Illinois

Patrick Murphy, Tammy Duckworth, Jim Graves, Wayne Powell, Rob Zerban, Christie Vilsack—Congressional Candidates Challenging Six Targeted Republicans In House Of Representatives!

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The Democratic Party not only hopes to keep Barack Obama in the Presidency, but also to elect a House of Representatives majority in November, and keep control of the US Senate.

Six Republicans are particularly being targeted for defeat in the House of Representatives, and were they all to be “retired”, the nation would be far better off!

So we have Patrick Murphy of Florida, challenging Allen West, who has called the Democrats Communists and Socialists and attacked Debbie Wasserman Schultz as not worthy of being treated as a lady!

So we have Joe Walsh of Illinois, challenged by Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran who lost both legs and one arm, and yet, Walsh thinks she does not deserve respect for her heroism; and he is also a bad parent, as he owes back child support payments over $125,000 to his former wife; and also constantly insults constituents at his public gatherings.

So we have Jim Graves challenging Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, who ran for President in 2012, and has been a total terror as a Tea Party activist, calling Democrats “UnAmerican” in their loyalty, and is constantly coming across as nutty and loony in all her public utterances in the past six years in Congress. She is now seen as in serious trouble, and Graves seems to have a good chance to defeat her and remove her from public life!

So we have Wayne Powell challenging House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in his Virginia district, and the opportunity to retire Cantor, who has worked to undermine Speaker John Boehner and has cooperated with the Tea Party Movement, and shown he has no principles other than his own ambitions, makes him an excellent target! His arrogance is a good reason to remove him from Congress,and end his chances of moving higher in House leadership!

So we have Rob Zerban, challenging Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney’s Vice Presidential running mate, and head of the House Budget Committee, in his Wisconsin district. The chance to defeat Ryan twice is just too good to pass up!

And we have Christie Vilsack, wife of the former Iowa Governor Tom VIlsack, who is now Secretary of Agriculture under President Obama, who is challenging long time Congressman Steve King, who has been one of the wackiest, craziest members of the Republican Congressional majority, serving for ten years in the House, and being one of the leaders of the Tea Party Movement over the past few years.

It would be a great day for sanity and reason if all, or some of these leading Republicans in the House of Representatives were kicked out of Congress! Giving campaign contributions to Murphy, Duckworth, Graves, Powell, Zerban, and Vilsack would be an excellent investment!

Five Major Targets Of Democrats In House Races: Allen West, Joe Walsh, Michele Bachmann, Steve King, And Paul Ryan!

Ronald 1 Comment

The battle for control of the next House of Representatives is in full swing, with the Democrats needing to win at least 25 seats to gain control, and therefore remove Speaker John Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor from their positions of power.

Among the Republicans who are on the hit list of most important to remove, are:

Allen West of Florida
Joe Walsh of Illinois
Michele Bachmann of Minnesota
Steve King of Iowa
Paul Ryan of Wisconsin

These five, all Tea Party supporters, and extremist in their views and voting patterns, are facing strong opposition, and it would be a contribution if some, or all, were removed from the halls of Congress!

They have all “distinguished” themselves in their outrageous statements and actions, and have embarrassed themselves and the institution of Congress by their behavior!

And of course, Paul Ryan is trying to become Vice President under Mitt Romney, and it would be great if he could be defeated for both that office and his Congressional seat, since he has done nothing for his district in Wisconsin, and instead gained infamy and financial support from billionaires and millionaires for his plan to gut Medicare and Medicaid, while promoting more tax cuts for the wealthy!

This election year would be a great opportunity to clean up some of the damage done by the election of new House members West and Walsh, and rid the House of longer term members Bachmann, King, and Ryan!

The Growing Bond Between Barack Obama And Bill And Hillary Clinton

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It is hard to believe that in 2007-2008, Barack Obama was involved in a heated “war” with Hillary and Bill Clinton, as Hillary sought the Democratic Presidential nomination, her husband became intimately involved, and bad words and thoughts and accusations reigned on a regular basis between the rivals.

