DISQUS

Chambananon · 1 year ago

That is hilarious, and awesome, that your father is getting noticed for more than just the Obamalac -- hope he enjoys the festivities at Grant Park!

Dirtybird · 1 year ago

Who is Rich Miller?

Vote Quimby! · 1 year ago

I bet tomorrow someone says to Rich: Hey, you're the son of that guy with the Obamalac!

Kevin Fanning · 1 year ago

lol

Jeff · 1 year ago

I'm scared...

IlValleyGal · 1 year ago

Hey, I work for a newspaper and tried to ask about voter turnout. Just the usual inane questions and I got thrown out. They said I had to be 100 feet away since that was now considered electioneering in my county.

BTW -- turn out in my little precinct was HEAVY. The poor retired gals barely had time for a potty break.

beancounter · 1 year ago

Me,too, very.

Cheswick · 1 year ago

Rich, it's so great your dad is going to be in Grant Park tonight. Would love to know his experiences.

IlValleyGal - That is not right. I bet if you were there with camera crew, satellite van, etc., you'd have gotten a different reaction.

Anonymous · 1 year ago

Obvously too soon to tell anything, but Indiana, Georgia, and Virginia are coming in.

Anonymous · 1 year ago

when will we know about con-con? will the results come in with the rest of the polls?

A Citizen · 1 year ago

I just heard that if BHO wins, the Obamalac is going to be enshrined in the Smithsonian! I know you are proud, Rich.

Anonymous · 1 year ago

I think the Obamalac should go to the Smithsonian either way. Your Dad must be a really cool guy, Rich.

A Citizen · 1 year ago

And it would get that behemouth gas guzzler off the road. LOL!

Arthur Andersen · 1 year ago

If I was Rich's dad, I would be more worried about what might happen to the 'Lac in the next 48 hours than what museum may be her final place of repose.

Elizabeth Austin · 1 year ago

Your dad was getting cheers on Michigan Avenue. He was like a one-man parade float. Awesome.

Speaking at Will · 1 year ago

Hey Rich, not one to throw compliments around too often, but good work the last 6 months. This aint exactly been easy covering all this.

Give Me A Break · 1 year ago

If Obama wins he needs to dump the ugly black armored limo and use the Obamalac. Just think of that bad boy in the inagural parade with the secret service hanging off the sides.

Bookworm · 1 year ago

Forgot to tell you, Rich, that hubby and I spotted the Obamalac driving north on I-155 after the Obama-Biden rally in Springfield. Hubby just about ran off the road when he saw it! That certainly would be a sight in any inaugural parade...

Bucktowner · 1 year ago

There was nobody voting late, after an action packed morning. I watched my polling place, which had hit 60% by 4:00 pm, between 6:15 and 7:00. Nobody voted between 6:15 and 6:35, and then only about 5 people until 7:00. Usually there would be about 100 people voting in that time. Clearly a lot of people were concerned about long lines and voted early rather than late, and I don't know how many people in the precinct voted early.

Bookworm · 1 year ago

Last night I watched some historic Huntley-Brinkley TV clips from the 1960 and '68 elections... back then, Illinois was THE decisive swing state for both Kennedy and Nixon. It made me wish, just for a moment, I'd been born about 25 years sooner!

Six Degrees of Separation · 1 year ago

+1 for Speaking at Will's comments. What you provide here is a real public service. Better to let off steam here than to go postal over the state's doings...and the humor and personalities are second to none (usually).

Ultra50k · 1 year ago

Just a question for tomorrow....anybody else hearing that the Guv is not only going to go ahead with plans to shut down parks but that he also plans to close up to a dozen more than the original eleven?

Six Degrees of Separation · 1 year ago

Kane County, about 20% in-

Con-con is faring poorly, with less than 40% yes.

Village of Campton Hills Yes on dissolution is slightly ahead; an ugly issue with dug-in factions.

Foster is creaming the Milkman. McConnaughay has a comfortable lead for Co Board chair. Obama is comfortably ahead.

The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers P · 1 year ago

===he’s driving the Obamalac.===

Good gosh. Let's hope Lincoln Towing doesn't get a hold of that car.

Anonymous · 1 year ago

Georgia, Indiana, and Virginia are leaning toward McCain and have been all along.

Ultra50k · 1 year ago

Didn't vote for Obama or Durbin, but congrats to them none the less. Would have been nice to have some semblance of a contest in our state, and get to see the candidates come to our state for a change.

