Call It A Comeback
All sorts of interesting implications I’ll talk about later, but that’s very good news.
In other news the National Chapter of NOw endorsed Mark Pera.
Make it count, Donate! or Volunteer
As did Daniel Biss who deserves some ActBlue love after Tuesday.
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Democrats are pissed off that the new Democratic Congress has been weak an ineffective. Signing on to bills to make George Bush think about the war instead of simply saying not one more damn dollar for this fiasco. Signing on to destroy the 4th Amendment by giving the Executive broad powers to tap phones without judicial oversight.
But how do you send a signal when the other side is even worse? You take out some of the worst of your own party in the primaries. Dan Lipinski came to his office through an act of fraud when the elder Lipinski withdrew and made sure there’d be no competition by sticking a plant on the Republican side of the ballot. He remains in that seat with the blessing of the supposedly tough on corruption Chicago Tribune that dismisses the rank corruption that got him in office and has kept him in office as a number of interlocking State and Federal PACs and Campaign Committees throw money around to keep control of the 23rd Ward and the 3rd Congressional District. Federal employees work for these State PACs and Campaign committees while earning a good living on the tax payer dime. State PACs run by a registered lobbyist.
Oh, and he’s horrible on gay rights, immigrant rights, contraception and abortion, and civil rights.
And he’s in a safe Democratic seat where the primary will determine the ultimate victor. He’s the perfect target: corrupt and conservative.
Mark Pera, on the other hand, got in a race that looked nearly impossible and is oh so close to pulling it off. Help him do it.
Donate or help on the ground or both.
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ICIRR points out the reprehensible behavior of Lipinski in going to bat for one immigrant while shafting all the others…
While ICIRR was glad to see Congressman Dan Lipinski come to the aid of French immigrant Corina Turcinovic and her community this week, leaders in Congressman Lipinski’s third congressional district are asking, “What is he doing for the other 11,999,999 undocumented immigrants still living in the shadows?”
he Congressman has voted for legislation that would criminalize pastors, doctors, and teachers for aiding undocumented immigrants, for an extreme amendment that would cut funding to cities like Chicago for declining to enforce federal immigration measures, and for enforcement-only measures like the Secure Fence Act, which assumes we can “block our way out of the current immigration mess.”
Read a statement from community leaders in the 3rd District, or watch the video of last Sunday’s community forum there, which the Congressman did not attend.
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Great mailings and apparently they have a good list in the 3rd with 16,000 people in their mailing universe for the race.
But let me point out, this isn’t just about abortion, but contraception. Lipinski has voted against emergency contraception which is the birth control pill in a higher dosage. It’s not about abortion, it’s about controlling women’s bodies.
Spent: 98987.82
On Hand: 377675.22
Not bad on hand numbers, but still anemic fundraising for an incumbent. Mostly PACs and machine types–not terribly surprising
However, the fun is in Daddy Lipinski’s ‘charity’, the All American Eagles which continues to pay Lipinski Chief of Staff Jerry Hurckes for consulting work:
| Hurckes, Jerry 7036 W. 96th Street Oak Lawn, IL 60453 |
$500.00 6/26/2007 |
Expenditure Bill Lipinski’s All-American Eagle |
Political Consultant Bill Lipinski’s All American Eagle |
| Hurckes, Jerry 7036 W. 96th Street Oak Lawn, IL 60453 |
Expenditure Bill Lipinski’s All-American Eagle | political consultant Bill Lipinski’s All American Eagle |
|
| Hurckes, Jerry 7030 W. 96t St. Oak Lawn, IL 60453 |
$536.05 8/24/2007 |
Expenditure Friends for Molaro |
parade flags Friends for Molaro |
| Hurckes, Jerry 7036 W. 96th Street Oak Lawn, IL 60453 |
$500.00 9/26/2007 |
Expenditure Bill Lipinski’s All-American Eagle |
consulting Bill Lipinski’s All American Eagle |
| Hurckes, Jerry 7036 W. 96th Street Oak Lawn, IL 60453 |
$1,000.00 11/9/2007 |
