Ending literally months of speculation, 10th District Congressman Mark Kirk this morning announced that he will run for the U.S. Senate for the seat currently held by Blagojevich-appointee Roland Burris. The announcement was made at Kirk's childhood home in Kenilworth, on the same porch where he announced his first run for Congress almost ten years ago. Kirk spoke forcefully about his quest to return ethics and integrity to Illinois politics, which message was reinforced by the man who introduced Kirk, none other than former Illinois governor Jim Edgar, who is still seen as one of the most ethical political leaders the state has known in recent times.Many other GOP party leaders were present as well, including State GOP Chairman Andy McKenna (which should put to rest any questions of McKenna's support for Kirk), Congresswoman Judy Biggert, State Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, State House Minority Leader Tom Cross, State Representatives Ed Sullivan and Sandy Cole, and many more. With this much party support and about $1 million in the bank to start things off, Kirk is clearly the presumed front-runner, not to mention the only GOP candiate that has already gained national attention as the only Republican candidate that has a very good chance of winning back the seat.
It was really a great event. The yard and neighborhood were packed with Kirk supporters. You can see TA was proudly bearing his sign, as promised.
I was standing right in front of the news cameras, so look to see if we got any free media attention on tonight's news. The place was a press mob scene. (Kirk die-hards should be able to easily identify the blonde-haired woman directing media traffic!)There were a few protestors from both the looney left and the nutty right, which, as far as I am concerned, means that Mark Kirk is exactly the kind of leader that is going to appeal to the voters of Illinois. If the extremes of both political parties are against you, that's just what a lot of voters seem to be looking for, nowadays.
Meanwhile, on the Dem side, State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias wasted no time in sending out a press release, which he also posted on DailyKos. Maybe he hired some old Dan Seals team members, as the message is the same old tired mantra of Bush is bad, bad, bad, that not only didn't work for Seals, it's now grossly out of date. Even the Dem commentors on that post seem concerned that Alexi's message already falls flat, and he's going to have to do a lot better than that against Kirk, if Alexi turns out to be the Dem nominee. And even funnier, our old Friend Ellen of the Tenth has now largely abandoned her blog, it seems, and has taken to trying to rip Kirk on DailyKos to get someone to read her manifestos.
Based on the energy and enthusiasm I saw today, Kirk is going to make this race one for the record books, and I have little doubt we saw the very beginning of the era of Senator Mark Kirk this morning.
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39 comments:
And what a great event it was this morning, TA. Watching you holding up your sign made me smile and know that we ARE going to make this THE campaign of a lifetime. I hope that someone takes the meds she's needing to Gill and her cohorts. She said that a scant few people would come out. If by more than 300 energetic and energized supporters are a scant few, well...
So, TA, let's roll up our collective sleeves, let's get out there and help make Mark Kirk's campaign for the US Senate a reality. I have not heard or seen Mark as on message, as focused and ready as he was this morning. Seeing all the original staffers back on board was also a special treat. And as for Alexi and his statement posted on that illustrious rag, The Daily Kos, that also helps energize all of us who really care to help Mark become our next IL Senator. On to victory, TA, and to lots of great posts on your new site dedicated to Mark Kirk for Senate 2010.
I'm amazed at the hatred already being spewed at Mark over cap'n'trade. Do I think it was a good vote, no, but as has been said so many times here, (and I know I'm preaching mostly to the choir) if we can agree with 75-80% of his votes, we're doing pretty good, as opposed to a dem who we will agree with 0%.
I've said it before, but just look over here at the 8th and Melissa Bean. Once a Dem is in office here, it's really hard to get them out. I really hope the wack-jobs will get it, and support Mark.
I don't agree with some of Marks positions, but in order for me to support someone else, it would have to be an extremely conservative "rock star" (meaning lots of name recognition and good press...you all know what I'm saying...no I don't mean Alan Keys either.) But I don't see that happening, so for the first time (since I'm in the 8th and never messed with the 10th) I'll be saddling up for Mark Kirk.
