Posts Tagged ‘Congress’
Friday, March 14th, 2008
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. But not all is lost. Schock’s campaign is so itent on making a case that his huge campaign warchest makes him invulnerable to challengers, the site links to a Springfield State Journal-Register article about how Callahan has to play catch-up in the cash-raising biz.
The problem (for Schock) is that this article didn’t just talk about cash. The article humanized Callahan by introducing people to members of her family. I imagine not many people knew that her daughter, Brittney Burns, is a top-notch lawyer with tons of experience fighting crime and working with the legislature. Sounds to me like she’s be a huge asset to her mom if she gets elected to Congress.
The message seems to be that Schock is the front runner ’cause he has a ton of cash, while Callahan has her smart and politically talented family on her side.
Were I operating her site, I’d be sure to link to the same article.
Tags: 18th District, Aaron Schock, Brittney Burns, Colleen Callahan, Congress
Posted in Statehouse & Capitol | Comments Off
Friday, March 14th, 2008
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 “Callahan for Congress” decal, complete with a red-white-and-blue Democratic donkey. With a red slash drawn through it. Like in “Democrats prohibited.”
Like I said, PROBABLY not the site of someone who is running as a Democrat.
There’s a debate going on in the comments section of this post. Someone accused the Aaron Schock camp of creating the site. One of my readers posted the WHOIS information for callahanforcongress.com stating that the owner of the site is John Callahan of State College, PA.
I did a Google search. There is a John Callahan with that telephone number. But there’s no news articles anywhere about a guy with that name from that city who’s running or thinking of running for Congress.
The mayor of Bethlehem, PA, is also named John Callahan. He might conceivably be interested in running for Congress, but one would think he would have an address in Bethlehem. And as a Democrat, I doubt he’d post a pic of anyone wearing a slashed-out Democratic Party symbol.
The site was registered on Jan. 17. I and other media broke the story that she was running on Jan. 24, but it was common knowledge amongst the political illuminati for a some time before then. So it’c conceivable someone in the Schock campaign or someone who wanted to help decided to throw together a placeholder Web site in a dastardly plot to deny Colleen a simple and easy-to-remember domain name for her campaign. And with the fast financial resources at their disposal, they found some dude in State College to be their willing thrall.
Yeah. It’s possible. Seems an awful lot of trouble to go through when colleenforcongress.com is still available. As is vote4callahan.com.
A quick phone call tomorrow will clear up the confusion. I hope. “Cause I don’t want to spend the next eight months debating silly crap like this.
UPDATE: Left a voicemail message at 11 a.m.
UPDATE: Courtesy of Dave Dahl, I now have two links for Colleen Callahan campaign: Citizens for Callahan and Colleen Callahan for Congress. I’ll look ‘em over and pass judgment later today. It looks like the nefarious scheme to deprive her of a campaign website has failed
Tags: Aaron Schock, campaign, Colleen Callahan, Congress, John Callahan
Posted in Statehouse & Capitol | 17 Comments »
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008
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 20-county 18th District have two candidates in mind. Both are good candidates, he says.
One is, I assume, Judge Richard Grawey, who considered a run earlier, but decided against it, citing his family’s wishes. I suspect that word got out about Versace, whose money and celebrity pretty much frightened away several other possible contenders. He is said to be considering getting back in.
It is the other possible candidate who has my source all excited. This would-be candidate has connections in all 20 counties, but it not someone normally considered a politician, he says.
And no, I do NOT know who this person is. I have my suspicions.
I wouldn’t expect any decisison by the 18th District committee until after the Feb. 5 primary.
The 18th is considered safe for the Republicans. But remember that the Three Amigos spent the past three months ripping each other to shreds, exposing each others foibles and weeknesses, generating bad will amongst supporters, and using up financial resources. Meanwhile, the GOP hasn’t been able to do a lick of opposition reseach because there’s no candidate to research.
The Versace debacle may very well be a blessing in disguise for the Dems.
Tags: 18th District, Congress, Democrats, Richard Grawey
Posted in Statehouse & Capitol | 8 Comments »
Wednesday, December 26th, 2007
You know how Cindy Ardis-Jenkins is rumored to be holding Aaron Schock’s place in line? The theory goes that if Schock loses in the primary and someone else gets the Republican nod to run for U.S. Congress, then Ardis-Jenkins would drop out of the race for 92nd District seat in the Illinois House, freeing local Republican Party officials to pick someone else to run in the November general election. Presumably this other person would be Schock, who still holds the seat.
