Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: “Cut somebody else”
Next Post: A bill we probably don’t need and some we might
Posted in:
* Alexi Giannoulias’ campaign is obviously planning to paint Mark Kirk as a definite vote to perpetuate the DC gridlock on President Obama’s proposals. Kirk is a smart guy, however, and is already trying to show that he won’t be an automatic “No” on everything…
U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk of Highland Park, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Illinois, opposes a Kentucky Republican senator’s stand against extension of unemployment benefits.
Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., is blocking action in the Senate to extend the benefits. The blocked legislation also includes some highway money and Bunning’s action has temporarily shut down more than 40 projects nationwide, including a $1 million road project in Alexander County in far southern Illinois.
“I voted for the unemployment extension last week,” Kirk told The State Journal-Register during a visit to Springfield Monday. “In Washington, 41 senators can stop something, but one senator can only delay it. My read on this is the vote is pretty much 99 to one.”
Kirk’s campaign recently admitted that their own polling showed pretty high approval ratings for Obama in Illinois. So, he has to make sure he is more identified with, say, the new Republican Massachusetts Senator, who broke the impasse on a recent jobs bill, than people like Bunning.
* Kirk also scored some big PR points on the Giannoulias family bank yesterday…
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kirk said Monday the fate of his Democratic rival’s family bank should be an issue of concern for voters.
“I think there’s no question that Alexi Giannoulias bears direct personal responsibility for reckless loans that could bankrupt the Broadway Bank,” Kirk said of the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee. “I also worry that the possible collapse of the Broadway Bank will leave taxpayers left paying for Alexi’s reckless loans.”
Kirk’s comments came after the Tribune reported Sunday that the bank’s chief executive, Demetris Giannoulias, said the family must raise at least $85 million by the end of April to prevent a government seizure of the financial institution. Demetris Giannoulias is the older brother of Alexi Giannoulias.
More…
“Alexi Giannoulias engaged in the same kind of reckless lending that brought our U.S. economy to its knees,” Kirk said.
The Giannoulias campaign response sounded more than a little canned…
“While Alexi hasn’t been at the bank for four years, Mark Kirk has been in Washington for a decade supporting the failed and reckless Bush policies that got us into this economic mess,” Strand said.
It’s not a bad point, mind you, but it just oozes “DC talking point” blandness.
* Meanwhile, failed Democratic comptroller candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi is stepping up his efforts to be appointed the Democratic lt. governor candidate…
In addition, the Indo-American Democratic Organization is trying to collect 10,000 signatures on Krishnamoorthi’s behalf to present to House Speaker Mike Madigan.
I just can’t see how they could skip over an also-ran in the lt. governor’s race and give the slot to an also-ran in the comptroller’s race. But both parties are actively courting Indo-Americans, who haven’t quite yet established themselves here. It’s a delicate balancing act for sure. And that may be why more are saying they should just leave the slot open, including, apparently, Senate President John Cullerton…
CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery has learned top Dems are seriously considering leaving the slot open while simultaneously asking Illinois voters to abolish the office entirely. […]
Wiping out the office of lieutenant governor would save millions of tax dollars. And Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said Monday that having nobody as lieutenant governor would be preferable to the rookie Republican candidate.
He’s Jason Plummer, a 27-year-old whose main experience involves working for his father’s downstate lumber company. Democrats saw an opening last week, after Plummer stumbled repeatedly during an interview on WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight.”
Cullerton on Monday expressed interest in floating a constitutional referendum to abolish the office of lieutenant governor, following the embarrassment his party endured over Cohen. Voters could be asked to approve the measure on the November ballot, if super-majorities in the House and Senate can approve the proposal this spring.
*** UPDATE *** The Democratic Party of Illinois has published the list online of everyone who has applied to be considered for the open lt. governor slot, as well as their applications and their resumes. Some even supply references. Click here to see the list. Some of the bigger names aren’t on the list, like Rep. Art Turner, Raja, etc.
…Adding… The links on that page appear to be working now.
