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* Congressman Mark Kirk said far more at that event earlier this week than previously reported.
As we’ve already discussed, media coverage has mostly focused on Kirk’s referring to President Obama as “this guy” when talking about how Obama could be made a one-termer and then his health insurance reform bill could be repealed…
“This is a good example of why Washington is broken. You have Congressmen like Mark Kirk who are more interested in disrespectful name calling than in going to work in Washington and getting things done like passing financial reform and healthcare reform.”
But as I wrote yesterday, the substance of his remarks are probably more important. Kirk began his presentation thusly…
“I’m Mark Kirk and I can’t wait to vote against the health care bill next week.”
That got some loud applause.
And he summed up this way…
“As your senator, I would lead the effort to repeal this bill.”
In between came the rationale…
“I will just say, if it goes through, there is one thing about the bill not commonly known, all of the pain of the bill is upfront, and all of the gain is later. The bill includes ten new federal taxes, and dramatic cuts for senior healthcare under Medicare between 2010 and 2014. The actual benefit of the bill doesn’t start until 2014.
“In between this time and then, is a presidential election. If we can win in the White House, and we’re on the way to making this guy a one termer.
“If we move to repeal this bill in 2013, all you’re doing is removing the pain and not a single American would have benefited from it yet.”
You can listen to the full audio by clicking here.
David Axelrod responded…
“As for health insurance reform, people across Illinois and the country will have greater security this year, once the President signs this law.
“Small businesses will receive tax credits to help them afford health coverage for their workers.
“People with pre-existing conditions will finally have access to coverage they can afford.
“The lifetime caps on coverage that insurance companies impose today will be banned, and they will no longer be allowed to throw people off their coverage, just because they become seriously ill.
“The gaps in Medicare prescription coverage will be filled in, saving seniors across our state hundreds of dollars our of pocket.
“So if Congressman Kirk wants to travel our state and explain why he wants to take all that away and put insurance company bureaucrats back in the driver’s seat, he should.
“It may titilate a roomful of partisans, but I don’t think it’s going to impress the people of Illinois,” Axelrod said.
* Kirk also provided yet another explanation for why he flip-flopped on the cap and trade issue…
“I am against the cap and trade bill because I am for increased employment in the state of Illinois.”
In the past, Kirk used national security and cost as reasons for voting for the bill…
Kirk was the only member of the GOP’s Midwest delegation to vote for the bill. He told the Daily Herald he backed the plan because he wants the U.S. to end its reliance on foreign oil, especially the fuel produced in unfriendly nations such as Iran.
“They are arming against us with money we send them,” Kirk said. “We (must) defund the terrorists and the unstable regimes.”
Kirk also said he discussed the proposal with officials from Midwest Generation, which operates a coal-burning power plant in Waukegan. To his surprise, they supported the legislation.
The energy- and building-code regulations included in the bill actually are less stringent than those already in place in Illinois, Kirk said.
But when he decided to run for Senate, he got such an earful that he changed his mind and came up with this excuse…
“I voted for it because it was in the narrow interest of my Congressional district. But as your representative… representing the entire state of Illinois, I would vote no on that bill coming up.”
Kirk also addressed the “flip-flop” charge the other day…
“If you’re going to change your view on an issue, do it up-front, do it in public, do it on YouTube.”
The problem with Kirk’s “openness” comment is that Kirk rarely allows reporters to cover his events. The YouTube video of the first instance of Kirk’s flip-flop was taken by somebody who fed it to the national Democrats. Reporters weren’t invited to the event. Lynn Sweet…
Kirk’s staffers refuse to release Kirk’s campaign or governmental schedules in order to discourage routine press coverage, so remarks Kirk makes on the stump are rare. During the primary campaign Kirk’s political operation declined–even after the fact–to release any details of where he went to speak or raise money.
You can listen to the full cap and trade Kirk audio by clicking here.
