Have a good weekend

I'm turning off comments for the weekend. Not having to monitor them frees my mind. Go out and have fun, or visit the many other blogs you see at the right.

As for me, it's been a heckuva week. Think I'm going to have a few adult beverages and get a good night's rest for a change.

UPDATE: Comments are back on. I'll be posting in a little while.

More react

Topinka (who is having some second thoughts, as both myself and Crain's have reported):

Like most Illinoisans, I was saddened to learn of Jim Edgar’s decision not to run for governor next year. He was a great governor and his leadership skills are sorely missed in the Executive Office today. I appreciate the serious thought and consideration that he and Brenda gave to returning to a life of public service.

Now that Governor Edgar’s decision is made, it’s time to move forward. I will spend the next several days assessing the race and deciding if running for governor is the right thing for me, my family, the Republican Party and the State. I understand that time is of the essences, and I will have a decision very shortly.

Rauschenberger:

"I appreciate that Governor Edgar took the time he needed to reflect and make a thoughtful decision on this race," said Rauschenberger. "I hope he will stay involved and help the party rebuild and reload as we return our sights to where they belong in this race-namely, on deposing Governor Rod Blagojevich."

"It is time for the Illinois Republican Party to move forward," Rauschenberger added. "We need a standard-bearer that has the trust of and the ability to connect with middle class families in Illinois again, the way Jim Edgar did a decade ago. I am that standard-bearer."

Oberweis:

"I would like to congratulate Jim Edgar on his decision to forego the race for governor. Like many Republicans, I am grateful for the many years of service that Jim Edgar and his family have given to the people of Illinois. As governor, I look forward to benefiting from Jim Edgar's counsel as one of our Senior Statesmen," said Jim Oberweis, Republican candidate for governor.

"I believe my campaign's emphasis on reform will resonate not only with Republican primary voters, but also with all voters in Illinois. Ending the culture of corruption in Springfield, reducing taxes and giving parents more say in their childrens' education are issues that we all care about," said Oberweis.

"This campaign, I believe, will be about restoring the Republican Party to credibility and distancing ourselves from the old guard. I believe that I am that one candidate who has the credentials to do just that. I look forward to bringing this debate, between the old and the new, to the voters of Illinois and letting them decide," concluded Oberweis.

AP story on Edgar

Here's the short version.

A visibly emotional Edgar says he reached his decision after "a lot of thought" and "a lot of anguish." [...]

He was joined by his wife Brenda as he made the announcement in Chicago. He was also surrounded by at least a dozen former members of his administration

Edgar says thousands of people have stopped him on the street and asked him to run. [...]

Edgar's indecisiveness has kept some GOP hopefuls out of the race and choked off campaign contributions for others.

The long version is here:

"Someone else can be elected governor of the state of Illinois, be the new governor, other than Jim Edgar," said Edgar.

From Crain's:

"Things aren't in great shape in the state" under incumbent Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Mr. Edgar said. But personal "quality of life" considerations have convinced him that someone else should pick up the mantle, he told a packed audience at the Loop's Union League Club.

"We've decided I will not be a candidate," he concluded, glancing at his wife Brenda, who stood at his side.

Mr. Edgar, 59, said his doctors "have given me a clean bill of health" and cleared the way for him to run. But "I don't take stress well," the former two-time state chief executive said, referring to recurring heart problems he's suffered in recent years. "In the eight years I was governor, I don't think I ever slept through a whole night."

[Weird punctuation marks corrected]

Reaction

Blagojevich campaign (from a press release):

Statement of Pete Giangreco

No matter who the opposing candidate will be, Governor Blagojevich will emphasize his record of making progress for working families -- investing over $2 billion in new money for students and helping 340,000 workers and children get health care coverage, all without raising sales or income taxes.

The Governor will continue doing what he does best, making real progress for the people of Illinois, and proposing bold new ways to help working families get ahead.

GOP SoS candidate Dan Rutherford:

“Today, former Governor Jim Edgar announced that he will not return to public life and will not run for Governor in 2006. Governor Edgar has already given so much of himself and his family and has served our State and our Party with incredible honor. I thank Jim Edgar for his service.

However, I believe that our Party is still in great hands and I am confident that we will find Illinois’ next Governor from the current field of qualified candidates seeking the Republican nomination.

As a candidate for Secretary of State, I will be honored to be on the ticket with any of the gentlemen or ladies currently seeking the office.”

Not a candidate

Jim Edgar just said he had talked with his wife, former staffers, friends and decided against running for governor.

...

Said he had seen a lot of poll numbers and other things to indicate that another Republican could be elected governor and said he would work hard to make sure it happens.

...

Admitted that he knows that this means the final end of his political career.

....

OK, show's over. I need to write my newspaper column now. Thanks for coming.

Funny

Apparently, Brenda Edgar just told a reporter that she didn't know what her husband was going to say at 2 o'clock.

...

Somebody just yelled out "he's flipping a coin now."

....

At the podium with several of his staff members from his past administrations.

This just in.... Shadid out

This was completely expected. From a press release:

I am announcing today that I will not be a candidate for re-election to the Illinois State Senate in November 2006. I have decided to retire at the end of my current term.

