March 2006

Fine Moments in Congressional Representation

ArchPundit March 8, 2006 3 Comments

From the Kankakee City News by Taylor Publications (African-American paper), a poll was run that found that 68% of those polled over a 3 week period felt Weller should not be reelected with an N of 600 people (obviously not the most scientific of polls).

The full story is in a pdf above and a good run down on Weller’s connections to Abramoff and the Cunningham scandal principles as well as his mediocre work in the district, but the great response is below

When our reporter contacted Congressional Representative Jerry Weller’s office to discuss the poll, we were told the campaign did not believe the opinion of African-American voters would affect their candidate’s chances of victory in November.

So kiss off…

Cegelis: On CAFTA

ArchPundit March 8, 2006 0 Comment

Christine indicated she was strongly against CAFTA. The question I then asked was what sort of trade policy would she pursue. Agreements should contain environmental and labor standards most of all ensuring trade that protects workers in all involved countries.

More in a bit

Cegelis Intervew: War in Iraq

ArchPundit March 8, 2006 0 Comment

Specific benchmarks, timetables and goals must be met with a goal towards removal of troops. One common way to challenge this view is that it lets insurgents wait for us to leave, but I pressed on a different end of the issue. If the Bush Administration continues its pattern of incompetence, what good does it do if you have benchmarks that are not met? In theory, the problem is that incompetence means there is no way out of Iraq.

Christine responded that Congressional oversight was the key and essentially that using that oversight tool to bring attention should eventually result in meeting benchmarks, but also that an intractable problem of incompetence may not be easy to solve with this administration.

Cegelis Interview: Gun Control

ArchPundit March 8, 2006 0 Comment

Okay, I had some problems with the audio, so I had to work from notes. Not as complete as I’d like, but here goes:

Christine favors an assault weapon ban. I also asked her about the Illinois schema of gun regulation that involves everyone who operates a firearm being required to have a Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) card, background checks, and 24/72 hour waiting periods for gun purchases. Specifically I asked if she would support extending that to a national level and she responded that she tends to see that issue how Howard Dean did–each state is capable of determining their own gun laws to fit the needs of that state.

Pre-Primary: Jackson D-IL-02

ArchPundit March 8, 2006 0 Comment

Raised: 54349.16
Spent: 53498.09
COH: 1131435.34

Pay your friggen DCCC dues. Like yesterday.

Pre-Primary: Laesch D-IL-14

ArchPundit March 8, 2006 0 Comment

Raised: 15383.79
Spent: 13869.64
COH: 2944.95

I’m sure Hastert is quaking in his boots.

Pre-Primary: Gill D-IL-15

ArchPundit March 8, 2006 0 Comment

Not bad
Raised: 23200.10
Spent: 24396.87
COH: 36039.16

Spending too much on stuff that isn’t voter contact–much of it seems to be rent with two or three places now? He still isn’t at the level to mount a serious challenge, but he’s showing improvement and if that can pick up, he might be able to make some noise.

Pre-Primary: Churchhill R-IL-08

ArchPundit March 8, 2006 0 Comment

Raised: 29943.60
Spent: 101342.63
COH: 24315.59

Lots of mail, but given Salvi and McSweeney are spending far more, probably not enough.