OWN3D

If your LakeCountyEye had a dollar for every request for a campaign contribution that is sitting in the spam folder, then your candidate might get a nice donation. But (note to Operatives) don't hold your breath.

Haha, this week's featured plea for financial support comes from candidate Dan McConchie ...

Here's the nutgraf ...

... Madigan allies have now slated a local Obama campaign person whom they own to try to take it over.

In related news, the Thirteenth Amendment -- which abolishes slavery in the United States -- was ratified on December 6, 1865.

When asked to make sense of the discrepancy, one neutral observer said: "Some of these trumbolones are still fighting the Civil War."

Drobinski, Rod Drobinski

If you collected a nickel for every crappy website that your LakeCountyEye has had to look over, you would have a big bag of nickels. But you'll have to give one of those nickels back -- because Rod Drobinski has a first-rate website:

Rod Drobinski for State Representative

Note to Ops: That expensive and time-consuming website intended to promote your candidate is going to be seen by only two sorts of people. Indolent reporters, and your opponents who are looking for oppo.

Which is why roddrobinski.com is a stand-out contribution to the genre. The website is loaded with warm'n'fuzzy images of the candidate and little content to speak of ...

One telling feature of roddrobinski.com is that there are very few clickable links. Many of which go nowhere.

And the links that do go somewhere don't do much of anything anyways. For instance, if you want to know where Rod Drobinski stands on the issues, click his link ...

DISTRICT ISSUES

... and what you will see are some (non-clickable) bullet points:

Bar none, roddrobinski.com is the best website your LakeCountyEye has seen (and probably will see) this election cycle.

Who is Rod Drobinski? What is Rod Drobinski running for? Which Party is Rod Drobinski with? Your LakeCountyEye has no idea. But that is one mighty & good-looking website.

Jack Franks Still Running for State Rep – Part 275

Sources in McHenry County have told your LakeCountyEye that Jack Franks is still running for State Representative.

The Northwest Herald has the details ...

State Rep. Jack Franks officially will file to withdraw from the 63rd Illinois House race in the next several weeks, Democratic officials said, starting a tight timetable in motion for the Democratic Party of McHenry County to appoint a replacement.
State Rep. Jack Franks set to withdraw from Illinois House race to make way for replacement

The McHenryCountyBlog will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

They're Not Booing They're Chanting Nugent

Do teen idols ever have senior moments? Paleo-Rocker and Lake County favorite son, Ted Nugent may have had one. In New England last week ...

A New Hampshire music festival was forced to shut down a day early due to paltry ticket sales and nearly non-existent attendance — but that didn't stop Ted Nugent from singing its praises. The psychedelic rocker raved about the audience at his LaconiaFest performance Friday, even though ticket prices to his show dropped from $67 to $5 amid the festival's financial struggles, according to the Laconia Daily Sun.
Ted Nugent gushes about 'sexy, skinny gals' at poorly attended festival that was forced to end early

On the heels of Nugent's boner, the City of Waukegan announced that its on-again-off-again music festival is on-again:

A new agreement will keep plans alive for a multi-day music festival on Waukegan's lakefront.
Waukegan approves updated agreement with Vet Fest

Plans to have Ted Nugent headline the summer festival were thwarted earlier this year by objections from community leaders.  Your LakeCountyEye has learned, however, that concert promoters would still like to book the controversial Nugent for the festival. One source explained it this way: "If we bring in Nugent, who's gonna know? Give me a break. It's not like anyone will attend the show."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

The Myanmarian Candidate

If Peter Roskam gets his way, it will be harder for scientists to track down dark money inside Washington DC than to find dark matter outside the Solar System. Roskam, Lake County's vestigial Congressman, sponsored a Bill that eliminates the requirement on non-profit organizations to identify their donors.

Critics warn the legislation would allow foreign governments to circumvent US election laws with laundered campaign donations:

"This misguided legislation could effectively open up a loophole allowing foreign money in elections through 501(c) groups, specifically 501(c)(4)s, that can engage in political activities," says the Sunlight Foundation, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group that seeks to make government and politics more accountable and transparent to all. The statement by the Sunlight Foundation goes on to say, "While foreign money is not allowed in U.S. elections, it can be deposited into these nonprofits — which can then spend that money in elections while keeping the identity of donors hidden. By removing the only way the government has of vetting these contributions, the bill would prevent the IRS from safeguarding U.S. elections from the influence of foreign companies and individuals."
U.S. House Passes Bill That Could Allow Foreign "Dark Money" to Influence American Politics

Roskam's Bill passed the Republican dominated Congress along Party lines.

