A Manifesto, of Sorts
Welcome to The Illinoize. Sure, it is a funny name with a cool stylized Abe Lincoln logo, but I would like to share a few thoughts as to what we’re doing here. And why.
It wasn’t that long ago that I thought I’d be a journalist for life. I loved being a political reporter through the thick and the thin, the Topinkas and the Blagojeviches and everything in between. Even a failing newspaper parent company wasn’t enough to keep me away. In time, things started to change.
After the election of Barack Obama, much of the tone of our politics changed. Many conservative downstaters despised him, while my liberal friends could hardly contain their disdain for anyone who opposed the Messiah of the Democratic Party. Fast forward 12 years and those feel like the good ole days of political discourse. Shortly after the 2010 election amid the Tea Party Renaissance, I left journalism for politics and government hoping I could make a difference.
I have worked on dozens of campaigns in that time, most of them Republican, some Democrat and independent. I worked on Senate staff in Springfield, inside that regal chamber with the deranged body that fills it. I have seen firsthand how partisan and nasty both campaigns and governing can be. I have been a party to it, writing, creating, and buying attack ads. It wears on your soul.
In recent years, through cutbacks and buyouts and the hollowing out of newsrooms, we’ve seen less and less coverage of the politics and government that are important to our cities, state, and country. To the point that the only “interviews” that are done are with surveys that candidates never write and on-air spots that are hardly more than a chance to regurgitate talking points, never with follow up, facts, and the challenging of positions.
Meanwhile, our politicians have become more insulated and less accountable to the public. The money that runs campaigns either comes from sugar daddy donors or bigtime campaign committee transfers from Springfield or Washington. To be frank, your $25 doesn’t mean much to your Congressman or State Representative. There are fewer people holding them accountable with fewer reporters at the Statehouse or in their districts. Furthermore, there are fewer and fewer “competitive” districts that can be decided by voters in a general election. Gerrymandering is real. 22 of 59 state senators are on the ballot in November. Only 10 of those races have two parties competing for the seat. Realistically, only 2 or 3 will even be competitive in the fall. A few more state House races are competitive, but not that many.
With my partisan background, you may wonder how I can be an effective and fair journalist. First, I’m not going to hide my background as a conservative or a Republican (which hardly mean the same thing anymore). I won’t lie about what I’ve done, what my experiences are, and I won’t pretend the campaigns I’ve worked never existed. We’ll clearly denote news and opinion pieces on this website. I’ll disclose candidates or issues I’ve worked on behalf of over the years. You should be allowed to make your own decisions when you see what I write or present. But, I believe there’s a value to someone who has been on the inside of campaigns and government describing what is happening and why. You’ll see opinion pieces from me and others that praise Democrats and whack Republicans or the other way around.
Our goal is that the Illinoize will cut through the noise of Illinois politics and government. We have two top quality journalists who will work with us on delivering great content. Hannah Meisel is a fantastic Statehouse reporter who has built a reputation as one of the most plugged in, smartest young reporters in the state. Ben Garbarek is a suburban native and longtime TV reporter, most recently in Columbus, OH, covering politics in that hotbed of politics. Both will help you get the real story.
We’re not out to put anyone out of business, we’re not out to compete with existing newsletters. They’re seeking a different audience. I hope you’ll subscribe to our newsletter on the right side of this website. I hope you’ll tell a few friends about it, too. Illinois isn’t a lost cause, but we all need to be part of an engaged electorate to bring our state back to glory.
