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MS: 2010 Elections

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Illinois

* Poll: Giannoulias favored to win nomination

The poll, conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, shows Giannoulias winning 45 percent of the primary vote against businessman (and RFK son) Chris Kennedy and Chicago Urban League president Cheryle Jackson. In the three-way race, Kennedy tallies 17 percent of the vote, with Jackson at 13 percent.

In a head-to-head matchup against Jackson, Giannoulias leads by 30 points, 51 to 21 percent.

The poll surveyed 387 likely Illinois Democratic voters between July 28-August 2, and has a five percent margin of error.

The poll reflects the growing belief that Giannoulias will emerge as the Democratic nominee, and face Republican congressman Mark Kirk in the general election for President Obama’s old Senate seat. Kennedy appears to have backed off his plans to pursue the Senate after spending much of the spring ramping up for a primary against Giannoulias.

* Alexi Giannoulias investigated by Fox News (This is a video, and I did not have time to watch it. So if it is a bunch of malarkey, blame Fox not me)

* Climate Vote Causing Heartburn for Kirk in Senate Bid (I suggest you read the whole thing)

The moderate Kirk has long been viewed as the GOP’s best hope of recapturing a Senate seat in the solidly blue state. But in the couple of weeks since announcing his Senate bid, Kirk has been repeatedly hit from the right over support for the climate bill and analysts say it is possible the issue could dog him throughout the campaign.

“Our members are very upset with that vote — we have yet to receive a good answer and in our opinion there is no good answer for that vote,” said Joe Calomino, director of the Illinois branch of Americans for Prosperity, an organization that advocates for fiscally conservative policies. “On a statewide level, that vote is an anti-free market vote.”

The furor over the climate bill started almost immediately after the late June vote, as numerous conservative commentators and bloggers harshly criticized the eight House Republicans who voted in favor of the bill and in the minds of some provided the votes needed for passage (Greenwire, June 30).

Some of that criticism has faded in recent weeks as conservatives have turned their attention to health care and other topics and as the climate debate moved to the Senate. But the issue continues to haunt Kirk, who now has to explain his vote not just to constituents but to conservative voters across the state — including to those in the coal-producing regions of southern Illinois.

* Hynes gets word out on gov run

State Comptroller Dan Hynes will be sending out a letter to supporters today confirming he is running for governor.

A formal announcement of his entry into the Democratic primary will come later this month, but the letter will include petition forms supporters can download and begin circulating today. […]

“We need strong, steady leadership to tackle the serious problems facing Illinois, and I believe we’re not getting that leadership right now,” Hynes told the Sun-Times. “Serious problems need serious leadership. We don’t need somebody who can tell a joke or can work a room. We need someone who can work a budget, and work with the General Assembly.”[…]

“When you get in the arena, you’ve got to make decisions,” Quinn said of Hynes last month. “You can’t stand on the side of the road and not take part in tough battles. You can’t be a no-show. You can’t just show up and say, ‘Hey, I want to be elected to something.’ “

* Bernard Schoenburg: Springfield suffers from gap in understanding

MIKE RENDINA, 29, of Chicago has been named campaign manager for Illinois Comptroller DAN HYNES’ expected run for governor.[…]

Rendina got to know Hynes while managing the campaign of state Rep. SARA FEIGENHOLTZ, D-Chicago, in the special election to replace White House Chief of Staff RAHM EMANUEL. Hynes endorsed Feigenholtz[…]

Rendina also managed the successful re-election campaign in 2008 of U.S. Rep. BILL FOSTER, D-Geneva and has been caucus director for Senate Democrats in the Maryland legislature.

* Murphy’s in, Rosemont bans video gambling

State Sen. Matt Murphy has been quiet lately about his run for governor as compared to his Republican primary competition. But the Palatine Republican says that is no sign he is backing out of the race.

In fact, he told Animal Farm today he is fundraising, has a team of advisors in place and recently meet with members of the Republican Governors Association. In coming weeks he is planning a statewide tour.

Murphy’s right-hand man is Ryan McLaughlin, who ran Peter Roskam’s successful run for Congress against Tammy Duckworth in the DuPage County-centered 6th District.

