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Brady: Dillard should apologize - Houlihan won’t run for county prez

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Illinois

* From a press release…

Senator Bill Brady, Republican candidate for Governor, today demanded that Kirk Dillard apologize to Attorney General Candidate Joe Birkett and to Illinois Republicans for his apparent endorsement Wednesday of Democrat Lisa Madigan

“Republicans must support Republicans,” Brady said.

“I am calling on Senator Dillard to publicly apologize to Republicans and especially to Joe Birkett. Further, I am asking Kirk to request that Lisa not use his comments during the upcoming campaign, unlike President Obama’s use of Kirk’s commercial during the presidential campaign.”

Dillard’s comment, if you’ve forgotten, was…

“I look forward to having Lisa Madigan as attorney general when I’m the governor.”

And here’s part of what Lisa Madigan said this morning…

On this morning’s WLS 890 AM Don and Roma Show, Attorney General Madigan laughingly said Kirk Dillard’s fawning endorsement of her for reelection as Attorney General, the previous day, would be used on her mailings into DuPage County during the upcoming campaign against Birkett.

*** 2:33 pm *** Houli won’t run…

Cook County Assessor James Houlihan said Thursday he will not be a candidate for Cook County Board President.

A spokesman for the former state representative and aide to former Mayor Harold Washington said, “After careful consideration, Assessor Houlihan has decided not to run for president of the Cook County Board. As Assessor, Jim has fought to make the assessment process more transparent and responsive to the taxpayers of Cook County. He is focused on continuing those reforms — and on the 2009 reassessment of the city of Chicago.”

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:16 pm

Comments

First stick foot in mouth, then………

Comment by Downstater Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:18 pm
Let the bloodbath that has crippled the GOP the last few years begin. This is the second best news for Quinn in two days ….

Comment by WOW Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:20 pm
Dillard pretty much killed his campaign before he even finished his press conference. This is the stuff that keeps the famous GOP CFS in business.

Comment by Bluefish Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:27 pm
Quinn should call a special session just so the Senate Republicans can go to caucus.

Comment by Scooby Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:29 pm
The man’s a realist. Birkett has a snow ball’s chance in Hell of beating a very popular Lisa Madigan. The man just spoke the truth.

Comment by Anon Again Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:34 pm
These guys are goofs.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:35 pm
bill get a clue - this was on dillard’s site yesterday!
Statement on Attorney General Campaign From Kirk Dillard, on the announcement trail:

Earlier today, I was asked about the attorney general and what my reaction is to her allegedly running for re-election. While I have a great deal of respect for her, we haven’t heard anything official about her status. Right now we’re focusing on the leadership of Illinois and returning pride to the people of this great state. And I will be backing the entire GOP ticket to accomplish that.

Comment by billy still clueless Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:35 pm
I’m sick of politicians constantly calling on each other to apologize. Give me a break. If you don’t like what Dillard said and want to criticize him, then go for it. But Brady, you’re not the apology police.

Comment by PFK Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:36 pm
BSC, Brady called for an apology. Don’t see that on the site.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:36 pm
I think! Dillard is amongst the elite! Having the grace to “cross the aisle” and work with an intelligent person, in this case a woman who happens to a Democrat, more importantly a public figure that really cares. This is what is needed. Sen. Dillard has not given up his ideals and values because of saying -good job and happy to hear the news-type of statement! This! is what I would like to read more of…. -glad you’re still in …. may we be able to work together for a better future FOR THOSE WHO PUT US IN OFFICE.!!

Comment by SouthernIL Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:39 pm
THANK GOD! Finally, a Republican realist to support. Dillard, thank you for thinking what the rest of us right leaning Illinoisans we’re thinking.

Brady, apologize……give it up.

Comment by DuPage Moderate Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:39 pm
Reminding us all once again where they got the nickname “Circular Firing Squad.”

Comment by Secret Square Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:39 pm
Does anyone on this board think Lisa NEEDS to use those comments?

Comment by nice kid Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:44 pm
Here’s a tip to Bill and any other individual running for office. Proft style antics don’t work. They didn’t work for Rauschenberger or anyone else. Focus of how you are going to fix the train wreck the state is already in.

Comment by Sporty 41 Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:44 pm
on Jim Houlihan’s current job…

Mike Royko once wrote a column, back when Tom Tully was the Cook County assessor, about that job. Royko said that most people think it would be great if their child would grow up to be president, but in Cook County people know that it’s an even bigger deal to be the assessor. He wrote that column after he’d been to observe a Tully fundraiser, where he said some amazing people, including Ted Kennedy, attended “with their checkbooks open”.

