52 Comments - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 7:35 pm: Does McCann make the two-race sweep happen? - Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 7:42 pm: Hell hath no fury like a governor scorned…… - Dee Lay - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 7:47 pm: I doubt the McCann / Benton race goes to the level of blowout (either way) like Dunkin. - MSIX - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 7:57 pm: Kaye is making it more of a race in the 110th than I expected. Possibly some party crashers helping him out there. Still looking rosy for Reggie, though. Reggie’s sly move in supporting the last Dem budget proposal may have been a stroke of genius, although I’m very hesitant to hand him credit for that. - Me Too - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 7:57 pm: It might not be a blowout, but I GOTV’d all day, and everyone even tangentially related to someone in a union, voted for Sam, even their families and neighbors. I did have two guys who felt the Bern so bad they couldn’t bring themselves to pull a republican ballot, but out of 50 sheets that was damn good. Oh and four people just said they’d already voted not who for, and one guy said he voted for Benton, this guy was in AFSCME, so he clearly has some sort of cognitive reasoning impairment. Anyway, 13 hours of working seems to have been worth it. I disagree with every bit of Sam’s politics save those regarding collective bargaining, but if he lost, there’d never be another defection. Now the gov is going to have to keep them from jumping ship by actually giving them massive sums of money… Oh wait, they don’t get re-elected with that alone. It’s over. Stick a fork in him, he’s done. I don’t care how much money he has, he couldn’t even keep an incumbent in power, or defeat a candidate with so much baggage that American charges 600 dollars extra when he flies. Rauner just learned that democracy is not for sale. People have more power than him, and I think he’s going to be a bit grumpy before he finally capitulates, but it is coming. - Me Too - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:03 pm: Willy’s advice paid off. I got out there, and I know that AFSCME went full bore, not just getting their folks on board, but calling every union member regardless of their union in the district. Solidarity. It’s what’s for the gov’s lunch that just got ate. - CharlieKratos - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:04 pm: I was telling someone the other day that March 16th, the governor’s war on labor was going to get more vicious no matter which way things went. He’d either ramp up because he was “proven right” or out of spite, but he was waiting until after the primaries regardless. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:07 pm: === Reggie’s sly move in supporting=== More like the Proft ads that absolutely crushed his opponent. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:11 pm: - Me Too - With humbled respect… I did Zero, if Labor wins, it’s ALL on them. They’ve really solidified, and are trying to prove a point. We’ll see how it finishes, but I get absolutely ZERO, it’s all them. With great respect. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:12 pm: ===More like the Proft ads that absolutely crushed his opponent.=== Proft shellacked him. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:13 pm: - CharlieKratos - You ain’t whistling Dixie… This is a beginning, but a string beginning for Anti-Raunerites. - The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:14 pm: I think it’s way too early to get confident about the McCann race being that we don’t know what precincts are being reported. Are the polls closed in Sangamon county? It was easy to predict a heavier than usual turnout. It’s at the very least poor planning to have run out of ballots in so many Precincts. - MSIX - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:20 pm: ==More like the Proft ads that absolutely crushed his opponent.== ==Proft shellacked him.== Both true, but you have to be here to see how little campaigning Kaye did. Very, very few signs out and his only media presence was about him filing the complaint about fake newspapers and his posting on the EIU Facebook page. I’m stunned he snagged as many votes as he did. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:21 pm: McCann needs to stay in the groove and wether some incoming bad precincts still to report(?) - RNUG - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:22 pm: == I think it’s way too early to get confident about the McCann race being that we don’t know what precincts are being reported. == Agreed … - Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:28 pm: OW, you moved at least one vote for Sam… - Mittuns - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:32 pm: Sangamon ran out of GOP ballots, you’d think a lot of crossovers helped cause that. Favors McCann, no? