February 5th, 2008
Rochelle is the region’s most progressive community, with municipal electricity, forward-thinking economic development people and the courage to build its own railroad to attract Fortune 500 companies, bring the mighty Union Pacific to town with a $180 million intermodal hub.
But home rule was a bridge too far, and voters rejected a referendum requesting Home Rule powers, 56 to 44 percent. Judging from Rochelle’s success in recent years, voters probably figured city government wasn’t broke, so why fix it?
Can’t say I blame them.
February 5th, 2008
I think when Super Tuesday is all counted, Hillary Clinton will have bested Barack Obama in the number of states won. However, because Democrats apportion their delegates, the battle will continue into the remaining primaries. I suspect it may end up at the Democratic Convention in Denver. If the nominee is brokered by un-elected Super Delegates, who are old time party bosses and elected officials, democracy will be the loser.
The Republicans, because they feature winner-take-all primaries, have decided John McCain is their leading candidate with the momentum to win the nomination in St. Paul. The big question for McCain is, can he win back the party’s right-wing base? And what will the conservative radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Hugh Hewitt do now? If they continue to bash McCain, they risk alienating enough Republican voters from McCain to tip a close election to the Democrats.
