This is the conclusion of blogger Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way, who chides the Peoria media for ignoring business ties of the woman who wants to be the Democrats’ choice to challenge Aaron Schock:
A glaring gap in that press coverage needs to be filled. Democratic candidate Deirdre “DK” Hirner was, until recently,...
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Posts Tagged ‘ 18th District ’
Is DK Hirner a tool of polluters and the Chamber of Commerce?
Candidate Ray liked Obama health care speech
Carl Ray, who is running for the Democratic nomination for Congress in the 18th District, was interviewed on WGLT this morning. The mp3 file is here. I heard part of it on the way to work today. He had a lot to say about health care, as well as Congressman Aaron Schock’s voting record...
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Carl Ray to kick off 18th District Congressional race on Monday
From my inbox:
Press Release – For immediate release
August 21, 2009
Democrat Carl Ray to Officially Kick-off Campaign for the 18th Congressional District of Illinois
When: Monday, August 24, 2009
Where: Two locations and times -
1. 10 a.m., Five Points Washington, 360 N. Wilmor Rd., Washington, IL 61571
2. 2 p.m., Springfield Public Library (Carnegie...
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Politics: The word on Callahan’s chances is better than we are being led to believe
C.J. Summers beat me to the punch by commenting on Monday’s Word on the Street column. Karen McDonald points out that the national Democratic Party has not been as forthcoming with financial support to Colleen Callahan as many would like. This is nothing new, in my opinion. As long as I’ve been cognizant of...
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Politics: Bringing the pork home to the Land of Lincoln
A press release from U.S. Rep Ray LaHood’s office, via the Illinois Channel:
WASHINGTON, DC (April 30)—By a vote of 291-117, the U.S. House last night approved legislation authored by Congressman Ray LaHood (R-Peoria) which would establish the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area in Illinois. LaHood represents the same 11 counties which Abraham Lincoln...
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Politics: LaHood removes what little doubt remains about Schock endorsement
Is it really big news that Republican politicians (or those hoping to run for office again in he future) have endorsed GOP wünderkind Aaron Schock? Current 18th District Congressman Ray LaHood attended a press conference to officially endorse Schock, as did LaHood’s predecessor, Bob Michel. Also tossing their support to Schock were John Morris...
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Politics: Schock gets endorsements
I just received the following email:
AARON SCHOCK FOR CONGRESS
18th District Republicans are unified
(PEORIA) Former 18th District Congressman and House Republican Leader Bob Michel will be in Peoria and Springfield on Friday and Saturday campaigning for Representative Aaron Schock with Congressman Ray LaHood.
Mr. Michel and Congressman LaHood will join Schock at a news conference on...
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Politics: The pressure is growing for futile, self-defeating solutions to high gas prices
Many moons ago, I created a post called “Peoria Pundit’s list of almost-always true observations.” I add observations as I go through life and, well, observe them. My second original observation was this:
2. Rich people don’t pay taxes. Working-class people pay taxes. Rich people pass along the costs through lower wages, poorer service and...
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Politics: Schock, Callahan have a new opponent in the 18th District race
Via the State Journal-Register:
Admittedly running against “great odds,†Green Party candidate Sheldon Schafer is entering the race to replace U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Peoria.
Schafer, 59, of Peoria and a political novice, hopes to offer a different choice at the ballot box in November and advance the beliefs of the Green Party, which was established...
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Politcs: Schock’s site lends a hand to Callahan
I looked over Colleen Callahan’s official web site, and I have to say that, so far, it lacks real content. Except for providing readers with some contact information and a way to donate, there’s not a lot there.
In other words, Aaron Schock’s site has Colleen’s beat all to Hell. Sorry. Maybe that will change....
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Politics: And we’re off and running in the 18th
The GOP won’t be able to pretend that Aaron Schock doesn’t have an opponent in the November general election. The party chairman of the counties within the 18th Congressional district met Thursday and selected broadcaster Colleen Callahan as the party’ nominee.
Her biggest challenge, as I see it, is fund raising. She got off to...
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Politics: What? Isn’t the 18th District important to the national Dems?
The Chicago Tribune blog Clout Street says the national Democratic Party are targeting three Congressional districts now held by the GOP. The 18th District is not one of those listed.
That’s surprising. The district seems ripe for turnover. The incumbent is retiring, and the presumptive nominee (pending approval by the county chairs) would seem to...
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Politics: New perspective on Schock’s link to NRCC scandal
A GOP friend with experience helping run a Congressional campaign doubts very much that the Aaron Schock 18th District campaign — or any Congressional candidate — benefited from any of the financial irregularities being investigated at the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Last week, the Schock campaign (as well as other candidates) fired its campaign treasurer...
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Politics: Is NRCC a victim, or guilty of spinning the news?
A friend of the Republican persuasion sent me the following:
Statement From NRCC Chairman Tom Cole
“As part of our ongoing efforts to institute and strengthen financial controls at the National Republican Congressional Committee, we learned earlier this week of irregularities in our financial audit process. Since these irregularities may include fraud, we have notified appropriate...
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Politics: Plausible deniability in the Schock campaign?
I’m trying to not be incredulous here. I suppose it’s possible. It just seems damn reckless to me. But Aaron Schock’s campaign manager Steve Shearer tells the State Journal-Register’s Bernie Schoenburg that he’s never met the man they hired as campaign treasurer. This is the same guy who is considered a central figure...
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Peoria Pundit Radio: Talking points for today’s program (CANCELED)
UPDATE: After 10 minutes of a message telling me that”no web audio servers are available,” I gave up. I wish BlogTalkRadio the best. I didn’t even know if I was on the air or not. Apparently, they will need it.
NOTE: I’m going on the air in 40 minutes.
I’ve been a little under the weather,...
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Politics: Callahan has politics in her blood
The Daily Journal from Kankakee has an excellent profile of Colleen Callahan, who’s put in the ring for the Democratic nomination to run against Aaron Schock for 18th District representative. Turns out her family has a long history of high-level, albeit behind-the-scenes involvement in Democratic Party politics. It turns out that Judge Richard Grawey...
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Politics: Colleen Callahan Burns in the hopper for 18th District (UPDATED)
Colleen Callahan Burns — whose voice is a staple on local television and radio through her agriculture commentary and reporting — confirmed to me this morning that the Democratic Party is considering her as their candidate for the 18th District seat in Congress.
“I was asked to consider it by people in the district,” she...
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Politics: Dems picking a winner in 18th District race?
I chatted informally with someone close to Democratic Party leaders yesterday. This person says the Dems cannot be counted out of the race, even though they have yet to find anyone to run since former Bradley University head baskatball coach Dick Versace bowed out of the race. This source says party chairs in the...
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Politics: McConoughey hears from vets
From a press release:
McConoughey Listens to Veterans Concerns in East Peoria
East Peoria, IL — Saying that he wants to hear first-hand the issues and concerns of area veterans, 18th Congressional District candidate Jim McConoughey met with Veterans from Central Illinois to simply “listen and learn.”
“While I believe that my 26 years of business and...
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