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Friday, Dec 16, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller

Tammy Duckworth says we should support the troops, but “Going to Iraq was a mistake.”

Interviewing her now.

UPDATE: Duckworth claims she and her husband made the decision to run back in August/September. “I know the speculation out there is that the DCCC reached out to me, and that’s not the case.”

UPDATE 2: On the speculation that she was asked to run: “Nobody’s drafted me for anything I’ve done in my life.”

UPDATE 3: “We need an aggressive plan based on benchmarks for bringing our troops home. There’s one out there now that for every Iraqi battalion that stands up we bring an American battalion home” […]

“I think the administration has failed to come up with a plan to aggressively train the Iraqi troops.” […]

On reading blogs, and the vitriol in comment sections directed at her: “It’s been kind of interesting to sit there and read and not be able to get back on there and say anything. It’s been very frustrating for me to sit on my hands…

“The negative attacks and stuff, that’s not me, that’s not who I am. I think it’s great people are expressing their opinions, that’s why I became a soldier… Ultimately we’ll let the voters decide…

“I would never ask anybody to drop out of the race just because I was in it, and I certainly wouldn’t want anybody to ask me that I should drop out of the race.”

(She said she regularly reads three blogs, mine, Daily Kos and DuPage blogger Wurfwhile.)

On her residency: “I think that I can certainly adequately represent the district without living in it. Voters are going to decide who shares… their value system… I think I’m that person… My identity is with the 6th District. I live in the Village of Hoffman Estates. Part of Hoffman Estates is in the 6th, part is in the 8th.”

I’ll have more later this weekend, but I need to go Christmas shopping now.

UPDATE 4: I intentionall tossed in several local issues questions to see how she’d respond. She did pretty well. I’ll post those answers Sunday afternoon/evening.

I’ve interviewed a lot of political novices in my day, and she did better than most. Her talking points were evident, but they didn’t overwhelm the conversation. You can’t coach that or create it out of whole cloth. It’s an innate talent and she’s obviously got it.

Meanwhile, the Daily Herald has a pretty good Q&A on their site. Not much in the way of local stuff, though, so this blog may be the only place to find it tomorrow.

       

63 Comments
  1. - Mongo - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 5:30 pm:

    Ms Duckworth is not going to be the typical soldier-returned-home type of candidate. Can’t wait to read the interview!


  2. - Anonymous - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 5:31 pm:

    We all admire her service, but people of the 6th will not support a person who lives far outside the district and who is against the war. This isn’t Hollywood.


  3. - WAY DOWNSTATE - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 5:34 pm:

    She is a Democrat and that seems to be thier platform now.If it looks like it might get her a few votes watch Blago come out against the war.


  4. - Anon - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 5:39 pm:

    Gotta love all the chickenhawks in the 6th who won’t vote for a candidate who knows exactly why the war was a mistake. I’m sure they’re gearing up to Swiftboat her soon.


  5. - Anonymous - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 5:46 pm:

    Hope she says the war was a mistake. She’ll lose.


  6. - Hurtful - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 5:58 pm:

    If Careen Gordon can win by just pretending she has something to say I think Tami will do well with some actual experience to talk about.


  7. - Political Hack - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 6:32 pm:

    She may be a great person–but she is a democrat in a very republican district. I think Peter Roskam is going to have to work harder, but it will be a miracle if Duckworth wins. Not because Roskam is better, but because the partisanship is squarely in the Rep column–anyway you slice it.


  8. - Black Libertarian - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 6:41 pm:

    I definitely look forward to seeing her on George Stephanapoulos this week. I think she’ll have a very good chance of winning. At least she’ll have a chance of winning, which is more than I can say about a Kucinich-supporting eurosocialist who calls for the immediate withdrawal of the troops.


  9. - fearless freep - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 6:43 pm:

    hurtful, By the way how does Careen Gordon compare with typical women politicians? Is she a good campaigner? How does she come across? Intelligent? Is she a rising star to watch? Just curious. I am downstate but I only know she was appointed and won a close race in a Republican district.


  10. - Rich Miller - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 6:48 pm:

    “Political Hack,” I need you to check your yahoo email account and get back to me please. Thanks.


