Russ Stewart
Attorney at Law & Political Analyst

June  2004 Articles  
     

June 30, 2004 "STATURE" IS CRITICAL FOR REPLACEMENT CANDIDATES Jack Ryan is a goner. The so-called "sex scandal" which precipitated his demise is comparatively lame, if not laughable. So he took his Hollywood actress wife to sex clubs, and nothing happened. That's a "scandal"? Now Ryan, after spending $3.5 million of his own money (out of a total of $4.9 million), has quit Illinois' U.S. Senate race. The Republicans will replace him, but therein lies the quandary. The "replacement" must have some stature. That means ex-governors Jim Thompson or Jim Edgar. The recent Senate contests in New Jersey and Minnesota give some guidance: A "replacement" candidate of "stature" wins when his opponent is not credible. Ditto in Illinois: In the 1952 and 1956 governor's races, the "replacement" Democrat lost both, because he lacked stature. Democrat Barack Obama is credible and popular. Could either Thompson or Edgar beat him? And if neither runs, is the contest over?  full article...

June 23, 2004 "CHEESEHEAD" POLITICS IS DIFFERENT THAN ILLINOIS’ Cheesehead -- meaning Wisconsin -- politics is much different than Illinois'. The Democratic governor has a Republican legislature, and is trying to hike spending. There may be two (there is already one) gay U.S. Representatives from Wisconsin. The mayor of Milwaukee resigned after settling a sexual harassment suit for $350,000. Black Republicans are rising to prominence. And in Milwaukee, blacks live on the North Side, not the South Side. But there are few similarities: The replacement mayor was black, and he lost his bid to keep the Milwaukee post to a white. After the lost, his wife decried the city's "racism." Shades of the Chicago "Council Wars." And popular Republican governor Tommy Thompson (now the U.S. HHS Secretary), who served for 14 years (the same tenure as Illinois' Jim Thompson), may try a comeback in 2006.  full article...

June 16, 2004 "GANG OF FOUR" ROILS HARWOOD HEIGHTS POLITICS Harwood Heights, along with Norridge and Norwood Park Township, used to be the Land of Milk and Honey. That's because so many public officials were paid so much to do so little. But now they've seceded, and Harwood Heights is now the Land of Megalomania and Pettiness. The Gang of Four -- trustees led by Marge Fuller -- has taken over governing and stripped Mayor Norb Pabich of all personnel and financial power. Their Harwood Heights High-jinks are becoming common knowledge throughout the village, and they're not covering themselves with glory.  full article...

June 9, 2004 IRAQ SITUATION IMPACTS ON BLAGOJEVICH POPULARITY Governor Rod Blagojevich is indisputably a great candidate and a great campaigner. But, as governor, he's been a great flop. Blagojevich is addicted to polls, and his campaign pays $1,000 a day to test the wind. The governor's grand strategy is a replication of Bill Clinton's: bait, fight, attack, blame, and constantly stir the public's mood, positioning himself on the popular side of every issue. But the Iraq situation has altered the public's perceptions of their leaders. With strife, death and confusion in Baghdad, voters don't want strife, bickering and budgetary confusion in Springfield. Blagojevich has 30 more months in his term, but unless he baits and fights less, and governs more, he'll be a one-termer.  full article...

June 2, 2004 SHADOWS HANG OVER VETERAN CONGRESSMEN Shadows hang over four veteran Illinois congressmen. Newt Gingrich's shadow hangs over Republicans Henry Hyde (R-6) and Phil Crane (R-8). Gingrich enacted term limits on committee chairmen, so Hyde will be termed out of his International Relations chairmanship in 2006, and will likely retire. Crane covets the Ways & Means chairmanship in 2006, which he failed to win in 2000. So he will likely run again in 2006, even though he is getting poltiically weaker in his Lake/McHenry County district. The shadow of President Bush and Iraq hangs over Bill Lipinski (D-3) and Speaker Denny Hastert (R-14). Lipinski wants to be a subcommittee chairman, but needs a Democratic House. If Bush is re-elected, that would certainly happen in 2006. If John Kerry wins, then Republicans will likely keep the House in 2006. The same scenario applies to Hastert: if Bush wins, then Hastert will likely retire in 2006, in anticipation of a Democratic majority; if Kerry wins, Hastert will stay on.  full article...