Link for tonight’s debate
Wednesday, Jan 25, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
The good folks at CBS-2 Chicago were kind enough to supply us with a direct link to tonight’s Republican gubernatorial debate. The festivities begin at 6pm. Consider this a debate open thread.
 Live video of Republican debate from cbs2chicago.com
 UPDATE: While you’re waiting, you can check out this pre-debate story in the Tribune.
UPDATE 2: CBS-2 also has a story and candidate bios.
UPDATE 3: Good news. I was just informed that WCFN (cable channel 19 in Springfield) will be carrying the debate live tonight.
UPDATE 4: Too cool for words. CBS-2’s website (which is already by far the best in the TV news business) will have a ton of stuff related to the debate, including the transcript, stories, photos, etc. Since I’m partnering with the site on this thing, I’ve been giving permission to post pretty much whatever I want here. Check back later for more.
UPDATE 5: I wish he told me he was doing this before it happened, but Bill Baar liveblogged the debate.
UPDATE 6: Looks like the Tribune’s prediction that Topinka’s rivals would “target” her during the debate turned out not to be the case. A Republican who isn’t connected to any of the four candidates just told me that it probably wouldn’t be wise for three men to all be seen attacking a woman. Your thoughts?
 UPDATE 7: I thought Oberweis did very well, by the way. Better style than all of them. I’ll explain why in tomorrow’s Capitol Fax, but I’ll also poke a few holes in the substance of his claims.
UPDATE 8: Apparently, the earlier debate between Brady and Oberweis generated a lot more heat.
UPDATE 9: Let’s see your rankings. Who won? Who lost? Best and worst lines? Details.
UPDATE 10: Download a podcast of the CBS-2 debate here.
UPDATE 11: CBS-2 has its post-debate story online now.
UPDATE 12: Scroll way down on this page and you’ll see video links by question and a link to the entire video broadcast.
UPDATE 13: Man, that was fast. Here’s the transcript.
UPDATE 14: The Daily Herald’s story is already online.
UPDATE 15: CBS-2’s 10pm broadcast report of the debate is here.
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Jan 25, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
As I reminded Capitol Fax readers this morning, last fall Governor Blagojevich said any ICC commissioner who voted for ComEd’s controversial power auction plan (which could raise electric rates by at least 20 percent) would be guilty of “either a serious neglect of duty or gross incompetence by the ICC.”
Both of those charges, serious neglect of duty and gross incompetence, are legal grounds for dismissal. In essence, he was threatening to fire them.
Now that all five commissioners, including newly appointed but not yet confirmed chairman Charles Box, have voted to approve the plan, do you think the governor ought to make good on his threat to boot them all, or do you think he ought to let this fight die out and choose to forget it? Why or why not?
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Blagojevich won’t debate
Wednesday, Jan 25, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
From an Edwin Eisendrath press release.
Today, Democratic candidate for Governor Edwin Eisendrath announced that he has accepted four invitations to debate Governor Rod Blagojevich. Blagojevich has either declined or not responded to all four invitations, which have come from:
* League of Women Voters/WLS Channel 7
* Chicago City Club
* WBBM, CBS Channel 2
* WILL Champaign Urbana
“I believe the people of Illinois should hear from both of us,” said Eisendrath. “Unfortunately, the Governor is acting like a typical politician-raising money like crazy and flying all over the state for campaign events while trying to say with a straight face that he’s not an announced candidate.”
Maybe if Esquared put together a campaign that actually threatened Blagojevich’s existence, he’d get an offer to debate. Until then, it will be empty seat time.
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Maybe not
Wednesday, Jan 25, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
I’m not sure if this is the right message, considering who put Mangieri on the ballot in the first place.
Paul Mangieri, the Democrats’ endorsed candidate for state treasurer, pledged Tuesday during a campaign stop in Decatur to aggressively act to protect state pension funds if he wins the office. […]
Speaking in the Macon County Board room, the Knox County state’s attorney said Time magazine stated in October that Illinois ranked last among the states in fully funding its public pensions with a $43 billion deficit.
Part of the unfunded liability could be traced to the deÂcline in the stock market, which no one can control, ManÂgieri said. But corporate greed, incompetence and dishonesty also have eroded Illinois pensions, he said.
