September 24, 2014
VOTERS' REMORSE MEANS TOPINKA WILL TROUNCE SIMON
If a politician is going to lose an election, hope that the victor is somebody who is then later impeached, and/or indicted, convicted and jailed. Then, voters' remorse will give the loser a glorious second chance. Judy Baar Topinka (R) was the victim of Rod Blagojevich's (D) $25 million nasty, negative and sexist 2006 re-election campaign. "What is she thinking?" blared Blago's ads. Topinka lost 1,735,731-1,369,315. Blago then got his pay-to-play reward: prison. In 2010, Topinka staged a comeback. Lifted by a tide of remorse, she won the open Comptroller's race 1,927,139-1,487,263; she got 557,824 more votes in 2010 than she got in 2006. Now Topinka faces Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon (D), daughter of the late senator. Simon enunciates a litany of Topinka shortcomings, but it's hard to criticize a bookkeeper. Simon lacks both money and a persuasive message. Topinka is Illinois' Teflon Woman -- uncriticizeable and unbeatable. Topinka will beat Simon by 500,000 votes. Full Article...
September 17, 2014
REPUBLICANS MISSING-IN-ACTION IN COOK COUNTY RACES
If a baseball player were batting .064, meaning 13 hits in 202 at-bats, he would be alacritiously demoted to the minors, perhaps even Little League. If a baseball team had a winning record of .064, meaning 13 victories in 202 contests, their franchise would be b banished to Siberia. Yet, in Cook County, since 1962, in 202 contested countywide races, the Republicans have a winning record of .064; that's 13 wins in 202 races. And, in 2014, that percentage will sink further; Republicans did not even field candidates for sheriff, county board president, treasurer, assessor or clerk, nor for 10 judtgeships. At least the White Sox have a 2014 winning percentage of .459 and the Cubs of .439. But a few Republicans are not missing-in-action. The non-MIAs are the No-Q Boys, as in non-quit. Three are running for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) -- Cary Capparelli, Herb Schumann and Jim Parilli. Capparelli is the son of a former Northwest Side Democratic state representative, and Schumann is a former county commissioner working for the Board of Review. Unless one gets at least 5% of the vote (which they will, likely about 30%), there will be no Republican line on the 2016 ballot. The Republicans' problem is simple: Democrats carry Cook County by upwards of 500,000 votes in EVERY election; Quinn won by 500,000 in 2010, and Obama by 1.2 million in 2012. So who wants to run and lose? In the U.S. Senate race, Jim Oberweis (R) is running a timid, but competitive contest against incumbent Dick Durbin (D). But Durbin will win Cook County by 750,000, and get a fourth term. Full Article...
September 10, 2014
REPUBLICANS TARGET U.S. REPRESETNATIVES SCHNEIDER, ENYART, BOUSTOS
Once elected to a congressional seat, it takes a herculean effort to lose it. Absent scandal, fluke, or a "wave" for the opposition party, a U.S. Representative is exceedingly tough to unseat. In Illinois, 4 first-term Democrats, all elected in the 2012 Obama sweep, are at some risk. Most likely to lose is Downstater Bill Enyart (D), who represents a Southern Illinois district. Obama won by 4,553 votes; Enyart is toast. Next on the list is Brad Schneider (D-10), from the Cook County North Shore and eastern Lake County area. Schneider won by just 3,326 votes in 2012, while Obama won the district by 44,848 votes. Predecessor Bob Dold (R) is running again, has raised $2.3 million, and will beat the uninspiring Schneider if turnout is under 210,000. In other races, incumbent first-term Democrats Tammy Duckworth, Bill Foster and Cheri Bustos are favored. Full Article...
September 3, 2014
UNIONS' HEAVY SPENDING BOOSTS SPOSATO, ARENA
Alliances are changing fast and furious in developing Chicago aldermanic races in the northwest side 38th and 45th Wards. Ald. Nick Sposato (36th),who is running in the 38th Ward, "is one of our top targets to protect, " said a public sector union official. The Cullterton Clan and Mayor Emanuel's "Chicago Forward." SuperPAC will pour money behind Heather Sattler, daughter of a former aldermanic staffer. A similar battle is underway in the 45th Ward where unions will flood the ward with mailings on behalf of Ald. John Arena, and the Emanuel forces will do likewise to boost "45th Ward Mom" Michelle Baert. 2011 loser John Garrido's candidacy clouds the contrast, insuring a runoff. Spending in each ward will easily surpass $700,000.00, with most coming from SuperPACs. It's unions versus Rahm. Full Article...
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