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* Apparently, Alexi Giannoulias had a very rough time at the Southtown Star edit board meeting…
As we asked questions about Giorango, [Giannoulias] turned the tables on us, saying he found the line of questioning “offensive and hurtful,” as if we should feel ashamed for asking him to clarify how his family bank ended up as lender to felons.
The guy is running for U.S. Senate, one of the country’s most powerful posts.
Giannoulias has admitted meeting with Giorango a few times at the bank, years ago, and inspecting one of Giorango’s Miami hotels in 2006 as standard operating procedure when approving a loan on the property.
But that’s about it.
On Thursday, he couldn’t recollect a single detail about his visit to the hotel - a hotel which landed on Florida law enforcement’s radar in 2002 after a nationwide prostitution sting.
Banks don’t do background checks on people who seek loans. How could he have known, he insisted.
“Don’t you get it?” Giannoulias snapped at one point.
Frankly, I found it offensive he didn’t want to get specific when he’s running for U.S. Senate, and I told him so. It ain’t dog catcher, after all.
He couldn’t recall a single detail about his Miami trip to hang out with Jaws? Really?
* Unsurprisingly, the Southtown endorsed Mark Kirk…
We want to send Kirk to the U.S. Senate to unwind the partisanship, to leverage his independence by swinging between both sides of the aisle. Illinoisans embrace middle-of-the-road positions, and so do most Americans. It’s called common sense. It’s called compromise. We look forward to watching Kirk work more closely with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Springfield) for the betterment of Illinois than with the partisan political leaders of his chamber.
Kirk also brings unparalleled perspective to foreign policy issues. He is a go-to lawmaker on Middle East policies and remains focused on addressing Iran’s terrifying pursuit of nuclear weapons, as well as the security of Israel, our strongest ally in the region.
* Another one? Maybe…
Did he do it again?
Rep. Mark Kirk claims credit for being a driving force behind a bill signed into law this year that requires the president to crack down on companies doing business with Iran.
But the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Howard Berman, says Kirk is guilty of “exaggeration” when he says the “Kirk bill” became the “Berman bill” so it could pass the Democratic Congress.
“We didn’t even look at his legislation at the time,” Berman said. “Our bill did so much more and went so far beyond his bill, I would have to put it in the context of an exaggeration.”
*** UPDATE *** The Giannoulias campaign has posted the relevant video. Watch…
* Roundup…
* Davis responds to Kirk’s voter integrity squads
* Kirk picks up 3 more endorsements for US Senate: The (Bloomington) Pantagraph, Belleville News Democrat and (Tinley Park) Southtown Star endorsed Kirk over his rival - Democrat Alexi Giannoulias
* St. Louis newspaper endorses Giannoulias
* MoveOn.org Criticizes Campaign Ads
* Six midterm races that might be headed for recounts: Rep. Mark Kirk (R) and state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D) have been polling close for months. In fact, there hasn’t been a reputable, non-automated poll this year that has shown either candidate leading outside the margin of error.
* Kirk, Giannoulias tout independence from party forces
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 2:23 am
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Berman praises Andrews for the bill (called Kirk/Andrews), but doesn’t mention Kirk? Andrews, the Democrat gets praised and Kirk ignored?
Where is the story here other than a Congressional Democrat giving kudos to a fellow Congressional Democrat and giving the cold shoulder to the Republican co-sponsor?
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 5:39 am
So Kirk introduces the first bill, pushes for it to get passed, the chair praise the lead Dem on that bill when the policy gets passed, and now Kirk is chopped liver. Pretty transparent.
Comment by Joe McCarthy and the Red Scarecrows Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 5:46 am
to call mark kirk independent of “party forces” is either willful ignorance or blind stupidity. there hasn’t been a SINGLE whipped vote where mark kirk either didn’t support his leadership’s position or didn’t get their permission (in advance) to oppose it. kirk is the very definition of the word supplicant. but the rules are different in the senate. in the house the republican leadership could afford to allow kirk off the ranch every now and then because the majority controls all. in the senate, republicans vote like their southern conservative leader: whether conservative, tea bagger or moderate. kirk will do what he’s told, and vote like mitch mcconnell. that’s not independence, that’s submission…
Comment by bored now Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 7:10 am
Sounds like Alexi probably should have taken a nap before his board meeting.
Not a biggie on Kirk on this one. The idea was out there for a long time and it’s not exactly groundbreaking to get tough on Iran.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 7:10 am
Kirk claims credit for being a driving force behind a bill signed into law this year that requires the president to crack down on companies doing business with Iran.
