Q the Eye/06.27.12

Dear LakeCountyEye,

So the Supreme Court says corporations can give as much money as they want to politicians. OK, that works for me. What office do I have to run for to get a corporate sponsorship?

NASCAR Dad

Dear NASCAR Dad (if that's your real name),

Haha you're more likely to get rich playing the roulette wheel at the Waukegan casino than you are trying to turn a buck in politics. Not convinced? Just consider the sad story of Lake County's most-photographed State Senator, Suzi Schmidt -- who has been charged with behaving inappropriately with the neighbor's feedbag. The neighbors in question, according to the Daily Herald ...

accused Schmidt of going onto their property, taking a bag of feed and throwing it into a nearby swampy area near their home. The allegation led to Schmidt's arrest after a Lake County Sheriff's deputy on routine on patrol in Gurnee spotted her vehicle in the parking lot of a home improvement store on the 6600 block of Grand Avenue. She was released the same day after posting 10 percent of her $5,000 bond.
Lake County state senator pleads in harassment case

The way posting bail works is an accused pays a bail bondsman (typically) 10 percent. The bondsman then posts the full amount to the court. The accused is released, while the bondsman hopes they do not skip town.

In Suzi Schmidt's case, 10% of $5,000 is $500. And that is not a refundable $500. If Schmidt, for example, contracted with Da Kine Bail Bonds then they keep that $500 whether of not Schmidt shows up in court. Now your LakeCountyEye in no way thinks Schmidt is a flight risk, and that is the easiest $500 Da Kine Bail Bonds will ever realize. But the real takehome is that Schmidt -- who occupied the penthouse suite of the Lake County political totem pole for 20 years -- did not have the $5000 to post bail. Now seriously, that $5000 -- which is fully refundable -- is not a lot of money. These days $5000 is you average red-light-camera fine.

So if you think you're going to get into politics and end up with shoeboxes of cash stuffed in the freezer, just remember State Senator Suzi Schmidt. Also don't quit your day job.

If you are an elected official, or a previously elected official, or just a private citizen under indictment, send your political questions to Q the Eye c/o ... LakeCountyEye@gMail.com

Photo Finished

Two guesses as to which sitting Lake County Congressman just introduced a Voter ID Bill to Congress:

Today Congressman Joe Walsh (IL-8) introduced the Federal Elections Integrity Act, which requires voters to present a government-issued photo ID to vote in federal elections.
Rep. Walsh: Stop Voter Fraud

The same Joe Walsh who said ...

"The best government is that which governs least." In Washington today, however, the government is trying to regulate, control, or tax every aspect of our lives.
Government Spending

is now sponsoring a bill that will require you to produce your papers for a government bureaucrat before you are permitted to vote. Haha, too funny.

One person who should have no trouble producing photo identification is Suzi Schmidt. Operatives ought to recognize State Senator Schmidt, her mugshot was in all the papers last week. Your LakeCountyEye will spare everyone the ugly details. Schmidt, goes the consensus at the CapitolFaxBlog, should at a minimum seek counselling ...

Legislators behaving badly

Which, in your LakeCountyEye's opinion, is pious blather typical of the liberal media. Your LakeCountyEye recalls when, back in the day, Schmidt ruled the Lake County board for twenty years. One does not rise to the top by being a shrinking violet. If every hard-driving Type-A personality was required to seek counselling there would be no one left to run the government with an iron fist. Schmidt would be well-advised to forgo the counselling and pursue the next phase of her career, conducting seminars for the political grasshoppers on how it is done. Your LakeCountyEye would pay money to see that!

And while you are looking at that mugshot of Suzi Schmidt, take note of where you see it: in the Chicago Tribune and the Daily Herald and the Chicago Sun-Times and in all the rest of the lamestream media.

And then take note of where you do not see Suzi Schmidt's mugshot: in those media outlets where conservative values outshine crass sensationalism. For instance, in the true conservative blogs like TeamAmerica10th and the McHenryCountyBlog and your very own LakeCountyEye.

Quitsville!

Not since Sarah Palin abruptly quit being a Governor, not even since Edward VIII abruptly quit being a King, has Lake County been this surprised over a resignation statement. Your LakeCountyEye of course refers to Island Lake Trustee Laurie Rabattini's sudden announcement that she will no longer chair her village finance committee.

The resignation was delivered via a long and whinesome statement, reproduced on Rabattini's blog. The nut graf:

So with that ... I resign my chair of Finance and Administration. I do not ... let me make this clear ... I do not resign my Trustee seat.
Trustee Rabattini Resigns Chair

Rabattini, best-known for having coined the neologism ...

