September 27, 2006
"ALEXI PRINCIPLE" KEYS STATE TREASURER RACE
Call it the "Alexi Principle," which is a takeoff on the well-known Peter Principle, which posits that people, in the corporate and political world, rise to their level of incompetence. Named after Alexi Giannoulias, the 30-year old Democratic candidate for Illinois treasurer, the "Alexi Principle" discounts competence and experience, and instead substitutes genes, dollars, and family connections. Giannoulias thinks Illinois is just like the Broadway Bank, and that voters are just like his late daddy -- and that he starts at the top. His Republican foe, State Sen. Christine Radogno, rips young Giannoulias and Broadway Bank for "doing business with known felons and people with ties to Organized Crime." Giannoulias lamely replies that it's "not a perfect world" and that those who were "credit-worthy and commercially viable" got the loans. The treasurer invests $13 billion in state funds. Despite his thin, if not wholly invisible resume, Giannoulias is favored to win. Full Article...
September 20, 2006
"PEKSKY CRITTERS" MAY CAUSE KOTOWSKI UPSET
Find some exterminators! There's a lot of pesky critters invading Chicago's suburbs, and they aren't limited to raccoons, deer, the ash borer, or the Asian long-horned beetle. According to Republican State Senator Cheryl Axley (R-33), the "critters" include her opponent, Dan Kotowski. "He's a liberal Chicago Democrat," sniffed Axley. There goes the neighborhood. Axley was appointed in 10/05 to replace Dave Sullivan, who resigned. The northwest suburban 33rd District has never has a Democratic state senator. But there's been a major infestation of liberals who vote Democratic. George Bush got only 50.5% in 2004, down from 51.9% in 2000. Kotowski is a lifetime do-gooder who calls himself a "progressive." He's quite energetic, working precincts daily since 8/05. Kotowski says a anti-Bush wave will prompt an upset. Axley says that voters are "ashamed" of the Blagojevich Administration, and will vote Republican. If Kotowski wins, the Democrats' 32-27 Senate majority grows. Full Article...
September 13, 2006
BROWN OPENS FLOODGATE IN 2007 MAYORAL RACE
The candidacy of black Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown for Chicago mayor in 2007 opens the floodgate. Because Brown is running, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-2) must now run, if only to protect his position as the city's Great Black Hope. And, with two blacks in the race, U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-4) will find the situation irresistible, and jump in. In the days of yore, a mere plurality was sufficient to win the Democratic mayoral primary. But now the race is non-partisan, and if white incumbent Rich Daley fails to get 50 percent on 2/27/07, then an April 4 runoff will occur. With the Big Three running, Daley will surely fall under 50 percent. So the question is: Who will finish second, and get in the runoff? Hired Truck scandals continue, but Daley is still personally popular. His ace is that blacks don't want a Hispanic to be mayor, and Hispanics don't want a black to be mayor. So all the 2/27 anti-Daley voters are not necessarily 4/4 anti-Daley voters. Watch the 2/27 result: If Daley is under 40%, that means white voters are deserting him, and he'll lose the runoff. If he's close to 50%, he'll win another term. Full Article...
September 6, 2006
DOBRZYCKI "CLUELESS" IN RACE AGAINST McAULIFFE
Mark Dobrzycki, the Democratic candidate for the Illinois House in the Northwest Side 20th District, hasn't a clue. He's running against incumbent Republican Mike McAuliffe, and McAuliffe's re-election is a done deal. McAuliffe beat two Democratic titans -- Bob Bugielski in 2002 by 2,583 votes (53.7%) and Ralph Capparelli in 2004 by 7,773 votes (59.2%). In those two contests, McAuliffe, aided by Springfield Republican sources, spent over $1 million. Dobrzycki is running as the candidate of "change," but Democrats have a 65-53 majority in the Illinois House, and control the governorship and Illinois Senate. So what's the change? Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan is ignoring Dobrzycki's candidacy, and McAuliffe has made his peace with the 36th Ward Boys -- Alderman/Committeeman Bill Banks and State Senator Jim DeLeo, both Democrats. In 2004, McAuliffe won the 36th Ward with 56%, and the 41st Ward, his home base, with 63%. Dobrzycki can't win unless he carries the 36th Ward and Norwood Park Township with 60%, and gets 40% in the 41st Ward. It won't happen. Full Article...
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