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* The Sangamon County Republican Foundation’s chairman Andy Van Meter says Bill Cellini will continue serving as his group’s treasurer as long as Cellini wants, claiming that Cellini has mostly an honorary title anyway. Van Meter also chairs the Sangamon County Board. The SJ-R points to significant links to the foundation which go beyond a mere honorary affiliation…
* The foundation’s director is Janis Cellini, Bill’s sister;
* The administrative assistant of the political action committee, Robin Ellison, has the same title with the Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association, of which Bill Cellini remains executive director;
* In the three months ending Sept. 30, the foundation paid the asphalt group $397 in reimbursements for postage, copies and telephone use.
* And the offices of the foundation and the asphalt association are both in Near North Village, a building at Fifth and Jefferson streets that originally was developed by Cellini and other partners. The foundation paid $600 in rent to Near North Village over the same three-month period.
Asked about the connections, Van Meter said via email, “I can’t follow all this guilt by association.
The foundation raised less than $6,000 last quarter, but it had almost $300,000 in cash and investments. By comparison, the Sangamon County Republican Central Committee had just $31K in the bank.
Bill Cellini is highly respected in Springfield GOP circles, so I understand why his longtime friends don’t want to kick a man when he’s down. If this was a less serious conviction or a simple tax problem or whatever, I wouldn’t make a deal out of it. But he was convicted of two felonies relating directly to government and politics. Cellini should do Van Meter a favor and fall on his sword. Also, since the state GOP chairman has made a career out of slamming Democrats for their corruption, perhaps he ought to step in here.
* It is often said that the Lottery is a tax on the mathematically illiterate. With a hat tip to a commenter, much the same can be said of pay-to-vote online straw polls and Ron Paul supporters…
A strong internet presence pushed Ron Paul to the top in the Illinois Republican straw poll. The Texas congressman bested the other presidential candidates in the survey, which wrapped up on Saturday.
Casting a ballot in the straw poll cost $5, and the Illinois Republican Party said more than 3600 people participated. Three quarters of them did so online, which is how Ron Paul claimed more than 50 percent of the vote.
“I think what this does is it shows the relative strengths of the candidates,” said U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk at a press conference announcing the results. “Ron Paul is obviously a big online performer.”
* Congressman Paul’s performance in the real world didn’t exactly measure up, of course…
Mr Paul won 66.5 per cent of the votes cast over the Internet and 8 per cent of those cast in person.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney earned 7 per cent of the online votes cast and 35 per cent of the in-person votes, winning the most in-person votes cast at 22 locations, the party said.
* Romney did not come in second place overall, however. That spot went to Herman Cain…
Finishing behind Paul’s 1,907 votes was businessman Herman Cain with 670 votes or 18 percent; former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 515 votes or 14 percent; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich with 332 votes or 9 percent; Texas Gov. Rick Perry with 87 votes or 2.5 percent; former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman with 54 votes or 1.5 percent; former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum with 43 votes or 1.2 percent; and Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann with 41 votes or 1.1 percent.
* As to whether this means anything at all, here’s what the Daily Herald had to say…
The poll — at least momentarily — had pivoted the conversation from the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries to Illinois, fueling races up and down the ticket with both enthusiasm and campaign cash.
That may be way too generous.
* A small blip occurred when 30 people tried to cast more than one vote. Mark Kirk blamed it on Tom Cross…
That apparently wasn’t clear to the House Republican Organization, a political group headed by state Rep. Tom Cross, the GOP leader in the Illinois House. An email to supporters said online participants “can vote multiple times to ‘run up the score’ for your favorite candidate.”
“Yeah - [Cross] was incorrect,” Kirk said when asked about the email, which was first written about on the website Republican News Watch. “And so, we did find 30 people that tried to vote twice and they were eliminated.”
So much for warm feelings of party unity.
* Nobody could’ve ever guesed…
Republicans trying to block a Democratic-drawn congressional redistricting map have told a federal court panel that documents show a concerted effort from Springfield to Washington to “get more Democratic pick-ups” at the expense of GOP members in the Illinois delegation.
Republicans are using the documents involving the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the staffs of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and Illinois Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago, and others to bolster their contention that the new map is unconstitutional because it is politically gerrymandered and dilutes Latino representation.
In the request for a permanent injunction, filed late Friday night with a three-judge federal court panel, Republicans cite correspondence in which Ian Russell, the DCCC’s Midwest political director, thanks a member of Cullerton’s staff for guidance on how to “advance our goal — more Democratic pick-ups.”
The Democrats freely admit that politics played a major role in the remap process. The GOP allegations amount to a legal longshot, however…
Trying to get a court to reverse a map based on political decisions has historically been difficult.
That’s an understatement.
* And let’s conclude our GOP roundup with a GOP caption contest. Here’s Congressman Joe Walsh…
Take it easy in comments, people. Don’t get carried away with violent imagery. I don’t like it. Thanks.
