Congressional roundup
Wednesday, Dec 12, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This may have sounded like a great idea at first. Combine a hockey game with a political debate for candidates in the Peoria area’s 18th Congressional District. But, as Gov. Rod Blagojevich discovered, hockey and politics just don’t mix…
Candidates answered questions from Rivermen hockey fans in a meeting room at the Peoria Civic Center during a political forum before Tuesday’s game. The cost for the event was $5, which also included admission to the game, though only about a dozen people took advantage of the incentive.
Still, credit where credit is due.
* Meanwhile, state Rep. Aaron Schock has lined up more endorsements in the 18th District GOP primary…
U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, was unable to attend [a Quincy event] due to icy roads, but spoke to the crowd at Schock’s fundraiser by telephone.
“We (Republicans) are in the minority because we kind of lost our way,” Shimkus told reporters in a teleconference.
Shimkus said he believes Schock and other young, energetic Republicans can reconnect with conservatives and with a majority of the nation’s voters.
Still no word yet from the incumbent Schock hopes to replace, Ray LaHood. He’s ducked the endorsement issue so far, but he may not be able to keep that up.
* In another district, two Democratic candidates faced off in a Tribune debate yesterday…
The two Democrats seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) from his North Shore seat clashed on the Middle East and where they live Tuesday in their first meeting of the campaign season.
Former White House adviser Jay Footlik criticized Democratic primary opponent Dan Seals for saying during his previous congressional run that he would support “peace” in a conflict between Iran and Israel.
“His statement saying that he’d ‘come down on the side of peace’ suggests to me that he may not know what to do,” Footlik said during an hourlong appearance before the Chicago Tribune editorial board. “And I don’t know if he necessarily has the experience to provide the kind of support that Israel and our other crucial allies in that region need from the United States.”
The district is 20 percent Jewish, so the Israeli question is important there.
The two candidates really don’t like each other and the Tribune editorial board “debate” is one of the first times that they’ve agreed to appear together.
* Seals lives just outside the district (as he did when he ran last year), and had a pretty good response for why he hasn’t moved into the 10th…
“If I was a millionaire I could certainly just pick up and buy a new home, [but] I’m not a millionaire, and if you want more millionaires in Congress, I’m not your man,” Seals said.
Footlik, who has made an issue of Seals’ residency, was then forced to admit that he only rents a home in the district. Oops.
* And, finally, 11th Congressional District Republican hopeful Tim Baldermann “officially” kicked off his campaign this week with a shot at one of his primary opponents, Jimmy Lee. Baldermann is vying to replace retiring GOP Congressman Jerry Weller…
[Baldermann] said he understood Lee has apparently donated to the political campaigns of both Chicago Democratic Mayor Richard J. Daley and Gov. Rod Blagojevich, also a Democrat.
“I think the reason he’s donated to those campaigns is because he’s from Chinatown - a resident of Chinatown in the city of Chicago, and it’s a fairly Democratic area,” Baldermann said.
“It’s my understanding he recently took up an address in Utica. I don’t know if he resides there. It would make sense if he has no connections with the 11th Congressional District. He’s from Chicago. I don’t know what his motivation was.”
Partisanship, race-baiting and Chicago-bashing all in one sentence. Wow.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 9:43 am:
Not form the CHicago area, but I noticed that both Balderman and Footlik are trying to make ground with this carpet bagger approach to their oppoents residancy location. Is this really a meat and potatoes issue for Chicagoians? Do they really care where the canidate lives or lived?
I recall the republicans tried the same thing when hillary went to NY and it did not really have much momentum.
- Rob_N - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 9:56 am:
Ghost,
Footlik’s a “carpetbagger” too, considering he’s most recently from the DC area. Hence the “admission” he’s only renting a place in the district.
–
Rich,
Technically Balderman’s rant was all in one statement, not one sentence….
Jimmy Lee is for real man. He’s from Chinatown and you know what that means, right?
(I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean either, other than maybe he’s trying to do exactly as you describe — race-baiting. What’s next? “His supporters are from Pilsen. Watch out!”)
Has Lee even done anything in the district (other than send out a few press releases)? Why is Balderman bothering?
I feel bad for the GOP in that area if this is what their primary is going to be like.
