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***Update 1x***
* GIANNOULIAS STATEMENT ON KIRK PLAYING POLITICS ON HEALTH CARE
Chicago, IL - Illinois State Treasurer and U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias released the following statement in response to Congressman Mark Kirk’s assertion that members of the House would lose seats if they voted in favor of reforming the health care system:
“It’s sad that Congressman Kirk would rather win an election than lower the cost of health care for Illinois families, but with these words and ten years of voting with big drug and insurance companies to block reform, Congressman Kirk has made it clear he puts politics ahead of our families,” said Giannoulias.
***End of Update***
* Giannoulias far outpaces opponents in fundraising
The state treasurer raised $1.1 million in the three months ending Sept. 30 and had $2.4 million on hand after spending $345,000.[…]
Closest to him is Chicago attorney Jacob Meister, who had $1.04 million in his account — nearly all of it borrowed.
Former Chicago Inspector David Hoffman had $837,000 in the bank — including a $500,000 loan to himself.
Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson raised $367,000 and had $318,000 on hand.
* Ill. Republican, Democrat raise $2M in Senate race
Among Republicans, U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, of Highland Park, had $2.3 million after raising $1.63 million during the period. He spent $351,000. Another Republican in the race, real estate developer Patrick Hughes, had $340,000 on hand after loaning himself $250,000 and spending $42,000.
* Governor coming to King City
MT. VERNON — Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is expected to make a his formal campaign announcement in the King City on Wednesday at one of the 2009 Governor’s Hometown Award winning buildings.
* Illinois tax increase: Researchers say combine plans by Pat Quinn and Dan Hynes
Both proposals are ‘complimentary,’ says Institute on Taxation and Economic PolicyGov.
Quinn’s campaign touted the analysis by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a sister organization of the liberal-leaning Citizens for Tax Justice, for calling the governor’s plan “the most progressive, most economically sound and most timely option available.”
But the governor’s campaign did not note that the institute said Hynes’ plan, in the long run, “would be preferable as it would further enhance tax equity and would put Illinois’ tax system on a more sustainable path.”
* Comparing (and combining) the Quinn and Hynes tax proposals
* Schillerstrom offers budgeting ideas, with a twist
Republican candidate for governor Bob Schillerstrom issued several proposals today aimed at making the state’s budgeting process more transparent–but immediately backed off his own suggestion that the state comptroller have virtual veto power over the budget.
* Jim Ryan leans ’strongly’ toward run for governor
* Candidates for governor tout ideas at Bloomington forum
Republicans Adam Andrzejewski, Bill Brady, Dan Proft and Dan Schmidt, independent candidate Michael White and Constitution Party candidate Randy Stufflebeam spoke at the event sponsored by the McLean County Freedom Coalition.
* How clout list can help voters next year
Springfield lawmakers’ reaction to the investigative report in the Chicago Sun-Times detailing how they begged the Blagojevich administration for state jobs reminds us of a scene out of the 1942 classic movie, “Casablanca.”
* No Games Chicago leader to run for Cook County president
A top opponent of the failed Chicago 2016 Olympic bid is running for president of the Cook County Board on the Green Party ticket.
Tom Tresser, a lead organizer for No Games Chicago, a grass-roots group that fought the city’s Olympic bid, announced he’ll enter the race for the position held by Democrat Todd Stroger.[…]
Other Democratic candidates are West Side Chicago U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, Hyde Park Chicago Alderman Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown and Cook County Water Reclamation District President Terry O’Brien. Republicans Roger Keats, a former state senator from Wilmette, and Chicago police officer John Garrido also are running.
* Related
* U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean cancels swine flu talk after family’s brush with the illness
* Former U.S. Rep. Bill Lipinski gets building named after him
posted by Mike Murray
Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 8:07 am
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Want government to have a better image? Want less cynicism among voters?
Then take a baby step and stop naming buildings and other public works after politicians who are still alive. It is simply tasteless that we allow people to do this. It looks as if when you are an elected official, it’s all about you. It looks as if when you are an elected official, you are empowered to have monuments built for yourself, not for the public.
