Interestingly, due to a probable programming oversight by Team Bond, for a short while (until the Bond folks figure it out, now that I've brought it to their attention), you can get a behind-the-scenes peek at Bond's prospective website for his congressional race. While the main page at www.michaelbondforcongress.com still shows a "coming soon" notation, you can get past the main page and drill down into a few of the "content" pages, like this one, for "volunters" [sic] if you type in the address directly or get it from Google after you search for "Michael Bond congress" where it comes up in the results. You can also get access to a page for "contacts," which seems funny to me, since it seems that he will express interest in hearing from people who live inside the 10th District, even though he doesn't. Who woulda thunk you cared, Michael?
None of the other buttons appear to work, nor are the other pages publicly accessible, it seems.
Here's what the Bond congressional campaign logo will look like, from the website:
Clearly, if Bond were ready to go all-in, this website would have been completely up and running by now. It's not like Bond just decided to run for congress yesterday. So, why the hesitation, senator?
A few tips: fix the spelling mistakes before going "live." Make sure the "issues" pages have some real meat, once you make them up: 1oth District voters are a highly-educated, notoriously independent lot. They won't vote for you just because you have a picture of you and President Obama together (it's on Bond's Facebook page, but not on the campaign website...yet). Dan Seals found that out. And I would change that dorky logo. The single star above "Michael" does nothing for me. And above all, don't allow the website to come up in a Google search until you're ready to roll with it.
Excuse me. I have to go capture a few screen shots from this draft website before it 'disappears.' It might become important later for some reason to have evidence that Bond had expended money in having a website designed prior to this particular date.
Posts
45 comments:
TA, I'm starting to wonder about your claim that you are a lawyer. When I practiced, 90% of my waking hours were spent zealously representing my clients. (Which perhaps explains how underwhelmed my wife was at my profession at that point in our nearly 30 years of marriage!) (On the other hand, that might also explain why I never lost a trial.) You, on the other hand, seem to possess an infinite amount of time to sit at your little computer and track down the registration numbers and out anonymous postings and break thru not yet published web sights. If I were one of your paying clients, brother I'd be concerned.
As to your critique of Bond's website, you write as if we don't already know your intense and all-too-apparent bias against any and everything associated with Michael Bond. While I understand that you're singing to your choir, it really does come off like a gaggle of school-girls pointing and snickering at someone out of their clic.
More to the point, the site doesn't appear to be ready for publication. Doesn't that pale in comparison to Mark Kirk's not-ready-for-publication life?
As to Bond's successor, it wouldn't surprise me at all if voters in the 31st were already engaged in the process of reaching out to their neighbors and cementing that kind of grassroots foundation of support that scares the bee-jeevers out of the Lake County GOP, who you yourself call dysfunctional and ineffective. I'm sure you'll know all about it right when that progressive shadow looms large over you, blotting the sun from your already excessively pale countenance.
Wow, Blue. You took four paragraphs to say absolutely nothing.
Blue Prairie,
Leaving aside the Bond websie in development at the moment, is your idea "progressive" the actions of our state government, which failed to pass a budget and which passed watered down laughable ethics reforms?
I mean, not a single Republican vote was needed to push these measures.
What is so "progressive" about the anti-ethics, anti-reform, and draconian "bare bones temporary for a few months" budget that the "all blue" "progressive" Democratic completely controlled government in Springfield stumbled through?
Democrats are great at tearing down Republican candidates and office holders (look at the invective hurled at Mark Kirk all the time by folks like you and Ms. Ellen "I hate Mark Kirk, I hate him, I hate him, I hate him!" of the 10th?
But explain Springfield to me? Is that what you call "progressive?"
Louis G. Atsaves
Ease off and close your parenthesis there, Louis! Um, by the way, where the heck has the GOP been in this fiscal crisis? Where are the alternatives to the proposed budget, tax bill and spending plan? Where are Cole and Osmand? I'll tell ya where; they, like you and TA are waiting over in the peanut gallery with megaphones in hand, ready to shout down any and every bill coming out of Springfield. Last I checked, Cole and Osmand were also a part of the 'Springfield' crowd, but not that you'd notice.
Where are the GOP 'reforms'? Or is the Tribune the new arm of the Illinois GOP? The truth of the matter is that there are no GOP alternatives to either the fiscal or the corruption crisis in Illinois. You, TA, and the GOP members of the State legislature are far better suited to your current role of hiding under the desks and waiting for legislation so it can be shot full of holes. Thank you party of NO: No alternatives to close the budget gap, No ethics legislation (either in Springfield or in the Lake County Board), No ideas, No nothing.
And gee, TA, sorry if you didn't get my drift in 4 paragraphs. Heck, you've been writing this thing for a year or so and seem to have only grasped the obvious. But I'm sure your clients won't mind too much if the good folks of Lake County start pushing you to spend more time making a better case for your 'dysfunctional and ineffective' party.
Oh, and fellas, is there some kind of time-table for Kirk's decision tree? Who are we waiting for; him or the courts?
