Governor

Abortion - Chicago - Conservatives - Cook County - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Repub. Assembly Endorses Candidate That Quit Weeks Ago

October 27, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Illinois Republican Assembly proudly announced today, October 27, that it is endorsing DuPage County resident Peter Breen in his race for the Illinois House seat in the 41st District.

Great.

One problem: Breen quit the race on October 6.

The IRA was enthused by Breen’s candidacy because he “has been involved in pro-life issues to enforce the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995.” I was also heartened to hear of Breen’s positions and with his role as the executive director of the Thomas Moore Law Society I also felt he was an attractive candidate.

Unfortunately, we won’t get a chance to vote for Mr. Breen… at least not this time. Breen announced on October 6 that he has decided not to give up his work with the Thomas Moore Law Society and is, therefore, abandoning his campaign for the 41st District House seat. He explained why on his campaign blog:
Continue reading “

Ill. Repub. Assembly Endorses Candidate That Quit Weeks Ago”

Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Rasmussen Shows Dems Down in Illinois

October 23, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

A recent Rasmussen poll shows that incumbent accidental Governor Democrat Pat Quinn is not doing so well with Illinois voters. It also shows that Illinois voters favor a generic Republican over a generic Democrat.

Former Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn, who succeeded to the state’s top office following Blagojevich’s impeachment, is expected to seek a full term as governor next year. Forty-five percent (45%) of Illinois voters approve of the job Quinn has been doing in his short time in office, but 53% disapprove, including 25% who strongly disapprove. In August [LINK], 47% approved of Quinn’s job performance while 49% somewhat or strongly disapproved.

Just 16% of Illinois voters share a very favorable opinion of their governor, while 18% view Quinn very unfavorably. Those numbers are a slight improvement from August, when only 11% viewed Quinn very favorably and 20% shared a very unfavorable opinion.

Continue reading “

Rasmussen Shows Dems Down in Illinois”

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

One Down in the 14th District Race

October 21, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Former Aurora alderman Bill Cross has decided to withdraw from the 14th Congressional District race for Congress. Apparently Cross thinks that the race has gotten too crowded and with a list of five other Republican candidates, I don’t blame him.

With Cross dropping his bid, that leaves the following candidates:

Continue reading “

One Down in the 14th District Race”

Abortion - California - Elections - GOP - Health - Liberals - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Meg Whitman’s Extreme Pro-Abortion Views

October 16, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

A few weeks ago Jon Fleischman of FlashReport.org was fortunate enough to snag an interview with gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman. But the results of one segment of the meeting left him admittedly non-plussed, or as he termed it “unnerved.” Fleischman was aghast to learn of just how extreme Meg Whitman’s views on abortion really are. And after reading Fleischman’s interview myself, I have to wonder if her views makes her completely unelectable amongst California’s pro-lifers?

In the interview, Whitman was completely upfront about the fact that she stands solidly behind public funding of abortion. She was unequivocal about it, really. Whitman explained why she felt that public funding of abortion was the right decision telling Fleischman, “My view is that if we are going to be pro-choice… that it needs to be available to all women, and whether you are rich or poor, you need to be able to access that right. And it’s unfair to women who can not afford an abortion, and that’s why I support public funding.”

It’s one thing to say that a woman should be allowed to chose abortion — this is quite a common determination among liberals — but quite another, indeed, to say that the taxpayers should have to pay for that abortion.
Continue reading “

Meg Whitman’s Extreme Pro-Abortion Views”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - Senate - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Breaking: Ill. Legislature to Consider Allowing GOP Voters to Pick Party Leaders

October 15, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

As the law stands right now, Republican voters in Illinois cannot choose their own party leaders. Party leaders now are chosen by Republican committeemen, not the voters. But there has been a bill in the State Senate that has for years been trying to change that. Now it seems that SB600 is a bit closer to finally being allowed a floor debate.

SB600 is on the docket for a third reading and debate tomorrow, October 16. Usually after a third reading a vote is called. This is the furthest the bill has gotten to passage in its years-long journey.

