Apparently the issue of supporting democratic elections in Iran is too hot for President Barack Obama to touch. No, we wouldn't want to back up the people who are risking their lives out in the streets demanding fair elections and democracy... wouldn't want to offend the Iranian government (as illegitimate as it may now be), or they might not ever talk to us again.
But, Obama apparently has plenty of time to meddle with another political morass, namely, Illinois politics, and specifically, the impending battle to see who succeeds to his former senate seat, now held, of course, by Roland Burris. The big story of the news cycle is that Attorney General Lisa Madigan met with the President and his senior aides to discuss the senate race.
Are the Dems so scared by the prospect of Congressman Mark Kirk running for senate that bringing out their most popular (why, I'm not sure) politician is a move of desperation to try to ensure they don't suffer the embarrassment of losing the senate seat formerly held by the now-President? As many people have noted, now that the political landscape has changed somewhat with Quinn in as governor and not Blago, Lisa Madigan may be seriously rethinking her plan to run for that office.
Where does that leave Mark Kirk? Greg Hinz of Crain's Chicago Business really thinks Kirk ought to run for governor. Hinz may have a point that running as a fresh state-wide face against the entrenched issues of Springfield may be more attractive now than ever. And, since most polls that I've seen show Kirk losing to Madigan in a head-to-head race, it's not a dumb bet that he will run for whatever race Lisa doesn't, or stay home to run in IL-10. Of course, if Lisa is just using this all to further promote a future political move down the road and decides to run for Attorney General again herself, that leaves Kirk's political future a bit more open.
PS- Ellen defends Obama's lack of backbone, and as usual, tries to blame Mark Kirk. She's apparently taking comments again on her blog, brave soul, so why not let her know how you feel?
BOND WATCH: The only public response I have seen out of State Senator Michael Bond's camp in response to the Venturi FEC complaint over alleged late FEC filings is in Charlie Selle's column in the News-Sun. Bond's people deny that Bond messed up his filings. We shall see. But he still doesn't have his Congressional campaign website up and running, and the links to the draft Bond web pages that we saw some days ago have now been taken down, it appears.
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14 comments:
TA, while one might be able to write a comment on that other blog it must be approved by HER before posting. Nothing has changed. And of course she blames Mark for the ills of society. It's best to just forget this lopsided woman with an enormous chip on her shoulder.
As for Obama, did you really expect that he'd rise to the position of leader of the free world? He's the guy sitting under the tree and singing the third verse to his Kumbayah song. As I said, nothing has or will change.
Bond is totally corrupt and we 10th Democrats know it.
You sometimes wonder if ellen gets her talking points from hezbollah. Her extremist commentary really shows that the 10th dems are the most anti-Israel group around. It's not shocking considering the close ties between farrakahn and the dems in the city, but stil this is too much. the fact that no one stands up to that over there with them shows that jewish voters really need to stay away from her.
Bond should have to make a public statement if his campaign moves forward disassociating himself from her and that movement. If he doesn't we can start a letter writting campaign to the local north shore newspapers so that people really get a sense of how anti-israel the democrats are.
Also as 10 year kirk volunteer and knower of the guy both here and in d.c. I don't see him moving to springfield unless he feels his congressional seat is going away. In the next term in congress he'll be ranking member on house foreign operations which means he'll be the top republican on all u.s. foreign aid. A VERY powerful position.
FOKLAES
Well Foklaes, I share some of what you're saying today. That far left loon on her blog says things that truly disgust many of us but we are trying to ignore her. We need to do that. She has never been a part of the Jewish community, not ever. She has one mantra and it's called hate Mark Kirk regardless of the truth. She has no credibility because of her never ending vicious attacks on Mark and others she sees as his supporters. She and the 10th Dems keep on trying and keep on losing because voters here can understand that what she and they say and do doesn't match up. They mean nothing and are losers. I agree with you about our Congressman not moving into the mansion in Springfield. It's not his forte. As to his delay in saying what he's going to do or not do, this is simply a waiting game at this point. And he CAN afford to wait.
Anon,
Thank you. The Republican Jewish Coalition is a rising force in the chicago area largely because of anti-israel extremists like ellen, jan schakowsky, and LBG. There's not much distance between them politically and louis farrakahn. Bond will have to publicly admit that he has never been affiliated with ellen or the 10th dems or her blog posts will be used against him.
Having known and worked with Mark for 10 years, he's not leaving cushy d.c. embassy receptions and stays at the hotel serena in kabul for a catfight with mike madigan over sewage systems in some hick downstate town. It's just not his thing.
As for him needing to get in now. He's not fighting pup or perritt, or even an aging soccer mommy, he's fighting axelrod and rahm and a white house that will not lose this race. He will need about 20 or 30 million dollars for this race and at best can expect from looking at national journal.com last year to get 7 million from the NRSC. So he needs to put together 25 million over the next 14 months. That's 1.8 million a month or 60,000 a day. NOT EASY. Senator Fitzgerald used to say that you need to raise 10k/day 365 days a year to run for senate in illinois and that was 5 years ago and over 6 years.
Plus he has to build a statewide organization that will have to top an obama team that beat clinton and the rnc last year. Not easy given the failure of the Il state gop operatives to do anything the last 10 years.
tough road ahead.
