Time for the INSIDE DOPE
YEAR in REVIEW AWARDS!!!
Yes, Dopes and Dopettes, it's time to sharpen your pencils and your wits and help decide who wins in the Best and Worst of 2006 competition here at TID.
And the Categories are:
- Best Political play of the year
- Worst political play of the year
- Most outrageous and transparent "spin" of the year
- Least deserved, most unfair/ridiculous bum rap/negative smear
- Fairest rap/negative press
- Most improved politician
- Most effective politician
- Least effective politician
- Political operative/staffer/worker of the year
- Most important regional or local issue
- Most trumped up regional or local issue
- The "Most in love with their own hype" award
- Most invisible elected official
- Biggest political story of the year
- And finally, the coveted
Inside Dope Political Player of 2006 for the person, event, or thing which has had the most influence on the local political scene for better or worse.
Feel free to think up further categories I've left out. Send me an email.
And remember, winners or nominees can be actual people or groups or a phenomena or thing, much like Time Magazine's Man of the Year.
Votes will only be tabulated if you vote on at least 13 of the categories. Please give some thought to them all.
posted by The Inside Dope @ 12/27/2006
19 comments
19 Comments:
Here you are Dope. Happy New Year!
- Best Political play of the year:
Howard Dean's 50 State Plan. I was wrong, it worked.
- Worst political play of the year:
Hastert’s handling of the Foley scandal. It lost him his job, and his legacy.
- Most outrageous and transparent "spin" of the year:
The Bush Administrations continued support of their Iraq plan.
- Least deserved, most unfair/ridiculous bum rap/negative smear:
Barack Obama being mocked for his middle name. Give me a break, is that the best you can throw at him?
- Fairest rap/negative press:
Dick Cheney’s hunting trip.
- Most improved politician:
Rep. Phil Hare.
- Most effective politician:
It wasn’t a year for effective political work.
- Least effective politician:
Rep. Jefferson
- Political operative/staffer/worker of the year:
Pat O’Brian, for keeping the Hare campaign trucking.
- Most important regional or local issue:
Triumph Hog Plant, of course.
- Most trumped up regional or local issue:
Triumph.
- The "Most in love with their own hype" award:
Rudolph Giuliani
- Most invisible elected official:
Pat Verschoore
- Biggest political story of the year:
The Democratic take over of Congress.
- Inside Dope Political Player of 2006
Lane Evans. His decision to retire will shape the political frame work of this area for years to come. It has made new leaders and hurt many others. The campaign to follow was also the first one that showed many of the next generation of Western Illinois leaders (on both sides).
OK, here's mine.
Best Political Play- Tie - Jacobs dropping out of consideration for Evan's slot before he could lose it, and the Evans-Hare-Gianulis machination to place Hare in Evan's spot without an actual primary.
Worst Political Play - Boland trying to run for every spot available
Most outrageous/ridiculous spin of the year - Tie
1. Attempts to say Hare is anti-union because some last minute flier was not union printed.
2. African American protests suggesting that Boland's giving a scholarship to a supporter's daughter suggested he was racist.
Least deserved bum rap - Tie
1. Jacobs trying to suggest Rumler was unfit as a candidate because he was "unemployed" while running despite Jacobs having an almost no-show patronage job before being selected for office.
2. Trying to paint Rumler as pro-life because he failed to return activist group's questionaire and consequent multi-thousand dollar misleading (lying) pro-Jacobs phone campaign.
Fairest rap or bad press - Jacobs being ridiculed for comparing himself to Rosa Parks immediately after the civil rights icon's death.
Most improved politician - Mike Jacobs for more effectively keeping his mouth shut in public and avoiding actually expressing his thoughts. He still says stuff which reveals a shallow mind, but not as often.
Most effective politician - tough one, but close between Boland and Jacobs, though neither did anything of major consequence.
Least effective politician. - All of them.
Political operative of the year - Pat O'Brien for both his own campaign for mayor of Moline and subsequent work for Jacobs and Hare.
Most important regional issue - Triumph, WIU
Most trumped up regional issue - Asian Carp, Triumph
Most in love with their own hype award - hands down, Big Mike Jacobs whose ego seemingly knows no bounds and his supporters here apparently have no shame in their shameless hype.
