The Dodge campaign has fun detailing the huge pension that rival Comptroller candidate Judy Baar Topinka already gets even before she might become Comptroller. It’s over 160 thousand dollars! Dodge also points out that Topinka’s claim to be scandal free is not as it seems.
GOP
Tea Parties: The Biggest Mistake We’ll Make in 2010
-By Warner Todd Huston
It’s the end of 2009, the “aughts” are over, and we are about to embark on a new year — and what else are they but the “aughts”? Well, besides mostly a horrible and thankfully passed decade. In any case, we are at the end of the year and that means two things: lists about this year and predictions for the next. I’ve chosen the prognosticator’s art for this piece with the subject of what will likely be our biggest failure or mistake in 2010: the Tea Party movement.
We all know that just saying the words “Tea Party” is enough to raise American’s blood pressure. Some will become suspicious or even enraged by imagining I am about to attack the Tea Partiers, some on the left will be filled with disgust even thinking about the Tea Partiers at all, and still others will get their blood up thinking about why the Tea Party movement started in the first place. For 2009 “Tea” and “Party” were two words that raised American’s passions in a myriad of ways, for sure. That won’t change in 2010.
But with the Tea Party movement we are likely headed for a huge mistake in 2010, one that I fear will stretch into 2011 and one that has the potential to hurt us all, right, left and center — but especially right.
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Tea Parties: The Biggest Mistake We’ll Make in 2010″
38 Days Until the Primary In Illinois — A Web Resource
-By Warner Todd Huston
Just a reminder, folks. Since Illinois moved its primary up… waaaaay up … we are only 38 days away from primary voting which begins on Feb. 2!
That’s right, folks, 38 days to make up your mind about for which candidate you’ll vote for the GOP nomination for every office up for grabs in 2010.
So, once again, here are the websites of the state-wide offices and the local offices up for election in this mid term season.
U.S. Senate
John Arrington – arringtonforsenate.com
Patrick Hughes – patrickhughesforsenate.com
Mark Kirk – kirkforsenate.com
Tom Kuna – w-e-r-co.com
Don Lowery – judgelowery4ussenate.com
Andy Martin – andyforussenator.com
Kathleen Thomas – kathleenthomasforsenate.org
Ed Varga – e-varga.com
Eric Wallace – wallaceforillinois.com
Robert Zadek – robertzadek.com
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38 Days Until the Primary In Illinois — A Web Resource”
Gitmo Lawsuit Could block Thomson Prison Transfer By Feds
From the William Kelly for Comptroller campaign:
GOP Comptroller candidate Kelly’s Attorney Planning to File Class Action Suit for Public Endangerment
(STERLING, IL) – This afternoon, protesters from Band of Mothers and Illinois Tea Party gathered in Sterling, IL to protest the move to transfer the Gitmo detainees to Thomson Prison. Among them was William J. Kelly, the GOP candidate for comptroller. Kelly is planning to file a lawsuit to block the transfer of the Thomson prison site to the federal government to house the Gitmo detainees. Kelly’s attorney, Greg Johnson, is exploring the merits of a class action suit on the grounds of public endangerment to prevent the prisoner transfer. “The public risks associated with the continued detention of war prisoners should not be forced upon the citizens of Illinois without sufficient public input and acceptance,” said Johnson.
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Gitmo Lawsuit Could block Thomson Prison Transfer By Feds”
5th District — Quigley-backed Chicago handgun ban: Negligible results, still unconstitutional
5th District Congressional candidate David Ratowitz responds to Rep. Mike Quigley and Mayor Richard M. Daley’s December 19, 2009, Sun-Times op-ed, “Threat to city’s handgun ban jeopardizes safety of all.”
Rep. Mike Quigley’s December 19 Chicago Sun-Times op-ed piece in defense of Chicago’s unconstitutional ban on gun ownership for law-abiding citizens displays arrogance, disregard for the facts and extremist zeal.
