May 2005

Finding Rummy’s Chair

LOL–a new blog Illinois Shadow has the goods on Rummie’s chair.

BTW, obviously I’ve been updating the blogroll, but the full update isn’t up yet–I have the second page done, but not added and it’ll be a bit more comprehensive of active Illinois political blogs and include some non-political, but interesting other blogs.

The blogroll is generally my view of what blogs are worth reading by my usual readers and who updates regularly. It’s subjective and usually blogs have to start on the second page before being promoted to the front page simply because so many don’t last. No insult is meant.

6th CD Dem Primary News

Peter O’Malley has his web site up and running

I’ll have some more on Peter in the next few days.

For those wanting to ask Christine Cegelis questions for a video interview, go here

I currently have a fundraising link up for Christine and may add one for Peter. While I do endorse in primaries and take sides, I also attempt to be an honest broker for legit candidates in a Democratic Primary. I’m of the belief the most good blogs can do is to provide information and I hope even when I do take sides, to do the information aspect fairly.

why had the agency not forced evidence of savings into the final draft?

Aaron Chambers asks the question that seems to get a response of non sequiturs from the Blagojevich Administration.

Notwithstanding, I did my best to take seriously the agency’s pleas that I consider mounds of paper it called evidence of savings. On Wednesday, the day after the audit was published, three top agency officials led me and other reporters into a room where they pointed to two tables stacked with folders and binders stuffed with documents.

“WHEN PEOPLE TALK about transparency, what does that mean?” asked Paul Campbell, CMS director-designee.

“That means visibility into what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, how we’re doing it, what we’re spending it on, with whom we’re spending it on. This gives you a level of transparency unparalleled in the state — unparalleled.”

I listened and asked questions for an hour and 38 minutes. I went back Friday and spent two more hours sifting through the documents. But the question remained: A month after CMS was asked to respond to the audit’s findings, why had the agency not forced evidence of savings into the final draft?

The agency’s officials said Holland’s auditors failed to appreciate the universe of savings in state government, that they were too focused on the value of consultants hired to improve management functions and save the state money.

Doing things differently is fine, but that doesn’t change basic math and basic record keeping. If the savings can be found, why weren’t they in the rebuttal?

Points for Style

While I disagree with Cardinal George (hence I’m a Protestant), I have to say his style is refreshing compared to Archbishop Burke of St. Louis.

The problem with what he said:

“I don’t think that what is as morally questionable as creating embryos to destroy them for scientific purposes should be funded by public money,” George said in an interview with reporters. “It’s funded by a lot of private money right now, and you shouldn’t use that kind of means even to come to a very good end.”

The problem isn’t the embryos aren’t just created for scientific purposes, but usually by couples trying to conceive and then donating those that are left over. It’s also important to note as Tom Cross did, while respecting the Cardinal’s view, this doesn’t violate many people’s faith. Hynes took a similar stance.

Alternative Daley Careers

Why won’t Daley ever retire:

A colleague and I were speculating whether Daley would decline to run for another term, or even resign, should the scandal reach the 5th Floor of City Hall.

“He’ll never quit,” I said. “They’ll carry him out. He’s a machine designed to be mayor of Chicago. What else is he going to do, teach?”

“He could go on the speaking circuit . . .” she began, before realizing what she was saying and trailing off in mid-sentence.

“I rest my case,” I said.

Madigan Channels Daley

He doesn’t talk often, but in this case, it’s like he’s channeling Daley:

“He’s got a personal relationship with me. So when he calls, I take his call,” Madigan said of Scott before the election.

“If I get a call from the mayor of Peoria, I may not take it; I may not return it. I don’t even know who he is, the mayor of Peoria. I don’t know his name. I don’t know who the mayor of Champaign is. I don’t know the mayor of Rock Island. I don’t know the mayor of Kankakee. I don’t know the mayor of Carbondale or Edwardsville. I know Doug Scott. I know a lot of mayors in the southwest suburbs of Chicago; that’s my neighborhood.”

But on Tuesday, as Madigan exited a luncheon in downtown Springfield, he volunteered that he had talked to Larry Morrissey, Rockford’s new mayor.

“We’ll work together,” Madigan said.

But we all know, Steve Brown knows who these guys are….

Combative Congressional Staff

On Friday, April 29th, I was battered, twice, by Peggy Cowman, a staff
member employed by Congressman Jerry Weller while attending a public meeting on social security at Kankakee Community College. I exercised my first
amendment right to free speech and brought a sign expressing my thoughts on
social security on one side of the poster board and my shock at Weller?s
support of his Guatemalan father-in-law, on the other side. The
father-in-law is an ex-dictator General who is responsible for genocide and
human rights violations in the tens of thousands during his coup of that
countries? government in 1982 – 83.

I understand that we can?t pick our in-laws but Weller chose to marry the
dictator?s daughter in Guatemala – at the home of this murderous dictator
-and even had him lead part of the religious ceremony! Weller?s wife
supports and even campaigned for her father?s failed presidential bid in
2003. She is also a prominent Senator representing the Guatemalan Republic
Front, a political party founded by her father.

I followed Weller?s entourage out of the auditorium after the meeting. I had
one question unrelated to social security I wanted to ask him. There were
many opportunities for him to answer my question as we stood outside the
auditorium and he answered other?s peoples questions, and as I followed the
entourage through the college and out into a private parking lot. I kept
asking my question, he just ignored me.

As we were all standing in the parking lot Peggy Cowman came up from behind
me, grabbed and squeezed my arm while yanking me backwards. I yelled at her
?do not touch me? and pointed out that was battery. A college security card,
probably at the order of the KCC College president who was standing right
there, came over and glared at me, while Ms. Cowman scurried away. I then
walked around the group, from the back of a van to the front of the van that
Weller?s entourage was getting into, to hold up my sign and try to ask my
question one last time. Suddenly Cowman comes charging up to me again and
begins trying to yank the sign from my hands! The security guard came up
again and Cowman jumped into the van, again the security guard glared at me!
And the college president, in a very rude and demeaning tone yelled at me to
?get off the grass!? I had been pushed back into the bushes by Cowman trying
to yank the sign from my hands. I went and filed a police report, with a
witness who was nice enough to come with me. I hope Congressman Weller and
his staff will keep their countries straight in the future ? this is America
where, so far, we still have freedom of speech and it is illegal to be
battered by politicians? staff members just because they don?t like what
someone has to say. This is NOT Guatemala – where dictator?s batter, abuse
and murder people who do not agree with them.

Oh yes, my question? ?Why does Weller support a dictator responsible for
genocide and human rights abuses of tens of thousands of people but always
votes against women?s reproductive rights and right to privacy and control
over women?s bodies based on his religious beliefs??

Karie Ellison

Blagorgeousapalooza

I had to outdo Rich’s description of the Daily Herald’s coverage fo the Blagorgeous

Eric Krol looks through a number of issues that are surrounding the Blagojevich administration

Broken Pledges?

Appointees, and the money they gave

Tollway a rich font for patronage ? and may get richer

They have the governor?s ear

Arts Council a select spot for contributors? spouses

Plenty of state fair attention

Kitchen cabinet capitalizes on connections (PDF)

Connecting the dots