* In reply to all of this, Kirk is trying to change the subject back to Alexi Giannoulias. From a press release…
Kirk Campaign Launches “Giannis Watch”
Online clock will track how long it takes Alexi Giannoulias to explain $1.2 million loan to Nick Giannis in 2002 despite criminal record;
Giannis arrested last week for bank fraud, contributed nearly $115,000 to Giannoulias campaigns, convicted on gun charge in 1996
* Related…
* Obama Skirts Illinois Visits So Far as Democrats Battle Scandal: “He is going to get tarred with the outcome in Illinois whether he comes here or not,” [David Yepsen] said. “It is going to be portrayed as a referendum on him.”
* Illinois Senate Candidate Mines Health Care Opposition
* Kirk takes shot at health care legislation
* A tough stretch for Giannoulias
* Running for Obama’s Old Seat, and Set on Derailing His Plans
* Illinois GOP borrows Brown’s strategy in bid to grab Obama seat
* Charged Chicago Donor Also Gave to Obama’s Campaigns
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 9:11 am
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Mark Kirk is clearly a very confused guy.
Comment by just sayin' Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 9:14 am
so the fact that insurance companies will immediately be prohibited from locking out customers because they have pre-existing conditions is not a benefit?
oh, wait. mark kirk doesn’t care about people. he’s a beltway insider and he needs to stick to mitch mcconnell’s script. so much for being independent! i guess kirk is independent — independent from the people of illinois!. just sayin’ hit the nail on the head…
Comment by bored now Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 9:21 am
Anyone else having trouble playing the audio of the Kirk Cap and Trade quote?
Comment by Anon Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 9:40 am
I just played it again and it works. Try downloading it.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 9:41 am
The new PPP poll has the Republicans up on the generic ballot by 20 points. Rasmussen has now a 10 point difference between generic party candidates, favoring the GOP.
This health care situation is the wrong bill, at the wrong time, pushed through Congress the wrong way, and will lose votes for Democrats this year and in 2012.
Kirk is no dummy. I agree with Paul Green that Kirk should avoid Obama bashing, but this health care situation is nothing but fertile ground for Kirk this year.
This is a loser issue for Democrats in many ways. Kirk is no dummy.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 9:44 am
Kirk has righted himself right into the losing wing of the GOP.
I don’t give a rat’s *&% about anything Alexi did at that bank now. I might have before, but Alexi has the default icon printed all over him now.
Too bad. The cap and trade vote gave Kirk some credibility that he might be a moderate thinker instead of a right wing, knee jerk reactionary.
Comment by vole Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 9:46 am
Mark Kirk is a living example of what the Republican Party has become. It is no longer about what is good for the people, but what is good for the party. The concept of the Loyal Opposition has vanished into a romantic past when politics was viewed as the art of compromise instead of the techniques of bullying.
Would you scorch the earth in the name of your ambitions, Congressman Kirk?
Comment by Aldyth Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 9:50 am
I don’t give a rat’s *&% about anything Alexi did at that bank now.
—————
Can’t manage a few bank accounts, and you want to give him a vote with what happens to our taxpayers dollars. No thank you, and I’m a Dem.
Comment by Niles Township Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 9:51 am
===The new PPP poll has the Republicans up on the generic ballot by 20 points. ===
From PPP’s blog…
===Republicans continue to lead the national generic Congressional ballot by three points, as has been the case on every PPP poll so far in 2010. 46% of voters say they would vote for the GOP if there was an election today compared to 43% who would go Democratic.===
What are you smoking, dude?
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 9:51 am
That’s registered voters, not likely voters.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 9:52 am
Yes, because no elected official EVER changes his or her mind on any legislative issue.
Give me a break.
The healthcare reform proposal is a good example of how legislative matters can change over time - and how politicians’ opinions and votes can also change. The healthcare proposal currently in front of the Senate & House is not the same as last fall’s version. The abortion language is stripped and several of the funding mechanisms were altered. Medicaid expansion for every state was added. A lot of key and moderate Congressional Democrats have signaled they may not vote for the new version. Why? The calls to their offices and the pressure from various special interests have given many fence-sitting MOCs reason to rethink their vote.
The same logic applies to any giant piece of legislation. Cap-and-trade is a VERY large and complex proposal. Mark Kirk voted for it and has expresses doubt and regret since. Am I missing something? How does that necessarily make him any different or worse than other politicians who have found themselves in tough reelection or campaign bids?
