* Mark Kirk’s US Senate campaign took another tack today. They issued a press release slamming Alexi Giannoulias for telling the Illinois Education Association that he is for a state tax hike. From the release…
Congressman Mark Kirk today criticized State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias for endorsing a state income tax hike just days after new jobs numbers put Illinois’ unemployment rate over 12 percent.
“I have said from day one, as your state Treasurer, that, while politically it’s not the smartest thing to say, we need an income tax increase,” Giannoulias announced Saturday.
“With unemployment topping 12 percent and Illinois families struggling, the last thing we need is higher income taxes,” Congressman Kirk said. “We know that Rod Blagojevich and his allies in Springfield taxed and spent our state into economic ruin. Raising taxes further will make our state less competitive, stifle job creation and slow our economic recovery. After wiping out $70 million in college education savings, Alexi Giannoulias wants to bail out his party’s fiscal mismanagement on the backs of hard working Illinois families. Put simply, Illinois families cannot afford Alexi Giannoulias.” […]
In December, Giannoulias revealed his office lost roughly $150 million in Bright Start college education savings and only recouped about half of the loss. Giannoulias did not comment whether families that lost money in Bright Start would be exempted from his income tax hike proposal.
Kind of a snarky line, eh? The release went on to reiterate the campaign’s claim that Kirk “voted to cut taxes more than 40 times for Illinois families.”
*** UPDATE *** The Giannoulias campaign responded this morning by saying the candidate’s position that any tax increase “needs to be coupled with lower property taxes.”
* In lite guv news, it appears that Sen. Sullivan got the cold shoulder…
State Sen. John Sullivan did not attend weekend meetings held for potential candidates for lieutenant governor on the Democratic ticket.
“I met the governor and his people and said if they were looking for someone like me, I was interested,” Sullivan said. “It was quite clear that the governor is not looking for someone like me.”
Sullivan is a pro-life, pro-gun conservative downstate Democrat. The governor, of course, has huge problems with women, which would seem to rule out Sullivan. But as I discussed with subscribers this morning, Dan Hynes cleaned Pat Quinn’s clock downstate. Quinn’s problems transcend gender.
Despite her willingness to serve, Simon doesn’t believe she is the favorite for the [lt. governor] job and believes recent news reports which peg state Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest, as Quinn’s choice of running mate.
* Paul Vallas’ father-in-law says picking him would mean the process was honest. Hooookay…
After Round 1, Dean Koldenhoven remains in the running to be the next Illinois Lieutenant Governor Idol.
Even he’s not sure if he should believe it.
“Is this for real? I hope it is. I want the job. I want to do it,” an energized Koldenhoven told me Monday. “If I do get the job, you will know the process was honest.”
Or we will know that the process went way off the rails. Just sayin…
more evidence that mark kirk doesn’t know much about illinios (although you can hardly expect the consumate beltway insider to know much about some faraway state that doesn’t really resemble washington, dc)…
Nice talking point - did you get that from the DNC or the DSCC? Kirk is right - we cannot expect working families to bail out bad decisions by the Democrats in Springfield. And Giannoulias needs to be accountable for his part.
- Will County Woman - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:15 am:
I’d like to comment, if I might, on an item in today’s Capitol Fax - “QUINN REJECTS ADVICE” (I would comment there, but the Comments are off).
I find it puzzling that the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Board would recommend Amy Masters for re-appointment. First, she was somehow given the job (by Blagojevich) without ever being subject to confirmation by the Senate (how was that possible?).
Second, she was not statutorily qualified to hold the job. 820 ILCS 305/13 requires the members of the Commission (and the chair is a member) to either be a lawyer, or to have served as an arbitrator for the Commission for at least 3 years, or to have at least 4 years of professional labor relations experience. Given that Amy Masters meets none of these requirements, I don’t understand why the Advisory Board would recommend someone for the job who is not legally able to serve.
I guess Kirk must have seen the movie “Tooth fairy” and figures that’s how the state should get the money to bqlance its budget! Still more proff as to why the only way this clown should see the Senate chamber is with a tour guide!
mark kirk is clearly out of touch with illinois (and his lack of knowledge about the state and especially our state’s government) is merely proof of that fact. i understand your frustration with that fact. kirk has a lot to answer for. that would frustrate me, too, if i were supporting the beltway insider. much, much easier to support alexi giannoulias, who’s *proven* his independence from his political party and has given voice to the concerns of illinois’ voters.
but mark kirk (and, apparently, his supporters) doesn’t want to talk about that…
I think Koldenhoven’s point is that he knows nobody has promised him, back-room style, the LG seat, so if he’s picked, he knows its legit.
but if garrett is picked, he will understandably wonder if Quinn already offered her the job (with or without madigan on board?) and therefore the public process was a charade (which of course it is), as well as wonder if she promised some of her personal lake forest millions to the campaign if selected.
- Small Town Liberal - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:30 am:
- Nice talking point - did you get that from the DNC or the DSCC? -
It probably about as valid a source as Kirk got his no taxes during a recession talking point from. I don’t think Washington is the reason Kirk doesn’t have a clue, I think Kirk is the reason.
