The Real John T. Kelly Campaign Story Finally Gets to Print
Abdon Pallasch, well done and good for you! The Voters of the 3rd Congressional District, from the folks waiting in line at Bobak's, the Arab- Americans making a hard earned living in Bridgeview, the Polish girls who have to get up at 4AM to clean houses out in Bartlett, the Mexican American mothers cooking for the kids at Sandburg High School and then going out to Worth for the night-shift at Berry Plastics, to the Irish framers putting up houses in Alsip this has been a Happy St. Paddy's Day gift of the truth to the voters, in the morning's Chicago Sun Times. Abdon, I'm not a drinking man - I topped off years ago - but I'd like to buy you a glass of what thrills you the size of Terry McEldowney's head - he has Sanzabelt lining in his ski hats.
Here's an excerpt:
But if Kelly, 35, was supposed to be a plant, that's news to him, he said. The self-employed financial planner and pub owner is up every morning shaking hands at train stations, planting signs around the district, and going door to door in the highest-voting precincts.
Joyce, son of the legendary former state legislator and political strategist Jeremiah Joyce, has been close friends with Kelly since the two learned boxing together from Kelly's uncle Martin McGarry as children.
'He is a real candidate'
Boxing uncles Martin and Oliver McGarry are two of Kelly's biggest supporters, holding two boxing events this week that doubled as fund-raisers for Kelly.
Mike Joyce said he tried to talk his friend out of making the run because of the friction it might cause between him and his father and his brother, state Rep. Kevin Joyce, who are both supporting Dan Lipinski.
All of these Southwest Side political families know each other, the Joyces, the McGarrys, the Hyneses, the Sheahans and the Lipinskis, which would all feed into the "plant" theory but might also explain Kelly's surprising popularity and the number of Kelly signs sprouting up around the district, which seem to outnumber Sullivan signs.
"I think it was a smoke screen raised by John Sullivan because, obviously, John Kelly is out there working hard," Dan Lipinski said. "He is a real candidate."
Very classy, Mr. Lipinski you are getting there; but, John Kelly has arrived. He has made the efforts, like your father Congressman Bill Lipinski before, to get out and get to DO for your neighbors.
John Sullivan, and the political operatives behind his run at Lipinski, would have people believe what they themselves do not. Pallasch continues:
Challenging the conventional wisdom that the 3rd Congressional District, which takes in Southwest Side bungalow belt neighborhoods and a wide swath of the southwest suburbs, is conservative, Sullivan commissioned a poll that found the district was 65 percent in favor of abortion rights and 75 percent in favor of a timetable for withdrawing from Iraq.
Those are positions Sullivan embraces. Kelly and Lipinski, like his father before him, stick with the Democratic Party's conservative wing on abortion, and Lipinski has backed President Bush on the war.
That sure battles conventional wisdom. Rhetoric does not sway voters - it might help a tiny bit but people vote for people not what the "Really Smart People's Coalition Against Lawn Statuary and Mongolian Yak Polo" wants the voter to feel is an important issue. Mrs. Kennedy, whose firefighter husband died of lymphoma two years ago, with two girls at McAuley and an 8th Grader at St. Christina's, is not a thirty- eight year old woman with two jobs who wears hot pink 'I HAD AN ABORTION!' T-Shirt. Sando Perez ,whose pipefitter # 597 was deployed to Iraq with his Marine Reserves Unit, does not want a Gold Star in his window, but does not care to hear about Sullivan's Immediate withdrawal Plans. These folks have met John Kelly, he was at the benefit for the firefighter and he hooked Sando's son up with a tutor when the young Marine reservist needed to study for the Pipefitter's exam. By the way the names are fictional but the stories are real. They describe the qualities one wants in a representative, for Congress or any public service office.
Abdon Pallasch helped cut through the fog of the political wars. Good man!
34 comments:
Hickey, if you're so for the democratic process, why don't you write about the sham that is going to happen if Stroger wins the election. It's going to be the same bs that transpired with Lipinski, a backroom deal.
