Russ Stewart
Attorney at Law & Political Analyst

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...

June 18, 2008 CORRECTION In Russ Stewart's June 18 column on "A Tale of Three Cities," former Lincolnwood mayoral candidate Bertha Gimbel was quoted as stating that "Irv and Sally Blackman and Paul Eisterhold really run the town." Gimbel says that she meant to say that they run the Lincolnwood Alliance Party, which runs the town. Eisterhold is a former, not current, zoning board chairman. Gimbel also said that she has not encouraged Trustee Yehuda Lebovits to run for mayor in 2009.

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...

June 25, 2008 "TUMOR REMOVERS" AIM FOR GOVERNOR IN 2010 It's a political, not a surgical procedure. And a whole bunch of Illinois politicians are ready, willing and able to become "tumor removers" in 2010. Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan's recent memo on the possible impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich stated that "criminal activity" in the governor's administration has been "proven," and that he is now a "tumor" on the body politic. Madigan set forth three reasons for impeachment, but the Illinois Constitution does not stipulate a "cause" -- unlike the "high crimes and misdemeanors" provision of the U.S. Constitution. The Illinois House is empowered to investigate, and can impeach by a majority vote, sending it to the IL Senate for trial, where a 2/3rds majority is needed to convict and remove from office. Is Madigan being disingenuous, and bluffing? He has the votes to impeach (a 67-51 majority). But he doesn't want Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn in the top job, especially since daughter (and Atty. Gen.) Lisa Madigan is ready to run for governor in 2010. Republicans want a special committee to do the investigating; Madigan would likely send it to Jack Franks' government affairs committee. Everybody except Quinn wants to keep the "tumor" alive and in office until 2010, when they can all attack it with their scalpels.   full article...