January 31, 2018
"UNBECOMING" MAY BE CAUSE FOR SILVERSTEIN'S UNDOING
What you don't say (or text or email) you don't have to later explain. A retired probate judge had a big sign on his bench: SILENCE IS NOT BAD. The campaign of beleaguered St. Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-8) got two boosts in late January. First, he was not knocked off the ballot. He filed 1,996 nominating petition signatures, and 994 were ruled invalid, putting him two over the minimum threshold; that decision is being reviewed by the Circuit Court, which will stall his fundraising for most of February -- after all, who gives money to a candidate who may not be on the ballot? And second, the legislature's Inspector General (IG) made a finding that a deluge of emails between Silverstein and a female lobbyist did not constitute sexual harassment, but were instead just flirtatious -- but nevertheless "unbecoming conduct" for a legislator. Silverstein has been cut adrift by his party, and faces a tough primary against Ram Villivalam, a former SEIU Healthcare lobbyist who is campaigning diligently and had raised over $133,000 in 2017. Full Article...
January 24, 2018
"TATTLER" DURBIN CUTS WIDE SWATH IN WASHINGTON
Some belated, albeit useful advice for President Trump: Never, ever put US Sen Dick Durbin (D-IL) in the chair next to you at any important White House meeting -- because he will immediately tattle to the news media anything you say, said off the record, or even didn't say at all. Witness the flap about so-called "____-hole nations." Durbin is the Senate minority whip, and his sole goal in life is to score points for the Democrats. In contemporary Washington, there is no negotiation, no compromise. Durbin has been senator since 1996, and before that 14 years as a House member. His is Illinois' longest-serving senator since 1912. His critics call him "Tricky Dicky," but Illinois voters don't seem to be concerned. Full Article...
January 17, 2018
ANTI-TRUMP "ANGER" FUELS 2018 CHALLENGE TO ROSKAM
Hell hath no fury like a liberal -- who are now known as a "progressive" -- scorned. US Sen Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sputters that her voters are "angry." Well, didn't President Trump get elected in 2016 because his supporters were "angry"? But it is important to note that "angry" liberals are righteous, while "angry" conservatives are stupid and bigoted. We all know that. Democrats are down 193-239 in the US House, and need to win in 25 Republican-held seats in 2018 to get a majority and make Nancy Pelosi speaker again, thereby gridlocking Trump for the remainder of his presidency. The top Illinois target is US Rep Peter Roskam (R-6), although 3 others are targeted. A huge anti-Trump "wave" is needed to beat them. Full Article...
January 10, 2018
KENNEDY'S "SEPARATION" IS HELPFUL IN GOVERNOR'S RACE
Chris Kennedy, along with Bill Daley, have been the proverbial Hamlets of Illinois politics for over two decades. To run or not to run? That was the biennial question. Kennedy, scion of the East Coast Kennedy Clan, always answered by vacillating, equivocating and prevaricating. He has been playing coy so long that nobody ever bothers to ask anymore...and now that he is running for governor, nobody gives the “Nowhere Man” much of a chance. Full Article...
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