49 Comments - Team America - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:00 pm: Hamilton Chang is a Republican political newcomer running for Beth Coulson’s seat in the 17th District. He’s an impressive guy with a strong background in finance, and the quintessential American Dream candidate with parents who fled the communist takeover in China. He is great on the stump, and as a 6′4″ Chinese guy, he really stands out in a crowd. I’m pleased to see the GOP is attracting more diverse candidates as well. We need more like this guy. But it’s a tough district that the moderate Coulson has had to fight hard to hold, so he’s definitely got his work cut out for him. - Will County Woman - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:00 pm: I like the GOP candidate for Attorney General, and I do plan to vote for him in the general. no offense, but outside of black people and irish-americans, there really isn’t much diversity in illinois politics. this kim fellow is qualified and i think more asian-americans should be involved in politics/government. i think it takes a lot of courage to step into the ring against Lisa Madigan, and even if people aren’t ready to declare the will vote for kim in the general the way I am, i hope people will at least be willing to hear him out before necessarily ruling him out. besides, illinois could use some new faces and fresh voices on the political scene in some of the statewide offices, and i think every constitutional office, except governor, easily lend themselves to be being more open to qualified and talented new faces and fresh voices. the upshot of this is that hopefully it will inspire more new faces and fresh voices to run for public office after 2010 and moving forawrd. - ahoy - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:01 pm: Well it was Frank Edwards - Boscobud - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:02 pm: Anyone who would release funds to the agencies that help families with special needs children. I just my sons up for the PUNS list and there are 18,000 families waiting for funding to be approved. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:02 pm: Elgie Sims. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:03 pm: Elgie is not a longshot by any means. And I think the odds are against a Republican in Coulson’s district, but I don’t think that makes Chang an actual longshot. Let’s stick to real, honest to goodness longshots, please. - Team America - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:05 pm: Well, he’s not as much of a longshot as Kim, but then, who is? - Abe Froman - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:06 pm: Adam Andjzdksdkjwvzjikszxiski. This guy is as sincere as the day is long. He is smart and no nonsense. He made a big nest egg in business and has used it to try and make a difference. His campaign shows he’s a good manager. His efforts are targeted, consistent and high-quality. His linkage with the far-right probably dooms him and he probably should have started lower than governor, but the guy’s got moxie and could be a rising star coming out of this primary. - CircularFiringSquad - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:07 pm: If we cannot get BrickheaJoe on the ballot, then another Ryan is a must….or how about Capt. Fax’s last web designer?…not as groovy as the GOPs but close. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:07 pm: Anonymous 1:02, please get another handle. Thanks. - Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:07 pm: I can’t decide if I’m rooting for Dan Proft or Andy Martin more. - Levois - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:09 pm: I think that Steve Kim would have to be a favorite. He’s definitely a long shot. I would say he has something on Joe Birkett who wouldn’t take this race. Although I don’t plan to vote for Kim. Hopefully we’ll hear more from him. - CircularFiringSquad - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:09 pm: Dangerous stone panels to be removed from Thompson Center October 14, 2009 11:05 AM | 1 Comment Approximately 1,000 granite panels on the facade of the James R. Thompson Center, each weighing between 200 and 600 pounds, will soon be removed in response to one of them falling this summer, state officials said today. The estimated cost is $1 million. The panels clad the arcade and freestanding columns surrounding the state office building and plaza along Clark, LaSalle and Randolph Streets. Some streets around the downtown state office building may be closed temporarily during the removal process, expected to begin by the end of the month and take about eight weeks….let’s see end of October THEN close for eights weeks (aka 2 months, AKA November, December….TTFN Xmas shopping) - Will County Woman - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:10 pm: Team America, todd stroger. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:11 pm: ======== I like the GOP candidate for Attorney General,… ======== His name is Steve Kim, and he’s my favorite, too. - shore - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:14 pm: Vargas, the kid taking on Hastert’s son. As a Republican I can’t think of anything less appealing going to congress than the spawn of the man responsible for ending our majority. I’d much rather have a self-made candidate than a k-street made candidate. - shore - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:16 pm: Also I like this site a lot more than the new one. It looks like an old quilt with all the different colors everywhere. There’s also a young taking on Jan Schakowsky. I’d love nothing more than to see her sweat a few out. - Ghost - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:18 pm: Hoffman His background and credentials suggest he may actually bring soem solutions to the table. - OdysseusVL - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:30 pm: Proft. I agree with him on almost nothing, but he’s a smart guy who would run an interesting campaign. - Fan of CapFax - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:31 pm: Jacob Meister, the openly gay candidate for Roland Burris’ U.S. Senate seat. I may not be gay, but I like this guy! - OdysseusVL - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:34 pm: One more: Dave Schroeder, who is taking on Ken Dunkin, would be a huge improvement. - Captain Flume - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:35 pm: I like what’s his name, oh you know, that one guy, you know who I mean. - Oneman - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:43 pm: Adam perhaps because he is the only candidate I have ever seen