Rebuttles

has been a vociferous & partisan critic of Island Lake government before and during her tenure as a trustee. Her resignation is widely regarded as an attempt to make a virtue of political necessity. As even the most glassy-eyed operative knows, it's easier to be a political bomb thrower from the safety of the back bench, than it is from the front line. Take it from your LakeCountyEye -- nuff said!

In related news, the Daily Herald and other MSM outlets have reported that Suzi Schmidt will not try to keep her Senate seat in District 31:

Facing domestic problems, Suzi Schmidt won't run in 2012

Boom goes the dynamite.

The 411 on 911

Who hasn't dialed 911 to order a pizza or get directions to Binny's? Like every Lake County community, Lake Villa counts on their 911 service for legitimate emergencies. So your LakeCountyEye took note when the News-Sun reported that ...

Emergency dispatch services for the Lake Villa Police Department will switch from Antioch's dispatch center to FoxComm 9-1-1 center at the Fox Lake Public Safety Building beginning Nov. 1.
Cost savings prompts Lake Villa 9-1-1 move to Fox Lake

Your LakeCountyEye recalls a recent spike in volume of 911 calls reported in that city, and wishes the village of Lake Villa the best of luck in the transition. Be sure to double-shift your night dispatchers!

In other, unrelated 911 news, the News-Sun updated their story about former Lake County Board member Larry Leafblad. Leafblad hopes to challenge State Senator Suzi Schmidt in the March primary. Your LakeCountyEye hears that other high-profile candidates may show up on the ballot for Senate 31, as well.

The reason Schmidt, an incumbent 20-year politican, is being challenged is well-known. According to the News-Sun, Leafblad thinks that Schmidt "mortally wounded herself" ...

"At the same time, I can see if she wins the primary, which I hope she doesn't, the fall is going to be the Democrats playing 9-1-1 call after 9-1-1 call after 9-1-1 call for 10 weeks up to the general election," Leafblad said. "It's going to be brutal, and I don’t think she can win."
Leafblad: Schmidt 'vulnerable next fall'

In a close primary it's a good idea to remind the voters about your opponent's flaws, in this case some embarassing 911 calls. However it is ill-advised to directly attack your opponent. But reminding the voters that the Democrats will be attacking your opponent about some embarassing 911 calls gets the job done. Well played, Larry Leafblad.

With a likely crowded field on the Republican side in Senate 31, look for at least one debate scheduled before the primary. Probably at Lakes Community High School or a similar venue. Your LakeCountyEye expects that every statement uttered at that debate will contain a noun and a verb and 911.

Negative Feedback

Autumn in Lake County means one of two things: Leaf-peepers are out looking for some primary colors. Or operatives are out looking for some leaf-peepers to sign their primary petitions. As readers of this blog are redoundingly aware ...

The Re-doozi

embattled State Senator Suzi Schmidt announced she will seek re-election, which means she must -- like every candidate -- collect the required number of petition signatures before the December 5 deadline.

Schmidt already has at least one announced Primary challenger. According to the News-Sun former County Board member Larry Leafblad ...

informed Schmidt that he intends to run against her because her "negatives" are insurmountable after the release last week of four embarrassing 9-1-1 recordings by the Lake County Sheriff's Office. "I told her, 'Imagine what would happen if the Democratic spin doctors run those 9-1-1 tapes in the commercials next fall. They're going to crucify you, Suzi, and I can't stand that happening to you,'" Leafblad said.
Sen. Schmidt to run for re-election

Apparently Leafblad wants to defeat Schmidt in the Primary to save her from being embarrassed in the General election. Ha ha. Anyhow, Leafblad is right about one thing, Schmidt's political negatives are at the moment skyhigh, erm, rockbottom.

Negative perceptions, it goes without saying, are kryptonite for a candidate. As you read this, the political campaigns in Senate District 31 have already mapped out Schmidt's negatives with an eye to exploiting or defusing them, as the case may be.

Those wishing to be a fly on the wall need look no farther than this blog. Operatives have informed your LakeCountyEye that while Schmidt's negatives are formidable they are still manageable in number. That manageable number happens to be ten; they are reproduced here:

Embattled State Senator Suzi Schmidt's 10 Highest Political Negatives

No Political Punch Lacks the Acumen of a Career Politician Makes Phone Calls When Behind the Wheel No Street Cred Too Many Connections for a Short Fuse All Bark No Bite Did Not Demand the Death Penalty for the Millburn Strangler Makes Joe Walsh Look Like Honest Abe No One Takes Her Calls

For operatives scoring at home, your LakeCountyEye's negatives are all to be found at the FotoMat.