I wish to thank the citizens of the city and county of Peoria for giving me the honor of serving them as a Peoria Police Officer (1953-1976) and Peoria County Sheriff (1976-1993) and the citizens of the 46th District for the honor of serving them as their Senator since 1993.

As the son of immigrant parents, I have been so fortunate to have had the opportunity to accomplish much more than I could ever have imagined. That opportunity existed for me, only because my parents came to America in 1917 to allow themselves and their children a chance to participate in the American dream.

Finally, I wish to thank my wife, Lorraine, for standing by my side while I gave much of the last 52 years to public service.

However, as I think most of you know, family has always been first and foremost to me. Therefore, I have decided that I will retire at this time, while Lorraine and I are still young, to enjoy our time with each other, with our son, Jim and his family and our son George’s family, as well as with our many friends.

Thank you.
Senator George P. Shadid

The long wait is almost over

As I told subscribers this morning, Edgar will indeed make an announcement today.

From a press release (sorry about the caps... they're in the original):

Media advisory

Today, Gov. Jim Edgar will make an announcement regarding his future.

WHO: Gov. Jim Edgar

WHAT: ANNOUNCEMENT OF Future plans

Where: Union League club 65 W. Jackson BLVD. Room 700 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

WHEN: Today Friday, September 30, 2005 2:00 PM

(Immediately following Illinois Issues’ magazine 30 th anniversary Luncheon and Panel discussion. The luncheon begins at 11:30 am. The panel discussion begins at 12:30 pm. Gov. Edgar will serve as moderator.)

Most of the bets are that he won't run. But all we can do now is wait and see.

UPDATE 1: I've talked to several people today and nobody, and I mean nobody, thinks Edgar will run for governor. 2 o'clock is coming up fast.

UPDATE 2: Apparently, the Sun-Times and CBS-2 are talking to the same people I am.

Question of the day

I've noticed very little to almost nonexistent interest in the posts about the George Ryan trial this week. One post had zero comments - something that hasn't happened here in a long time.

What's going on? Are you just not interested? Why? Are you just distracted by Edgar and Blagojevich? Do you think interest will increase as the trial goes on? And, finally, should I even bother to keep posting these stories?

SOX RULE!

I think this is Kass' finest column ever.

Paul Konerko wasn't supposed to be able to jump that high. Not in Detroit, not with those legs of his, legs with roots on them, two trees bearing the weight of all those beating hearts in Chicago.

But he did. Paulie could have read a story up there or waited for the spin cycle, or melted a grilled cheese.

He was airborne long enough to grab that line drive for the final out and make sure of the ball in his glove. High enough to then make a fist and pump it as he floated back down, the fist a signal to himself, to his teammates, and to all of us White Sox fans back home.

Then Hawk Harrelson was yelling something on TV or maybe it was D.J., and all of us lucky to watch it had our own fists balled up, bumping knuckles with friends, our own hands raised, shouting the Sox had won the division championship. Only then did those Konerko feet touch ground again, and though we couldn't hear the thunk of his spikes cutting into the ground, we felt it.

The boy can write.

Go Sox.

By the way, this will be our Friday White Sox Blogging for the day. I have much to do. Blog away, but remember I'm closing comments for the weekend when I leave the office at 5 or 6. Git your licks in now.

Another view

The So-Called Austin Mayor takes issue with something I wrote here yesterday.

I wrote that it could be tough to pair Sen. Peter Roskam with indicted House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, even with all of the connections between the two men.

I don't think it is at all tough to make the case because there is no question that Peter Roskam's strong ties to Tom DeLay have bookended his entire political career:

* 20 years ago, Peter Roskam's life in politics began in the office of Tom DeLay.

* Just last Thurday, less than a week before Tom Delay was indicted for his part in a criminal conspiracy centered on his campaign fundraising, DeLay hosted a $500 per plate campaign fundraiser for Peter Roskam.

Tom DeLay is the alpha and omega of Peter Roskam's political life.

Case closed.

Good points. We'll see what happens.

The other white meat

The guv spent part of yesterday defending himself on charges that he had flip-flopped on pork.

Defending his release of $195 million for lawmakers' pet projects, Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday sought to recast his caustic campaign opposition to pork-barrel spending under his predecessor.

Blagojevich said his 2002 campaign barbs were directed at paying for such initiatives as a Jack Benny statue in Waukegan when the state was undergoing difficult fiscal times. [...]

Despite saying he singled out only specific projects during his campaign as pork-barrel spending, the statements he made during his quest for governor tell a different story.

In a Jan. 10, 2002, Tribune questionnaire, he complained the state had "wasted $430 million ... on pork projects for legislators" in just 2 years' time.

In a separate campaign questionnaire before the November 2002 election, Blagojevich said: "I called for eliminating member initiatives very early in my campaign and have consistently spoken out against them."

The Tribune was making a big deal out of pork projects in '02, and candidate Blagojevich, eager to please, bent over backwards to appease the powerful media outlet. Somebody should have told him at the time that all-out statements like that could come back to bite him if he won. They have.

