In a conference call with key supporters yesterday, Congressman Mark Kirk talked about his planned announcement for a "statewide" bid and stated he will not endorse a successor for his Congressional seat, at least not at this point.Kirk still has not officially announced he will run for Senate (technically, he could announce he's running for Comptroller, after all, that's a "statewide" office, too), but I think we all see the writing on the wall. While we will neither confirm nor deny that suspicion, which many media outlets have presupposed, since Kirk has not made it official, we can say that Kirk did discuss the future of IL-10 on the call.
Kirk's view is that "the best candidates are the hungriest, and hardest working," and that's what he'll be looking for as the GOP field takes shape. Names of a few potential IL-10 candidates were mentioned specifically (and more or less offhandedly), but it was clear that no one currently enjoys even a tacit endorsement from Kirk at this point. No one close to the campaign or Kirk's staff has announced any intention to run, but even if they did, Kirk would likely follow the model of his mentor and former boss John Porter, and make him or her earn that endorsement, as Kirk had to, despite having had a close relationship with Porter.
As we who were around in 2000 all remember, Kirk emerged from a very crowded primary field to then beat the Democratic nominee, Lauren Beth Gash, who thought she was going to win right up until the day before the election. She still hasn't gotten over it.
For now, this is still Team America's "10th District Blog," so we will be taking a closer look at candidates on both the GOP and Dem side in the coming days and weeks, since it's at least clear Mark Kirk will not run for a sixth term in Congress.
But I'm looking for suggestions for a name that reflects a potential broader focus for this space. Any ideas, campers?
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31 comments:
I'm not clever enough to come up with a new title, TA, but I am ready to roll up my sleeves and work harder than ever before to help Mark Kirk become Senator Kirk. Like you, I was with him at the very beginning in 2000. I smiled when I read what you said about Ms. Gash. Mark is still waiting for her to make the call on election night wishing him well. Her venom and her hate has only intensified over the years, so you can imagine what will be coming out of her mouth and her organization. Now that the twisted woman on that other blog has taken to posting on Daily Kos, that also will be fun to watch. Keep all sharp objects far, far from her reach.
We're in for a fast paced, very energetic Kirk campaign in the next 16 months. Sure it's going to be tough, and sure, it's going to take everyone pulling together, but I'm betting that if anyone can pull this off, if anyone can help bring some balance and sanity to the US Senate from IL it will be Mark Kirk. Let's get out there and give it our all.
I would just call this team america's northern Illinois blog. I would also do as I suggested earlier and recruit King Louis Astaves the Ellen Slayer to write blog posts on local state races, and someone else, maybe backyard conservative or mrs. ta or ta Junior to write on the congressional race. I would but I will be heavily involved in this race and a few other national races in new england and california with fellow alumni from dole-kemp.
Someone will emerge from this primary and have a kickass party at lovells a la mark when we beat mark damisch many moons ago. The ideal candidate will very likely follow kirk and porters tradition and have d.c. experience, national security experience, be a district native. I would also watch for some high profile outside the district endorsements which are likely to come down the pipe very very soon. Don't want to tip the hand, but they will be good.
FOKLAES
Also as I told one candidate last night, Bond, the chipmunk, had a PATHETIC fundraising quarter pulling in JUST 85k for the half year. As a barometer most candidates raise a minimum of 200k if they are doing well for congress.
FOKLAES
Thanks for the tipoff on Bond, FOKLAES. I went on the FEC website but I wasn't able to pull up any detail- I'm dying to find out who gave to him, and see if there are any connections with his state committee work.
I agree the number seems pretty low, especially given how hard we all hear he's been working. Now that the GOP field appears open, maybe he'll have better luck next quarter, but that also opens the way for Garrett and others to potentially jump in.
Of course, on the other hand, Bond has raised 85K more than Garrett has, so he has that going for him, but you are right, it really is a pittance.
http://www.swingstateproject.com/diary/5281/house-2q-2009-fundraising-roundup
Bond's FEC report is very easy to access, but here's a brief summary. He has lots of government relations folks from IL companies who are listed, Emil Jones is a contributor, others with well known names have made contributions, a lot thru Act Blue. Not many in the 10th District are suppporting him but that's not a shocker since he's not from the district. Not sure why you can't pull up the FEC listing. You'd enjoy staying up and going over the contributors AND the expenses on everyone's campaigns. No real surprises, though, and not a lot of money raised if he's really out there hoping to capture this nomination and seat.
Here's one for you, TA. Bond does not list anyone on his payroll as yet. He does show rent paid to the 8th District Democrat and Independent Call Center. Maybe he's running this all by his lonesone, but without someone out there beating the bushes for campaign cash this guy has an uphill trek for sure.