If you believe it is distasteful for people to have giant fancy monuments built for themselves while they are still alive - we have to stop this perversion. We have real heroes within our communities. People who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. People who have died fighting for you and me.
If these morons want to name a public works after someone - how about someone worthy of the honor. Not because they knew how to play the political games, but because they gave their all and died for us.
It is time to stop this disgusting practice! It is simply wrong for a free society to allow it’s servants to tax us to build their edifices!
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 9:01 am
You’d think Hoffman will have to get on TV in a hurry if he’s serious about this. That, of course, will probably unleash the Alexi barrage.
I’m betting Hoffman goes with a straight talker into the camera about corruption, then challenges Alexi to release his tax returns.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 9:26 am
With Tresser in the race, there is finally a strong reform candidate for Cook County Board President.
Comment by PFK Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 9:49 am
As the demystification with President Obama continues, Giannoulias’s connections with him will become more of a liability if the dots are configured by his primary opponents judiciously. If he does win the primary, his Republican opponent will have even more latitude to play the White House card. The most money does not always win the election, even for a Democrat, though Giannoulias has proven he can beat The MJM.
Comment by Captain Flume Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 9:55 am
Is it just me, or does 2010 look like it is heading towards being a particualry bloody political election.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 10:24 am
Unfortunately, liberal-leaning think tanks see funding the government, any government, as the greatest good. They have little concern for how the money is used, and how much is wasted or lost to corruption–for them, the kind of rampant corruption Illinois has experienced under both parties for decades is a negligible cost. The idea
is to get as much money as possible for liberal causes–education (unconnected to actual school/teacher performance), social service programs (regardless of whether the clients receive good service) and a highly-paid state bureaucracy (chock full of patronage employees or not, they don’t care). The issue of whether the money is used well, or if it even benefits anybody but the pols and the bureacrats, is an abstract one for these folks. They are obsessed with getting more money out of citizens for the state…any state. They know best and it’s for our own good.
Comment by cassandra Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 10:25 am
There are some late arrivals to some very large elections. The first day to turn in petitions is 6 days away and the final day to turn them in is 13 days away. Being an experience political veteran Mr. Ryan is capable of getting the 5,000 signatures required to run statewide but it’s no easy task. But it actually requires more signatures to run county wide in Cook County than it does to run statewide. And despite the fact that the Green party qualified as a major party statewide in 2006 they still need the same amount as Dems or Republicans which I believe is between 8,000 - 9,000 to run for Cook County Board President. That is very difficult to do for most newcomers and almost impossible to do in less than two weeks.
Comment by Scooby Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 10:43 am
==demystification with President Obama==
Only in your own mind Captain.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 10:48 am
One good thing about Tressor getting on the ballot — it means that if for some reason Stroger (or Brown or O’Brien for that matter) wins the nomination their will be someone for reform-minded Dems to vote for next November. An no matter what happens he will definitely be able to change the debate and raise some really good issues with his candidacy — assuming he can make it on the ballot.
Comment by Lakefront Liberal Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 11:01 am
Although there is one more scenario I didn’t think of. If no candidate files for the Green party nomination I believe they can nominate someone. Not completely sure on the mechanics of that though.
Comment by Scooby Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 11:15 am
===As the demystification with President Obama continues, Giannoulias’s connections with him will become more of a liability===
Alexi isn’t running nationally, buddy. He is running statewide in Illinois. If you look at the polling numbers of the two it makes complete sense for Alexi to tie himself to the President. This isn’t Alabama, and this isn’t the Fox News blog.
Comment by Obamarama Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 11:15 am
alexi IS running nationally and he better start acting like it.
Comment by colt 45 Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 11:29 am
===alexi IS running nationally and he better start acting like it.===
I mean the voters are only from one state–not that he isn’t running for a federal office.
Comment by Obamarama Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 11:30 am
Obamaphiles need to get out a little more. The Prez’s approval among dems is still sky-high, but the independents who gave him an Illinois landslide are souring on him. He won comfortably in suburban areas among non-partisan moderates by promising to be a uniter. Go to a town hall meeting and see what the independents in the ‘burbs think now.