To me, it does seem a bit distressing that the best the Democrats can come up with to run Illinois is two elderly liberals, however well-intentioned. Surely there must be some qualified youth in the party. Why do we have to wait?
- State Sen. Clay Davis - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:33 am:
Is Alexi planning to hit Kirk for voting against HCR?
It was stupid of Alexi to weigh in on the state income tax and very smart of Kirk to pounce.
Those who actually like to comment on campaign strategy rather than regurgitate lame Democrat talking points, know this is a plus for Kirk.
Alexi’s support of Quinn’s tax hike ties the fiscal mess in Springfield more firmly around his neck. It will be impossible for him to escape the mess created by Dems and the tax increase that the Dems want to use to force the voters to get them out of the hole.
Good to see Kirk dialing in on the economy/fiscal issues.
With Alexi in constant damage control mode Kirk now has a great chance to craft his pro-active positive message and define himself in contrast to Alexi. He can’t just keep bashing Alexi.
Until members of the legislature do their job and pass a budet, it seems reasonable to hold it against them that they are failing to do their job.
While it would be cool if my friend Lori Koziana got the nod, I think the smart choices are Sheila Simon and Raja Krishnamoorthi.
Pat Quinn wants Garrett? So what? When he passes a budget, I will attach more import to Quinn’s preference. Until he passes a budget he’s just another person collecting a salary paid by taxes who isn’t doing his job.
The fact that the IEA would listen to a Treasurer who sat on his laurels for 4 years and never said boo about how bad of shape we are in financiially really tells us they are a bunch of union robots they are. Quite frankly if you are a teacher and you vote democrat after they have destroyed our hopes for a viable education system you have no business attempting to educate children.
Wake up the democrats did this. If you support them, it will get worse, not better.
- CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 11:12 am:
OMG
Fast on continung failure to succeed on health care…..GOP are trying to raise campaign cash.
Just how dopey do they think we are….
Friend,
Democrats may have succeeded at passing their job-killing, tax-raising health care takeover in Congress Sunday, but the fight is only just beginning.
Republican governors and candidates for governor are battling to preserve health care freedom in their states. They plan to file lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the legislation.
You can bet that liberals will do everything they can to smear Republicans for standing up for the Constitution and against this bill that will blow wide holes in state budgets and drive up the cost of health care.
That’s why we need you to stand with our governors and candidates in opposing the health care takeover.
Please make a secure online contribution of $250, $100 or $50 to the RGA today to ensure we have the resources to continue this fight!
Overturning this legislation will be difficult, but it’s not impossible - especially with your support.
The states are now our last line of defense against this outrageous overreach by the federal government.
Please give whatever you can to help us defeat the health care takeover once and for all.
By working together, we can preserve our freedoms.
Sincerely,
Nick Ayers
Executive Director, RGA
P.S. This battle could last for months, but the fight is worth it. Please help us win by visiting www.rga.org/freedomfund……
….Tom! StateWideTom! How big a check are you sending in? What about BillTheBuilder?
How about a resolution calling on the AG to joining the very expensive law suit
Where is the Kimster when we need him. Crank out that press release?
== *** UPDATE *** The Giannoulias campaign responded this morning by saying the candidate is in line with the IEA’s position that any tax increase “needs to be coupled with lower property taxes.” ==
So at the end of the day what does this do besides put more money in the hands of state education officials and the state to spend and less in the hands of local school boards directly to spend?
just a quick question since some of you feel that it is blatantly obvious that we need a tax increase and Mark Kirk is out of touch for not realizing how wise you and Alexi are….
Then why haven’t we had a tax increase? You can do it without a single Republican vote and could have done it last year without a single Republican vote. If it is so obvious that we need one, why not just do one and show the voters how wrong Kirk and Brady are?
Kirk out of touch not really. Alexi played monopoly with a real bank and real money bankrupted the bank and gets to walkaway with millions more. Yeah Alexi lives in the real world. Sorry most peoplein. Il. Agree no more taxes no more waste and please a little less corruption.
Too bad Sullivan get’s the chump treatment. After all, he did vote for the Senate’s tax increase. Quinn’s biggest problem this fall will be convincing moderates, and reasonable conservatives that Illinois needs a revenue increase. Sen. Sullivan could have made that case for Quinn to downstate voters.
Several times the past few days, some on this blog have suggested Garrett may be out of touch because she is rich. I live in her district and have gone to her constituent meetings. She is not of touch. Several constituents said on Saturday that if she becomes Lt. Gov. it is a loss for the district and I agree. She handles the crazy questions pretty well. Also, plenty of rich people have done good deeds and donated so much money to good causes in this country, such as food banks, hospitals and universities. Let’s stop assuming rich people are out of touch.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 12:14 pm:
Increasing the income tax and decreasing property taxes will bring more money into schools that are now heavily reliant upon property taxes? There is no guarantee that any increase of income taxes will result in more education funding right now, either long term or short term.
== Several times the past few days, some on this blog have suggested Garrett may be out of touch because she is rich. I live in her district and have gone to her constituent meetings. She is not of touch. ==
No, she is right on top the big issues in her area like the food at Ravina and the issues people face when trying to communicate with the household staff…
Also giving to a food bank or attending a black-tie gala for one is not the same as having to go to one to get food.
