* While we’re waiting on some possible Scott Lee Cohen news, I’m gonna front-page something I wrote in comments not long ago, with a tiny bit of editing…

There’s something that I don’t think some people are quite understanding here.

Frankly, I don’t care if the guy shot up ‘roids and lived with a “massage therapist”. He had a “bad year.” OK, I get it. Fine. He’s better now.

My problem with this guy isn’t just one thing. It isn’t just what’s in his divorce - these things happen in lots of divorces (and it was far worse before we had “no fault” divorces in this state). It isn’t just that he allegedly knifed his girlfriend in the throat - I’m assuming that hooker girlfriends may not be incredibly reliable. It isn’t just that his ex-wife stands behind the long list of abuse allegations [including attempted rape]. It isn’t just that his brother sued him for $400K. It isn’t just that his sister-in-law tried to evict him from his house. It isn’t just that he spent $2mil+ on a campaign while his ex-wife was reportedly suing him for child support. It isn’t just that about 4 dozen lawsuits have been filed against him, or that his voting record shows that this year was the first time he’s voted in a primary. It isn’t just that he “doesn’t remember” writing threatening notes in lipstick on his wife’s mirror.

It’s a totality. Plus the fact that he’s got a lame excuse for everything. Why didn’t he vote in a primary before now? “I was busy taking care of businesses and providing for my family,” he told me yesterday. So, what’s up with the reported child support suit, then? And all the other business problems? On and on it goes.

Too many of you are defending him by looking at just one thing. That’s stupidity. Look at it all together, step back and see the disaster.

Defend it all. Go ahead. Try. But stop focusing in on just one thing. Stop insulting our intelligence.

If you can defend all of that, go for it. If not, don’t bother posting in comments.

* Let’s have some music…

*** UPDATE - 7:46 pm *** From Progress Illinois…

Today, a broad coalition of anti-violence and women’s groups held a press conference in Chicago to discuss the recent revelations about the Democrat lieutenant gubernatorial nominee’s history of violence and harassment. Due to their nonprofit status, most of the representatives couldn’t publicly demand that Cohen withdraw from the ballot. Nonetheless, they strongly repudiated his candidacy. “My immediate response,” said Kelly White of the Chicago Foundation for Women, “was completely and totally appalled.”

Video…

* 8:03 pm - We’ve gotten a lot of comments today which have basically said “He was elected fair and square!” Also, I’ve seen the “He was never convicted of anything!” comment more than a few times.

Well, first, Cohen was nominated, not elected. Big difference. Secondly, we all heard that exact same argument from Rod Blagojevich. He was actually nominated and elected twice. Also, RRB was removed from office without being convicted of anything.

*** UPDATE 2 - 8:30 pm *** Sun-Times…

Facing intense and mounting pressure to step aside, embattled Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor Scott Lee Cohen is seeking an “honorable way” out, a Cohen campaign source said tonight.

Cohen, who mostly kept out of the public eye today, said as recently as Thursday that he had no plans to quit. But with Democrats across the state urging him to re-think that decision, Cohen appears to be concerned how revelations about his private life might hurt the Democratic party.

* Sheesh. The weirdos are really coming out of the woodwork now. My reply.

* 9:36 pm - Man, what a circus. We now have a photo of SLC’s roped-off table at Vertigo.

* 9:56 pm - From the Tribune…

Gov. Pat Quinn, Cohen’s running mate, doesn’t “see a reason to call” Cohen, a Quinn campaign spokeswoman said Friday.

I can think of a few reasons.

*** UPDATE 3 - 10: 02 pm *** We have commenters watching the teevee coverage of this craziness, so check the comments.