“It is coming together nicely,” he said. “I feel like I have a great opportunity.”

* DuPage’s Schillerstrom urges towns to pass on video gambling

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Schillerstrom is urging leaders in Illinois cities and counties to reject video gambling machines.[…]

[…] Schillerstrom’s video gambling position is not really that unique among the pool of five GOP gubernatorial candidates, though. The three state senators also in the race oppose use of the machines as does conservative radio commentator and fellow candidate Dan Proft.

* Southland reps weigh Obama’s health plan (Other U.S. Reps. nentioned in story: Bean, Lipinski, Rush and Jackson -see health news section)

On Wednesday, the National Republican Congressional Committee sent an e-mail throughout the 11th Congressional District, urging U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson to “side with Illinois seniors … and oppose a government healthcare takeover … that will destroy Medicare.”

Halvorson, a Democrat, ran for Congress on a health care agenda. She often shared a story on the campaign trail of her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis at age 49. Because her father ran a small business restoring furniture, Halvorson’s parents did not have access to an affordable group medical plan. They were uninsured.[…]

But in the delicate dance of ideology vs. re-election, will Pelosi give Halvorson - a freshman representing a traditionally Republican district - longer leash on Obama’s bill? Will Halvorson take it?

Halvorson spokeswoman Roxane Geraci-Militello said the bill must lower costs for families and reduce the government’s budget deficit.

* Buehrle family enjoys day at mayor’s office

Sneed hears rumbles state Sen. Jimmy DeLeo, who was this/close to embattled former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is planning to pull out of politics.

• • To wit: Sneed is told DeLeo, who has served 24 years in the state Legislature as a top Democrat and gregarious bon vivant — may not run for re-election in the primary next February.

• • The stats: Calls to DeLeo’s office were not returned. Word is he wants to take his life in a new direction.

* Breen announces for 41st

Tuesday evening, Lombard Republican Peter Breen declared his candidacy for State Representative in District 41 to succeed 17-year incumbent Bob Biggins (R-Elmhurst). The event, at Villa Nova Banquets in Villa Park, was attended by over 60 people.

* Rivadeneira Signs Transparency Pledge

ELMHURST, IL – Rafael Rivadeneira, Republican candidate for House District 41, signed the Illinois Policy Institute’s Transparency Pledge to ensure state government is doing everything within its power to provide transparent government following his election to the House. Rafael formally announced his candidacy for the open seat in July.

* Quinn Urged to Veto “Protect Incumbents Act”

“HB 723 would make it nearly impossible for third parties to slate candidates in Illinois,” said Free & Equal Chair Christina Tobin. “The bill would make it so that when no candidate of an established party runs in a primary for a particular office, that party can only fill the vacancy in nomination if the candidate they “slate” collects a large number of signatures.”

posted by Mike Murray
Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 9:55 am

Comments

I’ll repeat what I said in comments when Progress Illinois posted the Giannoulias video (ahem) yesterday: 1) What are Abdon Pallasch and Rick Pearson doing giving interviews to FOX as if they’re some kind of Alexi-biographers? 2) If I put something together using a google search and some overzealous lines written by right-wingnut bloggers as my sources, can I call it an investigative report?

Comment by TTL, III Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 10:25 am
Fox News Video: Rehash of everything we know. “Allegations of corruption, loans to mobsters” , inexperienced, only cites friendship with Barack Obama. “Chicago politics at its finest.” No comparison with some of our other scandals.

I don’t think he’ll win, but he’s certainly not the worst — at least from what we know so far…

Comment by KGB Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 10:32 am
Just got the letter from Hynes.

He’s even boring via email.

Things are bad, I am dedicated, this is a critical time, blah blah blah.

Comment by Obamarama Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 11:00 am
At least fox news is not taxpayer funded propaganda, watch chicago tonight last night or ever, do you ever see any republicans treated as normal human beings? Do you ever see conservatives like jeff berkowitz? No. You see 4 talking heads with no clue giving the standard democrat talking points.

The fox news piece was a great piece of journalism and a preview of the Kirk campaign.

