CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in Will they keep him or dump him?

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

anon — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:27:31 -0000

The Feds are in every office..Gov..Mayor NOT the COunty and Todd Stroger. The county was left with a deficet of 200 million dollars and NOT one other commisssioner offered a solutions. What were they to do? And I would like to see the comssioners who are against the hike to not take the spoils of the revenue

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

Arthur Andersen — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:00:59 -0000

Bill, I didn't realize you drank more than one flavor of Kool-Aid. You really know how to pick 'em, dude.

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

Rocket — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:36:26 -0000

Hynes has come a long way and would restore trust to a broken county system. He can raise money and is well liked countywide and the Hynes name still means something in Cook County. Also he plays well in the suburbs!

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

Anon — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:09:11 -0000

Just Home very interesting post I disagree with you on Hynes I saw him in the ill fated Senate primary and could not aggree with you more. He was completely dependent on his dad's union people who in the end could care less in most primaries.
However, ever since those kids he has aquired a personality. He gave the best speech last jan at his 2nd swearing in. Dont discount him he seems to be rolling in money also.

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

Phineas J. Whoopee — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:01:51 -0000

Yeh, like Houlihan is a real charmer. He is lucky if they let him keep his job.

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

Just Home — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:03:34 -0000

Hynes? Really? What really has he done in his career except be handed a job that the average voter does not even know exists. Also, he does not have the charm for a heated contest. Whether he is great or not, he comes off as a drip. Same deal with Quigley. Claypool will be in DC. Donna Dunnings will make a move for Assessor and Houlihan will run for Board President. Stroger will lose to Houlihan

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

Tired voter — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:57:14 -0000

As long as the voting process in Cook County is designed so that judges --OF WHICH I AM ONE -- can change your paper ballot vote at my will, there will not be an honest election.

Carol Marin is wrong: the more voters the better for covering up the misdeeds. Judges need a lot of hubbub in the polling place so their actions aren't noticed.

While the election officials are busy worrying about whether the signatures match on the paperwork --a 1980s problem-- the judges can reboot the scanner (opps, I didn't mean to hit that key). This means we have to rescan the ballots ourselves. Do we rescan the ones the voters used or do we alter them to ensure our guy wins. Or just use new ballots readied for the purpose.

The Board of Elections, in the City at least, has no real idea how many ballots they issue to each precinct. They require the judges to count them at the beginning of the day and at the end. I can assure you that even the honest judges don't really do it.

This story gets worse and it will take a lawsuit to force the election officials to make a change.

In the meantime, corrupt officials will spend a lot of time worrying about the signatures to keep the bogus issue alive.

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

Rocket — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:45:02 -0000

Dan Hynes for County Board President!! Who better to put the county's fiscal house in order than our esteemed comtroller. He is a perfect fit for that job. Then he can be home with his young family, instead Springfield.

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

Bill — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:58:07 -0000

TBONE is right. Todd has done a great job as president. The county is in much better shape now than it was when he took over. He will be president as long as he wants to be.

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

TBONE — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:31:20 -0000

everybody is jumping the gun. todd stroger is and will be a fine president. remember the 10.25 taxes don't all go to the county. the city and the state have the lions share. government has a duty to protect the citizens and in doing such prevent all hell breaking loose. if the couty health system fails where does everyone go. not everyone has insurance and those that do may loose it depending on the job if laid off. one extra dollar on every one hundred spend a small price to pay for the services if needed we receive.

i support president stroger for taking the hard line on this. he cut half a billion from last years budget and shored up a 200 plus million dollar budget this year.

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

Tre — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:47:45 -0000

What are Todd's pension benefits at this point? He has GA, City and County time. What if he takes Beaver's spot as a part-time Commissioner and take a job in the private sector with abond issuer?

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

He Gone — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:01:36 -0000

I think Tom Dart will stay at Sheriff, keep building his army, wait for Daley to retire, then run for Mayor. I don't think he'll go after Board Prez...the 19th ward doesn't want to lose that office.

If Obama wins, Claypool might be heading to D.C., Hynes might get his Senate seat, and I think that leaves Quigley as the "reform" candidate...even though he was one of the first people to support Stroger and even leant his chief of staff to Toddler's campaign. Suffredin is not a viable candidate. Maybe someone like Brendan Reilly could run for Cook Co. Board President. I think he is much more capable than Toddler, then again, so is the guy who asked me for my change this morning.

Things will start to get rolling once we know who the next POTUS is. It still is fun to speculate.

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

Captain America — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:52:31 -0000

It the "organization" is unwilling/unable to persuade Todd Stroger not to run for reelection based upon his high neagtives/dismal approval ratings, they could be handing the Presidnecy to a Democrat willing to run as an independent or a credible moderate Republican (not Peraica.