"For the Dems, Michael Bond (IL-10), Charlie Justice (FL-10), Paula Flowers (TN-03), and Bill Hedrick (CA-44) in particular will need to step up their game."
That's from the dem blog.
If you go to linkedin, type in "Michael Bond" and congress, brian herman, beans former chief of staff and catherine slaughter, a former low level national democrat hack show up. Both are c-teamers at best.
As T-A said this is a much more winnable race because of the looming blago trial. It would be good if the state party still exists to use the quote I just put up, along with bond's fundraising numbers and the emil jones thing to start wacking him. I'd go with a headline
"NOT BONDING WITH VOTERS"
Floundering Dem Congressional Recruit's Fundraising Flop
Never too early to start kicking a democrat in the groin, hard.
FOKLAES
I must have posted this on the wrong thread...
Since you have kids, you probably have one of the best toys for little boys around your house, and even stepped on them in the middle of the night...How about "Lincoln Blogs"?
The only interesting item from the Bond report is that he received 5K from one of the major unions, looks like the machine may be leaving Seals.
Kirkapalooza?
UM, where ya been? (as if I didn't know!)
campaign kickoff is at a now disclosed location on the north shore, will not disclose so that the catwomen can come out and hurt senator kirk. FOKLAES may be there to finally meet team, baxters mom, phil collins, king louis astaves, and others.
Bond got beat like a drum today on capitol fax for pathetic fundraising. There is hope.
F-O-K-L-A-E-S
Wasn't it nice of the media hog (Kirk - weekly press conferences to babel=media hog) to announce that he'd announce what he may do in the future at a later date?
I'm reminded of Brett Farve's press conference years ago where he announced that he hadn't made a decision on whether he'd retire yet but would let everyone know. That wasn't worth the mileage for the media!
Also, this just in: Environmentally concerned Representative votes against Energy and Water appropriations bill. Is Kirk against spending (not if you look at the tax cut legislation he approved and the numerous 'emergency supplementals' he approved with no strings) or against the environment?
Also, despite the signture Kirk bellyaching (R)-trademark, BP is doing what they want in Indiana.
How do you know if Kirk is being consisent and/or is on your/our side? How do you know when he is not being genuine - his lips are moving (just like the mantra of a former GOP President -'read my lips:' I-R-A-N-C-O-N-T-R-A!)
This is your Senate candidate?
He -is- probably more respectful than Graham, Sessions, and their ilk (mostly due to little or no personality or uniqueness and/or fear of upsetting someone who may vote for him: unlike other GOP's he doesn't have a multi-million dollar business to return to) though that sets the bar quite low.
I don't -think- that Kirk would suggest that a Supreme Court nominee sticks out like a sore thumb or wonder why she didn't vote in a consistent manner with someone else of her HERITAGE?
I also don't think he'd quote an anonymous 'almanac' in order to arrive at an important decision. I think the Magic 8 Ball is more his speed and some GOP'ers may agree at this point.
What's wrong with the GOP? The Senate Judiciary Committee provides a microcosm revealing less than proper decorum (ex-GOP Specter arriving late?), innuendo about militant, minority women (Scalia is a pussy-cat, we all know as are Cheney and McCain),
and just plain idiodic questions like 'do you find times when you notice no basis upon which to rule?'
Heck, Roberts wants more unanimity on the court without even referring to a specific case! Is this not a power-grab? Is this not mis-guided activism (with us or against us)? Would Supreme Court unanimity not make one wonder why the Court decided to hear a case in the first place or make having 9 Justices useless (lacking value in 6 Sigma parlance for you GOP corporate types).
Roberts, Alito, Thomas, and Scalia are clearly conservative. Scalia makes umpteen speeches which are never critiqued, and Scalia and Thomas dissent a disproportionate number of times but we should be on the look-out for those who put personal perspective and philosophy ahead of the law?!
That's a consistent, robust, and reliable standard, right?
More like a moving target.
Anon 10:04
Didn't quite get your order. Want fries with that?
TA, you've officially received your first mark kirk senate google alert heckler. Shall we pop the champagne?
At least with the 10th dems the worst we were getting were badly aging soccer moms who got some nasty email from some parent on their bat mitzvah listserve and the random RobN or tikkun who was a nice guy but wrong side. Now we have codepink sicko's and other trash from around America.
I would reccomend a delete on command policy.
FOKLAES
Anon 10:04 it's a shame you forgot to take your meds. Clearly your porch light is on but you are NOT at home. Why not take those meds, get some rest, go find someplace like the Daily Kos to spend your time. Don't waste ours on this blog. Sure hope you recover quickly and then find a nice, quiet place to retire to ASAP.
Foklaes - Can't wait to finally meet you at the Kirk event. You'll find me hobbling around with a big black brace on my leg but I wouldn't miss the occasion or meeting you for anything.
