The Capitol Fax Blog » Cohen’s troubles get worse

Cohen’s troubles get worse - Divorce papers surface

Thursday, Feb 4, 2010

Documents filed in Scott Cohen’s 2005 divorce allege anabolic steroid use and patterns of violence against family members, NBC has learned.

“Over the past year my husband has been taking injectable anabolic steroids,” Cohen’s then-wife Debra York-Cohen said in a statement during their separation proceedings. “As a result he has an erratic and explosive temper.”

As a result of the allegations Cohen, who’s not [sic] the Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor, was ordered by a Cook County Circuit Court to undergo “initial and periodic substance testing.”

The divorce documents also allege that Cohen’s steroid use contributed to periodic episodes of violence against his family.

He was shooting up ‘roids? Oy.

And if you think that’s bad…

“Despite my refusals, he tried to force himself on me, until I pushed him away and emphatically told him no,” Debra Cohen claimed in the petition. […]

The petition also includes allegations that Scott Lee Cohen repeatedly threatened Debra Cohen in writing after she filed for divorce.

“Ever since I filed for divorce (Scott Lee Cohen) continually threatens me in writing, by leaving me intimidating notes,” she alleged. “He stopped leaving me handwritten notes on paper, when he discovered I just take them down. Now he leaves harassing messages on my mirror in lipstick, so everyone, including my grandchildren who live with me can see these notes.”

She said she became so afraid of Scott during their marriage that she often asked her sister and mother to stay with her because she was afraid to be alone with him.

She claimed that she called police on several occasions to remove Scott from the house, in front of their children.

He wrote harassing messages on the mirror in lipstick?

Oy.

See ‘ya. Don’t wanna be ‘ya.

* 4:30 pm - The Sun-Times divorce story is up.

- posted by Rich Miller

164 Comments

- Third Generation Chicago Native - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:05 pm:
That’s what brought Jack Ryan down. (Divorce papers), it’s never good.

- Frank - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:08 pm:
“As a result of the allegations Cohen, who’s not the Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor”

I assume that’s a typo?

- OneMan - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:08 pm:
Ummm, yes it was but I would say Ryan’s may have been creepy but this is waaaaaaaaaaaay worse.

Also grandkids? I thought SLC was in his early forties?

- Agreed - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:09 pm:
Frank - either a typo, or just wishful thinking. Probably both.

- The Truth shall Set you free - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:10 pm:
As the Great hawk Harrelson Would say

HE GONE

- Corduroy Bob - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:11 pm:
Huh. There’s a lot going on here. Wow.

- A Moderate's Moderate - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:12 pm:
he’s toast

- JonShibleyFan - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:13 pm:
COHEN NO STEP ASIDE! COHEN SMAAAAASH!

- AlphaBettor - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:14 pm:
Don’t wanna be Pat Quinn.

- Pat collins - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:14 pm:
Well, I as I noted in another thread, the divorce is in court 2006~2010!

- Phineas J. Whoopee - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:15 pm:
I know people who have been stalked and they were harrassed with lipstick. What’s the deal with stalkers and lipstick?

- Rod sez I'm pork - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:15 pm:
Rich,

I think we are past oy and have ventured into vey iz mir.

- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:16 pm:
Maybe asking the ex-wife to come forward wasn’t such a great idea after all… just saying.

- OneMan - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:16 pm:
You don’t spend two million and step aside.

So far none of this stuff was sealed (see Jack Ryan) so he had to know it was going to come out.

The job fair stuff was not only a logical campaign thing but a way of building some good will. Look for folks who got jobs at the fair to be used to talk him up.

This stuff makes Hull’s divorce look like amateur hour.

- Pat collins - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:17 pm:
So, if you are Ald Mell, how do you explain having this guy in your sample ballot????

You know, if the guy decides to tough it out, there is not much anyone can do. You know Rod B would stick it out…..

- Agreed - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:17 pm:
What’s next? That SLC threw a sack of puppies into a river and molested a child on the steps of a church? Seriously, how much worse can it get?? (or do we even want to know?)

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:18 pm:
Can you impeach a candidate?

lol

- Corduroy Bob - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:18 pm:
Agreed, I think it depends how many puppies were in that sack . . .

- Phineas J. Whoopee - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:19 pm:
how much worse can it get??

Well, I don’t think the fast crowd has reported in their totals yet.

- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:19 pm:
I’m pretty sure Drew Peterson is liking this guy’s style.

- Anon - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:20 pm:
Wow. Again, these are all accessible documents, obviously, so where was the vetting process? The people he beat deserved to lose, and the Democrat Party deserves the backlash for failing to do their research. This isn’t the same as the Jack Ryan story, this is a Jack Ryan type story times ten (or that story, on steriods, if you will).

- Northsider - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:20 pm:
Note to political reporters and editors in Illinois: Better start vetting Rich Whitney and whoever the Greens’ lieutenant governor candidate is. Unless, of course, you absolutely know they don’t stand a chance…

- TaxMeMore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:20 pm:
Oh man, I was almost ready to start rooting for this guy. I still kinda think he should stick it out. It’s not his fault everybody ignored him until now. He put up $2 million already. One might think it will take more than that to encourage him to drop out. I hope the media is keeping their eyes and ears open to behind the scenes Democrat funny business.

If the party powers can’t force Cohen out and Quinn doesn’t drop to do a 3rd Party run that might encourage some other significant Democrat to make the run. Could Lisa Madigan drop and run for Governor as a Honesty and Integrity Party candidate? With Raja as her Lt Gov. running mate? Perhaps not them, but I would think some significant Democrats are seriously considering the possibility.

- Carl Nyberg - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:20 pm:
Wow! He’s dragging his ex-wife and ex-girlfriends into quite a storm.

What did people say about Blago? Narcissistic personality disorder?

- Corduroy Bob - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:20 pm:
He is redefining the phrase “taking on water.”

- OneMan - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:21 pm:
So what check to see if the Green’s haven’t be caught abusing Miracle Grow?