The Re-doozi

The long protracted moratorium on Suzi Schmidt jokes is officially over. As readers of this blog are presciently aware ...

A Difference of Opinion

your LakeCountyEye has been dropping hints broad enough to stop traffic in a roundabout that embattled State Senator Suzi Schmidt will decide to run for re-election. Well today Schmidt made it official. According to the paper on top of the story, the Daily Herald ...

Some Republicans have pressured her to resign. Pat Brady, chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, said he was disappointed with Schmidt's decision to stay in office.
Suzi Schmidt staying in Senate despite 911 call controversy

The story even made the 6 o'clock news. NBC Chicago has an inexplicably huge full-portrait photo of Schmidt on their website, to prove it:

Ill. Sen. Suzi Schmidt Defies Critics, Will Seek Re-Election

Anyhow, let the Suzi Schmidt jokes begin:

Q: What's the difference between Webster's Unabridged Dictionary and Suzi Schmidt?

A: There's no QUIT in Suzi Schmidt!

A Difference of Opinion

It divided communities. Turned friends and neighbors into foes. Tore families asunder, pitted cousin against cousin, brother against brother, father against son. Operatives and Civil War buffs alike all know your LakeCountyEye refers to the one question that burns the bosom of every heart in Lake County: Suzi Schmidt, will she or won't she?

As readers of this blog are heartburnedly aware ...

The Spin Cycle

Suzi Schmidt, the Lake Villa State Senator, has been generating some earned media lately, but not exactly the good kind. Earned media of a kind that has the knowledgeable sources wondering out-loud whether and if Schmidt should resign ... or should not.

The first skirmish, in what no-doubt will be a long war of attrition, has broken out between Lake County's newspapers of record, the Daily Herald vs the News-Sun.

The News-Sun says it's time for Schmidt to make like the Michelin Man and retire ...

Lake County residents who have found themselves handcuffed and locked up in similar situations are watching this soap opera with awe and wondering with keen interest if this is once again a case of two sets of laws in Lake County: One for politicians, one for everybody else. Until the senator and her husband decide to seek marital counseling or choose family law attorneys, it will be impossible for her to carry on her duties to the voters who last November overwhelmingly sent her to Springfield from the 31st Senate District. She needs to resign.
Our View: Sen. Schmidt needs to resign

While the Daily Herald is all like, whoa not so fast there, Sparky ...

As a former Lake County Board chairwoman and current state senator, she should have known that emergency dispatchers could never ignore any call for help. And she certainly should have known better than to throw her political resume into the midst of an already complicated personal crisis. She owes her constituents a sincere and unequivocal apology. But should she forfeit her job? On that question, she and everyone else should slow down a bit and think.
Moving on from a public mistake

Your LakeCountyEye has a hunch what Schmidt will decide to do. One thing is certain, there is a paper-boy somewhere in Lake Villa with one less newspaper to deliver.

The Spin Cycle

That giant unsucking sound you hear is everyone holding their breaths. Operatives are holding their breaths and waiting to see if this marks the end of Suzi Schmidt's 25 year political career in Lake County. As readers of this blog are breathlessly aware ...

Oh Schmidt Susanna

Schmidt is having a little problem over the release this week of some 911 calls. According to the News-Sun ...

GOP pressure at the Statehouse mounted Thursday on state Sen. Suzi Schmidt to either forego re-election next year or to resign after the release of politically toxic 9-1-1 recordings stemming from an ongoing domestic dispute with her husband.
Pressure mounts on Schmidt to resign

Schmidt issued a statement that was reproduced by the Daily Herald:

"Christmas, 2010 was the beginning of what has obviously become a very emotional period in my 31-year marriage. Information I discovered recently filled me with deep sadness. On the 911 call, I identified myself — but I never intended to inappropriately use my title. However, I apologize if any of my comments during this very emotional time seem inappropriate. I am taking the appropriate steps to deal with these issues. It is a very difficult, personal family matter that I would like to deal with privately. In the meantime, I remain committed to serving the citizens of my district."
Schmidt's statement

As mea culpas go this one is heavy on the meas while relatively light on the culpas. Soliciting sympathy from your constituents is at best a short-term solution to a problem, particularly when the damage is self-inflicted. Your LakeCountyEye hazards to guess that on a political-damage-scale this is toothpaste-out-of-the-tube damage. It is difficult to imagine how Schmidt recovers, but stranger things have happened. Time will tell.

Until then, your LakeCountyEye has found video of some cars in a roundabout. Enjoy.

How roundabouts work

What goes up must come down.
Spinning wheel, got to go round.
Talking about your troubles it's a crying sin.
Ride a painted pony, let the spinning wheel spin.
Spinning Wheel

Oh Schmidt Susanna

There is no truth to the rumor that operatives on Monday night visited the home of Suzi Schmidt and a hockey game broke out.

