Major Democratic Victory - Hastert's IL Seat Goes To Bill Foster

Illinois Democrat Bill Foster, who was endorsed by presidential contender Barack Obama, won a special election held today to fill the House seat vacated by disgraced Republican Dennis Hastert. How big is this win? Hastert had held his seat for over two decades and the NRCC poured nearly 1/3 of their money into the race, and even Republican presidential nominee John McCain stumped for rival Jim Oberweis. On top of all that, Foster is a progressive Democrat and has come out strongly against telecom immunity:

"The President and his allies in Congress are playing politics with national security, and that's wrong. Nobody is above the law and telecom companies who engaged in illegal surveillance should be held accountable, not given retroactive immunity. I flatly oppose giving these companies an out for cooperating with Alberto Gonzalez on short-circuiting the FISA courts and the rule of law."

U.S. House - District 14 - Special General
Illinois - 558 of 568 Precincts Reporting - 98%
  Name Party Votes Vote %
Foster , Bill Dem 50,451 52%
  Oberweis , Jim GOP 45,741 48%

Hastert served as Speaker of the House from 1999 till 2007 when the Democrats took control of Congress, but will be remembered most for his disgraceful behavior in covering for former Rep., Mark Foley, who was hitting on underage male pages while in office.

If a Democrat can win in a blood-red district like this, it bodes well for Democrats nationwide looking ahead in 2008.



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133 comments

Pretty close contest considering who he was running against. Only winning by that slim majority begs to question......what the heck is wrong with people?

It bodes VERY well for the Dems. All of this hand wringing about Obama and Clinton at the moment will be anciant history by November. Let the process run it's course. We'll have one of them as a great presidential candidate. And in January, they'll have a solid Dem congress behind them. Then we can finally start cleaning up the Repug mess!

The Illinois GOP is not an aberration. They are not any more corrupt than the rest of the GOP. Yet, the people of Illinois realize how rotten that party has become, while the rest of the country hasn't realized it.

Can anyone tell me how big is a precinct? What does one look like?

Jim Oberweis is considered nothing short of a complete tool in my hometown of Chicago and has yet to win any election he takes part in (he's now 0-4) - but the national attention Foster's victory is getting is momentum for the Democratic party that cannot be matched!!

Finally, I'm proud to be a Democrat in the Republican section of the Chicago area!!!

Booyah! The Hutt's successor is undone!

No capital reserves left, $20 trillion in debt, $53 trillion in worthless IOU's, all of the capital marketplaces are teetering, and the nation is bleeding red ink at the rate of $1.43 billion per day.

What's your fix Bill?

Looks like just enough people are getting tired of Conservative apologetics.

Zenrage @ 8:

Looks like just enough people are getting tired of Conservative apologetics.

I don't know there's still a few holdouts out there.

http://www.southernangel.com/food/bologna.html

This is great news. The one GOP senator from Maine I hate the most -- next to Lieberman -- who I want to see get the door slammed HARD in her ugly face is that bigot Susan Collins. Susan, we're all praying for that day when we all sing loudly "Good riddance to bad rubbish".

Election Determines Hastert’s Seat to be Filled by TWENTY Democrats

Good, we can have a healthy round of trials after they're swept out. Is a truth and reconciliation committee to soft?

ConcernedHusseinCanuck @ 1:

Pretty close contest considering who he was running against. Only winning by that slim majority begs to question......what the heck is wrong with people?

Winning a Republican stronghold by any margin is a good sign.

chlorocardium @ 12:

Good, we can have a healthy round of trials after they're swept out. Is a truth and reconciliation committee to soft?

My guess is Washington D.C. will try to sweep all the corruption and losses, would-be indictments, perp walks and prosecutions under the rug and get on with an unprecedented taxpayer bailout of Wall Street.

The Truth has to be trickled out SLOWLY.

No, Denny Hastert will be most remembered for being part of a ring of traitors selling nuclear secrets to the Turkish, among others... Just ask Sibel Edmonds.

Of course, you'll have to go to England to hear about it or find it on the web, as the pussified U.S. "news" media is intentionally ignoring this bombshell of information.

More info here:

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5521
http://www.bradblog.com/?cat=58

Poor republic party. They're the rotten food in the refrigerator Americans are throwing out.

Go Obama.

Obama's camp was huge in bringing this about in time, energy and volunteers, and if we want to retain this seat in November Obama's coattails will go a long way.

What, if anything, will the Clinton camp do to help keep this seat? So far, as far as I can see, they did nothing to help get it in the first place.

Is this the race Rahm insisted we needed a BlueDog in order to win? I hope this is a lesson to the DLC and other BlueDogs that they are not the answer.

SIDE WITH THE TELCOMS = LOOSE YOUR JOB!

LA Confidential

Ah! Bologna! The "other" SPAM!

BTW, can you tell me how to get the name@# link into my comments?

Joementum @ 13:

ConcernedHusseinCanuck @ 1:

Pretty close contest considering who he was running against. Only winning by that slim majority begs to question......what the heck is wrong with people?

Winning a Republican stronghold by any margin is a good sign.

If the fed election is that close, the machines will win it for the Repubs. After 8 years, would you not think that ANY Dem would blow a Repub out of the water? Apparently not. Please sir Dick, can we have some more?

Chicago Joe @ 5:

Jim Oberweis is considered nothing short of a complete tool in my hometown of Chicago and has yet to win any election he takes part in (he's now 0-4) - but the national attention Foster's victory is getting is momentum for the Democratic party that cannot be matched!!

Finally, I'm proud to be a Democrat in the Republican section of the Chicago area!!!

The north west side, huh?

zabes @ 18:

Obama's camp was huge in bringing this about in time, energy and volunteers, and if we want to retain this seat in November Obama's coattails will go a long way.

What, if anything, will the Clinton camp do to help keep this seat? So far, as far as I can see, they did nothing to help get it in the first place.

The Clintons are working hard to keep republics in office. See?

KayInMaine @ 16:

Poor republic party. They're the rotten food in the refrigerator Americans are throwing out.

Yeah good bye Repubs, unfortunately the Neocons-Globalists have taken over the country.

Oh duh! I just found out!

Britisher @ 20:

BTW, can you tell me how to get the name@# link into my comments?

Huh? oh, no. Coffee hasn't kicked in yet. I'm still brain dead this morning.

Britisher @ 20:

LA Confidential

Ah! Bologna! The "other" SPAM!

BTW, can you tell me how to get the name@# link into my comments?

There should be a "quote this comment" link in the bottom right hand corner of every comment. Press it, and presto.

Hastert was a thug and a moron. The country is well rid of him.

That having been said, this special election is by no means
indicative of what dems. will face in November.

I will vote for Obama or Clinton regardless of the outcome,
because republicans deserve to lose the White House forever,
and that should be the Bush legacy.

However I have no intention of rewarding the Democrats
for their poor showing since they took control of Congress.
The pathetic attempts to face down a lame duck president
with a 28 percent approval rating do nothing to inspire confidence in their ability to govern.

I hope Obama or Clinton really can reach out and work with the other side, because this is one voter who is going to split
his ticket when he votes. I suspect that I am not alone in this regard.

Seriously, people should be cautious about reading too much into this particular election.