- Jake from Elwood - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:21 pm:
We should have all known from the start that he was trouble. He does go by three names.
See, e.g. John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, John Wayne Gacy.
Oh yeah, and Jake From Elwood

- Bring Back Boone's - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:23 pm:
This guy is starting to sound more and more like Buffalo Bill from the Silence of the Lambbs

- The Abominable Milk Man's Cuban Pilot - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:24 pm:
If Ol’ Man Plummer really wants to make sure his initial seven-figure investiment pans out, he should now also start to secretly funnel money into the inevitable SLC legal defense fund. Or, better yet, start one.

But, to give SLC the benefit of the doubt, divorce papers are always suspect. People in divorce get so worked up by either emotions or their attorneys, they start making wild accusations. In most cases where custody is in dispute, the client always gets accused of either being violent, a drunk, a drug addict and/or a pedophille. So, what someone says in a divorce paper is meaningless to me. However, he still has the arrest record where he allegedly beat-up a prostitute.

- VanillaMan - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:24 pm:
HEY!

Why - uh, WHO wrote this threatening note on my monitor in lipstick?

Scott? Is that you?

Whew!
Only Bill.
Very funny Bill.

- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:24 pm:
Now he needs to break out the “I’m not here to talk about the past” line that works so well in steroid accusation cases.

- Agreed - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:25 pm:
Wonder if Quinn is wanting a recount of the Governor’s race at this point?

- JonShibleyFan - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:25 pm:
LOL @ Ron Burgundy.

- Northsider - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:25 pm:
One Man @ 4:21: Nicely played, sir. That gets a Chris “Tweety” Matthews “HA!”

- TJ - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:27 pm:
….. riiiiiiiight…..

And the media, the other Dem Lt. Gov. candidates, and the Dem leadership were sitting on their hands as this guy was picking up obvious steam with his job fair ads because……?

- Secret Square - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:28 pm:
Jake: there’s also Mark David Chapman (John Lennon’s killer) and John Wayne Bobbitt (no explanation necessary).

- Chicago Moderate - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:30 pm:
I wonder if Canseco will endorse him..hmm..

- The Abominable Milk Man's Cuban Pilot - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:30 pm:
Whats the big deal, the governator took ‘roids …. oh, wait, California is the only state with bigger problems.

- 2010 - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:31 pm:
This is a mini-series! It deserves an Emmy.

- PalosParkBob - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:32 pm:
I doubt this ‘roid rage candidate will just walk away from a nomination after spending a cool 3 mill on the campaign.

He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy you’d want to try to bully.

Blackmail, the usual political leverage, should be moot because of all that’s come out.

Unless somebody knows where he’s got REAL skeletons buried, there’s not much more that can come out to damage him after the “hookers, violence, and psycho stalking” revelations.

To quote Henry V, “If you want the peace, you’ll have to buy it.” Maybe a lot of bucks could get him to go away, but given the contempt that the Nelson bribe and the “Louisiana purchase” generated from Obamacare, I don’t think the Dems can find a way to bribe him off without a big blowback from the press and voters.

I’ve got to lay a lot of responsibility for this disaster on the MSM.

If the press reported what Obama was really about and what he was going to pull, I honestly don’t think he would’ve been elected.

Our “tingling up the leg” MSM really avoided giving his “qualifications” and lack of governmental accomplishment serious coverage and challenge.

Now the MSM blew it again big time with failing to adequately inform the public about this guy.

Just another notch off the dying credibility and trust of the Main Stream Media.

- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:34 pm:
To be fair, his steroid use had nothing to do with him breaking Maris’ single-season home run record.

- Shelbyville - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:34 pm:
So, this is all going to trickle out for awhile, huh?

If this runs the course, there will be other women come forward and then the press will track down his HS girlfriend.

I suggest he join Tiger, wherever Tiger is.

- Anon - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:34 pm:
Abominable Milk Man,

I agree that Divorce records can be not-always-true. That was Jack Ryan’s defense as well. But in this case, when looked at in concert with a separate allegation of physical abuse…it don’t look good.

- Responsa - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:35 pm:
This SLC situation is not a tornado or a surprise terrorist attack. It was just sitting there all the time, pretty much out in the open– waiting to be prevented–by somebody.

- OdysseusVL - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:35 pm:
Palos nailed it: “Unless somebody knows where he’s got REAL skeletons buried, there’s not much more that can come out to damage him after the `hookers, violence, and psycho stalking” revelations.’”

That sums it up, doesn’t it? At least he’s not concerned about some new damaging allegation.

- JoJo - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:35 pm:
Saturday Night Live material right here, all day long…

- TaxMeMore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:38 pm:
25,000 valid signatures starting on March 23 for anyone that wants to run against Quinn/Cohen.

- Anon - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:38 pm:
==At least he’s not concerned about some new damaging allegation. ==

That’s assuming the Hooker who filed the charge only did so because she got away. Kidding. Sort of. With the way this story is going, you never know what rest of his “fast crowd” holds.

- OdysseusVL - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:38 pm:
But I do disagree with PPB about blaming the media. Cohen had a bunch of challengers and none of them made an issue of it? Somehow I suspect that if Ricky Hendon had run ads saying “My opponent beat his hooker girlfriend” instead of that ad he ran, the issue might have gotten some coverage.

- Randolph - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:39 pm:
I think the title of this post should be “Quinn’s troubles get worse” ‘cuz I don’t think this Cohen character is going away quietly in the night.

I wonder…if Quinn should have to resort to forming a new party ala Stevenson, would the Democratic Party be forced to appoint a replacement to the ballot? And, if they didn’t, would they lose their established political party status for future elections because of the 5% threshold required? This all raises more questions than answers.

To those wondering about bringing forward his exes, this is a guy who just spent $2 mil on Lite Gov. I wouldn’t be surprised if he dropped another couple of million to ensure the exes stay on message.

- And I Approved This Message - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:40 pm:
Scott, I think you need to rethink your idea from early today to have the ex-wife and massage therapist hold a press conference.

Plan B?

- Pat collins - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:40 pm:
Unless somebody knows where he’s got REAL skeletons buried, there’s not much more that can come out to damage him

Gosh, these aren’t bad enough??

One wonders how much Mr. Link and Mr. Turner actually knew. Surely they didn’t know all this and sit on it?? But since court records are open, why didnt they know?

