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The AP dishes out some campaign advice.
Overwhelmed by a barrage of negative advertising, Judy Baar Topinka has been unable to translate voters’ doubts about Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich into a lead in the race for governor. […]She can blanket the airwaves with a late round of advertising. She could offer voters a more positive vision of what she would do as governor. She might try toning down her brash image to come across as more substantive.
And Jim Edgar is quoted as well.
Former Gov. Jim Edgar, a Republican and a Topinka backer, said the public has grown numb to corruption and mismanagement. […]One way to do it may be to offer a more positive outlook - to go beyond saying Blagojevich is a bad governor and spend more time on how she would be a good one.
Her emphasis in the last month, Edgar said, should be: “We can improve. We can make it better.”
This is a typical debate inside trailing campaigns one month out. Stay negative and make it a race to the bottom, or go back hard positive? Candidates often want to run positive campaigns, and former candidates and the usual talking head pundits advise reporters that reverting to positive is the best way to go.
Watch as the pressure builds on Topinka to drop the negative ads, “for her own good,” even as Blagojevich continues his well-funded barrages. (It’s really spooky how close this race is to the George Ryan vs. Glenn Poshard contest.)
But in a race like this where her positive ratings have been all but destroyed and she is being vastly outspent, spending money on positive ads might not do her a lot of good. In other words, the race to the bottom is what we’re probably gonna get.
Take off your “concerned citizen” hat and put on a political adviser hat and tell us what you think.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 8:34 am
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See, and here I am wondering where ANY positive ads are from the Topinka campaign. She hasn’t given anyone a reason to vote for her except that she’s not Rod.
I’d keep the course of action if I were Blagojevich, but if I’m JBT I get ads out there about how I’m a single mom, whose son served overseas. I think that’s true — someone told me it was — but I’ve never seen any advertisement about that!
Point is, Judy needs turnout, and if you don’t give people a reason to turn out they won’t.
Comment by RickG Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 9:01 am
Judy needs to do a side by side comparison in her ads AND in newspapers:
Military mom vs. no known military service.
Reelected 3 times vs. Elected once and
failing.
One no-result investigation vs. who knows
how many investigations.
Smoothly operating office vs. office in
constant turmoil.
Staff from Illinois vs. importing hotshot
pals with big city attitudes in a small
town state.
Obeys all federal laws vs. thumbs his nose
at feds in areas such as illegal
immigrants, drug importation and matching
funds.
No hiring problems vs. big federal hiring
investigation
And so on and so on.
People need to hear these things over and over for it to sink in. Look at how the Washington Republicans hammer their points home and do it, too.
Comment by Martha Mitchell Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 9:14 am
I spent too much of last Thursday at Northwestern Hospital [nothing major] but had the opportunity to see a lot of daytime television. Ad after ad all negative for Illinois gov.
Negative ads don’t really bother me, but these two have gone over the top and they both look ridiculous. I am not offended by that attitudes of the ads. However, after seeing them in a row for a few hours, they just lose their impact. The only one that had any impact at all was the one with Blago being interviewed. It just didn’t make him look corrupt. It made him look dumb and weak. That one was effective. The rest? Not so much.
JBT has to do more. She has to look to Reagan and his ads. We all know the dtate of the State. She has to offer a future. She has to tell us what she will do to clean it up.
JBT can still win this, but keeping up the negatives is not the way to do it.
Comment by Skeeter Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 9:15 am
I am an African American Educator that works for the Chicago Public Schools. This morning on the Ronan Martin Show (WVON) I hear an activist named Bamani Obadele
bash Rev. Jackson and Rev. Meeks. Who is this person to throw such stones upon such great men? Here is a man that is under federal investigation, left his public office in shame, and is a spokesman for Rod’s Campaign. I have never voted for a Republican Governor in my life, but this time out will be different. If all that this Governor can muster up is this poor excuse for a human-being how sorrowful he is. Maybe the Governor can appoint him to oversee the education of the children of the State of Illinois this way instead of only having 10’s of thousands of dollars of all alleged DCF money in his personal bank account, he can have millions of State funded money ear marked for schools. GOVERNOR WHAT WERE YOU THINK THAN WHEN YOU HIRED THIS TERRRIBLE PERSON?????????
