I am going to be taking a holiday break from blogging. Have a Merry Christmas everyone.

Some unsolicited advice for the Oberweis campaign.

Stop talking about a illegal immigration and start talking about Jim Oberweis, Teacher, Businessman. It will really do your guy some good.

Just my thoughts.

OneMan

So the Gov has two primary challengers.

Now for some questions

A) If you are Eisendrath do you challenge that third guy who is on the ballot since he will likely take away at least some of the anyone but Rod votes?

B) If you are the governor do you even act like you have a real primary challenger(s) or do you stay 'above the fray'?

C) If you are within 10 points of the gov with 3 weeks to go to the primary do you go negative on him? If so how hard?


OneMan

So it looks like Kathuria is not going to run for Lt. Governor...

Anyone want to guess an over/under on how long the web site stays up? I will say 45 days.

OneMan

From Rich's coverage of the Eisendrath announcement

Eisendrath, 47, laid out a series of questions he wants answered by Governor Blagojevich.

“Tell us why you raided nearly $2.3 billions from the already under funded pensions of teachers and state workers. Tell us how you plan on paying for the election year giveaways you are announcing daily. Tell us if you will refrain from using contributions raised by appointees to boards and commissions that dole out lucrative contracts and investments. Tell us why you opened the door for Republicans to run against corruption while George Ryan is on trial,” he said.

You go Eddie, I am looking forward to a robust Democratic Party Primary. It also sounds like he is not just going to see if Public Offical A gets a visit from the feds.

OneMan

Check out who the #8 team is on the approximation of the PRI rankings for NCAA mens basketball.

Thats right kids. NIU. Go Huskies

OneMan

From a December 11th press release from the Governors office...

Indy 500 Champion Bobby Rahal Joins Gov. Blagojevich to Debut Open Road Tolling at Touhy Plaza Rahal Drives 2005 Indy 500 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Through New Non-Stop Toll Collection Lanes on I-294.

The Touhy Avenue Plaza is the fourth of eight toll plazas to deliver Open Road Tolling lanes by the end of 2005 which also include Irving Park Road on I-294, Boughton Road on I-355 and Edens Spur on I-94. Drivers will also soon be able to drive through without stopping at the following plazas: Cermak, 82nd St., 83rd St. (I-294) and at Army Trail Rd. (I-355), with the remaining mainline plazas to be converted by fall 2006. Illinois is the first state in the nation to convert a barrier toll plaza system to the new Open Road Tolling technology.

"Thanks to Bobby Rahal for coming out today to dramatize how Open Road Tolling lanes will allow motorists to get to their destinations faster,” said Gov. Blagojevich. “I’ve been coming out for each Open Road Tolling opening because I want drivers to know we are doing everything we can to reduce congestion.”

-- So since there are 4 more opening before the end of the year and if the Governor continues to attend each one I predict the following titles of press releases from the Governor's office.


Evil Knievel opened the new Open Road Tolling site today with Governor Blagojevich switching the rocket cycle on.

Big Daddy Don Garlits drove 195 miles per hour past the new Open Tolling site with Governor Blagojevich watching nearby

The next Open Road Tolling site was opened today by having Speed Racer of cartoon fame jumping the Blagojevich sign over the road. "I was glad that Racer X didn't come by" Governor Blagojevich said.

The final Open Road Tolling stretch to open in 2005 was opened today by speed skater Bonnie Blair. "Making the road all icy with her staking under the arch will make a picture that I know will make the front page of the Sun Times" Governor Blagojevich said to a reporter.


OneMan

I still think now that Kathy Salvi is taking a pass on running for Lt. Governor Sally Wegman is in a very good position. The only woman on a the ticket that might have 5 or 6 candidates on it. The list may include Wegman, Cole, (both have filed) Steve R, Birkett, Poe, Kathuria. As the only woman on that list Sandy is in a strong position.

OneMan

Hey Kids, you too can run for Lt. Governor! Why not virtually everyone else is. Here is my list of who it appears is either running or thinking about it. Wegman, Poe, Kathuria, Steve R, Birkett and Kathy Salvi.

If Kathy Salvi does not run I think the expanded field really helps Sandy Wegman since she would be the only woman on the ballot for Lt. Gov.

However there is still time to run. Feel free to send me a e-mail asking me to pass your petitions, everyone else has.