To be sure, it isn’t thanks to the efforts of the Republican leadership. They’ve fought tooth-and-nail to kill this bill and stop the voters from being able to affect their places of privilege. That the voters could place them in their positions of power is anathema to the state party leadership. They have wanted to avoid the voters at all costs.
Continue reading “

Breaking: Ill. Legislature to Consider Allowing GOP Voters to Pick Party Leaders”

Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - The Law - Warner Todd Huston

Governor Recall Initiative Approved!

October 15, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The State legislature has approved a governor recall initiative for the 2010 ballot today.

When Illinois voters go to the polls in 2010 they will have the opportunity to vote to amend the Illinois Constitution to allow for a recall of an errant governor… finally.

In November of 2010, if 60 percent of Illinois voters vote “yes,” Illinois will at last be able to rid themselves of the sort of criminals with whom it has so often been saddled.

The current initiative, though, will not create a simple “vote them out” process to eliminate a criminal governor. Several provisions will have to be satisfied to facilitate the removal of a governor. One requirement will be that 30 legislators will have to vote to remove; 20 State Reps and 10 Senators (and no more than half of those voting must be of the same party).

Another one of the provisions is that the citizens must raise signatures on a removal petition counting 15 percent of the total number of voters that voted in the previous election. This petition will have a five month period for the names to be gathered.
Continue reading “

Governor Recall Initiative Approved!”

Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Illinois - Liberals - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Jim Ryan Launches Website for Gov Race

October 15, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In a step closer to formally entering the race for the GOP nomination for Illinois governor, former AG Jim Ryan has launched a Ryan for Governor website. Ryan is styling himself the "Anti-Blagojevich."

www.jimryan2010.com/

With a late entrant into the campaign, Ryan’s bid could shake up the field. Ryan’s polling claims that he is running even with Democrat candidate Dan Hynes and trails incumbent Governor Pat Quinn by only five points.

Of course, Ryan’s last name is a drawback. He is unfortunate enough to share the same last name as the now imprisoned former Governor George Ryan (though no relation). Jim Ryan was last involved in state politics when he ran for Governor against Rod Blagojevich in 2002 and his last name dragged him down even then.

There is one other problem with Jim Ryan’s history. Rich Miller reminds us that it is embodied in two words: Stu Levine.

Continue reading “

Jim Ryan Launches Website for Gov Race”

Budget - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Elections - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Taxes: Which Dillard Are We Talking About?

October 14, 2009 by

Gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft Responds to Kirk Dillard’s Duplicity on Tax Increases

(Chicago, IL) – In response to State Sen. Kirk Dillard’s duplicitous comments on tax increases Monday, conservative Republican candidate for Governor Dan Proft released the following statement:
On Monday, Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass reported that State Sen. Kirk Dillard “insists that raising taxes during a recession, after thousands of private-sector jobs have left for Indiana and other neighboring states, would be economic suicide for Illinois.”

According to Kass, the two met on Monday night, the same day Sen. Dillard held a press conference to accept the endorsement of former Gov. Jim Edgar. When asked about tax increases during that press conference, however, Sen. Dillard said, “I think you have to keep every option open.”
Continue reading “

Taxes: Which Dillard Are We Talking About?”

Chicago - Constitution - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Governor Recall Amendment

October 13, 2009 by

-By Eric Odom

In short… there’s a very good chance we’ll have the right to recall a sitting Governor as soon as November 2010. That is, of course, if the Illinois Governor Recall Amendment (2010) passes.

The Illinois Governor Recall Amendment, also known as House Joint Constitutional Amendment 31, will appear on the November 2010 ballot in Illinois.

The proposal would allow voters to recall the governor and require that at least 20 state representatives and 10 state senators, equally balanced from each party in each chamber, sign a notice of intent to recall the governor before a petition can begin to be circulated.

If Illinois lawmakers approve the recall, voters will make the final decision on the issue in November 2010.

What a novel idea… give the people the decision on this at the ballot box. I would prefer see recall provisions across the board, not just for the Governor, but this is a start.
Continue reading “

Illinois Governor Recall Amendment”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Edgar Endorses Dillard for Gov.

