50 Comments - Anonymous - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 5:51 am: After tomorrow we will not hear the name Oberweis again. Thank you Republicans. You Democrat veterans also know what to do: VETERANS FOR EISENDRATH!!! - The Conservative - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 6:19 am: Can you hear the HOT air going out of the NObieOne baloon. He is crashing because of these stupid antics. I think if there is a redeeming jesture, that is he is taking Judy down with him. Perhaps he has been the stalking horse for Brady as Brady’s numbers are rising rapidly. How is that for all you conspiracy Obie followers. The Milk man is just a schill for Brady. - anon says: - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 6:52 am: It’s that kind of “”Logic” {in the academic sense} that is just another example as why this guy is so scary !!! Imagine him choosing cabinet/ dept. heads “”duck, duck, goose ! Ok bob your head of CMS”" Geezzz !! The reason he won’t get elected is because he’s a worn out record {or CD}, nothing new from him, changing positions to suit the crowd, his arrogance, poorly organized campaign & strategies, taking advice from the “tin foil bunch” & no-one is buying it !! Sorry Oby but you are thru in GOP politics. If you really want to help Rep. become a dem. Now leave please !!! - Rick - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 6:54 am: Wow, the burning locomotive and dancing video are very, very persuasive. I’m really impressed with the intellectual strength of the argument. These are very reasoned appeals. Crash and burn, man. - DOWNSTATE - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 7:36 am: I think by now most people know this guy and his people are fringe kooks.What bothers me is who ever wins has the extra duty of making our party look legit and then they have to take on Blago.Yoy would think that after all the bad pr he would have enough sense to redo his campagin. - E Ticket - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 7:42 am: Stinky Cheese Man is going down. - the Patriot - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 7:50 am: Once again, Oberweis missed the boat. 1. He should have had the conversation with Brady and Gidwitz 3 months ago. If he actually cared about the state, he would have asked Brady if he could be Brady’s Lt. Gov. Oberweis needs government experience and Brady’s likeability with Oberweis’ money would have put them both in no problem. 2. If you wanted to go after Judy you needed to do it from Day one. Now it looks like the desparate meanderings of a 3 time candidate who has spent tens of millions and is slipping from 2nd to 3rd place in the polls. Brady and Gidwitz should have taken Jim up on his straws offer, if would agree to leave the state and never run for public office in IL again. That would have been a true service to the party. - Rick - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 7:54 am: Rich, the ad doesn’t mention the candidate running it. Did Oberweis have his name on the ad? Is his name required to be on ads released on the net? - Defensor Pacis - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 7:56 am: Is there a reason I can’t find the ad on the Oberweis website? - the Patriot - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 8:07 am: Who has the time to put ads on the website. His web master is busy putting up phony endorsements. - Wumpus - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 8:17 am: It did make the Fark.com website. That is what happens when you are a puppet for Jack-a– Roesser. - SCS President - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 8:22 am: Hey Conservative, I am confused. You say Brady’s poll numbers are “rapidly rising”, how come no EXTERNAL poll has shown this rapid increase. By rapid, I am thinking 4-5-6-10 percent within a couple of days/weeks, not 1-2 points in weeks. Very, very nice ad. I have watched it several times because I view it so funny. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 8:22 am: One month too late. - Proud RINO - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 8:26 am: I agree with YDD, that ad should have run a month ago. Now it looks like his last desperate attempt. - ISU REP - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 8:29 am: SCS: Brings up a good point…The St. Louis Post Dispatch did a poll on the 11th…Brady wasn’t even winning a majority in central IL, I do confess I would like to see him beat the Obermonkey and take the silver medal. - Backyard Conservative - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 8:44 am: Why would MSM polls in Illinois accurately portray conservative strength? Those who know Oberweis best, like him least. He is a patronizing, politically clueless know-it-all in it for himself. Vote Brady for smarts and integrity. - Levois - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 8:59 am: Yeah and it sounds like Oberwise was going to manipulate the process so that he can win. I don’t like this