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No demands from LMadigan?

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* After checking around a lot yesterday, I don’t think Lisa Madigan demanded these pledges from the president…

I reported on Wednesday that Madigan had two conditions she wanted if she ran for the Senate: an immediate Obama endorsement and for the Democratic primary field to be cleared. Madigan political director Mary Morrissey told me Thursday Madigan and no one in her camp set down any conditions.

* Also after checking around, I think Sheriff Dart is leaning very hard towards a run for Cook County Board President, how that Forrest Claypool has dropped out. The rest, I dunno yet…

Names potentially in contention now include Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, who, according to a source close to the sheriff, is “very, very interested and seriously considering it.”

County Assessor James Houlihan said Thursday that he was currently “re-evaluating his options.” And county Commissioner Larry Suffredin is forming an exploratory committee for the job. Already declared is the candidacy of Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th), and Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown has already commissioned polls.

More…

Another source says there was an “understanding” that if Claypool didn’t run against Stroger, Dart would.

* Notes from the circular firing squad. Doug Ibendahl tries to turn up the heat on SB600, which requires the Illinois Republican Party to elect its committeepersons…

An in-party fight among Illinois Republicans that has been percolating quietly out of sight of most voters is starting to bubble to the surface, helped along by a GOP activist who [yesterday] compared his state party’s chairman — unfavorably — to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. […]

One of the leaders of the GOP rebellion is Chicago attorney and former state GOP general counsel Doug Ibendahl, co-founder of “Republican Young Professionals,” which is among the most rebellious elements of the party. Ibendahl today emailed reporters with a link to an essay he wrote comparing GOP state party Chairman Andy McKenna to the Iranian president — who, of course, is currently being accused by demonstrators in Iran of stealing that country’s recent election.

“What do Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Andy McKenna have in common?” asks Ibendahl’s essay. “Answer: Both have constituents who want their vote back.” Ibendahl goes on to suggest that McKenna is “dividing and destroying our party on the idea that Republicans should have lesser voting rights than even the Iranians enjoy.”

“Good grief, at least they had an election their voters can demonstrate about,” writes Ibendahl.

* Related…

* Can Illinois Republicans Take Advantage of Obama’s Mistake?

* After Madigan’s White House Meeting, AG Knocked by Giannoulias

* Giannoulias: Madigan Senate bid is `insider’ clout move

* Obama, Lisa Madigan Discuss Senate Seat

* Robert Zadek of Rockford to run for U.S. Senate

* Claypool drops out of board president race

* Claypool won’t run, but Dart, Suffredin might

* Claypool’s Announcement Stirs Up County Race

* Congressional Tweeters

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 11:31 am

Comments

Does Tom Dart have the chops to really clean up the county mess? How has he done at reforming the Sheriff’s office? No Time 100 or other warm and fuzzy stuff - just interested if anyone really knows.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 11:55 am
I’ve never heard of a politician who spends his career working his way up the ladder only to quit when he gets to the top for personal reasons. Either claypool is going to make a killing on this health care thing or the MSM once again failed to do any serious under the covers reporting. You’d think one news agency would get it and realize it could win marketshare by finding out what’s really going on.

I don’t get the sb 600 baloney and the comparisons to Iran sound really stale.

Prediction that we are about to see a whole new wave of campaign consulting innovation in 2010 with twitter now busting out. Could be the rise of geek communications operatives.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 11:57 am
===You’d think one news agency would get it and realize it could win marketshare by finding out what’s really going on.===

The fact is, he is gonna make a “killing” on that new company.

To always assume the darkest of motives shows more about you than the MSM.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 11:59 am
Absolutely SB600 should be passed. If a corporation announced today that shareholders would no longer be allowed to elect the board of directors, there would be a major shareholder rebellion (and officers would go to jail). The stock price would go to zero.

But that’s exactly what the IL GOP did 20 years ago. Power to pick the party’s top leaders was taken away from the stakeholders (i.e. Republican voters). That State Central Committee really is the political equivalent of a board of directors.

The Democrats directly elect their State Central Committee members. Republicans should be able to do so again too.

This issue is a no-brainer.

Comment by just sayin Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 12:12 pm
Houlihan would be the best choice now, IMHO. He has a long history of reform and served as a mentor to Quigley and Claypool. Dart, although I think he is has a great future ahead of him, needs more than one term in office to qualify for board president. Brown and Preckwinkle are stooges who will only serve to split the black vote.

Comment by ANON Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 12:30 pm
Rich,

He hopes to make a killing, but there’s no such thing as a slam dunk with start ups. The odds are very long, even when working with a great guy like Eric Langshur.