Two weeks prior to voting for his Bill, Peter Roskam was seen in the Republic of Myanmar:

Peter Roskam and the Speaker of the Myanmar Parliament
May 31, 2016

Peter Roskam and General Min Aung Hlaing
May 31, 2016

Neither Angela Lansbury or the Queen of Diamonds were available for comment:

Fact Check

The Chicago Tribune Creepy Cartoonist wants you to know how he feels about the Orlando shootings ...

Hate always loses

Just for the record, the Orlando gunman was not carrying hatchets ...

He was armed with a SIG SAUER MCX Rifle ...

... with a high capacity magazine:

An Aquarian Agrarian

If the 10th Congressional District was a two-man bobsled race, they may need to pop open the rumble seat. Joe Kopsick hopes to file as an Independent candidate in the Tenth:

Independent Candidate Enters Race for U.S. House

Kopsick has a blog ...

A blog about libertarian politics and radical political theory, focusing on political philosophy and ideology, constitutional law, civil liberties, civil rights, labor laws, U.S.-Israeli foreign policy, anarchism, election statistics, and the relationship between religion and law.
The Aquarian Agrarian

According to the blog, Kopsick ...

describes his writing as "an attempt to apply poetic close-reading to legalese mumbo-jumbo, to free humanity from linguistic traps set by lawmakers and guarded by fancy-schmancy big-city lawyers, intent on stamping every document that comes across their desks with the dreaded seal of 'notary public' (not a republic)".

Nuff said!

Paint Lake County Red

TRIGGER WARNING
This story contains disturbing Freudian images ...

The Women's Republican Club in Lake County have invited you to meet their GOP candidates:

The Women's Republican Club of Lake Forest & Lake Bluff and Shields, West Deerfield, Moraine & Vernon GOP Township Organizations will host local GOP candidates and invite voters to Paint Lake County Republican Red!
Comptroller Munger, Other Candidates at Gorton in Lake Forest June 9th

The event is being billed as a night to ...

Paint Lake County Republican Red

A memorable catch-phrase, the Lake County GOP might be tempted to adopt Paint Lake County Red as their 2016 campaign slogan. If they did, however, they would be in for an unpleasant surprise. Those literal-minded Lake County voters -- like your LakeCountyEye -- do not know what Paint Lake County Red means!

In a situation like this, would a picture be in order?

Your LakeCountyEye has not been disappointed. The Lake County Women's Republican Club posted an artist's rendition that shows just exactly what it means to Paint Lake County Red:

Women's Republican Club of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff

The forum will be held in Lake Forest on June 9th. It is unknown if actual pneumonia-stricken circus elephants will be on-hand to aerate the room. In any event, Operatives who plan to attend are advised to wear their raincoats.

Anything You Say May Be Used Against You

If Holly Kim wants to get her message out, she should leak it to the press. Kim, a Mundelein Trustee, has organized a series of public workshops on Constitutional protections and the proper way to deal with law enforcement officials:

Some elected officials, however, feel a Mundelein seminar on Constitutional Rights takes too many liberties. Kim has said that she is acting as a private citizen, and not as a Mundelein Village Trustee. And that may be because other Village Trustees raised a stink -- and the Daily Herald caught wind:

"A local lawmaker who is on the board that oversees public safety is trying to educate and encourage how to go against our public safety officers," Trustee Ray Semple said. "I am stunned."
Mundelein trustee plans forums on protesting, dealing with police
Mundelein trustee's events to instruct public on protesting; fellow officials are puzzled

Trustee Dawn Abernathy said she'd rather see Kim host public discussions about starting businesses or promoting businesses using social media than the topics to be covered this summer. "I don't think she thought these events through," Abernathy said.
Mundelein trustee plans forums on protesting, dealing with police
Mundelein trustee's events to instruct public on protesting; fellow officials are puzzled

Mundelein Operatives would be well advised to organize an additional workshop:

Freedom of the Press: Your Leak to the Right Ear No questions asked! Date & Location TBD

Your LakeCountyEye will be keeping an ear to the ground.

Semply Put

As truisms go, this one is older than flavored beer:

If you can't get arrested in Lake County,
You can't sue Lake County for wrongful arrest.

