Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

New Hampshire open thread *** Clinton wins New Hampshire - NBC Projection ***

Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

Just in case you want to talk about tonight’s results.

*** Watch live coverage on MSNBC or CNN or follow it on Fox. ***

*** 9:33 pm *** NBC projects Hillary Clinton is the winner. It’s about time. She’s been ahead all night by 4 to 5,000 votes.

*** 8:49 pm *** Hotline blog…

Exit polls of the NH Dem primary show a 39%-39% tie between HRC and Obama, with Edwards at 16%.

*** 8:35 pm *** I’m getting word from the Obama campaign that college towns and other areas that favor their candidate have not yet been tallied, while Manchester (which Clinton dominates) has been mostly counted.

Also, from MSNBC, of those who made up their minds in the past three days…

Obama: 39
Clinton: 38

*** 8:26 pm *** From CNN…

Forty-five percent of female Democratic primary voters picked Clinton, compared to 36 percent who went for Obama

Age is also playing a big factor. Older voters are overwhelmingly outnumbering younger voters, a proportion that is clearly benefiting Clinton. Sixty-seven percent of Democratic primary voters are over the age of 40, and they are breaking heavily for Clinton over Obama.

*** 7:54 pm *** The Nation…

Written off just hours ago as a political “dead woman walking,” Hillary Clinton is running far better than expected in early results and exit polls from the critical first-in-the-nation Democratic presidential primary. […]

Exit polling shows that, while young voters came out in big numbers, older voters — especially women over 50 — came out in far higher than expected numbers.

*** 7:02 pm - MSNBC just claimed the Dem primary race is “too close to call” judging by exit polls and current results. ***

From Fox News…

Early exit polling of Republicans showed McCain with 35 percent compared to 30 percent for Mitt Romney and 13 percent for Mike Huckabee. Of those voting in the Democratic primary, 39 percent were going for Obama, while 34 percent were going for Hillary Clinton and John Edwards was at 18 percent.

CNN…

Self-styled independents, who made up 43 percent of all voters polled, said they voted for Obama by a margin of 45 percent to 26 percent for New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, Obama’s chief rival.

* 5:19 pm - CNN is starting to get exit poll results…

New Hampshire Republican primary voters
Should the next president:
Generally continue George W. Bush’s policies – 18 percent
Change to more conservative policies – 51 percent
Change to less conservative policies – 24 percent

And this…

Eighteen percent of Republicans and 15 percent of Democrats said they settled on a candidate on Election Day.

One more on exit polling…

Preliminary exit poll results indicate that just over four in 10 voters in the New Hampshire Democratic primary are independents, compared with 48 percent in 2004 and a record 50 percent in 1992.

In the Republican primary, preliminary results indicate again that about four in 10 are independents, similar to the previous high of 42 percent in 2000.

Preliminary exit poll results indicate that more than half of voters in the Democratic primary are saying they’re most interested in a candidate who can bring about needed change — a mantle all the candidates have been reaching for since the Iowa caucuses..

50 Comments

Who is this guy?

Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

This quote in yesterday’s Daily Herald story regarding Barack Obama’s somewhat misleading claims about his health care accomplishments in Illinois jumped out at me…

Robert Rich, director of the University of Illinois’ Institute of Government and Public Affairs, considered it a stretch and questioned Obama’s credentials as a health care reformer.

“He was not the prime mover and shaker for health care in Illinois,” Rich said.

If I was on Hillary Clinton’s campaign, I’d cherry pick that “He was not the prime mover and shaker for health care in Illinois” quote and put it on TV. Heck, I’d do it if I was on John Edwards’ campaign, or a Republican campaign.

But here’s the rub: Robert Rich is a virtual unkown at the Illinois Statehouse and appears not to have been involved in the push to expand health care.

I talked to Sen. Willie Delgado (D-Chicago) last night about Rich’s quote. Delgado worked on health care legislation with Obama and chaired the House Human Services Committee at the time.

“I’ve never heard of him,” Delgado said about Rich. In all his years traveling to health care conferences, sponsoring bills, chairing his committee, Delgado never once ran across the guy.

Jim Duffett of the Illinois Campaign for Better Health Care is pretty much the health care guru for the Blagojevich administration. When asked today whether Professor Rich was involved with the health care legislation that Obama is taking credit for, Duffett said: “Not at all.”

