Chicagoist: Baracktease

Killian

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 20:48:31 -0600

What are Democratic ideals? equality? freedom of speach? anti-slavery? anti-war? pro-science? pro-worker? pro-taxes? The only way to measure peoples leanings are through these 'elections' they hold every once in a while and in the last one there was a ***brush*brush*sweep*sweep*** blue up n down the state ticket. ahhem Boo- to the- Ya

Mr. Smith

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 23:31:55 -0600

Right. But that means the way they approach governmental affairs throughout most of the state is decidedly "red," which tells you more about the state overall than anything else. Just because there are more people in Chicago, doesn't mean that the majority of the state has Democratic ideals. Hell, Daley doesn't even exhibit Democratic ideals most of the time.

Killian

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 22:58:22 -0600

Illinois has not voted for a Republican president since 1988 when it only barely went to BUSH. (mainly because Dukakis was so unappealing)... The map may look mostly red because of a mysterious concept called population density. It's almost as comfusing as evolution but I'm sure the folks downstate will catch up.

nate

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 17:16:23 -0600

I really hope Obama will wait. He is in a unique position to make a real difference in the legislative process in the country, and I hope he'll take up that opportunity. If he shoots for the moon and falls short, it'll be a spectacular crash from which it'd be hard to recover. And call me crazy, but my prediction is that Hillary won't actually run. I lived in NY during her first election, and let me tell you - it was nasty and uncomfortably close while facing one of the more disgusting candidates I've seen from the Republicans. She will be absolutely torn apart in a national referendum and so far her candidacy is simply the wet dream of Chris Matthews and all the other beltway pundits. She's smarter than them, currently has a very powerful position in the senate, and enjoys the respect of her constituents. My bet is she'll keep it that way. Edwards will be really, really interesting. I voted for him in the 2004 primary as things were starting to gel around Kerry. He seems to be running a textbook ol'-fashioned liberal agenda, which we haven't seen played out for decades. Not sure it'll fly, but I can't wait to find out and sure wish him the best!

Mr. Smith

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:58:17 -0600

Kevin, you and I both know that red state/blue state is a myth. One need look no further than Illinois to see that just because a state went one way in an election, doesn't mean that the whole state's voting pattern is even. Illinois is a red state with a spot of blue, like a dress my grandmother once spilled ink upon.

Kevin

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:55:45 -0600

You would think those Red State folk would like Hillary, seeing as they aren't all that progressive. And neither is she!

RS

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:21:09 -0600

I actually like the idea of a Hillary/Obama ticket -- but will the people the red states go for that? They aren't known to be the most progressive of folks, and as the last two presidential elections have shown, they can effect the outcome.

Chuck

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 15:47:44 -0600

4point44: Clinton on any part of a presidential ticket in 2K8 will result in a loss for the Democratic Party. She's too polarizing a figure, much like the dipshit we currently have as President. Unfortunately, it seems as though a lot of older, institutional Democrats seem hellbent on ramming a Hillary candidacy down our throats. Her carpetbagging to New York to run for an open Senate seat could still be fresh in the minds of a lot of voters in the flyover states. I know it is in mine.

NSH

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 14:21:47 -0600

I loved Obama's quote while giving a speech in front of Mayor Kellogg in Harvey yesterday "If you want to make money, get a job. Don't run for office."

Rob

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 14:08:25 -0600

All I can say is, if you've read Obama's books then you know that they come from a writer who is suitable for the White House. And I happen to believe that he HAS done a lot of soul-searching. If you thinks he ought to run, let him run. The country is ready for something more than just "experience" when it comes to being president. As someone else put it, McCain has the experience of Vietnam and yet all his "wisdom" amounts to calling for escalation in Iraq! A person's character comes from more than just experience.

4point44

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 14:04:13 -0600

obama/clinton 2008 *or* clinton/obama 2008 ?

Susan

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:34:22 -0600

He wasn't in the Senate at the beginning of Iraq and so wont have to explain a "yay" vote like Hillary and Edwards. Rachael, I'm not trying to pick on you about spelling, but this cracked me up. "Yay! War! Woohoo!"

Michele

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:19:04 -0600

I am very much looking forward to his run for Presidency. I also think many of us ARE....

Michele

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:18:05 -0600

I am very much looking forward to his run for Presidency. I also think many of us ARE....

Kevin

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 12:54:01 -0600

I think the whole "no voting rcord" is such a non-issue. It's clear that if he runs, he'll run on what's going on in Congress, not on any record he might have. His will most likely be a candidacy of coalitions and unity among Democrats, something Hillary can't bring to the table, for sure. I like Edwards. A lot. I voted for him in the '04 primary, knowing that he didn't stand a chance, just because I liked his ideas so much. And 11% of the vote, after it's obvious that you aren't getting the nomination? People are ready for some good old fashioned class politics. As for letting his constitutents down, pretty much everyone I know that voted for him wants him to run for the White House, so it seems to me that he is just doing what his constitutents want. And the people that didn't vote for him? They won't be happy, no matter what he does.

TS

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 12:51:55 -0600

I think Todd Stroger should run for president. It would be great to vote for a man who had to work hard for everything he has achieved.

adfsh

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 12:43:07 -0600

I agree with Mike. Barak is letting his constituents down. I cannot believe that with all this going on (election pandering) he could in any way be focused on his constituency and their needs. We (the voting public) hired him to represent Illinois for the FULL 6-year term. I resent his using OUR time to do this. Yeah, it would totally suck if the President were a Chicagoan.

E!

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 12:31:43 -0600

Andy, I agree with Mike. Barak is letting his constituents down. I cannot believe that with all this going on (election pandering) he could in any way be focused on his constituency and their needs. We (the voting public) hired him to represent Illinois for the FULL 6-year term. I resent his using OUR time to do this. He may not "miss a vote", but he simply cannot represent us properly with this major distraction. Of course, this is Democratic Illinois, perhaps he has a son/daughter that can step in to finish his term...

Rachael

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 12:30:14 -0600

Howard Dean:2004::Barack Obama:2008 HAHAHAHAHA!! Inaccurate, but funny.

Steven Andrew Miller

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 12:19:06 -0600

Howard Dean:2004::Barack Obama:2008

Andy

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 12:10:48 -0600

Mike: exactly how do you think Barack is letting his constituents down? Has he missed any important votes in the Senate that have ramifications for Illinois? Not that I've heard. If the man wants to run for President and he thinks his run will be positive for the country, then he should do it. What's he got to lose?

Rachael

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 11:08:08 -0600

I am not in love with Barack the candidate, and I agree with 2012. But the voting record will be a problem if he is in the Senate for very long and right now he has one HUGE plus: He wasn't in the Senate at the beginning of Iraq and so wont have to explain a "yay" vote like Hillary and Edwards.

Mike

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 10:26:51 -0600

I know Barack wants to strike while the iron is hot, but does anyone else hope he decides to wait until at least 2012? I also realize that the longer you're in congress, the more your opponent has to use against you in terms of voting record, but it just feels like he's letting his constituents down by jumping right into the presidency.