This assumes several things:
- Ardis-Jenkins might not want to drop out. Published rumors say she’s thinking of doing just that. She hasn’t yet. Yes, she works for Schock as his neighborhood liaison. But right now it’s HER name on the ballot. She may not want to quit the race after all.
- The GOP might not want Schock back. He ticked off a lot of donors and insiders by deciding to run for Congress instead of holding onto a seat in a state house district traditionally held by Democrats. They spent a lot of money to save that seat, and he decided instantly after Ray LaHood announced his retirement to toss it away to run for Congress. That left more than one GOPer convinced Schock is more concerned about what’s good for Aaron Schock than the rest of the GOP.
- He might not win re-election if he tried. Peoria likes its Republicans to be of the moderate persuasion. Schock previously took pains to present himself as such, but once he decided to leave the statehouse for Congress, he moved way to the right to compete with John Morris and Jim McConoughey. I’d imagine a lot of these moderate Republicans didn’t think much of Schock’s plan to ship nuclear missiles to China (and I imagine a few people who sit on Caterpillar’s board of directors aren’t exactly tickled pink that the guy who wants to be their Congressman wants to pick a fight with a major business partner).
I’m not the only one who thinks Schock might have a little trouble getting re-elected. Illinois blogger Will Reynolds interviewed the two Democratic candidates for the 92nd District seat in the Illinois House, Allen Mayer and Jehan Gordon:
My opinion, in contradiction to the current conventional wisdom, is that this race will be competitive even if Aaron Shock loses the Republican primary and runs for re-election to the House. West-central Illinois has a history of supporting moderate Republicans. After seeing his record in the General Assembly, and some of his statements during the Congressional campaign, voters may decide that Schock is too conservative for the district. He’ll have the same problem if he wins the nomination for US Congress.
The only recent evidence Schock is even the front-runner is a poll, the results of which are questionable. And if incumbent Ray LaHood ever endorses one of the other candidates, or if one of them drops out and endorses the other, then Schock is in the race of his life.
Ironic, isn’t it? Schock’s campaign seems focused on convincing everybody that he’s inevitable. But the only thing that seems inevitable is a GOP victory in the 18th District, no matter who the Democrats can find to run now that Dick Versace dropped out.
Tags: 18th District, 92nd District, Aaron Schock, Allen Mayer, Congress, Jehan Gordon, Will Reynolds
Posted in Statehouse & Capitol | 11 Comments »
Friday, December 7th, 2007
Welcome to the Nanny State:
The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a bill saying that anyone offering an open Wi-Fi connection to the public must report illegal images including “obscene” cartoons and drawings–or face fines of up to $300,000.
That broad definition would cover individuals, coffee shops, libraries, hotels, and even some government agencies that provide Wi-Fi. It also sweeps in social-networking sites, domain name registrars, Internet service providers, and e-mail service providers such as Hotmail and Gmail, and it may require that the complete contents of the user’s account be retained for subsequent police inspection.
Hell, why not just require Ma Bell to record ALL our telephone conversations, just in case. Better yet, have the Post Office make copies of all the letters and periodicals we receive. Sure it’s intrusive, a violation of the Constitution and exactly the same short of crap Stalin did, but for God’s sake, won’t SOMEONE think of the CHILDREN!
Wednesday’s vote caught Internet companies by surprise: the Democratic leadership rushed the SAFE Act to the floor under a procedure that’s supposed to be reserved for noncontroversial legislation. It was introduced October 10, but has never received even one hearing or committee vote. In addition, the legislation approved this week has changed substantially since the earlier version and was not available for public review.
The “Securing Adolescents From Exploitation [SAFE] Online Act passed the House by a 409 to 2 vote.
So, if you have a hankering to look at the latest picture of some popstar who forgot her panties, be sure you don’t do it at Starbucks. ‘Cause from now on (well, assuming this bill gets through the Senate in it’s present form and is signed by the president) someone from Starbucks is going to be forced to monitor your Internet usage and report you to the Feds is you do anything naughty.
Of course, the bill is unworkable.
But who among this herd of sheep had the testicular fortitude to vote against something endorsed by America’s Most Wanted host John Walsh? None other than Ron Paul of Texas, as well as Paul Broun from Georgia. Both are Republicans.
One of them is running for president.
Tags: censorship, Congress, Internet, porn
Posted in The Wire | 13 Comments »
Saturday, November 24th, 2007
From my inbox:
A 12 page, 4 color tabloid hit GOP mail boxs this week with the Headline: “Schock to the System Just What Washington Needs.” The Tabloid was setup to look like a newspaper (Downstate Illinois Republican). Â Schock comes out like a Marvel Comic Super Hero with help from his friends former Gov. Big Jim Thompson and Gov Little Jim Edgar joined by a gaggle of other local politicos.
