When Republican leaders passed over Rep. Phil Crane for the chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee in 2001, it was a clear signal that they didn’t trust him with a prominent role in Congress. Crane might have taken the hint–after three decades of modest achievement in the House, it was time to leave. But he didn’t.

I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to vote against Crane ever since moving to Illinois. Never seemed viable until recently, though. But owing to the massive amount of growth and increased diversity in the suburbs, the formerly lily-white Repub strongholds in the “collar counties” and suburbs ringing Chicago have trended more Democratic… a LOT more democratic. In the last election, when Melissa Bean gave him a bad scare, Crane barely squeaked back into office. This year, she’s got more money, more support, more mojo, and the greatest political fundraising tchotchke ever: “CRANE: The Original Seat Warmer” stadium cushions. They’re sold out, but you can still contribute.

Meanwhile, Crane hasn’t had much to say about the “excessive junket travel” scandal. He’s a social conservative, though his “official” congressional website doesn’t mention that.