Quigley Endorses Quinn - Dan Hynes Wins!

Illinois Observer, Dave Ormsby noted early today that Congressman Mike Quigley will endorse Governor Pat Quinn to day at 10A.M. - Governor Quinn, my condolences.

The Uriah Heep of Illinois politics, Congressman Mike Quigley, is a kiss of death.

Comptroller Dan Hynes will win in a Primary Landslide and go on to thump the GOP nominee who will not be Dan Proft. Too bad. Proft is only man in the field who says anything and gives thoughtful voice to real issues.

(Chicago, IL) — October 5, 2009. U.S. Representative Mike Quigley and Governor Pat Quinn will appear together at a press conference today in Chicago and a Quigley endorsement of Quinn is the likely subject.

Quigley was absent from a big group of progressive Democrats who endorsed Quinn on September 14.

Today could be the day.

Quinn’s opponent in the Illinois 2010 Democratic primary for governor, Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes endorsed State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) over Quigley in this year’s special congressional primary for Rahm Emanuel’s vacate House seat. Oops.

Payback. Betcha.

The press conference will be at the Hotel Alegro and begins at 10:00 a.m.

Will it be McKenna/Proft for the top of the Illinois GOP?

The Illinois field in the race for Governor is getting more applicants than American Idol. I'm no Randy Jackson, much less Ellen, but I like what I see.

Dan Proft is the only candidate with any real ideas - especially about education and how to get genuine ( Vouchers!)reform to our public schools -but Dan has fewer nickels in his jeans than your humble correspondent at the end of the pay cycle. Dan Proft welcomed one of the nicest guys in civic and public life into the hooley - Andy McKenna, Jr.

I met Andy McKenna years ago, when he served on a school board of directors. Mr. McKenna is tough, sharp, no-nonsense, good humored and as chatty as Speaker Mike Madigan. Andy McKenna operates on consensus, but does not dither. He will strike boldly.

Dan Proft grabs large issues and Gigantic political opposition by the belt, pulls the fight in close, tosses his forehead into the chest and pounds the short ribs until the bigger foe can no longer breathe - no breathe/no fight.

Yesterday, the sweet-natured but tough gutted Andy McKenna got a taste of Proft from the bell:



"We can nominate a candidate beholden to a small group of affluent political insiders who give money to both parties. They win when Republicans get elected; they win when Democrats get elected. Either way, you lose.

"Or we can nominate a candidate willing to take the fight to the establishment politicians of both parties, those who are concerned only with peddling influence and dividing up other people’s money.

"I am the only candidate willing to make a clean break from our ignominious past; to hold cynical Chicago Democrats and complicit Republicans accountable for what has happened on their watch; and to chart a future focused on expanding opportunity for people who play by the rules in Illinois.

"The McKenna family has donated thousands of dollars to Chicago Democrats, including Mike Madigan, Lisa Madigan, Dan Hynes, and Dick Durbin. They have also donated thousands of dollars to Republicans and the Illinois Republican Party.
"They hedge their bets, because they are interested in self-preservation. Mr. McKenna has taken indicted Springfield powerbroker Bill Cellini’s infamous ethos to heart, ‘When we're in, we're in, and when you're in, we're in. We're always in.’

"Who’s the ‘we’? I suggest you ask Andy McKenna. But the ‘we’ sure doesn’t include rank-and-file Republican primary voters.

"We have been down this road so many times as a party. Every time we allow the bipartisan combine to select our candidates, we run into a dead end. We cannot make the same mistake again if we want to not only win elections, but also bring about the system-change reform required to make Illinois economically viable. We cannot hope to un-fix Illinois before we un-fix our own party.

"As State Senator Matt Murphy, the other half of ‘Team Status Quo,’ said just a few weeks ago, ‘People are looking for a new face to take us in a new direction, especially on the Republican side…They want to see somebody who can represent a clean break from the past.’

"Sen. Murphy is right. And that is why Andy McKenna is absolutely the wrong candidate to lead our party and lead this state."

Ding!

I got a feeling here at ringside that we are going to see Dan Proft hammer away at Andy's short ribs round after round.