How is the con con going?

...and is the Obamalac still running?

Bookworm · 1 year ago

Sheesh Ultra 50, I hope not. I visited one of the parks slated for closure (Weldon Springs) on Saturday, and it was beautiful. (I second what Little E said about it a few days ago.)

I spent a good part of today in another (city) park and I can tell you, a park is one of the few places everyone can enjoy in good times and in bad, no matter how rich or poor they are, or whether their candidate wins or loses :)

Anonymous · 1 year ago

And McCain's got the popular vote, although by 1.

Six Degrees of Separation · 1 year ago

Looking around a few counties with 30% or so in, I am doubtful Con-con will break 40%, much less 60%.

Anonymous · 1 year ago

I wish Ohio would start cooperating. lol

He makes Ryan look like a Sain · 1 year ago

early returns here in Springpatch is not good for con-con which I kindof expected

Six Degrees of Separation · 1 year ago

Hmmm- Kirk is beating Seals by 12 points with 20% of the vote in. Halvorson and Foster are romping.

Cheswick · 1 year ago

State workers in Sangamon County just couldn't get past that pension issue to vote yes on Con-Con.

Six Degrees of Separation · 1 year ago

Cheswick, it's looking like that all over, though. I have not seen one county that is pro-con con yet.

Illinifan · 1 year ago

Vote supression at the Illini Union
http://www.news-gazette.com/news
/local/2008/11/04/state_tell
s_county_to_stop_requiring_mult
iple_ids_at_union

He makes Ryan look like a Sain · 1 year ago

Fox just projected Ohio for Obama. Its over McCain cannot come up with the numbers to win this now. Congrats President Obama.

shore · 1 year ago

Kirk looks like he beat Seals by about 8 or 9 points in lake county so if seals pulls it off it has to be the result of the obama vote in cook county.

doubtful · 1 year ago

Congrats, President Elect Barack Obama, from the Great State of Illinois!

Anonymous · 1 year ago

How can NM go blue with 3% reporting and McCain in the lead by 19 points?

Rich Miller · 1 year ago

Probably a combo of exit polls and results in key precincts.

Levois · 1 year ago

No to con-con! :-(

Anonymous · 1 year ago

Greenberg's doing better than I thought.

Vote Quimby! · 1 year ago

Wish I was in the Obamalac's jumper seat tonight...should be quite a party!

Anonymous · 1 year ago

OMG. Step away for a second, and look at what happens in IN and VA.

lucid brazzi · 1 year ago

Debbie is romping Ozinga. Not even close.

Anonymous · 1 year ago

Hindsight is 20/20. We probably should have had a McCainVette or something.

Rich Miller · 1 year ago

Lots of people are said to be in the Obamalac now. Somebody just called me who saw dad go by on Michigan Avenue. He's quite the spectacle, from what I hear. lol

Anonymous · 1 year ago

lol. Rich, aren't the kids supposed to be wild ones that parents are getting calls about? And where are you right now? lol

A Citizen · 1 year ago

It's almost 9:30 P.M. - do you know where your Dad is ???

Kevin Fanning · 1 year ago

===And where are you right now? lol===

In his election bunker, it's modeled after Rod's.

wordslinger · 1 year ago

Just from a stone cold political perspective, consider the Obama phenomenon for a momemt. There's never really been anything like it in presidential politics. The only thing close is the first William Jennings Bryan campaign, and he lost.

Anonymous · 1 year ago

We need photos tommorrow, Rich, to show us how one is to properly party on Election night. That's if we don't catch your Dad on all the channels tonight. Who knows? Maybe Drudge is picking the story up right now. He should.

Rich Miller · 1 year ago

===it’s modeled after Rod’s.===

Except no state cops here.

Yet.

Wumpus · 1 year ago

On my way to Meigs. If they have teh interwebz in Canada, I will post tomorrow.

DC · 1 year ago

your bunker has a great view though.
I'll bet your Dad is having a great time... how many women can he get in the Obamalac?

Rich Miller · 1 year ago

I think we're about to find out.

Arthur Andersen · 1 year ago

One more Obamalac post if you can stand it, Rich.

If they were to dump W's Caddy and use the Obamalac in the inaugural parade, USSS really wouldn't need the armor plating. Fleetwood Body built 'em strong back then. They'll just weld a big bubbletop on there and away they go.

