Democrats continue challenge to Calabrese:
The Republican candidate for the 103rd District seat faces another challenge.
Chicago attorney Michael J. Kasper has filed a request for judicial review of the papers for University of Illinois student Frank Calabrese, who is running against incumbent state Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, D-Urbana.
Jakobsson has said she has nothing to do with the challenges.
First, Jakobsson absolutely is involved in the challenges. She's not signing the papers, and she knows less about election law than even I do, but these challenges are being managed on her behalf by her political master, House Speaker Michael Madigan and his staff. For the media to keep repeating this mantra of "Jakobsson isn't involved," is just silly, and insulting to anyone who has ever paid attention to politics. Her largest, most dominant donor, who also supplies both her campaign and legislative staff, is behind the challenge. Let's not pretend she's not involved; everyone knows better.
Second, in this year, with the massive Obama tidal wave expected among young and more-highly-educated voters, in a district dominated by the UI campus, are the Democrats really iso worried about a 21-year-old GOP candidate that they feel they need to do this? What are they so worried about?
The Greens have felt the sting of Madigan's minions and top laywer Kasper as well and I think I can speak for most Greens in that despite potential disagreements with Calabrese's political positions we defend Calabrese and anyone else's right to run for office. As long as the nomination process did not contain fraud, was in good faith, and democratic, anyone should have a fair shake at running.
Last night it was as if Nancy Pelosi was talking about Frank on Greta....
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,371526,00.html
What are they so worried about?
My guess would be that if there is no need to finance a race here due to lack of competition, that is money that can then be diverted to financing campaigns in battleground districts where a real challenge exists.
First, Jakobsson absolutely is involved in the challenges.
Well, as you are so fond of saying when it comes to other conspiracy theories, prove it. Let's see some documentation. I doubt Naomi is involved, as she's probably not too worried about losing this race to essentially a carpet-bagger from the Chicago area
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At some point we have to trust the government. - redstatewannabe on 2008-06-12 at 1:14pm
"My guess would be that if there is no need to finance a race here due to lack of competition, that is money that can then be diverted to financing campaigns in battleground districts where a real challenge exists."
Do they really need to finance Jakobsson's campaign against Calabrese? Is Jakobsson that weak, or is he that much of a threat, that she cannot handle him on her own?
"Well, as you are so fond of saying when it comes to other conspiracy theories, prove it. Let's see some documentation. I doubt Naomi is involved, as she's probably not too worried about losing this race to essentially a carpet-bagger from the Chicago area."
Well, I've laid out my evidence. Clearly, the staff provided by Michael Madigan, which also works on her behalf, is involved. I'm not so naive as to pretend she has nothing to do with this. You, of course, are free to draw your own conclusion that under no circumstances would Jakobsson be involved with a challenge on her behalf by staff connected to her.
That said, while I don't approve of such things, I'm certainly not condemning her for doing it. I'm more annoyed that the media feels the need to publish her clearly false denials of involvement. Let's stop kidding around and deal with reality.
Calabrese is not a real threat. Cmon now! Deb Feinen was the last real threat that Naomi had! Give me a break!
The Greens have felt the sting of Madigan's minions and top laywer Kasper as well and I think I can speak for most Greens in that despite potential disagreements with Calabrese's political positions we defend Calabrese and anyone else's right to run for office. As long as the nomination process did not contain fraud, was in good faith, and democratic, anyone should have a fair shake at running.
I tried telling one of the Greens I knew that trying to knock opponents off the ballot was a normal part of the game, and not something that happened only to Green candidates. He didn't seem to believe me. That said, I'm not too crazy about this tactic.
I do find it interesting that someone cares enough to continue this. However, I also know that once one gets started on a legal challenge, they tend to want to see it through to the end. Naomi would be vulnerable in this district if she had a real challenger with serious money backing. With UIUC funding continuing to fall and the utter ineptness of the Governor, she doesn't have a lot to stand on. If a challenger had the funds, they could do real damage in the media by defining Naomi for what she is: a well-intentioned but low-talent, low-effectiveness representative.
...she's probably not too worried about losing this race to essentially a carpet-bagger from the Chicago area.
Well Arvid, one could certainly extend your logic to declare therefore that all Uof I students who vote in our local elections ( with the only determining factor for their vote being a D after the candidate's name) are essentially carpet baggers from Chicago. They in effect temporarily come down from Chiago to vote into power a group of people who would not stand a chance of election without the student vote skewing the results.
