Speak of the devil!

From the QCTimes, Illinois’ 17th District field taking shape

East Moline Alderman Cheri Bustos said she will file candidacy and organizational papers today with the Federal Election Commission and plans to make a formal announcement on July 13. She had planned a  June 30 announcement, but said she wanted to avoid clashing with the Fourth of July holiday.

AND

Two Democrats have formally declared bids for the office. State Sen. Dave Koehler of Peoria and Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp have announced they’ll run. Gaulrapp just did so over the weekend.

PLUS -- Boland is in and Schwiebert is making an announcement next week about whether he will run.

This is what I'm talking about.

Bustos: Smart, personable, reasonable, attractive -- good candidate

Schwiebert: Smart, well-liked, well-known, pragmatic -- good candidate

Boland: Personable, well-liked, well-spoken, state wide candidate -- good candidate

Koehler: Strong labor, well liked, nice, well-spoken -- good candidate

Gaulrapp: Independent leaning, blue collar -- okay candidate (to be fair I need to learn more)

This is going to be an excellent primary. I've listed off the perceptions that each candidate gives off. This primary will allow the voters to select the one that can best communicate and implement their ideas to the general public.

Voters in the 17th are much more lucky this go around than how when Hare was selected.

I think the Quad Cities will be well served if any of these candidates --- gop or dem --- end up winning.

Let's be fair

We all know the primary practices of the past. Democrat party chairman sits down in room with the selected one and "the others." He tells them that they must back out of the race and in exchange they will get cozy jobs or the promise of being groomed for another office.

This is the same practice that led to our wonderful former congressman hare.

It's a joke.

None of these candidates for IL-17 should take any of the deals. If they are being offered a deal it's only because they have a shot at winning the primary and we all know that they have an even bigger shot at taking IL-17 back for the Dems.

I could lay out a case for everyone of these candidates to win -- including George Gaulrapp from Freeport! It's going to be a 100% free for all, unless these guys are all spineless -- in that case, they never should have been in the race from the beginning.

If the deal is worked out, that says a lot about the chosen one. Their strength as a candidate, their self confidence etc.

Sorry but if you can't convey your thoughts and win over your own party in a primary, then how are you going to reach independents and left leaning gopers.

We don't need a chosen candidate, we need a good candidate. The only way to ensure a good candidate that is supported by the base is to have a competitive primary. Plain and simple.

I hope that democracy doesn't fail again.

I almost forgot!

We'll also be covering letters to the editor! It seems that neither the Dispatch or Times does a lot of fact checking in their letters to the editor section, so we'll do it for them.

Did you see this letter?

Please, Rep. Schilling, provide to the print media a list of companies who have left Illinois since Jan. 1 due to "over-regulation and taxes that are too high."

This writer, James Oppedahl from Rock Island, gives an odd demand to Bobby Schilling and his staff. He goes on to demand that Schilling should use his staff to look all of this information up. I don't really want my tax dollars being wasted on some weirdo commie who is too afraid/lazy to do his own research.

All Schilling has to do is point out the fact that over 750,000 people left the state of Illinois since 2001. We're obviously not getting something right. And with all of the bogus laws coming out of Springfield, I think it's pretty clear. But whatever.

Another letter, from a Eugene Mattecheck of Moline, brings up very valid points against Democrats who blame Bobby Schilling for the economy and lack of jobs in the area. He says:

A third letter complained Mr. Schilling hasn't created jobs. On June 23rd The Dispatch/Argus reported that local unemployment fell to 6.6 percent. It was 12.1 percent in January of 2010 when Bobby Schilling took office.

 Well you see the problem there. Bobby took office in 2011 -- so he can't take credit for the drop. BUT even if the economy was improving, how disingenuous would it be for him to take credit for a recovery after only 6 months in office? I don't think Schilling is that full of shit.

Besides that, Mattecheck brings up valid points. A lot of the democrats in Rock Island have been festering over Schilling's win last November. Get over it. Stop bringing up invalid points like, "Where's Bobby Schilling hiding..." It makes no sense when the guy is the damn paper every day with another town hall or public meeting. My guess is that it's hurting your party with independent leaning voters like myself.

Will do more analysis later.

Oh and I will publish articles and letters to the editor. Send them to qcpundit [at] gmail [dot] com

My history and a brief overview

My dad used to always say, "How do you know when a politician is lying? When his lips are moving." He didn't really like politics that much. I don't think he was a regular voter.

My mom was a Reagan democrat, but voted for Clinton and Gore.

My uncle ran for office 3x and lost.

My grandpa was a new deal democrat.

That being said, I obviously have democrat tendencies but I will fully admit that I voted for Bobby Schilling over Phil Hare. It wasn't much of a choice. Phil was rude and sucked at being a congressman. The way he got in still rubs me the wrong way about QC politics.

But anyways. That's over and there's a new race for congress. We'll see how Schilling does. I didn't like his vote on Amtrak, but that's not the most important issue.

Right now we have Sen. Dave Koehler,  Mayor Mark Schwiebert, Cheri Bustos, Porter McNeil, George Gaulrapp, Mike Boland and .... am I missing anyone? It's a crowded field. Mostly because Schilling's district was made more democrat and Obama will be on the ballot.

We also have a race for state senate as well. I like Mike Jacobs and know his family. I think it's funny to hear people call him "slugger" I don't know much about his opponent Bill Albracht - a vietnam veteran I think...

State Rep? Who cares. That should be a pretty uneventful race in both the 71 and 72 district. If Verschoore wins/loses...guess what? Nothing changes. If Morthland wins/loses...guess what? Nothing changes.

Rock Island County board is currently 21 democrats to 4 republicans. Pretty pathetic if you ask me.

I will be covering the candidates for these races above. Things they say, places they go, etc etc.

Email me with any tips.

It's time.

The Quad Cities is lacking something.

I'm not talking pizza. I'm not talking ice cream. I'm not talking tacos. I'm sure as heck not talking about Reubens.

We lack a decent political blog that covers things in an unbiased and humorous way.

So this little red headed guy from Moline, IL has decided to create one.

Over the next year I will be writing my thoughts about the different political news in the Quad Cities. We will be covering local, state, and federal races.

It should make for a good time. Hope you like it.