Why Not 'My Guy' ???
The post over at Capitol Fax got me thinking…
In the primary I was very excited for the state treasurer’s race. Why be excited for a primary treasurer’s race you ask? Well the candidate slated by the Illinois Democratic was my own hometown democrat, Paul Mangieri. I was rather excited to see a native Galesburgian, and someone I know personally, get the chance to hold a major statewide office. I immediately started thinking about the current office holders and candidates running on the rest of the state ticket and though to myself, “he should have a great shot at winning.”
But then Alexi G. decided to join the race… At first, I didn’t mind so much. I naively assumed that because ‘my guy’ had the party endorsement, it would take quite a bit to overcome that. I have always grown up learning about how Illinois is such a political machine and that one ought not go against it. There is a decent analysis of the two men from this spring if anyone has already forgotten this incident.
Well as we all know now, ‘my guy’ lost. Galesburg won’t have a statewide official this cycle at least. But as things unfold with the Giannoulias shady dealings, I can’t help but ask myself what if??? Would the democrats be more secure with a ‘clean’ candidate? Would it make it easier on the party to only have to deal with Rod’s dark dealings? Would Mangieri have been a better candidate on November 7th than Giannoulias?
A poll I found has Alexi up by 7 points. So maybe this is all a moot point. A campaign release gives credit to a poll that shows Alexi up by 13 points. Maybe the dems will sweep the state ticket regardless. Thoughts?
6 comments:
And just why do you think that 'your guy' would have been a 'clean candidate', let alone a better choice?
Have you stopped to wonder why he's lost so many different elections?
Or why downstate voters went for Alexi rather than 'your guy'?
Why not your guy? How about because he's a tool. How in the hell did he even get elected State's Attorney? Was he unopposed?
Hmmm.... let's see. How did Mangieri get to the point where he was running unopposed for a statewide race? Who could possibly have the political power in Illinois to make sure NO one else entered the race as a Democrat? If you think Mangieri had that kind of sway over no one else joining the race, you are kidding yourself. Madigan would be making all the decisions for Mangieri if Mang won. How clean would that make him?
How dirty is Giannoulias anyway? It's like the question, "Have you stopped being your wife?" Giannoulias isn't guilty of anything. The only two people going after him (Rodango and Madigan) both have agendas! A third party that has an agenda into making sure Giannoulias isn't doing anything wrong with his bank is the FDIC. In case you haven't noticed, they aren't saying a thing.
I think I'll take the word of the group that has watched him and banks all across the country because it's their job rather than some politicans who are looking to gain political ground and have no banking background.
Radogno sounds like a buffoon. She's got some nerve. The Dem Party hardly has the corner on Mob connections.
Frankly, I always thought the Republican Party in Illinois had the go-to guys.
Good lord, anyone remember Betty-Loren Maltese, former Mayor of Cicero? She was also Cicero Township GOP Committeeman and served on the Cook County GOP Central Committee for years.
Funny how Radogno never said a peep about any of that.
Betty Loren Maltese was actually married to a known Mob associate, Frank Maltese. Frank died right before he was supposed to report to prison. He put his wife in as town president right before.
And of course Betty's now serving an eight year stretch herself for bilking the town of Cicero out of $12 million.
There are certainly a lot of other stories about others in the GOP.
Radogno should probably just quit being a hypocrite.
Plus, as others have noted, banks are about the most regulated industry out there. If there was an issue with the loans, they would say something.
The issue with Radogno vs. Alexi is less about mob loans than it is about competence, experience and integrity.
Radogno is a state legislator with experience in the fiscal arena and is also a former social worker.
Alexi is a 30 year old rich kid who got lucky when his family contributed lots of money to the Obama campaign. Obama's endorsement, made on the basis of financial support to Obama's campaign, is likely what is putting Alexi ahead in the polls.
If Alex was approving loans to the mob that's not ethical but I'm not sure it's illegal. But it certainly shows a lack of the judgement we expect higher-level state officials to exhibit. And if he didn't have the authority to make loans, what experience does he have in the financial field?
Radogno back a kid named LaPidus against Tony Peraica for Lyons Township GOP Committeeman.
Since Peraica was going to be the GOP nominee for Prez of the County Board it seems odd for Radogno to piss off a highly visible Cook County Republican in the same cycle she was running statewide.
Why did Radogno do it?
Because people like Al Carr and Ron Serpico asked her to do it.
Who is Ron Serpico? He's under investigation by the feds. His dad did two stints in prison. His father was reputed to be the go between between the Outfit and the Chicago Dem Party.
Ron Serpico is allied with plenty of corrupt pols, some of whom have already been convicted.
Serpico is on the board of International Bank, a shady bank that also had Anthony Bruno on the board. Bruno is a disbarred attorney and also under investigation for organized crime activities.
So, when the guys over at International Bank tell Radogno to jump, her answer is "How high?"
But the establishment--political and media--completely ignores Radogno's ties to organized crime while making a big deal that Giannoulias' bank made a legal loan to a criminal.
OK. How many banks haven't made a loan to someone engaged in criminal activity? Are there any allegations that Giannoulias' bank did anything illegal?
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