Meet the Moderator

[Cuban_Liberal]

Hi, y'all!

I thought I'd take a moment to introduce myself to those of you who don't know me already. My name is Tony, and I'm a 27 year-old gay male from the tiny downstate community of Arcola, the heart of Illinois' Amish country. My area is fairly 'maroon', meaning that while it tends to favor Republicans at the polls, it's not unheard of for Democrats to be elected.

As far as personal background goes, I have 3 older sisters and 3 younger brothers, and I fairly well fit the stereotype of what a middle child is. My dad is a first-generation Mexican-American and my mom is an escapee/immigrant from Cuba who is now a naturalized American citizen. I was born in Miami and lived most of my life in the South, although I gradated high school in Indiana. I'm a veteran and have worked as both a paramedic and a deputy sheriff. I graduated from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, IN and am currently attending law school at UIUC. With my life-partner, Padraig18, I co-own a small news agency and an independent bookstore.

I'm politically active on the local and congressional district levels, serving as a precinct committeeman and as a member of my county party's executive committee. I have no current political aspirations beyond these, although that could and likely will change in a few years.

Temperamentally, I'm pretty laid back, although I've been known to become pretty cranky with RW disruptors, bullies and people who don't understand the meaning of the word 'no. *grin* I moderate with a pretty light hand, and am always open to answering questions. If you have a question or a problem that you'd rather not post publicly, don't hesitate to contact me via PM; I'll do the best I can to help you out.

So, how about telling me about yourselves?

:hi:

[Paradise]

1. Nice to meet you! :) n/t

[Cuban_Liberal]

2. Thank you!

You, too!

:hi:

[davsand]

3. I'm just up the road from you.

I live just outside Champaign-Urbana in a tiny farm town where I grew up. Been here in East Central IL all my life, and chose to move BACK to the farm town after we had our daughter (Fondly referred to as as Material Girl in any of my on line activities.) Went to U of I and have been an active Dem for quite a long time.

I've worked a few campaigns and have met a few folks along the way. I hear a fair amount of labor scuttlebutt, and some juicy gossip out of Springfield occasionally. I take my obligation to SPREAD that gossip quite seriously. :hi:

I have been threatening to set up a downstate DUer gathering here in Champaign sometime after the New Year. I did the very FIRST ever DU gathering at my house a long time ago, so I have no fear about organizing something as simple as a gathering in a restaurant or bar! When you meet everyone face to face it is about like a reunion rather than any kind of socially awkward thing, I've found.

Glad to have you as a Mod for Illinois Forum. I'm sure you'll find we are pretty diverse group!



Laura

[Cuban_Liberal]

4. Thanks!

Merry Christmas!

:)

[chiburb]

5. Did Elad give up on us?

:)

Hi CL, glad to see you here! Maybe you and Paddy can pick up Laura and drive to the next Chicago gathering?

I don't post much anymore cuz my access was cut off at work, but I'm still around.

Thanks for "handling" us.

[davsand]

7. I'm thinking I need to make a voyage up to see you!

I have missed you on here--glad to hear you are ok! I dunno--seems like I'm gonna have to hop in the car and get up there for a visit.

I doubt it will happen in the next couple of months due to Illinois winter weather and everything eles going on--but I'm thinking we need to get something put together!


Laura

[Cuban_Liberal]

8. That's possible.

A you can imagine with both of us in school full-time and with 2 businesses, free time is a scarce commodity.

:)

[Sannum]

6. Hello

:hi: So ya think you can handle us, huh:P.

I live in the windy city and I am originally from a red state. I got outta there as soon as I could:).

[More Than A Feeling]

9. Hi there

I am a student at Lake Forest College. This semester I will be in Washington taking classes and interning. I would much appreciate any political advice you may be able to pass along. Pretty please?:)

[laylah]

10. Welcome Tony!

Nice to meet you.

I am a fifty-plus casemanager living in a small community just south of Moline, Il. I was raised in a smaller community south of here, Avon, Il, "fled" to Colorado in 1975, only to return in July '02.

My goal for the next guber election in '06 is to oust Blago. Let the flaming begin :evilgrin:

Jenn

[barb162]

13. okay, you piqued my interest

Do you consider Blago worse than Edgar (Mr. Teflon) or Guv Ryan? Blago isn't perfect but a million light years better than those guys. Also with the deficit Ryan left, Blago doesn't have much room to maneuver. Give him a break, okay?

[laylah]

15. With all due respect,

no, I will NOT give him a break. He lied, plain and simple. He is turning a blind eye to sleazy, ILLEGAL, unethical behavior after he promised he would not. You can turn a blind eye but allow me my opinion. As for the others. I left Illinois in 1975, returning in 2002. I am not familiar enough to comment. I was very active, and effective, in Colorado politics...this state is a cesspool of politicians and it is up to us, WE, the people, to change that. Having been raised here for almost 25 years, I am apalled. I intend to do my very best to change things. :hippie:

Jenn

[il_lilac]

11. Great to meet you!

I live in Riverside near the Brookfield Zoo. As you can see I'm new on DU. Would love to see more action here on the Illinois board. Looking for local protests and am very proud of my state. Just came back from visiting family in Georgia. Needless to say, my Kerry bumper sticker and "NO WAR" pin were not well recieved. Boy, it's great to be home! :grouphug: Peace, Laura C.

