[GrannyK]

I also live in Illinois and we who live south of Springfield don't have a prayer against the crooks in Chicago. They think whatever is good for Chicago is fine for the whole state. All of our taxes go up north to support their lifestyles.

[xarmydog]

Same in NY.The people in upstate are some of the most patriotic America has to offer,yet they are paying the price for decisions made to subsidize NYC.Gun laws for one.Try opening a business there.First,in comes the EPA for their slice and it goes downhill from there.Permits required for just about any thing conceivable.Your wallet is half empty before you can break ground.Talking to a friend from there,he said it has become the land of the haves and have nots.No more middle ground.Then pay the taxes on what you created.Attorney General is doing his best to shakedown the money men,who will likely move to a more friendly state environment.Good place to live if you are a freeloader.

[bcsco]

We live in Ogle County, North-Central state. Chicago has been a lost cause as long as I can remember, and Cook County likewise. The collar counties aren't quite as bad, but they're not conservative by any means.

Even with Chicago politics, Illinois has been able to elect its share of Republicans to state office. It's George Ryan's duplicity that has hurt Republicans for some time to come. Blago is not well liked, even among many Democrats. The problem is the stigma that the Republican Party now has, and their inability to put forth an excellent field.

Right now my money is on Oberweis. Interestingly, the campaign signs are now coming out on our lawns. I've seen Oberweis signs but no other Republican signs as yet. Even more interesting, I've yet to see any Blago signs; even along what I call 'Democrat Row' in our town.

[Still Thinking]

I also live in Illinois and we who live south of Springfield don't have a prayer against the crooks in Chicago. They think whatever is good for Chicago is fine for the whole state. All of our taxes go up north to support their lifesty

But aren't most of your local LEO's, being primarily downstate natives themselves, of the same mind as all you in the gainfully employed sector?