* Related…
* Lemont Tea Party no longer endorsing Republicans Radogno, Durkin
* Remap forcing GOP lawmakers to pick districts
* Kirk calls on Obama to collapse Central Bank of Iran
* VIDEO: Ron Paul wins Illinois straw poll
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 2:27 pm
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Caption: “Remember Glass Jaw on Nintendo’s Mike Tyson Knockout … THAT was my Halloween Costume …”
Cellini - Nothing like a party NOT wanting to hurt the feelings of a convicted FELON, and further, nothing like a convicted FELON of a money charge - not resigning of a Treasurer’s post, ceremonial or not.
“We don’t want to kick Ole Bill while he’s down, so let’s just not address it. maybe Bill will resign?”
PATHETIC!
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 2:38 pm
if you don’t like violent imagery, why put this up? Looks like a “dare ya” challenge to ban folks
Comment by GMatts Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 2:39 pm
GMatts, I can understand your disappointment, but rules is rules.
Think of it as a challenge. Take a violent photo and make fun of it without using overly violent imagery. You’re supposed to think, not just react with the first thing that comes to your mind.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 2:43 pm
“Do it again, do it again … this time do the Cowardly Lion, then the Tim Man Uncle Joe!”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 2:45 pm
In this thread, Rich Miller proposes that his readers think about the actions of Joe Walsh. At least thirty readers were hospitalized after the group began experiencing severe headache and difficulty speaking. All were released after evaluation, with a doctor’s warning to avoid reading about Joe Walsh.
Comment by JN Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 2:49 pm
I call this one my “figuratively speaking”
Comment by Jimmy CrackCorn Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 2:49 pm
The GOP wave election in 2010 was powerful enough to bring a Rock Em Sock Em Robot into the halls of Congress.
Comment by Boone Logan Square Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 2:52 pm
“Niagra Falls! Slowly I turned ….step by step …”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 2:58 pm
Float like a butterfly
Sting like a bee
My wife wants child support
But won’t get it from me.
Comment by Jaded Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 2:59 pm
“I call this one my ‘Primary Happy Dance’. I’ll do anything, figuratively speaking, to win.”
Comment by Ghost of John Brown Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:00 pm
I’ve got Hultgren and Obama right where they want me, now!
And to Oswego Willy @ 2:58 p.m.: “…Inch by inch!”
Comment by Northsider Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:05 pm
Romney should be running away with the nomination. It may be troubling to Republicans that he can’t close the deal, with Cain tied or leading in polls. Would Cain’s sexual harassment stories be in the forefront of the news if Romney was winning in the polls and Cain was a fringe candidate?
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:07 pm
“I’ll prove to you how far I’m willing to go to fight for the people in my district! I’ll stick this lip to the nearest frozen metal pole if the super committee won’t agree to serious cuts without tax hikes before the deadline. I dare them to try and stop me, I double dog dare them!!
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:09 pm
“Joe Walsh fights back (literally) against the liberal Hollywood elite by punching out the guy who played the Amish bowler in Kingpin.”
Also, guy with messy divorce/child support issues wearing wedding ring, noticeable.
Comment by The Captain Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:10 pm
Joe Walsh doing his best Scott Lee Cohen impersonation.
Comment by How Ironic Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:15 pm
===Would Cain’s sexual harassment stories be in the forefront of the news if Romney was winning in the polls and Cain was a fringe candidate? ===
Probably not. The media doesn’t really work that way. Ron Paul has mostly gotten a pass on some of his weirder proclamations for that very reason.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:16 pm
The Cellini thing is but one of many issues which we younger GOPers in Sangamon County find ridiculous. You would never know our party is a bit disjointed, though, as we control 24 of 29 county board seats, every countywide office, the mayor’s seat and a majority of the city council. How we can retain those types of numbers with that type of leadership boggles the mind.
Comment by Team Sleep Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:20 pm
“Put ‘em up….put ‘em up….which one of you is first, my ex-wife? Randy Hultgren? I’ll fight you all with the tea party behind my back. I’m Joe Walsh your Cowardly Lyin’….”
Comment by anonymoose Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:21 pm
On the Paul supporters - I don’t know how comfortable many of them would be to show up at a county GOP office or a candidate’s HQ. The party establishment and leadership treats them like lepers, which is a bit unfair.
Comment by Team Sleep Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:22 pm
Caption: “…and THIS is what I do to liberals! And THIS is what I do to the Washington Politicians! And THIS is what I do to the divorce lawyers! And THIS is what I do to all the rest of the bad people!”
Comment by Elder Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:32 pm
Why is Walsh still wearing his wedding ring?
Comment by Bulbous 1 Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:33 pm
Cross “stuffing” the online polling is almost as funny as Senator Mark Kirk, (R - Ivory Tower) calling Cross out on it!
Can anyone … anyone… stop the Keystone Kops know as the HGOP … before they hurt themselves by being so “dang” tricky?
Did Cross and Co. think this was American Idol?
