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* Your endorsements (not your predictions) for tomorrow’s election. As far down the ballot as you can go. Explain fully without any predigested (or even undigested) talking points. Thanks.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 10:56 am

Comments

D all the way down with the exception of Rep. Franco Coladipietro (R) who has earned my Democratic family’s vote.

Comment by Undercover Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 10:59 am
Explain, please.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 11:01 am
The only vote that I felt 100% pleased to make was my state senate vote for Dan Duffy. I met him on several occasions and came away highly impressed by his intelligence and energy. The IL Republican Party needs more like him.

Comment by Greg Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 11:11 am
Obama … we need some kinda change
Durbin … known him personally for years
Green in the 19th … hate Shimkus and the D is wierd
Bomke…friendly guy
Poe … does he have an opponent?
Tumulty … Libri is a, never mind don’t want to get banned
Langfelder … good family
Schmidt … have known Stradt for a few years
Cornoner … don’t really care
Yes to reducing the county Board … less govt.

Comment by Glam-Or-Party Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 11:13 am
Terry Wintermute in the 42nd, as both the Sun Times, Tribune and Daily Herald have pointed out Linda Holmes has been a big disapointment and she hasn’t lived up to her potential.

As for Linda Holmes
Her complete silence on the clinic thing in Aurora, heck she was likely in favor of it but still kept her mouth closed.

Her complete miss-handling of the third high school and quick take in order to try to please the residents of one high end subdivision and ended up pleasing virtualy nobody and costing the school district additional money.

As for Terry, she brings a fresh perspective and has shown she is willing to work hard for the folks in the district and is working hard to win.

She has good sense and good judgement.

Linda Chapa-LaVia

May not agree with her on every issue but she thinks things out, provides excellent service to her constituants and I think she would make a good Mayor of Aurora if decided to ever do that.

Comment by OneMan Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 11:15 am
I endorse Heather Steans. Not that she’s got any competition. I didn’t in the primary due to her membership in $25K Club to Rod. But it seems the voters of my district felt that wasn’t an issue.

Since being in office, Senator Steans has shown a great deal of willingness to meet with her constituents on issues other politicians in our area want to avoid - ie: crime, child welfare and pay-to-play.

She’s also has shown she will listen to those who didn’t support her in the primary. That alone earns my endorsement.

Comment by The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 11:36 am
McCain - BOs promises are going to kill more jobs than create new ones.
Saurberg - Can’t accept Durbin’s slams against the miltary as well as non-apology
Bean - opponent is simply not suited for congress

Comment by Plutocrat03 Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 11:45 am
Senator John McCain-First heard him when he came here 9 years ago on the Straight talk express and really liked his fresh ideas and that he was willing to take on our party. In 4 tough years for our state obama has spent 2 of them courting berliners and the rest of the country. If he delivers for the country what he and his party have delivered for our state, it’s going to get ugly.

Mark Kirk-I can’t stand that he won’t admit he’s a GOP, and he’s as charismatic as paper but he represents us well and Dan Seals is a 9th district import and represents national talking points more than us.

Tim Stratton-You see Karen May signs everywhere now but you don’t seem to hear from her outside of election day on the mess downstate. Tim’s a good guy and I hope he sticks around.

Comment by shore Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 11:46 am
I voted Republican all the way. We had 3 pages of judges who I know nothing about so I skipped them, but if I was in a bad mood then I would vote NO to all the judges.

Comment by Boscobud Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 12:03 pm
Obama - I NEED change, I WANT change
(Besides, maybe Blago will appoint himself to the vacancy and let DC deal with the idiot.)
Durbin - Who is running against him?
Morgenthaler - I am very uninpressed with her but as soon as Roskam started pandering to the Obama vote, I decided I disliked his cynical conservatism even more. I wish I was in Foster’s district so I could vote against Oberweis.
Hultgren - Pro-incumbent here. Good Senator doing good job
Fortner - another good incumbent representing his district well

Where can I vote for Blago’s impeachment?

