* This came in over the transom today and I thought it was post-worthy. Jesse Sullivan’s gubernatorial campaign website has had four different descriptions of his time in Afghanistan…
September 8: “I led a Human Terrain Team in counterinsurgency operations in the deadliest district of Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.”
September 11: “I led a Human Terrain Team in counterinsurgency operations in the deadliest district of Afghanistan.”
September 21: “I led a Human Terrain Team as a DOD civilian in counterinsurgency operations in the deadliest district of Afghanistan.”
October 8: “I served as a Human Terrain Team Analyst on counterinsurgency operations in Helmand Afghanistan.”
* Lynn Sweet…
[US Rep. Adam Kinzinger], the best-known Republican in Illinois, is also the most vulnerable because he and U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., are the leading Republicans in Congress willing to speak out against former President Donald Trump’s lies, election denials and embrace of conspiracy theories. While being a national leader of the non-Trump wing of the GOP has raised his profile and fundraising ability, it also means it will be very difficult for him to win a GOP primary for a House seat in Illinois — no matter what the new Democratic-designed map looks like.
For the third quarter — covering July, August and September — Kinzinger raised $957,177 for his two political committees, the Sun-Times has learned. He took in $562,355 for his reelection war chest and $394,822 for his Future First Leadership PAC, used to bankroll his “Country First” drive to build a movement to break Trump’s grip on the Republican Party.
Kinzinger has $3.3 million cash on hand just for his reelection campaign. What is noteworthy about the haul is that Kinzinger raised the cash mainly through direct mail and digital appeals — not big events with headliners. That is a sign of strength.
What will Kinzinger do? He’d like to stay in the House. “His intention is to run,” said spokeswoman Maura Gillespie, who added, “We’ll have to see what the map shows, and then we can review his options.”
* Speaking of the former president…
Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday predicted that Republican voters will sit out the 2022 and 2024 elections if the GOP doesn’t somehow manage to reverse the results of the election he lost in 2020. […]
“If we don’t solve the Presidential Election Fraud of 2020 (which we have thoroughly and conclusively documented), Republicans will not be voting in ‘22 or ’24,” the former president wrote. “It is the single most important thing for Republicans to do”.
Um.
* Press release…
Today, organizer, activist, and nationally-recognized gun-violence-prevention advocate Kina Collins announced that her campaign for Congress raised over $100,000, marking the second consecutive quarter in which the progressive challenger outraised the 25-year incumbent Rep. Danny Davis in the IL-07 primary. Last quarter, Collins more than doubled Davis’ fundraising haul.
The announcement comes on the heels of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent trip to Chicago to help boost Davis’ floundering campaign, and after the Congressman attracted controversy for saying R. Kelly would be “welcomed back into Chicago” as a “gifted” artist after the singer was found guilty on charges relating to racketeering and child sexual abuse.
“Despite fundraising visits by Democratic leadership, our campaign outraised our corporate-backed opponent for the second quarter in a row,” said Kina Collins. “Unlike my opponent, I didn’t take a dime from Big Pharma or Big Oil. We are proving definitively here in IL-07 that people power is stronger than any political machine. I’m grateful for all the small-dollar donors who know that we don’t just need more Democrats in Congress, we need better Democrats. Thanks to them, we’re ready to win this race.”
We’ll see what happens when Davis kicks it into gear - or if.
* Press release…
Illinois Veterans for Change Chicago Launch
Illinois Veterans for Change supports Democrat Veteran candidates that value integrity, progress, and a commitment to advancing communities while also possessing the toughness necessary to govern. Founding members of the organization have Honorably served our country in uniform and are proud Veterans in our Community: Thomas Day (US Army Veteran) along with Stephanie Kifowit (USMC Veteran) are Co-Chairs of the organization. The rest of the executive board include: Jan Donatelli (US Navy Veteran), Rodrigo Garcia (USMC Veteran), Paul Knudtson (US Army Veteran), Nikita Richards (US Navy Veteran), Chase Wilhelm (US Army Veteran).
Illinois Veterans for Change is an established Political Action Committee with the Illinois State Board of Elections. Its mission to help elect Democrat Veterans on the local, county and state level of Government.
The committee has raised just $200 so far, but it’s brand new.
