44 Comments - Rich Miller - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 6:19 am: And, please, don’t cite rumors about Topinka’s poll that supposedly show Oberweis trailing her by only three points. I’ve seen the poll. That’s not even close to being true. - Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 7:34 am: I can’t predict how Mr. Oberweis will perform in the GOP primary. As a Republican in northern Illinois, I will give his candidacy serious consideration. I know businessmen with successful track records in the private sector have performed poorly at the polls in Illinois, but Mr. Oberweis might change that record. I respect the fact that he has created jobs and successfully managed a payroll. There’s very few people in public life, including Ms. Topinka, who can say the same thing. As for Mr. Oberweis’ lack of experience in public office, I’m ok with that “shortcoming.” I have seen what the “professional” politicians have done to state government in Illinois. Mr. Oberweis couldn’t perform worse than Madigan, Blago, Topinka and some of the others if he tried. You go, Mr. Oberweis. - Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 7:41 am: He’s a loser, pure and simple. Snowball in… - Mongo - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 7:42 am: Oberweis could have been a good candidate until, in the Senate primary, he stuck his foot in his mouth with his horrible comments about people of non-Caucasian races. This is a diverse world, our country is becoming more diverse, and my goodness so is our State. If Mr. Oberweis would recognize that he could then deal with it, but dealing with it out of what appears to be fear and prejudice guarantees that he’ll lose. - ChicagoDog - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 8:13 am: J.O. appears to be a sincere, decent individual however, he is at odds with the Republican leadership and his mini-attack on Hispanics was a strategy of racial division which has no place in today’s world. A succesful run during the primary guarantees four more years of Blago. - Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 8:19 am: I would place the odds at about the same as the odds on chcolate milk coming out of my kitchen faucet the next time I turn it on. - reddbyrd - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 8:33 am: let’s see Obie is headed for his 5th political setback? 2 senate races, one replacement bid and the little noticed state party chairman. Makes ya wonder if the guy lacks a keen sense for the obvious. On the bright side(?) Sen Steve was on the radio with Spike O’Dell this a.m. Deadly dull. He always seems to forget giving the Ryans, Edgar et al blank checks when he was the self proclaimed budget genius. Can’t wait to hear from Brickhead Joe on his latest scheme - Vanilla World - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 9:48 am: He is at a point where he has some name recognition, but no campaign credibility. He has lost too many times. He is a fantastic candidate for Comptroller, or Lt. Governor. These are highly visible offices where he can establish himself and demonstrate a willingness to “work” his way up. He can introduce himself to the state and demonstrate his administrative skills. There are times when voters are willing to take a risk and go with an unknown like in 2002, and times when they prefer a veteran. For 2006, I suspect voters are in a mood for some stability with Jesse White, or Judy Barr Topinka. Mr. Oberweis should run for another office next year. As for Blagojevich, he will need to demonstrate that the amateur hour in Chicago is finally over, and he is all grown up now to become a real governor. He shouldn’t be given another chance, but he is a good campaigner and just might pull it off. - Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 10:05 am: Oberweis is fast becoming “Spanky” Wardingley with money. He brings nothing to the table, has run chaotic, misguided campaigns and has proven he can’t express a coherent, consistant message. He hasn’t a chance, or a clue. - Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 10:13 am: This post has been removed by a blog administrator. - Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 10:21 am: This post has been removed by a blog administrator. - Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 10:53 am: This post has been removed by a blog administrator. - Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 11:10 am: With any luck the milk man’s helicopter will crash into Lake Michigan this time, sparing us all. - TheNEEF - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 11:16 am: J.O. will have a tough time. But being a happy blue stater who is unhappy with the gov. I would welcome the republican primary bloodbath … let all of their rich powerful people run for gov. and give JW, LM, and DH a pass and allow us a shot at picking up JBT office as well. - Rich O. - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 12:13 pm: Odds of Oberweis winning…hmmm Oberweis? Win? Haha…ohhhh man that’s the funniest thing I’ve seen all day. You are a funny