Comment by Shore Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 11:36 am
also, polls at this point are meaningless. Has anyone outside of this blog ever heard of those democrats?

Comment by Shore Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 11:37 am
Ms. Tobin looks to be off base here, doesn’t she?

If an Established Party doesn’t nominate anyone at the primary, then that Established Party has to get signatures for the person they slate.

Parties which do nominate people in the normal manner are unaffected.

Third parties are not affected because they don’t nominate candidates in a primary, right?

Comment by krome Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 12:09 pm
krome, the Green Party nominates candidates in a primary.

Comment by Squideshi Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 12:19 pm
That Hannity piece was typical Hannity sleaze. Take all the CliffNotes attacks against Giannoulias from Google and call it investigative reporting. That’s this Hannity piece.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 12:43 pm
The Fox news story looks to be tied with the Chicago Fox News investigates story. The media is finally starting to see the real Chicago Politics.

Comment by Sammmmm Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 12:48 pm
i bet that this is what the Illonis Repubilcan Party .s IDEA I THINK THAT ANDY MCKEENA SHOULD RESIGN AS REPUBILCAN ILLONIS CHARIMAN AND I THINK ALEX GIANNOUILAS DID NOT PAY MONEY TO TONY REZKO AND ROD BLAJOJEVICH IS CRAZY AS GOVERNOR AND NOW FROMER GOVERNOR ROD BLAJOJEVICH IS MAKE FUN OF ILLONIS GOVERNOR PAT QUINN

Comment by mark the ball Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 1:00 pm
Shore,

What “taxpayer funded propaganda” are you talking about? WTTW gets its money from donations. Have you never had to endure their pledge drives?

And seeing as how the CT hosts are also hard on Dems and progressives … and sometimes let GOPs and conservatives get away with saying things that are just|this|side|of|the|truth your complaint is bogus anyway.

–

For all, FYI the Giannoulias campaign response to that Fox hit piece is online.

Comment by Rob_N Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 1:01 pm
Froehlich must resign!!!!! He is damaged goods and needs to step down NOW!!!!

Comment by Boscobud Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 1:23 pm
Kirk is talking about energy policy, healthcare reform and waste in washington. Alexi is talking about why he is not connected to Blago or Rezko and how he really didn’t lose $85 million dollars, and his Bank made loans to criminals but everybody does it. And who is have a “Terrible, no good, very bad summer?”

Comment by 10th Indy Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 1:36 pm
I found the fox video to be a strange mismatch between dialog and music. That is, if you take away all the erie music, most of what they were saying was not that bad.

Comment by Mike Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 1:57 pm
Wow… I can’t believe Hynes is hiring the same guy who managed Feigenholtz’s recent campaign. That was one of the worst campaign efforts I’ve seen around here in years.
I like Feigenholtz and think she would have been a good US rep. But she was very poorly served by her campaign strategists, who did little to remind voters of Feigenholtz’s strengths and record. Instead they concentrated almost all their resources on exaggerated negative attacks on Quigley, which the well-educated voters in the district were never going to buy.
Throughout that campaign, it seemed like Feigenholtz’s strategists were determined to make her fit their campaign strategy. They acted like they didn’t understand that campaign strategists get paid big bucks to design a campaign that fits the candidate, not vice versa.
I can’t see how this bodes well for Hynes.

Comment by OldSmokey2 Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 2:14 pm
Squideshi - The Green Party isn’t a “third party” anymore. It is an “established party”.

It gets the benefit of the lower signature requirements of an established party (just like the Republicans and Democrats) - and if fact, benefits from even lower requirements in many cases, because the signature formulas are based upon percentages of the individual party votes in past elections so as to give the Green Party much lower signature requirements (becuase their past vote totals were lower).

Comment by krome Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 2:30 pm
==If an Established Party doesn’t nominate anyone at the primary, then that Established Party has to get signatures for the person they slate.==

I don’t really follow Tobin’s argument either. The bill appears to grant established political parties quite a break if they fail to nominate a candidate in a primary. They have 16 days to simply place someone approved by their political party committee. That’s a reasonable objection in my view. If you miss the primary then go get the signatures like everyone else.

