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Candidate denies conspiracy, which obviously makes him guilty

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* Time for a little levity…


Notice @JBPritzker ads hitting @KennedyforIL, not Biss, in the last days. If JB survives #DemocraticParty primary, look to @DanielBiss to be measured for Durbin's senate seat. #twill

— John Kass (@John_Kass) March 13, 2018

Do the math. I'm not saying @DanielBiss is not an honest candidate. He is an honest candidate. But if he were not in the race, @KennedyforIL would swamp @JBPritzker. JB knows this. I'm sure Durbin does too.

— John Kass (@John_Kass) March 14, 2018


* The first problem with this conspiracy theory is that Pritzker is thwacking Biss with that retirement income tax ad. Yes, he’s attacking Kennedy, too, but Biss is still in there.

Also, didn’t Mary Schmich just write a Tribune column complaining about how Pritzker was constantly sending out negative mailers against Daniel Biss? Why, yes, she did.

Also, too, if Biss is part of some sort of grand scheme, he’s sure not talking like it…


Primary push has @DanielBiss campaign in Champaign for second time in one week. He responds to @GovRauner’s vow to “blow [@JBPritzker] up and take him down” in November. Biss says “JB Pritzker is Bruce Rauner’s dream.” pic.twitter.com/SR5CoNXdLt

— Mark Maxwell (@WCIA3Mark) March 14, 2018

Ouch.

* But just to be on the safe side, I asked the Biss campaign if the candidate was part of a grand conspiracy with Pritzker…

Better question, is this some Kennedy-Kass conspiracy? Or is this just a part of the Kennedy-Rauner partnership?

Then again, if Biss was involved with a nefarious plot like this, he’d undoubtedly deny it. Hmm.

I asked Pritzker’s spokesperson about this and she just laughed. But, it could have been an evil laugh to disguise her inside knowledge. I just don’t know.

* However, Pritzker is most definitely focusing more on Kennedy than Biss…


.@JBPritzker running 4 negative ads in the final week of the election, mostly against @KennedyforIL. Not a sign of confidence.

— Mark Bergman (@Bergman2004) March 13, 2018


I counted only three. The one attacking Kennedy and Biss on the retirement income tax, one on marijuana (which we’ll get to in a bit) and one about how Kennedy had raised tuition at the the U of I.

* But there is, indeed, a fourth

* Script

Announcer: Kennedy says…

Chris Kennedy: Making college affordable is critical to the success not only to the next generation, but of our entire economy.

Announcer: But what’s Chris Kennedy’s record?

Clip of a Mark Maxwell WCIA TV report: Our review of his time at the University of Illinois shows that he raised tuition several times while African-American enrollment dropped off steadily.

Announcer: That’s right. Kennedy’s five votes to raise tuition caused African-American enrollment to drop 17 percent. Chris Kennedy. Shouldn’t we judge him by his record?

I think what’s going on here is they’re worried that the undecideds will break toward the Kennedy name. There’s also lots of speculation out in the ether that some independent-minded Republicans might opt out of the GOP primary over disgust with both Rauner and Ives and vote for the clear anti-Madigan candidate in the Democratic primary, which would be Kennedy.

…Adding… Good point in comments…

Cook County Independent-minded Republicans might be tempted to pull a Dem ballot to vote against Berrios & Preckwinkle as well.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:10 am

Comments

  1. Cook County Independent-minded Republicans might be tempted to pull a Dem ballot to vote against Berrios & Preckwinkle as well.

    Comment by Grand Avenue Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:14 am

  2. John Kass. ‘nuf said.

    Comment by Honeybadger Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:17 am

  3. It probably doesn’t help that Kennedy went after Pritzker’s family.

    Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:17 am

  4. Kass is still alive?

    Comment by TaylorvilleTornado Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:17 am

  5. ..and yet we wonder why citizens hate politics and distrusts their elected officials.

    What a bunch of embarassing gossips.

    Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:18 am

  6. he’s no Mike Royko.

    Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:19 am

  7. The idea that Kass’ dreaded combine is fixing to make *Daniel Biss* a US Senator is hilarious.

    Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:19 am

  8. If we’re gonna start making conspiracies about Durbin’s senate seat, let’s start with the obvious one: If Durbin runs for reelection again in 2020, but Dems are unable to draw a safe seat for Bustos as that region if the state trends red, will Durbin step down in 2021 or 2022 on the condition that Pritzker appoint Bustos to his seat

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:20 am

  9. Finally (exclamation marks)

    The right U of I ad…

    Finally.

