Jerry Weller Has Returned to the House of Representatives

ArchPundit September 12, 2007 0 Comment

He was voting on the 10th. 

So, perhaps the Tribune can get a response to their investigative reports on his land dealings…

When Kirk-Lipinski Demonstrate How Truly and Utterly Clueless They Are

ArchPundit September 11, 2007 1 Comment

From TPM:

So much for “conditions.” Under questioning from Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), Gen. Petraeus conceded that his timetable for ending the surge by July 2008 is due to the five extra active-duty Brigade Combat Teams coming to the end of their scheduled deployments and the lack of available units to keep U.S. troop strength at 162,000.

Remember this when President Bush on Thursday unveils his (read: Petraeus’) “drawdown” plan — and, for that matter, any time a politician says that the only “responsible” reduction of forces is one that’s “conditions-based.”

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/eAq08Xu0D_Y" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

The ‘plan’ Kirk and Lipinski are shopping around isn’t a plan. It’s a bunch of suggestions without enforcement and sets a goal that has to be met because the US will be out of forces to maintain 160,000 in country.  The ‘plan’ is keeping as many troops as are available and when they try and sell it as a compromise they are stupid or lying.

The Freedom Watch Ad Buy

ArchPundit September 11, 2007 1 Comment

From the Seals press release:

The following information is publicly available from the local media stations pertaining to the Freedom’s Watch Chicago media market advertising buy.  

One Meeellllionnnn  dollars.

The Problem of Primaries

ArchPundit September 11, 2007 4 Comments

My general rule is that primaries are good things and that people should get in them so the Party can decide who is the best choice. Yet, there are times they can be counterproductive.

In IL-10, I wasn’t terribly thrilled with Jay Footlik getting in the race, but after meeting him and the such, I’m comfortable with him though I’m supporting Dan Seals. It would be a bit hypocritical of me to call for no competition. If Jay were to win I could support him in good conscience and I’m okay with that. If Dan is as strong as I think he is, it shouldn’t be a problem. If it is a problem, that would tell us about Dan’s ultimate ability. I don’t have questions in regards to Dan because I’ve seen him in action last cycle, but I don’t see any harm in having the primary. It’s similar to IL-6 where I thought more competition was fine. Footlik is also running his campaign as being against Kirk and not Dan so it heightens the point that Mark Kirk is no moderate and is a rubber stamp for George Bush’s war.
The problem comes in races like IL-3 where it looks like we have a four or five way race in the primary and the problem is that for one of them to come out victorious, they are going up against an incumbent who has a base established by his father. The field has to be whittled down. Assuming one or two of them won’t be a serious candidate means that the real problem comes with two candidates who are getting most of the attention: Mark Pera and Palos Hills Mayor Jerry Bennett.

Pera has put together a good campaign team, has really been a hit with progressives and has an incredibly calm and likeable personality. He seems to be doing his call time and canvasses. Bennett isn’t quite as progressive, but is acceptable and much better than Lipinski. The problem is that the two of them together doom a chance to take out Lipinski and so someone needs to make a choice.

The thing with Lipiniski is that he’s vulnerable on the issue of being handed the seat through nepotism and the shadiness behind that. And that is where Bennett is weaker. From Lipinski’s campaign site:

Gerald Bennett, the Mayor of Palos Hills and a health care executive, said Congressman Lipinski’s proposals were an “excellent approach to helping American families become better health care consumers.”

“The Congressman should be lauded for working with colleagues in both parties to craft initiatives that will not only improve health care availability and delivery, but also have a great chance of being enacted,” Mayor Bennett said.

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Third District governmental leaders endorsing Congressman Lipinski’s re-election include:

Jim Balcer – Alderman, 11 th Ward
Gerald Bennett – Mayor, City of Palos Hills

And right there is the problem. Bennett’s quote and endorsement from 2006 neutralizes that issue for Bennett, who by all accounts is able. The campaign needs to be one of insider cronyism versus independent challenger and Bennett isn’t able to do that. And it’s why, I hope he doesn’t decide to announce. I don’t blame him for being ambitious, but at this point, he’ll have the weaker message and the Party needs this win. I also happen to like that Pera is more progressive and clear on many key issues, but I’m ultimately a pragmatist and that impulse happens to be the same as my progressive impulse.

Kadner: Bring ‘em Home

ArchPundit September 11, 2007 1 Comment

He addresses the Lipinski-Kirk plan to let George Bush run out the clock

Yet Lipinski and Kirk, who acknowledge the Bush Administration made mistakes that undermined public support for the war, want people to believe their government now will tell the truth and make no more mistakes.

Having listened for more than an hour to Lipinski, Kirk and the two ambassadors detail the multiple and massive failings of the U.S. war in Iraq, I find it difficult to place continued faith in our ability to do the right thing.

Kirk said what most interests him is doing the right thing by our troops who continue to serve in Iraq.

I would agree.

And I think the right thing to do is to bring them home now.

As Lipinski might say, that is the least bad solution.

One of the frustrations I have is that people are saying just now that it’s such a different country.  This seems obvious, but at the same time if that’s what is making them realize the folly of staying, so be it.