* Mike Boland is dropping out of the congressional race and will run for state Senate. This will be one of the most-watched primaries of the year…
Former state Rep. Mike Boland is dropping out of the Democratic primary in Illinois’ 17th district and will pursue a challenge against state Sen. Mike Jacobs.
The state Senate race would pit two longtime rivals against one another. And it would also pare the already lengthy slate of Democrats seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling, R-Ill. […]
Boland acknowledged he hasn’t done much fundraising, and he said he’d only raised about $6,000, far less than what some of his rivals are expected to report. Still, he said it wasn’t lack of money that is behind his exit.
He said he is challenging Jacobs because he’s unhappy with his record, particularly his sponsorship of a bill to let utilities raise rates to improve the electrical grid.
The feud between Boland and the Jacobs family goes back decades. He and Mike’s father despised each other, and the enmity continued when the son got the seat. Attempts were made in the past to dislodge Boland by both parties, but he’s always held on. He’s not all that popular at the Statehouse, but he was popular back in the district.
However, Boland has no money in his state campaign account. He drained it during his feckless bid for lt. governor last year, but he raised only a few thousand dollars for that campaign. Most of his money came from loans made by himself and his wife. Sen. Jacobs had $88K in the bank at the end of June and has raised about $48K since then.
Jacobs sponsored the much-hated “Smart Grid” bill. Jacobs’ father lobbies for ComEd. There’s plenty of fodder for Boland if he can run even a half-real campaign.
“I’m surprised,” Sen. Jacobs said. “He announced he was dropping out of the (Illinois) House where he had served 20 years to spend time with his grandkids. Then he ran for lieutenant governor and finished fifth. Then he ran for a Black Hawk College trustee position and then he announced a campaign for Congress.
“Now he’s going to drop out of the congressional race to run for (state) Senate. He makes me wonder if he knows what he wants to be when he grows up. I feel sorry for him. He has some issues.”
Sen. Jacobs said he doesn’t know Mr. Boland very well, but questions his motivation to run for the Illinois Senate.
“I don’t know what he could possibly offer the folks,” Sen. Jacobs said. “He hasn’t been very effective. … Thirty years ago, Boland ran against my father (for state Senate) and lost and endorsed a Republican after my father (Denny Jacobs) beat him. I don’t know what his motivation is. But anyone can run. It’s America.”
* Meanwhile, Democratic state Rep. Tom Holbrook has taken himself out of the race to replace retiring Democratic Congressman Jerry Costello. Others aren’t exactly climbing over each other to run, either…
St. Clair County State’s Sttorney Brendan Kelly and state Rep. Jerry Costello II, the congressman’s son, have told the News-Democrat they don’t plan to run for the seat Costello is giving up.
St. Clair County Board C hairmanMark Kern also has decided not to run for the 12th District seat, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Kern couldn’t be reached for comment. […]
Holbrook predicted “There’ll be a Democrat running.”
As to who that Democrat would be, “I would have to refer you to the party chairs,” he said.
* In other campaign news, there’s been a lot of talk about House Republican Leader Tom Cross thinking about endorsing Rick Perry’s presidential campaign. But Cross’ political godfather has just endorsed Mitt Romney…
“During my years in the House, I was an advocate for balanced budgets and low taxes,” Hastert said in a statement. “Mitt Romney stands up for these principles….From his success in the private sector, Mitt Romney understands how to create jobs and turn around this economy.”
* Everybody knows that Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky is intensely hated by the right wing. This post by Rebel Pundit is no exception…
#OccupyChicago: thousands of anarchists, union members, and Democrats–and not one American flag.
Just like the Tea Party!
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) was on hand. She addressed a mob outside the Hyatt Regency Chicago, where some activists apparently attempted to disrupt a meeting of the Mortgage Bankers Association. She then led them in one of five feeder marchers that combined into a sea of pot-smoking, bongo-drumming, flea-infested dreadlock lunacy outside the Art Institute of Chicago.