at all. I hope he doesn’t become the nominee - The Conservative - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 9:05 am: Dear SCS , don’t stand on the road tomorrow, as the plows clear the roads for the traffic to get to the polls to vote for Brady. Those of us that know NObieOne will clear a path for Brady. NObieOne has a terrible reputation and would make a worse so called conservative candidate than Keys. Keys was at least a real conservative. NObieOne is not only owned by FTN but isn’t really a conservative. There is only one candidate that can unite the party for November. That is Bill Brady. Should NobieOne win it will be over vefore it starts. Should Polka dancing Liberal win, what does she get half of a party and the working half will stay home. Brady is the fresh face, the honesty and character shine through. He is the only real hope for the party. The best ticket will be Brady and Rauschenberger, now there is a strong ticket. - ISU REP - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 9:24 am: I keep hearing Brady is the one to unite the party and has the best chance of beating Rod..Yet I have see no explaination why…could someone enlighten me how a pro-gun anti-abortion candidate plans to win a moderate to liberal state by constantly saying he is the most conservative choice? If you ask me that seems to be the best way to alienate a majority of the electorate in IL. Many people dislike Rod, but not enough to vote for someone who is that far right of center…So please Brady supporters fill me in… - VanillaMan - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 9:53 am: I hate bad campaign ads. I hate it even more when an ad could be great, but gets screwed up by so-called “professionals”. This ad confirms once again the blantant stupidity of most campaign staffers and marketing hacks. Wednesday, Oberweis and Gidwitz needs to publically call out these idiots and put them to shame. They spent millions on THIS?! I’d include Brady too, his ad was great for a lilly white Central Illinois voter base - but for governor? But back to this stink-bomb: All these fools had to do is play the music and play the clip. THATS ALL. Viewers shown this clip enough times would be forced to wonder why these two are dancing, smiling and what their relationship is. The clip doesn’t need added comment, especially dopey negatives from a baritone voiceover. Look, the music is irritating enough, seeing these two hacks doing the two-step is irritating enough. Even Topinka supporters would be forced to seeing something literally no one wants to see. The best sales job is the one the viewer creates to justify what they are seeing. But NO, these Oberweis jackasses had to touch perfection. With their stupid comments and ad enhancements, the entire clip is easily dismissed and the entire ad dismissed as an attack ad. No one will accept what it is selling. If Oberweis is such a great businessman, he should have learned in Sales 101 that when you make the sale, you stop selling. This clip did the sale, and your “professionals” don’t know enough to stop selling. Instead, they ruined the sale and the clip. This is what would have worked: The screen reads, “Start the Polka!” Show the clip. The screen then reads, “Had Enough?” “Oberweis will stop the Polka!” No voiceover, no comments, nothing. It would have been the talk of the town. Viewers would be so sick of seeing those two dancing, they would do anything to stop that polka! “Sigh!” Fire them all! - True Blue - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 10:25 am: I thought the polka ad was hilarious and effective. Admittedly, I’m a Democrat, and my feelings towards George Ryan (and his “friends”) are probably quite different from the average Republican primary voters’. Tying Topinka to Ryan might not mean much in a GOP primary. But if Topinka’s the nominee, I suspect we’ll all be seeing more of that dance between now and November. As for the straw-drawing, it’s not such a bad idea for conservatives. The 10 straws-to-1 part was absurd (and apparently not out of character for Obie). But anyone with an elementary school math education can figure out that moderate GOP voters will outnumber conservative voters on Tuesday, if conservatives divide themselves between 3 other candidates. I certainly understand why none of the 3 candidates is willing to step aside for the others, but by not doing so, they’re almost guaranteeing Topinka as their nominee. Maybe Brady supporters would rather have Topinka than Obie, and maybe Obie supporters would rather have Topinka than Brady. If so, they’re both about to get their second choice on Tuesday! If not, there’s going to be some very unhappy conservatives on Wednesday. - SCS President - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 10:25 am: The Conservative, Why can you not answer my original question: What poll shows Brady as “rapidly rising” in the polls? Rich (or anybody), is it possible to post the first poll of the election season and the latest? This will prove if