Obama still has high positives among the total of Illinois voters, but his support among all-important independents is decreasing. It is a simple fact and it will diminish the positive impact for Alexi. That is not to say that Obama won’t help Alexi. He just won’t be able to hand him the senate seat on a platter.
Unfortunately for Alexi, the last thing he wants is a level playing field. If he is forced to win on his own merits compared to Kirk’s he’s got big problems.
Comment by Abe Froman Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 11:41 am
Scooby, you are on the right track. I believe it is 25,000 VALID signatures needed to run as an INDEPENDENT for Cook County President. I think you’ll find this requirement is the highest of any democracy in the world for a county type jurisdiction. The city of Chicago’s signature requirement to run for office is likewise the worst in the world for any democracy for a large city.
As for the Greens slating Tresser, Madigan and his anti-democratic thugs, Cullerton and Quinn, just took the ability to slate(nominate) candidates away from the Green Party. As soon as the Green Party gained any foothold on being able to run candidates for office, Madigan and his anti-democratic thugs passed legislation to make it even harder for competition to get on the ballot.
One could reasonably read our elections laws in Illinois and use them as strong evidence to convict the Democratic Party of racketeering and organized crime.
Comment by TaxThePoor Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 11:48 am
cassandra, that is soo true about “progressive” think tanks on tax policy. They have no credibility whatsoever. Why? Name one tax they have strognly lobbied against. Or one they have strongly lobbied to decrease or eliminate. You can’t because there is no such thing as a bad tax to them. Even if the tax hits the poorest harder than everyone else, like Chicago’s 15% tax on electricity, the Center for Tax Justice believes poor people paying 15% taxes on electricity is justice. They are really warped. Ralph Martire’s group is the exact same way. Never seen a tax hike they didn’t love and have never tried to actually help the poor by reducing taxes on them. One thing you will find in common with these “progressive” tax groups. They are all funded mostly by unions, specifically government employee unions.
Comment by TaxThePoor Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 11:58 am
The key to any national election is the independents. AG is, indeed, running in a national election - that’s what the senate seat is - national. Like it or not, fair or not, AG will be tied to Obama. The pres’ poll numbers with independents will be reflected in the senate campaign. No puppys and kittens - full out battle is coming.
Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 12:26 pm
“Unfortunately for Alexi, the last thing he wants is a level playing field. If he is forced to win on his own merits compared to Kirk’s he’s got big problems.”
That’s true. His biggest problem of course is “Where to start?” Does he start off with the fact that Kirk has never held a position that he could not change, or that Kirk has yet to denounce Kirk for his strong ties to ACORN and that union that Kirk’s always bashing? These are tough decisions for Alexi
Comment by OdysseusVL Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 12:27 pm
For Dem County Brd Prez you usually need something like 7,000 valid signatures. It might even be higher this year because the number is based on primary turnout in ‘08 when the Obama-Clinton battle got a lot of people to the polls.
Tresser won’t have any committeemen helping get petition so he’ll be relying on volunteers standing out in front of Jewel with clipboards — a famously poor way to capture valid signature.
My guess is he’s got no chance at getting 7,000+ legit signatures. It will be interesting to see if O’Brien challenges his candidacy filing.
Comment by Chet Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 12:36 pm
If the ties to Obama are hurting Alexi, why are his polling numbers and dollar contributions going up?
I am not sure what you mean by “hurt”, but if increasing the number of votes you get in an election is hurting, then Alexi will will be calling to bring on the pain.
I thought Kirk would be doing better then he is, so far his numbers of remained stagnent.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 12:44 pm
BTW we should ALL thank BigMurray for doing all the work today. THink of all the state work you would have needed to do to fill in your day
Does anyone else where SqueakyClean Hoffman get the $500K for the loan?
