* These two gentlemen have been going at each other for years. I don’t think there’s a bigger in-district war between legislators of the same party than the 5th Senate, except for maybe the age-old Jacobs-Boland war in the Quad Cities. When Rep. Turner decided to run for lt. governor, so did Sen. Hendon. And, therefore, it’s no surprise that they’re bickering today…
State Sen. Rickey Hendon once rented an apartment from state Rep. Art Turner, and neither lieutenant governor candidate disputes that. But the two West Side Democrats don’t agree on why Hendon left.
“He has the unique distinction of being the second person I’ve ever evicted,” Turner said.
“It’s just simply not true,” Hendon said. “I lived in one of Art’s buildings [in North Lawndale]. I moved from there to an apartment on Lake Shore Drive. Clearly, I can afford rent.
“I didn’t even stay there two months — rats and roaches, that kind of thing.”
Fliers comparing Ald. Toni Preckwinkle to Aunt Jemima are being distributed in the South Side.
The fliers, designed to resemble parking tickets and placed beneath windshield wipers, are addressed to “Registered Voters and Concerned Citizens of Chicago” and include a photo of the 4th Ward alderwoman captioned by the phrase “Aunt Jemima On the Meter Box.”
* Rep. Suzie Bassi is under fire for her “Present” votes, and rightly so…
The flyer states Bassi, 64, voted “present” 1,198 times between 2000 and 2004, more than any other legislator in Illinois history to Morrison’s knowledge. Bassi vehemently denies the claim, saying her official voting record shows she cast 161 “present” votes.
The discrepancy stems from the number of votes the House may cast as a single bill progresses. Bassi’s count reflects her official record, which tallies only final votes. The 34-year-old Morrison’s figures - released by Bassi opponent Pat Sutarik in 2004 - include votes on early versions of a law.
My goodness that’s a lot. And it seems fair to me that her opponent is counting all the votes, not just final passage.
* You can’t just rip off somebody’s song and not expect problems…
The campaign manager for 8th Congressional District candidate Joe Walsh said the campaign will not stop using a music video that rock star Joe Walsh’s lawyers have said is a flagrant copyright violation.
“We’re not taking it down,” Walsh campaign manager Jim Thacker said Wednesday.
Thacker said that attorney Peter Paterno, who wrote the letter concerning the music video, talked to candidate Walsh and indicated the letter was “tongue in cheek” and that he would ask Eagles’ guitarist Joe Walsh “if he really cared” about the music video.
But Howard King, of the Los Angeles law firm of King, Holmes, Paterno & Berliner LLP, said Wednesday the letter demanding that the Republican candidate stop using the song and video was anything but a joke.
* Sun-Times political reporter Abdon Pallasch has a funny story on his Facebook page…
I’m saving this message from my editor Scott Fornek. Set-up: I’m sitting on the operating table waiting for the happy juice to kick in so they can straighten the clavicle the fencepost smashed while I was sledding and I confirm Bob Schillerstrom is dropping out of the governor’s race to endorse Jim Ryan. Despite computer problems, we post the story before the Trib, prompting my editor’s message: “Are you planning on filing any stories during surgery?”
Abdon is a real trooper, man. He also has a story today about a judicial race…
Judge Jim Epstein takes an unusual step in his race for Illinois Appellate Court Tuesday. He runs a television ad with a photo of one of his opponents. That photo of Judge Jim Ryan fades away as Epstein clarifies that he’s “a little different” from the other candidates in his race.
Epstein is highly rated by the bar groups and is a former president of the Illinois Judges Association. Judge Kathleen Kennedy, another candidate in the race, also got high ratings. Their three opponents did not.
Epstein said he doesn’t want voters to confuse his opponent Ryan, 43, former general counsel to Sheriff Michael Sheahan, with Jim Ryan, 63, the former attorney general running for governor in the Republican primary.
“In judicial races, people go in without a clear idea of who’s running, and they see a familiar name — that name may get a vote whether it’s attached to the person they think it is or not,” Epstein said.
* Speaking of reporters, the Cook County Board passed a resolution this week praising the late, great CLTV political reporter Carlos Hernandez Gomez. Typically, though, the goofs at the county board screwed something up. Emphasis added for obvious reasons…
…in this position, he displayed his trademark energetic and irrelevant style
Idiots. I’m sure Carlos would’ve gotten a chuckle out of it, though. See the whole thing for yourself by clicking here.