We caught up with Jan, and asked for her thoughts on the patriotism of the protest, since we could not find one American flag in her parade of nearly 1000 liberal loons.
* Elk Grove Mayor Won’t Run For Congress: “I have no desire to run for Congress or state senate, as long as you give me the privilege, nothing makes me prouder than to say I’m the mayor of Elk Grove,” said Mayor Craig Johnson at Tuesday night’s village board meeting, putting to rest talk he might mount a run as a Republican in the newly remapped 8th Congressional Dist.
* Resident to Biggert: ‘I am Seething‘ About Job Cuts - Protesters came to Rep. Judy Biggert’s office in Willowbrook to encourage her to support the jobs bill that was before the U.S. Senate Tuesday.
Ridiculous video and “wannabe” hit piece by RebelPundit. Why is this even a story?
There are hundreds of frustrated, fed-up people marching in the streets, peacefully demonstrating and exerting their god given Constitutional rights, and this yahoo is asking questions about flags.
There is only one hope for Democrats in the 12th Congressional, John Bradley. If he runs, he gets Democratic support and Republican support. He is the dangerous Dem I don’t want in the race. Jason Plummer is a joke, doesn’t even live in the district. What move into a district and claim to be one of them? Doesn’t work. Republicans can win this seat because other than Bradley, the Donkeys don’t have anyone who can raise enough money or get enough votes.
–We caught up with Jan, and asked for her thoughts on the patriotism of the protest, since we could not find one American flag in her parade of nearly 1000 liberal loons.–
Does carrying a flag at a protest really matter? Why don’t these people debate the merits of what people are protesting instead of throwing out their own red herrings… idiots.
“If I don’t wear my flag lapel pin, people will think I’m with the terrorist.”
Ahoy, I agree…It’s like if I’m standing near or wearing an American flag then I must not be a REAL American. What a bunch of hooey. Not to mention just a distraction from the real issues.
Not one flag?!?! Not even one to use as a cape? How dare more than 10 people get together for anything without draping themselves in the flag.
- G. Willickers - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 1:38 pm:
“*** UPDATE *** Apparently, the blogger either ignored or didn’t see this flag at the event…”
Far be it from a right-winger blinded by partisan hatred to see Stars & Stripes right in front of them…
PS - Con activists are being caught from Wall Street to Washington trying to make #Occupy rallies “look bad” by causing mayhem in the hopes that Occupy attendees get blamed. Just as bad, anti-Schakowsky con Joel Pollack was quoted as being “worried” about violence at #OccupyChicago earlier in the week despite complete lack of evidence.
Sadly, demonizing of their fellow Americans and underhanded ‘agent provocateur’ malarkey is par for the course from the modern right-wing.
I walk by the “occupiers” down by the CBOT every day. There’s about as much chance for violence from that crowd as there is at an Indigo Girls concert.
Come again how its’ unpatriotic to protest in America?
I love how much of the media’s attention particularly certain right leaning outlets are trying desparatly trying to discredit these folks…as if they have no right to assemble and protest.
But if a Gadson flag is somewhere at the rally…then the world is once again right.
I can’t wait for the Jacobs/Boland debate drinking game.
- Everytime they insult each other like four year olds, take a shot.
- Everytime Boland goes 12 minutes over the 1 minute time limit, take a shot.
- Everytime Jacobs takes a shot, take a shot.
- Everytime Boland hears legit criticism and dismisses it as just stupid, take a shot. (can’t fundraise, gives scholarships to his one donor, etc)
- Everytime Denny comes on stage to change Mikey’s diaper, take a shot.
I suspect most participants will be unable to walk within the first twelve minutes of the debate.
Hatfields and McCoys are getting ready to do battle in the state senate primary up here (boland v. jacobs) … From time to time, you’ll probably see little clouds of dust kicking up in this part of the state … this ain’t gonna be pretty folks and it’s a big gift to the Republicans.
They were shouting ” WE ARE VETERANS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” at the Boston OWS rally last night as the Boston police took away the US Flags and the Veteran flags that the vets were carrying as they hauled the vets off. Then threw the flags on the ground and walk on top of them.