Expenditure Bill Lipinski’s All-American Eagle |
consulting Bill Lipinski’s All American Eagle |
| Hurckes, Jerry 7036 W. 96th Street Oak Lawn, IL 60453 |
$500.00 12/11/2007 |
Expenditure Bill Lipinski’s All-American Eagle |
consulting Bill Lipinski’s All American Eagle |
| Hurckes, Jerry 7036 W. 96th Street Oak Lawn, IL 60453 |
$500.00 12/11/2007 |
Expenditure Bill Lipinski’s All-American Eagle |
Holiday Gift >Bill Lipinski’s |
$3000 in consulting fees and a $500 ‘holiday gift’
Of course the Pera campaign got something wrong in calling Hurckes a $100,000 per year federal employee. He made more than that:
Jerome R Hurckes, Congressional Staffer – Salary Data
Lipinski, Rep. Daniel ( -Illinois-3rd) |
07/01/07 | 09/30/07 | Chief of Staff | $26,499.99 | |
| Lipinski, Rep. Daniel (-Illinois-3rd) |
01/03/07 | 03/31/07 | Chief of Staff | $24,944.44 | |
| Lipinski, Rep. Daniel (-Illinois-3rd) |
10/01/06 | 12/31/06 | Chief of Staff | $32,099.99 |
| Lipinski, Rep. Daniel (-Illinois-3rd) |
01/01/07 | 01/02/07 | Chief of Staff | $735.56 |
| Lipinski, Rep. Daniel (-Illinois-3rd) |
04/01/07 | 06/30/07 | Chief of Staff | $26,499.99 |
Most interesting and most predictable however is the All American Eagles donation to Mike Madigan:
| Friends of Michael Madigan | 6500 S. Pulaski Road Chicago, IL 60629 |
$5,000.00 9/26/2007 |
Transfer Out Bill Lipinski’s All-American Eagle |
Make no mistake about it, the machine wants to keep Lipinski in that seat until they have a candidate to replace him.
To see how inbred the political organization is check out these posts
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Copyright 2006 Chicago Tribune Company
Chicago TribuneFebruary 27, 2006 Monday
Chicagoland Final EditionSECTION: EDITORIAL ; ZONE CN; Pg. 14
LENGTH: 965 words
HEADLINE: For Democrats: Duckworth
BODY:
Veteran Rep. Henry Hyde is one of the most respected members of Congress, an eloquent and intellectual powerhouse, one of the great voices of conservative thought. After 32 years, he’s calling it quits. In most districts, that might prompt a quiet succession. Hyde is a Republican in a Republican-leading district and he supports state Sen. Peter Roskam (R-Wheaton) as his successor. Roskam does not face a primary challenge.
But Democrats, encouraged by the success of Rep. Melissa Bean in a nearby district, think they have a chance to win Hyde’s seat. They are engaged in quite a tussle to decide who will get the chance to face Roskam.
Christine Cegelis, a software engineer, picked up 44 percent of the vote against Hyde in 2004. She’s running again. But Democrats have a better candidate in Tammy Duckworth, a veteran of the Iraq war who has fresh and pragmatic views on trade, health care, taxes and other issues. Duckworth was an Army National Guard major when she was grievously injured in Iraq, losing both of her legs. She has some well-considered views on how the U.S. and Iraqis can finish the job there and bring American soldiers home. Duckworth is endorsed over Cegelis and Wheaton College professor Lindy Scott.
Not There….
Copyright 2006 Chicago Tribune Company
Chicago TribuneOctober 19, 2006 Thursday
Chicago Final EditionSECTION: EDITORIAL ; ZONE C; Pg. 28
LENGTH: 964 words
HEADLINE: Melissa Bean’s moxie
BODY:
In 2004 the Tribune endorsed Melissa Bean over the longest-serving Republican in the U.S. House, with the expectation that she would be a pro-growth, pro-trade congresswoman. She has delivered.
Rep. Bean has recognized the need to listen very carefully to her constituents–she’s a Democrat in a district that gave 56 percent of its vote to President Bush in 2004. She has charted a moderate, independent course and earned the support of Republicans and Democrats. She has been strong on national defense. She took a risk by voting for the Central America Free Trade Agreement. She knew that would anger some in organized labor–but that it would help businesses in her district expand and create jobs. She is an advocate for small business, gaining her the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She has the Tribune’s endorsement for a second term in the 8th Congressional District.
Her opponent, Republican David McSweeney, is not a bad fit for this district; we endorsed him in the GOP primary. His campaign efforts to make Bean out to be a liberal fall flat, however. Bean is endorsed over McSweeney and Bill Scheurer of Lindenhurst.
Not There….
