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* What’s on your Illinois-centric mind today?…
posted by Isabel Miller
Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 7:42 am
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The more I think about it, the more shocked I am that Pritzker said nothing about Vallas anti LGBTQ and abortion connections when asked about endorsements yesterday.
Comment by SWSider Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 7:51 am
I think Pritzker is going to sit this one out and endorse neither candidate. Assuming Vallas wins, it’s better not to have endorsed him. If Johnson wins, they are more similarly located on the political spectrum and should get along just fine.
Anyway, that’s today’s crystal ball reading.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 7:58 am
The CTU overplayed its hand by choosing ideological purity and “one of their own” over the best winning strategy. I don’t see a path to victory for Johnson.
Comment by Suburban Onlooker Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 8:23 am
For bills to die in committees over the next week.
Comment by One of Three Puppets Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 8:27 am
Brandon IMHO was hot out of the gate on election night and plans to take it to Vallas who really when you consider it is a carpetbagging school voucher enthusiast and Brandon has to make that abundantly clear at every step of this shortened campaign.
Comment by SouthSideGT Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 8:30 am
I’m thinking next week the reality of lawmaking is going to dawn on a lot newbie lawmakers.
Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 8:34 am
what Friendly Bob Adams said. Also, if you are a White Sox fan, look up WGN’s latest telenovela spoof, Noticias de mi Corazon. has a very funny special appearance.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 8:50 am
Thinking about higher ed this am. The Gov could maybe pull in a huge amount of students by marketing to Florida. Something like, “Illinois welcomes all students. We aren’t going to turn our back on African Americans, LGBTQ, women, or any students. If you’re unhappy with your higher education experience in Florida, come to Illinois as you are, where you are free to learn and grow.” Maybe waive out of state tuition. Create some progressive articulation agreements. I think every state institutions would be on board. It would send a good message to about our values.
Comment by Ivan Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 8:53 am
=the more shocked I am that Pritzker said nothing about Vallas anti LGBTQ and abortion connections when asked about endorsements yesterday.=
Pritzker is going to have to work with whomever the nominee is. And while some Vallas associations raise eyebrows some of them are also a bit contrived. Not all that different from some of Lori Lightfoot’s prior work and comments. And if he’s elected mayor they could soon be forgotten.
Neither party benefits from rigid ideology. There’s absolutely no benefit in Pritzker taking sides in what will be a contested and divided race.
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 8:55 am
@Pundent–well stated. Agree with ya. No upside for JB
Comment by 10th ward Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 8:58 am
@Pundent, rigid ideology. um, it’s hateful the anti LGBTQ statements of AWAKE. hateful.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:00 am
==The CTU overplayed its hand by choosing ideological purity and “one of their own” over the best winning strategy.==
Couldn’t have happened if Chuy didn’t sleepwalk. Plus, CTU is perfectly happy to bedevil a hostile mayor, and it gives them a hell of a talking point for their real prize, the school board elections.
==I don’t see a path to victory for Johnson.==
It’s there. Pick up the lion’s share of the LL and Chuy voters on ideology, get a respectable number of the WW voters on race, paint Vallas as a Republican, and count on CTU to make sure your plusses vote. Maybe he executes, maybe he doesn’t, but it’s a pretty clear path.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:02 am
Disagree with SouthSideGT. This election is not about education; it is a referendum on public safety. A Chicago cop being shot to death last night is horrifying on its own, but also brings Johnson’s policies (or lack thereof, aside from having lots of police-hating supporters) into focus for many voters.
Comment by R.J. Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:04 am
I think if JB senses BJ can win (maybe especially with a big ol’ check from JB?) JB jumps in. He hasn’t exactly been shy about trying to consolidate all the Dem power centers under him.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:05 am
https://wgntv.com/morning-news/wgn-morning-news-telenovela/wgn-anchors-win-the-lottery-in-new-telenovela-noticias-de-mi-corazon/ Forgot that the spoof also contains a former elected statewide.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:08 am
Mayor of Chicago is a big job and responsibility… yet we have two candidates that could well keep many voters home as they choose neither of the above.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:17 am
===The Gov could maybe pull in a huge amount of students by marketing to Florida.===
As much as Higher Ed is about the experiences and feelings of belonging and real safety, the marketing to students in, say, Florida, or any state where social issues, ALL social issues or conservative leanings are deemed wrong, the bottom line is the bottom line.
