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* Stroger aide quits campaign after arrest

* Marin: That doesn’t mean [Mike Quigley is] happy with the way this campaign is going. Quigley says Stroger is like “Bambi in the land of Godzillas. I think Todd’s tried harder as time went on when he saw he could lose, but fire in the belly? I think he’s still going through the paces for Dad. It’s extraordinarily sad to watch this.”

* Sun-Times: Mayor Daley’s decision to pursue the privatization of Midway Airport is paying dividends for his chief fund-raiser in the black community.

* State worker in trouble for allegedly campaigning on state time: In 2003, Shalabi got his job by the same method that brought in other politically connected candidates hired during the Blagojevich administration. He was hired to work in a county where there was a job opening, but then he was allowed to transfer to work closer to home. State records show that he was hired to work in Boone County, nearly 100 miles from his Lemont home, before he was transferred to Cook County in February 2004.

* Lieutenant governor seeks hearing on ComEd exec compensation

* Sims asks governor for clemency

* Lipinski faces perennial candidate in 3rd district

* Southtown: Gary Smith, 17, backed Blagojevich after conferring with his father. “He said he didn’t like Judy Baar Topinka, he liked Blagojevich. He said Blagojevich was for the people and Topinka could be, but she’s for herself now. So I voted for Blagojevich. He cares for the people, I can tell he does.”

* Sweeny: Chicagoans are no strangers to scandals, but that doesnâ€™t mean they like them

* Kadner: Green Party’s Whitney gets attention of voters

* Saluki Express makes its first run

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 18, 06 @ 9:11 am

Comments

Wow, to say Blago isn’t for himself is comical! Not saying his take on Topinka isn’t true. However, you can see that even while his programs aren’t actually helping anyone, they look good on TV, and voters are dumb enough to buy it.

Comment by VOTE Green Wednesday, Oct 18, 06 @ 9:16 am
Could someone please tell JBT that trying to put herself in the same category as Jesus Christ himself only proves that she is indeed the “Social Retard” that many have accused her of being. While I too am not to enthused of our gubernatorial choices I can only hope that Whitney some how or another can pull this thing off. Southern Illinois is the key; With him being from Carbondale maybe he might just pull this thing off.

Comment by X-GOP Cheerleader Wednesday, Oct 18, 06 @ 9:22 am
Has Big Tony shown up yet?
Isn’t tomorrow his deadline?
What will Rod do?

Comment by Guy Fawkes Wednesday, Oct 18, 06 @ 10:15 am
Rich, I’m surprised you didn’t pick up on Kane County Board candidate Brent Schepp’s apparent suicide yesterday afternoon… sad story.

Comment by Ken in Aurora Wednesday, Oct 18, 06 @ 10:31 am
Sad for who?

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Oct 18, 06 @ 10:37 am
IDOT had a state worker campaigning on state time who worked in the chief counsel’s office. He was actually escorted from the department. Well, by golly, next day he showed up at work. Everyone was confused….huh? Instead of being fired, IDOT let him resign.

Comment by Anon. Wednesday, Oct 18, 06 @ 10:41 am
Rich - his family, also for the families of the alleged victims for losing their chance for justice.

Can we take his action as a admission of guilt? That’s how I’m leaning…

Comment by Ken in Aurora Wednesday, Oct 18, 06 @ 10:51 am
My first thought when I saw the Tribune story is that Khalil Shalabi is really “Bill”.

Comment by Bluefish Wednesday, Oct 18, 06 @ 11:08 am
what’s the rezko connection to khalil shalabi? when did the gov’s office finally take some action? few weeks?

Comment by fooled once, not again Wednesday, Oct 18, 06 @ 12:45 pm
How fortuitous for Blago. Blago supporter and state employee (job thanks to Blago) does some really stupid stuff. It gets out. This allows Blago to prance about endlessly about how he is going to fire the person as part of his vast and unrelenting assault on state government corruption.

The credulous Illinois electorate is distracted (so easily distracted) while back at the campaign office, contributions from wannabee state contractors pour in and over at the guv’s office, the politically connected get hired for lifetime state sinecures with great benefits.

Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Oct 18, 06 @ 12:46 pm
anon at 10:41 a.m. - The Chief Counsel Office employee that was campaigning while he was supposed to be at IDOT was campaigning for himself. IDOT let him resign so there was not any negative press surrounding his campaign. I wonder who made that decision.

Comment by Tired at IDOT Wednesday, Oct 18, 06 @ 6:15 pm
Tired at IDOT - 6:15 p.m

The employee rode to Springfield from Rock Island with a “high” level Blago hack that just recently retired a few weeks ago. Heard he made a few calls. What a joke IDOT’s Ethic Officer is!

Comment by Anon. Wednesday, Oct 18, 06 @ 6:39 pm