May 28, 2025
"SHELF LIFE, AMBITION, OPPORTUNITY ABOUND IN 2026 ILLINOIS SENATE, HOUSE CONTESTS
It’s one thing to be getting old and quite another to have gotten old. Having political power is not age-defying. The question is when and how does one choose to go out? Three antiquated IL Democrats – senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-9) and (presumably) congressman Danny Davis (D-7), who are, respectively, age 80, 81 and 83, are bailing and not seeking re-election in 2006. For them an exit is sort of a disappointment because they didn’t achieve their most cherished goals. Durbin spent 30 years in the Senate, plus 14 in the House, but never became Majority Leader (D); Schakowsky spent 28 years in the House where she was a Nancy Pelosi crony, plus six as a state rep, but never made it to the Senate, and Davis spent 30 years in the House, plus seven as county commissioner and 11 as alderman, but never got his dream job, which is mayor. All should be commended. DON’T LET THE GRASS GROW UNDER YOUR FEET. Opportunity comes not to those who wait but rather to those who risk. A gaggle of state Democrats with big egos and an excess of pent-up ambition see great opportunity in 2026, especially in congressional contests. Otherwise, Collins could win with 15-18 percent. Burnett starts as frontrunner. Full Article...
May 21, 2025
"DEMOCRATS' (AND LEFT NEWS MEDIA'S) "CHICKEN LITTLE" HYSTERIA IS GETTING TIRESOME
The Sky Is Falling! The Sky Is Falling! That was the essence of a childhood parable wherein Chicken Little prophesized the end of the world after an acorn fell on its head. Eventually, everybody tuned out that stupid doom-saying chick. The moral of the story was that liars, particularly those who utter whoppers persistently, are soon revealed and ignored. The “Chicken Little” mind frame epitomizes the national Democratic Party and some of the left-leaning mainstream news media. For them, it seems, everything that President Donald Trump does or says is an abject and catastrophic outrage. Or so the media thought. Voters and voter stats proved otherwise (see CHART). Trump got 62,984,828 in 2016 and lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 5,858,686; he upped his vote by in 2020 but lost the popular vote (and presidency) to Biden by 7,059,726. But the key – and totally overlooked stat by the media – is that Trump got 14,317,752 more votes in 2024 than in 2016. After a decade of Trump-bashing the Trump Nation grew by 10 percent. Attached is a CHART with the 2016, 2020, 2024 presidential results. Full Article...
May 7, 2025
"GOSSIP & TRIVIA" ABOUT PRECKWINKLE, MARTWICK, REILLY, ARENA, RAMIREZ-ROSA
This week this columnist is on “spring break.” Lots of sun and libations. So I’m not writing the customary analysis. It’s time to empty my “In-Box” of inconsequential, irrelevant, idiotic, hypocritical drivel – which could fill two columns. So here’s a catalogue of the latest rumors, insipid gossip, inane trivia and generally forgettable stuff that our esteemed political ruling class is busily doing or not doing. And be forewarned, they’re not doing it in the interest of “serving” the public. Can you say “self-service”? And I don’t mean a supermarket check-out aisle. RUMOR ONE: REILLY VS. PRECKWINKLE? If Lori Lightfoot can beat county board president Toni Preckwinkle (D), as she did in the 2019 Chicago mayoral runoff by a thumping 73.7-26.3 percent margin, then why can’t Gold Coast alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd) do likewise in the March 2026 primary? Well, for first/second/third/fourth he’s a White guy/running against a Black woman/with 100 percent name recognition/while he’s unknown outside his ward. That’s why he is usually referred to as “Downtown Alderman Reilly.” RUMOR TWO: MARTWICK FOR JUDGE? “I would love to be a judge,” said state Senator Rob Martwick (D-10) but that he is “consumed” with his responsibilities in Springfield, especially on pension, budget and school issues. “I do not now have any plans” to run for judge in 2026 but he has a clear path if he wants to – via rather the front door (election) or backdoor (slating). RUMOR THREE: LaPOINTE GETS A CHAIR. Also appointed in 2019, LaPointe won easily in 2022 and 2024 after a close 2020 race. She is now the House Mental Health and Addiction Committee chairwoman. Martwick can keep his seat while running for judge and then resign. One false rumor is that new 45th Ward committeeperson (D) Michael Rabbitt would seek LaPointe’s seat. Rabbit lives in Edgebrook in Mike Kelly’s (D) 15th House District. “Impossible. I’m not moving,” he said. What’s not a rumor is that Rabbitt is definitely running for alderman in 2027 against Jim Gardiner. NON-RUMOR FOUR: A LOSER NO MORE! SOCIALISM AT THE PARK DISTRICT? Full Article...
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