First, the editorial:
Many Democrats yearned for a choice in the March 21 primary for governor. They deserved a credible alternative to Blagojevich–at least they deserved to hear the governor have to explain himself.
So when Edwin Eisendrath announced his candidacy Dec. 18, he engendered great hope. He seemed to have the smarts, the gumption and the public resume to provide a worthy, if long-shot, challenge.
So what’s Eisendrath been doing for the last 10 weeks? Not much.
Blagojevich’s $15.5 million campaign juggernaut has been rumbling down the road, and so far Eisendrath has served no greater purpose than that of a speed bump.
He and the governor met Friday with the Tribune editorial board. Eisendrath was asked where, precisely, to find his campaign. He replied: “Certainly a lot of it is [on the] Internet, which is kind of hard to see and feel. But that’s it. It’s not a big, traditional parade, rah-rah campaign.”
No kidding. Not only are the parade floats missing, so is the waving candidate.
Now, the translation:
“We really don’t want to endorse Rod, but EE is giving us no choice because he’s such a mope. And we’re flippin’ angry about this. Edwin, get in the game or get out!”
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- Anon - Monday, Feb 27, 06 @ 5:51 am:
Betcha they wind up going with “no endorsement”
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 27, 06 @ 6:29 am:
5:51…
It would be a heck of a slap in the face for a Chicagocentric ‘governor’ not receive the largest Chicago newspaper endorsement.
- Anon - Monday, Feb 27, 06 @ 6:40 am:
6:29…
Maybe–but it won’t matter in the primary because he’s running unopposed (well, as good as…). And in the general, the Trib. endorsing Topinka, or any of the other Repbulican candidates (with the possible exception of Oberweis), is a foregone conclusion.
- BackyardConservative - Monday, Feb 27, 06 @ 7:44 am:
The Trib should not endorse if a candidate is clearly incompentent.
- Pat Hickey - Monday, Feb 27, 06 @ 7:51 am:
Dear Backyard Conservative,
Did you see the Trib’s ‘endorsement’ of Lipinski???????? John T. Kelly is no mystery. He will represent the people who ARE his neighbors. John Kelly can tell you what street he lives on and he also told the bloviating dopes at the Trib exactly what he thought of their snotty implications. Now that’s Statesmanship!
- Skeeter - Monday, Feb 27, 06 @ 8:59 am:
First, Blago has made some dumb political moves, but he has also made some impressive moves. Health insurance for children? I still can’t believe that the “Pro-Lifers” oppose that. Early education? Same story.
Despite that, a lot of us never felt the man had the real leadership skills or even the intellect for the job. We would have liked to have seen a real challenger. That didn’t happen. It would have been nice to see a good race.
To the person who talked about the Tribune endorsing somebody from Chicago: Please read the paper. You don’t have the slighest clue what you are talking about. The Trib consistently endorses Republicans.
- Kirk - Monday, Feb 27, 06 @ 9:07 am:
We should all be so lucky as to have Skeete’s wisdom…or paranoia..not sure which it is now adays.
- Darrell Democrat - Monday, Feb 27, 06 @ 9:18 am:
Desperate for some alternative to the incumbent, I contacted the EE campaign via their website on Feb. 17. I asked if they have a downstate office, offered to put up yard signs (I have the hardware). To date? No reply, 2 campaign “update” emails.
I just checked the “Where’s Edwin?” link on the page, and he’s set for an event Thursday and Friday.
Maybe he’s gone quail hunting to relieve the stress of such a rigorous campaign.
Ugh!
- Anon - Monday, Feb 27, 06 @ 9:23 am:
I’ve been following “where’s Edwin” from the time he set up the website. Let’s just say that we don’t have to worry about him being a workaholic.
- donchicago48 - Monday, Feb 27, 06 @ 12:01 pm:
Gov Blago’s All-Kids program, while seemingly politically attractive, offers little explanation of where the money to fund the program will be found, but I’m hiding my wallet. This program is typical of the broad but shallow approach to issues that results from “Governor by press conference and polls”. If the Governor really wanted to address health care issues, he would talk about reforming the out of control Medicaid and Medicare programs in Illinois. But instead, he’s too busy pandering to his “immigrant community” (AKA ILLEGAL immigrants) “who are negatively affected by federal immigration policy.” (AKA immigration STATUTES). His so-called ‘New American Executive Order’ is nothing but vote-buying and promotion of voter registration fraud on a huge scale.
- DOWNSTATE - Monday, Feb 27, 06 @ 12:31 pm:
Well you know when this guy first stepped up there was a rumor that he was set up to take votes from JBT.Maybe that is why he is missing all the time.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Feb 27, 06 @ 3:12 pm:
Rich’s interpretation is correct. Regarding primaries, the Tribune endorses candidates that have shown either promise or incumbants that have proven themselves. It doesn’t matter at this stage what party they are in.
Withholding an endorsement of our Chicago governor is simplying seeing past this guy’s promises and looking at reality.
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 27, 06 @ 7:00 pm:
I read this editorial and thought that puffery is clueless. I truly wish the EE would campaign more.
- Ray Coleman - Monday, Feb 27, 06 @ 7:29 pm:
Eisendrath could score good in some areas in the Metro East, but so far nothing is shaking.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 28, 06 @ 4:35 am:
Skeeter is right. However, while everyone knows that the Virility King’s plans for health benefits and early schooling for children are both worthwhile causes, THERE IS NO MONEY TO SUPPORT THEM, PERIOD. Our grandchildren will end up paying for their own pre-school attendance in the future.
There isn’t even any money to print up all the forms,etc. involved in these programs which is why they are being farmed out to state print shops all around the state, to spread the cost over various agency budgets. It’s simply that this governor’s campaign is being paid for by the taxpayers through the work done by state agencies. His warchest will remain intact for his hoped-for national run. Taxpayes then be left holding the bag for programs that we can’t afford to activate.