Just when you think it can’t get any more odd, it does.

- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:40 pm:
===I’ve got to lay a lot of responsibility for this disaster on the MSM===

Bob, as a Democrat, I’m laying the bulk of the responsibility for this disaster on MJM.

- Tom Joad - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:41 pm:
If the girlfriend had a knife held at her throat, and had some minor cuts as the police report says, shouldn’t someone ask her why she didn’t appear in court to testify against Cohen?
Some should ask her why she didn’t appear in court and if she was paid off.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:42 pm:
LOL.

I was back in college during the Adlai debacle. I had a class that was a mix of political and journalism students. They constantly pointed fingers of blame at each other all semester.

- Anon - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:43 pm:
TomJoad,

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for spouses/significant others to have the other arrested for domestic abuse to get them away from the house and be safe for the time being…and then refuse to testify against them.

- lake county democrat - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:43 pm:
Please tell me that you use “oy” on people whose names aren’t Cohen (or Levi)!

I hope he’s gone — per some of the above comments, he comes off as someone who MIGHT enjoy this — like a bit of the Drew Peteresen Captain in ‘im…

- George - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:43 pm:
Rich, what is the record time for a candidate winning a primary to stepping down from the nomination?

These stories are increasing in shamefulness exponentially.

By “sundown”, we might be talking sex clubs, shin kicking, appalachian trail, bathroom sex, or even senate seats.

- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:44 pm:
Especially if you’re a hooker.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:44 pm:
===Please tell me that you use “oy” on people whose names aren’t Cohen (or Levi)! ===

I use that word all the time here.

- Phineas J. Whoopee - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:44 pm:
It is often said that, if you dig deep enough, you can find dirt on anybody. Well, they have only looked at the public record so far.

This guy must be completely off his rocker to run for public office.

- VanillaMan - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:47 pm:
Scott Lee Cohen… pawn broker, millionaire, Illinois Democratic Lt. Governor nominee, searching for a way to tap in to the hidden strenghts that all humans have. Then, an accidental overdose of gamma radiation, alters his body chemistry. And now, when Scott Lee Cohen grows angry or outraged a startling metamorphosis occurs. The creature is driven by rage and pursued by an investigative reporter. /…/ The creature is wanted for a crime he didn’t commit. Scott Lee Cohen is believed to be dead and must let the world think that he is dead, until he can find a way to control the raging spirit that dwells within him. (ROAARRR!)

- Secret Square - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:47 pm:
Feb. 4, 2010: yet another day that will live in infamy for Illinois political junkies…

- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:48 pm:
Here are a few more people to blame for this fiasco:

Ald. Roberto Maldonado
Ald. Scott Waguespack
Ald. Carrie Austin
Ald. Howard Brookins
Ald. Bernie Stone

Com. Joan Murphy
Com. Deborah Sims

Personal PAC
Planned Parenthood

These are some of the more prominent endorsers listed on his web site. Please direct your outrage accordingly.

- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:51 pm:
At this rate, by the end of the day he will have shot Lincoln, kidnapped the Lindbergh baby, started the Chicago Fire and the Chicago Flood, and framed Bartman.

- TaxMeMore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:52 pm:
47th Ward I believe you right, this is Michael Madigan’s failure. The guy is spread way too thin. If Madigan had a guy in the Lt Gov race they would’ve thrown mountains of resources and money trying to kick him off the ballot with a petition challenge. Madigan’s primary troops were all over the place doing his bidding during the primaries and they couldn’t vet a Lt Gov candidates throwing around big money and showing up in polls? Madigan completely dropped the ball on this guy when compared to Madigan’s other efforts during the primary. So did Quinn and the other Democrat candidates. They all should’ve been warning the primary voters about this guy if they had done their duty as a voter, let alone state and party leaders.

It really is time for MJM to resign. Lisa Madigan could then run for Governor with Raja or someone as a 3rd Party and let Quinn dicker with the other two ideologues on the the ballot.

- George - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:52 pm:
“But… he held job fairs”

- JonShibleyFan - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:52 pm:
“One wonders how much Mr. Link and Mr. Turner actually knew. Surely they didn’t know all this and sit on it?? But since court records are open, why didnt they know?”

Pat Collins, I’m with you. If you can’t run TV, call in to a radio station. Take out a full page ad in the Sun-Times. This would have gotten people’s attention.

And LCD, I’ve seen Rich use “Oy” here and on the fax about a guy named “Rod” about 1000 times, lol.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:53 pm:
===If Madigan had a guy in the Lt Gov race ===

He did. Art Turner.

- Responsa - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:54 pm:
Has Blago’s path ever crossed with Scott Cohen’s? His whole candidacy kinda has the sniff of a political prank, no? Certainly we all remember how much fun the Blago-orchestrated Burris appontment was for our former Gov. Has he thrown in another monkey wrench from behind the scenes to screw and embarrass his enemies?

- Rocket - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:54 pm:
Wow. What next? Is a a LaRouchee too? Dear Dems: Load gun. Point at foot. Shoot.

- OdysseusVL - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:54 pm:
Here is something ironic. He was endorsed by Illinois Committee for Honest Government. Per that organization’s website:

“The Illinois Committee for Honest Government was founded in August 1986 by a group of individuals who sought to improve Illinois election proceedures. This occured in the aftermath of the fiasco of the 1986 Democratic Primary, when unknown followers of Lyndon Larouche with plain-sounding names upset George Sangmeister (who later became a Congressman from the Joliet area) for Lieutenant Governor and Aurelia Pucinski (who later became Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County and is now a Circuit Court Judge) for Secretary of State.”

- fed up - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:55 pm:
This could work in Pat Quinns favor he has alot of experiance running campaigns with criminals. It could be like Blago all over Quinn will knowingly stand next to a criminal smile and keep his mouth shut. Quinn doesnt seem like a man of principal when it comes to running mates.

- Nick O'Tyme - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:56 pm:
We interrupt this thread for an urgent announcement.

Now hear this. Now hear this. Attention CapFax campers and live bloggers:

WTTW/Chicago Tonight will have Scott Lee Cohen (aka SLC — pronounced “Slick”??) on at 7 PM.

That is all. Carry on.

- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:58 pm:
===He did. Art Turner.===

That’s correct, but since the Cook County Party didn’t endorse in that race, MJM made it clear his was only a personal endorsement. Turner carried the 13th Ward handily.

My point is that, as Chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, and someone who was spending quite a bit of party resources on polling lots of legislative races across the state, don’t you think he might have foreseen this looming disaster?

And spare me the conspiracy theories. I’m not suggesting he knew and didn’t act. I suggesting he should have known and acted because this is going to kill our party in November.

Mr. Chairman, with all due respect, if you’re not going to perform the functions of State Party Chairman, please step aside.

- Segatari - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 4:58 pm:
This is poetic justice to these reporters engaged in journalism malpractice that we conservatives have been complaining about for a very long time. These people should be checking their ideology at the door and report the facts instead of cheerlead for the Democratic party. Now because they SAT on information they knew about instead of report it, it’s finally come to bite them and bite a large chunk out of their rears. These people saying they feel horrible about not reporting this information about Cohen…well hey how do you think we feel about you not reporting stuff about the other Dems because they were on YOUR TEAM? It’s been conservative media picking up your slack. As far as I’m concerned you got EXACTLY what you deserved.

- Mike - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:01 pm:
Probably the best way to change the subject for the Gov at this point is to get back on his message and stay focused…

“We need new taxes, it’s the only way!”

(snark)

- Marcus Agrippa - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:02 pm:
Doubt that his wife will want to do a press conference. The divorce is still pending.

- dupage dan - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:03 pm:
What is this Mell angle? He fronts the weirdest people don’t he?

This is thermonuclear bomb stuff - homeric!

- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:04 pm:
Cohen’s EXPENSE report is quite a read:

- SLC got his voterfile from the Downstate Chairmen, for $15K. Thank you Dick Durbin for opening up the political process.

- Democracy for America got into the act. They show up in SLC’s expense reports.

- $10K to Maldanado?

The consultants who picked this guy’s pockets and created all these problems for the Party should offer to refund his money, if he’ll drop out. Then he can repay his $2 million in loans to himself and we can get back to business. They gave this guy a fleecing…he ain’t never gonna hold elective office. They’re first poll should have told them that.

- jerry 101 - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:04 pm:
SLC received over 30% in the 10th, 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 38th through 41st, 45th, and the 50th wards. He scored a whopping 47.5% in the 50th.

Maybe he’ll get Sosa’s endorsement?

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:05 pm:
===MJM made it clear his was only a personal endorsement. ===

Except MJM tried to kick Hendon off the ballot.

- Anonymiss - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:06 pm:
According to SLC’s site, he was also endorsed by Personal PAC and Planned Parenthood. You know, groups that look out for women. Oh wait. Crap.

- George - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:06 pm:
“He scored a whopping 47.5% in the 50th.”

Ummm…. yea. “Cohen”

- George - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:06 pm:
oops on forgetting to close the italics there

- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:08 pm:
@ 47th Ward

-Here are a few more people to blame for this fiasco-

Very true. Someone also has got to take a really good look at candidates who won other state and local races with the help of these guys.

http://www.graingerterry.com/

- (618) Democrat - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:08 pm:
Cohen should step aside. First the complaint from the ex-girlfriend and now these divorce papers are awful.

- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:08 pm:
Fine, he tried to kick Hendon off the ballot. He didn’t smell the chance of Cohen winning long enough to send an intern to the county building?

You won’t find too many stronger supporters of Speaker Madigan than myself. Chairman Madigan, on the other hand, leaves a lot to be desired.

- Randolph - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:08 pm:
Looks like the guy who won Miller’s Rep seat - Thaddeus Jones - endorsed Cohen too. He might have some ’splainin to do for the general.

That Personal PAC endorsement is just…well, wow.

- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:10 pm:
===What is this Mell angle===

The blank spaces on the 33rd Ward Sample Ballots are rented to the highest bidder Dan.

- Randolph - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:11 pm:
Further on Personal PAC - it seems to me that if Link and/or Turner knew the sum total of Cohen’s problems, they would’ve said something to Cosgrove when the endorsement came down. That really makes me think they didn’t know it all.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:12 pm:
===rented to the highest bidder Dan. ===

Don’t see any contris to mell on the isbe search.

- Bob - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:12 pm:
I’d be willing to bet that Rod is laughing his a– off.

- Brennan - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:16 pm:
I thought you guys were kidding when you said Michael Madigan like Republican Governors.

- IrishPirate - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:19 pm:
Ya know, I thought I had too many stupid incidents in my past to run for office. I was wrong.

Hookers, lipstick threats, knives, steroids, and whatever else comes out. This guy makes me look like Pat Quinn used to look before he sold his soul.

If you wrote this stuff in a novel a few years ago people would have called your crazy. George Ryan, Jack Ryan,Blago, Quinn selling his soul and now an allegedly violent pawnbroker with hooker issues.

This is Illinois. The Gods Will Not Save Us!

- Levois - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:19 pm:
Someone doesn’t want him to remain in the race

- Hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:19 pm:
I agree Bob. I can just see Rod in his track suit munching on popcorn watching this all go down.

Also, if this is what was in his 5-year divorce case papers, wonder what is going to come out of the multiple suits against him in civil court?

- Anonymiss - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:23 pm:
Suddenly, Oberman for Treasurer, er, Lt. Governor isn’t sounding so crazy.

- TaxMeMore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:24 pm:
So Turner was Michael Madigan’s guy and he tried to kick Hendon off the ballot. But he didn’t do opposition research on Cohen at SOME point? I understand not doing it until after petitioning and he’s on the ballot, but at some point they should have done opposition research which might’ve taken no more effort than reading Mark Brown’s column. And if Turner knew about this stuff and didn’t hold a few press conferences around the state to talk about it, then Madigan backed a poor candidate. Is it also true Cohen’s highest education level is a GED? Come on.

This is a disaster and massively entertaining and gives me another reason to call for Madigan’s retirement as I’ve been doing against the grain for years with annoying persistence. Michael Madigan’s State Party and State are in shambles. The buck stops with him in the Democratic Party of Illinois.

- Hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:26 pm:
Odysseus, I pointed out that bit of irony with the Illinois Committee for Honest Government yesterday… about five or so posts after Randall Sherman posted something. For some reason, he’s been silent since. LOL.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:27 pm:
TaxMeMore and others, this is exactly what I’ve talked about in the past regarding MJM.

If he interferes, he’s accused of being too high and mighty. When he does nothing, people scream that he ought to interfere.

Somehow, the guy needs to find a happy medium, but I’m not sure there is one for him.

- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:27 pm:
===Don’t see any contris to mell on the isbe search===

I was rash. I retract my comment about Mell renting space on his palm cards.

- Greg - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:28 pm:
At least he hasn’t drowned anyone! Ted Kennedy
At least he hasn’t fathered any bastard children! John Edwards, Rev. Jesse Jackass.
These are just Democracts being Democrats, Whats the problem??????

- Randolph - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:28 pm:
Rich - your last comment was right on the mark. I also have to wonder if the people blaming MJM for this debacle are the same folks who criticize him for exercising too much control in other respects. I suspect many are, and to them, I’d say that you can’t have it both ways. I think they’re simply using this as yet another excuse to whack him.

There’s plenty of blame on this one to go around - the other candidates, the media, and the let us not forget, the folks who actually voted for him with no more knowledge than a bunch of radio ads.

- OneMan - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:29 pm:
However on his expenditures I did see ‘employee background checks’

- NearWest - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:30 pm:
It’s more than the will of a candidate here - SLC’s strategy people (grainger-terry) have a history of charging big and questionable service - they did it in the 2nd ward aldermanic when they worked with Ald. Haithcock in the run-off against Fioretti. They even joked publicly once before a press conference that they hadnt prepped her - she looked visibly distraught and unkempt. (They are also the firm in the 2008 Hendon senate race that ran a candidate who actually worked for grainger-terry and met with the opponent (Mertens) as a G-T consultant before filing his own papers 5 days later…real class acts)

Phil likely didnt assume SLC would get far, but they’d make their $$$. They had to have vetted him - how could they tell him these problems were not BIG PROBLEMS?

And Bobby Rush isnt listed on their page any longer - strange - he was one of their biggest clients for a while.

- Downstate - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:30 pm:
As if this political cycle couldn’t get any weirder.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:31 pm:
BTW, that’s not a defense of MJM. He tried to kick Hendon off the ballot because Hendon was trying to split the black vote. But then he does nothing about SLC. He’s an often bizarre individual, that one.

- Hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:31 pm:
BTW,

Is it really that hard to figure out why the people who endorsed Scott Lee Cohen did so?

Cohen, Scott
2128 N. Winchester

Chicago, IL 60614 $1,000.00
1/28/2010 Individual Contribution
34th Ward Regular Democratic Org

Cohen, Scott
2128 N. Winchester

Chicago, IL 60614 $1,500.00
1/27/2010 Individual Contribution
Illinois Committee for Honest Government

Cohen, Scott
1030 N. State
Apt. 15E
Chicago, IL 60610 $400.00
1/29/2009 Individual Contribution
Citizens for Maldonado

Cohen, Scott
1030 N. State

Chicago, IL 60810 $250.00
3/20/2009 Individual Contribution
34th Ward Regular Democratic Org

Cohen, Scott
2128 N Winchester

Chicago, IL 60614 $6,000.00
1/15/2010 Individual Contribution
Thornton Twp Regular Democratic Org

Cohen, Scott
2128 N. Winchester

Chgo, IL 60614 $1,000.00
1/24/2010 Individual Contribution
Citizens for Deborah Sims

Cohen, Scott
2128 N. Winchester

Chgo, IL 60614 $1,000.00
1/24/2010 Individual Contribution
Citizens for Deborah Sims

Cohen, Scott
2128 N. Winchester
Chgo, IL 60614 $1,000.00
1/24/2010 Individual Contribution
Citizens for Deborah Sims

Cohen, Scott
2128 N. Winchester

Chicago, IL 60661 $1,000.00
1/26/2010 Individual Contribution
Committee to Elect Joan P Murphy

Cohen, Scott Lee
2821 North Winchester Av

Chicago, IL 60614-3915 $1,000.00
1/26/2010 Individual Contribution
Cmte to Elect Howard B Brookins, Jr

Cohen, Scott
1030 North State Apt. 15E

Chicago, IL 60610
Occupation: Securitized Lender
Employer: Self Employer $1,000.00
Individual Contribution
33rd Ward Regular Democratic Org

There’s more than one way to buy an election, folks!

- Justice - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:32 pm:
How in the world did all this slip by everyone? Good grief, did he think that this wouldn’t come out? Wow….simply wow!! That fellow has spent way to much time licking mail boxes!

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:33 pm:
Oops. He did contribute to Mell. Sorry, 47. I don’t know how I missed that.

- SangoDem - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:33 pm:
Isn’t there a page with statewide election results sorted by county? The state board of elections site is useless, as usual.

- TitforTat - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:33 pm:
Democrat voters ought to be ashamed of themselves for voting for such a “slug”. How is Cohen going to create jobs when he’s respoding to questions about “domestic battery”, “knifes”, “hookers”, and “shooting up drugs”?

- Sage - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:36 pm:
Cohen needs to frame this fight as follows:

“Look, I just want to create jobs for the people of Illinois. I have made mistakes–some really awful mistakes. For that, I apologize. But I am not hiding from them. In fact, I have been and remain ready to discuss them.

But please remember, I campaigned hard for this nomination because I want to help put people back to work–and you know what, 212,902 voters–who studied each of the other candidates–agreed with me and preferred my solid plan for job creation.

To step aside is not an insult to me–it insults them, the voter, who put their trust in me to fight for them–I have done nothing wrong, I will fight for them, I am not going anywhere but Springfield to bring jobs to Illinois”

- dupage progressive - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:40 pm:
Sage, are you serious?
If you’re one of the pathetic GT consultants, please go away. Haven’t you done enough this cycle? Good bye.

- Dem in Denim - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:41 pm:
Note to any ambitious Democratic woman in Illinois with any stature at all. Are you kind of regretting now you didn’t run for Lt. Gov against six men?

- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:41 pm:
No worries Rich, I checked too (after the fact) and didn’t see anything recently either. Even though I retract my previous comment, I reserve the right to maintain my own personal suspicions of Mell’s palm card antics. I’ve seen it first hand in previous primaries.

- Al Swearengen - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:42 pm:
Grainger Terry client list: Interesting when you click on the link for Judge Hyman.

- dupage progressive - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:43 pm:
Heard a bunch of judicial candidates’ campaigns were working for him too on election day. Wonder what the judges think of it now??

- The Abominable Milk Man's Cuban Pilot - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:45 pm:
Justice,

This didn’t slip anybody. Just nobody jumped all over it. A geek like me knew about the arrest last summer. When SLC came to my hometown with a big SLC for Lt. Gov sticker on his RV last summer, I immediately googled his name and found the Brown story. But, when none of the other candidates brought this up, I guess many voters like myself just thought that the arrest/dom. bat story was bogus and/or not serious.

But, while everyone thinks this was just political malpractice by MJM, Quinn, Hynes, Alexi, etc., there is a logical explination for no candidate or power player trying to bring this up prior to Wed……simply put, the other candidates and power players thought SLC with his name would split the vote in parts of Cook and Lake County thereby splitting the vote and allowing their candidate (whoever it was)to win.

- Sage - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:46 pm:
DPP: You better start coming up with advice for Mr. Cohen because he is not going anywhere. Duly elected by the members of the democratic party. If you want the GOP to win, continue to bash Cohen.

L’hitraot

- A Citizen - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:46 pm:
Unsolicited Advice to my Dem friend(s) - Be careful what you pray for ….. And “May you live in interesting times!”

- TaxMeMore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:52 pm:
Rich, I understand the balance, but MJM has and does interfere quite harshly and quite often. When he interferes like that he brings the criticism on himself trying to pick and choose when to interfere. MJM “knew” Turner is the good guy and Hendon is the bad guy and interferes to help Turner. Then the ball was dropped interfering to help Turner.

Also, I don’t really see this as an interfering issue either. It’s basic opposition research. I don’t believe that is interfering, and should be standard operating procedure and probably is more times than not. Interfering would be picking Turner as the guy and using resources to kick Hendon off the ballot.

Standard Operating Procedure would be for the State Party to spend some basic time on candidate background checks of all the statewide and Congressional candidates at least. That wouldn’t take a lot to do, certainly not as much as petition challenges.

- Springpatch Denizen - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:54 pm:
OK. I completely agree that this guy won’t be a candidate for citizen of the year, but I’m not sure I follow the logic on why this is the fault of MJM. Nobody took his candidacy seriously, so why spend party resources going after a guy that everybody “knew” couldn’t win? Secondly, didn’t the guy follow all the rules pertaining to getting on the ballot? This was the inevitable result of an uber early primary and historically low voter turnout.

Now, before the GOP gets all giddy, let’s not forget that they have a track record of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. I can’t wait to see how they manage to bungle this one.

Is there some law somewhere that says that Quinn has to acknowledge Cohen in any way during the campaign, or that Quinn has to say nice things about his separately elected running mate? Lt. Gov is still a do nothing post and not exactly a proven springboard to the big chair (seriously, do you really think Quinn has any chance of being thrown out of office?), so I think much of the ado over Cohen is pointless.

- Bob - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:55 pm:
Every woman’s organization in the city should be picketing his business’ demanding that he step down. A couple weeks of that might get his attention.

- Marcus Agrippa - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:55 pm:
Do think that Pat Quinn will defriend Scott Lee Cohen on Facebook?

- anon - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:56 pm:
Anyone thinking Hynes/Turner on an Independent ticket? They might just squeak past a Quinn/Cohen and Brady/Plummer ticket. This could get very interesting. Illinois politics are made for reality TV, thanks Rod.

- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:56 pm:
Word on the street is that investigative reporters have got the name of the ex-mistress/prostitute. How long until TMZ reports on this? Maybe it is already up.

- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:59 pm:
Remember that “briefcase” I said somoeone was going to leave Cohen to look at when meeting the guy for coffee … that thing must have been a steemer trunk!

- this old hack - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:59 pm:
This is a PRIME example of why campaign finance reform is a farce.

Mind you, this took place even BEFORE the limits were put into effect, but the net effect of it will be to allow more Scott Lee Cohens to transform themselves via TV, Radio and direct mail while making it HARDER for the other side to respond.

Cohen spent $3M on the race and, as has been pointed out, promoted himself as such a good guy because he held job fairs and started the Rod must Resign group (whatever that was).

Now, Art Turner had an add on at the end of his radio spots to “avoid the millionaire pawn brokers trying to buy office.” Cohen was never named. However, even if he had, his ad buys were nowhere close to Cohen’s expendatures.

The plain fact is that this guy was able to outspend anyone and everyone due to his own personal wealth, and in the future, it will be more difficult for opponents to expose these issues due to Illinois wonderful, new, campaign finance “reform” law.

Thanks to the Chicago Tribune, Sun-Times, Canary and her marry band of reformers, we can probably expect more of this in the future.

That is NOT good for the state.

- Responsa - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 5:59 pm:
Springpatch, the it’s a “do nothing post” would be more believable if the most recent Lt. Governor had not moved up right into the Governors ofc just a year ago.

- dave - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:00 pm:
Hmm… ABC7 is reporting that Cohen’s ex-wife is defending him.

- cassandra - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:03 pm:
So, there is no formal vetting process when parties slate candidates, I guess. Seems like there should be.

- i'm just saying... - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:06 pm:
His wife just appeared on channel 5 defendign him, interesting……..

- Pat Collins - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:08 pm:
According to SLC’s site, he was also endorsed by Personal PAC and Planned Parenthood.

I could be soooo naughty with this…..

- TaxMeMore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:11 pm:
Springpatch Denizen - All we are talking about is a background check on Cohen when Madigan had already used resources to try to kick Hendon off the ballot. Anyone running TV commercials and radio ads and spending the kind of money Cohen did CAN win and Turner and MJM know that. I don’t believe Cohen’s petitions were challenged like Hendon’s were, so we don’t know if his petitions were all legit. If Cohen spent $2 million and threw other money around he probably had the needed signatures I’d guess. But once the spending and ads started, someone should’ve done a basic background check.

