Gubernatorial Race

Oh boy, here we go again. The circus known as the gubernatorial race. I've already seen enough campaign adds on TV to keep me stocked for the next 100 years. Thus far, all the candidates for governor do not look too promising. Sure, they all say they are going to achieve a balanced budget, lower taxes, improve education, get tough on crime, help the environment, make health care affordable and stop corruption in Illinois. Yada yada yada. However, it’s doubtful any of these people will get any of that done.

From the Republicans: The state party in Illinois is weak, borderline chaos from what I can tell. Among their ranks is no one strong enough for an election win to take the governor's mansion. Topinka has the strongest and best known name out there from her many years in state government at the Treasurer's position. Of course, many years in Illinois state government doesn't quite help you as Illinois ranks towards the top in reputation for being a corrupt state. And the stories are out there that Topinka is/was not on the up and up as well as many other Illinois politicians. Oberweiss and Gidwitz are marketing themselves as "outsiders" of the political arena and are playing some hardball with Topinka in their current TV ads. While Oberweiss and Gidwitz may be successful businessmen, can they convert that to successful governors? I don't know a whole lot on Bill Brady other than he's a local state senator who appears to be pretty conservative. At least the Republicans didn't recruit Alan Keyes for the job.

Now the Democrats: There are two candidates on this side of the aisle. Rod Blagojevich and Edwin Eisendrath. To say that Blagojevich has been a disappointment is gigantic understatement. He came into office stating that he would govern as a reformer; all we got was politics as usual. Blago had the opportunity to show contrast between 26 years of Republican rule at the governor's mansion and Democratic control. All he has done was illustrate that more things change, the more they stay the same. In some respects, the state is in worse shape than it was 4 years ago. He has raised fees and taxes and help create a reputation that it is difficult to do business in Illinois. A number of investigations are going on into Blago's affairs while in office. He's tampered with pension funds to fill budget holes and then have the gall to claim he balanced the budget. And to top it off, refuses to live in Springfield as should the Illinois governor. Eisendrath, though I don't know much about, at least shows some balls within his own party. He too is fed up with Blago and is standing up to do something about it. It was recently reported that Eisendrath wanted to have a Democratic debate with Blago. However, Blago said "no;" he claimed he was too busy running the state to take part in a debate. Or is it because Blago is running scared; his popularity is low and fears Eisendrath could kick his ass. I think the voters of Illinois should have a chance to see a debate like this. If Blago is *so* busy running the state, how did he ever find time to do a stint on The Daily Show w/ Jon Stewart?

Most probably it will be Blagojevich and Topinka that will get the party nominations.

Common Sense of it All: What Illinois needs is a leader, not a politician. We need someone who can work with other people and other parties, not someone who works in a partisan manner. Illinois needs someone who really cares about their community and their state, not someone who is a self-serving idealist. Unfortunately, those who fit this bill don't want the job and Illinois has nothing but partisan politicians in which to choose. Do you think it's too late for Kinky Friedman to move to Illinois?