PRESIDENT, U.S.
4 Year Term, Vote For 1
Amy J. KlobucharDemocratic1
Deval PatrickDemocratic2
Bernie SandersDemocratic3
Joseph R. BidenDemocratic4
Michael R. BloombergDemocratic5
Elizabeth WarrenDemocratic6
Pete ButtigiegDemocratic7
Tom SteyerDemocratic8
Andrew YangDemocratic9
Michael BennetDemocratic10
John K. DelaneyDemocratic11
Tulsi GabbardDemocratic12
Cory BookerDemocratic13
Back in the 2016, I confess that I flirted with Bernie in the primary and Jill Stein in the general. (thankfully, I can't remember how I ended up voting)
But things have changed! Incredibly enough, a recent Gallup poll showed nearly 50% approval for DJT -- and that's
after it was made clear that he withheld approved funding to a former Soviet republic unless they investigated his political opponent. That's not "rigging an election", as the New York Times asserts -- but it is a serious, reckless, foolish, and illegal abuse of executive power.
Even if it did not deserve impeachment --- how could anyone approve of him after such behavior has been proven? (proven mostly by his own words and his silencing of witnesses against him)
What we have here is a large chunk of the body politic - actually, the largest - that ever-more needs to valorize a hero - not in spite of his misdeeds - but
because of them. DJT is bravely standing up for everyone who feels resentment for a society that has left them behind - and left them feeling stupid, backward, ignorant, and ignored.
The worst kind of candidate to oppose him is the technocrat -- the teacher -- the scold. (Obama would no longer be a good candidate)
Today, the best kind of candidate is the nurturing mother - decent not depraved, firm but forgiving - cheerful not angry.
I would vote for my own dear mother -- but she's not running.
So instead, I hope that I can vote for Amy Klochubar in the general . (as a bonus -- she knows her way around Washington and I don't think she opposes affordable care or responsibility for climate change). Look at her interview videos -- she comes off as a lovable person.
In the primary - I will vote for her as well -- unless she's not second to Bernie by March 17.
(and if she deserves a vote, she'll have dropped out by then if not in second place)
It's very important to keep the Democratic party from falling into the hands of resentful young people -- just like the Republican party succumbed to resentful old people in 2016.
It’s even more important to remove DJT from office. He is dangerous, unscrupulous, malevolent, and foolish.
***************
Perhaps it's finally time for me to briefly discuss the political philosophy of Citizen Miller.
Most of my preferences would identify me as a left wing liberal:
* pro gun control
* pro climate change responsibility
* against corporate money in politics
* against all big money in politics
* pro mother's choice regarding abortion
* pro universal health care accessibility
* pro universal educational opportunities
* pro affirmative action in education and the economy. American law, colonial and national, spent 250 years establishing a race-based underclass. It can afford to spend another 250 years undoing it.
* pro separation of all religious institutions from all levels of every government (including the states of Israel and Saudi Arabia)
But....
I have no more problem with capitalists than I do with any other profession. Governments need to regulate them all for health, safety, and other public goods. Micro-second investments - like the ones that our local artworld player, Ken Griffin, a billionaire - should be taxed until it's no longer profitable.
And I believe that the primary perpetrator of racism in the post civil rights era, is poor young black people against themselves - abandoning hope for a better life, romanticizing criminality, abusing drugs, debasing sexuality, and cultivating resentment. It is self destructive foolishness, encouraged by popular entertainment and left wing ideology.
I am far more concerned with the well-being of those who enforce the laws than with those who break them.
I am also more concerned with the well being of American citizens than with those who entered the country illegally. I have no problem with sending them home - even if they have lived here for decades. I also have no respect for the notion of "sanctuary cities". (though, I have to say that I admire the courage of immigrants and many of my friends were born in China or Eastern Europe). The ideology of open borders is not only an impractical fantasy -- it also continues to feed the popularity of the foremost politician to take a firm stance against it. And we know who that is.
I believe that all institutions - including schools and universities - are political and therefore improved by skepticism rather than loyalty.
I believe that journalism should be the public voice of even-handed skepticism rather than partisan advocacy. ( So I am deeply disappointed when America's finest newspapers - especially the New York Times - abandon even the pretense of objectivity)
I recognize a profound difference between the broadcast of virtue and actually doing something good.
So mostly, I am politically incorrect.
*************
After Super-Tuesday --- things have changed yet again.
Every single candidate whom I have liked has dropped out : Hickenlooper, Harris, Booker, Klochubar, and finally, Bloomberg. Klochubar did not disappoint me when she dropped out for the good of the country -- and I hope Bloomberg will not disappoint me and continue to fund the party that rejected him.
Sanders represents the very worst excesses of romantic left wing ideology.
Biden's only apparent virtue is benevolence. But in 2020 -- that will suffice.
I'm voting for Biden.
****************
SENATOR, U.S.
