Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: QOTD: Tea Party = Grand Old Party?
Next Post: Morning Shorts
Posted in:
Posted by Barton Lorimor
The same afternoon Jan Schakowsky was endorsing Forrest Claypool for Cook County Assesor, her campaign manager was at a fundraiser for her challenger, Joel Pollak, and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan in Skokie.
A witness dropped me an e-mail earlier today and said Schakowsky campaign manager Alex Armour showed up with a group at the luncheon. Pollak acknowledged the group’s presence and had this to say…
Meanwhile, state Sen. Toi Hutchinson’s campaign is up with some new TV spots.
In other campaign news, Andrew Breitbart is questioning how Alexi Giannoulias was not drafted into the Greek military. His post…
Under Greek law, all citizens must serve in the military once they turn 18. Much like in Israel, Greek citizens will perform a period of military service after high school.
Alexi Giannoulias was a college graduate when he came to Greece – an age meeting the requirement for military service. So how did he get around the requirement?
This topic is way out of my leagues. Maybe there’s something here, but I get the feeling there might be an exemption for dual citizens.
Also, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bill Brady is taking some heat from teachers after he suggested they miss pay raises…
While questioned by reporters in recent weeks, Brady said his proposed cuts to the state budget would mean schools will see less money from the state.
“Local school districts could absorb that by maybe not offering the pay raises that they put in place,” Brady said Wednesday at a Springfield event.
“Let’s face it, the private sector’s gone without a pay raise, and in many cases pay cuts, over the last four years,” Brady said.
Illinois Federation of Teachers spokesman Dave Comerford said teachers already are dealing with threats of layoffs because the state is months behind in sending money to local schools.
Competitive salaries, Comerford said, are critical to keep teachers in the classroom instead of leaving the profession.
Gov. Quinn and Tony Preckwinkle picked up an endorsement…
Governor Pat Quinn and Toni Preckwinkle, the Democratic candidate for Cook County Board President, picked up endorsements on Wednesday from the “Independent Voters of Illinois.”
Preckwinkle is heavily favored to win her race.
She’s not shy about telling voters that tough budget cuts are needed.
The same group has also endorsed Robin Kelly for state Treasurer over Republican Dan Rutherford.
Finally, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani is coming to Illinois to speak on Mark Kirk’s behalf this month…
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani will keynote a fundraising luncheon for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady on Sept. 13, two days after the ninth anniversary of the 2001 terror attacks.
The event, at DoubleTree Hotel & Convention Center, will raise money for Brady’s campaign. The Republican state senator from Bloomington faces Gov. Pat Quinn on Nov. 2.
And here’s your campaign round-up…
* Giuliani to headline Mark Kirk fund-raiser
* More controversy for Alexi Giannoulias
* Restaurateur Throws Apron Into Ring In Senate Race
* Brady: Schools should consider holding off on teacher pay raises
* Brady takes heat from union for suggesting teachers forgo raises in tough economic times
* Brady Touts Tax Cuts, Incentives
* Brady says small businesses key to jobs growth; predicts ‘new crop of leaders’ for Illinois
* Brady proposes Illinois tax breaks
* Huckabee to visit Marion, endorse Brady
* GOP Takes Over Du Quoin
* GOP playing name game with Madigan
* Quinn, Brady on Illinois’ minimum wage
* Quinn needs a fast turnaround to save his race for guv
* Independent Gubernatorial Candidate Campaigns in Peoria
* Businessman wants to set himself apart from other candidates
* Simon brings her message to central Illinois
* 43rd House candidates have different ideas for social service funding mess
* Dudley using online poll to determine where he will volunteer time at local businesses
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 2:28 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: QOTD: Tea Party = Grand Old Party?
Next Post: Morning Shorts
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
So Brady wants the school districts to renege on their labor agreements? Gosh, that won’t give rise to any labor complaints or anything, will it? The end result will inevitably be the taxpayers pay even more.
Comment by TroubleMaker Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 2:33 pm
Loved the Pollak comments. Very clever.
