* Not that it really matters, but David Earl Williams III and Susanne Atanus are the Republican candidates vying to get clobbered by Congresscritter Jan Schakowsky this fall.
Each of them have their, shall we say, idiosyncrasies. Daily Herald…
“I am a conservative Republican and I believe in God first,” Atanus said. She said she believes God controls the weather and has put tornadoes and diseases such as autism and dementia on earth in response to gay rights and legalized abortions.
“God is angry. We are provoking him with abortions and same-sex marriage and civil unions,” she said. “Same-sex activity is going to increase AIDS. If it’s in our military it will weaken our military. We need to respect God.”
Republican leaders came out strong against Atanus Thursday morning. Illinois Republican Chairman Jack Dorgan called on the candidate to end her congressional campaign, saying in a statement: “The offensive statements by Susanne Atanus have no place in the modern political debate, and she has no place on the ballot as a Republican. Her candidacy is neither supported nor endorsed by the leaders of our party, and she should withdraw from the race immediately.”
Adam Robinson, chairman of the Chicago Republican Party, emphasized in another statement that Atanus “is not in any way affiliated with any of our efforts in the Chicago GOP, nor have we ever supported, endorsed, or assisted her in any way at any time.”
Atanus, who lives in Niles, continued to stand by her comments.
“I am a Christian. I care a lot about the world and I care a lot about my obedience to serve God the right way,” she said. “I can’t turn my eye and look the other way when I know that abortions, gay rights and civil unions are making God very angry.”
A judge in Washington, D.C., has issued a domestic violence civil protection order against a Republican candidate seeking to represent Evanston in Congress.
Judge Jennifer M. Anderson ruled after a hearing last month that David Earl Williams III stalked his former girlfriend, a DC-area activist on libertarian and conservative causes.
The judge ordered Williams to have no contact with the woman and further ordered him to take a court-supervised anger-management class, undergo a mental health assessment and submit to treatment if the assessment deemed it necessary.
She also ordered him to not contact the ex-girlfriend by email, text messaging or social media.
Williams flatly denies the allegation and says he’s appealing. His campaign called the allegation “frivolous.”
Williams, who says he works in logistics, refused to disclose where he works because he has not yet informed his employer that he is running for Congress, he said.
It is people like this that hurt my party terribly. How they can obtain enough signatures to qualify defies logic. AND, who would give these persons money? Certainly not me.
Unfortunately, it’s not a silly distraction for the IL GOP. What an unfortunate waste of time and energy for Dorgan and his staff to have to respond to these dopes and publicly distance themselves.
- Upon Further Review - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:13 pm:
I doubt either of these candidates have any backing from the IL GOP. They probably collected their own petitions and have not received a dollar in party support. The 9th District is an orphan district for Republicans and has been for years.
The 9th District is so blue that it is almost impossible to field a quality candidate there. The most notable were Joel Pollack and Joe Walsh, who ultimately won a single term in Congress after moving to a different district.
Of course, the incumbent Democratic Representative is married to a political operative who served a stretch in federal prison too, so nobody is perfect.
I am still wondering How God is punishing people for stuff by giving them dementia? If they have dementia how would they understand that God is punishing them? Maybe I am not seeing the bigger picture.
I saw Atanus at a Republican meeting over the summer. She attended by herself and asked to speak at the end of the meeting; no one attending knew her. She then proceeded on a rambling, bizarre discourse against corporations and the stock market. She said she was a “candidate” for US Senate against Dick Durbin. Everyone at the meeting just took her to be an off-the-street nut case, and she never appeared in that forum again.
Last month I learned that she was on the ballot for this position. I heard similar reports from friends who saw her at candidate forums. She attended them alone and when asked to speak, launched into rambling, conspiratorial diatribes, winning no support and no friends.
Anyone with the gumption to approach strangers to sign a candidate petition can do so and get on the ballot, particularly in a long shot race where there is little incentive to challenge the petition. Every once and a while, a person with take advantage of that in Cook County in races where the party is very weak and has no candidate. Rmember Ray “The Clown” Wardingly? Ms. Atanus has taken advantage of these circumstances in this particular race. She has no backing whatsoever.
