June 30, 2004
"STATURE" IS CRITICAL FOR REPLACEMENT CANDIDATES
Jack Ryan is a goner. The so-called "sex scandal" which precipitated his demise is comparatively lame, if not laughable. So he took his Hollywood actress wife to sex clubs, and nothing happened. That's a "scandal"? Now Ryan, after spending $3.5 million of his own money (out of a total of $4.9 million), has quit Illinois' U.S. Senate race. The Republicans will replace him, but therein lies the quandary. The "replacement" must have some stature. That means ex-governors Jim Thompson or Jim Edgar. The recent Senate contests in New Jersey and Minnesota give some guidance: A "replacement" candidate of "stature" wins when his opponent is not credible. Ditto in Illinois: In the 1952 and 1956 governor's races, the "replacement" Democrat lost both, because he lacked stature. Democrat Barack Obama is credible and popular. Could either Thompson or Edgar beat him? And if neither runs, is the contest over? Full Article...
June 23, 2004
"CHEESEHEAD" POLITICS IS DIFFERENT THAN ILLINOIS'
Cheesehead -- meaning Wisconsin -- politics is much different than Illinois'. The Democratic governor has a Republican legislature, and is trying to hike spending. There may be two (there is already one) gay U.S. Representatives from Wisconsin. The mayor of Milwaukee resigned after settling a sexual harassment suit for $350,000. Black Republicans are rising to prominence. And in Milwaukee, blacks live on the North Side, not the South Side. But there are few similarities: The replacement mayor was black, and he lost his bid to keep the Milwaukee post to a white. After the lost, his wife decried the city's "racism." Shades of the Chicago "Council Wars." And popular Republican governor Tommy Thompson (now the U.S. HHS Secretary), who served for 14 years (the same tenure as Illinois' Jim Thompson), may try a comeback in 2006. Full Article...
June 16, 2004
"GANG OF FOUR" ROILS HARWOOD HEIGHTS POLITICS
Harwood Heights, along with Norridge and Norwood Park Township, used to be the Land of Milk and Honey. That's because so many public officials were paid so much to do so little. But now they've seceded, and Harwood Heights is now the Land of Megalomania and Pettiness. The Gang of Four -- trustees led by Marge Fuller -- has taken over governing and stripped Mayor Norb Pabich of all personnel and financial power. Their Harwood Heights High-jinks are becoming common knowledge throughout the village, and they're not covering themselves with glory. Full Article...
June 9, 2004
IRAQ SITUATION IMPACTS ON BLAGOJEVICH POPULARITY
Governor Rod Blagojevich is indisputably a great candidate and a great campaigner. But, as governor, he's been a great flop. Blagojevich is addicted to polls, and his campaign pays $1,000 a day to test the wind. The governor's grand strategy is a replication of Bill Clinton's: bait, fight, attack, blame, and constantly stir the public's mood, positioning himself on the popular side of every issue. But the Iraq situation has altered the public's perceptions of their leaders. With strife, death and confusion in Baghdad, voters don't want strife, bickering and budgetary confusion in Springfield. Blagojevich has 30 more months in his term, but unless he baits and fights less, and governs more, he'll be a one-termer. Full Article...
June 2, 2004
SHADOWS HANG OVER VETERAN CONGRESSMEN
Chicago's so-called "white ethnic" wards on the city's far Northwest and far Southwest rims are alike in many ways -- rising housing prices, tons of city workers, powerful pro-Daley Democratic politicians. But they are unalike in one major way: The far Southwest Side is racially integrated, and large numbers of blacks are buying homes in the Beverly neighborhood -- without prompting "white flight" to the suburbs. The black population on the Northwest Side is still negligible. And there's another difference: Generational change is precipitating political upheaval on the Southwest Side, with Tom Hynes' 19th Ward in the throes of demographic and political change, and with Congressman Bill Lipinski possibly quitting for an RTA job. Full Article...
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