The Beast

It’s not as easy to find her political views as you say it is, raBBit.

So, is there any truth to this? Will Democrats fail to gain support in the midterms because most Americans aren’t as liberal as their base of voters, they want their taxes lowered instead of raised and most voters want their parties to work together when it makes sense? I hope history is on the Democrats side in November to slow Trump’s agenda and bring some balance since there will be a battle over congressional maps in 2020 and because the GOP have held the congress soft as long as I can remember. What do you all think will happen?

What’s the latest on Alec Hansen?

QUOTE (Sox-35th @ Mar 28, 2018 -> 09:45 AM) Well, I was wrong, the new Score shakeup is...interesting. Love Danny Mac and prefer Bernstein middays. He and Goff could get pretty toxic. Danny Parkins does a great job, too. I can’t agree here, Spiegs did not deserve to be fired and there’s a void from 9-1 now. McKnight is bland and Bernstein is on the hot seat. He was neutered with the move and can’t do his usual antics anymore. Parkins sucks and Mac was better with Spiegs. Spiegs was the soul of the Score. And, 83 Nation is dead, sadly. The wrong producers are with the wrong hosts. Hopefully station management figured out they messed up big time and that listeners are switching the dial to AM 1000. I know that I am and that what happened is disappointing.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Mar 28, 2018 -> 03:53 PM) So... busy month in politics So...Ives didn’t win, thank God. Rauner looks vulnerable to Pritzker which isn’t the best thing in the world. The candidate in my district, the 6th congressional district, Sean Casten, won the democratic primary and is trying to unseat Peter Roskam. It would be sweet if he could pick Roskam’s seat off after Roskam did not hold town halls for constituents (phone town halls only), wanted to repeal and replace the ACA and voted for the tax cut. Hopefully Casten gets enough support to beat him.

Since Trump and some republicans counter that this is a mental health problem and not a gun problem, what can they actually do about mental health? Throw money at the problem? Unlikely. Enact the Obama executive order (that Trump got rid of) under actual legislation? What would they actually propose? Also, what can be done about guns bought in neighboring states that are brought back to Illinois and put in the wrong hands (gangs)? What can be done about that?

The Illinois General Assembly took up four bills today. My rep, David Olsen (R, IL) voted yes to support new licensing agreements for firearm dealers, create a gun dealer licensing board on one bill, to support the ban of bum stocks on another bill, to support a 72 hour waiting period before buying assault weapons and 50 caliber rifles. Voted no on the bill that increased the age to 21 for buying assault weapons and high frequency magazines and banning .50 caliber rifle. Four separate bills. I wonder if he would support a revised bill to raise the age limit without banning rifles. Jeanne Ives voted no on all of these bills, probably to play the political game with Bruce Rauner ahead of the primary on March 20.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 27, 2018 -> 07:56 AM) In 2020 I think the Dems have to get someone not so serious about being POTUS to run in the primaries, and just be like Trump, only fire away at Trump. Take all the potshots. He's easy to rile up. Why don't Dems take advantage of this? Make him go off the deep end. Take the shots. Talk about Trump U, Stormy Daniels, Russians, his stupid offspring, all the hits. Call his lackeys president Jared or president Kelly or whoever is around then. Make fun of Ivanka speaking whisper. Talk about his fake marriage. His admitted sexual abuse. Everything. He. Can't. Take. It. It's low and dirty, but enough playing fair. Mark Cuban?

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 26, 2018 -> 07:31 AM) Its to late for the pensions IMO. Madigan is basically Bill Wirtz, we need him to ride off into the graveyard sunset before anything can possibly get done. Well, he’s 75. Having Madigan in as the speaker is one factor, but the Illinois constitution also restricts doing anything as well. Hopefully that can get amended and there’s a way to ensure new employees, current employees and retirees of the teacher’s retirement system can get some sort of retirement benefit, but with age cutbacks and with a greater emphasis on 403(b)s while still contributing to the pension system.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 25, 2018 -> 09:57 PM) Rauner is not really friendly with Trump or pushing policies like that. He came in to office with the idea that he could just get his policy preferences done completely with little or no compromise, and that helped lead to that record period of no budget and all the associated problems. He's recently been trying to avoid any responsibility ("I'm not in charge!"), and his only political play seems to be too whine about madigan (though that's true of a lot of Illinois politicians). He could still win in November, but he's not particularly popular and turnout is expected to favor Democrats nationally, and races like the one against Roskam could get more motivated Dems that'd vote against Rauner too. AG is important and there are eight Democrats running for the open spot. Two Republicans I think. Democrat machine politics are heavily controlled by madigan, and Rauner essentially owns the state GOP with his personal wealth. It's a bad situation all around as far as that goes. Make sure to vote both in the primaries next month and then the general! Thanks for the post. I read somewhere that Scott Drury breaks with his party and is anti-Madigan so I’m thinking of voting with him. I figured Biss might be better to vote for than Pritzker or Rauner but I don’t know if Pritzker would break with Madigan on policy direction or not.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Feb 25, 2018 -> 09:01 PM) I don’t live there but I say vote union, vote teachers, vote pensions. Just go down with the ship and vote D across the board. It’s too late for moderation, cutbacks or austerity of any kind. So f*** it- blaze of glory. My wife is a teacher and isn’t banking on a pension. We are hopeful there can be some kind of reform and she is getting set up on a 403(b) to play some defense against the failure of the pension system to pay its obligations. I feel that we owe it to the next generation be conscious with our vote which is why I generally split my ticket. That and because I don’t agree with the two party system or with the current administration’s policies.