On WTTW, I don’t know how much subsidy they receive from taxpayers. They do receive a few government grants here and there to produce specific programming, but the bulk of their questionable funding comes from the pay to play culture we have in Chicagoland between broadcasters and corporate interests.

I always thought you could not run corporate advertising on PBS affiliates, but the PBS programming I watch has corporate advertisements all the time.

Exempting he Hannity markup, the Fox News piece is actually pretty good. MSNBC will be right around the corner with an equally scary expose of Mark Kirk.

It would be nice to read Alexi’s responses on his campaign website. Although, I should give him credit. Prior to starting his response he only manages to mention Obama twice.

Comment by Brennan Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 2:38 pm
1. You’d think Hynes would get some out of work top national democrat strategist who had done obama’s campaign to do it.

2. WTTW could get 4 bloggers off this thing to give better analysis than what they have night in night out.

3. The Kirk conservative bashing stories are overdone by a media bored and out of touch with the republican party. Thirsty dogs will drink anything they can find, and conservatives stuck with democrat supermajority in senate and democrats running everything will settle for kirk.

4. Tom Roeser gave an excellent beat down to WTTW for last night. Kirsten Mcqueary or whatever her name is represents the south suburbs, doesn’t know the difference between winnetka and wilmette (winnetka is more conservative, older money, wilmette younger, more moderate) and has no idea about the tenth. None of them had anything original or interesting to say on the races and they could have easily gotten someone who actually covers politics for a living and is good at it.

Comment by Shore Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 3:06 pm
We need more conservative Kirk-bashing stories. All Republicans should know that he’s more liberal than many Democrats.

Comment by Conservative Veteran Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 3:15 pm
===On WTTW, I don’t know how much subsidy they receive from taxpayers. They do receive a few government grants here and there to produce specific programming, but the bulk of their questionable funding comes from the pay to play culture we have in Chicagoland between broadcasters and corporate interests.===

Go back to Illinois Review.

Of their roughly $63 million budget, they receive $5.3 million from corporations, and $4.2 million in government grants. In other words, about 1/7th of their money comes from corporations and taxpayer dollars.

But you’re right. How dare they accept a dime from evil entities like Giordano’s and Des Plaines Cheesburger in Paradise location? Give me a break.

Comment by Obamarama Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 3:18 pm
Yes, shore. An excellent piece of journalism. One of the best pieces of investigative reporting EVER. I’m going to rank it right up there with Geraldo finding Jimmy Hoffa’s grave - oh, wait.

And it’s definitely a preview of the Kirk campaign - all smears, no substance.

Comment by Bill S. Preston, Esq. Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 3:32 pm
Obamarama, I dunno. That Dominick’s Food Store chain is pretty out there.

And what’s that? WTTW gets more from corporate donors than from gov’t grants?!

Why that goes against every conservative talking point about PBS out there. Ergo, you must be wrong (and Obama really was born in Narnia)!

Comment by Rob_N Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 4:01 pm
The Galexi poll at this point is a joke! Small sample comparing him against two non-office holders (a possible bonus this cycle) neither of which has yet spent any money;but neither of which has lost millions in parents college savings funds of Illinois parents. If Kennedy were to get in, he would swamp him financially and if he did not beat him, he would bloody him up but good! He would also drain his money pit much quicker than G-alexi would like. Also; Jackson got in a 3 way, I think she would stand a better than even money chance of beating both of them.

In a one on one race Jackson would also perform well, if she can raise a few $, but that won’t happen unless G-alexi stumbles first, but that might just take a few people without any clout opening up their Bright Start statements during “back to school season, and realizing that the closest their little student might ever get to U of I might be a T-Shirt or a cap with the new and un-improved sans Chief logo.

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 4:18 pm
Obviously it’s waaay early in the next election cycle and much can change. But really, considering Alexi’s one, and pretty much only, claim of election success and experience and expertise is the Treasurer’s Ofc–aren’t the Bright Start fiascos going to be a problem for him to overcome?