* Related…
* NBC5 Broadway Bank coverage
* ABC7 Broadway Bank coverage
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 9:56 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: “Cut somebody else”
Next Post: A bill we probably don’t need and some we might
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Considering leaving the office open is an interesting tactic but something that I don’t agree with. If you are not intending to select anyone, why solicit applications for the slot?
If all the “D’s” (other than Cohen as it turns out) were qualified to be Lt. Governor, then how can you justify not picking #2?
Comment by Stones Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:12 am
Bunning isn’t running for re-election. He can play boogieman for the GOP. He is a natural. Bunning is going to be painted by a lot of people as some kind of chicken-fried moron, which he really isn’t. Bunning however is savvy enough to let himself be painted in this manner, I believe.
Kirk is going to start doing this with Brady soon if Brady still looks like a guy capable of winning only 25% of the statewide vote. 200+ votes isn’t going to stand in the way of Kirk’s career move to DC. Brady’s surprise win just sets him up as another Bunning. Especially with Plummer by his side.
Giannoulais needs to have a much better response here. For a long time, his campaign staff has had to know that Broadway Bank was going to be an issue. They had to have had something in place by now. This response is showing that someone isn’t doing their homework. Pretending that Giannoulais’ failing bank isn’t going to be an issue, is a remarkably stupid game. I just cannot believe that his team can be that stupid.
Broadway Bank is going to stay in the news, and stay in the campaign. It is high time for Giannoulais to make Broadway Bank an asset again. If he cannot, he will lose - even in deep blue Illinois.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:16 am
Anyone else not recognize any names on that LG list?
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:18 am
Maybe one or two. Not quite sure.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:19 am
Has the Dem state central committee set up a scenario that anyone that wants to considered for the lt. gov. spot has to submit an application? In other words, if Turner does not fill out the form and turn in his resume, cannot he not be considered?
Comment by Montrose Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:26 am
Too bad none of the links on the lt. gov page work.
Comment by TM Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:26 am
TM-agreed…Patrick Arbor is a familiar name…
Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:28 am
i think Arbor used to head up the CBOT…
Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:29 am
Rich:
Why don’t you ask what we think of the DPI Lite Guv site. It is worse than the budget site by a mile. The links don’t even work on this one.
Comment by Niles Township Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:30 am
TM, the links are working for me.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:30 am
But Kirk when Kirk did not voted to support the cap and trade bill he spent all that time persuading us he did not mean to support obama, and is really opposed to it.
I will take him at his word, he is opposed to obama, even when he might consider a yes vote, and he wants the support of Palin.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:31 am
correction: some of the links are working. Not all. I’ve asked why.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:31 am
“I just cannot believe that his team can be that stupid.”
Ya. Stupid enough to be THE Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate for an open seat in a Blue State.
Comment by True Observer Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:40 am
I am totally filling out that app when I drop my son off at preschool and get the baby down for a nap!
Comment by Rayne of terror Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:47 am
too funny that so many of the links don’t work - I wonder how many of the candidates are serious vs. just having fun.
re: Raja, he did quite well in my unscientific poll of fellow suburbanites, and he is a heck of a fundraiser, plus he came really close of pulling off a big upset against the cook county slated candidate. I imagine he’d work his butt off for Quinn. He is certainly not the only good choice, and I really hope the Dems pick someone who can help Quinn win in November.
Comment by Robert Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:48 am
I think the Giannoulias response to Kirk is awfully bad. By invoking the last four years, he’s essentially saying “Kirk was part of the national shipwreck, while Alexi was just part of the state shipwreck.” How is that good for anyone?
Comment by Sewanee Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:48 am
I recognize a couple names. I’m pretty sure they filled out the app as a joke.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:50 am
It is really a shame that Mark Kirk and Alexi G are nearly the exact same candidate. Unbelievably Alexi is more conservative than Mark Kirk is on a few key issues like guns and abortion.
