GOP Gubernatorial Bill Brady is still leading Gov. Pat Quinn 45 to 38 percent even as all the media wags keep claiming that Brady is “too conservative” to win in Illinois.
Brady appeared on Fox News Sunday…
As to the so-called “Mr. Republican,” former Governor Jim Edgar, this man is no Republican and never was. He’s the supreme RINO that should simply go away. He hasn’t held office for over a decade at this point and his left-wing counsel is not wanted.
-By Warner Todd Huston
On March 27, Jeff Finley of the Pioneer Press made an interesting discovery when looking up info on the Democrat’s new pick for Lt. Governor, Sheila Simon. Apparently Sheila’s 5-piece, all-girl band named the Loose Gravel Girls has an anti-Catholic, Pope bashing song in its play list.
The song titled “Pope Knop” (that’s pronounced Kuh-Nope) seems to be about a four-year-old girl that has somehow become a Pope that is “drawing with markers on the Vatican floor” so that “going to church will never be a bore.”
The song starts out with some pseudo Catholic liturgy type music and then segues into a piano driven, banjo plucking little tune that features a bouncy beat and a slide whistle apparently to denote that it is supposed to be “funny,” I guess.
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The New Dem. Lt. Gov. Candidate’s Anti-Catholic Song”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Pat “the accidental governor” Quinn told a union crowd that Illinois GOP Gubernatorial nominee Bill Brady would somehow destroy the middle class by his anti-union stance. Quinn also made the essential claim that without unions there’d be no “middle class.”
“We’re not going to have a middle class if we allow a lot of anti-labor, anti-union operators to get in politics and tear to shreds fundamental things we all agree on,” Quinn said. “He doesn’t believe in the minimum wage. He wants to abolish it.”
There is, of course, a glaring error in Quinn’s wild-eyed union claim. As of 2009 union members accounted for only 12.4 percent of America’s workforce. With this fact one wonders how the middle class could be eliminated by anti-union forces when union workers make up such a tiny percentage of the total U.S. workforce already?
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Quinn Lies About ‘Losing Middle Class’ Without Unions”
So, now that State Senator Bill Brady is the affirmed GOP nominee for Governor, he’s officially launching his campaign. Here Brady appears with the GOP slate of candidates.
In attendance is:
Lt. Gov. Candidate Jason Plummer
Treasurer candidate Dan Rutherford
Secretary of State candidate Robert Rodriguez
Attorney General candidate Steven Kim
(Comptroller candidate Judy Baar-Topinka not in attendance)
-By Warner Todd Huston
In his budget speech, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is proposing a one percent hike in the state income tax in order to”restore our education budget to current levels.” A one percent increase is like a 33% increase if the tax goes from a flat tax of 3% to one of 4%.
In his speech (beginning on page 10) Quinn addresses the education budget. Sadly, Quinn’s proposal does nothing to address why the problem has arisen in the first place.
Quinn asks for no necessary cuts, he asks for no union concessions, he makes no effort to tighten our education belt in Illinois. Quinn should be slashing the unnecessarily lavish benefits that teachers unions force out of the state, hundreds of useless administrators should be fired and their positions eliminated. The whole education establishment needs to be assessed for it excess. Those imagining that the “fix” is just to pump more money into these failing schools are fooling themselves.
But Quinn is doing nothing but treading water with the state’s education establishment when he should be demanding a bottom to top review of the waste of public education in Illinois.
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Quinn’s Wants 1% Income Tax Hike ‘For Education’”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Now that the voters are properly informed about who the Republicans have chosen to run for Illinois Governor, the polls show him leading incumbent Democrat Gov. Pat Quinn by 10%.
Rasmussen Reports finds Brady at 47% favorable to Quinn’s 37% in a phone poll of 500 likely voters.
Among women voters, Brady led Quinn by 17 points. Independent voters favored Quinn 59 percent to 18 percent, according to the poll.
The survey painted significant public discontent with Quinn, who has been pushing an income-tax increase to help the state cope with a $12.8 billion budget deficit.
The firm found that 56 percent of voters surveyed disapproved of Quinn’s job performance compared to 43 percent who approved.
Of course, this is likely Brady’s early bump after just being announced. Let us see if he can hold this rate. We have much time yet before any real decisions have to be made and both candidates have a race to run.
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Poll: GOP Guv Candidate Bill Brady Leading Dem Quinn”
With just under 200 votes to spare, the Republicans can now move forward with a Bill Brady for Governor campaign. And so, here is Bill’s latest TV commercial…
Well, it looks like Dillard is officially not going to pursue a recount. He’s just endorsed Bill Brady for Governor. From the Dillard camp…
Dillard Endorses Brady for Governor Calls for Party to Unite Behind GOP Nominee
(Chicago) – State Senator Kirk Dillard today threw his support behind State Senator Bill Brady in the race for Governor, saying it was “close,” but that Brady had won the Illinois Republican Primary. “I will help Senator Brady in any way I can to ensure the Republican Party wins back the Governor’s office in November,” Dillard said.