It is unfortunate that some are taking this story as an example of what Republican voters and candidates are really like. Obviously, that is not the case. I think Dorgan’s press release was a little over the top and indirectly gave Atanus more credit and significance than she deserves. Robinson’s statement is more to the point and more accurate: she is no one no one sent and only represents her bizarro-worldview self. Williams should refuse to appear at any media forum in which Atanus is welcomed to participate. He’ll win the primary easily.
It’s a free country and anybody can circulate petitions to get on the ballot, but boy oh boy, this almost makes me feel sorry for the ILGOP.
Almost. Because some of the wilder elements within the party in recent years (Huckabee, Limbaugh, Beck, etc.) have encouraged these goofballs to come out of the woodwork and identify as Republicans.
There are very few qualifications needed for running for the Illinois General Assembly. They are:
Age Requirement: 21 years
Residency Requirement: Resident of district for 2 years
Misc. Requirements: US citizen, registered voter
Ballot Access: Signatures from 5% of the number of people who voted in the last election in that district
I imagine though that there are a number of people who signed her petition to run who now wish they hadn’t.
She has run before and has shown up at many GOP functions and has spoken. She usually gets shouted down. Her speeches are rambling and bizarre. Very disturbing. VERY! You can’t legally prevent unfortunate people from running.
How about just feeling sorry for those of us trying to make things better, than these Dopes pop up? lol
- Upon Further Review - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:39 pm:
Sometimes, an incumbent will not bother to challenge a weak opposition party candidate by design. It is much easier to hold a fundraiser when you have a nominal opponent. Fewer people feel obliged to donate to someone who is running completely unopposed.
I recall one time when an incumbent state representative did not object to a perennial candidate who filed exactly the bare minimum number of signatures.
Are the Larouchies still around? Peter Bowen used to hang in front of the Wrigley Building with a sandwich board raving about Queen Elizabeth and Henry Kissinger. Haven’t seen those cats for a while.
I know you do, - 47th Ward -, that is why I appreciate your takes.
I wish My Party would look at the LaRouchie history, and look at that thought the 21st Century GOP and a light bulb would turn on.
I hope Chairman Dorgan reconsiders and sticks around after the Primary. My Party is going to need the likes of the “Dorgans” if our ticket is headed by Oberweis and Rauner.
Yikes.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:53 pm:
To Atanus’ point, it seems some are now asking a similar question:
“What did the GOP do to anger the Almighty and be “granted” such a candidate?”
And before anyone else responds, I think we can all agree the answer is “plenty”.
so God gets angry, makes us burn more fossil fuels which then increases atmospheric erosion causing changes to whetehr patterns….my take away is that the reason I drive a v-8 over the spped limit is because gos is angry and i am just doing his bidding… I cant wait for my next ticket and court appearance…
Where do you start with someone like Atanus? Still, it is a free country and she can say what she wants. If she gets enough supporters to vote her in good for her. So autism is a disease caused by God’s anger over abortions? Ok.
Hard to find the “silver lining” in this one, but here it is: Think of this as a poll that will identify how many people either are “nuts” beyond saving, or so completely out of touch with what’s going on, but still possess the opportunity to water down the votes of people who actually care and take this process seriously. Jan Schakowsky is the most normal person in this race…wow.
- Upon Further Review - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:12 pm:
If the Feds had not modified the Hatch Act, perhaps Atanus would not be eligible to run for Congress. Perhaps she is no longer working for the government, but it does make you question the personnel officials selecting people for civil service posts.
- Cook County Commoner - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:28 pm:
@ Wordslinger
The Larouchies can still be see and heard outside of Depaul’s downtown Chicago campus at State and Jackson in warmer weather. The handouts still contain some of the longest sentences ever printed in English.
- Cook County Commoner - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:29 pm:
To Wordslinger
The Larouchies can still be see and heard outside of Depaul’s downtown Chicago campus at State and Jackson in warmer weather. The handouts still contain some of the longest sentences ever printed in English.
