This video of State Rep. Julie Hamos announcing her bid for Congressman Mark Kirk's Senate Seat has been making the rounds of the blogs over the last 24 hours. But it's so frickin'-awful boring that I'm not sure anyone has made it all the way through. Hamos ought to have at least borrowed Alexi's teleprompter so she wouldn't have to keep referring to her notes (just speaking from the heart apparently wasn't her first choice).
Here's Hamos's announcement, in case you have trouble sleeping tonight and want to look.
A more interesting, and more revealing video of Hamos that I dug up on YouTube is Hamos being interviewed on the local North Town News Magazine only a few weeks ago. Hamos is a lot more animated in this video interview. Why? Because she's speaking from the heart about her desperate attempts to raise the Illinois income tax to save her beloved social programs. Yes, Representative Hamos, Illinois does have a low income tax rate, but I think we more than make up for it given the sales taxes, property taxes, drivers license fees, and every other nickel-and-dime way to squeeze income out of the taxpayers that this state has implemented. Low income tax is about the ONLY advantage left to starting or moving a business to Illinois.
Hamos is now swiftly moderating, talking (or no doubt will be talking) about reform, cutting government waste and spending, and ethics. Where was all that during your long tenure as a machine state representative?
Meanwhile, I've heard there was some inter-family Democratic angst yesterday about Hamos snubbing some of our local Democratic 'heroes', namely Lauren Beth Gash, at the Hamos announcement. Anyone have the scoop on that? I'm dying to see if LBG still backs the Pup. This could get real messy real fast.
UPDATED: Here's a shot in the arm for Republicans in general in looking forward to 2010, courtesy of Politico:
Bolstered by historical trends that work in the GOP’s favor — midterm elections are typically hostile to the party in power — and the prospect of the first election in a decade without former President George W. Bush either on the ballot or in office, Republicans find themselves on the offensive for the first time since 2004.
Nice.
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27 comments:
I tried four times yesterday to watch the Hamos announcement video all the way through and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Not only was her presentation just boring, but she offered nothing in terms of a platform to run on other than the usual Democratic talking points. She didn't even sound enthusiastic about them, which ended up putting me to sleep zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Please don't make me watch it again! Please!
Louis G. Atsaves
Well, Lou, get used to Julie and her buddies being everywhere you turn in our district. She's a piece of work, believe me. With the background of the Evanston shoreline in the background and her ever-present notes in front of her she does make you want to scream, doesn't she. This far leftie should have one hell of a time being received favorably in the western parts of the 10th District. Can't wait to hear her out there, especially in front of the Wheeling Township groups. This is going to be more than interesting, Lou, but I'd much rather focus on finding someone we can rally behind to hold onto this seat for our side. That's the plan that I think we need to work on ASAP.
King Louis, we've missed you. Like a incontrollable dog this woman needs to be put down, fast. According to her website her 2 biggest issues are raising taxes and homosexual rights. The 2 biggest issues in the 10th are national security and fiscal responsibility. Her candidacy should be a call to arms for us.
As for our side, call me underwhelmed and dissapointed. Coulson represents a GOP in springfield that was as competent as rex grossman in the super bowl. 2 millionaires who generally are awful on the campaign trail in a recession and a guy who's been out of politics for 20 years. We need to start a draft reed bundy (enviornmentalist, former Kirk defense advisor) or doug o'brien campaign stat.
FOKLAES
Foklaes, get real. We have no chance of Reed Bundy, who would be terrific as a candidate, so move on. I won't even comment on your other choice. We have no farm team out here and that's the bind we find ourselves in at this moment. I'd still rather go with Beth Coulson because she does represent a lot of what this district on our side feels is important. What's your problem with Beth?
Cadigan has no chance, Green is an unknown and thus faces more than an uphill struggle. Let's see who you can suggest that are real, credible possibilities. Time is short and I'm still keeping my focus on Beth.