Copyright 2004 Chicago Tribune Company
Chicago TribuneOctober 11, 2004 Monday
Chicagoland Final Edition
SECTION: EDITORIAL ; ZONE CN; Pg. 20LENGTH: 944 words
HEADLINE: Time for Crane to retire
BODY:
When Republican leaders passed over Rep. Phil Crane for the chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee in 2001, it was a clear signal that they didn’t trust him with a prominent role in Congress. Crane might have taken the hint–after three decades of modest achievement in the House, it was time to leave. But he didn’t.
The Tribune has admired and supported Crane’s strong advocacy of free trade. But it has become evident that Crane’s interest in serving his constituents has evaporated. He has used his seat in Congress as a cozy sinecure. In the last four years he has taken more than $109,000 in trips to spots around the world paid for by lobbyists and other private interests. Republican leaders privately acknowledge that Crane has gotten lazy and is out of touch with his constituents. The leaders have not been successful at shaking him out of his lethargy. It’s time for a change.
The Tribune endorses Melissa Bean, an energetic, pragmatic Democrat from Barrington, in the 8th Congressional District. Bean, a business consultant, is not quite the ardent free-trader that Crane is, but she understands that free trade creates opportunities for U.S. firms and that foreign competition ultimately strengthens U.S. markets. She has sound views on tax policy, health care and education reform. She will, unlike Crane, pay close attention to the folks back home. Bean is endorsed.
Not There…
What’s the Deal Dold? We all know you are going to endorse Kirk and that’s fine–that’s the Trib–but why not take Seals and Footlik on about their issues instead of what you seemed to think was a non-issue previously?
Voters, though, might have reason to question either candidate’s long-term commitment to them. Seals still lives a couple of blocks outside the district — he says he can’t afford to move into the 10th. Footlik just recently returned to the area, renting a home in Buffalo Grove.
You’d think Dold and gang might be familiar with the history of the father of modern conservatism:
His support for free trade with Ireland and his advocacy of Catholic emancipation were unpopular with his constituents and caused him to lose his seat in 1780. For the remainder of his parliamentary career, Burke sat for Malton, another pocket borough controlled by Rockingham.
The point not being that Dan is the reincarnation of Edmund Burke, but that living a few blocks away from a District or even renting a house there isn’t much of an issue–it certainly isn’t for Melissa Bean who still doesn’t live in IL-8 and yet the Trib doesn’t bring it up.
When it’s Alan Keyes, that’s a bit different, but given the highly gerrymandered districts in Illinois, it’s hard to make a compelling case that a few blocks matters and neither the Bean nor the Duckworth races offer much evidence that voters care about residency as much as they do about whether a person actually represents them.
But how about a guy who won’t return calls on the war for over a month? Which matters more? A few blocks or a war?
WASHINGTON (AP) – Some Illinois congressional races are a battleground over the Iraq war issue even while candidates appear to want it off voters’ radar.
A review by The Associated Press found voters who want to use campaign or House Web sites to check candidates’ views, can sometimes find the war not even among issues the sites focus on.
Republican Congressman Mark Kirk has shown virtually no interest in bringing it up, although each of his potential Democratic challengers do.
Kirk is a former House International Relations Committee general counsel, State Department aide and Persian Gulf War veteran. And he serves as a Naval Reserve commander in the Pentagon’s war room.
Kirk and his spokesman didn’t respond to messages left by The Associated Press over the past month seeking comment.
Response from Seals:
Congressional candidate Dan Seals (IL-10) condemned Kirk's lack of accountability on the war in Iraq, saying that his priorities were out of line with the 10th district. "The war in Iraq is one of the top issues I hear about from voters across the 10th district," Seals said. "Yet, time after time, Mark Kirk has shown that he is more interested in playing political games than addressing the serious issues facing our country." Kirk has not only avoided discussing his position on the war in Iraq, but he has also failed to ask the tough questions of the Bush administration. In May 2007, the Chicago Tribune reported that Kirk visited the White House to "deliver what one participant called a 'strong signal' about the electoral dangers that 'war fatigue and war weariness' pose for Republicans in 2008." "When Mark Kirk had a chance to sit down with President Bush to discuss the war in Iraq, he didn't urge the President to change course. He simply told the President that the war was hurting his re- election chances," Seals said. "Now, Kirk's failure to answer the tough questions about his failed leadership on the war is another sign that we need change in Washington."
What’s amusing is that some are trying to sell Kirk as some principled statesman. The thing is–you have to speak to be such a thing.
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