Ha ha that is probably the last joke told on this blog about the State Senator from Lake Villa -- this is one political career that is officially kapoot. As readers of this blog are gobsmackingly aware ...

A Schmidt Decision

Lake County deputies were summoned Monday night to another domestic incident between the State Senator and her spouse. For operatives curious to hear the 911 calls, it looks like the Daily Herald was able obtain the MP3 audio:

The yuck factor alone is sufficient to send the the audio on a state-wide viral-spiral. Your LakeCountyEye estimates that poobahs both in Lake County and Springfield will soon be scrambling to find a suitable candidate to succeed their inevitably lame-duck 31st District State Senator.

The heavy in this drama is the Lake County Sheriff's Department who blew the whistle again on Schmidt's shenanigans. Your LakeCountyEye is not sure why. Perhaps the girl cried clout too many times.

In related news, the Daily Herald reports that Thomas Gooch, the Cuba Township Highway Commissioner, is on trial for misdemeanor battery against a employee:

Cuba Twp. highway commissioner on trial for pulling hair

Your LakeCountyEye has some career advice for the free-swinging Lake County politicians who might find themselves in the unemployment line. The WWE is always looking for new talent. Mixed tag-team matches, your LakeCountyEye hears, are quite popular.

Ha ha, that was the last Suzi Schmidt joke, promise.

A Schmidt Decision

Operatives may recall the blow-by-blow account, reported on this blog last August, of the pugilistic match-up between Suzanne Schmidt and Robert Schmidt:

The Megilla in Lake Villa

Students of the sweet science hoping for a rematch between the Lake County State Senator and her spouse were not disappointed this week. According to the News-Sun ...

A call of a domestic battery at the home of state Sen. Suzi Schmidt and her husband prompted a visit from Lake County Sheriff's Office deputies for the second time in about six weeks. As in the previous visit to the home at 38532 Ardmore Lane in Lake Villa Township, which occurred on Aug. 16, no charges were filed, a sheriff's spokesman said Tuesday. At approximately 6:30 p.m. Monday, deputies responded to the home for a report of a domestic battery. Deputies met with Robert Schmidt, 63, and the senator, 60, and conducted an investigation, but the Lake County State's Attorney's Office declined to file charges, according to sheriff's Lt. Wayne Hunter.
Second domestic call at Sen. Schmidt’s home

Fans unable to attend the match had the option to view the fight on closed-circuit TV:

Police called to state senator's Lake Villa home for 2nd time

Ringside aficionados have closely followed Suzanne Schmidt's more than two-decade-long heavyweight career. They no doubt look forward to November 2012, when Schmidt will defend her title against an opponent yet to be determined. Rumors are circulating that Schmidt will also appear in a preliminary match, sometime in March 2012, necessitated by some recent poor showings in the ring.

No Bypassing Zone

You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of power and wealth but of clout; a journey into a prosperous land whose boundaries are that of Route 45 and Millburn Rd. That's the signpost up ahead — your next stop, the No Bypass Zone.

Submitted for your approval:
One Suzi Schmidt is stuck again in traffic on the way to work. But this Suzi Schmidt is no ordinary commuter because she is the Chair of her County Board. And she decides, once upon a time, that a bypass road needs to be built for frustrated commuters like her. Fast-forward to the present. Schmidt no longer holds down a job with her County Board. But her bypass road is on schedule to be built, on a course charted to cleave in two communities and schools and forest preserves. Can anyone stop the Millburn Bypass's path of destruction?

Ha ha. The village of Old Mill Creek, for one, has made it a priority. Old Mill Creek (Pop 178) has three special meetings ...

1. Public Hearing
2. Plan Commission
3. Village Board

scheduled for Monday night. Your LakeCountyEye understands the village wants a vote on a zoning ordinance to keep the Millburn Bypass out of Old Mill Creek -- and is in a hurry to do so.

Operatives eager to witness the establishment of a no-bypass-zone around Old Mill Creek can attend these, it goes without saying, public meetings:

Village of Old Mill Creek
40870 Hunt Club Rd
Old Mill Creek

Monday, September 12
6 p.m.

Case in point: one small town at odds with their neighbor, thanks to one small-time politician who didn't want to wait 5 minutes at one small road intersection. All of which proves the old adage: The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Beginning at the No Bypass Zone.

Grease the Wheels

Q: What is the difference between the Millburn Bypass and a coronary bypass?
A: You need to have a heart to complete a coronary bypass.

