"Tacky" provides account of Galesburg meeting and launches some "inside news"
The blogger "Tacky" at his "Taking a Crack at it" blog gives this good account of the recent candidate nomination meeting held in Galesburg and also offers this purported bit of "inside news" sourced to "people close to Don Johnston".:
Some people close to Don Johnston, 17th District Chairman, are saying that he has convinced Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama to endorse Senator John Sullivan. They will be making their announcements “soon.”This bit of "news" posted yesterday is notable in that it directly contradicts the vehement assertions of at least one commenter here that Johnston and Gianulis are getting along so well these days that they're practically holding hands and skipping.
Johnston had promised Phil Hare that he would do his best to ensure Hare’s defeat.
These endorsements will be news to Rock Island County Chairman John Gianulis. Both Senators are indebted to Gianulis, so the Johnston people, it seems, are probably trying to scare Hare with this bit of inside news.
It should be noted that there is no way of knowing if any of it is true, though Tacky does seem to have a good track record so far.
Time will tell.
posted by The Inside Dope @ 5/16/2006
23 comments
23 Comments:
Tacky's writeup on the meeting in Galesburg is excellent and goes into much better detail than any of the print stories on the meeting.
Media coverage has been abysmal, probably out of fear of being cut out of the know. At least one reporter has been given the cold shoulder since asking very valid questions about the validity of Evans' "endorsement" letter.
As far as Tacky's report of possible endorsements, I cannot speak first hand. I can say that I had heard (from two separate camps) at least five days prior to Galesburg that Obama was asked to endorse Sullivan and there was even rumor that Obama was going to show up at the Galesburg meeting to do so (glad it wasn't--not the right forum).
Since the latter didn't happen, I now question the validity of what I was told. But as Dope says, Tacky has a good track record so far.
I'm hearing that Obama is staying a million miles from this primary battle, but that Durbin's staff is quietly trying to help Sullivan (way under the radar screen). I'm also hearing that some major labor leaders are calling people like Sen. DeMuzio to push Phil Hare.
This is just plain false. From an anon guy that is quoting an anon guy on an anon guys site. Is this what you people do make things up and see what sticks. If you would look into the issue you would know that Johnston may have wanted this but has since changed his tune. He has agreed to take the position as chief of staff for Hare so that he can max out his pension at a great payscale. This is what will happen. Johnston will not admit it but it will be what happens after the appointment. The machine works in mysterious ways. Wait to see how the strategic southern votes come in for Hare and the jobs that come to those pricinct committemen that do their allegiance to the machine.
I feel that taky is right. Obama and Durbin endorsement will push the vote for Sullivan over the top.
Congressman Hare has a 189 vote to spare.
Tacky and the "nut jobs" can say what ever they want, but no way Hare lose now. I don't care if Clause comes to town. , "DEAL" all done now.
Everyone big happy. People want Hare. Hare appointment big victory for rank and file who seek to replace Lane with Lane like man. What you see is what you and I get. If you don't like it get loss! Congressman Phil Hare is bom-bom big man!
Johnston wins gets chief job, Boland to work Quinn, and appointPaul Rumler to old house seat. Gianulis retires and former Sen. Denny Jacobs takes over Democrat Party. Maken Party more moderns.
Wow, you people really enjoy spreading garbage.
1. Phil Hare appoints Don Johnston as his Chief of Staff if elected to Congress.
- Are you kidding me? First and foremost, if Mr. Hare gets elected to Congress, he will not do so by promising positions to others. From what I hear however; other candidates in the run for this appointment are doing so as we speak for endorsements, but hell it is politics. To go out and say that Hare has promised Johnston his Chief of Staff is absurd because lets be honest, no one in their right mind will appoint that monkey to such a high ranking position. He can barely add 3 and 2 together.
2. Barack Obama will be endorsing John Sullivan.
- Wrong, and for three reasons. One, Obama just got done endorsing a criminal for State Treasurer, watching it unravel is enough for Barack to take a step back and make sure he doesn't make the wrong decision once again. Secondly, if I can recall Congressman Evans was one of the first to support Obama's run for U.S. Senator and he would be nuts to go out on a limb and support Sullivan over Hare. If he does decide to do however, then so be it. Finally, Obama's ideals are far more liberal than Sullivan's. Let be realistic here, John Sullivan will vote like a Republican. Obama won't endorse a man who does not match the democratic platform. Although, I was mistaken by Amy Stockwell when she went out and publicly supported Sullivan. Her reasoning is that we can't lose the seat to a republican, Sullivan is the most electable candidate the only one who can beat Zinga." I swear this came out of her mouth in Galesburg after the forum was over. That's her decision, but when comparing Zinga to Sullivan, it almost appears that Andrea is more liberal than good ole Johnny boy.
