Saturday, September 3, 2016

2016 - November elections

The margin of victory in American elections is determined by our most mentally challenged citizens.  The  bright and serious ones, whether progressive, conservative, or self-serving, have made up their minds long before the election campaign ever begins.

It's the air heads who are swayed by all those 30-second commercials that cost so  much to broadcast.


This year's presidential election has the distinction of featuring a candidate whose career in television has given him  a unique appeal to dimwits, especially if they have a taste for the vindictive resentment stoked and validated by decades of right wing talk radio.

 So Donald Trump might actually win this thing -- just as McDonalds makes America's favorite hamburger and Miller Lite is the country's favorite beer.


(and alas, here is  picture taken two years later in the White House)








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Intense political involvement, regardless of orientation,  tends to addle the brain.  Since I share many of their views, left wing pundits embarrass me.   I prefer to read their opponents.

This  is the first presidential election in which I have followed the right-wing websites - having become addicted to their expressions of pain and outrage, especially towards each  other. 

My favorite is Erick Erickson.  Far less reptilian than George Will or Charles Krauthammer, he shows flashes of honest self-awareness.

As when he writes: "If we have to ask whether conservative media created Trump, we should not stop there. We should ask who created conservative media. The answer is actually the mainstream media."

Like a truculent child addressing his parents: "Yes, I know I'm a bad boy, but you made me that way!!"

And I have to respect his #NEVERTRUMP crusade.  It  has inspired me to go #NEVERHILLARY.

Not that I have any interest in her lies or emails. If that's the worst thing she's ever done, she would be a saint among politicians.

I cannot vote for her because she has, and will, find opportunities for military intervention - and that is one thing that POTUS can do without Congressional assent.

Trump and Johnson are outspoken champions of self-interest --- which leaves Jill Stein as the candidate who most aligned with public interest.

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Aftermath.

This  was a close election. Trump actually lost the popular vote. But in response to his ultimate victory - and the wage earners who wagered that he might help them -- we must summon the wisdom of  Karl Marx:


The conditions of the French farmers' class solve to us the riddle of the general elections of December 20 and 21, that led the second Bonaparte to the top of Sinai, not to receive, but to decree laws.

The bourgeoisie had now, manifestly, no choice but to elect Bonaparte. When at the Council of Constance, the puritans complained of the sinful life of the Popes, and moaned about the need of a reform in morals, Cardinal d'Ailly thundered into their faces: "Only the devil in his Own person can now save the Catholic Church, and you demand angels." So, likewise, did the French bourgeoisie cry out after the "coup d'etat": "Only the chief of the 'Society of December 10' can now save bourgeois society, only theft can save property, only perjury religion, only bastardy the family, only disorder order!"





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4 Year Term, Vote For 1


Senator, U.S.

6 Year Term, Vote For 1













































Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Mark Steven Kirk Republican









8
Tammy Duckworth Democratic









9
Kenton McMillen Libertarian









10
Scott Summers Green









11

Representative, 7th District

2 Year Term, Vote For 1























Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Jeffrey A. Leef Republican









21
Danny K. Davis Democratic









22

Comptroller, State of Illinois (Unexpired Term)

2 Year Term, Vote For 1













































Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Leslie Geissler Munger Republican









15
Susana Mendoza Democratic









16
Claire Ball Libertarian









17
Tim Curtin Green









18

Up to this point on the ballot, I'm voting Democratic -- but  Mendoza seems nothing more than
a political hack -

State Senator, 4th District

4 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Kimberly A. Lightford Democratic









32

State Representative, 7th District

2 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Emanuel 'Chris' Welch Democratic









42


It's sad that both of the above party hacks are running unopposed

State's Attorney, Cook County

4 Year Term, Vote For 1























Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Christopher E.K. Pfannkuche Republican









61
Kim Foxx Democratic









62

Pfannkuche looks qualified, and there's no point in having a Democratic foxx guard the Democratic hen house.
(sorry for the  pun)

Clerk of the Circuit Court, Cook County

4 Year Term, Vote For 1























Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Diane S. Shapiro Republican









63
Dorothy A. Brown Democratic









64


Shapiro's statement on the Board of Elections site is not very promising - but  the Wikipedia article on Brown suggests that it's time to end her 16 year incumbency.