While Mark Kirk has been running all over the political spectrum trying to endorse and condemn Sarah Palin in the same breath, and voting for cap and trade bills he has been losing the support of true conservatives. Many of whom will leave that vote blank.
Kirk probably has nothing to worry about because the republican party has no identity in Illinois, and therefore his votes and positions on the issues don’t matter, but no matter what happens with Alexi’s broadway bank, this republican is voting for Giannoulias.
Comment by Moving to Oklahoma Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:54 am
I clicked on a dozen of the form and resume links on the DPI website and got an error message saying that the file was damaged and could not be repaired. Others having this problem?
Also, I am really hoping that on March 5th when the election results are certified that there will be vote totals for each Committeeman and Committeewoman on the State Board of Elections website so we can see who will have how many votes. It is possible that a few of the Chicago congressional districts would have enough votes that they could control the nomination if they voted as a block. I’d like to see what the numbers are there.
Comment by Lakefront Liberal Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:54 am
Dean Koldenhoven on the LG list is Paul Vallas’ father-in-law.
Comment by GA Watcher Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:56 am
“Brady’s surprise win just sets him up as another Bunning.” I think its a too big of a stretch to associate Bunning and Brady even relative to Kirk’s run. Kirk is no doubt running in the middle and Brady is a conservative but the Bunning ploy is a different matter. He’s on his way out, is PO’d and is frying a whole different kettle of fish.
Comment by RobRoy Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:56 am
Leaving the Lt.Gov spot open is a sharp move on Madigan’s part. It is a move of convenience not conviction.
Madigan and the dems can pretend to want to save money, eliminating unnecessary gov’t spending and offices. They can also focus attention on the young pup Plummber who has little business being potentially one step from the Gov. office. Focus on Plummer can only hurt Brady.
Not that it matters too much, but with Quinn back in office, I think Lisa M would be next in line w/ no Lt.Gov. This won’t matter because though Quinn may be disappointing, weak and indecisive he is not a crook.
Madigan knows how to play his hand.
Comment by jaded voter Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:59 am
As Brady sours, Kirk has to create a workable position against Brady in Illinois, or Brady’s problems could rub off against Kirk.
So if Brady is still struggling against his own mouth and voting record, Kirk will have to add Brady to the list of Republicans he isn’t like.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:59 am
“Failed and reckless Bush policies…” blah, blah, blah. Is this really the best Alexi’s puppet-masters can do?
Alexi is in a box and he can’t get out of it. He can’t claim that his work as treasurer has earned him a Senate seat. The Bright Start problems and state’s fiscal disaster run counter to that narrative. He certainly can’t claim anything good about his experience as a banker. And the “that was ages ago” excuse is worse than lame. The I’ll dutifully support Obama line will cut both ways and is much less helpful with independents than it was a year ago. And while Obama is still popular at home, it doesn’t translate into blind support for all his policies nor does it translate into sure votes for Alexi.
All he really has is empty rhetoric, which is what you’d expect from an empty suit.
The coverage across the country of Broadway Bank and Alexi’s inability to come up with a cogent response is probably crippling his fundraising efforts and diminishing enthusiasm for him among DC Dems. If the bank goes belly up, the Dems better pray it is soon because they will have to find a new candidate and find him/her $10 million overnight.
Comment by Adam Smith Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:05 am
Few conservatives will skip the U.S. Senate section, of the ballot. At least two conservatives will run, as third-party or independent candidates.
Comment by Conservative Veteran Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:05 am
Question about Alexi G. He is the Dem nominee for Senate. But what about him merits this seat. Does anyone really think he is a good or strong candidate? Pushing up these liteweights into office only mucks up the sensible functioning of gov’t.
Comment by jaded voter Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:08 am
===But what about him merits this seat. ===
This is a democracy, not a meritocracy.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:09 am
Rich M,
If it is just about having the cash to win the seat, why the hubub about Scott Lee Cohen? He literally paid is ‘dues’.
Why bother talking about issues when it just down to cash for TV spots and a poorly informed and thus easily mislead voting public?
Can we not expect more?
