I think I'd rather gouge my eyes out with a potato peeler than vote for one of these guys. Same goes for the democrats.

How typically Republican !
- charge us for the privilage of telling them for whom we may vote.

They pander to the "Right to Life" movement by pretending to support life when they support the death penalty and the right to buy automatic weapons.
They pander to the Christian Right by claiming to have family values while they engage in adulterous activity (or worse).
They are no longer even trying to hide the contempt in which the hold the electorate and the disdain they feel for the poor. Their efforts to limit voting are contemptable.
It is especially irritating to see the Irish flock to the GOP. The current leaders are the idealogical heirs of the like of Marshall Field who wouldn't let their grandparents and great grandparents work, much less shop in his store.
Consider Joseph Medill, the former mayor of Chicago and publisher of the Chicago Tribune and the man for whom the Northwestern School of Journalism is named. There is a quote attributed to him that every lamppost in Chicago should be decorated with a dead Irishman.
Many of those currently the movers and shakers in the GOP are vile and evil people not worthy of consideration.
John Quinn Mucker

Well bob, I guess you are a Republican.
And just because I don't agree does not mean that I'm nuts or need help.

As I see it, Lorraine reported the news. You and I both read her impartial reporting.

This, I believe, is the editorial section where opinions belong. Lorraine was fairly impartial here as well as she would rather contribute to neither.

How about an option to select "any one of these would be preferable to Obama"?

I vote for Ron Paul. He has a proven track record of following the Constitution and he will correct this deficit within three years. He is the only candidate who can return us back to prosperity.
I voted once for Obama- Mr. Hope and Change. Well his policies have increased our unemployment, killed job growth, continued and started new wars, overregulated, and he continued the bailouts of banks and corporations.

The only rude and insulting person who has posted here Bob, is you. I guess the problem with we Liberal Dems is that we enjoy a discussion and are willing to listen to others. We take to heart the label of the "the loyal opposition" when the evil empire is in power. You apparently feel no such obligation.
I will pray for your salvation, as well as my own.

By the way Bob, Lorraine is not just an employee of Patch - she is Patch!

May God have mercy on your soul Bob - it seems you are unwilling to discuss anything as are your elected leaders.
Your only objective is to defeat the President, not to advance our country.
It seems that people like you revel in their anonymity. You know who I am and you who are slinging insults are hiding.
I rest my case.

Logic is not within your capability Bob

This is the problem we have to face. The selfish and the greedy, those who would wish to control versus those who believe we are our brother's keepers.

Quinn, where does it say we are our brothers keepers?? It is not the governments job to baby sit people. If we would follow the constitution a little bit,maybe we could get this country back on it's feet. I also seem to remember a lot of Bush bashing and blocking of legislation when the dems controlled congress. They are as partisan as the republicans. That's just how it is in washington. Democrats always think they can spend our money better than we can. I think we should privatize soc. security for workers under the age of 40 give us the chance to manage our own money. If we fail that's our fault. I remember another famous Illinois politican who said it takes a nation to raise a child,no Hillary it takes a mother and father. I personally am a social moderate and fiscal conservative I'm pro -choice,anti- death penalty, I'm pro-gun, I'm for seperation of church and state. I'm for choice for younger workers on social security,medicaid,health insurance. Let them make the decision!! I am basically a libertarian and we say....Government stay out of our lives!!!!

Country, state, county, town.. now its personal.
The "Change" didn't work.
I know many folks that are worse off than in 2008.

The "selfish and the greedy", are in office and have held office for years...
They are represented in BOTH parties and they want to keep it just the way it is..
Status-Quo is a failure, voters need to take off their partisan blinders..

Federal, state, county and local, we need mega changes.
I think we'll see it next year.

what a joke..charging $5 for opinions is wrong...especially in todays economic times. Plus they wont get true honest results since it eliminates those who cant afford the $5 but would vote in a free election.
Also seems wrong to give politicians more money when some many non-profit organizations, schools and charities are suffering because these policitians pull the funding they needed. Rebuplic or Democratic...im not voting for either unless the start donating a huge check of their campaign money to charites.

