Goodnight Irene

Now that Barack Obama stopped Hurricane Irene in her tracks ...

OBAMA stopped the Hurricane!!!!!!!!

what is the President of the United States to do for an encore?

Oh yeah, the re-election thing.

Since his super-powers seem to be no match against the Republican Party, GOP candidates are amassing in droves for a chance to challenge Obama in 2012. There are, in fact, so many presidential candidates to choose from that the Republican Party local intelligentsia are having a hard time making up their minds. According to the Daily Herald ...

As the Republican primary race for president begins to pick up steam, top GOP leaders in the suburbs largely are delaying picking who to get behind. It's a process that's usually well under way by now, with local officials already wearing buttons and stumping for their favorite national figures. But not this year.
Local GOP slow to back presidential choices

Among those with a wait-and-see attitude include State Reps Mike Fortner & Randy Ramey, State Sens Matt Murphy & Kirk Dillard, and Congressman Randy Hultgren.

One GOP luminary not eager to mealymouth-pussyfoot around is Lake County's own Congressman Joe Walsh:

Walsh contends Obama is vulnerable enough that "we don't need to find the next Ronald Reagan."
Local GOP slow to back presidential choices

Walsh is not called the tip-o-the-spear for nothing.

Well your LakeCountyEye has never shied away from a directive, particularly one from Congressman Walsh. Having surveyed a database of past presidential candidates, your LakeCountyEye has compiled not one but a list of ten mopes -- none of whom are the next Ronald Reagan -- but could still beat Barack Obama in 2012.

Ten Douches Who Can Beat Pres Obama in 2012

Harold Stassen Alan Keyes Alfred E Neuman Lyndon LaRouche Ralph Nader Ross Perot Al Sharpton Newt Gingrich Bill the Cat Joe Walsh

Watch for your LakeCountyEye, looking presidential.

Historic Photo!

What To Do On Inauguration Day

LakeCountyEye is still waiting for its invitation to President-Elect Obama's Inauguration to arrive in the mail.

If you are like us and frustrated by your snail-mail service, don't fret, there are some less-expensive and closer-to-home inauguration events to attend.

Most events are scheduled for Jan 20 and all are open to the public. Some events are free, and some are priced reasonably, and some aren't.

Chicago Inaugural Ball
Volunteers and supporters of President Barack Obama will celebrate the Inauguration on January 20th at the Skyline Ballroom in McCormick Place. Festivities begin at 7pm. The Chicago Inaugural Ball will share the theme of the ceremonies in Washington: Renewing American's Promise. The night's program will include dancing, a champagne toast to the new President, and several multimedia presentations celebrating this historic evening. The Skyline Ballroom is in the West Building of McCormick Place, between Martin Luther King Dr and S. Prairie Avenue. Tickets are $175 and include Valet Parking, 2 glasses of Champagne, hors d'oeuvres.
RSVP
http://www.chicagoinauguralball.com/

Luncheon and black-tie ball
The Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County will hold a luncheon to watch the swearing-in ceremony live on a large-screen TV on Jan 20 between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., followed by a black-tie inauguration reception and ball that evening between 6 and 9:30 p.m. at Midlane Resort and Country Club, 4555 W. York House Road, Waukegan. Tickets are $25 for the inaugural luncheon only; $75 for the black-tie inauguration reception and ball only; or $95 for the combination ticket for the luncheon and ball.
RSVP 847-244-5548
http://www.bccoflakecounty.com/

Family-friendly celebration
The 10th Congressional District Democrats are planning a family-friendly inaugural celebration starting at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Hyatt Deerfield, 1750 Lake-Cook Road. Tickets are $44 for adults, $20 for children 13 to 18 and free for children 12 and under.
RSVP 847-266-8683
http://www.tenthdems.org/

Buffet and Celebration
The Eighth District Democrats and Independents are planning a pot-luck dinner to watch the balls and replays of the inauguration ceremony at Byron Colby Barn, Route 45 and Jones Point Road, Prairie Crossing in Grayslake starting at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20. Bring a dish to pass or a nonperishable donation for the local food pantry. $10 donation requested.
RSVP 847-550-8631
http://www.illinoiseddi.com/

Township Inaugural Ball
Celebrate the inauguration with the Wheeling and Palatine Township Democrats on Jan 20 at 7pm. We'll watch the festivities on big screen TVs at the Village Bar & Grill, 48 Raupp Rd in Buffalo Grove. $10 for hot appetizers (pizza, chicken fingers, potato skins). Cash Bar, Poetry Slam.
RSVP
http://www.wheelingtownshipdems.org/

Presidential Inauguration Ball
The Democratic Party of Evanston invites you to join Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, State Senator Jeff Schoenberg, State Representative Julie Hamos and Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffreiden for a wonderful evening of entertainment and dancing to rock and swing standards with the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band. Raffle prices to commemorate this historic day. Sweets & savories. Cash bar. Black Tie Optional. $44 per person, $80 per couple. On Saturday, January 10, 8-11:30pm -- and at Hilton Gardens, 1818 Maple Ave in Evanston.
RSVP
http://www.dpoe.org/inauguralball/


See the NewsSun for more information about these events

Lake County board member latest to flee Democrats

Latest defection from the Lake County Democrats is County Board member Bob Sabonjian son of the former Democratic Mayor of Waukegan. The most interesting part of the article below is his quote that he left the Democratic party because and this is the quote "Since the election, however, Sabonjian has become dissatisfied with partisan politics, particularly when it came to leadership posts and committee assignments." The odd thing is that the Republicans were the ones who were the ones handing out those assignments not the Democrats.

From the Daily Herald-- Just a month after the presidential election of Barack Obama put Illinois Democrats on top of the political world, the party is taking hit after hit after hit.

First came the arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges. Then came the defection of Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran to the Republican Party.

The latest shot was fired in Waukegan, where veteran Lake County Board member Bob Sabonjian on Tuesday confirmed he has left the party and will serve the rest of his term as an independent.

Sabonjian said he was driven to defect by growing political partisanship on the board, which doubles as the county's forest preserve district board, and infighting within the local Democratic organization.

"This is something I'm doing because this is something my conscience is telling me to do," said Sabonjian, 53, who last month was re-elected to a four-year term.

Democratic board member Angelo Kyle, one of the panel's senior members, hopes to persuade Sabonjian to reconsider.

"I certainly want him to carry out the balance of his term under the banner of the party (with which) he was elected," said Kyle, also of Waukegan.

Sabonjian's victory in November - and four upset wins by Democratic newcomers - helped close the Republican majority on the county board to 13-10.

Since the election, however, Sabonjian has become dissatisfied with partisan politics, particularly when it came to leadership posts and committee assignments.

He feels Democrats deliberately were kept from top posts. County Board Chairwoman Suzi Schmidt, a Lake Villa Republican who assigned members to committees and chose leaders, rejected the accusation.

Sabonjian's Democratic roots run deep. He is the son of the late Democratic Waukegan Mayor Robert Sabonjian, who led the city in the 1980s.

The younger Sabonjian, a county board member since 1999, had been considering running for mayor in 2009 but recently backed off that bid, saying infighting in the local party soured him on the idea.

"These guys can play pretty ugly," Sabonjian said. "And I don't want to submit my wife or (myself) to that ugliness."

On a separate note, Bob should smile during his official portrait more often, what a depressing picture.