Comment by Concern Citizen Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 9:28 am
Maybe Topinka and Blago should just agree to give the rest of their campaign cash to Katrina relief or some other worthy cause.
This race is over.
The Republicans ran about the only person in the entire state who makes Blagojevich look clean and competent by comparison.
Comment by RealClear Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 9:40 am
Topinka lacks everything it takes to win. When you don’t have any money, you need a very strong field operation. Grass root workers that will walk precincts and spread the message. She doesn’t have either one. Actually, I’m a bit surprised at how weak her campaign is in west central Illinois. No walkers, no phone calls, nothing. I’ve seen a few 4 X 4 signs going up, but Watson people are putting them up.
Bash the man all you want, but you have to admit that Rodney has one hell of an organized campaign. There are people in the precincts every weekend and the phone bank is packed each night. As a result, his numbers are excellent where they should be great. They are good where they would normally be okay. And they are weak where they should be horrible. Hat tip to Friends of Blago.
Also, I have a funny feeling that in the next two weeks, Rod and Todd are going to join forces in the North.
Money and manpower, baby.
Gotta go, walk sheets just arrived.
Comment by B Hicks Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 9:42 am
If we only elected Glenn Poshard!
Comment by aidanquinn Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 9:50 am
Judy still has the stink of George Ryan all over her. It’s her own fault for not working harder to define herself separate from him. The ship sank, get over it. The Rs and RRs are going to stay home, the Ds and DDs are going to come out in force, and the undecided will wish-wash as usual. And most of us believe we will be better off for it! It’s just a shame the the tail is going to have to wag the dog on the national front. Looks like the likely contestant is going to be N. Korea. Good news is that many voters will see through it. Even though there’s little we can do to avert it…
Comment by Anon Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 9:52 am
“It’s really spooky how close this race is to the George Ryan vs. Glenn Poshard contest.”
True but it can have a different outcome. First of all there have been no indictments just investigations and allegation. We don’t know who, if anyone, Fitzgerald will indict. Also we don’t know if any potential indictments will result in convictions. You can cite Levine, you can say he is Blago’s problem, but in reality he is a Republican holdover so you cannot put that soley on Rod’s shoulders.
Also think about this, those waiting on and I would dare say HOPING for indictments fail to realize they are HOPING that there is corruption going on and laws being broken.
As a voter, not a political opportunist, I would hope that Fitzgerald finds little or no wrongdoing. The Ryan debacle was bad for Illinois and was detrimental to ALL public servants, elected, appointed and civil servants, Republicans and Democrats. Hoping for indictments is hoping for WRONGDOING, hoping for indictments is hoping for a development that will further disillusion the public.
Yeah the administration I support is on the hot seat on this one, but when you look at the disillusionment of voters over scandal it hurts everyone, Republicans and Democrats.
Comment by wndycty Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 9:57 am
wndycty, I think many Republicans are hoping for indictments because they think it will help them politically. Others are hoping for indictments because they strongly believe there is wrongdoing and want it severely punished.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 10:01 am
Concerned Citizen 9:28 a.m.
Regarding Bamani Obadele - after he was terminated for stealing money from a state agency - rumor has it that one of IDOT’s vendors, a PR contract that Auditor General Holland bashed in his audit of IDOT, hired Obadele. Your tax dollars could possibly still be supporting this crook.
Comment by Rex Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 10:06 am
Since we are in football season, lets use a football analogy. If you call a run play on 3 and 1, and don’t make it; and then do it again, and don’t make it; and then do it again, and don’t make it; it is time to look to pass the ball on 3rd and 1. The negative ads are not getting her the first down, so she needs a new play.