I am an Evangelical Christian, this comment is offensive and should not be taken to represent the views of other Christians. I do not support SSM, however, I also do not believe that God is punishing us for the law being passed. Since there are many states that do not have SSM, does this mean he is going to bless them. The last I heard tornadoes & autism have been present in states, including Illinois, long before SSM was even being considered, even before Roe v Wade. This woman is either mentally unbalanced or a bigoted extremist.
If God punished us for our disdeeds, the way she implies, we’d all be in a tot of trouble.
“I am a conservative Republican and I believe in God first,” Atanus said. She said she believes God controls the weather and has put tornadoes and diseases such as autism and dementia on earth in response to gay rights and legalized abortions.
“God is angry. We are provoking him with abortions and same-sex marriage and civil unions,” she said. “Same-sex activity is going to increase AIDS. If it’s in our military it will weaken our military. We need to respect God.”
When I was a kid reporter covering the Iowa Caucuses back in ‘88, I had a chance to interview Robertson (who finished second in Iowa, by the way, ahead of Bush I).
Robertson ran a tight ship. Limited access. Two reporters at a time. Armed guards.
I was a kid and intimidated. Fortunately, my reporter buddy, Roger Simon was not.
Simon recounted how Robertson had claimed his prayers had diverted Hurricane Gloria from hitting his Virginia Beach headquarters.
Simon asked then if Robertson’s prayers were the reason Gloria turned north and whacked Long Island, causing $300 million in damage.
Robertson flipped, started howling about anti-Christian bigotry and his goons grabbed Simon and me and tossed us out of his Winnebago.
Simon laughed himself silly. That’s one tough dude.
Yes they are still around. I saw several of his followers opposing Obama care around Labor Day last year. They have also held other small demonstrations on a number of issues in recent months such as the following
- Senator Clay Davis - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:44 pm:
The problem for the GOP is that delusional theories are increasingly supported by the party base.
In 2011, over HALF of GOP primary voters nationally believed Obama wasn’t born in the US (http://politi.co/1aSJ7KW). Its not surprising that delusional people that don’t believe the stock market crash happened see kindred spirits in the GOP. It’s a real problem for the party.
What is the difference b/t her and the run of the mill GOP member of the House? They all hold gay people in contempt. They all say the most disgusting things about them on a regular basis. They all believe that any recognition of gay relationships invites some sort of apocalyptic result. The only difference is that she gets into overly specific theories about the weather and autism. Take that away, and she is indistinguishable from most GOP legislators.
Our local La Rouchies switched teams and were in front of our Post Office again this year pushing Rand Paul — with the same paranoid arguments about worldwide conspiracy, the Fed, the gold standard, and nuclear power.
(I love writing “Ed Sullivan.” Takes me back to the farm, watching the old black-and-white with my folks and siblings. Somehow, the memories always include a spinning plate act.)
Those folks are the vanguard of a better GOP, a Main Street, Illinois GOP. I’m with them til the last dog dies.
John, I’d add Pres. Bush I and Barbara, happy witnesses to a gay marriage in Maine.
(Do you believe that dude? Rich kid volunteer learned how to fly at Navy Pier, youngest aviator in WWII. Shot out of the sky over the Pacific. He didn’t have to do it, he didn’t have to put himself in harm’s way. What a guy).
And Willie, of course, the great GOP Happy Warrior.
There are Republicans, there are conservatives, on the right side of history with this issue. There are Democrats, and so-called liberals like Rev. Meeks, who are not.
–Can’t the Republican Party at least try to recruit and encourage one good candidate for each? Even decent long shots?–
It’s strange, isn’t it? It’s not like there aren’t Republicans in Jan’s district.
When did the GOP get so lazy when it came to Cook and Lake? After Ryan? After Geo? Big Jim and Edgar put up big numbers in the north.
How in the world do you not compete where all the folks are?
I always bring this up. I’ve pulled a GOP ballot many times in Oak Park. In 25 years, the only GOP candidate who ever sent me any lit was Jason Plummer.
The Dems fill my mailbox and my old Dem precinct captain works it.
Flip Rauner had this dem pretty much assured of taking a republican prinary ballot. Since I live in Cong. Schakowsky’s district, Ms. Atanus has sealed the deal! Atanus 2014!
My mistake. I have never heard of either of these candidates and I assumed they were running for Illinois representative.