[Tweed]

16. Welcome to the DU!

Yeah, keep those posts on the Illinois forum going! Always post articles from local papers, your latest musings on current events or even pure vanity posts. It doesn't have to all be political here. If you hear of any protests and activism events, be sure to share them with us! Don't be hogging all the fun. ;-)

[barb162]

12. Hi Tony, you talked about your dogs not wanting to pee outside

today, right? (That was you, right?) Okay, stream of consciousness...
do you speak Spanish? I have been an IL resident my entire life but have never been south of Kankakee. I didn't know IL had Amish. What is the "UC" in "UIUC"

I haven't been on the state board here FOREVER (since the election)., I am still despondent about the election

When you were growing up did you notice the diff in accents of your parents. I took Spanish in HS and college and my first yr. I had a Mexican American teacher and the next yr, I had a Castilian instructor. It was like another foreign language. How do you like being a moderator.
-------------------
I live in the western suburbs although I lived the first half of my life in Chicago where I was born. I live in a totally pug area called Naperville. I had the only Kerry yard sign on my block. These neighbors of mine are philistines par excellence and several of them just had Keyes signs (yes, no Bush signs along with the Keyes sign) in their yards. I have 4 cats and I love them dearly. Glad you are the moderator.

[xBobx804]

14. Barb

Have you joined the naperville democrats listserv? Its a great tool to say in formed on whats going on. Steve Kier the chair of the Naperville Township Democrats is an awsome guy and runs the best DuPage Democratic party website.

His site is www.naperville.dupagedemocrats.org

There are more democrats in Naperville than one might belive.

And the UIUC stands for University of IL - Urbana Champaing as opposed to UIC for University of IL Chicago

[barb162]

17. I met Rick Klau (Naperville Township Democratic Org) and am on

the email lists that Steve Kierstead (DuPage Dems) does and also the one Rick does. Rick seems like a very nice guy, I never met Steve.

[Cuban_Liberal]

18. Hi, Barb!

To answer your questions in order:

I do speak Spanish fluently, although my parents were absolutely adamant about all of us kids learning to read, write and speak 'the King's English'; anything less than an 'A-' in English/Language Arts was frowned on in our house.

Illinois has the 3rd-largest Amish population in the US, actually; the largest concentration is in Douglas, Moultrie and Coles counties in east-central IL, with a secondary concentration in Franklin, Hamilton and Jackson counties in deep southern Illinois. The Amish are interesting people, and the truth of their lives is far more interesting than much of the incorrect 'conventional wisdom' that 'everybody knows' about them. One example is that many Amish DO use electricity, but limit its use in significant ways.

The 'UC' in 'UIUC' stands for Urbana/Champaign, the twin cities where the main campus of the university is located.

My folks have very different accents when the speak Spanish: my dad's accent is fairly northern/Chihuahuan, while my mom's is more Cuban/Castillian. I've always enjoyed the difference and can employ either one when I speak Spanish.

I've enjoyed being a Moderator so far, and am enjoying it more and more each day as I 'grow' into the job.

:hi:

[dog_lovin_dem]

19. Hi Tony...

and all fellow Illinois dwellers! I am from a rural area in south eastern IL near Robinson, home of the original Heath Bar. I live near a few Amish families, who moved here within the past 15 years.

My son, also named Tony, lives in Champaign and my spouse and I just came from a weekend visit. It is approximately 130 miles; around a 2 hour drive.

I graduated from EIU in Charleston as an "old" person! It was a fantastic experience and I'd love to go back someday.

As you can see, this is my first post. It's a little scary, but I felt comfortable here so I decided to go for it!
It's great to be among like-minded people!

[davsand]

20. Welcome to DU and the Illinois forum!

Hubby is also an EIU person. He also enjoyed his time there... We live just outside Champaign in one of the little farm towns. I grew up here, left to go to college and didn't plan to come bck until we had our daughter. Suddenly this little town didn't look quite so oppressive any more. :)

We both work in Champaign-Urbana, my husband in downtown Champaign and I am over in east Urbana.

Has your son taken you to the Courier Cafe yet? It is in the old Courier building--it was THE liberal newspaper in town until it closed in 1979. They have good food and it is a neat place:

http://www.couriersilvercreek.com/couriercafe/history.asp

If you haven't been there yet, you may want to give it a try!


Laura

[Norquist Nemesis]

21. Stop! You're making me homesick!

I lived and grew up in Charleston from the tender age of 7 and know your area well. :) As a quilter...Rockhome Gardens, Outlet Mall, family run fabric stores...well, enough said. :)

I worked at EIU for 15 years. We moved up here to Naperville area in '95. There are now three cats in addition to the 2 kids in our household. The cats are in the running to win the free ride train as the kids are 17 and 20 now.

Politically, well...I knew Coles was strong Republican. Parents are both staunchly CON, but Dad more so than Mom in ideology. It made for somewhat of a conflicted household growing up. For example, the time the school board put forth a referendum to raise the tax in the mid 70's. They warned sports and other extra-curricular activities would be cut without it (and I was involved in those e-c things). Debate, logic, and in desperation--yelling, couldn't get my Dad to vote yes on that one. When it failed the silent treatment kicked in, then the calendar for the cuts that were warned of. Mom helped me canvass on the re-vote (which passed on the second try). :)

DuPage is a whole 'nother animal. I call it Republican Propagation Central! (We have a very high rate of multiple births in this county.) It's more of a good ol' boys network than you can imagine. In fact, it intimidated me enough that I didn't register to vote while I was working at the Chamber of Commerce. They have ways and will use them.

So, welcome! Glad to have you as moderator! :hi:

[Kitka]

22. I was just in Arcola last week!

On my way home to Joliet from Florida. Good outlets :)

Nice to 'meet' you

K