As to his dark motives, I think he was just said “is it worth it” personally for him and his family. He’s got three kids about to go to college and no real money earned in the private sector. I’m upset because I think the County needed his combination of skills, but I don’t blame him.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 12:36 pm
At this point, I can’t see myself voting for any Democrat now holding elective office in Cook County for County Board President. Elect an outsider to clean up this mess!

Comment by fedup dem Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 12:39 pm
Let’s get SB600 passed already….

Here’s to praying the legislators are doing some additional real work down there!

Comment by Old School Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 12:48 pm
I think Claypool is going to reenter the race. This was done for publicity!

Comment by Cess pool Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 12:53 pm
Perhaps Claypool considered that it wouldn’t be much “fun” being County Board President during an economic downturn. Much better to be in charge when the economy is doing well.

That and the chance to make some filthy private sector cash are the likeliest explanation for his decision.

Of course I could be wrong. Perhaps he was scared off by the fearsome beast that is Todd Stroger and his electoral coalition. Stroger may politically appear like a wittle wabbit, but maybe he is a killer rabbit…..with nasty big teeth.

I hope the Monty Python guys forgive me.

Comment by IrishPirate Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 12:54 pm
Dart’s my choice. His 14 years in the Illinois Senate and Illinois House, combined with his Cook County Sheriff post at which he’s excelled, coupled with his zest for reform and independence (which is what that board needs right now) … and I think you have the ingredients for a good candidate.

Stay tuned.

Comment by There you go again Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 12:57 pm
Regarding SB600. While the comparison to Iran seems extreme, the sad part is it is true. The Republican party has been run like a monarchy. It’s time to give the people their voice back. How many failed elections do the Republicans have to have before they realize this? Say yes to SB600.

Comment by standonprinciple Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 1:00 pm
IP,

What’s filthy about private sector cash?

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 1:06 pm
Actually, the comparison of the current state GOP leadership to the Iranian president is not too far off, neither of them gives a rat’s patootie about those they are presumably elected to serve.

Comment by josephvolpendesta Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 1:16 pm
SB600 might do a little to improve the IL political image. Don’t we have enough dirty politics in our state without blocking a bill that might help stop some small part of it?
PS Dirty IL politics isn’t new to the 21st century. Why do folks act like it’s a new thing?

Comment by tiredofILpolitics Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 1:17 pm
Those of you who continue to compare an Illinois GOP leader to that Iranian guy are showing the rest of us a lot more about you than you may realize.

Thanks.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 1:18 pm
Please urge every representative to vote yes and sponsor SB-600. It has several distinct advantages over the current system, including:

1. State Central Committee would have to help build the ILGOP, or answer to the voters come next election much like any elected official. If the state central committeeman screw it up, they are fired. No more of this “weighted vote”, or playing a shell game, it will be completely grass roots and vote by vote to the people.

2. When we have a state central committeeman, committeewoman or candidate who runs in each of the congressional districts, it builds the party. Name recognition will come about for good candidates for Congress, State Senator, State Representative. With our party, it begs the question, what do you do if someone has been in there too long? Who replaces him? Who has just as much name recognition. Congressman Peter Roskam was fortunate that he was given a chance by the voters in IL-6 and is doing a fabulous job in the tradition of Henry Hyde. Henry had a lot of medical problems, and retired, shortly afterward passed on. He was a congressman for 32 years. Peter Roskam was a State Senator and moved up to Congress. In Illinois , we don’t have much of a farm club and no one has a clue on how to build the party. Everyone wants the positions at the top of the ticket and few want to run for school board… SB-600 opens a few positions at the top of the ticket. Should you want to retire, does you have someone to take your place? If there’s a state central committeeman and state central committeewoman that ran for those offices in your congressional district, their name is already around the district. It builds name recognition, the very thing we need to build the GOP!

In Chicago , it would give a chance to authentic Republicans, to run for Republican State Central Committeeman. Nay sayers say that Democrats could run for the State Central Republican Committeeman position, but how is that different than what it is now? Some State Central Committeeman already gave over $250,000 to Mayor Daley, Alderman Dick Mel and other Democrats. There’s other state central committeeman who have done the same thing.. What if that money was used for campaign money for running for a Republican State Central Committeeman spot and used to build the Republican Party instead of the Democratic Party?

We have to do something to build the ILGOP and inaction for 30 years has cost us much.

Comment by Gary Karlin Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 1:18 pm
I was being sarcastic regarding the word “filthy” and private sector moola.

I wish Claypool well.