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 12:46 pm
Signature requirements, Cook County Board President:
Democratic: 8,147
Republican: 2,439
Green: 832
Independent: 25,000 - 172,980
New Party 25,000
Source: http://www.voterinfonet.com/sub/news_view.asp?NEWS_ID=330
Comment by Dooley Dudright Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 12:50 pm
With so many healh insruance programs increasing costs and dropping coverage and members, Kirk may have put himself on the wrong side of that issue.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 12:57 pm
Kirk has been stagnant for the last ten years. The only time he changes his tune is when he is pandering for votes.
This wishful thinking by the Obama haters is really funny. His approval ratings are in the high 50 % range nationally and in the 60s in Illinois.
His slamming health insurance reform which is favored by over 50% nationally is pretty stupid even if it does get him the whacko vote in the primary.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:00 pm
===Does anyone else where SqueakyClean Hoffman get the $500K for the loan?===
His grandfather was an insurance exec–inheritance.
Comment by Obamarama Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:07 pm
It looks like now that Bill is out of a job spinning for Blago, he’s appointed himself apologist/contortionist for Obama. This is going to be a long, long election season…
Comment by Team America Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:14 pm
Well if politicians are going to loose their seat for voting on a bill, then it’s probably an indication that people in their district are not for it and their not representing their constituents… just a thought.
Comment by ahoy Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:16 pm
Alexi is such an obvious novice. Kirk has said that Dems who vote for the increasingly unpopular government takeover of health care risk losing their seats. That’s “playing politics?” That’s reality. Something with which Prince Alexi is not too familiar.
Odysseus, thanks for coming back with another outright fabrication, implying that Kirk has any ties to ACORN. It’s not true. It is simply the kind of ourtight falsehood that has become the stock in trade of Dems who will grasp at anything to win.
Comment by Abe Froman Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:19 pm
Ummm Alexi - Kirk has been out in front on health care reform for years. He’s one of the few members of congress on either side of the aisle who has been having forums and town hall discussions about how to improve healthcare. And he has put forward a plan that we can actually pay for. What have you done to improve the health care of our citizens? Done anything about all those Illinois medical providers the State’s just not paying? Maybe you can put out a sarcastic, disingenuous statement – ‘cause that will certainly help.
Comment by 10th Indy Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:21 pm
So Alexi supports the California Nancy Polosi public option plan??
Comment by anon Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:22 pm
It’s so rare I agree with Bill, but he’s right. The finger-crossing that Obama is now unpopular in Illinois is a lot of wishful thinking.
Comment by L.S. Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:23 pm
And any reduction in Obama’s approval is more likely from the “change has not come fast enough” crowd rather than people longing for George Bush.
Comment by hmmm Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:26 pm
Abe,
Has Kirk alleged that ACORN and SEIU are joined at the hip?
Has Kirk accepted $ from SEIU?
Has Kirk voted to grant contracts to ACORN?
Abe, just yelling loudly will not turn Kirk from a hack into a leader.
Comment by OdysseusVL Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:29 pm
Hey Team,
The President doesn’t need any apologists. go back to plotting the demise of the 10th Congressional District and leave this discussion for the adults.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:36 pm
Odysseus, Mark Kirk will run laps around Alexi like prefontaine against a fat kid, it’s going to take his familys fortune to prop him up. Alexi’s foreign policy experience is a junket and some debuachery in the mediterranean. Congressman Kirk is a nationally and internationally respected leader and intellectual.
Bill, the demise of the 10th gop is the fault of ignorant social conservatives who have strangled any intellectual debate out of the party and self serving hacks like mckenna and hastert who see government only as a means to enrich and bolster what were otherwise lackluster careers and agendas.
Comment by shore Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:43 pm
OdysseusVL its funny that you take your handle from Odysseus, who is renowned for his guile and resourcefulness– because your argument on this matter seriously lacks both. The lack of true evidence behind your remarks is telling.
Comment by GOB Bluth Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:45 pm
Tresser won’t get the petition signatures. He could not even get elected to his local park advisory council.
The irony is that if he was running for County Assessor, he would get a lot of support from a wide range of people who don’t want Berrios to walk into the job.
Comment by Redbright Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:48 pm
GOB,
Actually I take my name from a highly trained German Shepherd Dog. “Odysseus” was the Greek. “OdysseusVL” was the working lines GSD.