The endorsements and campaign contributions are very telling of how it works in Illinois politics. This guy not only bought and fooled voters, he bought and fooled other politicians.

- Anon - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:12 pm:
So, is she saying what she said in the divorce documents isn’t true then? If not, whether she does a staged “he’s changed since then” defense, won’t do much to help.

- this old hack - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:14 pm:
and to suggest that MJM is somehow responsible for this is sheer, utter, stupid nonsense.

First he has too much power, then not enough power, everything is his fault because of the money he transfers to candidates in general elections, he has an organization (which apparently wasn’t good enough to help Turner), etc. etc. etc.

The above mentioned campaign finance reform bill was largly aimed at him. He was always the poster child for the supposed “abuses” in Illinois elections, while the other leaders were mostly ignored.

Look, Mike Madigan could do NOTHING to change the fact that Cohen spent $3M on the race. What was he supposed to do? Go down to the pawn shop and rip it up so Cohen couldn’t make money? Make the politicians he gave money to send it back? Nonsense.

To suggest MJM is to blame for Cohen’s win is to engage in the endless Madigan bashing that seems to have become a sport in Illinois, especially among editorial boards and “reformers”.

- Quinn-Cohen Ticket - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:15 pm:
cassandra-
Given all the political dynasties and connections that exist in Illinois, do we really trust, say, the Democratic party to control who gets on the ballot and who doesn’t? The Democratic party kinda does that already and we got Rod Blagojevich twice, which is why we are having the problems we are having today.

- Jim - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:17 pm:
I just heard that Madigan’s spokesman partially blamed the media for not vetting Cohen. That’s nerve. Madigan must’ve figured Cohen didn’t have a chance because he didn’t bother vetting him, which he should’ve done as head of the state democratic party. So he couldn’t vet a lt. gov. candidate and couldn’t beat a library board member with hundreds of workers while airing commercials on network TV for a state representative, good job oh great and powerful one.

- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:19 pm:
Cohen and his ex-wife were just on Channel 7. It doesn’t really spin too well. She says he’s a new guy. He acts a little surprised by all the fuss.

They don’t seem to mind the attention, though.

- little guy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:23 pm:
I lay the blame squarely at the feet of the people helping each of the other candidates. I’m no pro, but even in a lowly school board race I helped with I knew enough to send someone to the courthouse and leak the results regarding an opponent. If I was a candidate there is no way I would hire anyone who worked for one of these other candidates. Isn’t sending someone to the courthouse the first thing you take when you hear the word “divorce” or “arrest” about an opponent?

There’s no way Quinn wiggles out of this without screwing something up or making it worse in the meantime. Take that picture of Quinn at the acceptance presser, overlay a narrative mentioning the words running-mate, prostitute, battery, stalking & steroids, then top it off with the words “supported by Dick Mell” and you have a good start, no matter how conservative your policies.

- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:25 pm:
this old hack,

Maybe the Chairman of the State Democratic Party could, oh I don’t know, send out an e-mail blast to alert Democrats that Cohen was rising. Maybe he could have put nice candidate profiles on his website. Maybe he could have held a press conference raising questions about Cohen’s Democratic Party credentials.

In the end, it looks like all he did was whispered in Art Turner’s ear.

I have no knowledge that Madigan saw any polls showing Cohen doing quite well. But I believe the state Party spent some money on polls recently, perhaps they could have added a question given the enormous amount of money Cohen was spending.

Give me a break. I’m a Madigan fan, truly, really and sincerely. But he is Chairman of a nonexistent Democratic Party and I am sick of it.

- Oneman - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:25 pm:
He may be a new man, but that isn’t the way things work.

- TaxMeMore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:26 pm:
thisoldhack - Its a basic background check. That is what is he was supposed to make sure is done. A basic background check. They do them for jobs and apartments like candy these days. Then a press conference. That is all it would take to get the media to focus on it like they are now. Its not about power or money or interfering or campaign finance or bullying people or anything like that, its about a basic background check. It was that simple and as State Party Chair he failed to do something that simple to prevent this.

- this old hack - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:26 pm:
Jim: MJM didn’t vet Cohen? So what? He wasn’t endorsed by MJM or the state party. He had no reason to. You make it seem like the guy was placed there by Madigan! So now the state party should vet every single candidate who files and make a strong endorsement based on good detective work, and somehow this would have prevented what happened? Sounds like a return to the old days. Here I thought endorsements ESPECIALLY by the state party and its Chairman, were BAD? oops!

News flash: as long as you get the proper number of signatures, you can run for any office you want in this state.

Again, more mindless Madigan bashing.

- Quinn T. Sential - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:26 pm:
I am perplexed by why you feel Cohen’s troubles have gotten worse.

Cohen’s troubles have remained the same; its only gotten worse for those who enabled his victory, but now no longer wish to be associated with him.

Cohen himself disclosed; and opened the windows on his challenging past; how you can he be blamed for that?

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:29 pm:
===Maybe the Chairman of the State Democratic Party could, oh I don’t know, send out an e-mail blast to alert Democrats that Cohen was rising. Maybe he could have put nice candidate profiles on his website.===

LOL

E-mail? Website? Madigan?

LOL

- Quinn-Cohen Ticket - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:30 pm:
Still don’t understand why or how anyone is really to blame. If anything shouldn’t people be blaming Scott’s parents? After all were it not for them…

Scott decided to get into politics, and got lucky on what appears to be his first try. Which comes first the chicken or the egg? Can’t get to be a career politcian until you are actually elected to something. How do we know that the people who have been in politics for decades are so clean and sans skeletons in their closets? They’re probably not. They’re probably just lucky is all–lucky that when they got into politics people weren’t looking into them then the way do people now or they just hid everything extremely well.

- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:49 pm:
Exactly Rich. It’s 2010. Madigan doesn’t understand MySpace because he thinks it’s all His Space!

It’s not all his fault of course. The other Lt. Gov candidates are more to blame for sure. But it’s time for him to care a little more about the rest of the Democratic Party and embrace the 21st Century.

