GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - June 12, 2008

ILLINOIS REVIEW
-- Illinois GOP responds . . . Part 1 - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/06/il-gop-respon-1.html
(THE ARTICLE: Last weekend’s gathering of over 1400 Republicans in Decatur was the culmination of months of planning, meetings, phone calls and feather-smoothing for the IL GOP’s Executive Director Jason Heffley. After both hearing and reading numerous post-convention criticisms on Illinois Review, Heffley was ready early in the week to respond. We offered Heffley an opportunity to submit his own summary for publication, but he said he’d rather answer questions we and our audience wanted answered, so we spoke for almost two hours Wednesday afternoon. Most certainly all of your questions will not be covered and most certainly if you would have been the one questioning you would have done it differently, nevertheless, we’ve tried to ask the most oft-asked questions, and to Heffley’s credit, he willingly answered every question we posed. The IL GOP is in the midst of a rocky transition from the top down. Four years ago, when the convention was held in Collinsville, a different state chairman and staff directed the proceedings. Much of those preparation details wasn’t passed on to the current staff, and from the beginning, today's staff did their best -- with the advice of part-time General Counsel Brian Sheahan -- to adhere to convention rules and by-laws. "Even those directions were at times debatable and vague," Heffley said. Working with a group of demoralized and cranky Republicans who have lost all statewide offices, having endured a humiliating 2004 U.S. Senate race, suffering the repercussions of the state party’s former head in federal prison as well as other public embarrassments, the IL GOP prepared for the worse. Things were tense before during and after the state convention, but Heffley offered plausible explanations, while admitting at times there probably could have been better ways for things to be handled. Some of the first IL GOP convention complaints were about the difficulty in attaining the list of delegate names. For the most part, Heffley said, county and township chairmen got names in before the deadlines, but from the beginning there were questions about delegate residency requirements. There was case and statutory law upon which the party decided county and township chairmen should submit names only of those within their own districts. That decision was met with resistance, but Heffley said they tried to respond quickly in order to give the chairmen plenty of time to suggest other names of persons who lived within their districts, rather than simply reject those from other jurisdictions. After straightening that out, there was a controversy about the transfer of leadership in the Elk Grove Township and which chairman would have authority to appoint delegates. Deadlines came and went, and over 100 delegate names came in after the May 26th deadline. Those delegate credentials had to go through the convention credential committee, which met on Saturday morning of the convention. Heffley said it was an in-house call to protect delegates from publicly listing their vital information, but the party did distribute the list to those running for national committeeman or woman and who were holding special convention events over the weekend. When the list of committee members and delegates was distributed to those folks, soon after the delegates’ addresses -- sans those whose applications missed the May 26th deadline -- appeared online via a third, unauthorized source. So why didn’t the party just publish the delegates’ names? “We weighed between respecting the privacy of the delegates and making sure the people who were running got the information they needed,” Heffley said. It was the delegate May 24th delegate submission deadline that ultimately led to two notable persons from Kane County being issued guest credentials rather than regular delegate credentials Friday: national committeemen nominees Pat Brady and Steve Rauschenberger. All guests were allowed entry on Friday, but had to be approved by Saturday morning’s 10:00 am credentials committee before being issued regular delegate credentials to vote Saturday afternoon. Both Pat Brady and Steve Rauschenberger were told to come back after the credentials committee meeting to pick up their official passes. Senator Rauschenberger, who was issued a guest credential Saturday morning, did not return for his official credentials later. So Senator Rauschenberger’s guest credential was not a plot to keep him from the convention floor? “We absolutely did not deny access to Senator Rauschenberger,” Heffley said. “His name was submitted past the deadline, and all 100 names submitted late had to go through the same process. We're terribly sorry that what happened to Senator Rauschenberger happened.” Much more coming, including the national committeeman/woman's race, what happened on the convention floor and more . . .)
-- Illinois Republican Party State Convention: It Was Not Always Thus - John McNeal
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/06/it-was-not-alwa.html