Oh no, TA, take a glance at the posting of that catwoman today. This is damn near going to kill her, flat out. Like her buddies at the Daily Kos, that's the only forum she has to let loose these days. You kind of have to feel sorry for her and that scragly cat all holed up in her Deerfield condo.
Bean is beatable 8th districter, don't give up the fight. Democrat fortunes will collapse and bright young republicans will emerge to end her. Sorry I couldn't make it this morning. Fantastic post, great day, and sweet looking poster.
As for pain in the ellen, her day is done. We are out of iraq in 18 months, the christian right is dying, michael bond is a twerp who will be destroyed, obama is in office and the only thing that happens to political movements once they gain power is for them to die because they start alienating supporters they can't deliver all they promised to.
FOKLAES
What a great event! The Congressman sounded terrific and the pro-Kirk crowd was pumped up. Unlike the horrific meeting at Republicans of Wheeling Township where the attendees cannot get past their anger at this cap and trade vote and were disrespectful and downright RUDE to the Congressman.
It was terrific to see faces from the first campaign and I look forward to having them direct us volunteers as we work hard to elect the best Congressman in the whole USofA to the US Senate.
I'm just disappointed with you Foklaes -- either you weren't there or you didn't identify yourself to us. The TA 10th District Blog sign was on display and we were on the lookout for you even though I was sitting in the second row to the left of the Congressman. I guess wearing a brace and scheduling knee replacement surgery has some perks!
Glad you're on board 8th district Committeeman.
See all you supporters on the campaign trail!
Baxter and Beau's Mom
FOKLAES, too bad you couldn't make it- Lou Atsaves, "Beau & Baxter's Mom", and I were all on the lookout to meet you. Ah, well, there will be MANY more Kirk events coming up, so I'm sure we'll run into each other.
team,
it was a tough call, I really wanted to give mckenna a piece of my mind on the state party. Hopefully he won't be running for mark's seat which would hand the seat to a dem on silver platter.
We will cross paths at a future kirkdate and time and I hope to meet conservative vet, baxters mom, backyard conservative/eva sorock-mom of anne?, king louis astaves the ellen slayer and others then too!
meantime let's not forget the 10th race. we need a few good candidates and can't let all of our attention drain from that seat. Mark could still lose and then we'd be stuck with self described "fiscal conservative"-my ellen, and steve bartman is a good cub fan-chipmunk here.
FOKLAES
Sorry I missed it - I just couldn't convince my boys (age 9 & 10) that it would be a fun morning. I'm sure there will be plenty more events to drag them to this election season. :)
Glad everything went well - I can't wait to jump in and help with the campaign!
Hey Foklaes, I forgive you for not coming today BUT certainly don't understand the Steve Bartman comment.
For the Record. I know Steve, his aunt is the first friend I had when my family moved to the Town of --- when I was 7 years old. She is still one of my oldest and dearest friends and a good solid Republican looking forward to finally being able to vote for Mark Kirk.
I sat next to Steve at a family function about two years ago and he told me how thrilled he was to receive a letter from the Congressman apologizing for the pounding he was getting for that caught ball. He wrote him that people in the 10th do not treat people that way. Steve is a great young man whose life as been turned upside down doing what any other CUB fan would have done. The poor guy doesn't go out much because he always gets pounded when he gives his name and the media unfortunately still use him as a punching bag.
I know this doesn't belong on this blog but Newsweek didn't print my letter when I defended him so this is my chance to get this out of my system.
I'm not all that smart so maybe I misunderstand your comment. But to put his name in a sentence with the cat woman was just plain wrong.
Baxter and Beau's Mom
Baxters Mom,
My college roomate had a sister that worked with bartman. My point was Bond calling himself a fiscal conservative on his website after what his legislature has achieved is like steve bartman calling himself best cub fan of the decade: factually incorrect.
