Big Frick Dot Com » illinois

Welcome to the reality show drama that is Illinois politics.

Primary election day has come and gone in Illinois. Voter turnout, which is historically light for primary elections, was about average for this state with a dysfunctional Republican Party and a powerful Chicago controlled Democrat machine.

But maybe, just maybe, Illinois Republicans are getting the message.

The Illinois Republican Party suffered greatly after the corrupt ex-Governor George Ryan was made a resident of the federal penal system. Ryan was a criminally corrupt Secretary of State selling drivers licenses to unqualified trucking firms and demanding political tribute (of the cash variety) from all of his many patronage employees. He successfully parlayed his illegal activities while serving as governor, crimes for which he was finally prosecuted and convicted after leaving office. The entire scandal left him in federal custody and the Republican Party scrambling to control the sizable damage done to the public confidence.

Illinois Democrats, with the aid of the well oiled Chicago Democrat machine, took full advantage and were able to sweep Republican lawmakers out of their elected positions pretty much across the board down to the level of assistant dogcatcher.

But then, like manna from political heaven, came Democrat Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was removed from office during his second term for blatant corruption and manifest stupidity. It is not unusual in Illinois to have a Democrat convicted and sent to prison as they control most of the political capital and even more of the political graft. But Blagojevich continues to walk the streets a free man while awaiting trial. And even in the face of overwhelming evidence, including undercover federal wiretap recordings, continues to seek any opportunity to get in front of television cameras to make a buck off his now infamous reputation. Big Rod did not elevate the Republicans but he did dig a deep enough hole for Democrats to make the Illinois GOP look taller, a job the GOP was too inept to do for themselves.

The primary ballot was stacked with hopefuls from both parties looking to become the next Illinois governor and lieutenant governor. The Democrat now acting as a temp behind the governor’s desk won his party’s slot with ease. So did a pawnbroker named Scott Lee Cohen who spent the unprecedented sum of nearly $3 million to campaign as Democrat Lieutenant Governor. Cohen won at the polls which is now causing the Democrat machine to spasm like a colon filled with day-old Taco Bell. You see Mr. Cohen has a documented history of sexual and physical abuse including holding a knife to the throat of his live-in girlfriend who was a convicted prostitute he met at a massage parlor. Honestly, can it get any better than that for Republicans?

Meanwhile, the Republican nominee for governor is still undecided with a mere 400 votes separating the two top candidates. These two hopefuls are current Illinois legislators who are acting remarkably civil to each other and allowing the Democrats dig themselves an even deeper hole.

Could it be that the Illinois Republican Party is actually wising up? With the voter’s negative sentiment at an all time high this could be the Republican Party’s race to lose. While the general election is still pretty far away and Illinois Republicans have historically shown a penchant for doing the remarkably stupid at just the right time, if they play their cards right and let the Dem’s continue to self-destruct we could actually get a fiscally responsible administration in the governor’s mansion.

But while the Chicago machine that honed the skills of Barack Obama and brought him his closest advisors is sputtering, it is by no means dead. This could turn out to be a political race worthy of national attention, if for no other reason than entertainment value.

And if Scott Lee Cohen does eventually drop out of the race maybe he could get a spot on MTV’s “Jersey Shore”. But he better move quickly. I’m guessing Rod Blagojevich already has his agent trying to cut a deal.

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