Illinois
updated
1:42 a.m.
My husband and I were fortunate enough to be two of the 35,000 that turned out to see Obama introduce Joe Biden as his VP Running Mate on Saturday, in Springfield. We arrived at 7:30AM, and finally got in to the gated area of the Old State Capitol a little after 10:30 AM. Obama took the stage sometime around 2PM. We managed to get a great spot, right on the fence line, not for f...
DailyKos (Illinois) - 1:20 a.m.
It was a really big show! as Ed Sullivan might have said. I suppose that my final impression from Monday Night's Democratic Convention was really formed before it even began. At the Platform Preview Party, which the DNC put on for contributors et al before the Convention began, I really got a sense that there were a lot more people here for the Convention itself than in Boston. &n...
DailyKos (Illinois) - Wed 10:05 p.m.
If you were watching the pre-primetime coverage, you may have noticed that several Illinois politicians were front and center during the first day of the Democratic National Convention. This is hardly surprising, given that someone will have to be appointed by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to replace Barack Obama when he is elected the next president. The lineup of politicians may indicate Obama'...
DailyKos (Illinois) - Wed 10:05 p.m. - 2 clicks 
I have been following the continuing saga of Bill Daley's quest for Governor of Illinois for the 2010 election. As Tony Soprano might say, "Forgetaboutit." Opportunity was knocking loudly in 2002 for Bill Daley to run Governor, but for a variety of reasons, Bill Daley passed it up. He likely would have roundly defeated the current Governor, Rod Blagojevich and would have defeated the form...
DailyKos (Illinois) - Wed 10:05 p.m. - 2 clicks
The Chicago Tribune is trying to go the splashy graphics route, in hopes of making itself more enticing to people who don’t want to pick up the physical paper on a regular basis. There’s only one problem with the look, as far as I’m concerned. It’s still a broadsheet, not a tabloid. Take a look at the Editor & Publisher story ( http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display...
Chicago Argus - Wed 10:05 p.m. - 2 clicks
That was Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s choice, if he had to pick a sports-rela ted person to appear on the ballot with him – although he also threw a bone to Michael Jordan. For those of us who remember his moment of introduction last year for Monday Night Football, Obama’s recent interview about sports-related topics for ESPN is a tad more legitimate – particularly since he s...
Chicago Argus - Wed 10:05 p.m.
Usually, when a Chicago-area political person gets in trouble for saying something offensive, it is because they said something they secretly believe. The classic example was the time in 1993 then-Illinois Senate President James “Pate” Philip, R-Wood Dale, said approving increases in benefits paid by social service programs was a waste because the recipients would just use the extra money to "...
Chicago Argus - Wed 10:05 p.m.
The Chicago Tribune came up with the almost-dignified euphemism o f “rail saloon,” while Metra (the commuter railroad that connects Chicago to the surrounding suburbs) officially refers to them as “refreshment cars.” Yet to anyone who has actually used a Metra train, they were the “bar cars.” SPECIFICALLY, THEY WERE the lone car located somewhere in the middle of a 10- to 12-car train that cou...
Chicago Argus - Wed 10:05 p.m.
Am I the only one who, upon seeing Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, embrace Wednesday in Denver, remembered that moment from “The Godfather, Part II” set in Havana in the early seconds of New Year’s Day 1959? You remember the scene; Michael Corleone embracing brother Fredo while whispering into his ear, “I know it was you, You broke my heart,” setting t...
Chicago Argus - Wed 10:05 p.m.
Three men are in federal custody in Denver, as officials say they suspect the trio was hatching a plot to try to shoot presidential hopeful Barack Obama while he gave his acceptance speech Thursday at the Democratic National Convention. Now it is true that these three particular individuals (who currently only face unlawful use of weapons-type charges) were probably not a serious threat. LOCA...
Chicago Argus - Wed 10:05 p.m.
I don't care how many houses John McCain has. I don't care much what Hillary Clinton said about Obama's "speech". I don't care about Cindy McCain's tax returns, Michelle Obama's PTA meetings or whether Obama puts the butter away after breakfast. I do care how the next president is going to attack the deficit, fund the VA, handle our troop deployments, Deal with the monster that Pakistan is beco...
Upper Mississippi River Basin - Wed 8:04 p.m.
Michelle Obama gave a speech where she described her husband as kind of a good but ordinary Joe......I'm getting a headache trying to figure out how the savior who will get us to all play nice together can be extraordinary and ordinary at the same time. On the other hand, The Cubs won big tonight, so the night wasn't totally wasted. Jesse Jackson Junior, Ted Lilly and Kosuke Fukudome had pretty...