CHAMPION NEWS
-- State GOP Convention in Decatur: Obama and the Democrats emerge the big winners from McKenna’s trainwreck - Doug Ibendahl
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=1031
-- A Sherman-like warning needed for Republicans - John Biver
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=1028

MCHENERY COUNTY BLOG
-- The Illinois Republican Party Platform Preamble - Cal Skinner
http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/ (Scroll down)
(DIERSEN: A discussion draft of the preamble had Dennis Hastert in the following sentence instead of Henry J. Hyde -- as a member of the Platform and Resolutions Committee, I take the credit/blame for leading a successful effort to replace Hastert with Hyde: "Illinois Republicans have provided critical leadership, to this Country and those causes, from Abraham Lincoln to Ronald Reagan, from Everett M. Dirksen to Henry J. Hyde.")
-- Part 4 - Notables at the Illinois Republican Party Convention - Cal Skinner
http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/ (Scroll down)
-- Missing the Tornadoes on the Way Home from the Illinois Republican Convention - Cal Skinner
http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/ (Scroll down)
-- State GOP's Immigration Plank Calls for “Front Door” Policy - Cal Skinner
http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/ (Scroll down)
-- Part 3 - Notables at the Illinois Republican Convention - Cal Skinner
http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/ (Scroll down)

SUBURBAN LIFE
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Dan Petrella promotes Obama in DuPage County
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/westmont/news/x1872703658/The-Obama-factor
(THE ARTICLE: The Obama factor - Dan Petrella DuPage County, IL - Although he’s a Chicago Democrat, Barack Obama has performed well in traditionally Republican-leaning DuPage County. Local Democrats believe that having a figure as recognizable as Obama as their party’s presidential nominee can only boost their chances of winning local and state offices long held by the GOP. Republicans, meanwhile, acknowledge they will have to work hard to promote their candidates to voters who might be casting their first ballots because of Obama. On his way to defeating GOP opponent Alan Keyes in the 2004 U.S. Senate race for the seat formerly held by Republican Peter Fitzgerald, Obama grabbed 64 percent of the vote in DuPage County. In February’s presidential primary, the junior senator from Illinois gained more votes than any other candidate in either party, including presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain. Obama’s rise comes at a time when Democrats appear to be gaining a foothold in DuPage, an area where the party long has been an afterthought. For the first time in recent memory, more ballots were cast for Democratic candidates than Republicans in the Feb. 5 presidential primaries in the county. Voters cast 132,816 ballots for Democratic presidential candidates, while 109,358 were cast for GOP candidates, according to election records. This was followed by a defeat for Republicans in the March special election to fill the seat in the 14th Congressional District vacated by former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Democrat Bill Foster beat perennial GOP candidate Jim Oberweis for the chance to finish out Hastert’s term. David Goldberg, a political science professor at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, said DuPage Republicans can expect to see a growing number of competitive races for local and state offices. The large Democratic turnout in the February primaries was a bellwether of the growing strength of the party, Goldberg said. However, exactly what effect Obama’s presence on the November ballot will have on races for the County Board and Illinois General Assembly is unclear, Goldberg said. In the 2004 election, DuPage voters overwhelmingly supported Obama, but they also heavily supported the re-election of President Bush. Spilt ticket voting is becoming much more common, he said. While many political observers are predicting a strong showing for Democrats nationally in November, that will not necessarily translate to great success for local Democrats, Goldberg said. And if local Democrats do well, it might have as much to do with voters’ dissatisfaction with the Bush administration as it does with Obama’s candidacy, he added. “It’s hard to tease out how much of this will be because of the top of the ticket and how much will be the pendulum swinging away from the GOP in terms of the president’s approval rating and other factors,” Goldberg said. Amy Tauchman of Glen Ellyn is executive director of the Democratic Party of DuPage County. She said Obama’s presence on the November ballot can do nothing but help local Democrats. “I think that when you look at how Barack Obama did in 2004 . . . and you look at the uptick of (Democratic ballots) pulled over Republicans (in the primaries), I don’t think there’s anything but good that can come of this,” Tauchman said. Democratic candidates are still going to have to go door to door and campaign hard to earn the support of voters who support Obama, she said. “It’s going to take a lot of work,” Tauchman said. “But we’re willing to do it.” DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom, who serves as secretary of the county GOP, acknowledged that Obama’s presidential candidacy presents a unique challenge for Republican candidates. “Obviously, it’s something that as Republicans we have to be aware of,” Schillerstrom said. “We’re going to have to work very hard in this general election cycle.” While many DuPage races once were decided in the Republican primary, that no longer is the case, he said. Democrats will fight hard and get a boost from Obama, he added. “We need to get our message out about what we do here in DuPage County so that if (voters) come out to vote for Obama on the top of the ticket, they vote for (Republicans) in local races on the bottom of the ticket,” Schillerstrom said. The Republican message will be that safe communities, good schools, efficient government and a business-friendly environment are the result of a half-century of GOP leadership, he said. Primary ballots cast in DuPage: 81,452 Barack Obama 57,541 John McCain)
-- Todd Scalzo announces second run at Wheaton City Council - Brian Hudson
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/wheaton/homepage/x1872702614

KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE
-- Oberweis: I've been misinterpreted - Kate Thayer
http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2008/06/11/news/local/doc484fa01076846374062733.txt

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- GOP leader Cross calls Madigan impeachment memo 'a scheme to lie' - AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-impeachmentmemo-c,0,3467876.story
-- Speaker Madigan criticized over impeachment memo - Deanna Bellandi
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-impeachmentmemo-b,0,3402339.story
-- Impeachment chatter drowns out any state budget progress Impeachment a word some are reluctant to say - Monique Garcia and Jeffrey Meitrodt
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-statebudget12jun12,0,7351701.story
-- The mystery in Madigan's leaked memo - Eric Zorn
http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2008/06/the-mystery-in.html
-- FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR PHOTO OF MICHELLE: Whispers get loud around Michelle Obama Candidate's wife a new target for Republicans - Christi Parsons
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-michelle-obama_thujun12,0,2106791.story
-- Obama: Real change - Phil Collins, North Chicago
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-vp0612lettersbriefsa5jun12,0,3697996.story

DAILY HERALD
-- FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PHOTOS OF BLAGOJEVICH, CROSS, JONES, & MADIGAN: Impeachment memo riles Democrats Party members call on combatants to cool it; others fault Madigan for misstep - John Patterson
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=206433&src=109
-- Impeachment memo won't fill potholes - Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=206194&src=
-- Political scorecard: Winners and losers from the spring session
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=206186&src=109

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- It's your move, Madigan - Editorial
http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1002063,CST-EDT-edit12a.article
-- ABC's veteran political reporter Andy Shaw ready for "more independent life" - Robert Feder
http://www.suntimes.com/business/feder/1001716,CST-FIN-feder12.article

SOUTHTOWN STAR
-- 18th Senate District: Maloney v. Shelstrom: Another one bites the dust - Kristen McQueary
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/mcqueary/1002027,061208mcqueary.article

ABC7
-- Madigan circulating memo on gov. impeachment
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/politics&id=6197417 (Includes video clip)

NBC5
-- Madigan Criticized Over Impeachment Memo
http://www.nbc5.com/politics/16578785/detail.html?dl=mainclick

CBS2
-- Obama Fights E-Mail Campaign Questioning His Faith Viral E-Mail Campaign Claims Obama Secretly Muslim; Supports Extremists In Kenya - Mike Flannery
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/truth.in.politics.2.746359.html (Includes video clip)
-- Madigan Absent From Meeting With Blagojevich Blagojevich And Madigan Feud Continues To Escalate In The Aftermath of Impeachment Investigation Memo - Mike Parker
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/blagojevich.madigan.impeachment.2.746215.html (Includes video clip)

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- Impeachment memo fails to move local lawmakers Madigan accused of posturing - Doug Finke
http://www.sj-r.com/homepage/x222985365/Impeachment-memo-failsto-move-local-lawmakers

CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS
-- What went wrong with Rod? - Greg Hinz
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=29785

