* Subscribers knew about this yesterday…
A panel of federal judges on Wednesday threw out a Republican lawsuit challenging a Democrat-drawn map of new state legislative districts in Illinois.
House Republican Leader Tom Cross, Senate GOP Leader Christine Radogno and other Republicans sued because they contended the state’s new map is unfair to minority groups and GOP voters.
The Republican leadership is deciding whether to appeal.
“We will carefully review our options,” said Radogno in a statement. “Our goal of providing all Illinois citizens a fair opportunity to elect representatives of their choice for the next decade remains. The map crafted by the majority particularly weakens the ability of minority voters to exercise their voting rights. This opinion could further weaken their position.”
The opinion was at times quite harsh. And this was obviously not a well-crafted challenge in any way. Click here to read the decision. Pay special attention to how the judges view political motives in redistricting. it’s perfectly fine with them.
* Speaking of the remap, you’d think Joe Walsh might wait until the other federal panel decides what to do about the congressional map before he’d make yet another announcement about where he plans to run. But, he’s forging ahead anyway…
U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh plans to announce his plans for re-election at a Chicago Tea Party meeting.
Walsh is to make the announcement Thursday evening at a bar on Chicago’s North Side near Wrigley Field. Walsh is a first-term Republican who represents Illinois’ 8th Congressional District in northwest suburban Chicago. He has been trying to decide where to run if he seeks a second term.
Lake View is nowhere near either district he’s been contemplating. But it’s a heckuva lot closer to the TV cameras, and you can’t blame him for wanting to get as much publicity as possible.
* From Walsh’s Twitter feed…
My office was invaded by the Occupy Protesters today & all I saw were $1000 laptops & vomit on the carpet. Thank God for #febreze.
Making your constituents wait for hours while you sneak in and out of your office has that effect on some people, I suppose.
* In other campaign news, Adam Andrzejewski is back with a vengeance…
To hear Adam Andrzejewski tell it, the Republican primary this spring is not a contest between candidates, but a contest for the heart of the Illinois Republican Party.
Andrzejewski ran for, and lost, the GOP nomination for governor in 2010. However, since then, he has become the face, and in some cases the checkbook, of Illinois’ new conservative wing.
“The true split in the Illinois Republican Party is the establishment, business as usual Republicans versus real Republican reformers,” Andrzejewski said.
Andrzejewski said three contests on the March 20 ballot will be tell-tale races for Republicans:
* The new 50th District race with Gray Noll, state Sen. Sam McCann, R-Carlinville, and Springfield Councilman Steve Dove;
* The new 110th District race between state Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville, and Shelby County GOP Chairman Brad Holbrook;
* The new 54th District race between state Sen. Kyle McCarter, R-Lebanon, and state Sen. John O. Jones, R-Mount Vernon.
“Many of these primary races are going to be wheat (and) chaff separating races,” Andrzejewski said. “That’s what the primary season is all about.”
* Other stuff…
* Ald. Joe Moore in running for state EPA chief - Wife Barbara Moore could be a candidate to replace him
* Black State Lawmakers Meet Amid Elections and Uncertainty
* Durkin, Radogno face tea party challengers
* Election 2012 candidates guide: Who filed to run?
* Candidates Filing Deadline Reveals Match-Ups In 1st, 32nd Wards
* The return of Ellis Levin
* Let the race begin: GOP candidates for 108th House District debate issues
* Ballot for State Senate and House Races Takes Shape
* Races develop for General Assembly
* State Senate field crowded
* Analysis: New Lenox Reps to Get a lot More Democratic
* Local legislative races set for March primary
* New districts, minimal races
- Old Shepherd - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 11:45 am:
In the examples he cites, who is the wheat and who is the chaff?
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 11:47 am:
It doesn’t matter because Madigan is the combine.
- Boone Logan Square - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 11:54 am:
Joe Moore would make an excellent EPA chief. I hope he gets the job.
- John Ruskin - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 12:06 pm:
I find it telling Adam A doesn’t mention Bambaneck… Looks like even Adam has decided Bambi is a loon.
- So. ILL - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 12:07 pm:
I heard Adam A. speak at several Lincoln Day Dinners. It’s no wonder he got…oh yeah I forgot what place…in the primary. He doesn’t have a coherent message. It was something about a “new arms race”. Anyway, good luck to the Chicago Millionaire funding carpetbagger candidates in southern IL. First he should drop the accent. Second, drop the challenge to Rep. Eddy. Its a waste of time and money bud.
- Cal Skinner - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 12:07 pm:
“Making your constituents wait for hours while you sneak in and out of your office has that effect on some people, I suppose.”
Do you know something you are not sharing, Rich?
- Cal Skinner - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 12:09 pm:
Oh,now I see the link.
- Skeeter - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 12:14 pm:
The Joe Moore thing is everything wrong with politics in Chicago. An alleged reformer is going to use the Friends and Family Plan to put his wife into his seat? Is there anybody in the City Counsel with a tiny bit of integrity?