TA, it's Monday, what did you expect from some doofas without a thing to say that matters or makes sense. He/she is just another Democrat lacking in anything of substance. Neither Republicans or Democrats can defeat anything with nothing. Having said that, I'd like to read waht Blue Prairie is suggesting our corrupt State and it's "leaders" suggest we do to begin to bail out of the mess we're in thanks to the lack of leadership, ideas and integrity of the likes of the Michael Bonds in our Statehouse. Let's stop this nonsense and force those who are in Springfield to come up with realistic ways to get this State functioning again. Are you listening, Mr. Bond?
Hmm. Are you listening JoAnn Osmond and Sandy Cole?
Last I checked, Bond has only been in Senate for 3 years. Last I checked, George Ryan is still in jail. Last I checked, Scott Fawell and Larry Warner were still Republican felons.
What are you looking for? Do you want concrete proposals to fill the void created by the deafening silence coming from our Lake County GOP elected officials? If Suzi Schmidt is on the road to cleaning up Springfield, don't you think her ideas are a little more relevant than mine? But what the heck, I'll bite.
Information - knowledge is the best reform tool on the planet. The more the voters know, the less an elected official can do in private. It seems so basic, and yet, this has always been the best corruption fighting tool. So: increase each legislative district's allowance for communication with the voters. My neighbors and I are fed up with only hearing from JoAnn Osmond every other year, and then only when she's worried about re-election. And then, when she does communicate, it's meaningless dribble.
My neighbors and I want more. More info, more input, more exchange. And we know we're not getting it from Osmond.
Term limits don't work, but leadership limits aren't necessarily bad. I favor those, but, as Senate terms are already four and two years, it means that Senate leadership terms will have to be ten years, which isn't much of a change.
Contribution caps tied to federal contribution cap levels are merely an invitation for outside, unregulated money to flood Illinois and subject us to 'swift-boat' campaigns. I, for one, want Sheldon Adelson to keep his money in Nevada, not flood Illinois with his vile invective, so loved and utilized by the GOP Congressional caucus.
There's more, but frankly, like the current legislative session, why should I keep bidding against myself? Where are your ideas? Did you already recycle the Tribune? Can you possibly come up with any of your own? Or are you, as it appears, far more schooled in the philosophy of 'No.'
Oh, and by the way, that lack of leadership you attach to Senator Bond is a bunch of hooey. The fact is that with only two sessions in the Senate, Bond chaired the most important committee of the entire session this year: the infrastructure committee that put the stimulus money into play and on the ground in Illinois as quickly as possible. And he did so in an extraordinarily bipartisan and participatory fashion, according to Capitol Fax and the Springfield media. The results are that more people are working, more business are beginning to recapture growth, and more communities are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
So tell me, where again are Cole and Osmond? What exactly have they been doing, other than holding telephone town-hall meetings which suddenly had 'technical difficulties' whenever a citizen tried to ask a question they didn't like. You keep asking for leadership but providing so little yourselves.
Hey Blue Prairie, you seem to have an awful lot to say. Maybe you should go start your own blog- you can call it "Blue Prairie's 8th District Blog in Support of Michael Bond's 10th District Candidacy". Of course, if Ellen of the Tenth still had the guts to take comments on her blog, you could post your manifestos there, but it's been a while since TA and Lou Atsaves drove her into comment isolationism.
But hey, unlike those 'free speech' Dem blogs that are not, you're still welcome to post here. We're not afraid of some good debate on the issues, although you might try laying off the ad hominem attacks and stick to the issues.
Hey Blue Prairie, back up your statement about Sheldon Adelson flooding this State and/or this district with campaign money. Show us the proof. If you want to get into a match on out of state funds that have easily found a way to influence IL politics and elections and elections all over the country let's do it. I think what TA was saying in his original post is that Michael Bond is not quite ready for prime time. Blue Prairie makes statements about the great job Bond has done in chairing an important committee. Show me the results. That doesn't change what TA is stating about Bond being ready to take on the kind of leadership that it takes to serve this district in DC. Damn. I wish that the other blog allowed for discussion. Blue Prairie belongs over there. Nice of you to offer him/her this venue, TA.
Blue Prairie, you said that Bond has been a state senator for three years, but you're incorrect. He was elected in Nov. 2006, and he was sworn in, in Jan. 2007. He's been a legislator for two years and five months.
Phil Collins
Me thinks that Blue Prairie is really just that madwoman / moonbat Ellen. Go take care of your cat or something.
Blue,
While I am the online chairnan of the Team for Illinois State Senate campaign, I am generally a harsh critic of his love affair with Andy McKenna, who in my mind is as effective as the coach of the washington generals. However, what the left does online to smear Republicans is beyond belief, and almost as awful as what their dear leaders including local cougars like Karen May, Susan Garett do in springfield.
Ellen regularly attacks Mark Kirk's lovely wife Kimberly who has more military service than every single single person that has challenged Mark going back to the 2000 primary COMBINED. Lee Goodman probably wouldn't let his kids near squirt guns.