I think she needs to pick the most effective negative ad (probably the interview ad where he looks clueless) and leave it up to run occasionally to remind people he is a liar. Then I think the bulk of her ad buy needs to swing to positive. Judy had a pretty good ad when she ran last time for Treasurer with a bunch of kids trying to pronounce her name (the ole Judy ba da binka ad). It was corny, but people liked it and I think it did her a lot of good. Remember in 2002, Judy actually received more votes than Blagojevich in the General election (1.896 to 1.847). She needs to tell people all the good things she has done and will do as Governor (if she can come up with any) and let the corruption stuff simmer on its own. If the Levine plea at the end of the month comes out as bad as some people think, and he still leads in the polls, she is toast. I think there is nothing else she can do to tell people he is corrupt, so now she needs to tell people she is better.
With little time and less money, it is probably already too late, but I think she needs to go positive.
Comment by Jaded Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 10:11 am
Yes Rich I agree, but if you removed the Republican echo chamber, as well as the media desire for a good story, would it look nearly as bad for Rod?
I think we should all take the work of the US Attorney very seriously, however after the Ryan administration’s problems and the fact we have our first Democratic administration in decades I would expect whomever replaced Ryan to be under intense scrutiny.
I won’t accuse the press of any partisan behavior, however we do know scandal sells. You have to admit any scandal (Clinton/Lewinsky, Foley, Plame, et al.) is milked by the press because scandal sells. This is not to dispute the merits of any allegations, but when you consider echo chambers (trust me, when it comes to Foley, Plame, and any other GOP scandal I’m leading the charge) and the need for the media to sell papers and attract viewers its easy to lose perspective.
I’m not trying to ignore anything or downplay legitimate press coverage, just pointing out how anything can be blown out of proportion. I’m just as guilty as anyone and trust me I will continue to play the game. If it were up to me it would be all Foley all the time and if I could I would find a way to tie him to every Republican including the local GOP ward boss. LOL
Just being honest.
Comment by wndycty Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 10:22 am
As Finke said yesterday in the SJR, Blago blames Judy for being Ryan’s treasurer but she is his too! Start taking credit for *turning* the state around and *solving* our huge deficit.
Also to wndycity….we are not HOPING for wrongdoing, we KNOW its going on. We’re merely HOPING for indictments!
Comment by Troy News Guy Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 10:28 am
If there’s no money for more TV, there’s no money. She probably doesn’t want to jack up her campaign debts any higher. I feel that shows fiscal prudence.
Judy should try to get on as many talk radio interview shows as she can, across the state, daily. Doesn’t cost a thing. Hit ‘em in the morning drive, the lunch hour, the afternoon drive. The time limits of 30-second spots are not there, she can open up the issues and get out more details, plus show her personality. At this point, even if grilled by a hostile host or call-in listeners, I don’t see a downside, it would be like mini-debates, and the longer the conversations, I think the better for her. The hosts and listeners will then ineveitably say: “well, where’s the Blago response?” And Blago is plying hide and seek now, likely will not rise to the challenges, preferring to sit on what he considers a comfortable lead. Judy can use this forum to keep a drumbeat going for more formal deabtes. Hell, let her go up against Whitney too, it would show she’s not a chicken**** like Milorad.
A steady stream of letters to the editor, to the major market papers, giving details on her plans, would also build positives, especially if the papers turn around and make stories out of that.
I would also kick the viral campaigns into higher gear: you-tube is her friend. TV spot production itself is not all that expensive these days, it’s the time buys to broadcast that comprise 99 percent of the costs. Besides the birthdaygate check pieces, she should have her people post you tube videos listing all her positives, her plans for the state, and plenty listing all Rod’s negatives. It’s free. And more powerful than many folks think.