I know a bunch of rich people in and around the Garrett District and they don’t say she is out of touch, they say she does not
connect well with people, especially women. You can
be in touch on issues and not be good with people. Garrett is not an exciting candidate. Quinn’s positions on
women’s issues are just fine. is Garrett really the best they can do for a candidate regardless of gender? say what you will
about Brady’s positions on the issues, he seems nice. we
need to get some of that on our side. Garrett doesn’t
do it.
Quinn is saying how important it is to have a Lt. Governor he can work with, but he couldn’t work with Rod. Is it important to have a Lt. Governor candidate that is tight with the governor?
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 12:38 pm:
Catching up with the comments, but first reaction to the Giannoulias vid:
Using Kogan to talk about Kirk? Not that he doesn’t have a voice, but the conflict of interest certainly hits his credibility.
Furthermore, what Kogan said was completely out of context and I think most will catch on to that as well. Kirk isn’t againt healthcare reform and has been pushing same as well. He’s against the bill, obviously, as written.
And the music and “conversations” at Kogan’s office is kind of hokey. Are we supposed to believe that wasn’t scripted to a degree?
Keep up the good work, guys! We’ll be thanking you in November.
Again, put the talking points aside…Alexi played right into Kirk’s hands. He endorses a tax increase, Kirk slams him. And now, instead of Alexi being able to try and rally his base on the health care vote, he is forced to respond to Kirk’s issue and health care is burried.
This is good campaigning. If Kirk keeps Alexi dancing to his tune it will be tough for him to keep up.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 12:47 pm:
You know…that Kogan thing really, really bothers me for some reason–in a good way. Not only does that seem to be one of the “best” sources of information, opinion, and thought leadership Giannoulias has to rely upon (clearly representing a conflict of interest), but it’s almost a commercial for the firm, starting with the sign on the door. Did Alexi get some free consulting in return?
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 12:49 pm:
Sorry, it’s not a “commericial”…internet vid.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 12:53 pm:
really, bored. How do you expect anyone to respond to drive-bys like that with anything but snark?
Kirk is so out of touch that he thinks people will turn against Alex because he has the courage to support the best thing for Illinois, coupling property tax relief with an adequate and fair income tax increase. Wrong again, Kirk. The people of Illinois will admire Alexi for doing the right thing while Kirk panders to the right wing. He probably thinks that mouthing off in opposition to the historic and courageous health insurance reform bill will also be helpful to him. He needs to stop watching FoxNews and get out to talk to some real people…. not in Georgetown but in Illinois.
Right now he doesn’t have a clue. He is a typical Beltway bomber.
== Kirk is so out of touch that he thinks people will turn against Alex because he has the courage to support the best thing for Illinois, ==
So Bill was Rod right for fighting against income tax increases or is Alexi right for fighting for one?
I got you now
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 1:32 pm:
===
Kirk is so out of touch…
===
Bill, you and bored seem to feel the same way on that topic. I’m not going to try to convince you otherwise, or tell you that simply repeating that over and over again is not going to make it a reality. However, I will say that I’m certain that if you truly believe that, you’ll be surprised at some point during this election.
OneMan,
Rod was wrong and I told him so many times. He just thought about the next election. When it came time to clean up his mess he just went to the Cubs game or went jogging and let Filan and Harris try to figure things out. If he had been just a little more involved he might still be Gov..
RAfkaA,
That is why they have elections. So we have a George W. Bush Repub running against an Obama Dem..In Illinois. I think that it is you who will be surprised.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 1:51 pm:
Well, whatever, Bill. Kirk certainly is not a Bush clone as some claim. However, on a related note, I guess you haven’t noticed that in some areas across the country, the “Miss Me Yet?” poster is becoming quite popular. Long time from now til November. Just sayin.
The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous: i know you want to believe that (and i’m sure that you do), but i base my observation not on wishful thinking but on actual experience of people in my family who live downstate and tried to talk to mark kirk at his functions. strangely — so we can say consistently — he did this twice, once with family members (who i don’t imagine would have voted for him anyway) from mount vernon, and then with family members (who seem likely to support him, although if they don’t vote for him, it will be because he isn’t conservative) from taylorville.
now maybe it’s just a conspiracy. maybe kirk thought, hey, that’s bored’s family — i better not talk to them! but that wouldn’t explain why the only talking points i receive in this race come from eric elk (of kirk’s campaign).
i know, i know, it’s just mean for anyone to criticize saint kirk (has he walked on water yet?), so i get your frustration. and, no, i don’t expect you to understand the frustration of voters (who can’t get their questions answered), or the media (at least the illinois media, who aren’t allowed to ask questions — kirk is always ready to talk to the nytimes or the washpost) or really anybody who isn’t a mark kirk apologist. so i might be surprised. but i kinda doubt it. after all, i actually talk to voters, listen to what they think and try to use that. i don’t assume that the electorate thinks like me. so it seems profoundly unlikely that *i* will be surprised.
but i certainly understand your wishful thinking. mark kirk has to use these rovian tactics, attacking alexi giannoulias, because he can’t afford for voters to be thinking about themselves or illinois when they cast their vote. if they do, alexi is the big winner. much better to cast aspersions and play the innocent or victim (depending on the day). poor mark kirk. it’s kinda hard to have a sensible, common sense campaign when you’re so far away from the electorate…
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 2:03 pm:
Carol Mosely-Braun lost to Peter Fitzgerald by only 90,000 votes in 1998.
