Daily Kos

Tag: Ray LaHood

Red to Blue for IL-18?

Mon Jul 07, 2008 at 12:49:16 PM PDT

I have diaried this before, but am doing it again, because I have personally met with Colleen Callahan, and having had such a great meeting with her, one on one - am now a committed vote and volunteer. So here's my little plug for her candidacy.

She is running for the seat that has been held by Ray LaHood for 7 terms, and prior to him, Robert "Bob" Michel from 1957 till 1995 (that's a lot of terms), whose predecessor was Harold Velde from 1949-1957, and Wikipedia says that before him it was Edward Jenison, another Republican, but the dates don't seem to gel. So IL-18 has been held by a Republican since 1949 at the very least, and if we count since 1947 - that's 61 years. Too long, my friends.

There is hope for the IL-18th

Sat Dec 08, 2007 at 06:53:16 PM PDT

Yesterday Dick Versace dropped out of the race. As the only Democrat running he was a lock.

The question is "What Now?"

Republican's have held the IL 18th since 1917. While that sounds bad I spent the day with family in the 18th today and I can tell you that everyone of them, all Republicans want CHANGE.

I believe it likely that our candidate will face Aaron Schock who would sell  NUCLEAR WEAPONS to other nations.

This is could win seat.

So what's next

Breaking: NO democrat running in IL 18th!

Fri Dec 07, 2007 at 05:35:25 PM PDT

Hello DNC???? Central IL calling........HELLO???

I sure hope the DNC is watching us in Central IL today.

As of today there is not Democratic canidate for 18th Congressional District as Dick Versace has dropped out of the race for Personal reasons. This is Ray LaHood's seat which is open as he is retiring.

Versace is doing one thing I have NEVER seen anyone else do.....Return ALL the money.

Poll

Will we win the IL-18

10%7 votes
20%13 votes
68%44 votes

| 64 votes | Vote | Results

They Don't Give A Dam About Louisiana, Florida,

Mon Nov 05, 2007 at 10:48:57 AM PDT

Illinois, or any of the other states that would be impacted by this legislation, and the misspelling is intentional.

Reason being, while Bush has vetoed the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA), that would have funded improving New Orleans' levees and Louisiana coastal restoration, and would have helped save the Florida Everglades, among other projects, the Bush Administration plans to spend $10 billion on a dam in Iraq!

This is one of the worst examples of misplaced priorities on the part of the Bush Administration I've seen lately, not to mention a broken promise to the city and the people of New Orleans. It would be fabulous if Bush's veto is promptly overridden, but I'm not overly optimistic, for reasons I'll go into below.

Poll

To you, which is the bigger priority?

87%29 votes
12%4 votes

| 33 votes | Vote | Results

Predictions & Strategies (w/poll)

Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 10:42:06 PM PDT

Republicans are predicting that Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic candidate for 2008 because it would benefit them.

That's the long and the short of it. I've known for several months that a Clinton nomination would be polarizing and easily would benefit the Republicans, who have mountains of things to dish at her and her husband. Why is the press buoying that?

Somehow, the (still-conservatively-held) press has it as a neck-and-neck race between Ms. Clinton and Mr. Obama--that is, a white woman vs. a black man. Who would you rather see in the White House? the media asks.

Poll

Who is the Democratic frontrunner, in your book?

1%2 votes
29%41 votes
0%1 votes
39%55 votes
2%4 votes
2%4 votes
21%30 votes
0%1 votes

| 138 votes | Vote | Results

Weller's Officially Out! Versace is In! (and Weller's people beat up a reporter!)

Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 01:17:37 PM PDT

Big news from the Land of Lincoln today.  As was rumored, Jerry Weller (R-Guatemala) announced that he will NOT run for re-election.

Former Bradley and Indiana Pacers Head Coach Dick Versace also announced he will run for Ray LaHood's seat.  

And Jerry Weller's staff decided to beat up a couple of reporters at the event where Weller announced his retirement.

