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Question of the day
Tuesday, Mar 28, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller Every now and then I run out of ideas for our question of the day. Today is one of them. On days like this, I usually ask what questions that people would like to see here. Let’s do that again.
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- ron - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 8:26 am:
dubin’s approval ratings continue to drop. now below 50 %. Who will be the most likely candidate against durbin? Will he have primary competition?
- DOWNSTATE - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 8:28 am:
Is Meeks going to run and which big Democrats or Republicans ,any race,will go with him.
- Woe is us - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 8:36 am:
Rich, Have you read EE’s letter to the editor in Tuesday’s Sun-Times? He’s railing against your “angry deportation piece”…enjoy.
- bored now - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 8:44 am:
i don’t know if you’d be the right person to write this (but i wouldn’t know who could!), but one of the things i miss when thinking about local political/campaign coverage is competitive rankings (which races in the state et al) are perceived as the most competitive, by ranking (eg, cook, hotline, etc).
now i can think of *lots* of reasons for someone not to do this (pissing off madigan being at the top of the list), but it would be interesting, nonetheless.
- HermosaNeighborhoodMan - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 8:46 am:
Seeing as how the Chicago aldermanic elections are coming up soon…What names have you heard that are interested in running against the incumbants?
- Amy - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 9:09 am:
Will there be a mistrial in the Ryan case, and, if so, what effect would it have?
- George - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 9:10 am:
What is going on with Mark Prior and Kerry Woods?
- bored now - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 9:21 am:
who’s mark prior and kerry woods?
- ZC - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 9:23 am:
If Meeks runs, what non-African-American elected IL politicians (Democrat or Republican) are most likely to bolt ship and support him? What interest groups?
- Frustrated Republican - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 9:27 am:
A total “hack” question: Why do you think the political landscape in Illinois is the way it is - controlled by Democrats.
The maps clearly favor Democrats right now, but until the George Ryan debacle, Republicans had held their own in statewide races.
Is the reason that the organizations in Chicagoland for the Democrats are strong, the organizations in the suburbs for Republicans are weak or weakening? The relative strength/weakness of each of the statewide parties? Is it the bloody primaries on the Republican side? or something entirely different?
- Beowulf - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 10:07 am:
Questions: 1) Which counties in Illinois have shown a pronounced swing away from their former ” A Republican or Democrat County” labels?
2) In Grundy County, who mailed out the over 3,000 letters a week ago that has the Grundy County officials so wound uptight over the use of the recipient’s social security numbers and such? Why has this hotly discussed topic suddenly disappeared from the radar screen?
3)Where does Steve Rauschenberger go from here politically? What caused the “implosion” from within his campaign for Governor/Lt. Governor?
4) Of the Chicago collar-county political power brokers, who is the most powerful amongst them both from the GOP side and the Democrat side?
5) Where will Bill Brady, Gidwitz, and Oberweis be politically in Illinois in 4 years?
5) Will Rich Miller ever decide to run for political office someday?
- Cassandra - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 10:12 am:
The Rev Meeks is saying he will run for guv unless the governor sends more money to the black community.
Unsure what form the extra money to the black community might take, but I assume contracts, no-work civil service jobs, “programs” which generate more jobs and contracts. All paid for by us.
In any case, as Illinois (and the US in general)
diversifies, are we going to see more race-based demands on politicians. Whites have been intimidated by charges of political incorrectness, but, in light of race-based demands like those of the Rev Meeks and Hispanic groups, will whites too begin to make demands of government based on their race? A sort of political Iraq? Or will it be more subtle, with whites retreating to all-white communities, in the abstract if not physically, and voting en bloc like blacks in the fight over power and resources.
Uncomfortable, but it bears thinking about.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 10:14 am:
Beowulf: Never
- Anon - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 10:27 am:
Can Meeks get on the ballot? How? And how many signatures by what date?
- interesting - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 10:34 am:
If Meeks gets in the race, does the staunch, hard line pro life movement get behind him? Does the Catholic Conference get behind him? If these groups don’t, do they lose credibility? Remember these are the same people who vote on that issue and don’t consider anything else unless the canddiates are the same on abortion.
- Lovie's Leather - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 10:53 am:
All right, here is a great question of the day: Who can write the best song about Bill Brady to the tune of the Brady Bunch??? alright. go!
- Reddbyrd - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 10:58 am:
Like Rich reported Meeks is a GRod plant, who care about Esquared. Let’s leave ChopperJim RIP.
Now lets get serious.
Since everyone is out of the brackets in the NCAA, we can turn to America’s game
How about:
— will the Cubs have any healthy pitchers by May 1?
— How many World Series will the SOX win?
— Can anyone stop the Cardinals this year?
(A. No, Mucho, NO)
- Downstate Republican - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 11:05 am:
The Karmeier/Maag race of 2004 will be refought again as Karmeier’s selection for a replacement to the Maag appellate seat is up for election.
Already Doctor’s groups and Madison County law firms are preparing for this battle.
Do you think there will be any spill over of this race into the Governor’s race?
- Anon - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 11:22 am:
Order the State Senate races by competitive ranking, most competitive being first:
52,31,33,22,42…
- Carl Nyberg - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 12:46 pm:
If Illinois had it’s own money, who would be depicted on the coins and bils?
- Carl Nyberg - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 12:48 pm:
What was the best move the White Sox made in the offseason? The worst?
- ZC - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 1:20 pm:
One more question: After Lipinski, and Dart, and now Evans, and soon (presumably) Stroger, have we reached some kind of tipping point in the ability of Democratic primary voters to select their party nominees? And does anybody really care?
- Cook County Watchdog - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 2:59 pm:
Good point ZC. However, I think Dart is going to end up being a decent Sheriff, but the interesting thing to see about him is how long he is going to stay there. Everyone knows he wants a higher office. Maybe mayor, Senator, or Gov. Anyone know?