Alexi is no Braun, Kirk is no Fitzgerald, and this ain’t 1998.
Nate Silver over at 538 currently has Alexi as a 2-1 favorite over Kirk.
Personally, I think Kirk will lose by 4 points or better. Brady as his virtual running mate ain’t helping.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 2:03 pm:
bored, as I’ve said before, the incident downstate with your family was unfortunate. Hopefully, everyone will have another chance at some point to correct that somehow.
On the other hand, having been out in the “field” quite a few times, one of the things I’ve noticed is that frustrated Rs generally have more of a tendency to be a little quieter in expressing their feelings than frustrated Ds do when it comes to more “casual” forums. Just my observations and please note that I’m using the term “frustrated” before the abbs “R” and “D”.
Having said that, again, it’s a long time until November and you never know. Alexi’s popularity could go down and Kirk’s might go up, changing the dynamics around.
Just my opinion, and it’s certainly a possibility.
Wow, bored, you’ve really jumped the shark. It is so personal, so petty, so divorced from reality for you.
Your rants get so out of control you start spewing stuff that’s just nuts. Kirk is cozy with the NYT and WaPo because they love Republicans. Kirk is a Bush clone. Kirk is only talking about Alexi’s scandals to cover his extreme right-wing positions.
I respect that you stick up for your family members who you think were snubbed by Kirk at an event, but, geez, have a drink or something and wipe the spittle from the corners of your mouth.
AA and TRA, bored does have a point about Kirk and the media. It got me to thinking when was the last time he talked to the Illinois press. The Statehouse press corps? It’s been a while.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 2:49 pm:
I don’t know for sure, Rich. But I’d guess “opportunity”, maybe. Alexi’s here in Illinois almost the entire time, and Kirk’s obviously in DC quite a bit doing his current job, while campaigning (and I know I’m going to get hit for this, but it IS an entire weekend), and serving in the Reserves.
It’s not fair to say that he’s hiding from the press “overall” as others have claimed. He’s being interviewed quite a bit based on the vids posted on YouTube, staff are posting his speeches on the Floor, he’s been doing some talk shows here in IL (yes, besides Don & Roma), and he has been interviewed before/after events here in Illiois, too.
If you all think this is such a slam-dunk for Alexi that’s cool, keep thinking that…
However if it was such a slam dunk I suspect the White House would not have begged Lisa to run and they wouldn’t be taking multiple shots in the race in a give week.
But it’s a slam dunk for Alexi, keep telling yourself that.
Kirk talks to Chicago area papers (you know, the area where his Congressional District is) plenty. He appears frequently on Chicago TV news and is a regular guest on Don and Roma.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 3:01 pm:
Thank you, huh?. While it was a fair question, I didn’t want to go overboard. I was afraid that bored or someone would do a complete turnaround and start claiming that Kirk can’t stay out of the press–as some including Primary opponents were saying during the Primary. Oh, well.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 3:05 pm:
All of that obviously bounces back and forth, as you might agree, Rich. For example, Cisco Cotto–whom I adore–was saying for a while that Kirk keeps turning down invites. From what I remember, Kirk was finally able to accept one not too long ago, and it was a great spot–for everyone.
As a lifelong Democrat, 2010 will be a much worse year for Democrats than in 1998.
If you remember correctly, that was the year in which Henry “me having a two year affair at 42 with a staffer is a youthful indiscretion that is totally unrelated to President Clinton” Hyde took up the impeachment fight. In every single midterm election for the second term of a president, that party lost double digit seats (2006 Bush, 1986 Regean, 1974 Nixon/Ford obviously, 1966 LBJ, 1958 Ike, etc etc) in the House and often times a few seats in the Senate.
Democrats defied the odds in 1998 and somehow gained a few seats in the House, which prompted Gingrich to resign, Livingston to be Speaker for one week until Hustler found him with 4 mistresses, and allowed Hasert to be Speaker. What we had in Illinois 1998 was a true conservative in Fitz with absolutely no skeltons in his closet. Braun, meanwhile, had a whole list of problems including: unaccounted for campaign money, meeting with a dicator in Nigeria, problems with her fiance and her mother from the IRS, some racial statement that were totally inappropriate, etc.
I think it’s safe to say from a political climate, no one is predicting Democrats to gain seats this year. I think it’s safe to say Kirk has a larger platform than Fitz (Congressmen vs. State legislator) and that he’s much more moderate than him (you can’t win the 10th as a conservative, see Porter). I think it’s safe to say that Alexi is just as toxic as Carol was (Broadway bank, Broadway Bank, Broadway Bank, etc) and there’s still a few months to the election which will only make the news cycle worse, not better.
To Bored Now, if Kirk is so conservative, so out of touch with Illinois voters, how does he win a 50-50 district? A district he won with 53 percent in 2008 when Obama had over 65 percent of the vote? Or Kerry winning by single digits in 2004 and Kirk winning by 30 points?
