Illinoisians outside of Chicago, a question....

[greatauntoftriplets]

Do you hate Judy Baar Topinka as much as I do? The woman is abrasive and annoying. A governor needs a certain amount of diplomatic ability, which she lacks in spades.

I realize that Blagoevich is not terribly liked downstate, but what are the voters in your areas saying about the repuke nominee?

[Bjornsdotter]

1. Can't stand her

Her voice drives me crazy, I can't listen to her.

As for McHenry county, I just don't know.....they hate Blagoevich but I'm not sure that they will vote for Topinka. Most(all of the ones I saw) of the signs up here were for Oberweis. It will be interesting to see how the republican voters up here spin this one. :popcorn:

Cheers

[dogman]

2. I can't stand her style.

She reminds me of the relative that is harmless as a person but is an embarrassment in public. The big question is, will she turn off more GOPers than Blago will Dems? I think it will be the ability of local races to GOTV that will be the bigger factor.

[Bjornsdotter]

4. You've hit the point exactly

" will she turn off more GOPers than Blago will Dems"

That is the question...as of yet I'm hearing "No to Topinka", but it's the early days and emotions are still running high.

Cheers

[mopinko]

3. i kinda have a soft spot for her.

bein' loud and abrasive myself.

that and she loves thrift shops. til she started spouting the bush line, she was my favorite republican. not that that is anything like being on a pedestal, or anything. but, i used to like her way back when she used to do bruce dumont's show on wbez. always told it like it was.

[Xeric]

5. She's a republican, that's all I need to know

I'm out in the far northwest suburbs. I didn't see one Topinka sign. I'm not sure if she'll do well out here, and as I posted earlier, it looks like a lot of the religious reich is going to bolt. Not sure how this will play out.
She may not be the most offensive of the Illinois republicans but no way would I buy brand X.

[saged52]

6. South central Illinois here -

and yes I dislike Judy as much as you do. My concern is with the 'non-informed' voter. If there was one little thing they disagreed with over the past few years they will vote for the opposing party - idiot gun toters that they are. Sorry - but in my voting area I know way too many people that are single issue voters - and weapons seem to be their only compassion. It is unfortunate and frightening that they narrow their choice in consideration of only that issue.
There are a ton of Republican signs all over my county but past voting history shows our largely union-based area votes Democratic.
Blago is trying to get health care for each and every child in the state of Illinois. I'm sure the hypocritical pukes would rather these children just suffer. That will be an interesting debate.
peace -

[DanCa]

7. She reminds me of the nosey neighbor from Bewitched.

I am from the outskirts of Mchenry and alls I know is that she is angering alot of conservatives and moderaters repukes alike with her demeanor. Hell my repuke neighbor who thinks George Ryan is being framed is setting out this election.

[xray s]

8. she reminds me more of Endora

Don't you think?

[DanCa]

9. Gawd that's scarey

I wont be able to get to sleep tonight :evilgrin: Would that make Birkett Dr. Bombay?

[benny05]

10. In all due Respect

I think most of us below I-80 are being addressed in the manner of your thread title; it is as though most of us are not of the body because 3+ million live in Chicago. I'm guessing that is not your intention in your thread; however, impression is that Chicago area folks believe Illinois should totally revolve around Chicago, just as our Governor does. I don't mean DU'ers on this forum because the majority of them are the best I can meet virtually.

I love visiting Chicago, but I really like being a Downstater. I wish Chicago folks would come down here and try to visit more often and become a bigger part of our state (other than the state fair in Aug), which consists of soybean and corn, most of higher education that is public--the best for anyone's money--and of those who have small businesses. The Lincoln Library is kewl. Many historical sites.

After reading more about JBT, I cannot say I am a fan of hers--and I'm likely to have a write-in candidate in November.

[xray s]

11. Aha! You have been exposed as an impostor!

"I think most of us below I-80 ..."

No respectable "downstater" would identify I-80 as the dividing line! True downstaters know the line is drawn at I-70! I challenge your bona fides!

:)

[WildEyedLiberal]

12. Haha - I think the distinction you're drawing is "southern Illinois"

I'm a lifelong resident of central Illinois. When I came to the U of I and met all the Chicago kids, they (arrogantly) informed me that everything south of I-80 was "southern Illinois." I informed them that everything south of I-70/Effingham was "southern Illinois." However, I suppose everything south of Chicago is "downstate," by a pretty much common definition.

LOL, sorry to be so wonky. But I've had the I-80 vs I-70 argument with many city kids over what constitutes "southern" Illinois, and they are universally full of shit. :D

[dogman]

13. Downstate is also North and West of Chicago.

At least that is how the Chicago media has described it.

[kevsand]

14. Except that for those of us who grew up south of I-70,

Rockford is Chicago. I used to have great good fun teasing a friend in college who was a Rockford native about being from "Chicago."

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

15. My geographical understanding of "downstate" Illinois was always

this: If you're a Cub fan you're not a "downstater", if you're a Cardinal fan, you are!!!
:evilgrin:

[mopinko]

16. what are sox fans? nt

[kevsand]

19. Talk about a big fat softball of a straight line.

I'll let it slide this time, since the AL isn't really even baseball...