Republicans angry at Bush over healthcare for children

Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 09:24:51 AM PDT

If one wants any proof that the years of tireless advocacy for healthcare reform and protecting the rights of children have paid some dividends, one need look no further than the Republican outrage over Bush's plan to veto the pending State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).  Years have shifted the Overton window to the point where Republicans have to at least pretend to care about sick children.

That's right.  

Republican outrage.

In defense of federal spending on behalf of children.

The remarkable pull quotes below.

House GOP Retirements Grow

Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 12:32:43 PM PDT

A slew of veteran House Republicans are retiring (US News & World Report)

The most high profile of the retirements is former Speaker Dennis Hastert's, which is slated for a Friday announcement.

Another is Ohio Rep. Deborah Pryce, who was the No. 4 House Republican before the 2006 election, said she'd retire at the end of her term.

The other recent high-profile Republican retirement announcement came from Illinois Rep. Ray LaHood.

"With yet another open seat to defend, this is a significant blow to national Republicans already burdened with a record of standing with George Bush at the expense of a new direction in Iraq and change here in America," said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Doug Thornell.

Recipie for a wave: GOP House retirements grow

Wed Aug 15, 2007 at 12:07:57 PM PDT

The news keeps getting better and better for a potential expansion of the Democratic majority in the House.  Several prominent Republicans have recently announced they are retiring, making the Republican National Congressional Committee's ability to avoid greater losses next year even more difficult.  In recent weeks, five seats in Illinois and Ohio have opened up, providing a great advantage to House Democrats.  

These two states play to Democrats' strengths in 2008.  Illinois voted for Kerry in 2004, and Gore in 2000.  Even an unpopular Democratic governor managed an easy win in 2006, making Illinois a reliably Democratic state in 2008.  If that was not enough, one of two candidates with ties to the state (Obama and Clinton) could top the ticket, making odds of an energized Democratic base and depressed Republican base more likely.

Details about Ohio, specific seats that are opening, and more broad analysis after the jump.

HOUSE RETIREMENT WATCH: LaHood retires, Hastert (and more) next?

Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 07:44:57 AM PDT

One of the trends that allowed Republicans to enjoy a huge wave election in 1994 was the retirement of several Democratic incumbents from the House and Senate that year.  Even in districts where Democrats retained the open seats, the party had to expend finite resources that couldn't be used elsewhere.  Rumors of similar retirements on the Republican side this cycle are strong; in recent days Robert Novak has floated the rumor that Denny Hastert would step down, and Ohio Rep. Ralph Regula gave an interview this week that strongly inferred he would retire.

Yesterday MrLiberal wrote a diary alerting us that Peoria Rep. Ray LaHood might announce his retirement today.  Rich Miller now confirms that Ray LaHood is leaving the House.  More on his announcement after the jump.

IL-18: Ray LaHood (R) to retire in 2008 - opportunity?

Thu Jul 26, 2007 at 04:34:23 PM PDT

Hey Kossacks,

I just got back from an enjoyable vacation, including some time at the 2007 YDA conference in Dallas, TX. I'm proud to say that I'm now the Secretary of YDA's Jewish Caucus, which means (in part) that I'll be charge of expanding our membership outreach over the next two years. So, you can expect me to occasionally talk about why voting Democratic is best for the Jewish people, and for Israel supporters in general.

Now, on to business. I just read online at the well-respected Illinois blog "Capitol Fax" that Congressman Ray LaHood (R- IL18) will be leaving Congress at the end of 2008. As I'm typing this, LaHood has announced the news on a Peoria radio station: http://abclocal.go.com/...

White House berates GOP congressmen who met with Bush

Fri May 11, 2007 at 02:18:07 PM PDT

How does the Bush Administration react after being approached by congressional Republicans who are concerned about the situation in Iraq? It publicly berates them, of course. Just in from The Hill:

Top Bush administration officials lashed out at a pair of House Republicans at the White House yesterday after details about a contentious meeting between President Bush and GOP legislators were leaked to the media earlier this week.

