RockRaines

Well, if it was Jim Tressel coming back I am positive he wouldnt be called a good guy on here.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 12:23 PM) One bracket people. OH MAN I TOTALLY NAILED THAT UPSET/FINAL FOUR! I can look at it arbitrarily. He completely fabricated an entire report to the NCAA during the Thomas fiasco. Trying to play the fake "good cop" because he was butthurt over losing a recruit. THEN all the stuff at UT, well after that. He's a liar and a cheat. I always do two for money, one with work and one with friends that are the same. My Soxtalk one then is completely different.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 11:43 AM) As well as an increase in state medical care in 10 years with the associated health problems. What health problems would that be?

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 11:26 AM) I guess that's why I'll likely never run for any office. I would puke just thinking about putting a D or R next to my name. Agreed.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 11:04 AM) My father-in-law is in local politics. Every weekend for about six weeks before the election, a couple dozen of us canvased local neighborhoods handing out "vote democrat" door hangers with a list of the local party's candidates. Of course at this level, there's not a bunch of polling, strategists, etc. so who knows how effective this actually was. Has there ever been a local or statewide politician that has run on the platform of having everyone have a say on each issue by way of online vote? That would be crazy.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 10:56 AM) I really wanted to vote in last April's local elections. Unfortunately, I could find almost no information at all about any of the local candidates beyond a bunch of empty slogans. Hell, if any of them had even bothered to hand out fliers and go door-to-door, they could have gotten my vote. I'll keep that in mind for my election push in 2017

Charter schools look great because they put them next to CPS which is the worst in the nation. Comparative to s***, yes they are much better. It still blows my mind how hard it is for a new teacher to get hired. My wife is going on two years of being an assistant and still cannot find a full time position. It's like getting into the mafia.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 10:50 AM) You are most certainly correct. I'm actually more interested in my local government these days as I just applied to get on a steering committee in my village. I've got my eye on the board then the presidency.

An interesting name came up for the next head coach for Illinois, Greg Schiano

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 10:45 AM) Chicago does have its fair number sheeple that outweigh the informed voters. That's the only reason these incompetent twits keep getting elected. The other side of the coin is the people in the middle of nowhere that vote with jesus. Both sides are uninformed and are hurting the government. The only reason Oberweis keeps getting reelected is jesus and ice cream.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 10:36 AM) The problem is even if it's 70 million, Colorado's total budget is like 20 billion. It's a drop in the bucket really. And as far as Illinois, I don't think it'll do much of anything. Most counties/cities have stopped enforcing laws on pot anyway, and those that do usually just hand out fines. Those small drug offenses no longer fill up court dockets and jail cells. And the real crime isn't over pot, it's over heroin. It'd be nice to have that revenue, but give the government in Illinois an extra 70 million and it goes nowhere. yeah but it eliminates a tax line item from the overall budget. In colorado they are adding more programs for youth and at risk kids which goes a long way in some areas. If you look at the Il state budget cuts and the overall budget you can see some areas where the tax revenue COULD be useful. But I think you hit on something at the end. It would probably go towards their pension.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 10:33 AM) He sure did, and he was open and transparent about it (unlike the Michigan governor who denied that he'd even consider RTW and then signed it into law). Nationally, that's what Walker is most known for, and conservatives love it. There has to be a balance between seeing labor as a number and what the unions demand though.

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 10:30 AM) Of my lifetime. He had to beat out George Ryan, Blagoyevich and Quinn for being governor during my conscious years. I actually don't think Quinn is corrupt or a bad guy I just don't think he has any ability to lead the democrats on policy. And a lot needs to be done in Illinois right now. Man, look at that string of corruption with Ryan and Blago. Jesus. The only thing Illinois has proven is that we have poor taste in politicians.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 10:25 AM) Eh, are you sure on that number? I thought they collected 2 million the first month? That was their projection. Its supposed to be at 4 million shortly with possibly getting to 7-8. It's not legal in all areas quite yet as places like colorado springs have outlawed it, but it may come to other areas. Colorado is a really divided state in that its very conservative except for Denver and Boulder. In Illinois i see not only a revenue stream but also a possible reduction in crime and illegal drug trafficking. its a rosey theory but one I fully support. The funny thing about marijuana in Denver is its not the smoking that is popular and has increased but its the edibles. They cannot stock enough edibles in many of the dispensaries and last time I was there most of their items were backordered.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 10:16 AM) I totally disagree. That's a team that can win in half court basketball or by running up and down the court. They're finally healthy and they're playing their best basketball of the season. You have probably 3 NBA players on that team (Harris, Payne, possibly Dawson) and all three can take over a game. I have them winning the whole thing, but realistically after the Final Four it's a toss up. Thats why we play the games right? I like Wisconsin going quite a bit in the tournament this year but who knows. OSU will be out early, so will Iowa. Michigan plays nobody until Duke and MSU will run into a few challenges but not much until UVA. Cinci or Harvard will be interesting against them and I have ISU coming out of one of my brackets. The funny part is Wisconsin literally got the white boy road. Creighton, BYU (possibly)? So many buzzcuts and white man jumpers.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 10:19 AM) That's the other side of it. I'm more salty from Chicago politicians especially Walter Burnett who spent time in prison for bank robbery. He's the slimiest bulls*** politician ive even seen.