Ha ha j/k. Lake County is being driven to distraction over the Lake County Division of Transportation's decision to route the Millburn bypass through Lindenhurst's suburbs and not through Old Mill Creek's farm fields:

A Gift Horse

Your LakeCountyEye has now discovered that Tempel "Tim" Smith -- along with various companies filing from Box 399, Wadsworth -- have contributed some $25,000 to Lake County and other Illinois politicians. Suzi Schmidt -- the prime mover behind the Millburn Strangler -- benefited from $2200 of Smith's largess:

Contributions List

Smith, no doubt looking out for the interests of the residents of Old Mill Creek (Pop 178) where he is the mayor, illustrates the power of civic-minded benevolence. Operatives worried about a US Highway dividing their neighborhood could do worse than follow Smith's example:

Reception for State Senate Candidate Suzi Schmidt

For those operatives more worried about a US Highway dividing their family estate, cf. above.

The Hound of the Baskervilla in Lake Villa

Lake County loves a whodunnit. As readers of this blog are strangely aware ...

Godzilla in Lake Villa

Last week, sheriff's deputies were summoned by the spouse of State Senator Suzi Schmidt to intervene in a domestic kerfuffle. In this case however, the mystery is not so much a whodunnit -- operatives everywhere know who did it -- but a what-happened-to-it.

The what-happened-to-it, in this case, is a Daily Herald report of the incident. The report, posted online on Aug 18, vanished as suddenly as it appeared, without a trace, never to be seen again.

Most media sources -- including the Tribune, News-Sun, Sun-Times, Northwest Herald -- posted versions, which are still available online. However all that remains of the Daily Herald story are a few tantalizing bits and pieces of evidence captured by the search engines:

Google

This much is known:

Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Christopher Thompson said deputies were called to the Schmidt home near Lake Villa at 6 p.m. Tuesday by Schmidt's husband Robert, 63. Deputies took statements from both Robert Schmidt, and Suzie Schmidt, ...
Police called to Schmidt home for domestic disturbance

Everything else is subject to much heated debate.

That Lake County's newspaper of record -- the Daily Herald -- could so quickly misfile a story, and under mysterious circumstances, and without a word of explanation, is disturbing to say the least. Your LakeCountyEye has taken the liberty of rounding up the usual operatives suspects, and with the aid of 100% legal enhanced interrogation methods, has obtained some valuable leads. Ten, to be exact. Operatives are challenged to dust off their deerstalker caps and join in the hunt for the whereabouts of the missing Daily Herald story:

Ten Leads for Locating a Missing Daily Herald story: Police called to Schmidt home for domestic disturbance

Look under the campaign bus. Check all the public reststops on the Route 53 Extension. Inspect the skybox at the Fielders Stadium. Talk to the roulette croupier at the Park City Casino. Find the owners of Winchester House. Lost in the mail, along with Joe Walsh's child support check. Search along the Lake County Olympic Village Equestrian trail. Canvass Lake County Board Districts 22 & 23. Ask the Millburn Strangler. Follow the Money

Where to look for your LakeCountyEye this weekend? Not a clue!

Godzilla in Lake Villa

There are some big footprints to follow in Lake County. As readers of this blog are stridently aware ...

A Gift Horse

the owner of those footprints once met the Millburn Stranger, long long ago, on the field of battle. And won. With the Strangler vanquished, the trail of those footprints then lead through heavily populated areas of the once-tranquil suburban Lindenhurst.

Now the trail leads unmistakably to once-tranquil suburban Lake Villa, and to a scene where Sheriff's deputies were summoned to intervene in a domestic altercation. As readers of this blog are lawfully aware ...

The Megilla in Lake Villa

County Sheriff Mark Curran issued a news release stating his deputies responded to a disturbance call, last Tuesday, from the home of State Senator Suzi Schmidt. Needless to say the papers this week were all over the story. Like Godzilla on downtown Tokyo.

Ha ha j/k. Actually the opposite has happened, no one is talking to anyone, the wagons are circling, it's as if a news blackout has been decreed upon the media. So if you've come to your LakeCountyEye for the latest on this still unfolding story, you've wasted your time.

Your LakeCountyEye can note that this is an anniversary of Tiger Woods's notorious domestic incident. Exactly 631 days ago, the police responded to an incident involving an automobile at Woods's Orlando home. (This is significant because 631 is your LakeCountyEye's Little Lotto number.) If your LakeCountyEye recalls correctly, police arrived that evening to discover that the Mrs had rammed the Tiger's car with her car, and had attempted to run him over. She was upset over the Tiger's drunken condition. Anyways, the Tiger was so frightened that he called the police.

