Suburban Political Recount

Yes, Republican Rick Santorum has ties to the suburbs. He lived in Lake County for a year as a teenager.

But now the suburbs have a presidential candidate for 2012 who "lived" in the area for much longer.

Roseanne Barr is running for president.

Yes, Barr, who's running for the Green Party nomination, lives in Hawaii.

Check out Kerry tonight on "Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review" at 7 p.m., with Elizabeth Brackett as host.

They talk about politics, sports, all that stuff. Tune in!

Yesterday, Gov. Pat Quinn introduced the idea of an expanded tax credit for businesses that hire unemployed veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Today, Rep. David Harris of Arlington Heights, a former Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, raises the question: "Why just them?"

Here's part of the email he sent.

Mornin'.

Staff writer Kimberly Pohl passed along this morning that former Republican presidential nominee and Arizona Sen. John McCain need a will headline a March 12 luncheon fundraiser for 52nd House GOP primary candidate David McSweeney, of Barrington Hills.

Shortly after Gov. Pat Quinn gave his State of the State address and officials around the Captiol were feverishly giving their reactions, this email was sent out to Quinn supporters.

Dear Supporter,

As Governor Quinn delivered the State of the State address today, one sentence stuck out: "Illinois is moving forward."

Can you help Governor Quinn fight for progress by donating $25, $50, $100 or $250 right now?

It's a campaign fundraising pitch.

The 2012 primary is still nearly two months away.

But how 'bout a little 2014 speculation anyway, eh?

Gov. Pat Quinn's State of the State speech is still going on, but we made a word cloud based on his prepared remarks. Click for the bigger version.

Gov. Pat Quinn kicked off his State of the State address wishing Sen. Mark Kirk well in his recovery from a stroke.

But before I begin, I know I speak for all of Illinois in wishing our Senator Mark Kirk a speedy
recovery. We’re all pulling for you, Mark.

We spotted Rep. Darlene Senger on the House floor today sporting a large, white leg brace, as you can see in this excellent Blackberry photo.

Turns out, the Naperville Republican tore her ACL and MCL late last year while riding her bike with her family.

She says she swerved to avoid hitting a squirrel and bailed.

Ouch.

As a cyclist, I empathize.

She was walking on it, with the brace's help, on the House floor today. And she says it's getting better.

Last week, Senger was in a rehab session and having trouble making a full revolution with the pedals of a stationary bicycle. Then a staff member called to talk about pensions.

Off she went.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital doctors say U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, who suffered a stroke last week, has been upgraded to "fair condition" from a previous "serious condition."

From a statement.

"'Senator Kirk’s recovery is continuing. He is alert, talking and responding well to questions. He has been upgraded to fair condition and we are very pleased with his progress,' said Richard Fessler, MD, PhD, neurosurgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and professor of neurological surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine."

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk can't be out in Washington as he recovers from a stroke and subsequent brain surgery, so Washington is coming to him.

Kirk's weekly lunch partner -West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin - will visit his colleague Mark Kirk later tonight at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

The two were supposed to sit next to one another as a show of bipartisanship during this week's State of the Union address. Manchin left the seat empty in Kirk's honor.