Now, here's the deal. If Jim Tyree had Andy's money and access to money, he'd toss his coin away. The dough is the stuff that keeps Ow-ees, cuts bruises and bumps from doing too much damage. Unlike Tomato-Candidates, Andy McKenna can devalue time and go round after round with Dan Proft. More importantly, Andy McKenna has a crowd of talented folks in his corner - he has an organization - troops. Andy McKenna has a Notre Dame sense of the field. Yet again and unlike Charlie Weiss, Dan Proft can read a clock and knows that what moves the arms on the tick-tock is the Dough Ray Me!

This just might be the GOP's year - Gov. Quinn got the backing of the Cook County Democratic Leadership, an endorsement from the Purple People Eaters of SEIU and is in a pillow fight with Dan Hynes. That should be gravy for the GOP and Dan Proft just might be the guy to keep them focused and keep the GOP from blowing their toes off - as is their wont. Dog! Yo! - make sure that Judy is out grabbing a smoke during the bouts, Dan.

This brawl might end up with Andy McKenna getting the big belt for Governor. I expect to see Dan Proft holding up Andy McKenna's arm with one hand and swinging the other one like a saloon door on payday in the role of Lt. Governor. This will be Dempsey v.Tunney *1926 all over.

Dan Proft will propbably come over to my 'Hood and flatten my tires for saying that: I would expect no less from a guy who is in the race to win. Andy, Proft can do the hard hitting.


*In his autobiography, Dempsey conceded that he forgot all about the rule: "It's hard to stop what you're doing, standing over a guy and waiting for him to get up."

Tunney, who floored Dempsey briefly in the ninth round, won the 10-round fight and retained the title he had won from Dempsey the year earlier.

Are They, Whoever They Happen to Be, Afraid of Dan Proft? Yep. If Not, Why Do They Seem To Be?

Last weekend, The Belleville Democrat News laid out a great scratch sheet for the February Gubernatorial Primaries. In that menu of candidates, the paper presented the touted Democratic and Republican ‘front-runners’ as Governor Quinn, naturalment, Comptroller Hynes for the Democrats and Republican State Senators Brady, Dillard and Murphy.

Far down the line is Dan Proft of Wheaton – a citizen activist and news commentator. Quinn and Hynes are in a pillow fight for the Primary and have staked out positions on just how much more taxes will be heaped upon the backs of Illinois voters and citizens. Brady, Dillard and Murphy seem to angling for the position to be the candidate to dangle a reason for people to cast Democratic votes for Governor in the General Election. Each GOP Senator/Candidate appears to be following the Mark Kirk Brand of Illinois GOP White Flag hoopla with all of the vim, vigor and vitality of the Italian Army in Libya in 1943.

Then early this week Eric Zorn decided to go "birther" - a dodge by Progressives while screwing the pooch on all matters to change the subject - on Dan Proft and Proft would have none of it. Click my post title for the pencil neck geek demographic's morsel of derrision.

Since July, Dan Proft’s Campaign has stung the tender rumps of Illinois’s most Progressive columnists, editorial boards and mouth-organs like SEIU’s Progress Illinois and Arianna Huffington’s Chicago Huff Po – an absolute howl of sheet. Dan Proft has Progressive Tit-Mice screaming like drunks at closing time. I like that. Dan Proft’s positions are not Progressive. Progressive Positions gave us the Cook County Board Punch and Judy Show and Blago’s Travelling Snake Oil Tour. Programs developed by policy wonks like Ralph Martire and other 501©3 Systemic Change Fountainheads have placed Illinois in a financial jackpot unseen since 1839, when Illinois Auditor General (Comptroller) James J. Shields* saved Illinois from bankruptcy.

I am a Democrat. I voted for John McCain in the Presidential election of 2008, because Barack Obama did not seem to be any where near prepared to be President and was surrounded by the 501©3 Larded Progressives of Illinois, who disdain precinct captain, door-to-door Ward level politics to the Tsunami Sweep of Program Padded and PAC foot-soldiered crowds of shouters who play the lazy and willing Illinois Media. Eric Zorn do what he do. Lawd Ha' Mercy!