Oof. What a day. Can’t wait for tomorrow. How’s the site traffic Rich?

- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:52 pm:
Regarding MJM, there’s a lot of ground between being a dictator and doing nothing before you hit an iceberg.

- Reformer - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:01 pm:
Maybe now we’ll fix the nomination process for lt gov candidates. First the LaRouchie in ‘86, now SLC. Gov & lt gov candidates should run as a team in the primary just as they do in the general.

HisGirlFriday: Thanks for listing SCL’s political donations to his endorsers. I’m sure it’s all just a coincidence, not pay to play or quid pro quo, just like all political donations.

- Reformer - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:17 pm:
SLC is on Chicago Tonight on Thursday with his ex-wife. What a trainwreck. The little woman stood by the accusations she made in her 2005 divorce filing.

- Bookworm - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:18 pm:
“seriously, do you really think Quinn has any chance of being thrown out of office?”

No, but… other things can happen.

Jim Edgar had a couple of close calls with open heart surgery, and an incident in which his plane got hit by lightning.

Gov. Jon Corzine of New Jersey got in a bad car wreck not long after his state created a lite guv post; the lite guv had to step in and be “acting governor” until Corzine recovered.

Closer to home, within the past 10 years, Missouri lost Gov. Mel Carnahan to a plane crash, and Indiana’s Gov. Frank O’Bannon died of a stroke while in office.

Everyone is mortal and you never know when a tragedy could happen. If, God forbid, tragedy did strike, why compound it by having a clearly unqualified sleazebag take over the helm of government?

- Ferlin Finfrock IV - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:42 pm:
Poor Pat Quinn. The disinterested do-gooder just cannot seem to distance himself from the vermin to whom his story seems inextricably linked. The democrats seem to have real problems vetting candidates, etc. Including Rahm “Retard” Emanuel. Was he talking about his brother, with whom I went to New Trier, or somebody else?

Anyway, the more pathetic, perhaps, than Scott Lee Cohen’s actions are Terry Link’s reactions to same. Terry Link has apparently decided its time to get his piece of the Peter Principle and become LG. I am still trying to figure out just what the hell the guy has done as state senator for all these years. You think life is bad in your hood, try having Terry Link AND Kathy Ryg as your Illinois Senate and House representatives, respectively. Heck, that alone should have driven me to the local harlots at Club Mistiko off Milwaukee Avenue but my St. Christopher medal prevented me from traversing that route.

I’m still wondering what lackey Democrat, and from what ward, will be delivering the $2 million in the brown paper bag to pay Cohen to just go away. Oh joy, then Link will become St. Peter (as in Principle) incarnate. I can hardly wait.

- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:45 pm:
–I’m still wondering what lackey Democrat, and from what ward, will be delivering the $2 million in the brown paper bag to pay Cohen to just go away.–

If he’s got $2 million, he ain’t a lackey.

No one’s got the money or inclination for such nonsense. That’s just pulp fiction.

- Ferlin Finfrock IV - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:45 pm:
Oh yeah, by the way: Don Udstuen for L.G. Go Don! Maybe, by now, Metra will let him ride the cho cho to Springfield.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:48 pm:
==Oh joy, then Link will become St. Peter (as in Principle) incarnate. I can hardly wait. ===

Don’t be a fool. Link finished dead last in that primary.

- oops - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:52 pm:
here is the correct facebook link to the anti-scott-lee-cohen group

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Candidate-Scott-Lee-Cohen-should-resign-for-being-a-women-abuser/198659299974?ref=nf

- DuPage Dave - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:45 pm:
Cohen’s signs were everywhere. I live in DuPage and spend some work time in Springfield. Somebody had to have known from polling that Cohen was likely to finish strong. And yet none of this personal information on Cohen comes out until after the election?

I know the Tribune is delighted to bash a Democratic nominee, and perhaps they held a news story to promote Republican interests (shocking, I know). But what I can’t figure is why no one with Democratic interests did anything to raise a red flag on the guy. After all, it took only 24 hours to come up with a ton of dirt.

This really is reminiscent of the Stevenson debacle of 86. He had come so close to dethroning Thompson in 82 and lots of people were hopeful for his chances in the rematch. But somehow no one looked to see what the Larouchies were up to. I guess Adlai’s people thought they had no chance.

- Hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:15 pm:
this old hack,

How can you blame Scott Lee Cohen on campaign finance reform exactly?

The newly passed campaign finance limits don’t go into effect until next election cycle.

- Segatari - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:15 pm:
Like I said earlier, if the Chicago media actually DID THEIR JOBS instead of act like cheerleaders for the DNC this might not had happened. Karma really paid them back massively for what they did to Jack Ryan.

- Loyal Whig - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:31 pm:
First Rod, now Cohen, Dick Mell strikes again!

- Gary Dunn - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:37 pm:
Here is a guy who has tried to do something positive in this economic disaster we have on our hands and now that he has accomplished some good through his efforts…the fire storm of negative backlash has erupted in full fury.
The story of this alleged dispute between him and the ex girlfriend was out in the public before he won, brought to the forefront by him, now that he is the candidate…it a problem. This so called millionaire pawnbroker did not become wealthy by being foolish. He was obviously fiscally sound isn’t that what we really need in government or should we settle for people who spend our money with wanton disregard for us. We did not get into this financial wreck based on sound judgment of our elected officials.
We have all made bad decision in our past, the main difference is we chose not to run for public office, this is no stupid man he had to know with success this would surface yet he chose to go forward, because he can and has shown that he will make a difference given the opportunity.
He won fair and square and should continue to fight the good fight and yes the past is the past, the only people that will ever know the truth are the people involved. He spent his personal money to hopefully make a difference and give something back to society and help the people that have no voice.
It would be easier for this man to sit on the sidelines and com plain and keep his fortune for himself…instead he wanted to take action instead of the endless promises of our current politicians and this my friend scares them. These born into politicians are hardly prepared for some with a plan, who is prepared before he goes into office to put his plan to work…not the typical if you elect me I will do this or that..He is the only candidate in my memory that has stated his plan and worked the plan regardless win lose or draw. This is the guy to vote for PERIOD!!!!

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