October 12, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The rumors of late last week have proven founded. Former Governor Jim Edgar has, indeed, endorsed State Senator Kirk Dillard for the GOP nomination for Governor.

Mr. Edgar said that Dillard’s experience as his legislative aide during the budget crisis of the 1990s makes Dillard the perfect candidate to face today’s challenges.

In response to the ex-governor’s endorsement, Senator Dillard said:

I am humbled and honored to have the full support of my friend and mentor Jim Edgar. We worked together when times were tough when the governor took office. We inherited a mountain of debt back then and left a surplus in the bank.

State Senator Bill Brady, a rival for the GOP nomination and here-to-for frontrunner, quipped that his candidacy is “about tomorrow, not yesterday.”
Continue reading “

Edgar Endorses Dillard for Gov.”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Former Gov. Edgar Endorsing Dillard?

October 9, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Well, if it pans out, this would be pretty big news for the Kirk Dillard campaign for the GOP nomination for Illinois governor.

Many sources are now reporting that Republican Governor Jim Edgar is preparing to give State Senator Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale his endorsement. Jim Edgar was the last popular Republican governor and has constantly been floated as a candidate for Senate and other offices since he finished his term in Springfield in 1999.

Mr. Edgar has a much respected reputation on both sides of the political aisle.

Senator Dillard is a former aide of former governor Edgar.

If Dillard secures Edgar’s endorsement this would be a great shot in the arm for a campaign that has thus far not caught fire. Of course, if Dillard gets this endorsement, expect that it will become one more bullet point in his constant droning of his resume at every appearance.

One thing is sure, if Dillard wants to become governor, he’d better start having some actual meat to his campaign. The laundry list, resume recitation is quite tiresome, indeed.

Kirk Dillard’s website.
Continue reading “

Former Gov. Edgar Endorsing Dillard?”

California - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Whitman’s Spotty Voting Record: Not Exactly as it Seemed?

October 6, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Much has been made about Meg Whitman’s spotty voting record by many, including me. When the Sacramento Bee’s Andrew McIntosh first reported that records for Whitman’s voter registration going back a decade or so were nearly non-existent it seemed that the anti-Whitman camp(s) out there had quite an issue to hang their hats upon. It sure made me wary of her campaign, to be sure.

After all, wouldn’t it say something interesting if this purportedly life-long Republican candidate had little history of even voting at all — much less for other Republicans — until recently? Whether its a fair question or not, it does make one wary of such a candidate. How could the voters be asked to vote for someone that herself hasn’t seemed too interested in voting?

Of course, this whole question is only legitimate if the newspaper that broke the story had all its facts straight. Now, it is starting to look like the Bee’s story is not as cut and dried as it was presented.
Continue reading “

Whitman’s Spotty Voting Record: Not Exactly as it Seemed?”

California - Campaign Finance - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Liberals - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Meg Whitman: A Big Lib Supporter?

October 4, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Meg Whitman has had some bad days lately. After recently proclaiming herself a “darned good” conservative Republican, Senator Barbara Boxer’s staff revealed that Whitman was a Boxer supporter in 2003. Dangerously for Whitman, Senator Boxer is one of the most liberal members of the Senate.

According to Boxer aide Rose Kapolczynski, Whitman supported Boxer’s “Technology Leaders for Boxer” effort in April of 2003. A letter from Boxer’s office from 2003 features a quote from Whitman stating that she felt Boxer was a “courageous leader and friend of California’s technology industry.” (see image below)

This is just one more troublesome issue on top of her voting record — or lack thereof.
Continue reading “

Meg Whitman: A Big Lib Supporter?”

Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Why Did Matt Murphy Drop Down from Guv to Lt. Guv?

October 2, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Murphy has released a press release explaining why he decided to switch from running for governor to running for lt. governor.