Brady has seen a “rapid rise” over a period of months and exactly how rapid that rise was. - YNM - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 10:34 am: ISU … First of all, this is a primary, so candidates have to hit on issues that their party base will attach to. The issue is not so much that Brady is a true conservative but that he has a consistent record and does what he says … Obe claims to be conservative but has flip-flopped. And Obe’s camp attacks Brady for being too far right and too far left … What Brady can do, and has done, is work with people who differ from him. He’s never backed away from his views, but has shown a willingess to find common ground and work with people. I believe it’s that characteristic that could help unite Republicans. Obviously it’s all opinions … but I think there is the most concrete evidence to support that than any of the other candidates, I really do. JBT could do well because she could get several dem. votes, but she won’t necessarily unite the Repub. party. Campaign strategy in a primary is tough, exactly for that reason. - anon says: - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 10:38 am: Newspaper polls are ludicris at best…no real scientific way its done & those polls who are they calling ?? & what are they asking. It sells newspapers & keeps the hype up ! They mistakenly think it will actually affect the outcome ! The results from one paper to the next are consistently different … sometimes within in the same locale. People will either hang up or tell anything to a “pollster”. I’ve yet to receive a call & I have 2 phones both listed !?If it were Gallop maybe, but more than likely it’s $6.00 an hour people, part-time at best given a list to call & ask some quirky questions or scenarios not real questions . Push polling comes to mind. Those who depend on “polls” to make an informed decision …god help us !! I’m sure Brady’s numbers are climbing & why shouldn’t they ?? He’s been forthright in his information, stayed out of the OBY, GID, MARTIN & JBT “fray”, stayed on message & his people are everywhere. He’s a viable candidate & has been for 14 months + & that really hacks off the GOP hierarchy. We’ll see what happens on the 22nd but I’ve a feeling Brady will have the last laugh. He has strong beliefs, views & vision for Illinois … but also knows it’s a big state & compromise is essential to get things done. GOP should realize he’s what this party was founded on & the fact he’s about it & others have drifted away is perhaps why his message seems foreign to those who can’t remember when. The others have really said nothing that hasn’t been said or tried before. Inovation ?? now there’s an idea something this state hasn’t seen in years. - YNM - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 10:39 am: SCS … I’d say the last Trib poll that came out showed some substantial movement for Brady … but of course it all depends on how much stock you put in the polls … - SCS President - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 10:48 am: One poll will matter… and not a single one of undoubtdly knows the results. That is until, late Tuesday night or early wednesday morning. This will show how much of a rapid rise Bill Brady has seen. Best of luck to all candidates and may the best man win. - Sour Milk - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 10:49 am: Anonymous @ 5:51 am — I hope you’re right. But I’m afraid Oberweis will be back for another beating in ‘08. He just doesn’t get it. I wish we could “term-limit” candidates. - Skeeter - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 10:58 am: Oberweis is a dangerous nitwit, but the point still is valid. What has Topinka done in her career to make anyone think that she would do anything different from Blago? - ISU REP - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 11:09 am: YNM: Thanks for trying to shed some light on this for me…I know he’s a big hit around these parts but I can’t see his appeal statewide, unfortunately he will be painted as a hayseed from central IL and one thing voters hate from up north more than an idiot for governor is one whose focus won’t be Chicago and the collar counties…I think his views by some considered to be dead on and others way out in right field…I think the fact that he was trying to hammer home to the base (which also is a matter of opinion who compromises the base now) will end up plastered all over the airways as the the guy who wants to take away funding for all of these new programs, give everyone guns, and let no one have an abortion EVER…obviously this isn’t the case, but the portrayal of him (Brady) as a ring wing nut job will be enough to cost him an election. Anon says: as far as what the party was founded on I’d completely disagreed, look at history…The Republicans were considered the liberal party upon their founding who fought against slavery and for rights…A large base of our party was African- American…What you call drifting away from the party I’d call progress, but that all