1. - INADAZE - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 7:24 pm:

   Who cares . It is a sad state of affairs when it all boils down to how much money one spends to become elected to office. EE is an honest, intelligent man who happens to want to be elected to governor. We have a change to out BLAGO, but instead of getting behind EE we complain about everything he does or does not do.
   As far am I am concerned if Blago is re-elected we get what we deserve.




2. - Anonymous - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 7:28 pm:

   On the other hand…Everyone, including the candidates for Governor from the 1850’s, long dead, all figured out two weeks ago that this was a political opportunity, and EE might have just caught up with them. He does not impress on any level.




3. - Papa Legba - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 7:34 pm:

   I believe EE has plenty of issues to use his money on. His big problem may be where to start. He will need a to put forth a better effort than he has to date, thats for sure. And he had better start to show he has a good focus on what is needed in this state. With all the goofy things Blago has done, he could easily put together a documentary on how not to govern.




4. - Ann - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 7:46 pm:

   I thought Eisendrath’s first ad was quite appropriate- he was introducing himself to the voters. I hope he gets more ads out there in these final days. Blago has messed up and the people of IL need an alternative: EDWIN EISENDRATH!




5. - INADAZE - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 7:46 pm:

   Anon

   There lies the problem we want to be entertained and impressed. Maybe we should hire an actor.




6. - helen - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 7:48 pm:

   It sounds like GAME ON!




7. - A Green - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 7:52 pm:

   All along you’ve been shouting to the world “show me the money” and now that he’s about to do it you’re still not happy…get over yourself! EE will be a great Governor and I believe he’s going to shock the world on March 21st!




8. - Political Hack - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 8:17 pm:

   Rich–the Hack says you are wrong. EE does not have the money for TV. His wife produced the his current ad (speaks volumes about what an insane campaign he is running). His family will not give him the money. Maybe the million is his. But its like pissing in the wind at this point.




9. - MJW Minion - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 8:27 pm:

   Hack is probably correct…although with how this Commission thing is going and the Meeks insurrection, I think the administration is becoming a basket case and a meltdown not out of the question.




10. - INADAZE - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 8:28 pm:

    Hack,

    Sounds like fiscal responsibility to me. We need more of it. Are standing up-wind or down-wind while you’re HACKING.




11. - Anon - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 8:34 pm:

    Political Hack-

    While the ad wasn’t impressive, his wife used to be a TV news producer for many years. Having her do the ad is probably the most professional aspect of his campaign so far.




12. - 47th Ward - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 8:45 pm:

    This “crazy mess” is so emblematic of the Blagojevich administration’s weakness: lack of experience, discipline, effort and accountability. It’s what happens when you hire staff for reasons other than merit. That’s my disappointment and I think this is just the latest screw up, not the last.

    Who is in charge over there? Who is making the decisions? Who is accountable? Ultimately it’s going to be the Governor, but this episode combined with everything else, the investigations, the Daily Show, the lateness, the bad jokes, and all of the other unforced errors they’ve made, it adds up.

    This is hardly the “perfect storm” Edwin needed to win, and it’s way too late. But if the Rod doesn’t clean house soon, Judy will in January.




13. - political hack - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 9:34 pm:

    producing the news and producing political advertising are two very distinct animals. You need professional political television consultants in a state like Illinois to compete on television. You may not like it, but as my boy Barney Fife used to say, “Them the facts mam’” As I recall, EE actually had some talent on his staff until he ran them out. Candidates need to be candidates and leave the managing to professionals. It may look easy kids, but never try it at home. Hack on those chicken bones boys!




14. - DOWNSTATE - Saturday, Mar 4, 06 @ 6:48 am:

    It’s now or never and Blago just give this guy that big red easy button.




15. - Beowulf - Saturday, Mar 4, 06 @ 7:04 am:

    Here is hoping that Eisendrath “connects” with his fellow Democrats before the Primary. I am a GOP supporter but I certainly would welcome Edwin Eisendrath rather than a November choice between Judy Barr Topinka and Rod Blagojevich. Otherwise, my choices will be “more of the same” versus “more of the same.” No, please NO!!!!