This all happened back in the day -- so your LakeCountyEye's recollection may be a little fuzzy. Your LakeCountyEye does know the successful career Tiger built on the links never quite recovered afterwards.

The Megilla in Lake Villa

Ha ha, your LakeCountyEye must be psychic or something. No sooner does this blog publish its hard-hitting expose of domestic violence ...

The Thrilla in Lake Villa

than domestic violence is brought home, courtesy the local headlines:

Lake County Sheriff's deputies were called to the Lake Villa home of State Sen. Suzanne Schmidt by her husband, Robert, earlier this week, Sheriff Mark Curran said Thursday in a press release. Police were called to a domestic incident Tuesday evening involving the 60-year-old Republican state senator
Police: State Sen. Schmidt involved in domestic incident

More of the same can be seen at ...

Suzanne 'Suzi' Schmidt, State Senator, Involved In Domestic Incident With Husband, Police Say

Deputies called to domestic at Sen. Schmidt’s home

'Verbal argument' brings deputies to state senator's home

Police called to home of state senator for domestic incident

Its been said: dog bites man is not news, but when man bites dog, you got a story. Pretty much the same applies when the Sheriff is called to intervene in a domestic incident. When the incident involves a State Senator, and when it's the Senator's spouse who made the call, you got a story.

The fact that the incident involves a prominent Lake County political figure, Suzi Schmidt, may account for the reason that the Daily Herald has already yanked their version:

The article requested can not be found! Please refresh your browser or go back. (DA,20110818,news,708189903,AR).
Police called to Schmidt home for domestic disturbance

On the flip side, the Lake County Sheriff's office was to the fore and ready with a press release following the incident. Sheriff Make Curran is expected to announce his candidacy for State's Attorney and one doesn't get elected by missing opportunities to see one's name in the media.

For operatives wondering when the 2012 election cycle unofficially begins, you may be looking at it.

The Thrilla in Lake Villa

August is traditionally the slow-news month -- and traditionally the slow-political-news month, times two. Lake County is no exception to the rule, your LakeCountyEye has been scouring the media all day for something to blog about, and with little to show for it. As readers of this blog are sluggishly aware:

A Gift Horse

Tuesday nights are reserved by your LakeCountyEye for listening to the County Sheriff's Police scanner. The scanner is the source of more than 90% of your LakeCountyEye's stories. However, last Tuesday your LakeCountyEye fell asleep early and has nothing newsworthy to report.

Your LakeCountyEye can report a strange dream, while asleep by the scanner, about your LakeCountyEye's all-time favorite TV show, the battling Bickersons. Your LakeCountyEye's comedic eye-teeth were cut -- back in the day -- memorizing John and Blanche Bickerson's hilarious routines.

Blanche: You used to be so considerate. Since you got married to me you haven't got any sympathy at all.
John: I have, too. I've got everybody's sympathy.
Blanche: Believe me, there's better fish in the ocean than the one I caught.
John: There's better bait, too.
Blanche: I don't see how you can go to bed without kissing me good night.
John: I can do it.
Blanche: You'd better say you're sorry for that, John.
John: Okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Blanche: You are not.
John: I am too. I'm the sorriest man that was ever born.
Blanche: You stopped loving me the day we were married.
John: That wasn't the day at all.

Ha ha, timeless comedy always reads like it was ripped fresh from today's headlines! Anyhow, your LakeCountyEye was inspired to compile a list of ten other famous battling couples, taken from the annals of history. This will be a quiz and readers are challenged to guess who would win in a fair fight:

Who Would Win in a Fair Fight?

Al Bundy vs Peggy Bundy Leroy Lockhorn vs Loretta Lockhorn Ralph Kramden vs Alice Kramden Felix vs Oscar Lucy Ricardo vs Ricky Ricardo Archie Bunker vs Edith Bunker Wile E Coyote vs Road Runner Hyacinth Bucket vs Richard Bucket Fred Flintstone vs Wilma Flintstone Abbott vs Costello

Readers may send their guesses to LakeCountyEye@gmail.com

Bonus points will be awarded to readers who can suggest other famous battling couples omitted from the list. There are no restrictions, the couples can be real or fictional, famous, or just someone who coulda been a contender.