He should get some mileage from this.
Comment by Jake from Elwood Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 2:33 pm
Yeah… Independent Voters…. Non-Partisan….
http://www.iviipo.org/2010Endorsements.html
Funny they seem to endorse more Green Party candidates than Republicans and endorse the entire statewide Democratic slate….
Interesting….
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 2:42 pm
Quinn has to be amazingly bad to lose this one.
When your opponent is publicly committed to cutting school funding and lowering the minimum wage (not to mention gassing puppies), how could you possibly lose?!?
I suspect Quinn will show us how.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 2:48 pm
There is an exemption for dual citizens but it has to be applied for (talk about red tape). They can serve if they want to but they need to speak and read and write the language fluently. This happened to a friend of mine over there who was actually born there but lived his entire life in the U.S. Once over there and registered for class, they were going to draft him but his language skills weren’t good enough. They didn’t want him. Of course, he always had the option of leaving the country.
Comment by Former Greek Resident Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 2:50 pm
Pollak’s comments were great. And if he really is raising that kind of scratch, Jan Schakowsky is in a bit of trouble.
Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 2:55 pm
Barton thank you for posting the video. I had not seen Joel Pollak in action before. His charm, intelligence, and sense of humor will resonate with voters in his district many of whom are feeling it’s time for a change in representation. His whole approach is quite a contrast to that of his opponent, Ms. Schakowsky who so often seems to be preaching and/or scolding.
Comment by Responsa Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 2:57 pm
I think the exemption is different for students vs folks working in Greece, regardless it seems like a legitimate question
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 2:58 pm
Pollak seems pretty witty and has some charisma. I don’t know if he can beat Schakowsky though.
Also, the article you guys have linked says that Giuliani is headlining a Brady fundraiser, not a Kirk fundraiser (as your headline indicates).
Comment by downstater Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 3:09 pm
but I get the feeling there might be an exemption for dual citizens.
Not in Taiwan there is not. In fact, many Taiwanese like to send their sons to US or other places for college and grad school just to avoid serving in the ROC army.
Of course, dual citizenship is one more evil the Supreme court inflicted on us that was never intended.
Comment by Pat collins Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 3:14 pm
Coddled teachers need to get over it- their days are numbered- Brady is going to sail into the governor’s office and hopefully he will be the Illinois answer to Chris Christie
Comment by sue Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 3:16 pm
In response to Breitbart’s shocking report, Mark Kirk is having a press conference later to discuss his service in the Peloponnesian War.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 3:23 pm
Notice how Pollack did not step on his applause or laughter. That shows a pretty good grasp of comic timing, a fairly sophisticated public speaking trick. Kudos to that.
Pollack’s chances are directly related to how much the national “wave” election carries over to Illinois. I think his chances of success have increased significantly in the past two months. It is almost a shame that so many Republican candidates deserve national Republican support… so many races, too little money.
Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 3:27 pm
Hey Mr. Collins:
It would also appear that the Supreme Court has imposed many things on us that were never intended…like the banishment of slavery, voting rights for women and those under 21…even white males who don’t own property. But that may be the subject for a different discussion.
Comment by Deep South Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 3:27 pm
10 bucks says Armour donated some cash that nite! (snark?)
Schakowsky has the same problem that other longtime incumbents who “represent” heavily weighted districts (whether dems of GOP). So well insulated from any meaningful opposition, some end up engaging in unethical behavior (Rostenkowski, Rangel, etc) and/or they become deaf to the concerns of their district/constituents. Then along comes a charismatic individual like Pollack who topples the incumbent. I’m not from that part of town so can only root for Pollack from a distance.
Vote for Joel!
Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 3:27 pm
should read dems OR GOP.
Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 3:29 pm
Mr. Brietbart is such an upstanding, unbiased source of information that I hope this gets the attention it so richly deserves.
==Coddled teachers need to get over it- their days are numbered== It’s amazing to me that so many people expect so much from teachers and then denigrate the profession. Do you want your teachers to be fairly compensated professionals or the lowest bidders?