You can’t play the Limbaugh/Hannity line of just repeating what you want to happen or what YOU think reality is. You can’t explain these numbers.
- western illinois - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 8:05 pm:
Trust me If you want women and animals lovers Sullivan is not the guy you want
He wanted Lane Evans job and it went to a downstate and an animal lover -Phil Hare Much better coice. Quinn could find a good downstater not this guy
Rusville isnt typical of downstate-Try Galesburg or Rock Island
- bored now - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:10 am:
more evidence that mark kirk doesn’t know much about illinios (although you can hardly expect the consumate beltway insider to know much about some faraway state that doesn’t really resemble washington, dc)…
- Pre - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:15 am:
Nice talking point - did you get that from the DNC or the DSCC? Kirk is right - we cannot expect working families to bail out bad decisions by the Democrats in Springfield. And Giannoulias needs to be accountable for his part.
- Will County Woman - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:15 am:
“Quinn’s problems transcend gender.”
Amen and how!
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:19 am:
Now bored with bored now.
- Scooby - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:19 am:
Add Kirk to the Magic Beans caucus.
- George - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:21 am:
I don’t know if we can chalk this one as another one of Kirk’s all-too-many D.C./Beltway talking points.
Talking about the tax hike in Illinois is an effective way to localize his message where it hasn’t been before.
Which means this was a staff-produced hook, not Kirk-produced.
- Seneca - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:21 am:
I’d like to comment, if I might, on an item in today’s Capitol Fax - “QUINN REJECTS ADVICE” (I would comment there, but the Comments are off).
I find it puzzling that the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Board would recommend Amy Masters for re-appointment. First, she was somehow given the job (by Blagojevich) without ever being subject to confirmation by the Senate (how was that possible?).
Second, she was not statutorily qualified to hold the job. 820 ILCS 305/13 requires the members of the Commission (and the chair is a member) to either be a lawyer, or to have served as an arbitrator for the Commission for at least 3 years, or to have at least 4 years of professional labor relations experience. Given that Amy Masters meets none of these requirements, I don’t understand why the Advisory Board would recommend someone for the job who is not legally able to serve.
- fedup dem - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:23 am:
I guess Kirk must have seen the movie “Tooth fairy” and figures that’s how the state should get the money to bqlance its budget! Still more proff as to why the only way this clown should see the Senate chamber is with a tour guide!
- bored now - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:27 am:
mark kirk is clearly out of touch with illinois (and his lack of knowledge about the state and especially our state’s government) is merely proof of that fact. i understand your frustration with that fact. kirk has a lot to answer for. that would frustrate me, too, if i were supporting the beltway insider. much, much easier to support alexi giannoulias, who’s *proven* his independence from his political party and has given voice to the concerns of illinois’ voters.
but mark kirk (and, apparently, his supporters) doesn’t want to talk about that…
- Robert - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:30 am:
I think Koldenhoven’s point is that he knows nobody has promised him, back-room style, the LG seat, so if he’s picked, he knows its legit.
but if garrett is picked, he will understandably wonder if Quinn already offered her the job (with or without madigan on board?) and therefore the public process was a charade (which of course it is), as well as wonder if she promised some of her personal lake forest millions to the campaign if selected.
- Small Town Liberal - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:30 am:
- Nice talking point - did you get that from the DNC or the DSCC? -
It probably about as valid a source as Kirk got his no taxes during a recession talking point from. I don’t think Washington is the reason Kirk doesn’t have a clue, I think Kirk is the reason.
- cassandra - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:32 am:
To me, it does seem a bit distressing that the best the Democrats can come up with to run Illinois is two elderly liberals, however well-intentioned. Surely there must be some qualified youth in the party. Why do we have to wait?
- State Sen. Clay Davis - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:33 am:
Is Alexi planning to hit Kirk for voting against HCR?
- Adam Smith - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:34 am:
It was stupid of Alexi to weigh in on the state income tax and very smart of Kirk to pounce.
Those who actually like to comment on campaign strategy rather than regurgitate lame Democrat talking points, know this is a plus for Kirk.
Alexi’s support of Quinn’s tax hike ties the fiscal mess in Springfield more firmly around his neck. It will be impossible for him to escape the mess created by Dems and the tax increase that the Dems want to use to force the voters to get them out of the hole.
Good to see Kirk dialing in on the economy/fiscal issues.
With Alexi in constant damage control mode Kirk now has a great chance to craft his pro-active positive message and define himself in contrast to Alexi. He can’t just keep bashing Alexi.
- Robert - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:46 am:
maybe Alexi has decided he won’t beat Kirk and is throwing his hat into the LG race by making it clear to Quinn he’s 100% behind the tax hike
- Carl Nyberg - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:53 am:
I argued that the DPI should not nominate Susan Garrett.
Until members of the legislature do their job and pass a budet, it seems reasonable to hold it against them that they are failing to do their job.
While it would be cool if my friend Lori Koziana got the nod, I think the smart choices are Sheila Simon and Raja Krishnamoorthi.
Pat Quinn wants Garrett? So what? When he passes a budget, I will attach more import to Quinn’s preference. Until he passes a budget he’s just another person collecting a salary paid by taxes who isn’t doing his job.
