I would like to hear from either Governor candidate a detailed plan on how to solve Illinois’ current budget crisis. Brady thinks it will be simple to turn our economy around, he suggests creating more jobs in Illinois (Ok-how are you going to create them? By cutting taxes, we are already $13 billion in debt? In addition, why are we letting him off the hook from having to provide a detailed budget report, or anything of substance for that matter?). Quinn thinks all he needs to do is raise taxes (Ok, based on his proposals, there’s roughly $4 billion – how are you going to cover the rest?). Unfortunately, we all lose with either of these two men at the helm because they have both shown the lack of political fortitude to put together a plan and be an honest and stern broker with all the players in order to bring our state back from the brink.
Kirk & Giannoulias – need to address the future of America – we continue to slide relative to the rest of the world. I wonder if either of them saw Newsweek's “Best Countries in the World” – we are currently ranked overall 11th. (11th? What the hell happened to being #1?) This ranking is based on our standings in health, economy, and politics. While we may be high on the list in economic dynamism & quality of life, we are 26th in both Education & Health. This race needs to be more about the issues, and less about the men who are running. It isn’t about Kirk being a liar or Giannoulias being a rich kid who may have messed up his Dad's bank, they need to talk about the serious issues we currently faced with today. Totally unsolicited advice to both candidates, take the higher ground, and stop with the character assassinations. Today calls for serious politicians & genuine, sincere debate, currently we have neither.
While a third party may rise to fill this void in the near future, I don’t think it’s the Tea Party. Their cry for politicians with backbone will only lead to their own demise down the road. They may understand that in order to govern, tough choices need to be made, such as cutting social security or the department of education, but what they fail to understand is that in order for people to come to decide what those tough choices are, how much they are cut, etc., etc., they’ll need to negotiate and make compromises. So if they elect folks with backbone with the expectation that they will govern effectively, they will need to make compromises. That being said, they will eventually look like spineless jellyfish down the road when they do negotiate, sending their followers in a tizzy and the movement will tear itself apart.
History lesson #1 -Let me remind the Tea Party folks of one little thing about our constitution and how it was created, it was called the "Great Compromise" which without, we would have never had a constitution.
History lesson #1 -Let me remind the Tea Party folks of one little thing about our constitution and how it was created, it was called the "Great Compromise" which without, we would have never had a constitution.
Today, we have to move forward with what is on the ticket, and just like the Super Bowl, even if your hometown team isn't in it, you have to pick a side. That being said, for Governor, I would have to pick Quinn for his sincerity. I genuinely think that he means what he says - it's just hard to know what it is exactly he is saying because he doesn't have a clear message. Straighten up, Governor Quinn, quit scribbling your speeches on cocktail napkins and take the helm. You're no longer a stone thrower, your on the inside now.
As for the next IL Senator, it's a tough choice because it truly is the lesser of 2 evils. Kirk went too far right to win the primary, a place he never had to go, and he can't find his way back home - which by the way was pretty darn close to the center, a place he managed well as Congressman of the 10th District. Giannoulias may have the full support of the White House behind him now, but I question whether or not he was their first choice. In addition, the White House would be behind any Democrat who ran for US Senate in Illinois; their support behind him speaks more to politics, than about the man. Like I said before, it's a tough choice, but following the Super Bowl theme, I have to give it Giannoulias. Why? He's young, and if he keeps his nose clean and follows Sen. Durbin's lead, he could be in the Senate for a long time, which all of us could benefit from down the road. It's not a bad thing to have a Senator/Congressman with seniority and institutional knowledge in Congress.
Moving forward, in order to create a more perfect union, we need more moderates to become part of the political process, too many folks are disenfranchised by both political parties, choosing to stay home rather than engage in a process which looks more like valley high girls’ petty gossip than Jimmy Stewart's "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." We need more people to engage in the political arena who will demand that both sides come together on substantive issues, and leave the wedge issues at the door. In order for that to happen, we need our politicians to grow up, deal with the tough issues, and leave the petty gossip to Bravo’s “Housewives.”