I realize we all have busy schedules but this guy should not get a free pass to congress because we like Mark more than whoever we elect as his predecessor. The senate is cool, but if Mark wins he won't be up for another 6 years and I'd rather have a local republican congressman to work for on campaigns in 2012, 2014 ect.
FOKLAES
Mark Kirk delivered an A+ speech today...acknowledged the challenges to winning the Senate seat and was absolutely inspiring when talking about our men & women in uniform. He hit on all the issues that unify us as Republicans - and ALL Republicans will be best served by having a Republican Senator in Illinois. Great sign TA (gotta mention that your looked very 'proud'...indeed).
Thanks, Greywolf. I was (and am) indeed proud must to count myself as a Team Kirk supporter, and to do what I can to further the cause.
I saw on twitter someone claimed that kimberly was there and endorsed Mark. Is this a confirm?
FOKLAES
Foklaes, yes Kimberly was there. She put her arms on Mark's shoulders, said she supported him 100% and he was going to make a great Senator.
It was good to see her and she looked as beautiful as ever. They are friends, the divorce was amicable and I remember Mark saying at an event where I got to dog sit Sophie that they had joint custody. That's really love because they are both nuts about her. She is the perfect political dog. Baxter and Beau had Sophie over to their house for a play date last year during the campaign.
Thanks for the Steve B explanation.
Obviously you know who this is!
How do you think the voters will react when it comes out that Kirk is gay? He was able to keep a lid on that story in the 10th, but I imagine it will come up in a statewide race. It's too tempting for too many people (both left and right) not to try to make an issue about it. I saw one conservative already alude to Kirk's personal life as "a scandal waiting to happen".
Anon 10:10
Seriously? Is that the next nut job play? What kind of homophobic freak are you?
If Kirk had any personal scandals we would have heard all about it in the 2008 race when the dems went all out to find anything on Kirk - and they came up with nothing. Your loathsome attempt to create a scandal is a reflection on your own twisted world-view - creep.
Wedding was a lot of fun and a great reunion to the 2000 campaign. She validated the reality in d.c. which is that Republican women are much better looking and smarter than dems, see catwoman, gash, pelosi.
Democrats are already after Mark with a trashy ad that looks like some mid-level analyst rotting in the DSCC basement with a transformers fetish came up with. If you recall in 2002 republicans didn't run against clinton, and it's hard to see the dems bush thing working when Kirk is hit everyday in the papers from the right.
Foklaes
You sickening piece of nothing. TA let's you post something so twisted and so disgraceful, I'm not sure why. I've known Mr. Kirk for over 20 years. Enough of your moronic, baseless statements. I think that people like you, Anon 10:10 and that lunatic who posts libelous things about Mark who should be exposed and dealt with. Mark is not gay, period. And had there ever been anything close to any kind of a scandal it would have surfaced a long time ago. Why don't you take your twisted and disgraceful words and get lost. Forever. Mark Kirk will win in 2010 and be one of the best US Senators in history. One has to have pity on you and those like you. Get some help. Yesterday.
Folks, just ignore people like Anon 10:10. I leave stuff like that up there so people can see how ridiculous it is.
If Anon 10:10 is a Republican, he/she should be ashamed for spreading untrue rumors (regardless of the subject matter) about our awesome congressman, and trying to tear down the party because he/she doesn't agree with Kirk, apparently.
If Anon 10:10 is a Democrat, he/she should be doubly ashamed for laying claim to be the protector of gay/lesbian/other minority groups, but to use them and their issues as cannon fodder to try to win elections when it suits them. I only hope some day these groups will wake up to the fact that many Dems don't care about them or their issues; they simply covet the votes.
Regardless of Anon 10:10's true political affiliation (or perhaps he/she is simply a paid hack), there are plenty of Anon 10:10's out there in both parties, so the best thing to do is let crap like this run like water off a duck's back.
