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GOP Star Chamber looking to craft 2010 ticket * UPDATED x1 *

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* Crain’s reports that a group of bigtime Illinois Republican donors - mainly corporate types - are working with the state GOP chairman to put together a friendly statewide ticket in 2010…

“We want to put together a meaningful ticket of fresh faces, without baggage,” says Mayer Brown LLP partner Ty Fahner, chairman of the Illinois GOP’s finance committee. “That’s where we’ll put the money.”

Some members of the finance committee have been meeting privately with potential candidates over the past year.

* More details…

Mr. Fahner won’t say who’s involved besides state party Chairman Andrew McKenna Jr., president of Schwarz Paper Co. in Morton Grove. But insiders say the finance committee includes top donors Michael Keiser, CEO of Recycled Paper Products Inc., Edgar “Ned” Janotta, chairman of William Blair & Co., Oak Brook investor Peter Huizenga, Goldman Sachs & Co. Managing Director Muneer Satter and Bruce Rauner, chairman of Chicago private-equity firm GTCR Golder Rauner LLC.

* About eight to twelve corporate titans have been meeting with prospective candidates. Some members of the secret “Star Chamber” tribunal are also potential candidates, like GTCR Golder Rauner’s chairman Bruce Rauner…

Another who might fit the bill is Mr. Rauner. He gave the party $50,000 this year and dropped in to meet Illinois delegates at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., last week, adding to the buzz that he’s considering a run for governor. Mr. Rauner declines to comment.

Steve Preston, the U.S. secretary of housing and urban development, could appeal to both social conservatives and the business community. He is the former chief financial officer of ServiceMaster Co., a company known for its Christian orientation, which moved last year to Memphis, Tenn., from Downers Grove. […]

Chicago executive Ron Gidwitz, who lost a primary race for governor in 2006, has been mentioned as a possible contender in 2010, as well. His own initiative to help the party this year has raised more than $1 million from Chicago-area executives for the Economic Freedom Alliance, an independent political action group he formed under Section 527 of the tax code to buy television and radio ads aimed at some of the state’s tightest congressional races this year.

* The SJ-R has more on the possible gubernatorial run by Illinois Chamber President Doug Whitley…

He said the state hasn’t had a “true CEO” since about a year into former GOP Gov. George Ryan’s single term, when the scandal that eventually landed him in prison became a distraction. […]

Whitley, a one-time Democrat who says he has always been very independent, also found fault with the potential of the state’s Republican establishment.

“I see a Republican Party that is dysfunctional, just like state government,” he said. “There’s no true leadership in the Republican Party. They’ve lost their way since the George Ryan scandal, and they truly need fresh ideas and new people and people who have a desire for a better future.”

* Jim Edgar spoke highly of Whitley…

“Doug is a former member of my cabinet, he knows state government well, and he would be a very credible candidate for Governor should he decide to run,” former Gov. Edgar said in a statement Friday.

* Tejeda has reservations…

But too many of the business types who try to run for government office act as though they can be the all-dictating boss, running the government in the same strong-arm manner that they run their companies.

* Illinois Review has some questions for Whitley…

* Since your political conversion in 2000, why have you personally donated to Democrats Melissa Bean, Jerry Costello and Dick Durbin’s federal campaigns?

* As head of the Transportation for Illinois Coalition, why would your group oppose a Republican-led effort to provide federal gas tax relief this past summer?

* Also as head of TFIC, why would you promote Chicago Mayor Daley’s plan to re-route a considerable amount of rail traffic out into the western suburbs via the controversial EJ & E?

* And Tom Roeser has these reservations about Whitley…

I have four other reservations about Whitley. First, his conflict of interest of candidate and business lobbyist, a manager of an institution which to serve business ends must deal with Democrats as well as Republicans baffles me. He is a president of a business trade association which technically, in some aspects at least, is 501© (3). If he is running while drawing pay as a trade association prexy he should make a decision soon one way or the other. Second, Whitley as a working stiff would be dependent as a candidate on contributions purportedly from business interests he is supposed to be representing anyhow. How does that work? As a former longtime lobbyist myself (a vice president of Quaker Oats), suppose I had set up an exploratory committee for my hoped for future candidacy while working as a lobbyist. Very strange contortion.