Comment by Gregor Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 10:52 am
Troy News Guy: Is someone innocent until proven guilty? If there are no indictments or if those indicted are not who you want them to be, will you accept that the US Attorney did his job? Or is it only acceptable for the US Attorney to act in a manner that benefits your agenda?
Also Rich to your original question (the one in which you encourage us to be political advisors), I would say this. If I were Judy I would try to sell my vision for Illinois and show the voters why I would be a better choice. Her only argument thus far is that she is not under investigation. I don’t think she understands that voters see her as having as many potential problems as the current administration.
Comment by wndycty Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 10:55 am
On a semi-related note, I saw a Blagojevich ad last night where they use the clip of JBT telling the media that the Lieutenant Governor should do more than just “go to funerals.” The ad includes her preface that she doesn’t want to sound inappropriate…but then it ends with the now familiar What’s she thinking? I believe it’s in response to the ‘check footage’ ad…Should be good addition to the youtube site, Rich.
Comment by Napoleon Dynamite Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 10:58 am
If Judy is George Ryan’s Treasurer, then Dan Hynes was his Comptroller etc. Doesn’t make since.
Comment by Where's the Leadership??? Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 11:04 am
I worked on an out-of-state race for Governor where my candidate was behind, until we started running a powerful negative ad. (Probably with the same impact as the speechless Blagojevich ad.) The ad was so strong, our opponent ended up offering a truce on all negative advertising. (We declined.)
We pulled even in our tracking about two weeks out. Then, our advisers — pushed by the candidate — decided our candidate’s positives were too low. So, for the last two weeks, we ran exclusively positive ads.
You can guess the rest: we slipped in the polls, and our opponent won.
I’m a goo-goo at heart, but when I put on my political hat, I’d have to say that in this situation, JBT’s only shot is to go negative and stay negative. Rod, on the other hand, can still win with strong positive ads. If he cares about his second term — rather than just winning his second term — I would advise him to go strongly positive in the last two weeks. He’ll lose some of his margin against a strong negative campaign, but he’ll still win and he’ll have a leg up on governing.
But, who cares about governing, eh?
Comment by the Other Anonymous Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 11:27 am
The Other Anon:
The problem here for JBT is that both sides have gone so negative that the negatives get lost in a blur.
Who took contributions from contractors? Who sold state jobs? Unless you are following very closely, all the allegations overlap.
JBT needs to act like a governor now. She needs to show that somehow she is different and that she has some vision. She needs to show that a vote for her is more than a vote against Blago.
Illinois is a blue state. If they all stay negative, Blago wins (which is fine by me, since it will mean Gov. Quinn in the near future).
JBT needs to show that under her leadership, there will be real leadership and real competence and that state problems will be solved.
Comment by Skeeter Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 11:34 am
Just reacting to Miller’s post, I can’t help but observe the following:
Any Republican political professional has to be thinking, in response to Jim Edgar’s observations, “Thanks, Jerk!”
Edgar put all of his political chits on getting Judy the nomination, ignoring all of her demerits of which he was probably more aware than most. (Indeed, very early in her Treasurer’s career, Topinka whined that Edgar wasn’t helping her enough…and indications were that Edgar considered her the weakest link in among the elected state executive officers.)
The writing was on the wall about Topinka for years now, and certainly was crystallized by her disasterous term as IL GOP Chairman (when Dick Kay and the Election Coverage Desk at NBC Chicago were laughing out loud in reponse to Judy’s ludicrous defense of her administration.)
Either Oberweis, Brady, or Gidwitz could have run a campaign without any of the greatest drawbacks of Judy’s (connection to Geo Ryan, her awful public persona, her lack of policy direction, her “moderate” posture). Thanks, Jim Edgar, with sticking us with a candidate in a hole so deep her funds on hand and pledged are incapable of helping her climb out.
