This article, from the on-line New York Times, best describes the challenges facing the next president.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/magazine/27world-t.html?pagewanted=8&_r=1&th&emc=th
I always remain surprised that candidtaes are not asked who they would consider ideal members of their cabinet if they were elected. This would be a significant insight into a candidate's thinking and policies.
This link is to an article about toy manufacturer compliance with standards to protect workers in overseas plants and to ensure the safety of their products--a somewhat more important, but less visible issue than my last blog post about baseball and drug use. The artcile focuses mostly on Mattel. Partcipants in this forum who invoke the term "nanny-statism" or have interest in protecting people as well as whales should have some comment
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/23/magazine/23Mattel-t.html?th&emc=th
Lots of bad news for Illinois Republicans today, or so it would seem.
The Tribune released more details about its statewide poll today:
The percentage of Illinois voters who call themselves Democrats is at its highest pre-election level in more than a decade, posing a problem for Republicans trying to win the governor's mansion and key congressional seats, a Tribune/WGN-TV poll shows.
The poll found 43 percent of voters identified themselves as Democrats while a little more than a quarter of the voters identified themselves as Republicans. The 17 percentage point difference ranks among the most polarized partisan spreads in more than 16 years of Tribune surveys taken prior to an election day.
Rich Miller has analysis and discussion, including an excellent bit of history (the partisan breakdown of Survey USA's monthly tracking poll). Basically, Survey USA says that the gap between Democrats and Republicans has been as high as 22 points (June and August).
A couple of comments on the Trib poll.
In a nutshell, I expect Chicago and Cook County to vote more heavily Democrat than ever, as Mayor Daley needs to reinvigorate the machine, Todd Stroger runs for Cook County Board President and Gov. Blagojevich needs every vote from Cook County. And I expect downstate, as a whole, to vote more Republican (or, more properly, vote more anti-Blagojevich) than it did in 2004 and 2002, but less so than it did in the 1990s.
And I expect regionalism to be even more pronounced after the election.
The News-Gazette editorial yesterday (click image for larger version) was phenomenal, brilliantly pointing out the hypocrisy of State Rep. Naomi Jakobsson holding a workshop on a Federal pension program like Social Security in light of her much criticized vote (here, here, here, here, here, here, here and especially here) to raid the pension funds of state and University employees to fund pork projects.
The pension raid was an idea originally pushed by Jakobsson's largest donor and political master, Chicago Democrat and Speaker of the House Mike Madigan. And other than Democratic Party solidarity (the plan was passed with unanimous support by House Democrats, including one who later apologized), there were no compelling reasons for Jakobsson to support it - it was clearly putting the interests of her Party and the wishes of Speaker Madigan ahead of the interests of the citizens in the 103rd District. It's been our contention for some time that Jakobsson is a particularly ineffective Representative because she follows the orders of the Speaker rather than think independently about the needs of her district. The pension raid was further evidence.
In the editorial, the NG fails to make one particular point that dovetails nicely with our contention that Jakobsson's unwavering fealty to the Democrats and Madigan is more important than her constituents: The Social Security workshop that she's sponsoring - as stupid as the idea is, given her support of the pension raid - isn't even her idea. It's part of a larger series of statewide hearings sponsored by - you guessed it - Speaker Mike Madigan. Here's a press release with the schedule of hearing from the House Democrats own website - in the headline and press release, these are even called "Speaker's Workshops on Social Security." Not "Jakobsson's Workshop," but the "Speaker's Workshops."
Even on a terribly obvious blunder like this workshop, Jakobsson still follows the orders of Speaker Madigan. Are there really any doubts about who she's truly representing?
It sure is a good thing that State Rep. Naomi Jakobsson voted for that pension raid. Look at all the good works that are resulting from raiding the retirement fund of local employees:
Expected to be announcing his re-election campaign soon, the Democratic governor has signed off on sending up to $7 million to protect Chicago's shoreline, $4 million for the Joffrey Ballet and millions of dollars more for buildings, bike paths and ball fields, administration records showed.
The money will go to projects first approved during the administration of former Republican Gov. George Ryan, who cut thousands of deals with lawmakers throughout the state before the economy soured.