- the Patriot - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 10:57 am:
The fact that the IEA would listen to a Treasurer who sat on his laurels for 4 years and never said boo about how bad of shape we are in financiially really tells us they are a bunch of union robots they are. Quite frankly if you are a teacher and you vote democrat after they have destroyed our hopes for a viable education system you have no business attempting to educate children.
Wake up the democrats did this. If you support them, it will get worse, not better.
- CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 11:12 am:
OMG
Fast on continung failure to succeed on health care…..GOP are trying to raise campaign cash.
Just how dopey do they think we are….
Friend,
Democrats may have succeeded at passing their job-killing, tax-raising health care takeover in Congress Sunday, but the fight is only just beginning.
Republican governors and candidates for governor are battling to preserve health care freedom in their states. They plan to file lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the legislation.
You can bet that liberals will do everything they can to smear Republicans for standing up for the Constitution and against this bill that will blow wide holes in state budgets and drive up the cost of health care.
That’s why we need you to stand with our governors and candidates in opposing the health care takeover.
Please make a secure online contribution of $250, $100 or $50 to the RGA today to ensure we have the resources to continue this fight!
Overturning this legislation will be difficult, but it’s not impossible - especially with your support.
The states are now our last line of defense against this outrageous overreach by the federal government.
Please give whatever you can to help us defeat the health care takeover once and for all.
By working together, we can preserve our freedoms.
Sincerely,
Nick Ayers
Executive Director, RGA
P.S. This battle could last for months, but the fight is worth it. Please help us win by visiting www.rga.org/freedomfund……
….Tom! StateWideTom! How big a check are you sending in? What about BillTheBuilder?
How about a resolution calling on the AG to joining the very expensive law suit
Where is the Kimster when we need him. Crank out that press release?
hn
- OneMan - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 11:12 am:
== *** UPDATE *** The Giannoulias campaign responded this morning by saying the candidate is in line with the IEA’s position that any tax increase “needs to be coupled with lower property taxes.” ==
So at the end of the day what does this do besides put more money in the hands of state education officials and the state to spend and less in the hands of local school boards directly to spend?
- Corduroy Bob - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 11:14 am:
Cassandra, the answer to your question is “Mike Madigan.” No young rival to Lisa’s ascension will be placed in the LG position.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 11:23 am:
just a quick question since some of you feel that it is blatantly obvious that we need a tax increase and Mark Kirk is out of touch for not realizing how wise you and Alexi are….
Then why haven’t we had a tax increase? You can do it without a single Republican vote and could have done it last year without a single Republican vote. If it is so obvious that we need one, why not just do one and show the voters how wrong Kirk and Brady are?
- Fed up - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 11:32 am:
Kirk out of touch not really. Alexi played monopoly with a real bank and real money bankrupted the bank and gets to walkaway with millions more. Yeah Alexi lives in the real world. Sorry most peoplein. Il. Agree no more taxes no more waste and please a little less corruption.
- Louis Howe - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 11:39 am:
Too bad Sullivan get’s the chump treatment. After all, he did vote for the Senate’s tax increase. Quinn’s biggest problem this fall will be convincing moderates, and reasonable conservatives that Illinois needs a revenue increase. Sen. Sullivan could have made that case for Quinn to downstate voters.
- 29th district - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 11:40 am:
Several times the past few days, some on this blog have suggested Garrett may be out of touch because she is rich. I live in her district and have gone to her constituent meetings. She is not of touch. Several constituents said on Saturday that if she becomes Lt. Gov. it is a loss for the district and I agree. She handles the crazy questions pretty well. Also, plenty of rich people have done good deeds and donated so much money to good causes in this country, such as food banks, hospitals and universities. Let’s stop assuming rich people are out of touch.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 12:14 pm:
Increasing the income tax and decreasing property taxes will bring more money into schools that are now heavily reliant upon property taxes? There is no guarantee that any increase of income taxes will result in more education funding right now, either long term or short term.
Any one else care to elaborate?
- OneMan - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 12:20 pm:
== Several times the past few days, some on this blog have suggested Garrett may be out of touch because she is rich. I live in her district and have gone to her constituent meetings. She is not of touch. ==
No, she is right on top the big issues in her area like the food at Ravina and the issues people face when trying to communicate with the household staff…
Also giving to a food bank or attending a black-tie gala for one is not the same as having to go to one to get food.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 12:28 pm:
I know a bunch of rich people in and around the Garrett District and they don’t say she is out of touch, they say she does not
connect well with people, especially women. You can
be in touch on issues and not be good with people. Garrett is not an exciting candidate. Quinn’s positions on
women’s issues are just fine. is Garrett really the best they can do for a candidate regardless of gender? say what you will
about Brady’s positions on the issues, he seems nice. we
need to get some of that on our side. Garrett doesn’t
do it.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 12:35 pm:
Perhaps a QOD….
Quinn is saying how important it is to have a Lt. Governor he can work with, but he couldn’t work with Rod. Is it important to have a Lt. Governor candidate that is tight with the governor?
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 12:38 pm:
Catching up with the comments, but first reaction to the Giannoulias vid:
Using Kogan to talk about Kirk? Not that he doesn’t have a voice, but the conflict of interest certainly hits his credibility.