Full disclosure: I live in the district and vote for Foster.

Oberweiss has a lot of money and has tried to buy his way into several state elected offices prior to this. The people of Illinois just don't want him. This would be his, I think, 4th loss and each successive run makes it look more and more as though he's just trying to self finance his way into any office that he can get into here and the general opinion of him is increasingly negative. IL Republicans just keep turning to him because he's an enthusiastic Repblican and he's cheap for them to put up as a candidate.

Couple that with the fact that the IL Republicans are still in shambles years after Jim Ryan's corruption conviction, Jack Ryan's senate campaign meltdown in 2004, Hastert's shameful retirement, and Obama's rock star rise to national media darling. The IL Republican party is just a disorganized mess and not showing any signs of rallying. Some districts may lean heavily Republican but that doesn't mean that every election is effortless for them.

At any rate, there are a number of things going on here that make this special election a less than perfect pile of tea leaves to read.

CheneyIsADick @ 27:

Britisher @ 20:

LA Confidential

Ah! Bologna! The "other" SPAM!

BTW, can you tell me how to get the name@# link into my comments?

There should be a "quote this comment" link in the bottom right hand corner of every comment. Press it, and presto.

Thanks! I've moved onto beer. now. It seems to be working!

KayInMaine @ 23:

zabes @ 18:

Obama's camp was huge in bringing this about in time, energy and volunteers, and if we want to retain this seat in November Obama's coattails will go a long way.

What, if anything, will the Clinton camp do to help keep this seat? So far, as far as I can see, they did nothing to help get it in the first place.

The Clintons are working hard to keep republics in office. See?

The Obama supporters are now all convincing themselves of conspiracy theories. Hillary has been running all along to be McCain's VP! See?

broken bottle @ 29:

Seriously, people should be cautious about reading too much into this particular election.

Full disclosure: I live in the district and vote for Foster.

Oberweiss has a lot of money and has tried to buy his way into several state elected offices prior to this. The people of Illinois just don't want him. This would be his, I think, 4th loss and each successive run makes it look more and more as though he's just trying to self finance his way into any office that he can get into here and the general opinion of him is increasingly negative. IL Republicans just keep turning to him because he's an enthusiastic Repblican and he's cheap for them to put up as a candidate.

Couple that with the fact that the IL Republicans are still in shambles years after Jim Ryan's corruption conviction, Jack Ryan's senate campaign meltdown in 2004, Hastert's shameful retirement, and Obama's rock star rise to national media darling. The IL Republican party is just a disorganized mess and not showing any signs of rallying. Some districts may lean heavily Republican but that doesn't mean that every election is effortless for them.

At any rate, there are a number of things going on here that make this special election a less than perfect pile of tea leaves to read.

I like to view this election as this: the republics can pour large amounts of money into a campaign and still cannot win it. The only way they can win is to outright steal it which appears they forgot to do in this case. See?

A Foster win of 52% to $46 may not seem like a lot, until you look at the campaign spending. Democrates spent $600,000 and Republicans spent $1.2 million. I'd say it was a significant win.

See? LOL

BoilThemInTheirOil @ 31:

The Obama supporters are now all convincing themselves of conspiracy theories. Hillary has been running all along to be McCain's VP! See?

Yeah someday they might realize that even if you spend an entire lifetime doing the right thing and being a champion for humanity, peace, and all the good things life offers your reward is still 6 feet under in a box.

jace @ 28:

Hastert was a thug and a moron. The country is well rid of him.

That having been said, this special election is by no means
indicative of what dems. will face in November.

I will vote for Obama or Clinton regardless of the outcome,
because republicans deserve to lose the White House forever,
and that should be the Bush legacy.

However I have no intention of rewarding the Democrats
for their poor showing since they took control of Congress.
The pathetic attempts to face down a lame duck president
with a 28 percent approval rating do nothing to inspire confidence in their ability to govern.

I hope Obama or Clinton really can reach out and work with the other side, because this is one voter who is going to split
his ticket when he votes. I suspect that I am not alone in this regard.

That is why it is just as important to get an overwhelming majority in the House and Senate. Even if diebold puts McCain in, the congress is who makes the laws. The other thing is to consider is the supreme court.

ConcernedHusseinCanuck @ 21:

Joementum @ 13:

ConcernedHusseinCanuck @ 1:

Pretty close contest considering who he was running against. Only winning by that slim majority begs to question......what the heck is wrong with people?

Winning a Republican stronghold by any margin is a good sign.

If the fed election is that close, the machines will win it for the Repubs. After 8 years, would you not think that ANY Dem would blow a Repub out of the water? Apparently not. Please sir Dick, can we have some more?

We're talking about one congressional district -- a solidily Republican one -- out of 19 in the state. McCain has to win the whole state to get the Electoral votes.

Britisher @ 30:

CheneyIsADick @ 27:

Britisher @ 20:

LA Confidential

Ah! Bologna! The "other" SPAM!

BTW, can you tell me how to get the name@# link into my comments?

There should be a "quote this comment" link in the bottom right hand corner of every comment. Press it, and presto.

Thanks! I've moved onto beer. now. It seems to be working!

Hair of the dog always works for me.

Don Davis @ 11:

Election Determines Hastert’s Seat to be Filled by TWENTY Democrats

Bah hahahahahaha! Just read this. Those were some huge pants to fill, huh? Wow.

jace @ 28:

However I have no intention of rewarding the Democrats
for their poor showing since they took control of Congress.
The pathetic attempts to face down a lame duck president
with a 28 percent approval rating do nothing to inspire confidence in their ability to govern.blockquote>

I didn't understand their spinelessness until I learned about the Blue Dogs. None of them seem to come from very populous or diverse districts. They could all be "liberal Republicans" were in not that the GOP swung so far to the right. If Nixon were runnning today. considering his China policy, EPA, etc, he could run as a Democrat!

Britisher @ 30:

Thanks! I've moved onto beer. now. It seems to be working!

Sometimes I think why in the hell am I doing all this "Good Citizen" nonsense when sex, drugs, and rock n' roll was more fun and less painful.

Bill Foster sounds like he knows what it means to be a real American. The fact that he realizes that we are a nation of laws and that everyone should be held accountable for their actions.

Unlike the Republican belief that your average Joe six-pack should be held to the letter of the law, but faceless corporations should be able to do what then want, when they want, and never have to pay for any crime ever committed...

If you screw your employees out of their pensions that they put money into for their whole career? No problem...those people should have known better. If you offer insurance policies to a community who's homes are destroyed by a natural disaster that was supposed to be covered by your policy...no problem, just don't pay anyone, claim the wind caused the flood damage and the flood caused the wind damage and you don't have to pay out a single penny...it's not your insurance companies fault that they gave policies to people who would need to put in a claim on that policy!

That's Republican values! and I for one am glad to support the Democratic party!

KayInMaine @ 32:

broken bottle @ 29:

(SNIP)

I like to view this election as this: the republics can pour large amounts of money into a campaign and still cannot win it. The only way they can win is to outright steal it which appears they forgot to do in this case. See?

You can think of it like that if you like, but it's a simplistic view of this election. They may have thrown a lot of money at this election, but that's all they did. IL Repubs organization is in shambles and they were working with a proven bad candidate. Yes, democratic enthusiasm is high but this particular election had a number of other factors that need to be considered.

oops sorry jace...mucked up the quote there. Need more beer!