It’s Over, Dillard Endorses Bill Brady for Governor”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Former Representative Tammy Duckworth has told the Illinois Democrat Party that she would rather stay employed at the Veterans Administration than be Lt. Governor.
Can’t say I blame her.
Democrat Duckworth lost her seat in the House of Representatives to Republican Peter Roskam in 2006. In 2009, she accepted the position of Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
She’s smart to eschew the offer of the powerless and pointless position of Illinois Lt. Gov. If her desire is to help veterans she sure as heck can’t do that as the Lt. Gov.
Smart lady, for sure.
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Tammy Duckworth Says ‘No’ To Dem Offer of Illinois Lt. Gov”
-By Warner Todd Huston
State Senator Kirk Dillard has said that he won’t ask for a state-wide recount of February’s primary votes unless he trails presumptive nominee Bill Brady by less than 100 votes.
After that Tuesday night, Bill Brady only led Kirk Dillard by 400 some votes and now that lead is down to 250. But there are still some downstate votes left uncounted. I wouldn’t guess that Dillard will pick up too many downstate votes.
What ever happens in the next few weeks, one thing should be said about the way Mr. Dillard has conducted himself during all this. He’s been quite even tempered and grown up about it all, I must say.
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Dillard Won’t Contest, Unless…”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Greg Hinz, the lefty columnist from Crain’s Chicago Business, has a quick post on our presumptive GOP nominee for Governor that doesn’t put him in the best light. It seems that Mr. Brady is a tad sketchy on American history, sadly.
After being asked by the media if his running mate, the 27-year-old Jason Plummer, was too young to be a proper Lt. Governor candidate, Brady said this:
“How old was Thomas Jefferson when he wrote the Constitution?” Mr. Brady asked. “Age isn’t the only barometer of qualification.”
Ugh. Brady needs to read a few history books as there are several things wrong with this statement.
First of all Jefferson was 33 when he penned the first few drafts of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Secondly, the Constitution was written in 1787, just over ten years later and by then Jefferson was in his 40s.
Thirdly, Thomas Jefferson had precisely zip to do with the Constitution. It was written while he was an Ambassador to France. Jefferson wasn’t even in the country at the time!
Columnist Hinz missed that third fact, as well.
Sigh. It’s such a shame that so many Americans just plain have no clue about American history. In this case a man who would be Governor and another in the media that thinks he’s in a position to critique him.
Maddening. Simply maddening.
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Oh Lord, Bill Brady Goofs American History”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Kirk Dillard told Pioneer Local reporter Amy Deis that he lost because Bob Schillerstrom dropped out too late and Ryan came in too late, both, he said, took thousands of votes from him leading to a bare primary edge-out by Bill Brady.
He especially pinpoints Schillerstrom for the loss.
“His 7,000 votes would have made the race; I was very much hindered by them,” Dillard said.
It may sound like sour grapes on Dillard’s part, but I cannot dispute that the thought rests on solid ground.
After all, Bill Brady hardly showed up at all in Cook County, DuPage County and the immediate collar counties. On the other hand, Schillerstrom didn’t show up at all south of Interstate 80! And north of that east/west tollway was Dillard country, as well as Schillerstrom’s.
It is very likely that most of Schillerstrom and Ryan’s votes would have gone Dillard’s way since both candidate had their base in the same area from which Dillard hails. The same areas that Brady was very, very weak.
But, that’s the way the primary crumbles, if you will.
There is a final word to say about Kirk Dillard’s conduct in this race. He never much got into mud slinging with his campaign. Oh, sure there were some sharp words, but he never got mean spirited. Additionally, even in this final waiting out of counting the last absentee ballot he’s been above reproach in his actions. He’s firmly invoked his rights to wait for the final counting before a victor is announced but he’s done so without much over-the-top vitriol.
Good for him on that level, anyway.
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Dillard Blames Schillerstrom and Ryan for Loss”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Dem. Powerman Michael Madigan is proposing to ax the position of Lt. Governor and he wants it down by 2015. To achieve this the Speaker of the House has introduced a bill in Springfield to eliminate the position.
The bill provides that the Attorney General would replace the Governor if he should per chance have to step down… by that we mean go to jail like the rest of them seem to do eventually.
To tell you the truth, I am for this effort. The position is a waste of taxpayer’s money, has no powers anyway, and is ripe for a cost cutting measure.