- Senator Clay Davis - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 12:18 pm:
“Walsh is to make the announcement Thursday evening at a bar on Chicago’s North Side near Wrigley Field.”
Good plan, Joe. Nothing says family values and responsibility like a bar in Wrigleyville…
- Skeeter - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 12:20 pm:
Regarding the Walsh thing — does anybody know if Steve Stevlic is still running the Chicago Tea Party? It would seem that having both Stevlic and Walsh at an event would serve to even further undermine any claim to support for family values.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 12:34 pm:
–The Joe Moore thing is everything wrong with politics in Chicago. An alleged reformer is going to use the Friends and Family Plan to put his wife into his seat? Is there anybody in the City Counsel with a tiny bit of integrity?–
Skeeter, when you’re goo-gooier than thou, principles don’t apply.
- justbabs - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 12:41 pm:
How is Joe Walsh’s (long-awaited) decision such news? For over a week, all the Chicago media have been reporting that he will announce a decision soon. Fine, when he announces, let us know but quit telling us that he’ll soon make the announcement. Quite honestly, as long as he’s not running my distict, I don’t care.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 12:45 pm:
===Quite honestly, as long as he’s not running my distict, I don’t care. ===
OK, that’s silly. He’s a media hound politico in your state. You have to deal with it. Or, you could just leave.
- Statesman - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 1:39 pm:
The good thing going for the Congressional redistricting component are the decisions being made in other states. Add that to two (of three) R-Judges and it bodes better on the congressional remap contest.
- A.B. - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 1:42 pm:
Agree with your point on Walsh, Rich, but I have to say that since he is likely not running in my district anymore, it does make things a touch more palatable when I see his name.
- Helm - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 2:01 pm:
Regarding the Moore shenanigans, the Lake Front Liberals continue to impress with their mastery of old-style Machine politics. The Moore family will be in for quite a windfall.
With 20 years in the City Council, I’m thinking that Joe will qualify for 80% of his Alderman’s salary, which is about $88K/year. Head of EPA probably pays about $140K, so he would be at $228K/year. If Barbara becomes Alderman, she would bring in another $110K. Over $325K at the public trough, not too shabby….especially for an “independent reformer.”
This makes Carol Ronen’s pension spike under Blago and Art Berman’s spike for going to the Board of Education look like small potatoes….
What environmental credentials does Joe have to head EPA ?
Lake front liberal politics at its best….
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 2:03 pm:
===Head of EPA probably pays about $140K===
You can’t roll that into your pension any longer.
- Helm - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 2:10 pm:
I was of the belief that you could collect a Tier One pension while earning another government salary ? My apologies if I’m mistaken.
Still, even $250K between them isn’t too bad….
- Old_IL_8 - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 2:23 pm:
Why should Walsh wait to declare his intentions? I received a new Voter card 3 weeks ago from Lake County Registrar showing I am in a new district! I think that was jumping the gun given the challenges were in progress!! However, in my view, there are NO incumbents. Every seat should be at risk. And these are “the Peoples’ Seats”; they “belong” to nobody, in either party. Make them earn our vote!
- Ok - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 2:36 pm:
With that location, Sounds like Walsh is gearing up to run against Jan Schakowsky. That seems to be just the kind of fire that will get the national attention he desperately craves.
- Boone Logan Square - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 2:43 pm:
==What environmental credentials does Joe have to head EPA ?==
Consistent criticism of Chicago’s utterly ineffective recycling programs since the advent of the blue bag boondoggle and hiring staffers who understand the business of recycling and secondary material markets. I’m not a constituent, but his office understands recycling markets better than any other elected official in the city. If he brought his staff to EPA (and I’ll disclaim that I have worked with some of them on policy issues), the agency would be in good shape.
- reformer - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 3:48 pm:
The federal court rejection of the GOP lawsuit underscores how devastating the election results were last year for the IL Republican Party. The Madigan map assures minority status for Chris and Cross through 2022.
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 4:05 pm:
Reformer,
really, thanks a bunch for putting Chris Cross songs in my head this afternoon.
Now I’m having a mental back-n-forth between “sailing” and “jump, jump”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMkIuKXwmlU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=010KyIQjkTk
it’s wiggity, wiggity, wiggity whack
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 4:09 pm:
MF, you are in danger of going to Hell for posting those videos.
- bored now - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 4:46 pm:
here, rich, try this one — guaranteed to get poppy tunes out of your head:
Working Class Hero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HIm7XicrRc
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 4:55 pm:
Me!?
Reformer brought up Chris Cross.
- Cal Skinner - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 6:45 pm:
What is Walsh announces he is running on the Tea Party in whatever district?
- Bush Twins - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 10:29 pm:
Rch, the tribune article re the Walsh statement comes pretty close to stealing your observation about being “close to the tv cameras.”