is a matter of opinion. The party has changed, I know some of you still wish it was the 50’s but it’s not, us young whipper snappers view things differently and this is no longer my grandfather’s party. I know many of you think that doesn’t make me a Republican because I don’t have a problem with homosexuals and abortions..I always thought we were the party of smaller government and not interfering in people’s lives, but apparently for some that only applies to their guns and their religion. For the younger generation societal norms have changed for what you call the collapse of society I call tolerance. The Republican party can’t expect to survive as the party of the WASP (even though I am one) innovation is the key to survival unless we are ready to go the way of the Whigs. - YNM - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 11:23 am: SCS … you seemed to back away pretty quickly there. I think we all agree only one poll matters … but you asked for poll results that showed a rise, got the response you asked for, and now you have nothing more to say? Can I ask who you are backing? Oh, wait, I know the answer to that. - Rich Means - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 11:25 am: Rich Miller: While you are rarely wrong in analyzing political ploys, you are 100% wrong in criticizing Oberweiss’ Drawing Straws challenge. I only wish that I had thought of it first for my client Ron Giditz. Everyone who heard it knew that it was a joke but, on second thought, it left everyone with the pregnant: Jim Oberweiss is the best alternative to JudyBarr Topinka and that, for Republicans, JBT is way out in left field. While I don’t agree with the message, I must congratulate the smart guy who figured out how to send it. - Lovie's Leather - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 11:27 am: I never liked JBT. Over the past 2 weeks, I have fallen in love with her… could it be negative Obie ads??? It must be… What was the point of the burning cigar??? That one confused me… - YNM - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 11:43 am: Rich Means … wha’ huh? - anon - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 12:38 pm: SCS. Brady went from 8 to 15 in the Trib poll. I don’t like the methods of the Trib poll it’s too weighted to Chicago/collars Independents but it shows Brady is doing better in the Collars then people thought back then. Brady has been ahead of Obie since March 7th before Obie imploded. Obie hasn’t stopped dropping and Brady has probably picked up most of Obie’s vote and allot of the undecided by now. - Bubo - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 1:03 pm: What is more disturbing about Bi-Polarweis(Tm) is that he attempted to play the “God” card with Brady. I have not heard him speak about religion (nor do I care to), but with his flip flop on prolifers, and backtracking on illegals, it only makes me further question his scruples. My new mission in life is to ridicule and mock the FTN’s, ICRC and other Roesser puppet organizations. I am a conservative. - Papa Legba - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 1:13 pm: Andy Shaw from ABC 7 Chicago lead off the 10:00 news last night with the “dance” commercial. You could tell he wanted to blurt out what a stupid commercial it was and whoever ran it is even more stupid. He did finish the story by saying that Obie didn’t get “news” footage from the station, they would never release that stuff to a political campaign. He went on to speculate that Obie must have bought it from some service. - Central IL Stater - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 1:47 pm: What is more disturbing about Bi-Polarweis(Tm) is that he attempted to play the “God” card with Brady. Never thought of that one. And I read it and didn’t even phase me. So now in 2006, who is imposing his religious views on who? Are you now the Taliban Mr. Oberweis? - the Patriot - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 1:51 pm: The traction and “rapid rise” in the Brady numbers is not only to do with his increase, but the lack of movement of the other candidates. According to the Brady poll, Judy was down to 28. This means two things: 1. Judy is losing votes not gaining and 2. When you are losing the votes you had, the 30% undecided vote probably isn’t going to vote for you just because of name recognition or they would not be undecided. I know each candidate interprets polls in their favor, but news agency polls are also biased and unreliable. At least you can know the candidate is interpreting his numbers in his favor. Brady 15 and rising with Obe around 22 and falling and Judy at 28 and falling. 