Upper Mississippi River Basin - Wed 8:04 p.m.
Look, here's how it is. New Blood @ Culver-Stockton is WAY UP! Of course, CSC has just signed veteran Free Agent Judy Abbott to a large bonus contract (Her Agent, Scott Boras (No, this is not a typo) , reports that the guaranteed portion is $17M but that's just a rumor). A coincidence? I think not. Sign a star, sell tickets. Just so she doesn't go to Manny being Manny. ...
Upper Mississippi River Basin - Wed 8:04 p.m. - 2 clicks
A 'heads up' warning for all men who may be regular Home Depot customers. Over the last month I became a victim of a clever scam while out shopping. Simply going out to get supplies has turned out to be quite traumatic. Don't be naive enough to think it couldn't happen to you or your friends. Here's how the scam works: Two very hot 20-21 year-old girls come over to your car as you are...
Upper Mississippi River Basin - Wed 8:04 p.m.
Not all that many years ago, the community held a special ceremony for Scotty Glasgow, the father of public golf in Quincy. His contributions to area golf and youth are beyond this space. After he had retired, the community thanked him and changed the name of the public golf course to "Scotty Glasgow's Westview Golf Course", to memorialize all that he had meant to the golf community here. It wa...
Upper Mississippi River Basin - Wed 8:04 p.m. - 2 clicks
The logistics here are crazy. I can't even imagine everything that goes into running something like this. Even worse, it's not a centralized process. Every group is doing its own thing and communication is rough. There's so much going on that it's often easy to overlook things. There's been quite a police presence here. Not bad as far as I've seen, just a lot. There's a lot of security. There's ...
SoapBlox Chicago - Wed 7:51 p.m.
Laborers International President Terry O'Sullivan talks about the stakes in the 2008 election to the Illinois Delegation at the Democratic National Convention on Monday, August 25th. The video is 9:51 minutes. ...
SoapBlox Chicago - Wed 7:51 p.m. - 4 clicks
One of the highlights of my trip so far was a presentation given by Dan Rather. He was there to talk about the new film by Phil Donahue called "Body of War", but after saying a few words about the film and talking about what a "poor substitute" he was for Phil, he used the opportunity to talk about indepent media and the crisis facing our democracy because of the lack thereof. Be...
SoapBlox Chicago - Wed 7:51 p.m.
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, who represents Illinois' 9th Congressional District, spoke before the assembled delegation of Democrats to the convention here in Denver on Monday, August 25th. The video is 7:32 minutes long. ...
SoapBlox Chicago - Wed 7:51 p.m. - 3 clicks
My father was a staunch Republican, but growing up he loved to watch both the Democratic and Republican conventions. Every four years my brothers and I would sit around the living room watching all of the convention coverage on TV. Last night I kept thinking about my dad and I could feel him with me on one of the most thrilling nights I've ever been a part of. I mentioned this yes...
SoapBlox Chicago - Wed 7:51 p.m.
Okay, I hate to upstage Eric V but I am on the floor of the convention sitting about two feet away from Pat Quinn, Mike Madigan, Anita Alvarez etc. and I am ON LINE LIVE! I am posting this blog and then going into comments where I will blog until they kick me out ... more on that in the comments. BORED UPDATE: we have two, count 'em, TWO bloggers inside Pepsi Arena right now! I'll ad...
SoapBlox Chicago - Wed 7:51 p.m. - 2 clicks
I was going to call this In-Tent-ional Wisdom, but I figured most people don't appreciate puns as much as I do. By know you should have read bored now's account of last night's speeches . I thought that I'd give some idea of how the night's events were perceived in the Big Tent and around the blogosphere. First off the Big Tent started off the night by showing the coverage from CNN (without ...
SoapBlox Chicago - Wed 7:51 p.m.
Well, in the middle of putting together my post about last night's fun Sen. Durbin came in to the Big Tent. Luckily the people here are pretty trustworthy because I quickly abandoned my laptop to join the swarm (scrum?) around him. He had a mini-press conference for the bloggers (though his handlers said he was already 20 minutes late for another interview). The first questions while everyo...
SoapBlox Chicago - Wed 7:51 p.m. - 4 clicks
So, the local parlor game is called, "Who did you see?" It's a favorite of the collected bloggers and other guests. Today, Eric and I attended the Blogger's Tailgate Party. I signed us up even though I had no idea that Howard Dean would be there. But he showed up, gave a great speech and then proceeded to sit down at our table. Howard basically asked us how everything was ...