A Gift Horse

When not monitoring the Lake Villa police scanner, your LakeCountyEye spends a muggy summer night reading excerpts from old Daily Herald stories from 2005:

There's one intersection Lake County Board Chairman Suzi Schmidt avoids. It drives her nuts when she gets sidetracked and ends up trapped behind a line of traffic. If anyone should remember to stay away from Grass Lake Road and Route 45, it's Schmidt. She nicknamed it "The Millburn Strangler" a decade ago. The dubious moniker stuck, and became part of local lore. Even today, residents slowly snake though the crossing, especially during rush hours. The speed limit drops and two stop lights stand a quarter-mile apart. Homes and antique shops of the Millburn Historic District sit on either side of the intersection. But thanks to $2 million in federal funds, a new bypass is coming that will ease congestion by taking drivers around the historic district. Local politicians and U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean met near the area Tuesday to chat about ending the congestion. "That intersection has been a problem for as long as I can remember," Schmidt said. "It's horrible." In recent years, traffic has worsened with the addition of two new subdivisions and a new Millburn Elementary District 24 school, she said.
'Millburn Strangler' to be untangled.

Well, that horrible intersection is soon to be a thing of the past. A bypass soon to be built, will send drivers point-blank instead through those two inconvenient subdivisions and elementary school. As readers of this blog are jawdroppingly aware:

Q the Eye/08.14.11

Former County Chair Suzi Schmidt is seeing her wish become reality, as Route 45 is to be re-routed away from the historic antique shops. However, instead of being built through empty farmland, the Route 45 bypass is scheduled to divide suburban Lindenhurst much like Sherman divided Atlanta in 1864.

The news marks the end of a years long struggle between interests situated in Old Mill Creek to the east of Route 45, and Lindenhurst to the west. For operatives wishing to know what needs to be done to be on the winning side of this sort of inter-urban contretemps, your LakeCountyEye is happy to oblige:

To begin, send those campaign donations to your Springfield representatives. Route 45 is a US Highway, and your rep in Springfield is well suited to lobby your rep in Washington:

Reception for Suzi Schmidt with Judy Baar Topinka and Dan Rutherford

Next, pay a visit to city hall. It never hurts to enlist the mayor of your town:

Village of Old Mill Creek

Finally, if your mayor is related to one of Lake County's prominent land owners -- game-set-match!

Tempel Farms

Just follow to the letter these step-by-step recommendations and you and your neighbors will be sleeping with assurance again each night. Your LakeCountyEye guarantees that noisy, smelly, dangerous US highway will find itself, as if by magic, rerouted through someone else's backyard.

Cadge & Release™ Recurrent Issues

Those old enough to have lived through the Great Lake County Derecho of 2011, will recall the global-warming fuelled monster storm that rendered the county powerless for a week. The situation got so bad that the County Board Chair was forced to declare a state of emergency to create an impression that something was getting done. Well, the Daily Herald thankfully now reports that ...

The final two customers left without electricity after last week's storm had power restored early Sunday morning.
Power restored to last of customers cut off by storm

And as readers of this blog are currently aware ...

The Lake County 2011 Power Vacuum

your LakeCountyEye was one of the storm's victims, and despite promises of free beer, the ComEd repair truck could not be enticed into the LakeCountyEye compound. Furthermore, your LakeCountyEye can provide eye-witness & first-hand confirmation that at least one of those final two customers indeed had their power restored early on Sunday.

No sooner were the lights back on, that the LakeCountyEye eMail-Server crashed from the volume of queued Viagra spam tips that came flooding into the the LakeCountyEye Inbox. It's been that kind of week.

Among those tips was this week's winning Cadge & Release™ entry, submitted by frequent contributor e.e.comed. (Fittingly the e.e. stands for Electrical Engineer.) e.e.comed notes that the e-mails reproduced below are responses to requests for assistance sent to government representatives.

The Cadge (1): Storm Update from Senator Suzi Schmidt July 17, 2011 Dear [Redacted], I have been in frequent contact with Emergency Management officials and the ComEd representative for our area. I have been receiving information from those of you still out of power and forwarding that information to ComEd via Emergency Management and our ComEd representative. If you are still out of power, please contact me by email with your address. If you have already contacted me, please let me know if they have been out to restore your power. ComEd is aware of most, if not all, of the pockets that are still without power and working with multiple extra crews to get those situations resolved, but we are happy to reiterate addresses without power. As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve you, and please don't hesitate to contact me if you need assistance. Suzi Schmidt State Senator 31st District

The Cadge (2): JOIN MY NEWSLETTER I have been in frequent contact with Lake County Emergency Management officials and now have contact information for the the Commonwealth Edison representative for our area. I have been receiving information from those of you still out of power and forwarding that information to ComEd via Emergency Management. If you are still out of power, please contact me by email with your address. If you have already contacted me, please let me know if they have been out to restore your power. ComEd is aware of most, if not all, of the pockets that are still without power and working with multiple extra crews to get those situations resolved, but we are happy to reiterate addresses without power. As always, please don't hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns at jnewton@lakecountyil.gov or call me at (847) 807-9767. Sincerely, JIM NEWTON Lake County Board - District 3

Sharpeyed Ops™ will notice that this week's winner is all Cadge and little Release. That is because neither iteration is believed to be an original. Your LakeCountyEye suspects that neither the State Senator nor the County Board Commissioner commands the resources necessary to produce an email form-letter that could just as easily have been downloaded from the office of a ComEd PR Flack. The first operative to find an original will be named grand prize winner. In the course of their investigations, operatives may encounter an opportunity to promise free beer. They can certainly fare no worse than your LakeCountyEye.

