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It’s Olgivie’s Fault

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The Republican Party’s problem in Illinois is traced back to Richard Olgivie by Pearson and Chase.

Errr…sort of, but not really. The article is good overall and it mentions most of the important issues for the Republican’s problems, but I think the focus of the story is too forced into a historical narrative.

The problems isn’t Olgivie losing patronage as much as the interests of city dwellers and suburbanites diverging from the national Republican Party and those groups gaining in relative import. The authors mention this, but it’s far less emphasized than it deserves in comparison to Olgivie.

As Republicans moved rightward on social issues more space opened up between Republican statewide candidates and national candidates. Slowly, the grassroots organizations that mobilized socially conservative voters moved the State Party rightward starting as early at 1990 with challenges to the establishment.

The Republican Party saw an opportunity to attack Democratic majorities through social conservatism and as time went on–the activists spread to all of the states. In a socially moderate state like Illinois, this led to a split within the Party between powerful social moderates and grassroots social conservatives that continues to this day. I put my money on the conservatives. Ultimately, it is hard for moderates like Beth Coulson to run as a Republican and not be tied to an agenda that isn’t right wing in an area that is socially liberal.

The same happens in reverse in rural areas, but there are more people in urban and suburban areas.

G-Rod

“It?s also worth noting that the General Assembly and the governor have not achieved the previous EFAB recommendation yet.?

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The Governor’s (his spokespersona actually) reason why it isn’t important that he didn’t appoint members of an advisory board that is required to issue a report on the state of school financing.

Senator Miguel del Valle criticizes the Governor pointing out the statutory requirement, but the real criticism should focus on The Blagorgeous’ inability to even address the issue forthrightly.

But most importantly, an updated report could have addressed how the $600 difference in recommendations and actual increase affected school performance. Now, there is no information to draw upon and that seems to be by design.

Who wants to be that if, as Aaron Chambers reports, Senate President Emil Jones pushes for a tax swap, the Blagorgeous says we should wait to hear the recommendations of the panel?

The most important quote is from Tom Cross who says the issue is dead unless the Governor makes a move. Republicans and the Speaker aren’t going to stick their heads out there only for the Governor to chop it off. He’s going to have to lead on the issue or nothing will get done.

G-Rod

Good to See that Quinn isn’t the only clueless one

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In a rather hysterical whine to Don Wycliff, Pat Quinn suggested that the Trib acted like the Pinkneyville Bugle and in one swipe offended the public editor of the major daily in the state and the good people of Southern Illinois.

Not to be outdone, Brad Tusk of the Governor’s office gets in on the act in the Southern Illinoisan

“One of the most interesting aspects of the job, he said, is getting to know the people in the state, as he did last week when he accompanied the governor on a two-day swing through Southern Illinois. The trip helped clear up what he said was his biggest misconception about the state.

“I just didn’t realize how diverse this state was. Southern Illinois is almost like the South. Central Illinois is more like Middle America. Chicago is like most big cities and its suburbs are sort of typical of most American suburbs,” he said. “It’s almost like four different worlds in one place.”

The best part is that he talks about shaking things up in the State Board of Education, but doesn’t seem to clue in that the SBOE’s biggest challenge to come involves those Southern Illinois schools.

and from Vasyl:

Oh, and doesn’t he sound a bit defensive?? How many times does he repeat that Blagojevich makes the decisions?? Why state the obvious — unless it’s not

G-Rod

Yes Rich, That’s a Flip-Flop

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Via Capitol Fax

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Just a year ago, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY’-uh-vitch) said he wanted to end exceptions to daily physical education classes in public schools.

Now his State Board of Education is suggesting ways to make it easier for schools to eliminate P-E. A report to the Legislature says state law could be changed to allow automatic exemptions in certain cases like for kids who play sports.

Spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch (ROWSH’) says Blagojevich is not reversing his position. She says Blagojevich believes schools should require physical activity but he is willing to help them eliminate bureaucracy to cut PE classes.

How about this–enforce the current law. P.E. has long been poorly done, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good and necessary idea. As a young kid I was always one of the last kids picked, but I was kept active and became a relatively inshape guy by 15 and kept up with that until I had twins. P.E. could have been structured better, but the idea of daily exercise in an increasingly lethargic society is a habit that needs to be taught-and it improves the mind.