By the way, the person who started the lump-sum member initiatives program was none other than Jim Edgar. The idea's biggest cheerleader at the time was Sen. Steve Rauschenberger. I was on a Chicago Tonight show with Steve and House Majority Leader Barbara Currie several years ago that discussed member initiatives. Both legislators heartily supported the program.

Some good news

Illinois will gain several new jobs when Office Max consolidates its headquarters in Naperville. From a press release:

Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced today that OfficeMax, a leading provider of industrial products, office supplies and business-to-business office solutions, has chosen Naperville as its new corporate headquarters, bringing 600 new jobs to the state.

The move doesn't come without a price, however.

As part of his comprehensive economic development strategy, Opportunity Returns, Gov. Blagojevich is providing an approximately $20 million investment package that is leading to the creation and retention of 1,500 jobs. The company has operated a retail headquarters in Shaker Heights, OH in addition to its corporate headquarters in Itasca, IL since the company completed the acquisition of OfficeMax, Inc. in December 2003.

That's about $33,000 per new job, which isn't outrageous, but nothing to sneeze at.

Important Edgar update

Just received this e-mail:

What did you think about [ABC-7 political reporter Andy] Shaw's report at 4:30? He is reporting Edgar will hold a press conference/media availability tomorrow, and his close advisers say it's a likely "no go."

I just talked to an Edgar guy who said Shaw talked to Edgar today, asked whether he should run the story and Edgar said, "Well, you have a 50-50 chance of being right."

I'll have more on this tomorrow. Lots of rumors are floating around all day and I think I know why.

UPDATE 1: ABC-7 also reported that Judy Baar Topinka would probably announce for governor next week. That part is false, according to several sources. Still working on the Edgar stuff - have been all day. Subscribers will know more tomorrow morning.

UPDATE 2: Here's the ABC-7 story link.

Edgar has been going back and forth almost daily. And he could wake up Friday morning with enough fire in his belly to say, 'I'm running.' But most of the people who know him don't expect that to happen.

I'll have the background on this tomorrow in the Fax.

UPDATE 3: From CBS-2:

CBS 2 News has learned: former governor Jim Edgar plans to announce tomorrow if he's going to run for his old office.

He says he hasn't decided yet, but it appears the focus is on personal issues.

UPDATE 4: At 10pm, an Edgar spokesman said that he brought up the CBS-2 story with the former governor and Edgar said he has no idea where that came from. There could still be an announcement, but it's not yet set in stone. We'll know in the morning.

Clinched!

Go Sox.

More Ryan stuff

The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform blog has an interesting twist on George Ryan's troubles.

George Ryan’s defense team have argued in public that the former governor received no payment for any of the illicit activities he allegedly conducted while in public office. But until they explain how his campaign fund “found” $157K in the last half of 2000, we can’t really be sure.

In July, 2001, Citizens for George Ryan filed an amendment to its campaign disclosure report for the second half of 2000 showing a new, surprise receipt of $156,423.70 . The PAC claimed this was an “adjustment to bank account”. The cash was held at North Community Bank, where the PAC had not previously reported holding funds. Ryan co-defendant Larry Warner was, at the time, a director of North Community Bank.

UPDATE: The Daily Herald has just posted a new story about the trial on its site.

Scott Fawell, the prosecution’s star witness, told jurors today that he still has strong positive feelings for his ex-boss George Ryan and strong negative feelings for federal prosecutors.

“You guys have got my head in a vise, basically,” said the imprisoned Fawell, when asked by prosecutors why he was testifying at Ryan’s federal corruption trial. [...]

Fawell showed his trademark bad-boy persona remains intact, responding cheekily to a question about what he was indicted for by saying “racketeering and other misdeeds.”

When asked by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Collins where he was staying, Fawell responded: “The MCC. It’s not the Drake.” [...]

The jury lost a member Thursday morning when a south suburban candy wholesaler informed U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer that he knew one of the witnesses. The first alternate juror will step up, leaving five alternates.

Question of the day

A commenter suggested this question the other day.

What do you think Governor Blagojevich has to do in order to right himself in the polls and win the election next year?

DeLay becomes issue in race here

If Washington DC corruption, which appears to be the big news right now, becomes a serious issue with voters in 2006, then this could make a difference for whoever ends up challenging Peter Roskam for Henry Hyde's seat.

A Democratic congressional candidate in the 6th District hopes to make political hay out of Tom DeLay’s legal problems at the expense of her likely Republican opponent.

Democrat Christine Cegelis and Republican state Sen. Peter Roskam are running for retiring U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde’s seat in the 2006 election.

Following the announcement of the House majority leader’s indictment by a Texas grand jury for campaign finance misdeeds, Cegelis characterized Roskam as a “protege” of DeLay’s.

“They’re cut from the same cloth,” the Rolling Meadows information technology specialist said Wednesday.

Roskam worked for DeLay in the mid-1980s as a legislative aide and has described him as an effective leader. Roskam’s campaign manager, Ryan McLaughlin, called it a reach to link the Wheaton resident with the recent allegations.

“Senator Roskam’s view is that we need to let the legal process work,” McLaughlin said.

It's still a long way to election day, however, and Hyde's district is most likely Republican enough to protect Roskam from the Democrats. He's also not generally perceived to be a kind of shady, power-hungry wheeler-dealer like DeLay. This could be a tough case to make. Your thoughts?