6 Year Term, Vote For 1
#
Richard J. DurbinDemocratic21
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, 7TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
2 Year Term, Vote For 1
#
Danny K. DavisDemocratic31
Kina CollinsDemocratic32
Anthony ClarkDemocratic33
Kristine SchanbacherDemocratic34
I won't spend any time contemplating these challengers. Their campaigns are hopeless unless Davis drops dead before the election.
DELEGATE TO NATIONAL NOMINATING CONVENTION, 7TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Vote For 8
#
Brandon Johnson (Elizabeth Warren)Democratic41
Jamie Brown (Elizabeth Warren)Democratic42
Frederick 'Fritz' Kaegi (Elizabeth Warren)Democratic43
Mony Ruiz Velasco (Elizabeth Warren)Democratic44
Marlon D. Harris (Elizabeth Warren)Democratic45
Harlene Ellin (Elizabeth Warren)Democratic46
Mihir Garud (Elizabeth Warren)Democratic47
Benetta Mansfield (Elizabeth Warren)Democratic48
Mary Ann Abbott (Andrew Yang)Democratic49
David Hernandez (Andrew Yang)Democratic50
Elizabeth Henricks (Andrew Yang)Democratic51
Steven Dyme (Andrew Yang)Democratic52
Yvonne O'Connor (Andrew Yang)Democratic53
Peter Wojda IV (Andrew Yang)Democratic54
Rudyard 'Rudy' Urian (Andrew Yang)Democratic55
Marty Castro (Pete Buttigieg)Democratic56
Eric Davis (Pete Buttigieg)Democratic57
Thomas Gary (Pete Buttigieg)Democratic58
Marla Izbicky (Pete Buttigieg)Democratic59
Amalia Mahoney (Pete Buttigieg)Democratic60
Cristal Thomas Gary (Pete Buttigieg)Democratic61
Melissa Conyears-Ervin (Joseph R. Biden)Democratic62
Pat Quinn (Joseph R. Biden)Democratic63
Emma M. Mitts (Joseph R. Biden)Democratic64
Brendan Reilly (Joseph R. Biden)Democratic65
Patricia Dowell (Joseph R. Biden)Democratic66
Rory Hoskins (Joseph R. Biden)Democratic67
Barbara McGowan (Joseph R. Biden)Democratic68
Marcelino Garcia (Joseph R. Biden)Democratic69
Claudia Moreno-Nunez (Bernie Sanders)Democratic70
Julie Lehrman (Bernie Sanders)Democratic71
Martese Luzette Chism (Bernie Sanders)Democratic72
Ojus Khanolkar (Bernie Sanders)Democratic73
Dominique Coronel (Bernie Sanders)Democratic74
Miguel Bautista (Bernie Sanders)Democratic75
Ronald Lawless (Bernie Sanders)Democratic76
Tim Thomas (Bernie Sanders)Democratic77
I'll vote for the following:
Barton Moy (Amy J. Klobuchar)Democratic78
Gail M. Silver (Amy J. Klobuchar)Democratic79
Joan L. Long (Amy J. Klobuchar)Democratic80
Addison Woodward (Amy J. Klobuchar)Democratic81
Ann Henstrand (Amy J. Klobuchar)Democratic82
Jennifer Vincent (Amy J. Klobuchar)Democratic83
Markayle Tolliver (Amy J. Klobuchar)Democratic84
Thomas A. (Tom) Ciavarella (Amy J. Klobuchar)Democratic85
STATE SENATOR, 4TH SENATE DISTRICT
4 Year Term, Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Kimberly A. LightfordDemocratic101
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 7TH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT
2 Year Term, Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Emanuel 'Chris' WelchDemocratic111
Sad to say, nobody is challenging our party hacks this time around.
COMMISSIONER, METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT
6 Year Term, Vote For 3
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Michael G. GraceDemocratic121
Mike CashmanDemocratic122
Frank AvilaDemocratic123
Heather BoyleDemocratic124
M Cameron 'Cam' DavisDemocratic125
Kimberly Neely DubucletDemocratic126
Eira L. Corral SepulvedaDemocratic127
Patricia Theresa FlynnDemocratic129
Shundar LinDemocratic131
Deyon DeanDemocratic132
Every year I vote for the those with the highest technical credentials -- and every year my basement floods. Go figure.
Chicago Tribune selects:
Davis
Dubuclet
Sepulveda
STATE'S ATTORNEY, COOK COUNTY
4 Year Term, Vote For 1
Kim Foxx Democratic141
Bill Conway Democratic142
Donna More Democratic143
Bob Fioretti Democratic144
I can appreciate why Jussie Smollett should not be tried for sending the Chicago Police Dept. on a wild goose chase. The State's Attorney's office is too understaffed to go after petty crimes.
But I don't understand why he was let off the hook without at least confessing and apologizing for his misbehavior. That feels like a real slap in the face of public servants and those they serve.
None of the above challengers excite me. Usually this is a position for which I vote Republican anyway - to keep an eye on misbehaving Democrats. But after the recent impeachment debacle, I can't imagine any decent officer of the court identifying as Republican. The party cannot sink any lower. So the next Cook County state's attorney will have to be elected without my vote.