  11. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 6:51 pm:

    Political Hack - Liberal John Kerry got 47% of the vote in this district. This seat may have been safe at one time, but as people move out of the city and in to the suburbs, they carry their political views with them. This is no longer a safe GOP seat.

    Anon 5:16 — That “far outside the district” stuff just doesn’t fly. Congress lives in Washington, D.C. 11 months out of the year. People want someone who shares their values more than their zip code. It’s Roskam who’s values are far outside the district.

    And you might want to read some of the polling data. Even Republicans say we should get out of Iraq soon. Good luck to Peter Roskam on challenging Duckworth on the war.


  12. - Anonymous - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 7:48 pm:

    There is no way the 6th is going to elect someone who lives three miles outside the district who says it was a mistake to go to Iraq. Period. Big deal, Kerry got 47 percent. That’s a 6 percent loss. Still healthy margin. About the same as in 2002 Governor’s race in Illinois and nobody was calling that one close. Roskam is smart, hard working and ideologically in line with the majority of the district. I look forward to Rahm wasting lots of money here.


  13. - Anonymous - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 7:58 pm:

    Memo to Rahm and Serpenthead and other celebrity Dem activists descending on the Sixth Congressional District: Regular Daily Kos readers do not represent the mainstream here.


  14. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 8:18 pm:

    Roskam is ideologically in line with the district?

    That’s a laugh.

    Roskam is ideologically in line with Alan Keyes and Tom DeLay, but that’s about it. Roskam opposes a woman’s right to choose, even in the cases of rape, incest or when a woman’s life is in danger. Roskam thinks yahoos should be able to carry concealed weapons and opposes the assault weapons ban. Roskam supported government intervention in the Schiavo case.

    Roskam may be in line with most Republicans in the 6th CD, but this is not the Bible Belt. The vast majority of voters in the 6th CD ar independents, and while they are fiscal conservatives, they don’t buy the Tom DeLay line hook, line and sinker.


  15. - anon - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 8:39 pm:

    I think it’s terrible the way Cong Rahm is pimping her disability for votes. It looks like thay are going to really put on a show.


  16. - Anonymous - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 8:48 pm:

    Voters in the 6th are a lot closer to Tom DeLay than they are to Rahm Emmanuel. They will not buy bogus ideological name calling. This is not the Bible belt but it voted for Henry Hyde for many years and he is right with Roskam on the issues. So take your DNC playbook somewhere else. It ain’t working here. And while you are bashing DeLay, why don’t you ask Rahm how he “earned” millions of dollars in a few short months right after he left the White House. And why don’t you ask that Dem rising star Jan about her husband’s check kiting conviction. That same husband who was field coordinator for the Dem governor who is under multiple federal investigations and who Rahm just stood next to in Washington in between interviews bashing Republicans for “corruption.”


  17. - 6 Degrees of Separation - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 9:25 pm:

    hurtful, By the way how does Careen Gordon compare with typical women politicians? Is she a good campaigner? How does she come across? Intelligent? Is she a rising star to watch? Just curious. I am downstate but I only know she was appointed and won a close race in a Republican district.

    Number one, what is a “typical woman politician?” The question seems odd if you replace the word “man” with “woman”.

    Careen was appointed to fill out a term when Mary Kay O’Brien decided to leave the hectic world of politics and be closer to her young children when she accepted a judgeship. Largely on the popular O’Brien’s coattails, Careen won a close election carried by the Grundy County base. Careen is a former prosecutor whose specialty was going after sex offenders, mainly those who victimized children. She sometimes forgets that she’s not a prosecutor anymore when she is in a public forum, but she is a reasonably intelligent person who seems like she is into public service for the right reasons.

    She has not risen to Mary Kay’s degree of popularity in her short political career and will likely face a tough challenge from well-liked Minooka village president Jason Briscoe in 06.

    6 Degrees’ “verdict” (using a term that Careen can relate to): 3.5 out of 10 on the Barack-O-Meter (with a 10 having the charisma and national potential of you-know-who).