Comment by jaded voter Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:20 am
“This is a democracy, not a meritocracy.”
That’s two days in a row you had to use that line. You would think Illinois voters and certainly readers of this blog would know that by now.
Comment by Prognosis Negative Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:21 am
===why the hubub about Scott Lee Cohen?===
Are you totally daft, man?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:22 am
===Why bother talking about issues when it just down to cash for TV spots and a poorly informed and thus easily mislead voting public?===
Talk about issues all you want, but try to do it in a way that doesn’t make you look like a doofus hyper partisan, please. Thanks.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:23 am
Bob Arya for LT Governor!!! He has the creditial of being fired by Blago!!! LOL
Comment by HMMM Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:29 am
I looked at the list. I do not recognize anybody. I think Madigan is onto something by just leaving the line blank on the ballot. Prevents the same kind of circus atomosphere that brought us Alan Keyes.
train111
Comment by train111 Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:38 am
I think we all agree that a Fed take over Broadway would all but kill Alexi’s candidacy. Is there any chance a FDIC “raid” at the bank would result in various Dem big wigs pressuring Alexi to quit the race, ala Jack Ryan?
I think it’s unlikely, but ya never know. I guess the biggest problem is finding another candidate…since the big wigs couldn’t talk anyone else into the primary race to begin with.
Comment by R.T. Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:54 am
CV-I’d love to hear about the two “third-party or independent candidates” for Senate. First, too late for any additional third party candidates. They have to be nominated in the primary. Second, and independent has to get 25,000 good signatures by June to get on the ballot. No one is announced. No one is circulating petitions. That’s going to be a tall order given that the ususal suspects on the right wing have not exactly shown themselves to be organizational powerhouses.
The one time a wing-nut tried to run as an independent in recent memory was Steve Baer in 1994. His petitions were so bad that he withdrew before the State Board tossed him.
Comment by Adam Smith Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:00 pm
“I think we all agree that a Fed take over Broadway would all but kill Alexi’s candidacy.”
I don’t think we all agree. If it hadn’t happened to hundreds of banks already… then maybe.
But it is commonplace these days, unfortunately.
Comment by George Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:07 pm
Rich M,
I’m hardly partisan. What statement of mine could possibly interpreted as partisan? I want good responsible gov’t.
You are the one questioning my inquiry into Alexi S’s merit? If we don’t structure our politics to get better or more qualified people into office, we will have to continually accept those who have big cash or access to cash to acquire office…like Scott Lee Cohen, Blago, George Ryan or Alexi.
Comment by jaded voter Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:17 pm
I really hope they leave the Lt. Gov spot open and I’m giddy that they are seriously considering it. There are legal ramifications to leaving that spot blank down the road that most people won’t even think of. Illinois has a full slate requirement for “new” parties. But the Dems don’t have to follow it? If they do this, Lisa Madigan is going to lose another case in the 7th. A full slate law for others but not for the Democrats? That will negate the “states interest” argument. Typical anti-democratic Democrat behavior for Illinois.
Comment by TaxMeMore Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:27 pm
===
As Brady sours, Kirk has to create a workable position against Brady in Illinois, or Brady’s problems could rub off against Kirk.
===
I don’t know, V-Man. I can see the potential prob, but taking a position against Brady would seem to be a very extreme solution t/b implemented only if truly required. Do you really think the negative impact on Kirk could be that high if the two campaigns work together but aren’t joined too closely at the hip?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:37 pm
Dean Koldenhoven is also a former mayor of a suburban city and was one of the people featured in Caroline Kennedy’s “Profiles in Courage II” or whatever it was called for his efforts to rein in his town’s efforts to discourage a Muslim group from buying an unused church to use for their worship. Not sure how old he would be though.