31 Favors

It seems that Summer always arrives early in Lake County, like a sweaty towelboy in a Turkish bath. And LakeCountyEye operatives are burning with the fever for one thing only: new district maps. As readers of this blog are cartogorically aware ...

The Comic Landscape

a whole bunch of new Illinois legislative and congressional maps were released or leaked this week. There was a surprise or two. The Daily Herald found one truffle, a shotgun marriage arranged betwixt State Reps Carol Sente and Sid Mathias ...

we've found one nugget of interest so far. It looks like Democratic Rep. Carol Sente of Vernon Hills would have to run against Republican Rep. Sid Mathias of Buffalo Grove.
Sente and Mathias together?

Another nougatty morsel to be unearthed is up in Senate District 31, where State Senator Suzi Schmidt will likely run for re-election. According to the Daily Herald ...

Republican state Sen. Suzi Schmidt expressed no alarm Thursday over a legislative remap proposed by Senate Democrats that sees her 31st District being encroached upon from the west by the 32nd District — all the way into the western third of Schmidt's home base of Lake Villa Township.
Schmidt feels shifting Senate districts

More precisely, all the way into Schmidt's backyard. Schmidt may reside in a new 31 -- but, as a Dan Rather might say, just by the hair of one's chinny-chin-chin:

Senate Redistricting Proposed Map

The new Senate 31 is the part shaded in green. Operatives are challenged to figure out, on their own, where Schmidt's home address is. The last time your LakeCountyEye saw a closer shave, Joe Walsh beat Melissa Bean by 291 votes. Just sayin!

The Finagle System

Operatives familiar with this blog ...

Newton's Law of Promotion

know that Jim Newton will likely be Lake County's newest Board Commissioner. Ops, though, may not know that Newton is likely to be Lake County's latest illegally appointed Board Commissioner. Newton, hand-picked by Board Chair David Stolman, will replace Board Commissioner Suzi Schmidt, who resigned. According to the Daily Herald, however ...

By law, her replacement had to be a Republican living in her district. Newton voted in eight GOP primaries between 1992 and 2006, according to the Lake County clerk’s office. In 2008, however, he voted in the Democratic primary, and that was the last time he voted in a primary election, Clerk Willard Helander said. Stolman was aware of Newton's voting record and doesn't think it disqualifies Newton from the post. Newton has professed to being a Republican, Stolman said, and his record shows a predilection for the GOP.
Reporter tapped to join Lake Co. board

Absolutely. But we are a nation, if not a County, of laws. Is Newton, in the eyes of the law, a registered Republican or Democrat? Your LakeCountyEye is but a simple county blogger, and will defer a legal question of that nature to the experts with the Lake County State's Attorney.

Operatives may recall that the County Board tackled a strikingly similar case back in 2009, when Collin O'Rourke was appointed to replace Bob Sabonjian. The issue then was whether O'Rourke was a member of the Democratic or the Green Parties. In 2008 O'Rourke voted with the Greens but in 2009 he took a Democratic ballot.

Then County Chair Suzi Schmidt solicited the opinion of the county State's Attorney. Michael Waller's office obliged with an unambiguous opinion that since O'Rourke last voted in a Democratic Primary, O'Rourke was a Democrat. No ifs ands or buts about it. Move along please.

The unambiguous details were reported on this blog ...

A Blink of the Eye: 07.14.09

Operatives demanding video proof can tune in to about 09:45 for the State's Attorney's unambiguous opinion:

Lake County Board 07-14-2009

Now fastforward to 2011. Jim Newton, by the State's Attorney and the County Board's own criteria, is a Democrat. Full stop. And appointing Newton to replace Schmidt would be a violation of Illinois State Statutes. Operatives are urged to call Michael Waller's office and demand that he arrest the County Board before they embarrass everyone again and vote to illegally appoint Newton to their Board. Send Waller the video!

Ha ha.

Your LakeCountyEye said it before and will say it again: The Lake County Board makes up its own rules as it goes along. Because Michael Waller can be counted on to carry water for the elephant. If Jim Newton says he's a Republican that's good enough for Chairman Stolman: Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!