- Team America, World Police - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 10:15 am:
I think that Seals trying to gain sympathy points because he is not a “millionaire” is a weak excuse for why he hasn’t moved into the 10th District at any time over the last two years, and is pretty much an insult to every voter in the 10th that is NOT a “millionaire” either. Believe me, there are plenty of us, and we all have to cope with not having unlimited financial resources as well. For every millionaire in Wilmette of Lake Forest, there are a lot more middle class (or lower) people in Waukegan and North Chicago, Vernon Hills, Buffalo Grove, and other communities. There are plenty of places to live in the 10th (even in Wilmette) where you don’t have to be rich to have a decent house. And, it’s not like Seals is living somewhere that his house is not worth enough to move into Wilmette so he family is not overly displaced. As he’s fond of pointing out, he’s a block or two outside the district. Why does he all of a sudden have to be a millionaire to move over a few streets?
Moreover, what’s going to change for Seals if he actually wins? He says he’ll move then, but what will be different? Being in Congress won’t make him a millionaire (not legally, anyway). The fact is that Seals is just not committed enough to the race to be bothered to move, and will only consider it once he’s in office. Given that he’s had two years to cure this very obvious and realtively simple issue, which dogged him last time, I don’t think he’s learned much.
- Bill - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 10:31 am:
Seals and Footlik beating each other up in the primary will make it even easier for Kirk to beat Seals in the general. This will go exactly as planned. Watch for Footlik to be rewarded with some kind of job. I bet he will no longer be “renting” after Feb. 5.
BTW, choosing peace is the most responsible position I have heard expressed in that district in years.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 10:33 am:
If Seals only lives two blocks away why does it matgter if he moves? What political issue or view does this cover? By not moving he is for/opposed to the war? for/opposed to health care?? Demanding that somone displace themselves from their home for a two block move really says nothing about their stance on key issues,it just sounds petty.
I agree Seals response was horrible as well, but I do not understand why two blocks of distance matters at all.
- Just Observing - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 10:42 am:
Team America pretty much said everything that needs to be said about why not being a millionaire is a poor excuse.
And… making an issue of someone being a renter is snobbish and insulting. So… renters can’t run for Congress?
- Bill - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 10:44 am:
“Renters” who live in DC and run in Illinois should not question another candidate’s residency. Allan Keyes also “rented” during his campaign in Illinois.
- True Observer - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 10:46 am:
I do not understand why two blocks of distance matters at all.
The reason it matters to many is that it defies the whole notion of representing “your” district. Meaning the one that you are an actual part of.
Bean gets a pass because she took on Crane when no one else would.
Clinton gets a pass because of the Clinton kool-aid drinkers.
If it made no difference where you lived, you could have all 19 Illinois congressmen living in Rich Daley’s ward.
- beavis - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 10:50 am:
Rich
You keep mentioning that LaHood hasn’t endorsed and neither has Hastert in the 14th. Don’t give him a pass on this one. I don’t see how he can endorse the Milkman or Sen. Coo-Coo Puffs.
Footlik will go down swinging that’s for sure, but people I talk to just plain don’t like the guy and the most active dems in the 10th are sticking by Seals.
“huh huh, I said coo-coo puffs”
- beavis
- True Observer - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 10:52 am:
LaHood endorsed his son.
His son didn’t make it to the primary.
- Snidely Whiplash - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 10:53 am:
That Chinatown reference was rather unnecessary and tasteless.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 10:54 am:
True Observer, assume all 19 congressman lived in Daleys ward, that fact by itself tells me nothing about where they stand on the issues that are of importance to the people they are representing. Suppose all local canidates support seizing everyone’s property and dividing it up amongst the masses. All the canidates in Dalyes Ward are opposed to the government seizing and redistrbuting wealth.
A canidates stance on issues imporant to the members they represent seems far more critical then physical location. In fact, location is irrelevant. An out of towner can oppose taxes that a local supports etc.