Comment by girllawyer Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:44 pm
there is simply no question that if mark kirk is elected to the senate he will be obstructing president obama’s agenda. more to the point, he will be filibustering it.
this election, to fill barack obama’s senate seat, is about one thing: does illinois support its president or does illinois want to join alabama, mississippi, idaho and utah in tearing this president down. mark kirk will filibuster the obama agenda and alexi giannoulias will support our favorite son.
as for the question of qualifications, alexi has served the state well as treasurer and has demonstrated considerable independence from the political machine that has wrecked illinois. mark kirk has served in congress at a time when republicans became brutally partisan, questioning the patriotism of other americans. kirk stood by while his party vilified those who disagreed with it. more to the point, kirk stood by the worst sec. of defense when they planned to invade iraq because of 9-11! kirk clearly lacks the moral compass to be in the senate, and has shown considerably bad judgment in his defense of rumsfeld, bush and the elective (and immoral) invasion of iraq.
i’d rather elect someone who has shown admirable independence of his party anyday! alexi not only deserves out vote but illinois can be proud of this senate seat again!
Comment by bored now Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:52 pm
Bob “What About Bob” Arya for lite gov? My sides are splitting from laughing so hard. This submittal is no joke. This man has a seriously heightened sense of self image. Do you remember his memo during the blago impeachment hearings? This man is a bit of a narcicist himself.
Comment by anon Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:59 pm
“a decade…supporting the failed… Bush policies that got us into this economic mess…”
“not a bad point”
Not a bad point? It’s “not a bad point” to make politically if the electorate is saturated with morons who swallow Democratic and liberal sloganeering whole.
But that isn’t the electorate. I think the vast majority of people in this state know that neither Bush nor his “policies” were the reason for the 2008 financial crisis. They understand that many players, Democrats included, share the blame for the financial crisis and the recession.
But stating its “not a bad point” merely helps promote political ignorance, something I thought this blog stood against.
Comment by Conservative Republican Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:05 pm
Bored, with respect to your ludicrous DNC talking points (Alexi has been a great treasurer/Kirk is a GOP puppet), I refer back to my previous comment…
Empty rhetoric for an empty suit.
I love this campaign strategy. Claiming Alexi personifies competence and cleanliness while Kirk is the evil pawn of robber barons will only fly with the Democrat base which will believe almost anything they are fed. Meanwhile, moderates and independents are getting a steady diet of MSM coverage of the Broadway Bank disaster. I wonder if it’s starting to sink in?
Comment by Adam Smith Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:14 pm
Rich M.
“are you daft?” My Irish grandma was the last to ask me that.
Comment by jaded voter Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:16 pm
Do you really think the negative impact on Kirk could be that high if the two campaigns work together but aren’t joined too closely at the hip?
Yes. Brady is electoral poison. Sharing a ticket with him is all Kirk should do.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:32 pm
I do not believe that the name of the person who can receive a majority of the weighted vote of the Democratic State Central Committee has appeared yet on that list.
Comment by fedup dem Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:43 pm
Just imagine if the Dems leave the line blank and someone runs as a write-in who’s worse than Cohen. It wouldn’t take many votes for a write-in, especially if it there was a group backing the candidate.
Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:44 pm
**Just imagine if the Dems leave the line blank and someone runs as a write-in who’s worse than Cohen.**
The Gov/Lt Gov run together as a combined ticket in the general election.
Pretty sure that you can’t write someone in for Lite Gov without writing someone in for Governor.
Comment by dave Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:56 pm
Bored
as we learned in Mass. it’s the people seat not Obamas. and right now thanks to the Dems its a goof named Roland Burris seat. Maybe we could fram the question of it being do we want a failed loan officer who made bad loans to mobsters that the taxpayers will have to pay for going to washington during the worst fiscal crisis in 50 years.
Comment by fed up Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:00 pm
If PQ doesn’t have a candidate for lite gov that means (blank) is a heartbeat from the gov mansion. Is that what you’all want - (blank) a heartbeat from PQ’s office? Are you all daft?
Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:19 pm
It would just go in line of succession
Comment by George Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:22 pm
Last time I checked the voters of each politcal party voted for a Lt. Gov. candidate…are our wishes not being taken into account when the Madigan machine discusses leaving the post open?