Since they are running for U.S. Representative though, the requirements aren’t that much more tougher. They have to:
1. Be at least 25 years old.
2. Have been a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years
3. At the time of the election, be a resident of the State from which they are running, but not necessarily live in the congressional district of which they are running.
4. Be a registered voter
5. If from one of the two major parties, obtain signatures from .5% of the number from that Party that voted in the election for that office in the last election.
For the 9th Congressional District, a Republican candidate would need at least 514 signatures to be on the ballot. A Democratic candidate would have to have gotten 1004 signatures.
It is amazing that each of these candidates got 514 signatures.
- doofus - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:01 pm:
It is people like this that hurt my party terribly. How they can obtain enough signatures to qualify defies logic. AND, who would give these persons money? Certainly not me.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:04 pm:
You wonder how some people get through the day.
- Whatever - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:07 pm:
Unfortunately, it’s not a silly distraction for the IL GOP. What an unfortunate waste of time and energy for Dorgan and his staff to have to respond to these dopes and publicly distance themselves.
- Upon Further Review - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:13 pm:
I doubt either of these candidates have any backing from the IL GOP. They probably collected their own petitions and have not received a dollar in party support. The 9th District is an orphan district for Republicans and has been for years.
The 9th District is so blue that it is almost impossible to field a quality candidate there. The most notable were Joel Pollack and Joe Walsh, who ultimately won a single term in Congress after moving to a different district.
Of course, the incumbent Democratic Representative is married to a political operative who served a stretch in federal prison too, so nobody is perfect.
- BoBo - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:18 pm:
You can actually buy his book on Amazon.
- Tom - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:23 pm:
I am still wondering How God is punishing people for stuff by giving them dementia? If they have dementia how would they understand that God is punishing them? Maybe I am not seeing the bigger picture.
- Conservative Republican - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:25 pm:
I saw Atanus at a Republican meeting over the summer. She attended by herself and asked to speak at the end of the meeting; no one attending knew her. She then proceeded on a rambling, bizarre discourse against corporations and the stock market. She said she was a “candidate” for US Senate against Dick Durbin. Everyone at the meeting just took her to be an off-the-street nut case, and she never appeared in that forum again.
Last month I learned that she was on the ballot for this position. I heard similar reports from friends who saw her at candidate forums. She attended them alone and when asked to speak, launched into rambling, conspiratorial diatribes, winning no support and no friends.
Anyone with the gumption to approach strangers to sign a candidate petition can do so and get on the ballot, particularly in a long shot race where there is little incentive to challenge the petition. Every once and a while, a person with take advantage of that in Cook County in races where the party is very weak and has no candidate. Rmember Ray “The Clown” Wardingly? Ms. Atanus has taken advantage of these circumstances in this particular race. She has no backing whatsoever.
It is unfortunate that some are taking this story as an example of what Republican voters and candidates are really like. Obviously, that is not the case. I think Dorgan’s press release was a little over the top and indirectly gave Atanus more credit and significance than she deserves. Robinson’s statement is more to the point and more accurate: she is no one no one sent and only represents her bizarro-worldview self. Williams should refuse to appear at any media forum in which Atanus is welcomed to participate. He’ll win the primary easily.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:27 pm:
It’s a free country and anybody can circulate petitions to get on the ballot, but boy oh boy, this almost makes me feel sorry for the ILGOP.
Almost. Because some of the wilder elements within the party in recent years (Huckabee, Limbaugh, Beck, etc.) have encouraged these goofballs to come out of the woodwork and identify as Republicans.
You reap what you sow.
- Joe M - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:30 pm:
There are very few qualifications needed for running for the Illinois General Assembly. They are:
Age Requirement: 21 years
Residency Requirement: Resident of district for 2 years
Misc. Requirements: US citizen, registered voter
Ballot Access: Signatures from 5% of the number of people who voted in the last election in that district
I imagine though that there are a number of people who signed her petition to run who now wish they hadn’t.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:30 pm:
“AWillyWord Con$ulting is not taking on any new clients at this time”
Remember, democracy dictates their votes are as equal as ours.