OneMan

Rick has an interesting post on the democrats looking to replace Henry Hyde. Specifically about the hostility that Tammy Duckworth seems to be facing from DuPage County Democrats who appear to favor Christine Cegelis (who ran last time at got 44% of the vote).

It appears that at least one township organization in DuPage has said that Tammy Duckworth and her supporters are welcome to attend but are not welcome to speak. Rick's post covers why he isn't comfortable with that.

The very idea of not letting someone representing someone running for office in a party primary speak at a party meeting blows my mind. I the am vice-chair of a neighboring Republican Township Organization (but I am not blogging in my 'official' role). We have had situations in the past where a popular incumbent has faced a primary challenge (more than once) and we always let any Republican primary candidate or their representative speak at any meeting they attend or even make announcements for them if they were unable to attend. Our members can and do endorse during the primary and work for the candidate(s) they want to. But as an organization we stay neutral.

Seriously the whole 'We will not let you speak' thing is just nuts, self destructive and bad for the process (as Republican a small part of me says 'You go gang') but as someone who loves the process it really bothers me. I consider Rick a personal friend regardless of how our politics differ, if he told me that the Naperville Democrats were going to do the same thing I would get in my car, drive to his house, say hi to Robin and the ask Rick if he had lost his freakin mind.

I couldn't imagine us telling someone they couldn't speak and if we even tried our members would toss the leadership team out and rightfully so. We have an organizational policy to not endorse in any way shape or form in the primary. It is a policy that has served us very well in the past and I look forward to it being our policy going forward. A leadership role in party should not and can not be to serve as a gatekeeper preventing people from sharing information with the party faithful.

In politics memories are very, very long and the candidate you jerk around today is the elected official you are trying to headline your fundraiser tomorrow. Regardless of even that it isn't how you treat your candidates and as a party unless there is some really compelling reason to refute someone within a primary all of the primary candidates are 'your' candidates. Picking sides as a party organization in the primary just sets you up for problems.

I think Rick is right on here. There is a reason you have primaries and it is to let the voters who chose to vote in that primary decide who the candidate will be.

I think part of this is coming from how Tammy Duckworth is getting DCCC support and the local DuPage Democrats who have been taking it on the chin for the last billion years or so are rightfully bent out of joint a bit that the DCCC is now stepping in and trying to push their candidate. The DuPage Democrats who have seen Christine Cegelis around at their events for some time now feel comfortable with her, know where she stands and likely know her personally. They likely feel a bit put off with the fact that she ran last time and may have helped lead to Hyde not seeking a second term and the thanks she (and they) get for this is a new candidate who they really don't know pushed by an entity that likely didn't give a crud about DuPage county for the last 20 years. Heck that would tick me off.

However the Duckworth vs. Cegelis race in some ways may end up being a big test of the whole 'Dean' grassroots thing, if Christine Cegelis stays in the race and wins it over the candidate being pushed by the DCCC it will show that the grassroots can trump outside money and organization. You now have the perfect chance to prove the 'Dean Model' (my term) of grass roots politics can work.

Also Rick you should feel good now that there is infighting it shows that the DuPage Democratic party is becoming more legitimate... I also have to give you credit for blogging about this. I am sure you are going to hear about it from within the party. It sound like to me some DuPage Democrats need to figure out if elections are about getting your candidates elected or about using your power.

OneMan

Off the normal subject of politics but...

I went to a farewell party for the now former CEO of my company (only took 2 hours to drive from Oak Brook to Lombard) and as the night went on it because 'lady's night' at the bar we were at. Since traffic was bad the party continued for us as lady's night commenced. I can honestly say I had never been to a lady's night at a bar or nightclub until last night.

Suffice to say, lady's night at a bar next to the Yorktown mall on a Thursday night with 5 inches of snow on the ground had an air of desperation that helped me understand why people use internet dating.

Some friendly suggestions to my single readers.

-- A good meet cute story does not start with 'I saw your mom dancing on the bar'
-- A good meet cute story does not start with 'I saw you mom dancing next to the pole by the DJ at a bar (or anything that involves the words mom and pole)'
-- Dude you look stupid with the wristband around one elbow.
-- You are not going to meet any women talking to 7 of your buddies, if you want to talk to 7 of your buddies go to a bar without loud music. You will seem less lame.
-- Trying to look like a member of nysnc or any boy band at your age is laughable (trust me I did laugh).
-- Try internet dating.