Aside from his lackluster work in springfield, Bond has the worst educational credentials of any candidate to ever try for the 10th congressional district. Even the heinous lauren beth gash had a georgetown degree to go along with that 3 tier liberal arts college she went to out in the people's republic of oregon. He won't be taken seriously on the north shore. Kirk's d.c. staff generally requires you to have a degree from a top 20 us news school, with the exception of patrick the piranha magnuson, a proud syracuse grad. Bond went to some 4th tier place downstate best known for its hickishness.
Sheldon Adelson did come into the 10th district a few years ago with the freedom's watch, a Republican Jewish Coalition related effort tied to boosting congressional support for israel in the middle east against the smears of the anti-israel, anti-semites in the democrat party. Read ellen's blog and you'll see what I mean. It was a smart play as Mark is the only true friend Israel has here.
FOKLAES
Foklaes, you make me laugh. I just want to correct one thing. Don't ever believe anything that the catwoman has said, is saying, will say about anything if you're looking for truth. Freedom's Watch did almost nothing in the last campaign. Take that statement to the bank. Sheldon Adelson wrote a personal check in support of Mark Kirk as did his wife. Hard to imagine that the looney catwoman is a lawyer, but she is. She and her followers love to distort facts to suit themselves. Regardless, it makes me happy to think of her sitting in her rocking chair with her cat on her lap trying to devise some devious crap to throw at Mr. Kirk. Like Gash, these things are dedicated to trying to defeat him and are confounded as they continue to fail. I love your description of what it takes educationally to be taken seriously in this district. Mr. Bond had better try for an advanced degree ASAP. Your post today is making me laugh. Thanks.
Last I saw of the GOP, their bills and proposals on ethics and finance were still stuck in committees. Only one vote is needed to keep them there, ask Rep. "Good Heavens" about that one.
While revenues plunged by $3 billion this year, Springfield Democrats did what? Nothing?
What will the GOP do to clean up the mess made by a pack of Democrats that have proven their complete inability to govern? Is that what you are trying to ask me? After the Democrats do the Charlie Brown tangled up in kite string routine trying to fly the kite of Illinois Government, are the GOP members now supposed to cut them loose, and cut them some slack and "save them?
Who are they blaming now? Blagojevich? No! They blame the GOP for not stepping forward and helping them hammer the State citizenry with dramatically increased taxes.
Makes you wonder which political party is truly in touch right now.
Nothing like "progress."
Louis G. Atsaves
Anon 3:37...Bond does have an advanced degree...an MBA from Lake Forest College, or some place like that
According to Bond's senate website, he has a Masters of Business Administration from Roosevelt University in Chicago (1997).
Wow, Foklaes. I am amazed that the "online Chairman of the Team of the ....whatever!, would, on the one hand refer to any elected official as a 'cougar' and in the next breath attempt to defend Mark Kirk's 'lovely' wife against an attack I didn't level. You need your medication checked pal. I am not surprised, however, that any Lake County GOP organization would employ the purveyor of such vile slurs as 'old scumbag' and 'cougar' as you have done over the past few days. Your shameless descent into the cheapest barroom talk is just further evidence of just how 'dysfunctional' (as Team America stated) the Lake County GOP really is. Personally, reading the bile-laced vitriolics that spew from your rancid psyche, I wouldn't let you serve as the chairman of my dog-refuse container, however seemingly appropriate you might be for that role .
Geez, this party is getting rough. Blue Prairie mirrors the kind of anger and vitriol that spews from those sickos like the catwoman and her trusty sidekick, Gash. BP, I think you need a long time out. Take it NOW.
For the record, I have never met TA, or King Louis Astaves, have never spoken with them and have nothing to do with any local political organization. I am however a cheerleader on this blog and capitol fax for team america and congressman kirk.
Roosevelt University, the same school that produced Melissa Bean, the most financially indebted member of Congress. There's a winner. This is an elite district, it is not one that relies on federal government help for a lot of things like ag subsidies, military bases. It's a financial net exporter. It's a district that read the economist and knows who the heads of state and foreign lands are. That's where Bond will have issues, he's a goof. In 10 years I can't think of a kirk staffer who had a degree from anywhere outside the top tier like this guy does. Many former staff are now at elite graduate schools, meaning they know their stuff.
As well for 10th dems reading this, it has to be quite an embarassment for you that while democrats have snuffed out kirk like elite suburban districts in maryland, new york, colorado, connecticut, and pennsylvania, you can't touch the fella.
As for Sheldon Adelson, I know from d.c. contacts that he was behind Freedom's Watch, that Ari Fleischer was their spokesman until Ed Patru, the best friend of former Kirk for Congress Chief of Staff and Libby Dole for President person Liesel Hickey took over. It was a pro-Israel group designed to thwart palestinian and iranian supporters like Dan Seals. Ellen has a problem with them because she's not exactly AIPAC lawyers dinner host material,too much money for loyola law grads, and the mainstream Israel movement thinks her leftist politics are wrong.
Prarie, you and I agree on something that TA and I disagree on. That the Illinois GOP has the political firepower of a squirt gun . I blame Chairman McKenna and his impotent staff including former kirk honcho john mcgovern for running peter fitzgerald out of d.c. with no plan of attack. Ray LaHood should have been ex-communicated from the party for taking a job with obama and using it to backstab the party.