Reps. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) attracted the ire of White House officials for allegedly speaking to reporters about a Tuesday meeting between Bush and centrist Republicans on the Iraq war. Details of the contentious meeting first emerged Wednesday evening and attracted Page 1 headlines yesterday.

Unbelievable. Read on...

More local action on Republican troop killers

Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 01:21:52 PM PDT

The drubbing continues from this morning...

Eye on Williamson
, on John Carter

[I]f supporting the troops means holding the President accountable and making sure our soldiers and Marines are well rested, well prepared, have healthcare, have body [armor], and armored Humvees then you can count out the Congressman whose district includes the largest Military Base in the United States of America. He’ll vote the party line instead.

Calitics, on John Doolittle and Jerry Lewis

But what else do they have in common, I mean, besides the fact that they are both corrupt? Well, they both voted to continue to send troops to Iraq before they're combat ready and fully equipped.... So, not only are they personally corrupt, they are morally bankrupt.  Good work, California GOP.

The MountainGoat Report, on Mike Simpson

Is party-line voting more important than military readiness?  Apparently so for Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson.... [T]he readiness standards aren't excessive, unreasonable or arbitrary — they are the standards set by the Department of Defense.  Then why, according to Red State Rebels, did every Republican on the Committee vote to scrap that language?  Maybe you should ask Mike Simpson.

Prairie State Blue, on Ray LaHood

Ray has gone and voted to send troops into the war without protective equipment. Well done Ray! That'll show the both our enemies and our own troops who does not support our military. And about those troops not complaining... Don't forget that you also have to talk to the families of those that don't come back.

Missouri Politics, on Jo Ann Emerson

Jo Ann Emerson and the Republican Party continue to talk about supporting the troops while voting to do the exact opposite.

Burnt Orange Report, on Kay Granger, John Carter and John Culberson

Why do Texas' Republican Congressmen continue to vote against our troops and for an unpopular war?

While it would seem, at the least, a bad political move and at its worst, a vote to put American men and women in harm's way, that is exactly what they are doing.

Raising Kaine, on Frank Wolf and Virgil Goode

Given that Virgil Goode is an ethically challenged, globally ridiculed xenophobe and that Frank Wolf got caught lying about his visit to Iraq, a vote against supporting our troops won't help them in 2008.

IdahoRocks, on Mike Simpson

Way to go Rep. Simpson....you who have never served in the military, you who say you support the troops but then want to send them into war without protection. Once again we have an elected official who does not represent the best interests of his communities, his state, and the troops he has sent to war. Shame on you.

We Have Failed Our Duty as Citizens..., on Mike Simpson

What kind of message do you think our soldiers receive when they are lacking appropriate armor, weapons, training, and medical care? What kind of message do they receive when their food is spoiled and their water is contaminated? What kind of message did we send them with the Walter Reed situation? What kind of message do they receive when they needed more troops and were denied over and over and over again...until this pitiful, too little, too late "surge"?

D-day, on Jerry Lewis and John Doolittle

Not only have both of these bloodsuckers drained the national treasury to give their defense contractor and lobbyist friends precious booty, they have talked about patriotism incessantly, yet committed the most unpatriotic act you can possibly commit, signing the death warrants of potentially thousands of Americans.

Democratic Grup, on Jim Walsh

Republicans like James Walsh voted to send our troops to war without proper body armor. Dan Maffei didn't seem to be the guy to take him last November, but in CNY has to do the right thing on behalf of our brave soldiers and send him packing in 2008.

Discourse.net, on Ander Crenshaw, Dave Weldon and C.W. "Bill" Young

There really is no ‘nice’ name for people from a country as rich as ours who send other people’s children, spouses, and parents into combat without basic necessities like body armor, armor for their vehicles, or the weapons they trained with.

Capitol Annex, on Granger, Culbersonand Carter

[T]he votes of Granger, Culberson, and Cater were to send ill-prepared, under-equipped soldiers into war with zero accountability provisions.