Except that -- I really don't want to be responsible for future bad choices made by Kim Foxx -- so I'll vote for rich-boy Conway
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT, COOK COUNTY
4 Year Term, Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Jacob MeisterDemocratic145
Iris Y. MartinezDemocratic146
Richard R. BoykinDemocratic147
Michael M. CabonargiDemocratic148
Judging from their appearance on WTTW -- I'll go with Jacob Meister -- who wants to let plaintiffs file at any public library and eventually have the position selected by judges instead of the general public. The electoral longevity of the last clerk being an example of why popular elections are dysfunctional here.
JUDGE, ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT
(Vacancy of Freeman), Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Jesse G ReyesDemocratic161
P. Scott Neville, Jr.Democratic162
Shelly A. HarrisDemocratic163
Cynthia Y. CobbsDemocratic164
Margaret Stanton McBrideDemocratic165
Daniel EpsteinDemocratic167
Nathaniel Roosevelt HowseDemocratic168
Epstein
JUDGE, ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT, 1ST DISTRICT
(Vacancy of Neville, Jr.), Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Maureen Patricia O'LearyDemocratic171
Carolyn J. GallagherDemocratic172
Sandra Gisela RamosDemocratic173
Michael B. HymanDemocratic174
Will have to go with Hyman for experience and involvement
JUDGE, ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT, 1ST DISTRICT
(Vacancy of Simon), Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
John GriffinDemocratic175
Sharon O. JohnsonDemocratic176
Griffin looks like the more serious candidate
JUDGE, COOK COUNTY JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Vacancy of Bellows), Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Tiesha L. SmithDemocratic181
Cristin Keely McDonald DuffyDemocratic182
Kerrie Maloney LaytinDemocratic183
Duffy
JUDGE, COOK COUNTY JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Vacancy of Coghlan), Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Kelly Marie McCarthyDemocratic184
Aileen BhandariDemocratic185
Elizabeth 'Beth' RyanDemocratic186
James T. Derico, Jr.Democratic187
Derico
JUDGE, COOK COUNTY JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Vacancy of Ford), Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
U. O'NealDemocratic188
Laura Ayala-GonzalezDemocratic189
John O'MearaDemocratic190
JUDGE, COOK COUNTY JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Vacancy of Funderburk), Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Jacqueline Marie GriffinDemocratic191
Daniel L. CollinsDemocratic192
Mary Therese QuinnDemocratic193
Celestia L. MaysDemocratic194
O'Meara
JUDGE, COOK COUNTY JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Vacancy of Larsen), Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Levander 'Van' Smith, Jr.Democratic195
Suzanne Therese McEneelyDemocratic196
Megan Kathleen MulayDemocratic197
Mulay
JUDGE, COOK COUNTY JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Vacancy of Mason), Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Arthur D. SuttonDemocratic198
Bonnie Carol McGrathDemocratic199
Jennifer Patricia CallahanDemocratic200
Chris StaceyDemocratic201
Joy E. Tolbert NelsonDemocratic202
Joseph ChicoDemocratic203
JUDGE, COOK COUNTY JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Vacancy of McCarthy), Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Teresa MolinaDemocratic204
Michael O'MalleyDemocratic205
JUDGE, COOK COUNTY JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Vacancy of Murphy Gorman), Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Sheree Desiree HenryDemocratic207
Dan WalshDemocratic208
Amanda 'Mandy' PillsburyDemocratic209
Keely Patricia HillisonDemocratic210
JUDGE, COOK COUNTY JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Vacancy of O'Brien), Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Elizabeth Anne WalshDemocratic211
Lloyd James BrooksDemocratic212
Heather Anne KentDemocratic213
JUDGE, COOK COUNTY JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Vacancy of Patti), Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Lynn Weaver BoyleDemocratic214.
JUDGE, COOK COUNTY JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Vacancy of Roti), Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Lorraine Mary MurphyDemocratic215
James Patrick CrawleyDemocratic216
Araceli Reyes De La CruzDemocratic217
JUDGE, COOK COUNTY JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Vacancy of C. Sheehan), Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Deidre BaumannDemocratic219
Maura McMahon ZellerDemocratic220
Russell W. HartiganDemocratic221
JUDGE, COOK COUNTY JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Vacancy of K. Sheehan), Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Jill Rose QuinnDemocratic222
James Samuel WorleyDemocratic223
Wendelin 'Wendi' DeLoachDemocratic224
JUDGE, 7TH COOK COUNTY SUBCIRCUIT
(Vacancy of Jackson), Vote For 1
CANDIDATE NAMEPARTYBALLOT #
Owens 'Joe' ShelbyDemocratic231
Marcia O'Brien ConwayDemocratic232
Pamela Reaves-HarrisDemocratic233
Mable TaylorDemocratic234
Kristen Marie LyonsDemocratic235
I'm with the recommendations of the State Bar Association - except I'll vote for young Daniel Epstein based on opinions of friends who know more about him