Today’s Tosser: The Chicago Tribune
ArchPundit
2007
Congress Daily on IL-14
From National Journal’s Congress Daily
With President Bush taking 55 percent of the vote in the district in 2004, it’s not the most vulnerable Republican seat in the state –the district of GOP Rep. Mark Kirk owns that distinction. It’s not eventhe one with the fairest playing field, which falls to the district of GOP Rep. Jerry Weller. But the goings-on in Hastert’s 14th District will tell us how seriously we should take Democratic pickoff attempts in more-Republican leaning districts, like that of GOP Rep. Don Manzullo or the open contest for LaHood’s seat.
For Democrats, winning a seat like Hastert’s isn’t a pie-in-the-sky proposition. First, the district represents suburban Chicago, and any northern suburban seat — especially an open one — should warrant attention.
But second, according to the Cook Political Report’s Partisan Voter Index, the district has the same presidential performance as that of Reps. Dan Boren, D-Okla., Charlie Melancon, D-La., and Dennis Moore, D-Kan. All three sit in pretty rocky territory, but have managed to hold on for a couple of election cycles. So it’s possible for Democrats totake Hastert’s seat, but it will be an uphill climb.
Three Democrats are vying for the nomination: 2006 nominee John Laesch, attorney Jotham Stein and scientist and businessman Bill Foster. Laesch spent nearly $300,000 in 2006 in an effort to defeat Hastert, but took only 40 percent of the vote. For this contest, Stein has raised $73,000 and Laesch only $13,000.
So far, Foster has been fundraising and acting like a frontrunner. He has raised more than $130,000 and some Democrats believe Foster’s background as a scientist will help in an environment that is looking for change.
Until 2006, Foster worked as a scientist for Fermilab, a Batavia company that employs nearly 2,500 people. The company is well-known throughout the district, and campaign manager Tom Bowen said it gives Foster a base of support he normally would lack since he hasn’t been on the ballot before. Foster plans to spend $1 million in the primary, and he appears to hold a strong position heading into that contest.
The reason panic is setting in with activists and party regulars in Districts like these is that the scope of the problems on messaging are starting to hit home. The war and the President are only supported by about 30 percent of the public so even in a +5 Republican District such as this (IL-8 is more Republican), the sentiment against the war is strong and the Republican primaries are virtually guaranteeing a candidate who supports Bush’s policies or thinks they are too liberal.
That’s why many Republicans are starting to refer to 1974, the post-Watergate election that resulted in huge losses for Republicans.
Read More
Grassroots Democracy Conference: Mobilizing Volunteers and Voters in 2008
Dan Seals will be introducing Senator Dick Durbin this Saturday, Sept. 8th at the Grassroots Democracy Conference at 10:00 a.m. Please call 847-998-1002 to register by Friday at 10:00 a.m. Cost is $12 per person to cover lunch.
Grassroots Democracy Conference:
Mobilizing Volunteers and Voters in 2008
Saturday, September 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Chevy Chase Country Club, 1000 N. Milwaukee Ave in Wheeling
(near Lake Cook Rd. )
-Remarks by Senator Dick Durbin and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky
-Breakout sessions featuring Cook County Commissioners Forrest Claypool and Larry Suffredin, and others from presidential campaigns.
-For more info visit: www.northfielddems.org. Hosted by New Trier , Northfield, Wheeling and Palatine Democratic Organizations and the Tenth Dems.
Fun with Graphics
The Footlik Campaign:
Freedom Watch Radio Ad
Listen Here (MP3)
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ANNOUNCER: American Heroes… presented by Freedom’s Watch. Iraq War Veteran Andrew Robinson was on his second tour of duty when he was wounded by an IED in June of 2006… Andrew lost the use of his legs. |
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ROBINSON: I believe we’re making progress in the war in Iraq and stabilizing the country there… I would go back to Iraq if I could… It is that important because if Iraq is unstable then it will be a breeding ground for terrorists. Uh I’m proud to have been a Marine. To hear Congress talk about surrendering really makes me angry. We’re dealing with the safety of our country. It’s really important that we’re victorious. |
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ANNOUNCER: Call your congressman and senator. Tell them surrender is not an option. Call them now at 1-877-222-8001… or visit our web site at www.freedomswatch.org. Tell your congressman and senator victory is America’s only choice. |
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ANNOUNCER 2: Proudly paid for by Freedom’s Watch. |
It has to suck for Mark Kirk to have your own Whitehouse running ads to keep you in line.
