So are the D winners Blue Dogs?

Fork. I was rooting for Hoffman

Giannoulias had major union support, and enough validators have told me he’s progressive that I’m comfortable. Hoffman, who worked for uber-Blue Dog David Boren, worked hard to term Giannoulias unelectable because of his family’s troubled bank, but he’s been Treasurer for three years, and I’m not sure of what he did with the bank before then, so it seems like a scandal without substance.

Thanks.

The name “ill – annoy” about sums up this place. I’ve lived here all of my life — love Chicago & the lake — but can’t stand the politics and treachery.

The last time I attended a political fundraiser was for a State Senator named Barack Obama, who was running in the Democratic Primary for U.S. Senate. Seeing how that turned out, I will no longer give any politician a red cent, no matter how progressive they posture.

I did vote yesterday, however, making my part of a 30% minority.

Giannoulias held on against a challenge from Chicago Inspector General David Hoffman, 39-34.

A five point spread of the totals reported above would mean another 45,000 votes or so, bringing the Dem total to 930,000 to the R total of 736,000, which seems like a pretty comfortable lead 10%, wrt Dem voters. After all, BO has been an inspired campaigner and would have brought out more voters, even in a primary.

I hope we have a good turn out in Nov. I am sure BO will campaign for Giannoulias.

great opportunity for a live whine blog during Obama’s meeting with the dems.

Anyone listening to Obama’s meeting with the Congressional Dems? Think it’s only the Senators.

Obama just told the Senators to turn off the TV and don’t listen to the blogs. More bubble. Blanche Lincoln now asking a question, after her speech of course.

Blanche Lincoln’s question in a nutshell, “how can we push certain elements of our party under the bus so we can work with Republicans?”

Voters are pushing Blanche Lincoln under the bus.

For an off year primary election is attendance high low who the Dem or GOP had higher attendance do we have to worry about the problem we had with Ted’s seat spreading? Did Obama’s takedown of House GOPers solve the problem?
Is the problem solved or is this just a temporary fix? What are the voters saying?

Masaccio has a new post up and ready for us: The Lords of Finance Speak

You’ve got to admit it would be hilarious if the Republicans won Obama’s old senate seat.

Broadway Bank is well know in Chicago as a ‘connected’ bank.

On Jan. 26, the bank entered into a consent order with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation requiring it to raise tens of millions of dollars, stop payouts to members of the Giannoulias family, and bring in outsiders to evaluate the company’s management.

The order was filed because the bank is on the brink of collapse. According to David Hoffman, one of Giannoulias’s rivals in the Democratic primary, Broadway’s troubles are linked to its overly risky behavior during the boom times of 2007 and 2008.

In addition to making many aggressive investments in the bull markets, the bank made $70 million in payouts directly to Giannoulias family members, including $2.5 million to Alexi himself. He has declined to comment on whether or not he will be putting money back into the bank.

While he was loan officer, Giannoulias issued over $1 million to convicted felon and Blagojevich crony Tony Rezko.

As Treasurer Giannoulias mismanaged the “Bright Start” Illinois College Tuition Savings program and lost $150 million for families trying to save for college. Investors were only able to recoup half of what they originally invested. Public records also show Giannoulias used money earned by a state college savings program to purchase a $26,000 government vehicle.

It does seem that Giannoulias is somewhat progressive on domestic issues, but he supports the Afghanistan escalation while Hoffman and Jackson were opposed: http://www.alexiforillinois.com/node/341

Giannoulias is a perfect setup for a Republican victory.
Indie sums up the arguments pretty well – not all may be fully justified, but the visible track record is not too sweet and there are less Chicago city workers to vote Machine (being that everything is privatized these days)
His history and insider status is exactly what kept primary voters home.
I cannot overstate the level of Democratic and Independent apathy in my community (NW side CHicago)

The Chicago Reader ran a couple of articles on Alexi and the Broadway Bank. This one sums things up rather well, I think.

Well people can always vote for the green party candidate Lealan Jones! If you don’t want a machine controlled banker or a republican to get the seat.

http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2010/02/kirk-giannoulias-will-face-green-lealan-jones-in-il-senate-race/

Why is there a advertisement for the Republican candidate Kirk in the Illinois senate race on a liberal blog?

Reading the comments where people are quoting David Hoffman is almost as shocking as seeing an ad for Kirk on this site. I’m from Kirk’s district and have been blogging him since 2005. Kirk is the kind of guy who got us where we are today, in two wars with a failing economy. So, you might feel all superior and smug still supporting Hoffman after he’s already lost or you can rally around Alexi who has done a very good job as Treasurer in Illinois and keep us from having a guy like Kirk with the power to make secret holds on bills and nominees. For more on Kirk:

http://www.ellenofthetenth.blogspot.com