SoapBlox Chicago - Wed 7:51 p.m.
This is a HUGE event for us, we already have hundreds of people coming and we are really trying to boost it up in the last 30 hours. Again the details for the event are: Who: Scott, his campaign, local candidates, supporters and volunteers; anyone who wants to attend is welcome What: Convention Watch Party; Getting together to watch Barack deliver his acceptance speech When: Thursday, August 2...
SoapBlox Chicago - Wed 7:51 p.m.
Last night I was in the "blogger's lounge" for Mark Warner and Hillary Clinton's speeches (and all the rest). Getting in was a mess. The lines were like those at Great America or O'Hare during rush hour. It was sort of funny because obviously nearly everyone in the line (you had to have Convention credentials just to get in it) was used to being one of the most important people in the ro...
SoapBlox Chicago - Wed 7:51 p.m.
In a million years would you ever have believe I would be writing about hugs between .... wait for it .... - Jesse Jackson Jr and Bobby Rush - Jesse Jackson Jr and Debbie Halvorson - Jesse Jackson Jr and Mayor Daley and ... - Rod Blagojevich and Mike Madigan? Its all true, and Jackson's message is one that needed to be said and that we all need to hear -- that unless we unite and unite NOW w...
SoapBlox Chicago - Wed 7:51 p.m. - 2 clicks
I could spend 10 hours blogging about all the things that I have experienced over the last 24 hours, but since I only have 30 minutes, here is a summary: - 5-course dinner with wine pairings courtesy of some corporation called Teletec - gigantic "Chicago Night" party - a decent night's sleep (finally) - Illinois Delegation breakfast meeting (was 45 minutes late due to cab issues) - running ...
SoapBlox Chicago - Wed 7:51 p.m. - 3 clicks
Mayor Daley spoke this morning before the Illinois Delegation to the Democratic Convention about the importance of unity, publicly thanking Hillary Clinton for her inspiring speech last night. Daley began a rather unusual lovefest that included Governor Rod Blagojevich, Speaker Michael Madigan and Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. The video is 1:48 minutes long. ...
SoapBlox Chicago - Wed 7:51 p.m. - 3 clicks
Thanks to Paul Krugman for pointing out a Cindy McCain quote that, to my mind, is even better than John McCain not knowing how many houses he and his wife own. When asked about having a private pilot's license and owning a private plane, Cindy McCain answered: "The only way to get around Arizona is by small private plane." You can actually see and hear Cindy saying this nonsense...
DailyKos (Illinois) - Mon 6:46 a.m. - 78 clicks
Just recently having become a golf tourist with no home course and just having watched the US Amateur at Pinehurst, it occurs to me that there might be some opinions out there about the best and worst golf holes in the Tri-States. Ground Rules, Gotta be within 75 minutes driving time of Quincy. I'll start: Best Hole--18th @ Scotty's Westview (Yes, that is the correct name). 36th St. Left, Tro...
Upper Mississippi River Basin - Mon 5:49 a.m. - 9 clicks
(NOT IN) DENVER – The Democratic Party chose Denver to be the site of their presidential nominating convention this year in large part to try to show a growing influence in western states that many people think of as Republican strongholds. Yet the lineup of speakers for the Democratic National Convention, particularly those who will speak Monday night, makes me feel like the show I’ll be miss...
Chicago Argus - Mon 12:23 a.m. - 14 clicks
Chicago is a multi-ethnic paradise, with a mishmash of languages spoken here. The situation is such that I have always thought it absurd that the Chicago Argus existed only in English. The problem is that not only am I NOT a multi-lingual person, the writing of daily commentaries for two weblogs (along with the writing I do that actually pays money) does not leave me any time to think of translat...
Chicago Argus - Mon 12:23 a.m. - 14 clicks
This is what the chair of the McCain Campaign in Illinois, State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), is running around telling the media outlets: "There's a lot of Hillary Clinton folks that are very upset the way the primary ended and we're working with them right now and we're getting a lot of support out of Hillary Clinton supporters and I think that the choice that Barack made for Joe B...
IllinoisDemNet - Sun 3:12 p.m. - 8 clicks
I was lucky enough to be there. It was worth the ga$, long drive, and heat to be a part of this. The crowd was so happy and excited. The candidates were - yes - inspiring! I'm starting off this morning with my hometown paper, the St Louis Post-Dispatch, because this was my absolute favorite picture of the day and I really smiled when I opened my hard copy of the paper this morning. ...