  18. - Ouch - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 11:35 pm:

    Doug Hayse needed no help in getting his name dragged through the mud. He took care of that himself by choosing - as the chief of police of Morris - to not break up a kegger hosted by his underage son. Whoops. Then with the help of the Cross goons falsely accusing Gordon of having something to do with a sex offender not getting thrown in the slam. Double whoops.


  19. - Red, White & Blue - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 12:17 am:

    The Saturday NY Times and Chicago Sun-Times are reporting that Duckworth would have voted against the Iraq War. I don’t understand how you fight for something you don’t believe in? How do you volunteer for the army and then lose two limbs and not support the cause you are fighting for? I really find it hard to believe that she thinks this war is a mistake. After all, before she was a candidate she said she wanted to go back to Iraq. Are these her real opinions or did Rahm convince her that she needed to be against the war to win the Democratic primary?


  20. - Aunt Glabby - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 6:24 am:

    She’s a hero being manipulated and exploited by slime-bag Rahm Emmanuel.


  21. - AngryJolietan - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 6:28 am:

    When Careen Gordon does anything besides what Mike Madigan tells her to do, wake me up.


  22. - bored now - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 7:00 am:

    here’s what i don’t understand: duckworth told rich that she made the decision to run in august — but she didn’t get off active duty until wednesday? she makes a decision but can’t follow through? she didn’t understand the consequences of her decision? she didn’t realize how slow was the bureaucracy? or maybe it was supposed to just magically happen?

    help me out here, because it seems to me that — in her very first decision — she’s shown an indecisiveness and inability to understand what she’s doing that i don’t think anyone wants in congress…

    (probably a good thing she has the chicago political machine to help her out — sounds like she really needs the help!)


  23. - So Sad - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 9:13 am:

    I think it’s also sad that the DCCC would exploit this woman….and just watch them cut and run when she doesn’t win…tragic.


  24. - Old Elephant - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 9:32 am:

    No one should think for even one minute that this campaign has anything at all to do with a congressional seat. It’s a safe Republican seat and the national Democrats know that.

    But, they need an anti-war veteran (Today’s version of John Kerry during the 1970s) that they can trot out to the national media. Duckworth gives them cover and in exchange they’ll make her the next poster child and media star for the anti-war movement. (Cindy Sheehan Jr.?)

    She’ll spend her time being fawned over by national “pundits” on the talk show circuit, while Roskam works the district.

    In the end she loses the race 47-53, but again that’s not the point. The media will write about how she “nearly won” election in a “heavily Republican and conservative district” and how she’s a “rising star” in the Democrat party.

    She gets a nice book deal. Her ghost-wrtten bio comes out in 2007 and then going into the 2008 election the national Dems have a veteran who makes good video when she addresses the Democrat National Convention in 2008.


  25. - The Colonel - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 10:09 am:

    Just because your an old elephant, doesn’t mean your unwise.

    I’d bet also that Rahm will want to broker the book deal and siphon off a few coins.


  26. - Stone Hack - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 10:54 am:

    So Sad-I like your use of “cut and run”. Remember before you can “cut and run” you have to show up. Hello Chaney, Hastert, Delay, Rush, etc etc Walk the walk first.


  27. - So sad - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 11:47 am:

    Ah, thanks Stone Hack for breaking out that tired line…I wasn’t talking about the war, but I guess I should have expected you to read it like that.

    Oh, don’t forget Clinton in that grouping too please. Cheers


  28. - Black Libertarian - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 12:32 pm:

    Christine Cegelis has just welcomed Tammy Duckworth into the race on Daily Kos. It is a very classy post. This will definitely be a fun race to watch. Read the post here:

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/17/123947/11


  29. - CBM - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 12:32 pm:

    Has anyone considered the possibility that Duckworth is being truthful about not being recruited?

    Personally, I think Rahm should be backing Cegelis considering her performance last time around but maybe he chose Duckworth because he doesn’t have the stones not to back an Iraq war veteran.


  30. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 12:33 pm:

    bored now - Duckworth clearly had alot of work to do to get her paperwork in order with the military, so drop the lame attacks about why it took her so long to announce her candidacy. I’d rather she take the necessary time to get her ducks all lined up in a row than jump into the race blindly. I know you are a staunch Cegelis supporter, but maybe, just maybe, you could try sticking to the issues. And maybe you should think twice before you accuse someone who risked their life for their duty of not being able to “follow through.”