This is a very transparent move by Governor Blagojevich, too: Freeze the money until closer to re-election, then release it and try to look like a hero to people who have been twisting in the wind for three years. That, my friends, is real leadership.
All told, that's another $470 million of your retirement fund dollars, funding things like a Chicago ballet. One more line:
Along with money for the Joffrey Ballet and the Lake Michigan shoreline, the records showed the Chicago area is a big winner.
Anyone surprised?
Though he has publicly scoffed at the notion, Mayor Richard Daley is
now considering a bid to bring the 2016 Summer Olympics to Chicago,
City Hall sources said Tuesday.
We've been speculating on whether Rep. Naomi Jakobsson was intelligent or effective enough to actually secure some "member initiatives" (also known as pork) for Champaign-Urbana in exchange for her inexplicable vote to underfund the pensions of state employees.
The House Democrats quietly released the details of the pork projects, here. There are no - zero - Champaign County projects or organizations on the list.
It's interesting, though, all the things that Rep. Jakobsson voted to fund while not asking for anything for Champaign-Urbana. Some examples of worthy Chicago-based organizations whose legislators secured them some extra funding:
I'll make my point again. Naomi Jakobsson is the least effective legislator - House or Senate, Democrat and Republican - in the General Assembly. She voted against the interests of her district and against the interests of the State of Illinois, and she's not even competent enough to get some minor scrap of funding - for Don Moyer, for Urbana's schools, even for the University - in return.
UPDATE: Prairie Center Health Systems, Inc., is listed above for a $200,000 grant from DCFS, to "treat child neglect or abuse specifically associated with the Methamphetamine popultion." I was wrong to say "not one dime for Champaign County." However, given the nature of the grant, I find it improbable that Jakobsson was the initiating legislator. Prairie Center covers most of East Central Illinois, methamphetamine abuse is an issue that Jakobsson almost never mentions, and Jakobsson almost never initiates anything in Springfield. And even if Jakobsson were going to ask for $200,000 for a local project, I doubt this would have been the one and only project for which she sought funding.
Even if I'm incorrect and she did request the funding, why did she choose this project over all the other funding needs in the district? I wonder how Urbana and Champaign schools feel about this, for instance. Or Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club? Or Habitat or Planned Parenthood or A Woman's Fund or Times Center, or, God forbid, the University of Illinois. And if she's going to take credit for pork, she'd better be willing to defend it: Was this $200,000 grant worth selling out the pension systems of the State of Illinois? Was it worth all the other Chicago pork that was included with it? Exaclty how much is her vote on a bad budget worth? Would she have sold out for $150,000? Why didn't she hold out for $250,000? Or $2,000,000?
Bottom line is that this budget was such a bad vote for her district that, even if she takes credit for this one grant, it's going to raise even more questions.
Jeff Berkowitz writes about a potentially quick lawsuit against the irresponsible pension/budget ponzi scheme supported by our lackluster State Rep. Naomi Jakobsson:
Topinka has referred this debt issuance issue to Attorney General Madigan and hinted someone “from the outside,” perhaps someone on one of the affected pension boards, might file a lawsuit on this issue, even if Lisa does not bite. Judy Baar said she expected AG Madigan to act independently, as she said she has in the past, of her father- Speaker Mike- who apparently was the deal closer, if not architect, of the pension deal.Topinka also said, “This budget may not be a done deal,” and she implied the outcome on the debt issuance issue could affect her decision to run for Governor. Topinka said she would decide this summer if she will be a candidate for governor.
Also, State Rep. John Fritchey, in whose district Governor Blowdriedovich lives, has apologized for voting for the pension/budget sham:
"I wish I hadn't voted for it. I'd like to apologize to the people of Illinois for voting for it. But again, the Democrats made a decision. The alternatives that were out there -- an income tax increase, an expansion of gaming, deep service cutbacks -- none of those would have set any better with the general public," said State Rep. John Fritchey, (D)-Chicago. (Hat tip: Rich Miller)
Can anyone imagine Jakobsson having the courage, intelligence, or leadership to say something like that?
Yeah, me neither.
