June 2004

Ryan Custody Records

ArchPundit June 4, 2004 1 Comment

10 of 43 Documents are recommended to be unsealed by the referee. The judge now will decide whether to use that recommendation or go further.

A couple problems here for Jack! First, we will see probably the items not directly related to his son’s personal issues so anything beyond the child’s medical conditions, etc will be open. If there is anything embarrassing, he takes a hit for not being forthcoming. If nothing, he looks sympathetic, but commentators will cluck their tongue (including me) that there was a better way–reinforcing the amateur hour tag his campaign has gotten to date.

Second, if it fits with the file that is floating out there, and there is anything in the floating file that is embarrassing and not released, the floating file is confirmed as accurate and will probably be used by the press.

Unfortunately for Jack! while releasing the whole file might be uncomfortable, nothing happening now looks to stop the drip, drip, drip.

Unfair, yeah, but who said campaigns were fair? This campaign has already surpassed the Hull campaign in handling these issues poorly and seems on track to make the Jim Ryan campaign of 2002 (one I’ve called the 2nd worst campaign ever (Bill Simon being the worst)) look like a model of good practices.

Remember That Name

ArchPundit June 4, 2004 4 Comments

Via Obamablog

Bob Herbert at the NY Times writes a love letter to Barack Obama.

Zorn on the Senate Polls Past

ArchPundit June 1, 2004 1 Comment

And it doesn’t bode well for Ryan. Copied here since there aren’t permalinks:

I checked the database from our last two U.S. Senate race to see what the papers were reporting.

Sun-Times, May 25, 2002 — Democrat Dick Durbin, 53 percent; Republican Jim Durkin, 33 percent.

Tribune, May 5, 2002 — Durbin 49%, Durkin 32%.

Actual result Durbin 68%, Durkin, 31%

Sun Times, April 3, 1998 — Reported the results of two polls, one showing Republican Peter Fitzgerald with 37 percent and incumbent Democrat Carol Moseley-Braun with 44 percent, the other showing a 46-46 dead heat
.

Tribune, August 23, 1988 — Fitzgerald 46%, Moseley-Braun 39%

Actual result: Fitzgerald 51%, Moseley-Braun–47%

(Okay, so I hadn’t gone into the National Journal Archives yet for this stuff–good job Eric)

The numbers are closest to Durkin’s race right now, though I have to say to me Durkin was a better candidate than Jack! That said, Ryan will be higher profile and should beat the final results unless the divorce files are a problem. But beating Jim Durkin’s results isn’t saying much.

Libertarian Candidate

ArchPundit June 1, 2004 7 Comments

Jeff Trigg makes a pretty good plea for the Libertarian Candidate in comments.

Vote Libertarian Jerry Kohn for US Senate. 😉 Where are his results in the polls? Yeah, I know. 30% who consider themselves “very conservative” said they were leaning toward Obama. That seems like a strong case to include Kohn in the debates. I bet if someone did a poll more than 80% would agree all candidates on the ballot should be included in the debates. We’ll see what type of democracy Obama actually believes in. Kohn is just as qualified as Ryan. Ryan’s never held office, while Kohn is an elected Library Trustee in Cook County. Ryan is pushing his minimal teaching experience, while Kohn has taught in public schools for years and years longer than Ryan. If that many people dislike Ryan, the voters would probably appreciate hearing about other choices. That used to be the American way.

Kohn’s website is here

Though notice the connection between
John Kerry
Jerry Kohn

Sort of like those old Kennedy-Lincoln conspiracy thingees.

Obama’s Statement is Up at Daily Kos

ArchPundit June 1, 2004 No Comments

For those unaware, the Daily Kos Community is selecting 2 candidates out of 8 to target their donations–faily significant donations.

So take a look at Obama’s statement and join the community. If you aren’t reading Daily Kos, you should be. And add your comments about whether the community should support Obama.

Via Obamablog