Most invisible politician - hands down, Pat Verschoore. Anyone seen him lately?
Biggest political story of the year. - Maneuvering and scheming in wake of Evans conspicuously timed resignation resulting in Hare emerging as candidate.
TID political player of the year - Obviously, The Inside Dope itself, which has obviously shaken up the establishment and caused others to lose their minds and their dignity in attempts to attack it. Definitely the most influential new phenomena in local politics of 2006. Love it or hate it, hat's off to TID and the Dope.
Dope is the clear winner of "In love with his own hype." This guy never passes an opportunity to congratulate himslef or tell everyone how smart he is!
Ok Anon. You've made your claim that I never pass up a chance to congratulate myself or tell everyone how smart i am.
Should be very easy to point to many examples.
We're waiting.
I think an honorable mention for most effective politician should probably be given to Don Johnston for being presented with a very complex situation regarding the election of Evan's replacement by committeemen and being able to organize and conduct it efficiently and successfully.
Pat Verschoore as most invisible politician? You gotta be kidding me. I've worked in local government for 15 years. I've seen Pat Verschoore at more functions and meetings of substance than I can count. On the other hand, although Jerry Lack has been responsive and involved, I've never met Phil Hare - not once. Are you measuring involvement by attendance at political fundraisers? I'll take a politician (or staff)that shows up for the events that make a differnce over the chicken dinner and media event politician any day.
Here my 2 bits worth:
- Best Political play of the year
Mike Boland winning while letting his fellow local Dem's know that he does not need their help despite the Jacobs ongoing and backbiting assistance to the Haring campaign.
- Worst political play of the year
Andrea Zinga running for office again. The voters had enough of her in 2004 and hopefully she will not run again now that she has recouped her loan investment.
- Most outrageous and transparent "spin" of the year
The hog plant is good for us and will not create any environmental problems.
- Least deserved, most unfair/ridiculous bum rap/negative smear
Poor Paul Rumler. He is a good kid and the Jacobs camp, supporters, and internet bloggers just ripped him to shreds in a very unfair, anonymous, and smearing fashion. He did well and should run again.
- Fairest rap/negative press
None of the above in the Sheriff's race. Both candidates put on the trailer trash t-shirts and rolled in the mud during the entire campaign.
- Most improved politician
James Beals. He was a rookie, but I was impressed that he held his own against a tough opponent and ran a clean campaign with limited funds. Maybe a tie with Paul Rumler in the same situation.
- Most effective politician
Barack Obama. WOW! This man will be the next Prez.
- Least effective politician
Steve Haring. What was he thinking? All the smear and letting Tom Cross run the show. His lack of education clearly showed only to be backed up by his lack of an effective campaign strategy.
- Political operative/staffer/worker of the year
Pat O'Brien hands down. After losing a close Moline mayoral race, he put in those extra hours with the help of his wife to lead Jacobs to victory in his primary and Hare to victory in the general election. His political experience will pay-off in Congress as a staffer.
- Most important regional or local issue
Triumph
- Most trumped up regional or local issue
Triumph
- The "Most in love with their own hype" award
Do we need to mention his name with a size 12 shoe and an affinity for Rosa.
- Most invisible elected official
Pat Verschoore. Nice guy, but he keeps to himself.
- Biggest political story of the year
Lane Evans mid-term retirement. Many years of service and many thanks Mr. Evans.
- And finally, the coveted
Inside Dope Political Player of 2006 for the person, event, or thing which has had the most influence on the local political scene for better or worse. President George Bush. He sold all the Republican candidates down the river which easily led to a Democratic sweep.
Freda, I agree Pat Verschoore is very active. I was referring to his invicibility in the media. He had no competition, so he didn't get much air time.
I personally think Pat is a good man and is doing a great job.
I agree with Scott.
Not everyone spends their time attending party gatherings.
This was about public visibility. I'm sure that if you did a Lexis/Nexis search you'd find that Verschoore was mentioned in the press a fraction of the amount, say, Boland or Jacobs are.
No need to get defensive about Vershoore as no one is saying this is a bad thing. Just that he's invisible compared to other politicians.