    And these attacks on Rahm Emmanuel are absurd. Cegelis supporters should remember that Duckworth is also supported by Dick Durbin, Barack Obama, and Pat Quinn. Weeks ago you were blubbering about how Duckworth was Rahm’s Hawk — now that she says she thinks the war was a mistake, you could at least admit you misjudged her and don’t know what you’re talking about, or you’d have one ounce of praise for her.

    And Republicans can keep telling themselves this is a safe GOP seat. Phil Crane thought he was safe, too. You’re delusional if you think this seat is ideolgically aligned with Keyes. Keyes LOST the 6th CD to Obama, heavily. Expect Barack Obama to be in the 6th CD for Duckworth every day he can.


  31. - Bill Baar - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 12:51 pm:

    I like the question which blogs does she read. I’d like that asked of every candidate.

    Someone ask Roskam please.


  32. - why - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 1:10 pm:

    Who cares what blogs they read, that’s a pointless question…wow, Duckworth says she reads Rich’s blog, what else is she going to say when he’s interviewing her? Get a clue people.


  33. - why - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 1:11 pm:

    YDD…this race isn’t even close to being what Crane’s race was like in ‘04..if democrats really think that, then Roskam will have an easier time that we think.


  34. - bored now - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 1:14 pm:

    ydd: obviously, you’re confused. perhaps you should think about your comments before posting them!

    or perhaps you’re just using poetic license when accuse me of calling duckworth “rahm’s hawk.” who knows?

    what i do know is that you are wrong. i have no idea what duckworth’s actual views are — nor can i be sure that she knows, either.

    but i’ve had more than sufficient experience in working with candidates, and none of them had her problems between the time that they made the decision to run and actually being able to!

    as for your ignorance of getting out of the military, my wife retired from the military, so i am familiar with the process. that’s why i spoke up! i assume that most people are not aware of the inconsistencies in her comments.

    i happen to think that her indecisiveness about this *is* an issue. your naive comparison to her career in the military to the political process is noted. our military personnel are very well-trained to deal with all kinds of contingencies, so it speaks to her decision-making abilities that she has had such difficulty getting everything in order here! many military people have trouble to adjusting to all the kinds of personal decisions they must make in civilian life. so duckworth’s indecisiveness isn’t that unusual — but it isn’t something that i think people want in their representatives in congress.

    unlike the military, politicians don’t have situational training, or institutional memory, or guidance from above about how to handle all the decisions they must make. politicians must be able to think on their feet, without the support of that structure. if this is an example, them duckworth sounds unprepared.

    seems to me that duckworth has admitted to failing her first test.


  35. - ArchPundit - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 1:25 pm:

    ===as for your ignorance of getting out of the military, my wife retired from the military, so i am familiar with the process. that’s why i spoke up! i assume that most people are not aware of the inconsistencies in her comments.

    I guess I’m missing the inconsistency. This wasn’t simply a case of filing the paperwork since she was also living in a group home and getting treatment out in DC and that was as an active duty member of the military.


  36. - bored now - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 1:35 pm:

    rich’s first update is rife with inconsistency. how (and where) she was recovering should not have slowed down her request for leaving active duty *if* she had made the decision to run back in august/september.


  37. - nsa leaker - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 1:43 pm:

    Regarding why a person could serve in Iraq and be against the war: it is the duty of soldiers to serve their country when asked. It is the duty of our elected leaders, mostly the President, to ask them only when it is worth risking their lives (and in Duckworth’s case) and limbs. She did the right thing. Bush didn’t.


  38. - Rich Miller - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 1:56 pm:

    Bored Now, your last post made absolutely no sense to me.


  39. - bored now - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 2:06 pm:

    you said: “Duckworth claims she and her husband made the decision to run back in August/September.”

    if this were the case — that they made the final decision to run this summer — then she should have had sufficient time to prepare her commanding officer and file the necessary paperwork. it seems clear to me that she didn’t.

    but i also find that contention inconsistent with the following sentence: “I know the speculation out there is that the DCCC reached out to me, and that’s not the case.”

    now maybe that just depends on what the definition of “is” is, but this appears to be untrue. is she trying to say that the dccc did not reach out to her? i think there’s lots here to follow up on, and i can’t wait to see your full write-up of the interview!