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5th District — Quigley-backed Chicago handgun ban: Negligible results, still unconstitutional”
Illinois GOP ‘Searching’ For Relevancy
-By Warner Todd Huston
The Illinois GOP tried on some “tongue-in-cheek” fun on its website this week concerning the mysterious candidacy of, “one Patrick John Ryan, who has filed as a Republican to run against Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan next year.”
The Illinois GOP has launched a sort of faux search for this supposed GOP candidate and have promised to support his candidacy. It’s all made in fun and to highlight that the Democrats are as underhanded as they are. Unfortunately, this bit of fun also highlights a very sad fact about the Illinois GOP: its impotency in Cook County.
Of course, it is pretty obvious that Illinois Democrats are a crafty, criminal lot. How is it that they can field a candidate pretending to be Republican, anyway? Why are they even doing it? As the GOP website points out, this Ryan fellow is a Democrat but has mysteriously shown up as a Republican candidate. It all tends to confirm the left’s reputation of being liars and crooks, of course.
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Illinois GOP ‘Searching’ For Relevancy”
8th District Candidates Forum Jan 7
From the Lake County News-Sun:
8TH DISTRICT: The Republican Clubs of Antioch, Avon, Grant and Lake Villa townships have scheduled an 8th Congressional District candidate’s forum 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 7 at the Round Lake Park District, 814 Hart Road, Round Lake. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call Lilian Golonka at (847) 395-1872 or Bob Powers at (847) 546-8557. Republican 8th District candidates on the Feb. 2 ballot are Christopher Geissler of Barrington, John Dawson of Barrington, Maria Rodriguez of Long Grove, Dirk Beveridge of Barrington, Gregory Jacobs of Mundelein and Joe Walsh of Winnetka. Democratic incumbent Melissa Bean of Barrington is unopposed in the primary. Green Party candidate Bill Scheurer of Lindenhurst is also running for the seat.
The Candidate’s Websites:
- Dirk Beveridge www.beveridge2010.com
- John Dawson johndawsonforcongress.com
- Chris Geissler chrisgeissler.netboots.net
- Christopher Geissler Gregory S. Jacobs
- Maria Rodriguez www.mariarodriguezforcongress.com
- Joe Walsh walshforcongress.com
Dillard Gets More Kane County Support
From the Kirk Dillard for Governor campaign…
Over the weekend, Republican candidate for Illinois governor Kirk Dillard won the endorsement of the St. Charles Township Republicans, expanding his support throughout Kane County.
“Senator Dillard’s leadership and plans to bring jobs to Illinois, balance the budget and clean up Springfield demonstrate he is the best candidate, and we are proud to endorse him,” said St. Charles Township Republican Chairman Ken Shepro. Dillard was also enthusiastic. “I’m delighted my friends in Kane County are backing my campaign, and it shows how my unique experience as former Governor Edgar’s chief of staff, my plan to make Illinois a “Destination Economy” and my legislative record are resonating with voters.”
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Dillard Gets More Kane County Support”
8th District: Joe Walsh Picks up Tea Party Groups Endorsement
From the Walsh for Congress campaign…
For Immediate Release: 8th Congressional District Candidate, Joe Walsh, is thrilled to announce the support of two influential Tea Party organizations in the 8th district — Tea Party Palatine and the Lake County Tea Party — in his run for congress. Two weeks ago Walsh was endorsed by the Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC.
“I am honored to have the support of two fine organizations comprised of selfless individuals who have chosen to engage in the political process rather than sit back and accept the status quo. These organizations and their memberships have ‘had enough’ and are working hard to take our country back,” said Walsh.
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8th District: Joe Walsh Picks up Tea Party Groups Endorsement”
10th District: Robert Dold’s First TV Commercial
Robert Dold is facing Party favorite Beth Coulson for the nomination for the 10th District Congressional seat that Mark Kirk is giving up to run for the Senate. Coulson is a liberal Republican, so it may be a situation of anyone but Beth.
Jim Dodge Beats Out Topinka For Another Endorsement
From the Dodge for Comptroller campaign:
The Ford County Republican Organization voted Thursday night to endorse Jim Dodge, Republican candidate for Illinois Comptroller in the February 2, 2010 Republican Primary.
