August 29, 2007
GENE MOORE REJECTS "MIKE VICK SYNDROME"
Embattled Gene Moore, the black Cook County Recorder, insists that he is not the political equivalent of NFL quarterback Michael Vick, who recently pled guilty to felony dogfighting charges. Yet some ward and township Democratic committeemen, who will meet Sept. 7-8 to craft the Democrats' 2008 county slate, feel that Moore has committed a similarly egregiouis sin: He lost his 2006 bid for re-election as Proviso Township committeeman. They figure that if he can't even maintain his political base, then he doesn't deserve to be a county officeholder -- of which there are 17. Moore fires back that Dorothy Brown, the black Clerk of the Circuit Court, is not about to be dumped -- even though she ran for mayor against Rich Daley in 2007. Is that not an even greater sin? St. Rep. Karen Yarbrough, of Maywood, who beat Moore in 2006, was primed to run for Recorder, and had commitments from 28 of 30 township committeemen, plus the support of IL House Speaker Mike Madigan. But she withdrew in favor of Ald. Ed Smith (28th), from the West Side. Smith is a frequent Daley supporter, and well-respected, but slatemaking is in flux. Suburban committeemen are gravitating back to Moore. In the 32nd Ward, Democratic committeeman Terry Gabinski is resigning, and handing off the job to defeated Ald. Ted Matlak. Full Article...
August 22, 2007
OBAMA'S COATTAILS MAY PROPEL BROOKIN'S WIN
The Big, Black Barack Machine may be in a position to catapult the obscure black 21st Ward Chicago Alderman, Howard Brookins, into the Cook County State's Attorney's office in 2008. Illinois' U.S. Sen. Barack Obama may not win the Feb. 5, 2008 presidential primary, but his presence on the ballot will elicit a huge outpouring of black voters, and that will insure Brookins' nomination in a primary with several white contenders, including County Comr. Larry Suffredin and Ald. Tom Allen (38th). Cook County is 27% black, and the black vote in a Democratic countywide primary is over 35%. In the last four Democratic presidential-year primaries (1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004), the average Cook County turnout was 677,000, the average turnout in Chicago's 20 black-majority wards was 175,000, and the average turnout in the five black-majority suburban townships was 55,000. That means Brookins, if he solidifies his black base, has at least 230,000 votes; if he can pick up another 70,000 -- in Oak Park, Evanston, and along the Lakefront, running as the "reform" candidate -- his 300,000 is enough to win. Brookins has promised to "investigate corruption in city and county government" -- an endeavor wholly lacking during the 12-year tenure of outgoing State's Attorney Dick Devine. If Brookins succeeds Devine, he's on a track to be Chicago's mayor in 2011 or 2015. Full Article...
August 15, 2007
STONE, CAPPARELLI FACE COMMITTEEMAN CONTEST
Unlike the character in the movie "The Highlander," politicians don't live forever. And, concerning Chicago Alderman Berny Stone (50th) and ex-State Representative Ralph Capparelli, they'll be blessed if their ancient political careers survive beyond 2008. They are, respectively, the Democratic committeemen from the 50th and 41st wards, and they face tough competition in the 2/5/08 primary. Stone has been alderman since 1973, and was re-elected in 2007 by 661 votes; Capparelli has been committeeman since 1992, and was a legislator from 1971 to 2004. Stone will face his protege, State Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-8), who bemoans the crumbling of the once-potent 50th Ward Democrats. Stone had to bring in an out-of-ward manager and many workers to beat Naisy Dolar. As always, the voluable Stone has a sound bite: "Why didn't (Ira) talk to me. Where's his guts?" The 50th Ward is no longer a Jewish bulwark. Silverstein is running to protect his base, and his future electability. In the 41st, Capparelli said he will "step aside" for certain replacements, but none will run. Mary O'Connor and Frank Coconate will run. Coconate calls O'Connor a "shill" for Republican Ald. Brian Doherty (41st). But the 36th/41st Ward Non-Aggression Pact between Democrats Bill Banks and Jim DeLeo and Republicans Doherty, Mike McAuliffe and Pete Silvestri may be fatal to Capparelli, who has $293,056 on-hand...but probably won't spend it. Full Article...
August 8, 2007
DEMOCRATS' '08 REFRAIN:BLAME THE REPUBLICANS
Consider this trajectory, from Oct. 2006 to present: "Democrats ready to lead and govern," says Nancy Pelosi. Democrats win U.S. House and Pelosi is speaker. Democrats to enact agenda in 100 hours, but fail. Now it's 200 days. Republicans accuse Democrats of controlling a "do nothing" Congress. Democrats blame Republicans in Senate for blocking House bills. Congress' approval ratings are lower than the president's, and Democrats are confused and concerned. Might they lose -- not gain -- seats as Democrats win the White House in 2008? In Illinois, Democrats have already conceded the 6th, 14th and 18th Districts. Peter Roskam (R-6) won't face Tammy Duckworth in 2008. In ex-Speaker Dennis Hastert's district (14), the most credible Democrat, State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, won't run. In the open 18th, around Peoria, State Sen. John Sullivan, the Democrats' top choice, won't run. In the North Shore 10th, Republican Mark Kirk will face an "anti-war" Democrat, likely Dan Seals, who got 46.6% in 2006; if Iraq is unresolved in Nov. 2008, Kirk could lose. And the Lil' Lipper, Dan Lipinski (D-3), faces a primary challenge from Mark Pera, who will use the Sneaky Selection and Lipinski's social conservatism against him. The 2006-2007 U.S. House VOTE CHART is accessible on this website. Full Article...
August 1, 2007
BENCHMARK, TIMETABLE WON'T BEAT DURBIN IN '08
Benchmarks, timetables and deadlines are as applicable to Illinois as they are to Iraq. Republicans would dearly love to eradicate Democrat Dick Durbin from the U.S. Senate, as the unctuous senior senator from Illinois has a talent for inane comments and partisanship. Congress is held in lower esteem than the president, and Durbin is in the leadership. But Democrats have won 8 of the past 9 Senate races in Illinois, and Durbin won with 56.1% in 1996 and 60.3% in 2002. Senate Democrats have complied an anemic record of accomplishment: Immigration reform, ethics, energy policy have gone nowhere. On Iraq, the Democrats passed war funding and a 3/08 withdrawal timetable. Republicans have set a benchmark of August 2007 to find a candidate for 2008, a deadline to raise money, and a timetable to promote Durbin's foe. So far, only Jim Nalepa and Steve Sauerberg have shown interest in running. Durbin has $6 million on-hand. Don't expect Durbin to be dumped in 2008. The roll-call votes of Durbin and Barack Obama can be found on the 2006-2007 U.S. SENATE VOTE CHART, which can be accessed on this website. Full Article...
Previous Articles