Comment by Conservative Republican Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 11:59 am
She should look straight into the camera and say, “I will not spend taxmoney that we don’t have. I will not trade million dollar state contracts for thousand dollar campaign contributions. I will not hire people simply on who they know instead of what they know. I will balance our state budget and bring jobs BACK to Illinois. These are all things my opponent can’t say.” But before she does any of this, she should see a professional hairdresser and make-up artist and get rid of the 59 cent coffee cup.
Comment by Name/Nickname/Anon Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 12:23 pm
JBT would do better with a two-pronged approach. The ads showing Rod should be negative as hell, and based on his record (the bumbling I-can’t-answer-the-check-question ad was the best yet), and then any ads with her IN them should show her smiling and touting positives. She should be hitting with both strategies simultaneously to win over the undecideds who, for the life of me, are pretty dim if they don’t know that Rod, or someone pretty high up there, is likely to be indicted.
Comment by Angie Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 12:41 pm
For B. Hicks and Wyndycty: You seem to think that even though the feds are breathing down his neck, Milarod (NOT Rodney)is as innocent as the driven snow. I and about 53,000 other people know the difference. We see it every day! Millions of dollars spent on program literature and postage, all paid for by the taxpayers, not by campaign funds. His name spread far and wide on everything. Apparently he didn’t read that section of the ethics test. Flaunting federal law
regarding All Kids, undocumented workers and senior prescription plans. Everything his staff does is teetering on the border between legal and illegal and we have the paperwork to prove it. Once the feds come forward, they will be inundated with it.
I’m not a Judy fan either but the state is bankrupt, and will get worse, and by the way, Judy is Milarod’s treasurer, also. Does that mean she is responsible for his problems?
Comment by Vote ABB Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 12:42 pm
I recently traveled from the west side of the state to the east, from the Quincy area to the Effingham area, and I counted 6 Hot Rod signs, SIX. That was all my wife and I seen taking two lane roads all the way. This should tell the voting public something, however I don’t think JBT is doing what she can to capture the moment so to speak. I could not even tell you who the JBT county coordinator is from my county. That shows me JBT has no front line people working her campaign. The several campaigns I worked, we were out lit dropping and walking door to door by now, I see no activity in west central illinois. To JBT and your staff, if you want the election it’s yours for the taking, get off your butts and get to work. Wisely spend some money and you will make some from the wise. Please act like you want to win.
Comment by dumb ol' country boy Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 12:42 pm
Just to add: Shore up your weak spots while hammering Rod on his strong and weak spots!
Rod has a huge campaign war chest? Great. It means he blew a lot of money that ought to be reserved to pay his lawyers, because his administration is under a microscope as far as investigations go.
If you were debating, you’d want to shore up your weak spots, play up your strengths, and then knock out the strong spots of your opponent while hammering away at the weak spots. Imagine all of the obstacles as heavy objects, some heavier than others. The heavier ones will need more pressure to get things moving.
I’m not into physics, either. But this just seems like a no-brainer.
Comment by Angie Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 12:46 pm
My advice would be to say why not do both. Highlight the governors negatives, but also explain how say I might be the better candidate.
Comment by Levois Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 1:04 pm
Wndycty, you are innocent until proven guilty in the legal court of justice. In the court of public opinion, it is just the opposite. And usually, it’s the latter people pay attention to.
Comment by Little Egypt Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 1:10 pm
Yes, JBT needs to get some positive, “I stand for something†ads up quick. I can’t believe how inept her operation has been and how she remains totally defined but Rod as being goofy, close to George Ryan, and inconsistent on what little positions she out on. Her campaign might actually be worse then Jim Ryan’s. She should transfer money to the State GOP and let them go nuclear on Rod while she gets all warm and fuzzy. Probably too little too late but it’s better then their - I’m not Rod, look at my dogs, aimless, angry message.
Comment by Campaign 101 Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 1:14 pm
That’s weird, I posted a reply but it disappeared or never got posted.
Shorter version: if she has no more money for spots, then there is no money, so I’d work to maximize the return on free media.
