Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 9/23/12

What Southern Florida is talking about this week:

Turns out there's an election going on!

I say that somewhat cheekily as, thanks to Facebook, I clearly know where many of my FB connections stand and I do get exposed to an eyeful of opinions. By the way -- and I'm not going to engage in debate about either candidate -- but I will say that I expect everyone who so virulently expresses his or her side on the web to actually vote.  After all, it's easy to complain or gripe or even to go the other way and try to inspire others on the internet -- but you best be on the correct side of the voter participation rate if you want me to give anything you say any respect whatsoever.

But I digress -- my point is that, coming from an uncontested state to this state of vacation that is part of the electoral math puzzle, I actually get to see the commercials that the candidates and super-pacs are funding (including the hot button one from Jewish Republicans for Romney concerned about Iran/Israeli relations, nuclear bombs, and an upcoming apocalypse about which maybe the Mayans were tipped off).

Something tells me it's going to be a heck of a next six weeks!  Hopefully we'll all still be here (and maybe still be FB connections) when it's all over ...

AND ... HERE WE GO!  START THE COUNTDOWN TO THE END OF THE WORLD!:
http://www.postonpolitics.com/2012/09/romney-surrogates-accuse-obama-of-slighting-israel-mimimizing-libya-deaths/

IN VOTING MATH, JUST ANOTHER GROUP TO WHICH CANDIDATES PANDER:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/07/28/is-israel-mitt-romney-s-new-swing-state.html

WATCHING THE VOTE IN FLORIDA (last presented for the primaries there ...):
http://enight.dos.state.fl.us/

 

Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 2/13/11

What Chicago is talking about this week:

Electioneering season is in full swing (the mayor's race might come down to next Tuesday's vote, if Rahm can knock out Chico with 50%+1) ... which means that you can choose to exercise your civic duty in multiple ways:

Vote early (and vote often?): each ward has a site accepting voters from 9-5 this week until Feb 17th.

Vote naked: the "absentee ballot" concept has been brought forward for the new generation and it is simple to vote from home (details below).

Vote, vote, vote (just once, not three times): If neither of those plans fit your lifestyle, then know now that polls will open at 6am on Tuesday Feb 22 so that you [locals] can choose the next mayor of Chicago, the next city clerk, the next city treasurer and (if contested) your next alderman.

FIND YOUR WARD's LOCATION FOR EARLY VOTING:
http://www.chicagoelections.com/page.php?id=9

YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO PUT ON PANTS:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/2829192,CST-NWS-naked24.article

POLLS OPEN FEB 22 REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER:
http://www.chicagoelections.com/

Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 1/30/11

What Chicago is talking about this week:

Electioneering season is in full swing!

This week, the situation lends itself to a song ... "You put a Rahm in ... you put a Rahm out ... you put a Rahm in and you shake the ballot about ... you do the 'lection-pokey and throw lots of money around ... and that's what it's all about!"

Early voting starts tomorrow! Admittedly, I would be surprised if this doesn't go to the run-off in April ... but let's see how this plays out. [PS ... Take another look at Chico ... he's getting my vote.]

THE SUPREMES HAVE DECIDED!:
http://www.npr.org/2011/01/29/133327949/Rahms-Back-In-The-Running-For-Chicago-Mayor

VOTING STARTS TOMORROW!:
http://www.chicagoelections.com/page.php?id=9

SO I GUESS THIS IS LIKE ME MAKING AN ENDORSEMENT?:
http://www.chicagoelections.com/page.php?id=9

Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 1/9/11

What Chicago is talking about this week:

It's electioneering season again (isn't it always?) in Chicago as the mayor's election is just a few weeks away. And, as predicted, the race for the next mayor is quickly becoming more and more about the race of the next mayor. Unity behind one African American candidate was achieved as individuals were pressured out ... and now that same pressure is on for the two main Hispanic candidates to "voluntarily" opt for just one to stay in the race ... all to promote unity (at least within one's own race) and to defeat the chosen one in Rahm.

Let's run the numbers, though, as the winner must get over 50% on Feb 22 to avoid a runoff in April, and with a racial make-up in the metropolis of 36.8% black, 32.8% non-asian white and 26.0% hispanic/latino -- somebody's got to rise to the challenge and start building color blind coalitions to run this city.

Irrespective of race, let's just keep it noncontroversial and list them all alphabetically -- Braun, Chico, DelValle and Emmanuel. And now that I see it that way, do we have the makings of an LSAT logic game? Maybe we can skip the voting and solve a logic puzzle to choose our next leader?