I’m an anti-Abortion, School Choice (Vouchers), Pro-Real (Skilled Trades Union) Labor, Law and Order Democrat of the 3rd Congressional District, 23rd Precinct of the 19th Ward Variety Democrat. I have spent most of my career in education in Auburn-Gresham neighborhood.
Dan Proft is running for Governor as a Republican, but he speaks to Democrats on issues that most affect them – on taxes, School Choice, Abortion, and cutting the Illinois budget.
Here are the candidates for Governor as listed by the Belleville Democrat News in Brian Brueggemann’s fine piece:

Democrat:
Pat Quinn: He became governor in January, after Gov. Rod Blagojevich's ouster. He had served as lieutenant governor since 2003. He previously served as state treasurer, beginning in 1990. He's a lawyer from Chicago.
Dan Hynes: He's serving his third term as state comptroller. Says his tenure has focused on "consumer and taxpayer advocacy, government accountability and long-term budget reform." He's an attorney from Chicago.
Jack D. Franks: He's a state representative from Marengo who was first elected in 1998. He said recently that he's not yet decided on whether to run for governor.
Republican:
Bill Brady: Brady's a state senator from Bloomington who joined the Senate in 2002. He previously served in the Illinois House, from 1993-2000. He's a businessman who has been involved in home construction, real estate development and property management.
Kirk Dillard: Dillard, of Hinsdale, has been a state senator since 1994. He previously served as chief of staff for former Gov. Jim Edgar and has served on the Illinois Court of Claims.
Matt Murphy: He's been a state senator since 2006. Murphy says the state needs to reduce corporate income tax to attract businesses and jobs. He's a lawyer from Palatine.
Bob Schillerstrom: Has served as DuPage County Board chairman since 1998. Boasts that he's cut property taxes in that county seven of the past 10 years. He's a lawyer and resides in Naperville.
Dan Proft: A Wheaton resident, Proft is a political commentator and consultant who has worked on numerous candidates' campaigns.
Adam Andrzejewski: It's pronounced And-jee-ef-skee. He's a businessman from Hinsdale who started a phone book company, then established an organization that promotes transparency in government by encouraging government bodies to post their checkbooks online.
Frank Edwards: Edwards has been a Springfield City Council member since 2002. He previously served as the city's fire chief and owns an automotive shop.
Constitution:
Randy Stufflebeam: Stufflebeam is a retired U.S. Marine Corps gunnery sergeant who resides in Belleville. He says both of the established parties have managed to produce a string of corrupt governors for Illinois, and that it's "time for something different." He has served as the state chairman of the Constitution Party.
Green:
Rich Whitney: Whitney is a lawyer from Carbondale. He was a member of the Socialist Labor Party from 1975 to 1993, but has since rejected socialism. He proposes increasing the income tax for wealthier people and favors a single-payer health care system. His memberships include: American Civil Liberties Union, Greenpeace, and Illinois Coalition for Peace, Justice and the Environment.
Independent:
Michael White: He's a Gulf War veteran from Lindenhurst who is retired from the military, having served 22 years combined in the Illinois National Guard, U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserves. He's a manager for a speech therapy clinic.

Dan Proft has no friend in Planned Parenthood which owns a hunk of most Illinois Democrats –Sen. Durbin, Gov. Quinn, and Comptroller Hynes. Dan Proft has no friend in the Illinois Education Lobby (Teachers Unions & Program Larded Industries) and has not only called for the creation of more Charter Schools but continues to advocate vouchers – Real School Choice – for all Illinois families. Dan Proft has no friends among the tax-salaried PACS like SEIU that spend millions on buying candidates, but not nickel one on vocational training for the rank and file, but ensure that an SEIU member remains a low-paid serf for life. Real Labor (The Skilled Trades) provides the path to the American Middle Class, which Andy Stern’s SEIU is hell-bent on destroying ASAP.
Dan Proft has no friend in the editorial board grandees who take policy dictates from Planned Parenthood, The Education Lobby, and SEIU. So far I am more than friendly to Dan Proft’s positions on most things. There are more than a few Democrats in the 3rd Congressional District like-minded in voter affection. Dan Proft has made a great beginning toward February and more than a few friends.
*In 1839, Douglas helped Shields gain appointment to the post of Illinois state auditor. Shields insisted that debtors pay the state's bank the face value on money they owed it and not the devalued price. This stance angered Lincoln and the Whigs, but saved Illinois from economic ruin.

http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/jshields.html

Quinn v. Hynes - Oh, It's On! Watch the Feathers! They Can be Sharp!