16. - B Hicks - Saturday, Mar 4, 06 @ 7:41 am:

    Where have all you EE people been lately, good to see you back.

    If Edwin has one million to throw away, let him do it. This issue isn’t going to take him over the top. He, along with all of the GOP candidates, was hoping on one thing, indictments. He gambled and he lost.

    This isn’t a campaign killing issue. It needs to get worked out, but it’s not going to skyrocket Edwin Eisendrath to a victory.




17. - Marta Elena - Saturday, Mar 4, 06 @ 8:02 am:

    As a Democrat, I had hoped that Eisendrath would run this campaign more effectively. Believe me, I was one of those ‘anyone but Blago’ this past year. I was ready to support Eisendrath- but he has yet to show his leadership. I’m looking for someone who can run this state and at this point I’m willing to cross party lines and support Bill Brady. I am not a mainstream conservative - but I want someone with legislative experience to be our next Governor.

    Also, it’s not the first time that candidates have come through with a million in tv ads just prior to election day.

    I agree with Rich Miller on this one. I blame Eisendrath for not taking full advantage of his volunteers/supporters in the beginning. I asked on several occasions for a Springfield contact for the Eisendrath campaign. It seems like the people running Eisendrath’s campaign don’t know the value of their volunteers and supporters downstate.




18. - Cassandra - Saturday, Mar 4, 06 @ 8:05 am:

    I tend to agree with B Hicks. But because this flap occurred so close to the primary, the size of the vote for EE could be meaningful. Blago will be able to gauge a little more closely the extent to which defections might hurt him in the general. Blago, EE, JBT–there really is little difference between them philosophically, so if a larger than expected contingent votes for EE,
    that’s an indicator for the general.

    I still say Blago is sticking with Ms. Johnson
    because he thinks (well, I don’t think he does think, I mean his handlers)doing so will do him less harm politically than not doing so. And at this point, if she resigned in a huff, that could actually do him more harm because blacks would believe she’d been pushed. He has to keep her there.

    Meeks won’t run but he will use this commission incident, add to his phantom candidacy, to up the pressure on Blago for more, much more money, state jobs, and state contracts for blacks.




19. - Marta Elena - Saturday, Mar 4, 06 @ 8:57 am:

    Cassandra,

    Meeks is specifically asking for education funding for schools, this is not a black issue - it is an issue for all of us. We are all affected by education funding in this state.




20. - roy slade - Saturday, Mar 4, 06 @ 10:06 am:

    Marta- not to be argumentative with you- but with all the money spent in the chicago school systems ($’s per student)- are we seeing results? If we have learned anything over the past decade- more money doesn’t buy results. I, for one, am sick and tired of spending *more money* without seeing any positive results.




21. - Cassandra - Saturday, Mar 4, 06 @ 10:35 am:

    Marta-
    I agree with you–schools affect everyone.

    But I don’t believe that is what Meeks is after.
    If he got some extra school funding into Chicago that would be nice, but it’s not the reason he is threatening to run.

    He’s after whatever money and power Blago can disburse from the guv’s office and thinks this is an issue that will attract supporters and scare the guv.

    This is not limited to black politicians or the Black Caucus, of course. All political groups do the same thing when the opportunity arises.

    Unfortunately, taxpayers are NOT a separate political group–we just pay for everything…and the price for Blago appeasing Meeks could be high.




22. - Reddbyrd - Saturday, Mar 4, 06 @ 10:59 am:

    Looks like Esquared dropped the ball — again
    Early look at Sunday papers don’t show much
    Esquared tried to hustle some north suburban and African American field staff with the commission dus up but got no takers. GRod might have survived— for all the wrong reasons.




23. - Jumbolaya - Saturday, Mar 4, 06 @ 11:24 am:

    Damn, never thought I’d be saying this, but I might be voting for EE. I thought his was a mere ploy in case of a Blago indictment.

    If he spends $1 million, he has my vote.




24. - Bill Baar - Saturday, Mar 4, 06 @ 12:21 pm:

    I saw the ad playing on TV while working out but couldn’t hear it. It’s on his webpage now too and you can play it there.

    It’s good. What’s really good is the strong msg about Farrakhan and hate speech and the Gov’s appalling response.