But that’s not really relevant to this point, just as your attack on me is interesting for the fact that you chose to attack me rather than respond to my points. That’s a fine attempt at misdirection. But it won’t work if Kirk somehow manages to win the primary and go up against Alexi.
Comment by OdysseusVL Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:54 pm
“Congressman Kirk is a nationally and internationally respected leader and intellectual.”
Interesting. Since when is “say one thing now and the opposite later” a sign of leadership?
Comment by OdysseusVL Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:56 pm
Tax the Poor wrote:
“As for the Greens slating Tresser, Madigan and his anti-democratic thugs, Cullerton and Quinn, just took the ability to slate(nominate) candidates away from the Green Party.”
PFK responds:
That’s not exactly true. HB723, which needs to clear the Senate before it becomes law, actually puts additional requirements on all parties, not just the Greens. Any slated candidate will now for the first time have to collect signatures — the same number as they would if they’re running in the primary, only in a much shorter timeframe.
There is no doubt that this will limit competition, especially for state representative and senate races, because they use exceptionally high signature requirements (not just .o5% like other races).
For more details, check out the IL Green Party’s report on HB723 submitted to (and apparently disregarded by) Gov. Quinn:
“Incumbency, Competitiveness, and Slating in
Illinois General Assembly Elections” by Phil Huckelberry, ILGP Chair
http://www.ilgp.org/groups/gov/otherfolder/incumbency
Comment by Patrick Kelly Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:56 pm
It’s sad that Congressman Kirk
My reply would be:
It’s sad that Banker Alexi Giannoulias would rather ignore the wishes of Illinois voters and families and support real reform, as opposed to the mis-mash of risky schemes that are coming out of Washington”.
Comment by Pat collins Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:57 pm
Yeah, that Kirk sure has a lot of foriegn policy experience, all bad. Supporting 8 years of George W. Bush’s war mongering, scorched earth policies is enough reason for any thinking voter to vote against him.
With Alexi’s help the President will continue to right our ship of state overseas and restore America to its rightful place as a respected member of the world community.
When Bush left office America was in big trouble domestically and a joke overseas. It will take Alexi and President Obama years to fix the damage. We don’t have much time to waste.
The best way to start is to unload the Bush repubs who are still in Congress. Kirk is done for.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:57 pm
By the way Shore, didn’t Prefontaine try to push it too far and end up horrendously crashing? That’s really not the best analogy for your campaign, is it?
Comment by OdysseusVL Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:57 pm
That came out badly.
ignore the wishes of Illinois voters and families and instead of supporting real reform,
Comment by Pat collins Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 1:58 pm
Sorry that’s 0.5% not .05%
Comment by Patrick Kelly Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 2:00 pm
Odysseus, your arguments are laughable and only someone already stupid enough to buy into Democrat “logic” would fall for them.
SEIU, and a few other unions have given small donations to Kirk over the years. (Unlike you Dems who are bought and paid for by labor.) Conservatives have given to Kirk too. So have a few trial lawyers. So have many staunch Democrats. Just as small donations from a few unions haven’t made Kirk support Card Check and a few donations from trial lawyers haven’t made him anti-tort reform, a small SEIU donation somewhere along the way doesn’t make Kirk an ally of SEIU.
Also, Kirk has voted for appropriations bills that contained funding for thousands of grants to thousands of organizations. He does not become responsible for each one of those organizations and their actions.
And since you are spinning so furiously you cannot see straight, it is SEIU Illinois itself that proudly acknowleges its roots in the ACORN organization. Kirk didn’t come up with that. Nor did Kirk fabircate the criminal vote fraud that ACORN took part in up in the 10th district last year, registering hundreds of ghost voters at phony addresses. Please keep defending ACORN though. It will work out very nicely for you.
And Bill, try reading yesterday’s poll that shows Obama’s approval in Illinois at 55%. No one ever said Obama is an anchor in Illinois. Some have suggested that he is no longer as wildly popular as he was. And the data shows consistently that the decline in his popularity is pronounced among independent voters which should be a cause for concern for Dems.
