I’m struggling to figure out who I’m going to vote for on election day in November. For senator it’s no problem. I simply won’t vote for Alexi Giannoulias. Full stop. I’m voting for Kirk for Senate.
Governor is harder. I’ve met Pat Quinn, had lunch with him (as in at a table at Manny’s) and I think he’s a decent bloke. I’m also concerned that he’s sort of Peter Principled out as governor. I don’t know enough about Bill Brady. His determination to solve Illinois’s fiscal problems without tax increases troubles me. I don’t think it can be done.
And I’m concerned that the instincts of somebody who’s in the home construction business won’t be right to handle the problems we have today in the state.
Further, I’m genuinely uncertain whether a Republican or Democrat would be better able to handle the problems we’ve got. To deal with the problems you’re going to have to stand up against key Democratic constituencies, viz. public employees’ union. I think the odds are pretty good that even with given the nationwide wave Democrats will continue to control the Illinois state legislature. And I’ve been concerned about the mental health of the Illinois Republican Party ever since they ran Alan Keyes against Barack Obama for Senate.
Based simply on my own personal knowledge I’d vote for Quinn. Maybe somebody can help me out on this one.
I don’t even know who’s running against Mike Quigley in the Illinois 5th Congressional District. Is he running unopposed?
What’s the succession rule for Illinois Governor if the Governor is removed from office? You could always include potential successor as a reason for choosing someone to vote, considering how many of Illinois’s recent governors have ended up in prison.
I will vote for my Republican congressman and Democratic senator candidates here in PA. I have met the congressman.
Steve
Lieutenant governor succeeds. Sheila Simon, daughter of the late Sen. Paul Simon, is running for lieutenant governor. Upside: she’s probably a good, decent individual. Downside: lawyer-academic.
Brett, the Lt. Governor succeeds the Governor, and both parties have political neophytes running for office. I don’t think either inspires confidence.
I’ll probably vote Republican on the stateside elections. The best that can be said for Giannoulias is that he has a record of no accomplishments. The worst that can be said about Kirk is he has a narcissistic character flaw.
My ideal stateside is a split power facilitating a grand compromise on spending and taxes and pension reform. House Speaker Madigan tends to play better with Republican governors, but I’m not sure Brady sounds like the kind of guy who would like to compromise across the aisle. I think Quinn is a decent bloke, but he’s not shown an ability to govern.
As for me, I’m voting for the Democratic Congressman here, who is basically the same as a moderate Republican (Jim Matheson). The only thing that annoys me is his diehard stance against storing nuclear waste in Utah, but I’m in a minority on that here. I’ve met him personally, and he’s a pretty decent guy.
Late on Lt. Governor. The Republican Lt. Gov., is also most famous for being a son, he helps run his father’s lumber business.