30% undecided means if the first two continue to fall, their votes have to go somewhere plus the undecided. This gives Brady his mathmatical shot. Don’t go nuts over me saying Brady will win, but he does have a shot and I think Judy’s plan to stay under the radar may backfire and cost her points. How many, no one will know for another 36 hours or so. Brady’s shot, is mathmatically about the same as Bradley and Wichita State making it to the sweet sixteen. That’s why they play the game! - Bubs - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 3:16 pm: 30% undecided the day before the election, huh? Those Brady numbers sound mighty strange. - YNM - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 3:26 pm: bubs those numbers were several days ago in the last poll, not internal brady numbers a day before the election … - 105th Blues - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 3:45 pm: I love the attack ad. Brilliant and hilarious. - Bubs - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 3:47 pm: YNM, which poll are you referring to? The Post Dispatch was at 8% undecided and the Tribune at 18%. Now its 30%? No way. - Anon - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 5:59 pm: The Brady Poll was March 7th with 30% undecided. There isn’t a lot of undecided left now, no. The St. Louis and Trib pollsters only ask if you are voting D or R. Not if you are really going to vote they don’t check your voting history to see if you have voted R or D before and are really “likely” voters. That’s why people had problems with those polls. Brady started out at the bottom and has steadly increased his vote and will peak on election day. Judy has stayed at 27% in the Brady Poll or somewhere around 35% in a heavely weighted Chicago Poll. Obie has never been higher then 21% in any poll and has probably dropped like a rock since. Obie’s vote will go to Brady also the undecided because if they were going to choose Judy they already would have. If Brady had 15% in the Trib poll which some would say under counted his downstate support and he picks up 11% of Obies vote and he picks up 10% of the undecided he’s won. - YNM - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 6:41 pm: Oh, ISU … I’m not sure where to begin. First, for starters … I consider myself more moderate as well … I think there’s room for disagreement on some social and more issues, with the Republican party and elsewhere. There are many who would not call me a Republican either … or they’d label me some creative aconym like RINO … whatever. So, I’m with you on that. And sure, candidates get labeled lots of ways during an election and otherwise. I do think Brady has a record though of being willing to move on issues to get good things done. And actually, Brady’s not necessarily a big hit around “these parts” … but he does have a certain level of respect among his colleagues and I believe has the tools to do the job. I just get sick of people bashing Brady without looking at him objectively. I’ve given the other candidates the respect of an objective evaluation and found them all more wanting than Brady … - LittleEgypt - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 6:48 pm: The GOP had Alan Keyes, the Dems have Obie. Call it a draw and just another political event Illinoisans can(not) be proud of. There ought to be a test people must pass in order to run for office. Idiots, we’re electing idiots. - Bradys the Guy - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 7:20 pm: Obie’s last lie…. On Tom Roeser’s WLS radio show, in a desperate bid to smear Brady as a “corrupt” candidate, Oberweis told his biggest lie yet… he claimed that Brady got donations from Bill Cellini. Brady’s campaign confirms that Bill Cellini has not contributed to his campaign for governor. The milk has truly soured… Vote for Brady - Bubs - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 7:52 pm: Anon 3:39 - Not true again. The Tribune poll was “likely voters,” and, as I recall, there has never been a huge geographical skew in any of the poll numbers. But I also agree that primary polls are always suspect to a certain degree. I certainly could be shocked tomorrow by seeing Topinka lose. My NCAA brackets are toast, which proves my lack of prescience. But I just don’t think so. - YNM - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 8:42 pm: Actually on Roeser’s blog as he talks about the interview, he also claims that Brady got big money from the IEA … actually I believe the last contribution Bill got from the IEA was in ‘04 … he definitely has not received any this election cycle … in fact his ideas are not necessarily well-liked by the IEA … but this is oberweis … the poster-boy for truthiness … i’d love to see him on the Colbert Report. Of course, that Brady has not received those moneys is truth … so Oberweis has not concerned himself with that yet. - logo - Monday, Mar 20, 06 @ 10:14 pm: Brady, has had a meteoric rise in the last 10 days. Paul Valas was down 20 points with two weeks to go and lost by 25,000 votes. Brady will not sleep tomorrow but will be the winner. Oby is done. probably couldn’t win dog catchers, Judy will retire and Ron maybe our next us senate candidate. - steve schnorf - Tuesday, Mar 21, 06 @ 10:58 am: On GOP gov, we’ll know by 9:30 or so tonite, and it will be JBT by 10-14 points Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.