But for those not counting on it, some workshops are scheduled on encountering law enforcement and your Constitutional rights:

HOLLY KIM INVITES YOU TO ...

LESSONS IN LIBERTY
You can't defend your rights if you don't know them.

Know Your Rights:
At the door of your home
Mundelein
June 21, 6:30pm

Know Your Rights:
When you get pulled over
Mundelein
July 1, 6:30pm

Freedoms of Speech:
How to throw a successful protest
TBD
August 21, 2:00pm

Workshop host Holly Kim is a Village Trustee in Mundelein. Other Village Trustees are in high dudgeon:

But one of Kim's peers on the village board sees it differently. "A local lawmaker who is on the board that oversees public safety is trying to educate and encourage how to go against our public safety officers," Trustee Ray Semple said. "I am stunned."
Mundelein trustee plans forums on protesting, dealing with police
Mundelein trustee's events to instruct public on protesting; fellow officials are puzzled

Informed sources, however, tell your LakeCountyEye that not only are Constitutional protections and public safety compatible objectives -- but that public safety begins with an informed citizenry.

Semple, no doubt, was speaking metaphorically when he said he was stunned. But those who worry about ever being tased (in the literal sense) are advised to be cooperative with law enforcement -- and might benefit from attending Holly Kim's workshops.

Landlord & Tenant Rights Forum

Many cities in Chicagoland require government inspections of apartments and homes where renters live. Did you know you have a constitutional right to refuse these inspections without any penalty? Learn how you can refuse inspections, educate your neighbors, and report government abuses.

IL Landlords and Renters: Know Your Rights!

• Monday
  June 6, 2016
  7:00pm
• American Legion Hall
  749 Milwaukee Ave
  Gurnee, IL
• Free and open to the public
  Food provided

Sponsored by the Institute for Justice and the Lake County Property Investors Association.

Road to Nowhere

The Route 53 Extension lies smoldering upon the ash-heap of history, but Lake County is all like: OK, Dr Evil may be gone, but what about Mini-Me?

In this case, Mini-Me is a plan to realign and extend Fremont Center Road. Running parallel to and not far from the proposed Route 53 Extension, Fremont Center Road crosses Fremont Township in the locked & loaded heart of Lake County.

A price tag has not been announced, but it is believed the project will cost considerably less than a $3 billion Route 53 Extension.

LCDoT documents indicate the current road is not well configured and the scene of 202 accidents between 2010 and 2014. Fremont Township officials are urging immediate action:

"This project is desperately needed as soon as possible. Our residents are unable to access Route 60 safely at the intersection of Fremont and 60 and Erhart and 60 due to the angle of the existing road," Fremont Township Supervisor Diana O'Kelly said.
Lake County road plan continues with or without Route 53

One fiscally minded public servant, however, told your LakeCountyEye: "If safety is the only concern, they can save themselves the $30 million by just setting up some DUI checkpoints, instead."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

A License to Vote?

If Google can make a self-driving car, then why can't drivers be automatically registered to vote at the DMV? The Illinois Senate thinks they can, and passed an Automatic Voter Registration Bill.

Surprising no one, the Daily Herald was none too pleased:

What is the benefit to democracy of increasing voter turnout if those added voters in large part may be uninformed?
Editorial: The pure politics behind automatic voter registration

To find out what drives this debate, your LakeCountyEye contacted Dr. I.M. Bhatschidtkhrazzi, Adjunct Driving Instructor at the College of Lake County.

"Ya, no ifs ands or buts about it." said Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "The filthy voters should not be permitted to do their business in the public voting booths."

The filthy voters?

"The great unwashed, if you will." explained Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "When these people show up to vote, they pull the levers on all the machines, and spread their diseases. Ebola Virus, Zika Virus, Amstutz Virus. Care for some hand sanitizer?"

Rather than framing the issue in terms of voter hygiene -- isn't this really a question about a well-informed electorate?

"Donald Trump won the Illinois Primary by double digits." snorted Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "If the Daily Herald is really afraid about the misinformed showing up in droves to vote -- well that jackass already left the barn."

Are there any positive solutions?

"You can't have a well-informed electorate without freedom of the press." observed Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "But the local newspapers all keep a paywall around their websites. If the Daily Herald took down their paywall, the voters would have seen that the Herald endorsed John Kasich for President. And none of them would've voted for Trump."

