The Coming Illinois Primary

[WilliamPitt]

http://blog.pdamerica.org/?p=535

The Illinois primary is just 21 days away. With your continued support we can elect Christine Cegelis - the kind of candidate PDA was created to support - to Congress from the state’s Sixth District. While we have already accomplished a great deal in support of Cegelis’ campaign, much work remains, and the stakes are high. The Democratic leadership has brought in their own candidate - an Iraq war veteran who has never lived in the district and still isn’t calling for an exit strategy.


You know the story by now. Representative Rahm Emanuel (D-IL 5th) recruited a candidate to oppose Cegelis for the Democratic nomination. To block Cegelis, he organized the “inside the beltway” party bosses to draft Tammy Duckworth, who lost both her legs in Iraq. While her sacrifice and service are commendable, Duckworth has no political experience and has never lived in the district. Despite her tragedy, Duckworth’s most notable comment on the war is that there is good and bad in everything. She is running, not against the war, but as a symbol of patriotism.

In contrast, Christine Cegelis is a courageous, eloquent champion against the war and occupation. The single mother of two blends progressive ideals with pragmatic wisdom. She showed courage and capability in 2004 when she challenged 16-term right winger Rep. Henry Hyde and the Republican machine - and nearly won a stunning upset. She’s the best prepared, and most qualified. Please contribute now so PDA can continue this work.

...more...

[mopinko]

1. so glad to have you on our side

you gonna make it out here?

[Kevin Spidel]

2. wanna come play will? n/t

[dogman]

3. One note.

Your "inside the beltway" party bosses happen to be elected Illinois Democratic Party leaders, not outsiders from other states.

[minvis]

4. Who said they were outsiders from other states?

All that is being said is that there was not a groundswell of support coming from the 6th District for Duckworth to run until some of the Illinois congressional leaders decided there needed to be someone else running in the primary. Duckworth's candidacy sprang from Emanuel and others in the Illinois delegation, not from the people of the 6th District.

[dogman]

5. Go read the linked blog entry.

That along with the prior posts from PDA spokespersons have implied this is coming from DC, Ironically, IMO, they are calling for support from people from outside of Illinois to provide ground forces to the cause. You seem to feel there are great grassroots support in the District. Cegelis should have no problem if that is the case.

[LSK]

7. im pretty sure Durbin and Obama spend more time in DC than IL 6th

[dogman]

8. And how much time does Will spend in the 6th?

Just asking. Durbin and Obama are still from Illinois and are elected statewide to represent Illinois. That is why they spend time in DC. They are not "outsiders".

[LSK]

13. nice red herring there

What does Will spending time in Dupage county have to do with what he wrote? What does Will spending time going to Woodfield have to do with the fact that Cegelis has probably spent more time in the Il 6th than Durbin, Obama, and Duckworth combined?

[dogman]

14. It was your red herring.

You imply that Durbin and Obama should have no input yet congratulate Will for a nice post calling for people outside of Illinois to come and stump for Cegelis. You seem to accept outside help wih no reservations when they support your choice. Will also repeats the sos that Rahm sought out Durbin, et al, when all published accounts say that Durbin approached Rahm about Duckworth.

[LSK]

15. no, I imply that Durbin and Obama should stay nuetral

And the fact remains that they spend more time in DC than in Dupage county.

[dogman]

16. Which brings us back to their desire to win this seat.

And no one has written they spend more time in Dupage County. I simply wrote that people characterized as "inside the beltway party bosses" are, in fact, elected Illinois Democratic Party leaders.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mopinko]

9. there is no one inside the beltway that does not

come from somewhere. that does not stop them from putting the concerns of their rich friends above those of the people who are supposed to be represented. that's why they call them representatives. that is what they are supposed to do. the fact that they don't explains the mess that this country is in.
and making winning the only goal, with no thought to actually doing that representing thing is why the democrats are not an effective opposition party. they are not opposing, they are going along, and getting along, because they are all feeding at the same trough.
this is happening in several other congressional districts across the country. this is the strategy of the dccc, which is a party organization.

[dogman]

10. Then why elect Cegelis?

Once she goes to DC, by your reasoning, she will be an insider. Obama and Durbin do not belong to the DCCC, they are in the DSCC.

[mopinko]

11. hopefully, others will send like minded folks.

by your reasoning, we should just let the rich folks take over, and like it. i guess there is not much of the constitution left to defend. i'm gonna keep trying tho.

[dogman]

12. I don't believe Duckworth is rich.

The primary problem with our elected officials is campaign funding. Unless we change that, money will rule. Once elected, most find their time consumed with raising funds to be re-elected. Many honorable people go to Washington with the best intentions. It seems that few are not affected by the process.

[LSK]

6. nice post Will

That sums up the situation to me. Be the Duckworth supporters will just call us bitter.. :shrug:

[Tbounds]

18. Candidates!

Hey all, this is my frist time Posting at DU.com, Im realy excited about all the progressive candidates that are running in our great blue State. Here locally im working with Keith Taylor a Very progressive County Clerk Candidate. He is going to be the Frist Democrat to win the Coles County Clerk's Office in 26 some odd years. This County needs change, lots of shady dealings have been going down with the local repugs. Keith is Spot on, on all the issues, he has a great dream for the clerks office, im sure some of you out there are from The EIU campus, or LLC campus, or have ties to this county. So stop on by www.keithtaylor.us to see a real aggressive progressive who is actually going out and trying to implement all the vaunted ideals that we talk about.

[Freddie Stubbs]

19. Nearly won a stunning upset?

She actually lost by 12%.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/IL/