Recorder, Cook County

4 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Karen A. Yarbrough Democratic









65

Commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, MWRD

6 Year Term, Vote For 3



































































Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Barbara McGowan Democratic









51
Mariyana T. Spyropoulos Democratic









52
Josina Morita Democratic









53
Karen Roothaan Green









54
George Milkowski Green









55
Michael Smith Green









56

Commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, MWRD (Unexpired Term)

2 Year Term, Vote For 1


































Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Herb Schumann Republican









57
Martin J. Durkan Democratic









58
Christopher Anthony Green









59


I always vote Green on the Water Reclamation positions. Their idealism should be acknowledged.

Judge, Illinois Appellate Court, 1st District (Vacancy of Epstein)

4 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Eileen O'Neill Burke Democratic









71

Judge, Illinois Appellate Court, 1st District (Vacancy of Quinn)

4 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Bertina E. Lampkin Democratic









72

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Vacancy of Biebel, Jr.)

4 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
John Fitzgerald Lyke, Jr. Democratic









73

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Vacancy of Elrod)

4 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Rossana Patricia Fernandez Democratic









74

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Vacancy of Hogan)

4 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Alison C. Conlon Democratic









75

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Vacancy of Howlett, Jr.)

4 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Aleksandra 'Alex' Gillespie Democratic









76

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Vacancy of Johnson)

4 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Carolyn J. Gallagher Democratic









77

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Vacancy of Karnezis)

4 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Mary Kathleen McHugh Democratic









78

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Vacancy of Love)

4 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Brendan A. O'Brien Democratic









79

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Vacancy of O'Brien)

4 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Maureen O'Donoghue Hannon Democratic









80

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Vacancy of Palmer)

4 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Susana L. Ortiz Democratic









81

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Vacancy of Ruscitti Grussel)

4 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Daniel Patrick Duffy Democratic









82

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Vacancy of Walsh)

4 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Patrick Joseph Powers Democratic









83

Judge, 7th Subcircuit (Vacancy of Burrell)

4 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Marianne Jackson Democratic









92

Judge, 7th Subcircuit (Vacancy of Rivkin-Carothers)

4 Year Term, Vote For 1












Candidate Name Party Ballot #
Patricia 'Pat' S. Spratt Democratic









94
(note: I'm voting to retain all judges except those with an 83% approval rating from a summary of all endorsements)

Judge, Illinois Appellate Court, 1st District (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Joy Virginia Cunningham 201 202

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Sophia H. Hall 203 204

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Irwin J. Solganick 205 206

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Alexander Patrick White 207 208

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Vincent Michael Gaughan 209 210

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Robert W. Bertucci 211 212

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Deborah Mary Dooling 213 214

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Timothy C. Evans 215 216

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Cheyrl D. Ingram 217 218

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Raymond L. Jagielski 219 220

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Bertina E. Lampkin 221 222

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
William Maki 223 224

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Sharon Marie Sullivan 225 226

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
James Patrick McCarthy 227 228

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Arnette R. Hubbard 229 230

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Nicholas R. Ford 231 232

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Charles Patrick Burns 233 234

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Denise Kathleen Filan 235 236

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
John Patrick Kirby 237 238

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Diane Joan Larsen 239 240

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Daniel Joseph Lynch 241 242

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Kathleen Mary Pantle 243 244

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Kevin Michael Sheehan 245 246

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
John D. Turner, Jr. 247 248

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
LeRoy K. Martin, Jr. 249 250

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Paula Marie Daleo 251 252

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Laurence J. Dunford 253 254

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Robert Balanoff 255 256

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Jeanne R. Cleveland Bernstein 257 258

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Kathleen Marie Burke 259 260

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Kay Marie Hanlon 261 262

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Thomas J. Kelley 263 264

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Clare Elizabeth McWilliams 265 266

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Mary Lane Mikva 267 268

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Patrick T. Murphy 269 270

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Timothy Patrick Murphy 271 272