“I believe he has the intellect and the confidence to do the job and the ambition and integrity to follow through on the tough decisions that need to be made for the state,” said Eric Thompson, Ford County GOP Chairman. “Our organization sees that Jim Dodge embodies these characteristics that make him the right candidate for Comptroller.”
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Jim Dodge Beats Out Topinka For Another Endorsement”
Lt. Governor Race: Dennis Cook Gets Two South Suburban Republican Endorsements
From the Cook for Lt. Governor campaign:
(Orland Park, IL) – Lieutenant Governor Candidate Dennis Cook announced today that he has received the endorsements of Cook County and Palos GOP Chairman Lee Roupas, and Cook County Commissioner and Orland Township Chairman Liz Gorman.
Cook, Consolidated District 230 School Board President, said it is a great honor to have the endorsement of these two well-respected members of the Republican Party.
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Lt. Governor Race: Dennis Cook Gets Two South Suburban Republican Endorsements”
2nd District: Isaac Hayes Adds Phylicia Lyons as School Adviser
-By Warner Todd Huston
Republican south-sider Isaac Hayes has a tall order on his hands; face and defeat Chicago machine favorite and incumbent Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. But Hayes has added a new education adviser to his campaign staff that shows that he is serious in his effort to defeat Jackson and offer the voters a starkly different choice.
Joining the Hayes campaign in the role of Education Policy Director is Phylicia Lyons, President of School Choice Illinois.
Founded in 2006 School Choice Illinois is a policy group that has dedicated itself to pursuing vouchers, tax breaks and increasing the reach of charter schools all in an effort to give parents more options besides the failing public schools with which to educate their children. SCI feels that current laws stifle and prohibit parents from seeking more effective schools and its goal is to explore and create sustainable education policies that work for our kids.
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2nd District: Isaac Hayes Adds Phylicia Lyons as School Adviser”
How the Candidates for Gov. Stand on Guns
-By Warner Todd Huston
The good folks over at icarry.org have compiled a nice little list of statements about the Second Amendment made by our candidates for Governor. On a veto of the so-called assault weapons ban, they found four GOPers stongly in favor, one is wishy-washy, and two oppose it. And on concealed carry they found three Republicans support it and three are against it.
Here is what icarry.org posted:
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How the Candidates for Gov. Stand on Guns”
Cook County Board: Interview With Roger Keats
Roger Keats is the candidate for Cook County Board President that is supported by the Cook County Republican Party. Linda Shelton has an extensive interview with Keats as well as a compilation of the positions he taken on his website. (Campaign website www.keatsforcook.com/)
It looks like Mr. Keats is trying to run of an anti-corruption/boost the economy platform.
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Cook County Board: Interview With Roger Keats”
Gutierrez Illegal Amnesty Bill to Cost Illinois Tax Payers Jobs and Will Raise Taxes
From the Rosanna Pulido campaign:
Rosanna Pulido, Citizen Candidate for the Illinois 5th Congressional district seat is strongly opposed to the Amnesty Bill legislation being introduced by Representative Gutierrez of the 6th district.
Pulido states that, ‘with one in ten Illinoisans laid off of work ,unemployment rates at the highest level in decades and millions of Americans facing tough financial choices, the last thing our country needs is another short sighted politician trying to fix a real problem by throwing hardworking taxpayers money at it.’
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Gutierrez Illegal Amnesty Bill to Cost Illinois Tax Payers Jobs and Will Raise Taxes”
8th District: Joe Walsh Opposes Thomson/Gitmo Move
From the Walsh for Congress campaign:
Lake Zurich, IL, December 14, 2009 : Joe Walsh, Republican Candidate for Congress in the 8th Congressional district has announced his strong opposition to the Obama administration plan to move terrorist suspects from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to Thomson, Illinois. The facility at Thomson, Illinois is an underutilized state prison that the state of Illinois has offered to the federal government for purchase.
“I am opposed to moving terror suspects from Guantanamo Bay to Thomson, Illinois. This move is being touted as a great economic development issue for Illinois but I find it really pathetic that our state would be painted as so desperate for jobs that it would become the home to terrorists. The local impact on jobs is terribly overblown. This is a political move pure and simple. I am also concerned that the same stigma and international attention, mostly negative, could become focused on Northern Illinois,” said Walsh.