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:35 pm: - Mittuns - Could be “only Trump”(?) We dunno… yet - AA -, I may “give” you that one…bud. To Ackin, Comeback? Is there enough out there to chase? - Chuckvegas Alum - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:38 pm: I pulled an R ballot for the first time in order to vote against Reggie. It was a lost cause going in but I’ve known the guy for almost 20 years and we deserve far better than him for our rep. - btowntruth - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:39 pm: So in the 50th it will come down to Sangamon County. - Red Tiger - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:40 pm: McCann and Benton are very close in Sangamon County. I think this race will be a lot closer than some thought earlier. - Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:41 pm: does anyone know how that fellow Sandack did in his pursuit of becoming a kasich delegate? - New Guy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:43 pm: ‘Me Too” sounds like ‘Honeybear’ in disguise. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:43 pm: I sincerely hope Sandack won as a Kasich Delegate. Absolutely zero snark! - MSIX - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:46 pm: ==I pulled an R ballot for the first time in order to vote against Reggie. It was a lost cause going in but I’ve known the guy for almost 20 years and we deserve far better than him for our rep.== Sadly, “far better” wasn’t available. - PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:49 pm: Go Sen. McCann. I saw Benton speak for the first time on WICS 20 this morning. He reminded me to wear a helmet while bicycling. - Mouthy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 8:56 pm: Hearing top Repubs conceding a loss to McCann. Nothing official yet, however. Share From the Scrib…..Yea!! - Me too - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 9:02 pm: New guy sounds like anonymous finally picked a unoriginal screen name - Norseman - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 9:05 pm: === Hearing top Repubs conceding a loss to McCann. Nothing official yet, however. === - Norseman - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 9:06 pm: === Hearing top Repubs conceding a loss to McCann. Nothing official yet, however. === Fingers crossed. - Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 9:18 pm: Our old friend Mark Shelden is back in the game. Won the nomination for Champaign County Recorder. 67% in a three way race. - The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 9:30 pm: 193 of 263 precincts in seven counties reporting, McCann was leading 12,774 to 10,408. - New Guy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 9:33 pm: ‘Me Too’ I guess, I am not ‘new’ anymore. Started State Gov work 3 year ago. Went from Clerk to Advisor to Admin in less than 3 years. No strings being pulled, no Union help, just hard work like it should be. I remain silent mostly, you don’t want to know what I know, but are you indeed ‘Honeybear’? - There is power in a union... - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 9:45 pm: “I did Zero, if Labor wins, it’s ALL on them. They’ve really solidified, and are trying to prove a point. We’ll see how it finishes, but I get absolutely ZERO, it’s all them.” OW, you’re being a bit modest. You saw the labor missteps from last year and a year before. You saw the present politics at play. And you saw what labor could accomplish with what it had at the moment and you pushed. You posted so much that any state worker who was even just a casual visitor could come and draw a straight line from where their interests lie, to what they could do about it. So, from this humble steward, thank you. - The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 9:49 pm: 237 precincts reporting: 17,202 to 15,193 for McCann. - Honeybear - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 9:53 pm: The shieldwall held. Dunkin defeated, McCann defended. It is the grace of a loving God. But Rauners retribution will be swift and terrible. Now it is the horror of layoffs. Today’s judgement against AFSCME is just the tip of the iceberg. This will now be Rauners cleaver to hack away at the the living sinews of the state workforce. Terrible will be his wrath. - Me too - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 9:56 pm: No. I’m not honeybear. I omg work in anything remotely close to social services, and I started out double exempt. It was only after seeing the benefits of joining a union vs. No raises. Ever. That I got into a good Union gig. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 9:56 pm: - There is power in a union… -, Thanks, and you’re welcome. There is power in a union, you all proved that far better than any turn of a phrase I could ever muster. I never forget or forget that. With respect, OW I’ll be watching if this McCann race holds… - Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 10:00 pm: Ah, but honeybear out can’t be done for vengeance even if there’s a budget problem. He’s only got three of the deciders TM in his pocket. MJM needs to eject Dunkin for vote buying and get back a true majority. Although after the govs guys’ performances, republicans might actually be willing to help right the shop of state - The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 10:02 pm: Keep the faith Honeybear, it was still a good day for the working people in this state. We had a GOP Senator who dared to vote against the wishes of the Governor and he was hit with an unprecedented barrage of negative campaigning and he survived. Also the Democrat who was bought by the Governor