* Press release…
Today, Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06), announced his endorsement of Nikki Budzinski’s campaign in Illinois’ 13th District. A scientist, clean energy entrepreneur, and CEO, Congressman Casten has represented IL-06 since 2019. Congressman Casten serves on the House Financial Services Committee, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. Since coming to Congress, Congressman Casten has led on critical issues like climate change, energy efficiency, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Congressman Casten’s endorsement is the latest in a broad coalition of support that Budzinski is building, including The Communications Workers of America (CWA), The Heat and Frost Insulators, Elect Democratic Women, The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), State Treasurer Mike Frerichs, former IL-13 candidate Erik Jones, The Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois (AFFI), Rep. Cheri Bustos, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, UFCW Local 881, IBEW Locals 51, 146, 193, 309, 601 and 649, Pastor T. Ray McJunkins, State Representative Katie Stuart, County Chairs Bill Houlihan (Sangamon), Mark Pohlman (Jersey), Paul “Snow” Herkert (Calhoun), Ben Curtin (Christian) and Pam Monetti (Macoupin).
Congressman Sean Casten made the following statement: “I know we need advocates in Congress that are going to lead on issues that are going to make a difference in lives of working families across our state. In her work for President Biden, for the State of Illinois, and her career in the labor movement, I know we have an advocate in Nikki that will fight on critical issues like climate change and lowering the cost prescription drugs that are important to me. That’s why I’m happy to be supporting Nikki.”
Budzinski made the following statement: “I’m grateful for the work Congressman Casten has done on critical issues related climate, jobs, and working families. These are issues that are important to me, and that I want to fight for in Congress. I’m eager to work with Congressman Casten when I am elected next year.”
* Back to the governor’s race…
Gary Rabine, Republican candidate for Governor, issued the following statement on the City of Chicago’s policy to force police officers to provide vaccination status by October 15, or “be placed in a non-disciplinary, no-pay status.”
“The fact that City leaders would jeopardize the safety of Chicago residents by laying off police officers for not providing information about their vaccine status is appalling. These leaders don’t care about public safety, they only care about control. I stand with the brave men and women who keep our communities safe. Individuals should make their own healthcare decisions – not government bureaucrats.
As governor, I will vigorously oppose these types of policies and do everything I can to protect your freedom. To our police officers in Chicago and throughout Illinois, I stand with you.”
* And from the SoS race…
* More…
* Mike Thoms to announce candidacy for Illinois State Senate Thursday
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:17 am:
Sullivan is still confused about what valor he wants to claim.
Sullivan was not a member of any armed forces branch, correct?
In four tries, Sullivan feels this need to have military valor. It’s confusing why… or maybe not…
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:20 am:
Giannoulias, as a life-long Dem, your opponent has my vote.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:21 am:
==Dude at the gym earlier this morning literally had his LAPTOP on him and was full-on Zooming (with no headphones) while sitting on the leg curl machine like he was in his own kitchen. C’mon man, let’s do better.==
Dude, you need to lighten up a bit.
- cermak_rd - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:22 am:
I don’t know whether I will vote for G or not (it depends on who else jumps in the race, if he’s the nominee in the fall I will). But he is right in his tweet. Some folks have no sense of how to be normal.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:23 am:
-Individuals should make their own healthcare decisions – not government bureaucrats.-
Man, those pro-lifers just keep stepping on that rake.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:24 am:
Alexi is at the gym again? If he hasn’t already locked up the East Bank Club vote, his campaign is in trouble.
- yeti - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:26 am:
I guess Adam is job shopping too, eh OW?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:26 am:
Did Alexi run into Sullivan and his Gym-Bros on that listening tour?
Boy, I’d enjoy seeing that interaction… at the gym… Alexi, Sullivan, Gym-Bros… no laptops.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:28 am:
About the one consistent thing from those four iterations of the Sullivan website is him standing next to a tank… as a prop… that his job had nothing to do with no matter how you characterize it.
- OneMan - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:30 am:
See Alexi works out at XSport, not at the East Bank Club, he is just like you and me….
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:32 am:
=== I guess Adam is…===
(Sigh)
=== He’d like to stay in the House. “His intention is to run,” said spokeswoman Maura Gillespie, who added, “We’ll have to see what the map shows, and then we can review his options.”===
Keep up please.
I’d ask DeGroot why his response is different than this one.
===“His decision on what he would run for is kind of, dependent on redistricting and the timetable for that,” said Davis spokesman Aaron DeGroot. “So, I guess it’s just kind of a wait and see at this point.”===
“On what he would run for”
Or
“He’d like to stay in the House. ‘His intention is to run’”
- Independent - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:34 am:
Dude, Alexi has going on, man.
- John Lopez - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:35 am:
Looks like 2022 going to give us different versions of “stolen valor”, given the version control of Sullivan’s website.