FOKLAES
Last Sat., I attended a meeting of the Republican Organization of Wheeling Township, and Rep. Kirk was the guest speaker. Someone asked whether he’ll run for the U.S. Senate. Kirk said that he hasn’t decided. He said, “The White House chose someone they think is the perfect candidate for the U.S. Senate or governor. That person can’t run for both offices. A few days after that person makes an announcement, I’ll announce the race in which I’ll run.” I think that Kirk was referring to Attorney General Madigan. He knows that she’ll run for the U.S. Senate or governor, and he’ll probably run for the race for which she doesn’t run. Since Kirk probably won't run for re-election, next year, I hope that a Republican is planning on running for his U.S. House seat. I read, in Roll Call, that State Rep. Coulson might run.
Phil Collins
Phil, don't just assume that he will not just stay the course. I think it's impossible to predict his decision by some of the comments made lately. The Democrats are trying to make our Congressman make a decision. He's not playing that game. Neither should we.
Foklaes, good grief, now the attack woman is actually attacking her own on healthcare! The fact that she acknowledges the issue of bi-partisanship and hating it because it's not her way is almost too much to comprehend. She is so cluless about all the healthcare issues, talks about her plan that hasn't a prayer in hell of ever passing. She is more clueless, more out of step, more out of control than ever before. Do you think we've caused this? How many ways do you spell pathetic.
The best thing about Mark being in office is Ellen knowing that her 3 archnemsises Caryn Garber, Mark Kirk, and Team America are all dominating her.
And the best news is that it (hopefully) only gets better from here. If the most liberal republican in congress drives her nuts can you imagine what will happen to her when we get some more murphy's, duffy's, and coulsens running around?
The moment bond or garrett announces they are running for office, we on this blog will start an e-attack and call on them to repudiate her for her anti-israel and other inane statements.
FOKLAES
1. Just what is it that Obama is supposed to do? As a recent newspaper article reflected, there could be consequences to coming down too hard on someone who may be in charge in Iran for years to come. Also, it is unique that the Party of Iran-Contra, being buddies with the Saudi's, and not doing anything about Hussein for 1.5 decades or more, finds fault with Obama.
Further, this article reflected that at least some sensible Republicans agreed with Obama's dilemna and do not have ANY suggestions for how Obama can act differently. (Of course, press releases and press conferences but NO SUBSTANCE - PARTY OF NO)
2. How is it that meeting with a potential Senate candidate is wrong? How many trips did W. take for candidates while the country was falling apart; before and after his 5 week long vacation his first year in office? That was good, expensive policy?
Just as rubber-stamp support of a Dem is problematic, rubber-stamp support of someone who speaks ill of our nation to a significant creditor, someone who decries crime though helped allow the assault weapons ban to expire, and someone who is all press conferences and appearances but light on an adequate amount of legislation given the length of time he's been in office (including enjoying the horrendous entitlements of government paid healthcare) is also wrong, if one is genuine, fair, and objective.
I don't think Kirk is going to be fast-tracked for beautification given his, at times, contradictory stances on veterans benefits, S-Chip, and the environment.
OOPS
Anon 8:53 your post is so filled with BS that I'm sorry TA didn't delete it. Unlike that crazed nutjob, he let's you ramble on. Too bad. Know your damn facts and try posting something that's true about Mark Kirk's record.
Let's take some of the last statements: no free healthcare is given to members of Congress and you know it. The Federal Health Benefits are paid for, yes, paid for each month by each person in the system. And NO, it's not owned by the government, it IS a private system so know your facts. Mr. Kirk voted FOR the SCHIP program once the crap was stripped from it and it did what it was supposed to do regarding benefits for those who needed it. Again, your simply make up BS and call it truth. The same applies to Veteran's Benefits. Not only did the FINAL bill give more support than the preceding Bill, it is Mark Kirk who made sure that our district will have the first new Va Hospital in the nation.
Like a few other hard core, partisan Democrats determined to distort and make UP total BS about Mr. Kirk and his record, you folks should stop polluting this site and go back where you belong, and you know where that happens to be.
And stop with the crap about Mr. Kirk's comments in China. Do you think that his position as co-chair of the China Working Group, something he shares WITH a Democrat from the State of Washington, Rick Larsen, was something out of line? Do you think they'd appreciate your kind of BS? You guys are so hate filled, so intent upon spreading your special kind of crap that it's really getting old and very tired. Your buddy on that other blog needs you. We don't. Take a hike.
Anon 1:32- I did toy with the idea (deleting Anon 8:53's comment) for a moment, but it's against Policy. I trusted the Faithful Readers to step up and answer, which you have. Thanks, and let's remember that we don't want to become that which we despise.
Actually one of the most respected (to this day) National Security Advisors and Secretary of State; Henry Kissinger publicly stated that Obama was doing a fine job handling Iran.
Intellectually I know you're right, TA, in not letting what we have always roiled against become the standard on your blog. It just lights me up when I continue to read the misrepresentations, the downright lies and vicious attacks from those who just dislike, no, hate our Congressman. They can't fight fair so they just make it up as they go along and hope that some will accept their dribble as fact. Fortunately, most of your readers know the truth, just discount these hacks, and move on. It's hard, damn hard, to read what they post and not respond. I just wish that their hero, that fire-spitting, totally unhinged and out of reality based Ms. Shrill, would let comments, without her approval, spew their venom as before. The gutless wonder can't take it so she's now the arbiter of what can and what can't be posted. And because you do believe in intellectual freedom by letting them post here, we'll have to endure it, at least for now. Because Mark Kirk continues to win, continues to be our Congressman, I guess that's the last word, right!
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