Tags: 18th District, Aaron Schock, Congress
Posted in Statehouse & Capitol | 8 Comments »
Monday, November 19th, 2007
A press release from the John Morris campaign:
MORRIS PLEDGES TO FIGHT AGAINST TAX INCREASES
SIGNS THE AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM “TAXPAYER PROTECTION PLEDGE”
Peoria, IL | November 19, 2007
Republican John Morris, candidate for the 18th District Congressional seat, signed the Tax Payer Protection Pledge today. He is the only candidate in the race to succeed retiring Congressman Ray LaHood to do so. “I want voters to know where I stand on the issue of taxes,” Morris said. “I will fight against all efforts to raise tax rates on Central Illinois’ individuals and businesses.”
“More than pledging not to raise taxes, I will work in Congress to make the Bush tax cuts permanent,” Morris continued. “The way to grow our economy is by reducing the tax burden and allowing private enterprise to flourish.”
“My record on the City Council proves that I am a fighter for the taxpayers. I voted against every single property tax rate increase and won each time. I want to take my proven record of fighting for the taxpayers to Congress.”
“At a time in both Washington and Springfield where the rule seems to be, ‘punish taxpayers first and ask questions later,’ John Morris is stepping up to defend taxpayers,” said Greg Blankenship who holds regular meetings among center right activists from around Illinois and is President of the Illinois Policy Institute. “The taxpayer protection pledge is a critically important tool to both let voters know what principles a candidate stands for and a tool for lawmakers that promotes reform over higher taxes. I urge all candidates in both parties to take the taxpayer protection pledge.”
John Morris, 39, is a conservative Republican running for United State Congress (IL-18) to succeed Ray LaHood. Morris has more than twenty years of achievements as an energetic and visionary leader for Central Illinois. Elected in 1999, he became a leading voice of conservative policymaking as a Peoria City Councilman At-Large. In his eight years on the City Council, Morris was a leader in the stopping tax increases on hard working families and reducing government waste. Morris is strongly pro-life, supports 2nd amendment rights, and believes in stopping illegal immigration.
For the last ten years, John Morris has overseen private fund-raising as vice president for development for WTVP-TV. Born and raised in Central Illinois, he holds a B.A. and a master’s degree in public administration from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He and his wife Cindy raise their son Jordan and daughter Taylor in Peoria.
Tags: 18th District, Congress, John Morris, taxs
Posted in Overset | 4 Comments »
Sunday, November 18th, 2007
There are 1,871 words in this “day in the life” of the candidate’s piece, and by the time it’s over, readers have learned not one damn thing about where Aaron Schock, Jim McConoughey, John Morris or Dick Versace stand on ANY issue. And what’s even sadder is that even after all these words, readers really don’t know all that much more about the candidates as a person. Except, for one thing: That part about how Morris gleefully passed out business cards to Irving Middle School 4th graders. That’s classic John Morris glad-handing. No one works a room like Morris. And who’s to say that he isn’t going to get one or two votes from these kids’ parents?
This piece is a classic example of coverage of the horse race, and not the issues on which the candidates are running. And I absoloutely guarantee readers that when these four people go out and meet the public, they are getting questions about the issues, and the candidates are answering. But almost none of that stuff makes it past the MSM filter, which seems more interested in who’s winning and how the game is being played.
Tags: 18th District, Aaron Schock, Congress, Dick Versace, Jim McConoughey, John Morris, Karen McDonald
Posted in Statehouse & Capitol | 5 Comments »
Tuesday, November 13th, 2007
First, he said it. Then he defended saying it, adding that opponents who disagreed weren’t being tough enough on terrorism. Then he said he plan was being misinterpreted. Then today, he gave up. Aaron Schock held a press conference (I wasn’t invited) and admitted he was wrong to propose selling nuclear weapons to Taiwan as a way to pressure communist China to stop helping Iran develop nuclear weapons:
The Congressional candidate said he “overstated the remedy with regard to telling China we would sell Taiwan nuclear weapons if China continued to stall on voting for the third set of sanctions on Iran as the time for Iran producing nuclear weapons gets closer and closer.â€
[snip]
Schock’s comments follow intense scrutiny he’s received the past few days from his opponents and the press following published reports [in Springfield, not Schock's hometown newspaper] of his plan to sell nuclear missiles to Taiwan for their defense.
“… When I make a mistake, I’m going to be mature enough to explain it and come forward and say that … but that doesn’t mean that Iran is not a threat, that doesn’t mean that China is not the entity stopping us from a third set of sanctions, that’s not to mean that we shouldn’t find a way to encourage China to come along with those economic sanctions,†Schock said.
