Pat Quinn Projected for Governor

According to ABC 7 Chicago's 10 PM News, The Assoicated Press has projected Pat Quinn as the winner of the close race between the incumbent and Republican Bill Brady. The AP reported that the outcome of the Governor's race in Illinois is too insurmountable for Brady to overcome Quinn's lead. As of 10:10 pm, the Chicago Tribune Election Center Quinn had an 18,000 vote lead over Brady. While there are still some ballots left to be counted, it doesn't appear that there are enough to make a difference. Quinn hasn't made a formal announcement, and is apparently waiting for Brady to concede. Expect some announcement tomorrow.

Decision Points

George W. Bush's new memoir Decision Points will debut on November 9th and from the two reports I have seen on it, the book portrays Bush largely as a sympathetic figure, seeking to build a good legacy after leaving Washington with extremely poor ratings. One excerpt, from CNN, reveals that Kanye West created the worst moment of Bush's presidency when the rapper declared that Bush was racist following Hurricane Katrina.

Another excerpt,from the New York Times' The Caucus Blog , mentions how the book reveals that Bush considered removing Dick Cheney as his Vice President on the 2004 Election Ticket...Right and I guess the book will also say that going to Iraq wasn't the best decision in the end?

The book should be somewhat interesting/revealing. Its 497 pages, according to the New York Times' Book Review , so its not light reading. With that said, I don't think I'll be buying a copy.

Election 2010: Good and Bad

As the last of the absentee votes trickle in, its time to mark the close of the midterm elections. Obviously, the fact that Republicans took control of the House will be the legacy of the 2010 Election. Regardless of political affiliation, there are some good and bad things about what happened on November 2nd:

1. No more political commercials (for now). Any TV viewer apathetic to politics has to be relieved that the Elections are over. I can't remember a political cycle with campaign commercials as vicious as what I've witnessed in the Chicago market over the past several months. Of course, none of the commercials actually inform the viewer of their platform and who they are. Instead, politicians take the chance to rip the other candidate. The days of seeing two of these, every commercial break, are over until the 2012 campaigns begin.

2. New leadership. For Democrats, this is probably not a day you'll look back on with fondness. However, a change might be what is needed to jump start the country. Having a new wave of politicians in office may help strengthen the country in the long run, like what happened in the late 1990s.

3. With that in mind, one of the bad things about politics: Sore losers. For the past two years, there has been a lot of Republican resentment from the 2008 elections and that resentment probably will turn blue. I hope that Democrats do not spend the next two years pissed off. Even though I am a Democrat, I am supporting whoever is in office the next two years. At this time, Congress can't really afford not to be effective. America really needs to do the best it can with whoever is in office.

4. Political interest. I think one of the positive things about this election is how many people were interested and involved in the election. For a mid-term election, the turnout was really great. Among people my age, I felt that, there was just as much interest as the 2008 elections, which is a good sign.

BP CEO to Step Down, Recieve Huge Pension

The posts I've made today center around people I think are scumbags. Today, it was announced that BP CEO Tony Hayward is going to step down from the company's top job in October 1st and will be offered a post at the company's TNK-BP joint venture in Russia. Even before the announcement, it seemed pretty sure that Mr. Hayward wouldn't have a line a people wishing him good luck in his future endeavors. More people will not like him now, as set to receive a pension of around £600,000 a year from BP after he steps down, reported by BBC business editor Robert Peston. Really, dude/sir/@$$hole, you need more money?? This definitely won't help save his image .Ever.

Blagojevich is crazy

I know the post title isn't a newly discovered phenomenon, but further evidence of Rod Blagojevich's insanity can be found from his spending records from the IRS . According to the IRS, Blagojevich spent more money on high-end suits than on the mortgage of his home. Over the course of the time he was governor, Blagojevich and his wife spent $400,000 on clothes.

Blagojevich is in the middle of his trial and is being charged in 24 counts with misusing his powers as governor to extort campaign contributions from those seeking legislation, appointments or other favors. More information on his trial can be found at the Chicago Tribune Blagojevich Archive or the Tribune's Chronology of the Investigation

So this is what happens in Senate...

In Senate, the conformation hearing for Elena Kagan, Obama's appointee for the Supreme Court opening is taking place. You would think this would be a serious process, after all, Kagan (if approved) could influence our country's judicial system for the next decade. However, one of the questions asked to Kagan today by Senator Amy Klobuchar was Team Edward or Team Jacob? in reference to the Twilight films. Kagan declined the question, in part because she had not seen the film and probably because it is irrelevant to how she would rule as a justice. Really, a US Senator asking about Twilight?
In the senator's defense, Kagan kind of set the tone for this seemingly loose confirmation hearing. Yesterday, Kagan made a joke after being asked where she was on Christmas, the day of an attempted bombing attempt on board a plain. In response, she said "Like all Jews, I was probably at Chinese restaurant." I guess its good that she has a sense of humor, but shouldn't she and the senators be taking this a little more seriously?

Joe Biden's visit to Peoria wasn't cheap

Over the weekend, the Peoria Journal Star published an article detailing the amount that Vice President Joe Biden's recent visit to Peoria cost taxpayers. Biden's visit Peoria at the end of March, as part of a fundraiser for the Center for Prevention of Abuse, ended up costing city tax payers over $41,000. Most of the money was spent on security detail. The cost of Biden's visit is newsworthy because it brought up a question of whether the city should be reimbursed for the visit. Some members of Peoria's city council believe that Peoria should be reimbursed, noting that taxpayers should not have to pay as well as the city's deficit last fiscal year. Others believe that the city should pay regardless and it should not be an issue. It seems like if politicians or dignitaries had to cover their own expenses, they would be less likely to visit the city. I believe that it is also necessary for Peoria to provide the proper security so that famous guests feel welcome here. Also, the city council should definitely work on having a reimbursement procedure in place or a method of handling the visits of public figures to the area.