Comment by Anon sequitor Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 12:11 pm
POTUS–John McCain–People talk about wanting bi-partisanship, and McCain is the only candidate that can bring it. I like his stance on national defense. I like his stance on taxes. Sen. Obama’s egalitarian promises will hold us down economically. His views on “positive rights” in the Constitution smacks of FDR’s “second bill of rights.” The net effect is huge government growth. The Constitution limits the role of government in our lives for very good reasons, but Sen. Obama believes the Constitution is “fundamentally flawed” and that the SCOTUS should become more “radical” in breaking the ties that bind the government. There is no way I could, in good conscience, vote for Sen. Obama.

U.S. Senate–Steve Sauerberg–Sen. Durbin has done some good things for Illinois, and his power in the senate would be a hard loss, but he is far too liberal for my tastes. I realize it’s a wasted vote, but I have to vote my mind.

18th District–Aaron Schock–While Schock is too conservative for my tastes on social issues, he says the right things on economic issues.

State representative–Jim Watson–Jim has done a good job of representing our area as a member of the minority, and he works well with Sen. Demuzio on issues that affect our area.

Comment by Fan of the Game Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 12:23 pm
a) Barack Obama: Although I know better to believe he actually can/will change anything, if he is elected I would wager it would be the highest increase in presidential IQ in American history. In a global environment, BHO would serve as a symbol to the world that America realizes we must change course away from deficit spending, ‘coalition’ foreign policy and resource wastefulness.
Speaking of symbolism, that is why I will be voting ‘yes’ to a con-con. Probably means no more than that, but it is my statement of trying to ‘change’ Illinois government. I’m not sure a con-con would lead the state in a positive direction, but wake up Illinois!
Other than that, the only meaningful race on my ballot is for St. Clair county board—a local guy going up against the widow of a 25-year board member. Fight the machine!

Comment by Vote Quimby! Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 12:41 pm
Obama - Next best thing to Hilary
Durbin - Sauerwho?
Kirk - Hardest working Rep and staff around.
Keith Gray - Link takes too much for granted.
Con-con yes - Rich makes a good argument
LCFPD Bond yes - infrastructure investment is good for business.

Comment by 10th Indy Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 12:49 pm
So now Walker is against recycling????

Comment by Easy Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 12:51 pm
lol

Back to the question, please.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 12:56 pm
Obama: His background as a community organizer is probably the single best reason to vote for him (see the article he wrote for Illinois Issues). The country needs a leader who thinks before acting, sees the complexity in the issues facing the country, and knows how to lead and empower large groups of people.

Durbin: Nice guy. He is willing to stop and give you the time to discuss whatever concerns you have, and that example is followed by his office staff as well.

Halvorson: Her ability to work with the Chicago boys in Springfield and move her more downstate agenda speaks well. I am sure there will be replies saying she could/should have done more, but with the vindictive reprisals readily doled out to anyone who goes against the leadership, I give her the benefit of the doubt. Debbie will hit the ground running, Marty would hit the ground “splat!”

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 12:58 pm
Gary Forby in the 59th District.

He’s simply a good man, a hard worker, and 100% real. There’s nothing fake about him. He may not present himself as well as some would hope, but he’s no dummy. He pulled himself up by his bootstraps and built a very successful business from the ground up.

If the election were held among people who know both candidates personally, Gary Forby would win with 95% of the vote. I think that speaks volumes about both men.

Comment by Old Shepherd Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 12:59 pm
Obama - the 21st century hybrid reincarnation of John Kennedy and Ronald Reagan - in terms of charisma and ability to inspire with his political rhetoric/prose. I thnk Obama’s a liberal pragmatist, which will be a welcome departure from the radical ideology of the Bush adminstration. Z have no problem with conservative pragmatists. it’s the ideologues who have dominated the Bush adminstration that I detest!

Alvarez for State’s Attorney - competence and experience as a prosecutor and legal adminstrator make her the best choice for State’s Attorney. Peraica has no pertinent experience. other than the bare minimum prerequisite - a law degree.

Daniel Biss for State Rep in the 17th District- probably the hardest working candidate I have ever met in terms of his willingness to everything necessary to defeat a respected 12 year incumbent.

Turning down money from Mike Madigan and raising funds/running his campaign completely independently, make Biss a real groudbreaker, and sets him apart from the respectable moderate incumbent Elizabeth Coulson and most other candidates for State Representative . Biss has an uphill battle, but Obama’s coattails could result in an upset of Coulson.