Sen. Carol Ronen, who sponsored the governor’s massive health care expansion bill last year, said today that she has never heard of Rich either.

Rep. Rosemary Mulligan, a Republican who is also involved in health care legislation, has heard of Rich, she thinks, but doesn’t know what he has done to pass health care bills in the state other than perhaps testifying occasionally on legislation.

Rep. Mulligan agrees with Rich’s assertion, by the way, and I also think that’s still open to question.

But my problem with this whole thing is that Rich is presenting himself as some sort of insider expert when most actual honest to goodness insiders say they’ve never even heard of the guy or that he wasn’t involved in the process.

I’ve long had a problem with college professors who think they know what’s “really” going on in Springfield but who never show their faces at the capitol. Paul Green is an exception because when he was regularly pontificating on state issues he kept in regular contact with many of us, including myself.

I tried calling Professor Rich today, but he’s out of the office. I left a message and sent him an e-mail. I’ll post his reply if he ever responds.

In the meantime, here’s some unsolicited advice: If you’re clueless, don’t act like you’re an expert.

68 Comments

Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Schock; Hendon; Riley; Jefferies; Lang; Fritchey; Rutherford; Brown (Use all caps in password)

Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

Enter your password to view comments

Question of the day *** UPDATED x1 ***

Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

I’m working on an Obama post for later today, but in the meantime let’s discuss this question…

How does Hillary Clinton stop Obama’s momentum? Can she? What about Edwards?

*** UPDATE *** This is something to think about. Here’s the setup…

A federal judge refused Tuesday to delay the fraud trial of businessman Antoin “Tony” Rezko, a key fundraiser for Gov. Rod Blagojevich and other Illinois politicians.

U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve told defense attorneys that they have enough time to prepare for the trial scheduled to start Feb. 25 even though they are still sorting through 1.5 million documents in the case.

* In about ten days, attorneys from both sides are supposed to present to Judge St. Eve a list of people whose names may come up at trial.

I just got off the phone with Rezko’s defense attorney William Ziegelmueller. I asked Ziegelmueller if he had any indication that either the feds or Rezko’s defense would bring up Barack Obama’s name during the trial. Ziegelmueller refused comment, but it didn’t seem overly likely.

The trial won’t get underway until long after Super Duper Tuesday, but if Obama’s name is on that list, there could be a big blowup in advance of February 5th.

And then there’s this, from the same article…

Defense attorneys… want to know something about the political views of jurors.

“This case is about politics — there’s no other way around it,” Ziegelmueller told the judge.

Even if Obama’s name isn’t on that list (and it may not be) and even if his name isn’t mentioned if the defense is allowed to question jurors about their political views, this trial is set to heat up just when reporters - perhaps stung by critics for their overly glowing portraits of Obama - are looking for a way to even the score.

As an example, here’s how MSNBC’s “FirstRead” blog led their Rezko blurb today…

A federal judge denied a request to delay the fraud trial of businessman Antoin “Tony” Rezko, a one-time key Obama fundraiser and friend while the now-presidential candidate was in the Illinois state senate and during his U.S. Senate run.

78 Comments

Reform and Renewal - Only when it’s about someone else

Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This guest column by Jay Stewart of the Better Government Association is spot on…

Firmly perched on his high horse, Gov. Rod Blagojevich recently chastised the media for focusing on the corruption scandals that threaten to swallow his administration. “You want to cover tangential, collateral things that have no impact or relevance to people,” he said.

It’s amazing how time changes one’s views. A 2002 candidate named Rod Blagojevich issued a never-ending stream of press releases, statements and attacks on then-Attorney General Jim Ryan for failing to stop the culture of corruption that flourished under George Ryan when he was secretary of state. […]

However, campaign commercials cannot hide the reality that the parallels between George Ryan and Blagojevich are becoming more pronounced every day. Both suffered from aggressive federal investigations of their administrations. Both had close colleagues indicted. Both increasingly hunkered down to avoid the media. Both have appeared as “Public Official A” in federal prosecutors’ court filings.

Whether the parallels continue to include an indictment and conviction on Blagojevich’s part remains to be seen, but only the foolhardy would dismiss it as an impossibility.