I did not plan to run for Governor. After two consecutive elections, I was looking forward to taking a break from campaigning to focus on my legislative priorities and coach football for my son. Unfortunately, the economy became worse, people lost their jobs and the Democratic leadership in Springfield reverted to their default position to solve every budget crisis: higher taxes, increased spending and more borrowing. While families and businesses are struggling to make ends meet, they were asked to absorb the cost of Springfield’s fiscal mismanagement at the same time Governor Quinn caved into special interests. Our state was at a crossroads and I felt someone had to offer an alternative to the same tired and failed policies that have put us in a two-way race with Michigan to become the worst state to run a business, create jobs and raise a family.

Continue reading “

Why Did Matt Murphy Drop Down from Guv to Lt. Guv?”

Chicago - Conservatives - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - Journalism - Liberals - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

ChgoTrib: Adam Andrzejewski Takes on Big Gov’t

September 30, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Looks like gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski (pronounced an-gee-ef-ski – Campaign site) has caught the eye of the Chicago Tribune’s John Kass, he of inveighing against “the combine” — that idea that top level Republicans are in the pockets of their counterparts in the state Democratic Party.

Kass used Andrzejewski’s campaign to gig his whipping boy once again:

Adam Andrzejewski (pronounced An-jee-ef-ski) is running for governor in the Republican primary on a platform of reform, offering specific spending cuts and holding the line on taxes.

Sound radical?

Only in Illinois, where government is big business and the parties’ trading jobs for support makes them almost indistinguishable.

I can’t say that Kass is wrong. But it is good to see that Andrzejewski is making some headway in the political arena.

Kass makes an obvious point about the Ill. GOP, but it is one that should be at the forefront of every Republican’s mind as he prepares to consider the 2010 elections.
Continue reading “

ChgoTrib: Adam Andrzejewski Takes on Big Gov’t”

Cook County - Elections - Illinois - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Dave Winters Drops Out of Lt. Governor Race

September 21, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Rockford TV reports the abrupt drop out of Republican Dave Winters in the race for Lt. Gov. This is the second drop out of the state wide race as Matt Murphy dropped his bid for Gov and will likely take up the race for Lt. Gov. instead as Andy McKenna’s running mate.

Dave Winters Drops Out of Lt. Governor Race

-By Whitney Martin

It’s a career move that has some local opponents not so happy tonight. Representative Dave winters withdrew his name from the race for lieutenant governor.

After spending three months campaigning for Lt.Governor of Illinois.. State Representative, Dave winters is dropping out of the race and instead will run for re –election

Continue reading “

Dave Winters Drops Out of Lt. Governor Race”

California - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Liberals - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Poizner Signs Anti-Tax Pledge Despite History of Supporting Tax Hikes

September 18, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

SoCal radio wags John and Ken got California GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner to sign a no tax pledge this week. This is momentous news, indeed, since Poizner, the current State Insurance Commissioner and putative GOP frontrunner, has a long, long history of supporting massive property tax hikes that he has yet to directly disavow.

Radio talkers John and Ken witnessed Poizner’s signing of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge during their Los Angeles based show this week. (See photos here.)

As he signed the pledge, Poizner told the radio talkers, “Not only will I not raise taxes, not only will I veto every attempt to raise taxes, I will lower taxes for the people of the state of California. You can count on that.”

Poizner joins 34 U.S. Senators and 172 members of the House of Representatives as well as 7 state governors and over 1,100 state legislators in signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. The pledge commits signers to, “oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes.”
Continue reading “

Poizner Signs Anti-Tax Pledge Despite History of Supporting Tax Hikes”

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Liberals - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Burris, Jackson of Illinois Rated Nation’s ‘Most Corrupt’

September 17, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Illinois wins another dubious distinction due to our corrupt Democratic political culture this week. Senator Roland Burris and Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. have been rated among the nation’s most corrupt officials by the often left-leaning Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics based in Washington D. C.

Both Jackson and Burris are currently under investigation for their roles in Governor’s Rod Blagojevich’s selling of Obama’s former Senate seat last year.

CREW reports why Burris made the list: “Sen. Burris, by deliberately lying to senators about the conversations he had with Gov. Blagojevich and others connected to the governor in order to be appointed to a seat in the Senate, clearly engaged in improper conduct reflecting upon the Senate.”