Reed Bundy could be parachuted in. Remember Mark was parachuted in at the last moment to save the seat in late 1999, and Gash had been prepping that run for 15 years. I realize we are desperate, but after 2006 and 2008 I really feel burned by what happened with the GOP establishment and so am not high on coulson or dillard/schillerstrom for gov the way I would have been in 2004. You also wonder what the redistricting story is going to be. Coulson won't have anyone to protect her the way hastert protected mark.
FOKLAES
Big question Foklaes, have you even spoken to Reed Bundy? While his family is here, Reed has not been around for several years. He was an outstanding staffer in Kirk's first term, but he hasn't been around for quite some time. I like to deal with reality, Foklaes, not pipe dreams.
I agree with the 8:53 comment. State Rep. Coulson should run. She agrees with Rep. Kirk about many issues, and she's been a legislator since 1997.
Phil Collins
There's no point in ruling anything out. As for Coulson, I'm really tired of the GOP establishment that has gotten us nowhere in this state. This is one of the best resourced districts in the country with some incredible republicans capable of lots of great things that live here or are from here. No reason we can't find someone who would actually be a successful fighter.
FOKLAES
Contrary to some of the silly and childish remarks about Democrats (seriously, can't we expect a bit more maturity from Team America posters or elevated standards for comments from TA, himself?), I'd like to clarify something about Lauren Beth Gash and the Tenth Dems.
I know, to a certainty, that Lauren was absolutely invited to stand up with her good friend and former colleague, Julie, during her announcement. They were allies in the Illinois House together and just a few months ago Lauren hosted a party in her home for Julie (at the time Julie was mulling a run for Attorney General). I was there and it was packed.
It was probably difficult for Lauren to not join Julie on the podium but Lauren has not yet made a formal endorsement in the primary, so she attended but did not agree to stand on the podium. She knows that Julie is a terrific candidate and spent quite a bit of time with Julie and her staff at the Heller Nature Center after the event.
As TA himself pointed out, Tenth Dems is a strong organization, but for those of you who want to discount the organization in the area, that's even better for them, so keep it up. By the way, they've been involved in elections at the township, county and other levels, not just Congress. Look at the results of Democrats winning the lower level offices in the Tenth. They've had tremendous success at fielding candidates and winning elections.
Lauren's also an attorney, is involved with several non-political non-profits, and a mom of two grown children (and it's not true that she's the "lucky mom" poster who someone yesterday said she was). Some of those posts were the opposite of her views, by the way.
Anon 11:09- glad to see you finally found today's top-level post, seeing as how you left the exact same comment on the previous day's Dan Seals post as Anon 9:36, just a few hours ago.
So, I will leave the same response to you here: So does that mean that LBG is definitely leaving poor Dan Seals in the dust? I thought LBG and the 10th Dems thought he was the next best thing to Barack Obama (Seals sure did).
Another thought I had is that the 10th Dems' effectiveness highlights the schism and ineffectiveness of the regular Democratic party, at least in Lake County, as led by State Senator Terry "dead guys on my petitions" Link. Not a lot of warm and fuzzies between those groups either.
Well Anon 11:09, some of us do know the truth. But you can post whatever you like from your very partisan view. Gash was NOT invited to stand with Hamos, period, end of the story. And as for Ms. Gash, she's still seething from her loss to Mark Kirk in 2000 and that's also a fact. Some of us know all about her and we'll let it go at that. Hamos, Schakowsky, Gash and other lefties all have the same agenda which isn't in sync with much of the 10th District. And just as Ms. Gill continues to rant, rave, lie, distort and otherwise fan the flames of hatred about Mark Kirk, she actually helps the guy with her craziness. So I guess you'd say we're equal. But not quite. Why? Because Mark Kirk has beaten every Democrat opponent. Get over it. He's the winner. Gash and her cronies are losers. But that's just fine. Keep it up. Oh yes, check out Gill's Blog. Once again she's helping Congressman Kirk. Every Congressman DOES mailings to his constituents. She is a vicious, disgraceful woman with her outrageous charges on his mailing to the District. But for the few who actually visit her Kirk bashing site, she gives him more viewers. Way to go, and keep it up.
