Attention Tammy Duckworth Team: It's Baghdad, Not Bagdad

You'd think that the staff at Tammy Duckworth's US Senate campaign would catch something like this:  the spelling of Baghdad on her announcement.  After all, this moment is SOOOOOOOO central to the Tammy Duckworth story and campaign.  

You'd think they'd spell the city where the incident occurred properly.

But...alas...they didn't get it right.  From her campaign site comes this screenshot:

Fumbled announcement.  Spelling errors.  Seems like we're going to have plenty to cover on this race.

Senator Mark Kirk Adds Cyberbullying To His 'Suburban Agenda'

Earlier this month, US Senator Mark Kirk expanded his so-called 'Suburban Agenda' to include the heroin problem in Illinois, but this week he's taken his work online:  he's trying to address 'cyberbullying'.

From his Senate Site:

In today’s society, almost half of all kids report having been bullied online. Cyberbullying wasn’t part of my childhood, but it is part of everybody’s now. Bullying has real and terrible consequences. In fact, a CDC study found that teenagers who have been involved in bullying are more likely to commit suicide than their peers. I am working with my Women’s Advisory Board and my Student Leadership Advisory Board to raise awareness about this horrific trend.

Go check out his site for a ton of useful tools and to learn more about this problem here in Illinois.  

Three Cheers For Jim Oberweis On Marriage Equality

The Milk Dud changed.  Nice.  We're proud of the campaign Oberweis is running this time around.  He still is a long shot, but he's not shooting himself in the foot this go-around.  The wingnuts have to be going absolutely crazy.

GOP Senate nominee Jim Oberweis said he would support a federal marriage-equality measure at Wednesday’s debate with rival Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., after voting against a gay-marriage bill as a state senator and maintaining his opposition throughout his Senate bid. 

“I think there is no arguing it any longer. At this point, I would say yes,” Oberweis said as he reversed his long-held objection to gay marriage at the debate, televised by ABC7 in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Illinois.

Some Conservative Wingnut Endorsed Jim Oberweis For Senate

US Senate candidate Jim Oberweis is out this am touting his latest endorsement in his race against incumbent Dick Durbin: Eagle Forum and Phyllis Schlafly.

From those wingnuts:

Eagle Forum PAC, a conservative public policy organization founded by pro-family leader Phyllis Schlafly, is proud to endorse Jim Oberweis for the United States Senate. 

“Jim Oberweis would make a great senator,” said Schlafly. “He is always ready to take on the Establishment and provide leadership for the pro-family agenda.” 

“Dick Durbin exemplifies all that is wrong in Washington,” added Schlafly. “From taxes to immigration to national security, he supports policies that weaken our country and undermine families struggling to get ahead. It’s clear that his priority is cheerleading for President Obama instead of helping the citizens of Illinois.”

Our take?

Listen...we don't mean to pick on Oberweis here.  He's actually done what we thought was un-doable: run a campaign where he didn't become his own worst enemy. 

But...what *exactly* does this endorsement get him?  Who else were the fringe crazies going to vote for if not The Milk Man?  Is there going to be a huge influx of cash from wingnuts around the country?  We doubt it.  

By taking and promoting this endorsement, he's basically helping one person:  Phyllis Schlafly.

He's making her somewhat relevant and that's, frankly not good for anybody.  

Oberweis: Keep Calm And Dump Dick Durbin

US Senate candidate Jim Oberweis is out today with an ask of his supporters:  if enough folks sign up to request a "Keep Calm and Dump Dick Durbin" sign, they'll get 'em printed up and shipped.

They've put up a site for ordering them and it based on the comments, the campaign is taking PayPal as a payment method.  The site is: www.keepcalmanddumpdurbin.com.  Order one of these and you'll be sure to get some folks on your block's attention.

From the Oberweis campaign:

Want one?

Go to www.keepcalmanddumpdurbin.com and order yours today. We need to place a minimum order of 200 signs.

If we get 200 people to sign up, we will order the signs and mail them directly to your home.

