Posted on 03/18/2020 8:10:27 AM PDT by PBRCat
On Election Day — Illinois recorded its first death from the coronavirus pandemic — Gov. J.B. Pritzker was in full outrage mode, defending his decision to put Illinois voters and election judges at risk of contracting the virus by not postponing Tuesday’s primary elections.
Pritzker was angry that the Chicago Board of Elections would dare state the obvious, that Pritzker should have delayed the election. That’s exactly what Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine did. But Pritzker was driven to please his fellow Democrats, like state House Speaker Michael Madigan, and took refuge in his lawyers’ reading of state law.
Illinois politicians have a history of telling us how much they respect the law, before they bend it and spit on it.
Pritzker subjected voters and judges to crowding in polling places. People using the same pens, touching the screens, often without cleanser, coughing, violating the social distancing Pritzker has insisted would help stem the spread of COVID-19.
He’s a billionaire governor. He has lawyers and spinners, and pushing this election in the face of coronavirus made Boss Madigan happy. Because this is politics.
Clearly, the coronavirus depressed turnout. And primaries are precinct captain elections. But by not postponing Tuesday’s vote, Pritzker served former Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign. He served Boss Madigan, who’ll use his statewide Democratic organization to maintain control over Illinois.
But what of those who may become ill?
Pritzker’s feelings hit the fan when Chicago Board of Elections spokesman Jim Allen said what reporters had known for some time, that seven days ago — the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus to be a worldwide pandemic — the board asked Pritzker’s staff to postpone Tuesday’s vote.
"I won’t soon forget is the hypocrisy of this governor in refusing to postpone the elections like so many other states."
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
I truly believe that the November election should be postponed indefinitely. For the good of the country of course.
The Illinois primary - in a race already decided by Dem party power-brokers - has to be the single most non-essential event I could imagine. At least sporting events are employing people, entertaining people, generating economic activity. That they went ahead and held this after shutting everyone else down - pathetic.
I can’t believe that this was printed in the Tribune.
You know, JB the Hutt needs all of the Illinois taxpayers he can to squeeze money from. Killing them is very unhelpful.
No one needed to show up at all; the results would be the same.
Jon Kass is one of the few decent columnists...
I am in IL, and I did not vote...first time in forever.
Jelly Belly Pritzker is a perfect example of a spoiled Billionaire who buys an election just for the attention and tittle. But once the Billionaire is actually in office, he has no interest in doing the day to day work.
Jelly Belly is a disaster as Governor, but the Illinois GOP has no one to run against him.
Kass is the only columnist/journalist/reporter in the entire city worth reading or listening to, IMO.
I don't always agree with him but think he's as straight a shooter as they come. Miss him being on WLS-AM.
I predicted the Lipinski loss before all the votes came in: mosesdapoet to PBRCat 3/17 12:12:26 AM
Those who live in Chicago may have already voted at their local public library. In the 3rd Congressional district looks like Lipinski will lose because of the earlier remapping which had areas in adjacent wards to his 23rd which were strong supporters but had areas with hispanic last names that were assigned to Gutieriez’s district.
http://www.theusmat.com/mdwbea.htm
Here is what went on
In the 3rd Congressional district looks like Lipinski will lose because of the redistricting. Which had previously included adjacent Chicago city wards to his 23rd in a district that dealt exclusively with city issues such as a subway L service and the Stevenson Expressway. Wards which were reliable Ted’s father supporters but since most had areas with hispanic last names those areas were redistricted and assigned to Gutieriez’s district when he ran.
http://www.theusmat.com/mdwbea.htm
I hate that man with a passion. He's a milquetoast mealy-mouthed POS in my book and I told him so straight to his face several times at the Orland Park 153rd St. Metra station, every election cycle (I have one of those incidents on video.)
How ironic that he gets redistricted out of office, ROFL!!!
We held our primary here in Florida and no one died therefrom.
I bet zero people got it from the polls. I don’t think there are enough infections yet. It might get worse, it was best to get the election over with.
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