- Establishment Republican - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 3:24 pm:
Who would be a better road trip companion? Cheryl Axley or Sandy Wegman?
- Casual observer - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 4:28 pm:
The state budget is currently predicated upon $130 million in federal funds this year and another $130 million next year assuming federal approval of a hospital assessment tax. How will John Filan fill the $260 million budget hole if the federal government rejects the state’s proposed hospital tax in early April?
- ThePiper - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 4:55 pm:
Come up with new slogans for the Blago and JBT 2006 campaigns.
- sly robert - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 6:05 pm:
Who or what group or groups are fighting HDO to take control of there areas?Where is the next big battle for HDO and there enemies?,Cicero?,Berwyn?Melrose Park?,North or South side of Chicago?
- Gregor Samsa - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 6:13 pm:
- Carl Nyberg - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 12:46 pm:
“If Illinois had it’s own money, who would be depicted on the coins and bills?”
Trust me, Carl, Blagojevich’s name will be on ALL our bills for a very very long time, even our children will be paying off the debts he’s generated.
- Very curious - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 6:18 pm:
Did Meeks and the Black Legislative Caucus deliberately set their figure - $1 billion per year - at a level high enough that Filan cannot meet it through nickel and dime fee increases, fund sweeps, and (in Jim Leach of 970 AM WMAY’s memorable expression) turning over couch cushions looking for spare nickles.
To this observer, the only way to hit that figure is to raise taxes. What do people here think?
- Anon - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 7:08 pm:
Which ticket would win, and what percentage of the vote would they get in November?:
- Blagojevich/Quinn
- Topinka/Birkett
- Meeks/Oberweis
- Cracks in the Foundation - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 7:57 pm:
I’m somewhat surprised at how little attention is being paid to the prominent Republican Party failures that were evident in DuPage County. Huge basketfulls of endorsements dont mean victory anymore. Is the electorate shifting or is the Party organization no longer effective in getting out the vote ?
Question.
Are there signs of real change within traditionally Republican DuPage County party politics or was the primary a fluke ?
- Worried Farmer - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 8:36 pm:
Should longwall mining be outlawed in Illinois?
- Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 9:33 pm:
Who would be a better road trip companion? Cheryl Axley or Sandy Wegman?
Is death by Chinese water torture a third option?
- NIEVA - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 9:39 pm:
Has anyone heard the rumor that mayor Daley and a couple of his ward bosses are opening a gun shop? They said it would only sell guns to people that really need them,like a bunch of the people who ran for office this time and found out that without the votes they bought the only friends they have were each other.Better pass a right to carry law in this state quick!!
- Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 9:40 pm:
If Illinois had it’s own money, who would be depicted on the coins and bills?
Hmm…we’ve already got Lincoln on the fin and Ulysses on the deca-fin. Illinois is already over-represented on currency.
Maybe Illinois should print its own currency, however. Much easier than pension raids, diversions, and fund sweeps to pay for all those new entitlements.
- Save a Horse Ride a Harley - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 9:41 pm:
When is anyone going to pay attention to the dirt at IDOT? The Trib is just scratching the surface. Vanover is a pawn sent out to lie about the kingdom and it reaches all the way to the govenors office. Ask the question to the folks in Personnel, did you fix grades in order for the Govenor’s chosen ones to get hired? Who is Robin Black’s husband and who does he work for? The Big Indians are on the warpath and many folks will get scalped in this one. Maybe even Elvis himselvis. This crew is as dirty as a Southside street after the Sox won the Series.
- Anon Tax Guy - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 10:38 pm:
Who would be pictured on the money if Illinois had it’s own? My suggestions:
Orville Hodge (State Auditor convicted of embezzlement)
Paul Powell (shoe boxes full of cash found upon his death)
Bill Scott (Convicted after his - ex-wife told about his stash of cash in a safe deposit box)
Theodore Isaacs (Illinois Dept. of Revenue Director convicted along with Kerner)
Pick a representative lobbyist of the past 40 years or so.
Dick Ogilvie - an exception to the above-listed folks in that he was an honest man, but responsible for the Illinois Income Tax Act.
- Papa Legba - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 11:18 pm:
How will the current organized and coordinated protests by Latinos impact the long term future of politics in Illinois and the country? Does the organizational strength of this group surprise/not surprise/interest/not interest people?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 29, 06 @ 7:29 am:
When will the Chicago Sun-Times fire hater Rich Miller for outrageously using his column to call for his real and imagined enemies to leave the state?
- redhot - Wednesday, Mar 29, 06 @ 10:57 am:
Can someone tell me what happened in Lyons Township Republican committeeman race? Why did Radgano,ex-state Rep. Lyons,State Rep.Durkin,Maureen Murphy,Liz Gorman,19ward republican committeeman Jim Perelli,defeated ex-state Senator Tom Walsh,Proviso Republican committeeman Corrigan,Ed Vrdolayak,John Stroger,and Eugene Moore work to elect a 24 y/o unknown to Reublican Committeeman over Republican Anthony Peraica the Cook County Commissioner and committeeman of Lyons?
Peraica beat them all, but why would Republicans go against him,especially when he will be running for Cook County Board President in the Fall against Stroger or whoever the Democratics pick?
Why would these so-called Republicans work against him , as well as Stroger’s folks, and why would Radgno do somthing as stupid as this ?
Makes me wonder what the Republicans are all about!0
- Establishment Republican - Wednesday, Mar 29, 06 @ 1:49 pm:
I too would like to hear some more about what that Lyons Township Committeeman race was all about. Peraica’s opponent is not 24 but is 28 or will be turning 28 shortly. I knew him in college. He was extremely political then. No further comment on that.