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Re: Whitney trying again

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:20:14 -0000

@Lou Grant: I think a lot of proportional representation/electoral reform opponents like to purposefully confuse people by claiming that weâ€™ll have to change to the parliamentary system. See, we here in the U.S. CAN have some form of proportional representation without changing to the parliamentary system. We can still keep the presidential system and have some form of proportional representation (ex: Mexico). We can still have the three branches of government and separation of powers. The system of government (how the government is structured) is not the same as the voting system (how you elect the politicians)!

Re: Whitney trying again

wordslinger — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:01:44 -0000

--As a college republican at an east coast university in a very blue town we used to give a lot of money to the green party in 2000 and 2002 on campus to help them take away democrat votes and discourage dems--

Yeah, the East Coast is just crawling with GOP officeholders these days.

Re: Whitney trying again

Lou Grant — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:57:51 -0000

So many targets, so little time... Shore, I would submit that in the State of Illinois and especially in the City of Chicago, the GOP is a marginal party. Instead of working to grow your message, the tactics of the party have worked to destroy it. I think Democrats owe people like you a big THANK YOU.

Squideshi, I follow the Greens in Europe. The US Green Party is NOT the Green Party of Germany, Italy or Britain. I do not believe that the relative success of the party in a parliamentary system has any relevance in a society with an election system of plurality winners such as the US.

Further, political parties in Europe have a long history of working with other parties in governance. The US Greens' are, in general, made up of true believers who will not tolerate people who are different, and will not tolerate members who propose working with others. It is this intolerance of others, as much as anything, that dooms the US Greens.

This is an uncomfortable truth: If you want to change the system in this society you must join it. The Greens would be better advised to take over the struggling GOP than to continue this battle with windmills.

Re: Whitney trying again

colt 45 — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:37:33 -0000

Re: Whitney trying again

David Jenkins — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:32:24 -0000

Dear Bruiser,

Lisa Madigan decided to "stay put" as Attorney General because Joe Birkett had a straight shot at the job unopposed.

What do you think would happen to Daddy Madigan if we had an honest AG in Illinois who fought back against corruption?

Cordially,

David

Re: Whitney trying again

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:40:40 -0000

I think this one's going to be very odd. Many Voters will have their fill of bouncing back and forth between "dull" and "brutal" by the time the big day rolls around.

So...if they can get a bit more spark into Whitney this time around, keep the word and color Green out in front of some fairly regularly, he'll beat his last run by a few points.

Re: Whitney trying again

MrJM — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:38:59 -0000

If the Cubs can keep playing baseball, then I guess Whitney can keep running for governor.

This could be their year!

-- MrJM

Re: Whitney trying again

wordslinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:30:30 -0000

6 percent. I voted for him last time, but no Blago this time.

Re: Whitney trying again

bruiser — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:42:55 -0000

None of you are even close to being correct! Whitney is going to WIN the governor's race. He'll probably get 80-85% of the vote!!
No one can stop this political juggernaut!
Why do you think Lisa Madigan decided to stay put as attorney general?

Re: Whitney trying again

scoot — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:36:43 -0000

Less than 5%...more like 3%

He already had his 5 minutes of fame (if you'd call it that in 06').

Re: Whitney trying again

David Jenkins — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:54:18 -0000

Nâ€™ville and Publius,

You mentioned Brady and Dillard as your picks to make it to the General Election. Can I ask why? I'm a huge supporter of Adam Andrzejewski, so I'd like to know why he didn't make your lists? Is it because he's not currently a Senator or House member? I really don't think that those with Springfield experience are the best choice in this election, but that's just me. I think an outside candidate is necessary to successfully address the corruption in Illinois.

Re: Whitney trying again

Yellow Dog — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:19:36 -0000

I've got Whitney at 15 - 18%, depending on the match-up. 1) There is a strong anti-incumbent wind out there; 2) Whitney WILL get an earlier start this time, and has built a network that tells me 10% is his base; 3) Topinka got just shy of 40% last time, and despite the problems Democrats have, I don't think any Republican can break 42%.

Hynes - 45
Brady - 38
Whitney - 17

Hynes - 45
Dillard - 40
Whitney - 15

Quinn - 42
Brady - 40
Whitney - 18

Quinn - 42
Dillard - 42
Whitney - 16

Re: Whitney trying again

fromthelandoplenty — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:09:05 -0000

Can't wait to vote for Rich again!!
With Greens having established party status last time, they won't have to battle the typical dirty tricks thet fought through in '06!
GO RICH CO!!!!

Re: Whitney trying again

Stateworker — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:04:05 -0000

Rich... ANY update on paychecks to non-union state workers? We're hearing nothing but "come to work tomorrow."