I got an e-mail at 3:21 AM that Rauschenberger is going to run for Lt. Governor and join forces with Gidwitz....

Out of all of the conservative guys to step out of the race I think Rauschenberger had the best chance and would have made a great governor. So I guess it becomes a fight between Oberweis and Brady for the hard right....


From the e-mail

Elgin, Illinois.State Senator Steve Rauschenberger (R-Elgin) will discuss his decision to run for Lieutenant Governor and join forces with Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron Gidwitz on a campaign for reform and renewal of the Illinois Republican Party and Illinois state government.

The candidates will discuss their decision to team up and their shared vision for Illinois.

Rauschenberger and Gidwitz will be joined by their wives, Betty and Christina, respectively.

Gidwitz/Rauschenberger Press Conference Details for Wednesday, Dec. 7:

CHICAGO
Time:
10:00am
Location:
Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago Downtown Lakefront
511 N Columbus Dr
Chicago, IL 60611
Rock River Room

SPRINGFIELD
Time:
1:00pm
Location:
State Capitol, Springfield
Blue Room

This was also posted over at Illinoze...

The Carol Marin column on November 30th had a summary of Judy's views on abortion, views that I think really help her in the general election.

After all, Topinka has for years been described in political circles and in the media as a Republican "moderate" who supports the Supreme Court's Roe vs. Wade decision establishing a woman's right to choose. And in fact, she is. And does. But with notable exceptions. Topinka supports parental consent, opposes the so-called partial birth abortion and has voted for legislation that allows for spousal notification.

It helps her because the 'limits' she supports are basically stuff most people who are pro-choice but not militantly so can be comfortable with. It helps her in the general because it makes inroads for her with collar county moms and moms in cook county. The one group Gov. Blagojevich needs to really do well with to have any chance at a second term.

Go find 50 suburban and urban moms and ask them if they are really comfortable with the idea that their daughter can get an abortion without their permission at 14 (especially when she can't get her ears pierced at the same age without parental permission). I suspect that a majority are not comfortable with that fact and would find Judy's position closer to their own. When they think of notification in terms of their own daughters I think most moms are closer in their views to Judy than Rod.

She isn't going to fight for the support of the pro-choice groups because they will always support a pro-choice Democrat over a pro-choice Republican. So why chase an endorsement you will not get. Heck the 'questioning' of her pro-choice views by pro-choice PACs helps her within her own party. It isn't like a lot of people who listen to pro-choice PACs vote in Republican primaries anyway.

When it comes to the general election, the pro-life folks are going to find Judy a much better option than Gov. Blagojevich. Yes they might stay home in the general but I suspect they are going to find Judy closer to their views than Gov. Blagojevich and an option worth voting for.

Then again these are just the thoughts of
OneMan

In what should be a surprise to no one the Video Game bill was shot down by the courts.

The judge said the state came "nowhere near" proving that a ban on violent games would help prevent real violence by children.

There was also this quote from the first lady

Patti Blagojevich, who accompanied her husband and two young daughters to a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at the Lincoln Library, said she was disappointed with the ruling.
"We have restrictions in place right now that keep people from being able to sell pornography and liquor and cigarettes and all sorts of things to children under 18," said Patti Blagojevich, who is on a state advisory board on the issue. "Why they feel like they should be able to sell these awful games that show them the worst sides of human nature and actually encourage this behavior in children, it's beyond me. I don't know what the judge was thinking."

Well he was thinking the US Constitution has real meaning. He might have been thinking that Illinois has laws that cover harmful material for minors.Perhaps it was felt that matter can not be kept out the hands of people unless you have actual proof that it is harmful and not some theory. Perhaps he thought that there is all sorts of things that show the worst side of human nature that are available to 17 year olds.

But look on the bright side, by shooting this law down it will let the Governor continue to rail against these things and appear on CNN. Help him look like a family values guy. Perhaps he thought like most people that Halo 2 is not nearly as dangerous in the hands of a 16 year old as a case of beer. It will also let the state spend even more money defending a law that is a turkey. Perhaps we can find another fund to sweep to pay for that.


OneMan

Akron 31 NIU 30 --

Arrrrrrrgggggggggggggggggg


Great ending, but for the wrong team.....