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This just in…
Wednesday, Nov 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller * 2:44 PM - That blue ribbon commission the governor was supposedly going to use to pick Obama’s replacement? Turns out it’s a bunch of people in his administration. From a press release…
So much for consulting a group of “wise” men and women. These are the same people who have helped build that rock solid 13 percent approval rating. Sheesh. We’ll have more soon, i’m sure. * 3:13 PM - More from the presser…
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Political remainders
Wednesday, Nov 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller * Way down the ballot in Cook County and Chicago was a non-binding referendum question asking whether voters wanted the power to recall elected officials, and which explicitly mentioned the governor…
Some might call that a referendum on Blagojevich himself. * Speaking of the governor…
I wonder how that presser is gonna go. [The section in this post about the constitutional convention referendum was removed because as some commenters rightly pointed out, the AP has mixed up the results. Sorry about that.] * Obama’s Illinois victory, county by county…  * Bush vs. Kerry, 2004…  * Obama vs. Keyes, 2004…  * Dick Durbin’s 2008 victory map… 
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Big margins in congressional races a surprise to me, at least
Wednesday, Nov 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller * I think the most surprising thing about most of the state’s congressional races was the victory margins. I figured Debbie Halvorson would win, but 58-34-7? Wow. The same goes for Mark Kirk. He looked at the end like he might squeak this one out, but he dominated Democrat Dan Seals 54-46. Jim Oberweis was obviously a goner. It’s obvious that people are tired of his schtick, but that’s still a pretty strong Republican district so I simply couldn’t fathom a 57-43 loss to Bill Foster. Congresscritter Peter Roskam, who seemed to be panicking a bit in the home stretch by tying himself to Barack Obama, beat former Blagojevich administration official (which hurt her badly, of course) Jill Morgenthaler 58-42. Obama did well out there, so Roskam apparently knew what he was doing. Aaron Schock was probably the only candidate who won with about what I privately expected, 59-38-3. With Barack Obama’s ascent, Schock may now be Illinois’ most capable campaigner. Your thoughts about all this would be appreciated. * Related…
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Barack Obama open thread
Wednesday, Nov 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller * Read his victory speech, or watch it… * A few stories…
* I’m still trying to absorb all of this. There are so many things to contemplate, many of them personal. The fact that I’ve known him for years, even since before he was elected to the Illinois Senate. The private conversation we had long ago when I tried to discourage him from running for the US Senate. Our chance meeting on a public golf course when my then girlfriend swooned and I told her she was nuts. His remarkable primary victory and the whacky season it sparked (Blair, Jack and the Martian). My chuckling at his nickname for my formerly staunch Goldwater Republican and formerly all too white father: “Brother Miller.” My embarrassment at my father’s first words to Obama when I introduced them in January of 2004: “Never change. Never change,” and my concern at how Barack will, eventually change. His call to me during his failed congressional bid wondering why I was being so harsh and his attempt at rapproachment, when I first realized how skillful he could be. The fact that my wife is an Iraqi-American and my concern about what this election will mean for her family and her former nation. On and on. It’s kinda weird “knowing” a president-elect. It makes you think back, as well as look forward. Obama has proved over and over that he is one of the best candidates of my lifetime. I just hope he’s half as good at being president. Our country desperately needs a capable hand on the wheel of power after years of gross mismanagement and bungling of Shakespearean proportions. Anyway, your thoughts, please.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax
Wednesday, Nov 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
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