John @ 4:

Can anyone tell me how big is a precinct? What does one look like?

I think you mean "district"? There are about 435 Congressional districts in the United States. Every ten years when the census is down the district maps are redrawn to reflect the populations. There are many precincts within one district and a precinct is typically a very large neighborhood. It can take several weeks to "walk" one precinct.

Hasturd, has-been.

-GSD

Say what you will but it is a very good sign for Democrats.

Ron @ 36:

jace @ 28:

Hastert was a thug and a moron. The country is well rid of him.

That having been said, this special election is by no means
indicative of what dems. will face in November.

I will vote for Obama or Clinton regardless of the outcome,
because republicans deserve to lose the White House forever,
and that should be the Bush legacy.

However I have no intention of rewarding the Democrats
for their poor showing since they took control of Congress.
The pathetic attempts to face down a lame duck president
with a 28 percent approval rating do nothing to inspire confidence in their ability to govern.

I hope Obama or Clinton really can reach out and work with the other side, because this is one voter who is going to split
his ticket when he votes. I suspect that I am not alone in this regard.

That is why it is just as important to get an overwhelming majority in the House and Senate. Even if diebold puts McCain in, the congress is who makes the laws. The other thing is to consider is the supreme court.

Agreed, however the Dems. had plenty of opportunities to put the brakes on Bush&Cheney with a simple majority and time after time they failed. They whined and cried about not having a large enough majority, which was probably true.
However when the shoe was on the other foot and Republicans held a slim majority they somehow managed to get things done. Their plan was almost always wrong and shortsighted, but at least they had a plan.

Bill Clinton accomplished a lot with a republican congress
including balanced budgets and surpluses. His wife or Obama will just have learn to do the same.

jace @ 48:

Ron @ 36:

jace @ 28:

Hastert was a thug and a moron. The country is well rid of him.

That having been said, this special election is by no means
indicative of what dems. will face in November.

I will vote for Obama or Clinton regardless of the outcome,
because republicans deserve to lose the White House forever,
and that should be the Bush legacy.

However I have no intention of rewarding the Democrats
for their poor showing since they took control of Congress.
The pathetic attempts to face down a lame duck president
with a 28 percent approval rating do nothing to inspire confidence in their ability to govern.

I hope Obama or Clinton really can reach out and work with the other side, because this is one voter who is going to split
his ticket when he votes. I suspect that I am not alone in this regard.

That is why it is just as important to get an overwhelming majority in the House and Senate. Even if diebold puts McCain in, the congress is who makes the laws. The other thing is to consider is the supreme court.

Agreed, however the Dems. had plenty of opportunities to put the brakes on Bush&Cheney with a simple majority and time after time they failed. They whined and cried about not having a large enough majority, which was probably true.
However when the shoe was on the other foot and Republicans held a slim majority they somehow managed to get things done. Their plan was almost always wrong and shortsighted, but at least they had a plan.

Bill Clinton accomplished a lot with a republican congress
including balanced budgets and surpluses. His wife or Obama will just have learn to do the same.

I agree to. That's if you don't take this into consideration.

Well good. Every single disgraced republican has now been replaced by a dem.

At this country is completely out of its mind.

Thank you voters!

Ugh, I meant 'At this country ISN'T completely out of its mind'. That was a bad typo.

broken bottle @ 43:

KayInMaine @ 32:

broken bottle @ 29:

(SNIP)

I like to view this election as this: the republics can pour large amounts of money into a campaign and still cannot win it. The only way they can win is to outright steal it which appears they forgot to do in this case. See?

You can think of it like that if you like, but it's a simplistic view of this election. They may have thrown a lot of money at this election, but that's all they did. IL Repubs organization is in shambles and they were working with a proven bad candidate. Yes, democratic enthusiasm is high but this particular election had a number of other factors that need to be considered.

Foster's win is a good thing. There are now 28-29 and counting GOP seats up for grabs which any old Democrat should be able to win. BUT they IMHO need to be Progressives. Meanwhile there are the Blue Dogs. I'd like them to be ousted too, but an intra-party challenge might result in a local Dem loss due to a split vote, unless there's some serious grass roots support for a challenger.

jace @ 48:

Ron @ 36:

jace @ 28:

Hastert was a thug and a moron. The country is well rid of him.

That having been said, this special election is by no means
indicative of what dems. will face in November.

I will vote for Obama or Clinton regardless of the outcome,
because republicans deserve to lose the White House forever,
and that should be the Bush legacy.

However I have no intention of rewarding the Democrats
for their poor showing since they took control of Congress.
The pathetic attempts to face down a lame duck president
with a 28 percent approval rating do nothing to inspire confidence in their ability to govern.

I hope Obama or Clinton really can reach out and work with the other side, because this is one voter who is going to split
his ticket when he votes. I suspect that I am not alone in this regard.

That is why it is just as important to get an overwhelming majority in the House and Senate. Even if diebold puts McCain in, the congress is who makes the laws. The other thing is to consider is the supreme court.

Agreed, however the Dems. had plenty of opportunities to put the brakes on Bush&Cheney with a simple majority and time after time they failed. They whined and cried about not having a large enough majority, which was probably true.
However when the shoe was on the other foot and Republicans held a slim majority they somehow managed to get things done. Their plan was almost always wrong and shortsighted, but at least they had a plan.

Bill Clinton accomplished a lot with a republican congress
including balanced budgets and surpluses. His wife or Obama will just have learn to do the same.

Oh will you people stop pretending that a 49D - 49R - 2I with the deciding vote to give the Democrats committee control coming from Joe Lieberman is some kind of big power base to make big changes. The Republicans set the all time record for filibusters 11 months into a 2 year congress. I am really sick of the "everything is the Democrats fault" bull shit.

Looks like "all of the people all of the time" TIME is finally here---or at least the "voting majority" time! Watch out though because the Repubs are good at fooling.

jace @ 48:

Ron @ 36:

jace @ 28:

Agreed, however the Dems. had plenty of opportunities to put the brakes on Bush&Cheney with a simple majority and time after time they failed. They whined and cried about not having a large enough majority, which was probably true.
However when the shoe was on the other foot and Republicans held a slim majority they somehow managed to get things done. Their plan was almost always wrong and shortsighted, but at least they had a plan.

You make a good point but you have to realize that we have two of the weakest leaders, Pelosi and Reed, and it's their bad judgment that has been pushing the House in the wrong direction. If we get more people like Jim Webb who are willing to fight for what is right...and so far Bill Foster is saying the right words, we'll see how he does now that he got the job.

Call me a foolish optimist, but I believe in America and I think that we can wake people up and achieve our place as a Great country again. Republicans like to claim America is the greatest country in the world, but they do everything in their power to ruin any claim to greatness. Then after they fuck everything up they say I'm not patriotic enough because I want to see American restored to our true greatness and not just the greatness that appears on a bumper-sticker

Chicago Joe @ 5:

Jim Oberweis is considered nothing short of a complete tool in my hometown of Chicago and has yet to win any election he takes part in (he's now 0-4) - but the national attention Foster's victory is getting is momentum for the Democratic party that cannot be matched!!