I don’t know if he was one of the good guys, but he was clearly “less bad”.

Perhaps given the nature of humanity that does make him one of the good guys.

Comment by IrishPirate Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 1:26 pm
You must have missed when Mr. Ibendahl compared Mr. McKenna to King George III. Little Doug has been making shrill accusations for a long time now. For example, he’s been saying that former state Treasurer Topinka is on the verge of federal indictment for years now.

For a lawyer, he seems rather uninformed about state statutes and the text of SB600, leading one to think he is being less than honest. Direct elections for Republicans are still on the books. They were never stolen from Illinois Republicans; the current method was added as an alternative method and Republicans chose the indirect method. Republicans in convention can chose to return to direct elections; Mr. Ibendahl wants Democrats in the General Assemblly to make that decision rather than Republicans in convention.

Also dishonest is the statement that SB600 merely “restores” the law to what it was 20 years ago. SB600 enacts new requirements for the state party chairman; the real purpose here is to force the current chairman, Mr. McKenna, out of office. Again, Mr. Ibendahl prefers to use Democrats in the General Assembly to accomplish his goals rather than persuade other Republicans, something he has been woefully unsuccessful at (see his track record of failure).

Mr. Ibendahl has been living on the largess of his 86 year-old sugar daddy for some time now, something that will not continue much longer. I think Doug knows his time is getting short and thus gets more frantic and less rational as they both get older.

I’m sure Mr. Ibendahl is greatful for the attention you gave to his diatribe; most Republicans I know just ignore him.

Comment by Tom Williams Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 1:26 pm
No surprise. When the failures like “Tom Williams” who helped put the IL GOP in the ditch are faced with real change and reform, the lying and the smearing begins. Pathetic.

Comment by And it begins Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 1:30 pm
I agree with everything Gary said. The legislature should pass SB 600. Republicans should have the right to elect their party leaders. I’m surprised that anyone would oppose that bill, unless the opposition is against democracy.

Comment by Conservative Veteran Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 1:35 pm
Can’t put your finger on a falsehood, eh Doug? That’s real persuasive.

Comment by Tom Williams Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 1:38 pm
One last. If proponents of SB600 re for “direct democracy”, then why limit direct elections to SCC members? While we’re at it, why not directly elect the state party chairman?

The reason is because they’re not interested in “democracy”, “direct democracy”, or anything of the kind. They rejected last year’s vote at the state convention. As I said, this bill is a backdoor attempt to enlist Democrats to get rid of Mr. McKenna.

I guess “direct democracy” is good in some situations, and not others.

Comment by Tom Williams Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 1:43 pm
SB 600 will never pass the House. Speaker Madigan has always believed in allowing the political parties to select their own rules. The GOP did not mess with his party when they were in the minority, and he won’t mess with the GOP party structure now. He does not favor advancing the cause of conservatives, which is another reason it will not pass. That does not prevent him from using the issue for legislative strategy reasons.

The initiative is simply opposed by the overwhelming majority of activists in the party, who are the elected precinct committeemen and captains. Unlike governmental elections, state central committeemen are non-paid party positions. The overwhelming majority of GOP state organizations across the country do it this way.

Reagan would really laugh at the SB 600 effort. It shows how lacking in skillful policy advocacy the proponents of this effort are. They should be working conservative economic, national security and social issues. Instead, they choose something meaningless to all but a few deconstructionists.

House GOP’ers, don’t affiliate yourselves with these proponents. It’s probably just a matter of time before they compare volunteer state GOP leaders unfavorably to mass murderers like Richard Speck and Jeff Dahlmer. Hey don’t stop there — how about and Saddam! Is that the bill you want to co-sponsor? (Sorry for the needless snarking Rich.)

Comment by Chad Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 1:47 pm
Regarding LM, “demands” and “pledges” are very strong words, indeed. Let’s say, there are understandings and influence will be exercised.

It’s clear the White House reads the polls and believes she is the strongest candidate. By calling her to the White House to discuss the seat with the president, the White House people sent a clear, if indirect, message to the possible challengers, and perhaps as importantly, donors.

For Alexi to talk about insiders is kind of funny. The Dude’s whole public image is built on his relationship with Obama.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 1:50 pm
Ironically, the whack jobs like little Dougie won’t win anything through SB600. They are a paltry little fringe group of wannabes who think that if only evil RINO’s weren’t stealing power from them, then the entire world would flock to their right wing ideology.

