The Stonecipher Report

A Deeper Look Ahead at the 2010 Illinois Governor’s Election

Gov. Quinn, Dem Opponent Hynes, GOPer McKenna Already Advertising

Plus, 4 Trends and 1 Fact That Will Likely Help Determine This Election’s Winner

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Nov. 10, 2009

My brief discussion about this – via phone – with Tyler on Monday’s radio show reminded me that, with all the other things that have been going on lately, I perhaps haven’t covered this topic very much out here recently…(and, BTW, thanks to TR for doing almost all of the – unexpected; previously-unscheduled – on-air show solo this time around while I attended to an annoyingly delayed medical appointment). But, the Illinois 2010 election season is currently well underway, with – most notably – television ads already running (starting more than a year before the general election) for three of the most prominent of the candidates running to be IL Governor.

Now, it has not been a complete fog of lack of info on these guys out here – we’ve already covered (multiple times, in the case of the two Dems) these three gentlemen previously on TSR…but here’s a bit deeper look at the overall race. And who are those three likely-leading candidates? Current Gov. Pat Quinn (the Democrat who succeeded the nearly-infinitely corrupt (and distant from him) Rod Blagojevich back in January); his Dem primary challenger, state Comptroller Dan Hynes; and the perhaps-leading Republican (among about a half-dozen elephant candidates), businessman – and former state GOP Chairman – Andy McKenna.

IT PASSES!!!

Round 1 Done on US Healthcare Reform as Sweeping Bill Wins in House of Representatives

Tougher Senate Battle Looms Ahead

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Nov. 8, 2009

Yesterday – Saturday – was just such a pluperfectly beautiful day here in the Capital of the Middle of America: High 60s, sunny, calm. It was – somewhat appropriately, as it would turn out – much like that unexpectedly gorgeous and mildly unseasonable November night we enjoyed here a little more than a year ago…very similar to Election Night ’08, when we gloriously gathered in Grant Park to celebrate history together. Eh, who knew that "Indian Summer" could wait around and not bother to show up until AFTER Halloween and Election Day (and knocking on the door of Veteran’s Day)?

I spent my late afternoon enjoying some Starbucks iced coffee (a valuable tip: register a Starbucks card with them online and put some cash or credit on it, and things like soy and syrup upgrades are free – as are as many brewed hot or iced refills you would like in the same lingering café visit…some nice, potential cha-ching! savings there), listening to some music pumping into my head, and lazily – if happily and looking-forward-ly – drafting a short piece for here about the looming-for-a-vote Healthcare Reform bill, which was expected to be decided on in the US House of Representatives within a few days.

Election Day Update – 3 Races to Watch (Plus, Predictions!) (UPDATED 11-04, With Results)

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Nov. 3, 2009

Just a quick (well, kinda quick, anyway – it ended up expanding) piece on this off-off-Election Day, summing up the three most interesting races to watch today…

As Tyler and I covered fairly extensively on the radio show yesterday, it looks like the Republican Bob McDonnell will (fairly easily) win as VA Governor…NJ Governor Jon Corzine – after starting off in a fairly deep, unpopular hole – may well pull off a close comeback win over challenger Chris Christie…and, in the most fascinating, potentially-far-reaching election today – ironically, since it is a "mere" local race – no matter WHO wins in the NY 23rd District special election, it may signal an important victory (with perhaps ongoing national repercussions) for Democrats…A little more on each of these below...

Andy McKenna to Seek to Lose the 2010 IL Governor’s Race…

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Oct. 28, 2009

Andy McKenna is a loser…

Oh, he may actually end up winning the 2010 Illinois Republican Gubernatorial primary – mostly out of some vague, "Eh?" shadow of name recognition versus such unknown and undistinguished competition as Bill Brady, Dan Proft, and Andy Andrzejezewejrzski (uh…OK, I may have – accidentally – tossed an extra "Z" or "J" or something in his name (or, heck – maybe I even left one out [shrugs]), but, c’mon, nobody but the "Would be lucky to break 15% in the primary!" candidate himself is even likely to notice…). But I can guarantee you this: Short of some kind of bizarre, joint Pat Quinn-Dan Hynes sex / bribery / murder scandal erupting between now and Nov. 2, 2010, McKenna will NOT become the next Governor of "The Land of Lincoln, Butkus, and Obama."

