Meet the new slate; same as the old slate
Ho hum.
The world keeps spinning and the power in Springfield, knowing far better what's best for us, helpfully steps in to save us from having to pick our own Democratic candidates democratically. For this we can only humbly show our thanks by working our asses off and donating 'til it hurts to get their hand-picked guys back in office.
As I stated a week or so ago, it's apparent that Rep. Mike Boland will again run to remain Rep. Mike Boland, likely without primary challenge. And he can safely tuck those acceptance speeches for State Treasurer or Senator into the bottom drawer and his visions of larger office into the recesses of his waking dreams.
And Sen. Mike Jacobs can stop tearing his pillow to shreds all night and thumping his chest all day at the prospect of a challenge from Boland (or anyone else), and can breath freely at the news that he gets to finally be elected Sen. Mike Jacobs while largely skipping that nasty hard part of politics, a campaign.
And Rep. Pat Verschoore will likely run unopposed in the primary to remain Rep. Pat Verschoore.
Nothing is new under the sun.
If there is any silver lining to this "arrangement", it is that ugliness of a truly titanic scale was averted by avoiding a Boland/Jacobs blood bath, and that all of these candidates are capable and haven't proved to be utter disasters to this point.
And anyone who is really elderly or easily confused won't have a problem in the voting booth. Those who've voted Jacobs or Boland or Verschoore in the past won't be startled by any new names. Hell, they might even recycle the voters guides from the last go 'round.
And of course, Democratic victories are always preferable to the alternative, even if there are no alternative Democrats allowed in the process.
I should note that it remains an unknown whether anyone will emerge to challenge any of these candidates in the primary, but I think one could safely say the chances are slim. Though I could be wrong.
posted by The Inside Dope @ 8/04/2005
25 comments
25 Comments:
I'd be willing to donate to Boland even though he's not my rep to run against Jacobs just to see a little new blood for a change.
Even though I am a good dem it sickens me the way the last couple years have gone with John Gianulis just doing whatever he is told by those who have power over him and that he is scared of "pissing off".
They all protect their own hides and the hell with what the voters may want.
WHOOPEE....
Exuse me while I go get my barf bag!
Why doesnt Steve Herring run against Jacobs? He is the weaker of the two candidates.
the reason Steve "red"Harrang won't run against Mikey "lite" Jacobs is the Republican's don't want to damage one of their own!
Mike Jacobs is more R than D at heart - business knows it and so do the Republican's -
you can damn well bet the R's don't run anyone against a sure R vote ( issues like tel-com -insurance - utilities etc!) in a D district!!!
why would they knock off one of their own!
A stealth campaign would only work if the media was not so republican around here print television and radio all big business interests only.
The candidate would be underfunded and an underdog against Jacobs - since the Rub and the Dems are afraid to cross Denny Jacobs, Mike is safe - so that's the sickening fix folks.
At least Boland's a Democrat. But look I have a message for the legislators that serve with Mike Jacobs dont pay him any respect!!
He sure hasn't earned it.
Boland is the only legislator around here with a spin!
Now that would have been entertainment. Why was this meeting kept secret? The future of the party is at stake!
Mike Jacobs is going to ruin us.
Tell us how you really feel Diehard!
But I agree with you. I dont know how people like Mike Jacobs and Pat Verschoore can look the people they represent in the eye.
No one really takes either of these clowns seriously do they?
You can hate the fix... but the fact remains that we still have a shot that these three will provide representation we can be mostly happy with.
Jacobs is still wearing a paper hat as far as being a Senator is concerned. He has every potential to become a good one, but it all depends on what choices he makes and who he chooses to climb in bed with, so to speak. The interests he's cozied up to aren't good so far, but perhaps he'll make some course adjustments in the future now that he has no opposition to fret about and isn't so frantic for cash.
Boland is a known quantity who has done a lot for the people of the district and the state. I'm not aware of any egregious positions he's taken that is too far from basic Democratic stances.
Verschoore is not flashy, but is certainly competent.
So... hate the fix, but let's wait to see what the future holds before making these guys out to be Moe, Larry, and Curly.
If you would only come outside we could call you the "Outside Dope"
I'd rather run against you. But I dont have 225,000 in the bank.
Ah contrair Usher. You are confused. No one has a problem with Boland. I don't. I have a problem with you getting to have a free ride courtesy of daddie and the leadership with your cush appointment.
With that said, someone needs to run against you. Since no Dem has the money or can get it because you put a D by your name (and don't deserve to) - it should then be a Republican. Oh yeah, Mike Jacobs will not have a credible Rub to run against him - because he is a Republican!!! Your votes will prove this to anyone who looks them up in your new "term" you were given - not elected to in January.
Usher - just wait, one of these days you will stumble and then your short career will come to an end. How about that? You may have to actually interview and compete for a wage? Now that is a new concept for you Usher - I mean Mike Jacobs.
Yes victory for one person. And once again the voters loose because they wont have a choice in who there next elected State Senator will be.
I dont know may no one gives a shit who there next State Senator will be.
Maybe its kind of like Mayor thats an office no one cares about. 12 years of Stan Leach is proof of that!
I have a question for you Headrusher. Haven't you ever wanted to work for something and get it on your own.
Maybe if you had actually worked for a living you could appriciate a hard day's work.
You should try it some time when your not being all important. It's quit invigerating!
Usher I saw - Sen Mike Jacobs at an event recently - he crashed it - uninvited how tacky.
People there who were not political asked who he was? People there Dems some from out of town were disgusted with him. He breezed in and breezed out blatently campaigning "desperate" for people to like him.