* More controversy and a roundup…
* Monique Davis: I’ll give back university’s missing statue - Chicago rep says she’ll return $25,000 bronze of African slave to Chicago State
* GOP tries to keep Hebda campaign official: Republican Cynthia Hebda will stay off the primary ballot for the suburban 59th District legislative seat despite a late-campaign attempt to keep the Vernon Hills trustee in the race.
* Sente says robocalls about her stance on guns are lies
I just got a mailer from Ald. Schulter, and while it is clear that his campaign fund paid for it, he uses the city seal/city letterhead to endorse his candidate for state rep. I doubt anyone will challenge it, but you are correct, it is not legal to use the city seal in that manner.
Naw, I don’t have much time for tv lately. Was there tape of Ben calling Stroger incompetent?
- A matter of trust - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:48 pm:
Does anyone find it interesting that it is Democrats that are utilizing race and class warfare to attack each other? According to Democrats it is the Republicans that play this game.
===Did Hendon just admit to giving up residency===
CST wrote that this is a “decades-old dispute.” Not sure if he meant the eviction or the fight. I didn’t write anything above because I needed to talk to him first.
the walsh video is pretty lame. Plus it always irks me when candidates have to declare the fact that they are patriots.
- Third Generation Chicago Native - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 1:03 pm:
If Bill missed the Ben Franklin in the TV ads rest assured the group targeted in this Auntie J ad did.
Disgustingly low. The question of the day should be how low can the Soldiers for Stroger go?
- Will County Woman - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 1:04 pm:
so is it safe to think that daley is backing toni p. in order to keep the county board prez seat black to ensure safe(r) passage for him to run for mayor again in 2011?
if so, i just don’t know why he wants to run for mayor again. 20 years is more than enough for everbody, so far as he is concerned. a new decade and Chicago needs to start moving in a new direction. seriously.
- Will County Woman - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 1:06 pm:
forgot to add..
so, dot brown and ter o’brien really were put up by madigan?
- And I Approved This Message - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 1:06 pm:
I don’t get the point of the flier (if there is one.) Preckwinkle opposed the parking meter deal. What am I missing?
Some posters on this site continue to question the use and relevance of having Ben Frankin on Preckwinkel’s ads. For those voters who are the products of depression era parents or grandparents Ben F. resonates! We were raised on a steady diet of “Waste Not Want Not”, A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned” and “A Stitch In Time Saves Nine. I think those “cheesy” but fiscally savvy ads by Preckwinkel are in large part the reason she is ahead.
Why Franklin?
Preckwinkle used an old video of Ben Franklin where he talks about having to fire Todd Stroger beacuse Stroger lost his kite and key!
- Will County Woman - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 2:22 pm:
agreed. it helps toni only if she doesn’t freak out and start acting crazy about it. if she remains dignified, calm and simply dismisses it as unfortunate she will continue to do just fine, and will swing voters her way who will appreciate her common sense and above the fray response.
A big “ooof”, Rich. That Joe Walsh ad is worse than the Dorothy Brown ad. My junior high school kid’s class produces better video than that Walsh drek. Not really that good? It’s flat out horrible!
- Good Thinkin' Lincoln - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 3:44 pm:
More stunts… I heard some group is doing Robo-Calls claiming to be from ChicagoNOW for Jim Madigan in the race against Heather Steans. While ChicagoNOW (not the PAC - they endorsed Steans) has endorsed Madigan, its not them doing the calls - they are furious some group is using their name.
- HiFi - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:17 pm:
If that’s the City of Chicago seal on the upper left hand side of that flier, it’s not just dirty politics, it’s a crime.
- Billy - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:20 pm:
Seems to me that the 5th Senate District in no way borders up on Lake Shore Drive.
- just sayin' - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:26 pm:
Copyright issues aside, I actually like the Walsh video, except it goes on way too long.
- Scooby - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:38 pm:
I’m not sure Art Turner understands how to use the word “unique”:
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:39 pm:
HiFi,
I just got a mailer from Ald. Schulter, and while it is clear that his campaign fund paid for it, he uses the city seal/city letterhead to endorse his candidate for state rep. I doubt anyone will challenge it, but you are correct, it is not legal to use the city seal in that manner.
- Bill - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:44 pm:
What’s Ben Franklin doing on the flier? I didn’t think he was African-American. What is Ben running for?
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:45 pm:
Lol Bill. I thought it was the Quaker Oats guy at first, thinking the Soldiers were obsessed with breakfast — pancakes, oatmeal, etc.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:46 pm:
===What’s Ben Franklin doing on the flier?===
Preckwinkle featured BF in a TV ad. You must’ve missed it, Bill.