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8th District: Joe Walsh Opposes Thomson/Gitmo Move”
62nd District State Rep Race: Mitchell Congratulates Opponent on Planned Parenthood Endorsement
From the Mitchell campaign:
Gurnee, IL-Republican State Representative candidate Paul Mitchell today extended his congratulations to his opponent, State Representative Sandy Cole (R-Grayslake) of the Illinois 62nd District, on her endorsement by Planned Parenthood Illinois Action (PPIA), the non-partisan political and advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood of Illinois. The endorsement was announced by PPIA on December 10th, 2009.
“I know that Mrs. Cole is too modest to make a big deal of this,” said Mitchell, “but I just think every Republican primary voter in the 62nd district would want to know about this endorsement.”
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62nd District State Rep Race: Mitchell Congratulates Opponent on Planned Parenthood Endorsement”
Tony Peraica Endorses 5th District Challenger David Ratowitz
From the Ratowitz campaign:
“His grassroots campaign is firing on all cylinders, aiming well beyond the February Primary to retake Illinois’ 5th Congressional District for Republicans in November.”
CHICAGO – December 15, 2009 – U.S. House candidate David Ratowitz (IL-5) has received the official endorsement of renowned conservative activist Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica in his run for the Republican nomination in the February 2 Primary Election. Peraica has released the following remarks:
Tony Peraica Endorses 5th District Challenger David Ratowitz”
17th State Rep Race: Phil Collins Celebrates Endorsements
First time candidate Phil Collins, who is vying for the 17th District State Rep seat, is celebrating an impressive number of endorsements.
On Nov. 30, Collins was endorsed by the Illinois Conservatives Facebook Group. He was also endorsed by Jim Leahy, the executive director of the Republican Assembly of Illinois and by David Smith, the executive director of the Illinois Family Institute. He also picked up the endorsement of the Evanston Conservative, a great blog that is published by Gary Karlin; Eric Wallace, Randy White, and the Chicago Minuteman Project. And last week, his campaign was endorsed by the Illinois Federation for Right to Life and the Illinois Conservative Action Network.
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17th State Rep Race: Phil Collins Celebrates Endorsements”
Endorsements for Put-Back Amendment Grows
Press release from the Put-Back Amendment campaign:
The Put-Back Amendment is the only amendment that will bring real reform to Springfield. It enacts 8 year term limits so we no longer will have lifetime politicians who hold a death grip over the state. It ensures fair elections by ending gerrymandering, reforms ballot access laws and allows independents full access to the ballot. It promotes real legislative reform by requiring 7-day public viewing of all legislation and 25 of 177 legislators can force an up or down vote on any legislation so leaders can no longer exercise complete control of the legislative process.
You can learn more about the amendment here. To get this on the ballot, we need 500,000 signatures and we need your help to gather them after the New Year.
Jim Oberweis, Other Political and Civic Leaders Endorse Put-Back Amendment!
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Endorsements for Put-Back Amendment Grows”
62nd District State Rep Race: Paul Mitchell picks up Four Group Endorsements
From the Mitchell campaign:
‘This morning, everyone here at Paul Mitchell’s campaign office is in a celebratory mood,’ said a campaign volunteer.. ‘The list of endorsements is growing; we’ve just added four conservative groups to the endorsements list, with more to come!’
‘These four endorsements,’ says Mitchell, ‘show my credibility to my socially conservative base, my fiscally conservative allies, and to the reform/912/tea party movement.’
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62nd District State Rep Race: Paul Mitchell picks up Four Group Endorsements”
Topinka’s Union Endorsement is ‘Business As Usual’
From the Jim Dodge for Comptroller campaign:
AFSCME’s inflexibility is part of state’s budget problems
(DECEMBER 13, 2009 Orland Park, IL) Jim Dodge, Republican Candidate for Illinois Comptroller calls The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees’ endorsement of his opponent an illustration of ‘business as usual.’ Judy Baar Topinka was the only Republican endorsed by AFSCME which has also backed others in the past such as former governor Rod Blagojevich and Alexi Giannoulias. This election season they are backing only Democrats and Judy Baar Topinka.
