21 Comments - Maine - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 5:27 pm: So much anger in local Maine Township GOP after Committeeman’s race, watch for Rep. Mulligan to catch a major primary battle in two years. Prediction: She’s now running for her last term. Very personally unpopular in Springfield - many will be glad to see her go. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 5:30 pm: Cross-posted at Illinoize: I read Christine Cegelis’s concession webposting with great sadness. Sad because it read as an all-too-familiar effort by a second place candidate to take as many parting shots as possible. It is understandable for a candidate to be emotionally raw after such a bruising primary — her campaign manager is at fault for not protecting her from her own keyboard. Candidates are remembered as much for how they cope with adversity and defeat as how they carry victory, and they should choose their final words with care. Unless she wants to be remembered for her bitterness, Cegelis should rethink her words. You can read what she said at Illinoize. - illinois insider - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 5:35 pm: looks like all the amateur hour madigan and DPI efforts to slander Alexi via avenues such as the Daily Herald and Crains failed. Also looks like Rich’s column in Mondays southtown was hyperbole. a verbal gaffe from a newbie candidate does not = complete failure. I think Alexi, Claypool are just the tip of the iceberg. There is an independent reform movement within the democratic ranks and a tremendous dissatisfactoin with the ‘old guard’ and their little familial fiefdoms. This will play out in Chicago in the next mayoral race, in aldermanic races, and going forward in state politics. - Phocion - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 5:41 pm: Alexi an independent? Please! He’s a spoiled little rich kid who just bought an office thanks to Senator Wonderful. Where was Obama to help Claypool, who actually has the experience and know how to reform government… The Machine won big today, friends. It’s a dark day for democracy in Illinois. Thanks John Stroger and Barack Obama for sealing it up. - JL Pettimore - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 5:41 pm: How about the fact that Tony Peraica was rejected by HALF of the Republican voters in Lyons Twp and may lose the Committeeman’s post to an unknown. There are 18 precincts left to count and Tony has a narrow lead. Even better news is the fact that Gene Moore got trounced by Karen Yarbrough, and she beat Gene’s driver, Chris Welch…. - illinois insider - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 6:03 pm: alexi is independent of mike madigan. that says a lot. also, rod ‘bought’ his seat, judy ‘bought’ hers, and so did stroger. buying offices is part of the game or did you just take your head out of the sand ? as for the ’spoiled little rich kid’ comment, do you know alexi ? or do you regularly insult people personally you’ve never met before on the internet ? i suppose you would call me ‘white trash’ because I grew up lower workinmg class ? alexi is defined by his character and he is an honest, good, down-to-earth human being and he deserved to win. chalk one up for the good guys . - Xolotl - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 6:35 pm: Maine- I don’t know with whom you have been speaking, but in Springfield Rep. Mulligan is indeed popular in both parties and both chambers- a strong/well informed budgeteer and a darn hard worker when it comes to health care issues. Many people not only in Springfield, but throughout the state would not like to see her leave. - Pretzel - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 6:45 pm: Insider - what’s more amatuer hour? Nominating an actual experienced public servant not from Cook for a statewide race or backing an untested, unproven delittante? I guess we’ll see in Nov, and Rich’s column may have been hyperbole for now, but it’s a long way to go & given Alexi’s intial stellar performance handling tough questions, it could be a REALLY long way to go for his camp. Alexi may be a nice enough guy, but he is where he is b/c his old man gave Obama a ton of money. That’s it. So if your “little familial fiefdoms” comment is a slam on the Madigans, keep in mind that Alexi’s where he is b/c of his daddy’s donations, and his “experience” at his daddy’s bank. I’ve got no love for senior Madigan, but at least Lisa did something w/ herself b/f throwing in statewide. Apples & oranges maybe b/c of name recognition & muscle, maybe, but don’t try to make Alexi out to be the little engine that could or something. I’m just glad this is over so the notion of Forrest Claypool, Daley man yet independent & reform-minded, can be put to rest… - Joe Citizen - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 6:53 pm: Alexi independent of Madigan? Alexi will be at the well gorovelling for Madigan’s support. He’ll need it. Don’t expect too much from MM. A Republican state treasurer is of little value to DPI. - Joe Citizen - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 6:54 pm: Opps. I meant to write that a Democratic state treasurer is of little value to DPI. - History Lesson - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 7:14 pm: Pretzel - I objected when Republicans attacked Lisa Madigan for relying on her “daddy”, and I find the term no less offensive when you use it. Lisa Madigan too was attacked for being inexperienced, and Dan Hynes had never held public office or done much public good before he ran for statewide office. I believe he was about Alexi’s age when he ran, and I think the Democratic Party and the state have been well-served by both their candidacies and elections. Alexi’s candidacy may indeed fizzle, but let’s not dismiss him because of who his father is or his lack of elected experience. There are self-made political leaders in a dictatorship, but not in a democracy, and George Ryan had experience in spades. - Just Observing - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 7:32 pm: Well said Phocion — Alexi is a total goof and I hope he loses in the General. I’m a very independent Democrat who is usually the last to support a Madigan candidate, but in this case I believe Madidgan’s intentions of bringing geographic