Blagojevich should drop his cheap media criticism, stop his pointless and mindless attacks on the General Assembly and instead come clean with the public about the roles his indicted friends, Chris Kelley and Tony Rezko, had in his administration and his campaigns.

According to Blagojevich, corruption is only an important and central issue when it involves someone else. When it’s about him, it’s “tangential.”

* This is from my syndicated newspaper colum this week regarding that press conference when he slammed the media for focusing on stuff that supposedly doesn’t matter…

Chicago reporters wanted to ask [Blagojevich] about the latest allegations contained in a federal proffer that Blagojevich had bragged about how he could use state contracts to raise campaign cash. The governor was forced to spend most of his time denying that he was a crook and slamming the media for focusing on the negatives while he was trying to do what’s right for Illinois.

It was a real George Ryan moment. And we all know how that story ended.

Rod Blagojevich demanded action from Jim Ryan. Now, it’s his turn to act. Come clean, governor. Now.

25 Comments

Message to reporters: A veto is not a signature

Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I don’t know how many times I have to write this, but for the edification of some reporters, particularly in Chicago, let me make this perfectly clear: An amendatory veto is not a signature.

When the governor AV’s a bill, several things must happen before it can become law. The General Assembly can accept the changes in both chambers with a simple majority and then the governor must certify that the changes match his AV. The GA can override the veto and restore it to its original language with a three-fifths majority in both chambers. Or they can do nothing and the bill dies.

For years, the House Rules Committee has also subjected AV’s to constitutional scrutiny. If an AV drastically rewrites legislation, the action is ruled unconstitutional and it’s allowed to die in committee.

Whatever the case, an AV is not a signature, regardless of what you read in stories like this. The original AP stories on the governor’s amendatory veto of the BIMP bill also erroneously claimed that the governor had approved the measure. Not so.

* I say this because yesterday the governor said he wanted the General Assembly to send him a transit bailout bill so he could “improve” it…

Asked if he would sign legislation that increased the sales tax, Blagojevich hinted he might be able “to improve” a bill so that enough constituencies are satisfied. If it’s a bill that includes an increase in sales taxes to fund transit, then so be it, the governor said – just send it his way.

“If, however, the legislature believes in that (sales tax) bill, they ought to pass that bill and give me a chance to improve it,” Blagojevich told reporters in Chicago.

“There are a lot of creative things you could with the ability to rewrite legislation and I’ll leave it at that,” he added. “If they believe in that bill, they ought to pass that bill. We want them to pass something and give me the ability to act.”

* The headline over at Chicago Public Radio was “Blagojevich Softens on Transit Tax Bill.” Not true…

Another Chicago-area transit doomsday scenario is at hand, and the Illinois Governor appears to be softening his stance against a bill he fought last year.

* CTA Tattler blog, which is usually pretty good, also fell for it: “Gov: No more temporary bailouts; door open to sales tax hike”

Even more positive is the news that Blago might sign a bill that contained a tax hike, such as the 1/4 of 1% sales tax hike that SB 572 calls for.

Oy.

* Also, while we’re on the subject, if the governor does AV the transit bailout bill to simply transer regional gasoline sales take money from the state budget, he needs to be pressed hard about this new development…

Illinois ended 2007 with a record amount of unpaid bills, Comptroller Dan Hynes’ office said in a report issued Monday.

According to Hynes’ office, the backlog of outstanding bills stood at more than $1.7 billion. At the same time last year, the number was $1.33 billion.

Moreover, it is taking the office 34 business days to pay bills once they come in the door, compared to 22 days a year ago.

“Both the backlog volume and the number of days delayed represent record levels for the mid-point of the fiscal year,” the report says.

19 Comments

Tax hike heading down the pike? Plus: Brookins dissed

Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* So, what’s going on here? From the Trib…

In an unusual move, the Stroger administration has sent notices to Cook County’s employee unions warning that layoffs are coming and casting the blame on commissioners who reject the tax increases in his stalled budget.

Some of the nine board members singled out by name for opposing “new revenues” called the notices a scare tactic and said they are counterproductive to working out a budget deal with Board President Todd Stroger, who has failed to win passage of a 2-percentage-point increase in the sales tax. […]

Anders Lindall, a union spokesman, called the letter “factually inaccurate,” noting some of the nine commissioners have supported new revenue although they oppose Stroger’s sales-tax increase.

