IL: Will corruption be the theme in '06 as it was in '02

[muon2]

Accusations and insinuations about the IL administration and its practices have been common for many months. The level of interest has been turned up a notch today.

From ABC7 Chicago (with similar reports on many other news sites):

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[muon2]

I admit some surprise that no one on site has any thoughts on this. I know that IL is underrepresented on the forum as a percentage of the general population, but this is pretty big news here. The Chicago Tribune made it the banner story over the weekend.

This is the start of Sunday's story:

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[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I admit some surprise that no one on site has any thoughts on this. I know that IL is underrepresented on the forum as a percentage of the general population, but this is pretty big news here. The Chicago Tribune made it the banner story over the weekend.

This is the start of Sunday's story:

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But let's see what else in your Republican newspaper.

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Ouch, even your Republican newspaper is unloading on your buddy Denny.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0606180254jun18,1,4341439.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

[muon2]

Hastert's not in the Gov's race last I checked. It might be a good post over on the Congressional board.

Also my first post was not from the Trib, but from Channel 7. There are stories that ran from Rockford to Carbondale over the weekend, so I'd say the base is pretty broad. The Gov is trying to portray the story as an old one that was addressed after the 2004 report, but that doesn't match well with the contents of the letter from the prosecutor.

[WMS]

Muon, old boy, by NM standards this isn't a big deal.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

His opponent is a Bush crony, so corruption won't fly as an isssue.

[Q]

His opponent is a Bush crony, so corruption won't fly as an isssue.

Yes, I would think Illinois would choose a corrupt Democrat over the recipient of Bush's current two-day campaign swing in the state any day.

[muon2]

Muon, old boy, by NM standards this isn't a big deal.

Sounds like your state needs a visit from Mr. Patrick Fitzgerald.

[WMS]

Muon, old boy, by NM standards this isn't a big deal.

Sounds like your state needs a visit from Mr. Patrick Fitzgerald.

It wouldn't hurt. "Patronage 'R Us", truly...

[ill ind]

  Looks like we will have one very close and very divisive contest here in Illinois.  I don't think people from outside of the state have any idea how much the incumbent governor is loathed by a large proportion of the state's residents.  In my opinion the guy would sell his own mother's house out from under her if the prospective buyer offered him a $10,000 campaign contribution.
  The one thing the governor does have going for him is that it appears that the anti-gay marriage amendment (which was a meaningless advisory referendum anyways) will not get onto the Illinois ballot.  This will probably keep away many socially conservative voters who have never been fired up about socially liberal Republican nominee Baar-Topinka anyways.
  One thing working against the gov is that the Green Party will likely get a ballot spot possibly draining a couple of percentage points of dissafected Dems away from him possibly costing him a close race.
  If I was handicapping the election right now, I would give a very very slim advantage to the incumbent governor.  That can all change in a heartbeat with Patrick Fitzgerald on the job however.  I believe it will all come down to how the Cook County Suburbs vote.  Chicago will be overwhelmingly Dem while the collar counties and downstate will be overwhelmingly Rep.  The divisive shenanigans concerning the Cook County Board President's position (talk about a job with control over a whole lot of patronage and therefore the grandstanding by all the interested parties) may or may nor hurt Blago's chances in the Cook County suburbs.  Could quite possibly hurt him pretty bad.

Ill Ind