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The perception of corruption
Monday, Jun 12, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller I forgot to post my syndicated newspaper column. Here it is. Is Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration just as corrupt or even more corrupt than former Gov. George Ryan’s crew? A new poll finds a plurality of Illinoisans would answer “yes” to that question. The entire poll can be found here. The press release is here. (pdf files)
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Hoffman; Shadid (use all CAPS in password)
Monday, Jun 12, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Question of the day
Monday, Jun 12, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller Greg Blankenship has a good post here, but I’ll summarize. · One of Jack Roeser’s websites slammed Topinka yet again and then published this line: “Four more years of Blagojevich is a big price to pay for future victory, but at least we can build with that Democrat as a foil.” · When called on it, they responded thusly: “We’re accused of ‘pushing for four more years of Rod Blagojevich.’ Well, no, not quite” · However, Bernie interviewed Roeser yesterday and got this nugget: Does all that mean Roeser would rather see Blagojevich win instead of Topinka? “Yes,” he told me. QUESTION: Do you think the posturing by people like Roeser will mean anything in the end? Or is this background noise?
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Campaign roundup
Monday, Jun 12, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller Let’s start off with a debate challenge: Gov. Rod Blagojevich has challenged his Republican opponent, state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, to a televised debate focused on health care. Soon after the governor’s challenge Sunday, Topinka’s campaign responded that she’ll debate him, but on ethics and integrity. And move to more allegations about corruption. Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka said Saturday a “pattern of intimidation” exists in Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration and said the governor has to take responsibility for it. And the AP did a piece about how both Blagojevich and Topinka are about the same when it comes to gay rights except for maybe this one item. When it comes to gay rights, where Blagojevich and Topinka diverge is in offering health benefits to partners of the nonunion gay employees under their control. Thousands of unionized state employees already were entitled to them. And Erickson/Adrian had a piece on dueling fax campaigns: With a mere five months to go before Election Day, the candidates for governor are slugging it out via fax machine. · Topinka’s inspector general defends himself.
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The Stroger beat
Monday, Jun 12, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller The Daily Herald claims another showdown is looming. As Cook County Board President John Stroger’s health remains a mystery after a second hospital stay this week, county leaders say it is clear his long stroke recovery warrants the installation of a temporary replacement. The last time a showdown loomed, Stroger’s allies shot it down. We’ll see how this one goes. Meanwhile, the Tribune publishes a piece entitled, “Eagerness to succeed Stroger risky”
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Planted?
Monday, Jun 12, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller Take a look at this profile of Republican attorney general candidate Stu Umholtz and tell me if you notice anything missing. Don’t worry. I’ll wait. Take your time. Did you catch it? Not a single criticism of his Democratic opponent Lisa Madigan. He talks about applying the Open Meetings Act to the General Assembly. He criticizes Rod Blagojevich. He mentions the pension raids. He talks about the lottery sale. And he closes with this never-before uttered line: “I believe if the folks in Illinois want to see change in how the people’s business is being conducted, then my candidacy will be seen as the best opportunity for change,” he said. Not a word about Lisa. I’m starting to wonder if the Speaker had something to do with Stu’s candidacy.
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Morning shorts
Monday, Jun 12, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller · Um, Dan? It’s June 12th, dude. Isn’t it time to get your website online? (Hat tip: Larry) · Steinberg reminds us that the governor’s Hate Crimes Commission problem hasn’t gone away. · Chambers: Health-care providers wait months for the state to pay them for serving poor folks. At least when they finally get paid, they’re supposed to get a bonus for the wait. They would if the state obeyed the law. · Constable: “If you wonder why Vice President Dick Cheney’s approval ratings dipped below 20 percent — making him less than half as popular as gay marriage — his visit to a suburban fundraiser this week provided clues.” Cheney snubbed Sen. Geo-Karis. As you can see, the columnist is not pleased. · Take the money and leave · Crain’s: As the Metra board prepares to choose its first new chairman in more than 20 years, two contenders have surfaced as potential replacements for Jeffrey Ladd, who has dominated the commuter rail agency since its inception. · Governor says new ethanol research center would be waste of money · What he said. · Immigration Compared To Civil Rights Movement · I forgot to post this last week: The United Republican Fund announced Wednesday that State Senator Steve Rauschenberger (R-Elgin) was elected Chairman of its Board of Directors. · 7th Circuit Ballot Access Hearing “Goes Well” · One of the scarier ledes I’ve seen in a while: When Exelon upped power output by nearly 18 percent at its Quad Cities plant in 2002, key components began shaking so badly that vibration monitors were thrown from their mounts and insulation fell from steam lines. · Quote of the day: “I wear a lot of dark suits. We keep a roller with the sticky tape in the van so I don’t look like a hairy beast,” Topinka said. · Runner-up: “I certainly don’t think it’s a coincidence that the first known consumer advocate ever appointed to the [Illinois Commerce] commission became the first commissioner ever rejected by the Senate.” · Maybe we should just invade and be done with it.