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Topinka’s Union Endorsement is ‘Business As Usual’”
8th District Race: Joe Walsh Rally Dec. 17
If you have ‘HAD ENOUGH’ with the direction our country is heading, please join me for a WALSH CHRISTMAS RALLY!
Together we can plan the next 6 weeks to win on February 2nd to take the challenge to Melissa Bean in November 2010.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Hackney’s Restaurant
880 N. Old Rand Rd.
Lake Zurich, Il
5:30P to 9:00P
Joe Walsh to speak at 6:30PM
(Free soft drinks & munchies, cash bar for beer/liquor)
This is an Open House event. Bring family, friends, neighbors who have ‘Had Enough’. Come join ‘Boots on the Ground’ to volunteer for the next 6 weeks and election day.
Together we become a Winning Team!
Champions Endorse Jim Dodge for Comptroller, With Kelly Shocker
-By Warner Todd Huston
The folks at ChampionNews.net have endorsed Jim Dodge for Illinois Comptroller. And they aren’t shy about saying what they think of the other two candidates, William Kelly and Judy Baar Topinka, either: they’re “clowns.”
ChampionNews.net is a conservative organization out of Chicago run by long-time area conservative Jack Roeser. Roeser ran for Gov. as an outsider Republican and got 26% of the vote in 1994. That was amazing considering the lock on power the good old boy GOP network had back in those days (and still does). Today Roeser is a businessman employing over 500 employees and a conservative activist. Additionally, the ChampionNews folks have a Sunday morning radio show on Chicago’s WIND AM 560 radio from 8AM to 9AM.
The folks at CN.Net have confidently endorsed Jim Dodge for Comptroller saying he is the “only credible and corruption free candidate.” But their endorsement of Dodge is more an indictment of William Kelly and Judy Baar Topinka. In the posting headlined “The race for Illinois Comptroller: Candidate vetting for dummies,” they pulverize Mr. Kelly’s campaign. They promise to do the same to Topinka in a future posting.
The folks at CN.Net are plainly not fans of Mr. Kelly’s TV work calling the shows “inane” and they say that his past radio work was “the radio version of a train wreck.” They paint Kelly as an “unserious person running for a very serious office.” But all that isn’t want is interesting to me in their piece, really. No what is interesting is this:
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Champions Endorse Jim Dodge for Comptroller, With Kelly Shocker”
TAPROOT: Christmas Candidate Forum
-By Warner Todd Huston
Tonight I attended the TAPROOT Christmas event and listened to 15 Republican state-wide and DuPage County candidates all of whom came to address those gathered at the Hilton in Lisle to hear them speak. From Gubernatorial candidates, Senate candidates, judges and local county folks to… is it right to say Lt. Gubernatorial candidates? If so, it sounds odd… anyway, it was a whirlwind session of candidates and a good time was had by all.
If it could be said that there was a theme of the day then it had to be jobs and the economy. Every candidate had something to say about the subject that weighs so heavily on all of us.
15 candidates is a lot of folks to hear from and each got about 5 or 10 minutes to lay out their case and then a few minutes for questions. We were pleased to hear from two candidates for governor and there were quite a lot of candidates for Lt. Governor, as well, three in all. Three Senate candidates appeared, two Comptroller candidates, one Sec. of State candidate, one Congressional candidate, two judges and a DuPage County commission candidate.