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 3:34 pm
==It would also appear that the Supreme Court has imposed many things on us that were never intended…like the banishment of slavery, voting rights for women and those under 21…even white males who don’t own property. But that may be the subject for a different discussion. ==
Exactly when did the Supreme Court do those things? Amendments to the Constitution explicitly did those, not Supreme Court case law. Someone must’ve skipped amendments day in civics class.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 3:35 pm
“Competitive salaries, Comerford said, are critical to keep teachers in the classroom instead of leaving the profession.”
I know a TON of qualified people that are certified to teach in Illinois that are looking for jobs. And they’d do it for less than the current salaries, not to mention agree to the status quo salary rate and a pay freeze for a year or two.
It’s always amazing to me how public sector unions scream about others being “greedy” and needing to sacrifice for the “common good” yet when they’re asked to take a voluntary pay freeze, they immediately turn on a dime.
“Sacrifice for thee, but not for me” seems to be their motto….
Comment by John Galt Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 3:44 pm
Well if the thing about Alexi and the draft is nothing, let the campaign explain why it’s nothing and it goes away.
If they don’t address it, it can become an issue.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 3:52 pm
I declare that the senate campaigns no longer talk about military service.
Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 3:55 pm
Oneman, is service in the Greek military a big issue in your community? I’m not seeing it in mine.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 3:58 pm
Back in his first run for Congress, Emanuel was knocked by old Ed Moskal for his volunteer service with the Israeli Defense Forces.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:01 pm
Even if it’s true Alexi got out of serving in the Greek military, who really cares ?
Comment by Reality Is Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:02 pm
My “coddled teacher” wife is working from 830am to 6pm today for $110. That comes to $11.50/hour to manage 25 little angels, plan lessons, deal with parent issues, go to meetings, etc.
I wish I could swear on this blog sometimes. Get a clue, sue.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:05 pm
BTW, Joel Pollak, whoever he is, is another smug “small-government” ideologue who’ll suck at the government’s teat for as long as he can. When these types turn down their pensions and lifetime health care, I’ll start to believe their BS.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:07 pm
Lefty, so your wife is salaried at around 40K a year? Boo. Hoo.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:07 pm
the only people who get their contract honored work for Wall Street, apparently. Everyone else–teachers, auto workers, miners, state employees–have to buck up to save the country. Give me a break.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:09 pm
Pollak has been impressive. He has been far more visible in the last couple months in the district than Jan has. That being said this is a tough hill to climb. He has the best chance of anyone who has run against Jan, but it will still be tough. I’d love to see a poll.
Comment by Niles Township Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:09 pm
No it isn’t but it begs an bigger potential question.
That is (I am going to use a lot of ifs here)
If he had/has dual citizenship and used that to his advantage when he played basketball in Greece (many European leagues have limits on foreigners on teams) did he then have a legal obligation in Greece to serve in their military.
If he didn’t have dual citizenship and/or a Greek passport it’s a non issue.
If he did have that dual citizenship but was not obligated to serve because he is also a US citizen then it’s a non-issue.
But on the other hand if he took the advantages of dual citizenship (it might have helped his basketball career, also a EU passport can be helpful in business) and did not meet the obligations you get due to that dual citizenship.
Then it’s an issue, because it speaks to character.
It wouldn’t be any different if someone had dual citizenship and was not meeting tax requirements in the one that come from dual citizenship.
People may not care about Freedonian tax law, but if someone is avoiding tax they owe in Freedonia that might be an issue.
Then again I suspect there are a host of people doing research on this now, in terms of what the law is and so forth and if there is something to it, it will likely go mainstream.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:11 pm
do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.
“…that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same…”
How can a person with dual citizenship swear allegiance to TWO countries?