Judy needs to work the talk radio circuit HARD, morning drive, noon lunch listeners, evening drive. Hit every market in the state. Take any and all callers and hosts, even hostile ones. Strive for maximum contact time, you are not working with 30-second ad times, so you can really elucidate a position, cite evidence, make your case, and also show the folks your true personality instead of the image the negative Tv spots have painted. It’s like having debates without Rod there to counter you, and you can bait him about his cowardice at every opportunity.
Second, make way more use of youtube. TV spot production is a fraction of the cost of the airtime buy. You can afford to make a hundred good spots and put them up on youtube for the price of one TV airplay. Those spots are not limited to 30 or even 60 seconds, you could go several minutes on each one. Make them a mix of policy explanations, character pieces, and massive negative spots outlining and lisitng every single Blago screw-up jof the past 4 years. The good ones will circulate, what they call “viral media”. With luck, the best ones get MSM coverage on Tv and in the papers, which is free for you, and generates a cost to Rod to defend against.
Keep hitting newspaper editorial boards, publish open letters in the major state papers weekly, tear down Rod’s claims point-by-point.
The theme I have not yet seen in the anti-rod spots on TV is his credibility. Hit him over and over on this, as there is plenty of evidence to say his word is not good. Finish with ” Don’t buy the empty promises, I’m JBT, and my word is GOOD.”
Rod can promise the world (and does), but that only hlps him if people believe he is and will keep his word.
Comment by media hat on Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 1:33 pm
For 12 years, the people of this state thought JBT was a good person, someone they could trust and continued to re-elect her. They simply LIKED her. So what happened on the road to November? Negative ads from Rod that went unanswered for far too long. The phrase ‘George Ryan’s Treasurer’ should have been smacked down months ago, but simply saying ‘I was Edgar’s Treasurer, if you want to look at it that way: I’m even Blago’s Treasurer. But, actually, I’m the people of Illinois’ Treasurer.’ Why can’t that just be done and over with? Why let Blago get away with saying it three times in the debate? She needs to be herself, remind the voters that she has held their trust for a reason - cause she’s just ‘the gal next door’ and is one of us. And she runs a competent office that has served us all well, without the drama of the Current Occupant. But my hopes fade. And I wonder at the state of politics in our state, where an over-spending negative ad campaign can change the public image of a 12-year veteran of state-wide campaigns. Maybe it is us, the voters, who are to blame, for letting this tactic work. Ah, October!
Comment by Dem Voting R Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 2:25 pm
DOCB, there are 13 4×8 Blagojevich signs in Morgan County alone. There will be more next week. Cass County has even more. You’re not taking the right roads.
Yard signs are popping up all over J-ville.
Vote- I know what his name is.
Relax, it’s almost over.
Comment by B Hicks Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 3:54 pm
A co-worker of mine just came up to my desk and presented me with a plastic Blagojevich for Governor yard sign thing.
He did not say where he got it from and I do not want to pry too much, but I guess it’s out of circulation now that I have it.
Comment by Establishment Republican Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 4:16 pm
Bobby, put up all the signs you want, your boy is toast in those counties. you’ve overdosed on Bill’s Kool-Aid if you think otherwise. Give them one good ol’ boy weekend, they’ll look like Swiss cheese anyway, if they’re still standing.
The depth of the dislike for this guy in Central Illinoia is astounding to me. Near my workplace, the Dem precinct committeeman has a yardful of signs for the ticket, even Alexi. However, this fella has lost at least 6 Blago yard signs in 2 weeks, and I don’t think folks are taking them to stick in their own Kentucky Bluegrass. For example, one was artfully bent around the nearest streetlight.
Given this feeling, the widespread dislike of the Blago TV ads, and the general anti-incumbent feeling people have right now, if I’m Judy, I chill out big time. I lose the chip on the shoulder and the cheesy styrofoam coffee cup. I talk up my record-it’s a good one. I talk about being George’s treas and being Rod’s treas. and the limits on what the treasurer can do and how I learned from watching them bungle it up and go back to my paln and when I tell to something it’s the truth not a bunch of puffery like Rod.