Tell your friends. Tell your neighbors. Order one today.
www.keepcalmanddumpdurbin.com

Jim Oberweis Opens Campaign Office On South Side

From the Twitters:

Dick Durbin Hems & Haws On IRS In Front Of Trib Ed Board

US Senate Candidate Jim Oberweis had Senator Dick Durbin on his heels when it comes to Durbin's office involvement with the IRS as it relates to Karl Rove's Crossroads organization.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin was caught lying today at the Chicago Tribune editorial board session when asked about his role in the IRS scandal.

Durbin was asked unequivocally whether he or his U.S. Senate staff had ANY contact with the IRS during the IRS scandal other than the well-publicized letter he wrote asking the IRS to target Crossroads GPS on Oct. 10, 2010. 

Durbin responded that there was no other correspondence upon questioning by opponent Jim Oberweis, a Republican state senator from Sugar Grove. 

Oberweis then produced an email from a Durbin staffer to an IRS staffer two days after the Crossroads letter. The email was first revealed by the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in its June 16, 2014 report titled, "How Politics Led the IRS to Target Conservative Tax-Exempt Applicants for the Political Beliefs." 

"Dick Durbin flat-out lied to the Tribune editorial board. This is important because we don't know how deep Dick Durbin's role was in the IRS scandal that he himself characterized as reminiscent of the worst abuses of the Richard Nixon era," Oberweis said.

Dick Durbin Shows Bad Taste, Inserts Political Sign in 9/11 Message

You can't swing a dead cat today without running into a politician up with a September 11th message.  Most of them are some sort of visual of the Twin Towers/site with the words "We will never forget" or the like.

But...United States Senator Dick Durbin?  Nope.  His tribute image has a photo of his campaign sign in a pretty prominent place.  Really, Senator Durbin?  Couldn't you have found a non-reelection image to use?

Seems like the wrong time to be campaigning, doesn't it?

Senator Mark Kirk Fundraising Off Michelle Obama Rumor

One of our readers sent us over this photo of a fundraising letter they received over the weekend from United States Senator Mark Kirk.  

The Senator's team is using the 'rumor' of First Lady Michelle Obama possibly running for his US Senate Seat in 2016 as a fundraising device. And...a good one at that!  He points out the similarities between what Michelle Obama has said to what was said about Hillary Clinton before she ran for US Senate from New York.

From the letter:

I'm not one to believe rumors or engage in political gossip, but when it comes to defending the Illinois Senate seat that I'm honored to hold, I take any and all potential threads seriously...all Illinois Republicans should.   

While the press and rumor mills ponder the "will she or won't she?" question with regard to Michelle Obama...and the circumstances (and denials) are reminiscent of 1999 when First Lady Hillary Clinton was the subject of whirlwind speculation about a run for the United State Senate...we must build up my campaign so we can vigorously defend this seat -- no matter whose name is on the ballot on the Democrat side.  

Tio Hardiman Announces Run for 2016 US Senate Race in Illinois

In Illinois, we have a proud history of repeat candidates.  The latest is Tio Hardiman who ran against Governor Pat Quinn in the Democrat primary this spring.  Now, he's got his eyes on a larger prize:  the United States Senate nomination in 2016.

WJBC has the details on Tio Hardiman's announcement:

Former Democratic candidate for governor Tio Hardiman of Hillside has formally announced he’ll be running for the U.S. Senate in 2016. 

The primary for that race is still 20 months away, but Hardiman believes beginning the campaign now will give him an edge over other potential rivals. 

"No one else is talking about running. Michelle Obama mentioned that she may run, but she decided she’s not going to run. I’m not sure if (Illinois Attorney General) Lisa Madigan is gonna run for U.S. Senate," Hardiman said, "so Tio Hardiman may be the only talk of the town when it comes down to running for the U.S. Senate against Mark Kirk right now."

Our take?

The Jim Oberweis in Florida Story Gets Richer

Jim Oberweis the Snowbird.  Hey!  We'd take the $50K exemption, too!?!  (But then again...we're not running for the United States Senate.)

US Senate Candidate Jim Oberweis Skips Town - Confident in Primary Victory?

News percolating out of the US Senate GOP Primary here in Illinois has that despite his best efforts - and impeccable credentials - Republican Candidate Doug Truax can't quite seem to overcome the name recognition and polling lead of his rival Jim "The Milkman" Oberweis.