DailyKos (Illinois) - Sun 12:06 p.m. - 7 clicks
Yea, Michelle is back! If ever there were a sign of things heating up, it's the relaunch of our IDN Weekly Events Listing for the Chicagoland area. This is thanks to one person and that person is activist extraordinaire Michelle. It's important to acknowledge what a considerable effort this is. First, there are all the local websites to go through. Then there are all the emails, news...
IllinoisDemNet - Sun 12:22 a.m. - 11 clicks
This morning I headed to Springfield (as I mentioned in yesterday's diary ). Follow me below the fold for photos and words about the experience. ...
DailyKos (Illinois) - Sat 9:51 p.m. - 15 clicks
You've read the front page posts on the Springfield rally, and perhaps watched it on television. If it looked exciting on television, it was nothing compared to actually being there! This was a very interesting day, so let's get right to the highlights! ...
DailyKos (Illinois) - Sat 9:51 p.m. - 11 clicks
I know that there are other diaries on the Springfield rally; here is my experience. I've cross posted this on my blog. More below the fold ...
DailyKos (Illinois) - Sat 9:51 p.m. - 16 clicks
There are better pics out there but I thought people might be interested in my view from the crowd. Pictures of Obama, Biden and their wives are at my blog here . Other pictures from the event are here . My perspective from being in the audience is that they both gave excellent speeches and made the case that Biden is a strong choice. ...
DailyKos (Illinois) - Sat 9:51 p.m. - 14 clicks
Here is the formal announcement sent out by the Obama campaign, with regards to confirming that the Associated Press (for once) didn’t screw up a story. This message supposedly went out at 9:36 a.m. (Chicago time, the only time zone that matters), but it literally just showed up minutes ago in my e-mail. Friend -- I have some important news that I want to make official. I've chosen Joe Biden ...
Chicago Argus - Sat 3:06 p.m. - 13 clicks
So if you were writing about a program that tried to steer non-emergency cases away from overcrowded Emergency Wards and towards Community Health Centers, would you start your story this way ? U. of C. Shunning Poor Patients? Sen. Barack Obama's wife and three close advisers have been involved with a program at the University of Chicago Medical Center that steers patients who don't have...
IllinoisDemNet - Sat 9:06 a.m. - 20 clicks
Image via Wikipedia In the wee early hours of the morning as my phone vibrated that it had the Obama txt message, I bleary eyed saw the name Biden and immediately fell back to sleep. It was not surprising enough to jolt me out of bed at four in the morning but not that disappointing either. My first reaction was to exclaim that he does not bring enough to the table. But Biden does...
Nothing Rhymes With Orange - Sat 8:25 a.m. - 17 clicks
So everyone got their text message. Again, Obama showed excellent judgment in picking his running mate. From the Obama Campaign: "Barack has chosen Joe Biden to be his running mate. Joe Biden brings extensive foreign policy experience, an impressive record of collaborating across party lines, and a direct approach to getting the job done. We have our team, but we also have...
DailyKos (Illinois) - Sat 6:45 a.m. - 14 clicks
You have to give Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama a bit of credit. He has turned th e selection for a vice presidential running mate into something that the technologically savvy younger generation will think of as a major event. By insisting on making his announcement via a simultaneous transmission informing everybody who cares of his choice, he has come up with a way of appealing...
Chicago Argus - Sat 2:20 a.m. - 13 clicks
I guess this means Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., is forgiven for his condescending talk last year about how “clean” and “articulate” a person Barack Obama is. Either that, or the Associated Press has managed to make what will go down as a gaffe of historic proportions. THE WIRE SERVICE sent out reports in the early minutes of Saturday indicating that it will be an Obama/Biden ticket that takes on J...
Chicago Argus - Sat 2:20 a.m. - 13 clicks
Tomorrow morning, I'm leaving at 6 a.m. to take the two hour drive to Springfield, IL for Obama's first speech with his vice presidential nominee. Tonight, as everyone waits for the VP selection, I'm excited that I'll finally get to see the movement for change in action. Follow me below the fold for more about this event and the VP. ...
DailyKos (Illinois) - Fri 11:31 p.m. - 12 clicks
In most workplaces, the big boss will get all puffed up and say "My Door is Always Open to You.." I'm sure it makes the boss feel just swell but it's a Hell of way to run a business. First, I want a Boss who's too damn busy and productive to be screwing around with any whiner (Thanks, Phil Gramm) who stumbles in the door. Second, anybody who goes "open door" just cuts the legs out from under t...
