Here's a few highlight clips from last night's debate between Jay Footlik and Dan Seals or, at least, what will have to pass for the highlights. Both candidates were so boilerplate in their message, and so careful to take the high road, it didn't make for much theater, and also didn't do much to showcase the differences between the candidates.
In any event, here is a clip of what passed for the big 'heated exchange' of the night, where Seals criticizes Footlik's involvement in SAFE, a not-for-profit alternative energy initiative that Footlik claims credit for founding, and Footlik's response to Seals challenging him to name anything specific that Seals has ever actually done to promote alternative energy. The fireworks (such as they are) are near the end.
The second clip is Seals invoking Barack Obama as his idol, literally. If Seals wins, and Obama is the Dem presidential nominee, we can look forward to months of "me too!" campaigning by Seals. It'll be a simple game plan. "What, Barack is for [fill in blank]? I'm for [blank] too! Did I mention people mistake me for Barack sometimes?" That'll be loads of laughs.
Meanwhile, Mark Kirk will continue to campaign on his resume of achievements for the 10th District, any of which were noticeably absent from the resumes of the debaters last night (since they have none). What has Seals been doing for the District for the last year anyway, besides campaigning and fluffing his resume?
UPDATED 01.11.08 5:00 p.m.: Sorry nothing much to report today. I didn't attend last night's League of Women Voters debate between Footlik and Seals, but I heard it was a real sleeper. It went on...and on... and on... If you really want to torture yourself, Chicago Public Radio apparently has a audio file up here.
One of TA's Cub Reporters reports that Footlik is clearly the better candidate based on the technical performance in the debate, but many people continue to have serious doubts that he can win, unless something scandalous breaks about Seals in the MSM (hint?).
Our reporter opines that Footlik should've been way more pointed in his attacks. He didn't go after Seals enough. While they each did bring up the idea of the STAR line, neither had a knowledge of transportation issues because both called for more federal funding without talking about the state's failure to provide a local match.
Seals continued to be vague about social security and promotes changing the "pay outs". The only specifics he gives are ideas related to means testing. Both favored amnesty. Seals said the idea of a border fence is "silly."
Both favor universal health care. Seals supports extending medicare for the universal coverage while Footlik favors extending the FEHB program.
Finally, our reporter noted that "The crowd seemed really bored." So, there you have it.
Friday Laugh: Seals Internet supporter Bored Now posted a 10th District update this afternoon that is a good read to see how the Seals fans would like to think this race is unfolding. The funny part is that Bored Now assumed that the video clips that we cited above were posted by SEALS SUPPORTERS! Hahahahahah! I guess someone had a really different opinion of how Seals came across in those video clips. They weren't posted because TA thought they would showcase Seals's (or Footlik's) strengths as a candidate.
Have a great weekend!!!
Remember that Seals and Footlik have their final go-round at Arlington Heights library tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. I'm sleeping in.
UPDATED x2 01.12.08 1:00 p.m.: Our friend Ellen Beth Shrill live-blogged the Footlik-Seals Arlington Heights debate, just in case anyone cares. I don't. These two guys ran out of talking points halfway through the second debate, so I think we're done with this whole business.
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24 comments:
Seals puffs his resume but cannot keep his job story straight. In the last week he has been:
1. A "Professor"
2. An "Adjundt Professor"
3. A "Lecturer"
4. A "Consultant to Northwestern"
5. A "Teacher"
A quick look at Northwestern's web site shows that he has never taught a class and will only teach one night a week starting three months from now.
Come on Dan, it is all so misleading. Still unemployed and can't keep your story straight?
I support Mark Kirk all the way, but I know he would MUCH prefer Hillary being the Democratic nominee instead of Obama. More Republicans will come out to vote against Hillary and more Democrats will come out to vote for Obama. The best of all worlds is McCain vs Hillary. Independents will vote for McCain and Democrats are tired of the Clintons.
And, TA, I think you're wrong to consider the Presidential elections irrelevant to Kirk's campaign. Assuming that the district will always split its vote is pretty naive. The equations are different this year.
Kirk almost lost to Seals last time and if Huckabee turns off the Jewish vote, and Obama wins the Democratic nod, the Democrats will come out to vote strongly, along with a lot of pro-Obama independents.
It's still early, but it's a good thing Kirk has raised lots of money. Maybe he can sleep nights...I know I wouldn't be doing much of that in this environment.
I support Mark Kirk all the way, but I know he would MUCH prefer Hillary being the Democratic nominee instead of Obama. More Republicans will come out to vote against Hillary and more Democrats will come out to vote for Obama. The best of all worlds is McCain vs Hillary. Independents will vote for McCain and Democrats are tired of the Clintons.
And, TA, I think you're wrong to consider the Presidential elections irrelevant to Kirk's campaign. Assuming that the district will always split its vote is pretty naive. The equations are different this year.
Kirk almost lost to Seals last time and if Huckabee turns off the Jewish vote, and Obama wins the Democratic nod, the Democrats will come out to vote strongly, along with a lot of pro-Obama independents.
It's still early, but it's a good thing Kirk has raised lots of money. Maybe he can sleep nights...I know I wouldn't be doing much of that in this environment.
Sorry, my comment got published twice...unless there is another person out there who has exactly the same opinion as mine. Probably not.
TA,
Have you seen this email sent out by Footlik today? Here's a link: http://kydem.blogspot.com/2008/01/il-10-jay-footlik-ready-to-lead.html.
A couple of key comments here. "Jay will take to Congress a unique background and practical experience that allows him to comprehend the root causes of the conflicts in the Middle East." The root causes? What are they? American foreign policy? Support for Israel? This sounds borderline anti-American and anti-Israel.