Finally, I'm proud to be a Democrat in the Republican section of the Chicago area!!!

I'm with you on that. I live in Dupage County and glad Oberweis didn't win. He's another Repug like Bush.

CheneyIsADick @ 49:

jace @ 48:

Ron @ 36:

jace @ 28:
That is why it is just as important to get an overwhelming majority in the House and Senate. Even if diebold puts McCain in, the congress is who makes the laws. The other thing is to consider is the supreme court.

Agreed, however the Dems. had plenty of opportunities to put the brakes on Bush&Cheney with a simple majority and time after time they failed. They whined and cried about not having a large enough majority, which was probably true.
However when the shoe was on the other foot and Republicans held a slim majority they somehow managed to get things done. Their plan was almost always wrong and shortsighted, but at least they had a plan.

Bill Clinton accomplished a lot with a republican congress
including balanced budgets and surpluses. His wife or Obama will just have learn to do the same.

I agree to. That's if you don't take this into consideration.

Ron,

It would not link. What's the story?

Jace

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!

BOOYAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#49 CHeneysADick

That's the first time Nader has made me laugh! Probably the only time too.

jace @ 57:

CheneyIsADick @ 49:

jace @ 48:

Ron @ 36:

Agreed, however the Dems. had plenty of opportunities to put the brakes on Bush&Cheney with a simple majority and time after time they failed. They whined and cried about not having a large enough majority, which was probably true.
However when the shoe was on the other foot and Republicans held a slim majority they somehow managed to get things done. Their plan was almost always wrong and shortsighted, but at least they had a plan.

Bill Clinton accomplished a lot with a republican congress
including balanced budgets and surpluses. His wife or Obama will just have learn to do the same.

I agree to. That's if you don't take this into consideration.

Ron,

It would not link. What's the story?

Jace

The link worked for me

Britisher @ 60:

jace @ 57:

CheneyIsADick @ 49:

jace @ 48:

I agree to. That's if you don't take this into consideration.

Ron,

It would not link. What's the story?

Jace

The link worked for me

It's a youtube video of Nader, he said (roughly) 'the Dems are saying that there's so much evidence to impeach Bush and CHeney that it's impossible to impeach them' ---that's as far as I went with it. IMHO Nader says things that we all know and that are rational so it's nice he gets media attention nad serves our interests in that way, but he's irrational when it comes to the realities of the political process.

hmmmm, maybe Americans are waking up and getting off the couch now that the economy has gotten so bad. Price of oil is costing in every aspect of life, higher food cost, high goods that have to be delivered by any means, loans not available unless you have an equity worth half the value of your property.

yep, the old pocketbook is still the driving force in America. I wonder how bad the economy will have to get before the evangelicals except gays and stem cell research. I mean, it seems everything has its price in a materialistic society.

Britisher @ 44:

oops sorry jace...mucked up the quote there. Need more beer!

What kind are you drinking? I could use some.

Thanks for the info on the link, I got it to work.

Thanks also to Ron for sending it.

ConcernedHusseinCanuck @ 1:

Pretty close contest considering who he was running against. Only winning by that slim majority begs to question......what the heck is wrong with people?

A win is a win. I'll take it anyday.

No more head cheese soufleeey at the HOR dining room. I'll bet?

broken bottle @ 43:

KayInMaine @ 32:

broken bottle @ 29:

(SNIP)

I like to view this election as this: the republics can pour large amounts of money into a campaign and still cannot win it. The only way they can win is to outright steal it which appears they forgot to do in this case. See?

You can think of it like that if you like, but it's a simplistic view of this election. They may have thrown a lot of money at this election, but that's all they did. IL Repubs organization is in shambles and they were working with a proven bad candidate. Yes, democratic enthusiasm is high but this particular election had a number of other factors that need to be considered.

That's a fair response. Spending a lot of money doesn't seem to be helping them though, because Americans are tired of the republics this election season. I was pointing out that the only they really can win is to steal it again. That's all.

Bangkok Bob ☻ @ 62:

hmmmm, maybe Americans are waking up and getting off the couch now that the economy has gotten so bad. Price of oil is costing in every aspect of life, higher food cost, high goods that have to be delivered by any means, loans not available unless you have an equity worth half the value of your property.

yep, the old pocketbook is still the driving force in America. I wonder how bad the economy will have to get before the evangelicals except gays and stem cell research. I mean, it seems everything has its price in a materialistic society.

I don't think they've woken up yet. The real wake up call is coming. Startling and sudden impoverishment.

Sorry, I didn't post the link, but it did work for me. It's a You tube on Nader.

Dahgrostab'ph-r-i @ 55:

jace @ 48:

Ron @ 36:

jace @ 28:

You make a good point but you have to realize that we have two of the weakest leaders, Pelosi and Reed, and it's their bad judgment that has been pushing the House in the wrong direction. If we get more people like Jim Webb who are willing to fight for what is right...and so far Bill Foster is saying the right words, we'll see how he does now that he got the job.

Call me a foolish optimist, but I believe in America and I think that we can wake people up and achieve our place as a Great country again. Republicans like to claim America is the greatest country in the world, but they do everything in their power to ruin any claim to greatness. Then after they fuck everything up they say I'm not patriotic enough because I want to see American restored to our true greatness and not just the greatness that appears on a bumper-sticker

I am optomistic as well and I want the country to do the right thing for the right reasons. It is after all what we're supposed to be about.

I just feel that I and many people like me got taken for a real ride by the Dems. in 06 and I am not in a very forgiving mood, even if it is Sunday.

They need to come out and make a better case for their actions or inactions as the case may be than they have made to date. I'll listen to them but no promises.

L.A. Confidential @ 67:

Bangkok Bob ☻ @ 62:

hmmmm, maybe Americans are waking up and getting off the couch now that the economy has gotten so bad. Price of oil is costing in every aspect of life, higher food cost, high goods that have to be delivered by any means, loans not available unless you have an equity worth half the value of your property.

yep, the old pocketbook is still the driving force in America. I wonder how bad the economy will have to get before the evangelicals except gays and stem cell research. I mean, it seems everything has its price in a materialistic society.

I don't think they've woken up yet. The real wake up call is coming. Startling and sudden impoverishment.

The U.S. Government’s total downstream liabilities and unfunded commitments (including Medicare, Social Security, Public Debt, Pensions, etc.) have now exceeded $53 trillion dollars (according to David Walker, the U.S. Comptroller General and Head of the Government Accountability Office). $53 trillion translates into a de facto debt of $455,000 for every American household.

This doesn't sink in to people who's max knowledge of economics is depositing a paycheck, paying bills, and keeping a checkbook balanced.

RayC @ 53:

jace @ 48:

Ron @ 36:

jace @ 28:
That is why it is just as important to get an overwhelming majority in the House and Senate. Even if diebold puts McCain in, the congress is who makes the laws. The other thing is to consider is the supreme court.

Agreed, however the Dems. had plenty of opportunities to put the brakes on Bush&Cheney with a simple majority and time after time they failed. They whined and cried about not having a large enough majority, which was probably true.
However when the shoe was on the other foot and Republicans held a slim majority they somehow managed to get things done. Their plan was almost always wrong and shortsighted, but at least they had a plan.