Illinois students flocking to Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama, or Kentucky are leaving because of another social ill, student debt.
It’s a tough investment to market as such with students facing 6-figure student debt or fleeing to a campus bubble with less or no debt.
Businesses have the better angle for employees, arguably an employee could/would stay longer than the 3-4 years of education.
Illinois needs to keep Illinois students better. The brain drain is real, and studehts leaving Illinois find opportunities out of state too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:19 am
=it’s hateful the anti LGBTQ statements of AWAKE.=
I certainly don’t agree with Vallas’ opportunistic associations be it AWAKE or the FOP. But if he gets 50% +1 he will be the Democratic mayor of Chicago. And then what?
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:31 am
Anybody heard from Ken Griffin as his new home targets minority and LGBQT human beings for trying to live their lives and understand their past? Does he agree with DeSantis or is he afraid to speak up? Which one?
Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:33 am
I agree with Amalia. there’s ideology and then there’s being indecent to people. Awake is indecent to people.
But I thought Vallas had disclaimed Awake? (I mean he shouldn’t have gone or said the guy should run for governor and he ought to remind everyone constantly that he’s not a terrible persona and that he believes in equality for all–preferably not just with words)
Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:35 am
===or is he afraid to speak up?===
lol
Hardly: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=%22ken+griffin%22+%22woke%22
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:36 am
Brandon Johnson was on MSNBC this morning and I listened to a big chunk of the segment. In his appearance, I better understood how he defeated Chuy and LL. He came across as a likable guy with strong roots in the city and I liked how he worked his West side roots and pastor father into his answers about his background and policy proposals. Pretty much every question was about how to address crime and to me he sounded reasonable and not like a far left police hater I am sure others will characterize him as. In the bit I listened to he did not attack Vallas at all and he sidestepped any criticism of LL when hosts tried to ask why she lost.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:39 am
=The Gov could maybe pull in a huge amount of students by marketing to Florida=
Not so sure about that. Florida high school students with a B grade point average receive free in-state tuition under the Bright Futures scholarship program. Maybe as a starting point we should look to emulate a similar program for our own state residents.
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:41 am
@Oswego Willy
You have a very fair point that debt and ROI on colleges here are driving some Illinoisians away. I don’t think it has to be either/or though. We can better shape our Illinois enrollment pipeline and process while still harnessing out of state opportunities.
Comment by Ivan Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:42 am
I always found it “chuckling funny” that the richest man (when he was here) in Illinois only felt more empowered and emboldened to speak his… “thoughts”… either when he was away from Illinois scrutiny… or more and more now since moving out of state.
It’s like Griffin was shopping for (with his multiple residences)…
… a safe space…
Welp, “Florida”… he and Rauner.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:44 am
Re: Vallas and Awake — I’m surprised Awake even invited him to speak given his interview with the ACLU from 4 years ago in which he disclosed that his niece is transgender. The fact that he would then go without doing any due diligence is one of the more disappointing (to put it mildly) aspects of the whole campaign, and highlights just how opportunistic he is willing to be to attain office.
Comment by Anon324 Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:45 am
Vallas, as always, and to a much great and brazen way… is an opportunist… who has beliefs, but it’s more than changing views to his audience at moments, it’s appeasing to maximize momentary opportunities.
Once you realize that, and his views to the great narrative(s), you can understand Vallas’ paper facade
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:48 am
=== I don’t think it has to be either/or though. We can better shape our Illinois enrollment pipeline and process while still harnessing out of state opportunities.===
There’s not unlimited monies.
