Puzzling. Since this has happened a couple times, it makes me wonder whether it’s a deliberate strategy (which I can’t figure out) or whether he simply has a habit of speaking before thinking.
Sam Nunn and Richard Lugar did their best to make sure that our next generation never faces nuclear war. I don’t remember them saying that Bill Clinton or George W. Bush wanted North Korea to have nuclear weapons.
“Sometimes you see people after suffering brain injuries: strokes, aneurysms, etc., they have no filter when expressing themselves verbally.”
That’s what I’m thinking. His camp won’t say it because it will make him look weak. But he’s an old timer and I don’t recall him having this problem before.
Really? You don’t recall him saying off the mark things ever before? The point is that he’s incredibly passionate about the issue and got a little ahead of his skis and walked it back It was the thoughtful move
I think it plays a part. Eric Elk, Mike Z and Aaron Winters are all quality men who are competent. Senator Kirk said some stupid stuff during the 2009-2010 cycle, but this is getting out of hand.
It’s a pattern now. The media will poke at him more, and more of his statements will get scrutinized. The bar for “inflammatory statement from Senator Kirk” will be lower. Not a good look for him.
Kirk is going to make it easier to unseat him. Now, if he was on the other side, all would be forgiven. For reference, I point to Dick Durbin. He, too, has made some intemperate remarks for which he had to “apologize” and “walk back”. But, as he is blue in a blue state, he he has not had to pay much of a price. Kirk, OTOH, will likely lose his seat once the campaign gets going and these remarks hit the airwaves on a loop.
We all know Kirk lover to run his mouth, and his tall tales about his military experience provided extra comedy last election. But, lately, there’s been an ugliness to many of his comments. A Rush Limbaugh like hyperbole. Sure, he walks them back, but we know there will be a next time, and a next, and etc…
Hey Dupage Dan, what remarks of Durbin are you talking about? The two times he told the truth about torture and the banking industry?
Kirk continues to be an embarassment.
Kirk’s people were terrified David Hoffman would be the nominee. They said so to multiple friends of mine. Unfortunately, the Hoffman train timed out just as it was picking up speed (Hoffman had picked up 20 points in about 10 days) because the election that year was ridiculously early in a huge miscalculation (first Tuesday in Feb.). Had it been even a week later, Hoffman wins, Kirk loses general and this is all academic.
Hey Dupage Dan, what remarks of Durbin are you talking about? The two times he told the truth about torture and the banking industry?
Kirk continues to be an embarassment. ===
Don’t ask me, ask Durbin. He was the one who apologized.
–Now if he was on the other side, all would be forgiven.–
Pavlovs Victim Bell is going off.
Have all “forgiven” Durbin for those remarks? I think not. ===
All was forgiven - he’s still in office, isn’t he? By that I meant Kirk’s comments will likely lead to his defeat. Durbin’s didn’t. Pretty simple statement, IMO. But, I know it’s fun to read into things stuff that ain’t there.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 2:28 pm:
Puzzling. Since this has happened a couple times, it makes me wonder whether it’s a deliberate strategy (which I can’t figure out) or whether he simply has a habit of speaking before thinking.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 2:31 pm:
I am glad it was just a United States Senator getting carried away…
I feel better.
- William j Kelly - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 2:35 pm:
Kirk is a disaster, he needs to get out of the U S Senate and get help before he causes a nuclear war.
- Timmeh - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 2:35 pm:
Sam Nunn and Richard Lugar did their best to make sure that our next generation never faces nuclear war. I don’t remember them saying that Bill Clinton or George W. Bush wanted North Korea to have nuclear weapons.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 2:35 pm:
The man is a buffoon.
– MrJM
- Not a doctor, but... - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 2:37 pm:
Sometimes you see people after suffering brain injuries: strokes, aneurysms, etc., they have no filter when expressing themselves verbally.
- A guy - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 2:37 pm:
Opted for “sooner” rather than “later”. Someone’s managing things. Fortunately no conditionally “If I offended anyone…”
What he has done is put himself on a pretty tight watchlist now. Tighter than before.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 2:42 pm:
Much like what happened to Congressman Schock after all of his senior staff left, we are seeing the effects of a staffing exodus on Senator Kirk.
- Politix - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 2:45 pm:
“Sometimes you see people after suffering brain injuries: strokes, aneurysms, etc., they have no filter when expressing themselves verbally.”
That’s what I’m thinking. His camp won’t say it because it will make him look weak. But he’s an old timer and I don’t recall him having this problem before.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 2:48 pm:
===I don’t recall him having this problem before===
So, you missed all of his boasting about combat experience during the 2010 race?
He has always had a problem with running his mouth.
- Anon - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 2:50 pm:
Really? You don’t recall him saying off the mark things ever before? The point is that he’s incredibly passionate about the issue and got a little ahead of his skis and walked it back It was the thoughtful move
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 2:51 pm:
===seeing the effects of a staffing exodus on Senator Kirk===
LOL
If you think this is a staff problem, you’re delusional. This isn’t about staff, it’s about him.
