Thank you for that information.
You will have my vote. I am sick of politics as usual in Illinois. It is time for a change. I hold out no hope of a write in candidate winning, however I am ready to make a statement. I am certain that Blago will win, but I am sick of Illinois and it’s corruption and people’s acceptance of it. After all, it is the norm right? Sickening!
I was of the opinion that the state quarter ought to have featured a dollar sign with a hand grasping at it, a politician behind bars, and our motto “Where’s Mine?”
You can get some information on voting proceedures via the Illinois State Board of Elections and your county clerk or election board:
Yep, it was Royko’s view of what our state seal should be, an open hand out with a pinky ring on it and the motto, Ubi Est Mea on it.
Perhaps money isn’t being spent because it is a foregone conclusion how the election will turn out in certain areas. The money for the campaign would be wasted. After all, in many local races, the primary is the only real election.
A challenging situation for those in Chicago as the local papers (Sun Times and Trib) split, just about always picking opposites. And it really doesn’t seem to matter. They both picked W in 2004 and he lost IL by double digits.
I’d guess endorsements don’t help with the Presidential election, but I could be wrong. I figure they work with coroner and the like. I know people who vote for those smaller races by using the paper almost exclusively. But having two strong competing papers would throw a monkey in the wrench. I don’t live in a big city, though. That could make all the difference.
Well, traditionally, the Trib was the North Shore Republican rag and the Sun-Times was the South Side Democratic City News. So that plays into it, also. People patronized and beleived what they wanted to hear. In fact, a funny story was from this year’s meeting of the gubinitorial candidates with the Tribune’s editorial board. Governor Blagojevich told them they he really had no expectation of getting their endorsement, being a Democrat. The board noted that they had, indeed, endorsed a Democrat for Governor… in the 1940’s!
The city elections are non-partisan only in the past few years, more inorder to protect the incumbants than anything. You now have to get 50% of the vote to win out and if several candidates are in the 1st round (what used to be the primary), then the top two go to a runoff. In this way, the incumbant is almost assured of being in the top two and can go all out in trying to beat a runoff contender if they don’t get 50% initially. Previously, you could have had an upset candidate prevail in the primary if the waters got muddied with several people around. Plus a Republican then had a “second shot” at the Democratic nominee at General election… something they didn’t want to have to face occasionally, even if the Republican rarely won. Better to get that guy caught in the muddle with the rest of the challengers.
Not to mention several secondary journals which cater to communities and constiuencies of the metropolitan area.
When did Illinois last vote for a Republican pres? Does anyone happen to know?
Looks like 1988 for Bush. And every Presidential election before that dating back till you get to Johnson in 1964.
Newspapers should not endorse political candidates anyhow. That’s the problem with our mainstream press today. They are supposed to report the news and not take biased positions on issues like you see so many times.
I disagree. The press has ALWAYS had a perspective. And, traditionally, they have been much more honest and open about it. In fact, that is precisely why we have freedom of the press as part of our constitution. So let them endorse away. It’s merely up to the voters to decide whether they agree with the editorial viewpoint and biases of the journal.
I actually saw a campaign sign for somebody else for Governor whose name I didn’t recognize. I think it was planted in the grass at the corner of Fullerton and Logan or something, if anyone cares to go down and inspect it. Had a website address and everything. Don’t know that it was the Greeny, either.