Daily Dolt: John Bambenek
John has been wanting one of these for a long time and I’ve always resisted, but now he has gone and done something so incredibly stupid, that he truly cannot be denied being today’s Daily Dolt:
The blogger who filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission against Daily Kos says he may appeal Tuesday’s FEC ruling on the matter, which found the popular left-leaning site did not violate the Federal Election Campaign Act as charged. A lawyer for the blog, however, dismissed the claims as a fantasy.
“I’m not entirely surprised,” said John Bambenek, a research programmer at the University of Illinois who submitted the complaint, in a Wednesday interview with RAW STORY. “[The FEC] doesn’t want to get into all the drama of blogs.”
Yeah, that’s it–they don’t want drama. John got his ass kicked by having the complaint dismissed before any investigation his complaint was so weak. More
Reacting to the commission’s unanimous decision–which “found no reason to believe Kos Media, DailyKos.com, or Markos Moulitsas Zuniga violated federal campaign finance law”–Bambenek told RAW STORY that the FEC didn’t address his fundamental complaint.
“I asked a particular question and they answered a different one. They just ruled that blog posts don’t constitute a donation,” he said, acknowledging that the FEC had already given its opinion in 2006 as to whether favorable commentary about a candidate, published by an independent website, amounted to a campaign contribution.
“My question was: Can a political action committee avoid FEC disclosure rules simply by organizing online?” Bambenek continued. “What I did was ask about a group that self-identified as having the sole purpose of electing Democrats.”
Of course, this was all settled in the advisory opinion about Fired Up! The difference being if you are going to deal with writing and advocacy as a site, that’s not being a committee, but if you were to, say, buy advertisements advocating an issue elsewhere that would most likely be a committee. Not real hard to understand. Then again, no one has ever accused Bambenek of understanding simple concepts.
Worse, John is one of these guys who claims to understand the original intent of the Constitution, but apparently knows nothing of the context of the First Amendment when it was passed.
Papers at the time of the Constitution were largely partisan papers largely organized towards giving a Party an advantage. IOW, the First Amendment specifically protected the kind of journalism Bambenek is trying to call a political committee.
Pera on Firedoglake This Saturday
Pera, candidate for IL-03, to join Firedoglake readers in online discussion
Mark Pera, the Democratic challenger in Illinois’ 3rd U.S. Congressional District, will be the featured guest during an online chat beginning at 1 p.m. CST on Saturday, Sept. 8 with progressive activist Howie Klein.
Pera is battling for the Congressional seat held by incumbent U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, a so-called “Bush Dog Democrat,” who has voted in lockstep with the Bush Administration on issues such as reproductive rights, stem cell research, the Iraq war and the environment.
The Illinois Democratic Primary is scheduled for Feb. 5.
Pera, of suburban Chicago, is an assistant Cook County state’s attorney. During his time with the State’s Attorney’s office, he has prosecuted cases against major industrial polluters in the Chicago area. He is also a school board president, a husband and a father of four.
Klein, who will host the chat, has been honored by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California for his work in the area of free speech. Klein also writes the political blog “Down With Tyranny!” The chat will be take place live at www.firedoglake.com.
To participate, just click onto www.firedoglake.com at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8, click on the link and submit your question or comment to Mark Pera.
Pera said he hopes interested voters will take time to hear from the right kind of Democrat.
“We’re committed to reversing the damage done by the Bush Administration and the more complacent members of Congress. I’m happy to have this opportunity to discuss my platform and field your questions. It’s an honor to be asked to participate,” Pera said.