Bill Clinton accomplished a lot with a republican congress
including balanced budgets and surpluses. His wife or Obama will just have learn to do the same.

Oh will you people stop pretending that a 49D - 49R - 2I with the deciding vote to give the Democrats committee control coming from Joe Lieberman is some kind of big power base to make big changes. The Republicans set the all time record for filibusters 11 months into a 2 year congress. I am really sick of the "everything is the Democrats fault" bull shit.

Thank you RayC.

jace @ 63:

Britisher @ 44:

oops sorry jace...mucked up the quote there. Need more beer!

What kind are you drinking? I could use some.

Thanks for the info on the link, I got it to work.

Thanks also to Ron for sending it.

Sadly, jace it's the "king of beers" . I'd rather be sipping a 15 year-old Nacallan Single Malt, but I ran out of that during the last debate drinking game.

Thank Goodness that Rahm picked a decent democrat to run. Foster barely beat Laesch who was a kucinich style democrat endorsed by geniuses like Noam Chomsky and firedoglake. Had it been Laesch, Oberweis would be my new congressman.

broken bottle @ 29:

Seriously, people should be cautious about reading too much into this particular election.

Full disclosure: I live in the district and vote for Foster.

Oberweiss has a lot of money and has tried to buy his way into several state elected offices prior to this. The people of Illinois just don't want him. This would be his, I think, 4th loss and each successive run makes it look more and more as though he's just trying to self finance his way into any office that he can get into here and the general opinion of him is increasingly negative. IL Republicans just keep turning to him because he's an enthusiastic Repblican and he's cheap for them to put up as a candidate.

Couple that with the fact that the IL Republicans are still in shambles years after Jim Ryan's corruption conviction, Jack Ryan's senate campaign meltdown in 2004, Hastert's shameful retirement, and Obama's rock star rise to national media darling. The IL Republican party is just a disorganized mess and not showing any signs of rallying. Some districts may lean heavily Republican but that doesn't mean that every election is effortless for them.

At any rate, there are a number of things going on here that make this special election a less than perfect pile of tea leaves to read.

Foster scored a stunning upset, but I agree that caution is in order. I can't imagine the Republicants were so stupid as to not extract a gentlemen's agreement from Oberweis that he would step-down from the November rematch if he lost this round, given that they poured over 20% of their cash-on-hand into it. There's no way they're going to continue to throw good money after bad for a seat that should almost be a given for them, so they will either replace Oberweis or write-off the district off for now. As the district is currently drawn, Foster's future re-election efforts will be considerably more difficult against almost any other Repub opponent.

And to correct the record, it was Gov. *George* Ryan's corruption conviction. Atty. Gen. Jim Ryan was never convicted, let alone charged, for his despicable role in railroading Cruz and Hernandez onto death row in the Nacarico case. And Jack Ryan's brief, scandalous campaign wasn't that bad a blow - it simply brought attention to how badly the state party's fortunes had fallen.

on top of everything else i hear foster's a pretty good speller.

jon elrod and canuk please take notice.

RayC @ 53:

jace @ 48:

Ron @ 36:

jace @ 28:
That is why it is just as important to get an overwhelming majority in the House and Senate. Even if diebold puts McCain in, the congress is who makes the laws. The other thing is to consider is the supreme court.

Agreed, however the Dems. had plenty of opportunities to put the brakes on Bush&Cheney with a simple majority and time after time they failed. They whined and cried about not having a large enough majority, which was probably true.
However when the shoe was on the other foot and Republicans held a slim majority they somehow managed to get things done. Their plan was almost always wrong and shortsighted, but at least they had a plan.

Bill Clinton accomplished a lot with a republican congress
including balanced budgets and surpluses. His wife or Obama will just have learn to do the same.

Oh will you people stop pretending that a 49D - 49R - 2I with the deciding vote to give the Democrats committee control coming from Joe Lieberman is some kind of big power base to make big changes. The Republicans set the all time record for filibusters 11 months into a 2 year congress. I am really sick of the "everything is the Democrats fault" bull shit.

I am not suggesting that every thing is the the fault of the Dems. in congress. I am however pointing out that they failed in a big way to deliver on their promises during the 06 election.

We are still at war, we are still funding that war, we are still using the Constitution for a floor mat in Dick Cheney's office,
and the President still continues to run the country by decree by the use of signing statments. Not to mention evidence of wrong doing either destroyed or withheld.
Oil companies are making billions by gouging American consumers, the housing market is a bust, and the middle class is almost a thing of the past, but not to worry we did find out that Roger Clemens was using steroids.

Who would we suggest that we hold accountable?

Britisher @ 73:

jace @ 63:

Britisher @ 44:

oops sorry jace...mucked up the quote there. Need more beer!

What kind are you drinking? I could use some.

Thanks for the info on the link, I got it to work.

Thanks also to Ron for sending it.

Sadly, jace it's the "king of beers" . I'd rather be sipping a 15 year-old Nacallan Single Malt, but I ran out of that during the last debate drinking game.

Sorry to hear that. I did not think that the debate was quite that bad. Chin up better days ahead.

GO Illinois !

Britisher @ 73:

jace @ 63:

Britisher @ 44:

oops sorry jace...mucked up the quote there. Need more beer!

What kind are you drinking? I could use some.

Thanks for the info on the link, I got it to work.

Thanks also to Ron for sending it.

Sadly, jace it's the "king of beers" . I'd rather be sipping a 15 year-old Nacallan Single Malt, but I ran out of that during the last debate drinking game.

If you like highlands like Macallan 12 or 18 try Oban 14. Cheaper, more available (here in the US anyway) and just as good. Or if you want to move up, Macallan 25 or if you like Irish Whisky, Midleton's. Cheers!

BoilThemInTheirOil @ 2:

It bodes VERY well for the Dems. All of this hand wringing about Obama and Clinton at the moment will be anciant history by November. Let the process run it's course. We'll have one of them as a great presidential candidate. And in January, they'll have a solid Dem congress behind them. Then we can finally start cleaning up the Repug mess!

They will have alot of corporate fascist legislation to reverse, including laws that many dems voted for (back in the day of the "conservative majority" in america??), when some dems went to the right to keep their seats.

But what may prove to be the biggest asset, would be Atty. Gen. Edwards uncovering and indicting all of the sleaze from the Bush/Cheney cabal. If the american people in the midst of a depression get to see what happened to all of their tax dollars and their constitution under those fascist pigs, the republican party could be literally destroyed. May have to change their name back to the Whigs.

time and time again, the party's voters show pelosi and reid the direction they wish them to take in opposition to the administration, and just as stubbornly they refuse to accept their marching orders. they've ignored the end the war mandate by refusing to cut scheduling debate of was spending bills, they caved on mukasey, they haven't had the Sergeant at Arms frog march the subpoena hold outs into the house jail for inherent contempt, they've taken impeachment off the table, and even now with this kind of stunning house seat win and it's implications staring them in their faces i'd be willing to bet they're about to totally capitulate on telecom immunity.
pathetic.

lj @ 54:

Looks like "all of the people all of the time" TIME is finally here---or at least the "voting majority" time! Watch out though because the Repubs are good at fooling.

