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The Stroger beat goes on

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Illinois

The back and forth has swung backwards again.

Three months to the day after Cook County Board President John Stroger suffered a stroke, board members appear in no rush to name an “interim president.” They may not challenge Stroger’s right to hold his job until Election Day or beyond.

Most commissioners interviewed by the Chicago Sun-Times this week said legal hurdles to creating new rules or procedures for an “interim president” make such action impossible before November. […]

Sean Howard, spokesman for Bishop Larry Trotter, said Tuesday that Stroger is expected to be released from the hospital this morning after treatment for a possible mild infection.

I wonder if Stroger could still beat Peraica even if he never shows his face before election day?

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 7:09 am

Comments

Could Stroger beat Peraica even if he never showed his face? Sure.

This ongoing saga of John Stroger reminds me of that movie from the 1980s called “Weekend at Bernie’s”. Are you or anybody else even sure that John Stroger is still with us? I hope he is but this is Chicago and Cook County where they are known for the “Democrat Machine” still managing to get the deceased out to vote on election day.

Comment by Beowulf Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 7:37 am
Peraica would beat either Pops or Sonny Boy Stroger after all that has transpired. What I would like to know is why there is no outcry over the fact that Stroger is not showing up for work, may not do so until December, yet continues to draw his salary and benefits, rather than going on medical leave. Isn’t that ghost payrolling, right at the top? I think that if Stroger were a white politico, the press would be all over him on that issue, as they would be on the Daleys if they proclaimed that the next City Clerk has to be white, because Laski is white. Cook County never ceases to digust me.

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 7:47 am
I believe Stroger could beat Tony for three reasons 1) Cook County is a Democratic strong hold, 2) the Cook County GOP is probably the worst political organization in history, and 3) Tony is just not likeable.

My concern is not 2006 but future county elections because I do believe that the Stroger loyalists and the Cook County Dem establishment will win this battle but lose the war. I think some long term damage is done. Also this crap about how they handled the illness of old man daley is pure BS. As a Black Democrat I don’t want to see other Black Democrats using the Daley Klan as a standard. Additionally, in today’s media environment I doubt Old Man Daley would have been able to hide out like he did over 25 years ago.

Comment by wndycty Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 7:57 am
Someone will tell me I’m a goof, but I feel sorry for Stroger. Imagine belonging to a party where you have to stay on the job in his condition while everyone sqabbles to replace you and save the patronage.

It’s a heck of a thing to put your family through.

Comment by Bill Baar Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 8:00 am
…sorry not to answer, yeah, I think he could beat Peraica.

Comment by Bill Baar Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 8:01 am
“wndycty” - good to see you still posting. Just know that you’re always welcome here.

I hope people get over themselves and stop the personal attacks. Yesterday was too much, and I probably should have shut the entire site down. I’ll be gone much of today, but if it gets bad again, just hang in there.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 8:02 am
On second thought. While my party is totally screwing up this race I have a suggestion for the GOP. DUMP TONY! Think about it, Jack Ryan (if he lives in Cook), Judy (if she was not in another race) and so many others could have a shot, does Rauschenberg live in the Cook portion of Elgin?

Seriously, if the GOP had a truly viable candidate my party, the Democrats, would be in some trouble. If Tony could be replaced, ala Jack Ryan, by even Jack Ryan the GOP could take this seat.

Comment by wndycty Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 8:05 am
Rich, thanks as long as you allow me to be here, I will be here. I’m kind of tough and I give as good as I get. But between 8a and 6p I got to work and I’m running late.

Comment by wndycty Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 8:07 am
I think Rauschy lives in Kane, but why run another race for him to lose due to lack of money? Stroget will sadly beat Tony because of
1. The dem machine has their jobs invested in Stroger, they will knock on doors to keep their jobs.
2. Every time Peracia has an honest criticism of the situation, he gets criticized for being heartless, etc. While the dems, including Toddy Stroger jockey to replace John Stroger.
3. The Cook County GOP is incompetent largely. Progress has been made, but they were so far away from being halfway respectable, baby steps are expected, not leaps and bounds.
4. Whre is John Cox? Oh yeah, too busy running for president.
5. Jack Ryan has 0 credibility after lying and hiding behind his son. Perhaps if he would apologize, most voters such as myself would forgive him.
6. The only way to win is to appeal to Reagan democrats who did not get their job via patronage. Turn them out to vote and get them to vote out of disgust for what is happening now and moreso out of what potential cook county has to be a semi-competent, les corrupt county board.

Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 8:27 am
I’ll vote for Peraica because I don’t think one race or one party should control County government, any part of it. And the Dems seem to be telling us that the Presidency of the County Board has to go to a black Democrat. That’s
enough to make me vote for a white Republican, assuming his platform is reasonable. We all know county government is a huge, patronage-ridden
bureaucracy that needs a makeover. And it seems unlikely the Dems will even try to fix it.

Having said that…Peraica can’t win. He probably means well, but he does not convince.
Stroger will win even if in hospital.

Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 8:49 am
I think the surge of sympathy support only works once. Certainly the black vote will turn-out, but not a second time for a “Weekend at Bernie’s” candidate.

Comment by Schiznitz Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 9:11 am
Stroger will whip Peraica because Peraica has done nothing to appeal to the moderates that he needs.

Peraica is a big government social conservative. A small government social liberal would be able to give Stroger a good run. Peraica has no plan to cut the size of government.

Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 9:23 am
Peraica won’t win. As mentioned, Jack Ryan would be a good candidate. He’s got the cash money to run some tv ads to forcefully say why change is needed.

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 9:41 am
Skeeter, Peracia plans to fire Stroger’s $110k a year coat holder.

Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 9:50 am
Unlike the Soviet Union which tanked after 80 years, Chicago and Cook County prove that single party rule is not dead.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 10:27 am
Stroger in a landslide.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 10:35 am
If Stroger remains on the ballot is unseen/unheard through November — Peraica is likely to win. But again, the voter never cease to amaze me.

Comment by Just Observing Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 10:41 am
I’m cracking up over Beowulf’s “Weekend at Bernie’s” comment. Great analogy. Stroger would/will win no matter what. Even if he doesn’t serve a day during the next term, people will vote to keep the Presidency Democratic and African-American. Anything else is just wishful thinking.

Comment by Left Leaner Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 11:12 am
Yes, the voter never does cease to amaze. Remind me to smack upside the head the next “voter” who gripes about county taxes and corruption after having voted against Claypool and for Stroger in the primary. The same boob will likely vote for whatever puppet they place on the ballot to replace Stroger, then follow with the usual gripes about overtaxation, corruption, etc. “We must vote by party label” (then gripe); “we must vote by race” (then gripe about the above, along with griping about racism; ironic, ain’t it?); “we must vote against change” (then gripe, then demand change, then vote for the status quo again).

Comment by Uncle Slappy Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 11:53 am
I think Stroger has the race in the bag, but if the primary was now instead of March, would Claypool have had a better showing? I think it’s less of a stretch to think that he could’ve beaten an absentee Stroger than Peraica.

Comment by doubtful Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 12:20 pm
Stroger will probably still win but no wonder there is so much apathy in the voting public when we see the ridiculous posturing such as we have seen from the likes of Todd, Beavers, even those “clergy” folk. WHO IS SEAN HOWARD??

Comment by BobbyC Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 1:21 pm
Stoger will win. It is his God given right, since he is black. Remember need to divide the spoils as equally as possible between the old white machine, the blacks and the latinos. of those poor asians and other minorities with little or no clout.

Comment by Lee Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 1:31 pm
Stroger would win,but he won’t be on the ballot. Since Houlihan can’t be the nominee why doesn’t everyone rally around Senate President Emil Jones. He could unite most in the party, win easily and boost his pension.

Comment by bipartisan Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 1:32 pm
Peraica has succeeded in making a lot of enemies in the southwest Cook burbs. I have friends that live in Berwyn and they don’t like him because he was seen to be supporting the Bojovic brothers. I would be surprised if he got any votes at all in my neighborhood on the West side.

Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 2:40 pm
One of his stooges Slyvester Hartigan wrote a letter to the editor in the Sun Times, and it was bordering on reprensible…

If he wonders why he is on the wrong end of election day in November (Possibly twice) This will be it

http://www.suntimes.com/output/letters/cst-edt-vox14a.html

Set up a special election

I find it morally reprehensible that the spin doctors are trying to keep John Stroger in power despite overwhelming evidence he doesn’t need the pressure, he needs rest and love. Who’s sending him to his grave — the people who are putting the pressure on him to stay in office? Or the people who think retirement and rest will be his best remedy?