The State GOP should come out of hibernation, use some of Kj’s spare cash if they need to and run an ad with these clips:
-MJM dissing Blago for his indiscretions (2002)
-Emil ripping Blago for being untruthful (2004)
-Jesse White calling Blago a liar (2004)
-Lisa ’splaining why she’s not endorsing him (2006)
-Hynes discussing the US’ larget budget deficit
here in Illinois (2006)
-Alexi revealing his bank made an interest free loan to Patti and Tony Rezko they never paid off (2006)
OK, I made up the last one. But all the others are for real and exist on videotape. I found every one except the Speaker in about 5 min. of Googling.
It seems to me at least a fairly good hit if your campaign co-chairs, your running mates, etc. all slam your veracity in one fell swoop.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 4:35 pm
Art, my boy, you have issues. Rod lost Morgan by 823 votes in 2002. That’s not a huge number, in my opinion. That was running against a pro-life, old school, Catholic boy. Jim was pretty popular in these parts. Judy, well, lets just say that the folks in Morgan aren’t that excited about her. We’ll have to wait and see.
As far as the signs getting destroyed or stolen; the Mrogan R’s don’t want to start that. I can replace the Rod signs; I have more than enough. I also have more than enough help. I doubt that Judy has the replacement stock or the volunteers to do the replacing.
Sit back and have a drink, Art. Or better yet, fire one up, you tight a**.
Comment by B Hicks Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 4:48 pm
One other thing, Art. Call me Hicks or Mr. Hicks. It gives me the creeps to have someone like you calling me Bobby. It’s too Congressman Foley, know what I mean?
Comment by B Hicks Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 4:54 pm
And I do fully expect to have signs destroyed by local Republicans. You already have sexual predators, Congressmen covering up possible sex crimes against children, GOP Governors with racketeering convictions; the list goes on and on. What’s a little criminal damage violation to an Illinois Republican? Nothing but child’s play. No pun intended.
Comment by B Hicks Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 5:14 pm
It seems that between 4:48 and 5:14 Mr. B Hicks had some roid rage or something. Calm down, man.
Comment by Truth Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 6:25 pm
He DOES get awfully emotional, doesn’t he? LOL
Comment by Hicks is Better Than a Comedy Sketch Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 6:48 pm
Where’s Birkett been hiding?
Who cares who wins in a wrestling match?
In ILL-eeew-NOIZE SMACKDOWN!
Not-so-hot-Rod Blagojevich v. Judy-my-hair-is-on-fire Topinka!
Who cares who wins, in Illinois politics, as in wrestling, the show is the thing.
Let the games continue.
Comment by Ophelia Owen Cox Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 7:05 pm
B Hicks: Are you or have you ever been a Blagojevich intern? I’m guessing you might have been.
Comment by Truth Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 7:30 pm
Mister Hicks, that was quite a rant.
It really sucks having to burn a State holiday campaigning for Blago when you have no choice, eh?
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 8:13 pm
She’s done and so are the Republicans in this state.
Comment by the ole precinct captain Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 8:53 pm
To Arthur Anderson and B Hicks: Passionate about politics or JUST PASSIONATE?
This is the way Mary Matlin and James Carville started out, squabbling…HEHEHEHEHEHE…we all know how THEY reached an agreement.
So, when are you two going to meet “just for coffee.”
Comment by Ophelia Owen Cox Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 9:02 pm
Seriously,
JBT could earn FREE MEDIA if Birkett would come forward and campaign with her. He could rally the conservatives. But Birkett is hiding. I’d share the scoop with ya’ll, but HE-WHO-MUST-BE-KOW-TOWED-to, aka the owner of this blog, will beat me up/banish me to…my Starbucks in Park Ridge, for eternity.