And Blagojevich caved.

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Back To Normal Tomorrow

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I have a radio appearance at 7 PM CST tonight and I’m refreshing my tank on what I need to know.

For those interested in school reforms discusssions, I’ll be on KDHX’s Collateral Damage on 88.1 in the Saint Louis area or at kdhx.org. The other guest is Peter Downs who is a critic of the current Board Majority in Saint Louis and newly announced candidate to for an open slot.

With that, I’ll have a whole bunch of things off of my plate and ready to resume regular blogging.

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DNC Leadership Update

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Pete Giangreco left a comment the other day about Donnie Fowler:

Take a close look at my friend Donnie Fowler for DNC chair.

Here’s a guy is been on both ends. He was grassroots before grassroots was cool — worked in 14 states including state director for Kerry in Michigan. He’s also done the national piece as Natl Field Director for Gore. 3 years in Silicon Valley, gets new politics, but also understands that we can’t write off the rural Midwest, the West and places like his homestate of South Carolina.

Last week he unveiled his new podcasting plans — sending recorded messages for people to download onto their Ipods.

He gets it.

Donnie’s site is here

Donnie has had some rough treatment by some of the blogs, but he’d be a good choice as well. I think he understand the grassroots, perhaps in a way that some blog focused folks don’t. I’d put him in the category of three people running that provide me with some hope for reshaping the party in terms of structure and efforts. He needs to work a bit on the the interactive nature of online activism, but he’s trying to be chair, not chief technician.

All that said, Fowler and Simon Rosenberg are left in the shadow of Howard Dean who is racking up a lot of early endorsements. Today Dean racked up the endorsements of Party Chairs or Vice Chairs in six different states.

As such a hugely high profile race, competent guys like Rosenberg and Fowler are finding it hard to get oxygen, but both would probably do a good job.

UPDATE: Fixed title typo.

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Drinking Liberally

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ith a bitter chill in the air,
What way to better warm spirits
Than good friends, good beer,
And a little Progressive banter?

Drinking Liberally Chicago
Promoting democracy one pint at a time

Each and Every Wednesday Night @ 8:30 pm
The Red Lion, 2446 N Lincoln, 2nd Floor
Just around the corner from the Fullerton L Stop

Come join fellow progressives and find out what
Newsweek, the New York Daily News, and the Atrios blog
Have all been talking about!

All you need to do is show up and drink

www.drinkingliberally.org

Co-Hosted by The Chicago Chapter of 2020 Democrats

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People’s Inaugural Info

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ople’s Inaugural Info:

If you didn’t get tickets to the Bush inaugural ’cause:
a) you’re not a billionaire who has exported thousands of jobs
overseas;
b) you’ve struggled to pay your bills, find a job, buy your
medicine, orput your kids through school;
c) don’t have a fortune invested on Wall Street or within the
confines of the Great Wall in China; or
d) you just can’t stand the thought of Bush &?his puppeteers having
4 more years to move America back to the 19th century &?create havoc
around the world; AND
e) you’re in the Chicago area ?. . .

Then this event is for you. ?Join Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky for
the People’s Inaugural &?take the oath to move America forward at
the same time George W. Bush is taking his oath.

The People’s Inaugural
Thursday, January 20th, 2005
12:00 Noon to 1:00 pm
The Allegro Hotel
171 W. Randolph, Chicago

This Thursday, President Bush is going to be sworn in to his second
term. (I know, I know, think “Nixon”) We have an opportunity to
express our displeasure with this event. While the President is
kicking off his second term with a $40 million dollar bacchanalian
display of cooperate greed and power, we will be holding our own
People’s Inaugural. As the President is sworn in with the oath of
office, we too, will take an oath, to take America forward.

We swear to defend Social Security, we swear to fight for fully
funded public schools, and we swear to continue to voice our strong
the opposition to this administration’s misguided policies. We will
fight to take America forward, despite the administration’s best
efforts.

Please join us, this Thursday, for the People’s Inaugural.

Jan Schakowsky

(please RSVP by e-mail if you can attend, alex@janschakowsky.org)

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