Rochester Returning, on Jim Walsh

Walsh voted against this — all the Republicans on the Appropriations Committee did. Shameful.

De Magno Opere, on Ralph Regula

What the hell?! You support sending troops unprepared and unequipped into battle Mr. Regula? Is that not what your vote says in clear and concise terms?

A Seattleite in Idaho, on Mike Simpson

I've been accused of not supporting the troops so many times, at least I didn't vote to send "unarmored, untrained, unrested (and even, Salon and the Hartford Courant tell us, wounded and mentally unstable) troops to Iraq.

UPDATE:
Political Forecast, on Tom Latham

Tom Latham voted to kill American troops by sending those returning to Iraq, whether via the surge or not, by sending the unprepared.

The Freedonian, on Zach Wamp

[W]hy does Tennessee's own Zach Wamp go along with it? Does he wish to endanger American soldiers? Or does he simply lack the testicular fortitude to stand against the Republicans on Appropriations that voted unanimously to endanger American soldiers?

As Ohio Goes, on David Hobson and Ralph Regula

Regula and Hobson only seem to look out for themselves. Why else would they vote against a bill designed to protect the troops? It is an incredibly cowardly and selfish act. How can they drape themselves in the flag but not provide troops with sufficient armor?

Did Congressmen LaHood admit that the troops aren't ready for surge?

Thu Feb 15, 2007 at 08:48:08 AM PDT

It occurred to me while listening to Morning Edition this morning that Congressmen Ray LaHood (R-IL) admitted that our troops aren't prepared for a surge (something that most rational people know, but a shock to hear coming from a pro-surge congressmen) during an interview with Renee Montagne.

Here's a rough transcript:

Renee Montagne: "...yesterday on this program, Democratic Congressmen John Murtha did say he would seek to limit the President's attempts to send more troops to Iraq by requiring that certain readiness standards are met. What to you say to that?"

Congressmen LaHood: "The answer to that is that it's a very fine way of saying that we're going to cut off money for the troops."

House Intel Cmte: Hoekstra Witch Hunt

Fri Oct 27, 2006 at 05:20:32 AM PDT

This reminds me of Bette Midler's album, "Mud will be flung tonight."  

This time, though, the slinging continues in the House Intel Committee, according to Josh Marshall.  To recap:

* Ranking member Jane Harman (D-CA) released the summary of the committee's investigation into the corrupt practices of former committee member Rep. Duke Cunningham.

* Payback: Chairman Hoekstra (R-MI) yanked the clearances of one of the Democratic committee staffers and accused him of having leaked the Iraq NIE to the New York Times.  An accusation, incidentally, for which Hoekstra's staff conceded there was no evidence.

IL-18 (U. S. House), IL-92 (State House): What I did to win today

Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 06:24:47 PM PDT

Today was chilly, windy and blustery; the election is just a few weeks away!

This diary will discuss exactly what I did.  Ok, what I did was not that exciting, but hopefully it was effective.  And I have a couple of things to say about one Republican Representative, Ray LaHood.  

I have an earlier diary about this race:
http://www.dailykos.com/...

More below the fold.

Repugs play politics with security AGAIN

Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 06:54:39 PM PDT

Think Progress has the video of a member of the House Intelligence Committee admitting that he had the security clearance for a Democratic staff member revoked as political retribution.  This is just another example of ethics taking a back seat to power in Republican Washington.

Click more for a rundown, and a teensy eensy bit of a rant...

IL-18 (Peoria, Northern Springfield): Less than Ringing Endorsement of LaHood by local paper

Sun Oct 15, 2006 at 04:27:28 PM PDT

Today's Peoria Journal Star paper had its endorsement for the Illinois 18'th district.  

To the surprise of absolutely no one, the paper endorsed Ray LaHood, the Republican incumbent.

The endorsement was less than enthusiastic.

More below the fold


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