man Rich Miller. - Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 12:43 pm: This post has been removed by a blog administrator. - Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 12:44 pm: Every time he runs the price of ice cream goes up. - Tom from NJ - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 12:46 pm: Does anyone else feel that after the Jack Ryan dropping out thing that Oberweis pretty much got punked? He comes in second in the primary, offers himself and some of his own money to the party to run against Barack Obama, then they pick Alan Keyes and he still doesn’t go ballistic about the snub? In fact says he’s going to help out Keyes. Sorry, you look weak to me and I can’t see anyone weak winning this primary. - Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 1:15 pm: Now it gives worthless political consultants jobs again. - DownLeft - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 1:47 pm: He should be OK as long as his cows don’t get him. http://www.bovineunite.com - Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 2:28 pm: The only person who has a chance to beat Rod is Topinka. or we have to come up with another Serbian-American person who will beat Rod. - Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 2:35 pm: The problem with business people like Oberweis running for office is that they think they can run government like a business. You can’t. Business is about making money; government is about serving the public, unfortunately two very different things. One can be business-like, balancing budgets, inposing efficiencies, etc, but that’s something any not-for-profit entity has to do, anyway. So until Oberweis, and other business types realize that it’s service, not profit, that counts in government, they will inevitably fail. As to Mr Oberweis himself, I doubt he would succeed even in the Republican primary because of his bland platitutdes highlighted only by his anti-immigrant bigotry. If this were the 1920’s, he’d rail about Italians, Poles and Jews. - IlliniPundit - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 2:56 pm: He’s got zero chance. He’s a pigeon. - reddbyrd - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 3:55 pm: I am shocked. BrickheadJoe is a term of deep and profound affection developed by the Cruz family at the last Cinco De Mayo. I noticed the BrickheadJoe fans have not rushed in to proclaim how Obie will melt So sorry if anyone was offended - Mongo - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 4:42 pm: ohmygosh someone else read and liked the quote from former G Jim Edgar about the difference between business and government! “The problem with business people like Oberweis running for office is that they think they can run government like a business. You can’t. Business is about making money; government is about serving the public, unfortunately two very different things.” - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 5:15 pm: Maybe ‘Anonymous’ is Jim Edgar!? - Jim in Maine - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 5:37 pm: If Oberwies were to win this primary it would only serve as further proof of the demise of the once proud Illinois Republican party. I do not believe he can possibly buy this primary - and I do believe that is the only way he could possibly win it. If he somehow goes on to win the primary, Blago is in like flint. - Willy Nilly - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 9:57 pm: What is the big suprise about Oberweis and his remarks about Latinos. He is a Republican business. Good enough to work for low wages, not good enough to live here, sound like the standard stump speech. At least Oberweis is being true to himself. Ray Lahood on the other hand is a blabbermouth that follows Lund-speak all the while being sanctimonious as can be. - Tom DeLay's Mom - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 10:00 pm: Are we sure that the Abominable Milkman doesn’t have a residency issue? I hear he’s been down guarding the Texas border with the deputized vigilantes who “protect us” from the relentless hordes of illegal immigrant “evil doers.” Apparently he’s paying a professional film crew to catalog his heroic patrols along the borders of the Lonestar State in his Hummer - with his trusty semi-automatic “Bessie” and a gallon of that tasty chocolate milk in-hand. If he does meet residency requirements, I’d say…hmm…Oberweis has a vanilla ice cream’s chance in hell of winning. Poor guy. - Tom DeLay's Mom - Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 10:10 pm: …oh yeah, almost forgot - my pick-to-click for Illinois GOP gubernatorial nominee: State Senator Dave Sullivan…outta nowhere baby! He’s sneaky. - Anonymous - Friday, Apr 15, 05 @ 12:32 am: Tony Cisneros can be Oberweisses Hispanic coordinator. It is expensive BUT the Oberweiss, milk, yoghurt and ice cream are EXCELLENT. - Tom Joad - Friday, Apr 15, 05 @ 9:05 am: Jim in Maine: Its “In like Flynn” not flint. As in Errol Flynn, who beat a charge of raping two underage girls, thus the quote. Get your cliches right! - In the House - Friday, Apr 