Re: Whitney trying again

publius — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:40:32 -0000

hynes 47%

dillard 45%

whitney 7

Re: Whitney trying again

Squideshi — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:33:59 -0000

I have to agree that a great deal of resources that could have been used for outreach were wasted on fighting the Chicago machine in order to get onto the ballot in 2006; and as an established party, the party is virtually guaranteed to be able to get someone onto the ballot without such an effort this time around, so I think we'll see more outreach and a bigger campaign. I believe that will translate into a larger turnout.

In the last election cycle, the polls were showing that the more people became familiar with Whitney, the more they liked him, and just the opposite for Blagojevich and Topinka. The problem was that Whitney couldn't start until late in the campaign season (The Democrats and Republicans designed the state election law that way.) The trend showed that as time progressed, Whitney's numbers were rising and BOTH Blagojevich and Topinka's were falling. Whitney just ran out of time, which should not be a problem this time.

I do NOT, however, believe that media treatment will automatically be fair and equal for Whitney now that the Green Party is established. He will still have to fight to get included in debates and covered in stories. There will be a good deal of resources spent there that the Democrats and Republicans don't need to worry about.

Regarding Madigan's "election law hitmen" these types of goons have possibly done the Green Party one of the biggest favors that they could have--they have turned virtually every rank and file Green into an election law expert. Greens are familiar with just about every procedural tactic, and how to avoid it, because they've seen it all done. I think the Democratic Party will come to regret those lessons taught should any Green candidates decide to reciprocate; and trust me, there is an ongoing debate if they should do exactly that in a very systematic fashion.

Regarding established status, the race for Governor is critical because a party that gets 5% in that race becomes established statewide AND within every political subdivision therein. Any other statewide office just establishes you statewide but NOT within any subdivisions. The flip side of this coin is that even if the Green Party candidate for Governor does not get 5% (which I think is unlikely) the party still remains established in every subdivision in which they have subsequently run a candidate and gotten more than 5%. Let's not forget that the party ran a record number of candidates in Illinois during the last election cycle.

As far as from who Whitney will draw votes. I don't believe it will really be from either Democrats or Republicans in significant numbers--it will be from new voters, who will not otherwise vote, who aren't interested or involved in politics, and whom will become energized specifically by the Whitney campaign.

Last point: It's not like the Greens don't have demonstrated experience working in governing coalitions to solve state problems. Greens have been in power in several countries other than the United States, and all the party need do is point to those examples to prove their point.

Re: Whitney trying again

So. ILL — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:19:49 -0000

"The GOP will probably select someone better than Topinka"

Well they are off to a great start with what, 5, 6 candidates already declared and ready to bloody each other up and flush their campaign cash down the toilet. I will be surprised even with all the Democrat corruption, blunders, and ineptitude at running state government if a GOP candidate gets within 7 points in the General.

Whitney still gets 4%.

Re: Whitney trying again

Excessively Rabid — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:10:30 -0000

"Are you more or less disgusted than four years ago?" Whitney wins with 70% of the vote.

Re: Whitney trying again

state employee — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:09:18 -0000

Mr. Madigan makes me miss Blago (at least Blago was a comic and amusing character) and I am disgusted beyond belief with the Democratic party, which I used to be a part of.

Re: Whitney trying again

John Doe — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:03:50 -0000

He won't wind up with more than 5% of the vote at most. He will pick up a few independent voters at the expense of Quinn. I doubt if many Republicans will "go Green" unless they wind up with an unpalatable GOP candidate (which won't happen).

Re: Whitney trying again

SilverBack — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:02:02 -0000

I have not missed voting for over 42 years however I was thinking about not voting in the next election. I am not sure I could (not vote) but my disgust for both parties is strong. Perhaps the Green Party will allow me to vote and not be sick to my stomach.

Re: Whitney trying again

freddy — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:01:21 -0000

I am a Democrat and I voted for him last time because I could not bring myself to vote for Blago or Topinka. This time, I will have no problem voting for Quinn, Hynes or Kennedy.... He will be lucky to get 5%.

Re: Whitney trying again

state employee — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:53:36 -0000

Yay!!!!!He's got my vote and possible help campaigning, definitely against this inept and inhumane status quo!!!!!

Re: Whitney trying again

TwoOutOfThreeAintEnough — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:50:11 -0000

If there were a state-wide office called "Speaker of the House" he would have a shot as a third-party candidate. I don't think Quin is suffering the level of disgust Blago did in 2006, and the GOP will probably select someone better than Topinka. I guess 5% at the most.

Re: Whitney trying again

Mikey Virden, IL — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:50:08 -0000

GOP 42%
DEM 38%
Whitney 19%
Mickey Mouse 1%