Jeff Berkowitz show time.
FOKLAES
You make some interesting statements not all backed by facts, Foklaes. Enough of the McKenna bashing. Like a clock, life goes forward and each of us should be out doing all we can to advance the ideas and ideals we hold so dear. Under the leadership of Gash and cronies like that viciously sicko Gill, the 10th Dems are pointless because all they do is attack thinking that everything Mr. Kirk does is evil. You're right in saying that this district does have some clear thinking residents who don't buy the insane postings and rantings of the Gills and Gashs of the world. I hope they keep up their tirades because you can see how successful they are in winning one for their side. You state that you are a Kirk supporter. I hope that you'll get out and do all you can to be sure that whatever he chooses to do in the future will have your total and complete support. I hope that you'll get involved in the kind of positive and productive things that his campaigns are made of each cycle. You seem to know about many former Kirk staffers. Some of what you state might be correct. Some is not, to be sure. It doesn't matter. That's about yesterday and we need to move forward and do so with a purpose that has always been the hallmark of all that Mr. Kirk stands for as our Congressman. Let's stop all the nasty back-biting and really unhelpful rhetoric coming from malcontents like Blue Prairie. We have a lot to do in the months ahead. Let's keep our focus on the really important things. I think it's called winning for OUR side.
McKenna has done absolute zippo for the party. This is the 7th most democrat state in the country and has lost gop seats in the last 3 elections-watch a tape of debbie halvorson, your teenager on the debate team is more competent. You have to go back to 1994 to find the last time a Republican took out a democrat of any significance on his own for congress in Illinois, and Dan Rostenkowski had 1 foot in jail.
The Democrats won't always be this stupid or this foolish to run idiots like stroger, blago, quinn, boy toy giannoulias, and the state reps around here that are awful-Ryg, Nekritz ect.
I realize some of you love him and as republicans we dont usually like dissent (I hate navel gazing), but this is train headed off the tracks and better to right it than have to spend 2010-2020 in the wilderness as we've spent 2002-2009.
FOKLAES
Foklaes: What a crock! Freedom Watch also targeted Rahm Emanuel and Melissa Bean who we all know are real anti-semetic. There are Rabbis southern Nevada and Northern California as well as Georgia and New York that read open letters in there Sabbath services asking members not to donate to Freedom Watch because of Adelson's vile, racist political activity. I also note, with no small irony, that while on the one hand this blog heaps abuse upon the attempt to bring a casino to Northern Illinois, and on the other hand invites the likes of the chairman of the Sands Casino resort into Northern Illinois to spend all those millions on the likes of Kirk. How typically fluid your ethics can be.
As I drove thru Libertyville and Highland Park last weekend, I was struck by all the cars with SIU, NIU, EIU, and WIU decals and bumper stickers. I can't wait to share your educational elitism with folks in the 10th. With supporters like you, it's no wonder Kirk's afraid to go state-wide. He'd have to appear at all those schools you deride. And there's no question your comments, being those of a campaign spokesman for Kirk, would precede him. Thanks.
I'm sorry I wasn't able to get in on this one until late, I only just got to a computer. I have been following this on my phone for most of the day, though, and I hope I can resolve some of the conflicts in this comment thread.
First, to my fellow Democrat, Blue Prairie. As much as I agree with a fair amount of what you say, I had some trouble digging out your substantiative points from beneath some truly unnecessary vitriol. I'd suggest, politely, that you go back and look over some of your comments today, and try and view them from an independent's point of view. There isn't a lot that's particularly persuasive.
Also, do a little research. While there are many issues, major issues, on which the Republican party is intellectually empty, the current budget crisis in Illinois doesn't happen to be one of them, as State Senator Matt Murphy has introduced an alternative budget. Personally, I think it's a disaster, but it does exist. The charge of absenteeism is much more effective when applied to matters of import where Republicans have nothing to say.
FOKLAES- as usual, a few things.
On higher education-
I'm disappointed in some of your comments regarding higher education. I was a student up until two weeks ago at College of Lake County, and my older brother will be graduating next year from Roosevelt in Chicago. While there are certainly benefits to going to top-ranked schools, that is no reason to gratuitously bash more modest, but accessible schools. While the 10th District does include some of the best-educated zip codes in the state, it is also home to more education-deprived communities, whom the Congressman has to represent as well. I personally went to Stevenson High School, with all of its luxuries, but it's still important to remember that North Chicago High School still doesn't have air conditioning. CLC, Roosevelt, and schools like them provide a tremendous benefit to their communities, and there is no shame in graduating from them. Nor does attendance there imply a lack of fitness for elected office.
On Sheldon Adelson-
There is no question as to his primacy in the funding of Freedom's Watch. That being said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmcFeaWcge4
That was backed with a $600,000 ad buy. He was an influence in that election, no question.
On Debbie Halvorson-
I happen to be a teenager with some debating experience, and I can honestly say she's not bad. She's certainly no orator of historical noteworthiness, but I've seen worse, on both sides of the aisle.
