July 30, 2008
"IDIOTS" ON RAMPAGE IN SUBURBAN CONTESTS
Pick the idiot (or idiots). That's the salient question in this week's column, which analyzes contests in the 17th Illinois House District, Maine Township, and west suburban Franklin Park. In the 17th Dist., Democratic candidate Dan Biss is no idiot, but he thinks the voters are. He's wrapping himself in the mantle of "change," decrying the "preposterous mess" in Springfield (caused by the Democrats' bickering), but incredibly blames incumbent Republican State Rep. Beth Coulson -- claiming that she's part of the "status quo." Biss has grandiose ideas for "change," including a possible state income tax hike. But if he wins, he'll be just another "Madigan Monkey." Voters will be idiots if they believe Biss's drivel. In Maine Township, Bob Dudycz is gone, having resigned as supervisor, but the ideological and personal animosity between the party's factions endures. GOP committeeman/ex-supervisor Mark Thompson is poised to run for his old job in 2009, against Carol Teschky, Duducz's replacement. Township Trustee Peter Ryan is an idiot if he doesn't run for supervisor, and exploit Republican idiocy. If two Republicans run, a Democrat wins. In Franklin Park, Leyden Twp. Democratic committeeman Barrett Pedersen is taking a huge risk, and is challenging Mayor Dan Pritchett (whom he backed in 2005) in 2009. Pedersen, as the slated candidate, lost a bid for MWRD commissioner in 2006. If Pedersen loses again, he's the idiot, and his political career is over. Full Article...
July 23, 2008
BEST, WORST NW SIDE POLITICIANS RANKED
For 35 years, since 1973, I have been writing about politics on Chicago's Northwest Side, and been often asked who were the "best" and "worst" politicians. But the real criterion is good judgment -- which means astuteness, integrity, instinct for survival, and grasp of reality. Among those in the "best" category the late Congressman Frank Annunzio, former St. Sen. Wally Dudycz, the late St. Rep. Roger McAuliffe, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Congressman Rahm Emanuel, Ald. Pat O'Connor, the late Tom Lyons, and St. Sen. Jim DeLeo. Each has/had a unique ability to thrive and prosper. Among the "worst" -- meaning utterly devoid of any moral compass -- are former Congressman Dan Rostenkowski, former Aldermen Joe Kotlarz and Tony Laurino, and now Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a former area congressman and state rep. And then there's Ald. Dick Mell, who made it possible for Blagojevich to be foisted on the people of Illinois. Shame on them. Full Article...
July 16, 2008
STEWART MARKS 35 YEARS AS POLITICAL COLUMNIST
This column is devoted to political analysis of Chicago, Cook County and Illinois politics, and has appeared in print, in the Nadig Newspapers, for 1,820 continuous weeks, at 1,500 words each. That, over the 35 years since 1973, is a total of 2,730,000 words. This column has been on-line since 2002. I get many FAQs. Like why do you write for a dinky Northwest Side newspaper, and not the Chicago Tribune or Sun-Times? First, my pedigree is suspect, as I ran for office as a Republican. Second, political analysis is not in particular demand by the dailies. But I'm always fair, if sarcastic. I'm right on most of my predictions. I keep writing because 1,500 words per week is freedom and power. I write about whatever and whoever I choose, and it gets read. Also, writing a print column is a prerequisite for a website. This website gets 10,000 hits per month. My goal is to keep writing until 2023 -- which would be 50 years, and 3,900,000 words. Full Article...
July 9, 2008
"DESPICABLE DEFECTION" UNITES GOP IN 56TH DIST.
Schaumburg-area Republicans describe party-switching State Rep. Paul Froehlich (D-56) with a lot of "d" words -- like despicable, deceitful, dastardly, desperate, dumb and dishonest. He was once a Reagan Republican and protégé of conservative icon Don Totten. Now he's a "Madigan Monkey," supporting the speaker and higher spending. "He's a crass opportunist," said Republican foe Anita Forte-Scott. Froehlich has been battling local Democrats for years, and got only 56% in the 2008 primary. He's also been battling with other Republicans for a decade, since he ousted Totten as GOP committeeman in 1998. Liberal Democrats detest him; and he's now united all area Republicans against him. He's a "man without a country." Madigan will spend $300,000 to save him. But unprincipled turncoats rarely survive for long. Froehlich is a loser. In the adjacent 44th District, State Rep. Fred Crespo (D-44) switched parties in 2006 -- before he was elected. Crespo upset 22-year GOP incumbent Terry Parke by 915 votes. Peggy Brothman is challenging Crespo, but the incumbent is favored. Full Article...
July 2, 2008
BILL DALEY WOULD MAKE "TRIFECTA" AS GOVERNOR
It's a Shermanesque reversal: If mayoral brother Bill Daley runs for governor in 2010, he will be nominated; and, if nominated, he will be elected. Despite the putrid stink of corruption and incompetence emanating from the Blagojevich Administration, and the squabbling among legislative Democrats, Illinois is trending so heavily Democratic that anybody but Rod Blagojevich can beat any Republican for governor. Daley has some baggage: he had a messy divorce; he was president of Amalgamated Bank at the time it failed; and there is the perception that having the Daley Boys -- including Mayor Rich and County Board finance chairman John -- in control of all the levers of power in the city, county and state might be overmuch. But Blagojevich is overmuch. Voters will opt in 2010 for competence and incorruptibility. The Madigan Clan and the Hynes Clan are also eyeing the governorship, but a deal will be cut. The fate of Barack Obama looms large. If he's not elected president, he could run for governor, shuffling an already crowded field. Full Article...
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