Democrats pick up a House seat in a special election to fill the vacancy left by former speaker Dennis Hastert. This was a pretty solidly Republican district (not a lot of leadership figures coming from swing seats) so count it as further evidence that the GOP's in a ton of trouble.
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A Pickup
08 Mar 2008 11:33 pm
Comments (45)
Apparently sick of convincing superdelegates, Obama has hit upon the innovative strategy of inventing new superdelegates.
*slow clap*
Well played.
Agree with Craig, that was amazing, phil.
I am glad that the democratic party picked up this seat, but look who Foster was running against. Oberweis is Alan Keyes without the intellect. That doesn't play well in Illinois.
The district includes Dixon, the birthplace of Saint Reagan. It's a great place to begin the year-long funeral for the corpse of the Repiglican Party.
This guy's a Fermilab scientist... I wonder if he'd make a good Secretary of Energy. Although that would have him spending less than a year in Congress and giving his constituents yet another special election to deal with.
Phil:
Best. Comment. Ever.
Obama cut a commercial for the guy, and set up a phonebank for him. He sent out email to his IL supporters (I'm one) with access to phone numbers on his website. I called something like 30 people (from the comfort of home), and I know 3 people who did the same. I wonder how many calls were placed?
Oberweis ran a sleazy, mudslinging campaign - heavily funded. Foster kinda lacks charisma, so it wasn't a gimme. Props to Obama on this.
running a SCIENTIST to replace a GOP hack had to be an especially bitter "f**k you" to the Republicans.
nicely played, Illinois Democrats.
Just another reason why Obama should be the Dem nominee. I would love to see Clinton pull off this kind of result in New York.
Simply put, he changes the landscape dramatically. He is the only one using the 21st century political playbook.
Yeah, I bet he has the gall to believe in evolution.
Just another reason why Obama should be the Dem nominee. I would love to see Clinton pull off this kind of result in New York.
Did Clinton do much of anything for House candidates in New York in 2006? I mean, I know a few Democrats were successful that year (Hall and Gillibrand, for instance), but I wonder how much of that was thanks to her efforts. Exactly what was she spending her 30 million on?
But basically, yes -- this is one of the central points of advocacy I've been (and others have been) making for Obama for a while now: expanding the coalition of Democratic voters, increasing organization/turnout, and widening up the map by putting the GOP on defense everywhere possible. I'd really like to have a nominee who candidates across the country aren't scared to be seen with, but who will actually go out and be advocates for their election (whether that's offering organizational muscle, fundraising, or appearing in advertisements/rallies for them).
It's weird that most of the news stories I've seen so far aren't really mentioning Obama in this, considering that Obama went all out to help Foster get elected. This is a pretty big victory for him.
"Yeah, I bet he has the gall to believe in evolution."
But not the gall to believe that evolution didn't stop once man spread out from Africa.
Granted that the GOP is in trouble nationally, it still takes some kind of (negative) genius on Oberweis' part for a Republican to lose DuPage and Kendall counties!
Most of DuPage is in the 6th. But it's not like Kane is a bastion of leftism, either.
I'm just glad I don't have to listen to any more anti-Foster ads. I hear he plans to raise taxes on babies, people named Bob, and even space aliens!
I am glad that the democratic party picked up this seat, but look who Foster was running against. Oberweis is Alan Keyes without the intellect. That doesn't play well in Illinois.
And what conclusion Benniefly2 do you draw from the fact that Oberweis is the best they could do to run in a 'safely' GOP seat?
Your mother was in a ton of trouble last night, Yglesias.
But...
Can the Democrats 'create' a new superdelegate, just like that?
I mean, we've been told for weeks now that 2,024 is the delegate number needed to become the nominee. I have supposed that that meant there were 4046 or 4047 delegates total (give or take Michigan and Florida).
So if they've created out of whole cloth a brand new superdelegate, does the total of delegates go up by one, and maybe bump the 'number needed' by one?
Or maybe Illinois was smart enough to hold back on naming all their superdelegates, in case tonight happened.
Geez, is this what it has come to!?! That I'm sittng here contemplating for 20 minutes the effect that one lousy delegate has on the overall race to the White House?? Please, please, somebody put a stop to this!
phil wins the internets.
Foster just has to be a really good constituency rep. for the next eight months, and hope that Pelosi (and especially Emanuel) aren't stupid enough to treat this as anything more than a gift. My guess is that the district hasn't had great hands-on service during Denny's years, though it may have had pork, and that it will appreciate a freshman rep who attends to the mundane stuff.
