October 28, 2015
BROWN'S DUMPING WON'T IMPROVE CLERK OF COURT'S PERFORMANCE
The Democrats' August slating of Cook County candidates was a farce - a done deal. The October 23, 2015 unslating of Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown was an even bigger farce. With the FBI investigating Brown and her husband, party bosses figured it was time to bail. With 1,800 jobs and a $100 million budget, the Clerk's office is a pleasant dumping ground for committeemens' precinct workers, friends, and family. The office is technology-challenged, with limited ECF (electronic case filing). Michelle Harris, a South Side alderman with a pedigree as part of John Stoger's 8th Ward Democratic organization, will replace Brown on the slate. That's progress: From worst to just bad. Full Article...
October 21, 2015
ANDRADE, MOYLAN, MURPHY FACE TOUGH 2016 CONTESTS
Politics, politics and more politics. How about another 55 weeks? With the Nov. 30 petition filing deadline approaching, some key state legislative races are developing. Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) has $30 million in his SuperPAC, and will spend it on Republican candidates; Speaker Mike Madigan (D) and Senate President John Cullerton (D) will spend another $15 million aiding Democrats. The 28th Senate District (Park Ridge-Des Plaines-Schaumburg-Bartlett) will be inundated with over $1 million in outside-source spending, with appointed incumbent Laura Murphy (D) facing Mel Thillens (R); it's the Drab versus the Dull, but somebody has to win. In the 55th House Dist., Marty Moylan (D) faces a challenge from Dan Gott (R), who will use SB 318 (a property tax freeze) as a club; the bill passed Cullerton's Senate, but Madigan has stalled it in the House -- and Gott will blame Moylan. Expect $1 million to be spent. In the Chicago 40th Dist., State Rep. Jaime Andrade (D) is lucky his surname is not Mell. Harish Patel, a self-described "community organizer" is running in the primary, and is attacking the crumbling organization of Dick Mell, of whom Andrade is a protégé. There are some ward committeeman races surfacing. Full Article...
October 14, 2015
REPUBLICANS' U.S. SENATE MAJORITY IN JEOPARDY
How ironic would it be if a Republican won the presidency in 2016, but Republicans lost their 54-46 U.S. Senate majority? The Republican national agenda would be DOA. Gridlock would persist for 4 years. Republicans will likely lose seats in Wisconsin and Illinois, with Florida, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Arizona at varying degrees of risk. The only Republican pick-up opportunity is Nevada. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) is a goner. At best, Republicans will have a 51-49 majority. Full Article...
October 7, 2015
SCHNEIDER USING IRAN DEAL TO GET OBAMA SEPARATION, BEAT DOLD
In Illinois' 10th Dist., Brad Schneider (D) has concluded that Israel's security is more important than "global security." Schneider, who is Jewish, opposes the Obama Administration's much-hyped Iran nuclear deal. As a result, he's being dissed by some heavyweight Jewish and non-Jewish politicians for "abandoning" Obama. The incumbent congressman is Bob Dold (R), a FOI -- Friend of Israel. The "deal" is supposed to delay the Iranians' ability to nuke Tel Aviv for 10-15 years, instead of 2-3 years. Schneider beat Dold in 2012, but lost in 2014. Schneider faces Highland Park Nancy Rotering (D) in the 3/15/16 primary. Rotering is pro-deal. They're both liberals. Dold is a moderate, socially liberal Republican, with plenty of campaign cash. Schneider is no cinch to beat Rotering. What's he up to? He's trying to get some much-needed separation from Obama, whom he slavishly supported in the House during 2013-14. Dold can win if Hillary's victory margin in the 10th is under 55%. Full Article...
Previous Articles