Comment by Jackson Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:25 pm
Be careful what you wish for. Last I saw the people wished to have Scott Lee Cohen in that post.
Comment by jaded voter Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:28 pm
===thanks to the Dems its a goof named Roland Burris seat===
Yeah, thanks to the Dems. We all got together, and I mean all of us, and voted unanimously to make Roland our Senator. None of us opposed it. We supported him and welcomed him with open arms, then convinced him to run for another 6 years. Get a clue. Paint with such a broad stroke and you’re sure to get some on yourself.
Comment by Obamarama Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:29 pm
it’s absolutely the people’s seat! but it is empty because the good people of america saw fit to elect one of illinois’ senators to the presidency. it would be a slap in the face to both america and illinois to elect mark kirk, who will only serve to obstruct president obama and his agenda to finally move this country forward.
what happened in massachusetts makes that choice more clear: do we elect someone who will go to d.c. to support our president, or do we elect a beltway insider in the dick cheney tradition who will obstruct our favorite son and filibuster president obama? in illinois, the answer to that seems kinda clear (as displayed in the poll app that rich has set up)…
Comment by bored now Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:43 pm
Obama,
True, but Dems did put the clown Blago in office for 2 terms. And clown Blago installed clown Burris. This and much more pain and embarrassment could have been avoided by choosing the decent and competent Paul Vallas over Blago back in 2002. Choices have consequences. Choose wisely.
Comment by jaded voter Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:47 pm
Downstate Wrote:
Just imagine if the Dems leave the line blank and someone runs as a write-in who’s worse than Cohen. It wouldn’t take many votes for a write-in, especially if it there was a group backing the candidate.
Excellent point! Doesn’t that open the office to a special interest candidate?
Comment by Stones Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 3:07 pm
You can’t have a write-in, since the Gov and lt. gov run on the same line.
Comment by George Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 3:19 pm
Alexi is desperately talking about GWB to avoid talking about what is starting to emerge as a pattern of reckless behavior (risky loans to criminals, taking big dividends while the bank is undercapitalized, risky investments at bright start) Meanwhile Kirk is working to root out fraud and waste in Cook County’s Project Shield and standing up to a member of his own party on extending unemployment benefits.
Alexi Gainnoulias - we can’t afford the risk.
Comment by 10th Indy Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 3:32 pm
==filibuster president obama==
Bored, if you still have your old civics book up in the attic you may want to review the chapter on separation on powers. I’ve heard Rahm doesn’t let those filibusterers even near the oval office.
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 3:33 pm
Here we go again with Vallas. Enough already. Also, the “Dems” weren’t the only ones responsible for putting Blago into office. You “clowns” nominated Jimmy Ryan and JBT to run against him. Sorry for winning. It is what we were supposed to do. The ILGOP should try it sometime.
Comment by Obamarama Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 3:38 pm
Obama,
I don’t get the argument. Is it about winning or trying to get good “public service orientated” candidates in office. If a jerk wins your primary [Say Blago or G. Ryan] you are helpless and have to vote for him—just following orders [as some old nazis used to say]?
Who wins when people blindly follow their party and elect clowns or jerks?
Comment by jaded voter Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 4:14 pm
responsa: i said: “there is simply no question that if mark kirk is elected to the senate he will be obstructing president obama’s agenda. more to the point, he will be filibustering it.”
i’m not sure what you fail to understand…
Comment by bored now Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 4:16 pm
No if Kirk wins he will be representing the citizens of Il in the senate. Electing alexi is a rubber stamp
Comment by Fed up Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 4:28 pm
Amazing…Kirk is the bad guy because he might fight against one of the President’s projects, but Alexi should win because he will rubber stamp everything from the president…spoken like a true partisan. At least Kirk has the voting record to back up his claim as a moderate…I guess Alexi can fall back on his financial decisions…oops.