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 10:17 AM) OBERWEIS DOES NOT GET MY ICE CREAM VOTE!!! He literally mentioned ice cream like 20 times in interviews yesterday. The guy is a clown.

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 10:10 AM) What would this do? I think the issue right now is while there is a definite desire in IL for a Republican administration to take over governor, the only places that are electing republicans are incredibly conservative and putting out really terrible candidates. That Oberweis once again can win a primary is a joke. I'm sure he benefits the Republicans in fundraising, but at some point he is running so much people associate Illinois Republicans with Jim Oberweis. When you have a good candidate (Kirk) that can appeal to people by not being crazy/distancing themselves from national party they do well. But the well is too often dry. A Chris Christie/Romney/S. Brown candidate would clean house, but they are nowhere to be found. Dillard would have destroyed Quinn. And here's Rauner. I doubt the guy gets to November without being sunk by his corruption. Save us millions of dollars. I'd like to include local reps as well like Chicago alderman who are making 125k+ for a part time job. We elect FELONS as Chicago alderman without any issues. And I dont think there is a huge desire in IL for a republican to take over since you have to include Chicago as part of IL. My desire to just to get Quinn out of office so I'd vote green party at this point. And Oberweis is a joke in so many ways. He gets the ice cream and the crazy religious vote and thats about it.

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 10:04 AM) So property taxes are mostly going to schools/police/etc. I'm not sure I could see how state setting a level like that is practical. So if a locality decides it wants an improvement to their schools it would what, increase sales tax? That's incredibly regressive. people move to areas with good schools and pay taxes appropriately, the state cant regulate that IMO. People who live in Robbins arent going to pay the same tax rate as people in Winnetka.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 09:56 AM) My property taxes are capped at 1% by the state of Indiana. That would appeal to lots of people. My property taxes are definitely because of where I live so any capping or lowering would interest me greatly, however most of my taxes go towards the excellent school in my village so not sure how that works out. How about we pass a law that Illinois politicians only can make 75k a year tops? I'd be on board with that.

And I have MSU going out earlier than most. They are very flawed and their Big Ten tournament win isnt as impressive as it looks on the surface IMO. I think people are picking them way too deep.

He is the reason the ignore feature exists on message boards, to filter the irrational crazies. The fact its been thrown around to "cut' or send down a MLB player makes me think these are kids who dont know much about the roster rules in baseball.

QUOTE (farmteam @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 09:49 AM) I have MSU in the Final Four in two of my brackets. I think they're getting hot at the right time and could be a nightmare for teams. Michigan really doenst play anyone until Duke. And they could shoot their way past them.

QUOTE (Jake @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 09:47 AM) I like how if it "works" by reducing the breaking of the law, then we can no longer afford to have it/nobody wants to have it because it wasn't the purpose of its implementation. The commercialization of public life for you If its effective it literally costs more money than we are making so we are paying for a service that was supposed to generate revenue. I still am shocked that this made sense to the folks who approved it. When I am looking for a revenue stream I am looking for something that is self sustaining. They are essentially going to be upside down on a car loan.

QUOTE (farmteam @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 09:45 AM) Preach! And Rauner has said he wants to run Illinois just like Scott Walker and Mitch Daniels ran their states. Not sure if that will appeal to people or not. The best thing going for him is he is facing Pat Quinn. I dont believe either one of them has a plan that makes sense and both have a history of being close to corruption.