Endorsement: Kasich as Republican for U.S. president

Too funny. Were there any serious solutions being considered?

"No one is going to publicly admit it, but all these uninformed voters live in Chicago." said Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "So any solution would have to include improving the Chicago Public Schools. The Illinois Senate passed what some are calling a Bailout Bill for the Chicago schools. Money from suburban school districts would be redistributed to the Chicago Public Schools. The Daily Herald could endorse the Bailout Bill."

Your LakeCountyEye could not shake the feeling of having been punkd. Did Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi have any parting advice?

"Tell your operatives to get to a Secretary of State office and automatically register to vote. As early as possible. And often."

Out of Commision

Note to Lake County commuters: If your tolls go up, that's because no one represents you anymore on the Illinois Toll Authority. This week Lake County Commissioner Nick Sauer vacated his seat on the Tollway Board. Toll Board Members meet once a month and are given $31,426 for what can be charitably described as a part-time job. Sauer has not stated a reason -- he perhaps resigned from the Board because $30,000 simply doesn't go as far as it used to?

It is believed that Nick Sauer was appointed to the Tollway Board last year to be a strong advocate for the Route 53 Extension.  At the time, Lake County Board Chair Aaron Lawlor headed the Route 53 Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee, which reports to the Illinois Tollway Board. This week both Lawlor and Sauer, abruptly and in succession, cut their ties with the Toll Board.

Even before Sauer could clean out his locker at the Tollway Authority gym+spa, Governor Bruce Rauner appointed a Bartlett resident to fill the vacancy:

Lake County's representative on the Illinois tollway board, Nick Sauer, is stepping down after a brief tenure and will be replaced by Neli Vazquez-Rowland, co-founder of an alcohol and drug addiction recovery program, a state official said. Sauer was appointed by Gov. Bruce Rauner a year ago as he revamped the tollway administration.
Sauer exiting tollway board in midst of Route 53 angst

Neli Vazquez-Rowland is a Rauner political ally and President of A Safe Haven Foundation. In 2014 ...

Governor-elect Bruce Rauner announced the members of ten new transition teams Wednesday. Neli Vazquez-Rowland, President of "A Safe Haven Foundation," was named to Rauner's Health and Human Services Committee. Her husband, Brian Rowland, CEO of "A Safe Haven LLC," was named to the Veterans Committee.
RAUNER TAPS OBAMACARE NAVIGATORS FOR HIS TRANSITION TEAM

Note to Ops: If you are an elected official and must cope with a sudden loss of income, it may pay to investigate the Job Training and Placement Services at the Safe Haven Foundation. Just sayin!

A Sauer Note

You might as well just tie a yellow ribbon around the Route 53 Blue Ribbon Commission.  Nick Sauer is the latest well apportioned Lake County Board Member to back out of the plan to build a Route 53 Extension. Aaron Lawlor was the first Lake County Board Member to pull his support, this week, from the project, confirming the adage ...

If Lawlor goes, can Sauer be far behind?

The Route 53 Extension enjoyed substantial public support -- until it became clear that the project came with a price-tag upwards toward $3 billion. The massive public works project is now regarded as a political concrete albatross.

Nick Sauer, the Daily Herald says ...

was appointed by Gov. Bruce Rauner a year ago as he revamped the tollway administration. The Lake County Board member is running as a Republican in the November election for the Illinois House seat held by outgoing state Rep. Edward Sullivan of Mundelein.
Sauer exiting tollway board in midst of Route 53 angst

Your LakeCountyEye cannot recall witnessing breathtaking reversals of conviction like these, and for the sake of political expediency -- at least not since Donald Trump ran for President.

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Double Crossing the Route 53 Extension

Someone must've told Lake County Board Chair Aaron Lawlor that this is opposite day. That's because Lawlor threw the Route 53 Extension under the bus.

Haha, according to the Daily Herald ...

Monday's stunning announcement by Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor that he's withdrawing support for the Route 53 extension and suggesting instead officials concentrate on a "greenway" corridor leaves the Illinois tollway in the odd spot of championing a project dropped by a prime backer.
Lake County's Lawlor pulls Route 53 support; study still on?

Lawlor (who is believed to have been advocating for the Route 53 Extension since before he learned to drive) chairs the Route 53 Blue Ribbon Advisory Council. With his abrupt pull-out, Lawlor leaves the Illinois Tollway Authority holding the bag -- a bag with a $50 million hole in it to cover the cost of a planned Environmental Impact Study.

