The Chicago Tribune has been warned for about two weeks that its paper was going to get smaller.
Saturday it did.
One Tribune employees surmised the paper finally ran out of wider paper.
The new, smaller Chicago Tribune placed on top of Saturday's Chicago Sun-Times.
Look at what happened when I laid the Tribune on top of the Chicago Sun-Times.
I’m told no words were lost because of narrower margins.
I don’t believe this is the first time the Tribune has been downsized.
The unions decided to keep their benefits. That was more important than letting the commuters ride the CTA.
The grief of Scott Lee Cohen's 11-year old son at his father's fall from grace was more important to the Chicago Sun-Times than the "doomsday" for CTA riders trumpeted on page 5.
And the personal grief of Democratic Party Lieutenant Governor Scott Lee Cohen’s son was more important that the doomsday for CTA strap holders who read the Sun-Times.
There was a CTA bailout in the spinrg of 2008. It probably cost State Senator Kirk Dillard the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
You remember.
The tripling of our RTA sales tax the week before the Crystal Lake City Council decided to play pile on by hiking its city sales tax by 75%.
Dillard voted for it and Andy McKenna blasted away on radio, TV and in direct mail about Kirk Dillard having voted for a regional states tax as evidence that he was not rock solid on opposing an income tax hike.
That doomsday was on the front page of the Chicago Tribune right before the vote.
But, today, another so-called “doomsday,” the Chicago Tribune and the Sun-Times featured Democratic Party Lt. Gov. nominee Scott Lee Cohen announcing he will not accept the nomination. Cohen, by the way, carried the Democratic Party primary in McHenry County.
Take a look:
40% of McHenry County Democrats voted for Scott Lee Cohen for lieutenant governor.
State Senator Terry Link, chairman of the turnaround Democratic Party in Lake County, came to Woodstock to ask for support of McHenry County Democrats, but that doesn’t seem to have done him much good, as he placed fourth behind State Representatives Art Turner (Chicago) and Mike Boland (East Moline).
Making a pitch to the Young Democrats of McHenry County was Thomas Castillo.
= = = = =
Turned over the Tribune that was delivered to my driveway and discovered it did have something about the CTA cuts…below the fold. The snippet directing people to pages 6-8 had a photo of a family who had to wait 30 minutes for a bus while on the way to a party.
And, inside–wouldn’t you know it?–the word “Doomsday” turns up in a headline:
If you looked at the front page of the Chicago Tribune Sunday, you saw five candidates on top of the page.
They are ones that the Tribune’s poll found leading in both the Democratic and Republican Party primaries.
It was Pat Quinn and Dan Hynes for the Democrats. In that race, the Tribune endorsed no one.
In the GOP contest, the heads of Andy McKenna, Jim Ryan and Kirk Dillard appear. The Tribune has endorsed McKenna.
Maybe the supporters of a GOP candidate not in the top three (and who found less than 10% support in the Tribune poll) can surpass the three front-runners.
But, I don’t think it will happen.
If my analysis is correct, people who want to play a role in the decision-making process regarding who the Republicans put up in November have to select among McKenna, Ryan and Dillard.
Having run against Ryan (and Rod Blagojevich) as the Libertarian Party candidate for governor in 2002, I have seen him cozy up to Blagojevich to make sure I was not allowed to be any of the debates.
(If you are interested in the details, here they are. The Illinois League of Women Voters had sponsored debates for each statewide race for decades. in 2002, the League said everyone would be include who received at least 5% in an independent poll. The Daily Southtown, a newspaper, showed me slightly above 5% prior to the League’s deadline. Ryan and Blagojevich decided not to participate in that debate. For that reason, I know that Ryan is capable of cutting deals with Democrats when it is in his personal self-interest.)
Then, there is Stuart Levin, Ryan’s law school study partner, long-time supporter and largest lifetime contributor. To say that that relationship is a problem strikes me as something of an understatement.
It’s not that I think Jim Ryan is dishonest. It’s not that I think he knew his friend was a crook.
It’s that I know how large contributors often get rewarded.
If Levine had asked Governor Jim Ryan to appoint him to the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, I think Ryan would have appointed him. (Levine was involved in the licensing scandal involving the Mercy Health System hospital application in Crystal Lake.)
If Levine had asked Governor Jim Ryan to appoint him to the Downstate Teachers’ Retirement System board, I think Ryan would have appointed him.
After all, Levine contributed over $800,000 over Ryan’s career and he trusted Levine.
Therein is the problem. Levine would have been right where he was when he committed felonious acts during the Blagojevich administration.
So, here’s the question I ask of Jim Ryan supporters:
If Jim Ryan had been elected in 2002, how much less corrupt would his administration have been than Rod Blagojevich’s?
Certainly somewhat less corrupt. As I said before, no one thinks Jim Ryan is a dishonest man.
But his level of discernment about the motives of this man he had known all of his adult live was subpar, to put it as mildly as possible.
And, that doesn’t get into substantive issues like gun control. Ryan would never win the support of fans of the movie “Red Dawn.” I know. He wouldn’t appear on the DeKalb radio station in a forum about gun control when he learned I was in the studio.