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READER COMMENTS CLOSED FOR THE WEEKEND
Friday, Jun 9, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller Talk at you Monday. Head to Illinoize for your weekend blogging enjoyment.
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Friday music blogging… The Townsmen
Friday, Jun 9, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
And so it was for me several weeks ago, kicking back in the “great room” at my house, relaxing on a weekend afternoon, listening to the radio and the wind on the lake, thinking about how summer was just around the corner and contemplating the inherent goodness of life. Then a song came on the local community radio station that just stopped me in my tracks. It was an indy tune, with loud, slow slide guitar, sweet harmony and mellow lyrics about… summertime. It seemed to me at that moment the perfect summer song and I knew it would be a song that I had to have and play over and over again. The DJ eventually announced the name of the band, The Townsmen, and the album name, Dim as a Glimmer. I dragged out the laptop and a few Google clicks later I had found the band’s website. They did have a couple of songs to download, but the song I had heard on the radio wasn’t there. After searching in vain for a way to buy and download the CD online, I sent the band an e-mail and they shipped me their two latest CDs, Dim as a Glimmer and Townsmen: II. I discovered during my search that the two albums were recorded at the same time, but were issued separately. As one reviewer wrote, you may have heard these chords before, but their music is delivered with “honest sentiment that doesn’t re-invent the wheel, but improves upon it.” After a few e-mail exchanges, I was able to persuade the band to post the song I fell in love with so that you could listen to it today. So, kick back in your chair, pour yourself a lemonade or other beverage and crank up the sound all the way. Ready? Allright, here’s Spend Another Night. While you’re listening to Spend Another Night, you might want to read through one of the very few reviews of the CD that I’ve been able to find. This is a record that could only be made by a group rooted firmly in the history of rock and pop. Sure, a lot of bands live and breathe rock and pop, but it’s the rare band indeed that can revel in their understanding of the musical past and draw upon it at will without pointing fingers to an obvious source. I couldn’t agree more. They definitely got that swing.
The Townsmen posted another song on their site at my request. “Hello Waitress” is a rollicking punkish tune that I’m sure gets the heads banging and the beers spilling every time they play it. I gotta see these guys. And that brings us to the bad news. The Townsmen are based in Columbus, Ohio. I was convinced when I heard them the first time that they must be from Chicago, but apparently Columbus has a thriving indy music scene. I wish I had known that when my parents were stationed there several years ago. Anyone up for a road trip? I’m serious about this. The band’s schedule will supposedly be updated on their site this weekend, so check it here. Let’s do it. I’ll buy the first two rounds, at least. In the meantime, you can now purchase both Dim as a Glimmer and Townsmen: II online right here. At ten bucks each you can’t go wrong. Send ‘em some love.
· Spend Another Night
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Most of us have had the experience of immediately “connecting” with a song at one time or another. It’s an inexplicable feeling, totally unexpected, a sudden knowing that somehow this song fits with our lives, or at least with our mood at that very moment. 