On Dan Seals-
As many critiques are legitimate, I see no evidence that Dan is anything but pro-Israel in regards to the Middle East. You call him pro-palestinian, and more damningly, pro-iranian, with no evidence of either. The debate from 2006, which you would refer to in rebuttal, are actually fairly harmless. When asked whether he would come down on the side of Israel or Iran in the event of a war, Dan said, "I would come down on the side of peace," with elaboration. Regardless of that one, inocuous line, all of the available evidence points to Dan being a strong supporter of Israel.
Finally, on military service-
I understand and share your admiration for those who serve in the military. However, it is important to recognize that there are many ways to serve one's country, and military service is not the sole thermometer of eligibility for elected office. Also, however you may have intended the comment, it is no insult to say that a man wishes his children to be men of peace. No insult.
I'm sorry for the enormous post, but I've been collecting thoughts as this thread has developed, and haven't had the opportunity to put them down until now. For those of you that have made it to this point, thank you for your patience.
Tikki- nice to hear from you, and you certainly used your space more wisely than Blue Prairie. You had something to say in your couple paragraphs and didn't even need to insult anyone to make your point. Good job.
However, Seals is still an empty suit (not that it's your fault, but I'd give up trying to defend him if I were you. He's not worth it). I notice he's been trying to give lectures lately on campaign finance reform. Is that supposed to be a joke? Maybe Rosty can guess lecture at that class, too.
TA,
I give you alot of credit for allowing an angry "Blue Prairie" to rant on your blog.
As to you Blue Prairie, the General Assembly had the votes to pass a budget, pass a reform package and do anything else they wanted - without ONE republican vote. They didn't do anything because THEY and only THEY are responsible for the horrible mess the state is in. If you think your BS is going to sway minds on this blog - think again.
We're not the Kool Aid drinkers....
Hey Blue Prairie,
What kind of law do you practice? Med mal, personal injury, ambulance chasing. No wonder your devoting "90% of your waking hours representing clients".
I bet your marriage lasted 30 plus years because of all the millions you received representing your clients. If I was your wife, I'd probably stay as well. Never have to see you, spend all your money, etc...
She certainly didn't stay because of your kind nature.
Hey, by the way, is the progressive cloud you speak of somehow related to nuclear testing in North Korea?
Anon 11:22-
No. I just spent a fair amount of space disagreeing with Blue Prairie, but you owe the man an apology. Insulting the quality of his marriage and suggesting his wife is ANYTHING negative without any empirical evidence is the lowest point yet on this comment thread. Hide behind your anonymous nature if you want, but if you have any decency at all, you'll post an apology. Tonight.
Also, TA-
I didn't know he was lecturing on it, but I did see his op-ed in the Trib after the election. His new focus on finance reform is I think an improvement, actually, because it shows an increased commitment to the problems of Illinois in particular, in contrast to the suggestion that he is a Washington-driven candidate. I also completely understand the futility of making this argument to you. But it's 11:30 on a Monday night, and I got nothing better to do, so it's worth a shot. :-P
Last points and then to bed.
1. Dan was anti-Israel. Democrats like to pretend that Israel is a bi-partisan thing. It's not, which is why the the 10th dems supported kooks like lee goodman and hank perritt and why there's one degree of seperation between 10th democrat liberals and chicago anti-israel protesters.
2. As TA has already started to do, Bond is unqualified to be a congressman from this district. His record in springfield shows he's a political hack unable to stand up to his party. His education is signficant because this is a smart district and we expect advanced intellectual leadership. Bond probably knows more about the west side of chicago than he does the west bank.
3. Sheldon Adelson has been one of the most staunch supporters of Israel on the planet over the last decade. He supported Mark because Mark is the go to Republican guy for jewish interests in the House. If Mark goes back to congress in 2011, he will run the foreign operations committee, a committee with a 36 billion dollar budget responsible for all funds that go to the middle east. Basically he will hold the purse strings on all u.s. foreign policy as it affects that region. BIG DEAL. The attacks on Adelson were drawn up by democrat operatives. Rabbis know how to check the weather and put up 1995 websites for their syanagogues, not orchestrate political attacks.
4. Great catch on the website TA and keep up the good work.
FOKLAES
Blue Prairie, you are so off base, so over the top when you attack Sheldon Adelson without one shred of proof. Surely you know that any Church or Synagogue, any religious leader who would openly say anything from a pulpit of a political nature risks the 501 (C) 3, non-profit status of that place. Stop the damn lies and stupidity and outrageous charges because you know you are wrong. You are a hateful and hurtful angry person who needs to find a place elsewhere, not here, for sure. Congressman Mark Kirk is the recognized pro-Israel leader in Congress. He is supported by those who share his commitment to the safety and security of that country. Your outrageously stupid attacks on Congressman Kirk lead me to believe that you, like Gash and Gill, are so angry that you can't defeat Mr. Kirk that you are banging your head on a wall in some dark corner with your constant temper tantrums. And when you drive thru the 10th district I hope you notice the cars with bumper stickers from Ivy League schools, all kinds of schools where district kids study. What's your point? Do you know or care that Mark Kirk works with kids from every school in this district on his various student boards, that he has done more with students everywhere in the 10th to help them reach their highest potential. You despise him. That's your feeling about him. You have a right to your feelings. But can you just find a physician who can prescribe some chill pills for you before you hit rock bottom or break your skull on the wall while beating your head repeatedly. You are a hate filled person needing some serious help. Get over it.