Win or lose, I consider Biss’s campaign effort a textbook case of a a job well done. Kudos to him, his campaign manager, and campaign staff. Collectively, it has been a superb effort, regardless of the outcome.

Comment by Captain America Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 1:33 pm
POTUS - John McCain - This shouldn’t even need to be explained. Most people should just get the fact that a person with the character and the integrity of John McCain is more than qualified to be President. Our leaders (and especially our President) need to be exceptional. John McCain’s life is a profile in exceptional achievements and overcoming exceptional circumstances time and again. He has defied death, his party, and the pundits. This man is exceptional. Barack Obama, while certianly intriguing, is not yet excpetional and is certainly much more risky than McCain.

US Senate - Steve Sauerberg - I am still pretty bitter about Durbin’s Nazi-US troops comments. He’s a good man and has done a great deal of good things for the state, but he has allowed the looney left to dictate his actions. He longer represents the true interests and beliefs of Illinois citizens.

US House, 18th District - No Vote - I can not stand Schock and couldn’t bring myself to vote for him. I just didn’t know enough about Callahan to vote for her.

State House - Poe - Raymond is the man.

State Senate - Bomke - If I remember correctly (voted last week) Bomke was on the ballot. He is the hardest working Senator at the Statehouse and he has worked hard for the district. He has gotten too cozy with Blago, et al, on occassion, but I forgive him since he works so hard.

Con-Con — Yes — While I am hesitant to support it because of all of the damage a new con could do, I think the current one just sucks. We need to change the AV power and find some way to limit the power of chamber leadership. Its a tough task but sometimes you just have to give it a shot.

Comment by Bud Man Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 1:35 pm
Fan:
What are you smoking?

We need a little government regulation to avoid the same scenario in the financial markets/investment banking industry from occurring again…

small government is not equal to no regulation…

Durbin will smoke Sauerberg…

Watson and Schock will prevail but the GOP dance party in Washington is pretty much over…

Comment by Loop Lady Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 1:36 pm
Stick to the question, please.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 1:37 pm
President - McCain, a real hero, not a false messiah, with a proven record of bi-partisan accomplishments. Not just change, but good change.

Senate - None of the above.
Representative - None of the above.
Constitutional Convention - Yes. The old constitution needs to be replaced. It no longer works for Illinois citizens and this is our only shot for a generation to fix it.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 1:39 pm
Obama, because he is a completely different candidate with an uncoventional background…some are attracted to him for that…others will vote for him because he is as good a hard D as we have seen in years, and after 8 years of R’s in the White House, this will be a welcome change in every aspect of American policy

Durbin…represents us well and brings Illinois positive visibility…plus the R’s have mounted a neglible effort

Kirk will lose…I am voting for Seals because Kirk is inconsistent and plays to the crowd…Seals seems genuine and has learned the ropes well…

Murphy over Gutzmer…nice try again but not enough zing and not enough meat in Gutzmer’s campaign

Jeez I wish someone would run against Suzi Bassi

I wish I could vote for Brothman over Fred Crespo (R turned D)…she is better suited to that post, can work well with both sides of the aisles (Fred is a D all the way), and she clearly has more on the ball re health care, disability issues, and budget experience

Another poster predicted Tom Stratton over Karen May? Karen is north shore all the way and knows that district well…she has brought home the bacon too, until last year when Governor B vetoed member initiatives…people in that district know the G did it, not her…

Mathias wins too…he is a hard worker and although people say they want change, they don’t want to get rid of the good with the bad…Sid is one of the good in this equation…

Finally, Coulson wins too…she is respected and in some circles adored in the 17th district…it’ll be close but Coulson on top…

Comment by Mongo Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 1:39 pm
===- Loop Lady - Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 1:36 pm:
Fan:
What are you smoking?===

The financial crisis was brought about in large part from regulation that required lending institutions to provide and structure loans to those who could not otherwise obtain them. The influx of cheap money caused increased demand which pushed prices artificially higher.

That is bad regulation.

besides, who was adviocating for changes in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac many years before this market tumbled? John McCain.

