October 31, 2007
SILVERSTEIN, DeLEO AIM FOR ONE OF "FOUR TOPS"
Illinois Senate President is an inveterate ally of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and an implacable enemy of Ilinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. All are Democrats, and Illinois government is chaotic because they cannot suppress their rivalries and animosities. Jones, age 72, who is black, has been a senator since 1983; as one of the so-called "Four Tops" -- each party's leader in the House and Senate -- and with a veto-proof 37-22 Senate majority, Jones is a powerful man. But already the jockeying has begun for the succession, on the presumption that Jones may resign in the near future. Newspaper articles have hit Jones for his "pay-to-play" propensities: His wife and son have state jobs, thanks to Blagojevich; he gets huge contributions from ComEd, and tried to cut them out of the rate relief freeze. The definite favorite to replace Jones is Debbie DeFrancesco Halvorson, the current majority leader. But she is running for Congress in 2008, and is likely to win. That sets up a battle for majority leader in 2009. The odds-on favorite to replace her is Sen. John Cullerton, a white Lakefront liberal; also in the mix are Sens. Jim DeLeo, Ira Silverstein, Donne Trotter, Terry Link, Rickey Hendon and Jim Clayborne. Her successor will be Jones' eventual successor. If it looks like Blagojevich is a sure loser in 2010, especially to Madigan's daughter, Lisa Madigan, expect Jones to head for the door. Also accessible on this WEBSITE (2007 Illinois Senate Vote Chart) are the roll-call votes of Northwest Side and northwest suburban state senators. Full Article...
October 24, 2007
SOME AREA INCUMBENTS FACE TOUGH CHALLENGES
Rumor, bluff, deceit, duplicity. So what else is new in politics? The 2008 filing period has begun, and veteran politicians Ralph Capparelli, Berny Stone and Iris Martinez have tough fights. In Chicago's 50th Ward, "instincts" are in abundance. Stone seeks self-perpetuation by running again for Democratic committeeman; he wants yet another term as alderman in 2011. State Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-8) seeks self-preservation by challenging Stone, fearing Stone will lose in 2001 to Naisy Dolar, and that independents will take control of the ward, threatening his seat. And Dolar seeks self-promotion, gleefully watching the S&S Boys beat on each other. In the 41st Ward, too many Italian-surnamed Democrats running for committeeman will hand the job to an Irish-surnamed woman. Capparelli, who's been around (as has Stone) since before the Gettysburg address, hopes his "friends" come to his rescue. The Hispanic Democratic Organization (HDO) has crumbled, but not yet vanished. The HDO helped elect Martinez to the Illinois Senate in 2002, and now wants to beat her. She faces State Rep. Rich Bradley, who was pushed into the race by Ald. Dick Mell (33rd), estranged father-in-law of Gov. Blagojevich. Old Gringo (Mell) wants to put his daughter Deborah into Bradley's Hispanic-majority House seat. Mell and the HDO will help Bradley. Full Article...
October 17, 2007
AN "INCONVENIENT TRUTH": CHICAGOANS LOVE DALEY
Chicago has it's own "inconvenient truth" -- namely: that Chicagoans love their mayor, Rich Daley. Even though the mayor is often fumbling, bumbling and nearly incomprehensible, the city's "livability index" insures his popularity. When crime is down, education performance is up, taxes are tolerable, city services acceptable, the economy robust, and the city is visually pleasant -- as is the case in Chicago -- the mayor gets the credit. To be sure, a recession hovers, corruption flourishes, Daley wants to hike property taxes, police scandals loom, and Al Sharpton is busy bad-mouthing everybody and everything, but Daley perseveres. He got 318,578 votes (71.1%) in 2007, but that's only 31.6% of the registered voters, and 11% of the citywide population. The state Commission on Government Forecasting & Accountability projects rising unemployment (now 5.4%) in 2008, falling corporate profits, plunging home sales and startups, and declining sales tax revenue. Daley wants more privatization, like selling Midway Airport or the city's parking meters, but he must keep the unions happy as he bids for the 2016 Olympics. Daley has not yet lost the confidence or affection of his constituents. Full Article...
October 10, 2007
2008 U.S. SENATE RACES POINT TO DEM SWEEP
Republican strategists contemplating how to best preserve their 49-51 minority in the U.S. Senate have progressed beyond damage control...beyond panic control...and are now, fully a year before the 2008 election, stuck firmly in the catastrophe control stage. Democrats are dreaming of attaining 60 seats, which would give them the power to end filibusters and force votes. Such a majority would make the Republicans irrelevant. That would require a 9-seat Democratic gain, and that's possible: Republicans must defend open seats in Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico and Virginia; and Republican incumbents are embattled in Oregon, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Maine. The country is getting bluer. In the Northeast, Democrats hold 17 of 22 seats; in the Midwest, 14 of 24; in the West, 10 of 26; and in the South, the Republicans' last bastion, 7 of 28. But Republicans have hope: With President Bush off the ballot, the 2008 election won't necessarily be a referendum on him and Iraq. They hope it will be a choice: between Hillary and Rudy, or Barack and McCain, etc. They hope there will be no anti-Republican wave. Congress' voter approval is at a meager 22%, but Democrats look poised for a big 2008 sweep. Full Article...
October 3, 2007
SPRINGFIELD "QUAGMIRE" NOT STIRRING VOTER ANGER
There's a "quagmire" in Springfield, as well as in Iraq. An Illinois government wholly dominated by Democrats is wholly incapable of working toward a common agenda. The governor and the state House speaker -- Rod Blagojevich and Mike Madigan -- are squabbling incessantly, as they prepare for a titanic struggle in the 2010 Democratic governor's primary. Electric rate rebates, tax caps, CTA/RTA funding, infrastructure repairs -- are all stalled. Yet Madigan's grip on the House is unassailable. He will increase his current 66-52 majority by a couple of seats in 2008, but will not win a super-majority, which would be 71 seats, enough to override a governor's veto. A "super-majority" would make Madigan more miserable, not more powerful, said State Rep. Mike McAuliffe (R-20). Republican incumbents look safe in the 20th, 65th and 17th districts, and a pickup looms in the Downstate 107th District. But Democrats will win the open 92nd (Peoria), could pick up the 104th and 44th, and should hold the 56th and 44th districts, now held by party-switchers. The roll-call votes by Northwest area state representatives is accessible on this website - 2007 ILLINOIS HOUSE VOTE CHART. Full Article...
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