I also found a video of one of their tunes, Oakland Park, recorded live at Workbook Studios. Workbook is putting together a regular TV show, featuring three bands at a time and The Townsmen were on the first show. You can find the video and a short interview |
Politicians and the insurance business
Friday, Jun 9, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller I was just on WBEZ talking about Mayor Nick Blase’s surprising arrest and the attraction of the insurance business for Cook County politicians. We only had five minutes, but here are some things I pulled up on my computer that I could only touch on during the spot. · 24th Ward Alderman Ben Lewis was “manacled to his chair and shot in the head three times” in 1963 - likely because of a fight over who had the right to peddle insurance to businesses in the Douglas Park ward. · Just about every ward and township organization in Chicago and Cook County had its own insurance business at one time. When George Dunne took over as 42nd Ward Democratic Committeeman in 1961, he automatically inherited the right to sell insurance in the Loop ward. That insurance agency was Near North Insurance, which collapsed a few years ago after Mickey Segal was busted. · Congressman Frank Annunzio was once a partner in the notorious 1st Ward’s insurance business. Ah, Illinois. Don’t you just love this place?
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Question of the day
Friday, Jun 9, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller My Sun-Times column this week is about Bill Brady’s demand that Lisa Madigan release the results of her 18-month investigation of the Blagojevich administration within the next 90 days. Richard Nixon once said, “The people have to know whether their president is a crook. Well, I am not a crook.” Actually, he was. But that’s not the point. The point is he was right that we needed to know whether he was a crook. And right now, before Election Day, we should at least have some indication one way or another of whether our governor is a crook or if these allegations that regularly explode across the front pages of the state’s newspapers are some sort of bizarre, politically motivated dead ends. Do you think AG Madigan has an obligation to tell the citizens of this state what’s going on in the governor’s office before election day?
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Oy, Part 346,936
Friday, Jun 9, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller More reform and renewal. The former head of the state Gaming Board has filed a federal lawsuit against Gov. Rod Blagojevich, claiming he and his aides retaliated against her when she refused to carry out orders she considered illegal. […] We haven’t done this in a while and I’ve lost count again, so let’s use this thread to list the number of federal, state and local investigations of the Blagojevich administration.
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Nopinka
Friday, Jun 9, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller Topinka rules out tollway sale, but won’t rule out tax hikes. Republican Judy Baar Topinka said Thursday she will not lease the tollway system if elected governor, but instead raised the potential for higher taxes if the state needs money. She really needs to come up with something that she’s for.
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The rest of the story
Friday, Jun 9, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller UPDATE: Grand Old Partisan has an interesting take at Illinoize. First, let’s go to the usual he-said, she-said from the AP: Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Thursday that Illinois added more jobs - 23,100 - in April than any other state in the nation, but his opponent in the fall gubernatorial election questioned the numbers, charging the governor has released misleading figures before. But there’s nothing in the story to indicate which side is telling the truth. For any discussion of that we have to go to blogger Greg Blankenship of the Illinois Policy Institute: I have to say though, the Governor’s numbers are consistent with the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s April numbers on regional and state employment (.pdf). Illinois did create 23,100 jobs in April. For the Topinka campaign to question these numbers is misguided. These aren’t Gov. Blagojevich’s numbers, they are the Federal Government’s. Still, Blankenship continues… The Illinois’ economy has only improved .8% on the job’s front since a year ago April and unemployment in Illinois is still over 5% at 5.1%. Nationally, the unemployment rate is hovering at 4.7%. 8 states enjoyed higher growth statistically — many more with 1% growth or more — than Illinois including Iowa which added a full percantage point. And blogger Dan Curry adds this to the mix: Rod Blagojevich’s Illinois is 45th in the nation creating jobs since he took office in 2003. Today, he bragged about having one month where he created more raw jobs than [any] state in the country. That’s not a big accomplishment because Illinois is the sixth largest state in the country and statistically it ought to lead the nation occasionally in monthly raw statistics.
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Morning shorts
Friday, Jun 9, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller · What he said. · Illinois Ballot Access Laws On Trial · Friday Beer Blogging · More people ought to ask for this: “The FBI has conducted more than 1,000 interviews during its investigation of Mayor Richard Daley’s administration, but Daley alone had a court reporter present to transcribe his statement to investigators, an FBI agent testified Thursday.” · Radogno: State finances are ‘a mess’ · More on Mayor Blase’s arrest: Federal agents Tuesday executed a search warrant at the insurance agency, based in Wheeling, and found a series of memos indicating at least 10 Niles business clients received various favors performed by Blase from the local government in return for their insurance business, the affidavit said. · The Nation publishes a long, thoughtful piece about Obama, talks about his involvement with Duckworth but doesn’t print a word about Alexi. I thought Obama was proud of that one?
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