In another race (FL-13), an Air Force veteran being accused of stolen Valor because of photo shoots her campaign uses in combat gear, but she was never deployed in combat zone.
2022 gonna be fun, now that Trump taking Lin Wood approach and dog-whistling voters to stay home next year unless 2020 results overturned.
- Montrose - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:41 am:
Nothing humanizes a candidate like #legday.
- Anon E Moose - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:42 am:
Alexi took one look at that gym and walked out
- Jocko - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:58 am:
==If we don’t solve the Presidential Election Fraud of 2020==
PEF should becoming a recurring character on Sesame Street like Snuffleupagus. No matter how hard we try, it seems like we just keep missing him.
- Banish Misfortune - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:59 am:
The fact that police would jeopardize the safety of Chicago residents by not providing information about their vaccine status is appalling.
There, fixed it.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 11:03 am:
Jesse Sullivan may not know about mission creep, but he sure knows about resume creep. Hopefully after this campaign people won’t trust him with their money.
I think running for a district that doesn’t exist yet is fun. Endorsing a candidate that isn’t an incumbent for a district that doesn’t exist is fun. Where is Nikki currently living? How did she decide on that address and how does she know it’s in the borders of the redrawn 13th district? Fun times. Hope they’re prepared for the ads that target her residency and address history.
As a progressive, I hope she’s prepared to talk about how much she’s owned by fossil fuel lobbyists before she asks us to cast votes for her.
- Bruce( no not him) - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 11:18 am:
No point in twitter shaming the zoom guy.
Just walk nearby and scream obscenities at the top of your lungs.
That will be much more entertaining for the rest of us, when he complains about you on twitter.
- BigLou - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 11:25 am:
@Alexi @DemEtiquette
Don’t endorse a republican and where have you been the past 10 years? Where you really offended because the guy didn’t tell the people on Zoon that you were there?
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 11:29 am:
As for Sullivan’s evolving description of that photo of him, I kind of feel for him. He went to a lot of trouble to get a photo like that for his future political campaign. Most people with his ambition volunteer to serve our country in uniform, but there are always going to be people like Sully who find a short cut.
It reminds me of those cheesy tee-shirts that say something like, “My parents went to Hawaii but all I got was this lousy tee-shirt.”
Well dang it, Sully went all the way to Afghanistan, and he got himself a photo of him next to a tank. And that’s way better than a tee-shirt.
His team needs to keep editing that caption until it no longer implies valor, leading, or combat. The October 8 version is close, at least he switched “led” for “served.” And that sounds way better than “tagged along with the real soldiers,” that might be the most accurate way to describe this period in his career.
I’m not sure it’s stolen valor, but it’s pretty close to borrowed valor.
- West Side the Best Side - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 11:53 am:
Sullivan campaign website October 24: “I can find Afghanistan on a map.”
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 11:55 am:
Maybe the guy was participating in an “Ethical Banking” Zoom webinar while working out.
- Dotnonymous - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 11:59 am:
I led…I definitely led…I probably led…I served…clearly?
- Rabid - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 12:01 pm:
Alot of human terrain to climb over for the primary team
- ;) - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 12:04 pm:
Alexi critique some broteinshake at the gym is the epitome of irony.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 12:10 pm:
Wonder if either Rodney Davis or Adam Kinzinger will look at the map and decide to take a stab at Secretary of State?
I know it would be a step down in prestige from Congressman and both have been D.C. creatures long enough that I expect them to go the lobbyist/consultant route if they don’t seek re-election to the House.
Also, JB and his money seems unbeatable to me given the GOP position on abortion and lingering anti-Trump sentiment I don’t see the gov’s race as winnable.
But secretary of state against Alexi? That seems different. And Davis has a hometown not far from Springfield and Kinzinger has some Downstate ties as well plus the office itself would be helpful in building a political army for future statewide campaigns and both are young enough they could go for governor or senator down the road.
- Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 12:20 pm:
“#legday”
Not exactly the WWII generation, are we.
- Pundent - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 12:28 pm:
=The fact that City leaders would jeopardize the safety of Chicago residents by laying off police officers for not providing information about their vaccine status is appalling.=
Doesn’t having an unvaccinated cop also jeopardize the safety of Chicago residents? It’s not like residents get to pick and choose which cops they get to interact with. But it is good reminder that Rabine continues to be pro-virus.
- Guy - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 12:40 pm:
Alexi Giannoulias, our Bro in Chief.
