Blagojevich or Eisendrath?

[WildEyedLiberal]

I am undecided.

I am initially drawn to Eisendrath because I do not feel like Blagojevich has served the people of Illinois as well as they deserve. I am a University of Illinois student and Blago's neverending budget cuts have hurt the university, increased my tuition, cut valuable programs, and will hurt the prestige of the university in the long run. Eisendrath will prioritize education and he seems like a solid liberal otherwise, as well. I am inclined to vote for him.

However, Eisendrath mentions *nothing* about labor as an issue, which, in such a manufacturing-heavy state, I find to be a glaring omission. My father has been a proud member of UAW for 42 years, and I want to know if Eisendrath - a self-described "fiscal conservative" according to his website - will pursue labor friendly policies. Blagojevich, by contrast, is endorsed by the Illinois AFL-CIO.

So thus is my dilemma. I would likely choose Eisendrath, but his silence on the issue of labor troubles me, and it is one of the more important issues to me. Can anyone shed any light on Eisendrath's positions concerning labor? I'd like to vote for him tomorrow but this is a significant omission I can't ignore.

[dogman]

1. After seeing another Eisendrath ad, I couldn't vote for him.

Why do the work of the GOP?

[WildEyedLiberal]

5. I haven't seen any Eisendrath ads

I guess he didn't want to get his message, positive or negative, out to anyone not in the Chicago TV market.

Why am I forced to choose between two candidates who could care less about the part of the state I am from?

[mucifer]

2. I just wish Blago woulda raised taxes

other repub governors have. The state needs money for some of the great programs he's started. I think I will hold my nose and vote for Blago.I'm a pediatric nurse who has taken care of many uninsured kids and I do like the idea of coverage for every child but this borrowing against our future thing is very bushlike. Raise the damn taxes to the rich.

[benny05]

3. Why I Cannot Support the Illinois Governor

As many Illinois DU'ers know, I am a disillusioned voter who voted for Blago in the first election. He turned his back on the economic higher education search engine, and on the labor unions too. His gov't is perhaps a little less corrupt than Ryan's, but still pretty bad overall. His performance is sub-par at most. Fully I expect him to win the primary tomorrow, but I will support the other candidate, if for any reason, he supports state government workers, teachers, and other service workers.

He claims he couldn't move to Springfield to protect privacy of his child. Right.

When the tornadoes hit Springfield recently, his comment was that "Springfield needs THEIR city restored." That was a cold shot, folks.

If he would take the time to say no to pork and yes to priorities that I do support which include stem cell research, abortion choice rights, and going after druggists who refuse to fill prescriptions for any reason other than the dosage may be wrong, I would support him.

Blago broke my trust, and I think I'm not alone in many of us downstaters; I'm more vocal about it than most. I will be supporting his Primary opponent.

[WildEyedLiberal]

4. I'm a downstater too and dislike Blago's urban arrogance

His refusal to live in Springfield is absolutely nothing short of arrogance and a slap in the face to everyone who lives south of Chicago. I am more and more inclined to cast a protest vote for Eisendrath, but yet he didn't show any more attention to downstate than Blago does (if I weren't a political junkie I'd have no idea Blago was running opposed), and it just pisses me off the way the Democratic party in Illinois acts as though nothing south of I-80 exists or matters. :(

[benny05]

8. My Vote has been casted

and not for Blago. I won't be fooled again into voting for a man who raids state worker pensions to pay for pork, turned his back on unions, and shows his hubris about not living or working at our state capital, Springfield.

Blago got some negative press in one downstater newspaper recently (I saw something on the way back to Champaign County from being in Chicago last weekend), and I bet there other downstate media outlets who don't support him either. But his war chest is vast and deep.

But I also voted to support David Gill (moral support since he's running unopposed in the Primary). That was the best part of voting.



source: http://www.gill2006.com

[DanCa]

6. Blago in a heart beat - he wants me to walk.

Blago helped to get stem cell research in this state and that is my only hope at a shot for a cure for parkinsons. Blago has also championed disablity causes since day. And lets not forget he has fought the religious right at every turn. Sure he's made a bad decision here or there but remember he is only a first time governor and I am hoping that he has a high learning curve and fix the minor things that I disagree with him on. I think Blago deserves a second chance.

[benny05]

7. Blago Highlighted on CNN online

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/21/sr.tues/index.html?section=cnn_latest

[derby378]

9. I'd go with Eisendrath, myself

Blagojevich is too much of a gun-grabber for my taste.

[RandomKoolzip]

10. I voted for Eisendrath.

One of his ads attacks Dick Cheney...that was enough for me to go on.

Blago seems like a good guy, but he's done little to make me a fan.

[WildEyedLiberal]

11. I ended up voting for Eisendrath, not that it matters

My county, unbeknownst to me, had acquired DIEBOLD MACHINES, so who knows if my vote counted. x(

[benny05]

13. Champaign county has Diebold?

Scanners are Diebold?

[WildEyedLiberal]

14. Oh, I'm not registered in Champaign county.

I'm registered in Moultrie, in my hometown. Apparently we got Diebold ballot scanners - it was like a copy machine, I put the ballot in and it gobbled it up. So here's hoping it got counted--

[Critters2]

15. Where are you?

I used to live in Atwood, right on the Piatt/Douglas line, but very near Moultrie.

[benny05]

12. Newsflash from my house: Some elephants vote Dem

My spouse, an Elephant voter for the past 22 years, declared this afternoon in the primary for Dem and voted for Eisendrath. Spouse could have voted for one of the Rethug candidates, but possesses the same sentiment of initials to represent viewpoint: ABB. Anyone but Blago (instead of Anyone but Bush). Spouse didn't think voting for a Rethug candidate was the right thing to do, which means there is a perceived uncertainty about those candidates as well. Spouse is incensed about getting (in return for good service and lower wages) State promised pensions raided for pork programs, as I am. Spouse's dad was a union member too when working for GM in Kansas City.

Please take this as a positive measure; I do. Even if it's not for your candidate, I'm pleased that my spouse realized our vote counts in this State--and for the betterment thereof. Spouse believes Blago doesn't understand the plight of the working parents trying to put their kids through colleges that draw the best scientists, scholars, etc for broader educational horizons, as well as better opportunities for jobs when students graduate. Blago had too many privileges being a private university student (his parents could afford his education easily) plus lack of public engagement experience--and doesn't want to learn from mistakes.