Hard to convice people that gay marriage is their biggest concern, when both husband and wife have had their jobs outsourced, and they just had their home foreclosed! Only about 19% of the public is that f-ing stupid, which is a really depressing thought, but not one that can stop the repuke karma machine.

bmw 528 @ 80:

Britisher @ 73:

jace @ 63:

Britisher @ 44:

What kind are you drinking? I could use some.

Thanks for the info on the link, I got it to work.

Thanks also to Ron for sending it.

Sadly, jace it's the "king of beers" . I'd rather be sipping a 15 year-old Nacallan Single Malt, but I ran out of that during the last debate drinking game.

If you like highlands like Macallan 12 or 18 try Oban 14. Cheaper, more available (here in the US anyway) and just as good. Or if you want to move up, Macallan 25 or if you like Irish Whisky, Midleton's. Cheers!

You guys are just killing me! My mouth, my nose and my stomach all say lets go. My pocket book keeps telling me to stick with the blends. What's a person to do?

Dewers I suppose. Oh well.

NoGWBpolicyleftinplace @ 81:

BoilThemInTheirOil @ 2:

It bodes VERY well for the Dems. All of this hand wringing about Obama and Clinton at the moment will be anciant history by November. Let the process run it's course. We'll have one of them as a great presidential candidate. And in January, they'll have a solid Dem congress behind them. Then we can finally start cleaning up the Repug mess!

They will have alot of corporate fascist legislation to reverse, including laws that many dems voted for (back in the day of the "conservative majority" in america??), when some dems went to the right to keep their seats.

But what may prove to be the biggest asset, would be Atty. Gen. Edwards uncovering and indicting all of the sleaze from the Bush/Cheney cabal. If the american people in the midst of a depression get to see what happened to all of their tax dollars and their constitution under those fascist pigs, the republican party could be literally destroyed. May have to change their name back to the Whigs.

Indeed, a Constitutional Atty. Gen. with some chops might rapidly right our listing ship. This appointment will be one of the most important that Clinton or Obama will make: and Edwards would be a great choice. I could also see Fitzpartick in that position (could you just imagine what this non-partison prosecutor would take care of if the Repug restraining straps were cut)?

All the wing-nuts are up in arms about this here in Chicago Land. Surprisingly there are quite a few Republicans that refused to vote for Oberweis. I think most of them stayed home.

http://www.topix.net/forum/source/chicago-tribune/TS5FFEMNEJV69721T

BoilThemInTheirOil @ 85:

NoGWBpolicyleftinplace @ 81:

BoilThemInTheirOil @ 2:

It bodes VERY well for the Dems. All of this hand wringing about Obama and Clinton at the moment will be anciant history by November. Let the process run it's course. We'll have one of them as a great presidential candidate. And in January, they'll have a solid Dem congress behind them. Then we can finally start cleaning up the Repug mess!

They will have alot of corporate fascist legislation to reverse, including laws that many dems voted for (back in the day of the "conservative majority" in america??), when some dems went to the right to keep their seats.

But what may prove to be the biggest asset, would be Atty. Gen. Edwards uncovering and indicting all of the sleaze from the Bush/Cheney cabal. If the american people in the midst of a depression get to see what happened to all of their tax dollars and their constitution under those fascist pigs, the republican party could be literally destroyed. May have to change their name back to the Whigs.

Indeed, a Constitutional Atty. Gen. with some chops might rapidly right our listing ship. This appointment will be one of the most important that Clinton or Obama will make: and Edwards would be a great choice. I could also see Fitzpartick in that position (could you just imagine what this non-partison prosecutor would take care of if the Repug restraining straps were cut)?

I's take either!

jace @ 84:

bmw 528 @ 80:

Britisher @ 73:

jace @ 63:

Sadly, jace it's the "king of beers" . I'd rather be sipping a 15 year-old Nacallan Single Malt, but I ran out of that during the last debate drinking game.

If you like highlands like Macallan 12 or 18 try Oban 14. Cheaper, more available (here in the US anyway) and just as good. Or if you want to move up, Macallan 25 or if you like Irish Whisky, Midleton's. Cheers!

You guys are just killing me! My mouth, my nose and my stomach all say lets go. My pocket book keeps telling me to stick with the blends. What's a person to do?

Dewers I suppose. Oh well.

Dewar's 12 is perfectly OK and not expensive. Or Johnnie Walker Black, Green , or Gold.

Scott in Chicago @ 86:

All the wing-nuts are up in arms about this here in Chicago Land. Surprisingly there are quite a few Republicans that refused to vote for Oberweis. I think most of them stayed home.

http://www.topix.net/forum/source/chicago-tribune/TS5FFEMNEJV69721T

Small wonder. Oberweis reminded me of Tom Tancredo. Goes to show you that the IL Republican Party still can't find its ass with both hands despite getting a lot of help from an incompetent Rod Blagojevich.

bmw 528 @ 80:

Britisher @ 73:

jace @ 63:

Britisher @ 44:

What kind are you drinking? I could use some.

Thanks for the info on the link, I got it to work.

Thanks also to Ron for sending it.

Sadly, jace it's the "king of beers" . I'd rather be sipping a 15 year-old Nacallan Single Malt, but I ran out of that during the last debate drinking game.

If you like highlands like Macallan 12 or 18 try Oban 14. Cheaper, more available (here in the US anyway) and just as good. Or if you want to move up, Macallan 25 or if you like Irish Whisky, Midleton's. Cheers!

Oban! Thanks for the tip. Oddly enough I prefer McCallan 15 to the 18. I'm no expert of Scotch, but ever since my Dad gave me a shot of "Old Antiquary" when I was sixteen (I don't think that name exists anymore) a Single Malt has been my expense account/I'm so broke so what the hell tipple of choice.

I think Jonathan Turley should be the next AG. I've listened to him and believe 100% that he would be the best. He would not only expose what has happened in the last 7 years, he wouldn't let the next pres get away with breaking the law either.

bmw 528 @ 88:

jace @ 84:

bmw 528 @ 80:

Britisher @ 73:

If you like highlands like Macallan 12 or 18 try Oban 14. Cheaper, more available (here in the US anyway) and just as good. Or if you want to move up, Macallan 25 or if you like Irish Whisky, Midleton's. Cheers!

You guys are just killing me! My mouth, my nose and my stomach all say lets go. My pocket book keeps telling me to stick with the blends. What's a person to do?

Dewers I suppose. Oh well.

Dewar's 12 is perfectly OK and not expensive. Or Johnnie Walker Black, Green , or Gold.

Hey, follow your pocket book and your taste buds! I've only ever bought one bottle of McCallan's and any Scotch is a treat. Plain old Dewars is my favorite blended--tastes great and less wallet-emptying. I've been happily drinking it since my teens.

Britisher @ 92:

bmw 528 @ 88:

jace @ 84:

bmw 528 @ 80:

You guys are just killing me! My mouth, my nose and my stomach all say lets go. My pocket book keeps telling me to stick with the blends. What's a person to do?

Dewers I suppose. Oh well.

Dewar's 12 is perfectly OK and not expensive. Or Johnnie Walker Black, Green , or Gold.

Hey, follow your pocket book and your taste buds! I've only ever bought one bottle of McCallan's and any Scotch is a treat. Plain old Dewars is my favorite blended--tastes great and less wallet-emptying. I've been happily drinking it since my teens.

