Bill Foster Interview Over at Faithfully Liberal
ArchPundit
Aaron is on a tear–good interview. Take a look.
Illinois Congressional Races
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.
$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…
Oh My, Some Folks Do Not Belong On Television
Dan Lipinski being one of them:
[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/Dwa6JYX87_Q" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/s30jcMyzkLA" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
If you are having problems with the videos go here:
With leadership like that, Iraq should be over in….a few dozen years.
Substantively, the entire deal is a joke. Kirk holds up the magical power point that tells us, well, nothing:
The PowerPoint is designed to give the impression of significant movement to reduce forces, while not doing that. The only pullout dated on the graph is the pullout for next summer which has to happen since we don’t have the troops. The steady decline of troops and the time axis being equally spread out is designed to distort the viewer’s perception of what is going on implying that the further draw down will occur roughly at the same pace while close examination shows there is no time scale on the axis.
If you want to end this war, you have to stop the funding of the war. These two are pushing a plan that only requires the current surge to end and calling it the Iraq Study Group plan that called for a draw down of troops before the surge. Returning to that level of troops does not implement the Iraq Study Group, it ignores it.
This is a blank check and a profile in cowardice. And some bizarre TV.
Chicago Tonight Apparently Thinks It Needs to Equate 9-11 with Iraq
Dandy, your liberal media at work:
[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/ZB7HydUzHKE" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
Go here if the plugin is not showing the video
Brackett mentions that there is a controversy over whether 9-11 and Iraq are related. There is no controversy. They are not. None of the claims regarding 9-11 and Iraq have any supporting evidence. But thanks for playing.
Just Refuse to Talk
As I pointed out, Jerry Weller is back and so he can comment on the Tribune investigation on his financial disclosures regarding Nicaraguan properties.
Impressive arrogance.
Jerry Weller Has Returned to the House of Representatives
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
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
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.
|
Freedom’s Watch Chicago Buy Info (9/6/07) |
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Station |
Flight dates |
Size of buy |
Estimated Points* |
|
TELEVISION |
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WBBM-TV |
8/27 – 9/23 |
$92,000/20 Share |
153 |
|
WFLD-TV |
8/22 – 9/23 |
$250,000/2 Share/Evening News |
417 |
|
WGN-TV |
8/27 – 9/09 |
$40,000 |
67 |
|
WLS-TV |
8/27 – 9/23 |
$275,000/early morning, early, late, 11am, wheel |
458 |
|
WMAQ-TV |
8/27 – 9/23 |
$74,900/(think their share will be less than usual) |
125 |
|
Comcast Spotlight |
8/29 – 9/23 |
~$50,000/(won’t know share until after the fact) |
83 |
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Total Television |
|
$781,900 |
1,303 |
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RADIO |
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WGN-AM |
Through end of Sept |
$70,500 |
353 |
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WBBM-AM |
Through end of Sept |
$70,500 |
353 |
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Total Radio |
|
$141,000 |
706 |
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Grand Total |
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$922,900 |
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This information is based on continual outreach to stations. It is subject to change and to interpretation. |
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*Cost per point for TV estimated at $600 Cost per point for Radio estimated at $200 |
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One Meeellllionnnn dollars.