2004

We?re in it to win. Are you?

There was some hubbub over at Kos yesterday about some media reports and the DCCC, today Jim Bonham addresses that—and does so very well.

I talk with some of the folks over there from time to time–as my cross posts there make obvious. Not a close relationship or anything where I get super secret information, but let me say, everyone I have talked there works hard to win Democratic seats. And they stay amazingly neutral in primaries when I’ve dealt with them. I’m involved deeply with Jeff Smith’s campaign for the Missouri 3rd. They have neither done anything to help or hurt any of those candidates, but I can guarantee that on August 4th, they’ll be committed to whomever the nominee is. They will have to make decisions regarding where resources will go and that is their job. That’s a tough job. Any of us might say we’d do it different, but trust me this isn’t a bunch of old guys sitting around in a backroom, these are people who work obsessively towards winning a Democratic Majority this fall in the House. Help ’em out.

Lipinski Switch

The rumor I have a line on says that Bill Lipinski will be stepping down next week and bringing his son in to take his place. This was widely reported, but now it seems ready to go. The 19th is behind the switch.

Apparently Daley had a meeting with Lipinski and yelled at him that no one else in the damn delegation could get anything done and he wanted Lipinski to stay. His tantrum was to no avail.

Maybe His Fax Isn’t Working

Just in case Jack! doesn’t have a working fax or his acrobat reader isn’t working, Austin Mayor has nicely mailed a copy of the withdrawal form to Jack!

And Austin-Mayor has sent it with tracking information so we can all track it and make sure that the Good Mr. Ryan knows how to withdraw. Tracking number and link at AM’s site.

As of right now:

Your item was processed and left our CHICAGO, IL facility on July 21, 2004. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later.

For Now, I’m on the Sideline, but

Jeff’s comments at least make me want to link to his stuff on the Nader Ballot issues and potential state workers working on state time. \

UPDATE: So my understanding is now that checking signatures is actually considered a legislative oversight function and not political work. While that might seem ludicrous, taking out the bit that this is Illinois, it does make some sense in the abstract. I’m still at a loss as to why anyone cares about Nader in Illinois.

Berkowitz Argues Jack! would be the Best Candidate

Like a good recruiter, he sets up a list of qualifications and sees who meets them.

He concludes Jack’s the guy. Now the statement that I think is simply not correct is that Jack was the best guy to win: “Nonetheless, most astute political analysts on the scene in Illinois would say Jack still had a shot to win and perhaps more importantly, Jack had a better chance than anyone else to win.”

I would argue most of the astute analysts thought there was little chance, but the best people to do it were Jim Edgar, Jim Thompson, maybe Judy though I disagree as would Jeff, and Steve Rauschenberger.

I think most people had already concluded Jack! was a disaster. Why?

Let’s start with the Kjellander deal. While everyone is claiming that Kjellander knee-capped the guy, I think Jack! was just the sort of empty suit Kjellander wants in the GOP. When asked by John Kass what all the candidates thought should be down about Kjellander, Jack was talking about the Treaty of Westphalia and didn’t know anything about the Bear Stearns deal. Steve Rauschenberger, who had the nomination for the taking from the party, said Kjellander needed to go and even challenged him for the spot of National Committeeman.

Second, let’s move to the press hated Jack! and his campaign guys. They were annoying, they attacked people on crap that was silly–Jack! couldn’t even explain his own talking points on the tax raising claims against Obama.

Third, Jack!’s staff turned a minor story about taping into a full blown national laughing stock.

Fourth, Jack! had no message. While people close to him rave about his bit on empowerment the reality is that if that was his message he couldn’t get it out.

Fifth, Jack! was down between 10 and 22 points in a Democratic leaning state with Barack tracking with John Kerry very closely.

Did Jack have a chance before lying to the press, the Party and the people? Sure, Obama could have turned out to be a space alien.