was soundly defeated. You guys are now united like you’ve never been before. There will be more battles ahead but you won a nice one tonight. Congratulations to you guys. - RNUG - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 10:06 pm: Only 15 precincts to go, McCann still up by about 6% - MSIX - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 10:12 pm: Back of the napkin math shows maybe 2000 votes left in those 15 precincts. I’m thinking McCann will squeak by here. **Side note to Rich. Is your blog clock off after the switch to DST? - Team Sleep - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 10:14 pm: Labor had better enjoy these wins. Honeybear is right - Rauner will exact revenge and it will be ugly. And remember, labor folks, that McCann does not support education or MAP funding. Caveat emptor. - MSIX - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 10:19 pm: If the AFSCME/Rauner contract battle goes to the ILLRB, Rauner will exact some revenge. If that happens, I seriously hope AFSCME goes on strike. - The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 10:31 pm: Trust me, the Union is enjoying these wins. Rauner will do what he has shown he does best, hurt people and he will exact some pain on the state workers. There are many battles ahead. To the earlier poster, it looks like McCann will more than squeak by. With 96% of precincts reporting he leads by about 5.5%. That’s a pretty solid win considering all the headwinds he faced in this campaign. - Justan Observer - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 10:35 pm: To Me too: Thank you. Thank you for all of your work. And to others that also helped get the word out, so those who are in a union or care about the benefits of a union could cut through the confusion and nonsense and mess and see the reality. And, to Oswego Willie - thank YOU. Like a few others, I also disagree with your your modesty. You are to be commended. Your posts here - and political savvy - always make us pull back and look at the bigger picture… So we are are forced to THINK. And, no, I do not always agree with you. But you do make me think. Critically. Thanks. Respect. - illinois manufacturer - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 10:36 pm: What happened in 102? I think Rainer supported the loser in 72 as well? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 10:57 pm: - Justan Observer - ===I do not always agree with you. But you do make me think. Critically. Thanks. Respect.=== That’s about as good as it could get for me. Thanks. Now that McCann is in… To Labor, ALL Labor, I saved one “Lager”, a Yuengling, my favorite “big toe” beer for tonight to toast to you ALL. A job well done. You all deserve the credit with the hard work and understandimg what was at stake, and following through and making the difference I knew, and others knew, you could. I hard on you, Labor, because I care, and because I remember a time, not too long ago that Labor and the GOP understood they needed to work together, and find that common ground. My hope is Labor and Illinois Republicans will find a new bridge. Tonight may be a small crack to that end. Enjoy tonight. See you tomorrow. With much Respect, Oswego Willy - Honeybear - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 11:02 pm: Oswego Willy, I would just like to point out that you are rightfully advocating for and have always been about a conservative opposition on which our democracy depends. You are a Republican in the finest tradition. May labor always listen to your voice and warning. A while back I said that labor should separate the wheat from the chaff. I was wrong. Wheat and chaff are symbiotic as left and right. Thank you for always showing labor “what must me done”. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 16 @ 11:08 pm: - Honeybear - I hope you never change in you unabashedly inquisitive way because your understanding and growth in comments here have made you an important asset to your Crew, and in the continued growth of Labor in this “New Era”. Only with open eyes and a willingness to learn can we all grow and be better for ourselves and others. You are the standard are for that. Thanks again for your very kind words. OW - Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Mar 16, 16 @ 7:34 am: “I hard on you, Labor, because I care” I also thank you very much for telling the truth and pointing out weaknesses. Those who don’t learn from their mistakes and who retreat into bubbles of denial, self-pity and rationalization hurt and delude themselves. It’s best to have an honest assessment. There is still a very long road ahead. It’s very sad that Rauner doesn’t treat his unionized employees and union leaders better. The state’s problems have different causes and a lot of blame to go around. There shouldn’t be demonizing and scapegoating–singling out one or a few groups and trying to crush them. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 16, 16 @ 7:45 am: - Grandson of Man - Thank you. Also, you’re right, and as I firmly believe, this is a beginning, not an end. Proft told me that, so I know, this isn’t closecto being settled, but it’s just sorting itself out for the next round. With respect, I thank you again for your understanding. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.