2010

Just Pass the Senate Bill

ArchPundit January 22, 2010 0 Comment

It’s really hard to imagine how Washington D.C. makes you stupid enough to think that any sort of alternative goes anywhere without having the Senate bill form the basic framework. We can fix all sorts of things through reconciliation or other vehicles, but splitting bills up won’t work — it simply increases the number of moving parts– and starting over puts Democrats in the position as looking like incompetent boobs.  Which they would be.  Pass the bill, fix what you can, and slam it down on Republicans who opposed it and use i to build for the next election.

Ultimately, 10 percent unemployment is the problem and more time spent whining about what you didn’t get on health care does no one any good who isn’t a Republican political operative.

It’s Not Surprising When They Sellout, It’s Surprising For How Little They Do It

ArchPundit January 22, 2010 0 Comment

Watching Dorothy Brown implode with a stream of stories about gifts to her and donations raised from her employees for both personal and political purposes, it’s not that amazing that she does it, it’s amazing that if she is going to be essentially ‘legally’ corrupt, she goes for such small potatoes:

Brown, who’s seeking a promotion to County Board president, recently told the Tribune that all the money collected either goes to charities or into a fund that pays for an annual employee appreciation awards ceremony.

“It’s a voluntary thing,” said Brown, noting the jeans practice is not held every Friday. “If they want to do it, fine, because blue jeans is not our attire, and you have to have on a tag saying I’m wearing blue jeans because…But they want to wear blue jeans and not pay — is that what it is?”

Coughing up cash for jeans days, however, isn’t the only example of Brown raising money for pet causes from workers in her office, which has more than 2,100 employees.

Brown has raised tens of thousands of dollars from employees for her Friends of Dorothy Brown campaign fund.

In addition, many top-level employees have helped organize annual birthday parties that double as fundraisers. Brown has accepted cash gifts and other presents from employees at those birthday parties and on Christmas — a practice she halted after the Tribune asked her about it.

“The stories that come out of that office are in some ways little ones, but they just keep coming,” said Cindi Canary, executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

Some of the best news of the week is that Toni Perwinkle has pulled into a pretty substantial lead for the Cook County President’s race.  Even better, Todd Stroger is in the running to compete with former Saint Louis Mayor Clarence Harmon as the incumbent to do the worst in a campaign for reelection.  Stroger is polling at 11 percent while Harmon came in around 8 percent.  That’s something to shoot for.

Where’s the Outrage Pat Brady?

ArchPundit January 22, 2010 0 Comment

You got all angry at Andy Martin for claiming there is a rumor that Mark Kirk is gay, but yet, you haven’t said anything about the continuing effort by Jack Roeser and his minions to make that a public issue.

Brady distanced the party from Andy Martin in December.

But that hasn’t stopped Roeser who disavowed Martin, but not the rumor and still pushes the question.  In his response on his web site he cites Sandy Rios’ column that suggests the question is legitimate and that Mark Kirk needs to address it.

So why isn’t there outrage at the actual guy spreading the rumor?  And continuing to do so?

Ibendahl just did it again on the 19th with all sorts of gay innuendo and an explicit reference to it.

So where’s the outrage Pat Brady?

Or better yet, Illinois press corps–where’s the outrage? Just because Andy Martin said something and is offensive doesn’t mean that he’s alone. He took the rumor from a major funder or right wing politics in Illinois.  If Andy Martin gets the attention, why isn’t Jack Roeser’s continuing crusade against teh gay?

It’s not just some anti-semitic loon who runs every cycle, it’s a guy who funds lots of GOP politics and yet no one can talk about it because it’s not nice and all based on rumors.

And it’s true, it is all based on rumors, but that begs the question why is the Republican Party so beholden to morons like Roeser that they won’t denounce him for the same behavior?

Fun With Illinois Conservatives

ArchPundit January 22, 2010 0 Comment

The Champion (Jack Roeser’s vanity project) has an article up on Scott Brown and how he is like Patrick Hughes: Pro-Life.

Err…someone had better tell that to Scott Brown

Gary Skoien Attacks Opponent for Encouraging Behavior Like Gary Skoien

ArchPundit January 22, 2010 0 Comment

I forgot how easy the Illinois Review makes snark.  They have a video up attacking Gary Skoien’s opponent and part of the video is about how Del Mar runs a website that is risque.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2fabldJKts[/youtube]

And yes, this is the same Gary Skoien caught in his kid’s room with two hookers by his wife.