who used the term API - D.P. Gumby - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:45 pm: Rich Whitney…the way this governors race is shaping up, he is more and more attractive. - jake - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 1:48 pm: Hoffman for U.S. Senate He came to the Champaign County Democratic dinner, presented himself well, and made an effective case for his candidacy. He may wind up being blown away by the experience and money of others, but for that one evening at least he looked good. - Abe Froman - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 2:03 pm: Shore, Sen. Hultgren is taking on young Hastert in the 14th and it’s probably a toss up between those two. As sincere as Vargas is, with Hultgren in the race, he’s officially demoted from long-shot. I like Steve Kim too. He’s going to help the GOP in the growing Asian community. - LouisXIV - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 2:13 pm: Dave Hoffman for senate, probably the Dems best candidate but definitely a long shot. I’m not sure that anyone running against Ken Dunkin should be considered a long shot. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 2:14 pm: I like Rich Whitney or the Greens. The guy is honest and educated. Just those two principles would serve illinois well. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 2:18 pm: Anonymous 2:14, can you post under another handle, please? That one’s already taken. Thanks. - Will County Woman - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 2:18 pm: thanks anon…I got his lastname in my previous post right , but for some reason couldn’t recall his firstname as readily. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 2:25 pm: My pleasure! He IS amazing, isn’t he? - dupage dan - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 2:40 pm: Andy, the constant consonant. He probably started by reaching too high but one should “make no little plans”. We could be seeing him again in a future campaign if he loses. - Anon-Number7 - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 2:47 pm: Adam Robinson - a well-spoken, moderate Republican running for State Senate in the 7th District (far northside of Chicago). It’s a pretty heavy Dem district, but he’s putting together a good and diverse organization. The incumbent is facing a serious primary challenge. - David Ormsby - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 2:49 pm: Todd Connor, 31, a former Navy officer, Iraq vet, U of Chicago MBA, and IL inspector general running–more like galloping–for a seat on the Metropolitan Water Rec board. He wants to hose the place down, clean it up, and make the numbers ad up. Tough gig. But heck–he’s even got a real white hat. - hoffman, for sure. - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 2:51 pm: David Hoffman for US Senate. The Republicans are just dying to see Alexi in November. They’re scared to death of Hoffman. - Soxfan - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 3:21 pm: Bob Schillerstrom will surprise a lot of people with his hard work and simple message -he is not one of them from Springfield!! - True Observer - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 3:32 pm: “Shore, Sen. Hultgren is taking on young Hastert in the 14th and it’s probably a toss up between those two. As sincere as Vargas is, with Hultgren in the race, he’s officially demoted from long-shot.” If Foster hangs up his cleats, it’s going to be a chip shot for the Republican. - Joe in the Know - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 3:33 pm: David Ormsby, you put an interesting spin on the question: the biggest longshot to the most irrelevant elected position. I like that! - Danski - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 3:45 pm: Dan Proft for sure. While our politics do not match, I think he is a brilliant young politician and his in-your-face style couldnt help but hold people accountable. If nothing else, the debates would be must-see TV. - Dan Prophet - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 3:50 pm: Dan Proft for his tagline: Illinois isn’t broken. It’s fixed. - Lt. Guv - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 3:56 pm: Mike McDermott - for any office. - bored now - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 4:02 pm: i don’t know that i consider todd connor a real longshot. that may depend on how many people actually file for mwrd, but it seems to me that connor has out campaigned everyone else circulating petitions for the seat. i seem to recall another newcomer who ran a few years ago about whom the same could be said… - Pete Giangreco - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 4:54 pm: Dan Proft sounds great when he mouths Bill Clinton’s line about those who play by the rules getting the shaft. Not bad for an anti-government reformer who has been on the public payroll for years at such wonderfully reform minded places as Cicero drawing super inflated salaries for answering reporters questions with “no comment.” He’s a longshot for a reason. Fact is, he’s full of shot. - Bubs - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 4:57 pm: Former State Senator Roger Keats, GOP Candidate for Cook County Board President. If the Democrats are self-destructive enough to re-nominate Stroger, he could do it. But I don’t think thay are that self-destructive. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 5:35 pm: Pete G. — full of shot? Shecky Greene, look out. Keats as Cook County board pres. would be trippy. From his days in the Senate, he doesn’t really strike me as the guy itching to oversee the hospital system for the indigent and public defender’s office. You don’t think someone told him he would get to be the club pro at George Dunne National? - Integrity Please - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 7:09 pm: Michael White, the independent candidate, seems like a real person. I would like to see someone in the governor’s office that can relate to people and understands the meaning of a dollar. - JonShibleyFan - Wednesday, Oct 14, 09 @ 10:09 pm: I wonder how David Hoffman can be both the best candidate AND a longshot. If he’s the best candidate, he’ll win the primary. As to my favorite vanity candidate –sorry, long shot candidate– I like Proft. I have faith his act will only get more entertaining as Feb 5 draws near. - Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Oct 15, 09 @ 8:16 am: Doug Whitley. Oops. Never mind. - Regular Republican - Friday, Oct 16, 09 @ 10:34 am: Dan Proft - He’s brilliant and ready to fight. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.