PUBLIC AFFAIRS
-- Show w/ Senator Dillard back by popular demand - Jeff Berkowitz
http://jeffberkowitz.blogspot.com/2008/06/show-w-senator-dillard-back-by-polular.html

WGN RADIO
-- Legislative Leaders Criticize Madigan Other Leaders Call on Madigan to Join Budget Talks - Jim Gudas
http://wgnradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42042&Itemid=1 (Includes audio clip)

ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH
-- Fallout continues in Illinois' 'Memo-Gate' - Kevin McDermott
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/17D3F42584021C3A8625746600128CCB?OpenDocument

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
-- Illinois Gov’t a Sputtering, Burning Trainwreck - Aaron Chambers
http://blogs.e-rockford.com/inchambers/2008/06/11/illinois-govt-a-sputtering-burning-trainwreck/

NAPERVILLE SUN
-- Sauerberg prescribes U.S. health care fix Senate candidate seeks to upset Durbin in November - Paige Winfield
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1001723,6_1_NA12_SAUERBERG_S1.article

PIONEER LOCAL
-- Roskam: district's No. 1 concern is gas prices - Josh Singer
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/schaumburg/news/1001282,sc-roskamtalk-061208-s1.article
-- Lake County: 'Obama effect' - John Roszkowski
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/mundelein/news/1001074,mu-obamaside-061208-s1.article
-- 10th Congressional District race earns extra fanfare - John Roszkowski
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/glencoe/news/997939,gl-kirkseals-061208-s1.article

BEACON NEWS
-- Valley Industrial Association members advised to keep track of lawmakers' views - Rowena Vergara
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/business/999812,2_3_AU12_VIABANQUET_S1.article
-- Losing grip on youth vote - Ken Vanko
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/opinions/1000298,2_4_AU12_VANKO_S1.article

URQMEDIA
-- Madigan's Memo Signals Gathering Storm - Dan Proft
http://www.urqmedia.com/proft/contentview.asp?c=213368

TOM ROESER
-- Pfleger's sermon jeopardized Obama's chances . . . and thus this priest is expendable
http://www.tomroeser.com/blogs/blogview.asp?blogID=24612

TOWNHALL-- Context and Content: Jeremiah Wright's Letter of 9/11/05 - Hugh Hewitt
http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/blog/g/f6c0baae-3b32-47de-8958-fe5f7a894ecf

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- Milton Township Republican Central Committee recommends Hinkle to fill the DeMotte vacancy; Formento reports on the Illinois Republican Party state convention; all 109 precincts filled - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
(THE ARTICLE: Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC) held another outstanding monthly Wednesday evening, June 11, at the beautiful Wheaton Bowl Banquet Hall. 68 MTRCC members attended. During the meeting, which was conducted by MTRCC Chairman Mike Formento, MTRCC members voted unanimously to recommend MTRCC member Gail Hinkle to fill the DeMotte Milton Township Town Clerk vacancy. 20 from Milton Township attended the Illinois Republican Party state convention. Formento and other attendees gave outstanding reports of what happened at the convention. MTRCC Policy Committee Chairman Jim Flickinger announced that with the appointment of Grant Eckhoff, Michael Fleming, Mark Klage, Howard Levine, J.R. McBride, Charles McDougal, Leonard Sanchez, and Damian Walch, all 109 Milton Township precincts are now filled - all but 5 of the precincts are filled with committeemen who live in the precincts. Candidates, elected officials, and party leaders in attendance included Fred Bucholz, Lori Carlson, Tina Connelly, Lynn Crane, Bob Earl, Grant Eckhoff, Chris Edwards, Sal Falbo, Beverly and Jeff Fawell, Jim Flickinger, Mike Fortner, Mike Gresk, Daniel Guerin, Chris Heidorn, Ann Jorgensen, Chris Kachiroubas, Gary King, John Kinsella, Georgia Koch, J.R. McBride, Ron Menna, Pam Mitroff, Gary Muehlfelt, Barb Murphy, Debra Olson, Leonard Sanchez, Elizabeth Sexton, Ron Smith, and Tim Whelan.)