Politics: November 2008 Archives

We just went through another election, but in Minnesota they're still counting ballots. Comedian and radio talk show host Al Franken and incumbent Republican Sen. Norm Coleman are locked in a dead heat. Who says your vote doesn't count?

As of Friday, Coleman was up 239 votes over millions cast. That breaks down to about a .011 percentage point lead. Um, can somebody say razor thin?

This is the tightest race in the nation and some are saying: "Well, what do you expect from Minnesota?" They elected a pro wrassler as their governor a few years back. Currently, the state is in the midst of a discovery recount. If if's thisclose, expect a full blown recount.

One of the newsroom geezers --- you know the types, always telling us how things were back in the last century --- said this Franken-Coleman contest was like the Thompson-Stevenson race in the 1982 Illinois gubernatorial race when a vote per precinct determined the outcome.

That was when the first Lake County resident vied for lite governor. That was Grace Mary Stern of Highland Park, the county's first Democratic county clerk who went on to become a state senator and running mate of Adlai Stevenson Da Third. Or so the geezer tells us.

Regardless, it's a barn burner in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. It may seem immaterial except Dems are close to marking a majority of 60 senators. That is filabuster proof.

So this contest is one of many voters should take into consideration when somebody says: "My vote doesn't count." Au contraire, mon ami. On any given Election Day, it certainly does.

President-elect Barack Obama promised his two daughters a dog after the election was over. It's over and he says he'll pay up. The Hound is available for first dog status.

Consider living in the White House compared to the Dog House. Sweet! The Hound imagines the first dog would be treated like royalty by White House staff willing to please after years of putting up with President Bush's two mutts, Barney and Miss Beazley, both Scottish terriers. Remember President Clinton's chocolate Lab, Buddy? How about Bush the Elder's springer spaniel, Millie. She even wrote a book!

If rejected for first dog approval, The Hound isn't barking up the wrong tree in suggesting the Obamas' check out selecting a shelter dog --- no, not one of those snooty Shelties. A shelter dog would, after all, be the politically correct choice.

Although, President-elect Obama has tapped Clinton's former chief of staff, Chicago Congressman Rahm Emanuel, as his chief of staff. Might as well opt for the chocolate lab, too. A warning though: Those devil dogs can chew up a storm. Trust The Hound on this one.

The election of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama gives Gov. Rod Blagojevich the opening he needs to make friends and nice with fellow Democrats. The Hound can see those Blago wheels turning: Who can help him get renominated in 2010 and then re-elected?

Blago the Bad wants to be Blago the Good so he's going to take his time and have anybody who's been mentioned as possible senatorial material tell him what can they bring to the table in two years. That's the way Chicago pols operate.

So Blago the Good is going through the motions saying he wants to have a name by December and appoint before the Senate convenes in January after Obama gives up his seat for the White House. Blago the Good says he's looking for candidates who will support the president-elect's agenda; work to represent Illinois (duh!); work with the governor on legislation for the state to achieve shared goals --- affordable health care, infrastructure and the economy.

Sounds like the perfect candidate is...drum roll please: Rod Blagojevich. Appointing his governorship to the Senate would be a way to get out of Illinois and away from the wrath of Illinoisans, but still be here.

After all, Blago has never lived in Springfield since being elected governor. If he names himself to the senatorial post, he won't have to move to Washington, D.C. He can just mail in his votes and depend on Dick Durbin to do the heavy lifting for Illinois. After all, Durbin's been the state's lone senator since Obama began running for president nearly two years ago.

Yup, it's a perfect match. Plus, Blago has Washington experience. He was a congressman at one time.

Hours from now we'll know who will lead us the next four years, but more importantly, will today's balloting mean Lake County goes from light blue to dark blue? Will Barack Obama's coat tails turn the County Board more Democratic? Chat live tonight about local election results with The Hound, who has been let loose from the dog house. Here's a hint: The Hound predicts the GOP holds on to the 26th Senate District being vacated by Republican William Peterson of Long Grove. Prove The Hound wrong.