Upper Mississippi River Basin - Fri 12:50 p.m. - 2 clicks
Some people like to make jokes about “Club Fed” and life in prison as somehow being cushy. I’d like to t hink that those people are just being ridiculous, and not really so clueless. But then I read about the conditions that one-time Chicago Sun-Times boss Conrad Black is enduring while serving a 6 ½-year sentence at a federal prison in Florida, and I have to wonder. THE TORONTO STAR publish...
Chicago Argus - Thu 10:07 p.m. - 10 clicks
Pancreatic Cancer has gotten way too many people I like or were otherwise close to me. I spent precisely seven and one half hours with Gene Upshaw in our lifetimes. Three hour business meeting, 30 minute business meeting several years later and a four hour round of golf. He had a will of iron, great listening skills and really not much of sense of humor. I admired the guy and found him fasc...
Upper Mississippi River Basin - Thu 8:20 p.m. - 3 clicks
Wow, everyone's having fun with this. This is what greeted me when I accessed my Yahoo Account. The AP is calling it ' McCain's Housing Crisis '. UPDATE: Screw the houses, I just want to feel what it's like to walk in the guy's $500 shoes! $500? That's ten pair of shoes for me. I wonder if he knows how many $500 shoes he has. UPDATE II: I mean, has the Media just woken up: M...
IllinoisDemNet - Thu 5:51 p.m. - 3 clicks
Is it a 5 percent lead, 3 percent or only 2 percent? For that matter, who’s really in the lead – Barack Obama or John McCain? BASED ON WHAT you want to believe about the 2008 cam paign season for president, there is a political poll that will reinforce it. Different polls were released Wednesday, and each campaign can find something positive. The survey done by the Gallup Organization showed ...
Chicago Argus - Aug 20 - 13 clicks
SJ-R on the opportunities following the election of a new President to the Illinois State Senate: Sen. Jeff Schoenberg, D-Evanston, another possible contender [for Senate President], perhaps summed up the opportunity best on Monday, saying that it “provides an opportunity for Illinois Senate Democrats to have a fresh start in setting the state’s agenda. Senate Democrats need leadership tha...
IllinoisDemNet - Aug 20 - 13 clicks
Condi has brilliantly negotiated the installation of US anti-delivery system missiles in Poland, Russia's neighbor. The Cold War called. It wants its strategy back. I knew nothing good could come out of Georgia being No. 1 preseason. ...
Upper Mississippi River Basin - Aug 20 - 2 clicks
Lou Dobbs, John Kyl and all the other "I've got mine" types who oppose Natural Birth Citizenship, tell your story to Henry Cejudo. You're born on our soil and you're an American, thus should it ever be so. ...
Upper Mississippi River Basin - Aug 20 - 2 clicks
Our dog Katie, the one we rescued after Katrina, has found a sport she really enjoys, Lure Courseing. Because she is not a pure-breed sighthound , she cannot compete in AKC sponsored events. In fact, many clubs will not even allow non pure-breed sighthounds play on their courses (hummm...sounds familiar). We were very thankful to discover Lure Coursing Fanatics up in Wisconsin. They a...
Nothing Rhymes With Orange - Aug 20 - 2 clicks
I don’t know if I support them, but I can understand where a few dozen college presidents are coming from when they say the age at which one can legally drink alcoholic beverages ought to be reduced. I remember my time in college two decades ago as a period where the attitude was constantly pushed that part of the “college experience” included getting overserved with cheap beer coming straight fr...
Chicago Argus - Aug 19 - 6 clicks
Barack Obama hopes to return to the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., for a Saturday campaign rally. Photograph provided by state of Illinois. I have heard some people of the Illinois Democratic Party persuasion claim that if Abraham Lincoln were alive today, he’d be a Democrat. I don’t know if I believe that. But I’m starting to wonder if Barack Obama does. OBAMA IS GETTING his sc...
Chicago Argus - Aug 19 - 4 clicks
It gives me a bit of pleasure to learn that Illinois Senate President Emil Jones will retire on top. The 35 -year-member of the General Assembly who has been the leader of the Illinois Senate for much of this decade has decided it’s time to step down from electoral politics. Why should I care that Jones, who is 72, will retire as the Senate president? It’s because I know firsthand how much Jon...
Chicago Argus - Aug 19 - 3 clicks
Police are called to an apartment and find a woman holding a bloody 5-iron standing over a lifeless man. The detective asks, "Ma'am, is that your husband?" "Yes" says the woman. "Did you hit him with that golf club?" Yes, yes, I did." The woman begins to sob, drops the club, and puts her, hands on her face. "How many times did you hit him?" "I don't know, five, six, maybe seven ti...
Upper Mississippi River Basin - Aug 18 - 7 clicks