And what conclusion Benniefly2 do you draw from the fact that Oberweis is the best they could do to run in a 'safely' GOP seat?
Fun fact: Oberweis' primary opponent Chris Lauzen tried to legally change his name to "Chris Lauzen, CPA". I love Illinois politics.
...so count it as further evidence that the GOP's in a ton of trouble.
...if Democrats nominate Barack Obama.
[Insert Sinbad joke here]
All we need now is for somebody to get Hastert convicted of being a traitor to the US, as Sibel Edmonds has fingered him as one of the "senior elected officials" who are committing treason.
This one is sweeeet. I am originally from this district, and when I was a kid there WAS no Democratic party in the area. There was one and only one elected Dem for years and years - the coroner.
Oberweis is Alan Keyes without the intellect.
Oberweis is indeed a moron and lout, but I'd say calling him Alan Keyes is going a bit far. He's a xenophobe rightwinger, but not quite so nutty as Keyes, and he is actually from IL. Key to this race, I suspect, was Lauzen's voters staying home after a bitter primary. I'd also note that if Denny had run again, he probably would've won, albeit by a smaller margin than usual - Denny 'changed' (for the worse), and people noticed, but the power of incumbency is stonkin'. I'd also note that Lauzen might well have defeated Foster had he been nominated. I obviously don't like Lauzen's politics at all, but he is at least an honorable guy and a much more attractive candidate than the Schwienhund Dairy King
Whatever. Sweet, sweet, sweet. I have a spring in my step today.
"I mean, we've been told for weeks now that 2,024 is the delegate number needed to become the nominee. I have supposed that that meant there were 4046 or 4047 delegates total (give or take Michigan and Florida)."
I think so. I believe the number is contigent on the number of people who meet those requirements on the actual convention day, but I'm not positive. For instance, one superdelegate has already been eliminated - Joe Lieberman - for endorsing McCain. At least one of Maine's superdelegates has been eliminated because that superdelegate (I believe a former cabinet member or something) was actually residing in Virginia. I'm not sure what is happening to the count now the Lantos has passed on, RIP.
Oberweis ran unsuccessfully in 2002 and 2004 for the Senate, and in 2006 for the Governorship. Now in 2008 he loses a special election in a strongly republican district. Perhaps it's time for him to understand that people just don't like him?
"Oberweis has now spent nearly $9 million of his own money on six elections the last six years and still does not hold elected office."
Heh. Heh heh heh. Way to go, champ
There once was a pol named Hastert
Who was a right jolly bastard
Foley brought him down
That ass-fucking clown
Obama's help proves him a Master
Apparently sick of convincing superdelegates, Obama has hit upon the innovative strategy of inventing new superdelegates.
posted by phil
That was pretty good...Bottom line is the Republicans are in real trouble, and I say this as a Republican. Bad economy, failed President, issues of Republican corruption and failed ideas. Plus a war Democrats are determined to end regardless of cost. Shades of Watergate!!!
Just remember that what the McGovernites did damaged America more than what Nixon did. Caused the stab in the back of the Vietnamese, the Cambodian genocide, let Radical Islam play Carter for a punk and grow exponentially, a worse economy than Fords, Malaise. Dismantled America's intelligence abilities and set us up for 9/11.
Reagan only undid part of the damage.
Jimmy Carter of course ran as the Candidate of Hope.
Let's hope the Dems do not create a Carterlike distaster after Bush II.
********************
"Yeah, I bet he has the gall to believe in evolution."
But not the gall to believe that evolution didn't stop once man spread out from Africa.
Posted by Juan
Speaking of great comments!
Lefties are actually worse than that. They argue that evolution actually stopped 50,000 years ago before man even left Africa so all race and ethnic differences are "artificial constructs imposed on humanity" by wrong scientists and there are no differences at all between different human groups. Just individual variations in local groups.
Thus to Lefties, all differences in human performance, achievement, dysfunctionalism globally are the fault of governments, and of course, RACISM, not nature's fault.
Just remember that what the McGovernites did damaged America more than what Nixon did. Caused the stab in the back of the Vietnamese, the Cambodian genocide, let Radical Islam play Carter for a punk and grow exponentially, a worse economy than Fords, Malaise. Dismantled America's intelligence abilities and set us up for 9/11.
Wow, I had no idea that the far left wing of the Dems was so powerful. Of course the events in Cambodia had nothing to do with Nixon's destablization of that country, our coup against Mossadegh in the 50s planted the seed for a revolution in Iran -- we're still munchin' on that fruit. Economic malaise had a lot to do with inflation, which came as a result of the Vietnam war and high oil prices as a result of our meddling in the Middle East. WTF you're talking about with the dismantling our intelligence abilities, I have no clue, except that putting someone in the White House with Dubya's intelligence was a really bad idea.
