Comments on: IL-14 At Stake Today

By: ILvoter

ILvoter — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 04:01:57 +0000

I live in Illinois, though not in the 14th district, and I have watched Oberweis (known on local blogs as Obie) lose 3 statewide primaries after running horrible negative campaigns, and now he’s lost a special election after another horrible negative campaign. Obie is a total embarrasment, now a 4-time loser, and wasted 1.6 million of the NRCC’s under 7 millions cash-on-hand. Running Obie through the general will just lead to another loss because his high negatives won’t come down…ever. The NRCC should push him out of the race and run Lauzen instead. If Obie doesn’t agree, then the NRCC should not spend any money on that race and instead use it on one of the other 20+ open seats we will be defending. Republicans should really pressure Tom Cole to do the right thing and dump the loser before its too late.

By: Rob Lee

Rob Lee — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 03:08:14 +0000

Yeah, Oberweis certainly isn’t a party hack - although he aspires to be one. I live out here in the 14th, so I was able to see the race from the perspective of being a voter in that regard.

The way I understand it all, from what some of the players out here have kinda told me, the endorsement of Oberweis had more to do with Hastert despising Lauzen as opposed to supporting Oberweis. Because Oberweis had a lot of money to throw at the race, I believe Hastert endorsed him (the other option was Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns before he dropped out).

Problem is that Oberweis is a perennial candidate, so it’s evidence to me that he doesn’t care about doing the right thing - he just wants his name on the marquee. The man will not rest any election cycle until he’s elected to something “important.” Twice for Senate, I believe, once for Governor, and now Congress. Four straight election cycles he’s lost. We’ll see how the general in November works out, though.

Lauzen should have been our candidate. Not only is he a very, VERY good conservative (on most things), but he’s just one damn nice guy, too

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:25:03 +0000

In my opinion, Hastert deserves a lot of the blame for endorsing Oberweis over Chris Lauzen. I am not sure if I agree with calling Oberweis a party hack though.

By: Sam

Sam — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:22:47 +0000

Yes, Sean is correct about the corruption, but as Ryan pointed out, Oberweis was a poor candidate and lots of people said that from the get go. That is why I place a lot of blame on the GOP in Illinois.

If Clinton is at the top of the ticket in November we can possibly steal this seat back, but if Obama is at the top it’s out of our sites at least until 2010.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:56:25 +0000

Sean is right. We should throw anyone who remotely stinks of corruption under the bus immediately.

I think few are remembering the fact that the Republican candidate in this race was a poor choice to say the least. The Democrats across the nation are running a better candidate selection machine. Instead of running party hacks, they get people with little political experience but good real world stories. The Republican in this race was a party hack. Unless the Republicans can get candidates with better life stories, they will be in the opposition for years to come.

By: ChemistryDave

ChemistryDave — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 17:41:43 +0000

Immature, maybe. But thats always better than stupid! Gotta go…..the govt is watching what I type!!!!

By: Tallytowngal

Tallytowngal — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 16:21:44 +0000

Dave that’s how you reply?

You are showing your lack of maturity.. Grow up!

By: ChemistryDave

ChemistryDave — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 15:58:31 +0000

Tally: “People are not stupid in this country.”

Yes, yes they are. You are living proof.

By: Langley

Langley — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 15:45:38 +0000

Ah, more rhetoric - you’re still ignoring the most basic facts of the “spying” that you reference, but whatever, I’m not going to explain it to you again.

I fail to see what your argument is as far as CEO severance packages… last time I checked it was none of the government’s business.

By: Sean

Sean — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 15:17:58 +0000

Sorry, Sam, but I think this is bigger than the Illinois GOP’s incompetence. The NRCC is getting its clock cleaned by the DCCC and dumped about a third of its warchest into this race. Republicans are viewed as the party of corruption in large part because our scandals get more coverage than the other party’s in the media. So long as people like Cole go on defending the likes of Renzi and the NRSC goes to bat for Stevens, it is extremely difficult to change that perception. Yes, the IL GOP is incompetent, but there are much larger problems at the national level, and I don’t mean the ones that Tallytowngal is talking about.