Just sayin…
Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:12 pm
=Of course, dual citizenship is one more evil the Supreme court inflicted on us that was never intended.=
Well, Constitutional genius, the Constitution doesn’t prohibit this either. All the U.S. cares about is whether somebody is a U.S. citizen. There are situations where your U.S. citizenship can be taken away, but other than that the U.S. government doesn’t care what other country you are a citizen of. It’s up to the other country as to whether you can be a citizen of mulitiple countries are not. I worked with a guy who was a citizen of 4 different countries (and carried passports for all 4). I also have a friend who is a naturalized citizen who came from Belarus. That country doesn’t recognize her as a citizen of any other country but theirs. The U.S. doesn’t care. That is their business.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:16 pm
Anon, I have no idea and not a care about what your point is. Teachers should make as much as salesmen. Every salesman I know makes at least 3x more than my wife. Not 10% more. 300% more.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:18 pm
Lefty Lefty — for what it’s worth in the private sector lots of folks have gone years without a raise.
Also does your wife make $110 per attendance and in-service day? If that is true then she is making about $22,000 a year. If so might I suggest you yell at her union.
http://teacherportal.com/salary/Illinois-teacher-salary
Since according to that web site, Illinois is the friendliest state in the union for teachers.
Also if the 22K number is correct your wife is one of the lowest paid teachers in the state.
http://www.isbe.state.il.us/research/pdfs/teacher_salary_study.pdf (page 5 of the PDF) shows that lowest paid starting teacher salary was 20,890 in 2003.
So either she also makes $110 on those days in the middle of summer when she is not teaching or to be blunt, she is getting screwed.
Also with the hours you say she is teaching 830am to 6pm she is either teaching at the school with the longest opening hours in the state or she is a coach or something.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:19 pm
Cincinnatus ==How can a person with dual citizenship swear allegiance to TWO countries?==
I’m guessing that Breitbart was looking forward to using this either way. “He didn’t serve” or “How can he serve two countries?”
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:23 pm
You guys are missing the big story. The Greek thing is a smokescreen. Alexi was actually born in Kenya. And he’s a Muslim, too.
A lot of us in this nation of immigrants have held dual citizenship when we were kids and young adults, for family ties and convenience. At a certain age, you make a final choice. Alexi has obviously made his.
C, you’re aware, there are and always have been non-U.S. citizens in the United States armed forces? They swear an oath, too. My Mom’s Norwegian uncle, an Illinois farmer, was with the Expeditionary Force to France.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:23 pm
wordslinger — I don’t have a problem with dual citizenship, I just want to know if he met the requirements on the Greek side of the deal.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:25 pm
– Alexi was actually born in Kenya. And he’s a Muslim, too. –
I think this game is over and wordslinger just won. I’ve been waiting all day for somebody to say that
Comment by Barton Lorimor Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:28 pm
@OneMan:
I love how people say that teachers work 8:30 - 3:00 or 3:30. That might be the school day but teachers work multiple hours outside of that timeframe. I can never understand why so many people complain about a teacher’s salary. They spend a significant amount of time with OUR children a year. They are not only supposed to teach, they are supposed to be social workers and whatever else society demands of them. Teaching is a profession, just like a Doctor, Lawyer, or Engineer. I think teachers should make just as much money as some of these other professions, but some seem to think that teachers deserve average to low pay. Most teacher love what they do and know going in to it that they are not going to get rich. That doesn’t mean, though, that we shouldn’t work to pay them as much as we would other professionals.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:28 pm
Breitbart better be careful on this road he is going down. Jews are automatically citizens of Israel under the “Right of Return.” Is he going to question their allegiances??
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:33 pm
There are a lot of lawyers that make 40K/year, and some teachers that make six figures. You chose the profession, if you don’t like what you’re making, move up or move on to something else. Many of us in the private sector work long hours on salary as well, and wonder what this thing called a “raise” is. You want sacrifice, you have to share some of it.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:34 pm
=Competitive salaries, Comerford said, are critical to keep teachers in the classroom instead of leaving the profession.=
And,ummm….exactly where would they be going for a better compensation package and better working conditions?
If a six figure per year PE teacher thinks they’ll get better pay at “Lifetime Fitness” as a fitness instructor, they are REALLY clueless!