Baxter and Beau's Mom
If and when susan garrett gets into the race for 10th dem congress which she has been procrastinating on (wimp) since she beat nancy flouret, I hope the local gop establishment will kindly remind the 500 new trier and highland park families whose sons and daughters got rejected from the u of i, because of this clout scandal she was a part of.
Nothing better in october 2010, then students getting rejection letters from U of I and parents getting a mailer reminding them that there's a chance it was because of her/blago corruption and some parent realizing the slacker in their kids us history class got in ahead of them because they weren't connected.
Get better baxter's mom, you will need your strength for the battle ahead.
FOKLAES
Not sure that our illustrious Senator Garrett will actually get into this race. But I would not be too quick to point a finger in her direction when talking about the U of I mess which we know is part and parcel of life, period. I can't imagine being represented in Congress by someone as dull, as ill informed, as totally deficient in foreign policy as Ms. Garrett. What has she done while either an IL Rep or Senator? Can anyone point to anything she has championed that would give her the idea that she can represent this district. Scary to think about. Michael Bond is nothing to write home about either. So who's out there with the kind of experience and brains we need in DC. Pretty slim pickings among those who'd like to follow in some mighty big shoes. Foklaes, are you interested?
I am really not a huge fan of giving the democrats a free pass on anything. If you remember the trashing they gave Senator Mark Kirk in 2006, you'll recall they'd take on vote on a b.s. issue with bush or a 2 dollar campaign contribution from a pro-life congressman and use it to send a nasty email to every jew at temple jeremiah telling them that because of these things Mark was jerry falwell.
Garrett, either didn't conduct oversight, clouted these people in, endorsed blago, or is too stupid to sense something was wrong. In any realm, knowing that college admissions is one of the most important things on the north shore,this is an issue brilliantly teed up to destroy any springfield democrat that runs.
FOKLAES doesn't run for office. FOKLAES helps other republicans run for office in the south and west.
FOKLAES
what is the location of Kirk's announcement?
dont publicly disclose the location. last thing we want is the attack of the ellens. if you have questions call the campaign.
Anon 5:48-
Seriously? It's a public event, right? That seems paranoid and a little silly. Is that an official Kirk policy, TA?
I don't speak for the campaign. Just speaking for myself, if you should be there, then you already know where it is. ;-)
Lighten up, repairing the world. Word has it that some of the malcontents who are New Trier Dems like the idea of gate crashing. Isn't that special of them. Nobody speaks for the campaign but those in official capacities with the Kirk team. And if you're on the team then you'd have received an email detailing time, place, etc. Sounds right to me.
It seems kinda sketchy that you only invite people who you know agree with you to your events.
If Rep. Kirk is afraid of public dissent then I would think that public service isn't the career for him.
Duffy's 20K deficit for the reporting period doesn't make a second run look very encouraging.
I used to watch loony tunes on saturday mornings to get a laugh, now I to see loony tunes i watch dems post on this blog.
YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO INVITE SUPPORTERS TO YOUR EVENTS!!!!Myself I wouldn't be caught dead at a dem event unless I was doing dirty tricks or recon as the rhetoric tends to heart my ears.
Just a warning, but if there are protesters tomorrow, it will backfire BIG TIME on the democrats. Hopefully team kirk will have security arranged (eric elk is a big guy, perhaps he can take down 4 by himself) so that these protesters can demonstrate peacefully in a nice big open spot 2 miles away near the beach.
FOKLAES
I agree, Foklase. When Mark Kirk makes his announcement I see no reason for the likes of Gash, Gill, Sheffey and some of the other 10th Dems to be on hand. It's not about agreeing or disagreeing with Mark Kirk. How about respect for the office he currently holds and for the office of United States Senate that he WILL hold after the 2010 election. July 20 belongs to Mark Kirk and his friends and supporters. Others who want to constantly attack him can give him 30 minutes to enjoy the moment. It shows how classless and out of touch the New Trier Dems are, how those who are ever ready to torment Mark Kirk lack the civility that seems to set them apart from others out here. They have not prevailed since they thought this seat and this office was an easy pick up in 2000. It wasn't then and it won't be now. So, picket and protest all you want, but have the manners to do it on Tuesday. Your tactics have never worked. Your vile attacks and baseless, careless, reckless attemtps to destroy Mark Kirk have been foiled in every single election. You are all losers in more ways than you can imagine. If your kind of poitics was able to win votes Mr. Kirk wouldn't be able to prevail in each election. End of the story.
For those wondering if the 10th dems tactics will work today, ask anyone if they've seen lee goodman in congress lately!
Also great to read on catwoman's blog that she's becoming disillusioned. With no bush around the energy of that movement seems to have been sucked away pretty quickly. I am looking forward to this area turning dead red again.
See you all soon.
FOKLAES
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