Don't expect the mutual boots to The Old Jewels, the long taloned calloused horny fingers reaching into the pie-hole of his opponent to yank out the bloody roots of molars, or the celebrated Irish art of application of the Casteisland Kiss -snapping one's forehead into the bridge of the opponent's nose.

Gov. Pat Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes traded the first shots Friday in next year's Democratic primary battle for governor over who's more culpable for the state's financial woes.

The governor called Hynes a "no show" on tough budget choices, while Hynes' campaign accused Quinn of keeping quiet while disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich "drove our state into a ditch.". . . "When you get in the arena, you've got to make decisions," Quinn said. "You can't stand on the side of the road and not take part in tough battles. You can't be a no show. You can't just show up and say, 'Hey, I want to be elected to something.' I think you have to show you have the courage of your convictions to stand in the arena, take tough positions, do hard things because that's what the public demands."

But Hynes campaign spokesman Michael Rendina disputed Quinn's characterization, noting Hynes has proposed $1.2 billion in cuts to the state budget along with $1.8 billion in new money by legalizing more casinos, closing business tax breaks and expanding the sales tax to luxury items. Hynes had been critical of inconsistencies behind Quinn's failed push for an income-tax increase and questioned why the governor hadn't made cuts to try to win public support.

"Gov. Quinn is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts. After Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn spent six years in silence watching Rod Blagojevich drive our state into a ditch, it is puzzling that he describes a 50 percent income tax increase on Illinois families as leadership," Rendina said

My,my, my! He's entitled to his opinion, but not his own facts! Knock this stick off my shoulder! Now, Spit!

Folks this Democratic Primary for Governor will be a Pillow Fight, between two veteran pillow fighters. Quinn and Hynes are two theologically suited sweethearts. Gents of the first chop. Oak Park Pat Quinn will face off with Lincoln Square Danny Hynes. No South Western Avenue -'I Closed Brewbaker's at 5AM and Got Ugly Brawlers.' They did not pick up their political chops by guzzling down quarts of Drewerys and then ambling over to punch-out pigs through the fence posts of Stockyard pens in Canaryville, like a couple of Democratic gents of whom I am very well acquainted. True Dat, G!

Thus:

Daniel W. Hynes (born July 20, 1968 in Chicago) is currently the Illinois Comptroller. He attended St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, where he graduated in 1986. Hynes later attended the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1990 with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in economics and computer applications. He received his Juris Doctor degree with honors from Loyola University Chicago's School of Law in 1993. Daniel Hynes served as a health care attorney at the Chicago law firm of Hogan, Marren and McCahill, Ltd.

He is the son of Thomas Hynes a former Cook County assessor, president of the Illinois Senate and Democratic Ward committeeman of the 19th ward in Chicago, Illinois.

Hynes married Christina Kerger, M.D. in June 1999 and currently resides in the city of Chicago and Springfield, Illinois.


Avec! Patrice Quinn

Born in 1948 in Hinsdale, Illinois, Quinn attended the local Catholic grade school, St. Isaac Jogues. He graduated in 1967 from Fenwick High School, a Catholic school in Oak Park, Illinois run by the Dominican Order of Priests[1]. While a student at Fenwick, Quinn was the cross-country team captain and the sports editor of the school newspaper. Quinn went on to graduate Phi Beta Kappa from Georgetown University in 1971 with a bachelor's degree from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. After taking a few years off from education, he received a Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University School of Law in 1980.[2]

Quinn is divorced and has two sons, Patrick IV and David, born on April 12, 1983, and December 16, 1984, respectively. Both sons, like their father, competed in scholastic sports, specializing in track and field events.[3]

Quinn was briefly a practicing tax attorney before his career in public office.

Now, if Lisa Madigan were in, Hold the Phone!

Watch out now! There'll be be feather's a flung! Send the kids out of the Sun Room.