Best Player should go to Madigan's boys that came in to do Boland's door to door campaigning when they couldn't get any local volunteers to do it. Madigan's cash (and it was substansial) didn't hurt either. My vote goes to the Mooney Brother's out of Chicago. They come in when things are bleak for a candidate. Good job Mooney's! Hope Boland appreciated it!
- Best Political play of the year
Obama going all over the country only helped his rockstar status
- Worst political play of the year
Sept. 11- Zinga travelling supporting racial profiling. That was the ballgame.
- Most outrageous and transparent "spin" of the year
Zinga trying to say that Hare was a Washington Insider after having worked in the district for 2 and a half decades.
- Least deserved, most unfair/ridiculous bum rap/negative smear
Denny Jacobs. Hey, he can't choose his children. He's like God, but he isn't God.
- Fairest rap/negative press
Zinga for not filing her Campaign disclosure reports on time. Get them in. No excuses.
- Most improved politician
Phil Hare. Still not great, but good enough to win. Aligning himself with Steny Hoyer in Washington was an incredibly smart play.
- Most effective politician
Blago. Despite all the problems, won very, very, easily.
- Least effective politician
Illinois Republicans. Seriously, you couldn't convince an actual candidate to run against Blago?
- Political operative/staffer/worker of the year.
Definitely, Pat O'Brien and the Field Staff for Hare. They started this thing basically from scratch with three months to go.
- Most important regional or local issue
Triumph. They're right, it's too close.
- Most trumped up regional or local issue
Triumph. You live in the Midwest. There are Hog Lots. Get over it.
- The "Most in love with their own hype" award
Mike Jacobs.
- Most invisible elected official.
Pat V. He stays out of the limelight in order to get things done.
- Biggest political story of the year
Evans retiring. Thank you for your many years of service and doing the right thing, even when no one believed you.
- And finally, the coveted
Inside Dope Political Player of 2006 for the person, event, or thing which has had the most influence on the local political scene for better or worse.
The Inside Dope. Seriously, you have become a news source for those of us who can't stand the traditional media.
~Best Political Play of the year
Elesha Gayman a virtual unknown running and getting elected to house of representatives in Iowa beating the long term incumbant VanFossen
~Worst Political Play of the year
Hasert, the way he dumbed up during the Foley fiasco.
~Least deserved, most unfair/ridiculous bum rap/negative smear.
Paul Rumler, this guy came out of nowhere and had a good showing in the primary with little or no money, and swung quite a few votes his way by just talking to people and going door to door.
~Fairest rap/negative press
Jacobs and the Sz 12's comparing himself to Rosa Parks.
~Most improved politicians
Phil Hare, he succeeded in making his name well known, outside of the Quad Cities comfort zone.
AND
Vicki Wright
~Most effective politician
Lane Evans, he got what he wanted, his chosen replacement elected to his seat. Thanks Lane for the many years of service
~Least effective politician
Mike Boland
~Political operative/staffer/worker of the year
All the volunteers/workers/union members at Quad Cities Federation of Labor, too numerous to mention. Every QCFED endorsed candidate won on the Illinois and Iowa sides of the river.
~Most important regional or local issue
Triumph and the Arsenal
~Most trumped up regional or local issue
Triumph and the Arsenal
~The "Most in love with their own Hype" award
Mike Jacobs
~Most invisible elected official
I agree with most of the above, Pat Verschoore, but he does get the job done. But Boland should take this honor because he is invisible except when it comes to getting votes, he ignores issues that are within his juridiction until he needs to be seen to get votes for another 2 year term.
~Biggest political story of the year
That would have to be the Foley scandel right before elections, I think it had a big role in changing the power back to the Dems in the House and Senate.
~Inside Dope Political player of 2006
Randy Jacobs
Is Randy Jacobs Denny's son or nephew???
Neither. Randy Jacobs is no relation to the East Moline Jacobs and is a top-notch media/political policy/campaign aide who has worked (and still does, it's assumed) with brother-in-law Pat Verschoore.
He also works in other areas of the state and has done work for a wide variety of clients on policy and strategy matters.
- Best Political play of the year
Lane Evans’ retirement and replacement by his hand picked successor Phil Hare. Even with Lane’s endorsement, a Democratic Primary might have been dicey for Phil. Therefore, it was a masterstroke of political craft to time Lane’s retirement so that Phil would be selected by a group of political committeemen (insiders) rather than elected by an open vote from all of the Democrats of the 17th Congressional District.
- Worst political play of the year
Lane Evans’ retirement actually robbed the voters of the chance to have a legitimate primary election to choose his successor.
- Most outrageous and transparent "spin" of the year
The timing of Lane’s retirement. It was very transparent that it was calculated in advance so Lane could choose his successor.
- Least deserved, most unfair/ridiculous bum rap/negative smear
Playing the race card in attacking Boland’s choice of scholarship recipients. Boland’s no racist, and the protesters were from outside Boland’s actual legislative district,
- Fairest rap/negative press
I know some will disagree strongly with this choice, but my pick is Paul Rumler’s refusal to answer questions from Pro-Choice groups led to an inevitable consequence - him being labeled as anti-choice. Paul is no innocent and it was his choice to “play the fence” before “playing the victim.”
- Most improved politician
Mike Jacobs by default. There was nowhere to go but up!
- Most effective politician
John G continues to hold the reins of power in Rock Island County and play “kingmaker” with the appointment of Phil Hare to the congressional ticket. John does what he does very well.
- Least effective politician
Mark Schweibert found out he’s not really a democrat even though he thought he was. That’s gotta hurt!
- Political operative/staffer/worker of the year
Porter McNeil for his work in the Vicki Wright bid for election and/or Mike Huntoon for stabilizing Boland’s boat time and time again.
- Most important regional or local issue
It’s the economy stupid.
- Most trumped up regional or local issue
Triumph. The protests are now a smoke screen for future litigation and that saddens me. Oh yeah, and Doug Reil loves to hear himself talk .
- The "Most in love with their own hype" award
Mike Jacobs -
Honorable mention goes to Barb Ickes and Mary Humes
- Most invisible elected official
Pat “in the Hat” Verschoore
- Biggest political story of the year
Lane Evan’s retirement and the selection of his successor.
- And finally, the coveted
Inside Dope Political Player of 2006 for the person, event, or thing which has had the most influence on the local political scene for better or worse.
I’d love to say it’s The Inside Dope, but in reality John G is the kingmaker, and nothing trumps that kind of power.
Strangest spin-filled year end awards? Demgorilla
- Best Political play of the year
Paul Rumler showing that Mike Jacobs is vulnerable and beatable, Rumler is sure to win in 2008.
- Worst political play of the year
Mike Jacobs bashing, smearing, backstabbing Paul Rumler in the primary through various means. Who does Paul Rumler have on his political resume-Stenny Hoyer, bad bad bad move Mike for someone who has been targeting the 17th Congressional seat for a while. You poltical days are over as you dad moves farther into retirement.
- Most outrageous and transparent "spin" of the year
Mike Jacobs stating that he supported Mike Boland by a small campaign contribution after he and supporters backstabbed Boland in support of Harring getting votes and weaking Boland in the 08 primary, those negative ads were run for a reason with Jacobs being quoted.
- Least deserved, most unfair/ridiculous bum rap/negative smear
Paul Rumler. Good guy, experienced, much better "choice" than Jacobs
- Fairest rap/negative press
Rosa Jacobs who voted for a self payraise because he, his wife, and child deserve it to buy more size 12 shoes.
- Most improved politician
Phil Hare
- Most effective politician
Jeff Terronez, picks his battles and supporters wisely
- Least effective politician
Rock Island County Republicans
- Political operative/staffer/worker of the year
The go to guy, Pat O'brien
- Most important regional or local issue
Hog Plant
- Most trumped up regional or local issue
WIU
Empty coffers and will get the continious PR spin for a while from Jacobs, "I swear, the check is in the mail"
- The "Most in love with their own hype" award
Obviously Demgorilla who can't even follow TID's directions to the extent that makes up his own categories and would elect Hitler if Hitler were running as a Democrat.
- Most invisible elected official
Pat Verschoore
- Biggest political story of the year
Evans retirement and the following candidate election process that followed
- And finally, the coveted
Inside Dope Political Player of 2006 for the person, event, or thing which has had the most influence on the local political scene for better or worse. John G. He left his Springfield post to hold down the fort, and did.
TWO YEARS LATER AND JACOBS IS STILL TICKING!
Who gives a shit? Seriously.
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