IL-Sen - Jan Schakowsky Releases Polling Info - Testing Waters

by: admin

Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 22:10:18 PM CDT

I think that Giannoulias would be the favorite over Schakowsky Burris and his low favorable ratings. However, I do think that Schakowsky would be a formidable opponent as she could certainly raise a lot of money and would likely be endorsed by Emily's List and other women's groups.

I know of Schakowsky from working in Illinois during the 2002 campaign. Her husband Bob Creamer owns the Strategic Consulting Group. While a very talented and proficient community organizer and campaign consultant, Creamer did serve prison time for tax fraud and bank fraud as a result of guilty pleas in 2005.

From a 2005 USATODAY article

Creamer, 58, a prominent Chicago political consultant, was accused of swindling nine financial institutions of at least $2.3 million while he ran a public interest group in the 1990s.

Creamer told reporters Wednesday there was "no doubt that my actions a decade ago were very foolish and placed myself, my family, the organization and many of those who worked with me at considerable risk."

He offered a "sincere apology to anyone who has been affected by my conduct."

The indictment alleged Creamer caused a series of insufficiently funded checks and wire transfers to be drawn on accounts he controlled as executive director of the Illinois Public Action Fund. According to the indictment, he allegedly then used the inflated balances to pay the group's expenses and own salary.

Creamer pleaded guilty to one count each of bank fraud and failure to collect withholding tax. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dropped several other counts

Trying to Make Sense of Burris Conversations with The Blago Brothers

by: admin

Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 00:29:12 AM CST

I don't think you can make any sense of what Blagojevich was doing or what his brother Robert was doing on his behalf.

So based on recent accounts we do learn that Burris did have some conversations with Robert Blagojveich. He previously stated he did not have any conversations with Blago or any of his associates. Well I guess that is wrong if he talked with his brother who is clearly an associated.

Probably what happened is that Blago's brother was calling everybody who is anybody in Illinois to ask them to raise money. It looks as if nobody responded in an affirmative manner.

So here's Burris's latest wrap-up of what happened

Burris said he contacted "some people" about holding a fundraiser at the request of Blagojevich's brother, Robert, only to learn that no one was willing to help the governor. He said he later changed his mind, raised no money and contributed none.

So we go round and round an round. When does this all end. Blago has been removed from office. Do we remove Burris now also and vindicate those that didn't want to seat him in the first place?

Any thoughts?

Condolences for Dick Durbin and Family

by: admin

Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 18:29:38 PM CDT

I met Dick Durbin in Illinois on several occassions in 2002. I first met him at the DuQuoin State fair at a function while working for the Illinois Democratic Coordinated Campaign. We talked for a few minutes and he was very engaging and funny. He asked me where I was from and when I told him I was from Alabama he asked be about the Senate race between Susan Parker and Jeff Sessions.

Well about two weeks later I run into him at a fundraiser for former Congressman Lane Evans. Durbin was there with Bill Clinton. He walked across the greeting line to come talk to me and ask me how I was doing. He knew my name and remember what we had talked about. I was extremely impressed.

Well a couple of months later, I run into Senator Durbin  while I was in one of the Senate buildings. Again he remembers me.

I say all of this to say that unbeknownst to Senator Durbin, I drove his campaign truck during a parade about a week before meeting him. I completely scratched up the truck while getting the truck in line. I had thought that I was going to be driving him and got real excited. Granted he had a scheduling conflict and was unable to attend. I hope he never found out about the time I wrecked his truck.