I’m not sure if this belongs here or in the Democrat thread but I historically split my ticket and am voting out an incumbent in Peter Roskam nationally. However, locally, I am looking for candidates who are more moderate or democratic that will go against Mike Madigan. Does anyone think any of them would go against the man who is dolling our support to their campaign? Is Rauner really doing a bad job as governor and is he somehow involved with Trump? What positions on the ballot actually have an impact on Illinois, given that the general assembly can’t get anything done?

I bet Trump runs again, even if he is approaching the normal life expectancy at that point. Pence is even more sick than Trump is. I would love to see another woman run but actually win, which is why I mentioned Gillibrand. The only person I could see winning right now is Biden.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Feb 24, 2018 -> 11:02 AM) She would lose. Every attack used against Hillary could equally be used against her. They even look enough alike. I've never experienced a more calculating, methodical, power-hungry person than Gillibrand. Don't get me wrong, I think she's great. But she's the epitome of a political opportunist, and has had her sites set on the Presidency from the moment she chose which district in NY to move to, because she wanted to pick the one where she'd have the best chance of winning. I don't think - if you're trying to go for authenticity - she'll do the Democratic Party any favors. Okay, then who do you and Caufield think would win then? I can’t see Warren beating Trump and I’m not so sure Bernie is the best bet either. Personally, and I know it wouldn’t happen, but a Hickenlooper/Kasich ticket would appeal to me. A purple ticket of sorts.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Feb 23, 2018 -> 11:09 PM) Anywho, have us democrats come up with anybody better than Biden? Fully believe he can beat Trump in 2020, which is literally the only thing democrats need to be concerned about when it comes to presidential candidates. Gillibrand.

Hopefully those maps get redrawn in other districts too since some involve gerrymandering and data analysis can prove that. Also, it would be great if Romney gets elected to see him block the Trump agenda, since he seems unbound like McCain.

I know it is just a fangraphs projection but will all of the starters have an ERA above 5? I’d think the team can still be better than 65 wins as well.

Opt out after year two. I don’t remember opt outs being part of contracts until recently, when I believe Cespedes was given an opt out.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 18, 2018 -> 02:04 PM) When will Trump say or do something about Russian meddling other than say he is supposedly cleared? I guess now is not the time. When will he shut up about the 2016 election? Did his predecessors bring old candidates up as much as he does?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Feb 18, 2018 -> 12:47 PM) He doesn't listen to his constituents yet has been elected and re elected 6 times? Sounds like the constituents are the problem, not him. He certainly hasn’t listened to all of his constituents, only really holding phone calls and not many town halls. Clearly he is not representing everyone. I posted this mostly because it was an idea for this topic.

How about this idea from a candidate trying to unseat Peter Roskam, a GOP incumbent who doesn’t listen to his constituents?

QUOTE (JenksIsMyHero @ Feb 16, 2018 -> 08:09 PM) That 18 school shootings this year figure isnt exactly accurate... https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/no-the...m=.4e7203f9b404 What is the real statistic? Also I don’t know if any of these ideas would work but I figured I would mention them. - We could reignite the conversation about the failed 2013 bill to ensure criminals don’t get guns and there’s a consistent background check for the purchase of guns. https://projects.propublica.org/represent/v...113/senate/1/97 - A ban on assault weapons is likely not going to be the first thing the GOP will want to welcome since they control the government at all levels. What if state legislators were voted in to control these weapons in their own states and the loopholes from private gun shows were closed. Thise found with illegal purchases from along state lines or existing assault weapons that weren’t collected could face a felony charge on their record. Exchanging an assault rifle for a pistol with local law enforcement could be an idea. - Ban bum stocks in light of what happened in Las Vegas, deeming them a necessary measure to protect civilians. This is not restricting gun ownership but it is getting rid of capabilities that a responsible gun owner doesn’t need. - Senators who are given money from the NRA should be called out publicly and smeared in a way that shows their voting record and contributions from the NRA. We could show a correlation between their public statements and the donations they receive from the NRA during election season. I was thinking of something like this: https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/16/politics/thr...trnd/index.html - Encourage donations to organizations like Moms Demand Action so that Action can be taken locally. Research state legislators and donate money to those who have pro gun control stances. Encourage rich individuals who are independent, democratic or moderate Republicans to donate to these causes to offset the NRA votes. https://momsdemandaction.org - Continue the discussion with those with opposing viewpoints to see where common ground could be found. Not having a conversation is not productive to solving problems. Keep up the messaging through public service ads. Consider the ideas of having retired police officers and army personnel in schools and metal detectors in exchange for trying different solutions to go with their solutions.

“Prayers and condolences.” - Trump No action whatsoever. This is the America we live in and we have to just accept it.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 8, 2018 -> 10:43 AM) Was there significantly more White Sox talk on the Score than there is now when they had their games on there besides Rongey's show, which 98% of the people here hated anyway? I'm with the above, if I am relegated to radio, just give me a station that comes in really well. WGN fits the bill pretty well. Yes. When McNeil was on there was a lot more Sox chatter. News or not, they had more Sox interviews. There’s a few mentions every now and then with a slow offseason but for the most part it is just a Cubs hard on on 670. Regardless, the content flows towards the Cubs and it is what it is on the Cubs flagship. That’s why I had hoped AM 1000 would get them, so they would direct more content at the Sox. Hopefully a busier offseason next offseason will create more Sox chatter and by then we will have more of the future up. As for the Hawks, well, Jay Zawaski actually knows about them, the others don’t.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 7, 2018 -> 10:35 PM) They talk about the Cubs more, but what do you expect, they are winning. I hear plenty of sox talk and I listen all day long while working So do I, but I don’t hear them talk about the White Sox consistently.