    Maybe I’ll pull a Dem Ballot and vote for him.




25. - Just Observing - Saturday, Mar 4, 06 @ 6:19 pm:

    I’m voting for EE but he ain’t going no where.




26. - SenorAnon - Saturday, Mar 4, 06 @ 9:11 pm:

    Bill Baar,

    What are you talking about? Your link goes to EE’s web page and the same sad ad he did three weeks ago. No Farrakhan. No “strong message.”




27. - Democrate - Saturday, Mar 4, 06 @ 10:57 pm:

    What does billy marovitz say about this?




28. - INADAZE - Sunday, Mar 5, 06 @ 9:11 am:

    Check out St.Louis Post-Dispatch article on EE.
    It is now posted on eisendrath2006 web site.




29. - Marta Elena - Sunday, Mar 5, 06 @ 11:23 am:

    Roy Slade-

    You won’t get an argument out of me about the Chicago Public Schools since they are are an arm of the Daley Administration. I am the product of the South Suburbs of Chicago.

    I did some research in 2002 about the status of the schools in the 2nd congressional district. My focus was the 15th senate district since only a very small portion of the district is actually within the City of Chicago. I met with the State Board of Education on education funding and the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002. I also met with the Illinois Education Association in 2003 and was given a crash course on the education funding formula and its history. Wow - talk about a complicated system. With all that being said, there has been some discussion about improving the education funding formula since Governor Edgar. Not much has been done since than.

    One issue that keeps on coming up is a ‘tax swap’, which is what Meeks is proposing. On 02/27/06 of the SunTimes stated…..
    “Meeks has sponsored legislation that would raise $1.8 billion for education through a 2% state income tax hike in conjunction wiht a reduction in real estate taxes.”

    I do agree that throwing more money into education is not a complete solution - there also needs to be an overhaul of the education funding formula in Illinois since we are ranked 48th in the country in regards to education funding. The NCLB hurts the school districts by punishing them for not meeting standards.

    Cassandra:

    Wouldn’t it be nice if Blago donated his campaign chest to the schools in the Chicago area? I don’t know Meeks personally, attend his church or belong to his campaign, so I cannot attest to his motivations.

    As for me, I am supporting Bill Brady because I think he can run this state more effectively. I got hooked when he was referred to as a ‘young Jim Edgar’.




30. - Bill Baar - Sunday, Mar 5, 06 @ 12:00 pm:

    Senoranon… I was out of town last week, so I don’t how current this was….. it’s about as strong as we’re getting from EE,

    It is simply not acceptable for the leader of our state to opt out when tensions rise between groups in our society. The governor has bungled this terribly. He now must apologize for his own indifference in order to open the doors to reconciliation.

    I haven’t seen anything from Brady yet either.

    I admit to being slow to putting the pieces together on this one… I have low expectations from Farrakan so I discount him… but when you see the lack of reaction, and the dithering, and put it all in the larger context of what’s happening in the world… It scares the hell out me that Blagojevich doesn’t immediatly fire her, dissovle the commission and start over…

    …it’s scary.




31. - INADAZE - Sunday, Mar 5, 06 @ 12:11 pm:

    Senor Anon,

    The statememt Billy is referring to on the web site is below the ad,just scroll down to see the entire article.




32. - bmatt - Sunday, Mar 5, 06 @ 12:56 pm:

    Bill … when you say you have not seen anything from Brady yet, do you mean on this issue? His press release came out Feb. 24 …. it’s on his website.

    email me if you want a link.




33. - SenorAnon - Sunday, Mar 5, 06 @ 8:36 pm:

    I took from Bill Baar’s post that there was a new ad from Eisendrath. When you wrote, “It’s good…Farrakhan…etc. I thought you meant a new ad - not a statement. My mistake…




34. Trackback WurfWhile - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 12:12 am:

    Illinois Democratic Primary For Governor - Following The Money

    Susan Manilow, a Chicago philanthropist and Democratic Party supporter, has financially supported her son Edwin Eisendrath’s gubernatorial candidacy. Last December she gave $10,000 to his campaign and loaned it an additional $40,000. For a single dono…

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