A great example for those who think I’m merely spouting is Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. Senator Lincoln voted in favor of Senate Majority Leader Reid’s healthcare plan on Christmas Eve. She is now possibly a “no” vote. Why? She faces numerous challenges in her home state - even from within her own party.
So please cut the bologna when attempting to paint Kirk as anything different than the current crop of fence-sitting elected officials.
Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 9:52 am
I also tried the cap and trade link and can’t get it to work. Downloaded health care and cap and trade. Health care works fine, but the cap and trade looks like it’s playing, but has no sound.
Comment by Anon2 Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 9:54 am
PPP poll results published yesterday:
Do you support or oppose President Obama’s health care plan, or do you not have an opinion?
45% Support, 49% Oppose, 6% No opinion (chart)
2010 Congress: Generic Ballot
46% Republican, 43% Democrat (chart)
Job Approval / Disapproval
Dems in Congress: 31 / 56
Reps in Congress: 23 / 60
Both the HC results and the generic ballot are just outside the margin of error. Don’t know what you’re reading VM, but it ain’t the PPP poll results.
When people like friends of mine don’t use up their daughter’s lifetime cap when she’s 3 years old, and when pre-existing conditions don’t exist anymore, people are gonna love the Democrats. And this will happen in November.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 9:54 am
It’s weird that, given his problems with reading, VanillaMan can write so well.
If Kirk wants to campaign against Obama and health care, he will be working in a corner office at Boeing next January.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 9:58 am
The right-leaning Rasmussen outfit came up with a 10-point spread in favor of the Republicans using likely voters. Still can’t find your data, VM.
And likely voters today aren’t the same likely voters in November. People are going to like this health care bill once it’s done.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 10:04 am
The problem with the senate race is exemplified in this post. Giannulius is just a state treasurer, a post that operates primarily in the background. Kirk is a sitting congressman who is active in important legislation and thus more open to sniping. The public loses as a result. Kirk is always at risk of looking bad, while Giannulius benefits from the fact that any complaints are vapor complaints. So, in my opinion we have to weigh the negative about Kirk (flip flopper on deciding important issues and working for the public) versus Giannulius (loans to mobsters/corrupt banker/did not do his job on Bright Start) and think which is a real tip of the iceberg and which is a good solid piece of information on the character and integrity of the candidate.
Otherwise we end up with another Blago, Ryan, Rostenkowski.
Comment by fredformerAnon Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 10:04 am
47th Ward: kirk has future high-priced lobbyist written all over him. and i doubt he’ll be in chicago (does he even know where chicago is?); beltway insiders tend to stay inside the beltway…
Comment by bored now Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 10:05 am
SO Kirk, military intellgience officer, identofys a need to stop funding anti-american countries and make our country more self reliant. based on removing material support for our enemies like Iran he votes for cap andt rade.
But as our senator he favors sending material support to our enemies and funding anti-american regimes along with keeping our country dependent on hostile foriegn countries for our energy needs.
So vote kirk and help iran.
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 10:08 am
Our small company has received notice from BCBS that we will get hit with a 35% increase for health insurance with minimal actual usage expense in the last year. Monthly family costs will be well over $1,500. We have gone shopping and the proposed pricing from other health insurers is even higher. Several employees have pre-existing conditions. Going elsewhere for them is simply unaffordable if they can even get accepted. Our local hospital is getting hit hard because Medicaid, Medicare, no pay, self pay has become the primary driver. Employer based health insurance is simply drifting away because of cost. I wish Kirk and rest of the politicians would simply cut the campaign posturing crap and come up with real, immediate solutions. Kirk may not be a dummy, but show something beside the talking point of current health proposal = bad.
Comment by zatoichi Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 10:09 am
Maybe his former mentor, John Porter, will hire him at his lobbying firm. That is, unless his other former mentor, Don Rumsfeld, makes him a better offer.
Will the real Mark Kirk please stand up.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 10:10 am
And likely voters today aren’t the same likely voters in November. People are going to like this health care bill once it’s done.
