Making money on the guv

4 comments December 30th, 2008

OK, I don’t really mean it, but we need a new lottery game in Illinois. We can call it “bet on when the governor is going to do the next head-shaking thing.” I’m pretty sure we could make a bazillion bucks because this thing would go global.

I’d have won if I had chosen today at 2 p.m. That’s when Gov. Rod Blagojevich named Roland Burris to the vacant U.S. Senate seat. I don’t have a thing against Burris; I am sure he’s a fine, upstanding guy with normal political aspirations. But what was he thinking when he agreed to let Blago use him as the stooge for the governor’s latest antics?

I hear Burris really wants to be the senator, and, why not? The perks are great, the limelight warm and seductive, the pension terrific, and, if you keep your head down, you don’t have to work too hard. Just vote the way the rest of the Democrats are voting and you’ll get by for a couple of terms before retiring.

Burris might make a wonderful senator. But I have to question (a) the smarts, and (b) the sanity of anyone who would agree to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Blago these days.

My dad always said, “swim in blue water, you get blue.” Well, Burris chose to swim in Blago’s pool. No one’s going to be willing to reach in and save him now.

Anyone want to bet on the next Blago stunt?

I pulled a Republican ballot

11 comments December 30th, 2008

I fess up: I pulled a Republican ballot in the last primary. And, you thought I was a Democrat. Oh, that’s right, I pulled a Democratic ballot the time before.

I hate Illinois’ system of partisan primaries. Primaries ought to be open, just like the general election. I hate going to the primary polls and having to “declare.” Not because I want to be known as a Republican or Democrat, but because I prefer voting for the best candidate in a race. I don’t give diddly for the party badge.

So, on primary day, I am forced to decide which ballot to pull that will give my vote the greater chance of making a difference. I pulled the Republican ballot this last time because I was pretty sure Illinois would choose Obama not Clinton in the primary, and I wanted to cast my vote in the Republican primary for state’s attorney. That’s just not the way voters should have to choose.

Pulling that GOP ticket does entitle me, though, to an unintended perk: I can now attend the Winnebago County GOP caucus at 5 p.m., Jan. 13 at Flinn Middle School. Care to join me?