Low Character? I Don’t Think So

ArchPundit March 15, 2004 3 Comments

Eric Zorn already covered this, but Rick Pearson suggest that the Senate Campaign suffers from candidates with low character. I couldn’t disagree more.

Oberweis’ character seems to be questionable. But let’s look at the others:

Obama. One of the finest public servants I’ve ever seen.

Hynes. Ditto

Hull. Perhaps a bit cocky to think he can jump into the Senate, but I don’t see any major character flaws. Some mistakes (as the two above have made), yes, but nothing other than human weaknesses.

Chico. Fine public servant.

Pappas. Again, a fantastic person.

Skinner. Nothing suggests she has low character.

Washington. Delusional perhaps, bad character no.

McKenna. Seems like a decent guy. Boring, but decent.

Rauschenberger–Pearson’s complaints appear to be that he said something stupid and he has ties to Chris Lauzen. Now, my feelings on Chris Lauzen are well known, but Rauschenberger is a decent guy.

Wright. Very decent. Perhaps too decent.

Kathuria. Self-promoter–does he go over the line? Maybe. I’m not sure it really matters at 1%.

Borling or Ryan. Well one of them has a problem and we don’t know which one it is. Borling is a special kind of bastard if he pushed this story and it isn’t true.

People’s warts should be shown in an election campaign, but putting them in perspective is critical. Few of us would want to be judged for our worst days in our lives. Most of these folks make up for it by being decent and honest most days. Playing politics within bounds isn’t some horrible character flaw. And this is a group that I have found to be especially inspiring with minor exceptions–and Jim Oberweis.

Oberweis Negative to the End

ArchPundit March 15, 2004 No Comments

Oberweis has gone on the radio questioning Jack!’s honesty and is telling about a conversation they had in private.

We have no idea whether this is affecting the underlying structure of the vote and won’t until they are cast. But if you think this is tough, wait for the general election.

There are two basic interpretations to what is going on. One, Jack is naive enough to believe he can keep these records out the public domain and really believes that his son’s privacy is the important issue here. Two, there is something there.

The problem with one is that if he sticks to his guns, it just sits there hovering over the election. In a sad twist, if he is being a good parent, it could potentially hurt him more than if there is damaging information to release.

But as the lecture about what happens in campaigns continues, it is naive to think that public records that were sealed after a judge originally refused because it could be embarrassing politically aren’t fair game. And that statement from the judge alone is motivating the avid press interest in the issue. This is something that should have been dealt with when he started his campaign.

The analysis of this shouldn’t leave out that Oberweis is an opportunistic ass. Others, like Rauschenberger are probably serious in their concern. The jury is out on Borling. But the Republican Party in Illinois can’t deal with another scandal while the former Governor is on trial and former legislative leaders are threatened with indictments.

Illinois Democratic Senate Nomination Cattle Call 3-14

ArchPundit March 15, 2004 2 Comments

1. Obama. Has the numbers and the buzz. Got good coverage of Jackson’s call to vote today, should help clean up big portions of the black vote.

2. Hynes. At the St. Patrick’s Day Parade getting them ready for GOTV on Tuesday and beer on Wednesday.

3. Hull. Crisscrossing the state and flooding the airwaves and mailboxes

4. Pappas. Good coverage today and making the rounds in Chicago. At this point, barring a meltdown by the top two this race is probably for pride.

5. Chico. Left out of the weekend activities. Too bad, one of the more thoughtful candidates.

6. Skinner. Does she throw a victory party or just go to Hull’s?

7. Washington. She was more interesting when her site was down.

Illinois Republican Senate Nomination Cattle Call 3-14

ArchPundit March 15, 2004 No Comments

1. Jack! Calls continue, but unless a killer mailing or breaking news occurs, he looks like he is on the way to the nomination. Have to go back to empty suit references and the wonders of the Treaty of Westphalia. Disadvantage of the brouhaha–he still explained how he doesn’t know about Kjellander’s escapades.

2. Rauschenberger. He’ll surprise, let’s hope he doesn’t embarass me too much with my constant talk about how he should do well. Probably the worst if he pulls out a win–he isn’t fun to make fun of.

3. Oberweis. Republicans, please vote for him–give me material for the general election.

4. McKenna. Confused for Wal-Mart greeter while seeing what these big warehouse stores are all about.

5. Borling. Disappeared since the other day. Lost in Rockford

6. Wright. Victory party will probably include only non-alcoholic champagne. Yeck….

7. Kathuria. Will claim on resume to have been close to a first place finish.

Oh yeah, Visit Obama’s site

ArchPundit March 14, 2004 2 Comments

And send him some love. It’ll get the general off to a good start. Hull doesn’t need the help and no Hynes people have bought an ad.

Questions Continue for Jack!

ArchPundit March 14, 2004 No Comments

I thought maybe it was blowing over, but Oberweis jumped on it today and the press pushed harder. Jack! continues to think this will go away. Let me explain again, just release the files, you will later. If it is what McCulloch argues I can see why Ryan is attempting to avoid disclosure, but then he deserves to go down in flames. And will because the Democrats will get a hold of it one way or another. Or already have it and are keeping it back to permanently kill him off late in the cycle, but he’ll take the Republican candidates down with him. Already, Bush is leaving the state and the point of Rove recruiting Ryan is that he could at least make it a race so the Republicans down ticket wouldn’t get killed. Rove also had delusions that Illinois would be in play, but he’ll be living that down for some time.

Now if it is bunk, showing it to a third party lets him get a free pass later on other issues as the press feels bad for this kind of garbage. Imagine the sympathy the guy gets if the press forces him to release records that only exploit the son?

The middle case is that McCulloch’ charges are more serious than what is really in there but that material is embarrassing. Then the strategy is to wait for the primary to get through and then have it released so it won’t matter by the time the general comes around. But then the press turns on you.

Pretending this will go away doesn’t mean it will. And given the nature of the accusations, frankly the public does have a right to know. Going to an intermediary who could analyze them would probably be sufficient, but the allegations are quite serious and they go to the core of his character.

In other news, Barack is dealing with the his name by confronting the concerns. The smart thing is that if someone tries to slime him, it’ll backfire in the press. I wonder if this is natural or if they are borrowing the routine from Blagojevich.

Illinois Republican Senate Nomination Cattle Call Comment Period 3-14

ArchPundit March 14, 2004 1 Comment

No movement in the lastest polls–anything out there to contradict them? The Leader Message Boards are in full meltdown–soon someone will be suing someone–perhaps ironic given their distates of trial lawyers.

Can anyone convince me Rauschenberger won’t do better? Or am I immune to reason?

Democratic Cattle Call Comment Period 3-14

ArchPundit March 14, 2004 1 Comment

Last polls are out and nearly the last of the newspaper endorsements. Barack is up on the air downstate–notable because it has been a Hynes/Hull affair until now.

The Machine is gearing up for Dan. Tell me who’s up and who’s down. And start putting your predictions into comments.

How Much is the Machine Worth?

ArchPundit March 14, 2004 1 Comment

The Sun-Times explores it with Chris Mooney who doesn’t give much of a guess for a primary, but lots of interesting tidbits

The Kass Non-Endorsement Endorsement Goes To…

ArchPundit March 14, 2004 No Comments

Not the guy chatting up the editorial board about the Treaty of Westphalia

And we didn’t really need to know about Kass’ need for a back wax did we?