People like Obama personally but are starting to pick up that his inexperience and relative youth may be contributing to some of situations in Washington which are causing his numbers to fall. How’s Alexi’s hitching his wagon to that star while having even less experience going to work out? It’ll be interesting to see how his message people deal with this. I don’t think merely having a lot of cash and attacking his opponents is going to work for Alexi. The political antennae of regular Illinoisans are up more than at any time in my recollection.

Comment by Responsa Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 4:36 pm
I can’t believe we are still talking about this again, but here we go:

Oppenheimer was the entity responsibly for managing the money that was “lost” in Bright Start. THEY took a stupid gamble on debt instruments tied to risky mortgages. Maine, New Mexico, Oregon and Texas were also in the same boat with us–sans oars.

After the losses came to the attention of the Treasurer’s offices, Alexi pursued a legal action. The result of that action is still pending today and would return 90+% of the monies lost.

I am not a big Alexi guy (nor an Obama guy despite the posting name), but the blame he deserves for the initial loss of money is minimal at best. Not only that, but he came in, cleaned up the mess, and looks to have successfully recouped almost everything that was lost.

If you want to criticize him for other things, knock yourselves out; I am sure there is plenty there. But this is getting to be our own little instate Birther issue.

Comment by Obamarama Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 4:48 pm
==Not only that, but he came in, cleaned up the mess, and looks to have successfully recouped almost everything that was lost.==

Status pending. He’ll probably recover most of the losses. It’s not a closed book though.

Anyone know if Greenburg Quinlan Rosner commissioned this poll on behalf of a client? I have asked Josh Kraushaar.

==How’s Alexi’s hitching his wagon to that star while having even less experience going to work out?==

Can’t he just say that Blagojevich is the “anti-Obama” until it sticks?

Comment by Brennan Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 4:58 pm
You got mail. Kraushaar delivers.

==for Giannoulias camp==

Comment by Brennan Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 5:01 pm
Sheesh, Obamarama,

If it is my earlier post about Alexi which set you off, please go re-read it. You needn’t scold or convince ME. It ain’t MY issue. I was not accusing Alexi of anything.

From time to time on this site we political observers raise questions which may also arise in a specific campaign or may affect the electorate’s perceptions of a candidate. I believe you have possibly done that yourself. My questions were genuine and whether you like it or not, this is something Alexi’s team is going to have to deal with. Maybe you think putting your fingers in your ears and producing a nice TV ad suggesting voters who are interested in Bright Start issues (or may be invested in it) are akin to “instate birthers”–but somehow I suspect that will not be highly effective merchandising! You’re going to require considerably thicker skin and acquire sharper political instincts if you hope to make it through 2010 elections.

Comment by Responsa Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 5:26 pm
Responsa, Read Quinn T. Sential’s post just above yours as to why Obamarama responded with those facts.

If O hadn’t I was about to.

In particular, QTS wrote “but neither of which has lost millions in parents college savings funds of Illinois parents.”

QTS skipped the part about how Oppenheimer, as O pointed out, took out the risky investments without informing the 5 states involved.

And Giannoulias was the first to call them on it which led to the recovery case he and AG Madigan are now involved in.

Of course, had QTS noted all that it would really sort of burst his spinful lead balloon there anyway.

Comment by Rob_N Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 5:37 pm
Responsa,

Rob-N is correct. My post was directed at QTS–not you–I actually agree with your assessment that Alexi will need to overcome the Bright Start issue in his campaign. As for my skin and instincts, I’ll be fine, thanks.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 6:25 pm
That seems to be the art or deceit of todays campaign strategies. Recently Blago and Ryan locally and GWB nationally were attached to issues that were not their doing or were in their control.

Once they were branded in the casual public’s eye they could never get their story out without spending lots of time explaining away the falsehoods. Brightstar may be Giannoulias’s undeserved tagging. (The extra cars did not help)

Comment by Plutocrat03 Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 6:29 pm
Anon 6:25 is me, oops.

Comment by Obamarama Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 6:30 pm
Rob N,

Did you major in revisionist history in school, or is that something you picked up on your own as a post graduate?

Gaelxi was a Johnny-come lately on the Bright Start flame-out, and was well behind Oregon. Also his “calling them out on it” wast tantamount to filing a form letter complaint.