Comment by Abe Froman Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 2:05 pm
Besides punching his ticket, what has Kirk done to deserve respect on international policy in Congress?
Kirk lacks substance. He lies and bamboozles.
He may be on your side of the partisan divide and you may appreciate his lying and bamboozling has been effective, but what has he accomplished in Congress?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 2:08 pm
So basically what you are saying Abe is: “OdysseusVL you are correct. Despite his talk, Kirk has in fact taken money from SEIU and has in fact voted to fund ACORN.”
But you claim that sort of flip flop doesn’t matter. As a result, my comment was “laugable.”
Am I missing something to this argument, Abe?
One more hint, Abe. Calling your opponent “stupid” is not the mark of a leader nor does it advance your argument in any way. It just makes you look weak and angry. Just sayin.
Comment by OdysseusVL Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 2:09 pm
Ok, Abe, whatever you say. You better go now it is almost time for Glen Beck.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 2:10 pm
I like Pat’s game:
It’s sad that banker Alexi Giannoulias would further jeopardize the financial health of the nation like he did his family’s bank, instead of supporting heath care reform we can afford.
Comment by 10th Indy Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 2:13 pm
For the record: I do not hate President Obama. I am NOT a Fox News plant nor am I one who says because you criticize someone you are the disloyal opposition. I am trying to be objective here. Disclaimer: I did vote for the man.
My point about his demystification is that his coattails may not be as useful, or as long, when the hard campaign season is upon us. If that is the case, then Giannoulias may have to defend his closeness to the President and buy back all the pictures of them playing basketball together. Of course, if the economy and the job rate go up, the President will get and take the credit and his coat will help pull some people along or at least not hurt their campaigns.
Comment by Captain Flume Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 2:15 pm
No Odysseus, your argument is not valid. Some of your facts are correct. Kirk got small campaign donations from SEIU. Kirk voted for federal appropriations bills that contained funding for ACORN. Neither indicates that Kirk supports SEIU’s or ACORN’s agenda or work. This belies either a lack of understanding of process or deliberate misrepresentation. By your logic, all I would have to do is give money to Alexi, and he would therefore support every issue position I support.
See, because you are not stupid, but rather a gifted practitioner of bs, you think you have made a point. You have not. Your argument is not proven by the two facts that I readily admit. Far from it. And, again, I hope that you will continue to push this line of reasoning, or, rather lack of reasoning, as it will have no resonance with voters.
And Bill, snappy comeback. Are you writing your own material now, or does it come straight from the WH briefing room?
Comment by Abe Froman Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 2:24 pm
No I always write my own stuff. No charge to candidates or the WH.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 2:30 pm
Abe,
He took money from SEIU, and then bashed SEIU.
He voted for money for ACORN, and then bashed ACORN.
Just like he voted for cap and trade, and then bashed cap and trade.
Does anybody else see a pattern here?
Comment by OdysseusVL Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 2:30 pm
I do.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 2:32 pm
Abe, the point is that Kirk went out of his way to tie ACORN and SEIU together as some sort of underhanded syndicate while, pardon the colloquialism, sitting in a glass house with regards to both organizations. I don’t hold it against him; having ties to ACORN and SEIU make me like Cap’n Kirk more to be honest. If it wasn’t for his opposition to the public option and gay marriages, I’d consider voting for him. But since he is opposed to the aforementioned, I am opposed to him.
Comment by Obamarama Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 2:37 pm
“some debuachery in the mediterranean”
Do you have any specific allegations you want to mention when you say “debauchery?” Or do you just intend to make implications.
Comment by JonShibleyFan Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 2:51 pm
On the one hand I like to see so many candidates come forward to run in the GOP Primary, as it shows both that the GOP is getting healthier and that there is deep determination to change this screwed up state.
On the other hand, the financial donor resources of the Illinois GOP are not infinite, and a heck of a lot of money will be burned up that could be better spent in the General Election Campaign.
Comment by Bubs Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 2:56 pm
Where have you guys been? Alexi would love to be timed to Obama. But the White House political crew has been running away from him for months.