    This stuff ain’t that hard, lol

    (It’s a joke, this post is about levity)

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:20 am

  10. I think if JB wins, Durbin steps down in 2019 and appoints Cheri, that would be a more likely conspiracy. It gives her name recognition in Chicago and larger ability to fundraiser before she is on the ballot statewide.

    But who knows dems can have the majority in both houses again and give Durbin a second breath. Add in a 2021 Dem president and dems control all the houses and can actually govern.

    Alot of dominoes still have to fall but Kass can keep sniffing those charcoals on his grill and spewing out stuff to stay relevant.

    Comment by Almost the Weekend Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:21 am

  11. If Kass hates it here so much why can’t he move to like Arizona?

    Comment by Natty_B Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:22 am

  12. Durbin’s politics really do not resemble Daniel’s, but Kass would have to possess some ounce of nuance or intellectual honesty to grasp that.

    Comment by PJ Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:24 am

  13. I’m sure Kass has a lot of perfect anonymous quotes from “insiders” to back it up, just as he always does.

    He has an army of anonymous perfect-quote insiders. The quotes couldn’t be better if he made them up himself.

    On this one, though, I think Kass is wrong. This is all obviously part of Michael Madigan’s master plan to install Lisa in the governor’s mansion in 2023.

    You know, that conspiracy that Kass peddled for at least a dozen years, where every move Michael Madigan made was part of the grand plan to make Lisa governor.

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:26 am

  14. ==let’s start with the obvious one==

    Yeah, if anyone’s trying to line up that Senate seat for anyone, it’s Durbin trying to line it up for Bustos.

    Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:26 am

  15. The best thing about the Kass column is that it shows that even Trib people don’t read the Trib.

    Comment by Gooner Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:26 am

  16. ===Kass can keep sniffing those charcoals on his grill and spewing out stuff ===

    It’s more like huffing paint from what I’ve been reading. Incoherent, disconnected mutterings of an angry old man.

    Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:27 am

  17. A year from now, Biss will be running the IL Department of Human Services.

    Comment by scafish Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:31 am

  18. I’ve always thought it was a Rauner-Kass conspiracy.

    Comment by Anonin Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:33 am

  19. How do Daiber and Marshall fit into this? It’s not a grand conspiracy unless everyone is in on it. And why no mention of Madigan’s other candidate: Ives

    Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:38 am

  20. Kass must love the attention he gets here…and just about nowhere else.

    Comment by A guy Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:38 am

  21. “A year from now, Biss will be running the IL Department of Human Services.”

    Yea, because there’s no better response to a guy who’s been slamming you for more than a year and said you’re disqualified than to make him a cabinet member.

    Comment by Anon0091 Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:39 am

  22. The last week of every campaign is filled with paranoia, conspiracy rumors, and imaginary justifications for potential losses.

    “We just lost it,” is never enough.

    Comment by walker Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:46 am

  23. Looks like someone tryin’ to use our handle. Kassamoron should know that the covers for the seat are already on order by at least 2 female members of Congress. But then fast eddie might be in that look so Kassamoron would not know.

    Comment by annonin' Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:47 am

  24. –Yea, because there’s no better response to a guy who’s been slamming you for more than a year and said you’re disqualified than to make him a cabinet member.–

    Happens all the time in politics.

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:48 am

  25. Pot calling kettle, Marshall fits in because under his plan, both Bustos and Biss could be Senators?

    Comment by Juice Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:50 am

  26. ==Yea, because there’s no better response to a guy who’s been slamming you for more than a year and said you’re disqualified than to make him a cabinet member.==

    Consider Barack Obama’s first Secretary of State.

    Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:51 am

  27. ===Yea, because there’s no better response to a guy who’s been slamming you for more than a year and said you’re disqualified than to make him a cabinet member.===

    Lincoln’s cabinet of rivals?

    Hmm.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:52 am

  28. John Kass, Skip Bayless, Jay Mariotti… forever tuned out and I literally do not care.

    Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 11:54 am

  29. “Lincoln’s cabinet of rivals?”

    Fair point. I stand corrected conceptually.