Comment by been there Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:45 pm
Memo to GOP Governor Candidates:

Didn’t you learn from the past 2 campaigns? How about we get together and pick the slate and go with it instead of BEATING EACH OTHERS BRAINS OUT?

OH…Judy…..GO AWAY You LOST time to RETIRE.

Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:46 pm
Keep preaching Saint. I will take my position in the Choir.

Comment by Sporty 41 Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:53 pm
houlihan is very smart. it’s not that he couldn’t win, it’s just that he is better off staying put. stroger has stunk up the county board presidency so much that it’s almost not worth it to seek it.

Comment by Will County Woman Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:53 pm
What does Houlihan do now?

Comment by silly, silly, just silly Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:54 pm
===Houli won’t run…===
I can’t see why Dart won’t step up now and run for County Board President. Unless Sneed is right about Daley backing Preckwinckle, Dart has all the stars lined up for him if he goes for it.
1. Multiple black candidates to split that vote
2. Good name recognition
3. Experience. Already holds countywide office
4. Has somehow been making positive press out of an office that historically only has negative.
5. Excellent record of accomplishments

Time to use your get of jail card now.
He does have little kids though, like Lisa (actually more than twice as many), but at least you can make it home every night even if you are campaigning in the farthest reaches of the county.

Comment by Been There Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 2:57 pm
Im with Bill on this one. Realism or not, the GOP needs to hang together if they are to have any chance.

Comment by Downstate weed chewing hick Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:01 pm
The key to the Governor’s mansion for the GOP is: can the party unite behind whichever candidate manages to emerge with the nomination? They didn’t in 2006, and if press releases like this one are any indication, they probably won’t this time.

I appreciate that Joe Birkett has the guts to put his name on the ballot. But let’s not turn his candidacy, which hardly anyone would argue is an up-hill battle, into a dividing line in the race for Governor.

The only dividing lines should be about who has the background, temperment and vision to clean up the mess in Springfield.

Comment by Complicating matters Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:02 pm
Been there,

don’t you think Dart’s talents and time would be wasted as county board president? he’s too good for that spot.

Comment by Will County Woman Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:03 pm
Hey Senator Brady you had six months on the trail all by yourself and your campaign died on the vine!!! Now you want to attack? If you would have dropped out of the race last time when you had no chance, you would have been the golden boy but you had to stay and attack the conservative. Now do you really want to do that again? It’s your own fault that Dillard is in! You couldn’t get any support, you couldn’t raise any money now you want to give ammo to the other side? GO AWAY!

Comment by votecounter Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:04 pm
So, HMRLLAS,

If a person loses one election they should just go away?

JBT did a creditable job in her office and I would vote for her again if she does decide to run.

Other than that I agree with everything you said.

Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:10 pm
WCM. Better than re-upping as sheriff and waiting for some time bomb problem to happen at the jail. I think he may have made a move toward AG if Lisa moved on but I don’t think he wants or could win the battle now. Also, he does have lots of little kids with the youngest only a month old. Anything beyond the county borders makes it tougher on the family. He also would have made a good cook county states attorney but the only other job would be to someday run for mayor.

Comment by Been There Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:12 pm
The apology request is just keeping a silly issue in play. Dillard deserves the kicks - but it won’t matter in the end.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:16 pm
PFK is right. I’m tired of these demands for apologies.
What, are they three?
“Say you are sorry, or no dessert for you young man!”
If Brady had any guts he would just attack, without these childish apology demands.

By the way — you know Brady is going to continue whining about this. No matter what Dillard says, it will not be enough for Brady. Expect “He STILL has not offered a real apology” from Brady until the day after Brady loses.

Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:18 pm
I’m not offended by a verbal goof by Diilard (he needs to get much better at this…NOW) mainly because he’s been in the trenches and has excellent GOP credentials. I think that Obama ad has been blown outof proportions too. Now, if we hear he’s dating Nancy Pelosi…

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:21 pm
been there, I can see Dart sitting tight and pretty where he is until 2014.

Mayor of Chicago? hmmm…now that’s interesting and a tasty thought. But, he’s a Daley guy. I think I heard Jack Connanty say that recently.

Comment by Will County Woman Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:21 pm
DD

I think it is time for new blood. Judy had her chance lets use the office as a “minor league” stop for future positions.

Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:22 pm
Sporty 41,

Don’t you mean un-fix the train wreck the state is already in.

Comment by Levois Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:24 pm
Clean up the Mess-
Dart should run for Cook President, clean up the mess there with his crack staff, bring along the former prosecutors and feds he has hired and wait one more election cycle and he could easily be Mayor of Chicago (RMD is 67 this year) or stay the board president.

Comment by Mr. Hoover Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:25 pm
Birkett is a drag on the ticket. He is the perennial candidate, isn’t he?

I am a Republican and I think that Lisa will will 60-40, no matter who the Republicans run against her.

The GOP hasn’t been able to run a slate of candidates for decades.

I support Brad Cole. Is he running for anything?

Comment by PPHS Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:26 pm
- Anonymous -
Now, if we hear he’s dating Nancy Pelosi……”

That was just not necessary - now I have NO appetite for dinner!

Comment by A Citizen Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:26 pm
“Pelosi…”

sorry citizen. I owe you a case of Tums.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:32 pm
Dart should run for Governor. He could beat Quinn and his old neighborhood buddy Hynes.

Comment by Dart fan Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:37 pm
It’s a pretty sad commentary about Bill Brady that this is all he offers to the voters in a state facing 10 percent unemployment, a budget mess, and a lack of ethics.

At least we know that Proft is a hack and its to be expected.

Dillard may not be the smoothest talker but at least he has ideas and a positive vision.

Congress, Governor, Governor - Three Strikes and you’re out, Bill. Welcome to Oberweis-ville!!

Comment by 4 percent Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:39 pm
I don’t know what Dillard’s polling numbers show. Maybe he’s running just to raise some money.

Comment by Steve Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:44 pm
Isn’t Dillard the guy who did a commercial for Obama? He appears to be confused.

Comment by Pick a party Sen Dillard Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:44 pm
I just wonder why Sen. Dillard made the comment in the first place. Isn’t this the most corrupt state in the Union. Isn’t Lisa Madigan suppose to be going after that corruption like a Pit Bull. We really need Joe Birkett who has a record of going after crime why didn’t Sen. Dillard say that? Sorry first impressions mean a lot.

Comment by Why stand up for Madigan? Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:45 pm
doesnt anybody else think it is a little strange though that sen. dillard continues to do these things? it is hard to argue they are mistakes when they seem to happen often-supporting obama, supporting pomeroy, skipping special session, now supporting madigan?

Comment by GOP Fan Still Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:57 pm
He’s one of the best out there. Unfortunately he doesn’t like the campaign trail much. He is one of the few peopel who could clean up the County. I hope he goes for Pres and ultimately Mayor.

Comment by Another Dart fan Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 3:59 pm
HMRLLAS,

I would agree with that assessment. The GOP needs fresh faces. However, if JBT wins the primary I’m gonna vote for her - she would be better than anybody from the discredited dem party, don’t you think?

Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:02 pm
As we hope monday Gov signs Capital Bill even tho thers no $$ to fund it, I want to take this opportunity to apoligize to all of you thin skins, it aint even petition time.Rich I urge you to ask for Kleenex sponsorship!

Comment by memsaab Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:04 pm
PPHS,

Birkett will be a drag on the ticket but better a has been losing to LMadigan than a real prospect. LMadigan won’t look like the unbeatable woman she likely is if she beats Birkett again. The AG is a lost cause to the GOP no matter who runs.

Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:04 pm
The independents and moderates are the key in this election. Those conservatives among us would rather lose the election than reach out and actually win an election. Dillard can/will appeal to the larger marjority of the voters who are in the middle. Those who split their votes, those who are not convinced that either the right or the left are correct for our state. I know and like Birkett, but he is not going to beat Lisa. He entered because he thought she was out of the picture. She’s back in and he won’t beat her. Dillard knows this. He will support Birkett but he’s been around long enough to recognize the politically obvious. He can/will work on both sides of the aisle, as politcians have always done, to “log roll”, to do what is right and get Illinois out of being a laughing stock to the Nation (maybe behind California)

Comment by Lisle Mike Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:06 pm
Why stand up for Madigan,

Please remember that the feds asked LMadigan to back off the RodB investigation. Don’t count that against her. I am not a democratic supporter of hers but if you try to use that against her in a campaign it will blow up in your face. She is nearly unbeatable what with her positives in opinion polls and her war chest. Done deal.

Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:07 pm
Dillard’s resume is too impressive to ignore. I think the Lisa statement was just a big gaffe, and the Obama thing was more gentlemanly than ideological. Dillard seems comfortable being the statesman. I do like Brady, but I have to admit that Dillard seems (to me) much more electable.

Comment by Down the middle Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:08 pm
Lisle Mike,

Independents and moderates are the key to any election. The circular firing squad will do their best to see to it that only “pure” republicans win the primary. I need only think of the disaster that was Alan Keyes to be reminded of that. Single issue voters will not win any candidate elections. I am not a fan of candidates coming out of DuPage County despite the fact that I have lived here for most of my $% years. I think there have got to be republicans who live elsewhere who have good ideas, as well. Having said that, I will support electable candidates since that is the point, ain’t it?

Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:12 pm
I just heard Lisa Madigan on WLS saying that Dillard was encouraging her to run for the Senate. Which is it Kirk? Do you want her in the Senate or as AG? It looks like the only thing your concerned about is your own political ambitions

Comment by Make up your mind Dillard Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 5:08 pm
From the Daily Herald: “Every politician, and of course I include myself, there’s no one immune from a slip-up or being taken out of context,” Birkett said. “I think Kirk Dillard was just expressing his opinion that if she were to prevail he would have no problem working with her. I pretty much said the same thing about her when she won in 2002.”. http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=30586

classy move by Birkett.

Comment by Down the middle Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 5:22 pm
From the Daily Herald:

Even some fellow Republicans are giving Madigan the early upper hand. State. Sen. Kirk Dillard said he looked forward to working with Madigan as attorney general when he is elected governor after his gubernatorial campaign kickoff in his hometown of Hinsdale on Wednesday.

Birkett said he holds no ill will toward Dillard for the remark.

“Every politician, and of course I include myself, there’s no one immune from a slip-up or being taken out of context,” Birkett said. “I think Kirk Dillard was just expressing his opinion that if she were to prevail he would have no problem working with her. I pretty much said the same thing about her when she won in 2002.“

http://www.dillardforgovernor.com/2009/07/09/joe-birkett-on-kirk-dillard/

Comment by Dillard For Governor Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 5:28 pm
I agree with Dupage Dan. I don’t support JBT on the social issues but I think she is pretty solid on financial issues. I would vote for her for Treasurer and Comptroller. If she doesnt run, no other Repub has a chance.

Comment by party of one Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 6:49 pm
If Joe Birkett isn’t upset about Dillard’s comment and takes it in context, why does Brady have his shorts in a knot? Some times it’s hard to get your name in the paper for coming us with something original or positive.

Comment by DRG Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 9:39 pm
Bill Brady should apologize for acting like a little girl.

Comment by Just sayin Friday, Jul 10, 09 @ 12:09 am
====================
Does anyone on this board think Lisa NEEDS to use those comments?
====================

You are a nice kid, Kid! I think it might have been a joke–and it was pretty good one, too.

The girl’s got a helluva sense of humor. lol

Comment by Ahem...The REAL Anonymous Friday, Jul 10, 09 @ 1:23 am
Bill Brady is wrong when he says Dillard should apologize to Joe Birkett because “Republicans should support Republicans”. What kind of deranged thinking is that? My country whether right or wrong? It is like saying Catholics must support Catholics, Protestants must support Protestants, etc. regardless as to whether their stance on an issue is correct or not. That gives me and other GOP voters insight into “the real Bill Brady” with that statement. Senator Brady appears to be just another Illinois partisan hack based on his ill-thought out comment. My eyes were just opened to who the real Bill Brady is by his statement. Dillard should be free to say or do whatever he wishes to do so that we the voters can see some measure of transparency in our candidates and how they “really think”. Senator Brady’s statement is akin to saying that Dillard should talk and act based on “my Party whether right or wrong”. This insidious “team player” mentality is why partisan politics has brought Illinois state government to it’s knees in the first place.

I will probably cast my vote for Joe Birkett for AG but not because he is a Republican nor because I think that Lisa Madigan was a terrible attorney-general or person. Actually, I like her. I just feel that Joe Birkett is more of a “meat & potatoes” type of attorney-general. Bill Brady stepped into a cow-pie with his critical statement on Dillard’s honest statement of his feelings. Incidentally, I am not a Dillard supporter but that doesn’t mean that this poor guy shouldn’t be able to express his true feelings.

Comment by John Doe Friday, Jul 10, 09 @ 6:30 am
The Circuluar Firing Squad is in mid-season form.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jul 10, 09 @ 10:23 am