If that's the best the opposition can do, Kirk has already won.
TA,
This senate race comes down to 2 questions.
This piece came out today. Rothenberg is the top neutral congressional analyst in the country and if I was team Kirk i'd make sure every newspaper, blogger, political insider, you name it sees it in the state tomorrow with breakfeast, it is worth a separate post because it blows apart the entire alexi campaign.
Until team kirk gives the masses talking points, this piece is a great starter for neutralzing urchins like catwoman.
XXXX
Running Against Bush: Can It Work Again for Democrats in 2010?
By Stuart Rothenberg
Democrats ran against Herbert Hoover for decades. Republicans ran against Jimmy Carter for years. Can Democrats make 2010 another referendum on George W. Bush, or at least use the unpopular former president to demonize Republicans in competitive races?
the DSCC launched a second Web video, "The True Mark Kirk," which mocks the Illinois Congressman's reputation as a moderate, and ends with a photograph of Kirk, now a candidate for the Senate, standing with Bush.
"When Illinois voters get to know the real Mark Kirk, they'll find a politician who championed George Bush's policies for years and is now standing in the way of President Obama's bold agenda to get the economy moving again," DSCC Communications Director Eric Schultz said in the press release announcing the video.
But if tying Portman to Bush is easy, linking the unpopular former president to Kirk is much more difficult, as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee found out in 2008 when it ran a late October TV spot attacking Kirk for "his unbending support for George Bush" and for his "support of George Bush's failed economic policies."
Interestingly, it appears that both the 2008 DCCC TV ad and the 2009 DSCC video close with the same photograph of Bush and Kirk. Here's what the 2008 edition of CQ's Politics in America had to say about
Kirk, who has represented Illinois' 10th district since his election in 2000: "Kirk parts with Republican doctrine on a number of key issues. In January of 2007, he backed all six signature bills espoused by the new Democratic majority, including initiatives to promote embryonic stem cell research and increase the federal minimum wage. Kirk was also among the 17 Republicans who voted in February 2007 for a nonbinding resolution disapproving of a Bush administration initiative to increase troop strength in Iraq. Kirk's voting record consistently earns strong marks from abortion-rights and environmental organizations."
Voters won't have forgotten Bush in another 15 months, but he won't be on their minds, either.
"The next election will be about moving forward. But it can't just be about the challenges we face. We have to talk about why we are facing those challenges, the problems Bush left us," said one Democratic consultant not involved with the Web videos.
June's NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey found more Americans (46 percent) blaming Bush for the nation's federal budget deficit than Congress and the Obama administration combined. But that may not still be the case a year from now, and the more time passes, the more likely that swing voters will shift the responsibility for the nation's economic problems to current officeholders.
Ronald Reagan, after all, rode to the White House in 1980 on a wave of dissatisfaction with Carter's presidency, but that didn't stop voters from spanking Republicans at the polls two years later (costing Republicans 26 House seats just two years after they won 33 seats), even though the "Reagan recession" was the only way to cure the stagflation (low growth, high interest rates and inflation) that he inherited from Carter.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/07/21/running_against_bush_can_it_work_again_for_democrats_in_2010__97542.html
Secret? Democrats claim the rally was held in secret? A press release and general announcement was sent out about the location last Wednesday. Not a very good way of keeping a secret. Everyone seemed to know about it.
But the Kirk campaign wasn't the only group blabbing secrets about that rally or even during that rally!
The organized Health Care protesters and Immigration Reform protesters were a nice touch. So were the two fellows running around trying to keep them organized. Operation PUSH paid for the transportation of the immigrant protesters and loudly bragged about it, and three of the Health Care protesters hailed from Kenosha, Wisconsin! They loudly proclaimed "We came in from Kenosha" in a crowded setting to their fellow protesters. Kenosha?
