* I just finished a panel discussion at Roosevelt University’s Schaumburg campus. The panel was led by the illustrious Paul Green. House GOP campaign director Kevin Artl, House Speaker Michael Madigan’s press secretary Steve Brown and Daily Herald political editor Joe Ryan all sat on the panel with yours truly.
Thanks to blueroomstream.com, you can watch the entire thing in two parts…
* And the DSCC has a new Mark Kirk hearts Sarah Palin video…
* Meanwhile, reaction is coming in from GOP gubernatorial candidates to Gov. Quinn’s plan to bring Gitmo prisoners to the Thomson prison.
First up, Andy McKenna…
“The only thing that makes less sense than trying to solve our budget crisis by bringing terrorists to Illinois is promoting this plan as if it were a good thing for Illinois families.
“Gov. Quinn appears to be taking an “Alice in Wonderland” approach to his role as governor; the state’s not really nearly bankrupt, and what we really need to do is bring some terrorists here.
“As Governor I would not support this extreme plan and I call on the General Assembly to act swiftly and decisively to put a halt to Governor Quinn’s attempts to put terrorists in our neighborhoods.”
Kirk Dillard…
“As governor, my first priority would be to ensure the safety and security of Illinois residents. Therefore, I oppose using the Thomson Correctional Center or any Illinois prison to house Al Qaeda suspects. Under a Dillard Administration, we will not make our state a potential target if any of these terror suspects stand trial and are convicted in an Illinois courtroom. This is a matter of national security, and I applaud the Illinois Republican delegation in Congress for standing firmly against the closing of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.”
Dan Proft…
“This is a terrible idea that threatens the safety of Illinois residents.
“It is emblematic of the Obama administration’s erratic public policy choices. The President issues an edict that he will close Gitmo without a plan for the detainees there. Instead of keeping suspected terrorists off domestic soil, the President and Governor Quinn are poised to bring to Illinois those with the ability to operate beyond the walls of any prison.
“We should be utilizing the Thomson prison to relieve prison overcrowding in Illinois’ existing 28 state prisons. According to a report issued by Illinois Auditor General Bill Holland this fall, Illinois’ prisons are 32 percent over capacity currently.
“We should bring Thomson fully online in a way that addresses our current capacity needs and enhances the security of both frontline DOC workers and the general public instead of potentially endangering both by bringing persons suspected to be connected to terrorist networks to Illinois.
“I call on President Obama and Governor Quinn to rethink this poorly conceived idea.”
And Democrat Dan Hynes…
“I support President Obama’s commitment to close Guantanamo Bay because it’s important for America’s image abroad, and for our national security. The kneejerk, alarmist response by some to this news is not helpful, in my opinion. That said, there are more questions than answers right now, and I have serious concerns. I am going to withhold judgment until I have a chance to see all the details and understand the entire picture.”
Then there was conservative GOP US Senate candidate Patrick Hughes…
“I am vehemently opposed to bringing enemy combatants, including the Gitmo prisoners, to Illinois and was also opposed the closing of Guantanamo Bay. This is failure of leadership of the Democrats - from the President down to Governor Quinn. As U.S. Senator, I will enact policies that will advance America’s national security interests and oppose any plans that weaken those interests - like this one being proposed by the Obama Adminstration.”
And the IL GOP took a whack at Democratic US Senate candidate Alexi Giannouolias…
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady today called on Democrat Alexi Giannoulias to end his silence on the biggest homeland security question to face the State of Illinois since September 11th.
While Governor Quinn, Senator Durbin and every other Democrat running for U.S. Senate says they support a plan to bring roughly 200 terrorists from Guantanamo Bay to Thomson, Illinois, Giannoulias refuses to take a position.
On Sunday morning, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that while Democrats Cheryle Jackson, Jacob Meister and David Hoffman all supported the plan, “other prominent Democrats, including Alexi Giannoulias, who is running for Senate…declined to take a stance on the issue.”
Last night, the Associated Press reported that the three Senate candidates reiterated their support at a candidate forum in Rockford, but “Alexi Giannoulias, the state treasurer, skipped the debate.”
“If Alexi Giannoulias cannot take a stand on a critical homeland security issue, he is not ready to be a U.S. Senator,” Chairman Brady said. “While Congressman Kirk leads the effort to defend the security of Illinois families and all other Democrats in the race state their position, Alexi Giannoulias declined to take a stance. Alexi’s silence is deafening.”