OMG! Sad and oh-so-wrong, LL! I’m a Dem and this health care bill is going to kill us in Nov across the country. So sad.
Comment by Fan of Cap Fax Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 10:25 am
Is Kirk willing to have a debate on the merits of repealing the health care bill?
Or does he just plan to deliver sound bites are forums where his position won’t be questioned in depth?
What does Kirk see as the shortcomings of the health care system?
What has he done to address these shortcomings?
Was he willing to work with the Democrats on a compromise bill?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 10:27 am
There was a story yesterday that the obama administration is denuying twice as many foia requests as president bush did, this on top of broken promises to televise the health care negotiations all adds up to a party that has no room to complain about openness. And then there’s the fact they are from chicago.
The media is entitled to nothing. Lynn sweet ignores congressional illinois republicans and wrote a ton of nasty columns about mark kirk when he first ran for congress. No sympathy there. She has yet to write about bob dold and when she does it will probably be with mostly quotes from her obama white house sources.
Mark Kirk has a proven record, he’s not the one that needs to be scrutinized. Alexi however has a failed bank to his name-the only thing he has done in life and not something he went out and earned. He has no foreign or domestic policy experience and is supremely underqualified to be in the senate. even roland burriss and carol mosely braun, bad as they are had been around a few decades and so people at least knew they had the appearance of grownups.
Comment by shore Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 10:33 am
Here’s great news for all you frantic people who hate Kirk and are testing slurs out for size to see what might stick—you don’t have to vote for him. Yes, there is another guy running–actually two. You may vote for one of them if you like. I wish several of you could stand back from the fray for just a moment and see how truly desperate and silly many of your “complaints” about Kirk sound to a normal person.
While others mocked, Kirk was obviously ahead of the curve, and attuned to the mood of the rank and file when it came to the Thomson prison issue. He is also in sync with the many voters who are deeply concerned about the purported content, cost, and methodology of the health insurance “bill”. When Alexi and Mark and Rich stand together in debate later on, or appear together on Chicago tonight it will be over.
Comment by Responsa Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 10:34 am
I am happy to see Mark Kirk floppy all over the state like a fish in a boat.
Republicans deserve to lose that election. When they clear the slate in the primary, refuse to recognize Pat Hughes and Don Lowery in anyway, both of whom represent the core values of the Republican party far more than Mark Kirk does.
Kirk is a political opportunist that has more stances on the issues than Cal Ripken did at bat. Republicans should vote for Alexi Giannoulias, at least we know here he stands on the issues.
Comment by Living in Oklahoma Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 10:37 am
Describe Mark Kirk by whatever term you choose… flip-flopper, hypocrite, opportunist, etc…. all it means that on Election Night he’ll have the ultimate one-word description for himself - LOSER!
Comment by fedup dem Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 10:50 am
Before any one yells, I meant to type LeAlan (not Rich)
Comment by Responsa Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 10:51 am
Since Alexi became the nominee I’ve said this is Kirk’s to lose. If he keeps this up, he just may well succeed in losing it. Wow.
This is a classic example of finger in the wind politics. The question isn’t how this plays now. The question is how it will play in a pro-Obama state in November.
If you really doubt the power of Barack to turn things around. You haven’t been paying attention to his recent efforts. He is a very powerful and talented politician when fully engaged. Republicans mock him at your peril.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 10:52 am
I love it when Republicansn start talking about their “core values”. What they mean are their right wing, reactionary, out of the mainstream, social views. They are all for small government except in the cases of banning abortion, killing murders, mandating teaching creationism, prayer in public schools, and don’t forget an assault weapon in every glove box and spending the country into oblivion to pay for needless and unjust wars. I wish every republican candidate would espouse these core values. They would never win another election in Illinois.