Did you ever notice that instead of addressing the real issues (education, jobs, healthcare) and offering solutions, republicans resort to name calling? Why is that?

Bob and Genvieve - Thank you for proving my point. Obama in 2012!

Hi Bob (and everyone else commenting on this post).

Here is Patch's policy regarding objectivity and transparency.

"At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. We also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. In the spirit of simple honesty, we encourage editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license to inject our beliefs into stories or dictate coverage according to them. Rather, we hope the knowledge our beliefs are on the record will cause us to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair and balanced manner. If you ever see evidence we failed in this mission, please let us know."

As I see it, Lorraine's colorful comments still conform to our policy. She doesn't want to vote for any of the candidates listed on this particular straw poll ballot, and she feels much the same about Democrats. It would seem her general opinion of politicians mirrors that of most independents, actually.

We believe in transparency at Patch, and her comments here are as transparent as you can get. It's better to know the beliefs of our editors than to guess at them.

All the best,

Dennis Robaugh
regional editor, Chicago

Bob, I appreciate your suggestion, but since we put our names on all of our articles, not to mention our sites, the absence of the Patch logo won't hide anything.
This type of openness is an element of Patch I am rather grateful for. I remember being threatened along with an entire newsroom with disciplinary action should any of us engage in "excessive reactions to election results" while covering the 2008 election. It felt like 1984 on what is usually a great night of energy in a newsroom.

And as a voter I am quite disappointed by the field on both sides as well, though they are good for a laugh or two.

Ah yes, the good old "your opinion is wrong" argument.

Now now, that quote wasn't attributed to you. Just an example. Care to elaborate on what the point is then? As I hope you've already read, Patch isn't terribly worried with Lorraine's views, nor was her statement inflammatory as you most certainly described previously. Ask around. Please find me someone who's pleased with the candidate crop on both sides. I haven't found such a person yet. I bet we see a low turnout.
You have been insulting people from early on into this thread, and yet I haven't seen a constructive argument from you. Just dogmatic, one sentence, my way or the highway lobs. I'm simply asking for you to elaborate on your argument.
Lastly, your first comment instructs Lorraine to report the news fair balanced with no opinion. Please find me an article on http://Oaklawn.patch.com where she did not.
I hope you have considerable free time today to look. You'll need it.

This story has been updated with the Illinois Straw Poll tally. Ron Paul runs away with the vote, followed by Herman Cain. In Patch's informal poll, Ron Paul also leads, followed by "Disappointment in the Field."

Bob....u need to let it go and move on. Ur 100% in the wrong here. ur comments need to stick to ur opinion of the article...which u havent done...u have only made nasty comments about others Comments. Personally, i think the patch editors have been more then generous in warning u about ur violating their rules.

I still can't figure out who in their right mind would pay to vote in a non-binding, irrelevant poll.

Denise , Its a Republican fundraiser.

Denise ,this is a different kind of fundraiser. We are just used to candidates and a 10,000 dollar a plate fund raising dinner. This allows the average person to donate and participate. I am surprised at all the negative comments. i dont see any negative comments when a candidate charges thousands.

I agree with Lorraine. I also think if the Republicans don't field a better candidate than the people already campaigning, President Obama will win a second term. I did like Ron Paul's comments in the last debate but i just don't think he'll be able to fund and win a campaign.

Also, Lorraine's opinion was in the comments section and she seems evenly opposed to the candidates on both sides. She also had the Patch logo (not that she needs it. we all know her). All reporters have opinions but they set them aside when they're reporting a story. You need to look at her published articles. They're always fair and objective.

Hey Bob, not to be a stickler or anything but the word scarey is actually spelled scary. Just thought you should know. No big deal. Oh, and when you referred to Megan's comment you also spelled her name incorrectly. You should really be more careful with your spelling.
... And for the record, when I was the President of the United States we sorted our differences by use if words such as harumph, and poppycock. When that didn't work we would drink brandy and take turns slapping each other with our gloves. Oh, I miss my glory days.