Appearing in order were:
- Jason Plummer, candidate for Lt. Governor (www.jasonplummer.com)
- Dan Proft, candidate for Governor (www.proft2010.com)
- Jim Dodge, candidate for Comptroller (jimdodge2010.com)
- Kirk Dillard, candidate for Governor (www.dillardforgovernor.com)
- John Arrington, candidate for Senate (www.arringtonforsenate.com)
- Andy Martin, candidate for Senate (www.andyforussenator.com)
- Patrick Hughes, candidate for Senate (www.patrickhughesforsenate.com)
- Robert Enriquez, candidate for Secretary of State (www.ilstatesec.com)
- William Kelly, candidate for Comptroller (www.friendsofwilliamjkelly.com)
- Randy Hultgren, candidate for Congress, 14th District (hultgrenforcongress.com)
- Don Tracy, candidate for Lt. Governor (www.tracyforillinois.com)
- Randy White, candidate for Lt. Governor (www.randy4ltgov.com)
- Debra Olson, candidate for DuPage County Board Chairman (www.debfordupage.com)
- Ann Jorgensen, candidate for Appellate Judge, 2nd District (www.annjorgensen.com)
- Brian McKillip, candidate for Circuit Judge (www.judgemckillip2010.com)
I know, phew!
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TAPROOT: Christmas Candidate Forum”
Rauschie Beats Challenge
-By Warner Todd Huston
Former State Senator, long-time Republican operative, and member of the famed “fab five” cadre of conservative State Senators of 1990s vintage, Steve Rauschenberger is officially “allowed” to be a Republican.
The Illinois State Board of Elections has announced that it has thrown out the objections of Rauschie challenger Noland (D) who was trying to get him thrown off the ballot. Thankfully, here’s the last time I have to explain this idiotic challenge…
This from my previous post on the subject:
As it happens, Rauschie pulled a Democrat ballot last election in order to help elect his sister win an Elgin Council seat. This, say the local Dems, means that he is no longer a Republican. As idiotic as this challenge seems, it has a stupid precedent created by the moron Illinois GOP itself that launched a similar challenge, and won, against a Democrat in the past. (And this is but more proof that the petty petition situation in this state is bad for everyone)
Fortunately, the ISBE realized how downright stupid this particular challenge was. After all, Steve Rauschenberger has a 20-year record as an active and respected GOP lawmaker and pulled one… I say again, ONE… Democrat ballot out of familial love to help his sister (that’ll teach ‘im).
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Rauschie Beats Challenge”
Lt. Gov. Race: Cook Earns Nat’l Taxpayers United of Ill. Endorsement
From the Dennis Cook campaign:
(Orland Park, IL ) – Lowering taxes is something Republican Lt. Governor candidate Dennis Cook is committed to, and this promise has earned him an endorsement from Tax Accountability.
“In recognition of your exceptional desire to fight taxes and support economic growth, Tax Accountability endorses you for the Feb. 2, 2010 primary election,” the political action arm of National Taxpayers United of Illinois (NTUI) said in its endorsement.
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Lt. Gov. Race: Cook Earns Nat’l Taxpayers United of Ill. Endorsement”
Senate Race: Hughes Got in Over Kirk’s Cap and Trade Vote
-By Warner Todd Huston
Conservative Senate candidate Patrick Hughes told the Daily Herald that he wasn’t even interested in throwing his hat in the ring of the junior Illinois Senate seat until Mark Kirk voted for one of the most destructive tax plans in American history with his yes vote on Cap and Trade.
“I had no interest in this race. I hadn’t considered running … then Mark Kirk voted for cap-and-trade,” said Hughes, a Hinsdale real estate developer.
Hughes is right to be concerned. Kirk is running around the state telling people he wants to build a “center right” coalition. The problem with his plan is that the person at the center of that coalition, Kirk himself, is center left NOT center right!
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Senate Race: Hughes Got in Over Kirk’s Cap and Trade Vote”
Publius Forum at Lucky 13 on Illinois Top Blogs
-By Warner Todd Huston
It’s the end of the year and that means LISTS! Over at Illinois Observer, David Ormsby has assembled the rankings of the top 50 Illinois websites and Publius Forum shows up at number 13 on that list.
Seeing as how we few, we unlucky few conservatives in Illinois live in a bloo, bloo state, it is not surprising that most of the sites are lib sites. But there are some great conservative sites represented in the list, as well.
Here are the conservative/libertarian blogs as they appear ranked (the number to the right is the Alexia ranking):
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Publius Forum at Lucky 13 on Illinois Top Blogs”