  40. - anon - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 2:13 pm:

    #

    - The Colonel said - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 10:09 am:

    I’d bet also that Rahm will want to broker the book deal and siphon off a few coins.

    Nope, His brother will, He’s the Hollywood big shot.


  41. - The Colonel - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 2:49 pm:

    Crane was out of it, couldn’t remember names or who people were anymore. Even people he’s known for +25 years.

    A classic case of “hanging in there too long.”

    Roskam is no Crane.


  42. - Anonymous - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 4:39 pm:

    Her comments so far do not add up. Her only connection to Illinois seems to be the fact that she attended NIU, but that’s where it seems to end. Plus, why not run in the 8th District where she lives? I’m sure she disagrees with Rep. Bean on Iraq. Why run in the 6th? Why not run in the 10th?


  43. - nobodysent - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 6:18 pm:

    From Rich:

    “I’ve interviewed a lot of political novices in my day, and she did better than most. Her talking points were evident, but they didn’t overwhelm the conversation. You can’t coach that or create it out of whole cloth. It’s an innate talent and she’s obviously got it.”

    In a candidate to candidate matchup, can innate talent beat angry bloggers?

    That’s Christine’s biggest problem. She’s just not that exciting. She’s actually pretty boring. I’ve never seen her give a good speech. I’ve never seen her work a room without someone dragging her around. She just doesn’t have the chutzpah you need to run (and win) for office.

    This isn’t a DLC vs Grassroots conflict, it’s a case where political professionals who have met hundreds, if not thousands of candidates met with Chrisine, and weren’t impressed. It’s that simple.


  44. - bored now - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 7:27 pm:

    the first time i heard of duckworth’s interest in running, it was from a leader of the tenth dems, who mentioned her name in connection to facing mark kirk. obviously, rahm wasn’t interested in duckworth taking on melissa bean, and i don’t know why the 6th was chosen over the 10th. if i thought there was real intelligence behind the decision, i would guess because the 6th is an open seat.

    but this is one reason why i am sceptical of her statement that no one recruited her. i don’t doubt that she was open to persuasion, or even that she was very interested, but by any standard used to judge one of the congressional campaign committees, duckworth was recruited. there’s no question about that.

    nobodysent wonders if innate talent can beat angry bloggers? the answer to that strawman is easy: angry bloggers didn’t collect enough signatures, so (s)he won’t be on the ballot!

    nobodysent is engaging in a little myth-making here. apparently, nobody thinks that duckworth should be given a free pass, because it’s not like peter roskam will do any oppo or anything!

    obviously, i disagree. maybe it’s just that republicans are so much better than democrats that they can consistently run less than perfect candidates and win. cegelis isn’t perfect (and it seems that duckworth has some flaws, as well!), but that shouldn’t matter to a political party that is well-organized with a superbly trained professional and activist base!

    quite frankly, nobodysent is wrong with that last paragraph. no, it’s not a dlc v grassroots conflict because the dlc is on its death throes. this is about rahm going out there and recruiting republicans and people to run in districts where they don’t live because he’s not paul tully! duckworth is nothing but a pawn in his game.

    am i angry? nope. i’m not even disappointed. first of all, rahm’s behavior is predictable. when democrats win back the house, it will be no thanks to his machinations.

    *if* democrats want to return to majority status in this country — and i think it is questionable whether this is the real goal of most democrats i meet in illinois — then parachuting in “immaculate” candidates is not useful. it’s a shortcut in the attempt to cover up the massive failures that rahm and his cohorts have brought to the party. regardless of how duckworth does, those failures will still exist in the democratic party in the illinois 6th congressional district.

    this probably only matters to a few of us…


  45. - kingfish - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 9:04 pm:

    Tammy: ignore the blogs and go out and campaign. From what I have seen so far, you are exactly the type of candidate we need to win this district. It is fine to read them and all, but mostly it is a place for Illinois political junkies, workers, activists, etc. to vent and debate. Amateurs like bored now (although I can’t believe he is that bored with how often he posts here) think this is the way to campaign. Nothing could be further from the truth. Winning entails going out, walking precincts, raising money, and walking some more-not reading blogs.