- SangamoGOP - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 11:08 am:
Another 18th candidate in the news - John Morris:
http://www.sj-r.com/News/stories/21710.asp
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 11:09 am:
Note to Baldermann -
Your comments as reported are disgusting. They display a character unworthy of political office. You either misspoke and are stupid, or you intended to say them and think I’d support a bigot. I would never support a candidate that would allow such uninspired pointless drivel to fall out of their mouths. Clearly, you are not ready to think and speak at the same time. Your staff has let you down in a big way. They either need to cage you, or give you a lobotomy.
I am no fan of opportunists that carpetbag. I am no fan of career politicians or professional Washington types. So, I wouldn’t have been interested in Mr. Lee. But I’d take this kind of guy over you.
I’ve known Debbie Halvorson since Bloom. I don’t agree with her politically, but she is a great person. I’d vote for her over you right now.
Are you really as ugly as you sounded?
- Captain America - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 12:26 pm:
It is absolutely ridiculous that Footlik should premise his entire Democratic primary challenge to Dan Seals on the specious grounds that Dan Seals is not supportive “enough” of Israel. It gives new meaning to the meaning of a single-issue candidacy. Support for Israel has absolutely nothing to do with the reasons Mark Kirk deserves to lose his seat in November 2008.
Personally, I don’t care who wins the primary. I’ve got a Seals bumper sticker on my car. I’ll replace it with a Foollik stcker if he wins the nomination. But the Israel issue seems bogus to me becasue its not much of a platform to run on - Seals and Kirk are both supporters of Israel.
The real message that Footlik seem to be sending to the Jewish costituency is I’m Jewish and Seals isn’t, therefore, I’m a more reliable supporter of Israel. Real men in the Bush Adminsistration and Israeli hardliners didn’t want us to stop in Baghdad, they wanted regime change in Tehran too.
For anyone who really wants to achieve a better understanding of where Jay Footlik is coming from in terms of his “hawkish” Middle East policy, I suggest they should throughly peruse the following book at your local Barnes & Noble:
Treacherous Alliance; The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the U.S. The author, Trita Parsi had unprecedented high level access to policy makers in Israel,Iran, and the U.S. It really explains a lot about why we find ourself in this “messy” situation with Iran, despite multiple Iranian efforts to open a diplomatic dialogue with the United States.
Iran made a credible peace proposal to he U.S. in 2003 - everything was put on the table - Iran’s nuclear program, Hezbollah, Iranian support for terrorism, Israli-Palestinain peace etc.. Cheney-Rumsfield and the necosnervatives did not pursue the Iranian offer for negotiations becasue they were interested in regime change, not negotiation with Iran.
This “Grand Bargain” peace proposal was also covered in a recent Frontline documentary, Showdown with Iran, which can be accessed on the internet.
In case you din’t notice Bush, the neoconservatives, and Israel were really unhappy about the recent National Intelligence Estimate declaring that Iran ceased miltary aspects of its nuclear program in 2003. You will also recall the subsequent stories that Bush continued to talk about Iran in apolcalyptic tersm like World War III, even after he had been briefed about the revised NIE estimate last August.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 1:56 pm:
Captain -
This really isn’t the place to voice your opinion regarding Iran or Israel.
You want to believe that Iran is full of rational smiling Care Bears and that we’re utterly irrational henchmen, (as if you’d really know) - so be it - but the discussion is about the Congressional races, not Bush/Cheney conspiracies.
You have read way too much into Footlik’s comments, and have ran with it too far off base. How you can claim to know the “real” message, and then give us a bunch of anti-neo-conservative conspiracy theories makes no sense, does it? Your “real” message isn’t based on reality when you do this.
I like reading your comments, but your last posting is far from one of your best. You crossed a few bridges too far for us to want to follow you.
- Legal Eagle - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 1:56 pm:
Democrats don’t seem to mind running carpetbaggers for seats in the area: Young Lipinski; Footlik; Bean; Seals; they either didn’t live in the District or just moved in to run. Same for that guy Biss running for the Legislature - he just registered to vote in the District for the first time just before petitions, and just moved into the District before that. Maybe voters should care -it suggests a lack of local community involvement,lack of a basis for understanding the district and its needs, and suggests that there are no qualified actual residents!
- Ghost - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 3:01 pm:
Care Bears…just say no to PvP l33t sp34k.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 3:26 pm:
Partisanship, race-baiting and Chicago-bashing all in one sentence.