They wanted Lisa M., and when she demurred he AKP crew went with Hoffman.
Circular, I thought the White Knight Hoffman’s $500K was his inherited Geico money. Even a cave man knows that.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 3:03 pm
Word, no, it was actually the money Hoffman saved by switching to geico….
“I always feel like, somebody is watching me….”
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 3:17 pm
===“I always feel like, somebody is watching me….”===
“Tell me who’s watching you…”
Comment by Obamarama Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 3:24 pm
I got to agree with Abe and Shore - they make very valid points. Odysseus it would be great if you could make an argument without using the word “hack”. Seriously, did you think about what you were saying?
PS Pre won a national championship with stitches in his foot.
Comment by Pre Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 3:57 pm
Captain Flume, you think Alexi is going to run away from Obama? That’s his bread and butter. His problem is that the Obama crew has been running away from him for months.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 4:02 pm
Sorry about that Pre. These things cannot be helped. Is is second nature for me to think and write “hack” when talking about Kirk. The two concepts sort of meld in my mind, sort of like “Acorn” and “SEIU” now meld for Kirk. Of course, they didn’t two years ago, but that was a very different time (according to Kirk at least).
Comment by OdysseusVL Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 4:03 pm
Keep pounding that Acorn and SEIU drum Alexi fans especially while Kirk is talking about affordable healthcare reform. We’ll see which resonates more with voters.
Comment by 10th Indy Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 4:09 pm
=== “Tell me who’s watching you…” ====
the 80’s….
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 4:17 pm
=============
“Congressman Kirk is a nationally and internationally respected leader and intellectual.”
Interesting. Since when is “say one thing now and the opposite later” a sign of leadership?
===========
Seriously, Odysseus. Would you really feel more comfortable with someone who doesn’t reconsider his position when something major happens?
For example: Someone on another blog criticized Kirk for the same thing yesterday within the context of HR 2892, stating that he was first in favor of keep Guantanamo Bay open and then recently voted with Democrats (primarily) to transfer prisoners to the “US mainland”.
People bashed him left and right for it for hours because “he keeps changing his mind” until 1) someone noted that he had first voted to strip the prison transfer language from the Bill, and 2) I brought to their attention a very recent development re: the UK’s High Court ruling regarding Mohamed and the release of US intelligence docs related to his detention (which is, thankfully, being appealed, I believe).
Once those two pieces of information were brought to the table everyone immediately hushed up and still have nothing to say.
I have to note that I have no idea whether that’s why “he changed his mind”, but it would certainly make sense for someone in his position to consider such a major development prior to a vote. I, personally, was against the xfer of prisoners to the US until I read about the High Court ruling and all the problems it has the potential to create.
Again, would you really rather have someone who sticks to his original opinion when something major like that happens? I see doing so as an easy way out (and IN during the next election) by avoiding criticism v. doing what’s in the best interest of our Country.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 4:48 pm
So, Anon, what you are saying is that previously cap and trade was a good idea, and now it is bad? That something has happened since that vote?
And a few years ago, ACORN was a fine group, but now it is horrible?
A few years ago, SEIU was a great group helping the working man, but things have changed?
Hang it up. This has nothing to do with changes based upon new facts.
The only thing that has changed is that Kirk is now running for an office where he needs to cover his right, and not his left.
Comment by OdysseusVL Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 5:00 pm
He’s baaackkkk!
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Yeah, that Kirk sure has a lot of foriegn policy experience, all bad. Supporting 8 years of George W. Bush’s war mongering, scorched earth policies is enough reason for any thinking voter to vote against him.
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And whoever stated that Obama doesn’t need apologists is right. He’s spent most of HIS time in office apologizing on behalf of the US and THEN goes in front of the press recently stating something along the lines of “he doesn’t understand” why the animosity against the US is on the rise.
Plain and simple to help you understand more easily. Your kid’s a great kid and keeps getting beat up after school because he works and studies hard to excel. You go to complain. The Principal convinces you that those who are beating up on your kid “are soooo misunderstood” so therefore your kid must be the bad one. You foolishly agree, and go home.