FOKLAES-
My apologies for the hour, but I've been working most of the day, and am now just getting warmed up, so I completely understand if I don't hear back until tomorrow. Enjoy your rest.
1. You didn't offer what I asked for. You originally accused Dan of anti-Israeli sentiments, and I asked for empirical evidence, which you did not offer. I understand my defense of Dan is getting mildly tiresome, but this was more a defense of properly constructed argument than it was Dan. I have no evidence that leads me to believe Dan harbors those sentiments. If you know otherwise, I'd love to hear it, and would happily change my position.
Further, your accusations against 10th district Democrats are offered without evidence. I know personally some of those you mentioned, and several of my family members fall under the label of 10th district democrats. Those same family members include the president of a local synagouge and devoters of time, energy, and significant amounts of money to the new Holocaust Museum in Skokie. Lauren Beth Gash is herself Jewish, and there is no evidence to characterize her as anti-Israeli. As annoying as it may be to you, there is a strong contingent of pro-Israeli democrats, myself included (I just took my Birthright trip this January), and we reject your broad generalization.
2. Many times in the past I have heard members of this community criticize the "qualifications" of Democratic candidates. While I found him qualified, I understand the arguments against Dan Seals' resume. The main criticism, however, was that he hadn't been elected to anything, nor served his community in a way pleasing to this blog. Now, Michael Bond is an elected State Senator, in a very mixed partisan district. What exactly, FOKLAES, do you see as the necessary qualifications to be a Congressman or woman?
Also, why is a knowledge of the west side of chicago a negative? If you keep insulting whole sections of the 3rd largest city in the country, and the population backbone of this state, your party's never going to win any elections there.
3. I wasn't contesting Sheldon Adelson's support for Israel, I was noting his influence on the 08 campaign in the 10th. Indeed, Mr Adelson has been a strong supporter of the Birthright program I took advantage of earlier this year. However, his alliance with Freedom's Watch was less about Israel and more about partisan politics. It's nothing to be ashamed of, but it's an important distinction.
Also, I reject and am mildly offended by your stereotyping of Rabbis as technologically incompetent. My own rabbi is quite technologically literate, even carrying a blackberry. For someone who claims to be a strong supporter of Israel, and by implication, the Jewish residents of this district, insulting rabbis is no way to carry on that support.
Tikkun
1. As TA will uncover in the months to come, Bond is a part of a state government and democrat party that is an absolute disgrace from end to end. During one of the worst recessions in history, they are bickering over how to police themselves rather than fix the state. Last 9 months on my tv all the democrats have done is get indicted, figure out who gets to move up, and figure out how not to fix themselves. The 30 second tv spots against bond will be devestating, with people that have lost their jobs telling the 10th just what bond was doing down there. "He played politics while I lost my job".He has no major legislative achievements and nowhere near the sophistication to take on any republican here. Seals had an mba from chicago and people thought him a smirking little twerp.
1a. Footlik is a lobbyist in d.c. for foreign governments which means his career is in a k street burn bag. Seals has lost twice now, and the dccc won't support a 3 time loser. He was an awful candidate, which is why he underperformed by 12 points in the district compared to obama.
2. Rabbis aren't smart enough to concoct dirty liberal trashy schemes against inside washington players like adelson that get 5,000 word new yorker stories written about them. The democrat party went out of its way to smear a jew with dirty attacks on him and Jan Schakowsky was a major part of that effort.
2a. Jews in the 10th will not support bond at all when they learn that he knows more about lebron than lebanon. Obama is about to sell out to Iran and hamas and jews won't want a guy that is less informed on Israel than their 8th grader. Plus national jews will want mark to have that committee post in the house.
3. You have to be blind, stupid, or both not to see the connections between the anti-Israel movement and the far left in Illinois. There are 2 types of jews, those that support Israel no matter what and those that don't. Ellen's in the latter category and judging by the anti-Israel or Israel ignorant candidates the dems here choose-perritt, goodman, seals, bond and pro-israel people like footlik they reject it's clear where they stand. Bond
FOKLAES
Is Blue Prairie really Michael Bond?
Doubtful. If he was, he would have spent yesterday either taking down his embarrassing draft website or finally finishing it up and taking it "live", instead of yammering here.
Tikkun,
With all due respect, one can be a Democrat and still disagree with the actions their leaders have taken both locally (state-wide) and nationally.
There is no excuse for Madigan and Cullerton to not pass a budget and reform package. They had all the votes they needed to do so - the only thing they didn't have was Republican support. And good for the Republicans - they stood tall during a session filled with chaos and strife created by the Democrats. You must be able to see it - everyone else does.