    As for being recruited to run, yes or no-so what? Political parties recruit candidates to run all the time. Wow, what a surprise. Sometimes they recruit good candidates, and sometimes not. The Cegelis people are crying because they were not recruited. That is the only reason. If Emmanuel had called and said, “Christine, I think you are our best shot at winning this district” people like (not-so) bored now (who can’t resist this blog and others like it) would be saying, “Oh, no other candidate should get in the race! Look at the vote of confidence we got from the DCCC!!”

    Tammy, you are a true American hero. Forget the blogs and go out and campaign!!!


  46. - alcoholics anonymous - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 9:13 pm:

    the old elephant himself, Dennis Hastert, had a great quote in the trib today. He says something like “I wish Democrats would stop recruiting veterans” to run for Congress, this after the Trib reported that there are several others besides Duckworth who are running and many in traditionally Republican districts.

    Oh, poor Denny. I suppose it is ok for the GOP to support veterans, but not Democrats? Oh so sorry. The fact remains that Repubs can’t stand it when veterans run as Democrats because they think they own the military vote. They also can’t stand it because the veterans returning from Iraq, such as Paul Hackett and Duckworth, actually have credibilty on the war subject because they have actually been on the ground there. When veterans run as Democrats, it takes away the only issue that the GOP really has-strong on defense. Take that away, and they are exposed as the truly bankrupt party that they are.


  47. - kingfish - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 9:18 pm:

    Angry Jolietian:

    when Jerry Weller does something besides what Denny Hastert and the hateful, radical right tells him to do, let me know.

    and while we’re at it: when he apologizes to Clem Balanoff for subtly calling him a “socialist” because he wanted to provide health care for 40 million americans who are not covered, let me know that also. Thanks.


  48. - Anon - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 10:08 pm:

    Duckworth denies she was recruited by Emanuel and Durbin, do the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, and even the Peoria Journal Star report she was highly recruited?

    http://holycoast.blogspot.com/2005/12/well-get-back-to-you-on-that-iraq.html
    http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/17/politics/17vet.html
    http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0512170054dec17,1,7037576.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
    http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-sweet17.html
    http://www.suntimes.com/output/sweet/cst-nws-sweet16.html
    http://www.suntimes.com/output/sweet/cst-nws-sweet28.html
    http://www.pjstar.com/stories/121705/NAT_B8E9T43D.060.shtml


  49. - As I see it - Saturday, Dec 17, 05 @ 10:34 pm:

    Kingfish,

    Is being a socialist a bad thing? Our current Government already takes a socialist role in public health issues, is responsible for public defense, domestic law inforcement, professional licensing, welfare, education, and to a limited degree, healthcare. Oh, I forgot a couple of new ones - tattoo prevention for young adults and dietary oversight for school districts. In other words, we already have socialism - the debate has always been over how much socialism is the right amount.

    Socialism is government control, oversight and/or intervention of collective societal needs. If one advocates for socialized medicine, then I would assume that makes that person more of a socialist than one who does not. Not necessarily bad unless you think the label is somehow negative.


  50. - respectful - Sunday, Dec 18, 05 @ 12:36 am:

    Living outside the district diddn’t prevent Bean from winning, and she still hasn’t moved. I doubt it will sink Tammy either.


  51. - Jeff Wegerson - Sunday, Dec 18, 05 @ 3:25 am:

    For those of you who think this district is so solidly Republican and that Christine may be too liberal, remember that a leftist imaged Obama got 67% against a Keyes roughly equivalant to Roskam ideologially.

    Second, I know you political junkies are looking for your charisma fixes, but how many voters at the CD level have actually heard, even on a canned tv spot let alone a live one, the rep that they have voted for.

    Some people here are too sophisticated for their own good.


