Bunches later
ArchPundit
Back today, but later, go check in with Rich Miller for the P-D article claiming Illinois has a less developed blog presence. Made me laugh, though Jo is a decent enough person.
2005
Some Fun Reading While I Get Some Things Done
From Country Music Guy Chris Cagle:
To All My Loyal Music Fans:
“As many of you are aware, I had been anxiously awaiting the addition of a new baby to my life. The baby has been born and both mother and child are in good health. Since the birth, however, we have discovered that biologically, the child is not mine.
As excited as I was about becoming a new father, my disappointment is equally as strong. So out of respect for all that are involved, please allow this situation to remain private and know that I will not be commenting further on this very personal matter. I’m thanking you in advance for your kind cooperation and understanding.”
Chris Cagle
WSJ Poll
More in a bit, but lots of feedback on it and I’ll address it. To start with–Topinka and Oberweis not slotted in the poll, but more in a bit. Good feedback and thanks to commenters and e-mailer.
Pretty typical for Fox
Falafal Boy is attacking blogs tonight
AUTHOR BERNARD GOLDBERG: There are some conservatives on the list [?100 People Who Are Screwing Up America?], but there are mostly liberals. And when they could write unanimously on the Web, you know, a review or post.
O?REILLY: Blogs. I don?t even read them. I mean, it?s so outrageous.
GOLDBERG: It?s beyond ? it?s beyond vile.
O?REILLY: Let?s go to the ? look, that?s just a waste of time. You shouldn?t even read it. It?s garbage. Nobody cares about it. Everybody knows the simpletons who are doing it are cowards and they don?t have any influence. [7/18/05]
Hey Bill—SHUT UP!
The Chris Lauzen Award
For thin skinned behavior resulting in one suing his opponents goes to:
If you run for office and they aren’t claiming you molested children, you are pretty much fair game. In this case, saying you are bad on policy, is the essence of public debate.
Rauschenberger Up Slightly
Statisitically it’s a tie against Blagojevich in the WSJ Battleground poll
Rauschenberger 41.3%
Blagojevich 40.4%
The Edgar trial run
Edgar 48.3%
Blagojevich 36.3%
Brady (an unknown State Senator from Bloomington
Brady 37.5%
Blagojevich 42.2%
+/- 3.0%
Given the numbers, my guess is that 40% is the floor below which Blagojevich can’t fall in this state with its Democratic lean. More likely 45% with a bad campaign–though I expect it to not be a bad campaign.
These numbers will be a huge boost to Rauschenberger now that the establishment may well be open to other candidates. With Judy wavering and Edgar out, Rauschenberger seems to be the establishment guy given the rest of the field. These sort of numbers will help him out quite a bit.
If it isn’t clear yet to the supporters of the Guv, he needs a Come to Jesus moment with the voters.
Last (maybe) prediction
No, and not because of some elaborate reason, Edgar wants to spend time with his family and the risk to the legacy throws it over the top.
No inside information, just my guess. And hell, I have a 50% chance of being right. Last time that was true I said Gephardt was the VP nominee so….
Off ot Kansas City for the weekend, but may be able to do some posting–more than anything, I am going to try and catch up on e-mail to many of you.
And remember to subscribe to Illinois Issues which has it’s 30th Anniversary celebration today and is likely to be overshadowed.
Common Mobsters?
Eric Zorn reports on the Opening Statement for the Prosecution in the George Ryan trial
Fardon told a complicated tale in simple words, using slides and anecdotes to support the idea that Ryan and his cronies behaved like common mobsters, extorting money and rather clumsily hiding their trail.
A common mobster would never trust a guy who paid $2 for a hooker.
So I Got the Interpretation Wrong
Denny was doing DeLay’s bidding, but DeLay wanted Dreier because DeLay thinks he’s going to return as Majority Leader.
The thing that’s always true–Denny is doing what he is told.
Next!
Well, that took a couple hours.
ABC is pointing out that Roy Blunt had employs one of the indictees in the Texas campaign finance scandal . The ROYB (Rely On Your Beliefs) PAC employes Jim Ellis as a consultant and they are happy with his work.
Roy Temple has been all over this of course. Not surprisingly, ROYB had some irregularities as they say.
The case against DeLay is a tough case to make, but the case against Ellis is far more solid. There is one rule in Texas concerning campaign finance–you can’t use corporate or union money to finance election campaigns.
As the Stakeholder points out, no one is even pretending these guys are rogue operatives. In fact, they are ensuring they have ongoing jobs at least until the indictments dropped. Sort of like someone else who is now the former head of FEMA.
Everyone in this case is being “taken care of” and quite well taken care of, yet there has already been a finding in civil court against TRMPAC for violating Texas law and no matter how you add up the math, someone was funneling money to support statewide candidates with corporate donations.
Politics isn’t a way of making people’s lives better for these people, it’s just bidness.