Why change his stance if it was as well thought out as he said it was. Answer: Because it made him look like someone who was spouting off, not like a leader you can trust to make rational mature decisions.
There’s no byline on this article. There’s also no quotes from any of his opponents in the GOP primary to get their reaction. One assumes that by the time this appears in tomorrow’s newspaper someone from the PJS (or perhaps the Springfield Journal-Register, will give them a call).
UPDATE: Fixed the link. People, you need to tell me these things.
Tags: Aaron Schock, Congress, nukes, Taiwan
Posted in Statehouse & Capitol | 4 Comments »
Sunday, November 11th, 2007
State Journal Register political reporter Bernie Schoenburg managed to wrangle a quote or two from State Rep. Aaron Schock about his vote in May against requiring five state pension funds to divest from companies doing business with Iran’s energy industry, the profits of which are being used to fund that nation’s research into nuclear weapons.
I found Schock’s vote — he was one of just 20 in the state house who opposed it — to be a little odd considering he proposed threatening to sell nuclear arms to China (a violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which experts say would probably cause a shooting war) in order to get China to stop supporting Iran’s nuke program.
Schock told Schoenburg that the didn’t want to place restrictions on the funds’ managers that would prohibit them from making wise business decisions, and that previous bill banning investments in the Sudan caused them to have to unload some pretty good investments.
Still, if the managers of these funds were upset at the Iran divestiture, I not aware of any reporting on that fact, and I looked for it.
The best line came from commenter Louis Howe: “Candidate Schock is having a John Kerry moment … He voted against economic sanctions for Iran before he supported selling nuclear weapons to Taiwan.”
My two cents: I agree with a different commenter’s point: Voters have GOT to pay attention to what the candidates are saying about issues of global importance. This isn’t a race for the county board or the statehouse. The winner of the race to replace Ray LaHood in Congress will have a say on issues of war and peace that affect the entire world. Too often, candidates use foreign policy issues to toss red meat to their particular constituents. Unilateral and immediate withdrawal from Iraq might play well with some, while advocating an a radical and potentially violent solution to the Iran nuke issue might play well with others, neither position is best for the United States in the long run.
Schoenburg’s column also mentions PeoriaPundit. Thank you.
UPDATE: Rich Miller looked it up and found out that Schock voted FOR the Sudan divestment bill. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” Trouble is, Ralph never defined which consistencies were foolish, and which ones were wise.
Tags: Aaron Schock, China, Congress, nukes, Taiwan
Posted in Overset | Comments Off
Thursday, November 8th, 2007
Rumor has it that Archpundit has a copy of the statement former B.U. coach and Democratic candidate for Congress Dick Versace made today about the Schock bombshell. But Archpundit’s site is down at the moment. And the Versace campaign apparently doesn’t have me on their mailing list, even through I’ve asked twice and actually signed up at their campaign kickoff.
The site is up and here is the single quote from Versace:
“I’ve traveled across this great district on the Common Sense Express and I’ve heard what’s important to people in this community. Dishing out nuclear weapons to foreign places like Taiwan wasn’t mentioned. After eight years of reckless foreign policies coming from Washington, the last thing we need is another career politician who is willing to make dangerous proposals like this one without first considering the consequences.â€
Tags: Aaron Schocl, Congress, Dick Versace, nukes, Taiwan
Posted in Statehouse & Capitol | 2 Comments »
Thursday, October 25th, 2007
This is the press release I received from the Jim McConoughey campaign:
McConoughey Releases Rural Initiative Plan on ‘Good Harvest Tour’
Peoria, IL – As the only 18th District Congressional candidate with a farming background, Jim McConoughey intends to be a strong advocate for rural issues when elected to Congress. Starting outside the State Fairgrounds in Springfield today, McConoughey took his ‘Good Harvest Tour’ to three 18th District communities. Other stops included Bunte Truck Service near Payson and Pekin’s Riverfront Park where he discussed his Rural Initiatives plan.
“Agriculture is critical to our economy here in the 18th District,” said McConoughey. “Global corporations like Caterpillar and ADM are headquartered here, and our expansive district is rich with some of the country’s best farm land. As a boy growing up on a farm coupled with my background in helping Midwestern cities and communities with economic development, I have gained a lot of knowledge and expertise in addressing the needs of rural America and maximizing the resources available to us through the Federal government.”
McConoughey has released a ‘Rural Initiatives Plan’ which will be his focus if elected to serve the 18th District in Congress.
