Testy Testy
ArchPundit
I heard this interview with Tom Reynolds (R-NY) head of the RNCC operation on NPR this morning It is still making me giggle.
And Yeah
I’ve seen the Dems House race stuff–screw them too—the IL Dems ought to be ashamed of themselves. They are supposed to know better.
IL GOP Sells Soul to Devil, Still Losing
Yeah, that chicken Tammy Duckworth is a cut and runner. Asshats.
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
Rasmussen 44-37-14
H/T Rich again.
Virtually identical to the Survey USA. So natural tightening, but not a lot of movement. Third party candidates almost always lose support from their polling, but that’s also when they are down low around 3-5 %. I’m expect Whitney will lose some probably hitting around 10 with the difference splitting between Topinka and Blagojevich.
He Didn’t Inhale
To a certain point I understand the human response to getting caught in situation that throws your family into chaos, but he bought the meth, but threw it out?
One doesn’t get up one morning and think, I’m going to buy some meth!
Oops
VFW endorsed Roskam. A while ago.
Roskam tried to bill the endorsement as a major boost to his campaign in the final days, but found himself admitting he sat on the endorsement until the end for maximum attention. The VFW representative was unable to give much of a reason for the endorsement or explain how it happened, and Roskam looked stunned at the harsh questioning from reporters.
H/T Rich
Wow. Cubed.
he latest Rothenberg Political Report ratings are out. Here are exclusive excerpts provided to Political Wire:
The Senate: “While Senate control is in doubt, with Democrats most likely to win from 5 to 7 seats, we do not think the two sides have an equal chance of winning a majority in the Senate. Instead, we believe that state and national dynamics favor Democrats netting six seats and winning control of the United States Senate.”
The House: “Going into the final days before the 2006 midterm elections, we believe the most likely outcome in the House of Representatives is a Democratic gain of 34 to 40 seats, with slightly larger gains not impossible. This would put Democrats at between 237 and 243 seats, if not a handful more, giving them a majority in the next House that is slightly larger than the one the Republicans currently hold. If these numbers are generally correct, we would expect a period of GOP finger-pointing and self-flagellation after the elections, followed by a considerable number of Republican House retirements over the next two years.”
Governors: “With Republican seats like Idaho, Alaska, and Nevada in play for state-specific reasons, and Minnesota vulnerable to a Democratic wave, the ceiling for possible Democratic gains is high. We have narrowed our earlier projection from Democratic gains of 6-10 to 7-9.”