Compare Andy McKenna to Ahmedinejad? That is a contemptible slur. The kind right wingers always scream about when Democrats compare them to Klansmen, etc. And if there is anyone in the political arena looking to install a theocratic authoritarian state like Iran, I think most suspicion would fall on the SB600 crowd.

In the end, pass SB600 or don’t. It won’t matter. Dougie and his fringe group have no chance of winning at the ballot box even in a party election.

If they want to build the party they should try supporting a Republican candidate once in a while rather than destroying everything and everyone that doesn’t comport with their agenda.

Comment by Abe Froman Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 1:52 pm
Direct Voting for Republican Leadership (a/k/a SB 600) As a Republican, I am deeply, deeply disappointed wiht the status of our party. Who is in charge? Where is the leadership? Where do a go to attend a State Republican Meeting? Recently I learned that some 20 years ago, the law was changed so that I CAN’T EVEN VOTE FOR OUR STATE REPUBLICAN LEADERS.

This is not complicated — let me vote!!!

And when I see a well explained statement like Gary’s above. Then compare it to this Williams guy, it just cements the issue for me. We need more input and I’d rather be with a guy like Gary who explains himself then some old timer like Williams (whoever he is). We need a vote for Republican Leadership.

Thank you.

Comment by Conservative Values Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 1:52 pm
Looking at the current state of the GOP in Illinois, it is insane to read posts from people that support the current system. When the name calling starts from posters like ‘Tom Williams’, you know the pro SB-600 have won the argument.

Comment by Anti-Double Cross Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 2:20 pm
Pass SB600 and give a try to letting ordinary Republicans elect our leadership since the present system has given us Democrat-Lite and ineffective leadership.

Comment by Margaret Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 2:29 pm
Enough with the drive-by comments, people. Last warning.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 2:30 pm
Conservative values,
I am for SB600 if it is voted for at the state convention, not by a majority of Democrats in the GA. You do vote for the State central Committee if you are a precinct committeemen when you vote for the township chairman. the Chairman vote to elect their SCC member with a vote weighted by how many GOP voters they represent.

Gary Karlin, If you want to get Chicago more Republican let’s change the rules saying Cook County has to elect the Ward and Township committeeman and go to precinct committeeman. Every other county elects precinct committeeman but Cook. The GOP is better at grassroots politics why do we play the Democrats game in Cook? I say get Organized and pass SB600 at the next convention.

Comment by votecounter Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 2:54 pm
So Doug Ibendahl writes another over-the-top poison pen letter; hardly newsworthy after all these years. The biggest problem with SB 600 is that it will not deliver in actuality what it’s champions suggest. It will not bring new, honest, “grass-roots” Mr. Smith goes to Washington types to the top of the party. Only very wealthy people who can spend money on a job like that which officially does not pay, or people with lots of name recognition anyway will be the only ones who will win the races that are contested. Look at who populates the DEM State Cent. Committee –elected officials and connected politicos. In my many years of experience in politics in this state, that is not a combination that brings new ideas and shares power with the weak. It is not a combination that regularly brings about true reform. The other problem is that there is no check on some strange character filing and being unopposed in some of the City districts that generate very few GOP voters on Primary day. You could have someone file at the 11th hour on the last day of filing and not be able to do anything about it. On the GOP side, not all districts are filled. There are some 80% and 90% plus congressional disticts on the DEM side. Mark my words, the GOP will end up with SCC members who are considered fringe or who are considered plants by the Democrats (whether they are or are not). Will be a real, REAL problem. Cant wait to see who Commander Idendahl and his circular firing squad want to shoot when SB 600 does not prove to be the magic elixor for all that ailes the GOP. With all due respect to my many friends in the GOP who have vested far too much energy and far too much misguided hope in this bill, please focus your attention on recruiting great candidates that a majority of the citizenry will elect in the general. That is a noble cause that will reap the intended benefits you seek -not SB 600.

Comment by Former member GOP S.C.C. Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 3:13 pm
The IL GOP is in such rotten shape, it still doesn’t have any firm candidates for most of the major races next year. And the petition period starts in just over a month.

2010 is shaping up to be another disaster. It will be the latest in a long string for the IL GOP.

The IL GOP is in such rotten shape it can’t even run an honest state convention. That’s why Republicans have to go the SB600 option. It all becomes circular when the leaders Republicans don’t get to directly elect won’t do their job and run a real convention where anything positive can be accomplished. We need new leadership so we can have honest conventions.

The opponents of SB600 don’t care about the GOP, only themselves. Anyone who opposes restoring accountability in the face of disaster after disaster is obviously part of the problem and is now simply terrified of having to account to Republican voters.