Is this the Oberweis of real milk in real glass?
For instance, one superdelegate has already been eliminated - Joe Lieberman - for endorsing McCain.
That's incorrect. Lieberman isn't a superdelegate because he isn't a Democrat. (Same reason Bernie Sanders isn't a superdelegate.) Caucusing with Democrats in the Senate doesn't make you one for superdelegate purposes.
Mr. Ford,
The fascist Thieu government of South Vietnam deserved to be stabbed in the back, and the lot of them got exactly what they deserved after 1975. Too bad you weren't there to join them. Did you forget that it was the North Vietnamese government who did the world the favor of ending the Cambodian genocide in 1979? Forgot that, have you?
You're ex-military right? How many villages did you and your buddies burn, and how many little kids did you guys kill in Vietnam, anyway?
lh: Yes. For some reason, the dairy only runs TV commercials during elections.
Oberweiss ran a REALLY dirty campaign, including against his primary opponent. Foster actually ran a mailer criticizing Oberweiss for "violating Reagan's 11th commandment" and a picture of Lauzen's family with mud being thrown on them.
The stench of loserdom coming off Oberweiss is so amazing I'm tempted to start buying his milk again to see if he'll run for office again. Maybe he can turn the Kane County leadership democratic next...
You've got to figure superdelegates will be keeping this victory in mind as Hillary tries to argue they should install her.
I disagree with Phil above. Though his comment was indeed brilliant, this is a GREAT way to convince superdelegates. Proving that you can dye red districts blue, instead of telling national media that red districts/states don't matter, is a devastatingly effective way to reach superdelegates. Plus it plays beautifully against the substantiated perception of both Clintons as party-sodomizing selfish jerks.
Am I the only one that finds it strange that a company with a decidedly eco-friendly distribution method is owned by a hard right nut. I feel bamboozled.
Am I the only one that finds it strange that a company with a decidedly eco-friendly distribution method is owned by a hard right nut. I feel bamboozled.
(not a lot of leadership figures coming from swing seats)
Except for Senate Democratic Leaders, of course.
Maybe MattY could weigh in on the smear from a Mexico-linked group that the DCCC repurposed for the campaign. (Yes, expecting MattY to say anything about that is a joke.)
I not sure if it implies too much in this particular case.
Oberweis spent a lot of his own money to get the nomination and on the election itself. Plus, he obviously has some sort of organization from all of past failed bids. Therefore, he was able to, by force of will, overwhelm any republican opponents in the primary. If given two years to recruit and groom a candidate, I have a feeling that the gop will do better in that district.
What's most interesting about the Foster win is that he is a scientist. We need more scientists in the Congress and State Legislatures and fewer lawyers!
SLC writes: "We need more scientists in the Congress and State Legislatures and fewer lawyers!"
Why, because Frist and Coburn (both MDs) and Tom DeLay (biology degree) have been so very impressive?
How about if we settle for fewer assholes?
No, obviously we need lawyers in the legislature. The scientists should crowd out the businessmen.
"Am I the only one that finds it strange that a company with a decidedly eco-friendly distribution method is owned by a hard right nut. I feel bamboozled.
Posted by lh | March 9, 2008 1:02 PM"
It is kind of odd. It's like how Whole Foods is run by a crazy-style libertarian who thinks unions are evil and a lot of money from Tom's of Maine goes to the Baptist Church, which isn't what I think of when I think of New England former hippies using all-natural products.
"Why, because Frist and Coburn (both MDs) and Tom DeLay (biology degree) have been so very impressive?
How about if we settle for fewer assholes?
Posted by MoeLarryAndJesus | March 9, 2008 8:27 PM"
Bush got his degree in history. Does that mean we need more people who didn't study history? There's a difference between good scientists and crappy ones, just like there is a difference between good politicians and crappy ones. There is also a difference between having a science background and being a scientist.
Re MoeLarryAndJesus
Mr. MoeLarryAndJesus makes a fundamental mistake in assuming the anyone with an MD degree is a scientist. In fact, most doctors in private practice have very little training in science (this is particularly true of surgeons). The MDs with scientific training tend to gravitate to medical research, like Dr. Orac, and Dr. Novella.
Comments closed March 23, 2008.
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Heads in the Sand
Apparently sick of convincing superdelegates, Obama has hit upon the innovative strategy of inventing new superdelegates.
Posted by phil | March 8, 2008 11:44 PM