Illinois' state troopers are planning to give Democrat Rod Blagojevich the political equivalent of a police escort in his run for governor--and leave Republican rival Jim Ryan sitting on the shoulder of the campaign highway.

Blagojevich formally will receive the endorsement of the troopers union today, boosting the Northwest Side congressman's anti-crime credentials and weakening the arsenal of the attorney general.

"As the state's chief law enforcement official, it has to be something of a surprise and perhaps an embarrassment that, when given the choice, law enforcement people are going to line up with Congressman Blagojevich," said Blagojevich spokesman Billy Weinberg.

It is the first time Illinois Troopers Lodge No. 41, the second-largest police union in Illinois, has made an endorsement in its 33-year history.

The troopers are backing Blagojevich because of "his strong union background" and because the organization's executive board believes he better understands the challenges they face, said Stanley Donald, president of Lodge 41.

"The majority of the board just thought Rod was the best choice for our organization," Donald said. "Our members were impressed with his background, with his strong union background, with the promises he made--listening to our concerns about the future of our organization and the department."

[url]http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-gov221.html[/url]

[Made link clickable - Paul]

Yet one more reason I want to be a union busting labor/employment attorney.

I find it important to distinguish between the rank and file, and the brass.

The brass are generally political animals.


The rank and file are generally stretching paychecks like the rest of us.

Paychecks? What are those?

That's what teh rest of the working world receives from their employer, in lieu of a box of donuts. [:D] See your human resources department.

j/k

[:D]

Yeah here in L.A., we can't endorse political candidates, except when the Sheriff or Chief of the two major LEO agencies here (LASD/LAPD) tells us to do so.  Isn't that unreal????

95% of the rank and file cops here all support Republican and/or conservative politicians, yet our associations (unions) all endorse the frick'n democrates and liberals!!!

I've quetioned our association's president as to why they do this and it's because they say the democrats hold our better interest for our pay raises and benefits etc....

I say bullshit.  Pay isn't the ONLY issue to us rank and file cops.  How about quality of life issues for our families (all citizens).  How about lower taxes and less government????  With democrates, traditionally the opposite occurs.

Then again, our frick'n unions are all AFL/CIO backed and supported.  It's all politics about who gets what and how much.

I personally don't know one cop that voted for Al Gore and Gray Davis for CA govorner.

Here in Alaska, our gubernatorial candidates take personal responsibility for their self-defense.  And this is the leading Democratic candidate, BTW:

[b]Ulmer's gun hard to hide
CAMPAIGN Candidate has permit, is shopping for weapon smaller than her .44-caliber Magnum revolver.

By Don Hunter And Ben Spiess
Anchorage Daily News

(Published: July 22, 2002)
Galena -- With a new concealed weapons permit, Fran Ulmer says she's ready to hit the campaign trail, no matter where it may lead. Problem is, her only handgun is the wrong fit for the permit.

Ulmer's long-barrel .44-caliber Magnum revolver is a shade big to slip beneath a suit jacket or stash in a handbag. So the lieutenant governor and Democrat candidate for governor is shopping for a gun.

"I need something compact," Ulmer said as she mulled the display at Gordy Cruger's gun shop during a campaign stop last week at this Yukon River community.

Cruger showed off his alternatives: a titanium .22-caliber semiautomatic pistol, a titanium .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver or a .40-caliber Glock semiautomatic with a laser sight.

"Nice and balanced," Ulmer pronounced, sighting the Glock. "I like that laser sight."

Ulmer applied for her permit and took the requisite training course in May. The Department of Public Safety issued her permit earlier this month. Ulmer did not purchase any of the guns in Galena, but she says she plans to buy one soon.

"On the campaign trail, it's nice to have extra protection in case someone does not have the best of intentions," she said.

Ulmer grew up hunting and fishing in Wisconsin, she said. She already owns eight guns, including the Magnum. But most are rifles, and none are suited to the campaign trail.

"I travel a lot. Often I travel alone. This isn't paranoia, but sometimes you are way out there by yourself and under certain circumstances you may want insurance."

Republican gubernatorial candidate Wayne Ross, who also has a concealed weapons permit, dismissed Ulmer's gun shopping as posturing for the press. Ross is a zealous gun-rights advocate and a board member of the National Rifle Association.

At one time, he owned hundreds of guns. He has since pared down his collection, he said.

On hearing of Ulmer's search for a new gun, he asked: "She's only getting one?"[/b]

[url]http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/1461445p-1579753c.html[/url]

None of you still told me why I should trust the po-po. [BD]
kidding aside, this guy is evil, and the police leaders are lining up with him.
c-rock'

Well,  would you trust EVERY plumber in the Yellow pages???

How about every preacher behind the pulpit???

Its a case by case thing, as to whether you trust INDIVIDUALS, as its silly to say you trust an entire GROUP.

And cops come out of the general populace. Are there bad apples in the gen. pop? Yes. Then there will be bad apples in the police dept.

Fortunately for us, they usually rise to the top, and are promoted, so they are easy to spot.

[;)]

WHO GIVES A DAMN WHAT THE RANK AND FILE THINK?

Certainly not the public, who are going by what the Media portrays

Easy. You don't trust them.