BRAUN SAYS BRING BLACK, WHITE, BROWN - ONE SIDE OF TOWN TO ANOTHER:
http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/moving_america_news/24737

CENSUS BUREAU DATA FOR CHICAGO AS OF 2000:
http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=&geo_id=16000US1714000&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US17%7C16000US1714000&_street=&_county=chicago&_cityTown=chicago&_state=&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2006_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=&_keyword=&_industry=

CLICK ON THE LINK AT THIS LINK TO WATCH KENNY G TEACH LOGIC GAMES:
http://www.kaptest.com/LSAT/Learn-and-Discuss/Everything-LSAT/lsat-logic-games.html

Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 11/14/10

What Chicago is talking about this week:

Electioneering season is in full swing (again)! Rumor has it that Bristol Palin is benefiting from a coordinated Tea Party campaign on DWTS!

Actually, that's one reality show I'm not watching ... and, to be as honest as a glad-handing fast-talking politician, that's also not today's topic. Instead - just less than a fortnight from the overwhelming secret-money-funded hate-ad-prevalent national brouhaha, Chicago has enlivened what would have been a quieter aldermanic election with a race for mayor of the nation's third largest city (and my hometown now for nearly 10 years)! The week ahead is filing week, so it's time to "put up or shut up" and to "put your 4 million dollars where your mouth is" (that's the projected cost of playing the [insert candidate name here] for Chicago mayor game).

So, if your glass is half empty, that's 100 days to find special interest funding, to fight your way into Tammany Hall-ish back rooms and to document that you've been a Chicago resident for the last year (an anti-carpetbagger Rahm-roadblock requirement for candidates). Or, if you're the optimistic half full glass enthusiast, that's 100 days to build consensus across this ethnically diverse metropolis already splitting into election factions along racial lines and to demonstrate leadership in quite challenging budgetary times.

To which I say: play nice, mayoral wannabees! On your mark ... get set ... go!

POLITICS AS USUAL -- UNUSUALLY ON DWTS:
http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2010/11/12/inside-the-gops-plot-to-win-dancing-with-the-stars-will-sarah-palins-fans-get-bristol-the-win/?utm_source=outbrain&utm_campaign=hl_rssynd&cmpid=outbrain_hl_rsssynd

DAY OF ANNOUNCEMENTS:
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/11/mayoral-hopefuls-taking-the-plunge.html

PUT UP OR SHUT UP:
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/2890116,111410sptchimayor.article

Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 10/31/10

What Chicago is talking about this week:


It's (the end!) of electioneering season ... and, at this point -- just go vote! Exercise your civic duty! And I'm not going to try to persuade you to choose one candidate over another (although I'm certainly most definite about my choices, it's just that I know folks from across the ideological spectrum) -- but for goodness sake, CHOOSE and VOTE! More than half of our country elects to sit out this whole process -- which should serve as a reminder that your choice is not just for what makes your personal situation better, but for what is best for the greater good! Earn the right to bitch and moan afterwards (I don't want to see any crying from someone who didn't even take the time to visit the booth)!


CENSUS BUREAU REPORT ON 2006 ELECTIONS:
http://www.census.gov/prod/2008pubs/p20-557.pdf


YOU CAN EVEN VOTE NAKED IN ILLINOIS:
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/your-doubting-thomas/2010/09/vote-naked-illinois.html


CNN's COVERAGE OF THE 2010 ELECTIONS:
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2010/results/main.results/#val=S

Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 10/24/10

What Chicago is talking about this week:

Electioneering season is in full swing. And we may not riot in the streets like the French do when the retirement age is suggested to be raised, or blindly accept that its meant to be like the British did this week --but that controversial suggestion is featured in one of the most negative local political ads. "Adam -- don't you touch my retirement money!" say a host of elderly folks in Debbie Halvorson's ads, repeating the line "Young man, you don't know what you're doing!", and setting up an old vs. young smack-down. Who doesn't love a good generational jousting this time of year?

DEBBIE, STOP PICKING ON THAT YOUNG KID!:
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-political-commentary/2010/10/debbie-halvorson-her-negative-campaign.html

BRITISH REACTION TO 66 BECOMING THE NEW 65:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/pensions/6264249/Conservative-retirement-age-expert-reaction.html

FRENCH REACTION TO 62 BECOMING THE NEW 60:
http://worldnews.about.com/b/2010/10/22/despite-riots-french-senate-raises-retirement-age-to-62.htm

Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 10/17/10

What Chicago is talking about this week ...

It's electioneering season, and since we do supposedly live in a post-racial world, you would think it wouldn't be so jarring to see the effect of a typo in the spelling of the last name of the Green party candidate for governor of Illinois. But when somebody left out the 'n' letter in Rich Whitney's last name on the electronic ballot, there was a minor controversy. All's well that ends well, and the name will be fixed in time for November 2 -- and, luckily, no savvy(?) campaign strategist jumped on the "vote for Whitey" bandwagon.