No one does. We get to have him shoved at us whether we like him or not...... please someone run against him - even a Republican - please......
Money does not buy everything Usher. Maybe someone has the guts to upset the cart and run against richly funded Jacobs.
Jacobs seems kinda worried these days.
It can't be easy getting dropped into a Senate seat, even if you think you're prepared.
And the fact remains that the only people young Jacobs has had contact with are the lobbyists and big $ guys left over from his Dad's terms, and these types were almost certainly the first in line to try to smooze him, stick $ in his pocket, tell him they love him, etc. They probably started working on him way before Denny even retired.
And in light of Mike having never run for anything in his life, of course he was pretty nervous about having one. So he and the people around him were likely fixated on raising as much money as possible in a fast and furious way.
So this only caused him to jump in bed even further with the money guys.
One can only hope that once he's installed once again as Senator, he might have the time to reflect and start easing away from his wealthy benefactors and start considering what's best for the middle class and working class people of his district. (But of course, the rich will tell him that the best thing for the middle and lower class is to make them ever more richer... let's just hope Jacobs is smart enough not to buy this "trickle down" crap.)
Jacobs has a chance to be a good state Senator. It's an incredible opportunity, now lets see if he rises to the position or simply becomes the boy of the highest bidder.
Guys like Joel are a dime a dozen. They get in as a Democrat and then act like a Republican.
But I appriccate you trying to get off the Mike Jacobs issue.
Nice smokescreen!
HA! Usher... you're always good for a laugh.
If your last paragraph is supposed to include your messiah Mike Jacobs, I'd suggest that being appointed to office doesn't technically qualify as "entering the fray", and while it may have taken courage, it was only because it's got to be scarier than hell to suddenly become state Senator without feeling like an utter fraud.
It takes a lot of stamina and work to try to learn the ins and outs of Springfield politics, and being thrown into the job was no doubt pretty damn daunting.
Of course, having a father who served so long and who has so many friends is about the best help anyone could ask for, but a father can only prop you up so far, there's still a lot of responsibility involved.
But Jacobs' experience had nothing whatsoever to do with the courage you suggest, namely the courage to formulate ideas and policies and to put yourself out for voters to judge your fitness for office.
And I'd say it's pretty evenly split as to which group is a dime a dozen, bloggers unhappy with and carping about politicians, or politicians spouting endless ridiculously overblown BS to try to justify their existence.
Courage is what's meant in JFK's book "Profiles in Courage". Maybe Jacobs should read it sometime.
Political courage isn't going along with the highest bidder. It isn't trying to kiss the ass of the already powerful. As a matter of fact, political courage is the willingness to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Political courage is the willingness to do the right thing for the most people, even if it might hurt your chances at re-election or dry up a funding source.
This abandonment of the populism that has been the hallmark of the Democratic party by using the spineless excuse of following the DNC example of moving right and buckling in to corporate interests is the opposite of courage. It's greed and cowardice and nothing any politician should brag about.
JCKDNLS69 said...
Envy...Envy...Envy - If only people weren't so judgmental about our local politicians. I think it would be best to talk about some real issues dope. Like how to draw new business to the area and bringing new jobs to the area. Honestly, This blog is nothing but a glorified speak out page.
and...
Maybe that is the real topic that needs to be addressed.... how do we all become better people by finding the good in the things we read, hear, and touch. Let's look at the positive insight into making our area marketable!
=======================
Hmmmmm.
First of all, yes, this is a glorified version of speak out. Is there something wrong with that? I myself am glad people are able to speak their mind here and wouldn't have it any other way. I don't always like or agree with them, but that's all part of debate.
You can bemoan the quality of some comments, but everyone's got a right to their opinion, so I'm not really sure what you'd prefer.
Secondly, I think you're a bit off the mark if you imagine that all critical comments about politicians are based on envy. That may come into play for certain commenters, but not for all.
As a matter of fact, I think things have gotten so bad in politics precisely because people have NOT been critical enough of those who serve.
Your suggestion that we all somehow limit ourselves to only the positive is neither practical or realistic in my opinion.
I personally don't consider the "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" theory to be very productive. Why in the world should we continue to give those in charge or the political process a blank check and a pass on criticism? If anything, I think there needs to be more heat applied, not less.
I don't want this site to become a JA/Chamber of Commerce boosterism site. I suppose the chamber and other econ development groups have their own sites. (though they're not "speak-out" type blogs, as no one can give their opinions on anything.)
But that said, I have nothing against discussing issues and proposals for growth, quality of life, and/or economic issues confronting our area.
I do post stories on those subjects as they appear in the press and agree that such things should be discussed. Fortunately, I'm not involved in any of the groups which concern themselves with such matters, so if you wish to have such issues discussed, I strongly encourage you to contact me via e-mail and either suggest a subject or point me to information on the issue, or, better yet, submit a post of your own which I'd be happy to put up on the site.
After you use the "glorified Speak-out" for your purposes, maybe your opinion will change.
Everyone has a right to express themselves here, so rather than bemoaning the fact that comments have been critical of local pols, why not participate yourself by providin some issues or information on things you feel would be more appropriate for discussion here?
I look forward to hearing from you by e-mail.
I should add to be perfectly candid, that I find the endless studies, commissions, panels, consultant studies, and other efforts to stimulate economic growth in the area to be massively dull and moreover, usually completely ineffective.
Most appear to be simply done for appearances.
But again, I'm more than open to any stories, views, suggestions, ideas, or anything to do with development issues. I'll gladly post on the issue if there's anything worth posting.
Congratulations to Senator Jacobs on your victory!
What'd he do? Dress himself?
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