  52. - bored now - Sunday, Dec 18, 05 @ 8:18 am:

    for those who haven’t seen the site:

    http://www.duckworthforcongress.com/


  53. - be real - Sunday, Dec 18, 05 @ 8:57 am:

    People, we cannnot use the Obama/Keyes numbers to justify anything…please. That race was such a disaster that of course Obama was going to put up those kind of numbers. So Jeff, go back to Poli Sci 101 and come back later when you’ve got something real to share.


  54. - NancyZ - Sunday, Dec 18, 05 @ 9:06 am:

    According to wurfwhile and local Democratic leaders the winner in a three way race will be Lindy Scott. He wrote a solid book against the war based on moral principles, he has a nuanced and thoughtful pro-life position, the solid backing of the Latino community, and most of the township chairs favor him. Let the debates begin and may the best candidate win!


  55. - Black Libertarian - Sunday, Dec 18, 05 @ 2:05 pm:

    I’m just curious, why are Latinos so solidly behind Lindy Scott? Is he Latino?


  56. - patch - Sunday, Dec 18, 05 @ 2:29 pm:

    He teaches South/Central American studies in Spanish, he spent many, many years in Mexico — Lindy is a pretty cool guy.

    One thing I think is hilarious is some of the cowards on here giving a woman - Tammy - a hard time for whatever reason when, I guarantee if you sat down and talked to her - like I have - and saw her you would walk away amazed. She is extremely smart, charming and I think she is going to shock a lot of people - especially you blustery suburban conservatives.


  57. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Sunday, Dec 18, 05 @ 2:47 pm:

    bored now - sorry for the misunderstanding — only the first paragraph was directed to you. It was other Cegelis supporters, or you posting under a different name, that claimed Duckworth was pro-war.

    I hope Cegelis’s supporters will follow Christine’s lead and tone down their anti-Duckworth rhetoric.

    Instead, I’d love to hear your plan for how Cegelis can win this Primary and the General Election. I just don’t see it.


  58. - 6 Degrees of Separation - Sunday, Dec 18, 05 @ 3:53 pm:

    Re: Lindy Scott…if a pro-life Democrat north of I-80 is elected to Congress, the Cubs will surely win the World Series and the Palestinian conflict will be resolved.


  59. Trackback WurfWhile - Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 2:15 am:

    Democrat Tammy Duckworth Enters 6th Congressional Race - Has Big Name Support - Outlines Position On Some Issues

    Democrat and Iraq War Veteran Ladda “Tammy” Duckworth spent a busy weekend ramping up her campaign leading to today’s official announcement that she is in the race to replace retiring congressman Henry Hyde for the 6th Congressional District. She jo…


  60. Trackback tins ::: Rick Klau's weblog - Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 11:47 am:

    Tammy Duckworth running for Congress

    Update 12/19/05: Lots of incoming traffic looking for info on Maj. Duckworth. Her campaign website is here, ArchPundit interviews Tammy here (follow the links to snippets from the interview), and Rich at Capitol Fax interviewed her on Friday, details (…


  61. - Dems Gonna Win! - Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 11:58 am:

    Thank you Tammy! Cegelis, please move out of the way. Tammy will carry Dems to victory in 6th

    Basically, Tammy came in late while Cegelis is a full time candidate supported by liberal blogs.

    Larger question- 6th is a wealthy district with many accomplished Dems. Many qualified candidates, i.e. Peter O’Malley, decide not to run or drop out, too much $$ involved and too much of a sacrifice to run for office these days.

    Is it really worth it?


  62. - IL Lover - Wednesday, Dec 21, 05 @ 6:00 am:

    What Kingfish said! Major: If you read these blogs you should know that many of us that have seen many many political candidates know a great one when they see her. Ignore the netroots self ascribed geniuses over at Dailykos and go campaign! For that matter, anyone that reads the IL-06 threads at kos should notice that there have been virtually zero posts since your appearance on This Week. My guess is that they all watched you and were as impressed as the rest of us. Go get ‘em Major Duckworth, can’t wait to see you sworn in next January!


  63. - NancyZ - Wednesday, Dec 21, 05 @ 11:28 pm:

    In answer to a previous question,
    Scott’s wife is Brazilian and their three children were born and grew up in Mexico. His sixteen years of teaching and community service in Mexico and his years of working with Latinos in the 6th District should result in his getting 90% of the Latino vote.


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


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