If you think Republicans deserve less respect than the Democrats when it comes to voting, then you should be a Democrat.

Comment by Let's try elections Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 3:30 pm
I count three “different” commenters using the same IP address on this thread, including the 3:30 comment above.

That’s a bannable offense.

Avoid sock puppetry at all costs.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 3:32 pm
Folks, SB600 is a non-issue. It will never take effect, and certainly not in 2010.

SB600 is plainly unconstitutional, and if the Democrats ever ram it through, the State GOP has lawyers ready to file suit. Given the clarity of U.S. Supreme Court precedent, which states that a government cannot dictate the internal leadership election procedures of a political party if they don’t want it, I would be shocked if any judge allowed the 2010 primary to include direct elections. The point is only more obvious when the changes are made by a legislature dominated by the opposing party, taken over heavy protests by the GOP legislators, and after the GOP convention delegates rejected the idea by over 3-1. If it ever comes to it, I predict that an injucntion will be issued to stop direct elecions in 2010 under SB600.

What lies behind it all is the ambitions of a few. Jack Roeser is ready to spend whatever it takes to get his people into SCC seats, to take power. Ibendahl now has become the SB600 Maniac for that reason, and only that reason. It is increasgly obvious that they operate under the false belief that by taking over the State Central Committee, they take over the Illinois GOP and can then go around issuing orders. It is a fallacy, as power in the GOP in Illinois is very decentralized. Besides, the day Roeser and Ibendahl get in is the day half the Illinois GOP will get up and walk out.

All politics are local, as the saying goes. Parties start on the front porch, and work their way up. The Democrats, through corruption, bad government, and now the coming fiscal disaster in Springfield, have given the GOP quite a bit to talk about on those front porches.

It would therefore seem smarter to work on the lowest level, not the highest. Let’s stop wasting time - Election Day 2010 is coming fast.

Rich, go ahead and ban them - you know who they are. They will just go find another Kinko’s to send from.

Comment by Bubs Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 4:00 pm
Dougy Ibendahl and his handful of “brethren” just prove more and more who they really are every time they open their mouths. And some people think it would be a good thing given this group any power with their tendency to use such inflamatory, slanderous rhetoric? Thankfully, the number of people who think so is limited to a handful…who apparently share the same internet server.

Comment by Anon Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 4:24 pm
Come on Rich … Out ‘em.

Comment by Chad Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 4:30 pm
Claypool went to the private sector before. It was some sort of government web service company that I don’t think survived the dot com crash.

Claypool is still pretty young. He can make a bundle and then come back as a millionaire candidate.

Comment by Objective Dem Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 4:59 pm
I am in support of SB600. Its important legislation needed to wake up a lackadaisical republican party. I have been battling third party rumblings with more conservative groups than I could ever mention. In all honesty why should these folks support a party that has little if any regard for the rank and file. Passage of SB600 will go a long way to restore that confidence if not too late. Although if you want to deny these people their voice expect them to go to fringe parties which will ring the death bell for the republican party in Illinois.

Comment by Al Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 5:24 pm
Although as a right leaning independent I’d like to see SB600 pass, I think WAY to much is being made of its value in making the party functional and worthy of support.

There are about 6 distrcts that control the weighted majority that essentially determines where the party money goes and who’s in charge.

If Doug and Jack had the organization and votes to win in these districts, they could take over the central committee and SB600 would be a moot point.

If they don’t have the organization and votes to win in those districts, SB600 makes no difference and the current crop will still be elected,making SB600 once again moot.

It’s a catch 22. If you have the votes in the party, you don’t need SB600 to take over the GOP.
If you don’t have the votes, SB600 won’t put you in power.

Spending all this effort and political capital on this seems pretty pointless to me. What am I missing?

This could be extremely damaging to the GOP and the citizens of Illinois. If Cross and McKenna, like cornered wounded animals, are willing to give the Dems bipartisan cover on the disastrous job-killing income tax increase in exchange for Dem support in killing SB600, we’re all doomed!

Comment by PalosParkBob Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 10:14 pm
=============
Those of you who continue to compare an Illinois GOP leader to that Iranian guy are showing the rest of us a lot more about you than you may realize.
=============

Happily, there are many in the GOP who pay close attention to what’s going on across the globe and see the comparison as, well a bit extreme.

Doug Ibendahl does have a unique way of stirring things up. His timing seems a bit off, though. While I understand the context of SB600, there are some new things that seem to be coming out of Andy’s office lately that have been done very nicely.

Comment by AHEM...The REAL Anonymous Friday, Jun 19, 09 @ 11:01 pm