But then, Barack Obama made the smartest move of his Presidency, selecting Hillary to be his Secretary of State, taking a page from Abraham Lincoln, who picked his leading rival in 1860, Senator William Seward of New York, to be his Secretary of State.

So a political leader from Illinois selected a political rival from New York in both circumstances, and now we can say that in both cases, it made a dramatic difference in the success of the Lincoln and Obama Presidencies!

Seward was massively important to Lincoln in the trials of the Civil War, in conducting diplomacy with Great Britain and France to keep them out of the Civil War.

Hillary Clinton has been very important as an equally loyal supporter of Barack Obama, sharing the burdens of foreign policy with the President, and becoming closer to him as a result.

And then last week, Bill Clinton, who seemed to hate Barack Obama in 2007-2008, made the most effective speech possible to help Barack Obama, at the Democratic National Convention, and now Obama has gained in every public opinion poll imaginable, and just as that occurs, the crisis in the Middle East has joined the President and Hillary together emotionally and physically as they have dealt with the crisis, and presided today over the return of the four victims to the United States in a dignified way.

Obama and Hillary Clinton are dealing together with the issues involved in the Middle East, as well as the irresponsible Republican Party opposition, in a very dignified and sophisticated manner.

The performance of Hillary Clinton makes her more than ever someone who must be considered for President in 2016, even though she professes weariness, and desire to retire from politics completely next year.

But if she changes her mind about running to succeed Obama, one has to wonder how Obama would deal with the obvious conflict that might result. That is, should Obama be loyal to her candidacy, or instead be loyal to his honorable, committed team mate, Vice President Joe Biden?

This may be the ultimate quandary for President Obama in 2015 and 2016, depending on events!

Tammy Duckworth: Heroic Veteran Who Should Be Elected To Congress To Replace Despicable, Disgraceful Congressman Joe Walsh Of Illinois!

Ronald 1 Comment

Tammy Duckworth, a candidate for a Congressional seat in Illinois, and war hero, who lost both legs in Iraq, gave an inspirational speech tonight at the Democratic National Convention.

Duckworth is needed in Congress, to replace the despicable, disgraceful Joe Walsh, a Tea Party lunatic, who has said and done all the wrong things in his one term in Congress, including the ridicule of Tammy Duckworth’s sacrifice in war.

Walsh owes back payments for child support to his former wife, and has insulted constituents, and ranted and raved at public meetings, and he is an embarrassment to the House of Representatives, and is on the short list of the Democrats to be kicked out of Congress, if at all possible.

All Americans should be proud of Tammy Duckworth, and it is hoped she will be serving in Congress in 2013!

Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh: The Most Vile Republican In The House Of Representatives!

Ronald 4 Comments

Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh has been the most vile member of the House, the most outrageous low life of all Tea Party Republicans!

This is a man who owes back child support to his divorced wife and children!

This is a man who has attacked Barack Obama in the most vile manner consistently in the past two years!

This is a man who has constantly screamed at and insulted constituents at meetings in his district, when they criticize his record in office!

This is the man now ridiculing his Democratic opponent, Tammy Duckworth, who lost both legs and use of one arm in an explosion in Iraq. He complains that she talks about her sacrifice, and that her war service and loss of limbs does not justify her campaign for Congress!

This has led to a firestorm of protest from veterans, Republican and Democrat, across the nation, outraged at what he is doing.

So it seems as if this man, a piece of crap, who never served in the military, will see a massive campaign against him nationwide, and he richly deserves to be kicked out of Congress, and immediately imprisoned if he does not pay all back child support instantly!

The Unusual Nature Of The 2008 Election, In More Ways Than One!

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2008, the year of the economic collapse in America, unrivaled since the Great Depression of the 1930s, was a very unusual election year.

This was the first time we had an African American Presidential nominee, and he won the election, despite a majority of white men voting against him.

The country had both candidates for President born off the mainland of America–John McCain in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936, and Barack Obama born in Hawaii in 1961.

The country had the greatest gap in age between the two Presidential candidates in American history–a difference of 25 years between McCain and Obama.