Amusingly, Madigan can’t even do this small thing with any sense of democracy to his actions. He proposed the bill without even bothering to discuss it with his own caucus this week. Like some Soviet dictator, Madigan just made his pronouncement and that is that.
Anyway, I hope he actually wins this battle. The Lt. Guv’s position is a pointless one.
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Mike Madigan: Say, Let’s Get Rid of Lt. Guv”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Well, it seems that the GOP nominee for Illinois Governor will remain Bill Brady unless Kirk Dillard wants to spend a ton of money to fund a recount effort.
NBC 5 reports that with the 400 votes still separating Brady over Dillard, that may be too much for Dillard to over come without a recount effort.
And even if Brady has only a 400 vote advantage, the difference may be too great for Dillard to ask for a recount. Not only would Dillard be required to pay — and the prospect is expensive — he’d have to prove fraud or tampering with the vote. No easy task.
I do not believe that Dillard has enough money to float a recount, so it looks like around the middle of February we will get a certified Brady candidacy.
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Illinois GOP Nominee Likely to be Bill Brady”
As everyone waits to find out who will be the official GOP nominee for Governor, we see that only 406 votes separates ostensible winner Bill Brady and still hopeful Kirk Dillard.
Still on pins and needles, Dillard is holding out for all absentee ballots and all mail ins to be counted…
Republican candidate for Illinois Governor Kirk Dillard today said at a press conference in Chicago that the ballot counting process in the GOP Primary must continue, “until all of the legal ballots have been counted and verified.”
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Statement From Kirk Dillard: Count ALL The Ballots”
-By Bruno Behrend
This is a long, but important e-mail about the most important political race in Illinois. Please remember that the choices you have in November are dictated by the choices you make in this primary election. You have to get out and vote tomorrow, and you have to get 10 of your friends to do the same. Also, don’t split your vote. Just vote for the conservative newcomer who can win.
This is a personal request that you vote for Adam Andrzejewski, the best Republican candidate for Governor. I would like to tell you about Adam and his campaign, and I have a unique perspective, as I was instrumental in the campaign as Adam’s policy director up until early December. I am still actively involved as a volunteer.
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The Ironclad Case for Adam Andrzejewski (And-G-F-Ski) for Governor”
Here was an early taping of a Public Affairs show with Dan Proft who had yet to announce that he was running for Governor. This is great primer on Dan Proft.
-By Warner Todd Huston
Former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna is trying to claim he is an “outsider businessman” and that he’s the only one not connected to Illinois corruption. But the facts seem to auger against McKenna’s claims.
For one thing, McKenna has been called out for ethics violations by his own party. On top of that, how does one claim to be an “outsider” when one was the head of the state party!? That’s a couple of major dents in McKenna’s claims right there.
But now comes info from the Ryan campaign that Andy McKenna also has a ton of donors and supporters that are big Obama supporters, too. Now, how can someone claim to be the conservative solution to Springfield if he’s getting hundreds of thousands of dollars from Democrat and Obama supporters?
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Andy McKenna And His Big Money Obama Supporters”
Meanwhile, one of the members of the Sauk Valley Tea Party group has endorsed Mr. Proft:
Dan Proft – met him, looked him in the eye and he brought up Natural Law in our conversation. He is a real conservative that understand our national constitution. I did not meet Andejewski or Brady, both of which sound like great candidates, but neither made the effort to contact our local tea party and Dan did. Dan has a deep intellect of the issues and for this reason he is getting my vote. If you are voting for a candidate that is not one of the 3 above, you are in herd mentality – there is a difference between a conservative or libertarian and being a Republican.
-By Warner Todd Huston
Earlier today there was news that a fake robocall was making its way across Illinois with the recorded voice claiming to be candidate Dan Proft. This fake voice mimic said that he (as Dan Proft) was quitting the race for Governor. Even more ridiculously the impersonator claimed that he (as Dan Proft) was throwing his support behind the crook Andy McKenna!!
Proft Responds to False and Illegal Robocalls; McKenna Responsible?
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Dirty Trick Robocall Says Dan Proft Quits Governor Race”
I don’t support Mr. Ryan’s bid for Governor, but I sure as heck sign onto THIS question he’s asking. From the Ryan for Governor campaign…
Why Illinois voters should be concerned about this issue
Andy McKenna needs to answer all questions related to an ongoing ethics probe — or withdraw from the race.
We have learned that Andy declined to answer questions posed to him as part of an ethics inquiry that ultimately concluded he violated the Illinois Republican Party’s code of ethics by ordering a $28,000 self-serving poll while he was party chairman.
