CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in That Toddlin’ county

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Tom DeLay's Mom — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 12:03:33 -0000

Bubs, you ought to lay-off of that Rich Gordon Kool-Aid you're drinking or, perhaps, take a look at past electoral and campaign finance data regarding the 42nd Ward.

After reading your little spat with YDD - I did just that and actually went back to take a look at results from the last 3 elections in the 42nd Ward. Lo and behold, it turns out that YDD is right and you, brace yourself, are wrong about Gordon's strength.

On average, Natarus' last 3 opponents have scored roughly 45% of the vote in the 42nd Ward - each candidate having run a relatively low-key campaign (judging from a review of D-2 filings available on the state board of elections website).

For anyone to suggest that candidates who have spent under $50,000 in an aldermanic are "well-known" or "popular" in a crowded media market like the downtown ward is either absolutely insane or incredibly politically naiive.

Gordon supporters and operatives should take a deep breath before annointing their candidate who, let's not forget, lost to Natarus by about the same margin that his predecessors lost by...not exactly "breaking from the pack" folks...certainly not a "contender"...

I don't know the Reilly guy - but have heard some good things about him thru political observers in Chicago...on the other hand, I have not heard anything positive about Mr. Gordon - in fact some former supporters claim that he has an ego the size of the Sears Tower and, if that's the case, he's no better than Crazy Old Natarus.

No matter what, one thing remains clear: Alderman Natarus has overstayed his welcome in the 42nd Ward and will be replaced this year.

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Thomas — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 07:45:13 -0000

Burt Natarus and Mike Wojcik are bizarre, surreal, unreal
I just don't even know if I can vote Dem anymore
I love many things about the city
but I may move out

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Snidely Whiplash — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 19:06:17 -0000

That hiring freeze (haha) is a joke (haha). That just goes to show you what John Stroger and his bureaucrats thought of the "authority" of the board of commissioners. Todd will not only keep all these unnecessary new hires (read, "loafers"), but will likely add more. He has a lot of people to reward after he wins. Prediction: They'll raise property taxes sky high and blame Bobbie Steele for it.

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Moshe — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 19:03:20 -0000

Burt is bizarre, what did he say about the money from Siegel? He is a liar
how does he win?

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Captain America — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 18:15:29 -0000

I attended the CCDP slatemaking session. Burt Natarus made a complete fool of himself during his diatribe about the postal service. He has become a walking, talking caricature of an alderman. It's amazing he keeps getting reelected.

He would be a great character for a Saturday night live or Second City skit.

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Bubs — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:36:10 -0000

YDD,

Do you ever engage your brain before you start spinning? Gordon gets 45% of the vote in 2003, but 95% of the ward has "never heard of him." Really.

Reilly moved in to run, calling five years an "eternity," while humorous, doesn't hide that fact. (As I recall, Richard Gordon was BORN in the 42nd Ward, so Mama's Boy Brendan has some catching up to do on that score.)

Reilly has no interest in the community, as he is running as a wannabe tool of the Machine. To Reilly, the 42nd is just a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

Plus, I didn't say Gordon has brought it in yet, I said he's lined it up. Burt Natarus is an extremely vindictive man, and folks in the Ward aren't stupid, so a lot of it won't show up until later. Read more carefully next time.

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Yellow Dog Democrat — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 13:44:13 -0000

Bubs -

Reilly's lived in the 42nd Ward for five years, which is an eternity for the Loop. His parents are longtime Gold Coast residents, and people respect the work he did for Paul Vallas.

The fact that Rich Gordon got 45% of the vote last time without spending any money just proves that 45% of the voters will vote for anyone rather than vote for Natarus. We'll see how much money Gordon has raised soon enough, but I'll bet 95% of the ward has never heard of him, and being the GOP Committeeman will not help him in that Ward.

When people are looking for an alternative to Burt Natarus, do you think they'll be looking for a Paul Vallas Guy or a George Bush Guy?

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Bubs — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 13:16:47 -0000

The Democratic leadership is very worried about the 42nd Ward Aldermanic election next year.

Burt is indeed losing it, and is widely disliked in his Ward. Brendan Reilly is a Johnny-come-lately carpetbagger wannabe who wouldn't know a local community organization if it bit him on the leg.

Richard Gordon, on the other hand, got 45% of the vote in 2003, on no money. He has his money lined up this time, he is well known in the community, he has support from community organizations after attending their meetings for eight years, and he is popular.

This race could be a real sleeper.

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Garp — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 12:31:43 -0000

Rich, Has someone posted how each committeemen voted?

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Just thought you would want to — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 12:17:20 -0000

Steele on the First Ballot

Re: That Toddlin’ county

NW burbs — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 11:55:38 -0000

If only Joan Brennan would show that much life during the 23 months of every election cycle when there isn't an "Election Day"... lemonade and swimming pools my elbow. Brennan is Cheryl Axley's "best friend" with how little she's going to do for Dan Kotoski.

High fives to Brennan's neighbors, Walton and Botterman for having the cajones to make their feelings (and those of their constituents) known loudly and publicly before the sham meeting.