SleD... I think you should ammend that to "SOME of you people really enjoy spreading garbage", as that's certainly true, unfortunately.
Thanks for your sober debunking.
And as to Anon 15:48... Confucius say Charlie Chan doing political analysis sound dumb as Bush trying to sound presidential.
I agree the rumor of Obama and durbin endorsing Sullivan is a bad rumor to spread.
I have no inside knowlegde here TID, but I very much hope Obama and Durbin aren't going to endorse Sullivan. From what I've read of his stand on issues he's much too conservative. He's anti choice! How could O endorse him? I was so proud of Dick Durbin late last year, especially when Dick and Reid closed down the House to Republicans and Delay and Frist's heads almost exploded. But Durbin been making me mad with his support of Duckworth over Cegelis, and if he comes out in favor of Sullivan, I'm gonna have to go pay him a personal visit and set that man straight!
WASHINGTON - Capitol Hill is teeming with elected officials who wield power - or at least hope to convince the folks back home that they do.
But who really holds the power? A study released Tuesday came up with a few surprises.
Overall, Durbin ranked as the 22nd most powerful member of the Senate's 100 members in 2005, the year studied.
Retiring Rep. Lane Evans, D-Rock Island, who represents a part of Springfield, ranked 11th among the state's lawmakers, but 282nd overall in the House.
Anon above,
Interesting stuff... but I'd hope you'd at the very least let us know your source and who it is that's doing this ranking.
Without that, the info is kind of useless.
I'm surprised that Lane isn't down in the 300s at least. I'd be truly shocked if he has been anything other than a cypher or figurehead for the past several years.
But hey, if he can still be counted as 282 in a field of 345 (I think that's the number in the House), then why bother replacing him at all? Let's just keep his staff on and let them keep on doing what they've been doing and we can save the $165,000 we spend for a Congressman's salary.
Why bother, really?
Here's the Congressional rankings story----Iowa evidently has more power overall than Illinois!
When Nussle leaves this year we'll be closer to where we belong.
In class of 82, Evans ranks 14 out of 16.
His ranking is strictly due to his seniority. Not accomplishment.
His influence is rated as 0.
His legislative accomplishment 0.
It makes me wonder what kind of people we are when we keep electing a big, fat zero like Evans to Congress for over 20 years, then want to promote his sock puppet crony in order to give us 20 more years of the same.
Amazing.
How dare you talk this way about the best leader that the 17th district has ever seen. Lane was and is the best congressman in the country. Maybe he isn't on C-Span but he has done the most fabulous job for the people. I am glad that you are anon because I would let people know who is bad mouthing Lane Evans. You must be the most evil type of republican there is. Why dope do you let these republicans smear a sick man that has been a hero to the 17th district.
If Congressman Lane Evans was so bad how come you idiot Republicans couldn't beat him.
1. Why can't the Republicans beat Evan's...
TV Newscaster from Quincy.
TV Newscaster from Quincy
TV Newscaster from Quincy
Sporting goods salesman/ Galesburg.
TV Newscaster from Macomb.
TV Newscaster from Macomb.
We are too stupid to put up a candidate with a real job from RICO, that is why.
2. Please, please, please!!! I have asked this on countless blog sites - please, can anyone state a few FACTUAL issues (whereby a REASONABLE person would agree) that would lead one to say that 'Lane Evans has been a leader to the 17th District?"
We have lost manufacturing jobs.
We have lost over 55% of the jobs at the RI Arsenal (in 1984 - 11,700 jobs).
We have lagged in development.
We have lagged in job creation.
Goodness - the Rock River bridge was built with $ 0.00 of federal dollars!!!!
Thanks for the leadership Lane...
Durbin's staff did do some groundwork for Sullivan in the southern part of the district. (south of Sullivan's District)
Lane could have delivered a new bridge over the Mississippi for the Q.Cites by trading his no vote on NAFTA for a bridge. Clinton made the offer!
NAFTA passed anyway and we got squat.
Am I supposed to be thanking the heavens for that?
If they had a good candidate from Rock Island County Obama and Sullivan wouldn't have to be working for Sullivan. I have heard the two of them are doing silent work for Sullivan. Maybe he is the best man for the job.
Here we go again. Maybesomeday is on one of his misdirected tangents, calling a Democrat a Republican. Illinois Republicans spent millions of dollars to defeat John Sullivan. Illinois Republicans made John Sullivan their number one downstate target, much the same way Republicans made Lane Evans a top target. They see Sullivan as a threat in the future, so they want to challenge him. With his pro-labor views and his strong electability (he came in first against Zinga in the new Schwiebert poll), the state republicans would love to have him lose this congressional primary.
Post a Comment
<< Home