Furthermore, what Kogan said was completely out of context and I think most will catch on to that as well. Kirk isn’t againt healthcare reform and has been pushing same as well. He’s against the bill, obviously, as written.
And the music and “conversations” at Kogan’s office is kind of hokey. Are we supposed to believe that wasn’t scripted to a degree?
Keep up the good work, guys! We’ll be thanking you in November.
- Adam Smith - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 12:40 pm:
Again, put the talking points aside…Alexi played right into Kirk’s hands. He endorses a tax increase, Kirk slams him. And now, instead of Alexi being able to try and rally his base on the health care vote, he is forced to respond to Kirk’s issue and health care is burried.
This is good campaigning. If Kirk keeps Alexi dancing to his tune it will be tough for him to keep up.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 12:47 pm:
You know…that Kogan thing really, really bothers me for some reason–in a good way. Not only does that seem to be one of the “best” sources of information, opinion, and thought leadership Giannoulias has to rely upon (clearly representing a conflict of interest), but it’s almost a commercial for the firm, starting with the sign on the door. Did Alexi get some free consulting in return?
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 12:49 pm:
Sorry, it’s not a “commericial”…internet vid.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 12:53 pm:
really, bored. How do you expect anyone to respond to drive-bys like that with anything but snark?
- Bill - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 12:55 pm:
Kirk is so out of touch that he thinks people will turn against Alex because he has the courage to support the best thing for Illinois, coupling property tax relief with an adequate and fair income tax increase. Wrong again, Kirk. The people of Illinois will admire Alexi for doing the right thing while Kirk panders to the right wing. He probably thinks that mouthing off in opposition to the historic and courageous health insurance reform bill will also be helpful to him. He needs to stop watching FoxNews and get out to talk to some real people…. not in Georgetown but in Illinois.
Right now he doesn’t have a clue. He is a typical Beltway bomber.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 1:14 pm:
== Kirk is so out of touch that he thinks people will turn against Alex because he has the courage to support the best thing for Illinois, ==
So Bill was Rod right for fighting against income tax increases or is Alexi right for fighting for one?
I got you now
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 1:32 pm:
===
Kirk is so out of touch…
===
Bill, you and bored seem to feel the same way on that topic. I’m not going to try to convince you otherwise, or tell you that simply repeating that over and over again is not going to make it a reality. However, I will say that I’m certain that if you truly believe that, you’ll be surprised at some point during this election.
- Bill - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 1:39 pm:
OneMan,
Rod was wrong and I told him so many times. He just thought about the next election. When it came time to clean up his mess he just went to the Cubs game or went jogging and let Filan and Harris try to figure things out. If he had been just a little more involved he might still be Gov..
- Bill - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 1:42 pm:
RAfkaA,
That is why they have elections. So we have a George W. Bush Repub running against an Obama Dem..In Illinois. I think that it is you who will be surprised.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 1:51 pm:
Well, whatever, Bill. Kirk certainly is not a Bush clone as some claim. However, on a related note, I guess you haven’t noticed that in some areas across the country, the “Miss Me Yet?” poster is becoming quite popular. Long time from now til November. Just sayin.
- bored now - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 1:51 pm:
The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous: i know you want to believe that (and i’m sure that you do), but i base my observation not on wishful thinking but on actual experience of people in my family who live downstate and tried to talk to mark kirk at his functions. strangely — so we can say consistently — he did this twice, once with family members (who i don’t imagine would have voted for him anyway) from mount vernon, and then with family members (who seem likely to support him, although if they don’t vote for him, it will be because he isn’t conservative) from taylorville.
now maybe it’s just a conspiracy. maybe kirk thought, hey, that’s bored’s family — i better not talk to them! but that wouldn’t explain why the only talking points i receive in this race come from eric elk (of kirk’s campaign).
i know, i know, it’s just mean for anyone to criticize saint kirk (has he walked on water yet?), so i get your frustration. and, no, i don’t expect you to understand the frustration of voters (who can’t get their questions answered), or the media (at least the illinois media, who aren’t allowed to ask questions — kirk is always ready to talk to the nytimes or the washpost) or really anybody who isn’t a mark kirk apologist. so i might be surprised. but i kinda doubt it. after all, i actually talk to voters, listen to what they think and try to use that. i don’t assume that the electorate thinks like me. so it seems profoundly unlikely that *i* will be surprised.
but i certainly understand your wishful thinking. mark kirk has to use these rovian tactics, attacking alexi giannoulias, because he can’t afford for voters to be thinking about themselves or illinois when they cast their vote. if they do, alexi is the big winner. much better to cast aspersions and play the innocent or victim (depending on the day). poor mark kirk. it’s kinda hard to have a sensible, common sense campaign when you’re so far away from the electorate…
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 2:03 pm:
Carol Mosely-Braun lost to Peter Fitzgerald by only 90,000 votes in 1998.
Alexi is no Braun, Kirk is no Fitzgerald, and this ain’t 1998.
Nate Silver over at 538 currently has Alexi as a 2-1 favorite over Kirk.
Personally, I think Kirk will lose by 4 points or better. Brady as his virtual running mate ain’t helping.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 2:03 pm:
bored, as I’ve said before, the incident downstate with your family was unfortunate. Hopefully, everyone will have another chance at some point to correct that somehow.