Comment by A.B, Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 4:44 pm
kind of funny to be called a partisan. ab, you seem to assume that mark kirk will go into the senate and pursue his own agenda. if you think that, you’re extraordinarily naive. he’ll go in and support mitch mcconnell and the republican caucus. just like he supported george bush, dick cheney and donald rumsfeld. he’s already shown his willingness to support republican policies despite the interests of his congressional district. if elected, mark kirk won’t represent illinois, but the republican leadership in the senate.
alexi not only has demonstrated political independence from his party, but the party actually ran a brutal campaign to keep him from getting elected! it is mark kirk, not alexi giannoulias, who will serve as a rubber stamp to their partisan leadership. alexi has already shown independence from his partisan leadership!
and i’m quite comfortable with the financial decisions for which alexi is responsible. the treasurer’s office made money on the funds that the state entrusted to it. judy barr topinka started bright start, the fund itself is a prime example of republican thinking, and it seems to me that alexi was aggressive about suing the company that failed to disclose properly its movement of the fund from the conservative practices that the treasurer’s office (under both topinka and giannoulias) demanded. you’d never see a republican like mark kirk do that. we should be thankful that alexi has been our treasurer, and grateful that illinois is about to get a young, energetic and independent democrat as its next senator…
Comment by bored now Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 5:06 pm
Bored Now,
STOP NOW!
Kirk won a Democratic district for the past 10 years. Had he been a Southern Republican, he would have been voted out by now. He has been playing the fence so to speak and representing his district very very well — this is coming from a Democrat.
Do you want independence? Kirk had one of the lower partisanship scores the past 10 years in Congress. You’re not getting Bunning or Shelby; you’ll be getting George Vonovich or Snowe or Collins. Moderate Republican senators more interested in moving the nation forward rather than playing political games — which you’re engaging in.
Or do you want a blind fool leading you? Because Alexi was either incredibly stupid or completely blind in loaning money to mobsters. To those associated with murders (sorry Rich but it’s true, see Sprios Naos, his connection with Jack Abramoff). Or to invest in a conservative mutual fund that was anything but conservative — and then lied about it?
To George, there have a few 100 banks taken over by the Feds and that number will rise. But there are 10,000 small banks that haven’t gone under, that won’t go under, that did their homework, actually checked who they were loaning money to, and had diversified businesses practices. Unfortunately for Alexi and his family, Broadway Bank will be one of the 3-5 percent of small banks that don’t survive. That’s called knowing what you’re doing or in the Giannoulias family: failure.
He knew he was loaning money to dirty people in order to take shortcuts and look successful. He knew the same thing Bright Start too. Shortcuts. When you take shortcuts, they end biting you in the behind. Vote for Alexi, you’ll get your bottom biten too.
Grateful? I guess with your lotto ticket your kid will be going to college unlike those who trusted Alexi and Bright Start. Grateful? I guess you’re Alexi because only he could possibly come up with that load of garbage.
Comment by Anon7 Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 5:53 pm
Thanks for the list of Lite Gov applicants. The choice is much more clear now- To win in November, they definately have to go with this guy Jahnke because he is endorsed by the “Chopin Park Horseshoe Association” !!
Comment by Leatherneck_68 Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 7:28 pm
What is not in the quote from the article on Broadway Bank is that even if Broadway fails (BIG if), no taxpayer dollars are at stake. No one is harmed other than the stakeholders of the bank. The FDIC insurance is paid for, not with tax dollars, but with bank fees. Unless FDIC goes broke, not tax dollars will ever be used to bail out Broadway. The media is finally starting to report this.
This is not a story of harm to citizens, it is one of a million stories about a struggling, once successful, family business, in a horrible economy.
BTW, Kirk has voted 94% with GWB economic policies druing GWB’s presidency. Who is more responsible for the economic collapse? Alexi as a loan officer at a family heald community bank, or a congressman who voted lock step with the deregulation and tax giveaways of the last decade.
One last point, to OKLAHOMA above, on what planet is Kirk more “pro-choice” than Alexi? He look at Kirks record. All the major pro-chice groups list him as Anti-choice, Anti-privacy.
Comment by sucka free Wednesday, Mar 3, 10 @ 8:34 am