- Smoggie - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:33 pm:
More on Atanus. Apparently, she has problems getting along with co-workers and then rushes to court yelling about discrimination.
http://www.leagle.com/decision/20081182520F3d662_11182
- justsayin' - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:34 pm:
She has run before and has shown up at many GOP functions and has spoken. She usually gets shouted down. Her speeches are rambling and bizarre. Very disturbing. VERY! You can’t legally prevent unfortunate people from running.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:38 pm:
- 47th Ward -
How about just feeling sorry for those of us trying to make things better, than these Dopes pop up? lol
- Upon Further Review - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:39 pm:
Sometimes, an incumbent will not bother to challenge a weak opposition party candidate by design. It is much easier to hold a fundraiser when you have a nominal opponent. Fewer people feel obliged to donate to someone who is running completely unopposed.
I recall one time when an incumbent state representative did not object to a perennial candidate who filed exactly the bare minimum number of signatures.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:41 pm:
I do feel sorry for you Willy, and Dorgan, and other sane Republicans. I think a strong and sane GOP would make Illinois a better state.
My party had the LaRouchies in the 1980s. Crazy happens sometimes.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:43 pm:
Why do the misanthropes always claim to be “conservatives.” It’s a debasement of the word. There’s nothing “conservative” about Atanus’ crazy.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:44 pm:
“God is angry.”
He’ll get over it. The pants He got mad in are the pants He’ll get glad in.
- OneMan - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:45 pm:
Because dementia and tornadoes only appeared in the early 70s…
- Chavez-respecting Obamist - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:46 pm:
Don’t you run for office in public? How can he think he can keep that from his boss?
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:46 pm:
With some of the oddball stuff Schakoswky has said and done over the years, they should charge at least a $5 admission to these debates.
- MrJM - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:47 pm:
[Deletes comment about “the party of wackos” after remembering Danny Davis and his Moonie coronation video.]
– MrJM
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:47 pm:
Are the Larouchies still around? Peter Bowen used to hang in front of the Wrigley Building with a sandwich board raving about Queen Elizabeth and Henry Kissinger. Haven’t seen those cats for a while.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:49 pm:
===Why do the misanthropes always claim to be “conservatives.”===
Because they can hear the dog whistles being blown by “conservative” leaders for the past decade.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:49 pm:
I know you do, - 47th Ward -, that is why I appreciate your takes.
I wish My Party would look at the LaRouchie history, and look at that thought the 21st Century GOP and a light bulb would turn on.
I hope Chairman Dorgan reconsiders and sticks around after the Primary. My Party is going to need the likes of the “Dorgans” if our ticket is headed by Oberweis and Rauner.
Yikes.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:53 pm:
To Atanus’ point, it seems some are now asking a similar question:
“What did the GOP do to anger the Almighty and be “granted” such a candidate?”
And before anyone else responds, I think we can all agree the answer is “plenty”.
- Ghost - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:53 pm:
Tom, you understand fully but keep forgetting……
so God gets angry, makes us burn more fossil fuels which then increases atmospheric erosion causing changes to whetehr patterns….my take away is that the reason I drive a v-8 over the spped limit is because gos is angry and i am just doing his bidding… I cant wait for my next ticket and court appearance…
- zatoichi - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:53 pm:
Where do you start with someone like Atanus? Still, it is a free country and she can say what she wants. If she gets enough supporters to vote her in good for her. So autism is a disease caused by God’s anger over abortions? Ok.
- dupage dan - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:57 pm:
Ms Atanus is clearly disturbed.
Mr WIlliams could be called dangerous.
Rep Schakowsky is safe in her district. Glad it is not mine.
- A guy... - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:07 pm:
Hard to find the “silver lining” in this one, but here it is: Think of this as a poll that will identify how many people either are “nuts” beyond saving, or so completely out of touch with what’s going on, but still possess the opportunity to water down the votes of people who actually care and take this process seriously. Jan Schakowsky is the most normal person in this race…wow.
- Upon Further Review - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:12 pm:
If the Feds had not modified the Hatch Act, perhaps Atanus would not be eligible to run for Congress. Perhaps she is no longer working for the government, but it does make you question the personnel officials selecting people for civil service posts.
