August 2004
ArchPundit
Another One Bites the Dust
And ABC is reporting Gorman is out.
Samuelson is 70 and is recovering from two major surgeries. News accounts are starting to mention internet commentators. Let’s face it, OneMan should be the first in line if that is the case. At least he has a little fight left in him.
There’s Battiness And Then There is Battiness
The Illinois Leader has the Joyce bug catching and Fran Eaton spins a column that you have to read to believe.
So Pat O’Malley is essentially funding a conspiracy theory site. Impressive credential for a Governor’s race.
Does God Love Me Enough
For the Republicans to seriously consider Alan Keyes? I kind of doubt it. This appears to be a continuation of find any black man that a few people think is how you approach the African-American community.
“That’s a candidacy that would energize the base,” Kathy Valente, a grassroots activist said over the weekend.
Sure, if your base is composed of the mentally ill wingnuts.
This is an over the dead body of Topinka, though I imagine the dimwit who floated it wouldn’t mind that exact scenario.
Slow for a Couple Days
The Missouri Primary is on Tuesday so other than watching if the Republicans can find a Senate candidate, it may be slow over here, though Blog Saint Louis will be hopping.
Weller-Renner Poll
Public Opinion Strategies (R) poll; conducted 7/13-14; 400 likely voters; margin of error +/- 4.9% (polling memo, 7/22). Tested Rep. Jerry Weller (R-11) and McLean Co Board member Tari Renner (D).
General Election Matchup
Weller 60%
Renner 26 Fav/Unfav
52%/12%
7 /2
Two numbers stick out–Weller is over 50 in favorability, but just barely–but unfavorable numbers are very low. That is a problem. More of a prolem is that nearly no one knows who Tari is.
Donate to help out with that problem–to the right and down.
Share Some Info With Kerry
New tool is being developed to go the next step beyond Meet-Up and looks promising from the Kerry Campaign. Go here to sign-up.
The advantage of this kind of system is that it does to the internet what Direct Mail did to mailings years ago. In addition, it has a volunteer component to allow individuals to act in a decentralized way.
Also, soon to be up on the links section, check out ChicagoLand for Kerry
Crane Gets E-Mail
From the inbox:
Dear Constituent:
As your representative in Congress, I am requesting your permission to send you a few email updates every month. These communications will focus on the important issues facing Congress today.The Internet has provided us an opportunity to speak to you directly and brings you a new way to be heard.
If you do not wish to have me contact you via email or if you believe you have received this message in error, please click the link below and your name will be permanently deleted from the email list.
Sincerely,
Phil Crane
Member of Congress
Apparently, the guy didn’t have an e-mail address until recently.
Question out there–is mass e-mail regulated like Franking?
“Unless he has suffered some type of brain shock that has damaged him permanently.”
OK, so sometimes the candidate making news is bad too. On the 27th, The Northwest Herald ran a follow-up on the race being a tough one. Crane responds to the notion that Republicans might be supporting Bean:
“I can’t imagine some Republican doing that,” Crane said. “Unless he has suffered some type of brain shock that has damaged him permanently.”
I’m not even sure that is the worst quote:
rane, 72, said he has no plans to retire any time soon.
There is too much work on trade and taxes left to be done, he said. Crane often introduces legislation that would eliminate all federal taxes except a 10 percent income tax.
Crane said he offers the legislation in an attempt to make colleagues think about the issue.
“You just keep the faith and fight the fight, but remember that the war is eternal,” Crane said.
Make colleagues think about the issue?
I’m trying to think of a better quote to illustrate being out of touch with the voters and it isn’t coming to me. For good reason. As a younger guy Crane was probably personable enough to pull off the ideologue bit, but in a race like this with many, many new voters, he’s playing right into Bean’s strengths.