That leaves two candidates:
I can enthusiastically support whichever one wins the primary.
However, Dillard has one vote that is just horrible, in my opinion.
It is his vote to triple suburban collar county RTA sales taxes.
To solve DuPage County budget problem, DuPage County Board President Bob Schillerstrom and State’s Attorney Joe Birkett successfully prevailed upon Dillard and two other DuPage County state senators to vote for what National Taxpayers United of Illinois’ Jim Tobin calls the “CTA bailout.”
Kirk Dillard
It was that, but it was also a bailout of DuPage County because, contrary to the first suburban “bribe” plan–allowing the collar county boards to spend one-quarter of one percent of the three-quarters of one percentage point increase on roads–after the DuPage County officials got involved, it could be spent on transportation or law enforcement. DuPage County had a referendum on the ballot at the time to raise the sales tax of law enforcement purposes, but, hey, if you can get your state senators to take the heat, why bother the voters.
Not only did Dillard’s vote raise our taxes, it rendered asunder the suburban bipartisan coalition on the Regional Transportation Authority put together in 1974. I can only remember a couple suburban legislators who voted for RTA who got re-elected. (Both the Republican Senate and House bill sponsors were defeated.) I guess I take that a bit personally.
Other than that, I find his and McKenna’s positions fairly similar, except that Dillard has not taken a no tax increase pledge and McKenna has. (I have to admit that having the Illinois Education Association, surely an income tax hike organization, endorse Dillard raises my eyebrows.)
Andy McKenna
One more thing about McKenna. At the GOP convention in Decatur, he heatedly criticized DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom, who just withdrew his name from consideration as a candidate for governor (but who will still be on the ballot) about his lobbying DuPage County state senators to triple the RTA sales tax.
Only State Senators Carol Pankau (now a candidate for DuPage County Board President) and Randy Hultgren (now running for Congress in Kane County and more) voted against the 300% increase in the RTA sales tax.
How hot was the criticism?
Most of the DuPage County delegation walked off the convention floor.
In addition, taking on Thompson’s continuing show of support of incarcerated former Republican Governor George Ryan, McKenna said,
“It disappoints me with a former governor lobbies the president to pardon a former governor.”
So, which of the top three are you leaning toward?
The biggest news in Illinois has endorsed Dirk Beveridge for Congress in the 8th Congressional District, which Melissa Bean now represents. The Beveridge press release follows:
Republican Candidate for Illinois’ 8th Congressional Seat
Builds Electability Profile for Battle
Against Vulnerable Democrat Incumbent, Melissa Bean
Barrington, Ill. – Today, the Dirk Beveridge for Congress campaign earned the Chicago Tribune’s Editorial Board endorsement.
“We are ready to take on Melissa Bean and the ‘Democratic machine’ in November,” said Dirk Beveridge, Republican candidate for the 8th Congressional Seat. “An endorsement of this stature will take us far in our pursuit of the congressional seat on behalf of hard-working, conservative Americans in our district.” In their endorsement, printed January 19th, the Chicago Tribune said:
“The best is Barrington business owner Dirk Beveridge.”
The Chicago Tribune stated “Congress needs more people who understand what it takes to put people to work and how government puts up roadblocks to employment.” Beveridge’s proven leadership, integrity, and initiative are among the characteristics separating his candidacy.
The Chicago Tribune endorsement is on the heels of last week’s Pioneer Press Newspaper endorsement of Dirk Beveridge:
We find Beveridge to be the best at representing the views of all members of the party…Beveridge will do the best job of attracting voters that Republicans need to win in November.
Dirk was also endorsed last month by the Cuba Township Republican Committee and was chosen as a “preferred candidate” by the Schaumburg Township Republican Organization.
“Following intensive interviews and presentations from all Republican candidates, Dirk Beveridge rose to the top for his smart, commonsense stand on re-building the American dream,” announced Tom Gooch, Chairman, Cuba Township Republican Committee. “In addition to his priority position on fiscal responsibility and limited government, Cuba Township republicans recognize Beveridge as a strong candidate with an organization in place to beat the Democrat incumbent, Melissa Bean.”
Dirk Beveridge is a common sense conservative dedicated to returning the U.S. economy to hard-working Americans, restoring the American Dream by cutting reckless spending and political earmarks, “Big Government” intrusion and restoring America to a culture of independence, not dependence on Government entitlements.
Just two weeks ago, the Beveridge Campaign announced endorsements from a wide variety of industry leaders and entrepreneurs: “Dirk understands business issues and job creation,” explains Ron Bullock, Chairman and Owner, Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. and 2009 Chair, Illinois Manufacturers Association. “Our current Representative doesn’t, and we can change that. Dirk Beveridge will represent the 8th District with common-sense conservative values.”
“I am convinced that Dirk Beveridge can beat Melissa Bean and has what it takes to get the job done right in Washington,” explained Andrew Berlin, Chairman and CEO, Berlin Packaging and recipient, Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame and a “Job Creators Coalition endorser.” “Dirk is a proven leader; he knows how to be effective and how to make a real difference. I know when he is in Washington, he will act on his convictions and a strong moral compass to restore our American dream.”
Dirk Beveridge (48), of Barrington, is the owner of a small business who helps large national organizations grow and expand. Dirk is known as a private sector champion and a valued community problem solver for his leadership of ‘We Do Care,’ a six-year-old nonprofit organization that supports, thanks and celebrates veterans, soldiers and their families.
The only candidates that I have seen campaigning for the 2nd Appellate Court were endorsed today by the Chicago Tribune.
Mary Schostok, who held a fund raiser in Crystal Lake Thursday night, and Ann Jorgensen, who was Schostok’s “special guest” at the event, were given the nod by the leading paper in Illinois.
Jorgensen was even mentioned as a possibility to succeed Bob Thomas on the Illinois Supreme Court.
And, the endorsement came complete with color photographs. That doesn’t happen that often.
Meanwhile, Jorgensen opponent Kenneth Moy mailed out an 8½ by 11 inch post card this past week, which you see below. Click to enlarge any image.
Running a very low key campaign against Schostok is McHenry attorney Donna Kelly. I am told she is a very talented lawyer with a resume that portends future judicial campaigns likely to have more success than this one.
As I mentioned earlier reporting on the Chicago Sun-Times endorsement of Kirk Dillard, Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy McKenna was endorsed by the Chicago Tribune on Sunday. Strangely, the endorsement appears online on Friday.
On the same editorial page, was a non-endorsement for the two candidate for the Democratic Party nomination. The piece is mainly a lament for Pat Quinn’s having not lived up to expectations raised by a lifetime of attacking the establishment.
Dan Hynes disappointed the editorial board for not being willing to reduce pension benefits for FUTURE employees.
Go figure, with the pension debt facing taxpayers.
(And, of course, I have a continuing interest in my pension to be paid. Again, I thank taxpayers for the opportunity to serve them as state representative fo sixteen years and county treasurer for four.)
Just in case you’re interested, the Chicago Sun-Times endorsed appointed-Governor Pat Quinn in the Democratic Party primary and Kirk Dillard in the GOP election.
Sunday, the Chicago Tribune is endorsing Andy McKenna.
Click to enlarge any image.
Because of severe computer problems with my new Hewlett-Packard computer, I missed the 525th day anniversary of Mayor Aaron Shepley’s and his city council’s (sans Jeff Thorsen) 75% hike of the Crystal Lake city sales tax’s having taken effect.
It was July 1st a year and a half ago, that the cost of shopping in Crystal Lake went up.
But, you know how government is.
If there’s not enough money, don’t act like a family or a business.
Just raise taxes.
And that’s what the Crystal Lake City Council did.
The Cook County sales tax hike went into effect the same day and the Chicago Tribune has been kind enough to keep reminding its readers of that fact.
The same time that paper has been running a campaign to eliminate the Cook County sales tax hike.
And, the Tribune has a half-off stamp on its editorial page reminder. It has had some success in rolling back the tax.
Not so, the paper of record in McHenry County. Apparently a 75% sales tax hike in Crystal Lake, where the Northwest Herald is located, is A-OK.
It’s so OK, in fact, that the NW Herald never ran a story about the tax’s going up that July 1st.
Oh, well. That’s why it’s good to have more than one source of news.
It embarked on a campaign to convince people that politicians are rats.
I guess it would be difficult for politicians to sink lower in public perception, but the Sunday Chicago Tribune signaled its intention to blacken their image.
A rat is the Tribune’s new symbol for the political subspecies of human being (click to enlarge).
“SO,
CAN I
COUNT ON
YOUR VOTE
FEBRUARY 2?”
says the rat hanging from a mouse trap by its tail to the Illinois voter with other hand in balled fist.
The Tribune promises four similarly-themed editorials before it begins its endorsements.
Somehow I doubt the campaign will be enough to counteract the negative, I-don’t-want-to-be-involved-in-this-election reaction to negative television ads.
As the smallest of Chicago’s collar counties, I guess we McHenry Countians should be used to being left out.
When the RTA referendum was taking in place, for instance, I had a lot of radio debates with proponents, even a pre-Speaker Mike Madigan one on WBBM and one with Milt Rosenberg with Gene Schlickman on WGN. I tried, but couldn’t get any other state legislator to do them. Most of the debates were broadcast at really weird times of day.
The last one was recorded the Friday before the 1974 primary election. I was debating George Ranney, whose name still appears on “good government” mastheads and was quoted on issues like campaign finance reform most recently.
After the debate, George and I were standing waiting for the elevator in the ornate older high rise where the small station was located.
“If we had know you people in McHenry County were going to put up such a fight, we would have left you out,” he said.
“Now you tell me,” I replied.
Little casino next to Wisconsin's Happy Trails Restaurant
And left out was what happened to McHenry County in today’s Chicago Tribune editorial entitled,
We got left out of the list of governments that had opted out of video slot machines.
The first commenter made the correction:
As reported by the Tribune itself on December 6th, the McHenry County Board voted to ban video gambling by a vote of 13-10 at its meeting on December 1st.
norski (12/14/2009, 9:16 AM )
“norski?”
The Norge Ski Jump is what’s on top of this blog.
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