- Guy - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 12:41 pm:
==Sullivan campaign website October 24: “I can find Afghanistan on a map.”==
I’m almost sure Bailey couldn’t.
- Donnie Elgin - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 12:52 pm:
If Alexi is a member, makes one wonder where XsportFitness does its banking
- Juvenal - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 12:56 pm:
=== Operation Freedom’s Sentinel ===
So, he was under the NATO command as part of the withdrawal from Afghanistan?
No wonder this guy is dancing around so much about the specifics.
=== #legday ===
Really doing all he can to present himself as the Democrat’s Aaron Schock.
For his own sake, Someone needs to take the man’s cell phone away and give him a fidget spinner to play with instead.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 1:03 pm:
- hisgirlfriday -
I constantly wonder why SoS isn’t more tasty, as everyone waits out Pritzker. Pritzker ain’t going 3 terms.
So… build a patronage army, name ID, run in 5 years… and be relevant statewide.
Treasurer too.
That’s where hay is to be made.
- Jibba - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 1:22 pm:
===Pritzker ain’t going 3 terms.===
What makes you say that, OW? Not disagreeing, just wanting to know your thoughts. You think he’s moving up or moving out?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 1:29 pm:
=== What makes you say that…? Not disagreeing, just wanting to know your thoughts.===
If Pritzker wins, serves two terms, eight years on anyone with a family is a lot.
There are very few JRTs.
Of course I could be wrong, but thinking about how these past 2 years have been in any governing too… eight years seems about right.
“One race as a time”… as the saying goes.
Be well.
- Dotnonymous - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 2:15 pm:
Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened Senator Mitch McConnell and every other sitting Republican with losing their seats at the banquet…proving He was always willing to sink the Ship of State if He couldn’t be Captain.
- Lefty Lefty - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 2:24 pm:
When I saw “#legday” I immediately thought of the Canadian comedy Letterkenny. (Careful - pretty vulgar humor.)
The 2 hockey bros from town were getting bullied about leg day by their new teammates in the episode I just watched last night. Definitely not the imagery Mr. Giannoulias was looking for (I hope).
- Steve Rogers - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 3:00 pm:
I found an ad for Alexi’s gym on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwbR5uPoAZw
- Bad Goy Evich - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 3:31 pm:
OW makes an intriguing hint for Adam Kinzinger.
Kinzinger could make a very sharp and attractive contrast to Frerichs. On the one hand, you have a Republican who transcends party and on the other, an Old School Democratic enforcer against financial firms’ campaign donations.
Besides, that is one primary he could win.
- Mr. Green Genes - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 4:22 pm:
“I stand with the brave men and women who keep our communities safe.”
Unvaccinated brave men and women don’t keep our communities safe, the opposite is true.
- Annoyed - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 4:31 pm:
General comment to the ‘stolen valor’ crowd. I deployed to Afghanistan/Iraq/HOA numerous times and DoD civilians and contractors were just as much in the fight as active, guard and reserve members. For example, I flew into a particular airfield to swap out drones being flown by contractors that provided top cover to ‘TICs’ (troops in contact), i.e. in a firefight. They launched missiles into bad guys that saved service members. And DoD civilians wore the military uniform so they would be covered under the Geneva convention as lawful combatants. And finally Operation freedom sentinel was the new name for operation enduring freedom so I got a nato medal and Afghan medal and…well whatever all war trinkets. FYI I’m not even for Sullivan but want to let the blog know you really show your ignorance about the war in Afghanistan when you attack his service as DoD civilian deployed there.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 4:44 pm:
- Annoyed -
Which one of the 4 edited versions that Sullivan has churned out is actually anything to what he did?
If anything, it appears Sullivan is quite confused to what he did.
I know I can’t help that Sullivan has FOUR versions of what should be a simple story to this.
Maybe you should wonder why Sullivan has four versions, unless these four versions make sense to you.
Which of the other three attempts should I dismiss?
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 4:59 pm:
-when you attack his service as DoD civilian deployed there.-
I come from a military family, and he can’t even describe accurately what his service was. Let’s start there first - burden is on him. Second, do you really think it involved him and a tank in any way, shape or form? That’s what he is implying.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 5:16 pm:
===… do you really think it involved him and a tank in any way, shape or form? That’s what he is implying.===
Sullivan has had four attempts to explain whatever it is he’s gonna claim, will the fifth explain the tank?
- Siriously - Friday, Oct 15, 21 @ 8:47 am:
Thank you for calling out that guy Alexi. Thank you also for reminding me why I don’t go to gyms. Or exercise.