Weller Watch Day 12
ArchPundit
DCCC is keeping track of how long he’s been silent.
Kristen McQueary indicates it has been weeks since he returned calls to reporters.
September 2007
“There (are) no goals. It’s all definite timelines,”
Dan Lipinski
Even Lipinski couldn’t get past the lingering pessimism that many Americans feel over the current situation in Iraq. He called the Iraq war a “debacle” and said that the Bush Administration has failed the American people and American soldiers.
“We are looking for the least bad solution here. Nothing is ever, obviously, guaranteed,” he said.
Dan, actually there is a guarantee proposed. Instead, you have chosen the status quo. End the war or get out of the way for someone who will.
Bill Foster Interview Over at Faithfully Liberal
Aaron is on a tear–good interview. Take a look.
It’s an Illinois Wingnut Convention
Keyes, Cox, and Schlafley make appearances at the Voter Values Debate
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Phyllis is real worried about the black helicopters and world government.
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Cox plays the bestiality card
There’s some more fun from the debate, but only a few clips are available.
Petey is Talking to Himself
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Weller Considering Not Running
Everyone has been coy for a few days about a lot of weird signals, but Kristen McQueary put them all together and Rich confirms them today.
If U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller runs for re-election, he may face two feisty gals: Debbie and Emily.
Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete) is considering running for the 11th District congressional seat, in part because of hot pursuit from Emily’s List, a prominent fundraising group in Washington, D.C., that supports pro-choice Democratic women. Halvorson is meeting with Emily’s List recruiters this month to discuss a possible congressional bid.
Rumors are circulating that Weller may decide against another term, particularly in light of the bad press he is receiving over his Guatemalan financial interests. Phone calls, I’m told, have been made to his top donors indicating he may be preparing to “hang it up.” His family, after all, lives in Guatemala. That’s a long commute.
Halvorson, meanwhile, is halfway through her current term. She could challenge Weller or any GOP hopeful without giving up her Senate position. The question for Halvorson is: Does she want it?
“I don’t know if I want to be one person out of 435,” she said Tuesday. “Compared to, possibly, being the first-ever woman Senate president, I don’t know. It’s a big decision.”
Weller still has time to pass petitions, but it’s odd that he isn’t yet. Given he is now in the minority and has not done well advancing within the Party, he may well opt out.
The subpoena is less of a big deal, though it does add to the noise. Most likely the subpoenas are fishing expeditions, though it could theoretically expose widespread problems in the appropriations process. I would expect the subpoenas to be quashed though and so don’t expect that to be anything. I think it is safe to say, he’s making the Illinois GOP nervous.
On the other hand:
Run, Debbie, Run.
From the Almanac of American Politics:
| 2004 Presidential Vote | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bush (R) | 162,779 | (53%) |
| Kerry (D) | 140,619 | (46%) |
Pavich came in at 45% of the vote with a fairly low spending campaign. Halvorson should enter the race with a money advantage over any Republican candidate given the RNCC is not raising much and is playing defense in a number of districts. Retirements are high this cycle and there won’t be enough money to go around. On the other hand DCCC is raising a ton as is EMILY’s List and Halvorson can fundraise on her own. Once you have the District, there is only one cycle left under the current map and the new maps will likely be created to help Democrats. This might well be a good reason to retire for Weller as well since he has few protectors amongst the Republican establishment to try and carve out a safe District with what little capital Republicans will have for the remap.
I’m Only a Little Bit Behind
Rudy offers up the best case for him–he’ll lose by less:
As evidence for the claim that he is the Democrats’ “worst nightmare,” the Giuliani campaign points to calculations by Real Clear Politics showing that in head-to-head matchups in national polls, Hillary Clinton is an average of four points ahead of Giuliani but nine points ahead of Fred Thompson and 11.7 points ahead of Mitt Romney.
A typical supporter makes it all so clear:
Giuliani’s successes as mayor of New York City, especially his performance immediately after the World Trade Center bombings in 2001, was a popular subject at the gathering.
“It was a toilet and now it’s not,” said Rita Thompson, who on this year’s 9/11 protested a Muslim parade in Manhattan. “How could (Michael) Bloomberg let that go on?” she wondered of the current mayor. “You can bet Giuliani wouldn’t have.”
