Tag: il-02

Update on IL-02: Democrats starting up their internecine primary war.

Do you know what the most terrifying thing is about this Politico article (“Blacks fret free-for-all for Jesse Jackson Jr. seat*”)?  It’s the very last paragraph:

“There’s going to be a lot of people running no matter what,” [soon-to-be former Democratic Congresswoman Debbie] Halvorson said. “This is the chance of a lifetime. Open seats don’t come along very often.”

‘Open seats don’t come along very often.’ Tremble for the Republic, my friends.  Not because she’s wrong, because she’s not: they don’t. Continue reading Update on IL-02: Democrats starting up their internecine primary war.

I have a radical suggestion about Jesse Jackson, Jr.’s vacated IL-02 seat.

Now that he’s resigned it… how’s about trying to, maybe, I don’t know: win it?

Hold on, hear me out.  Let’s jump back for a second to 2009.  You might remember that in 2009 Rahm Emanuel resigned his House seat (IL-05) in order to bungle being White House Chief of Staff.  Well, that caused a special election to trigger, and at the time I took the position that hey, how’s about trying to, maybe, I don’t know: win it?  …And I was told, quietly but firmly, no.  Folks didn’t like the candidate, didn’t like the idea of spending the money, didn’t want to contest the seat.  And that’s fine; but here’s the thing.  The Democrat who won (Mike Quigley) the primary was cordially hated by the rest of the Illinois Combine, and the general election he beat Rosanna Pulido, 30.6K to 10.6K.  Two years later, Quigley’s opponent David Ratowitz got 38.9 K votes in the 2010 general election.  Didn’t matter then, because Quigley got 108.3K votes… but it shows that there were in fact enough potential Republican voters in the IL-05 to win a low-turnout special election, if sufficiently motivated. Continue reading I have a radical suggestion about Jesse Jackson, Jr.’s vacated IL-02 seat.

Other shoe drops on Jesse Jackson, Jr…

…and by ‘shoe’ I mean ‘plea deal:’

Just two days after being re-elected to Congress by his faithful 2nd CD constituents, sources close to the allegedly ill, struggling Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr now reveal to the Chicago Sun Times’ Michael Sneed that the congressman is pleading a deal with the feds.

I suppose that it’d be impolite for me to call the IL-02 voting public ‘idiots,’ so I won’t.  I do wonder what Democratic politician will be assigned to hold that land in fief now, though. Oh, well, I’m sure that it’ll be announced soon.

I mean, f’ing elections, how do they work?

Moe Lane

#rsrh Jesse Jackson, Jr (D, IL-02) under investigation… again.

It’s the ‘again’ that grates:

Federal prosecutors and FBI agents in Washington have launched a new criminal investigation of Illinois Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. involving alleged financial improprieties, including possible misuse of funds monitored by Congress, law enforcement sources tell NBC News.

The probe prompted lawyers for Jackson — who has been on a leave of absence from Congress since June for medical treatment — to meet with federal prosecutors this week in an attempt to persuade them not to bring charges against the congressman, sources said.

Says it all, huh?  Well, that and the sheer weary despair found in this headline: “Despite federal probe, mental illness, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. expected to be re-elected.”  Heck, the whole article at that link is not so much an article as it is a call for help.  Fortunately, there is actually an alternative: Brian Woodworth.  Because it’s becoming fairly clear that Jackson’s political career is over: why not have his replacement be chosen by, you know, an election or something?

Moe Lane

PS: We interviewed Brian a while back.

The Democrats will force Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr to resign.

The Washington Post is reporting the first whispers of resignation – couched as ‘advice’ from Rep. Jackson’s ‘friends’ – and that’s only going to get worse for the Congressman.

…And I’m torn on what to write next.  Do I really want to come up with a workable scenario where the Illinois Combine can legally switch out Rep. Jackson in time for the election?  They might do it!

(Via Instapundit)

Moe Lane

PS: Brian Woodworth for Congress.

 

#rsrh Do I feel bad about this?

I suppose I do, in an intellectual sort of way:

At [Debbie] Halvorson’s campaign headquarters, the mood was somber almost from the moment the polls closed. Halvorson smiled — her staff sulked — and she tried to stay positive for the TV cameras when she arrived at her election-night party in a downtown Homewood bar.

She said she was happy about the outcome, and happy for [Jesse] Jackson [Jr.], though he didn’t take her call when she tried to congratulate him.

I mean, I wouldn’t have taken Debbie Halvorson’s call, either – but then, I’m not a Democrat anymore.  Still, it’s a bit not-nice of the Congressman.  Guess I’m just a big softy that way – or just disappointed.  Halvorson would have been a lot easier to beat in that district.

Ach, well. Go Brian Woodworth!

Moe Lane