* I’m not sure if the GOP base is gonna be happy with this statement by Republican US Senate candidate Steve Sauerberg…
“We do need change, I just don’t think John McCain is the change needed.”
Oof.
* Incumbent US Sen. Dick Durbin responded…
“Dr. Sauerberg would be a change in Washington,” Durbin said. “At least a change in face, but he would bring the same politics. It’s sad for students who are here because this is a debt that you will pay for.”
* Durbin supports Barack Obama, of course, but he lit into his fellow Illinois Democrats yesterday during a newspaper editorial board meeting…
Durbin calls the gridlock among his fellow Democrats at the state Capitol embarrassing. […]
“This mess is our creation, Democratic creation, and there are no excuses for what has happened,” [said Durbin]…
Durbin said he’s tried to work more closely with Blagojevich on key issues, but doesn’t get his phone calls returned regularly. He said he doesn’t know what it will take to fix the problems or whether he or anyone else in Washington could help cut through the morass.
“I don’t know that I could ride to the rescue of our state government,” Durbin said. “They have to own up to their own responsibility.”
That may end up in a GOP mailer or two.
* On another front, here’s a quote from Sauerberg during the Tribune editorial board “debate” with Sen. Dick Durbin earlier this week…
Sauerberg acknowledged that Durbin has “done a great job on some of these issues” dealing with veterans.
* Sauerberg during last night’s Illinois Radio Network debate…
Only days after backtracking on questioning Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s patriotism, Republican challenger Steve Sauerberg reheated the issue Thursday by accusing him of actions that “embolden the enemy” and “put our soldiers in danger” in Iraq.
* Sauerberg at the Tribune Tower…
“I do applaud your efforts on behalf of the troops,” Sauerberg said.
* Sauerberg last night…
The facts are I go around the state and people question Dick Durbin’s patriotism. These behaviors are unpatriotic. I see the ramifications of his poor judgment.”
* Durbin responds…
‘I don’t know where the bottom is anymore in your campaign. Why don’t you debate the issues?'’ Durbin said. ‘’Common decency still works.'’
‘’It does still work,'’ Sauerberg shot back, ‘’and you should have shown it in your remarks about our troops.'’
* More from the debate…
Sauerberg also supported his plan to eliminate Medicare and instead allow citizens to buy individual health care from private venues. He said this plan will give all citizens health care, regardless of preexisting conditions or health care benefits through employers.
* And a bit more on that health care proposal…
On health care, Sauerberg proposed dismantling employer-provided health care in favor of an open market system that eliminates pre-existing condition restrictions and tightens a patient’s ability to sue their doctors.
But he offered no specifics on the size of the tax breaks and vouchers he backs to help the uninsured.
“It is conceptual,” Sauerberg said of his plan.
You can listen to the entire debate by clicking here.
LIVE session coverage...
- wordslinger - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 11:18 am:
The more interesting debate is Sauerberg v Sauerberg. What does he get out of this run, Green Stamps?
- VanillaMan - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 11:20 am:
I tried to listen to the debate, but Sauerberg is such a weak speaker I couldn’t get past his presentations.
Ooof!
- VanillaMan - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 11:27 am:
One more thing about this race!
Sauerberg is proving that it was better to have no one running against Durbin, than have the wrong one running against Durbin.
Keyes did a better job, and that is a very sad fact.
- EmptySuitParade - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 11:34 am:
Capt Andy McKenna is apparently wandering through the MetroEast area, conceding IL to Obama, but hinting anyone tight with Blagoat could still have problem….sure hope no one is tight with Blagoat — other than StateWideTom.
- shore - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 11:35 am:
Sauerberg maybe a little off, but what’s so right about this country that a career politician like Dick Durbin gets to run around the state as some sort of good guy? Last time I checked he was at the helm of the lowest rated congress in American history, and a state party that desperately needs governing competence lessons from a student council.
Tell me Rich, after 6 decades aren’t you supposed to be saying here’s how we fix things, and here’s my great record, not “it’s the other guys fault”.
- Sinister - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 11:44 am:
Sauerwho?
