Suburban Political Recount

Where are we?
To call the airport here Denver International Airport is a stretch. Felt like we were closer to Kansas City than Denver. Once you leave the airport it's a good 10 minute highway drive before you see any real signs of civilization. There's literally nothing around.
Now I know what Peotone airport would be like.

Media critic
Time to weigh in on Saturday night's media party. Three big thumbs up for the fireworks finale that featured coordinated flurries from three different locations.

The food – eh, it was free. The beer – eh, it was Coors. But it was free.

January, 2007 WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Joe Biden planned to spend Wednesday focusing on his official announcement that he was running for president, but the Delaware Democrat instead found himself defending remarks he made to the New York Observer about his Democratic opponents. In the article published Wednesday, Biden is quoted evaluating presidential rivals Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-New York, former Sen. John Edwards, D-North Carolina, and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois. His remarks about Obama, the only African-American serving in the Senate, drew the most scrutiny. "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," Biden said. "I mean, that's a storybook, man."

and we've got the first conflict of the convention. Gov. Rod Blagojevich is hosting a reception Tuesday night in Denver for Tammy Duckworth. CapitolFax has the invitation. Check it out at www.thecapitolfaxblog.com I certainly hope it doesn't keep the governor from getting over to Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias' reception for the Illinois delegation that same night. That'd be the same state treasurer who criticized Blagojevich's budget cuts and is increasingly mentioned as a possible candidate for governor in 2010.

The Chicago Urban League is going to court to try to overturn Illinois’ system for funding public schools, saying it violates civil rights protections.

OK, the conventions are going to be packed with speeches and stories and whatnot for the next two weeks but there's one (really two) things I wanna know. What are the campaign "theme" songs going to be. What's gonna play when the balloons drop on Obama and then McCain? I'll share some of my favorites in the coming days, but for now I'm taking nominees. Make your case. If it's good enough, I'll try to bring back some convention trinkets to send out to loyal Animal Farm readers. I know you're out there, I think.

Suburban Democrats are hosting a fundraiser for Barack Obama this Friday that puts a real price on all the Democrats talk.

Tickets to the event will get you into a showing of "Bleacher Bums," a skit comedy at the Arlington Heights Performing Arts Center based on Wrigley Field.

But attendees can get more than a show - they can get a word.
'Hope Supporters' can contribute $500 to land four seats at a table near the front of the stage and a special mention during the show.

'Action Supporters' get one reserved seat and a special mention for $100.
And then the lowly 'Change Supporter' gets just a plain old seat for $50.

-- Daily Herald Senior Writer Joseph Ryan