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Ryan Slaps McKenna: Andy McKenna Needs to Come Clean — or Withdraw”
From the Dennis Cook for Lt. Gov. campaign….
Channahon, Lemont and Romeoville Lead Widespread Support for Cook
Heading into the final week before the primary, Republican Lieutenant Governor Candidate Dennis Cook continues to pile up the endorsements from top Will County leaders. Among those coming out recently to endorse him are the mayors of Channahon, Lemont and Romeoville, giving Cook widespread support throughout Will County.
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Will County Mayors Endorse Cook for Lt. Gov.”
On top of the fact that Lech Walesa hopped a flight from Warsaw, Poland to do some stumping for Adam and has announced his support of his gubernatorial campaign, Adam has picked up the support of some of the tea party groups. From the Adam Andrzejewski for Governor campaign…
Elmhurst, Illinois – Since announcing his candidacy in March of 2009, Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Adam Andrzejewski (And-GEE-EFF-Ski) has led his opponents in grassroots efforts throughout Illinois, having gone from being an unknown outsider to a virtual household name. Indicative of the expansive grassroots support Andrzejewski has received, the Illinois Tea Party reported earlier today in a press release that “a straw poll involving the Tea Party Organizers across the State shows results that strongly favor Adam Andrzejewski for Governor…” Straw poll results reveal overwhelming support for Andrzejewski at 93%.
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Andrzejewski is Top Favorite of Illinois Tea Party Organizers Gets Support of Polish President”
A note from ChicagolandRadioAndMedia.com, the great Chicago radio message board and entertainment news site.
Tomorrow afternoon will be a special airing of the Roe & Cisco Show on WLS-AM 890. The show will not be coming from within WLS’ studio walls, but instead will be broadcast live from the Chase Bank Auditorium. This is because WLS will be hosting an Illinois Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Debate, moderated by Roe Conn & Cisco Cotto. The debate will begin at 4:00pm and will feature five of the six Republican candidates for Governor: Adam Andrzejewski, Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, Dan Proft and Jim Ryan. (Andy McKenna has chosen to not do any debates this week.) This debate is open to the public for all who wish to be there — no tickets or reservations needed. The Chase Bank Auditorium is located in Downtown Chicago at 10 S. Dearborn.
Before tomorrow afternoon’s debate, the same five out of six Republican candidates will take part in a one-hour forum on WTTW Channel 11’s “Chicago Tonight” program this evening. The live show will not have a studio audience and will be more subdued in comparison. The forum begins tonight at 7:00pm. (“Chicago Tonight” had the Democratic Candidates for IL Governor on last night.)
From the Kirk Dillard for Governor campaign…..
Calls it “Silly Season” on Campaign Trail
Former Governor Jim Edgar today said he was disappointed in the negative tone of the governor’s race, and urged candidates to talk about the issues. “There’s a lot at stake in this year’s election,” Edgar said at a joint news conference with Republican hopeful Kirk Dillard. “I think the voters deserve better.”
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Edgar: Stop the Negative Ads”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Early this month Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady revealed that the state party decided to officially reprimand former GOP Chairman Andy McKenna for misuse of party funds and ethics violations.
Despite his ethics violations as chairman, McKenna went ahead and launched his bid to become our next Illinois Governor anyway. Should McKenna win office we’ll have gone from one ethically ignorant Governor (George Ryan), to a second (Rod Blagojevich) to a third (McKenna). Illinois is already a laughing stock of corruption, why vote for McKenna and make it worse?
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McKenna Slammed in Party Ethics Investigation”
From the Plummer for Lt. Gov. campaign…
Former State’s Attorney Joe Birkett endorsed Jim Ryan for Governor saying that he thinks we need a man like Ryan who has a “prosecutor’s” attitude in the office.
In the video, though, Birkett slams Andy McKenna for his misuse of Republican Party funds when he, McKenna was the GOP Chairman.
Well, I can’t say I agree with Birkett’s choice of the anti-Constitution Ryan, but I whole heartedly agree with his assessment of McKenna. I sad as much myself last month.
The Newest TV ad from the Adam Andrzejewski for Governor campaign.
From the Kirk Dillard for Governor campaign…
“Best Qualified” to be Governor
Crain’s Chicago Business, Illinois’ leading business newspaper, is endorsing Senator Kirk Dillard in the Republican nomination for Illinois Governor.
“Illinois’ next governor must have the determination and know-how to restore fiscal order to a state facing financial Armageddon,” writes Crain’s. “Among the Republican gubernatorial candidates, state Sen. Kirk Dillard is best-qualified for that daunting job, and he gets Crain’s endorsement in the Feb. 2 GOP primary.”
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Crain’s Chicago Business Endorses Dillard”