The Civic Report

Chris Kennedy

Merchandise Mart boss Chris Kennedy, he of the golden name and golden pocketbook, has decided against drawing on his surname or his wealth to run for governor or the U.S. Senate, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Kennedy explained in an e-mail to friends why he opted not to run for the Senate:

In the end, I did not want to have to leave the state in order to serve it. They say love conquers all, and in my case, it conquered ambition. I realize that I would rather be a good husband and a good father than a good Washington politician.

His uncle Sen. Edward Kennedy’s (D-Mass.) battle with cancer and the recent death of his aunt Eunice Shriver, a founder of the Special Olympics, had factored into his decision, Kennedy said.

I have been increasingly aware of the enormous contributions that my Uncle Teddy has made because of his service in the United States Senate.  I think the more we learn of his story, the more we want to carry on his legacy.

Bizarre reporting quirk: The Sun-Times Michael Sneed leads off her news article on Kennedy with this peculiar third-person reference to herself: “Sneed has learned the Merchandise Mart’s Chris Kennedy has decided not to run for the U.S. Senate — or any political office this year.”

Rod Blagojevich has been bleepin’ golden for Jon Stewart.

Blagojevicch’s latest gift of comedy gold — performing an Elvis song at a Chicago company street party for money — led Stewart to launch a new segment on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart called “Rod Blagojevich’s Quest for Rock Bottom.”

Stewart said he thought that for most politicians getting impeached would represent rock bottom for their careers, but not Blagojevich.

“When his career crashed into the dirt, he didn’t just lie there,” Stewart said. “He picked up a shovel and started digging.”

Watch:

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn uses his personal Blackberry for his government job, WBBM Newsradio reports.

Quinn says he’s saving taxpayers money. Watchdog groups say it allows him to circumvent public records laws like the Freedom of Information Act.

Coming from a guy who came to power when his predecessor was impeached on corruption charges, you’d think he’d maybe want to play this one by the book.

Read the rest of this entry »

U.S. Senator Roland Burris

Now this is rich: Roland Burris told ABC News this week he might run for his senate seat after all.

Burris had said previously the fund-raising demands were too much and that he would not seek election to the seat Rod Blagojevich appointed him to.

Now apparently a chorus of people has arisen to beg the senator not to leave.

“What I’m still hearing,” Burris told ABC, is “people from all over the country and they are saying, ‘Don’t give up that seat.’”

Juicy quote: When asked if that meant he would be running after all, Burris said, “You never say never in this business.”

U.S. Senate candidate Cheryle Jackson

Chicago Urban League president Cheryle Jackson wants Barack Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat.

Although politically untested, Jackson has name recognition, especially in Chicago. She will face a field that includes fellow Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Mark Kirk.

The Associated Press makes special note that Jackson is African American.

Her entry into the race makes her the best-known black candidate to seek the seat that has been held by three of the nation’s four black senators in modern times. The Senate’s only black member – Roland Burris – currently holds it.

Blago baggage: Jackson served as Rod Blagojevich’s spokeswoman in his first term.

Strategy talk: Rival Alexi Giannoulias told Chicago Public Radio Tuesday he wouldn’t attack Jackson for her Blagojevich ties — for now.

Jackson quote: The Chicago Sun-Times, reporting on Jackson’s entry into the race, leads with this quote from her:

“I want to focus on the economy, jobs, I know a little something about that, helping to create jobs, supporting entrepreneurs to create jobs, connecting people to jobs, preparing and training people for jobs,” Jackson said.

What is the Urban League? An organization dedicated to economically empowering African Americans.

Rod Blagojevich

Rod Blagojevich just can’t stay away. The egomaniacal former governor has launched a new Web site and recently showed up at a downtown Chicago street party with a man who looked astonishingly like Fabio to sing an Elvis Presley song for money.

While performing the song, Blagojevich flipped up his collar, unbuttoned his shirt and did his best Elvis hip-thrusting impersonation.

Blagojevich did get paid for his performance, though his publicist told the Chicago Tribune the former governor planned to give some of the cash to Gilda’s Club, a support group for cancer patients.

On his new Web site, the former governor bestows upon himself the title ‘Champion for ordinary people.’

Since his controversial ousting from office, Rod Blagojevich has refused to be silent.

The twice elected former governor of Illinois asserts he is innocent of all charges and looks forward to his day in court.

In the meantime, he’s not holding back. He’s not playing politics or playing nice. He’s simply speaking his mind and telling the truth!

And, even as he awaits trial, he’s making history and headlines… as a champion for ordinary Americans.

Watch Rod sing Elvis’ “Treat Me Nice”:

Making a race-announcement video and posting it on YouTube has become a mandatory rite of passage for politicians these days. They all do it, and they all applaud themselves for doing it. As though having a video on YouTube makes them hip and in touch with young voters.

Rather than having you scouring YouTube for all these gems (We know how you despise scouring YouTube), we’ve collected them here in one, frequently updated location.

If you’re bored, give them a look and post comments with your reactions below. It’s amazing what you can learn about politicians when they train cameras on themselves.

Note: Joe Birkett’s video announcing he’s running for attorney general remains in the line-up, even though Birkett has since changed his mind. We left it in for old time’s sake.

Jeremy Rose, president of the Chicago Young Republicans

Jeremy Rose, president of the Chicago Young Republicans and campaign adviser to gubernatorial candidate Matt Murphy, gives his take on Lisa Madigan, Mark Kirk, Kirk Dillard and Alexi Giannoulias.

Rose offers an insider’s look at the jockeying and political calculations being made within the Illinois Republican Party and which office the party thinks it has the best shot at winning.

Hint: It rhymes with U.S. Tennant.

Listen:

Rose 1 Lisa Madigan’s big decision (4:22)

Rose 2 New faces and old faces in the party (3:48)

Rose 3 The governor’s race (4:34)

Rose 4 The importance of fund-raising (3:16)

Rose 5 Republicans and Chicago politics (4:34)

Rose 6 Looking ahead (2:47)

DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett

DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett, who gambled last month and bet Attorney General Lisa Madigan would run for governor or the U.S. Senate and not re-election, is no longer challenging her.

In an announcement Thursday on his campaign Web site, Birkett described the race against Madigan as “virtually unwinnable.”

Back story: Birkett ran against Madigan for AG in 2004 and narrowly lost.

Looking ahead: Birkett may run for governor.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan

Political commentator Greg Hinz called Lisa Madigan’s decision to run for re-election as attorney general the most consequential political event since Jim Thompson entered the 1976 governor’s race.

Given how the political dominoes have been falling ever since, Hinz may be right.

Background: Every politician in Illinois was waiting on Lisa Madigan to decide what office — Senate, governor, AG — she would run for before they made their race decisions.

Why: She’s considered the most popular politician in Illinois and, thus, nearly unbeatable.

Domino report:

• Republican Mark Kirk is in for the U.S. Senate race.
• Republican Joe Birkett is regretting announcing early that he would run for attorney general.
• Democrat Alexi Giannoulias wants to be the frontrunner in the U.S. Senate race.
• Republican Kirk Dillard is in for governor.
• So is Republican Bill Brady and Democrat Dan Hynes.
• Republican Dan Rutherford is in for state treasurer.
• Democrat Julie Hamos is moving so she can run for the Congressional seat Mark Kirk is leaving.