Jackson is on the list for the same reason.
Continue reading “

Burris, Jackson of Illinois Rated Nation’s ‘Most Corrupt’”

Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Capitol Fax: McKenna/Murphy is ON!

September 17, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

At the Capitol Fax Blog, Rich Miller saysthey have confirmed that former State GOP Chair Andy McKenna is throwing his hat into the rign for the 2010 race for governor.

It seems set that currently announced GOP hopeful Matt Murphy (R- Palatine) will drop his bid for Guv and run for the number two slot on a pseudo ticket with McKenna. (I say pseudo because gov. and lt. gov. candidates do not run as a ticket in Ill., for those unaware.)

Miller says that the two men have met and made the bargain.
Continue reading “

Capitol Fax: McKenna/Murphy is ON!”

Congress - Conservatives - Elections - Illinois - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Conservative Summit, Full Report

September 4, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

As mentioned in the earlier post, I was invited to cover the Illinois Conservative Summit sponsored by the United Republican Fund of Illinois.

The URF is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and is Illinois’ oldest, independent, conservative GOP organization. The URF’s charge is to advance conservative policies and principles by supporting candidates that will advance limited government, individual rights, free enterprise, and traditional values.

Today’s forum is a Q and A session with six Republican candidates for governor where a set of four fixed questions and one candidate specific question was asked each candidate. Each candidate got 20 minutes for the whole session and were warned that they’d be cut off if they tried to filibuster. At the end a 9-question “lightening round” where the candidates were to offer short answers was given each candidate. I have to say that only one candidate came close to going over and even he had basically answered all the questions etc. so all the candidates were kind enough to stay within the 20 minutes time span (Only Kirk Dillard went on long enough during his opening statements that he wasn’t able to answer all the “lightening round” questions). The candidates were presented in alphabetical order.

**Straw Poll Results at the end of this report**

Among those in the Audience were several GOP notables some of whom were:
Continue reading “

Illinois Conservative Summit, Full Report”

Chicago - Conservatives - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Conservative Summit Report

September 4, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

I am currently sitting in Carlucci’s Restaurant in Downer’s Grove, Ill. to listen to six Republican candidates for the GOP nomination for Illinois governor.

What we have will be each of the six candidates coming before the host and answering a series of questions about their campaign and what they’ll do for the state if elected.

They will appear in alphabetical order. But, one thing will hamper me a tad. There is a ban on live blogging because the candidates don’t want to have their answers sent out onto the Internet before the net guy goes on for his session.

This is a perfectly logical request. I, for one, don’t want to be responsible for accidentally helping a candidate come off better than he should because I leaked what his opponents had said.

So, I will have a full report when this is done.

The candidates we will hear from are (in order of appearance):

Adam Andrzejewski
Bill Brady
Kirk Dillard
Matt Murphy
Dan Proft
Bob Schillerstrom

As I said, I’ll have a full report later on today.

Budget - Business - California - Conservatives - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Education - Elections - Freedom - History - Jobs - Liberals - Socialism - Society/Culture - State Government - Supreme Court - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Welfare

The Two Faces of California’s Steve Poizner

August 5, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

As the next Governor of California gears up his – or her – campaign we are witnessing a near complete collapse of state government in the Golden State. It is a situation that the next governor will be faced with immediately, leaving not a second to celebrate victory.

There are some obvious solutions to what ails California: lower taxes, an end to the opulent welfare state, cutting off the free ride for illegals, an end to the free ride that unelected, overly powerful state employees unions have been allowed to attain, and the like, but the question is do any of the candidates on the Republican side have the backbone for the tough decisions that will have to be made before it’s too late… if it isn’t already.

When I first began to look at California’s GOP candidates for governor, I was heartened by the fact that the one Republican elected to state wide office had thrown his hat in the ring. Unfortunately, the closer I look at State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, the more like a tax and spend Democrat he appears. It is becoming increasingly clear that Poizner does not represent the right direction for California, but more of the same failed liberal policies that have destroyed the state.
Continue reading “

The Two Faces of California’s Steve Poizner”