Felsenthal Files

04/02/12

Quinn Brings Jerry Stermer Back in the Fold

During his campaign in 2010, Pat Quinn suffered the loss of one of his longest and must trusted confidantes, Jerry Stermer. Stermer now has a new job as acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, announced today by the gov's office.

Posted at 03:03 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (0)

03/29/12

Joe Walsh on Tammy Duckworth: Did He Really Say That?

Nobody would ever call Joe Walsh a temperate personality; he has made his reputation and become a favorite of cable TV shout shows by saying what’s on his mind. But he went over the line in an interview with Politico’s David Catanese, held in an Elgin coffee shop, published today.

Posted at 01:40 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (15)

03/21/12

Illinois Primary: Some Takeaways from Voting Day

Illinois had its primary yesterday, and, in an embarrassment to the state and its politicians, not too many voters showed up—24 percent in the lowest turnout in 70 years in a presidential primary. But for people like me, it was feast of important races. Here, some thoughts as I followed the races well into the evening...

Posted at 02:53 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (2)

03/20/12

Susan Crown on Why She Supports Mitt Romney

It’s common knowledge that two of Chicago’s wealthiest families—the Crowns and the Pritzkers—are staunch Obama supporters, so it surprised me to read earlier this year that Susan Crown, 53, was supporting Mitt Romney for president. I wondered: Why isn’t she in the Obama camp like her older brother, Jim, president of Henry Crown & Co.?...

Posted at 12:43 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (10)

03/15/12

Chicagoans on the White House State Dinner Guest List

Wednesday night’s dinner, carrying the theme, “America’s Backyards,” was in honor of “The Right Honorable David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, and his wife, Mrs. Samantha Cameron.” Here are the Chicago names I recognized, along with, in some cases, a bit of annotation...

Posted at 11:56 AM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (3)

03/14/12

Howard Dean on Ilya Sheyman, the Presidential Campaign, Iran, and More

He served as governor of Vermont from 1991 to 2003. He ran for the Democratic nomination in 2004 and became infamous for the scream that ended his presidential hopes. He pushed a 50-state strategy as head of the DNC that helped Barack Obama win the presidency. And he morphed from traditional Democrat to full-fledged Progressive. So it’s not surprising that Howard Dean, 63, is drawn to Ilya Sheyman...

Posted at 03:16 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (0)

03/08/12

This Time, the Illinois Primary Matters

The Illinois primary has suddenly become interesting—in fact, it may be the "stopper" this year, putting away the race for Mitt Romney if he solidifies his momentum and does well. Plus: the brilliant Bears quarterback who gave Mitt his name.

Posted at 09:38 AM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (0)

03/01/12

Andrew Breitbart's Right-Hand Man: Skokie-Bred Joel Pollak

In the wake of Breitbart's sudden death today at the age of 43, Breitbart.com editor-in-chief and legal counsel Joel Pollak—Alan Dershowitz protégé and former opponent of Jan Schakowsky—says that his boss's death was "out of the blue" and that his websites will go on "in a big way."

Posted at 12:12 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (0)

02/29/12

Rahm’s Role in Fumbling the Economy: Tidbits from a New Obama Book

With the campaign season heating up, the Obama books keep coming. The latest: The Escape Artists: How Obama’s Team Fumbled the Recovery, by The New Republic's senior editor Noam Scheiber, published this week by Simon & Schuster. As is the case in most Obama-related books, one of the most entertaining characters is Rahm Emanuel...

Posted at 01:43 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (0)

02/22/12

Dorothy Brown and Rick Muñoz Debate at 43rd Ward Forum

Exciting races in the upcoming March 20 primary are scarce, so the race for the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk between three-term incumbent Dorothy Brown and Ricardo Muñoz, alderman of the 22nd Ward since 1993 is, in relative terms, the Romney-Santorum fistfight of Cook County. Tuesday night, the two Dems appeared at a forum sponsored by the 43rd Ward Democrats and moderated by Andy Shaw...

Posted at 01:50 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (1)