If a physics or math teacher somehow thinks they can do better job of engineering than a REAL engineer or research better than a REAL scientific researcher, they need a serious reality check.
We all know that English teachers could get a high paying career in journalism because they can do it so much better than REAL journalists who’ve been doing it for years, right Rich?
The fact is that unless a teacher has the charisma for sales or has some software development skills, they’re pretty much ruined for any serious profession outside the public eduocracy.
Many teachers out there with decades of experience have never ONCE had to EARN a raise by doing their job well, and only understand an entitlement lifestyle.
Most senior suburban HS salaries could be cut by 50% and STILL pay more than most teachers could get in an open market for their skills.
There’s one way to test the “market value” of public school teachers; change the education labor relations act to allow them to negotiate on their own behalf. If they can get a better offer based on their skills, God bless ‘em. If they can’t and they’re performance is not commensurate with compensation, they should expect a cut or be shown the door like the rest of the civilized world.
I think I’ll check under my hood before starting my car tomorrow morning….those IEA grannies can get pretty nasty!
Comment by PalosParkBob Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:34 pm
Hey Anon. Take your own advice. Move on if you want a raise. Maybe the unions in the public sector are getting raises but this public sector worker hasn’t seen any raises and keeps getting furloughed (i.e. pay cuts). Don’t tell me about shared sacrifice.
Also, why do we continually blame the unions for this stuff. There was another side in the negotiation who agreed to a contract. If I had a contract I certainly would fight tooth and nail for what was promised. The negotiators are being run roughshod over by the unions. They better put up a big wall or this will never end.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:38 pm
@Anon
So because you can’t get a raise, others shouldn’t? What is this, third grade? If you have a problem with your compensation, you should take that up with your boss instead of dictating what others should make.
“You chose the profession, if you don’t like what you’re making, move up or move on to something else.” Practice what you preach.
Comment by late to the party Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:40 pm
@Demoralized
I never said teachers were overpaid or underpaid.
I would say that most people who are on salary generally express their ‘hourly rate’ as the time they are required to be at work.
When I worked in software and had to work 18 hours a day to meet a shipping deadline I didn’t say I made x an hour. I made the same every day I worked if it was 8 hours, 9 hours or 18 hours.
Lots of folks have to do work outside of their ‘official’ working hours, it is part of our world.
As for
== Teaching is a profession, just like a Doctor, Lawyer, or Engineer ==
Well you can teach without a graduate education, the only ‘profession’ above where that is the case is Engineer. So using that as an example I have a simple and to be blunt very harsh question for you.
Do you know anyone who was flunking out of an education degree that decided to become an engineer instead because it was an easier major?
Part of what dictates what we pay all professionals is supply and demand, there are a lot of small town lawyers who make relatively low amounts of money doing real estate closings.
Why do you think so many small town lawyers want to be judges at the state and local level and why so few high profile lawyers do?
Also if you want them paid like other professionals then lets have them work like other professionals, 12 months a year at least 40 hours a week and they can be terminated for virtually any reason. Also they can be denied raises or any reason.
BTW almost no other profession has people working under contract.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:42 pm
Nothing is more irrelevant than the conclusion of a sentence that begins “Andrew Breitbart is…”
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:43 pm
Demoralized — for what it’s worth I can’t really get on the unions about this, that is why you have a union.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:43 pm
Also I am still curious if Lefty, Lefty’s wife is the lowest paid teacher in the state.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:45 pm
Yep and then you sign a contract and expect it to be honored.
Thanks for all your insight on my wife’s pay. Now start asking the guy at the hardware store, the kid selling you your car or house, or the dude stocking the hospital with equipment what they’re making.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:47 pm
Lefty,
None of them posted with number complaining about their pay….