Three, he is unremittingly hostile to social conservatism in any form-pro-choice, pro special rights for gays, disaffection for the 2nd amendment and laugh-down-his-nose coldness ala Topinka with utter lack of sympathy for social concerns that make the GOP grassroots strong. This puts him on a par with the Lion of Anti-Conservatism Hostility, Big Jim Thompson in whose pocket Whitley assuredly would be a token. Fourth, he is an outsider to the Republican party by choice as well as solid Democratic heritage, having not crossed over either intellectually or emotionally from his past Democratic roots no matter his having served in a high appointive post by Jim Edgar.

*** UPDATE 1 *** Sen. Bill Brady has come up with what I believe is a new excuse for his 2006 GOP primary loss…

Brady blamed his showing on Edgar’s role in the 2006 primary. For months, Edgar sounded like he might make another run for chief executive. By the time Edgar closed the door on his candidacy, Brady said it was too late for his campaign to begin picking up steam

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 10:29 am

Comments

“We want to put together a meaningful ticket of fresh faces, without baggage,”

OneMan: Still somewhat tan, somewhat rested, somewhat ready

Comment by OneMan Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 10:51 am
In regard to Illinois Review-

#1. Maybe the only valid political point.

#2. I suppose IR has not read that the federal Highway Trust Fund is out of money. OK, let’s create an additional $3-4 billion federal deficit each month by suspending the federal gas tax. I thought you guys were for fiscal responsibility.

#3. I thought this was a transaction for one private company to acquire the assets of another private company…you know, like capitalism, which I thought the IR would kinda favor as opposed, to, well, like, socialism or communism. I don’t see Mayor Daley’s name on the STB application.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 10:54 am
Whitley is a businessman, he has to look out for the best interests of his represented groups. Since Bean, Durbin and Daley won and had no strong opposition, he had to remain in their good graces.

This is still part of the problem. Annointing leaders who have no experience getting elected. No farm system…no GOP Machine!

Comment by Wumpus Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 10:56 am
== Since your political conversion in 2000, why have you personally donated to Democrats Melissa Bean, Jerry Costello and Dick Durbin’s federal campaigns? ==

With this information I can see republicans shooting themselves in the foot already. The Republican Party Primary for Gov is going to be a log jam, and I can imagine the circular firing squad that will take place.

A quick search shows that Whitley gave Dick Durbin a whopping $500 in 2002. I dont think that makes him the anti-christ but I can already imagine the ads…

Cue the scary background music…

“Doug Whitley is running as a republican for governor…..so why is that he supports the most liberal senator in the United States? (fade in picture of Dick Durbin Screaming at someone) We need a governor who doesnt waffle on the issues, and has the judgement to…..”

I could go on, although the republicans have a fantastic chance to take the state back with all the Blago, Emil, Madigan, craziness, I’m not counting on it.

Comment by Speaking At Will Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 11:00 am
Another problem is demanding 100% purity, in a state as blue as IL, campaign contributions to Dems by business people should not be shocking or considered detrimental in running as a Republican. They’ll have to cooperate with Dems anyway to get anything done.

Comment by cermak_rd Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 11:09 am
Well, it helps to know that Illinois Review is against him. “You will know them by their enemies”.

Comment by steve schnorf Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 11:11 am
And TR adds another check-mark.

Comment by steve schnorf Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 11:31 am
“That’s where we’ll put the money.”

So let’s make sure we have this straight, honest and experienced long serving public servants need not apply.

Will the monied crowd act like the Democrats and challenge nominating petitions as well; to make sure that the voters choices are limited solely to the “annointed one’s”. Or will there just be a memo circulated; perhaps written on stone tablets from on high? This must have the State Central Committee feeling great about the valauble time they voluntarily contribute to the process as well.

I wonder if they would collaborate; or if Thompson has his own private Slating Committee; not necessarily Republican of course, but a Blue Ribbon panel none the less.

Comment by Cash and Carry Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 11:35 am
The GOP Country Club strikes back!

