Does anyone else agree with me that our state should be DNC HQ?

[Tweed]

I've been posting on in the GD forums about how Illinois should be the state that the Democrats push and give a special role. We turned out huge for Kerry and we have two of the best Senators in the Senate starting January. We have five out of the six executive officers and we have a state senate and house. We are a Midwestern state with a great deal of farmland and yet we go Dem. Yeah, I know we have a lot of counties that went for Bush, but we are a Midwestern anomaly. We had a great deal of non-Chicago counties go for Kerry too. I think that we should build up Illinois so strong that the blue from this state just can't help but overflow to our Midwestern neighbors. I think we need to push for Durbin to get Minority Leader over Harry Reid. I see Nevada as a Western state, and I don't see how that helps us in the Great Plains or in the Midwest. If you agree with me on Durbin, I suggest writing letters to all of the Democratic Senators at www.senate.gov. If you don't please tell me why. I'm not claiming to be an expert and I want to avoid looking like a fool.


Illinois: The Bluest of the Blue

[GettysbergII]

1. Hard for me not to agree as a Chicagoan

Growing up with the first Richard Daly as Mayor I never that I'd live to see the day that Illinois would be a candidate for the 'capital of progressive politicals. And of course the primarily rural downstate as deeply republican.

[Rich Hunt]

6. rural voters

A lot of those rural 'red state' people voted for Obama, btw. Check the maps. In the exit polls, a large number of folks said they voted for Obama as a vote against his opponent.

The one good thing about Alan Keyes is that he presented the right-wing theocratic agenda - unvarnished. And people found it so hateful and un-American that they voted against it.

People will vote for integrity and intelligence over hatred, corruption and lies. In Illinois, 'moral values' means something else entirely. That is the lesson here.

[GettysbergII]

7. Great point!

Keyes is a Dominionist and a member of the CNP and he most certainly was floating a test balloon for a watered down version of their twisted beliefs. I don't know about the unvarnished part.

http://www.thementalmilitia.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=251&mode=thread


According to Dominionist literature, "biblical rule" means execution -- preferably by stoning -- of homosexuals and other "revelers in licentiousness"; massive tax cuts for the rich (because "wealth is a mark of God's favor"); the elimination of government programs to alleviate poverty and sickness (because these depend o­n "confiscation of
wealth"); and enslavement for debtors. No legal challenges to "God's order" will be allowed. And because this order is divinely ordained, the "elect" can use any means necessary to establish it, including deception, subversion, even violence. As Robertson himself adjures the faithful: "Zealous men force their way in."

[Rich Hunt]

9. you're right

It's even worse than that, but you could certainly read between the lines. It's no secret he's a theocrat with no regard for church / state separation.

What is disturbing is the number of people who DID vote for him. I still find that number too large.

Theocracy is treasonous.

[GettysbergII]

11. I thought that as first but......

.......that percentage would probably vote Republican in IL if the GOP candidate was a homeless wino.

[Tweed]

8. Welcome to the DU!

The more people from Illinois we have on the DU, the better. I look forward to your future posts.

[VivaKerry]

2. You have my vote!!!

Will send some notes to head dems.

[Goathead]

3. Yes, I like Illinois

I spent a lot of time there this summer, drove old Route 66 from Saint Louis to Chicago. Hung out in Oak Park admiring the Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. Plus Paul Simon was from there and I always liked him. Mighty fine state you have there.

[Kire]

4. actually, New Jersey is bluer

but, our state party is so corrupt, you can have it

[murielm99]

5. Good idea!

Yes, we do have repuke counties. But we made great inroads even in some of those counties this year. My very republican township went for Obama!

The repuke party here is in disarray. It would be a perfect time to consolidate our gains.

[Rich Hunt]

10. caution

I would caution against being too complacent, though. The right wing will be waging their battle at the smallest levels of government - they're already doing it. They'll run fundamentalists for dog-catcher if they have to - anything to gain a few more legitimacy points for their views.

Don't think it's ever over in Illinois.

[davsand]

12. Your point is WELL MADE!!

We toppled the GOP reign in 2000 here in Champaign County when we took control of the County Board. They have been most unpleasant since then.

This year, the entire GOP campaign was based on an appointment to the Supervisor of Assessments office that the GOP was unhappy about. They claimed it was based on partisanship rather than qualifications. They went so far as to CALL the new S of A unqualified in PUBLIC!! The GOP radio campaign actually featured this retired lady whining that the evil Dems had not chosen her pick of replacements!

The GOP lady who was holding the office decided to retire and she wanted to just "hand off" the office to her GOP Deputy with no interviews or any discussion. That is how it was always done by the Repubs when they were in control...

The Dem County Board Chair held interviews with multiple candidates then took a recommendation to the Full Board. They decided on a guy who'd been a Township Assessor for more than 10 years. He was a Democrat.

The GOP has been in a huge snit about it ever since.

I realize this is probably not of much interest to you all, except for the fact that the IL GOP will probably be every bit as unethical and evil as the local GOP has been. Our Dem HQ had bricks thrown thru the front windows twice in this election and EVERY campaign this year was dirty as hell. THAT is what you can expect statewide.

Laura

[Tweed]

13. How are things going for the Democrats in Champaign?

Did we retain control?

[davsand]

14. We held control and picked up another county wide office!

All the GOP evil was for naught--we did just fine at the polls. The Dems' map held up VERY well and County Board is still in Dem control. The top vote getter for Champaign County was our new DEMOCRATIC States Attorney, and our Democratic County Auditor was re-elected. Obama won in this county, and so did Kerry...

It was a very good night for local Dems.


Laura

[bluesoccermom]

15. Dem HQ

Dem HQ here is a great idea! agree with earlier post about"not being complacent". I`m in mchenry county and I can`t believe that Keyes got almost half the votes here, that is beyond scary.

[newyawker99]

16. Hi bluesoccermom!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Tweed]

17. Didn't they vote for Bean too though?

[bluesoccermom]

18. bean

I don`t know how the county voted for as far as Melissa Bean, but I`m sure glad she won. Crane`s ads were just more smear and fear.

[WildEyedLiberal]

19. Sheldon was an ass about student voter registration, too

And yet the UIUC College Dems managed to register over 10,000 new voters. Go us!

Champaign County is quite a bit more liberal than my home county (Moultrie), but I would absolutely love to see downstate IL become more blue. I actually remained registered in Moultrie Co. so I could help out the Dems down there; they needed it more than Champaign, I must say. Moultrie County is a bunch of cornfields and, while not exactly a bastion of conservatism, it's definitely red-leaning. I was quite the anomaly at my high school when I wrote anti Bush columns for my school paper as editor-in-chief :evilgrin:

[davsand]

20. He screws the students EVERY year.

The biggest problem we've had in getting rid of Sheldon has been reminding the students how much of a mess he is. He goes up for election in the gubnatorial year, and by then many of the students he disenfranchised in the Presidential election have graduated and moved away.

The Dems tried to form an election comission thru the County Board, and a couple of folks got cold feet in the 11th hour and backed off the support for it.

I stood in front of the County Board and, basically, reminded them that they owe it to the voters to protect their right to vote--especially from a County Clerk who selectively follows the laws... I still have employees at the county who hate me for that.

Are you one of the College Dems? I'm betting we have crossed paths a few times if you are!


Laura