Marketing to keep our own, spending and rewarding our own, to stay here … versus marketing to a Florida family where 6-figure student debt… out of state… when out of state Kentucky will leave a student arguably “debt-free”
Student debt is too big of a mitigating factor.
Keep our own, that would be huge.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:52 am
=It’s like Griffin was shopping for (with his multiple residences)…
… a safe space…==
This…so often on the right. The canceling and the right wing wokeness. It makes me chuckle at their inability to see their own behavior that mirrors the behavior they decry. But it really isn’t funny because they are deliberately hurting people that do the no harm.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:54 am
+1 OW’s comment on Vallas. He will shape-shift constantly to get elected. He doesn’t actually stand for anything. You may not like Johnson and his vision, but he clearly stands for something.
Comment by Montrose Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 10:12 am
Well, I hope that whoever the next mayor is, places a higher priority on good relations in Springfield. Lightfoot liaisons were basically a non-entity.
Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 10:40 am
Illinois needs to make it more affordable for all students at its colleges and universities and probably should have more merit scholarships for its residents as well. Both are needed. The U of I Champaign is particularly weak with the scholarships for its students. Other Universities have gotten better but could still improve. Just last Month, UNOmaha announced a rate of 23,000 with possibilities of Aid and Scholarships as well. If you qualify for the Instate tuition rate with the extras it is like 18000 a year with very very nice new dorms. It is one example but Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, and others do this as well. I remember when EIU, SIU, and others had lots more enrollment. Being financially competitive with the tuition/ room and board would help improve that enrollment.
Comment by DTown Resident Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 10:46 am
@DTown
I get that, but most state institutions are far below the numbers you list, and with arguably (at least with my bias) a far better education. https://www.collegeillinois.org/Program-Benefits/collegetuitioncostandfees.html
Comment by Ivan Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 10:57 am
If Vallas wins will he actually move to Chicago, or stay in the suburbs? Would be weird to have a mayor who lives somewhere else.
Comment by Banish Misfortune Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 11:00 am
- Ivan -
I do like and appreciate your intentions and thoughts.
Even UIUC understands the challenges to finance and student debt and carrying debt needlessly when “prestige” and “pride” are driving decades long debt to carry… all Illinois 2 and 4 year institutions need the tools financially to entice Illinois students to stay.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 11:00 am
Vallas and Keith Thornton. He sure does pick some interesting characters to associate with.
https://twitter.com/soit_goes/status/1631278274511872004?s=20
Comment by Big Dipper Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 11:14 am
@Big Dipper, good catch. Keith Thornton started out credible and ended up not that. Good police…and staff…are good. Thornton, Catanzara, not that.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 11:25 am
Ivan,
How do those stack up with room and board added in? Say add 11,000 each for those…that 23,000 included books, room + board, plus tuition. I would consider that school good as well as the other three Campuses in the University of Nebraska system, especially the med school, and the Illinois schools good as well. Those are also 22-23 rates without books, room and board. The other is 23-24 rates with those. For UN2Lincoln, I was as an Illinois student given in-state tuition and 1000.00 off that years ago when the best available at the time from ISU was 500.00 . Lincoln was also a much nicer city to liven in than I thought it would be too.
Comment by DTownResident Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 11:28 am
WGN-TV was uneasy about Johnson winning the other runoff position. Actually, it’s Vallas who give centrists a bad name and risks losing in a winning environment. A more conservative Democrat is not so much the problem, if this candidate did not speak and support a bigoted organization, did not like homophobic and racist tweets, did not say or agree that teaching Black kids about racism causes them to use it as an excuse to commit crimes or whatever statement that was.
Someone like Vallas could really do well, minus the bigotry. If he loses, this might be a reason.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 12:04 pm
In a city like Chicago, an endorsement from a President like Biden would normally be seen as good, happening. not this time. Biden cannot risk a Vallas endorsement because it not only angers his Black base but emphasizes everything that is wrong in criminal justice, culture wars. but he can’t endorse Brandon either, with the past comments on defund. Pritzker is in the same place.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 12:09 pm