Where were you last Spring . . .

. . . when this news became news? Why wait to report such a blockbuster? Why?

We all know that some things improve over time, fine wine and violins, for example. In politics, time heals and the bar drops even lower. Memory fades and brutal near-defeats at the ballot box are forgotten. Sometimes, even politicians, or the public's perception of them, improve over just a couple of months. Ask yourself, "Do I remember last April's mayoral election?" In May, your memory was fresher, but now, last April's elections are more like a foggy mist over lake Robert Palmer Drive after a good rain.

Last summer, would you have supported a state house candidate that spent nearly $100,000 to defeat a disgruntled housewife by 700 or so votes, moreover, a political neophyte who spent under $20,000 with nothing to offer her backers but idealism and promises of good government? Doesn't seem like a good bet.

Jimmy the Greek where are you?
Well, taxpayers (and oddsmakers), watch for campaign season to kick off at Elmhurst City Hall, the Elmhurst Independent and a very large big city daily newspaper (Go Cubs!), 'cuz some folks just want it that bad. But first the incumbent must step aside at the right time:

In today's Chicago Tribune

Lee Daniels, formerly longtime Republican leader of the Illinois House and a one-term speaker of the chamber, announced Monday that he would not seek re-election to the suburban legislative seat he has held for three decades. (Chicago Tribune, November 8, 2005

Tree City Leader, June 8, 2005

Lee Daniels (46th District) "will not seek re-election next year, after about three decades in the General Assembly," (CBS 2 News' Mike Flannery, May 19) and contenders are lining up. Daniels is free to use his surplus $448,578.25 campaign war chest to pay off legal bills and fund protege campaigns.