Neither at a Springfield news conference Wednesday nor at his Decatur appearance was Mangieri willing to discuss any action he might take if the governor and the legislature continue to underfund state pensions. Gov. Rod Blagojevich won legislative approval last year to divert $1.2 billion from state pensions in order to provide money for other programs.
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Missing numbers
Wednesday, Jan 25, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
Sorry if this appears a little jumbled and crammed together, but here are the missing results from the Post-Dispatch poll, via the Hotline and courtesty of Archpundit.
A Research 2000 poll; conducted 1/16-18 for St. Louis Post-Dispatch/KMOV-TV; surveyed 800 likely voters; margin of error +/- 3.5% (release, 1/22). Tested: Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), Treas. Judy Baar Topinka (R, ‘02/’04 SEN candidate Jim Oberweis (R) and businessman Ron Gidwitz (R).
General Election Matchups
All Dem GOP Ind Cook Collar Cent Sth
Blagojevich 45% 77% 6% 45% 55% 32% 44% 46%
Topinka 37 5 74 40 27 50 37 36
Undec/Oth 18 18 20 15 18 18 19 18
All Dem GOP Ind Cook Collar Cent Sth
Blagojevich 52% 84% 7% 56% 62% 37% 51% 52%
Oberweis 33 5 71 23 22 49 32 33
Undec/Oth 15 11 22 21 16 14 17 15
All Dem GOP Ind Cook Collar Cent Sth
Blagojevich 57% 88% 9% 67% 67% 40% 57% 56%
Gidwitz 22 4 56 13 14 44 19 21
Undec/Oth 21 8 35 20 19 16 24 23
Fav/Unfav
Blagojevich 47%/43%
Topinka 45 /31
Oberweis 28 /35
Gidwitz 9 / 8
Bush 36 /59
Cheney 33 /61
Obama 62 /30
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Briefs
Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
The Hotline (via Archpundit) has more results from that Post-Dispatch poll.
Blagojevich 52%
Oberweis 33%
Blagojevich 57%
Gidwitz 22%
According to Larry, Oberweis has a 28 percent approval and 35 percent disapproval, while Gidwitz has an 8 percent approval and a 9 percent disapproval.
As Larry points out, Topinka is the only one who holds Blagojevich under 50.
Why didn’t the Post-Dispatch release these numbers? Strange.
Ryan asks: Separated at birth?
I know a lot of people despise Don Stephens, but, with a few caveats, I tend to side with Mary Laney on this one.
What happened to the train to (almost) nowhere?
“I’ll no longer accept donations from auditor, ethics chief,” Stroger says. How upstanding of him.
A $328 million deficit?
This is a midday politics open thread.
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No surprise
Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
The revolving door:
The director of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, who marshaled a plan to increase tolls, expand I-PASS and rebuild Chicago-area toll roads, announced Monday that he is quitting to work for a construction consulting firm owned by a significant contributor to Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Jack Hartman, 47, who formerly managed major projects at Chicago’s airports and the Chicago Transit Authority, said he is leaving the $127,440-a-year tollway job he has held since January 2003 to help the Chicago-based Rise Group win more government projects.
The company made more than a quarter-million dollars last year on a tollway contract.
Hartman, who leaves the authority Feb. 23, said he’s being hired to increase business in the public sector.
The Rise Group will not do any work with the tollway for at least one year, Hartman said, adhering to state revolving-door ethics laws that preclude former officials who oversaw state agencies from using their government connections for at least one year in the private sector.
Since 2001, the Rise Group’s president and chief executive officer, Leif Selkregg, has donated more than $57,700 to Blagojevich’s campaign fund in direct donations and in-kind contributions, state records show.
Glad to see that business as usual has ended.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
Do you think it’s fair game for the media to ask a candidate about his position on divorce if he supports amending the state Constitution to forbid gays and lesbians from marrying?
Is it more pertinent if the candidate in question is divorced? And should that candidate be asked about his own divorce?
Let’s try to keep this theoretical, please. No names or messy details.
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Huh?
Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
You can’t help but wonder why this little fact hasn’t ever been reported until now. And what is the explanation?
In another development, [George Ryan trial] prosecutors said that they had dropped plans to call two reporters to the witness stand. Prosecutors had said Thursday that they expected lawyers for the two news organizations to seek to quash the subpoenas for their reporters, Christopher Wills, state capital correspondent of The Associated Press, and Dean Olsen of The (Springfield) State Journal-Register.
After negotiations, however, an agreement was worked out under which defense attorneys stipulated as to what Olsen would testify if he were called to the stand.