    Comment by Anon0091 Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 12:11 pm

  30. Grand Avenue, you are spot on.

    I am a Cook County Independent-minded Republican who will be pulling a Dem ballot this year to specifically vote against Berrios. And while I’m there I’ll be adding to the vote total of Kennedy, just because.

    If you are a Republican who lives in Cook County, the Dem Primary IS your general election if you want to help oust countywide elected officials. Otherwise, by the time it gets to the general election, it’ll be too late.

    Comment by Newspaper Face Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 12:22 pm

  31. If Kass falls in the woods and no one is there to hear him, is he still wrong?

    – MrJM

    Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 12:24 pm

  32. I’m an “Independent-minded Republican” in Lake County and almost pulled Dem. The idea of voting for an anti Madigan candidate for Governor and AG was a compelling one. In the end though, Congress kept me pulling GOP. In Cook County, seriously don’t underestimate those votes that will almost entirely go Kennedy.

    Comment by LC Illini Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 12:31 pm

  33. Can someone explain Durbin priming Bustos instead of, say, Frerichs or Mendoza?

    Comment by TKMH Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 12:32 pm

  34. ===Can someone explain Durbin priming Bustos instead of, say, Frerichs or Mendoza?===

    Durbin and the Bustos family were/are close.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 12:38 pm

  35. ==Durbin and the Bustos family were/are close.==

    Got it, thank you.

    Comment by TKMH Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 12:46 pm

  36. Lisa Madigan will run for U.S Senator, after Durbin steps down. Lisa will serve 12 years then become the first female president. It is in the stars.

    Comment by Big foot Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 12:46 pm

  37. March 2018: Daniel Biss for Governor !
    March 2019: I remember Daniel Biss.
    March 2020: Daniel who ?

    Comment by Gone and forgotten Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 12:52 pm

  38. Thread of the day. Conspiracy upon conspiracy upon conspiracy. Fun stuff.

    JB’s (mostly) hitting Kennedy because Kennedy’s his chief rival. Rauner’s hitting JB because JB’s his chief rival. It doesn’t ALL have to be about conspiracy.

    Curious about who the second female legislator being primed, conspiracy-style, for Durbin’s seat is - ? He’ll probably go for Bustos, although I’d like to see Mendoza in the position. Or would she be better as governor? Or or or?

    Maybe we should hold off on future conspiracy theories til the current ones have been laid to rest.

    Comment by dbk Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 1:02 pm

  39. I think the Biss and Kennedy ideas of taxing retirement income is going to cost them a lot of votes.

    Comment by DuPage Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 1:06 pm

  40. Grand Avenue described me perfectly. Lifelong Republican, pulled Dem ballot to vote against Berrios and Preckwinkle, voted for Kennedy, side benefit of not voting in GOP primary is hopefully having Rauner sweat a little more from a closer primary.

    Comment by Cookie Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 1:06 pm

  41. I know data is an anathema to someone like Kass, but the CapFax poll had Pritzker ahead of both combined and other polls have it close to a dead heat with the two combined. Not every Biss vote would go to Kennedy, so, again, Kass demonstrates he’s bad at math, logic, and reality.

    Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 1:22 pm

  42. === Cook County Independent-minded Republicans might be tempted to pull a Dem ballot to vote against Berrios & Preckwinkle as well. ===

    The primary is the only opportunity to defeat Berrios or Preckwinkle. If they win the nomination the the county of Cook, they win re-election.

    So it would be a rational decision by Cook County Republicans to pull a D ballot, esp. if they lack any GOP primary races they care about. What inhibits actually doing it is that primary party choices are a matter of public record. Illinoisans know that can come back to bite them.

    Comment by anon2 Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 2:11 pm

  43. === You know, that conspiracy that Kass peddled for at least a dozen years, where every move Michael Madigan made was part of the grand plan to make Lisa governor. ===

    No need to remind everyone that the last big Kass conspiracy theory didn’t pan out. No one’s perfect. But he’s due for one.

    Comment by anon2 Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 2:16 pm

  44. PJ ……Biss and Durbin are very similar Both think they are highly intelligent and both seem to believe their spew is some how better than anyone else’s.

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 3:05 pm

  45. John Cass, our state’s candidate for Alex Jones or Rush Limbaugh.

    Comment by Union Thug Gramma Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 3:37 pm

  46. Am I the only one oblivious to the last couple weeks of the campaign.

    Comment by BlueDogDem Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 10:12 pm

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