Here’s a description of the parade:
NEW YORK — Hundreds of Muslims chanted and waved flags from around the globe as they marched Sunday in the 22nd annual American Muslim Day Parade. About 20 protesters shouted anti-Muslim slogans from behind police barricades along Manhattan’s Madison Avenue and sought to link the marchers to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. A member of the parade organizing committee, Dr. Hafiz Ur Rehman, a pediatrician from Bay Shore, said the marchers condemned the 2001 attacks.
“We are law-abiding citizens, and we want the people of New York to know that Muslims are part and parcel of the landscape,” he said. “The motto of this parade is that Islam holds human dignity high. And that is what we want to demonstrate.”
The parade was accompanied by a strong police presence. Before setting off, marchers laid down blue plastic ground coverings and prayed, the women behind the men.
Facing east, they alternately stood, knelt and touched foreheads to the ground. Marching behind banners representing Afghan, Bangladeshi and Indonesian community groups, they chanted more Muslim prayers along the 16-block parade route.
Police kept the marchers separate from the protesters, who shouted “God bless America” and “No more 9/11s!”
Protest leader Joe Kaufman, of Coral Springs, Fla., said parade organizers included groups that support Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that the U.S. government considers a terrorist organization. “We believe that this parade is a threat to New York City and a danger to national security,” he said.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg did not attend the parade, but a statement of support from him was read from a podium.
Parade-goer Khalilah Shabazz, of Newark, N.J., said the event was “beautiful.” “We’re all Muslims,” she said. “We’re all one big family. Just loving each other. Just pure love.”
How could Bloomberg allow it? Because they are Americans.
Surfin’ the Bird
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$30 By September 30
It’s that time–time to give to the candidates who need your help. For the primaries I’ll be concentrating on Mark Pera here at ArchPundit, though I also have some other picks on the fundraising page. Click below to go to my Illinois page for 2008 and donate to Mark Pera. It’s not a lot, but it is when combined together.
We are in a crucial race in IL-03. I want to chart a new direction for this district, to bring progressive, responsive Democratic leadership to this Congressional seat. The current Congressman – Dan Lipinski – is completely out of touch with voters and we can’t allow him to serve another term.
I’m laying down a challenge which I know we can meet. Our goal is to raise more than $20,000 on ActBlue in the 13 days before September 30th.
To get there, all we need is a $30 donation from 50 people each of the next 13 days. That breaks down to about $1,500 per day.
To meet this goal, we’re officially starting a new fundraising campaign today:
Let me tell you why we’re doing this. Our campaign has picked up in recent weeks and its gaining momentum every day, but an important mile marker is coming up quickly for us.
On September 30th we file an updated, quarterly Campaign Finance Report with the Federal Election Commission.
That extra $20,000 will demonstrate that we have the support we need to win on February 5th. This money will be used specifically to help broadcast our message on cable TV – something which will be essential if we are to spread the word about our campaign.
This upcoming reporting deadline provides us with a tremendous opportunity to say, “It’s Time for A Change,” and provides you with an opportunity to make an investment in this campaign to realize change.
Your commitment is something I take seriously because I value hard work. Everything my wife Leslie and I have accomplished in our careers was earned through dedication and sacrifice.
This campaign is going to be a collaborative effort on the part of many people. We can’t accomplish our goal without everyone getting together to commit – to dedicate time and money – to our campaign.
Sincerely,
Mark
Mark Pera for Congress
(708) 579-2834
mark@Pera08.com
Weller, Still Not Answering Questions
I guess it makes sense, the announced opposition is underwhelming.
Right now there appears to not be a serious candidate who can take on Weller, but letting these issues just swim around in the press in a very, very bad Republican year isn’t wise.
From the Trib article:
Instead, Weller issued an e-mail statement through a spokesman: “Mrs. Weller is often asked to play a role in improving rural health care and fighting poverty in her native country. Friends encouraged her to set up this type of organization for this purpose. The congressman thought it was a good idea too.”
The former dictator, who governed Guatemala from March 1982 to August 1983, is facing legal action in Guatemala for human rights crimes committed during his time in office, considered the bloodiest period of the 1960-1996 armed conflict that left more than 200,000 — mainly rural indigenous people — dead, including 50,000 victims of forced disappearance.
She didn’t just try to return him to power, her father was on the ballot with her again as a candidate for the National Assembly and won. She will serve her next term with her father because as a member of the Guatemalan Congress, he has immunity from civil and criminal accountability for his crimes. And Jerry Weller was down in Guatemala helping.
Isn’t the fact that a Member of the US Congress was working to gain a legislative seat for a genocidal dictator enough to be a scandal? Yeah, I know…