15, 05 @ 9:14 am: Maybe he meant “In like lint”? - Anonymous - Friday, Apr 15, 05 @ 10:39 am: Was I the only one that saw the “Please Kick Me” sign on the back of OBie during his press conference? - Dennis K - Friday, Apr 15, 05 @ 3:32 pm: How does it go? “Slim and none, and slim just left town.” After his brilliant quote comparing pro-lifers to the Taliban, and his wonderful “keep the Mexicans out” commercials, he has proven to be a loser and political neophyte (even though he’s been in a half-dozen political campaigns). BTW, any Republican can beat Blago if they have at least half a brain. There is just SO much wrong with his administration/family/girl friends/party. A “comparative” campaign would be easy. - Anonymous - Friday, Apr 15, 05 @ 4:11 pm: The ONLY one with any semblance of a chance is Topinka. But, if the Republicans want to nominate Obie, bring him on. With Obie on the ticket ,the Governor will be re-elected by at least 10% points. - Anonymous - Friday, Apr 15, 05 @ 4:54 pm: JBT cannot beat the Governor let alone make it out of a GOP primary. Most people I talk to think that she is too weird and obnoxious. People dont mind her as Treasurer and find her mildly entertaing in that role, but as Governor of Illinois. Give me a break. Blagorgeous may have had some bumps in the road, but I want to give him four more years. He really has done some good depsite the negativity on this board and by the press. - Aakash - Saturday, Apr 16, 05 @ 3:11 am: I was invited to attend the press conference this afternoon, here in Springfield… I wasn’t able to go, but I think some other College Republicans from Illinois may have been there. Oberweis was impressive during his last campaign, and I am glad that there was a candidate willing to talk tough on the issue of illegal immigration. It’s too bad about the criticism that he received from fellow Republicans. Depending on several factors, and Oberweis gubernatorial candidacy may be worthy of support. - Bill Baar - Saturday, Apr 16, 05 @ 2:56 pm: I just got back from the 10th District Republican Women’s Club bruch with most of the R Candidates. Oberweis had Ed Derwinski there as his Campaign Chair and announced a Hispanic woman (I thought as co chair). Each potential candidate made an opening statements and Jim opened with the declaration he was the only declared candidate and I think he was expecting appluas on that but the room remained silence. That threw him off tempo. - DazedGovernor - Saturday, Apr 16, 05 @ 9:18 pm: Obie is a fly speck with a lot of money, which he will waste. Maybe his family will shut him down like Steve Forbes’ family did. Who cares about him? Anyway, if Illinois can field a viable repub. candidate, money will flow in from Washington like it is a spring flood. Doesn’t anybody think that Blago is on the radar in DC? If there is any possible chance to do it, there will be an all out effort to squash the little bug (Blago and Obie too). - Anonymous - Sunday, Apr 17, 05 @ 8:57 pm: republican money from dc? thats hilarious. the rnc has much bigger priorities, like tom delay’s ethical lapses making all rep incumbants vulnerable. the last thing the rnc will do will be to drop money into a race with subpar rep gov candidates against a weell funded dem who can obviously raise more money. they dont want to go there. thye will eait a few years for alan keyes to repair his image and run him for gocv in 2010! - Anonymous - Monday, Apr 18, 05 @ 10:02 am: Tony Cisneros will be his Hispanic and Evangelical coordinator. Has Joe Wiegand ever won a race? The milk and ice cream are good. But he may not get the lactose intolerant vote. - Anonymous - Monday, Apr 18, 05 @ 10:03 am: Tony Cisneros will be his Hispanic and Evangelical coordinator. Has Joe Wiegand ever won a race? The milk and ice cream are good. But he may not get the lactose intolerant vote. - TONY CISNEROS - Friday, Aug 19, 05 @ 10:31 am: PRESS RELEASE — PRESS RELEASE — PRESS RELEASE — PRESS RELEASE – FROM THE DESK OF TONY CISNEROS: I AM FORMALLY ANNOUNCING MY DEFECTION FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND COMING BACK HOME TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HERE IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. I INTEND ON RUNNING AS THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR ILLINOIS STATE TREASURER IN 2006. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, TONY CISNEROS (2002/2004 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS, UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 4TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, STATE OF ILLINOIS) P.S. IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT ME AND/OR MY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, MR. PAUL WALAWSKI, AT (773) 227-8133. [NOTE: THE ABOVE PRESS RELEASE WAS SUBMITTED TO citynews@tribune.com ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2005 4:56 P.M. — OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS RECEIVED THE SAME MESSAGE ON THE AFOREMENTIONED THURSDAY AFTERNOON OF AUGUST 18, 2005.] Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.