No free pass from Daley

Mayor Daley says he respects Jim Edgar, but he clearly has bad memories.

That's when the mayor was reminded that Edgar had proposed a tax swap in the past.

"Yeah, but that was at the end of his career. You can't propose something when you're leaving office and say, 'I wish, I hope it's going to happen,' and it's never going to happen," Daley said.

"You have to have the courage to do it before. If you don't have the courage to do it before, why are you doing it when you leave? . . . It was never a serious proposal. Everybody knew that."

And added:

But Daley couldn't resist taking a second potshot when a reporter asked, "Didn't you get tired of him saying no" to the city?

"He had a political position . . . that it was good to beat up Chicago. Everybody knows that," the mayor said.

Daley loved George Ryan, because Ryan was, in essence, a Chicago guy. Glenn Poshard was obviously not, so Ryan got the red-carpet treatment during the 1998 campaign and Poshard was given the bum's rush.

Blagojevich is also a Chicago guy, but he's not a Daley guy so Daley has no love for him. Still, between Edgar and Blagojevich, Daley is choosing Blagojevich - at least for now.

"I'm supporting [Gov.] Blagojevich," [Daley] said.

Guv plans rally

From Sneed:

Is Blago getting ready to kick off his re-election?

Sneed hears Gov. Blagojevich, whose name has surfaced as "Public Official A" in documents relating to a state health pension sandal, is trying to rally 10,000 supporters for a major event Oct. 23 at Finkl & Sons Steel, the plant where his father worked and the site where he announced his first gubernatorial run.

He's had a lot of events there, including fundraisers. His 2002 election-night HQ was at the plant as well.

Ryan trial

I've read all the coverage this morning and I think the best story today is in the Daily Herald. Kinda long, but good:

Bribes or just bridal gifts?

Monkey business or just good business?

Fraud or just friendship?

The first day of the federal corruption trial of former Gov. George Ryan pitted those dueling explanations against one another in daylong opening statements.

“This is a case about betrayal of the public trust,” prosecutor Zach Fardon told jurors in the morning. “The defendant used those important public offices (secretary of state and governor) to unfairly dole out taxpayer money to a chosen few.”

Countered Ryan attorney Dan K. Webb in the afternoon: “It’s not fraud unless George Ryan knew.”

Many of the city's columnists also weighed in today.

Kass catches a brief interview with Larry Warner and weaves it into a fun piece.

Brown thinks there may be some holes in the government's story.

Zorn talks about the theater of the trial.

Ryan's inner circle

The Tribune has a list of people in George Ryan's inner circle, if you're interested in boning up a little. Although most people here will already know this.

Ryan trial update

The Daily Herald has the story:

Former Gov. George Ryan traded state contracts to “a select inner circle of his friends and associates” in return for vacations, gambling cash, and even the band at his daughter’s wedding, federal prosecutors said this morning during opening statements in his federal corruption trial.

“This is a case about betraying the public trust,” assistant U.S. attorney Zach Fardon told jurors. [...]

Attorneys for Ryan and Warner are expected to make their opening statements Wednesday afternoon. [...]

U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer’s courtroom was packed, with audio also piped into an overflow room where three dozen reporters and young attorneys listened.

There's more. Go read it.

And check out the closing graf:

Ryan is the fourth Illinois governor in 40 years to face trial after leaving office.

Edgar update

Rumors are flying throughout the blogosphere and just about everywhere else that Jim Edgar will announce whether or not he's running this Friday (actually, whether he's out of the race or forming an exploratory committee - they don't want to make him an "official" candidate just yet). At least some of those rumors are based on a Chicago TV story that claimed Edgar said he would decide by then.

Trouble is, that report appears to be in error. As far as I can discern (and I asked), Edgar never said he'd decide by Friday.

Edgar is appearing at a pre-scheduled Chicago event Friday (Illinois Issues' 30th anniversary), which is adding heavy fuel to this particular rumor.

However, in talking with some top people, it seems Edgar is, indeed, looking at doing something before next week starts.

As I see it, Edgar probably wants to avoid having his announcement paired with the George Ryan trial. The trial schedule runs Monday through Thursday, so Edgar won't bump into trial coverage if he does something on Friday. And Friday's event will be heavily covered by the media, so it's a convenient time to do something.

However, as we all know, a Friday afternoon announcement would bury the coverage in Friday night's TV (low viewership) and Saturday papers (low readership), although follow-ups would certainly appear on Sunday.

A Saturday morning announcement would allow him to make the Sunday papers.

Sunday would give him strong coverage on Monday, but there is some thought that he might not get a lot of experienced political reporters at a Sunday event. I disagree (they'll be there), but whatever.

Right now, it may actually turn out to be a Friday announcement. I'll know more later today. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Talked to someone else very high up in the Edgar camp who said that the above analysis accurately reflects the current thinking.

From what I could gather, they're leaning towards Friday.

UPDATE 2: I just got off the phone with someone who said I was wrong that Edgar would run for governor. Um, I never said that. Someone else blogged about the same thing today, claiming that I thought he was in.