[mopinko]

20. aw, come on

the sox are the team of the working class. especially this team. hard working, dirty uniform, get the job done baseball.

[davsand]

17. I grew up here in Champaign County and I am a Cub fan.

There are more than a few of us Cub fans down here, as Kevsand the Cardinal fan, can attest.

So--am I a "downstater?" I classify myself as one because I am WAAAAAY south of I-80. Frankly, I look at most everything from Kankakee on North as being "Chicago area."

Now, south of I-70 IS Southern Illinois. No doubt about that...


Laura

[kevsand]

18. Yeah, but you're just messed up, hon.

At least Cub fans in the city have sort of an excuse. Down here it probably qualifies as some sort of textbook mental illness. Marrying a Cardinal fan was probably a cry for help...

[WildEyedLiberal]

21. Ha ha ha ha ha!

"Down here it probably qualifies as some sort of textbook mental illness."

This Cardinal fan FULLY concurs! :evilgrin:

I relish the year 2008, when I shall celebrate 100 years of Chicago Cub futility. Oh, and a Democrat in the Oval Office.

A sweet, sweet celebration it will be. :evilgrin:

[Critters2]

23. I don't know anyone who plans to vote for Blago

around here. Much disappointment with his nomination. Of course, I don't know any prganization Dems, because I can't figure out how to get involved. But the Dems I do know say they consider Topinka the lesser of two evils.

[WildEyedLiberal]

26. My whole family will vote for him

Most of us none too happily. I dislike him and my dad HATES him - only my mother tries to defend him. :D But he's 100,000 X better than Judy Baar Topinka. :scared: I wish this would be a blowout so I could vote third party as a protest vote, but I will NOT be held responsible for dooming Illinois to four years of Repuke governance by failing to vote for Blago, uninspiring and disappointing as he may be.

[mopinko]

27. sometimes i think,

there is a real opportunity for someone to market little donkey nose clips for election days.

[davsand]

25. "Textbook mental illness?"

There I was--minding my OWN business--and a rude remark from my own husband pops up. Eleven years of "wedded bliss" on this coming Saturday, and he's still giving me a raft of crap about my baseball preferences.

Play nice Hon, or I'm gonna rat you out to the entire neighborhood* as a Card fan. Your days of coaching softball will be finished and mine will continue on!!!

:evilgrin:

I have always figured that being from the Illinois side of the river down by St. Louis he just didn't know any better, but now I'm starting to wonder. I guess it is a good thing that we have raised our kid as a Sox fan, maybe there is hope for her future...



Other families argue about stuff like what religion to raise the kids up with. For us, what baseball team to support has been the major sticking point. Literally, we had a wedding shower that had a Cubs-v-Cards theme going on. That dispute has not been resolved YET, as you all can tell.


Laura


*This is rather a wasted threat given that nasty Cards hat he wears all the time. I told him he could borrow my Cubs hat any time he wanted to try and fit in with his community, and he refuses.

[Critters2]

22. EVerybody I know is a Cubs fan

Even my friends in Iowa. Is that now "Downstate Illinois"

Btw, Iowans always enjoyed letting me know that IOWA is an acronym...for "Illinois Only Without Assholes". Made me luagh!

Go I-Cubs!

[benny05]

24. I Liked the Cubs

Before I moved here--nearly 5 years ago. I supported the White Sox too because I had friends in TX who loved the WS--more than 20 years ago.

[ProfessorGAC]

I Guess My Answer Is No

I don't hate her at all. She's a moderate republican, and in this day and age, i'll take those where i can get them, and i won't discourage them from being big-time party players. If only to keep the screaming meemies on the right from having too much clout.

Remember, she was instrumental in getting Alan Keyes to throw his hat in (although the radical right didn't know it at the time) so he would get annhilated and she could look to the radical fringe of her party and say "I told you so!" Any republican who sticks it to their own lunatic element is ok by me.
The Professor

[ProfessorGAC]

28. I Guess My Answer Is No

I don't hate her at all. She's a moderate republican, and in this day and age, i'll take those where i can get them, and i won't discourage them from being big-time party players. If only to keep the screaming meemies on the right from having too much clout.

Remember, she was instrumental in getting Alan Keyes to throw his hat in (although the radical right didn't know it at the time) so he would get annhilated and she could look to the radical fringe of her party and say "I told you so!" Any republican who sticks it to their own lunatic element is ok by me.
The Professor

[ProfessorGAC]

29. I Guess My Answer Is No

I don't hate her at all. She's a moderate republican, and in this day and age, i'll take those where i can get them, and i won't discourage them from being big-time party players. If only to keep the screaming meemies on the right from having too much clout.

Remember, she was instrumental in getting Alan Keyes to throw his hat in (although the radical right didn't know it at the time) so he would get annhilated and she could look to the radical fringe of her party and say "I told you so!" Any republican who sticks it to their own lunatic element is ok by me.
The Professor