* The Sun-Times reads between the lines and comes up with a possible answer…

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger believes he’s just one vote away from passing a higher county sales tax, according to a letter sent to union leaders this weekend. […]

The letter names those nine in assessing blame for layoffs. Noticeably absent is Commissioner Earlean Collins, who has been publicly mum about her tax position.

* Meanwhile, in county political news, the Sun-Times ran a story today with the blaring headline: Brookins faced slum landlord suits…

Before Ald. Howard Brookins had trouble as a tenant, he got into trouble as a landlord.

Brookins, seeking the Democratic nomination for Cook County state’s attorney, faced three lawsuits filed by the City of Chicago in the late 1990s arising from his ownership of properties on the South Side, records show. The suits alleged Brookins failed to provide heat and committed other infractions of the municipal code — nearly a decade before he allegedly failed to pay rent on his downtown law office.

But is it a bum wrap?

Brookins (21st) said although he was listed as the property’s owner at the time of the violations, he had actually sold it to a man named Joseph Miller.

“At the time those lawsuits were filed, I no longer had control of the building and did not own the building,” Brookins told the Sun-Times.

Why even bother running a story if he wasn’t responsible for the buildings?

* One more note of interest: Ald. Ed Smith will receive the endorsement of the IVI-IPO today. Smith is running against incumbent Cook County Recorder of Deeds Eugene Moore. Moore has been slated by the county party, but Smith has Mayor Daley’s endorsement.

5 Comments

Morning shorts

Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 - Posted by Paul Richardson

* Democrats huddle in search for a congressional candidate in 18th district

* 18th CD hopefuls hold foreign policy debate

* Press Release: Lee calls for debates in 11th Congressional district

* Editorial: Solve major problem in toll collection

Boudreau said she had not been aware that her credit card had expired and that it wasn’t paying the tolls. But let’s assume the worst — that she willfully blew through the tolls without paying.

Even if that were the case, would the penalty fit the crime? For $179.50, would $4,619 be fair? Would a two-week deadline to pay be little more than heavy-handed coercion?

Would $15,739 be fair? For $179.50 in unpaid tolls?

No, it’s outrageous.

* Toll officials draw a blank on cheats tally

* Interchange has good news and bad news

The long-awaited, long-stalled plans for an interchange between Interstates 57 and 294 will enter the new year with a whopping new price tag.

In the works for nearly two decades, the project now is expected to cost at least $480 million, state transportation officials disclosed at a hearing Monday in Oak Forest. The figure is twice as much as previous estimates.

* Phil Kadner: Solutions, not slogans needed for public schools

This is a battle for the hearts and minds of our children. The ultimate cost to the country is beyond computation.

While taxpayers complain about teacher salaries, they are willing to pay billions of dollars to fight crime. Each year the costs increase for police officers, judges, prosecutors, prison construction and prison guards.

More money is spent on social programs to help children who give birth to more children. Businesses find it more difficult to hire competent employees.

* Short end of funding for U46 school district

Prince estimated that U46 will see an increase of $3.5 million in general state aid, only about a fifth of what $400 multiplied by U46’s approximately 40,000 students would equal — $16 million.

U46 is shortchanged by the state because of the large amount of dollars the school district collects through property taxes, Prince said. During the 2006-07 school year, U46 collected nearly three times as much in property taxes as general state aid, according to district documents.

* Bush boosts Olympic bid; more here

Bush said Chicago has “a great plan,'’ adding, “I can’t think of a better city to represent the United States.'’

Ryan said “we didn’t really get involved” in how the federal government could help. The feds typically help pay for security and some transportation costs during Olympic games held in the United States.

* State looks into Canton plant’s bankruptcy

* Mary Mitchell: Aldermen give Weis a free pass; more here

* Governing.com: The origins of lethal injection

* Smoking ban may cause more litter

* Fired up over smoke free law

* Some Brand-Name Bloggers Say Stress of Posting Is a Hazard to Their Health

“The trouble with a personal brand is, you’re yoked to a machine,” said Paul Kedrosky, a friend of Mr. Malik’s who runs the Infectious Greed blog. “You feel huge pressure to not just do a lot, but to do a lot with your name on it. You have pressure to not just be the C.E.O., but at the same time to write, and to do it all on a shoestring. Put it all together, and it’s a recipe for stress through the roof.”