Comment by Bill Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 10:53 am
Responsa: poor, poor responsa. i don’t hate mark kirk. i can’t think of anyone i hate (although i can think of all kinds of behaviors i do).
i’ll merely note your double standard here. mark kirk’s campaign is focused solely on attacking alexi giannoulias, but we’re not supposed to criticize saint kirk? (you must think that the first amendment does not apply to your dear one.)
look, it’s relatively safe inside the beltway where kirk lives, so maybe he’s not ready for the rough and tumble politics of illinois. who knows, but whining about the fact that people have legitimate, reasonable problems with the sainted one isn’t going to reduce those complaints.
but, heh, at least you get to pretend that kirk’s the victim here. i don’t know how far that gets you, but i notice that kirk’s supporters can’t actually reply intelligently to the complaints about their dear one, and (like the candidate) can only try to deflect them to something else. which is fine by me. i understand how to stay on message, and will continue to pound the hypocrite until election day. it’s only fair. he’ll do the same thing. so whine all you like. welcome to illinois politics. i’d say there’s no crying in illinois politics, but that’s just not true…
Comment by bored now Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 10:59 am
@ Bill…
Hows te Blagojevich adminstration working out for you? Bill Brady is up 10 points and is currently exposing those core principles that you so readily mock.
Comment by Living in Oklahoma Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 11:00 am
Will,
I actually prefered the Blagojevich administration to the current one but they would both be better than a Brady bash. Are you guys still gassing poodles down there?
Comment by Bill Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 11:08 am
At the risk of being deleted, I will post here a note that opposing ObamaCare can’t be that bad a political move, as Jerry Costello, a very safe IL Dem Congressman, is a no, as are Messers. Lipinski, and Guitierrez. Many of us in SO-IL have been calling Mr. Costello for some months, and it seems to have paid off.
Comment by Peggy SO-IL Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 11:08 am
Forget the flip flopping charge. Where he stands on policy right now, Kirk is closely allied with Congressmen like John Shimkus. Seriously folks, would John Shimkus, on policy issues, have a chance in getting elected as senator in IL? IL is still blue. Running on issues that might get you votes in S. IL is not a sound electoral strategy.
Comment by vole Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 11:21 am
For a guy like me, who has a pre-existing condition, the health reform bill finally allows me to get insurance on my own. From 2000-2002 I was rejected from all the major providers when I applied for coverage. The reason, I have an arthritic condition. I was only able to get an HMO through my employers program. I did some freelance work prior.
I am young, in great shape, and doctor’s are amazed at how well I’m doing. Now I will do better because in the event I lose my job and have to freelance again, I will be able to get health insurance without fear of rejection -the price? Well, price is a different issue. But kudos to Obama and the Dems from this right leaning, pre-existing, cost conscious dude!
Comment by GetOverIt Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 11:21 am
I’m just going to chime in for a second–and then I’m out again for a while.
Responsa: I’m not sure I understand where you’re going with your 10:34–especially the part about telling people NOT to vote for Kirk. As a general rule, when you want a candidate to win, you ASK for votes–not turn them away.
Trust me, Illinois voters are not going to come running, crying and begging you to let them vote for Kirk because they’ve been “rejected”. That’s not in Illinois’ collective “psyche”. Get it?
Comment by The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 11:28 am
” I wish Kirk and rest of the politicians would simply cut the campaign posturing crap and come up with real, immediate solutions. ”
How loud do the Republicans have to scream before people realize they have real ideas, ideas that can be proven to be no less workable than the current bill being debated.
Why do I feel as though I am sounding like a horn for Kirk when I think we need to run from corruption. I am an illinois resident that no longer wants to pay a “corruption tax” Alexi doesn’t pass the “not corrupted” smell test, yet for some stupid reason people like him.
Someone mocked by saying, “I love when republicans talk about core values” How about everyone consider core values? Do you really want to elect someone that doesn’t pass the “corruption smell test” Do democrats care at all. You guys put Cohen out there, Blago, now Alexi. The Dems recent track record is just as poor as the past Repubs. So get off your high horse, get Alexi to step down, and get a real candidate so we can have a real debate about what is best for the citizens of Illinois. Right now we spend too much time worrying if Alexi is corrupt.
Comment by fredformerAnon Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 1:12 pm
Or lord Bored Now,
You sound like Oswego Willy on Jason Plummer!