I wonder what the "official" POTUS ride will be for Obama. Going green and Requirements for armor plating/secret gadgets/haul tail appear to be mutually exclusive. Based on past practice, it's probably already under construction.

wordslinger · 1 year ago

Maybe the cough syrup is kicking in, but did I just see Anderson Cooper on the CNN set talking to a HOLOGRAM named Will I Am from Chicago? He was talking to the dude like he was there. The hologram looked like the dudes from Star Wars when they communicate across the galaxy. But Anderson was talking to him like he was really there.

WSIL REPORT ON 59th Senate · 1 year ago

Local News

Last updated 9:53 pm CT November 04, 2008.


E-mail Story Print Story


Election Results Nov. 2008
54th DISTRICT STATE SENATE -- 167 of 263 precincts reporting (63%)
JONES [R] 36,922 71%
KIJONKA [D] 15,165 29%

59th DISTRICT STATE SENATE -- 221 of 242 precincts reporting (91%)
FORBY [D] 37,135 51%
BURZYNSKI [R] 35,707 49%

wordslinger · 1 year ago

Is McCain a classy guy or what? Outstanding.

Rich Miller · 1 year ago

Can't say the same for his crowd, however.

Vote Quimby! · 1 year ago

After Obama speaks, I'm going to reverse my DVR and hear what the McCain crowd was shouting...

Arthur Andersen · 1 year ago

It's not the drugs, word. They've had several talking holograms. Creepy, in AA's view.

McCain gave a graceful and uplifting address. A real American hero.

Prairie Sage · 1 year ago

Emil III race still close, 60% of precincts counted

Vote Quimby! · 1 year ago

Will Oprah introduce Obama?

Rich Miller · 1 year ago

===Emil III race still close===

It ain't close. huge blowout.

Vote Quimby! · 1 year ago

==It ain’t close. huge blowout.==
you talkin' bout the con-con?
just sayin'

Bookworm · 1 year ago

I saw Jesse Jackson Sr. weeping on TV... can't imagine what he must be thinking right now.

Prairie Sage · 1 year ago

Hey Rich, you gave us the Cheryl Axley (David Orr) link on the Jones III race -- no fair on the Cook County only site link. ;-)

Wickedred · 1 year ago

This was truly an amazing night to watch politically across the nation. I am in awe at being a part of this. I am glad that my son was able to see this. The best part - the race being called for Obama - my texting him that Obama won, and my son's response "Oh I know!" with a =) after it.

I love that I have been able to instill the need to participate in the political process in him at a young age, and I will support him, no matter what, in the future.

Democracy and hope are our future.

Locally, not a surprise. Republican county, only one Democrat won. But the Dem. headquarters was abuzz tonite.

Cubs Fan · 1 year ago

“This campaign was a unique opportunity for organizations and individuals from across the political spectrum to come together and provide real leadership.

Voters saw through the rhetoric and rejected opening up our state’s foundational document to wholesale re-write. We look forward to working with leaders of every political persuasion to solve the challenges facing Illinois.”

Well... Ms. Kaszak was at least 50% correct, but things went south in the second paragraph. However, I expect her to get to work first thing tomorrow morning in working with the legislature to begin the process of crafting sorely needed reforms.

Yeah, that'll happen... in 20 years!

A big congratulations to President-elect Obama!

Just Observing · 1 year ago

Kirk handidly defeated Seals.

Looks like Coulson just squeaked past Biss.

Frank Avila did far much better than any of the other Water Rec candidates -- which just struck me as odd that he would do so much better than the other Dems on the ticket.

Kenilworth voters overwhelmingly voted against placing the whole Village on the National Register.

Anita Alvarez did better than I thought -- I figured she would win, but thought Peraica might get about 10 points higher than he did.

Anonymous · 1 year ago

An amazing and obviously heartfelt speech by McCain. A true and great leader in every sense of the word.

While I've always known that he's a great man and a great hero, I think today was the first time that I realized just how strong his love is for our Country and its people.

47th Ward · 1 year ago

The Con-Con repudiation is, for me, the only dark cloud on an otherwise sunny election day. Ouch.

Losing is bad, losing by that huge of a margin is worse, but losing so badly and then learning that Nancy Kaszak was a spokesperson for the anti Con-Con side, really really hurts.

