Chicago Daily Observer

Two days after the wreckage of Alan Keyes’ 2004 senate candidacy Michael Sneed posed a question in her Sun-Times column, asking, “Is a new Republican Party in Illinois looming?”

Republican fundraiser Thomas Grusecki told Sneed at the time, “the unfunny joke is over. It’s time to rebuild, but without (Keyes). We need fresh blood and new leadership and to get this back to a two-party system.”

Unfortunately, well over three years later, the answer to Sneed’s question is still “no.” New leadership, yes. Rebuilding, no. And certainly no two-party system. That may finally be changing. Under party rules Republican county chairman Liz Gorman must convene the 50 Chicago ward committeemen and 30 suburban township committeemen by March 5 to elect a county chairman.

Though only 80 people will cast ballots, a political contest to be held within days will have a major
effect on Cook County politics, for better ... Read More...

Mene, mene, tekel, Hillary.

The handwriting is on the wall.

The die is cast.

The fat lady is warbling.

It’s time to go gentle into that good night.

Hillary Clinton’s “firewall” states of Texas and Ohio will prove to be tinderboxes next week.

Even if she manages to carry both, it will not be by anywhere near the margins needed for her to get back in the game.

More likely, Barack Obama will win the delegate count in Texas even if he does not actually carry the popular vote. Further, her strongest supporters now recognize Ohio will be close—far from the minimum 12-point margin she requires.

Because she can’t catch up in delegates, Clinton should soon after Tuesday make the swift, graceful exit she implied at the end of the great Texas debate.

Now focus must be put on the strongest possible vice presidential candidate for Obama.

It certainly won’t ... Read More...