It would really be nice if we could actually get a candidate from the 103rd district who was actually has lived here for more than just the college years.
Very interesting....from the Hinshaw & Culbertson bio of Michael J. Kasper http://www.hinshawlaw.com/mkasper/
N. B. I added some emphasis.
Calabrese has obviously gotten someone spooked. Madigan wouldn't send out a ship of the line if he wasn't preparing for a battle or concerned about a real insurrection (i.e. challenge) to his status quo.
Can Kasper's bio read any more like an entrenched legal hack for career politicians (Lipinski, Rush, Madigan, Daley, Clinton, Blago, Durbin, Simon, Gore)?
Well, despite the fact that I find him to a hypersensitive, irrational and ill-informed--any of which would sink any chance of my support for him, I do support his right to run. As I always have, I have take strong exception to the Democratic party's demand that anyone who wants to run for anything in the state must be anointed worthy by them. Especially when we are discussing a party that is content to play with itself at the state level rather than get anything worthwhile accomplished.
I hope Mr. Calabrese has the opportunity to ask Ms. Jakobsson why she was the chief sponsor of the 'ammunition serialization bill' that intended to infringe on our constitutional rights.
Xian,
Are you referring to Calabrese or Obama with this statement? ;^)
I hope Mr. Calabrese has the opportunity to ask Ms. Jakobsson why she was the chief sponsor of the 'ammunition serialization bill' that intended to infringe on our constitutional rights.
The constitution gives you the right to own guns, it says nothing about ammunition :-)
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At some point we have to trust the government. - redstatewannabe on 2008-06-12 at 1:14pm
Robert,
Ouch
Curious,
I could not agree more with your statement, EXCEPT...make no mistake about it. Madigan will pour hundreds of thousands of dollars toward Naomi in any election. Primary against a Dem who has values for this area, or any Republican who has any support at all. She is not just a Democrat, she is a Chicago Democrat because it is their money that supports her campaign.
Look at her campaign finances and see how much local money she raised.
This is about personal power, Naomi can only have power if she remains in office and Madigan knows that only too well.
Who I am, is who I want to be...
Rex Bradfield
Well, despite the fact that I find him to a hypersensitive, irrational and ill-informed--any of which would sink any chance of my support for him, I do support his right to run. As I always have, I have take strong exception to the Democratic party's demand that anyone who wants to run for anything in the state must be anointed worthy by them. Especially when we are discussing a party that is content to play with itself at the state level rather than get anything worthwhile accomplished.
And I thought it was just because of the R behind his name.... ;)
"The constitution gives you the right to own guns, it says nothing about ammunition :-)"
But we can't have a National Bullet Association... the letters are already taken!
--
Glock21 Op/Ed
I guess I would wonder what Mike Madigan is so worried about, is it that Frank might win?
Do they really need to finance Jakobsson's campaign against Calabrese? Is Jakobsson that weak, or is he that much of a threat, that she cannot handle him on her own?
It's not that she's all that weak or that Calabrese is much of a threat, it's just "good" strategy. Why give your candiate a 90% chance of winning if you can take steps to give that candidate a 100% chance of winning? I'm not endorsing this strategy, I find it rather despicable if this is what they are doing.
I guess I would wonder what Mike Madigan is so worried about, is it that Frank might win?
Again, I doubt he's worried. But from a Machiaveillian standpoint, if he can eliminate an expense now and focus those finances that would otherwise go to supporting this candidate, wouldn't that make the most fiscal sense?
And you say Illinois Democrats don't know how to "tighten their belts" and save some money... :)
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At some point we have to trust the government. - redstatewannabe on 2008-06-12 at 1:14pm
I just received the press release e-mail from Julie Johnson... I had not yet heard of his candidacy.
I assisted with the 2001 campaign of Buzz Langhofer for Urbana City Council, while a student here in Springfield. In 2004, the UIS College Republicans assisted Deb Feinen a little, but that was my first semester as Chairman, and we had so many races in our area, needing assistance. In later years, we assisted with elections in other parts of Illinois, and in other states. I hope that, despite all that will be going on, in their home districts, the CRs at other schools will donate some time, to help this campaign.
And I thought it was just because of the R behind his name.... ;)
Huh?