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Yellow Dog Democrat — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 11:42:34 -0000

Burt Natarus doesn't like women. Burt Natarus doesn't like African-Americans. Burt Natarus doesn't like short people. Burt Natarus doesn't like the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. Burt Natarus doesn't like the Chicago Federation of Labor. And Burt Natarus doesn't like developers who show up at his office without a check made out to his campaign committee for $1,500.

What I love about the video of Burt Natarus railing against African Americans is how Mike Madigan calmly slips away as Natarus starts flapping his big yapper.

http://cbs2chicago.com/loca...

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Schiznitz — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 11:08:39 -0000

The Democrats are handing the Board Presidency to Peraica. There is a lot of "wishes" reflected above, but all the informal push polls by Zorn, NBC, and WLS tell a very different story.

Zorns blog had on 7-8% of Democrats voting for Stroger (1162 votes). Bobbie Steele quoted a WLS poll that stated 91% of 400 asked would not vote for Stroger.

While these polls are not scientific, and certainly contain push questions, they reflect that fact that less than 10% of the people really want Todd Stroger. Certainly, there may be another 20-30% willing to vote for Todd, but I don't see how Todd Stroger can win this.

This is the craziest thing I have ever seen. Dare I ask, can this get weirder?

Re: That Toddlin’ county

42nd Ward For Brendan Reilly — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 11:07:55 -0000

Thank you Burt.

Your continued obnoxious behavior is going to make Brendan Reilly's campaign a breeeezzzeee!

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Wumpus — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 11:06:42 -0000

Burt the Joke, Nut-arus's competency test is the electoral process. People like Skeet keep supporting him, we can only mock and put up with his insanity. I do not live in his ward.

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Burt The Joke — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 10:35:51 -0000

When, exactly, did Natarus have "it"? How about an age limit or some kind of competency test or something? Another leader we can all be proud of.

Re: That Toddlin’ county

DuPage-Moderate — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 10:10:29 -0000

This saga should win the "Best Political Joke" contest. What an embarassment.

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Bill — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 09:57:12 -0000

Jimbo,
There is a typo in your post. You must have meant RUNNING Cook County.

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Wumpus — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 09:42:32 -0000

I fully expect the NAACP to protest Nut-arus. I am thinking this will hurt suburban dems in all races that the GOP had a shot. There was no reformer, or even self proclaimed reformer in the race.

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Jimbo — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 09:24:02 -0000

This is your party at work democrats...either keep defending it and tell us everything is fine, or grow a pair and realize your party is ruining Cook Co.

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Woe is us — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 09:04:49 -0000

Watching WGN this a.m. and was stunned to see Todd, reading a prepared statement, mispronouncing HIS OWN last name. *sigh*

Re: That Toddlin’ county

the Other Anonymous — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 09:01:54 -0000

Ã¢â‚¬Å“Of all the places in the United States where Afro-Americans have an opportunity with benefits and with good pay to do a job, itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s the postal service."

Maybe Burt wasn't being racially insensitive -- instead, he was complaining about the hairstyle preferred by many Postal employees.

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Truthful James — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 08:52:13 -0000

The disorganization of the Cook Republicans and their lack of money, the living dead of the Chicago Republicans do not add up to a Tony victory march -- this time around.

The bigger question is -- will the County Board institute financial and management reforms to give the citizens a fair shake. Todd will be in such debt to the Lords of the party that I doubt it.

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Tom "Chicago First" Hynes — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 08:24:10 -0000

The problems with Peraica are all inside baseball.
He certainly is conservative, but George Dunne was pro-life, Sheriff Sheehan was pro-life.
News flash to all the liberals, even in so called liberal Chicago, all polls indicate that Blacks and Hispanics oppose gay marriage in bigger numbers and most people average white bars, barbers, after church, sports bars, barbecues, hair salons--they may not hate, but they make fun of the gay games. so don't demonize Peraica for stands that are not out of the mainstream

I don't see many lakefront voters who voted for Claypool voting for Todd little king Stroger, if they don't vote at all that is good for Peraica
Beavers is worth 1000 votes at a minimum for Peraica every time he opens his ignorant racist mouth, not 250 as the earlier poster notes

But yes, alas the demographics of the county are working against Peraica, he is still a long shot, but now a shot, but many voters are like cattle being led to the slaughter

There are serious debt, corruption, health care, forest preserve, and jail problems. The county is not well run. But nobody really cares it is about power and helping friends with the sick veneer of helping the poor.

Re: That Toddlin’ county

Bill — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 08:08:26 -0000

wndy
Shouldn't public officials support the person that they feel is the best possible candidate without regard for the person's ethnic background. Bringing up who John Stroger supported in past races is pretty counter-productive don't you think,especially since it is Todd that is running not John. Why would a credible challenger to Daley,if there is such a thing, have to be black?
It is not the "Stroger" camp who is playing the race card,it is you and it is not going to work anymore.
This is a new era in Cook County politics and a great opportunity for like minded individals to improve the quality of life for citizens. Save the 70's rhetoric for Danny's next campaign. It is a new day now. Out with the old and in with the new.
Bring it on!