Drawing their iron (Callaways), they sally forth on their trusted Benzs across the fairways of Dubsdread and Royal Melbourne to reclaim the Party of Lincoln from the Cabal of Knuckledraggers who delivered their birthright to the impostor, Lord Keyes of Silver Springs.

The days when local corporate big shots who can deliver 10 grand, but not 10 votes, decide anything are long gone. Among other changes since the 1970s, there’s a little thing called the Internet that allows for creating voter and financial networks that can swamp anything the boys at the 19th Hole can come up with.

Certainly some ambitious Republican has been paying attention?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 11:40 am
Careful Sen. Brady, Edgar is a true elephant — he never forgets.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 11:41 am
There are plenty of good Republican candidates running for the State House and State Senate that are struggling big time for funds. Several of them could represent the farm team, or be the “next Palin” in Illinois if a few big money donors would line up behind them and give them some strong donations.

This “wait until 2010″ is the most maddening feature of the Illinois GOP leadership possible.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 11:43 am
Good luck with all that.

Comment by JonShibleyFan Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 12:04 pm
So Senator Brady was done in by the Hamlet effect? Wasn’t there another conservative in the running that might have affected him a bit more? I would think people who might support Edgar were probably more likely to be Judy supporters than Brady supporters.

Comment by cermak_rd Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 12:15 pm
Ah yes–Roeaser and Ill Review have to get their say in as well.
There is only one organization in Illinois that is actually more dysfunctional than the state’s Democratic government and that is the state’s Republican Party.

train111

Comment by train111 Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 12:15 pm
One question — Does anyone really think the Republican candidate for president would be up or tied in six separate polls today if he had been picked by a well-meaning but clueless cabal?

I’m always amazed at people who want to run the government but are afraid of democracy. Let all the candidates run and give the voters a choice.

Mike Madigan said it, but it applies to all parties: “Primaries are our friends.”

Republicans need to quit being so obsessed with trying to avoid a primary. Clearly the primaries gave us the best possible presidential candidate this year.

Comment by Old Elephant Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 12:22 pm
“One question — Does anyone really think the Republican candidate for president would be up or tied in six separate polls today if he had been picked by a well-meaning but clueless cabal?”

Post-convention? Yes.

Comment by JonShibleyFan Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 12:39 pm
Whitley is just another moderate, there’s nothing to separate him from the others. Edgar should just GO AWAY!!!! Retire. Go to Colorado. Just get out of the way. Haven’t you caused enough trouble? Judy Barr??? I was at the RNC and Edgar never even looked in JBT’s direction, enough said.
Brady used the same excuse on Oct 31st 05 on Berkowitz’s show about why he was behind in fundraising. It was because “nobody knew what Edgar was going to do” and it affected his fund raising. But he was still going to have $3 million because he had that much committed to him.
What is his excuse for the truly horrible showing this last quarter? Under $60,000 after telling anyone who would listen he was running for Governor? There has been nothing to show the base that Brady and Edgar were not working together to stop Oby; even if it were not true, Edgar has out stayed his welcome as far as the base goes.
After this week and the example John McCain set; the candidate has to be one that our base can get behind. My self I am getting behind Ron Gidwitz BECAUSE he is doing the outreach I just spoke of. Gidwitz seems to have learned from his primary run that we need to bring our party together and he understands our platform is pro life, pro 2A and pro family as well as smaller government. Gidwitz has not been afraid of giving the base their voice on these issues and has set up meetings to listen to grassroots leaders views.

Comment by RAI Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 1:02 pm
I wasn’t sure about Whitley, but after reading that…I already like him.

Comment by scoot Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 1:09 pm
Yes blame Edgar for failing to raise $$$ and finishing a very distant third….I knew he wasn’t cut out for statewide.

Comment by scoot Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 1:14 pm
Critics can dump on these guys after they have made their play. But until then, let’s try to listen. Hopefully, they are aware of their past flops and had some honest discussions. It is their money, and they have probably lost enough of it on poor candidates to be cautious.

Great candidates can come from unlikely places. We are at a point where voters want change and will embrace a candidate that makes a credible case that they will deliver on change. If this “star chamber” annoints a real reformer, then we can forget how they got their start if they succeed.