- Easy - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 12:53 pm:
seems like the only ones tight with Blago are Madigan’s farm team of candidates. maybe the hug was genuine, since Rod let two of his better fundraisers run as madigan candidates
- cermak_rd - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 1:09 pm:
Why do the GOP hate workers having insurance through their jobs so much? It’s the most convenient way to get insurance and helps employers who provide it by encouraging a more stable work force and providing a competitive advantage against those companies who do not provide it. Most of us who have health insurance through our employers would prefer to keep it, not have to go out and buy it on the open market.
- Vote Quimby! - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 1:29 pm:
==hinting anyone tight with Blagoat could still have problem==
Then why don’t they fund Kay better against Hoffman?
Also, when did SJR get an editorial board? I thought that was consolidated into Rockford…
- Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 1:48 pm:
===Then why don’t they fund Kay better against Hoffman?===
Making Hoffman spend money does the HGOPs no good because MJM won’t give the guy a dime.
But, I see your point.
- ConservativeVeteran - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 1:51 pm:
Wordslinger, I agreed when you said, “The more interesting debate is Sauerberg v Sauerberg.” In Dec., Sauerberg said that he was pro-choice, and Illinois Federation for Right to Life endorsed one of his primary opponents. Last summer, he told some Republicans that he’s pro-life and told some Democrats that he’s pro-choice.
- Vote Quimby! - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 1:54 pm:
Thanks Rich, and I see yours. I lose track of the bigger picture sometimes.
- Captain America - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 2:13 pm:
I am looking forward to Senator Durbin being the most influential Senator on Capitol Hill as a result of his close political relationship with President Obama.
I am also eagerly anticpating the eventual capstone of his career, election by his peers to the powerful and prestigious position as Senate Majority Leader.
I also predict that President Obama will appoint Senator Clinton to the Supreme Court of the United States, where she will serve ably for many years, sans Bill.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 2:20 pm:
If Durbin is giving his fellow state-level Dems advice and they are ignoring him, for shame. Blago should at least lend credence to the man.
Working Hoffman hard makes sense in that it forces him to use his massive warchest and union pals in the Metro East on his own race than dispatching $$$ and workers to other areas. Kay is doing as well as can be expected.
- Downstate GOP Faithless - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 2:26 pm:
what a bad week for the doctor…he simply doesnt seem to know which way is up these days. there are bad candidates, and there are bad people, but sauerberg-unfortunatley-is proving to be a bad person who happens to be a candidate…these arent just issue based attacks or the typical “contrast” things…these are just mean and nasty and not meant to do anything but make durbin look bad-a tough strategy when one guy is pretty well liked. it seems sauerberg has taken a page directly from the blago school of politics.
- Just Observin - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 5:00 pm:
Sauerberg actually did a good job debating Durbin on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight, however, the conversation didn’t appear to be about Iraq.
I would suggest to Sauerberg that if he is going to accuse a Senator of aiding the enemy you might as well jump in with both feet. Sticking your tow in only makes you shiver.
- Bruno Behrend - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 5:59 pm:
Cermack wrote: Why do the GOP hate workers having insurance through their jobs so much?
There are plenty of good reasons, but the issue isn’t so much disliking employers insuring workers as is is leveling the playing field.
Simply allowing the self-employed to get the same tax break would be a plus.
Next, you subsidize the growth of benefits, but not necessarily earning power. This distorts the market, in that your employer may over-invest in benefits you may not need or want because of the tax deduction.
There is nothing inherently wrong with insurance through the work place, but what about the cultural changes. The day of the 40 year job is likely over.
You are forced to take a huge risk if you want to become self-employed, despite the fact that there are huge personal benefits to becoming independent.
Most of us who have health insurance through our employers would prefer to keep it, not have to go out and buy it on the open market.
So others have to suffer because you don’t want to “buy it on the open market?”
We (self-employed) have to eat the costs of this perverse system, just because you don’t want to make the effort to find a better product.
Look, it’s hard enough picking cell phone service, so having the Boss decide coverage for you has it’s benefits, I suppose. But do you even see the costs to your employer?
What if you could find a better product your self and take the difference in cash? What if that would be better for you?
Many are covered by some gold plated health plan that would make most folks jealous. Some of these plans are an invitation to over-utilization for many people, but hey, the company foots the bill, so why worry?
That is the type of thinking that led us to this problem. The existing system is unsustainable because 3rd payer is nearly as bad as single payer. The moment you disconnect the payer from the provider, you start down the road to a breakdown.
For more BIPARTISAN info on fixing the problem, look up Wyden-Bennett.