48 Comments - Steve - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 4:27 am: If Proft runs, hopefully a lot of series issues can be discussed in the coming campaign. Pension reform, Illinois’ weak economic performance. - Heartless Libertarian - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 6:48 am: It looks like a lot of Republicans think they can win next year. Good for them… but as Republican, I have my doubts about any Republican winning statewide office while Obama is in office. - Bill - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 7:07 am: Hmmmm, Proft, Murphy, et al. Another collection of All-Stars for the GOP. They make Bill Brady look like a mainstream candidate. Can you imagine Proft’s campaign committee? Allan Keyes, Larry Dominic, Ed Vrdolyak, Dick Cheney, Tony Peraica, Don Wade, etc., etc., etc.. The boys are back. LOL - wordslinger - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 7:11 am: Given Todd, Rod and Roland, you’d think the GOP could make some headway somewhere. Proft doesn’t strike me as the GOP type who’s enjoyed success here in the past. Too abstract, too doctrinaire. Probably a chance in a way-low-turnout GOP primary, not so much in a general election. I’m very leery of someone who chose Francis Urqhuart as the symbol for his company, Very strange, possibly revealing. - wndycty - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 7:29 am: Let’s get this straight. Proft who had an extremely lucrative questionable contract with the administration of Cicero Mayor Larry Dominick is running? Seriously? Pat Quinn and Lisa Madigan as well as his GOP primary opponents must be getting a good chuckle this morning. - One of the 35 - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 8:12 am: Brad has been an excellent Mayor in Carbondale and has expanded his influence through the Illinois Municipal League and the National League of Cities. He is also well known to suburban mayors and could forge the necessary coalition to be elected to state wide office if he is able to raise the $. - Hank - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 8:17 am: wndycty Sounds like Proft has all the necessary qualifications for higher office in our great state!! - Deep South - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 8:33 am: There’s not enough mayors and members of the Municipal League to elect Cole. He’ll get beat like a rental car no matter what office he decides to seek. Not enough money…no statewide name recognition. And….and, he was George Ryan’s deputy chief of staff. It just ain’t gonna happen. - Anon - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 8:40 am: Brady’s gotta be grinning from ear to ear today with all of these suburban guys jumping into the primary. What’s that make now, four? from Dupage County? Plus Murphy from Palatine. And that doesn’t count Birkett. - Rob_N - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 8:44 am: Here I thought Dan and Kate were going to announce their legal separation…. - Chicago Guy - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 8:47 am: Wasn’t Dan on the SOS and state payroll under George Ryan? Wasn’t his job’s of the political type. What was his work product? Just asking. - SangamoGOP - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 8:50 am: Proft seems to be running for the Governor of Northeast Illinois. Use the Cicero drop box, er, PO Box, and run for Cook County Board President, Dan. As for Brad Cole, he’s a likeable guy who is popular in Carbondale. However, Judy Baar dancing with Ryan was a killer commercial. Brad was Deputy Gov for Southern Illinois in the Ryan Administration. That commercial is already in the can… - Former Republican - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 9:03 am: Having worked with Brad Cole in the Ryan administration, let me set the record straight. He was the Deputy for the southern Illinois area not a big player. - In the Land of Silos and Cows ... - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 9:08 am: So a guy with a pathetic winning percentage RUNNING campaigns … a man who brought the ILGOP Alan Keys … a man who worked for Don Stephens AND Larry Dominick and is still for better, cleaner government … a man whose favorite voice is the one coming from below his own nose … he’s announcing? …OK. - nick - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 9:12 am: Well, unless only college students vote in the primary, Cole has no shot. No money, no legitimacy and he starts out with a negative. Not a good idea. - Bill - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 9:13 am: Maybe he is just hard up for work now that Larry is being watched. Can’t find a job? Run for something. - Ghost - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 9:17 am: Proft and Murphy, decisions decisions. - CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 9:18 am: Shoot,Aim, Ready! This is going to be a great day Does the World Laughing Stock (WLS) need to report in-kind contributions? Later we can watch StateWideTom explain how he wants to leverage seniors, DD folks, day care workers for a hopeless bid to be Speaker in 2012. BTW let’s not count TwoTimeLoser BrickheadJoe out of the big rodeo And then there is our newest Bacheloramabama, CommandoKirk who is running for “WhatEverLisaDoesNotWant” - I'm Just Saying - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 9:22 am: Dont’ forget to ask Brad about his trip to the RNC COnvention in 92 with the State Car…….. - VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 9:25 am: Welcome new candidates! Best of luck to each of you! Without citizens willfully committing themselves to pursuing public office, we wouldn’t have a democracy. And, as you can see, without you, a lot of folks around here would have nothing to throw their rocks and rotten tomatoes at! This will not be easy, nor should it be. With every pronouncement, you will be heckled and derided as boobs, fools, and morons. Look - you can’t even be discussed objectively before you even officially announce, so get used to this ridiculous right of passage. Rest assured that there are those of us who will really attempt to look for the best within you. After all, Rod Blagojevich