The country had the first college professor (although part time) winning office since Woodrow Wilson 96 years earlier, in 1912.

Barack Obama was the first President from Illinois since Abraham Lincoln 148 years earlier, in 1860.

Barack Obama was the first Northern President elected since John F. Kennedy in 1960, and is the only Democrat to have at least 51 percent of the total vote since World War II, with the exception of Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

The year 2008 saw the first Republican woman nominee for Vice President, Sarah Palin.

John McCain became the second Arizona Senator to lose the Presidency, after Barry Goldwater 44 years earlier, in 1964.

So the 2008 election was a path breaking election in more ways than one!

The Sectionalism And Regionalism In America’s 50 States

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An interesting part of American history and contemporary America is the reality of sectionalism and regionalism in many American states.

One classic example was the case of West Virginia, a breakaway from Virginia of areas of the state that were anti slavery, occurring during the Civil War in 1863. Therefore, the site of John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859, which had been part of Virginia, became probably the most famous site in the new state of West Virginia, and remains a fascinating historic site today, which the author has visited.

But also, there have been desires in many states to have secessionist movements and the creation of new states.

So when observers look at the 50 states, they realize that in many of them, there are real rivalries and divisions, and a different state of mind about politics and the economy.

It is well known that upstate New York has little in common with New York City and Long Island and the counties just north of New York City.

Also, downstate Illinois is totally different in mentality than Chicago.

Central and North Florida are totally alienated from South Florida, and particularly, Miami.

Upper and Western Michigan are a different world than Detroit.

Central and Western Pennsylvania are a world apart from Philadelphia.

Central and Southern New Jersey are vastly different than Northern New Jersey, just across the George Washington Bridge from New York City.

Central and Southern Virginia are another planet from Northern Virginia, which is the Washington DC suburbs.

Central and Southern Ohio are totally different than northeastern Ohio, around Cleveland.

Central and Southern Missouri are a different world than Eastern Missouri, the area of St. Louis.

Texas and California are the best examples of sectionalism and regionalism, particularly with being the second and third largest states in area.

So Texas has the “Panhandle” centered around Lubbock; the area around Dallas and Fort Worth; the capital of Austin in the center of the state; the largest metropolitan area around Houston; and the area around San Antonio and further south to the Mexican border. It could easily be five or more states.

California has the traditional split between north and south, between San Francisco and Los Angeles. But now it is recognized that California also has a gap between East and West, between the coastal areas and the interior areas, with the interior being very different economically, and very much conservative and Republican, as compared to the rest of the state. There has even been a movement to separate interior areas in the south from the rest of the state, creating a 51st state, but the chances of its success are seen as highly unlikely.

The point is that there tends to be stereotyping of our 50 states, labeling them as having a particular economic and political structure, but the reality is much more complicated, and could, some day, lead to the breaking up of a few states, creating a few new additions to the Union!

Illinois: NOT Prime Material For Republicans In 2012 Presidential Election

Ronald 1 Comment

Illinois is the state of President Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican President. Today, Republicans vote in their Presidential primary, but the state will not go to whoever wins the state.

It is the state of mainstream moderates in the past, including Senator Charles Percy, Senator Everett Dirksen, House Minority Leader Bob Michel, and House Republican Conference Chairman John Anderson, who ran an Independent race for President against Ronald Reagan and President Jimmy Carter in 1980.

None of the above would have a chance in the Illinois Republican Party of 2012, or the national Republican Party.

This is a tragedy, and it is copied in many other states throughout America.

When Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts can claim to be the second most bipartisan Republican Senator, after retiring Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine, and only Senator Susan Collins of Maine can claim to be much the same, that is testimonial to just how right wing the GOP has become!

There is NO chance for Illinois to go Republican in 2012, or anytime soon! The spirit of compromise and bipartisanship does not exist, sadly!

“Joe The Plumber” Vs. Marcy Kaptur in Ohio: The Premier House Race Of 2012!

