryan pulled out, is offering to pay the airfare for Mr. and Mrs. Keyes -- back to their home state of Maryland.

*Bye 'em: "But it's a one-way ticket," Grusecki told Sneed. "Keyes stated he might stay behind to help rebuild the party. But the unfunny joke is over. It's time to rebuild, but without his help. We need fresh blood and new leadership and to get this back to a two-party system."

-- Right on brother.

Rick has some stuff about issues with the voting in DuPage county. So I figured I would share some stuff I heard about in Kane.

-- A Democratic Judge that would not let the Republican Judge also compare signatures to registrations.
-- Two Democratic Judges that kept turning on two TV's at the polling place, even after the other Democratic judge kept turning it off.

And this again was at one polling place.

Other places had other issues the biggest being sings to close to doors and stuff like that.

Was this stuff malicious, not likely. Most likely just uninformed.

I guess since I grew up near Chicago I have always considered vote schnanagins to be Democratic thing, not a Republican thing.

It's been interesting today to read various postings about stolen votes this and missing votes that. Then again I guess it might be hard to accept that this time Bush won with an absolute majority of the vote. I know the true hatred of Bush some folks have and let fester over the last four years and it has to be tough to realize that America felt the other guy was a better choice.

As for vote 'stealing' and all of that. As I watched the count take place last night with good old punched cards and the multitude of people from both parties who deal with the things I realized the system works. That to pull anything off you would need multiple people from each party as well as the pros at the election agency to pull it off.

When it comes down to it, is there any candidate worth going to jail for? No.

OneMan

Listening to the BBC world service right now, they have even mentioned Obama a couple of times.

OneMan

Cool, looks like we picked up a few in the state house and one in the state senate. Man they have been gunning for Pat Welch for a long time, I worked one of those get Welch campaigns back in 1990?

Wonder how much better we would have done with a legitimate senate candidate, at the least it would have helped Doug Hayes, enough? I'll leave that to Rich at Capitol Fax.

OneMan

Ok,
We finished counting the last ballot at about 2:06 AM and then finished with the audit run at about 2:40 or so.


OneMan

Counting continues Keyes is getting his butt kicked. Just reviewing a ballot of someone who made a nice design with his punch card.

Counting fast now. Keyes is getting his tail kicked in Aurora. Big surprise.

About to run our first two pcts.

How OneMan will be spending his evening... As the party rep at the vote count in Aurora at the Election Commission. So I get to watch every ballot get counted. It's an interesting experience.

What happens

Ballot boxes are delivered by two election judges (one from each party) to the election commission

The box is processed and handed to two talley judges who check that the right number of ballots of each type are in the box.

The box is then queued up to be counted (twice).

I get to hang out in the counting room.

I will try and blog updates as the night goes on.

OneMan

Keyes rips Obama, says he'll stay: "Republican Alan Keyes opened up with both barrels Sunday, blasting Democratic front-runner Barack Obama for taking 'the wicked and evil position' on issues such as abortion and vowing to stay in Illinois to rebuild the tattered Republican Party -- whether he wins or loses Tuesday.

There is no way on this Earth that I would leave the good people of the Republican Party I've met prey to some of the leadership I've seen ... that is corrupt, that lacks integrity and has betrayed their best values and their best interests," Keyes said. "They are history."

-- No Alan go home.
Speaking for the rational understands the mean voter concept wing of the party. Go Home, thanks for taking one for the team and doing your little show. It is not time for you to go home. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

Thanks for the crazy rhetoric, but it is time for you to go home.

The answer for the party is several things they do not however include inflammatory rhetoric about Nazi's, Mortal Sin or how people are evil. The fact you are going to be lucky to get 30% of the vote in this one with a lot of good Republicans either voting for Obama or Kohn or just skipping the line altogether.


What is going to help the party's woes is time and a message of fiscal conservatism and ethical standards. We can do it and with the help of people like Tom Cross and other we will get the job done. If our message is one of 'Your Are immoral and I am Moral so sayeth the Lord' then we will end up being cranks in the corner, marginalized and rightfully so.

Alan, you want to help the Republican Party in this state, then leave please.

If you and your views are the future of the Illinois Republican Party then we are going to be truly and utterly screwed.

OneMan.

Chicago Tribune | Guard void upsets state office staffs: "A changing of the guard took place at the James R. Thompson Center Monday, but state employees in the Loop office building were bewildered when it turned out the change meant no security guards at all on most floors.

Despite heightened security concerns after the September shooting of a guard in the state Capitol in Springfield, visitors were able to roam most of the Thompson Center's 16 floors unchecked until state police appeared on every floor later in the day.

The confusion was the result of what one official called a "hiccup" in a planned shift of security responsibilities.

Last month, the Blagojevich administration announced cost-saving plans to dump the building's private security force and replace it with guards working under the Illinois State Police, who previously had a limited role in the building.

The private guards were gone Monday, but there was little immediate sign of the police replacements.

For much of the day, the most obvious security was on the floor that houses Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office, where a metal detector and guard were stationed.

"At a time when most government buildings are evaluating their security and becoming more secure, it concerns us that a level of security in the Thompson Center has been removed," said Melissa Merz, a spokeswoman for Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan. "It is critical that the public be able to access our offices, but it is also critical that the state employees who work here feel secure."

Early Monday, an angry man made his way to the attorney general's 12th-floor offices, confronted a receptionist and began shouting at her. That prompted Madigan to station investigators assigned to her office to guard the front desk. Later in the day, the attorney general's office requested that a state police guard be posted on the floor.
"

-- Ok, Rich at Captiol Fax has some stuff on this yesterday. The one thing he pointed out was that the Blaggo's office had full coverage at all times.

My question is how is a State Police officer cheaper that a private security guard? Shouldn't State Police officers do what they are trained to do, not be high priced security guards?

Classic Blagozo Administration.
OneMan