Grab a hot dog at the Turn, Tom, you have time to play another 9 holes.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:33 pm
Photo caption:
Understanding that he is not senior enough to “eliminate” Voters stealthily by breaking into computers and pressing the Delete key, Walsh decides to duke it out with supporters in public to prove that he, too, is a contender.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:34 pm
=Also, guy with messy divorce/child support issues wearing wedding ring, noticeable.=
At least he’s wearing his wedding ring. What is it with guys in the GOP and rings? Pat Brady introduced his wife at the straw poll winner announcement and wasn’t wearing his. Kirk was playing with his ring finger so much during the announcement that I thought it was going to fall off, the room was going to turn dark, and he’d burst into flames.
Careful, Ladies.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:43 pm
Caption: “C’mon, give me a hug … I’ll do my ‘pouty face’ … I’m gonna open these arms and I expect a ‘Tea Party’ hug … “
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:43 pm
…and he’d burst into flames, WHILE bouncing across the room. (Did you notice that he’s doing that nervous “hop” of his again?)
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:48 pm
Bulbous 1, because he is married.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:51 pm
It wasn’t just Tom Cross encouraging multiple voting. Who knows how many people actually voted or how many times.
Total joke. And even the number of “votes” reported is pretty pathetic given how hard Pat Brady and others pushed this. Guess some Republicans do have principles and don’t like idea of a poll tax.
Comment by too obvious Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:51 pm
Caption: Rep. Joe Walsh (R) illustrates what he views as his two major strengths in his re-election campaign. Said the congressman, “Any challenger is going to have to face some real threats - BOOM - ‘Family Values’ and - POW - ‘Fiscal Rectitude’! That’s a one-two combination!”
Alternately, “Some call me a deadbeat dad, but I say, come say that to my face, and we’ll see who gets beat dead, dad!”
Comment by lincoln's beard Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 3:54 pm
===It wasn’t just Tom Cross encouraging multiple voting. Who knows how many people actually voted or how many times.===
It IS a joke that Seantor Mark Kirk threw Tom Cross “under the bus” for multiple voting, and further, it seemed that Senator Mark Kirk know HOW MANY overvotes, and where (allegedly) they came from. It’s not the blame, its the act of throwing one person, and with a very specific number, and then just blaming Cross.
30 … really … 30?! … We know Senator Mark Kirk loves numbers!
THAT is what is funny.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 4:01 pm
=Who knows how many people actually voted or how many times.=
Or how many GOP Voters Kirk and/or his staff selectively “elimnated”.
I wonder whether they’ll be getting a letter or email soon, too, telling them that they need to shread their laminated ILGOP cards now.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 4:08 pm
Caption:
I’d rather fight than pay child support
Comment by AFSCME Steward Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 4:23 pm
Allow me to introduce my friends: “Personal” and “Responsibility”.
Comment by Colossus Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 4:32 pm
“I said ‘Ok kids, pick which hand the child support is in’, it’s not my fault they picked wrong.”
Comment by Small Town Liberal Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 5:00 pm
“I coulda been a contenda….I coulda been some body…”
Comment by D.P. Gumby Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 5:16 pm
So I bent the conduit in half so easily that Norm thought I should have gotten that ‘This Old House’ host gig several years ago.
Comment by zatoichi Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 5:41 pm
“Who knows how many people actually voted”
Good thing the turn out for the poll was so low, assuming the total was reported accurately or with some degree of truthiness. Otherwise the GOP might not have been stuck between a rock and a hard place meaning they might have been tempted to eliminate even more votes based on whatever rules they made up as they went along.
Guess no matter how hard they tried they couldn’t make Romney the winner. And you could tell how VERY disappointed some people were by the look on their faces that that didn’t happen. Wonder why.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 7:45 pm
Many people find Joe Walsh charming. I just don’t happen to be one of them.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 8:49 pm
Caption: “I call this one ‘lightning’ (kisses left fist), and this one ‘thunder’ (kisses right fist); don’t get caught in the STORM!”
Comment by cogenerator Monday, Nov 7, 11 @ 10:19 pm
It wasn’t like Cross and company where pushing for a particular candidate. What’s the big deal? It is just a stupid on-line poll anyway.
Comment by Just Me Tuesday, Nov 8, 11 @ 1:08 am
You weren’t REALLY going to call me that, were you?
Comment by Aldyth Tuesday, Nov 8, 11 @ 6:40 am
Another late entry:
Cong. Joe Walsh shadow boxes the truth as he portrays the Cowardly Lyin.
Comment by anon sequitor Tuesday, Nov 8, 11 @ 7:47 am
“It is just a stupid on-line poll anyway.”
No. No. No. To most it’s a stupid poll, but look at the “indicators”. Kirk didn’t come up with this idea to raise money for the GOP or to make Illinois a “playah”. It was a BIG “sales” scheme that failed miserably–especially based on the way they tried to spin it as such a huge success overall and for certain candidates based on the paper v. on-line analysis.
He was trying to use it to draw more attention to himself than usual–NATIONAL attention. And I suppose a list of those who still need to be sold to see things his way wouldn’t hurt either. They’ve probably been dicing and slicing that teeny bit of data every which way they can think of.
He’s posturing.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 8, 11 @ 8:42 am