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