Well, if you’re for efficiency in government, Baldermann has shown he can make efficient use of a sentence:-) However, doesn’t Baldermann also have issues with “ties” to the Chicago machine? And the double mention of “Chinatown” is just a little removed from the insensitive “Chinaman” even if it is factually accurate.
- Captain America - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 5:09 pm:
Van Man
I am nor offended by your reprimand. I agree with your implied suggestion that CF is not a blog for airing our opinions on foreign policy.
My remarks were neither pro/anti Israel or Iran But if you check out the details of the story, the basis of Footlik’s conclusion that Dan Seals is insufficently committed to Israel’s security is a statement that Dan Seals made during the last campaign that Seals would prefer a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Iran and Israel. Who wouldn’t?
Much of American foreign policy in the Middle East policy since the conclusion of the first Gulf War has been driven by the geopolitical rivalry between Iran and Israel.
I merely offered some objective information from a Middle East expert/scholar so people would better understand the subtext of Footlik’s platform and criticism of Seals.
Feel free to check out the book I recommended. You’ll be surpised at what you might learn about the basis of the enmity between Israel and Iran and how this enmity has afffected American foreign policy.
Again it makes no difference to me personally whether Seals of Foolik wins the primary.But I prefer Seals’s impled support for diplomatic engagement and negotiation with Iran rather than isolation/possible military conflict with Iran.
I think most people in the 10th congressional District, including our Jewish brethren, would prefer detente bwtween israel and Iran rather than conflict/war.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 5:41 pm:
And here’s something to chew on.
The balance of power in IL is changing.
According to 2006 Census Estimates here’s how the existing congressional districts are stacking up.
The congressional apportionment per district should be 688,272 (1/435th of the US population) per 2006 US population.
District-Population-%over/under apportionment
1 Rush (D) 643626 -6.5%
2 Jackson (D) 640930 -6.9%
3 Lipinski (D) 649720 -5.6%
4 Gutierrez (D) 603695 -12.3%
5 Emmanuel (D) 664430 -3.5%
6 Roskam (R) 661838 -3.8%
7 Davis (D) 626631 -9.0%
8 Bean (D) 738061 +7.2%
9 Schakowsky (D) 638091 -7.3%
10 Kirk (D) 651007 -5.4%
11 Weller (R) 745974 +8.3%
12 Costello (D) 651359 -5.4%
13 Biggert (R) 781037 +13.5%
14 Vacant 795610 +15.5%
15 Johnson (R) 662504 -3.7%
16 Manzullo (R) 722010 +4.9%
17 Hare (D) 631658 -8.2%
18 LaHood (R) 655833 -4.7%
19 Shimkus 667956 -3.0%
Please note these trends will represent even greater raw numbers by the end of the decade, if the trends hold up. For example, the 14th representative may represent 1 million people by 2010 or 2011, before the districts are re-apportioned, and the 4th representative may represent less than 500,000.
- Sam - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 6:02 pm:
Dave Kalbfleisch, Green Party congressional candidate in the 10th, actually lives in the district and is a veteran military officer. That’s two up on Seals and Footlik. Unlike the incumbent, Kalbfleisch served on active duty in theater during the present conflict.
Check him out: www.electdave.org
- Lord Stanley - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 7:54 pm:
Anyone know the Blackhawks record since Rod went to the game?
- muon - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 11:17 pm:
Lord Stanley, it’s 3-4 including the game on 11/28 with the Gov in attendance and tonight’s win.
Wed, Nov 28 Tampa Bay W 5-1
Fri, Nov 30 Phoenix W 6-1
Sat, Dec 1 @ St. Louis L 1-3
Wed, Dec 5 Vancouver L 2-3
Fri, Dec 7 Anaheim L 3-5
Sun, Dec 9 Calgary L 2-3
Wed, Dec 12 LA Kings W 6-3
- Wilmette Life - Wednesday, Dec 12, 07 @ 11:50 pm:
Dan Seals has not had a paycheck since 2005. The only time this unemployed candidate has collected money is the $25,000 he paid himself from his own donors. He tried to work for The Point, but quit.
Jay Footlik just got the Teacher’s union to switch from Dan to him. Jay is the guy who should win.