diversity to the ticket is genuine. Mangieri was the only one to throw his name in the ring when everyone assumed Judy was going to stay put. Mangieri is a nice guy with some real qualifications… maybe not 3 years in Daddy’s bank, but some real executive government experience which I believe is more important. I’ve never even heard of this Alexi kid and all of a sudden he’s the most qualified candidate for this office because Obama says so? Speaking of Obama, if he is so wonderful and above the political fray, he would have endorsed Claypool for Cook County Board President. The citizens of Cook County are so stupid they deserve John Stroger — or more likely some other political hack when its revealed that Stroger can’t serve. - Blugil - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 7:43 pm: Rep. Mulligan is one of the few representatives who understands complex healthcare issues and is independent enough to speak her mind. I like that and think others feel the same. I will be glad to help her in two years. - Gregor Samsa - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 8:12 pm: I think the Alexei win will be regretted if more of the mob ties thing with the bank loans comes out. I doubt Obama would have given his support if he’d known in advance of THAT skeleton in the closet. Ka-LI! Down in Sangamon County, the advisory referendum supporting open primaries got stupendous support. Would probably have gotten even more if all the folks understood they didn’t have to declare a party to vote for it, they could have just asked for a proposition-only ballot. But the current primaries system with declared party preference keeps many people home, scared to participate in our democracy for fear of reprisals on the job. If that isn’t the most un-American thing I ever heard of! Who can defend such a monstrous policy? Do any of you think for a second our folks dealing with Iraq’s new government would allow them to have such a voting system? I wish I knew what more we can do to move open primaries from proposition to legislation. Once it’s a bill, most every politician should be afraid to vote against it. The trick is to get it out of committee and into the light. - Cassandra - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 8:30 pm: The election is over. JBT in particular as the challenger needs to stay right out of any post election analysis and get right into the campaign. She seems to be doing that. Blago, of course, had already started his campaign before the primary. Two very important situations developing that will probably influence JBT’s campaign in a huge way whether she wants them to or not: Rev Meeks potential candidacy, which seems to be dependent on whether he can extract enough money and jobs for blacks out of Blago to back off, and the reported “difficulties” the Ryan jury is having in deliberations. Probably the best thing for JBT would be that the jury stays and issues a verdict…if it is guilty then it’s overwith and pretty much forgotten by November. If it’s a deadlock and a retrial occurs, that’s tricky. A guilty verdict in the fall could be a real problem for JBT. And it will no doubt be a long second retrial stretching right into the fall. And in the really great news department here in Oak Park, Calvin Giles was defeated by a newcomer. Giles, relative of a Chicago politician, made headlines because of delays in reporting contributions and delays in paying the resulting fines. He finally paid up, after the fines were significantly reduced, but it was too late to impress the voters. I guess even ultraliberal ultraDem Oak Parkers couldn’t ignore these transgressions indefinitely although they certainly tried. He had served since 1993. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 8:52 pm: Did Stu Umholtz win his primary? - Team Sleep - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 9:01 pm: What worries me the most about Alexi winning is that now younger candidates face an interesting quandary: can they run and win if they are not flush with cash? If myself or another young contemporary wants to run for any office before 30, will be required to be independently wealthy or have an unlimited bankroll from family and ultra-close friends? What will this do for races in Congressional districts? I worry that some bored young kid will just blow his or her cash to win an office. - Gregor Samsa - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 9:35 pm: “I worry that some bored young kid will just blow his or her cash to win an office.” He’s Governor now. - anon - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 9:49 pm: Can anyone guess how many dead people voted in Cook County last night? That was an hugh turn around in the race for County President from 1am to 6am. - Chicago Girl - Wednesday, Mar 22, 06 @ 10:41 pm: Terrifying stuff…rumor I heard from another judge about the Democratic Precinct Captain in his polling place in Chicago… After the capt. got a list of who hadn’t yet voted, he left the polling place and went door to door to try to get people to come out and vote. Anyone who said they weren’t going to vote, he found someone who had already voted, had them change clothes, and come back as the missing voter. They caught three people doing it–I wonder how many they didn’t catch? You know, when I learned how to read, I appreciated books more. When I learned about baseball, I started loving baseball (Go Sox!). When I started really studying Shakespeare, I got it why people think he’s a genius. So why is it that the more I learn about Illinois politics, the dirtier and more disillusioned I feel? Go Democracy! Yea! - Pretzel - Thursday, Mar 23, 06 @ 9:05 am: History - you’d make a much stronger point if Alexi was in fact self-made. He’s bankrolled by his family & he’s working at his family’s bank. Exactly the same as Dan Hynes, just a different industry. So again, you can’t rail against the Madigans or the Hynes & claim this kid is somehow different. If he can make himself in politics, then we’ll see, but so far he’s relying on his family’s money & connections as much as Dan Hynes & Lisa Madigan ever did. Let’s not be hypocritical here; it’s the same old same old, just a new white ethnic group to at least make it interesting. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.