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Jim Ryan 273 274

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Edward 'Ed' Washington, II 275 276

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Thaddeus L. Wilson 277 278

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
John C. Griffin 279 280

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Daniel James Pierce 281 282

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Allen F. Murphy 283 284

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
William H. Hooks 285 286

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Thomas V. Lyons 287 288

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Raymond W. Mitchell 289 290

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Edward Harmening 291 292

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Daniel Malone 293 294

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Geary W. Kull 295 296

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
John P. Callahan, Jr. 297 298

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Steven James Bernstein 299 300

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Bonita Coleman 301 302

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Ann Finley Collins 303 304

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Daniel J. Gallagher 305 306

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Sharon O. Johnson 307 308

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Linzey D. Jones 309 310

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Terry MacCarthy 311 312

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Sandra G. Ramos 313 314

Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit (Retention)


Candidate Name Yes No
Susan Kennedy Sullivan 315 316

Title Question Yes No
Proposed Amendment to the Illinois Constitution NOTICE THE FAILURE TO VOTE THIS BALLOT MAY BE THE EQUIVALENT OF A NEGATIVE VOTE, BECAUSE A CONVENTION SHALL BE CALLED OR THE AMENDMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE IF APPROVED BY EITHER THREE-FIFTHS OF THOSE VOTING ON THE QUESTION OR A MAJORITY OF THOSE VOTING IN THE ELECTION. (THIS IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A DIRECTION THAT YOUR VOTE IS REQUIRED TO BE CAST EITHER IN FAVOR OF OR IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSITION HEREIN CONTAINED.) WHETHER YOU VOTE THIS BALLOT OR NOT YOU MUST RETURN IT TO THE ELECTION JUDGE WHEN YOU LEAVE THE VOTING BOOTH. CONSTITUTION BALLOT PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE 1970 ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION Explanation of Amendment The proposed amendment adds a new section to the Revenue Article of the Illinois Constitution. The proposed amendment provides that no moneys derived from taxes, fees, excises, or license taxes, relating to registration, titles, operation, or use of vehicles or public highways, roads, streets, bridges, mass transit, intercity passenger rail, ports, or airports, or motor fuels, including bond proceeds, shall be expended for other than costs of administering laws related to vehicles and transportation, costs for construction, reconstruction, maintenance, repair, and betterment of public highways, roads, streets, bridges, mass transit, intercity passenger rail, ports, airports, or other forms of transportation, and other statutory highway purposes, including the State or local share to match federal aid highway funds. You are asked to decide whether the proposed amendment should become part of the Illinois Constitution. For the proposed addition of Section 11 to Article IX of the Illinois Constitution.


Should user fees be spent to support the service rendered? That makes sense to me - especially since in this case, the money is actually needed  to maintain infrastructure.

Countywide, Merge Offices Shall the Office of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds be eliminated and all duties and responsibilities of the Office of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds be transferred to, and assumed by, the Office of the Cook County Clerk by December 7, 2020?

Both positions are traditionally reserved for Democratic party hacks.  Why pay for two when we can get by with one ?
Countywide, Earned Sick Time Shall Illinois enact the Earned Sick Time for Employees Act which will allow Illinois workers to earn up to 40 hours of sick time a year to take care of their own health or a family member's health?

If we can distinguish between what it would be nice from what should be required for employers to do -- paid sick leave would be the former.
Proviso Township, Amend Constitution Should the United States Constitution be amended to clearly state that only individual persons, and not corporations, associations, or any other organizational entities are entitled to the rights enumerated in the Constitution?
Proviso Township, Fossil Fuels Shall all levels of government including federal, state, county, and municipal districts cease purchasing securities in the fossil fuel industry in order to break the hold of fossil fuel corporations on markets and governments and bring about a swift transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy?
Proviso Township, Climate Change Shall our Representatives and Senators in the U.S. Congress sponsor and/or support measures that will: Acknowledge the serious threat posed by climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a clear, transparent and effective way?

I won't spend any time thinking about fanciful, feel-good-only proposals. 


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