The stipulation was to be read to the jury by prosecutors, thus avoiding the need to call him. Prosecutors then said they would not call Wills immediately, if at all.
Very weird. But I’m glad that it got worked out and nobody went to jail over it.
UPDATE: Somebody in comments says there was a story last week. I missed it. If anyone has a link, please post it. Thanks.
UPDATE 2: OK, I’ve seen the stories now. It’s really bizarre that reporters would be subpoenaed to testify in this case.
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Oops
Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
Ron Gidwitz released a new TV ad yesterday. I’d have you review it today, but the link sent around by the campaign and trumpeted on Steve Rauschenberger’s blog doesn’t work, and didn’t work all day yesterday. I sent an e-mail to the campaign, but got nothing back. You’d think they’d test these things before announcing them.
You can find the text of the ad here (sroll down). Rate it in comments if you feel like it.
Speaking of oopsies, Sen. Chris Lauzen recently sent out an e-mail press release that had “Lauzen for Congress” on the return address. Lauzen said it was a mistake by his service provider.
UPDATE: The link is working now… kinda. It timed out on me a few times. But go ahead and review it if you’d like.
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Rising stars?
Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
The Hotline has updated its rising stars list for Illinois.
# Carbondale Mayor Brad Cole (R): “Very politically savvy,” he was recently appointed the the state GOP central cmte. His only downside: He served in the admin of ex-Gov. George Ryan (R), “which could hurt him.”
# State Rep. Jim Watson (R): An Iraqi war vet, Watson was briefly considered as a running mate by Topinka. “Given his age, he has a long future in the party.” Could be a candidate to replace Reps. Ray LaHood (R) or John Shimkus (R).”
# State Rep. Aaron Shock (R): At age 19, Shock beat the President of his local school board. Now 23, Shock is seeking his second term from heavily Dem Peoria. He faces what will be one of the most expensive re-election bids in the state.
# State Rep. Roger Eddy (R): “Well-liked, respected on both sides of the aisle.” A possible future candidate for Congress.
# Alderman Ed Smith (D): While he’s older than others on the list, Smith just passed a smoking ban in Chicago, over the objections of Mayor Richard Daley (D). He’s currently pondering a county-wide bid for office in ‘08.
# State Sen./Rev. James Meeks (D): A strong ally of Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., (D), Meeks “has become a real powerhouse very quickly in the” legislature. Is considered a possible future mayoral or congressional candidate.
# Alexi Giannoulias (D): A former college basketball star at Boston University, Giannoulias comes from a banking family. Now, at 29, he’s making a run for State Treas.
# Madison Co. State’s Atty Bill Mudge (D): Is considered one of the front-runners when Rep. Jerry Costello (D) retires in IL 12.
Your thoughts?
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Guv: No Internet lottery sales
Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
From the AP.
Suggesting he isn’t married to bringing keno to Illinois, Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Monday sharply challenged state Republican lawmakers to propose something better to fund school upgrades he envisions under his $3.2 billion capital plan.
But the Democrat warned he would not consider Internet sales of lottery tickets, a plan that already has passed the Senate and awaits House action.
“That, to me, is bringing gambling into somebody’s home. I’m not in favor of that,” Blagojevich told reporters during a stop in this St. Louis suburb to rally support for his capital plan.
So, “gambling” by playing lottery in your own home is never to be allowed, but “gambling” by playing keno in taverns is somehow OK?
I’m having trouble keeping up with the logic here. Can anyone help, ‘cuz I’m kinda stumped.
Maybe we should just let people use the Internet to play the lottery at taverns. Would that be better?
UPDATE: From the AP
Facing mounting opposition, Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday said he’ll take keno off the negotiating table if it means state lawmakers will support his road and school construction plan.
The governor sent a letter to House Minority Leader Tom Cross, who planned to announce his opposition to the idea at a Capitol news conference Tuesday. The letter called keno an excuse for lawmakers to oppose the proposal Blagojevich said is a “critical jobs creation bill.'’
Blagojevich said he is willing to forgo the keno idea as long as legislators work to find the money needed for the $3.2 billion construction plan he proposed two weeks ago.
“All it takes is a yes,'’ Blagojevich said. “Now that keno is no longer a viable option and therefore no longer an excuse to oppose our proposal, I urge you to embrace this jobs creation bill and help us pass it.'’
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