The gang finds out what happened in the Principal’s office. Guess what happens to your kid on the way home that or the next day?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 5:03 pm
So, Odysseus, you’re claiming that nothing EVER changes and that ALL critics fully understand the complexities of each bill before they go bashing someone on a blog?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 5:06 pm
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…what has Kirk done to deserve respect on international policy in Congress?
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I’m not doing your homework for you. I guess if you won’t do it yourself, then you’ll have to wait until that stage of the Campaign.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 5:10 pm
And, I’ll add, you might as well start prepping your boys and girls on everything having to do with foreign policy NOW before the debates begin.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 5:11 pm
Abe, in case you didn’t know, Bill’s a big Blago supporter, too.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 5:15 pm
Can anyone tell me why Mt. Vernon is referred to as the “King City”. I’ve never heard that one before.
Comment by LincolnLounger Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 5:20 pm
Refers to the town’s accomplishments after an 1888 disaster, which included the opening of an opera house (1893, “best in So. Ill.”) and the Carnegie Library (1904).
http://www.mtvernon.com/New_Community_information/history%20halfpage.htm
The fact that I provided the info in response to the question should not be construed–by anyone–that I will be supporting Quinn. lol
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 6:12 pm
These accusations of “playing politics” are so absurd. Both sides in the healthcare debate are using politics to make their points: it is, after all, a *political* issue. So claiming that YOUR side is somehow apolitical in your pure pursuit of perfect policy while all who hold different opinions must be cynical hacks is simply unreasonable.
Giannoulias is playing politics. Kirk is playing politics. Obama, Romney, Palin, Biden, and EVERYONE ELSE IN WASHINGTON OR A STATE CAPITAL is playing politics. Giannoulias’s attempt to pretend otherwise is pretty absurd.
Comment by Andrew Quinn Tuesday, Oct 20, 09 @ 7:38 pm
I highly doubt that any state treasurer has enough background or experience to question a highly charged issue being discussed in Washington - where he doesn’t work, and hasn’t any staffers.
If anyone is saying something sad, it is the guy who actually thinks he knows more about what is going on in Congress than a Congressman running for office.
Talk about playing politics; Mr. Giannoulais, you take the cake!
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Oct 21, 09 @ 8:54 am
Consider all options when voting in 2010. Regardless of party affiliation, there can be no denying that one-party rule only breeds corruption. We need to break up the machine and consider other candidates for a change. Voter apathy is our worst enemy.
Comment by John Garrido Wednesday, Oct 21, 09 @ 9:09 am
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…what has Kirk done to deserve respect on international policy in Congress?
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I’m not doing your homework for you. I guess if you won’t do it yourself, then you’ll have to wait until that stage of the Campaign.
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Once again Kirk supporters (with support of the lazy/ignorant in the media) want people to assume that Kirk has accomplished stuff because he’s there.
Yes, he went to London School of economics.
What did he learn there that made him any smarter or wiser than the average union steward? How has he used his knowledge in Congress to improve the lives of regular citizens?
Yeah, Kirk is in the Navy Reserves as an intelligence officer.
Kirk took his vast knowledge and experience and used it to pitch the Iraq War. Then he used his political acumen to make it sound like he was criticizing President Bush’s Iraq policy in the media while actually thwarting attempts to drawn down the troop levels in Iraq.
Again, what has Kirk accomplished in Congress, other than playing a role in sell the American people on invading Iraq?
And while I’m asking about Kirk….
Kirk is selling himself as the antidote to corruption. What bills has Kirk sponsored to reduce corruption when he was in Congress? What has he said or done to address corruption? Did he criticize Hastert’s (and Shimkus’) handling of the Mark Foley scandal? Did Kirk criticize any corruption in the Bush administration?
Hell, did Kirk criticize Blagojevich before the other shoe dropped? Has Kirk criticized Daley over the Olympics? Anything else?
Or is Kirk’s anti-corruption work limited to statements after the U.S. attorney has issued indictments?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Oct 21, 09 @ 9:18 am