8 Comments

Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s Capitol Fax (Use all caps in password)

Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

Comments Off

This just in… Deflection

Monday, Jan 7, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* 2:09 pm - I wonder how much these “video messages” are gonna cost. From a Blagojevich press release…

– Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today urged lawmakers to approve a long-term CTA, Metra and Pace funding plan this week when they return to Springfield for regular session in order to avoid drastic layoffs, service cuts and fare increases planned for January 20.

The Governor also called on transit riders to voice their concerns about a possible doomsday scenario to legislators in Springfield. Transit riders can stop outside the Clark and Lake ‘el’ station on the ground floor of the James R. Thompson Center today and tomorrow to fill out cards to lawmakers or record brief video messages expressing their concerns. Riders can also send their messages to lawmakers via the state website at www.illinois.gov.

If you go to the state site, you’ll see this message…

Join the Governor’s fight to protect mass transit service. Send a message to your legislators today about how a transit doomsday could impact you and why a solution needs to be passed now.

* 3:07 pm -Listen to the governor’s remarks below…

[audio:gov-1-7.mp3]

46 Comments

Job qualifications

Monday, Jan 7, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

Hmmm…

Job Description:

Office of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
Position: Press Secretary
Department: Communications
Reports To: Director of Communications
Location: Chicago

Position Summary:
The Press Secretary plays an integral part in creating the administration’s message and disseminating it to the media. The successful candidate will have strong oral and written communication skills; strong record in media relations and crisis communications; and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.

Position Responsibilities:
* Build and maintain relationships with members of the press
* Act as a spokesperson, proactively pitching stories and developing/delivering reaction to reporters’ inquiries
* Collaborate with Governor’s press staff and agency press officers to generate ideas and develop media strategies
* Assist in organizing press conferences and other media-related events
* Draft and edit press releases and other materials for distribution
Job Requirements
Competencies/Qualifications:
* Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications or relevant field
* Five or more years of experience in media relations and/or public relations
* Demonstrated record of success in pitching and placing stories in major media outlets
* Ability to work under tight deadlines
* Ability to implement long-term media strategies, as well as react to rapid-response needs from internal and external sources on a daily basis
* Desire to work in a team-based, cooperative environment
* Experience in government or political settings a plus

Perhaps you can think of more qualifications, job duties, etc. and post them in comments. Have fun.

*** UPDATE *** I posted this in comments, but I suppose I should also post it on the front page. Gerardo Cardenas is the one who is leaving - for a position with AARP.

58 Comments

Question of the day

Monday, Jan 7, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

Have you received any direct mail from candidates in the past couple of weeks? If so, tell us what you’ve seen.

24 Comments

In the gutter

Monday, Jan 7, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The rhetoric in the 14th Congressional district Republican primary is going way over the top. From a Jim Oberweis press release…

“When is career politician Chris Lauzen going to ‘man up’ and come clean with the voters of the 14th District regarding his recent announcement that he plans to return $100,000 in tainted campaign contributions he took, over a period of ten years, from a convicted felon and the firm he heads?

“Two weeks ago, Mr. Lauzen announced he was going to give back $100,000 in tainted campaign cash,” said Pascoe. “He claimed then that while he previously knew of the donor’s own criminal conviction, he was unaware of the ethical and legal concerns surrounding the donor’s company — and, in fact, remained unaware until he recently got an email from 15 businessmen who laid out the company’s ongoing troubles.

“Sadly, this statement does not square with the facts as publicly known. On December 27, 2007 — five days after Mr. Lauzen’s announcement was first reported in the Beacon News — the Beacon News revealed that, contrary to Mr. Lauzen’s assertions, he had been made aware of his donor’s company’s legal troubles almost TWO YEARS EARLIER than he had acknowledged.