Who would have imagined a reformer who worked his way successfully through the Chicago Political School of Corruption? Who would have imagined a reformer whose 72 years old and a Republican? Polls show that voters identify with them.

The criticism I read and hear about the Illinois GOP is warranted. So, the cynicism heaped on anyone discussing the GOP team in 2010 is also warranted. These folks have dropped the ball. They found out the hard way what happens when they screw up. Perhaps they will show us that they did learn when they annoint their picks.

But as we saw this month, a great choice will find immediate support whether it comes from the old boy’s network in Chicago or Alaska.

We are cynically waiting.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 1:36 pm
Everyone knows Bill Brady stayed in that ‘06 primary to help Topinka, who he assumed would be able to beat Blago, and once in the Mansion would be able to help him repay his spoiler debt - like they did for Birkett’s 2002 debt. Oops.

But let’s face it, too many years of horrible mismanagement and brand confusion has pretty much guaranteed a straight shot to the Mansion for whoever the Dems nominate in 2010 (I think we all assume it won’t be Blago).

To be seriously talking about taking anything back there has to be rebuilding going on, and that’s not even happening. If anything, the Illinois GOP is getting weaker and sillier by the day.

Sarah Palin is certainly helping on one level, but on another she’s just making the mopes here look even worse in comparison. Palin probably helps Lisa Madigan more than anyone locally, just on girl power grounds. They kinda got the same glasses too.

Comment by GOP'er Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 1:50 pm
Elephant, then you must have no problems with our current governor, for that’s just what he did

Comment by steve schnorf Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 2:20 pm
GOP’er, are you serious? Why would Brady have done that? I really think he wanted the flag.

There are points to both primary philosophies. A bruising primary would leave us with a battle-tested candidate but the battle wounds could run too deep. Running a slate and discouraging candidates from running could create a sense of disenfranchisement but keep the money and message centered on one candidate.

I would be interested to see how a fairly-wealthy candidate who manages a hedge fund or runs a large corporation would do at a $20 a plate chicken dinner in southern Illinois.

Comment by Team Sleep Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 2:29 pm
If the GOP is ever to elect anyone to statewide office again, they have to focus on running the state. The Dems have certainly shown how not to do that. Illinois statewide will NOT go for any sort of social conservative, and as long as the GOP keeps putting them up, the voters will keep knocking them down. I’ve met Whitley a few times going back 20 years and he’s a quality guy. Admittedly it never occurred to me he would run for governor, but he sounds much better than any other choice I’ve heard about - especially more of the same.

Comment by Excessively rabid Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 3:02 pm
GOPer
I disagree ANY of the GOP candidates for Gov EXCEPT JBT and possibly Andy Martin would have won head to head against Blago.
Team Sleep
Brady’s problems come from lies that his campaign put out at the END of the primary to stop Oberweis from winning. Brady was asked time and again by “conservative leaders” to drop out of the race because he couldn’t win. Brady claimed he was at 32% and Oby was at 18% so Oberweis should drop out. It was the opposite. Early in the race when it was obvious that the race was between Oby and JBT (Brady was at 5%) conservatives tried to point out he (Brady) had no money he said he would have $3 million for the race, his backers were holding out because of Edgar (Berkowitz Oct 31 2005). He raised $300,000.
ER
When has a “Social conservative” run for office? Besides Keyes he is a nut. Whitley is a Democrat we need someone from the GOP.

Comment by RAI Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 3:31 pm
Its always interesting to see the extremes of both parties scream when someone who is moderate and closer to the middle is running.

Comment by Crystal Clear Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 3:37 pm
I missed the part of this post that outlined the oodles of new entitlement programs and planned expansions of existing entitlement programs that will be necessary for any IL Gov. candidate’s platform to draw in the crucial African American vote in the city of Chicago.

Hasn’t that demographic been key in securing victory during the last two gubernatorial campaigns? Didn’t GRod lock up a lot of those votes through the promise of socialized state health care, socialized pre-school, etc.?

Maybe I am just not reading closely enough. Or maybe I was asleep for the last 6 years.