And Sen. Obama’s stance is much bigger than “regulation.” Much bigger. He wants a fundamental change in the role of government in our lives. If his own words are to be believed, he wants the government to determine what rights we have–economic, health, etc. I don’t want the government to determine those rights for me; I want to make that determination myself. His philosophy is to advocate for groups at the expense of the individual, and I simply cqannot vote for that.

Also, I don’t smoke, but I support your right to do so.

Comment by Fan of the Game Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 1:48 pm
Back to the question, please.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 1:49 pm
Callahan. I have seen her work for over 20 years, and know her honesty, integrity, and character. She successfully lead a national organization through a wrenching time over membership and financial issues. She says what she means, and means what she says, and isn’t just saying “the right things.”

Comment by Blogger2 Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 1:58 pm
POTUS: Obama. I’m from Chicago, I know how he operates, I know how politics operates, and I am holding my nose to a degree. But the country needs a Democrat in the White House to counteract 8 years of misrule by Bush. I would have voted for Zell Miller if he was the Dem candidate just to get a Dem in there. Plus my 401(k) does loads better under Democratic presidents. Proven fact–look it up.

Durbin: See above as far as nose-holding. A career politician, but he’s OUR career politician.

Foster: I have the pleasure of voting against crazy Uncle Jimmie for (hopefully) the last time.

Karen McConnaughey: Kane County Board Chairman. See? Even a leftist rewards good governance.

Yes: My own relatives are harping on me to vote against the con-con. They are union types and teachers–running scared from the internal info they’re getting, I imagine. So I’m voting against my family and for a Republican this cycle.

No ringing endorsements here. But as the Gatekeeper (that’s you, RM) here points out sometimes, hyper-partisanship is creepy.

Comment by Lefty Lefty Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 1:59 pm
I’m ahead of the curve on this question. I have all of my voting recommendations, From President to county offices down to judges, for the Chicago area ballot online.
http://theballot.org/2008/chi-town

Take a look.

I mostly skipped the state legislative races in Chicago as none of those are really competitive.

Comment by Mr. Smith Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 2:01 pm
Obama – I met him at Southern Illinois University Carbondale years ago when he was at an event for Paul Simon. I was really impressed with him since that time (and am kicking myself for not taking a picture with the no-name state senator.)

No on Con-Con. I was recently in California with a friend who lives there. The friend was complaining about not knowing how to vote on some of the propositions because the television commercials made both side seem like a good idea. I do not believe this is the way to make public policy decisions; the popular idea of allowing citizens to directly vote on public policy would be adopted in the new constitution, and we would have an electorate that would make decisions based on which side created the best advertisements. I think many issues that I do not want to see in the constitution would be adopted.

Down the ballot I do not have too many other contested races.

Comment by Majority of Me Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 2:05 pm
==I am still pretty bitter about Durbin’s Nazi-US troops comments==

I’ve been waiting, and this is the first reference I’ve seen to this remark this election season. At the time, people were calling for him to resign. Now voters are like, you know, Iraq what?

Comment by Vote Quimby! Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 2:34 pm
“Anybody But An Incumbent”

The folks that are there had their chance - look at where we are at. As a Nation - a State - a County.

Yeah, yeah - I know there are some (few) good ones; probably even vote for some since they’re better than their competition.

Comment by Sal Says Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 2:49 pm
President–Obama

Senator–Sauerburg–only to give Dick Durbin some sort of competition so he doesn’t feel entitled to his position

14th Congress–No contest–Foster miles ahead of Milk Dud–and repeating an earlier comment, hopefully the last time Jimmy O runs. Guy needs a new hobby to spend his cash on.

48th Senate–Randy Hultgren is unnoposed.

95th Rep–Mike Fortner is opposed by a Green Party candidate. Fortner is the choice here.

I will vote for the Democratic candidate (Dirk Enger) for County Board. DuPage needs someone other than Republicans running the place. A good mix of parties helps in my opinion. If it were Cook County I’d be supporting the GOP candidates over the incumbent Dems too.

train111

Comment by train111 Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 2:54 pm
Obama - I’m not even going to discuss the fact that I find him totally inspirational and very motivating and that he makes me believe in the whole “one nation” idea more than I have in a long time… I’m voting Obama because he has thoroughly set out his plans on major issues facing America. I’ve heard him discuss his ideas, and I’ve read his details online, and at least I know what I would be getting under an Obama administration (if he’s able to carry any of it out).