I'm sure that Hamos will be campaigning all over the District on that same platform that was absolutely sleep inducing. Instead of warm milk at night or watching MSNBC, I can play that Hamos video and hit the pillow in seconds flat and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
As far as I am concerned, the more Democrats running on their side the better. The same is true with our Republican side.
A good clean primary will help everyone decide who is best to run on the Republican side. It will also leave the winner of all primaries with battle tested campaign staff and volunteers. There are several good names out there already, don't sell them short.
Remember, petition filing begins on 10/26 and ends on 11/2. That's a long way off. Until they file their petitions and they survive any and all challenges, they are not officially "candidates" for office, whether Democrat, Republican, Green, Libertarian, etc.
Louis G. Atsaves
King Louis, MSNBC is not good for your mental health. It's good to watch to fire you up for some preccint walking to get the RED blood flowing but otherwise in can give you liberal derangement syndrome known to cause severe cases of catowmanitis.
As for the accusations of immaturity, having worked on campaigns for republicans in 10 states going back to Bush 92 in New Hampshire, I can say as a fact that republicans are ALWAYS clean cut, polo and docker wearing yes ma'am and sir advocates for our cause. Democrats tend to be brash, trashy looking and rude. We have fun with the democrats on this blog since their leadership in this state has been a sick joke.
If Andy McKenna was alive and Mark hadn't wasted the last 10 years worrying about how the british were screwing us in helmand province or what a bangladeshi was doing in jail, we'd have this woman on a slab right now ripping her to pieces before labor day. She embodies everything we are against and I am praying we get a candidate who does what Mark really never did which is to take a full frontal assault once and for all to end these chicago dems in the 10th.
FOKLAES
For the past 3 or 4 comment threads, there have been Anons (or one person commenting under Anon) claiming Julie Hamos refused to allow Lauren Beth Gash to endorse her. I have very reasonable doubts about this scenario. Give my previous experience, it would take real, empirical evidence to convince me that this actually took place. To the person or persons propagating this rumor, I think everyone here, for one reason or another, would appreciate some evidence.
Oh, FOKLAES? I know the prospect of a Julie Hamos candidacy has got you foaming at the mouth, but do you think you could keep the violence metaphors to maybe once a week? All that death and torture's getting a little creepy.
I'd also like to see some evidence that the beach from the video is Evanston. Other than that, Louis, I'm with you on this, man. That opening video was a special kind of painful. Describing her experience escaping Hungary from written notes? Seriously? For a woman being hailed as the establishment frontrunner, she doesn't seem to have a lot of confidence.
Tikki - I wasn't at the Hamos announcement personally (shocking, I know), but the gist of what I've been seeing in the comments is that LBG was miffed that Hamos didn't invite her up to stand with her, not that Hamos wasn't 'allowing' LBG to endorse her. For all I know, this is all made-up tripe, but people can comment on what they like (within reason) here, so it is what it is. I confess to curiosity as to whether LBG will come out for Hamos or stick with the Pup. Maybe I'll call her and ask.
Tik, If I saw you at a bar, and you identified yourself, I would be happy to buy you a drink and discuss the issues and our lives. Team would do the same thing as would King Louis and baxters mom,maybe phil collins. The 10th dems are another matter. They are a militant, angry bunch. Catwoman went after the former Mrs. Kirk on a number of occasions. We have said nothing about Gash's serious marital issues 10 years ago or Mrs. Seals or Mrs. Footlik.
We are happy warriors and looking to add alexi and julie scalps to our collection a year from now.
FOKLAES
FOKLAES, we'd never meet at a bar...I'm 19 years old. I appreciate the sentiment, though.