was elected twice - so when you get a little down, just pull up a few pro-Blagojevich blogging comments out of the Capitol Fax Blog, and have a laugh. The regulars around here have more pie on their faces than a dozen Keystone Kops. Enjoy Bill’s great wit, wordslinger’s insights, Ghost’s sincerity, Heartless Librarian’s heart of gold, and MOON’s utter incoherence. And as usual, if you do something really noteworthy, expect a corrupted pop or show tune from me to rub salt in those wounds. There are so many guys around here to help point out every mistake you make, or even, don’t make. We are that stupid sometimes! Consider it a red badge of courage from a whole lotta hacks. Ignor them, and give it your best! Why do you do it? Because you people are are so emotionally needy you try to find love and acceptance from total strangers. You are willing to take money from the kind of people your own parents would disown you over. You have an ego large enough to believe in yourself it can deflect all incoming facts, opinions and rotten eggs. And it wouldn’t be America without you! Good luck! - Amy - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 9:37 am: i’m not a Republican, so i have no idea what is up with that primary. but i do know that Proft is an anti choice zealot and if he gets past the primary, many will be compelled to work against him on this issue alone. - colt 45 - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 9:38 am: proft’s been telling so many people for so long that they’re not real republicans that it’ll be interesting to see what happens if and when he asks these same people for their vote in the republican primary. cole’s a good guy and a good public servant. i wish him well, whatever he decides to do. - Concerned Observer - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 9:42 am: Cole’s a good guy, but there’s very little chance he’d win a statewide race his first time out of the chute. Thing is…just running statewide boosts his street cred. I think it’s a good move for him if he goes after a lower-level position, like Lt. Gov. or Comptroller. Treasurer might be too high. I actually think he has the best chance to win at Comptroller, but I don’t think that would necessarily be the best career move for him. Lt. Gov. would bring more visibility. In any rate, I wish him well. - Rob_N - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 9:51 am: Circular asks, “Does the World Laughing Stock (WLS) need to report in-kind contributions?” Didn’t they force out the one progressive personality they had when she ran for Senate a few years back? Wonder if they’ll be putting Proft on hiatus now that he’s running for an office too… - Easy - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 9:51 am: The release says on June 9th he is announcing. Hey Capt Fax, aren’t blogs part of the new media scene to bring the latest news to people? Why are you hyping something that is 2 weeks old. I’m sure it’s not a typo on Dan’s fault, he runs a pr firm. - Bill - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 10:15 am: ==you will be heckled and derided as boobs, fools, and morons== Vannie, That is the first time you’ve been right all month. - siriusly - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 10:31 am: good luck to Proft, I hope he stays in the race long enough to keep it entertaining - otherwise the Murphy-Brady show would be a snorefest Of course its sort of like watching Arena Football, its a fun cheap thrill - but in the end you know those guys can’t play in the big league. - Conservative Veteran - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 10:32 am: Dan Proft is a great conservative, and I hope that he’ll win an elective office. According to www.politic1.com, our state already has six republican candidates for governor. If he wants to run, statewide, he should run for U.S. senator, lt. gov., or secretary of state. Rob N, Don & Roma are progressive. Too many people think that “progressive” means “liberal,” but that’s incorrect. A dictionary definition of “progressive” is “doing something to achieve progress.” Progress is determined by each person’s opinions. I think that conservative ideas are progressive and that liberal ideas arent’t. - Rob_N - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 10:44 am: Phil, ok …. That’s a nice avoidance of the topic I rose but what does that have to do with WLS-AM’s past actions against the liberal host (or Democratic-leaning or left-leaning or whatever phrase you want to use)? - Adam Smith - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 10:59 am: Proft won’t break single digits if he even makes it to the primary. His record is pure divisiveness, dubious ethics, stridency and belligerence. Sadly, there is a small, vocal and self-destructive constituency for him within the GOP. Dan may be interesting but he will not win and will hurt his party like he always does. - RelotoChicago - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 11:00 am: Well, let’s look at what’s gone down lately. I think it’s fair to say that yup, the Dems have done such a great job. Let’s keep electing them. I don’t know much about Dan Proft yet, but if he’s going to take on the corrupt officials in both parties, like he says, then I say its about time. I welcome the change!” - Dznuts - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 11:01 am: Don’t discount Brad Cole because he’s south of I-80. Brad is a talented, smart, and effective leader. Whoever thought a one-term state representative from Charleston would end up being one of the most effective Governor’s in this state? Brad’s not quite Jim Edgar yet, but my point is, simply, he would be a strong statewide candidate, especially for Treasurer or Comptroller. I hope he does well. - Northsider - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 11:15 am: Okay, who let Proft out of Storage B? - Rob_N - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 11:15 am: Reloto Chicago, Google Larry Dominick and Cicero … Dan Proft had an exclusive, no-bid, and quite lucrative contract with Mayor Dominick and the town of Cicero to act as the town’s professional spokesman from the time Mr. Dominick was first elected up til just a few