Durbin - The 5th most powerful guy in DC. To what heights might we Illinoisans soar with Durbin remaining in his seat and Obama as president?? I say yeah for us!

Halvorson - Really an engaging woman, and hard working. I haven’t seen anything about Ozinga except ads against him… and he sounds like a weasel.

ConCon - No. We better worry about the problems currently on our plate, instead of creating new problems and ignoring the old problems, thereby compounding all of our problems. Phew!

To Train111 - The Milk Dud nickname is the funniest thing I’ve heard since SNL this weekend! Thanks for the laugh!

Comment by just ducky Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 3:22 pm
Pres: No endorsement til 6 a.m. Tuesday. I like them both, but have serious reservations about both. In all honesty, I’m tilting to Obama because of likely Supreme Court vacancies. Sarah doesn’t help, but neither does Joe. But again, I’m also of the opinion that if McCain wins, he will kick the wacko GOP right out of the tent and govern like a true bipartisan. Tough call, but a good one.

U.S. Senate: Durbin. I’m not even sure who the other guy is, although from what I understand, he questioned Durbin’s patriotism, backed down and apologized when confronted by Durbin face-to-face, then did it again later. Stay classy, doc.

Congress, GA: My elected representatives have already been chosen for me due to gerrymandering. I’m likely to vote anti-incumbent as a weak protest.

Con-Con: Yes. See, “Congress, GA.”

States Attorney: Alvarez, because she’s running for SA and not something else. If it were not such an important job, the subversive in me would enjoy seeing Tony making a mockery out of justice.

Judges: No to all on retention because of the impossible, ridiculous system. In contested races, I’ll vote for the names I like best because of the impossible, ridiculous system.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 3:24 pm
Ruth Munson for 43rd district rep.

Farnham was endorsed by the IL Sierra Club because he said he’d vote “yes” on the Clean Car Act, but at a later date he said he is not familiar with the Act, as this video shows:

Comment by Jessica Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 3:27 pm
McCain–I origianlly liked Obama, but looking at his plans I am afraid the country can’t afford it, and I can’t afford it.

Con-Con–Yes because we cannot continue to allow the legislators and the Elected Officials to keep the state on this course. We need to allow more than just 5 people involved in the legislative process. Plus we cannot rely on them to police themselves.

Schock– Because I believe he will do a better job.

I also predict that Forby will get beat, due to the brilliant add with him talking in the Senate. Plus he is too close to our Governor.

Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 3:37 pm
Pres: No endorsement til 6 a.m. Tuesday. I like them both, but have serious reservations about both, so I’m going to sleep on it. Sarah doesn’t help, but neither does Joe. In all honesty, I’m tilting to Obama because of likely Supreme Court vacancies. But again, I’m also of the opinion that if McCain wins, he will kick the wacko GOP right out of the tent and govern like a true bipartisan. Tough call, but a good one.

U.S. Senate: Durbin. I’m not even sure who the other guy is, although from what I understand, he questioned Durbin’s patriotism, backed down and apologized when confronted by Durbin face-to-face, then did it again later. Stay classy, doc.

Congress, GA: My elected representatives have already been chosen for me due to gerrymandering. I’m likely to vote anti-incumbent as a weak protest.

Con-Con: Yes. See, “Congress, GA.”

States Attorney: Alvarez, because she’s running for SA and not something else. If it were not such an important job, the subversive in me would enjoy seeing Tony making a mockery out of justice.

Judges: No to all on retention because of the impossible, ridiculous system. In contested races, I’ll vote for the names I like best because of the impossible, ridiculous system.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 3:38 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebVDPvT4CDg

i guess you block html

Comment by Jessica Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 3:40 pm
For President, I voted for Chuck Baldwin, of the Constitution Party. McCain is too liberal, and he can’t win Obama’s homestate. I live in the 10th Congressional District. Although I think that Kirk & Seals are too liberal, I hope that Kirk will win. He usually votes for tax cuts, but Seals probably wouldn’t do that. Kirk usually supports the Iraq war, and I agree with him. I was in the navy for 21 years, including six months near Baghdad.