Ah, the things you pick up when you stand in back of a rally and watch "grass roots" operatives at work! "Spontaneous" they were not. "Smart" would not be an accurate description of their actions that morning.
Also appearing were a few extreme right wing goofs claiming Kirk was a traitor to the nation. They held up signs and expected their fellow Republicans to shout hosannas at them while laying palms at their feet. They were shocked when confronted with "are those Democrat signs you are holding up?" and "are the Democrats paying you to be here too?" "Smart" also would not be an accurate description of their actions that morning.
Also appearing was a worn out tired looking hippie type holding a sign demanding that Kirk support Obama's agenda. While holding that sign he was loudly stating to everyone assembled how "disappointed" he was that Obama had abandoned his agenda.
Goofs at political gatherings. You gotta love them all! They are the ones who make politics interesting!
I hear the Dems will be paying Republican operatives aka low rank candidates to trash Kirk. It's all BS, but the Dem motto is keep repeating the lie over and over and over and eventually it becomes a reality.
Shout out to you Suzie Link for stating you are going to get folks to leak a lie that Kirk is gay.
I've known him for over a decade and gay he is not. Try something else you nasty, nasty women....
Some Republicans are as bad if not worse then democrats. I can think of a few who are part of Republicans of Wheeling Township. It's there way or the highway and I just have to accept how stupid they really are.
I was one of the "right-wing nuts," referred to so pleasantly by the author, protesting Kirk. And I was harassed and accused of being a Democrat supporters.
I have donated to his campaign, marched for him, written letters to the editor, and e-mailed to friends to support him over Seals.
His support for "Hate Crime" legislation, Cap & Trade have finally pushed me over the edge. I will never vote for him again.
We have other real Republicans to support -- not those who vote with the Democrats on major legislation -- and I intend to put my time and money toward helping them.
Democrat-Lites, like Kirk, don't win against real Democrats. Why would Democrat voters chose a weak echo when they can have the real thing?
Margaret
Oh, by the way, the crowd of supporters was very small by any reckoning. If the staff, fellow Republican elected officials, precinct people, and media hadn't been there, the immigration and health care demonstrators would have exceeded ordinary voters standing on the tiny front yard.
Face it, excitement over his candidacy is not at a throbbing pitch.
Margaret
Sorry you feel as you do, Margaret, but good luck on the other side. Mark Kirk's votes on every issue may not please you, but to say that you're against Hate Crimes makes me wonder who you are and what you are. I disagreed with his Cap and Trade vote, but when I balance that one vote with all of the great votes and stands he has taken in the 9 plus years he's been in office, he's a winner and he will continue to have my full support and my vote. He's hardly a Democrat lite. You have no idea what you're talking about. He is a mirror reflection of the views in this district and that's why he has prevailed in each election. Far left and far right are not part of the fabric of this district and not in the State. I'm sorry that you don't really know, can't really appreciate all that Mark Kirk has done and will continue to do as an elected leader in DC. I'm only sorry that we don't have 434 more just like him.
With your most recent post, Margaret, you've clearly shown who you are and what you represent. I was there. You can try to spin it your way but you are woefully out of touch and very wrong. But you've just revealed without a doubt that you are not who you claim to be. I'm sure you're dragging out your Dan Seals bumper stickers right this very moment. Lots of luck, Margaret, or whoever you are.
Margaret,
I agree with you on hate crimes and cap and traitor. No need to empower the homosexual agenda. That said if conservatives don't want any more sotamayers you will have to get a republican senate majority first and the way to do that is with moderates. This state has elected exactly one pro-life republican to the senate and he beat a very very badly damged dem in a big gop year.
There are a lot of conservative congressmen, schock, roskam and will be more as the state flips republican who you can threaten kirk with once he gets to the senate. You will be able to threaten him to keep him in line. Alexi not so much.