Oh, BTW, classic set of wheels you have there. :D

[Deleted-Sitemonitor]

bmw 528 @ 89:

Scott in Chicago @ 86:

All the wing-nuts are up in arms about this here in Chicago Land. Surprisingly there are quite a few Republicans that refused to vote for Oberweis. I think most of them stayed home.

http://www.topix.net/forum/source/chicago-tribune/TS5FFEMNEJV69721T

Small wonder. Oberweis reminded me of Tom Tancredo. Goes to show you that the IL Republican Party still can't find its ass with both hands despite getting a lot of help from an incompetent Rod Blagojevich.

From Scott In Chicago's link:

"Foster is a horrible choice. This state is overburdened with stupid people voting for horrible representation. And don't say that its the Republicans fault for putting up Oberweis. I don't @#$#@ care if they put up Paris Hilton. Foster sucks. And you all make me sick."--Commenter CHI45

Methinks CHI45 needs a (((HUG)))!! :D

bmw 528 @ 88:

jace @ 84:

bmw 528 @ 80:

Britisher @ 73:

If you like highlands like Macallan 12 or 18 try Oban 14. Cheaper, more available (here in the US anyway) and just as good. Or if you want to move up, Macallan 25 or if you like Irish Whisky, Midleton's. Cheers!

You guys are just killing me! My mouth, my nose and my stomach all say lets go. My pocket book keeps telling me to stick with the blends. What's a person to do?

Dewers I suppose. Oh well.

Dewar's 12 is perfectly OK and not expensive. Or Johnnie Walker Black, Green , or Gold.

Very well then, Dewer's it is. Thanks for the suggestions.
All in all much more plesant than discussing politics.

Have a great day and stay in touch.

jace

ConcernedHusseinCanuck @ 1:

Pretty close contest considering who he was running against. Only winning by that slim majority begs to question......what the heck is wrong with people?

Party Loyalty. They'll elect a murderer as long as he/she is a Republican.

OBERWEIS

One more S at the end and that translates literally "Over White" or figuratively and in the vernacular "superior white". Strange but almost true!

Janet Hussein @ 91:

I think Jonathan Turley should be the next AG. I've listened to him and believe 100% that he would be the best. He would not only expose what has happened in the last 7 years, he wouldn't let the next pres get away with breaking the law either.

He would be my first appointment to the Supreme Court.

Perhaps then he could teach the Constitution to some of his less educated brethern God knows they could use it.

jace @ 96:

bmw 528 @ 88:

jace @ 84:

bmw 528 @ 80:

You guys are just killing me! My mouth, my nose and my stomach all say lets go. My pocket book keeps telling me to stick with the blends. What's a person to do?

Dewers I suppose. Oh well.

Dewar's 12 is perfectly OK and not expensive. Or Johnnie Walker Black, Green , or Gold.

Very well then, Dewer's it is. Thanks for the suggestions.
All in all much more plesant than discussing politics.

Have a great day and stay in touch.

jace

Agree with you there. And if nothing else, a pint of Guinness doesn't hurt anyone. Cheers!

Britisher @ 93:

Britisher @ 92:

bmw 528 @ 88:

jace @ 84:

Dewar's 12 is perfectly OK and not expensive. Or Johnnie Walker Black, Green , or Gold.

Hey, follow your pocket book and your taste buds! I've only ever bought one bottle of McCallan's and any Scotch is a treat. Plain old Dewars is my favorite blended--tastes great and less wallet-emptying. I've been happily drinking it since my teens.

Oh, BTW, classic set of wheels you have there. :D

And if you like the smoky taste of Islay try Bowmore 12 or 17. Perfect with cigars and reasonably priced. Personally I like Lagavulin 16 or Bowmore 25, more expensive but for Islay--excellent. As you say---nothing wrong with Dewar's---just splash it down with an ice cube and drink it neat. Enjoy!

A year or so ago this would have been good news, but considering the track record of the Democratic lead Congress....well, you know, the lesser of two evils. It just proves that the Republicans are in a heap o' trouble. Not only have they dragged our country into a deep dark sewer, but also their reputation and credibility as well. Unfortunately neoconservatism, which is reason our country is in the mess it is, is not exclusive to the GOP. Don't expect things to get better just because the Dems are gaining strength.

KayInMaine @ 39:

Don Davis @ 11:

Election Determines Hastert’s Seat to be Filled by TWENTY Democrats

Bah hahahahahaha! Just read this. Those were some huge pants to fill, huh? Wow.

I couldn't pass it up.

I bet Mark Foley wouldn't mind having his seat filled by twenty democrats...as long as their freshmen.

Just to let you know. Obama did make a commercial and open phone banks on the last two days. However, many groups and many individuals who want change worked and donated to Foster. Many of us supported candidates before who would have been great but could not get the attention of the Democratic Party central committees. I consider this a victory for the grassroots which is regular people using their own computers. their own transportation money, their way too short weekends and evenings, their family time, and their own cell phones to get out the message. We don't have big treasuries and work forty plus hours on other jobs to support our commitment to our nation. We will make America better for all. Congratulations to the grassroots!

cleo @ 104:

Just to let you know. Obama did make a commercial and open phone banks on the last two days. However, many groups and many individuals who want change worked and donated to Foster. Many of us supported candidates before who would have been great but could not get the attention of the Democratic Party central committees. I consider this a victory for the grassroots which is regular people using their own computers. their own transportation money, their way too short weekends and evenings, their family time, and their own cell phones to get out the message. We don't have big treasuries and work forty plus hours on other jobs to support our commitment to our nation. We will make America better for all. Congratulations to the grassroots!

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!

sharkcellar @ 105:

cleo @ 104:

Just to let you know. Obama did make a commercial and open phone banks on the last two days. However, many groups and many individuals who want change worked and donated to Foster. Many of us supported candidates before who would have been great but could not get the attention of the Democratic Party central committees. I consider this a victory for the grassroots which is regular people using their own computers. their own transportation money, their way too short weekends and evenings, their family time, and their own cell phones to get out the message. We don't have big treasuries and work forty plus hours on other jobs to support our commitment to our nation. We will make America better for all. Congratulations to the grassroots!

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!

I'll second that. Small groups of committed people can change the world.

I'm also from Chicago and all of Foster's ads connected this fat goof Oberweis to Bush....a very simple winning formula. November can't come too soon.

I wonder if Doc. Foster can explain to Republican Congressmen that Global climate change is more than a theory?

This Illinoisian is happy. I live right next to Hastert's district and this news has put a huge smile on my face.

Plus, Jim Oberweis was a tool anyway. He ran for governor but lost the nomination to Judy Baar Topinka. It had something to do with a really nasty negative ad. I'm glad he didn't win.

On the cost savings side of this election result of Hastert's seat.

The taxpayers shall not have to be burdened with purchasing "two" airline seats for "one" Dennis Hastert.

Every time Hastert would fly. So it sems the voters have just made a Gov't cost savings decision as well as a vote for a person that wants Gov't to make good on what it in fact is responsible for.

Where Hastert was hell bent on proving Gov't doesn't work to reinforce the GOP's assertion to Americans that the Dems want big Gov't that doesn't help.