At one point a few weeks ago I wrote that I thought it was 53-47 that he'd make the race, and added that the prediction was made with much trepidation and easily subject to change. That's hardly a confident statement that I believed he was in the race to stay.

Please, people, try to read what I write, not what you think I mean. Thanks.

One more thing: My subscribers know everything I know except for the identities of the sources I've used. I'm not hinting at something that I know and can't tell you. I'm all the way out there on what I know.

Question of the day

If you could go back in time and delete or alter one Illinois law, what would it be? Why?

Ryan trial starts today

Jury selection is finally over. The marathon has just begun. Copley has a very good piece.

The group of five men and seven women - a racial mix that includes six blacks - emerged after prosecutors and defense lawyers chiseled away at a pool of more than 50 candidates by exercising a large but limited number of peremptory challenges. Six alternates also were retained for the anticipated four-month trial.

The jury includes two postal employees, a carpenter, a candy wholesaler, a telephone company lineman, a baker and a retired AT&T employee. The selections are contingent on none of the candidates dropping out before the jury is officially seated this morning.

This part is what should most concern Ryan's remaining friends.

A longtime Ryan friend and adviser, 67-year-old Larry Warner, is a co-defendant. He allegedly manipulated secretary of state contracts with Ryan's blessing.

Even if you believe that Ryan didn't do anything all that horrible, he's paired with Warner, and the worse Warner looks, the worse George will look.

This was interesting, however.

Also Tuesday, Ryan's defense attorneys and prosecutors argued before U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer about information that should be allowed in opening arguments or later stages of the trial. Ryan's lead lawyer, Dan Webb, said he should be permitted to tell jurors up-front about a secretly taped telephone conversation government witness Donald Udstuen had with Ryan.

Webb said Udstuen, a Ryan insider, was "programmed" by federal investigators to elicit incriminating statements from the then-governor about bribes Ryan allegedly was taking from two associates. Instead, Ryan "does not say anything incriminating at all," Webb said.

"It tends to show that he is innocent," he said as the ex-governor sat nearby.

Read the whole thing. Very good story.

News from the front

The Daily Herald has two stories today on legislative candidates. I've written about both of these races in the Capitol Fax.
This article reveals that Harper College Trustee Matt Murphy, as expected, has announced that he wants to replace retiring state Sen. Wendell Jones. Murphy is a Republican. GOP state Rep. Sid Mathias is also flirting with a run for Jones' seat, but hasn't yet made up his mind.

And This story reports that former DuPage County assistant state’s attorney Matt Fuesting will announce his candidacy this weekend to run against appointed state Rep. Randy Ramey in the GOP primary. Ramey replaced John Millner, who was appointed to the state Senate. Carol Stream Trustee Pamela Fenner has already said she will run against Ramey as well.

Confusion reigns

Remember that big pile of pork project money the governor released this week? There's a problem.

The $62,500 in state tax dollars now headed to Elk Grove Village for street lighting won’t actually buy any new lights. The village installed them years ago while the state cash languished.

Similarly, don’t expect any ribbon-cutting ceremonies tied to the $250,000 in state construction dollars going to Elmhurst Unit District 205.

That’s because the gymnasium for which that money was set aside was finished nearly three years ago, paid for with local dollars when state aid stalled.

Meanwhile, other suburban schools and groups are growing frustrated as millions of state dollars flow while their funding requests remain in limbo.

And there’s mounting confusion over when, or if, millions of additional state dollars for other long-stalled projects will be released.

Oy.

Emerald hearing is finally over

From the Daily Herald:

Attorneys for the Illinois Gaming Board told an administrative judge Tuesday that Emerald Casino Inc. should lose its gambling license for repeatedly lying to regulators about its plans to finance and build a casino in Rosemont.

But lawyers for the bankrupt casino argued the board is unfairly punishing Emerald because of separate allegations of mob influence in Rosemont, and said the state wants the lucrative license back only so it can sell it to another casino operator.

Their statements came during closing arguments in the Gaming Board’s four-month administrative hearing aimed at stripping Emerald of the state’s only unused casino license.

Administrative law judge Abner Mikva, a former U.S. Court of Appeals chief judge and congressman overseeing the revocation hearing, is expected to make his recommendation sometime this fall to the Gaming Board, which will vote on whether to revoke Emerald’s license. If the board revokes it, Emerald can appeal to an Illinois Appellate Court.

Never try to predict what Abner Mikva will do based on reading editorials or columnists. The guy is as fair and open-minded as they come.

Question of the day

Let's say for the sake of argument that Jim Edgar does end up running for governor.

Who should be his running mate? If you don't have a name in mind, what sort of person should be his lieutenant governor candidate? Why?

Ryan trial

Scott Fawell finally admits the obvious. From the Sun-Times:

In a statement to the feds -- revealed in part through defense motions Monday -- former Ryan protege Scott Fawell said Ryan, as the Illinois secretary of state, knew prior administrations bought and sold political fund-raising tickets on state time but, "We took it to a higher level."

No kidding.

But I also wonder whether that statement will bring Jim Edgar's name into the mix. He was SoS before Ryan, you will recall.

