StrangeSox

QUOTE (bmags @ Nov 5, 2014 -> 10:03 AM) Yeah. Well. A purge needed to happen. I would not have voted R in other circumstances, but this isn't wisconsin. Dems have large majority in house and senate. And with a large majority in house, senate and Governor position...they created 3 separate groups that sniped at each other and did nothing. They didn't even create an exchange. In 4 years I'll vote him out, but the dems need someone to rally against, because right now it's each other, and nothing is happening, and there is no excuse for that. I'm mostly wondering what Rauner's going to do about the $4B crater not extending the income tax increase will leave in the budget. You're right, at least we're not like WI, MI, FL or god forbid Kansas

QUOTE (bmags @ Nov 5, 2014 -> 09:57 AM) I voted for Rauner, Madigan (who is actually my favorite Illinois politician, regardless of experience, she is maybe the best AG in the country IMO), White, Simon, Cross, Gutierrez, did not vote judges/water commission. Others not said were non competitive.

Why the vote against Jesse White? I voted mostly Dems, gave the DuPage Forest Preserve President Cantore my vote because the FP system is pretty nice out here. Voted against one of the judges for retention because while he was still recommended by the Illinois bar association, he scored a 70 or something in impartiality and that seems pretty terrible. Yes on the amendments, yes on the advisory questions.

I was leaning starks because lol Bears run defense edit: I'm going to get crushed by the 8-1 juggernaut leading our league anyway

Where I think losing the Senate really has the chance to hurt Democrats is with judicial appointments. They finally broke the log jam by getting rid of the filibuster for non-SC appointments, but it'll be very hard for Obama to get anyone else confirmed come January. And if one of the liberals on the SC steps down, who knows what'll happen.

QUOTE (bmags @ Nov 5, 2014 -> 08:58 AM) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I love this guy

So has anyone who ran as a Dem but ran away from Obama/Obamacare actually won a race? It's never seemed like a winning strategy to me and didn't appear to work last night, either.

So I need to find a RB for this week off of the scrap heap, any thoughts on this pile of garbage? Lorenzo Taliaferro Bal - RB Peyton Hillis NYG - RB Bryce Brown Buf - RB Cedric Peerman Cin - RB Toby Gerhart Jax - RB James Starks GB - RB

Texas is turning purple! oh.

How many months until they try to impeach Obama?

I'm glad both constitutional amendments and the minimum wage question did well.

Senate map is much better for democrats in 2016

Lol Scott Brown

signs placed around college campuses in Atlanta:

Chicago Election Judges Receive Robocalls With False Instructions

QUOTE (Cknolls @ Nov 4, 2014 -> 06:31 PM) Who is sec of state? R or d ? I DK. R This country has a history of way more voting machines per registered voters in rural areas than in urban areas in general.

Who controls the distribution of voting apparatuses in Florida?

I wonder if Jake or anyone else knows of any studies that have looked into the effects of political spending/advertising at local-level races. What was the timing of your school board election? If it fell on a Presidential year or even a mid-term congressional year (like today), I could see how just having your name plastered everywhere could pick up some votes from people who are there to vote for President/Senate/Governor but don't know anything about the races down-ticket. On the other hand, if it's like a lot of municipal elections in Illinois and it's on an off-year and off-season (e.g. April 2013 for our mayoral elections, February 2015 for Chicago's), it'd be more about getting a small but dedicated electorate to turn out in your favor, and I'm not sure how much flyers and yard signs would really matter there.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 4, 2014 -> 02:43 PM) It is the biggest reason I never ran for anything more than school board a couple of times. At the local small/mid-sized town level, there's really not that much. My FIL is an elected official, and I think the extent of his fundraising is helping run the annual fundraiser event and calling friends and family to see if they want dinner/dance tickets. Lots of door-knocking and canvasing come election time, but no real "media coverage" to speak of or anything like that. The biggest campaign cost is getting a few thousand door placards and some yard signs printed, and the yard signs can be reused ("John Smith for Mayor" is good in 2013 and 2017).

There can also be a strong influence of machine politics. Not many people run because they won't get the backing of their party and may piss others within the party off if they're "stepping out of line."

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 4, 2014 -> 12:33 PM) John Oliver had a good segment on the importance of the local state legislature races, and how no one gives a s***, resulting in some truly bats*** candidates/legislators. And sadly over 1000 such people will win their election because they are running unopposed.

QUOTE (bmags @ Nov 4, 2014 -> 09:49 AM) I wonder if the Illinois GOP pick the most unwinnable seats and give them to Baar Topinka and Oberweis every two years. Keeps those two feeling important, keeps their money, prevents them from winning office. they both hold state-level office

QUOTE (bmags @ Nov 4, 2014 -> 08:31 AM) Why don't you get I voted stickers in Chicago? Would Rainer change that? Inform me. DuPage has them, county thing?