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:49 pm
== Yep and then you sign a contract and expect it to be honored. ==
Just like all of the folks awaiting payment from the state of Illinois
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:50 pm
The typical teacher is required to be at the school for 7.5 to 8 hours each day of the school year (9 weeks x 4 quarters = 36 weeks). In addition, they can expect to work on grading and prep between 15 and 60 hours each week (36 weeks x 15 hours/wk = 540 hours = 13.5 weeks). (Estimating the per student grading/prep time to be at least 30 minutes each week with 30 students per class; unrealistically low for many teachers who teach more students and have multiple preps.)
All together, a teacher can expect (at a minimum) to work the hours equivalent to 50 weeks each year. At the median starting salary for a teacher with a BA listed in the report above ($29,000/yr), that’s a bit less that $15/hour. A reasonable salary, but not exactly exorbitant.
The salary report lists much higher salaries in the top quartile, but that is to be expected in a competitive market where the best teachers are able to offer their services to the highest bidder.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 4:57 pm
BTW, Anon, no one is stopping you from getting a teaching degree. If it’s a cake job, I say, go for it, dude!
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 5:02 pm
Palos, if I were you, my next comment would be, “Sorry I sneezed just now,” because I really hope you did not just suggest:
1) The Journalism field is hiring
2) That those lucky to have reporting jobs are being paid more than teachers
Comment by Barton Lorimor Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 5:03 pm
- OneMan - Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 2:42 pm:
Yeah… Independent Voters…. Non-Partisan….
http://www.iviipo.org/2010Endorsements.html
Funny they seem to endorse more Green Party candidates than Republicans and endorse the entire statewide Democratic slate….
Interesting….
You should select some of the menu items like directors or board which is under “construction” for an organization that has been in place since 1944 you think they would have a board?
Comment by O really Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 5:24 pm
I’m not the one complaining about my job and pay, and not getting raises. I’m perfectly happy in the rewarding job I have, and will not complain if I don’t get a raise. Why? Because I know raises are dependent on how much money is available. The teachers, on the other hand, ARE complaining, and feel they are somehow entitled to get such raises, whether the the state and local boards have the money or not. Entitlements like this are part of what has run this state into the red.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 5:42 pm
Republicans–keep throwing your money at Joe Pollack. I can think of no better use of your money than trying to win a D+20 district.
A little reality is needed in this discussion. D +20 Districts aren’t at risk. Obama took the District 72 - 26. Jan hasn’t been held below 70 % in all of the elections since 1998. Maybe Pollack will do really well and there will be nothing she can do from stopping him from breaking 30% of the vote.
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 5:48 pm
Hope Brietbart doesn’t cut into ticket sales for the cross burning we are planning in Hoffman Estates in a few weeks….$77 is lot of scratch to sit in the back of the bus.
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 6:01 pm
just like a Doctor, Lawyer, or Engineer?
Yikes!. The members of these professions who make the big bucks run and own their own companies and put major personal capital at risk. The salarymen/women make much less.
Check with companies like Hewitt who make salary comparisons. Top performers in many industries have had no annual increase for a number of years. EVERY public contract has a COLA as well as a merit increase program. Checking my local school districts, I find no full time teacher making a salary in the 20s. At worst, you must be talking about take home pay after deductions for insurance, retirement and taxes.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 6:32 pm
Lefty Lefty;
I bet your wife knows several substandard teachers who make way more than her but are still hanging around because their protected by tenure. If we could get rid of some of the substandard teachers, that would open up the higher paying positions for your wife who appears to be more qualified. I don’t necessarily blame the unions for aggressively defending its members, but the spineless school districts for not being more aggressive to rid themselves of the substandard teachers. Your wife ends up being collateral damage.
Comment by Original Rambler Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 8:35 pm
The draft-dodging allegations are silly. Any foreign student can attend school in Greece without being a Greek or dual-citizen, just like they can attend school in the US without being a US citizen (have Mark Kirk’s guys heard of VISAs or foreign exchange students?).
Do we require children of diplomats to have American or dual-citizenship in order to attend school? No, that would be silly.
