Big Journalism Goes to being A Blogger only
ArchPundit
He explains the whole thing here. Jack, you have a spot on the blogroll waiting for you.
Blog
Tune in Over the Weekend
I will be blogging and while I’m not promising, there may be some interesting stuff. Hopefully I’ll catch up a bit tomorrow for today or even tonight.
RSS Feeds
Okay, so I’m setting up some RSS feed readers and I wanted to know what sites have them:
So if you have a Illinois blog with an RSS feed let me know, but also do any of the news sites like the Illinois Leader (well sort of news like anyway) or Trib have them yet?
E-Mail Updates?
I’ve had a suggestion to do an e-mail update for interested folks. Is there interest out there? This is probably more for less than daily readers, but let me know if you would like that feature and how often you would like to get it–I’m tenatively thinking about a daily deal that highlights the posts.
End of the Quarter Begging
Okay, donate if you can–every dollar at this point is important! It looks like people haven’t been visiting the sponsors as much which is probably due to me being on vacation, but let’s do a round-up:
Melissa Bean is running in the Illinois 8th against conservative fossil and special interest magnet Phil Crane. What are here chance? See this post (ignoring Dan’s comments ;)) This is a targeted DCCC race and is rated a top race by National Journal, The New York Times and The Daily Kos. Melissa matched Crane in fundraising last quarter. If you can help with dollars go to the upper left hand and click on their ad. If you can’t, do it anyway and volunteer if you have some time and are near the area–Lake, Northwestern Cook and McHenry Counties.
Barack Obama is a rock star probably about to face a well-funded Republican challenger. While everyone, including me, rates this as likely pick-up for Dems, every dollar raised by Barack frees up money for races in other states like Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Colorado. Click on the upper right for him. A good fundraising quarter will scare away other strong candidates as well.
Tari Renner is running in the 11th against Jerry Weller, a Congressman primarily known for raising funds. Renner is running in a district that was about 50-48 for Bush last time and was specially configured to include Weller’s parents. I kid you not. Tari has run tough races in McLean County beating out the former head of the Illinois Christian Coalition branch, Lee Newcome for the McLean County Board and is putting on a strong insurgent challenge. His ad is down, but will be back soon.
Tom Cross is raising funds for the House Republicans. I’m always happy to have their ads as they run a first rate operation. I’m not going as far as to tell you to donate, but certainly pay a visit and see what they have to say. Cross is a good guy in Illinois who has opened up the Illinois Republican caucus to be far more democratic and open. He’s a moderate in an increasingly conservative party and has a long record of working with everyone in the Lege. Ads to the right.
The guys from Join Cross also have a novel idea to Draft Ditka to be Republican Party Chair. Hell, it can’t hurt and think of the press conferences. Or him dealing with any bellyaching by either the moderates or the conservatives.
And finally, don’t you people take vacations? C’mon check out the Paradise Charters link for me. I know most of us visiting the site are political wonks and junkies, but you need a break.
Site Updates
Expanded Blogrolls for Illinois Blogs, Favorites, acknowledgement that Markos and Jerome motivated me to start ArchPundit, and an expanded blogroll updates to include new Illinois blogs.
Good news….Jeff Cooper of Cooped Up is back!
errrr…weekend material
Gone! Dammit. Server switch and I thought I was in the clear. Apparently not. Some more later.
New Advertiser
Well, really an old one, but you gotta click on the ad to the right–Draft Ditka for the Republican Party Chair.
Angering Soccer fans everywhere…..
Oh, and go donate to Obama.
News Tips accepted
Just to make sure you all know, feel free to send me news tips. Sometimes I’ve heard of it, but even if so, it never hurts to duplicate. Generally you want to tell me if it is confidential or if you don’t want your name used. Usually I don’t use names, but I could. Some folks I regularly correspond with I know for sure, but it never hurts to reiterate the point.
Open Thread and a Question?
Who ran the worst Illinois Campaign of the last 20 years?
Jim Ryan ’02
Stevenson ’86 (a fitting number for that campaign)
Jack Ryan ’04
Dawn Clark Netsch ’94
Damn even balanced it on partisan grounds without trying.