I guess I have to apologize for unintentionally bringing religion into the fray here. My point was that $2400.00 campaign contribution limits are merely an invitation to outside, unregulated money. I raised Adelson as an example for the very reasons these posts above have established. Under the guise of protecting Israel, a country and a people I whole-heartedly support and admire, Adelson's Freedom Watch has repeatedly launched viscous attacks against just about any Democratic member of congress. And no, a church can speak out against the political action of an individual like Adelson or an organization like Freedom Watch and not jeopardize it's tax status as neither is a governmental or 'State' entity. But my purpose was merely to show the ill effects of campaign contribution limits tied to the federal caps.
I did not ever, in any post, nor would I ever conduct a personal attack upon Mark Kirk, Sandy Cole, or JoAnn Osmand or any member of their families. Neither did I ridicule their backgrounds nor education. Frankly, I don't see the need, as they each provide such a fount of fine material in the way they conduct the business of government, or the lack thereof. I will, however, slap a dog down when it refers to any elected official as a 'old scumbag' or a 'cougar' or any such derisive manner be they Republican or Democratic (althought with slightly less alacrity for the former). I've re-read Foklaes's posts and find his frothy, maniacal anger at not only any Democratic official or candidate, but also any even mildly moderate member of the GOP to be disgusting and moronic.
And no apologies are needed as to the reference to my wife. Honestly, I too am constantly amazed that she's stayed with me all these years, if not eternally grateful. With all my hair vacating the top of my head and taking residence in my ears, a protruding belly and a big mouth, I more closely resemble our garden gnome than the man she married. In this I am blessed. And oh the more I would be if more Democratic legislators were elected in Lake County!
Blue,
You must realize sheldon adelson was targeted because he was a republican jew. Those attacks on him by democrats smelled of anti-semitism. Of all the groups that came to support Mark with indpendenet expenditures, realators, doctors, chamber of commerce, why do you think he was targeted? Because he's a jew and democrats don't like when jews and blacks don't support them-look at the treatment michael steele gets now and what his predecesssor, a redneck from kentucky didn't get.
Dan had a major Israel problem, and Bond already is deep in the hole with the jewish community of the 10th for not having any national security experiience. I would be shocked if Bond can ever recover from this seemingly fatal wound of daring to run for office without having any Israel ties in his campaign.
As for these local democrat tools of the corrupt chicago machine, lets just say they should be lucky they are getting complimented on anything these days. If our party had any leadership whatsoever, the entire lot of them would be out of office and reduced to stomping around their communities with the look of a beaten dog who knows she got outworked like Gash has.
FOKLAES
I am sooo sorry I used Adelson as an example of the problems of outside money. I will try to be more careful in the future. However, make no mistake, Freedom Watch's political activity has far less to do with Israel and the defense of Jewish politicians and far more to do with far right conservatism. Why would Freedom Watch target the likes of Melissa Bean or even Las Vegas's own mayor, Oscar Goodman? Neither has an anti-semitic bone in their body. Goodman, I believe, is even Jewish. I abhor anti-semitism to my very core. But Adelson and Freedom Watch cheapen the cause by using it as a vehicle for an entirely different agenda.
Moreover, you fail to address the fact that Freedom's cash is generated by the very conduct you condemn; gambling. How can you be against gambling and yet profit politically from its rewards? My objection stands. I'd rather the candidate have the money to spend and be regulated by the nature of the campaign process than invite a flood of unregulated mailers and radio and television ads the content of which is subject only to the minimal standards of the medium employed. And I object to these '527' ads regardless of who they attack, democratic or republican candidates alike.
I guess trying to get you back on point is akin to reading Sarte to my dog. Pointless. Besides, she much prefers Elmore Leonard!
I personally know the people who started freedom's watch and who worked there and it had nothing to do with a right wing agenda. They had no domestic policy staff and had no position on social issues. The only purpose was to support pro-israel candidates, which no 10th democrat is.
Prarie you continue to have nothing to say about the horrendous work of Bond in springfield. You knocked me when I said his educational underachievement was no big deal, but if he can't hack it in a bumblef--k backwater like springfield, it's hard to believe he can compete and get anything done in d.c where people use sat words regularly and actually pretend to know what they are doing.
We are all ready for the 30 second tv spots "you lost your job, he took a pay raise, you needed help, he helped his party hacks"/
FOKLAES
You're just wrong, foklaes. Or, more likely, just blowing smoke out of your forth point of contact.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/house/freedoms-watch-ramps-up.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/us/politics/30watch.html
Your continued claim of personal knowledge grows suspect regarding this organization. On the whole, you grow more suspect.
And you may characterize Bond's performance in this legislative session any way you wish, but the fact remains that he was first appointed to chair the infrastructure committee ahead of many far more senior and connected Democratic Senators exactly because of his expertise in coordinating and driving large scale, multi-faceted projects as the Director of Corporate Finance at Allstate Insurance. And then, in a session that began with a senate impeachment trial, Bond still got the framework of the committee up and running and essentially completed it's first and most important series of tasks, identifying shovel-ready projects at the state, county, township and municipal levels and getting the stream of stimulus money flowing to those projects before the budget, taxation, capital, and reform bill conflicts consumed the Senate, all the while still fully participating in and managing the telecommunications committee and completing formation of the Nuclear Power Task Force. But don't take my word for it, I don't even work for the guy. Call Rick Pearson at the Tribune and ask him. And when you do, remember that Pearson is a born and raised DuPage county conservative Republican. He can always be counted upon among the Trib's political reporters to give the least glowing reports of any Democratic Senator in Springfield.