I'm not denying that low-brow attacks and dirty politics exist on both side of American politics. What I am saying, though, is that American electoral politics are revered for their lack of violence (see the Afghan campaign workers blown up this month). In that spirit, while I understand the metaphorical nature of your comments, I'd respectfully ask that you make an effort to abstain from violent imagery. It doesn't do anybody any good.
How about Larry Falbe from the Lake Co. Rep Federation as a candidate to replace Congressman Kirk? I worked on a local campaign with him. He is smart, articulate, a very hard worker and certainly knowledgeable about the 10th District issues.
Just a thought.
Baxter and Beau's Mom
The mystery is now solved for me. Tikkunolam is 19 and that speaks volumes. Before you tout yourself as one who repairs the world, it might serve you well to know what the hell you're talking about, who you're talking about, and understand the issues. That you're a Seals person is obvious since HE thought of himself as one who would repair the world. Not close. Your defense of what's not defensible vis a vis the 10th Dems and their 'founders and leaders' gives rise to the fact that you have a lot to learn. Hopefully you're on a fast track. Too bad you don't know the real Mark Kirk. Too bad you are clueless about those you think have all the right answers. I'm sure the Hamos group will welcome you with open arms.
Anon 9:24-
There isn't a lot I can say to respond to that. My writings on this blog will determine whether or not I am capable of "entering the arena," not my age. I will say, however, that statements like that explain why the GOP continues to struggle with voters in my age cohort.
http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=42,8,8&vid=072909c
WHAT A SCUMBAG!!!!
"High paying jobs"
"I will take $ from state lobbyists, they have no effect on me."
"Union pacs aren't in it to make $".
"Scandal is a bi-partisan disgrace"
Mark makes pennies on the dollar working his ass off for the country, this guy is born with a silver spoon in his mouth profiting off the mob and accuses him of being a tool and promises to bring high paying jobs when his government has us at 11 percent unemployment. What a joke.
Tikun, we value your thoughts and honesty. Hopefully you will not emerge from politics to become a bitter old woman ranting on her blog about the 8th most moderate member of congress.
FOKLAES
Tikkun, it IS because of your writings and your protestations that I wrote that post. You would do well to understand what repairing the world entails. I will continue to read and monitor what you post. And I can tell you that we do enjoy many new voters your age. The difference? They get it. You THINK you know it all.
Remember Catwoman, is at least 4 times Tikun's age and look where all that experience has gotten her mind.
Continuing from last night on WTTW.
"...needs to be about ideas."
Kirk wins national plaudits on everything he does, he's a superstar, Alexi isn't qualified to be a mid-level staffer in the kirk opperation.
FOKLAES
Catwoman is twice his age but sadly Tikkunolam shows the same kind of lack of understanding and arrogance and that's not age related, that's just persona related. Tikkun needs to learn more about what the hell he's talking about. Granted, we ALL can, but the smug posts from him/her are not that of someone who truly understands what repairing the world demands. That person thinks he/she knows all the issues. Not close. Mark Kirk is one of the brighest minds around, hands down. Tikkun should spend some quality time around Mr. Kirk and then perhaps would more easily understand that concept of Tikkunolam.
Since Ms. Hamos is usually identified as an Evanston Democrat, does that mean she lives in the 9th Congressional District and not the 10th? Also, although nobody right now is even thinking about building new housing, I believe she was one of the sponsors of the loathsome Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act (2003). This Act applies to 49 communities in suburban Chicago. http://www.ihda.org/ViewPage.aspx?PageID=32
Affordable housing? You mean at Ft. Sheridan, where the Lake County Forest Preserve took title to a golf course from the Federal Government, and promised to run it for perpetuity, and then tore it up and now refuses to rebuild it?
Rich just called her out on posting her legislative office as a contact on her campaign site, chicago GOP had it yesterday, someone should fine an FEC complaint
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