Fawell also claims Ryan knew at least some of what was going on.

Fawell told prosecutors -- who accuse Ryan of steering state contracts to cronies and taking cash, gifts, vacations and other perks in return -- that Ryan knew about a master list that Fawell kept. The list included people and companies that had helped Ryan's election efforts, and it was used by Fawell to dole out contracts.

Fawell indicated to the feds, according to Monday's filings, that Ryan agreed with this arrangement.

The Sun-Times also has a list of things (at the bottom of its story) that Ryan's attorneys want the federal judge to keep out of the trial. Go read the whole thing. It's not as cut and dried as the headline (Fawell: Ryan knew about scheme) makes it appear, but it gives us a good idea of what Fawell might reveal on the stand.

The other white meat

Governor Blagojevich released $195 million in pork project money this week. The Tribune suggests that it's election-related.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who railed against pork-barrel spending when he campaigned for governor, has quietly begun releasing money for pork projects frozen since he began his term.

Expected to be announcing his re-election campaign soon, the Democratic governor has signed off on sending up to $7 million to protect Chicago's shoreline, $4 million for the Joffrey Ballet and millions of dollars more for buildings, bike paths and ball fields, administration records showed.

The State Journal-Register spun it a different way.

Some Republicans, meanwhile, speculated the state's top Democrat might be trying to win support for a new capital spending bill by releasing money for long-stalled member initiatives. Rausch acknowledged that Blagojevich is interested in getting a new capital spending bill approved, but said no decision has been made whether to pursue one during the fall veto session next month.

And the Daily Herald made this important point (as did others):

But when Gov. Rod Blagojevich took office in 2003, he halted all funding, even to those groups that had already received a portion of their state grants. As a candidate, Blagojevich had blasted such spending as wasteful.

So it remained for more than two years, despite numerous pleas from agencies left without money and the lawmakers who’d requested it. However, within recent days state checks have been going out to many of these groups.

Edgar's health

Edgar wouldn't tell reporters yesterday what his doctors have told him. From the Tribune:

Former Gov. Jim Edgar said Monday that he is only days away from making a decision on whether to seek his old office but was reticent to discuss what his doctors told him about the potential health impact of another campaign. [...]

Edgar, 59, had previously indicated that along with family concerns, he also would consult with doctors and undergo tests. In 1992, Edgar underwent angioplasty; he had quadruple bypass surgery in 1994. In 1998 he was hospitalized for a partially obstructed blood vessel at the bottom of his heart.

Asked if his doctors had given him a "green light" on embarking on another campaign, Edgar said, "Doctors never give you a green light on anything.

"I think I'm healthy. There's a lot more to that than just tests. But I have no reason to think that I couldn't run," he said. Asked if his doctors had given him any specific advice, Edgar declined to answer the question.

Expect that question to be repeated by everyone else until he finally answers it. He'd better have a response ready when he speaks Friday at a long-planned Chicago event (or if he announces an exploratory committee before then).

This is a big reason why Edgar's choice of a running mate will be so important. I'll have more on some of the current thinking about the political angle in tomorrow's Capitol Fax, but his health means Edgar needs to find someone who can step in and run the government if he is incapacitated.

And, please, don't read too much into the above paragraphs. Either he'll run or he won't. We just have to let this play itself out.

More on the Fitzgerald endorsement of Rauschenberger

As might be expected, former US Sen. Peter Fitzgerald's endorsement of Sen. Steve Rauschenberger's gubernatorial candidacy was buried under the news that Jim Edgar would decide whether to run in days, not weeks.

CBS-2 had the best coverage, reporting on Fitzgerald's and Rauschenberger's criticisms of Edgar:

"We distinctly remember being called up to the governor's office. We were taken to the woodshed,"� said Peter Fitzgerald, a supporter for the candidacy of Steve Rauschenberger.

�"The governor's dalliance or kind of vacillation about whether he's gonna run or not has got some people kind of on the sidelines,�" said candidate Rauschenberger.

And a rebuke from Joe Birkett.

"�We don't need another divisive primary. We don't need republicans shooting arrows at each other. So when Rasucehenberger and Fitzgerald did that today, I think it's a mistake to do that,�" said Joe Birkett, who may also run for governor.

But this was buried at the bottom of a Quad City Times piece:

Fitzgerald, meanwhile, said he is selling his house in Illinois and is living in McLean, Va., where he can watch his 13-year-old son play baseball and work with other investors to purchase the Washington Nationals Major League Baseball team.

In other words, he can endorse Rauschenberger, but he won't be able to vote for the guy.

Happy Birthday, Nicholas!

One of the finest young men I know. My nephew. Nicholas George Miller. 17 today.



Tried calling your cell, buddy, but your voicemail-box is full.

More George Ryan stuff

Eric Krol's weekly column is always good, but particularly excellent this time.

What I learned while sitting through two days of jury selection at former Gov. George Ryan’s federal corruption trial:

It’s been a sobering experience for reporters and should be required research for political consultants. The overwhelming majority of potential jurors interviewed so far know little about Ryan or the scandal that led to his indictment. Maybe they saw a few headlines or skimmed a story. TV isn’t getting off any easier — I stopped counting the would-be jurors who “watch TV news only to get the weather.”

