From the Republican inside me, dying to get out

Why is anyone thinking of voting for Blair Hull in the democratic primary race for US Senate on March 16?  I knew very little about him until I read a profile in the Sunday Trib last month.  I couldn't believe what I was reading about his life.  Here are some samples:

-He was a professional blackjack player for a short period in the 70's

-He started a commodities trading business, which was later fined exensively for rules violations

-He's been married and divorced several times, twice to the same woman, who filed an order of protection against him during their last divorce.

-He moved to Illinois in 1980 but did not register to vote until 1995.  He also didn't vote in the 2000 election.

I'm not saying the guy is a criminal, but he certainly does not have an impressive resume.  Yet he leads in some of the polls.  Why?  Because he is shown in a commercial busing seniors to Canada for their prescription drugs?  Well, partly.  He'e leading for one reason, and one reason only: he is spending the most money.  And a lot of it is his money.  He's on television the most, so he is the most recognizable.  And if it wins him the nomination, the Republicans will slaughter him.   If the Democrats of this state are dumb enough to nomiante him for Senate, they deserve the pounding that will result.

I think it's a shame that Peter Fitzgerald, the incumbent GOP, is not running for re-election.  He's done a great job.  I disagree with him about O'Hare (he is dead against it) but I admire how he has stood up all through the debate and not wavered his stand at all.  And he had the guts to appoint a US Attorney in Chicago that was not part of the Daley machine.  He's been helpful to all people of the state.

How ironic is it, then, that the primary reason Fitzgerald gave for not running for re-election was that he has grown tired of the constant fund raising competition in politics.  And we show him how much we care for his opinion by christening the candidate the man with the most money one of the front runners to succeed him.  And we deserve it.  Until we decide to take this process much more seriously, we deserve it.  I hope the results of the primary prove me wrong and that the nominaion is not bought.