Anyone from the 16th.

[SlingBlade]

I never see anyone cussing about Manzullo ?:D

[JoDog]

1. I would but,

I live in McHenry County. Cussing about a Republican around here is feels about as effectual as swearing at the sun for shining too brightly. I vote for the Dems, and I have been hearing grumblings, so maybe there will be a light at the end of the tunnel soon.

[Bjornsdotter]

2. Have you really?

...grumblings are good.

Cheers

[SlingBlade]

3. WOW, NOT EVEN ONE !

I dont know much about McHenry County. Hopefully your not as alone as I am.:banghead:

Stay warm brother

[Radical Activist]

4. Man that guy is a nut.

I don't live in the district but I still cuss about him on occasion. I'll bet we can get rid of him in 2012 after redistricting if the legislature wants to draw a better map next time.

[murielm99]

5. I live in the 16th.

I usually call him That Stupid Manzullo. I have called him everything else, and I am weary of it.

We are running a good candidate against him. His name is Bob Abboud. Abboud is the first serious candidate I have seen in a long time.

http://www.robertabboud.com/

[SlingBlade]

6. GREAT :)

I was SOooooooooo Disappointed last election when the Chinaman Manzullo
beat out Dick Auman.
I thought he was an excellent candidate and still do.
Manzullo has been selling out America for years, Unbelievable.

This has got to be the pit hole of Illinois, Remember who Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) is and the baggage he carries, Heck he’s the one that got that nut case Alan Keyes to run against Obama.

Also Rockford is home to the Paleo-Con movement.
Isn't that strange, Such a blue state as Illinois would produce some of the most vile
wings within the Republican party, The Neo-Cons (Chicago) and the Paleo-Cons (Rockford).
Perhaps we should give northern Illinois to Wisconsin :)

[murielm99]

7. Auman was a good candidate.

He could not raise the money or get the publicity to go against Manzullo.

Abboud is much better organized and financed. It will still be an uphill battle. Abboud is willing to persist if he does not beat Manzullo the first time. And Manzullo is scared. He now has an e-mail address and office hours. Before, we had to shame him into holding town meetings and giving feedback to constituents. Some people from my county had a sit-in at his Rockford office. Of course, it got no publicity.

Syverson now denies that he sponsored Keyes. I still like to throw it in his face.

That mayor they have in Rockford is no better. He claims to be an independent, but he was financed by rich suburban repukes, and repukes from all over the country. They were willing to do anything to get rid of someone with a D behind his name. He is now finding that it is not so easy to govern. He went on his honeymoon and stayed there while his city was experiencing record floods. His police department, which he politicized himself, is in open rebellion. It serves him right.

[murielm99]

8. There really are more Democrats here

than you imagine.

What we are fighting against is an organized, moneyed movement. They can't hold Chicago, so they put all their money into the next best thing in northern Illinois, Rockford. They can be beaten. It has been done in the past. We will have to fight them with an equal amount of money and organization.

You also have to realize that the newspaper up there is a piece of crap. It is nothing but a political organ for right-wingers. It has a great deal of influence in the community.

The television stations are also very right-wing. I fight with them all the time. They know my name now. Some of the receptionists treat me like a rabid animal. Actually, I have been very reasonable. They are always giving air time to Syverson and his ilk. I keep telling them that their stations cover a wide area. They need to get other representatives on the air, and they need to cover Democratic opinions, too. I have told them that they need to cover the Democratic responses to bush's speeches. They tell me that the network does not cover them. So, I tell them that they need to pass the message on to the network that Democrats out here want to see the responses.

[vireo]

9. John Kerry won the Rockford vote

So, as you point out, it's far from hopeless there. The Register-Star even endorsed Kerry, which surprised me.

Rockford actually has a rather progressive history, thanks in part to its Swedish heritage. I think it even had a Socialist mayor.

[JoDog]

12. What makes you think

Wisconsin would take us?

[SlingBlade]

10. I started this thread over at the Activist HQ.

A Helping Hand to Our DU Bothers and Sisters
Is there a group that assist fellow DUers in our attempt to take back
our local newspaper forums from the freepers.

A local newspaper has the largest overall local viewership as compared to Blogs etc.
We are in the process of finally getting the upper hand and taking back our own
newspaper forum with the help of a few fellow DUers and I have to tell you its great.

We all know the tactics that Feepers use, Normally they gang up and silence the few
truth tellers but with their help we have overcome these tactics.

It’s just one idea that would make a huge impression not to mention the bound that
we DUers have for each other and the truth in these times of overwhelming hatred by the Right.

Anybody doing this now as a group ?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x31414

[SlingBlade]

11. This is one problem we have encountered though :(

Anyone with the expertise or knowledge about this sort of thing ?

Commercial Spamming (Not)

Since losing their predominate place in our forums this kind of
thing has started up, Particularly in the “Iraq War” and “General Opinions” threads
their two most hated and decisive defeats.
The Forum is not moderated at all, So it goes. I’m almost positive I know which Freeptard is doing this, But I cant prove it.

What in your opinions can be done about it ?

http://www.rrstarforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=3946
http://www.rrstarforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=3936
http://www.rrstarforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=3940

[murielm99]

14. Are you a subscriber to the RR Star?

I subscribed for a short time, but I hated the paper. They bugged me forever to renew my subscription. Eventually, I found someone who put me on a Do Not Call list.

If people who actually pay to get the newspaper start calling and writing to complain about the spamming, something might be done. They could threaten to cancel their subscriptions, or they could write LTTEs griping about the situation. Newspapers are always worried about their circulation.

I subscribe to the Freeport Journal-Standard. When it was still locally owned, was a more liberal newspaper. It is still much better than the RR Star. When they print too many right-wing viewpoints, I start calling and complaining. I have written several LTTEs, and some guest columns, too. Once, they even had a dittohead write a column in reply to one of mine. It was the usual predictable crap.

It helps to be nice to them once in awhile, too. When someone from the Freeport paper writes something that I like, I e-mail that reporter and compliment them. I sometimes let the editor know when I have liked something, too. Maybe a subscriber to the RR Star could do that, too.

If you want help with the RR Star forums, let me know. Just don't ask me to spend money buying that paper.

[SlingBlade]

16. murielm99 No, It sucks almost as bad as thier forum

And I’ve about given up on its forum all together. Looks like they shipped in some help
and now you cant get a word in edge wise. One of the oldest longest fighting progressives
there I think has called it quits. Kind of went off the deep end with the repugs. I know how
he feels, You work so long and so hard and it just starts getting better and then POW.

Don't bother with the Forum guys, Its a dead zone.

[madrchsod]

13. well after anderson retired i just figured rockford

and surrounding area deserved who they voted for....well i really don`t have much room to talk cause i `m stuck with denny and maybe the milkman... manzullo really should get a pat on the back for getting keyes to run against obama and along with george ryan, crippled the republican party for the last few years.

[SlingBlade]

15. Sorry Guys

Just got back on my feet after a back surgery. Good reading here. Hope we can keep
up the dialog. Rockford and area needs a good reformation movement to get rid of
these rethugs around here. The paper is almost a joke, But I do like the Rock River Times.
Only place around here you can read the truth in print form. Any of you guys familiar with it ?

[murielm99]

17. You bet!

I pick it up every week. It is a free paper, too.

I am glad you are back on your feet.

[murielm99]

18. If you are well enough now, you should

try to attend some Democratic events in Rockford. Try to go to something where Abboud is speaking. You will be impressed.

[SlingBlade]

19. I sure will.

As soon as I’m able to that is. I’m still not walking very well, cant drive etc.
Abboud sounds like a good thing for us.