Lipinski has been called the “accidental Congressman” for the way his father’s political machinations allowed him to sidestep the 2004 Democratic Primary. After winning the primary former U.S. Rep. Bill Lipinski retired and his son was selected as his replacement. Lipinski won the 2004 General Election in the traditionally Democratic-leaning district.
For more information on Mark Pera, please visit www.PERA08.com or call (847) 687-7579.
What You Can Do
If you are around Aurora:
On the Ground Sign up to volunteer locally http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=mVbQSX7JNAsBqRJbMj_2fxYw_3d_3d
Pick up a sign to post in your yard.The signs say “This family supports Planned Parenthood.” Here’s where you can pick up your sign:
Aurora Planned Parenthood Health Center
3051 E. New York Ave.,
Aurora, IL (at the corner of New York Ave. and Oakhurst St.)
Monday thru Thurs.: 12 pm to 2 pm & 5 pm to 7 pm
Friday & Saturday: 12 pm to 2 pm
Online Ribbon campaign: We are asking Planned Parenthood supporters in Illinois and across the country to stand with us by filling out a form to have a ribbon in their name tied outside the clinic in Aurora.
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/aurora1/b0809htr08
Donate to keep our doors open:
https://secure.ga0.org/02/aurora1/b0809htr08
I always try and be respectful of those readers who are pro-life and that will continue and I respect the position. However, this is a legal clinic being attacked by extremists who want to not just ban abortion, but eliminate contraception and sex education work that Planned Parenthood does also. Also feel free to place these on your blog or other site:
It’s About Contraception
I’ve made this point many times, but the ring leader of the Aurora protests has admitted it repeatedly.
Contraception is more the root cause of abortion than anything else”
Source: “Abortion foes’ new rallying point: Conservatives take on contraception,” Judith Graham, Chicago Tribune (Illinois), September 24, 2006
“I would like to outlaw contraception. … [C]ontraception is disgusting – people using each other for pleasure.”
Source: “Steinberg right on Bush,” Jeff Robertson, Chicago Sun Times, March 20, 2006
“Contraception is not the answer to this nation’s high abortion rate. On the contrary, flooding our society with contraceptives has only encouraged the kind of irresponsible sexual behavior and anti-child mentality that directly leads to abortion.”
Source: “Planned Parenthood Battles Scheidler over Contraception,” Pro-Life Action League, Christian NewsWire, October 23, 2006
“The issue of contraception is coming out of the closet and is becoming a major issue in the ongoing battle for souls.”
Source: Joe Scheidler, Action News Hotline, Wednesday 14 March – Thursday 15 March 2007 , http://www.prolifeaction.org/hotline/2007/0314.htm
He’s a direct action kind of guy:
Mar. 26, 1986 — Members of Pro Life Action Network (PLAN), a coalition co-founded by Scheidler and which Scheidler called the “pro-life mafia”, invade a clinic in Pensacola, FL. They throw the clinic administrator down the stairs, injure a NOW chapter president, and destroy medical equipment. The clinic is forced to close for days. According to NOW, “Joe Scheidler stands outside during the invasion, praising those who went in and taking credit for the mayhem.” (From the NOW website: http://www.nowfoundation.org/issues/reproductive/scheidler-timeline.html)
As I mentioned when Keyes came to the state:
For example, in Delaware, Joseph Scheidler and three other large men illegally entered a clinic, trapping the clinic administrator inside. The men put the phones on hold ? effectively cutting her off from the outside world ? and told her they were there to “case the place.” This was shortly after several clinics had been bombed. In another incident, Scheidler went to Pensacola and met with John Burt and Joan Andrews. Together, they discussed and planned an event to take place at the Ladies Center.
The next day, while Scheidler was outside doing “P.R.” (he did not want to get arrested), Burt, Andrews and two others burst into the clinic, shoved the administrator to the floor and slammed an escort up against a wall. Then they went upstairs to wreck equipment.
Still more evidence of force and violence came as the jury heard from a doctor who had been stalked, her house surrounded, and her life threatened. She was also physically assaulted by Monica Miller and Matt Trewhella.