Comment by ConservativeVeteran Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 3:53 pm
Obama-I’m hoping to see him pull the country together and believe he can do it much better than the division tactics I hear coming out of Palin and McCain.

Durbin-he’s done well and I like that he makes himself available to listen.

Callahan- simply because she isn’t Aaron and given a chance I think she can do well.

Peoria County State’s Att–Kevin Lyons, simply because I like him and think he does his job well.

Con-Con- No. I stood there and stood there on this one and came real close to voting yes, but just could not do it. I don’t know, maybe it was because I remember back in 1997 when state pensions went from 49th in the Union to 25th and it was a battle to get it there. Sorry, Rich, I tried to vote yes.

Comment by Princess Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 4:00 pm
Mr. Smith, thanks for this link, http://theballot.org/2008/chi-town

Theses are some judges who should not be retained!!

With all the top of the ticket hoopla, these bad judges might slide back in.

Comment by chic ster Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 4:29 pm
I’m going to vote Green Party for MWRD and Cook County offices, minus Cook County State’s Attorney. I hope the Green Party will break 5% in these races so it will be easier for Greens to get on the ballot in the future. Plus none of the Democrats have distinguished themselves in my eyes.

I endorse Tony Peraica over Anita Alvarez for Cook County State’s Attorney. Peraica will prosecute political corruption; Alvarez won’t. Peraica has an agenda to improve the office (no prosecution simple drug possession; won’t oppose ASAs unionizing); Alvarez has some vague scheme about getting municipal gov’t to pay for satellite offices. Peraica may have imperfect judgment and blind spots, but his flaws will be less harmful than Alvarez’s flaws.

I will vote for Jerry Pohlen (Green) over Dan Lipinski. Lipinski is both ineffective and ideologically wrong.

I will vote “yes” on the Constitutional Convention. Illinois should have a graduated income tax. Con-con opponents talk about the existing mechanisms for modifying the Constitution as being adequate. If the existing mechanisms are adequate, why haven’t the shortcomings of the Constitution been fixed?

I have met both Obama and Cynthia McKinney. I was an early contributor to the McKinney campaign. In five presidential elections I have voted for a major-party candidate only once. I will vote for Obama. He doesn’t need my vote to win, but he has impressed me. Obama has the judgment, political skill and ability to bring people together in unity of purpose. Tough times require great leaders. I think Obama will be great on the level of FDR and Lincoln.

Also, I will vote for the Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate to help the party get 5% and b/c I received rude and worthless help from Durbin’s office on a bread-and-butter constituent service matter. I was astounded at how poorly Durbin’s staff treated me, including Mike Daley.

And I will vote “no” on retaining all judges. Until the voters are accidentally throwing out more good judges than retaining lousy judges, I’m not going to worry if I’m voting out good judges.

Other Illinois races:

IL06–I endorse Morgenthaler over Roskam. Roskam’s views on “life begins at conception” are freakish. What’s the connection between women who’ve been raped getting abortions and whether or not rapists get the death penalty? And what’s with forcing in vitro embryos to be brought to term? And Roskam thinks U.S. foreign policy should be optimized around what the Israeli government wants. Roskam is a whack job.

IL10–I’ve always found Mark Kirk to be a dishonest hack who does a decent job (with assistance of the local media) of positioning himself as a moderate. I recommend people vote for Seals.

IL11–Ozinga and Halvorson have been hitting each other with accusations about being political insiders. They’re both right. The Green Party’s Jason Wallace has run a conscientious campaign for a minor-party candidate. I recommend him.

IL13. Scott Harper has done a great job organizing against Biggert. Biggert has seemed dishonest to me from the time when she renounced her term limits pledge. She ran on a term limits pledge and waited to see who filed against her in her first re-election bid. When she saw there were no serious challengers she said she had learned seniority was important in Congress. Give me a break! She didn’t come from the private sector; she was an Illinois legislator. Also, Biggert’s mental acuity seems to have declined significantly. Congress.org ranks Biggert as the 21st (of 34) most influential of House members elected in 1998. She’s not as hapless as Lipinski, but she’s below average and has little prospect of wielding influence b/c of being in the minority and her waning mental skills. I recommend Harper.