Your LakeCountyEye observes that this is an election year. And Aaron Lawlor discovered he was on the wrong side of a suddenly unpopular public works project. And with the certifiably crazy Donald Trump atop the GOP ballot, many local Republican office holders fear for their jobs. A rising tide may lift all boats. But these boats are moored inside the men's room of Trump Tower.

Note to the Illinois Tollway Authority: Elected officials do what they need to do to stay elected officials.

Nuff said?

One No Trump

If you see Robert Dold with a sharpened #2 pencil, he is heading to the voting booth. That's because Dold -- Lake County's serial congressman -- says he will write-in his choice for President:

Dold plans to write in a presidential candidate when he votes in November, although he hasn't decided who it will be.
House Republicans fear Trump effect

Dold can opt to go rogue and write-in a candidate, but the task is easier said than done. Your LakeCountyEye recalls one Operative who, after given a ballot that said ...

write in, if any

... wrote in:

if any

A write-in is usually a protest vote, but a good protest candidate is hard to come by. Mickey Mouse has been written-in a million times already, and -- note to Representative Dold -- anyone who does risks getting hit by Disney with a copyright suit.

Of course choosing a write-in candidate not on a preselected list is a job in itself -- simply because the eeny meeny miny moe voting system doesn't work here. So to get the upper hand, sources tell your LakeCountyEye that Robert Dold has already narrowed the field down to a shortlist of ten:

Robert Dold's Best 10 Write-In Candidates for President

Lizard People Bill the Cat Ted Nugent Brad Schneider Deez Nuts Bob Dole The Orkin Man Nobody Bernie Sanders Donald J Trump

Don't forget to write-in your LakeCountyEye at a poll near you.

A Final Decision

Last year at this time I wrote about a conflict in Ingleside over riparian rights and property assessments.  One principal who played a leading role in the story appealed the assessment of his Wooster Lake home to the State and sent me the decision:

FINAL ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION
ILLINOIS PROPERTY TAX APPEAL BOARD

This homeowner regards the favorable decision as a defacto ruling that his and other homes on Wooster Lake are not legally bound to restrictions stated in a local homeowner's covenant.

Whether or not he is right or if this is the end of the story remains to be seen. But I post this update for those who are interested.

Q the Eye/05.08.16

Dear LakeCountyEye,

Long time reader, first time troller.

How do I tell which parts are supposed to be jokes and which ones are real?

Senator Jack S Phogbound

Dear Cartoon Congressman,

It absolutely is getting hard these days to tell where political satire ends and the political campaign rhetoric begins.

But, sirrah, your LakeCountyEye takes offense at the suggestion that this blog purveys anything less than 100% factual truth.

For instance, two weeks ago your LakeCountyEye predicted that Donald Trump will choose Illinois US Senator Mark Kirk to be his Vice Presidential running mate ...

Second Banana?

Satire?

Or reality-based reportage?

Skeptics should take note: CNN has reported that ...

Whether he likes it or not, Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk has a new running mate: Donald Trump.
Donald Trump looms large in Illinois Senate race

In an interview about Trump, Kirk was upbeat about his new running mate's chances:

"He won the Illinois primary, in this case we have seen the Republican vote up and the Democratic vote down, so it looks like it's a net benefit."
Donald Trump looms large in Illinois Senate race

Now that a Trump/Kirk Presidential ticket is a done deal, your LakeCountyEye can predict that 2016 will be the final year that Mark Kirk represents Illinois in the US Senate. Take it to the bank.

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

RINO Plasticity

There is an old saying in Lake County:

As Indiana goes, so goes the nation.

Haha, Donald Trump is now officially the President of Indiana. And Lake County's single US Senator, Mark Kirk, is scared witless. According to Politico ...

Sen. Mark Kirk isn't just distancing himself from the rest of the GOP — he's fleeing from it. From the Supreme Court vacancy battle to gay rights to criminal justice reform, the moderate Illinois Republican is sounding more like a Democrat with each passing day as he fights to save his political life in an overwhelmingly blue state this fall.
Kirk goes full RINO to save Senate seat
The most endangered Republican senator in the country is sounding a lot like a Democrat these days.

Mark Kirk, in fact, is sounding so much like a Democrat these days that the Illinois State Board of Elections has legally enjoined the Senator to change his ballot name to Dick Durbin.

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.