The police instructed the media not to film what was going on so you’ll wont find many videos of it.
Where’s the outrage from this so-called patriotic blogger on that I ask?
Boston’s finest beat one 74 year old vet with a billy club and pinned to the ground another female Iraqi war vet.
Funny how we pick and choose these laws to make an example that the law means something.
Where’s the priorities? The banking frauds affected millions of people and wiped out 20% of this nations wealth and the focus is put on trespassing violations by United States of America veterans.
When I dropped by OccupyChi HQ on Sunday, I didn’t see any American flags. Among the 40 ppl I saw was one guy wearing an Anonymous mask and a Che shirt.
Protesting government of the corporations, by the corporations and for the corporations is anarchy? Puhleeze.
Think about this folks… this state’s supposed paragon of “free market economics” CME is currently in the process of shaking down this state for our taxpayer dollars.
Instead of just going to whatever state is the most economically favorable tax-wise or in terms of worker-base or whatever, like they would do if they really cared about free market principles, instead they’re going around the country with their hand out and pitting state taxpayers against each other to see what state’s citizens will cough up enough blood money for the honor of hosting these parasites. It’s ridiculous!
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 12:23 pm:
–During my years in the House, I was an advocate for balanced budgets and low taxes,” Hastert said in a statement.–
Not so that you’d notice.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 12:34 pm:
===a sea of pot-smoking, bongo-drumming, flea-infested dreadlock lunacy===
Is that a critique or an endorsement? Flags and tri-corner hats are so 2009.
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 12:36 pm:
Jan Schakowsky…….meh.
- Easy - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 12:46 pm:
Jan has good reason to not like banks.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 12:47 pm:
Chicagoist has a pic of Jan and the flag from the same day these bozos were there: http://chicagoist.com/2011/10/11/guess_jan_schakowsky_was_patriotic.php
- Jayhawker - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 12:55 pm:
Ridiculous video and “wannabe” hit piece by RebelPundit. Why is this even a story?
There are hundreds of frustrated, fed-up people marching in the streets, peacefully demonstrating and exerting their god given Constitutional rights, and this yahoo is asking questions about flags.
Brilliant.
- Fat Elephant - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 12:59 pm:
There is only one hope for Democrats in the 12th Congressional, John Bradley. If he runs, he gets Democratic support and Republican support. He is the dangerous Dem I don’t want in the race. Jason Plummer is a joke, doesn’t even live in the district. What move into a district and claim to be one of them? Doesn’t work. Republicans can win this seat because other than Bradley, the Donkeys don’t have anyone who can raise enough money or get enough votes.
- Ahoy - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 12:59 pm:
–We caught up with Jan, and asked for her thoughts on the patriotism of the protest, since we could not find one American flag in her parade of nearly 1000 liberal loons.–
Does carrying a flag at a protest really matter? Why don’t these people debate the merits of what people are protesting instead of throwing out their own red herrings… idiots.
“If I don’t wear my flag lapel pin, people will think I’m with the terrorist.”
- Seriously??? - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 1:22 pm:
Ahoy, I agree…It’s like if I’m standing near or wearing an American flag then I must not be a REAL American. What a bunch of hooey. Not to mention just a distraction from the real issues.
- L.S. - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 1:31 pm:
Not one flag?!?! Not even one to use as a cape? How dare more than 10 people get together for anything without draping themselves in the flag.
- G. Willickers - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 1:38 pm:
“*** UPDATE *** Apparently, the blogger either ignored or didn’t see this flag at the event…”
Far be it from a right-winger blinded by partisan hatred to see Stars & Stripes right in front of them…
PS - Con activists are being caught from Wall Street to Washington trying to make #Occupy rallies “look bad” by causing mayhem in the hopes that Occupy attendees get blamed. Just as bad, anti-Schakowsky con Joel Pollack was quoted as being “worried” about violence at #OccupyChicago earlier in the week despite complete lack of evidence.
