Those radio ads were just suspended by WBBM Newsradio 78 as being determined to be false. Those ads supported the candidacy of a former federal prosecutor, Drury, and attacked Mark Shaw. Go figure!

Only four days left Lou! Got your candidates' fiscal plan worked out yet? Be nice if you could share it before the election.

Walt, I like a lot about Julie Morrison – her background working for John Porter, her views on social issues, etc. I would like to be persuaded that she will tackle the pension issue in Springfield – but so far, neither her website nor any of her mailings, convinces me this is the case.

What I can’t stomach is voting for the Democratic Party of Illinois, which has controlled all 3 chambers of Illinois government since 2003. For there to be any accountability in Illinois, the Democratic machine needs to be defeated. To be sure, I like Democrats – taking care of those less fortunate is very important to me and we should endeavor to shelter these groups the best that we can. I also think Pat Quinn has shown some courage in financial matters.

But all the mailings from the Democratic Party of Illinois for Drury and Morrison treat us, the voters, like we are idiots. Freedom of choice isn’t on the State Ballot, neither is Medicare nor many of the other issues. The Democratic argument comes down to this “you should ignore the financial mess that we have done next to nothing to solve and vote Democratic because of all the bad social positions of the Republicans.” We have had how many years of Mike Madigan? And why weren’t either Garrett or May more successful in Springfield?

The good news is that if the Democrats continue to be re-elected, the financial markets will eventually force them to make some tough decisions – which will be even tougher down the road. Many of us living on the North Shore will do okay in the long run, but a lot of people - like teachers, pensioners and the less fortunate - will ultimately end up paying the bill.

So I'm interpreting your post as, forget that fact that IL is the most bankrupt/corrupt state, making this point is negative and somehow condones the reelection of the Democrat incumbents?

Mac, his post asks Friedman and Shaw...what's the plan? Fairly simple question. Shaw personally told my neighbor while campaigning that he would "watch out for his (my neighbors) State pension". How is he planning to reduce spending and keep my neighbors State pension the same? My guess is he'll cut out all those darn social programs like Head start, Medicaid, unemployment, and disability benefits that you don't think people should get. he's said nothing about how he will fix the looming Pension crisis other than what he told my neighbor....which is nothing.

Agreed. How rare is a candidate that talks about reaching across the aisle in this climate? As for Biss, that race is not in my district and I have not looked at it. I did like some of Farkas' ideas related to pensions but he has recently also sunk to the level of spending more time talking about his opponent than himself.

That's assuming all candidates vote along party lines. Do you have personal assurances from all candidates? Also, do you have personal assurances from GOP party leadership that they will only vote for policies that will lead us out of this "disaster" or that they even know how to do that? What are these "changes that will save the state" that you speak of? Do tell? Can you give us details? If so, THEN I will vote accordingly.

I can be absolutely sure that all Democrats will vote for policies to maintain the status quo of using our money to pay off their political friends. That's a given.

Will Republicans vote as a group to do the right things? I don't know, but Arie will, starting with the repeal of the recent tax increases. Let's start there and see what happens.

The decision is easy. If you are already getting ridiculous benefits from the State, then you should vote for a Democrat and then get the hell out of Illinois before they destroy your property values by dumping the pension mess on your local government. That's what Harry Griffith did. If you aren't getting any goodies, then you should vote Republican, support them as best you can, and hope they got enough backbone to stand up to the Madigan Mafia.

Do you disagree with that assessment?

Still no answer to the question. Well, at least I only have 4 more days to ask it with no answers.

Walter - actually, Madigan does allow some reps in the house to vote against bills that are unpopular, providing there are already enough votes to pass. I am fairly certain Cullerton would allow the same types of political votes. I don't know that there would be enough to spread around to appear "independent" though.

Hey Walter! You seem kind of stressed. Go ahead and take more than 4 days to make up your mind. No one's putting any pressure on you here.

Nice try but I most certainly be cancelling out your vote.

Ah, so you're not asking questions to figure out who you are going to vote for. You have another agenda.

Why do you keep pretending to be undecided? Jeepers Wally. People do the funniest things. :)

And now that you've revealed that you are a Morrison supporter, please justify your decision by telling us the details of exactly how she's going to solve the pension mess so all the genuinely undecided voters who have been waiting for you to have your question answered will have enough data to make a decision. You must know, or you couldn't vote. Right?

Well...... we're waiting......

I probably agree with you on most social issues, Walter, but by continuing to vote solely Democratic for social issues, you are letting the Democratic Party off the hook. Why should these politicians do anything different if you continue to vote for them? That's not a rhetorical question - I would be interested in your theory of why things will be different.

Really, the burden is on candidates from the party in power, the Democrats, - like Morrison and Drury - to convince us (a) they understand the signficance of the pension/financial crisis, (b) they will break from Mike Madigan as needed and (c) they will focus the vast majority of their time in Springfield working on this issue.

Notice that I don't expect either candidate to (a) already have a plan or (b) argee not to raise tax levels. I just want someone who will stop "going with the flow" on financial matters - which is what Susan Garrett did for 10 years and, to a lesser extent, Karen May as well.

And it I was convinced that just voting for the GOP would solve our financial problems I would do it in a heartbeat.

Walter, I did not imply that I was in possession of a plan to cut spending. I do not care WHO cuts spending, but somebody in Springfield and Washington needs to get a grip. I was taught that you cannot spend money that you do not have. Apparently that is passe. If revenue is $100, expenses cannot be $110. Pretty basic math.

Social issues are important. Falling for Pension reform being more important than social advances is wrong. It's got to be worked out without erasing social programs that benefit our fellow humans. I thing Republicans in the present climate would erase years of social progress for economic gain, both statewide and nationally.

Wow Janet those are some real deep thoughts. No wonder you're voting GOP.

Walt, again, what do you think the Democrats will do differently in the next 2 years than in the previous 10 years if they retain the State Senate and State House of Representatives? I assume your lack of an answer means “nothing differently.”

I agree that it is uncertain whether the Republicans can “solve our financial problems”, but it seems almost certain – given 10 years of evidence – that the Democrats can’t. I don’t blame Quinn – he puts forward proposals that go nowhere in the State legislature – the fault, as I see it, largely falls directly on Madigan and Cullerton and, indirectly, on those Senators and Representatives who continue to vote for these leaders.

I’m fine with voting for Democrats who will stand up, make some noise and oppose Madigan/Cullerton to further the common good – we just haven’t had that in Garrett and May.

Note to RB, I will even give these Democrats a pass for voting with Madigan and Cullerton on a budget so long as they either offer or support some effort (even if failed) to address Illinois’ financial problems.

RB, as to your point “[f]alling for Pension reform being more important than social advances is wrong”, I respectively disagree. A combination of spending cuts and an increase/rejiggering of tax burdens is probably necessary.

The financial difficulties in Illinois are leading to businesses starting to either (i) move out of Illinois (Jimmie Johns) or (ii) locate new facilities outside of Illinois (Caterpillar). It will only get worse as our financial situation deteriorates further. The businesses that stay are extorting special tax reductions (Sears). What needs to be done is to lower the corporate tax rate in Illinois to incent all businesses to stay and expand – if this results in higher taxes for individuals, that’s the price we have to pay. But, in any event, the focus the next few years needs to be on our finances!

What Republican special interest groups have 85 billion dollars of my money promised to them?

29 years Madigan has run the house.....its time for a change. Wake up, put down the kool-aid.