“Mr. Lauzen’s announcement, as we pointed out before Christmas, raises more questions than it answers. This new information revealing that Mr. Lauzen was publicly upbraided almost two years ago for taking this tainted money raises the bar even further. Mr. Lauzen should release the email he claims he received from the 15 businessmen, and should come clean by revealing now exactly what he knew and when he knew about his donor’s troubled past - and what has changed between now and almost two years ago, when he first was made aware?

* To which Lauzen replied…

“Jim, you’ve left me no choice but to respond to your campaign’s negative attacks. From now on, I will not sit idly by and allow you to mislead the voters.

“The voters only need to look at Team Oberweis’ campaign rhetoric and public statements to realize full well that Jim is ignoring Denny Hastert’s desire to have his endorsed candidate run a positive campaign. In fact, it is rather difficult to find anything but scathing attacks on me that have nothing to do with the issues. […]

“Jim, to quote your political mercenary, it’s time for you to ‘man up’ and gain control of your campaign. Stop hiding behind your attack-dog consultants and let the voters figure out who is most ready and prepared to lead. If you are unable or unwilling to confront me yourself, say so and explain why.”

* So far, the back and forth has generated little to no earned media and the candidates aren’t taking this message to the voters via their paid media…

Some of Oberweis’ and Lauzen’s attacks on each other are the same, down to the capitalization in the press releases. An Oct. 30 press release from Oberweis called Lauzen part of “the Establishment Insiders.” A Dec. 13 Lauzen press release said Oberweis was trying to buy “Insider Establishment clout.”

Whether the “Establishment Insiders” or the “Insider Establishment” are attacks that will resonate with the voters is to be seen. Those messages are not being presented directly to the voters, but to the news media.

The four TV commercials that Oberweis has broadcast deal with immigration, finances, the Oberweis family dairy, and Midwestern values. None of them reference Lauzen or any other candidate.

Likewise, Lauzen plans commercials based on his platform, not attacks.

“The theme … [is] about integrity, service and a philosophy that there ought to be limits on government, a person that will not enrich himself and his family on his service,” Lauzen said.

* Lauzen has clearly developed more detailed issue positions than Oberweis, and Lauzen was recently endorsed by former US Sen. Peter Fitzgerald. The big question remains how much of his own money that Oberweis will spend and whether he can get away with these attacks without attracting the notice of too many voters.

* But Lauzen is famous for his ground game…

Early reports are that between 500 and 600 grassroots supporters of State Senator Chris Lauzen jammed into the Aurora Christian High School where they were energized to knock on doors and get Lauzen supporters to the polls February 5.

* Meanwhile, Democrats are taking notice…

Lets hope they beat the crap out of each other and that things get really really nasty.

This should be lots of fun to watch.

23 Comments

The disaster continues unabated

Monday, Jan 7, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My latest syndicated newspaper column takes a look at last week’s special session. After documenting how almost no state Senators showed up and just 70 House members made it to town, I looked at the immediate aftermath and the possibility that Gov. Blagojevich could call yet another special session…

One never knows what will go through the governor’s mind at a time like this. A couple of stray electrons in his brain could bump into each other and set off an uncontrollable chain reaction that his staff and top advisers are helpless to stop. So Statehouse types waited around for a signal about what Blagojevich might do next. Several had come to town prepared for the long haul, bringing enough clothes to get them through the weekend.

Thankfully, sanity finally prevailed. Or maybe it was presidential politics.

One of the reasons so many Democrats, particularly in the Senate, weren’t in town last week was because they were in Iowa campaigning for their former legislative colleague, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama. If the governor had called another special session for Thursday - Iowa Caucus Day - and harangued lawmakers into showing up, he could have been accused of sabotaging Obama’s campaign.

So instead of calling yet another fruitless, futile and politically dangerous special session, the governor cut his losses and went home. Considering the miserable legislative turnout, he probably spent more on his flight back and forth to Springfield and his Chicago press conference than the General Assembly spent on per diems. In the end, last Wednesday was simply an expensive media opportunity for one of the biggest publicity hounds in Illinois history.

* Kurt Erickson saw signs of hope emerge from the special session…

The entire thing was a misstep, but it bears mentioning that something positive did emerge from the wasted day: The governor did not call any more special sessions.

Maybe he’s learning. That would be good.

