Speaking of Mulligan
ArchPundit
She has an opponent circulating petitions according to Wystler
August 2007
I Don’t Blame Cheney
I blame a bunch of cowards who listened him. Hell, Cheney probably made it a contest to see how many times he could get the Republican Congress to roll over for a doggie treat.
Today’s Tosser: Mark Penn
Talking about Cougars. Next up? Tramp stamps!
Daily Dolt: Calling Bullshit on Dan Proft
Next year, “Muhammad” will be the most popular baby boy’s name in England. The radical elements of the Muslim world have been welcomed into European societies that subordinated their sense of self-preservation to an empty-headed commitment to value-judgment free diversity. No need to blow the front door off when it is unlocked.
Not so much. Mohammed comes in at number 22 and Muhammed comes in at number 44. Looking at past years, Mohammed hasn’t cracked number 20 ever. IOW, Dan’s making shit up.
But it goes a bit further. The variants on Mohammed both standout compared to the girl’s list where there are no clearly Islamic or Arab based names on the list of the top 50 meaning there’s something else going on–namely, Muslim parents of all ethnic backgrounds use the name Mohammed far more frequently than any other name. And so the number 22 and number 44 placing of the names don’t mean that there are that many new Muslim babies as much as a very high percentage of the boys are named one or the other.
Moments in Hilarity
The fun and brilliance of Travolta’s Edna portrayal is that he is not sexually confused nor imitating a woman because he prefers to disguise himself as one. Travolta’s identity is secure and he’s man enough to pretend in a comical role that had me almost rolling in the aisle.
Uh-huh
Challenging Lipinski
Challenging Lipinski
THE LANDMARK VIEW
It is far too early, and in the midst of this August heat, too, to think seriously about the Democratic primary next February. Though The Landmark will never suggest who you might vote for as a presidential candidate, we will, eventually, be hot and heavy in the race for the Third Congressional District. That’s the seat bequeathed to Dan Lipinski some three years ago by his generous-but cynical-father, William Lipinski.
In a hand-off that made Todd Stroger’s ascendency seen downright democratic, Lipinski the Elder anointed his son after winning his party’s 2004 primary and then promptly announcing that he was retiring. Bill Lipinski had pre-greased the wheels with the Democratic committeemen of the Third District on his son’s behalf.
Voila. Dan Lipinski goes to Washington.
Can you tell that it still sticks in our collective craw?
Among the many reasons Chicago and Illinois politics are so corrupt and corrosive is the rampant nepotism at play. This is, after all, a democracy, not a kingdom with royal lineage.
So we’re happy to see that a legitimate challenger is rising up for the February primary in the person of Mark Pera. A Western Springs resident, Pera is known in these parts for his service as president of the Lyons Township High School board. Pera is showing his stuff in two ways. First, he is raising significant cash to take on the lobbyist-larded Lipinski. Pera has even taken out a second mortgage to loan the proceeds to his effort. That though is not the sum total of his fundraising. He has built a network of early support, both financial and grassroots. Second, he is clearly differentiating himself from Lipinski’s political positions on issues such as the war and social issues such as abortion.
It is a good start to what we hope will be a vigorous campaign. Finally Dan Lipinski should be forced to win his seat in Congress legitimately.
The Call of the People
Or at least the call of people running your web site.
Alan Keyes reports a groundswell of support for him to run for President again. Strangely, this call coincides with a now 11 Part Series entitled the Crisis of the Republic. I don’t think draft means what Alan thinks it does.
Bring on the Crazy
Berkowitz tells us who is running the Oberweis’ campaign and ta-da
One can only hope he likes commercials with helicopters. Or he’s ready to have his candidate lead a siege on the election authority in Kane County. Pascoe, along with Dan Proft brought Keyes to us.
On the other hand, Chris Lauzen, CPA, has received the support of Jack Roeser from the Family Taxpayers Network.
Given the location of the fight, we can only count the days until someone who John Zahm is working for sues someone.
More seriously, Lauzen is siding with the loony wing of suburban politics, while Oberweis appears to be working the inside angle with Berkowitz reporting rumors that Hastert is leaning towards Oberweis.
That’s some legacy he’s leaving behind.
Darin LaHood: 2008 Version of Sam Ewing
Even in tradition bound Central Illinois, legacy candidates who happen to be the spawn of a politician don’t have an easy time winning against hard working locals. One gets the sense that Darin doesn’t have the legs to outwork Schock.
It Only Takes 2 on JCAR
The Blagojevich folks think they can get a few of the proposals around JCAR–I don’t buy that, but that’s for the courts to decide. However, on a couple issues everyone is in agreement that JCAR must sign off on the rule changes. For Blagojevich to get the rules changes he needs 5 votes in his favor–meaning out of six Democrats, 2 defecting Democrats can stop the rules. Unless there is a Republican vote to pick up, and that seems highly unlikely.
I’ll go out on a limb and say Fritchey is going to say no–and good for him.
House Republicans
Hassert Romeoville–strong Cross ally
Leitch–Peoria
Mulligan–Des Plaines
The only way Hassert switches is if Cross got behind some sort of deal, but that deal would have been made previously. Not now. Mulligan is slightly vulnerable as she is in the Northwest suburbs and in theory it could be an issue against her assuming she’s challenged by a Democrat this cycle. The problem–running with Blagojevich in the Northwest suburbs would be an act of political suicide for any challenger. The one advantage good Democratic Lege candidates have is that they can run against the Governor since he’s essentially his own brand separate from the Democrats.
Senate Republicans
Burzynski–Sycamore
Hultgren–Wheaton
Rutherford–Pontiac
Uhhh…no. Rutherford will vote against the rules with a smile. He might even break into talking about himself in the third person again as he did when Blagojevich campaigned against him on an early budget vote in Pontiac. The others would have no rational electoral reason to defect from Watson.
Senate Democrats
Crotty–Oak Forest
Clayborne–East Saint Louis
Silverstein–Chicago
I’d imagine Crotty and Silverstein go with Emil on this. Clayborne may pull out the institutionalist card and vote against the rules if he’s offended by the method.
House Democrats
Fritchey–Chicago Uh…no.
Holbrook–Belleville
Miller–Dolton
Miller expresses reservations in the Post-Dispatch. He doesn’t have any real threats so backing Madigan with a no would not be a problem for him.
Holbrook made his play blocking a budget bill at the end of May with other downstate Members to argue for electric rate relief first. The only other thing I know about him is he has a decent environmental record. Unless he is especially close with Jay Hoffman I wouldn’t see him backing the new rules.
Meaning the Governor has to sweep the Democratic Senators and take two House members or Mulligan. The Governor will have no electoral power over those he’s trying to persuade. Fritchey and him already don’t get along. Clayborne, Miller, and Holbrook are all relatively safe seats. Mulligan is a House Republican and only Madigan has anything to do with any decision to target her or not.
I don’t see how he gets five votes in his favor. Six are guaranteed against him. Of the other six, only two have to be against the rules and one is already signaling that is his attention and another is a Republican.