Family values folks….

She’s Also A Minister…Like Tony Danza and Lawrence Welk

ArchPundit January 22, 2010 0 Comment

Hysterical:

Pro-Cougar?

ArchPundit January 22, 2010 0 Comment

WTF is it with Illinois Republicans…

Here’s a bit of Candidate Cougar’s advice in the RFT:

Erectile dysfunction is not as common as drug companies want men to believe; they have an expensive drug to sell. If you are one of those actually having a hard time performing longer times when having sex, there are things that can help you with that. Sex toys are not only for women, PlugLust has a collection of these for men too like cock rings that delays the climax of the male partner. Most healthy men have sex well into their golden years without artificial or pharmaceutical assistance. A cougar’s love for younger men is much more attributable to their ATTITUDE, not because they might be little quicker and easier to arouse. They grew up viewing their mothers as strong, accomplished women instead of shrinking violets, and their ideal isn’t June Cleaver. Younger men view women as equals not subordinates, and age is a number to them, not part of the sexual equation. They aren’t threatened by a woman that brings a sex toy (or a girlfriend) into bed, because they view it as another dimension in sexual adventure rather than an insult to their masculinity and respond with enthusiastic participation, learn from it and apply the knowledge to the next erotic experience. It’s a learning experience when their partner teaches them what she likes and how she likes it–and show him what you like! The rules and regulations of courtship, dating and sex are a guide and not set in stone. Cougars are in their sexual prime with the drive of a teenage male, and learning how to be a better lover from a older, more experienced partner adds to the encounter for younger men–you’re only as good as your partner! Life’s a banquet – arrive hungry, taste everything (or everybody) and go back for what best satisfies your appetites!

Scratching My Head

ArchPundit January 22, 2010 0 Comment

At this rather odd post at Illinois Review

Hynes attacks Quinn using dead mayor and race-baiting

There’s no explanation how it’s race-baiting, but facts and logic aren’t exactly the expertise of Illinois Review.

Bob Schillerstrom Is Out

ArchPundit January 22, 2010 0 Comment

Silly pro-choice Republican…

Also bringing up the point to majority of those in Illinois who now are thinking, he was in? Who?  The DuPage heavy group of him, Ryan and Dillard wasn’t sustainable and Schillerstrom was the weakest of the three and was on the wrong side of one of the major issues that matter to his base.

Not the Dan Hynes of 2004

ArchPundit January 21, 2010 0 Comment

While I’ve been notably absent for too long of this campaign season, I early on backed Dan Hynes.  There are many reasons for that mostly having to do with his ability to manage and Pat Quinn’s inability to be a good candidate with too much attention.  This was before the prison furlough debacle became known and we now know that it would provide a particularly handy way to attack Quinn from now until November.

My biggest concern was Dan Hynes the wimp we have seen all too often.  He has a habit of making a tough statement and then allowing whomever he was taking to task get back up and dust themselves off.   I suggested Coffee is for Closers:

Dan Hynes will never be Governor until he learns to throw a punch and not help the guy get up off the floor.  He’s a good public servant and a decent human being, but if he wants the Governor’s office, he has to take it for himself.

Hynes has been tougher this cycle and impressive, but hadn’t quite taken the step to prove he had the fortitude to take the nomination for his own.

Until the last 48 hours:

From Capitol Fax’s Youtube channel

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn2w5EwHsdE[/youtube]

Brutal, true, and fair.  Extra nice touch using the white guy to avoid the racial overtones of Gore and Bush commercials with Willie Horton.

But the true measure of just how much he’s willing to go after Quinn is using Harold Washington’s blistering attack on Quinn.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zns-K8XrOAk[/youtube]

Those two commercials will dominate the debate for at least the next week going into the following weekend standing on their own.  They offer incredibly effective attacks on Quinn’s competence and do it in a way that takes advantage of Quinn’s weaknesses which have long been seen as being a show horse and not a good manager.

Making things worse for Quinn, as usual, Quinn.  Quinn  denies he was fired by Washington.  Who are you going to believe–Quinn or your lying ears?  Huh?

The Washington piece is devastating–some initially thought because of the effect it would have in the African-American community, but it reaches nearly all voters.  The description of Quinn as an opportunist who cared more about making a name for himself than governing punctures any argument he has to competence and it shows how vulnerable to a Republican challenger he would be.