There has been much written on this blog about the Chicago tilt of the recent state budget. Much has been centered on the role, or lack of, for Naomi Jakobsson. While IP and others think that this continual Chicago slant might make her vulnerable, I tend to disagree. There are just too many lock step Democrats in the 103rd district.
The real vulnerability for Dems will come in the State Senate race. Emil Jones Is President of the Senate. He has been unapologetic in his advocacy for Chicago State University. While no one in Champaign Urbana wishes ill to the other state universities, we rightly believe that the flagship for the state university system is UIUC. Senator Jones, who helped bail Mike Frerichs out of his last race with a last minute $10,000 contribution, will obviously be a major factor in whoever the Dems put up in the Senate race against Winkel.
Emil Jones is the biggest enemy that the University of Illinois has ever had in Springfield. Do we really want him calling the shots down the road for our local state senator?
Another article about the recently-passed State budget, and more tales of pork used to persuade reluctant Democratic legislators to vote for a pension sham and budget that everyone knows is irresponsible (Even Speaker Madigan said, "I would have preferred not to have failed to make our payment to the pension systems.")
From today's article:
As the end of the legislative session drew near, Democrats whose votes were needed to pass the state's $55 billion budget knew they had more leverage than ever.It was time to deal.
Sometimes alone, sometimes in groups, Democratic lawmakers huddled with their leaders--Gov. Rod Blagojevich, House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate President Emil Jones.
One lawmaker wanted a commitment for $300,000 for a student outreach center. Another wanted $75,000 released to pave a library parking lot. Yet others sought $3 million for an anti-gang initiative.
As the clock ticked down toward Tuesday's 11:34 p.m. adjournment, they got what they wanted.
What did State Rep. Naomi Jakobsson get? What did she secure for the UI? For the 103rd District?
Nothing.
Which means that she either voted for the pension sham without coercion because she thought it was the right thing to do.
Or she's too inept a legislator to even get something for her district in exchange for toeing the party line.
I'm betting it's the latter.
For those of you wondering exactly what State Rep. Naomi Jakobsson got in exchange for her completely irresponsible vote "to have failed to make our payment to the pension systems," (as Speaker Madigan said), Rich Miller has the scoops here and here. Essentially, downstate and Champaign-Urbana will see significantly reduced state funding in mass transit, higher education, transportation infrastructure and other areas.
It's comforting to know that she's working so hard on our behalf - imagine how bad it would be if she were merely indifferent?
(And if you're not reading Rich Miller's blog regularly, you should be.)
When you elect puppets who vote lockstep with their Chicago leaders, this is what you get:
The foundation for the budget is the controversial diversion of $2.2 billion that was to go toward pensions for teachers and state workers. Instead, the proceeds would boost school funding by more than $300 million, stave off service cuts and fare hikes at the Chicago Transit Authority and help fund general state operations.Already angered by what they viewed as a pension raid and a budget that shorted their districts on education and mass transit, Republicans railed that Chicago Democrats steered costly pet projects to the city.
Republicans said the rewards to loyal Democrats included $920,000 for the Chicago Aerospace Education Initiative, a $400,000 grant to the Little Black Pearl arts center in Chicago, $94,000 for the Joffrey Ballet's Sinfonietta orchestra and $1 million for the Beverly Arts Center.
Even some Downstate Democrats said they were angered when Chicago's agriculture extension service got a boost while 4-H clubs in their areas took a hit.
And, for those who will (inevitably) claim that Rep. Jakobsson fought for the University of Illinois and got everything that she could:
A perennial favorite of Jones, Chicago State University on the city's South Side, will receive more than $4 million for its programs. Its Chicagoland Regional College Program will get $3.5 million, and the remainder will go to the university's HIV-AIDS Police and Research Institute and its Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Program.
For some of those recipients, the pork money will come as a surprise.
At Beverly Arts Center in Chicago, Kate Coughlin, a freelance grant writer, said the center was completely unaware it was set to receive $1 million from the state. (emphasis added)
It's a good thing that responsible, independent legislators like our very own Naomi Jakobsson can ignore our state's pension obligations and her home-district University to send millions of dollars to a Chicago-based University that didn't even request the funding in the first place.
EDIT: The Beverly Arts Center isn't part of CSU - I was confused after originally reading the article.
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