BURRIS FOR SENATE COMMITTEE FORMED

Will Aaron be at the Inauguration? -- The Chief's Haircut -- Lawton's Plea for Funds

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

According to records of the Federal Election Commission, a campaign committee has been formed to support the candidacy of Roland W. Burris as United States Senator from Illinois.
However, a footnote informs us:

Candidate listings may appear here as a result of draft committees or independent expenditure committees registering with the FEC. If no official documents of an authorized committee appear below, the individual identified here has taken no action to become a candidate.

That appears to be the case with the Burris committee, since it records no contributions or expenditures and has registered the candidate as a Republican. Just another crazy stunt from the wacky wonderland of Illinois politics.

However, it would be worth our while to anticipate a real Burris campaign committee, especially since he is now threatening to run for a full term. Even if he doesn't run, a campaign committee and campaign bank account will be plenty useful for Burris. That's because no law or custom regulates the use of unspent campaign monies by members of Congress, except those from public funds.
Burris can hit up his buddies for considerable sums, and spend it on his other buddies. Far be it for little me to suggest ways for Illinois politicians to graft the system, or to suggest that an individual such as Mr. Burris would even be inclined to do so. But the first step is the formation of a campaign committee. We'll see when the real one shows up.

44 FOR 44?

The Obama presidential inauguration committee has done a fine job of lining up talent for January 20th. Preacher Rick Warren, an anti-gay evangelical, will deliver the invocation. On the other hand, gay Rep. Tammy Baldwin was selected as one of the chairs of the Inauguration, possibly to balance the ticket. Although the president elect does not appear to need advice from Milwaukee on the cast of characters for his big day, it does appear that one natural selection has been overlooked.
Who better to invite to the inauguration of President #44 than No. 44 himself, Henry Aaron? Hammering Hank represents much of what is good about America, as Obama himself admitted during the campaign. (Reporters asked Obama if he would have invited Barry Bonds to the White House to celebrate his dope-influenced Home Run record.
Obama demurred and switched the topic to Aaron, whom he said represented the best in American athletics, leaving us to infer what he felt about Bonds. He later said, sure, he'd invite Bonds -- but this was before Bonds was indicted.)
Aaron, for his part, was overjoyed at the election of Obama, according to an Atlanta newspaper report, and Aaron himself made the connection between his uniform number and the president-elect's chronological ranking. Somebody tell Bud Selig to get on the horn and make this happen.

WE CALL THAT A "BOSTON HAIRCUT" AROUND THESE PARTS


CURRENT CHIEF, SPRINGFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT

Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn, formerly head of the Springfield, Massachusetts police department, got a haircut recently -- but told the barber he had left his wallet behind and would have to come back later to pay his bill. Which other Springfield police chief does this remind you of, Simpsons fans? I hope he didn't leave his gun behind, too.

LAWTON'S LAST-MINUTE FUNDRAISING LETTER

Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton sent a very professional fundraising letter to supporters asking them to be sure to send her as much money as they possibly could before December 31st, 2008. The urgency could be understandable in an election year, but the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor won't be in play again until 2010.
It would not be unreasonable to speculate that Lawton is gearing up for a race for Governor -- even if it means running against Jim Doyle in a primary election. Things aren't working out well between the two. Doyle told Lawton he would only run for two terms, (after which the honor would be hers.) Now it appears Doyle plans to run for a third term, or at least keep the money rolling in no matter what. He started a new site, www.jimdoyle.org last June, [by the way, it doesn't work] while the Doyle-Lawton website has been moribund since October, 2006. Meanwhile, the www.barbaralawton.com website, established in 2005, continues to be updated. Neither the fundraising letter or the Lawton website make any mention of Jim Doyle whatsoever. This makes the relationship between Tommy Thompson and Scott McCallum look like a love fest. Difference is, though, Tommy was a popular governor.