I wouldn’t bet on that. Here’s something I wrote back in 2005…

The creators of the TV sitcom Seinfeld kept a sign above their desks that read, in part, “NO LESSONS LEARNED.” The idea was that the characters were not supposed to “grow” in the way characters do on most other TV shows — and in real life, for that matter.

Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld might want to make a pilgrimage to Illinois soon, because their brilliant idea has been playing out here for more than two years now.

The governor never learns. He never grows.

The sign also read: “NO HUGS.” Appropriate.

* This is a whopper of a lede…

State Rep. Jay Hoffman’s New Year’s resolution is an ambitious one, given the tenor of Illinois government these days: “I’m trying to not point fingers, and stop the blame game,” the Collinsville Democrat said Friday.

Hoffman is Gov. Blagojevich’s House floor leader. He’s been one of the prime motivators behind the ongoing legislative feud. If he’s telling the truth, he’s gonna have to walk back his behavior a very long way.

Hoffman is a good guy and well-liked, but this past year didn’t do much for his Statehouse reputation. He’d be better off as a go-between or a mediator instead of an enabler. He’s become an extension of the governor’s office on the House floor, and he’s lost his credibility.

* Quote of the week, from Finke…

Blagojevich last week denied he’s Public Official A, the person who keeps appearing in federal indictments and other court documents dealing with people allegedly involved in corruption in the administration. He also referred to the federal investigations as “tangential, collateral things that have no relevance to people …”

OK, but investigators keep saying there’s a Public Official A, and the guess here is that people want to know who that is. Perhaps Blagojevich can pull an O.J. Simpson and conduct his own search for the real culprit, the real Public Official A. Then we can all move on from “tangential, collateral things.”

* More stuff, compiled by Paul…

* Kruesi on CTA: Don’t blame me

* CTA Tattler: Blame Blago and here’s his final chance

* Editorial: The gas guzzling governor

* McQueary: Time for second string long overdue

* Martire: Let’s start over and see some legislative results in 2008

* Opinion: Gambling no solution to state’s problems

12 Comments

Sauerberg: I’m not crazy

Monday, Jan 7, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This is a pretty funny lede…

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Sauerberg says he’s got something unique to offer voters in today’s political climate: he’s “not crazy,” he’s “somebody normal.”

* Sauerberg bemoaned the fact that the media isn’t covering his candidacy and then added…

The newcomer and family physician from the Chicago suburbs slammed some current politicians for their “lack of competence.” About his own campaign, he said: “We offer competence, and we offer reasonable behavior and we’re just a solid campaign that is what politics should be about.”

* I’m not exactly sure who he was talking about. Perhaps his primary opponents. But as the Tribbies noted recently, there is some concern that Sauerberg may have some trouble next month, which could be why the state GOP endorsed him…

The vote to back Sauerberg by the Illinois Republican State Central Committee, made up of GOP leaders from each of the state’s congressional districts, was an unusual move. The organization has largely stayed away from involvement in primary contests.

But it underscores potential concerns that Sauerberg of Willowbrook, in his first political race, may face name recognition problems in seeking votes for the nomination and the chance to face two-term incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.

Sauerberg… said in a statement that his endorsement showed his campaign was “resonating with voters all across Illinois.”

Well, that last statement is kinda “crazy,” if you ask me. I doubt anyone knows who he is at this point.

* It’s likely he’ll get some coverage as the primary approaches (he’s right that it’s been sparse to date) and the presidential race settles down a bit (if it does), but he can’t rely totally on earned media. And, frankly, if he wants to go up against somebody as relatively popular and entrenched as Durbin, he needs to show he can raise money and run decent TV ads before anyone can even begin to think that he has a snowball’s chance.

32 Comments

Obamarama - Health care savior or dud? Plus, latest polling data

Monday, Jan 7, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I wondered about this quote as well…

If you heard Barack Obama’s Iowa victory speech, you might conclude Illinois has universal health care.

“I’ll be a president who finally makes health care affordable and available to every single American, the same way I expanded health care in Illinois, by bringing Democrats and Republicans together to get the job done,” the Chicago Democrat said Thursday.

But Illinois doesn’t have universal health care.

He didn’t say he made health care “universal,” only that he “expanded” it in Illinois. Still, if you didn’t pay close attention you may have missed that distinction.