Second, the signers are the people who brought you the Oslo peace process and the second intifada. These are the men who armed Arafat and coddled him as he built an infastructure of terror. Innocent Israeli blood is on their hands -- and they want to go back to their way of thinking.
I say no thanks!
BD
Looking at the historical results of the 10th an its precedessors, Seals didn't do all that well last time. Apparently he did a fast save after that Tribune interview, and didn't come off as a truly pathetic case at the debate. At the Trib, Seals' prime asset seemed to be looking disgusted/arrogent/po'd, but I confess I gave up after 25 minutes.
My guess is (as of today) McCain is going to do pretty well here, and could do very well in the 10th if nominated come November. Then again, what do I know?
Someone's not reading the rules. This is a family show, no profanity.
TA,
New story in today's Daily Herald: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=112004&src=3.
Here's my favorite part:
As for jobs, Seals said small business, which employs a majority of workers, faces a "ridiculous number of regulations."
"We need to streamline that process, make it easier for people in effect to start businesses so we can have more job growth." That in turn would result in a higher level of productivity, which would boost the economy."
Why is that funny to me? Because Seals in the same breath wants to "roll back the Bush tzx cuts," which includes the death tax -- the most onerous tax on small businesses. I would also be interested to know if he is in favor of Association Health Plans.
Sparty
I'm shocked but not surprised that no one has asked The Pup or Footlick how they are going to pay for all the things they propose?
Simply "rolling back the Bush tax cuts" and/or "ending the war in Iraq" will NOT even put a dent in the costs of all the free-ride, big government programs they are propossing.
I'm sure someone will take the Dem nominee to task on this issue in the general. Then again, if we want to know The Pup's position, assuming he's the nominee, all we need to do is read what Obama said on the topic the night before. I wonder if Barack simiply faxes The Pup a copy of what to say on a given topic, and Dan practices the lines in front of a mirror?
(Note to The Pup: plagerism, while typically practiced in written form, can also be perpetuated verbally.)
Sparty and ICBP are right on target with the Pup and his positions. I love the smug look on the Pup's face from the clips provided by TA from the Stevenson debate. Like his idol, the junior Senator from IL, Dan supplies little meat on the bones to give us an indication of how this country can begin to effect the Change in all of his grandiose plans. Now that the economy has taken over the first place spot as the issue most concerning Americans, let's see how the Pup and Jay scramble to get this into their new talking points.
I attended the Wednesday and Thursday debates and heard Seals say both times, “We changed the district in 2006.” If he changed the district, why is Mark Kirk still our Congressman?
Here’s what’s changed in the district. Mark Kirk is voting more progressively and spending much more time in the district reaching out to and listening to his constituents. Thank you, Dan Seals, for making Mark Kirk a better Congressman.
I took the time to read BoredNow’s dairy and watch the entire video. Seals must be overpaying him because if I were Seals I would not want anyone to watch that video.
Seals did not make any serious mistakes in the debates so his handlers evidently prepared him well. But, leave him along with Footlik and the Tribune editorial board for an hour and he gets cut to shreds. Take a look at http://xml.truveo.com/rd?i=2524732041&a=af6f670b39b1121cf54358467c12e869&p=1 and see the real Dan Seals.
Seals gets testy when he is overmatched which means if he ever got to Congress, he would get testy with his 434 colleagues. I just wish Footlik would attack him the way the Tribune did.
If Seals wins the primary, I hope Mark debates him plenty because I like to see pretenders smashed. When Mark is done with Seals, he’ll have the Democrats wishing for Lee Goodman again.
Jay:
Three opportunities - no knock out punches against Seals. You are going to lose. Go back to DC now and get your press release ready when Kirk defeats Seals a second time.
(oh by the way, Dan -- your career is then completely over).
Anon 10:38- Seals's political career will clearly be over when Kirk cleans his clock this time.
But Seals will no doubt have little trouble picking up a job from some well-heeled Democrat who will take pity on him... he's already proven that with his gigs at ThePoint.com and Northwestern University.
It was strange when Seals said he wanted to be 'even handed' in the palestinian-israeli conflict, something Footlik immediately jumped on. I'm surprised TA isn't all over this.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/israel/dean.asp
Anon 10:26...when and where did Seals make that statement? If Jay Footlik didn't jump on it, if he let it go, this is a major issue to deal with immediately. Please post when this was stated. Couple this with his on the record statement in the last campaign that if war broke out between Israel and Iran that he'd come down on the side of peace, we have a guy who just doesn't get it. Or worse.
Yes, Anon 10:26- do you have a reference? Either a statement in a debate or made to the press that was reported?
The statement was made at the forum in Arlington Heights. There should be video of it, i saw cameras.
Thanks Anon 1:32. I understand that the only video was taken by the League of Women Voters, but they plan on making that publicly available. Thanks to the commentor with the original tip and we'll do our best to get that link when the video is made available. We may be able to find an audio clip sooner...
TA, ellen mentions the even handed comment on her breakdown of the debate.
Anon 3:47, you can't use the F-word on my blog. I appreciated the sentiments of your comments, but this is a family show. Besides wanting to maintain some decorum and a high level of intelligence around here, the Blog will start getting block by certain search engines if we allow profanity. And I have no ability to edit certain parts of comments and leave others.
TA,
Fact check police. In your first clip, Seals claims to have changed "thousands" of lives as a teacher. Do you happen to know where, when and for how long he was a teacher? Most class sizes are no more than 30 -- and I can't imagine he taught for more than two years, possibly in Japan where he claims to have taught English.
Thanks for tracking this down.
Mr. FC
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