Ronald 1 Comment

“Joe The Plumber”, aka Samuel Wurzelbacher, is the Republican nominee in the 9th Congressional district in Ohio against thirty year veteran Democrat Marcy Kaptur, the longest serving woman in the House of Representatives at present; second longest serving House woman ever; 25th of 435 members of the House in seniority; and serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

Marcy Kaptur is well regarded and respected as a solid woman of real accomplishments and strong principles, who has done an exceptional job in her long career.

Marcy Kaptur and “Joe The Plumber” both appeared on Lawrence O’Donnell’s LAST WORD on MSNBC tonight, and it was clear that the choice the voters of that Ohio Congressional District have is a choice between brilliance and pure stupidity and ignorance!

The best way to look at it is that this is a choice between Marcy Kaptur and the male Sarah Palin, totally inept and incompetent to the extreme!

“Joe The Plumber” wants to push Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 plan, which has been ignored and dismissed by all other GOP Presidential candidates, because it would raise taxes, and harm the middle and working class while only helping the rich, and would destroy Social Security and Medicare as we know it.

Lawrence O’Donnell tried to get “Joe the Plumber” to understand the realities of the Cain plan, and the harm it would do, but Wurzelbacher was too dense to understand.

O’Donnell also pointed out that Wurzelbacher had opposed the auto company bailout, and that it had worked, and that the auto industry was reviving and adding workers, but “Joe the Plumber” still insisted that he was against government intervention which had helped to restore the auto industry, and would campaign that it was a terrible idea. So talking to “Joe the Plumber” was like talking to the wall, as nothing penetrated this moron’s brain matter!

Why be so blunt and insulting, one might ask? The answer is that “Joe the Plumber” is still what he always was: a man with no knowledge, no intelligence, no insights, but with a tremendous ego! He has struggled to make a living for his family, and one can sympathize with that fact, but he more wants to be a Congressman so he can make the salary involved, than he is interested in learning and understanding the job of representing a Congressional district.

In that sense, he resembles Joe Walsh of Illinois, another loser who thinks he understands the job, but is in it solely for his own ego, and his own enrichment.

These Tea Party types have no clue how to run a government, but want to participate in the acquisition of the perks of office. They are NOT qualified to be members of our government, and the American people have to understand that expertise, knowledge and education are basic requirements for the PROFESSION of government. It is not for amateurs!

This race between Kaptur and Wurzelbacher will be fun to watch, particularly when debate time comes, as Marcy Kaptur will wipe up the floor with “Joe the Plumber”, and win by an overwhelming margin, and send “Joe the Plumber” back to the obscurity he richly deserves!

The Leading US House Race For 2012: Allen West Vs. Patrick Murphy In Florida

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Probably the most controversial race in 2012 for the House Of Representatives is also the second highest in raising of funds–the race in the new 18th Congressional District in northern Palm Beach County, Martin County, and St. Lucie County between Congressman Allen West (R) and his challenger Patrick Murphy (D).

West, one of two African American Republicans in the House, was elected in what is now the 22nd Congressional District in Palm Beach and Broward Counties, but has decided to compete in a district likely to be more favorable to his right wing conservative and confrontational views. West NEVER is diplomatic, as shown when he condemned Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the head of the Democratic National Committee, as well as the House member from the 20th Congressional District in Broward County and Miami-Dade County, in the strongest possible and insulting terms, and refused to apologize for his rude language, particularly toward a woman!

West served in the Iraq War, but was forced out of the military over his rough treatment of a detainee, and now spews forth his right wing extremism, and has no problem raising money, having gained a total at this time of $5.8 million, more than any House member except Speaker of the House John Boehner. Imagine, he has raised more than House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp of Michigan, and Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the leading figures in the House leadership outside of Speaker Boehner.

This race represents a major challenge for Democrat Patrick Murphy, who operates a company that cleans up oil spills, and has raised $1.42 million so far.

The 28 year old Murphy could be, if elected, the youngest member of the House, unless Ilya Sherman in the 10th Congressional District in Illinois is elected, who is slightly younger than Murphy.

Anyone who wants to see West removed from the House of Representatives should contribute to the Murphy campaign, in what will become the most expensive House race in the entire nation.