IL GOP Sells Soul to Devil, Still Losing
ArchPundit
Yeah, that chicken Tammy Duckworth is a cut and runner. Asshats.
Illinois Congressional Races
Coming to America
Rich isn’t the only one who can get annoyingly catchy tunes in your head, but the NRCC has sent out a flyer claiming that Tammy Duckworth wants to give illegal immigrants Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare.
Small problem, she supports the McCain-Kennedy bill that doesn’t do such a thing. Yeah, the McCain who just came in to the District for Roskam and talked about all the sacrifices our troops have given like losing limbs. And who thinks Grover Norquist is crooked though Grover has been backing Roskam for some time.
It’s Not that Curious
Rich is calling it curiouser and curiouser
It’s not very curious at this point,
Roskam billed the endorsement as a “great boost” to his campaign in the final days, but admitted he sat on the endorsement until a few days before Tuesday’s election to have “the biggest possible influence.”
World War II veteran Joe Buttice of Wood Dale was unable to explain much about the endorsement other than to say Roskam “supports a strong defense for our country but also he took care of our local veterans at the same time.”
Duckworth, who lost her legs when her helicopter was shot down over Iraq, said she never had a chance to apply for the endorsement and called it “sad and regrettable.” One suburban veteran and Duckworth supporter called it “despicable.”
“To be shunned by this organization is beyond my scope,” said Mike McConnell, a Vietnam veteran from Winfield who said he received the Purple Heart.
Roskam said the national endorsement was based on the recommendation by a few 6th District VFW leaders. The only one he named was Soden, a former head of the Illinois VFW who was appointed to fill out former Republican Senate President James “Pate” Philip’s term in 2003.
Buttice said Soden sits on the national VFW’s political action committee board but had surgery Friday and was unavailable.
Give him a hand folks, he’s here all week.
Local VFW Meet National VFW
Apparently, the locals didn’t know anything about the national’s plan to endorse Roskam.
The endorsement also caught Duckworth by surprise. Flanked by more than 20 veterans at a hastily called press conference, Duckworth said she was never contacted by the organization or asked to fill out a questionnaire, which typically happens when organizations decide who they want to endorse.
“I think it’s unfortunate they did this,” said Duckworth, a former Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot who lost both legs when her aircraft was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.
Members of VFW posts within the district said at Duckworth’s news conference that their posts were never contacted by anyone about endorsing either candidate.
“He didn’t ask our post,” said Bill Bahr, a Vietnam-era veteran and quartermaster at a post in Bloomingdale.
Roskam said the endorsement came at the urging of area VFW members, but he said he did not know who in the group endorsed him or how many local veterans were involved.
Fascinating. The endorsement came from thin air apparently.
Besides the obvious issues of what the hell is the VFW doing not consulting both candidates or asking the locals, the sheer clumsiness is hysterical.
h/t Rich
Even More Laesch Fun
Yeah, I’d vote for him, I just wouldn’t be happy about it.
Fortunately, We Always have the Illinois GOP
That Andy McKenna is doing a heckuva job!
CQ’s Illinois Roundup
Phil Hare is looking safer with CQ moving him from Democratic Lean to Democratic Favored. Besides just being a crappy candidate, Zinga isn’t raising much cash in a quite difficulty District to run in.
IL-08 Leans Democratic
IL-10 Republican Favored because of the political environment
IL-06 Pure Toss up.
Hastert and Shimkus are mentioned, but no one else.
What’s Great About Roskam on Social Security
And for the record–it’s a good ad in terms of effect even if it’s a perfect example of truthiness. It’s exactly the kind of ad that makes Peter seem more moderate and likeable. He’s a movement conservative through and through–his demeanor is probably his biggest assett in defusing that issue.
With my luck
It’ll end up being some sort of evil twin doing it all, but the Reader has a fascinating story on the number of properties Jerry Weller has reported buying in Nicaragua and how many local records in Nicaragua bear his name. Hint, the two don’t match.
Exhibit A: Why Americans Hate Trial Lawyers
They sue passengers in car accidents where the passenger is not the owner of the car.
One of my favorite examples comes from
Roskam and Salvi, Attorneys at Law.
The defendant in the case, Jennifer Peeples, was an active duty member of the US Military who was unable to attend an arbitration hearing because she was on active duty. Roskam and Salvi quashed a motion for summary judgment and Peeples had to file a request to not appear. The arbitration went against her from what I follow, but the case then continued for another year.
So Peeples is in the military on duty when she’s sued for an accident in which she wasn’t driving and didn’t own a car in the accident.
Supporting our troops–by suing them for, well, being present at an accident.