And, after seeing Tom Roeser’s name on the front page of the Cap Fax blog I am going to start sending in weekly submissions of my own wacky opinions with the expectation that I will get some front page face time. I have about as much credibility on election issues as Tom Roeser. You can start referring to me as “Heet101 The Personality-Demonizing Divider of the Republican Party that Helps Blow Statewide Elections for Republican Candidates.” Or is that name already taken by Jack Roeser?

Comment by heet101 Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 3:58 pm
Jan.-Mar. 2006, I walked seven precincts for St. Sen. Brady, in Lake Co. Nov. 2005-Feb. ‘06, when Oberweis said that Brady should drop out of the race, I thought that Oberweis should have dropped out, in Sept. Oberweis lost statewide primaries in 2002 & ‘04. He should have known that he would also lose in ‘06, especially since Brady was running, since Brady had political experience.

RAI, a social conservative, Mike Psak, ran for the U.S. Senate, this year. He was the only candidate, in his race, who was pro-life and pro-gun rights, and he was endorsed by two Minuteman groups. He campaigned for three years, and his petition was signed by voters from 96 counties. In the primary, he received 11% of the vote.

Comment by PhilCollins Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 4:01 pm
heet101, statewide campaigns are historically won or lost in the suburbs among women voters. It’s not the black vote. Your position is a goofy misnomer and I’m not sure where it comes from.

Also, I put Roeser and IR into this post to show how difficult it will be for any “moderate” to be supported by the Right.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 4:03 pm
PhilCollins, just to be clear, that percentage you cited for Psak translates into just 74,829 actual votes.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 4:19 pm
If McCain wins, look for Jimmy Durkin’s stock to shoot up. Republicans will be interested in knowing if a President McCain has a favorite. Second, the GOP base will be looking for a “reformer” like McCain and Palin –especially Palin. What they will NOT be looking for is a multi-millionaire who wants to start at the top. Burned by Jack! and by Oberweis and a few others who will go unnamed, the “rich guy” who wants to be governor and will settle for nothing less as anything less would be beneath him is not going to work. By 2010, we will have won in Iraq and most of the troops redeployed elsewhere or back home, the housing market problems will have been corrected and serious efforts to stablize energy costs will start to show success. The GOP would be poised for a comeback.

By the way, Brady is right in that when Edgar let it out that he was strongly considering a run, and that Brenda have given him the green light, it did in fact suck all the air out of every other candidate until he announced his decision late that he would not do it. It looked so likely that he would run that Dan Rutherford announced he would run for Sec. of State, instead of Treasurer which is what he was going to do. Edgar’s flirtation with running did change the dynamics tremendously for several critical months and delayed some candidates, especially Brady, from getting out of the box sooner.
Dont buy into the conspiracy theories about why Brady stayed in. Ego and ambition is all one needs to understand to understand why Oberweis and Brady could not work a deal. Who had the better chance? My recollection is that at the time both the Oberweis camp and the Brady camp were clinging to unrealistic or overly optimistic polls and pundit analysis as to what was going to happen on Primary Day.

Comment by Ted Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 4:49 pm
===Edgar’s flirtation with running did change the dynamics tremendously for several critical months and delayed some candidates, especially Brady, from getting out of the box sooner.===

Except Brady has willfully taken himself out of the fundraising contest this year by refusing to raise money.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 4:56 pm
I am glad Brady stayed in the race…even though he didn’t wear socks in the photo shoot. Had Obie won the primary..he would have lost by Keyesian margins.

Comment by Wumpus Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 7:21 pm
At least the photos have been updated since the first publication (last night I believe), who showed Andy’s Dad as the GOP Lead. (Woops.)

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 7:31 pm
Good point, wordslinger, in your 11:40!

OneMan, are you saying you’re tossing your hat in? Do tell us more.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 7:37 pm
I am not rich guy (wealth that is, not Miller) however I think I would make a great addition to either the star chamber or perhaps as a candidate.

OneMan for Lt. Governor.

Comment by OneMan Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 7:53 pm
GOP’er I think the term “brand confusion” is the most consise and accurate description I’ve heard for the state GOP.

How do you resolve the confusion among the right-wing Torquemadas, the country club dilettantes and the pork-barrel hacks? I guess Big Jim, Edgar and Ryan could tell you (hint: the coalition built by Reagan helped, just at the coalition built by FDR helped Dems til Reagan).