- PoolGuy - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:16 pm:
wow and people thought christine o’donnell was odd. that was borderline crazy talk, I’m sorry to say that.
- Demoralized - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:18 pm:
She must be channeling Pat Robertson.
- Cook County Commoner - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:28 pm:
@ Wordslinger
The Larouchies can still be see and heard outside of Depaul’s downtown Chicago campus at State and Jackson in warmer weather. The handouts still contain some of the longest sentences ever printed in English.
- Cook County Commoner - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:29 pm:
To Wordslinger
The Larouchies can still be see and heard outside of Depaul’s downtown Chicago campus at State and Jackson in warmer weather. The handouts still contain some of the longest sentences ever printed in English.
- AFSCME Steward - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:34 pm:
I am an Evangelical Christian, this comment is offensive and should not be taken to represent the views of other Christians. I do not support SSM, however, I also do not believe that God is punishing us for the law being passed. Since there are many states that do not have SSM, does this mean he is going to bless them. The last I heard tornadoes & autism have been present in states, including Illinois, long before SSM was even being considered, even before Roe v Wade. This woman is either mentally unbalanced or a bigoted extremist.
If God punished us for our disdeeds, the way she implies, we’d all be in a tot of trouble.
“I am a conservative Republican and I believe in God first,” Atanus said. She said she believes God controls the weather and has put tornadoes and diseases such as autism and dementia on earth in response to gay rights and legalized abortions.
“God is angry. We are provoking him with abortions and same-sex marriage and civil unions,” she said. “Same-sex activity is going to increase AIDS. If it’s in our military it will weaken our military. We need to respect God.”
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:34 pm:
–She must be channeling Pat Robertson.–
When I was a kid reporter covering the Iowa Caucuses back in ‘88, I had a chance to interview Robertson (who finished second in Iowa, by the way, ahead of Bush I).
Robertson ran a tight ship. Limited access. Two reporters at a time. Armed guards.
I was a kid and intimidated. Fortunately, my reporter buddy, Roger Simon was not.
Simon recounted how Robertson had claimed his prayers had diverted Hurricane Gloria from hitting his Virginia Beach headquarters.
Simon asked then if Robertson’s prayers were the reason Gloria turned north and whacked Long Island, causing $300 million in damage.
Robertson flipped, started howling about anti-Christian bigotry and his goons grabbed Simon and me and tossed us out of his Winnebago.
Simon laughed himself silly. That’s one tough dude.
- AFSCME Steward - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:36 pm:
That should read
If God punished us for our disdeeds, the way she implies, we’d all be in a lot of trouble.
- Hit or Miss - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:38 pm:
“Are the Larouchies still around?”
Yes they are still around. I saw several of his followers opposing Obama care around Labor Day last year. They have also held other small demonstrations on a number of issues in recent months such as the following
http://batavia.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/larouche-pac-holds-a-demonstration-in-downtown-geneva
- Senator Clay Davis - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:44 pm:
The problem for the GOP is that delusional theories are increasingly supported by the party base.
In 2011, over HALF of GOP primary voters nationally believed Obama wasn’t born in the US (http://politi.co/1aSJ7KW). Its not surprising that delusional people that don’t believe the stock market crash happened see kindred spirits in the GOP. It’s a real problem for the party.
- Wensicia - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:50 pm:
Well, perhaps God is punishing us by exposing these idiots to the electorate.
- too obvious - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:51 pm:
Yeah she definitely seems kinda wacky.
But where is the IL GOP chair on Bruce Rauner? At least this woman’s mere words haven’t hurt anyone. Rauner’s actions have.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:00 pm:
I’ll add another Senator clay Davis.
Last year, half of all Republicans in Louisiana faulted President Obama over the horrible response to Hurricane Katrina.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:16 pm:
Nearly half of Americans believe “The Flinstones” is a documentary.
Yeah, we spend too much on education.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/155003/Hold-Creationist-View-Human-Origins.aspx
- John - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:20 pm:
What is the difference b/t her and the run of the mill GOP member of the House? They all hold gay people in contempt. They all say the most disgusting things about them on a regular basis. They all believe that any recognition of gay relationships invites some sort of apocalyptic result. The only difference is that she gets into overly specific theories about the weather and autism. Take that away, and she is indistinguishable from most GOP legislators.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:23 pm:
- John -
“…all …They all …They all ….”