FOKLAES
I can not believe the amount of "Usefull Idiots" supporting Mr. Kirk. He is laughing his butt off at you people. His vote on "Cap and Trade" was not the same as re-naming a post office or wether or not to oppose some minor spending bill. This was the largest Tax increasing, job killing bill in our history, and it was about something that a "Majority" of real scientist don't even believe exists.
He did this after an offer by the speaker, he won't tell you what that offer was. This is unbelievable. Please show some integrity, fight against this man, do anything you can to stop him from getting to the senate where he can do even more damage when some "World Changing" legislation comes up.
What difference does it make who gets tis office if he is going to vote with the left on such an important issue, an issue based on lies, an issue that does not even exist. What is going to happen when the issue is real. My god man,
wake up.
Where's your proof, trago? Shame on you for posting something so odious, so libelous and so totally wrong. Unless you can prove what you're saying you owe Mr. Kirk an apology. You might be furious at this vote but you have no right to accuse him of selling out, taking a deal, or in any way doing anything that wasn't on the up and up. You are a disgusting person with your own agenda. How about recognizing the 9 plus years of service and votes on issues that have helped make a significant difference in this district and in this nation. Mark Kirk will make a great United States Senator.
First why don't you attach a name to your posts? Afraid of the truth?
I dont need to prove anything, it is public record, the speaker took Mr. Kirk and the other spineless repub's into a meeting and they voted for this joke. I don't know if it was threats or promises that she offered, it doesn't matter. What matters is that he voted for a bill that will have a profound affect on our economy and our way of life. It matters that the bill itself is based on lies. It matters that his explanations are a joke. "Get us off foreign oil", the bill does nothing to address that.
If you want to be taken by this man be my guest. He has shown his colors and now I just hope enough people have seen them to defeat him.
No trago, YOU get lost. Because someone attends a meeting you just assume that something evil took place. Prove it. You can't. You don't like this vote. Too damn bad. One vote in over 9 years that doesn't meet your standard of approval and you're out to crucify this man. Take a long hike. Mark Kirk will be elected in 2010. The only loser is you, a person with malice and lies and nothing more.
Anonymous,
I bet Mr Kirk wishes he could have been anonymous
when he cast that vote. It's not about his prior service,
I am sure he wishes it was, it's about what he will do
in a "pinch"? How he will act when his feet are put to
the fire.?
That vote has told us everything we ever need to know
about the man. In a time of real, dire need, he failed.
Hi folks,
Anon 10:10 here. Man, you guys are TOUCHY! In all the drama leading up to the Kirk for Senate announcement, Andy Martin published this press release in which he called Mark Kirk "the next GOP sex scandal". It is quite obvious that Martin also has his eyes on the US Senate seat and that he does NOT like Mark Kirk. That being said, if Martin is putting this stuff out there, it is out there and people will be talking about it. How will Kirk deal with it?
http://www.pr-inside.com/is-congressman-mark-kirk-the-next-r1378694.htm
Andy Martin is completely oblivious to every facet of the truth. The only thing he is capable of, other than embarrassing himself in this senatorial race, is conjuring up rumors and lies to try and propel himself into a position that is clearly unreachable for him. He is way too much of a nut job to be effective in office, and I am curious if he even knows anything about policy or politics in general for that matter. Everything about Andy Martin is self-acclaimed and that includes any claims of success for his book, that book is kindling at best. Go, Kirk, Go! Send this guy home crying in shame.
I wonder if this disgusting excuse for a human being, AKA Andy Martin, would like it known that he has spent time in jail, is regarded as nothing more than a gnat on the ass of reality. Let's not give this creep any kind of time or attention. He might get on some other creep's blog, but you have never, nor will you ever see anything in the mainstream media from this twit brain. He means nothing because he is nothing. Ignoring him, marginalizing him is my suggestion.
I would hope that even being the coward
that he is, hiding for days after voting for
this cap and trade "pixie dust". Mr Kirk
would disavow himself from your type,
although having folks like you would assure
his loss next year.
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