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:46 pm:
Did Hendon just admit to giving up residency in his district, which would normally mean forfeiting his seat?
- Bill - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:48 pm:
Naw, I don’t have much time for tv lately. Was there tape of Ben calling Stroger incompetent?
- A matter of trust - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:48 pm:
Does anyone find it interesting that it is Democrats that are utilizing race and class warfare to attack each other? According to Democrats it is the Republicans that play this game.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:49 pm:
===Did Hendon just admit to giving up residency===
CST wrote that this is a “decades-old dispute.” Not sure if he meant the eviction or the fight. I didn’t write anything above because I needed to talk to him first.
- hawksfan - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:58 pm:
the walsh video is pretty lame. Plus it always irks me when candidates have to declare the fact that they are patriots.
- Third Generation Chicago Native - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 1:03 pm:
If Bill missed the Ben Franklin in the TV ads rest assured the group targeted in this Auntie J ad did.
Disgustingly low. The question of the day should be how low can the Soldiers for Stroger go?
- Will County Woman - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 1:04 pm:
so is it safe to think that daley is backing toni p. in order to keep the county board prez seat black to ensure safe(r) passage for him to run for mayor again in 2011?
if so, i just don’t know why he wants to run for mayor again. 20 years is more than enough for everbody, so far as he is concerned. a new decade and Chicago needs to start moving in a new direction. seriously.
- Will County Woman - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 1:06 pm:
forgot to add..
so, dot brown and ter o’brien really were put up by madigan?
- And I Approved This Message - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 1:06 pm:
I don’t get the point of the flier (if there is one.) Preckwinkle opposed the parking meter deal. What am I missing?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 1:07 pm:
What, you think nutballs like that would bother with accuracy? C’mon, man.
- Responsa - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 1:10 pm:
Some posters on this site continue to question the use and relevance of having Ben Frankin on Preckwinkel’s ads. For those voters who are the products of depression era parents or grandparents Ben F. resonates! We were raised on a steady diet of “Waste Not Want Not”, A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned” and “A Stitch In Time Saves Nine. I think those “cheesy” but fiscally savvy ads by Preckwinkel are in large part the reason she is ahead.
- WELL - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 1:15 pm:
The flyer is pitiful! Stroger is done and he can take the Gator Bradley’s and Mark Allen’s of world with him this is beyond low!!!
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 1:33 pm:
The Aunt Jemima attacks on Preckwinkle will help her, not hurt her.
These same attacks were used against Pat Dowell in her committeeman race in 2008, and the backfired BADLY.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 1:34 pm:
I wonder if Preckwinkles pancakes are any good? Good old fashioned Chicago politics. Not surprising at all. DuPage ain’t much better, just smaller.
- Hank - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 2:08 pm:
Why Franklin?
Preckwinkle used an old video of Ben Franklin where he talks about having to fire Todd Stroger beacuse Stroger lost his kite and key!
- Will County Woman - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 2:22 pm:
agreed. it helps toni only if she doesn’t freak out and start acting crazy about it. if she remains dignified, calm and simply dismisses it as unfortunate she will continue to do just fine, and will swing voters her way who will appreciate her common sense and above the fray response.
- Knome Sane - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 2:45 pm:
A big “ooof”, Rich. That Joe Walsh ad is worse than the Dorothy Brown ad. My junior high school kid’s class produces better video than that Walsh drek. Not really that good? It’s flat out horrible!
- babs - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 3:10 pm:
The same Preckwinkle “tickets” are showing up in Lincoln Park.
- Captain Flume - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 3:20 pm:
Shouldn’t that be Aunt Presidinkle?
- Good Thinkin' Lincoln - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 3:44 pm:
More stunts… I heard some group is doing Robo-Calls claiming to be from ChicagoNOW for Jim Madigan in the race against Heather Steans. While ChicagoNOW (not the PAC - they endorsed Steans) has endorsed Madigan, its not them doing the calls - they are furious some group is using their name.
- 2010 - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 4:07 pm:
The Joe Walsh MTV video is…I can’t think of an appropriate word to describe it.
Smart move on the campaign manager to keep it going…gives the candidate some earned media.
- KappaKid - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 4:33 pm:
@babs, where are they in Lincoln Park? I’m curious to see one in person.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 5:55 pm:
The Aunt Jemima flier — is that the low point? Or was it the “plantation” flier? Same publishers?
Harold’s on everyone’s mind lately. I’d love to hear what he’d say about Obama in the White House and old-school race-baiting at home.