The nanny state for the people vs the nanny state for big corporations. We know where the GOP is on that issue.

Thank You Sibel Edmonds!!!

(Or why do you think Dennis Hastert resigned??)

4% isn't that great of a margin, but maybe there is hope for the presidential election... maybe.

Add one more superdelegate to Obama.

Janet Hussein @ 91:

I think Jonathan Turley should be the next AG. I've listened to him and believe 100% that he would be the best. He would not only expose what has happened in the last 7 years, he wouldn't let the next pres get away with breaking the law either.

Bingo! We have a WINNER.

I couldn't agree more.

Jonathan Turly for AG!

Boy, would that send shockwaves through the re-ThugParty.

this is really

really!

really!!!

good news

heh...

Fabulous. Put HIM on the ticket with Obama and "feed Hillary to the RATS" (that part in quotes, I lifted from YouTube comments. It made me laugh.)

My home district delivers yet another rejection of Bush, Cheney, Denny the Hut and Co., excellent.

Maybe people are waking up and realizing that electing people to represent you in government who hate government is kind of...you know...dumb.

And anyone who doesn't think Obama is going to be great for the entire ticket is just kidding themselves. The party is on the cusp of possible dominance and this lady and her husband's vile campaign may lead to a huge blunder even by Dem Party standards.

Bill Foster is a physicist.

Isn't it illegal for a scientist to win in a Republican district?

If a Democrat can win in a blood-red district like this, it bodes well for Democrats nationwide looking ahead in 2008

That's exactly why Hillary's "swing state" strategy won't work. This isn't 2004. Dean has proven that the 50 state strategy is the one that will work and Obama has what it takes to win over the "red" states. If Hillary is the nominee, the red states stay red because they hate her (irrational or not, it's true).

Hastert served as Speaker of the House from 1999 till 2007 when the Democrats took control of Congress, but will be remembered most for his disgraceful behavior in covering for former Rep., Mark Foley, who was hitting on underage male pages while in office.

You think that the Speaker of the House throughout the Bushco 108 and 109th Congresses is best remembered for Mark Foley?

Iraq Resolution, Patriot Act, habeas corpus, torture, PAA, and many other seriously evil actions, right on his doorstep.

Fronting the Mark Foley scandal is like saying that he will be remembered for the charming way he had of turning sideways to get through doorways. If blog-memory is going to be as weak and tabloidesque as the conventional media, what's the point?

Even if the vile law he helped pass is ignored, there is still stuff like this, which is much bigger insult than Foley:

Hastert: New Orleans "could be bulldozed"
By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — It makes no sense to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a city that's 7 feet under sea level, House Speaker Dennis Hastert said of federal assistance for hurricane-devastated New Orleans.

"It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed," the Illinois Republican said in an interview Wednesday with the Daily Herald of Arlington Heights, Ill.

Chicago Joe @ 5:

Jim Oberweis is considered nothing short of a complete tool in my hometown of Chicago and has yet to win any election he takes part in (he's now 0-4) - but the national attention Foster's victory is getting is momentum for the Democratic party that cannot be matched!!

Finally, I'm proud to be a Democrat in the Republican section of the Chicago area!!!

yeah, Oberweight's running up quite a record of complete losses... Senator (2x), Governor, dog catcher, meter maid... he is now slated to re-run for this seat in November. His entire claim to fame is a string of IceCream shoppes and some kind of mutual fund company. Oh, and his insane rants about illegals when the key city in his district, Aurora, is pretty significantly hispanic. Oberweight ran a ton of commercials on local cable... all about teh illegals and teh tax and spend Foster who will tek yer money...

Oberweiss the Ice Cream Man = melted republicanism.

Hooray for the voters in Illinois. Good on you, folks.

actually chicago joe@5

oberweiss is'nt called the ice cream man out here.....

after 4....count 'em.....4 losing bids for election he's now known as the milk dud

Democrats have not stop the use of the corrupted , corporate-republican electronic voting machine, so they have to live with the fact that they will lose 3 or more percentage points of votes to the republicans.

FastMovingCloud @ 119:

If a Democrat can win in a blood-red district like this, it bodes well for Democrats nationwide looking ahead in 2008

That's exactly why Hillary's "swing state" strategy won't work. This isn't 2004. Dean has proven that the 50 state strategy is the one that will work and Obama has what it takes to win over the "red" states. If Hillary is the nominee, the red states stay red because they hate her (irrational or not, it's true).

That is true. Interesting that Obama helped Foster in Illinois. His district is 2-1 Republican. Could Hillary have done a commercial or appeared with Foster and had the same result? I don't think so.

broken bottle @ 29:

Seriously, people should be cautious about reading too much into this particular election.

Full disclosure: I live in the district and vote for Foster.

Oberweiss has a lot of money and has tried to buy his way into several state elected offices prior to this. The people of Illinois just don't want him. This would be his, I think, 4th loss and each successive run makes it look more and more as though he's just trying to self finance his way into any office that he can get into here and the general opinion of him is increasingly negative. IL Republicans just keep turning to him because he's an enthusiastic Repblican and he's cheap for them to put up as a candidate.

Couple that with the fact that the IL Republicans are still in shambles years after Jim Ryan's corruption conviction, Jack Ryan's senate campaign meltdown in 2004, Hastert's shameful retirement, and Obama's rock star rise to national media darling. The IL Republican party is just a disorganized mess and not showing any signs of rallying. Some districts may lean heavily Republican but that doesn't mean that every election is effortless for them.

At any rate, there are a number of things going on here that make this special election a less than perfect pile of tea leaves to read.

Dont forget the last Republican Gov. of Illinois, George Ryan, is in prison. Always bad for ones party. These people are simply trying to finance a position into increasing their wealth, like Hastert did with the highway through land he just purchased abnd resold.

NPR this morning kept saying it was won in a tight race. Is 4 percentage points tight?

Brian @ 74:

Thank Goodness that Rahm picked a decent democrat to run. Foster barely beat Laesch who was a kucinich style democrat endorsed by geniuses like Noam Chomsky and firedoglake. Had it been Laesch, Oberweis would be my new congressman.

Laesch, who was an unknown at the time, picked up 40% of the vote when he ran against Hastert - running on a shoestring campaign budget at that. That was a phenomenal accomplishment. There were so many problems in so many precincts for the primary election that the Laesch campaign has filed for a discovery recount for the primary for the November ballot. He's a strong candidate. I'd love to have him represent us.

these House dudes are going to give their support for Obama. Many of them believe that if he is the nominee, many of them have better chances of getting re-elected to the House.

Obama is the nominee, the Super House Delegates will say so.

You see folks, this is what I'm talking about and this is what we need to be working twards, all over this country.

And it is going on folks. All over this country we are making progress and getting rid of some of this garbage we have in our system.

We can thank Senator Obama for helping with this one because it was a major victory.

This was one of the ugliest contests I have been a witness to in my lifetime. You could not turn on the TV from 4-7 pm without seeing a negative ad from both of them. Foster got a head start, but Oberweiss over the last 5 days just bought up all kinds of air time on TV and Radio and still lost.

You should've seen people turn their heads away when an Oberweiss ad would come on, it was encouraging.

If the Hasard bastards is still gettting his pension, we still have alot of work to do.

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