IL14. Bill Foster is a smart guy. Sometimes I worry he’ll suffer from the paralysis of over analysis, but so far he’s done well. Oberweis should look for another way to accomplish whatever he’s trying to accomplish. Running for elective office hasn’t worked out. I recommend Foster.

IL18. I think Schock would fit-in the Bush administration well. Being a local official and making big money on real estate deals. Back dating documents as a notary so his parents can scam the system. Leaving aside Schock’s simplistic and inaccurate understanding of national politics, I predict when his career is done it will be amply obvious Schock’s major accomplishment in politics will be to make himself money. I recommend voting for Callahan.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 4:37 pm
I think the Obama ad *Seals* the deal and I endorse him over milk toast.

Comment by C'mon already! Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 4:56 pm
As Secretary/Treasurer of the Illinois Committee for Honest Government, I took part in the endorsement of over 300 candidates throughout the state. It is probably quite impratical to list all of them here, much less reasons for all of them (given time and space constraints).

We were proud to endorse Barack Obama for President. It’s a clear and easy choice, as Obama will bring to a quick end the eight-year blot on american history that future historians will call the Bush presidency. McCain, who wanted to be President in the worst way, went about it in like manner.

In the key congressional races, our support went with the Democrats (Morgenthaler in the 6th, Bean in the 8th, Seals in the 10th, Halvorson in the 11th, Harper in the 13th, Foster in the 14th and Callahan in the 18th). Most of their Republican opponents (particularly Cong. Roskam in the 6th District) have been more than willing to go into the gutter with their campaigns. None of them have shown true independence form the disasterous policies of George Bush. However, we do endorse the re-election of two Republican Congressmen, Timothy Johnson (15th) and Donald Manzullo (16th).

In the Illinois Senate, two of the five non-incumbents backed by the ICHG are Chicago Republicans Jason Allen Braswell in the 5th District (against Rickey Hendon) and Ray Wardingley in the 14th District (against Emil Jones III), largely as a protest to the lack of real choice for voters in those districts and in much of the state. We also endorse Democratic Senate candidates Bill Gentes (26th), Peter Gutzmer (27th) and Steve Stout (38th), all of whom show the potential to be effective legislators in a body that will need such people in the post-Emil Jones era.

It is largely for those reasons that we also support the candidacies of Democratic State Representative candidates Daniel Biss (17th) and Aurora Austriaco (65th). When Michael Madigan finally exits from the General Assembly, Illinois will definately need a new generation of leaders, and Biss and Austriaco would make two fine additions to the State House. We also support Green Party candidate Ante “Tony” Marijan in the 2nd District over controversial and ineffectual Democratic incumbent Edward Acevedo, whose has long been an embarrassment to his community.

We urge everyone to cast a “YES” vote on Con-Con. The excuse hoisted by the powers-that-be that Con-Con would waste $80 million is laughable. The current governor has squandered far more than that meager sum with useless special legislative sessions, slow action to obtain various federal matching dollars and his general ineffectual administration (and we are not even beginning to include the costs of corruption). If Con-Con is not approved, Illinois voters will effecteively be screwed by their state government for the next 20 years.

As for judges (and the ICHG has endorsed in every contested judicial race and every retention race in the state), we support the retention of all of the judges seeking retention save for five Cook County Circuit Court Judges; Evelyn Clay, Vanessa Hopkins, Edward Pietrucha, Casandra Lewis and Sheila McGinnis. We call on voters to cast “NO” votes in those five races, to oust these five less-than-satisfactory judges.

Comment by Randall Sherman Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 6:12 pm
just ducky- The Milk Dud name has been around for longer than train111’s recent post. Don’t know the genius who thunk it. Although I called him “Milk Stud” for the brief period of basking in his only electoral victory.

Anyway, I’m leaning to Obama - while I do not share some of his positions, I feel a certain kinship with his journey and am counting on his bringing the bacon home to IL, where I will personally benefit.

Senate - what, there’s a race here?

I might just vote for the Green guy in the 11th as a protest vote. I can’t reward Deb for being an accomplice of Jones and Blago, and I can’t reward Marty for pay 2 play.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Nov 3, 08 @ 8:00 pm