Your continued derision of Bond's education will carry so well in the 10th, where the vast majority of voters actually send their children to state schools. Your claim of personal friends among Washington staffers appears more and more dubious as the obvious political ramifications of your ramblings escape your notice. You may know OF them, but doubt grows exponentially as to the existence of any meaningful exchange you're likely to have ever had WITH them.
It's almost funny reading the posts of Foklaes and Blue Prairie. BP, the ad that was released in the final weeks of the last campaign deal with Seals and his higher tax idea. What's your point? You are harsh in your attack on Foklaes. Does it really matter who knows whom in DC, here or anywhere? The point is very simple. The 10th Dems, the mean spirited and vicious cat loving Gill, chairwoman Gash don't help the Dem cause. But I hope they keep it up because that kind of irrational, unfounded crap is a prescription for losing in each cycle. Keep it up. Whether Michael Bond would be able to capture the attention of voters in this district is what TA was addressing when he first posted a few days ago. How far afield this has grown. Until we know what our Congressman's decision will be concerning his future plans, let's try to find out a bit more about Mr. Bond. At this point we know very little. Some very bright people have matriculated from some of our State schools. It's not about the school, guys, it's about what one does with the passion and the direction one chooses in life. I can vividly recall a Mayor of Highland Park who was a Harvard graduate. One had only to watch him, listen to him, see what little he did and then ask if Harvard was bribed to admit him many years ago. Ivy League grads are plentiful out in this district. So what. There are many people, some who didn't even get a degree, who are contributing to society, making a difference, using the drive and their abilities to do all they can to be responsible, contributing members of society. Knock off all the empty rhetoric. Let's see what Bond and anyone else who wants to represent this district can show what they've done to even be considered. Silly season seems to come earlier each cycle.
TA you need to let people post link s to the blog.
Prarie Blue,
Freedoms Watch was all about Israel and making sure pro-Israel Mark got there and anti-Israel Dan didn't get to d.c. Republican Jews don't like to talk abortion and adelson funded those birthright scholarships which probably went to kids who voted 80/20 against McCain, although Mark is huge in the young jewish community thanks to caryn garber. What's more, voters are really tired of lame democrats using hyper partisan attacks to shield voters from the reality of how bad you are. Again it was formed to combat rabid anti-semitic left wing bloggers like moveon and dailykos.
No one cares about Bond's spin. For all we know this committee was handed to him because he was a weak guy and needed the leadership post to have any street cred. He's a weak minded soul and TA will destroy him, before the NRCC starts in on his miniscule munchkin mind. Using a tribune reporter as a source is like asking pravada how the communists are doing. The trib is an anti-republican entity now selling out its editorial page soul to stave off total newspaper annihilation and win over liberal chicago readers it knows want nothing of the truth. Bond's degrees matter because he has to prove he's not going to be a corrupt mealy mouth politician. This isn't a district where half the voters are dead animals like in chicago. People here read things like the economist and know who David Cameron, and Charlie Rose, and Tzipi Livi are.
As for Mayor Pierce, the Highland Park mayor who used to put die-hard republican louise greenabaum at the back of the HP 4th of july day parade simply because she was a republican despite her age in her late 80's. the guy was a wimp and never had the cojones to take on John Porter.
FOKLAES
Go to bed now, foklaes. You obviously missed your medications today, although I doubt a prescription is available to soothe your bitter, rancid soul.
For those still among the human race, have a peak at the two articles I listed above to judge for yourselves regarding this Freedom's Watch organization, which, by the way, is almost dead now, as Adelson has lost millions due to the crash of his Sands Casino stock. As for me, I see the futility now of attempting to counter the ravings of this troubled poster. The evidence, freely available on the Illinois Senate's website, will just have to stand for itself.
Hey blue Prairie you are the pot calling the kettle black to put it bluntly. It's you who's taken leave of your meds. Why don't you meander over to that other Blog and perhaps your buddy will let you talk to her as only you can do. I think you've worn out your welcome. TA has been kind to humor you. Get lost.
Prarie,
You are clearly among the 9th congressional district dems that don't like Israel but LOVVVEEE, how awful the state of the state is and think Bond is a champ.
I hope you saw Matt Murphy pummel lobbyist julie hamos on wttw tonight because that's your next governor.
Adelson tried to help Israel. Freedom's Watch is dead and the party moved on as has the democrat party.
FOKLAES
Blue Prarie was looking for some ideas on how to balance the budget in Illinois. Maybe this will help him/her.
http://www.illinoispolicyinstitute.org/news/article.asp?ArticleSource=1023
I suggest that all of you become familiar (if yo are not already) with the Illinois Policy Institute. That organization is doing great work.
Post a Comment