Sadly, demonizing of their fellow Americans and underhanded ‘agent provocateur’ malarkey is par for the course from the modern right-wing.
http://theweek.com/article/index/220144/the-agent-provocateur-who-infiltrated-occupy-wall-street
- G. Willickers - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 1:40 pm:
PPS - Apparently actively using First Amendement rights isn’t really “American” enough for the con whiners.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 1:49 pm:
I walk by the “occupiers” down by the CBOT every day. There’s about as much chance for violence from that crowd as there is at an Indigo Girls concert.
- How Ironic - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 2:42 pm:
Come again how its’ unpatriotic to protest in America?
I love how much of the media’s attention particularly certain right leaning outlets are trying desparatly trying to discredit these folks…as if they have no right to assemble and protest.
But if a Gadson flag is somewhere at the rally…then the world is once again right.
- Boooo - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 3:13 pm:
Think if Boland gets under Jacobs’ skin, Jacobs will “punch” him too (ala McCarter)? haha… can’t wait until they debate!
- PoliGeek - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 3:36 pm:
I can’t wait for the Jacobs/Boland debate drinking game.
- Everytime they insult each other like four year olds, take a shot.
- Everytime Boland goes 12 minutes over the 1 minute time limit, take a shot.
- Everytime Jacobs takes a shot, take a shot.
- Everytime Boland hears legit criticism and dismisses it as just stupid, take a shot. (can’t fundraise, gives scholarships to his one donor, etc)
- Everytime Denny comes on stage to change Mikey’s diaper, take a shot.
I suspect most participants will be unable to walk within the first twelve minutes of the debate.
- QC - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 3:39 pm:
Hatfields and McCoys are getting ready to do battle in the state senate primary up here (boland v. jacobs) … From time to time, you’ll probably see little clouds of dust kicking up in this part of the state … this ain’t gonna be pretty folks and it’s a big gift to the Republicans.
- Jayhawker - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 4:56 pm:
@Wordslinger - great comment.
BTW - isn’t RebelPundit the disgraced Andrew Breitbart shop?
- oz - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 6:31 pm:
Yeah.. the OWS is so unpatriotic..
They were shouting ” WE ARE VETERANS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” at the Boston OWS rally last night as the Boston police took away the US Flags and the Veteran flags that the vets were carrying as they hauled the vets off. Then threw the flags on the ground and walk on top of them.
http://rt.com/usa/news/occupy-boston-pramas-immortal-629/
The police instructed the media not to film what was going on so you’ll wont find many videos of it.
Where’s the outrage from this so-called patriotic blogger on that I ask?
Boston’s finest beat one 74 year old vet with a billy club and pinned to the ground another female Iraqi war vet.
Funny how we pick and choose these laws to make an example that the law means something.
Where’s the priorities? The banking frauds affected millions of people and wiped out 20% of this nations wealth and the focus is put on trespassing violations by United States of America veterans.
- Mike Huntoon - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 7:05 pm:
Wow the Boland v Jacobs drinking game . . .
like running with scissors you just know somebody’s gonna get hurt . . .
the word of the day is “alcohol poisoning”
- John Ruberry - Wednesday, Oct 12, 11 @ 8:20 pm:
When I dropped by OccupyChi HQ on Sunday, I didn’t see any American flags. Among the 40 ppl I saw was one guy wearing an Anonymous mask and a Che shirt.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Oct 13, 11 @ 6:05 am:
Protesting government of the corporations, by the corporations and for the corporations is anarchy? Puhleeze.
Think about this folks… this state’s supposed paragon of “free market economics” CME is currently in the process of shaking down this state for our taxpayer dollars.
Instead of just going to whatever state is the most economically favorable tax-wise or in terms of worker-base or whatever, like they would do if they really cared about free market principles, instead they’re going around the country with their hand out and pitting state taxpayers against each other to see what state’s citizens will cough up enough blood money for the honor of hosting these parasites. It’s ridiculous!