- William j Kelly - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 2:51 pm:
This new sen Kirk commercial is the last straw http://youtu.be/snTaSJk0n_Y
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 2:52 pm:
Kirk loves to talk. Loves it.
I have faith in Artl. It’s still early, and this is a national race, much more than just a Statewide race.
The 2016 cycle has many nuances, Kirk’s continual mouth problem isn’t new to the dynamic. At all.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 2:57 pm:
I think it plays a part. Eric Elk, Mike Z and Aaron Winters are all quality men who are competent. Senator Kirk said some stupid stuff during the 2009-2010 cycle, but this is getting out of hand.
- Chicago Guy - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 3:03 pm:
I lost all respect for him when he told China not to buy US debt due to the threat of hyperinflation and default.
- Politix - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 3:06 pm:
I added “I don’t recall” but I knew, inevitably, SOMEONE would tell me otherwise. I don’t recall a lot of things!
- Arsenal - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 3:11 pm:
It’s a pattern now. The media will poke at him more, and more of his statements will get scrutinized. The bar for “inflammatory statement from Senator Kirk” will be lower. Not a good look for him.
- William j Kelly - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 3:13 pm:
When did Flannery go from being Rahm’s press secretary to being Kirk’s press secretary?
- dupage dan - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 3:18 pm:
Kirk is going to make it easier to unseat him. Now, if he was on the other side, all would be forgiven. For reference, I point to Dick Durbin. He, too, has made some intemperate remarks for which he had to “apologize” and “walk back”. But, as he is blue in a blue state, he he has not had to pay much of a price. Kirk, OTOH, will likely lose his seat once the campaign gets going and these remarks hit the airwaves on a loop.
- Wensicia - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 3:22 pm:
We all know Kirk lover to run his mouth, and his tall tales about his military experience provided extra comedy last election. But, lately, there’s been an ugliness to many of his comments. A Rush Limbaugh like hyperbole. Sure, he walks them back, but we know there will be a next time, and a next, and etc…
- Wensicia - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 3:23 pm:
“loves”, not lover, tsk.
- Albany Park Patriot - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 3:24 pm:
Brave of him to have it both ways and seek congratulations for retracting his crazy statement. It’s unreal that this guy is in office.
- Under Further Review - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 3:32 pm:
“State of Israel” is what I should have typed.
- Collinsville Kevin - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 3:49 pm:
Hey Dupage Dan, what remarks of Durbin are you talking about? The two times he told the truth about torture and the banking industry?
Kirk continues to be an embarassment.
- Wordslinger - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 4:07 pm:
–Now if he was on the other side, all would be forgiven.–
Pavlovs Victim Bell is going off.
Have all “forgiven” Durbin for those remarks? I think not.
Durbin beat Oberweis. “Forgiveness” had nothing to do with it. Oberweis is a proven, lousy statewide candidate.
Kirk just barely squeaked by Alexi in a historic GOP year. He’s no juggernaut. He was in a lot of trouble before he started yapping.
- Now What? - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 4:09 pm:
Classic Mark Kirk. Say something outlandish, walk it back. He’s done this for years. Please retire with dignity.
- Under Further Review - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 4:13 pm:
“Kirk just barely squeaked by Alexi in a historic GOP year.”
A stronger Democratic candidate would have in likelihood beaten Kirk.
Alexi was one of Obama’s guys and that got him elected Comptroller. He was a poor nominee for the US Senate.
- Chicago Cynic - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 4:24 pm:
Kirk’s people were terrified David Hoffman would be the nominee. They said so to multiple friends of mine. Unfortunately, the Hoffman train timed out just as it was picking up speed (Hoffman had picked up 20 points in about 10 days) because the election that year was ridiculously early in a huge miscalculation (first Tuesday in Feb.). Had it been even a week later, Hoffman wins, Kirk loses general and this is all academic.
- Juvenal - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 4:54 pm:
WJK:
Flannery despised Alexi.
- dupage dan - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 5:02 pm:
===
- Collinsville Kevin - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 3:49 pm:
Hey Dupage Dan, what remarks of Durbin are you talking about? The two times he told the truth about torture and the banking industry?
Kirk continues to be an embarassment. ===
Don’t ask me, ask Durbin. He was the one who apologized.
- dupage dan - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 5:05 pm:
=== - Wordslinger - Friday, Jul 17, 15 @ 4:07 pm:
–Now if he was on the other side, all would be forgiven.–
Pavlovs Victim Bell is going off.
Have all “forgiven” Durbin for those remarks? I think not. ===
All was forgiven - he’s still in office, isn’t he? By that I meant Kirk’s comments will likely lead to his defeat. Durbin’s didn’t. Pretty simple statement, IMO. But, I know it’s fun to read into things stuff that ain’t there.