September 2003

Two Zorn Pick-Ups

ArchPundit September 16, 2003 No Comments

First, irony is alive. Eric Zorn points out that rumbles concerning Betty Loren-Maltese don’t actually exist as Michael Sneed claims.

The irony is in the piece though,

Fact: The job line: Word is Maltese had a prison job and is now working in the landscaping department, where she helps with the accounting.

Fox-Chicken issues.

Second, Eric takes a warranted slap at Dan Zanosa

Dan Zanoza (Illinois Leader), notes in his Media Watch column that the Web-only publication for which he writes is not universally beloved and admired. He cites my reference in Breaking Views to the Leader as "your online home for right-wing rhetoric," and writes, "I seriously wonder if the Illinois Leader and its content were more liberal in nature… would it be drawing fire from individuals like Zorn?" Gee. And I wonder if I were more conservative in nature, would the Leader be publishing letters headlined Zorn Scorn comparing me to a witch doctor and cold oatmeal. Only the difference between me and Zanoza is that I don’t seriously wonder this.

One point is lost here, The Illinois Leader’s entire existence is because it wants to be ‘you online home for right-wing rhetoric.’ There is no other reason for it to exist. Why complain when someone points out the obvious.

Bush and Ballot Access

ArchPundit September 16, 2003 No Comments

Jeff Trigg riffs on his favorite subject and he is right.

I don’t think ballot access matters that much due to the median voter rule in a first past the post system. However, it should still be fairly administered and in the spirit of democracy. Once minor parties get better ballot access I believe they need to move to electoral reform–something with which I believe Jeff agrees.

Rauschenberger to Announce Tuesday

ArchPundit September 16, 2003 No Comments

Amidst some talk that he is tight on cash. Rauschenberger is going to have to rely upon other State Lege members to build up support given a tight budget. The Lincoln-Douglass Debate with Obama suggestion apparently wasn’t made in a vacuum.

Courting Hispanics…In Bloomington

ArchPundit September 16, 2003 No Comments

It is not a joke. Well it is, but it isn’t.

A Perfect Vignette of the Ryan Years

ArchPundit September 16, 2003 No Comments

In pleading not guilty, Arthur Swanson gives us an insight into how politics has long been done in Illinois

Swanson, 77, joked with a reporter about being out of cigars as he arrived at court, promising to bring one for his next appearance.

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And Mayer’s lobbying division was involved. Perfect.

Fat Kids

ArchPundit September 16, 2003 No Comments

I was one of them. But the Sun-Times misses an important thing Illinois does right–Physical Education every day, every semester. I think there is still an exception for a Health and Driver’s Ed class, but I think those count.

While many PE classes aren’t that useful, they can be an essential tool to teaching exercise and health to kids and a good teacher can even motivate kids to enjoy exercise. As I grew older and tired of being slow and huge, I worked out on my own, but later PE classes certainly reinforced those habits.

We won’t talk about the last two years…

Kass is Pretty Much Right,

ArchPundit September 16, 2003 No Comments

But Brown was more right. He didn’t go on O’Reilly. Kass takes on Jackson Sr. for selling out. Ironically, he didn’t sell out to Harold Washington. Why not? Harold kicked his butt out of Chicago. Under Harold, Sr. would have been better taking a job as the toll collector.

Private Peotone?

ArchPundit September 16, 2003 No Comments

The Peotone saga becomes a bit stranger with proponents seeking private financing for the airport.

So no airlines are going to buy in? Yeah. Sure.

Peotone may not be a bad third or fourth airport site. First, Gary should be examined for what extra capacity it can handle and then Peotone will probably be necessary to relieve growing traffic at O’Hare and Midway, both of which will be full not long after the O’Hare expansion. The fifth part of the plan should be exploiting Rockford for freight flights.

The sixth part of the solution is a downstate airport between the five main towns in Central Illinois. Currently, all five operate their own airports. And for small personal aircraft that works. But each city (except Decatur) have a growing desire for easy air travel. A centralized airport would provide significantly more options for the consumers in the area and bring down the high costs associated with only small commuter flights. The problem is that the Congressman from each city don’t want such a plan because civic leaders view even a small airport as a point of pride.

Seventh, is high speed rail to reduce the number of short flights. George Will has written a fair amount on that. But part of the initial deal includes Missouri and Missouri isn’t going to pay.

Joe Conason On the Radio/Internet @ 2 PM

ArchPundit September 16, 2003 No Comments

Joe Conason will be on a local St. Louis Radio Station WGNU @ 2 PM today. For a hoot tune in @1 for Dr. Pat–sort of a manic Dr. Laura. You can listen in on-line. He’ll be talking about his new book

Democratic Roll Call

ArchPundit September 15, 2003 No Comments

Given the posts today, I thought I’d start a second thread for comments on the Democratic Field.

Also,

Miller’s two articles on the primary fields,
The Dems\

The Reps

Thanks to Jeff, it was easy tracking them down again