Yes, the Republicans are dead, thanks to Hastert and Co. They have alienated their base. Cardinal rule in politics is to dance with the one that brung ya, and flirt with the others.
The Republican Party in Illinois is dancing with Blago, that’s why Big Jim Thompson is working behind the scenes, not so-secretly, working to get Blago re-elected, and then Blago on the Road to the White House.
Provided Blago dosen’t do a George Ryan and end up going to the Big House.
Comment by Ophelia Owen Cox Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 9:10 pm
Hey Art, I have something that you can overdose on.
Truth- who are you blogging for?
Comment by B Hicks Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 9:24 pm
Art, I notice that you’re spending a little time on here today too, fool. Must suck, eh?
Comment by B Hicks Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 9:30 pm
edgar is right on point. At the end, you gotta give people a reason to vote for you, not against the other guy to win. In fact, can anyone name any race that someone won based on the other person’s negatives? It does not happen. Rods has plenty of problems that could have been exploted but Judy is not the fresh face in springfield and is viewed as part of the system.
People are a little tired of the ” Im not as bad as the other guy” and given the choice (regardless of party affil.) they keep the one thats in office.
Advise:
Rod: don’t do or say anything silly. Keep the course.
Judy: plan for a vacation
Comment by WWDMD Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 9:45 pm
WWDMD,
1994, Rostenkowski was done in by an inept, unknown, penniliess and clueless, unemployed lawyer with red hair…
The unknown had nothing going for him, he sat around drinking gin, play8ing video games, and rode in on the coattails of Newt Gingrich’s Contract.
But the 5th Congressional is overwhelmingly Democrat. But the base stayed home.
Rosty had such huge negatives, namely an indictment, that his own party/base decided to stay home.
The 5th Congressional is 80% Democrat, and Rosty got whipped SOLELY because he alienated his base and they stayed home. If he had passed muster, he would have rallied his troops and won. Look at his numbers! Most Democrats stayed home.
Comment by Ophelia Owen Cox Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 10:02 pm
mr. Hicks, not only is precinct work discouraged where I hang my Homburg, it’s almost a badge of honor to stay out.
I spent the day taking my daughter to the doc, writing letters to ask thwm to vote, and a few modestly sized honeydos.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 10:54 pm
Real Clear stated that “The Republicans ran about the only person in the entire state who makes Blagojevich look clean and competent by comparison.”
I’m happy to see the Illinois GOP have to rebuild. This is a good time to do it, too. The social conservs got to run their guy (crackpot Alan Keyes) and saw how well that didn’t work out, and the liberals could relax knowing that you cannot be a whacked-out far right loon to win in Illinois. Even GOP leaners passed on Keyes. So, they had their chance, it didn’t work, so now we run some sensible non-social conservs who care more about big stuff, like the fact that this state is a mess and ranks badly in many areas, most notably the Illinois economy/business climate/jobs growth situation being slower than other neighboring states. If the old crowd had to be cleaned out, then so be it. Rebuild and reform, I say.
As for JBT and the taint of Ryan, I say the opposite. That she survived, and was one of the few GOP-ers left standing when the dust settled after HIS mess was over and done with, should make voters more confident. Had she done anything wrong, they would’ve been all OVER her, but she came out unscathed.
Fox News could do JBT a huge favor by giving her exposure nearer to the election, though. I mean, come help out where our candidates don’t have a ton of money.
Comment by Angie Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 11:56 pm
Even if indictments were to come down for Rod, people would be hesitant to hold their nose and vote for Judy. That is a very sad commentary on the state of this situation but it is accurate. Perhaps this guy from the Green Party that no one knows anything about would prove to be the biggest recipient of a potental (but unlikely) indictment by Rod.
Game called due to lack of interest. Thank you so much, Mr. McKenna. Much like the Chicago Cubs, “maybe next year”.
Comment by Beowulf Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 7:17 am