October 2006

They Write Letters

ArchPundit October 21, 2006 0 Comment

boy do they write letters

Dear Friends,

My name is Nicole Curtis-Torres. I?m a lifelong resident of Wheaton. Some of you may know my brother Master Sergeant Brian Curtis. Brian, like me, grew up in Wheaton and lived here until devoting himself full-time to the United States Army.

I am so proud of my brother ? he is my hero. He?s been serving in the military for 20 years ? 13 of which have been full-time in the Army. He is about to go back to Baghdad for his second tour. During this tour, he will be leading a team in weapons cache and IED disposal. IEDs have killed and injured so many of our soldiers and my brother works to make Iraq safe for our soldiers.

My brother selflessly puts his life on the line for all of us. He, like all of our soldiers, has made many great personal sacrifices for our country.

We need someone who has served in Iraq, we need someone who has seen the daily fighting in Iraq. Tammy has been there and she understands the sacrifices our Soldiers have made.

While at a coffee in Bloomingdale, I stood up to tell Tammy and the audience about Brian. While talking in front of the group, I became overwhelmed with emotion and began to cry. Tammy got off her chair, walked over and gave me a hug. For the first time, someone understood what I was going through.

Talking with her that night was the first time I was able to talk to someone who understood what it was like to have a loved one serving overseas. It was the first time I felt a connection with someone. Tammy understands how much I miss my brother, how proud I am and how angry I am.

When I talk to Tammy, I?m not talking to a politician ? I?m talking to someone who understands how much I miss my brother. Tammy isn?t a politician, she?s a real person who understands what it is like to have a loved one in Iraq.

Talking to her was the first time I could say, ?I?m scared as hell.? She understands what I go through everyday. He?s my brother ? he?s my hero. This has been my own daily struggle and Tammy understands what it feels like.

Despite political differences, one thing all Americans can agree on is that we are all proud of those who serve in our armed forces. This fall, I will be supporting Tammy Duckworth because she is the type of person we need in Congress ? she understands what is going on in Iraq.

Thank you,

Nicole Curtis-Torres

What Do Blagojevich, Davlin, and Weller Have In Common

ArchPundit October 20, 2006 19 Comments

They were all screwed by rumors that were amazingly widespread and false.

First, I’m sorry–my judgment held up in the first two, but this time it didn’t. Read below in another post for how it unfolded and feel free to remind me from time to time.

From Sweet:

Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.), hit with rumors that he was somehow involved in the page scandal, issued a statement Thursday saying he was not a factor — but a former page or intern he sponsored was subject to some questionable behavior by another lawmaker.

With rumors racing across a number of left-wing blogs naming Weller, his campaign manager Steve Shearer said there were no facts to back up any story.

This has “nothing to do with Jerry Weller doing anything,” Shearer said.

With the blogosphere pushing unsubstantiated rumor, Shearer said “it is a new way of political assassination.”

Shearer released the statement after the blog entries were multiplying and he was flooded with calls from reporters.

“There have been all kinds of wild rumors circulating over the past week,” Shearer said.

“We believe we have now gotten to the bottom of this and other reporters who have researched this agree — that what we have been told is that a page or intern who was sponsored by Cong. Weller was inappropriately invited to a social event with another congressman.”

I checked this out with a few folks and that seems to be the consensus. And the Weller campaign handled this pretty much textbook wise by just rolling with the punch and keeping on the facts instead of trying to blame anyone.

As of Right Now

ArchPundit October 19, 2006 53 Comments

The best run down is over at Rich’s. For now, that’s the status of the story unless something else pops.

UPDATE: In trying to make this as clear as possible, here’s what I can tell you–mainly similar to what I’ve said in comments.

The rumor popped up the Monday or Tuesday after the Foley story broke. It circulated a bit amongst bloggers and I imagine the MSM. No one took it too seriously because there wasn’t any evidence or sign that it was coming out. So it stayed in the background, people checking out the story and generally not being much different than a number of rumors out there involving all sorts of Illinois politicians.

Then since Tuesday the noise got louder, with a crescendo yesterday, but not only that but three confirming bits of information that something was going to pop:
1) identifying information to the young girl involved
2) completely unrelated sources–so the likelihood of rumors emanating from a single source was low to non-existent
3) confirmation that press organizations were circling the story (also true) and asking different people for background and comments and such
Now, that led to crossing paths with the Kos diaries which I generally tried not to do because it went further than I thought it should.
However, this morning I got another independent confirmation on with two and three. And the sources largely didn’t have much at stake in the rumor being true or not. Some had nothing at stake.

The information as I understand it didn’t just come from press, but actually from Congress in a form. What I’m guessing is that the press was overstating what they had in hand while seeking further information.

If it is false, then it was incredibly widespread–and more than just a malicious rumor by some political operative. Specific elements as mentioned by Rich are false and probably coming from one place (well except the web site thing which I deleted or tried to delete in comments) However, I am also acutely aware that the issue is still being followed up by members of the press. This isn’t meant to be contrite, it’s meant to tell you as closely as I can what’s up with the story and where it may/may not go.

New Seals Numbers

ArchPundit October 18, 2006 7 Comments

I’m with Kos that they are a bit overly optimistic, but still a very good sign:

IL-10

Kirk (R) 46
Seals (D) 44

On the flip side, while Bean is still leading, McSweeney does better than in some other recent polling (I think–frankly they are all blending together at this point)

IL-08

Bean (D) 47
McSweeney (R) 44

Remember to help out everyone however you can–call and volunteer today and/or give

Oh the Things People Do

ArchPundit October 18, 2006 25 Comments

So Bridgette cover the new Roskam ads pretty well, but if you notice something about them…

Look closely at the pic of Tammy in the first ad.

Here’s a close-up:

Here’s the black and white of the original AP photo

Notice the eyes. Even with the granier version there’s one thing that sticks out if one were to try and recreate what was done–the eyes are darker than any normal process would create.

They OJed it up to make her look more foreign is the best interpretation I can come up with. Instead of simply a little blurry and dark they have become the black eyeballs of a demonic possession or just a fererner.

Impressive douchebaggery.

It’s Breaking Fast

ArchPundit October 18, 2006 24 Comments

Sometime, probably in the next 48 hours though I’m bettting sooner than later, an Illinois Congressional race is going topsy turvy. It’s another pick-up for Dems. If you are observant around the net you’ll find the information. Mobilization is already occurring around the state to get ground troops.

Thanks Republicans.

Update: I closed comments to keep this from getting out of control.

Laesch on Lincoln

ArchPundit October 18, 2006 12 Comments

This should be a good start on the unsuitability of John Laesch

(working now)