The people who are trying to keep Stroger in power, who are vying for his position, are undeserving of his office. They didn’t care enough to run for election countywide, but now they want it given to them. They are political gold diggers — degenerate opportunists.

I call for [Cook County Clerk] David Orr to set up a special election. Let the opportunists fight for the position like everyone else and give us the opportunity to vote in someone who is right for us rather than some vulture who has circled the corpse of Stroger until the time was right.

Sylvester Hartigan,
North Riverside

Comment by Tony has no Class Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 2:46 pm
Look at the cartoon in today’s Chicago Sun-Times…it says it all about this disaster that is unfolding as the Stroger family continues to hide the truth about John’s condition.

Comment by Higgins Cartoon Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 2:53 pm
Why not jim houlihan? Sure he is part of the hynes clan, but he is known for being as independent as they come. Besides, from his early days in the statehouse to working with harold washington, he has been well liked by both sides of the aisle and a favorite of the african american community. A great choice to reunite the party and county. He is creative and smart enough to bring some amount of reform without stepping on too many toes along the way. If the party insists on a black president or goes the interim john daley/fed investigation route I think they face serious backlash among many cook voters.

Comment by fedupdem Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 3:21 pm
Stroger. Stroger. Stroger is done. He shouldn’t be on the ballot and he defiently shouldn’t win. He needs to regain what is left of his health and retire. The man is 77, had a massive stroke and is now back in the hospital. It’s not looking good. I doubt he is even alert and responsive. What ever hope people are holding out that he will be able to continue his job is just that - hope. Even if he does manage to stay on the ballot - the politico’s are kidding themselves that voters would even consider re-electing him considering his bleak future. Find a solid candidate and put him or her out there - and please don’t pick his son.

Comment by Julie Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 4:31 pm
I really want to see some polling data on this race.

Peraica v. Stroger
Peraica v. Steele
Peraica v. Davis
Peraica v. Stoger, Jr.

I think Peraica does better against the others than Dad.

Comment by Ashur Odishoo Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 5:39 pm
Forrest!

Forrest!

Forrest!

Comment by Poolclay Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 6:13 pm
I can’t help but wonder what these people who are advocating for a wait and see approach would do if it were a Republican official who had a stroke and was MIA for months at a time. They wouldn’t be able to contain themselves! There would be calls for investigations and immediate resignations.

Comment by Long Time Reader; First Time Poster Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 6:17 pm
This race is not about party candidates. The election will be referendum on the electorate itself.

Comment by Ignatius J. Reily Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 8:12 pm
fedupdem: Houlihan??? Let’s see … Dart will replace Sheahan as Sheriff … Houiihan is already assessor … Do we really need more Hynes/Daley machine cogs in high positions???

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 9:19 pm
“- Skeeter - Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 9:23 am:

Stroger will whip Peraica because Peraica has done nothing to appeal to the moderates that he needs.

Peraica is a big government social conservative. A small government social liberal would be able to give Stroger a good run. Peraica has no plan to cut the size of government. ”

Skeeter, whatever’s in that crackpipe you’re smokin’, you’d better lay off it. Who planted you?

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Wednesday, Jun 14, 06 @ 9:22 pm
Whoever runs against him, Peraica won’t win.

It’s just interesting to see the level of bile and disgust for John Stroger on this blog.

Comment by Wow Thursday, Jun 15, 06 @ 1:16 pm
Wow: Maybe you should leave your bubble once in a while. Besides, you already know that Stroger isn’t popular with almost half of the population (at least ones who voted in March), or the prez would have won by 50 percentage points, not just 5.

Comment by anonymous Thursday, Jun 15, 06 @ 5:42 pm
Voting against someone is one thing. This is something else.

Comment by Wow Thursday, Jun 15, 06 @ 6:43 pm
Jack Ryan has 0 credibility after lying and hiding behind his son. Perhaps if he would apologize, most voters such as myself would forgive him.

An apology would mean more before he entered another race.

An apology would have meant more two years ago.

Comment by T.J. Saturday, Jun 17, 06 @ 3:21 am