It seems all you ever want to do is write anti-Kirk talking points and blather on and on. Honestly, if you hated him as much as you sound like you do, you ought to know that anyone who ever blogs here since the campaign started, can predict what you are going to write when Kirk’s name comes up.
mark kirk doesn’t care about people. he’s a beltway insider and he needs to stick to mitch mcconnell’s script. so much for being independent whining about the fact that people have legitimate, reasonable problems has future high-priced lobbyist written all over him. and i doubt he’ll be in chicago (does he even know where chicago is?); beltway insiders tend to stay inside the beltway poor, poor [insert blogger name here]. i don’t hate mark kirk. i can’t think of anyone i hate (although i can think of all kinds of behaviors i do).i’ll merely note your double standard here. mark kirk’s campaign is focused solely on attacking alexi giannoulias, but we’re not supposed to criticize saint kirk? (you must think that the first amendment does not apply to your dear one.) look, it’s relatively safe inside the beltway where kirk lives, so maybe he’s not ready for the rough and tumble politics of illinois. who knows, but whining about the fact that people have legitimate, reasonable problems with the sainted one isn’t going to reduce those complaints. but, heh, at least you get to pretend that kirk’s the victim here. i don’t know how far that gets you, but i notice that kirk’s supporters can’t actually reply intelligently to the complaints about their dear one, and (like the candidate) can only try to deflect them to something else. which is fine by me. i understand how to stay on message, and will continue to pound the hypocrite until election day. it’s only fair. he’ll do the same thing. so whine all you like. welcome to illinois politics. i’d say there’s no crying in illinois politics, but that’s just not true…
Geez. Do you even listen to yourself?
You make Will County Woman look quieter than Buddha.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 1:16 pm
Bill,
yes, we are still gassing dogs down here.
Vote Brady.
Furthermore, do you really prefer the Blago administration to Quinn? Thats really something.
Comment by Living in Oklahoma Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 1:28 pm
freformerAnon,
we are not worried about whether Alexi is corrupt. There hasn’t been one single credible allegation of corruption against him. Do you think Madigan and/or the republican party wouldn’t have used it against him in the teasurer campaign if there had been?
or are you suggesting by innuendo that he’s been corrupt as treasurer? come up with something specific. bet you can’t. in fact he imposed a strict ethics polcy on the office, discovered theft under Judy’s watch anb addressed issues like the Lincoln Hotel.
i’m tired of the baselss implications, and i’m beginning to wonder if there isn’t a racist subtext.
Comment by corvax Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 1:59 pm
–It’s weird that, given his problems with reading, VanillaMan can write so well.–
That’s not writing it’s typing, the script right out of the Fox News secretarial pool.
Kirk keeps lingering on the right; maybe that’s where he wants to be.
Given the Blago/Burris scandals, I can’t see any other reason why he wouldn’t just grab for the center.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 2:01 pm
Mystery solved? A blog -ironically called Hot Air Blog- notes in a headline that among a subset of voters disgusted with both parties, the GOP leads by 20.
I suppose if one is furiously googling headlines to support one’s thin positions, one might grab this factoid and use it without actually reading it.
___
You can’t blame Kirk. He didn’t realize other people were listening. Lousy technology hurting Kirk’s ability to say one thing to one crowd and another to someone else.
Comment by JonShibleyFan Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 2:06 pm
Peggy SO-IL:
Costello and Lipinski are fighting a proxy abortion battle through HCR, now with nuns opposing them. It’s a shame that they are acting like one-issue representatives, but their districts let them.
Gutierrez walks on water in his district so he’s fighting for all the mustard he get get on this sandwich. I bet he votes in favor of it.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 2:08 pm
Sure enough, Gutierrez flipped and is on board.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 2:10 pm
Ha, ha ,ha
@covax who wrote “i’m tired of the baselss implications, and i’m beginning to wonder if there isn’t a racist subtext.”
I don’t recall any corrupt politician who didn’t utter those words (maybe not always the racist part). That has to be the funniest line I have heard this week.
I think you completely overlooked the Bright Start issue. Anyone here know someone who lost money in the Bright Start scandal? I do. Not everyone was paid their pennies on the dollar. How many politicians loaned money to mobsters? I know one, Alexi! How many politicians used their family bank as a ponzi scheme? I know one, Alexi?
