Posts Tagged ‘ Colleen Callahan ’

Gasp! OMG, politics may have played a role in naming a political appointee!

July 6, 2009
By Billy Dennis

Sometimes, the Peoria Journal Star goes out of its way to make themselves sound like hicks. Consider this passage from today’s Word on the Street: There is no question that she’s qualified: an award-winning, long-time farm broadcaster who also has a communications firm, Callahan remains active in animal agriculture. Would she otherwise have landed the...
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Posted in Media | 5 Comments »

Politics: The word on Callahan’s chances is better than we are being led to believe

July 28, 2008
By Billy Dennis

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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Posted in Misc | 4 Comments »

Politics: Big turnout for the Callahan fundraiser

July 26, 2008
By Billy Dennis

Colleen Callahan’s fish fry was a huge success. I had to leave at about 6 p.m., before I really wanted to. But the basement of the Kickapoo Sportsman’s Club was getting too crowded and a little too warm to be comfortable. It was a hard to get out, though, because of the huge, honking line...
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Posted in Politics | 26 Comments »

Politics: George Bush is priceless … away from the pesky media

July 25, 2008
By Billy Dennis

This is the Los Angeles Times take on Bush’s visit to Peoria: For the first time in 14 years, George W. Bush’s name is not on the ballot. Not in Texas. Not anywhere in the United States. And, given President Bush’ low approval ratings, Republican John McCain might be forgiven if he hopes the president will...
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Posted in Politics | 25 Comments »

Politics: LaHood removes what little doubt remains about Schock endorsement

April 26, 2008
By Billy Dennis
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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Posted in Politics | 3 Comments »

Politics: Schock gets endorsements

April 24, 2008
By Billy Dennis

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

April 19, 2008
By Billy Dennis

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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Posted in Politics | 8 Comments »

Politics: Schock thinks he’s a playa’

April 7, 2008
By Billy Dennis

From CQ Politics, a report that Aaron Schock is setting up a fund to pump money into other Congressional candidates campaign war chests: It is hardly unusual for members of Congress to set up leadership PACs. These fundraising vehicles, which collect money from donors and mete it out to other candidates of the same party,...
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Posted in Politics | 10 Comments »

Politics: Schock, Callahan have a new opponent in the 18th District race

March 26, 2008
By Billy Dennis

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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Posted in Politics | 5 Comments »

Today’s News: No surprises

March 20, 2008
By Billy Dennis

Links via the Journal Star: To the surprise of no one, OSF Health Plans has been old. The new owner will be Humana Inc. This sale was mentioned back when the city was deciding who employees’ health care provider would be. The decision to pick OSF over rival Methodist saved the city millions of dollars....
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Posted in Local | 4 Comments »

Politcs: Schock’s site lends a hand to Callahan

March 14, 2008
By Billy Dennis

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: Dirty tricks on the Web from the Schock campaign? Kinda doubt it … (UPDATED 2x)

March 14, 2008
By Billy Dennis

Does Colleen Callahan have a campaign Website yet? Anyone who’s looking for one might stumble across this one: CallahanforCongress.com. Methinks it’s NOT her site. Except for the disclaimer “Copyright. Callahanforcongress. All rights reserved” and a link to GoDaddy.com, the only content is a picture of a cute little girl (emma.jpg) wearing a shirt with a...
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Posted in Politics | 17 Comments »

Politics: Despite the headline, Schock’s dad the victim of a scam, not a perpetrator

March 12, 2008
By Billy Dennis

The headline above Bernie Schoenburg’s article reads “Schock’s dad linked to alleged scheme.” The subhead is a bit more clear and a lot less accusatory in tone: “Filing lists him as customer of those charged with tax fraud conspiracy.” Here’s my problem with the use of “linked” in headlines and lede paragraphs.* The average...
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Posted in Politics | 5 Comments »

Media: Peoria Pundit keeps popping up everywhere (UPDATED)

March 11, 2008
By Billy Dennis

Frequent commenter Shaun Bill sent me the following e-mail: Hey Bill – FYI I will be on the Doc & Kotter show on 96.5 ESPN between 5 and 7pm tomorrow, March 12. I will be talking about my recent hockey road trip. Kudos to Shaun. If I cared about hockey, I might listen. Heh. Just kidding. I...
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Posted in Misc | 4 Comments »

Media: Tune into WCBU this morning

March 10, 2008
By Billy Dennis

I did a quicky with Jonathan Ahl tonight. And by that I mean a two-minute telephone interview about Colleen Callahan’s chances of defeating Aaron Schock. I don’t think any regular reader will be surprised by my assessment. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to tune in and listen.
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Posted in Misc | 2 Comments »

Today’s news: Been there, done that, and somehow survived

March 10, 2008
By Billy Dennis

Unless noted, all links are from the Peoria Journal Star: I attended Woodruff High School, and walked up and down Abington Street hill more times than I care to remember. And being a stupid teenager, we goofed around. It was quite common to playfully “shove” a friend off the sidewalk and onto the street as...
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Posted in Local | 9 Comments »

Politics: Will 18th District follow 14th’s lead and go to the Democrats?

March 9, 2008
By Billy Dennis

The answer: Maybe. But if it does, it won’t be for the same reasons. For those Peorians who don’t follow state politics (thanks in no small part to the local media’s general disinterest in the subject) were was some huge news Saturday. Democrat Bill Foster, a political unknown, defeated millionaire GOP foe Jim Oberweis in...
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Posted in Politics | 11 Comments »

Politics: And we’re off and running in the 18th

March 7, 2008
By Billy Dennis
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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Posted in Politics | 8 Comments »

Today’s news: Information overload

February 21, 2008
By Billy Dennis

More links from the Journal Star: State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons is talking about seeking the death penalty against the parents of the baby who died after not having been fed for eight days. I have no other comment to make abut this horrific case, other than we have seen him make similar statements prior to...
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Posted in Local | 13 Comments »

Politics: Callahan has politics in her blood

February 9, 2008
By Billy Dennis
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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Posted in Misc | 2 Comments »