The lack of knowledge about recent political events astounded me, not because I labor under any delusion that most of the public awaits every political story with bated breath, but because among a large pool of average people, the ignorance was almost universal. Jury selection also probably just reaffirms Chapter 1 in the political consultants’ standard play book: you can win simply by running a flurry of negative TV ads, taking few solid positions and making even fewer promises. Few are paying attention, apparently.

•Another surprise, and a heartening one, has been the eagerness of so many to serve on this jury. It’s not going to be summer camp: four days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for four months. But many in the pool appear to have a genuine patriotic motivation to do their civic duty if called upon.

Read the whole thing. I can't do it justice.

UPDATE: Fixed problem with link. My bad. Oops.

Much sooner than later

Jim Edgar just told reporters that he would have an announcement about his future much sooner rather than later. He's about to begin speaking at a long-planned Naperville business event. Keep an eye on this post for any updates, but I'm skeptical that there will be a "big" announcement today.

UPDATE: From what I've heard so far, there was no announcement today. More later.

UPDATE 2: Edgar told a reporter on his way out that it would be days rather than weeks.

UPDATE 3: If you haven't had enough today, Edgar will appear this Friday at the Union League Club for a luncheon to celebrate Illinois Issues' 30th Anniversary.

UPDATE 4: I wonder which event gets more press today? Edgar's non-announcement or Peter Fitzgerald's endorsement of Steve Rauschenberger?

UPDATE 5: Jim Edgar just called. I'll have more in Wednesday's Capitol Fax.

Column moved to Monday

The Daily Southtown, one of many newspapers that run my weekly column, has moved me from Sunday to Monday for various reasons. In case you're wondering, I'm happy with the move.

This week's version is about the ICC and the governor.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich finally started showing a little of that "new way" of doing business last week that he has promised for so many years but so often failed to deliver.

Since Day One, Blagojevich has been deep in the pockets of the state's utility industry. He has supported just about every major utility initiative of the past three years, including hugely controversial proposals by phone giant SBC and electric utility ComEd.

Etc., etc.

Speaking of the Southtown, best wishes to its columnist/political reporter Kristen McQueary, who is taking maternity leave. Kristen returns in January.

Holy voter file, Batman!

That's quite a volunteer base.

A prominent Chicagoan took another step today in his effort to unseat Mayor Daley.

About 3,000 people took a class Sunday at Salem Baptist Church on the South Side so they can register voters for next year's elections.

The church's reverend, State Senator James Meeks, has been a vocal critic of Mayor Daley.

Fitz to endorse Rauschenberger

Former US Sen. Peter Fitzgerald will endorse Sen. Steve Rauschenberger's gubernatorial bid today. From a press release:

Former U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald (R-IL), widely regarded during his tenure for his commitment to root out public corruption and his selection of similarly disposed U.S. Attorneys, will be in Chicago this morning to endorse State Senator Steve Rauschenberger (R-Elgin) for Governor.

Fitzgerald is not waiting for the widely anticipated "Edgar decision," saying that Rauschenberger is the Republican best suited to "continue my efforts to clean up public corruption in Illinois."

Fitzgerald will discuss his decision to endorse Rauschenberger in light of the ongoing federal corruption trial of former Governor George Ryan and the recent controversies surrounding the alleged illegal dealings of certain officials of Governor Blagojevich's administration with state pension funds.

The press conference will be held today at 10am at the Chicago Hilton & Towers.

Trial blog

CBS-2's George Ryan trial blog has been giving us insight ranging from the trivial and humurous:

For the most part Ryan listens intently to the questioning of the potential jurors and takes notes. Sometimes it appears that Ryan is just doodling though � he spent several minutes one day drawing a design on his Styrofoam water cup. Several times Ryan has asked the judge to order the jurors to speak into the microphone because he is hard of hearing and can�t make out everything they are saying. Ryan also checks in with the court sketch artists from time to time to see how they are drawing him.

...to very informative:

Jury selection was only supposed to take 3 days, but it�s been 4 days already and they�re only a little over half way done. The judge is allowing 30-minutes per jury for questioning by both Government and defense attorney�s. Sitting in court it can be a bit mind numbing to hear the same questions over and over again, but in large part the jurors have been very patient with the lawyers and understanding about the process. It looks like most jurors are willing to give up at least 4-months of their lives to serve on this jury. The demographic make-up of the potential jury is very diverse, although many of the jurors appear to be of retirement age or older.

A must-read.

Trib picks up on something from here

I've noticed in the past week that some commenters have been referring to Governor Blagojevich as "A-Rod" as in "Public Official A." The Tribune's editorial board picked up on the same thing.

From Chicago to Springfield and beyond, he's being mocked as A-Rod--and that is not a comparison to the New York Yankees' third baseman.

The "A" is a reference to a high-ranking Public Official "A." A recent plea agreement in a federal criminal case ties that unnamed person to an alleged scheme to swap state pension business for campaign cash. There were a flurry of press reports, based on leaks from anonymous sources, that official A is the governor.