Really? Talking in extremes is as bad as the extremists you hope to silence.
Dope.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:24 pm:
Atanus is apparently not alone. If only she were running in the United Kingdom.
UKIP councillor blames storms and floods on gay marriage - www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-25793358
- anon - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:27 pm:
I feel like I learned as much watching that “debate” as I did watching last night’s top gubernatorial debate.
- walker - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:39 pm:
Our local La Rouchies switched teams and were in front of our Post Office again this year pushing Rand Paul — with the same paranoid arguments about worldwide conspiracy, the Fed, the gold standard, and nuclear power.
God, I wish they’d find some happiness somehow.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:47 pm:
John, you’re wrong.
Sen. Kirk. JBT. Gov. Edgar. Sandack. Ed Sullivan.
(I love writing “Ed Sullivan.” Takes me back to the farm, watching the old black-and-white with my folks and siblings. Somehow, the memories always include a spinning plate act.)
Those folks are the vanguard of a better GOP, a Main Street, Illinois GOP. I’m with them til the last dog dies.
- walker - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:53 pm:
We don’t have that many Congressional Districts in Illinois.
Can’t the Republican Party at least try to recruit and encourage one good candidate for each? Even decent long shots?
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 4:02 pm:
John, I’d add Pres. Bush I and Barbara, happy witnesses to a gay marriage in Maine.
(Do you believe that dude? Rich kid volunteer learned how to fly at Navy Pier, youngest aviator in WWII. Shot out of the sky over the Pacific. He didn’t have to do it, he didn’t have to put himself in harm’s way. What a guy).
And Willie, of course, the great GOP Happy Warrior.
There are Republicans, there are conservatives, on the right side of history with this issue. There are Democrats, and so-called liberals like Rev. Meeks, who are not.
God bless the brave and vote for them.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 4:12 pm:
–Can’t the Republican Party at least try to recruit and encourage one good candidate for each? Even decent long shots?–
It’s strange, isn’t it? It’s not like there aren’t Republicans in Jan’s district.
When did the GOP get so lazy when it came to Cook and Lake? After Ryan? After Geo? Big Jim and Edgar put up big numbers in the north.
How in the world do you not compete where all the folks are?
I always bring this up. I’ve pulled a GOP ballot many times in Oak Park. In 25 years, the only GOP candidate who ever sent me any lit was Jason Plummer.
The Dems fill my mailbox and my old Dem precinct captain works it.
No crying when you don’t hustle.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 4:22 pm:
(Tips cap to - wordslinger -, deferring with appreciation and respect)
- wordslinger - “you’re rolling.” All of us thank you.
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 4:25 pm:
word, did that Plummer lit you received have an Oswego postmark?
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 4:27 pm:
The GOP just keep giving themselves more rope for their political suicide. Please proceed Republicans.
- tominchicago - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 4:27 pm:
It’s not like any Republican would have much of a chance in the 9th District, but they have scraped through the barrel with these candidates.
- corvax - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 4:28 pm:
Flip Rauner had this dem pretty much assured of taking a republican prinary ballot. Since I live in Cong. Schakowsky’s district, Ms. Atanus has sealed the deal! Atanus 2014!
- Joe M - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 4:32 pm:
My mistake. I have never heard of either of these candidates and I assumed they were running for Illinois representative.
Since they are running for U.S. Representative though, the requirements aren’t that much more tougher. They have to:
1. Be at least 25 years old.
2. Have been a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years
3. At the time of the election, be a resident of the State from which they are running, but not necessarily live in the congressional district of which they are running.
4. Be a registered voter
5. If from one of the two major parties, obtain signatures from .5% of the number from that Party that voted in the election for that office in the last election.
For the 9th Congressional District, a Republican candidate would need at least 514 signatures to be on the ballot. A Democratic candidate would have to have gotten 1004 signatures.
It is amazing that each of these candidates got 514 signatures.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 4:32 pm:
- AA -,
My postage indicia for that campaign was out of Palatine…
Just for giggles.