* The Daily Herald goes off on state Sen. Bill Brady for missing so many votes and then vowing not to take expense reimbursement and per diem checks. “He doesn’t deserve the money,” the editorial board exclaims, adding that Brady has “shirked his duty.” The conclusion…

It might be a nightmare for campaign schedulers, but candidates ought to be in Springfield or Washington, D.C., when votes are taken and travel when they can.

We strongly disagree with Brady’s campaign spokeswoman, Patty Schuh, who told our reporter Timothy Magaw that casting votes are only part of Brady’s job as a senator.

“In order to run a credible campaign for governor, you have to be on the trail,” she said.

We’re more in line with Paul Green, a political science professor at Roosevelt University, who said: “You get elected to vote on issues. There are only 59 senators who can vote. There are a lot of people who can give speeches.”

It’s the votes, not the speeches, that should help voters distinguish between the candidates.

Only a few of those votes were close, and no matter what the DH claims speeches are quite important to campaigns. I get the point about him not being around, but I don’t think that we should only be looking at his votes. They are very important, no doubt, but what he says about what he intends to do if elected is also important.

* The Democratic Governors Association has posted a new Internet video about Brady’s missed votes. Rate it…

*** UPDATE *** Eagle-eyed John Patterson spots a boo-boo by the video’s producer…

That’s not the Senate in the ad. That’s the House.

So as the ad zeroes in on what’s supposedly an empty Brady chair, it’s showing the wrong chamber in the Illinois Capitol.

Hilarious.

[ *** End of Update *** ]

* In other news, I’ve been hearing about this poll for quite a while now…

The other day we received a robo-call from a polling organization. The recording was designed to receive only answers of “yes” or “no.”

It was obvious that the questions were geared to elicit answers that would favor Bill Brady, Republican candidate for governor.

The questions were quite loaded, including…

The most insidious wording was in the question about “don’t ask, don’t tell” in the military. It was, almost word for word, “Do you agree that we should force men in the military to integrate people with homosexual tendencies in their barracks and in their bunks?” […]

The poll asked, more than once, whom we supported, Bill Brady or Pat Quinn, often after statements such as “Pat Quinn wants to raise your taxes.”

The columnists don’t appear to understand that this is almost undoubtedly a campaign pollster, or possibly (since it seems to be going on for weeks) even a very broad canvass “push.”

* Related…

* New GOP TV ad blasts Quinn, Blagojevich

* Brady, Quinn exchange jabs

* Quinn criticizes Brady over missed votes

* Campaign no excuse to neglect duty

* Brady: Quinn to blame for lower bond rating

* Political Signs Protected Under Freedom of Speech: Governor Pat Quinn says he’s trying to protect freedom of speech across the state. That’s why this week he signed a new law that prevents communities from restricting political signs on private property.

* Quinn tours tornado sites, declares 4 counties disaster areas

* In Dwight, Quinn declares 4 counties disaster areas

* Quinn Says Funds Are Available to Storm Victims

* Weather service: 15 tornadoes touched down in Ill.

* Illinois inmates help with tornado cleanup