Blagojevich has plenty of enemies, and that's ammo enough for them to tag him with the mean new nickname. But it has also forced him into the awkward "when did you stop beating your wife" position of having to publicly deny something of which no one has openly accused him.

The Trib edit ends with pretty much the same plea I made in Friday's Capitol Fax.

Blagojevich says he's committed to running a squeaky-clean administration. To make that case, he should visibly distance himself from the cronies whose aggressive fundraising has left him with an enormous campaign war chest but no end of grief. But to date, he has refused to chastise them.

If Blagojevich wonders why so many are willing to think the worst of him, that might be a good place to start.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Comments closed for the weekend

Some really harsh and hateful people were commenting tonight. I don't feel like monitoring this site all weekend as I have several things to do, so I'm shutting down comments until Monday morning.

Have a great weekend, unless you're one of the jerks.

UPDATE: I'll reopen comments in a few minutes. I liked the respite and I think this will be a regular thing from now on. I'll close the comments Friday at 5 (Friday evening seems to be when many of the total jerks choose to comment anyway) and reopen them Monday morning.

Currie OK

Good news:

Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie was released from the hospital this afternoon after being involved in a traffic accident last night.

The Chicago Democrat's chief of staff, Eleanor Gordon, said she was released and she is in good spirits today..

She says doctors had to stitch a minor injury to Currie's right thumb. She adds Currie was kept overnight at Northwestern Hospital as a precaution.

Police say Currie was injured in a rollover accident on the city's South Side. Gordon says no one else was injured and Currie was driving alone.

If you see this, Crystal, you're in my thoughts

I just remembered, thanks to my mom, that my niece Crystal is going to school in Huntsville, Texas. My sister-in-law says that Rita is supposed to stall right over the top of her and dump 15 to 20" of rain on them. Several relatives are staying with her who evacuated from near Galveston, so things are a bit cramped.

Crystal is a sweet girl, smart, responsible and level-headed. A great all-around kid.

Mobster tale

For whatever reason, most political types love stories about the Mafia. And here's one of the better stories I've seen lately.

The way Albert Caesar Tocco was tried and convicted of racketeering and extortion - the way his jurors remained nameless for safety's sake and his wife sang her heart out from the witness stand - were the stuff of Chicago mafia legend.

His motto should have read "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's," because this ferocious south suburban mob boss demanded a cut from every vice operator south of 95th Street. His Chicago Heights-based empire shaking down gambling and prostitution houses and chop shops stretched from Calumet City south to Kankakee, from Joliet over the Indiana border to Valparaiso.

Tocco died Wednesday morning in prison at age 77.

His iron-fisted reign and fierce reputation for showing no mercy throughout the Southland mimicked Caesar's. He was the kingpin who needed to be taken first before a cleanup of Chicago Heights crime and politics could follow, said those who followed his infamous career.

"Just the way he looked at you, just the way he talked to you was scary," said retired FBI agent Bob Pecoraro.

If you get a few minutes, read the whole thing. It's a great story.

Hopefully, there won't be a problem, but...

The company that handles my news feeds has all of its servers in Houston, Texas, which may be in the path of Hurricane Rita. They have a standby system in Seattle, but it's pretty bare bones.

Bottom line is that the news feeds might be slow to load this weekend.

Blog roundup

Hiram is doing some of his best work lately. Highly recommended stuff.

Leach is settling in to a steady pace of solid output.

Larry is making up for an extended absence by writing long op-ed pieces that take a while to wade through but are always well-reasoned, even if you disagree with his politics.

Fritchey's voice is coming through well on his new blog.

Tucker never fails to crack me up. Go Sox.

Illini Pundit is maturing faster every day. That blog of his is a must-read.

Illinois Pundit, like many others, has been focusing lately on the Roberts nomination, but he often finds a local angle.

Inside Dope is starting to get back to local issues after a long detour into national politics and Hurricane Katrina.

One Man still rocks.

I hate to play favorites, but Dennis the Peoria Pundit, is one of mine.

Carl may have some good news about his lawsuit (read the story he links to on this post).

Diane is doing a bang-up job over there and has put together a good blog about Metro East politics, among many other things.

Jake is my buddy. Jake is a good guy. Jake is finally blogging again, and that's great news.

RMMF is as quirky as ever.

Austin Mayor hasn't been blogging a lot, but he still keeps up a regular pace.

Klau, as always, is God.

Cirque du Democrat is whacking the Dems on a regular basis. Fun stuff.

ARRRGGHH! I just lost over half of this post after a browser crash. I have too much other stuff to do to go back and rebuild it, so I'll just apologize to all I haven't mentioned and try to get back to it over the weekend.

Question of the day

Let's combine today's question with Friday White Sox Blogging.

How do you think the Sox will end up this season? Will they blow it? Will they go all the way? What do you think has happened to the team since the All-Star break?

I try to avoid giving my own opinion about QOTD's, so I'll just say this:

Go Sox.

UPDATE: Three in a row. Sweet.

This could be very, very big

Say what you want about her writing style and her Hollywood reports, but Michael Sneed has proven time and time again that she has the best federal prosecutorial sources in Chicago.

Sneed hears rumbles a top, top player in the state health pension scandal may plead guilty today.

Stay tuned.