Berman says “We didn’t even look at his legislation [Kirk’s] at the time, our bill did so much more and went so far beyond his bill, I would have to put it in the context of an exaggeration.”
So somebody is lying here. Because Kirk in known as serial liar I would bet Kirk is the one lying.Again!
Comment by (618) Democrat Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 7:16 am
And Alexi wants to claim Kirk is the one exaggerating and telling lies? Please. I’m sure he remembers quite a bit from his Miami vacation. He just doesn’t want to share it for obvious reasons.
Comment by Logical Thinker Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 7:16 am
there are 2 endorsement views it seems like.
pro kirk-he’s an accomplished grownup.
pro alexi-kirk is a wishy washy liar so we like alexi.
Bill Kristol made a point yesterday about kirk which I think was smart. He has struggled in part because he has never had a message in the campaign on the only issue this year-the economy. every other republican running for senate is running on the economy and against dc. Kirk has run on alexi’s bank, and I think it’s a good question for the remaining debates about how a guy whose spent 30 years in dc and never worked for a company can do the economy. For all the media coverage of his trial, blago has been an afterthought in the general election campaign and its been because the economy is in such bad shape, and kirk seems to be the only republican nationally not running on it.
Comment by shore Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 8:24 am
New campaign theme song for Alexi:
Lets be honest
A secret silence
Is a secret safe
Miami, Miami, Miami
Well every hour on the hour
You have to, you just have to trust me
Whoever I was with then
I can’t ever be again
(from “Miami” by Taking Back Sunday”
Comment by ANON Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 9:04 am
Did you see the Peoria Journal Star’s endorsement of Kirk. Another Giannoulias embarassment. When he went to his editorial board interview he could not remember the name of the CEO of Caterpillar (a major state employer and huge in Peoria), or the Mayor of Peoria. The PJ Star said it was not a trivia contest, but was concerned about the lack of knowledge… understandable.
Comment by Kathleen Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 9:09 am
concerned about the lack of knowledge
The lack of knowledge of a couple of names? Come on.
I don’t care if Alexi (or Kirk) knows people names. I want them to knowledge of policy, and even more importantly, knowledge of how to hire a smart and competent staff.
Comment by dave Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 9:47 am
When Alexi ran for Treasurer in 2006, I heard many stories similar to the one written up by the Southtown Star. “Cool under pressure” is certainly not a phrase which I think of when Alexi’s name is mention. If he’s elected to the Senate, he needs to tone down his propensity for anger towards people who ask him questions about sensitive or personal issues.
Comment by Team Sleep Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 10:09 am
alexi went to the fanciest prep school in the state, went to the most expensive colleges and graduate schools in the country inherited a bank and bought himself a political career with money he was given, you honestly think he’s ever had anyone tell him no or forced him to do any hard work in his life?
he thinks he’s entitled to this office. as the latest kirk ad demonstrates.
http://www.youtube.com/user/MarkKirkNews#p/a/B470342A811F85BA/0/QqeBl2ddxVU
Comment by shore Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 10:56 am
Maybe if Alexi reviewed and released his expense reports from the Miami trip, it would help his memory. The banker always pays for the entertainmnet. Lets see who he told the IRS was there on those expense reports. Maybe then he can remember what was discussed.
Comment by Jeff Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 12:00 pm
I think we are well passed the point of arguing Alexi v. Kirk…the race is simply between a Dem or Rep Senate. Efforts to justify supporting Alexi v. Kirk on any other basis is a waste of time and effort…they both lose.
Comment by D.P. Gumby Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 12:26 pm
==I don’t care if Alexi (or Kirk) knows people names. I want them to knowledge of policy==
If a candidate doesn’t care enough about a city to learn the basics of who it’s civic and government leaders are, why should the citizens of that city and area honestly think that candidate will care enough about policy that will help or hurt them?
Comment by ANON Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 1:11 pm
Keep asking Alexi Giannoulias the tough questions on those loans, media! Ask him specifically about his own role in approving loans, not just the bank as a whole!
Everyone else should be asking themselves why he refuses to answer some questions at all, and others in only the most vauge manner.
Comment by Bubs Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 3:54 pm
Look, Alexi told us Democrats “I’ll talk about the bank AFTER the primary.” He lost my vote forever. He’s the worst politican we have in Illinois. Period. Bored, get off of him, okay?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 18, 10 @ 5:47 pm