How many times will stupid Illinoisans be duped by people who say, “those are baseless allegations.”
Comment by fredformerAnon Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 2:24 pm
when did i get knighted? are there special privileges that come with the honor?? better yet, is their revenue that comes with it???
vanillaman, i won’t stop you from bowing before me, but it’s certainly not necessary…
Comment by bored now Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 2:49 pm
ffA,
Alexi got at least as good a partial redress of the Bright Start loss as any other state (and earlier), and it wasn’t a matter of corruption, it was a downturn in the market.
No one has ever alleged the bank was used as a Ponzi scheme or that any payments to the shareholders were wrongful. Being on the FDIC list isn’t very distinctive for community banks, sadly. If there was an ethical problem, they’d be on the FBI list. They’re not.
There’s not a bank in thsi city that hasn’t loaned money to a felon. They’re banks making credit decisions, not arbiters of morality or instruments of the parole board.
You got nothing but innuendo.
Comment by corvax Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 3:22 pm
Lefty Lefty,
I just checked and saw Gutierrez’ yes. Not surprised. I support Lipinski and Costello for abortion reasons as well as market economic reasons. A Catholic blog site might be a more appropriate place to debate about dissenting nuns who jumped into the debate and were responded to by faithful nuns.
[Sorry to make this a post on the healthcare bill itself. Not quite Mr. Miller’s intent. I understand if Mr Miller deletes.]
National Review lists Melissa Bean and Bill Foster of IL as possible Nos. They were yeses last time. I don’t know enough about them to know whether NRO’s on target.
Comment by Peggy SO-IL Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 4:51 pm
This is what’s wrong with our government.
Alexi is 33, barely started shaving last week. He resume is: went to college, went to law school, had fun playing semi-pro ball in Greece, worked at Daddy’s bank, gave money to whomever came in never asking any questions, ran for State Treasurer citing my bank experience, made bad investments as State Treasurer (and lied about it), looted money from bank, ran the bank into the ground, FDIC takes control of bank, laundry list of felons come out of woodwork in which he loaned money to (Rezco, Naso, Giannis, Gennogreco, etc).
And Bored Now, you believe this guy deserves a promotion? Shouldn’t be looking at jail time?
Regardless if you think these are talking points from Kirk (or Hoffman), you can’t debate one thing: everything cited above is the truth.
A failed banker (Broadway going under next money).
A failed State Treasurer (Bright Start).
A failure of conscious (loans to guys running prostitution rings who background checks!).
Failure really isn’t an option.
Pick a different dog, this aint hunting.
Comment by TBanks Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 5:11 pm
With regard to Bright Start, it was suppose to be a conservative mututal fund with returns of less than 10 percent. Somehow, this fund was giving back over 20 percent. Red flags, Mr. Greg Hinz of Crain’s Chicago Business has written numerous articles lamenting the poor decision Alexi made in this investment. And then he did lie about “saving” 50 percent of the fund (which he lost).
As for the “community” bank and others around the country having the same problems. Wrong. There are over 8,000 of these banks and less than 500 have been closed or on the FDIC list. That’s less than 10 percent.
Very few banks are having these problems. Why? Well if you read the Tribune last month you would know that Broadway Bank (because of the strategy of either Alexi or his father) decided to go “all in” in construction loans (which are much higher interest loans than home mortgages but also a lot riskier). 98 percent of the loans were in the construction loans. They figured that home prices would never drop, there would be a home builders boom for all of eternity. Wrong.
You don’t put all of you eggs in ONE basket. ANYBODY that knows ANYTHING about banking, money, investing, economics would tell you that. That’s a failure of decision making.
Although I am sure other banks have made loans to felons, how many “community” banks have made what 20 million in loans to three (3) felons that we know about? And if you were paying attention, Alexi has flipped flopped no less than 4 times on whether he knows Jaws Gennogreco.
You said they’re banks making business (monetary) decisions, not on morality. Well, with the FDIC coming in next month, how did that work out? Do you see the problem now?
Comment by TBanks Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 5:27 pm
And CapFax comments section has officially gone off the deep end.
Comment by I want my GOP Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 6:42 pm