January 25, 2006
"NOBODY" DEMOCRATS HAVE HOPES IN MARCH PRIMARIES
You can't beat somebody with nobody. But this year, on Chicago's Northwest Side and suburbs, March 21 Democratic primary contests feature nobody against nobody, and somebody against somebody. The much-hyped Frank Coconate, who spearheads the anti-Daley "Opposition 2007," which pledged to field anti-Daley aldermanic candidates in all Northwest Side wards, laid a gigantic egg. He was supposed to run a bunch of anti-Daley candidates in the 2006 primary. But he filed none, and then he withdrew himself as a candidate for 9th District state central committeeman, against Bill Marovitz. Coconate's credibility is now less than zero. Marovitz still faces Pat McDonough, who rips Marovitz's "Playboy values." State Senator Don Harmon, of Oak Park, who has been a Blagojevich backer, faces Mike Nardello, a "reform" Democrat. Incumbent Rich Bradley (D-40) represents a 47% Hispanic district, and he will lose to a Hispanic, but not in 2006. And in Niles Township, wannabe Governor Lou Lang, who has been a state representative for 19 years, and yearns for higher office, is running for township committeeman. Full Article...
January 18, 2006
"ENVIORMENT OF CORRUPTION" COULD DOOM BLAGOJEVICH IN '06
To paraphrase James Carville, "it's the corruption, stupid!" Voters are being bombarded, inundated and overwhelmed. Jack Abramoff, George Ryan, Jim Laski. The 2006 political environment will be dominated by the issue of corruption, and any candidate tarred by even the slightest appearance of impropriety is at risk. Gov. Rod Blagojevich promised in 2002 to be a "reformer," and to eradicate the "culture of corruption," but the only difference between him and George Ryan is that he has more hair, and is not indicted. It's still the Same Old Stuff in Springfield -- the so-called "pay to play" system of cronyism, favoritism and hypocrisy. Watch the March 21 primary. If challenger Ed Eisendrath gets 40% against Blagojevich, then the governor is in trouble. But the Republicans may not be able to exploit the issue. They need a crime-busting prosecutor (like Jim Thompson in 1976) to run for major office, and they don't have one. Full Article...
January 11, 2006
ALDERMANIC FOES HOPE FOR "UNDER-PERFORMING" IN '07
The prevailing buzzword in Washington is "under-performing." That means, given President Bush's problems (Iraq War, congressional scandals, gas prices), that Republican congressional candidates in 2006 could suffer a diminution in their customary vote -- perhaps as much as 10%. That could flip the House to the Democrats. But what about Mayor Rich Daley's travails? Scandal heaps atop scandal. Bush's popularity hovers under 50%, but Daley's is still over 60%. The yardstick is that any governing incumbent under 50% will cause damage to his party in local contests. In Chicago, the "Daley Party" rules. On the Northwest Side, every alderman is a Daley supporter, even though Brian Doherty (41st) digresses in spending and slavery issues. If there is an anti-Daley wave in 2007, causing the vote of Northwest Side aldermen to drop significantly, there could be a plethora of anti-Daley upset winners. See the attached 2007 ALDERMEN/MAYORAL VOTE CHART. Full Article...
January 4, 2006
2006 CANDIDATE FIELD FEATURES MANY ODDITIES
Oddities, dynasties and travesties abound, now that Illinois' candidate filing period has closed. John Stroger, with only one county board president foe (Forrest Claypool) is in dire jeopardy; his defeat would be a huge Daley embarrassment. Judge Aurie Pucinski is running for judge again. She wants to be a countywide judge so she can live in the Loop, and book from the Northwest Side. Well-Fed Ted Lechowicz, the pension hog, has passed his genes to his son, Ed, who is running for judge after 8 years as an attorney. The ever-loquacious Frank Coconate, who promises a stampede of anti-Daley candidates for alderman in 2007, failed to deliver any local candidates for 2006 primary. Barack Obama is emerging as a political boss, clearing the way for Alexi Giannoulias to run for state treasurer. Dan Lipinski is close to bungling his congressional re-election bid. And Harwood Heights Trustee Mark Dobrzycki, despite his many denials, is running against State Rep. Mike McAuliffe (R-20). Full Article...
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