I. Agriculture
a. Seek out a seat on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee
b. Ensure open markets overseas through support of free trade agreements
c. Work vigorously to end the ‘Death Tax’
d. Enlist District-based Agriculture Advisory Committee to meet regularly
II. Energy
a. Continue to promote existing alternative energy sources; ethanol, bio-diesel, wind power, solar power
b. Work to fund research for new, green energy sources
III. Transportation and Infrastructure Improvement
a. Push for implementation of WRDA, the Federal river transportation revitalization program
b. Work with communities on developing new roads and rebuilding those that are aging
IV. High Speed Internet Access
a. Work to facilitate affordable, reliable high speed Internet access to all communities
b. Work with smaller communities on establishing common wireless signals for all rural broadband initiatives through Wi-Fi and WiMax
V. Job Creation, Economic Development
a. Appoint an Economic Development Director to the Congressional staff
b. Conduct mini-seminars on Economic Development in each county
c. Advocate on behalf of District to attract potential employers
VI. Rural Quality of Life
a. Protect sportsmen’s, gun owner’s 2nd Amendment rights
b. Maintain healthy, viable environments for outdoor sporting activities
“The voters in this District have indicated that they are looking for a Congressman with integrity, experience and leadership – to help them protect their quality of life, realize their communities’ potential and establish the necessary infrastructures to progress into the future,” said McConoughey. “When I am out listening to voters, they tell me that my agricultural background, proven leadership and experience in building communities is what they need in a Congressman. That is why I am traveling the District today on the Good Harvest Tour – I want people to know that I understand the needs of rural America and want to continue the tradition of excellence in the 18th District.”
Jim McConoughey, a Peoria Republican, is the President of the Heartland Partnership in Peoria – the umbrella organization for the Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Commission and the Port Authority, among other agencies. Jim has 26 years of experience working in business, job creation and economic development. Jim and Gina, his wife of 18 years have two children.
Tags: 18th District, Congress, Jim McConoughey
Posted in Statehouse & Capitol | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007
A “news advisory” from the Jim McConoughey for Congress campaign:
Jim McConoughey, a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 18th Congressional District, will be holding a series of News Conferences on Wednesday (October 24, 2007). McConoughey will be discussing his Rural Initiatives on which he will focus if he is elected to fill the seat that Congressman Ray LaHood is vacating. McConoughey’s visit on Rural Initiatives is called the ‘Good Harvest Tour.’ The scheduled of visits is as follows:
8:45 a.m. Sangamon County Republican Party Headquarters
1132 East Sangamon
Springfield, IL 62702
11:00 a.m. Bunte Truck Service
523 Highway 96 South (1 mile outside Payson)
Payson, IL 62360
(217) 656 3835
*News Conference in Bunte parking lot
3:00 p.m. Pekin Riverfront Park
At the foot of Court Street and the Illinois River (near intersection of Front and Court)
Pekin, Illinois
I won’t be able to attend any of them, unfortunately, thanks to my “real” job. It would be nice to write about issues, rather than the horse race, for a change. Perhaps there will be a press release coming out that I could print and comment upon.
Tags: 18th District, Congress, Jim McConoughey, Ray LaHood, springfield
Posted in Statehouse & Capitol | Comments Off
Friday, October 19th, 2007
Fooled me. I thought it was going to be a run-of-the-mill official campaign kickoff.
Turned out Aaron Schock wanted to show off his new acquisitions: Endorsement from some relatively minor Tazewell and Woodford county politicians, including one Democrat. Schock certainly seems to believe racking up a string of endorsements helps his campaign. But why are these guys endorsing him? Probably for the same reason the PACs are pumping money into Schock’s campaign — he’s the perceived front runner, which can be a self-fulfilling prophesy in a primary election.
I can’t help but feel that endorsements from all these county party chairs, city council members and county board members mean nothing if Ray LaHood – one of the most electorally popular politicians in central Illinois — decided to, for whatever reason, come out for John Morris or Jim McConoughey. Forget how much Schock has raised to date compared to his opponents. To put it crudely, LaHood could pick up the phone and put in a few good words and the spigot opens up.
Perhaps LaHood might decide that one particular candidate among the three vying for his job might help or hurt — or whatever reason — his son’s candidacy for Peoria County State’s Attorney.
Also, the Journal Star has a breaking news story about Schock’s announcement, and several of the comments mention the problems some people in Woodford County had with Jim McConoughey and the Heartland Partnership.
Tags: 18th District, Aaron Schock, Congress, Jim McConoughey, John Morris, Ray LaHood
Posted in Statehouse & Capitol | 5 Comments »
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Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates