McHenry County Blog

There must be a dam at the Illinois-Wisconsin border.

The water from Wisconsin’s boiling tea kettle didn’t spill over the state border last Saturday when the McHenry County Republican Party decided no candidate against Jack Franks was better than Tea Party activist Tonya Franklin.

I can’t help but note what Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady had to say about Wisconsin Scott Walker’s victory–the only Governor in U.S. history to survive a recall election:

“I enjoyed seeing all of the energy from Illinois Republicans over the past few weeks for Scott Walker and I know that energy will carry over to the Illinois Republican State Convention this weekend and to our elections this fall.

“I look forward to personally congratulating (Republican National Committee Chairman) Reince Priebus on Friday in Tinley Park for all his work in ensuring victory tonight.”

The abdication of the 63rd District seat to 7-time Mike Madigan supporter “Chainsaw Jack” Franks was three days before our state party leader’s praised that same energy.

Some may find some irony in the flat out rejection of the offer to take on a McHenry County GOP Establishment-predicted suicide run from a woman who had the energy to campaign in Wisconsin.

Not to mention for a month volunteering in Florida four years ago helping John McCain try to win the state on her own dime.

Ironically, McHenry County GOP Chairman seems more interested in not losing McHenry County to Barack Obama in 2012 as he did in 2008, than having a chance to beat Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks.  (From email discouraging Precinct Committeemen from attending the Special Meeting Saturday at which a crucial step could have been taken that could have led to a Republican opponent to Jack Franks being on the ballot: “We are committed to help elect our Congressmen, our State Senators and Representatives, our County Board candidates and most of all, electing a Republican President.“  Emphasis added.)

On the CNN fall election may last night while the analyst was debating on whether to change the color in Wisconsin from solid blue to pale blue, I noticed Illinois was the brightest of blues.

National commentators don’t share Tryon’s belief that Mitt Romney can carry Illinois this fall.

Carrying McHenry County will, at best, give bragging rights to local Republicans, while beating Jack Franks could make a difference in who controls the Illinois House.

A slim possibility, I will admit, but still a possibility, given what happened north of us.

Above the state line, Tea Party activists–even from Illinois–have been embraced by Republican leadership, including the Chairman of the National Republican Party Reince Priebus: “Thank God for the Tea Party.”

“We’re not in competition with the Conservative Movement. We’re just part of it,” Priebus said in an interview on Breitbart. “We need to have a party about addition and multiplication, not division and subtraction.”

Priebus, a Wisconsin resident, said,

“Courage is on the ballot in Wisconsin.

“We need more people to run for office and govern like they campaigned.”

Can’t help but wonder how he would react to the McHenry County Republican Party’s defeatist attitude.

And, arguably, the Party Leadership’s policy of, how did the National Chairman put it?

“Division and subtraction.”

Kool-Aid in the 63rd District better than Tea?

A perspective from the Left (“The Political Environment, Progressive reporting from Wisconsin and the region. Scott Walker Recall Updated Frequently.”) on the Wisconsin election points out:

“But Walker got to spend and benefit from $35-$50 million, and an advantage over Barrett by something like 7:1 this time, so where’s Walker’s growth? Yes, he won, but not in a landslide.”

We Ask America had the race at 54-44-4, the 4 being undecided, but warned that differential turnout was what the contest was all about.

I was listening to Milwaukee’s WTMJ coming home from a sleep apnea study this morning at Centegra’s Algonquin outpost and heard that no poll had predicted a Walker victory.

I guess, as with the mainstream media’s missing We Ask American’s poll on the Joe Walsh-Melissa Bean 2010 election, the commentator just didn’t look closely enough at this Illinois emerging source of information.

A McCormick Foundation analyst was interviewed.

Commenting on the effect the victory would have nationally, he said, “The political dynamic is certainly different.”

But, as the swim coaches say,

“You can win the race, if you’re not in the pool.”

And, no one in the McHenry County Republican Party leadership will be wearing this sweatshirt at this weekend’s GOP State Convention in Tinley Park:

A press release from the AAUW of Huntley:

Public is invited to Mystery Book Club’s “Royal Tea Social”

Enjoy a jolly good time with “posh” refreshments, a royal wedding slide show, and book-signing reception with  mystery writers Patricia Rockwell and Diane Morlan!

McHENRY COUNTY, IL – So you weren’t invited to the Royal Wedding? Don’t fret, luv! You can still have a smashing time and meet some brilliant people at the “posh”est party in town!

This Saturday, April 30, AAUW’s Women of Mystery Book Club will host a “Royal-Tea Social” from 3-5 p.m. at the Tarts and Truffles tearoom, 124 Cass St. on the Woodstock Square.

Refreshments will include fine European-style pastries prepared by Woodstock chef Debra Mindham, plus a selection of gourmet teas and coffee.

The public is invited to attend; admission is $8 for AAUW members or $10 for non-members.

Co-sponsored by the AAUW Huntley Area Branch, this “royal” event also includes a slide show of photos from Friday’s wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and a chance to meet not just one, but two real mystery writers, live and in-person!

Special guests will be novelist Patricia Rockwell, founder and owner of Cozy Cat Press, an independent publishing house based in Aurora, IL, and one of her writers, Diane Morlan, of Sycamore, IL, whose first novel, “Too Dead To Dance,” debuted in May, 2010. Both authors will be available to sign books and chat with “Royal Tea” guests.

Rockwell, author of the new “Patricia Barnes” mystery series, is a retired professor of communications who uses her background in human sound and acoustics to help create intricate mystery plots. Her first novel, “Sounds of Murder” (published in 2010) introduces amateur sleuth Pamela Barnes, a psychology professor who solves crimes using acoustic technology. In her latest mystery, “FM for Murder” (March, 2011), Dr. Barnes applies her special skills to reveal who killed a radio deejay while he was on the air.

Diane Morlan has loved books since she was in kindergarten, and recently fulfilled her lifelong passion for creative writing. A former psychotherapist and clinical social worker, she is now “semi-retired” and works part-time at the Kishwaukee College Library. Her first novel, “Too Dead To Dance,” features murder at small-town polka festival with lots of plot twists, quirky characters, and a crime-solving coffee vendor named Jennifer Penny.

The event also includes a short discussion of “Her Royal Spyness” by Rhys Bowen, which is this month’s Women of Mystery Book Club selection. Membership in the book club is open to all AAUW members.

AAUW (formerly the American Association of University Women) is a nationwide organization of college-educated women and men that works to advance equity, education, and opportunities for women and girls. Local branches meet monthly for networking, interesting programs, and community service projects. To learn more, visit www.aauw.org. For information about local branch activities, phone Diane Ayers, communications officer, at (847) 669-0848 or e-mail to huntleyaauw@gmail.com.