He raised an issue with them in April of 2008, but the credit default swap investments began in the early fall of 2007. Apparently it took him six months before he got around to opening the investment performance reports and reading them, or he might have actually know where the money was being invested in the first place.

Once he finally figured it our however, he did nothing of substance about it until 8 months later in December of 2008, and in the intervening period the bottom dropped out of the parents investments.

GALEXI is the plan F-I-D-U-C-I-A-R-Y. I would encourage you to go look it up to better understand his role in this situation, and his DUTY to investors as part of it.

More importantly; I would suggest that you review the marketing materials for the Brightstart Plan; and then compare them against the actual offering prospectus for the Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund, and see if you can recognize the important differences between the two, and divine the fiduciary liability that exists for GALEXI in this matter.

What the Treasurer was selling to parent investors; was not what Oppenheimer had sold to the Treasurer, and the Treasurer-GALEXI, white washed what the parents were buying in their marketing materials, and I am not sure which is scarier, that he didn’t know any better, or that he did, and came to the conclusion that this would be an appropriate investment vehicle for parents saving for college.

Any DRAFT that takes 90 cents on the dollar in settlement, wih out getting th other dime from GALEXI

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 7:31 pm
Sorry; premature post-u-lation

Any DRAFT Settlement Agreement is worth less than the paper it is printed on, and is only meaningful when the check clears and the account has been credited. Any parent that takes 90 cents on the dollar in settlement from Oppenheimer, without getting the other dime from GALEXI would be a fool in this instance, and any Settlement Agreement that precludes that should be rejected.

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 7:36 pm
QTS: Is it your assertion that Alexi did not fulfill his fiduciary duties in some way by investing the funds with Oppenheimer? Or did he not fall into dereliction of his duty until the Opp fund tanked?

On another note, I can’t speak for anyone else, but I would take ONLY a 10% hit between now and fall 2007 if someone could magically offer it to me. I think the DJIA would as well.

As far as it taking Alexi half of a year to notice the massive hemorrhaging of money… yeah I’ve got no excuse/defense for that.

Comment by Obamarama Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 7:58 pm
Quinn T-

Your attempt to give Alexi a nickname that is neither funny nor clever has crashed and burned…doesn’t matter how many times you type it in. Try another one…you’re a smart dude…you can do it. Who knows, someone else may actually join in! But remember, try to be either funny or clever. Go get ‘em!

Comment by Clark Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 8:02 pm
Ignore QTS’ goofy nickname-his points, that 1) It’s flat incorrect that IL was first to figure out the problem in the Opp Core Plus Bond Fund and 2) that the Fund was an unsuitable instrument for College Savings ARE correct. Dial back to about 4/15 and read Greg Hinz’ blog posts; the happytalk and doubletalk he got from Opp and Alexi’s office in trying to get basic questions answered was dizzying. Rob N, Greg’s work specifically refutes your assertions.

For the families’ sake, I hope a settlement is reached and that 90 cents on the dollar is realized; seems curious, though, that almost two months have passed since Alexi said the deal was done and nothing has happened since.

I thought the Hannity piece was light and recycled; thought the Giannoulias response on Dkos was overwrought and waaayyyy too long. Not nearly as bad as the 8-page whinearama from the former UIUC Law Dean and Professor of Law & Moral Superiority who can’t even decent write a decent CYA memo. And she calls herself a “public servant.” Hah. She would never survive Stratton or JRTC.

AA
not eligible for Cash for Clunkers

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 10:15 pm
It’s okay, AA, I’m not eligible either.

Comment by Lynn S Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 11:24 pm
AA, This is the point where, if the situation were reversed someone like Shore or Team would step in and complain about media bias re Crains. But since Crains is already in their court they don’t have to. (joke!)

Otherwise, fair enough.

- Rob N
Also not eligible for Cash for Clunkers

Comment by Rob_N Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 12:14 am
krome, there is no legal definition of a third-party; but my understanding has always been that a third-party is any party other than the Democratic and Republican parties–whether or not they are legally established is a separate issue. While you may find reference to “new” political parties in Illinois law, I don’t believe that you’ll find reference to third-parties anywhere.

Comment by Squideshi Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 12:32 am