On the other hand, having been out in the “field” quite a few times, one of the things I’ve noticed is that frustrated Rs generally have more of a tendency to be a little quieter in expressing their feelings than frustrated Ds do when it comes to more “casual” forums. Just my observations and please note that I’m using the term “frustrated” before the abbs “R” and “D”.
Having said that, again, it’s a long time until November and you never know. Alexi’s popularity could go down and Kirk’s might go up, changing the dynamics around.
Just my opinion, and it’s certainly a possibility.
- Adam Smith - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 2:18 pm:
Wow, bored, you’ve really jumped the shark. It is so personal, so petty, so divorced from reality for you.
Your rants get so out of control you start spewing stuff that’s just nuts. Kirk is cozy with the NYT and WaPo because they love Republicans. Kirk is a Bush clone. Kirk is only talking about Alexi’s scandals to cover his extreme right-wing positions.
I respect that you stick up for your family members who you think were snubbed by Kirk at an event, but, geez, have a drink or something and wipe the spittle from the corners of your mouth.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 2:31 pm:
AA and TRA, bored does have a point about Kirk and the media. It got me to thinking when was the last time he talked to the Illinois press. The Statehouse press corps? It’s been a while.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 2:49 pm:
I don’t know for sure, Rich. But I’d guess “opportunity”, maybe. Alexi’s here in Illinois almost the entire time, and Kirk’s obviously in DC quite a bit doing his current job, while campaigning (and I know I’m going to get hit for this, but it IS an entire weekend), and serving in the Reserves.
It’s not fair to say that he’s hiding from the press “overall” as others have claimed. He’s being interviewed quite a bit based on the vids posted on YouTube, staff are posting his speeches on the Floor, he’s been doing some talk shows here in IL (yes, besides Don & Roma), and he has been interviewed before/after events here in Illiois, too.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 2:52 pm:
If you all think this is such a slam-dunk for Alexi that’s cool, keep thinking that…
However if it was such a slam dunk I suspect the White House would not have begged Lisa to run and they wouldn’t be taking multiple shots in the race in a give week.
But it’s a slam dunk for Alexi, keep telling yourself that.
- huh? - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 2:55 pm:
What do you mean, Rich?
Kirk talks to Chicago area papers (you know, the area where his Congressional District is) plenty. He appears frequently on Chicago TV news and is a regular guest on Don and Roma.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 3:01 pm:
Thank you, huh?. While it was a fair question, I didn’t want to go overboard. I was afraid that bored or someone would do a complete turnaround and start claiming that Kirk can’t stay out of the press–as some including Primary opponents were saying during the Primary. Oh, well.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 3:05 pm:
All of that obviously bounces back and forth, as you might agree, Rich. For example, Cisco Cotto–whom I adore–was saying for a while that Kirk keeps turning down invites. From what I remember, Kirk was finally able to accept one not too long ago, and it was a great spot–for everyone.
- DebsD - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 7:20 pm:
As a lifelong Democrat, 2010 will be a much worse year for Democrats than in 1998.
If you remember correctly, that was the year in which Henry “me having a two year affair at 42 with a staffer is a youthful indiscretion that is totally unrelated to President Clinton” Hyde took up the impeachment fight. In every single midterm election for the second term of a president, that party lost double digit seats (2006 Bush, 1986 Regean, 1974 Nixon/Ford obviously, 1966 LBJ, 1958 Ike, etc etc) in the House and often times a few seats in the Senate.
Democrats defied the odds in 1998 and somehow gained a few seats in the House, which prompted Gingrich to resign, Livingston to be Speaker for one week until Hustler found him with 4 mistresses, and allowed Hasert to be Speaker. What we had in Illinois 1998 was a true conservative in Fitz with absolutely no skeltons in his closet. Braun, meanwhile, had a whole list of problems including: unaccounted for campaign money, meeting with a dicator in Nigeria, problems with her fiance and her mother from the IRS, some racial statement that were totally inappropriate, etc.
I think it’s safe to say from a political climate, no one is predicting Democrats to gain seats this year. I think it’s safe to say Kirk has a larger platform than Fitz (Congressmen vs. State legislator) and that he’s much more moderate than him (you can’t win the 10th as a conservative, see Porter). I think it’s safe to say that Alexi is just as toxic as Carol was (Broadway bank, Broadway Bank, Broadway Bank, etc) and there’s still a few months to the election which will only make the news cycle worse, not better.
To Bored Now, if Kirk is so conservative, so out of touch with Illinois voters, how does he win a 50-50 district? A district he won with 53 percent in 2008 when Obama had over 65 percent of the vote? Or Kerry winning by single digits in 2004 and Kirk winning by 30 points?
You can’t play the Limbaugh/Hannity line of just repeating what you want to happen or what YOU think reality is. You can’t explain these numbers.
- western illinois - Tuesday, Mar 23, 10 @ 8:05 pm:
Trust me If you want women and animals lovers Sullivan is not the guy you want
He wanted Lane Evans job and it went to a downstate and an animal lover -Phil Hare Much better coice. Quinn could find a good downstater not this guy
Rusville isnt typical of downstate-Try Galesburg or Rock Island