And Phil Collins, not that you coined the phrase, but I find the corruption of the term Minutemen as it’s being used in its current context offensive.

The men and women of Lexington and Concord (yes, women too) were revolutionaries who risked their lives for independence against the greatest empire of their age.

The current Minutemen don’t like the fact that illegals from Mexico are in this country. Since they’re illegal, it’s reasonable not to like that. But go to the source of the problem — it’s not the porous border, it’s your local restaurant, hotel, factory, and landscaping firm that needs them, with the support of your local, state, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce (they’re GOP).

In their minds, it’s nothing personal, Phil — it’s just good business to hire cheap labor that you don’t pay benefits and then stick the government for services.

I understand someone from Mexico who takes a chance and hops the Rio Grande to make an buck for his family. I don’t understrand a schizo GOP that wants the cheap labor and kick them out, all at the same time.

Kennedy-McCain, anyone? W was on board. The GOP Senate killed it. Hypocrites.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 8:00 pm
Some snark:
Yes because the Democrats system in Illinois of “Who’s kid wants to run for what?” is a more democratic approach. As an added bonus we can include the “kids get to skip the primary” system that they have mastered here.

Comment by OneMan Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 8:19 pm
Brady sent out an email that has links to several articles that quote him or discuss his possible run for gov in 2010.

Comment by Nearly Normal Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 9:29 pm
Honestly, what is the difference between any of these folks, whether they are ceo’s who give money or also ran state senators who raise money, none of them seem to have spent any time doing any serious thinking.

The real issue for Republicans right now is the lack of ideas and vision and I don’t mean stale 1980’s talking points or warmed over homages to a president that died four years ago.

Comment by shore Monday, Sep 8, 08 @ 9:31 pm
==How do you resolve the confusion among the right-wing Torquemadas, the country club dilettantes and the pork-barrel hacks?==

If you want to discuss the marketing term, “brand confusion”, do so. This is ridiculous.

Keep it shorter next time and just say you hate anyone with a different opinion than yours.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Sep 9, 08 @ 8:24 am
Vman, to borrow a phrase, bite me. Re-read your own stuff and take your own advice.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Sep 9, 08 @ 8:39 am
Brady blames Edgar? Then why did he/does he have former Edgar staff working & advising his nascent Gov campaign? He wants the Edgar good govt seal of approval but he also wants to blame Edgar for his campaign woes? Come on. Anybody who watched the campaign saw Bill refusing to discuss anything but socially conservative issues because he thought he would win the GOP primary as the ‘conservative’ candidate.

Comment by SangamoGOP Tuesday, Sep 9, 08 @ 8:54 am
Billy’s campaign never materialized because Billy is lazy. He didn’t work hard. The same thing happened when he ran for congress against Tim Johnson. Think about it, if he really wanted to put in the hard work it takes to win, he’d have arrived at the RNC prior to Wednesday. The rest of the contenders were there Sunday working the crowd, but not our guy Billy. He showed up late and hung out with the HomeBuilders.

Comment by inDUpage Tuesday, Sep 9, 08 @ 1:33 pm
In response to Tom Roeser’s blog- Roeser on Doug Whitley: The Heir to Jim Thompson

Barack Obama and John McCain are both currently US Senators. Are they serving their constituents that elected them into office? Nope, they are too busy running for president. Conflict of interest? Yes.

Chicago City Council pulls down a six-figure income each, and they are allowed to keep their jobs as lawyers, doctors, lobbyists and business leaders. Chicago is a large and complex city that needs leadership in each ward. City council as a part time gig? Conflict of interest? Absolutley

Roeser: For you to try to tell us that Doug Whitley’s decision to “explore” the possibility of running for Governor, to see if the support is actually there, is a conflict of interest to his association and its members, is completely ridiculous.

In a perfect world, our candidates for President would step down from the senate so someone else can work for the people tha depend on their leadership; the Chicago City Council would be a mandatory full time job at a reduced salary; and people would be allowed to “explore” the possibilities of of pursing a career in public service without having to quit their jobs if they conclude that the support just insn’t there

All I can say is… Really Roeser?

Comment by Really Roeser?! Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 7:46 pm