If you don’t remain in Greece for more than 6 months at a time, you don’t have to serve in the army (you are likely considered a “tourist”). If you have been to Europe, you know how easy it is to bounce from country to country , so I doubt Alexi remained in the country for more than 6 months at a time.
If you take the argument that is being used against Alexi to its logical conclusion, then anybody who spent a significant amount of time in Greece must serve in the army - businessmen, tourists, artists, archaeologists, etc.
Back in the day, you were able to pay the Greek government instead of serving, but I think that changed over 25 years ago.
If this is the best argument that Kirk’s people have, I just might vote for Alexi after all.
Comment by Gator Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 8:41 pm
Umm gator… I think he has dual citizenship with Greece. If he doesn’t then you are right and this just goes nowhere.
Also don’t forget he didn’t go to school in Greece, he worked there. A big difference.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 9:32 pm
I’m glad we worked through the Greek military service thing. I can think of no more pressing issue in this race.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 9:49 pm
Always fun to watch the various Illinois opininers as their state circles the drain
What will they do when they find out that with no jobs in the private sector they wont know who to tax anymore?
Illinois…great on rhetoric, low on productivity
lol
Comment by Sueann Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 9:49 pm
I suspect the basketball folks and others knew enough that his situation was such that he didn’t have to serve. IMHO
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 9:51 pm
Pot calling kettle –
At least it was something different than he is a mob banker, he is a liar…
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 10:00 pm
@Pot calling kettle - I agree. This is almost as silly as when Hillary attacked Obama for his “lipstick on a pig” comment. It’s silly season in Illinois.
Did you see the poll results that were just released? They show that Kirk and G-Funk are neck and neck.
From the Chicago Breaking News Center: “Giannoulias, the first-term state treasurer, and Kirk, a five-term North Shore congressman, both had 34 percent in the statewide poll of 600 registered likely voters conducted Aug. 28 through Wednesday. Another 22 percent of voters were undecided.”
Comment by Gator Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 10:33 pm
Why the H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks does anyone — especially a reporter — listen to anything Andrew Breitbart sez?
The guy’s a liar thru and thru.
You don’t constantly echo senseless junk that Andy Martin and Alan Keyes pop off, do ya?
Comment by G. Willickers Friday, Sep 3, 10 @ 12:59 am
Republicans–keep throwing your money at Joe Pollack. I can think of no better use of your money than trying to win a D+20 district.
————
Arnch Pundit,
I’m a D and I am planning to vote for Pollak. Jan is just absent on governing and everywhere for politics. I’m sick of it.
Comment by Niles Township Friday, Sep 3, 10 @ 8:26 am
Breitbart writes =Alexi Giannoulias has concentrated much of his campaign on attacking Mark Kirk’s military record.=
That statement along with every thing that Breitbart says or writes is senseless.
The free press has written and broadcast how Kirk has lied about his military service.
Comment by (618) Democrat Friday, Sep 3, 10 @ 8:33 am
I’m not sure that Alexi even has-or had- dual
citizenship. I had dual citizenship-born in
Mexico of American parents-until I turned 21
and let the Mexican citizenship thing “die”
but he was born in Chicago so I don’t know why
the Greek government would have considered him
to be a Greek citizen.
Comment by Esteban Friday, Sep 3, 10 @ 9:34 am
I met Pollack campaigning at my train station one morning a few weeks ago. Clearly a bright guy, but he hews to standard GOP talking points. I pressed him on a few and he didn’t seem to be able to provide any substance to the talking points. He’s pro-Israel, which is position that cuts across party lines within the district, but I agree with Arch Pundit, the district is so heavily Democratic that I don’t see any way he pulls off a win.
Comment by Phil Friday, Sep 3, 10 @ 10:33 am
@Esteban:
If Alexi’s parents were citizens of Greece then he became a citizen of Greece at birth, according to their laws.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Sep 3, 10 @ 10:36 am
Lefty lefty, forced servitude is illegal. Also, since Richis out, you can swear all you want, the more swearing, the better.
Comment by Wumpus Friday, Sep 3, 10 @ 10:37 am