Anonymous · 1 year ago

Just a thought for future, and I'll admit I'm a bit cranky right now. It's generally difficult for anyone to take something affectionately referred to as a "con-con" seriously.

Joe · 1 year ago

Roskam and Seals buck Obama's ads and handidly defeat Seals.

Kirk will be our next GOV after Blago is indicted.

Lynn S · 1 year ago

Hey Rich, is there any way you can post pix of the Obamalac (in or out of Grant Park) on this site tonight or tomorrow, and possibly run them for a few days? It sounds like your dad is having a blast, and I gotta see this car!!!!

Any video footage yet of your dad and the Obamalac in Chicago?

Rich Miller · 1 year ago

He has his own blog

The Google is a useful tool.

Anonymous · 1 year ago

Kirk would be good.

Anonymous · 1 year ago

Mark Kirk, right?

Bookworm · 1 year ago

No matter how much we all complain about the Illinois culture of corruption and bad government on this blog, still, I can't help but take a little bit of pride in having a president-elect from our state. And he started it all right here in Springfield, folks...maybe, someday, the Old Capitol will be renowned just as much for its connection to Obama as for its connection to Lincoln.

Suburban Republican · 1 year ago

First, I salute Rich Miller on all the effort and hard work he puts into this blog. He probably will invite me to bite him though in a moment...

It has certainly been a difficult autumn if you are a Republican, and especially if you are both a Republican and a Cubs fan.

But, there is some solace in the fact that Rich has to watch three of his "favorites", Mark Kirk, Peter Roskam, and Aaron Schock, not only win, but win by much larger than expected margins.

Very few people, especially Rich saw those results coming.

So, we Republicans have to take solace in what we can, especially here in the 10th District, where Kirk's triumph (winning bigger than he did in 2006) has to be considered pretty amazing.

Sweet Jane · 1 year ago

I saw your dad in the Obamalac at Michigan and Roosevelt as I was walking over to Grant Park - I think one of my friends got a good picture of him. He looked like he was having a blast! :)

Frank Sobotka · 1 year ago

"The Obamalac" belongs in the eventual 'Barack Obama Presidential Library and Museum'

Obamalac · 1 year ago

OK Richard, I'm home. Your Mom waited up for me like she used to for you! About 6PM I decided to cruise Michigan Avenue to entertain the crowds in the endless line. With music blaring and a constant change in riders it was like a high school Homecoming Parade. A couple from France and their two daughters, a couple from Ireland, Others from New Zealand and a lot from Chicago! Pick 'em up near the Doral and go south for a ways. And then back. Hitting the horn with a bunch of screaming young folks energizing the crowd. They responded with cheers and laughter of "What a ride, allright, awesome, nuttin else like that" and much more. At one point about 10:30 the crowd swarmed in from both sides and stopped everything! Burnt out both horns tonight. There were a bunch of folks that approched the car with "Your Rich Miller's Daddy, aren't you!" There were probably a lot more but the Stones drowned out a lot of noise. More in the A.M. Dad

Ted Logan · 1 year ago

Party on dude! Sounds like an excellent adventure.

Wumpus · 1 year ago

Obamalac, cool. I didn't want Obama to win, but hopefuully he will be a good president.

I can't beleieve the carbon footprint you are leaving with that beast! Recycle that thing for an Obamius (Prius)

Dan S, a Voter and Cubs Fan · 1 year ago

I hope everyone is happy, they got what they wished for. Now the United States of America is controled by 1 party and a Chicago politician is the President. Did no one understand what has happened to Illinois with this senerio?

Boscobud · 1 year ago

Dan S.

You are right. I think everyone has there blind folds on during this election.

The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers P · 1 year ago

===“The Obamalac” belongs in the eventual ‘Barack Obama Presidential Library and Museum’===

Or the very least, a personal parking spot in the Presidential parking lot. Obamalac rocks.

School is fun · 1 year ago

The Great Depression started with the Dems in control.

wordslinger · 1 year ago

--The Great Depression started with the Dems in control.--

Profound knowledge of history and understanding of economics there. Who knew there were such simple answers to everything?

Look, a kitty!

Wumpus · 1 year ago

Am I right in saying that Obama won by taking Chicago politics national? This is not a slam, but the "Community Organizing", precinct walking and efficienty that we all despise/fear, but respect has helped him, along with timing, win the presidency? Axlerod is the man. Obama and DA understood things and how to win.