Although Stroger might be able ti prevail if there are more than two strong challengers in the Democratic primary, I just can't see him prevailing one-on-one agaisnt any candidate other than Peraica.

I really like they idea of Dan Hynes as Cook County Board Presdient,if his path to other higher offices is effectively blocked by other strong opponents. Dan Hynes deserves a political promotion from voters based upon his exemplary performance as a Constitutional Officer/public official and his aptitude to be a high level political/governmental executive. I'm certain he'll do a great job in higher political office.

It's quite possible that Obama will pluck some political contenders for high level appointments in his adminstration, thus clearing the way for others to achieve their dreams of political/electoral advancement. Who knows how it will all play out?

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

R.A. — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:47:21 -0000

I think dumping Stroger is a longshot. Too much potential racial baggage for the regulars to deal with if they throw Todd overboard. They'll probably just let Todd run and lose. Don't forget, Claypool is a Daleyite, too.

I assume Stroger's people are putting together a 40-percent strategy, i.e., making sure there is a crowded primary field and Todd squeaks by with just 40-percent of the vote (that's his electoral ceiling,) thanks to labor and "machine" support. Of course, he would still be vunerable to a credible GOP challenger in the Fall (notice, I said "credible" Peraica-ites.)

If regulars do dump him (or if Todd decides to step down,) watch for the party to cut a deal that would allow an African-American to assume another county post. For instance, they could back Tom Dart for prez and slate a black candidate to replace him as sheriff. But such a deal would require the Daleys or one of the big committeemen (Madigan, Burke, Mell, Berrios?) to
sit down and broker things. That seems unlikely, given the fact they all passed on brokering a deal for State's Atty last Fall.

Besides, the Cook Co. Brd. Prez gig ain't what it used to be. With employee and hospital costs ballooning and federal aid diminishing, the job isn't worth fighting for anymore.

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

VanillaMan — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:46:57 -0000

Cook County is one of Chicago's largest employers so it only shows conservatism to have installed the Toddler after Big John left us. Now that there is more of a plan in place, they no longer need him.

He will get nominal support from the key players, but will be used as a scapegoat by them as they try to figure out how to keep Chicago functioning on it's shrinking taxpayer base.

Toddler did his job and he will face whatever future the voters have decided. The other players will pretend to care as he is voted out.

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

Phineas J. Whoopee — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:43:14 -0000

I would think someone like Berrios or another minority should get the Board Presidency rather than Hynes. Especially the way Houlihan and others 19th warders tried to torpedo the party last election.

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

irishpirate — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:42:43 -0000

Barring some scenario with 4 or more candidates splitting the vote I can't see any realistic chance that Todd Stroger gets reelected.

Even then he might lose the general election. Crazy Peraica strikes me as better than Stroger. At least he would have a county board that opposed him. Less would get wasted that way.

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

reasonable 1 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:36:10 -0000

I can see all of the negative Stroger mailers now, Jesse Jackson Sr. would get more votes after those go out!

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

anon — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:35:08 -0000

With all this talk about Todd being dumped, a Dan Hynes county board president candidacy seems more and more likely. The county needs his fiscal conversativism to clean up the waste, fraud, and abuse. Dan has proven himself to be an honest public servant. His skills are being wasted in the comptroller's office. He should definately be considering a run for county board president.

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

Dr. Skeeter — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:30:05 -0000

By the way -- did anyone ever think they would long for the days when Richard Phelan ran things?

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

Dr. Skeeter — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:29:26 -0000

It might not matter.
Forrest Claypool is already sending out vague "mark the date" e-mails about the primary.

Even with Daley and Madigan behind Todd, I still don't see Todd defeating Claypool.

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

Phineas J. Whoopee — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:24:52 -0000

A Bill Daley candidacy would open the door for a independant like Quinn to have a shot. LIsa Madigan would shut that door.

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

irishpirate — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:19:45 -0000

Anon,

I thought it out. The true "Hog with the Big Balls" in democratic politics in this state is Obama. If he becomes President who will he support for Governor? L Madigan? I don't think so.

As for downstaters electing Blago if Burris had not been in the race it would have been Governor Vallas. Which is too bad for everyone in this state. Another decent guy.

Thanks downstaters we owe Blago to your votes. Thanks, I really mean that. Really I do. I guess his Elvis like zen and haircut impressed many of you.

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

anon — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:15:51 -0000

Pirate, maybe you should ask Blagojevich how much downstate voters matter in a Dem primary. Did you even think this one out?

Re: Will they keep him or dump him?

Levois — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:11:47 -0000

LOL! Irish Pirate. I look forward to this race however it looks. I suppose four years is long enough to allow another Stroger to run things.