weeks ago. Then come back and talk to us about taking on corruption. - Justin - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 12:04 pm: I’m glad Dan Proft is running. It’s about time we get a real candidate that is willing to stand up to the dems and fight. I heard some of his announcement on WLS this morning and I think his message is right on. Our state is rigged to support those in power, and no one wants to do anything about it. Dan seems willing to go after both democrats and some of their republican lap dogs, while everyone else stands around and watches our state go down the tube. - Anon2 - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 1:23 pm: It’s obvious that some people don’t like Dan Proft. But does anyone have anything critical to say about his ideas? Not that I’m very aware of Dan’s views, but the GOP is supposed to be the party of ideas. If Proft is to be attacked, I would hope it would be for his ideas. - Yanni Chill - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 2:12 pm: How refreshing Anon, judging a candidate based on his ideas. Of course no one comments on Dan’s ideas because the fact is Dan Proft is the only candidate out there with anything real to say. I am a small business owner, and I am sick of our state feeding on my entrepreneurship to line the pockets of democrats and their crownies. As far as I’m concerned, Dan’s the man to vote for if you are a small business owner and want to remain in Illinois. Everyone else seems content on cannibalizing the private sector. - Rob_N - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 2:33 pm: Rich, Wondering out loud about Mr. Proft’s history of sockpuppetry is out of bounds? Really? The guy’s planning to run for governor, an office in which such payola could be quite harmful to the citizens of this state. - VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 3:03 pm: That is the first time you’ve been right all month. Its been a rough month. Did you see my “fattie” comment today? Wow, that was stupid. See, it has been a rough month. For both me and for David Letterman. - Vicky - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 3:37 pm: Boy it sure is easy to take cheap shots at a great republican candidate like Dan Proft in the blogosphere, but I wonder if anyone that actually matters will have the guts to debate Proft in person when this race starts to heat up. My guess is that democrats wouldn’t dare defend the corrupt system of government that they helped create and Republicans wouldn’t want to answer why they have stood by and done nothing about it for so long. Dan Proft will force democrats and republicans alike to answer for the current state of Illinois government, and their response will most likely be mindless drivle, much like the criticisms on this blog. - RelotoChicago - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 3:38 pm: Rob_N, What’s wrong with a candidate making a living? It wasn’t a no bid contract like we’ve seen in this state so many times.. - Rob_N - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 4:25 pm: Reloto, Did my point just fly right over your head or are you intentionally avoiding it…? Mr. Proft is certainly well within his rights to legally seek no-bid, highly-lucrative contracts to produce spin for a mayor accused of several, shall we say, “alleged improprieties”. But for that same Mr. Proft to then turn around and proclaim that he shall be our savior is … odd, to say the least. - Obamarama - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 4:52 pm: ===There is not[sic] state budget for the coming fiscal year.=== This typo brought to you by your sponsors at: http://www.proft2010.com/article1.asp One more thing, DannyBoy points to his association with Tony Peraica on the site as well; that should give you an idea of where he sits in the political/ideological mosaic of Illinois. - John Doe - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 5:25 pm: I will have to admit that I really liked Vanilla Man’s comments. They were excellent. As for Dan Proft, I don’t have a problem with getting paid by Cicero as long as it was all perfectly legal (which it was). That is called “making a living”. Proft can be ascerbic with his wit but that is what endears him to many of us. Obviously, his legion of critics don’t see that way. This means to me thatthe guy must be effective with his rapier-like wit. The part that I like about him is that “he won’t back down” in order to pacify his opponents and thus spare himself some future pain & grief. Now, that is “just what the doctor ordered” for our Illinois state government. I don’t always agree on the issues with Dan Proft but I do always respect his opinion and the character of the man himself. Unless I see him packing his bags for an island stay on some “Survivor Show” like poor Peppermint Patty,Proft will be getting my vote. He has a steel spine and God knows that Illinois needs somebody with a hardened steel spine to keep us off of the next Saturday Night Live comedy skit. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 6:49 pm: lol…June 9th…so did Proft actually announce? I’m obviuosly confused because I, too, thought he’d be announcing today. I guess he did, then, yes? - wordslinger - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 9:52 pm: Wow, the spontaneous, independent outpouring of support on this blog for Proft is electrifying! You cannot hope to stop him, only contain him! What were those ideas we’re supposed to talk about again? - Rob_N - Wednesday, Jun 24, 09 @ 6:54 am: Wordslinger, Henceforth, Dan Proft shall be known as Dan “rapier-like wit” Proft…. At least until a new saccharin sock comes along. “He has a steel spine”??? Yeah, that’s why he whines when people point out his errors and fallacies. - Zuul - Saturday, Jun 27, 09 @ 1:41 pm: As someone who lives in Carbondale, Brad Cole has been a very subpar mayor, blowing city money on private ‘p.r.’ trips and by doing shady business deals using city money to fund unpopular projects at Southern Illinois University. He is definitely the politician’s politician. In some ways I hope he does get a state office so we can get rid of him in Carbondale. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.