The jury also heard evidence of scores of blockades, which deprived people of access to the clinics, and where people were assaulted for daring to try to enter. One woman, who was going to see her doctor for postoperative surgery (surgery that in no way was related to abortion and that had been done to try and save her reproductive organs), was hit over the head with a picketer’s sign. And the jury heard more.
More on a fine fellow:
Scheidler vowed to stop abortion “by any means necessary.”
Source: Testimony of Fay Clayton counsel for the Certified Plaintiff Classes in National Organization for Women, Inc., et al Joseph M. Scheidler, et al., July 17, 1998
“You can try for 50 years to do it the nice, polite way, or you can do it next week the nasty way.”
Source: “Militant Abortion Opponent Playing by His Own Rules,” Hanke Gratteau Chicago Tribune, January 21, 1985
“We have shut down hundreds and hundreds of abortion clinics around the country.”
Source: Joseph Schiedler, Aug 2007, found on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a04QSZXrKo)
“I just wish I had a medal or some sort of battle scar for each time I was arrested.”
Source: Joseph Schiedler, Aug 2007, found on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a04QSZXrKo)
“I’m doing what I have to do. So what? I’ve got some misdemeanors … I don’t consider myself a criminal.”
Source: “Can Abortion Protesters Be Sued as Racketeers? – High Court to Decide,” Sharon Cohen, Associated Press, December 4, 1993.
“For instance, several years ago we tracked down a twelve-year-old girl who was going to have an abortion so that we could talk her out of it. Talking a woman out of having an abortion is not news. But tracking her down by using a private detective is.”
Source: Joseph Schiedler, The Director Pro Life Action League, Closed: 99 Ways to Stop Abortion, 1985
Pat Buchanan called Scheidler the green beret of the pro-life movement.
Source: “MAN WITH A MISSION JOE SCHEIDLER PULLS NO PUNCHES IN HIS CRUSADE AGAINST ABORTION,” Linda Witt, Chicago Tribune, August 11, 1985 Sunday
“[Scheidler] bragged about his unusual actions, such as absconding with fetal remains (Wash. Post, 12/6/93) or picketing the homes of doctors (“Home Pickets Work,” USA Today, 10/19/95).”
Source: People for the American Way Website: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2007/05/racketeering_ca.html
So the Aurora City Council is bending over backwards for a guy who thinks it’s appropriate to track down people thinking of getting a fully legal medical procedure with private detectives. Think about that for a minute.
Aurora Apparently Thinks it Can Limit Medical Services to the Ones it Might Like
“Did we hope to avoid disruptive and potentially violent protests that might delay the opening of a facility greatly needed in DuPage and Kane counties? You bet we did,” Trombley said in the letter. “It should be obvious by now why we chose that course.”
Planned Parenthood/Chicago Area staff plan to open a full-service health center at 3051 E. New York St., in the DuPage County section of Aurora. Abortion services will be available.
“I’m not sure what he (Trombley) was hoping to accomplish” with the letter, Weisner told The Beacon News.
The City Council’s Planning and Development Committee approved the final plan for the health center on Nov. 16, 2006. The project did not require full council approval because the land already was zoned for medical office use. The owner was listed as Gemini Office Development LLC.
Planned Parenthood officials, applying under the names Planned Parenthood Association/Chicago Area and Gemini Office Development LLC, asked the Illinois Finance Authority Board in May for approval of the issuance of a type of bond to help fund construction and land acquisition costs of the Aurora health center.
From Planned Parenthood:
Aurora is a largely Hispanic and working class community, and Planned Parenthood saw a growing health care need:
- Illinois ranked seventh-highest in 2005 for chlamydia rates and 11th-highest for gonorrhea, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- The Guttmacher Institute reports that among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Illinois ranks 46th in the availability of contraceptive services and supplies.
- In Illinois, 1,558,620 women are in need of contraceptive services and supplies
What no one seems to be pointing out is that abortion is about 10 percent of what Planned Parenthood does. Abortion is completely legal in the United States. Treating a clinic offering a completely legal medical option differently than another medical option means that a community would have to find some objective criteria based on zoning–and Aurora doesn’t have that ability right now.