As any candidate with what appears to be such a sizeable lead would do, Oberweis hasn't really directly engaged with Doug Truax.  He's appeared 'above it all'.

Now, however, it seems that Jim Oberweis isn't even interested in being around Illinois in the run-up to the Primary Election next week.

From the Sun-Times story entitled:  'Arrogant' Oberweis in Florida days before U.S. Senate primary:

U.S. Senate hopeful Jim Oberweis' opponent on Tuesday called the dairy magnate an "arrogant" "timid snowbird" for skipping out on debates and heading to Florida less than a week before the Illinois primary.

Oberweis' Republican primary opponent, West Point grad and Army veteran Doug Truax, said Oberweis, a state senator from Oswego, was disrespecting voters by leaving the state just before Tuesday's primary.

Our take on what appears to be the 'ultimate 1%-er' ILGOP Ticket?

Doug Truax Picks up Endorsement from Congressman - and fellow West Point Grad - John Shimkus

Over at the Illinois Review, they've released the news that longtime Congressman John Shimkus has stuck his neck out and is standing with Doug Truax for the United States Senate over Jim Oberweis.

The most interesting thing to note for us in all of this is that Doug Truax and Congressman John Shimkus are BOTH graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY.  (and...for those of you naysayers who say that there are never any 'good' politicians, I respectfully submit the fact that these two guys are West Point grads as proof you are wrong!)

Those West Point roots run deep.  As they should.

From the Illinois Review:

U.S. John Shimkus (IL-15) said between Truax and State Senator Jim Oberweis, Truax is the better Republican candidate to take on Dick Durbin in the general election. 

"I am impressed with Doug's military service and his positive agenda for the future," said Shimkus. "He's a young, impressive, forward-looking conservative who would represent us well in Washington."

Shimkus is the second Downstate congressman to endorse Truax. Last month, Aaron Schock, of Peoria, endorsed him, as has former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.

Go give Doug Truax a hand. Please.  We need him helping bring more folks into the ILGOP.  Visit his site to get involved or request a yard sign.  

Aaron Schock Endorses Doug Truax for US Senate

In the uphill - but worthwhile battle to beat out Jim "The Milkman" Oberweis for the right to take on Dick Durbin as the GOP Nominee for United States Senate, challenger Doug Truax has picked up some new support from one of the GOP leaders in Illinois:  Congressman Aaron Schock.

From the Sun-Times:

Congressman Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, put his support behind Republican candidate Doug Truax in the U.S. Senate Republican primary, Truax’s campaign announced today. 

Truax is going up against state Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, who so far has significantly more name recognition and money.

“Doug Truax represents the type of young and energetic leader Republicans want to embrace. Truax has fresh ideas to shrink government and grow the economy and a strong work ethic to carry those ideas through,” Schock said in a statement. “Doug Truax has served our nation in the military and is ready to serve our nation in the U.S. Senate. As a businessman he brings an understanding of the private sector and deep expertise on health care. As a family man he is rooted in tried and true conservative principles.”

Unless we want the ultimate "1 Percenters" at the top of the GOP Ticket in the fall, we should rally behind Doug Truax.  

Doug Truax Endorsed by Elk Grove Township GOP

While US Senate Candidate Doug Traux has been trying to get his primary opponent Jim Oberweis to debate one-on-one in the race, he also was busy picking up another GOP Township endorsement.

This time, it is the Elk Grove Township Republican Organization doing the endorsing.

From the Illinois Review:

The Republican Organization of Elk Grove Township held their endorsement session on Tuesday February 11th. Voting was open to Precinct Captains and Board Members and 60% of the vote was needed to garner an endorsement.

In contested races, the following candidates were endorsed:

• Doug Truax - U.S. Senate

Hey! That's Our Offensive Political Ad, Texas?!?

Dan Patrick, a Republican running for Lt. Governor in Texas posted this image on his Facebook profile on Super Bowl Sunday.  If the message looks familiar, that's because here in Illinois we've seen it before.

Remember this?  Our current candidate - Jim Oberweis - back in the day.

Based on the number of likes the Patrick post received, the message may be resonating more there?  Hopefully this doesn't give the Milk Dud's crew any ideas.  Let's not repeat the past, guys.