BALLOT WILL BE FIXED BY NOV 2 (although candidate really has no chance currently):
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Snafu-Makes-Whitney-Whitey-on-Ballot--104934659.html

ARKANSAS CAMPAIGN TO VOTE FOR WHITEY THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK:
http://voteforwhitey.com/index.asp

PAT QUINN NEEDS TO MAKE UP GROUND TO DEFEAT BILL BRADY:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/illinois/election_2010_illinois_governor

Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 10/3/10

What Chicago is talking about this week:

It's electioneering season, and I got a gift in the mail from Jesse White, our Secretary of State, as I prepare for the election in four weeks - a copy of the proposed amendment to add section 7 to article III of the Illinois Constitution. Even if you're not a local, just the first few words below should tell you whom we have to thank for the pamphlet:

(a) The recall of the Governor may be proposed by a petition signed by a number of electors equal in number to at least 15% of the total votes cast for Governor in the preceding gubernatorial election, with at least 100 signatures from each of at least 25 separate counties ...

As keepers of democracy, we're being asked to balance whether citizens should have some other process (other than impeachment) that involves them with the notion that recall elections can be hella expensive and open to manipulation by the political machine.

Since we have millions to spare and only place the most honest of politicians in power, we should have nothing to worry about, right? Vote YES to join 18 other states who provide this right to its public.

THE QUICK FACTS:
http://www.lwvil.org/recall_quickfacts.pdf

ON THE VOTE YES SIDE, BUT MUCH MORE VOCAL:
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-political-commentary/2010/09/does-illinois-need-term-limits-total-recall-provisions.html

IN OTHER NEWS, TOTAL RECALL BEING REMADE?
http://filmdrunk.uproxx.com/2010/07/total-recall-remake-is-official-len-wiseman-directing

Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 9/26/10

What Chicago is talking about this week:

Electioneering season is in full swing -- so with this weekend bringing cooler temps and the final home game of the disappointing Cubs season, it also subjects us to more and more mud. There's one particular race responsible for a majority of the mud being slung -- the seat to replace Roland Burris in the Senate. It's Barrack's old seat (you may have heard of him), and it's a fight to the finish for Alexi Giannoulias (too young! connected to mobsters! his family's bank collapsed!) and Mark Kirk (he lies about his military past! he lies about his orientation! he lies about his connection to Bush! [Wait, those last two are just different ways to say the same thing.]) This is going to be a dirty 37 more days!

ANYONE CAN POST ANYTHING -- ANTI-ALEXI LINKS:
http://notgonnabeatalexi.com/

HARD TO REMEMBER THE DETAILS ABOUT MY TIME IN THE MILITARY:
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/06/01/ill-sen-hopeful-mark-kirk-lies-about-a-military-claim/

NECK and NECK RACE:
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/09/new-poll-shows-kirk-and-gianno.html

Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 9/19/10

What Chicago is talking about this week:

Electioneering season is in full swing -- and now that 'Da Mare' is being put down (or, voluntarily resigning from the races, more accurately stated), we are guaranteed to be in the highest state of alert for promises and platforms and politics all the way through the winter until the Feb 2011 election. Already, the wiki page for the race lists 8 confirmed candidates (plus 39 more potential politicians -- and another 13 who have already officially declined to run). They are not going to let five dozen horses run at the same time in any race, and we'll be lucky (?) to see the field reduced in the weeks ahead. If nothing else, I'm predicting a milder winter than most what with all that hot air being expelled by these folks!

HERE ARE THE FIRST 45 MAYORS (not the 45 that are running):
http://www.chipublib.org/cplbooksmovies/cplarchive/mayors/mayorlist.php

THE WIKI LISTING FOR THE FEB 2011 MAYORAL ELECTION (and the 60 in the running):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_mayoral_election,_2011

RAHM's OPEN LETTER* TO CHICAGO (*written by an improv actor):
http://chicago.timeout.com/articles/museums-culture/88947/rahm-emanuels-letter-to-chicago

Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 9/12/10

What Chicago is talking about this week:

Electioneering season is in full swing, and with this state's track record of governors, it's no surprise that all eyes are focused on that race. Right now, you can't possibly avoid being bombarded with signs and ads and rallies. Independent candidate Scott Lee Cohen is using his millions to be omnipresent, hoping that taking his message directly to the working people will cause them to forget his well-publicized skeletons and his noted difficulties with domestic violence (blamed on steroid use). Here's a thought -- let's all silently protest his next rally by showing up in sleeveless undershirts -- a sea of folks in wifebeaters expressing our disapproval.

HIS SIDE OF THE STORY:
http://scottleecohen.com/

OR BLAME THE VIOLENCE ON THE WORLD CUP:
http://deadspin.com/5560280/beware-the-world-cup-wife-beaters

I DID NOT FORCE MYSELF ON THAT WOMAN or AREN'T DIVORCES FUN STUFF:
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/Scott-lee-cohen-violent-outbursts-steroids-83580457.html