The Latest From Some Smart, Progressive Voices You Have All Heard Of…

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Oct. 26, 2009

There are so many different, often-swirling and -conflicting opinions available online that it can be hard to keep up with what is being said and by who. So much of it all can float by, even if offered by well-known, even world-famous figures. (Not that WE here at The Stonecipher Report view ourselves as necessarily being such a leading opinion destination, but…we DO greatly appreciate your readership…and we keep on trying to be both a valuable source of original information AND to share what we’ve come across elsewhere with our valued readers – AND our radio broadcast listeners.)

With that in mind, I wanted to share some important, recent online content from two of the most important Progressive, Liberal voices available on the Internet – one of them quite thoughtful, long espousing open-minded, populist political views (with the added perspective on the healthcare debate of having had to suffer through some recent severe health difficulties)…and the other having become a bit of a right-wing lightning rod for his filmed and written crusades during the Bush-Cheney era. I present to you some excellent, very readable recent content from Roger Ebert and Michael Moore…

This is Why I'm Thrilled That Al Franken Won in Minnesota

Posted by: Tyler Rippeteau

Oct. 23, 2009

Some of you may have already seen this clip, it was originally posted over at Fire Dog Lake, but in case you missed it, here is Al Franken taking on the for-profit health care industry:

Check Out 538.com’s Great Piece on Joe Lieberman (Perhaps Fatally) Shooting Himself in the Foot…

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Oct. 17, 2009

Anyone who has caught any of the many disgusted references that Tyler and I have made on our radio show (plug: coming Monday, at 3PM Central to WHPK and www.whpk.org) to the "Independent Democrat" Senator from Connecticut know that we hold a special place – Hell, mostly – for Joe Lieberman, I actually shared an elevator ride in a Senate office building with the sawed-off whiner a few years back…and, to this day, I still regret not unleashing a good, doubling-him-over kidney punch to the bitter little in-it-only-for-himself bastard…

Well, now it looks as if the healthcare-reform-rejecting Sen, "Palpatine" (as I always like to refer to him, since I swear he looks so much like the "Star Wars" wimpy and weasel-y looking Chancellor character (before he got Force-melted into the shriveled Emperor look)) might go down of his own accord – no violent fisticuffs needed. Check out this great piece over at Nate Silver’s excellent 538.com site (which I HIGHLY recommend to political junkies for their multiple cogent – and highly readable –daily posts for wonks like us), available directly via this link.

WHO IS CRAZIER??? Sarah Palin vs. Michele Bachmann

 

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Oct. 15, 2009

  

  

Hey, it’s time once again to sort out a couple of loose public wingnuts to see just which one is looser and nuttier. Yep, it’s the return of The Stonecipher Report’s popular (and oh-so-sarcastic) feature: WHO IS CRAZIER???

We use this fun feature to occasionally take a look at a couple of semi-outrageous, at-least-somewhat-connected figures in the public eye, comparing and contrasting them, their words, and their behavior until we can determine just which one of them is the nuttier, more insane, and just plain crazier individual. As you would expect, we’ll be plucking examples from the world of politics…but also from media, pop culture, sports – whatever floats to the surface of obvious madness. Party labels, network, publication, or team affiliations, or even poll or box office numbers won’t necessarily matter – if they seem unhinged, we’ll call them on it…

So, for the latest fun-fest with this sharpened-rhetorical-daggers-ready feature, let’s take a current look at a pair of prominent female GOP politicians (past and present public officeholders) and try to determine just WHO IS CRAZIER – Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann???

Mayor Gavin Newsom Has a Big San Francisco Hill to Climb in CA Race for Governor

Posted by: Tyler Rippeteau

Oct. 14, 2009

As I've written before, the year after a presidential election is generally a terribly boring political year.  All we political junkies get are three big elections - the Virginia governors race, the New Jersey governors race and the New York City mayoral election.

Well, those elections are all right around the corner, and soon after they end, the focus will shift to what will no doubt be a far more exciting year in politics, 2010.

One of the races that promises to make 2010 thrilling to all of us political bloggers and news junkies is the race for governor of California.  The General Election may not end up being a terribly interesting one, but before that, the primary fight on the Democratic side appears to be shaping up to be a heavyweight battle between two champions of Golden State politics.

Republicans Embarrass Themselves Over Decrying the Obama Nobel Prize

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Oct. 12, 2009

As regular readers may have noted, I usually – at the bottom of my entries – promote my twice-weekly e-mail column, "And, in the News…" Occasionally, I also share an adapted version of the contents of those issues out here. The Monday issues are when I cover politics – via my regular "Political Soap Box" feature (Friday’s issues are usually more pop-culture-, sports-, or random-thoughts-oriented)…and I wanted to share the issue I sent out this morning, covering the confusing, idiotic (if – duh! – completely expected) Republican reaction to President Obama winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.