Madigan, The Daley's, 19th Ward, 8th Ward. They're all going to have a mafioso sit down and pick our next County Board President. Hopefully, it won't come to that, but from what I'm hearing, it looks like we're heading down that path.
It feels good to live in a democracy. Oh, wait, we live in Chicago, what was I thinking?
You're right, Pat. The Sun-Times nailed it, in that they mentioned Mike Joyce in the third line of the story -- he's been the dominant force in this campaign.
Watch KELLY on FRANK AVILA's live TV show on Channel(s) 19 and 21 LIVE on CANTV 10:30 to 11:30.
Kelly is getting endorsed by the Illinois Committee for Honest Government and is getting a ton of Hispanic support for marching in the immigration march.
I would have to say Walter is the reason for Kelly's success
Kelly is going to get a lot of Mexican and Polish votes because of pretty boy Dan from Tennesses vote on the Senssenbrenner bill.
Avila is calling every Hispanic household telling them the racist vote that Lipinski made and telling them to vote for Kelly.
Stop this hereditary monarchy in Chicago. Kelly is from the neighborhoods and for the neighborhoods.
Interesting omission: the article had enough room to dwell on Kelly's boxing days but failed to mention that he signed up to run as a Republican in the Primary Election of 2004.
Such information might have been useful in assessing just how legitimate Kelly's candidacy as a Democrat is.
The "folks waiting in line at Bobak's..." would also probably want to know this before casting their vote for him as a Democratic Candidate.
The only "political operatives" in this race are the incumbent and his allies who helped get Kelly on the ballot this time round.
Lipinski's kind words for Kelly -- "he is a real candidate" -- speaks volumes about the kind of relation going on between the two.
The reporter speaks of "popularity" for Kelly? How is this measured? Lawn signs?
Do we really want reporters measuring popularity by the number of lawn signs any candidate may have? Isn't that what polls are for?
Lawn signs may measure no more than that a specific candidate has chosen at a specific time to invest his resources in lawnsigns. George Bush & Co. had a whole lot of lawnsigns in Chicago and we see how well he did.
What counts is people on the ground, banging on doors and handing out literature. That kind of support either comes from a party machine (bad) or from a candidate that's inspired true Grassroots support (good).
At the Southside Irish Parade, the last major event prior to the election, only one candidate running for Congress in this race had volunteers handing out literature.
That candidate was John Sullivan and it was a great sign of his local support.
The fact that the other two candidates had NOBODY there, speaks volumns on their level of support.
P.S. Thanks for the load of rhetoric following your words, "Rhetoric does not sway voters...".
We'll learn to duck in the future.
Tom jefferson and the Idealists?
Did you guys ever paly at Mendel dances in the 1960's. Just kidding.
In all seriousness . . . here where's that quote from Tom and the band, now ? Ohe, here it is - -
'Madigan, The Daley's, 19th Ward, 8th Ward. They're all going to have a mafioso sit down and pick our next County Board President. Hopefully, it won't come to that, but from what I'm hearing, it looks like we're heading down that path. '
They are? I really need to start taking you 'progressives' seriously. Really. a a hAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Sorry. Really I should. Tom, I don't think that the medicinal dope law is legal yet.Aw, hell.That's O.K. a HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA...........
To Anonymouses 1:40 & 2:50 PMS
'At the Southside Irish Parade, the last major event prior to the election, only one candidate running for Congress in this race had volunteers handing out literature.
That candidate was John Sullivan and it was a great sign of his local support.'
Yeah, I saw some of that good campaigning, boys and girls. All of them. John Had a great perch up on Western Ave. right across from Cork & Kerry, Keegans and Dingbats - How come the Sommerville Sign was bigger?. I didn't get that.
Pat:
I think you nailed what this whole thing is REALLY about with the last sentence in your 3:17 post: Sommerville.
But anonymous at 1:40 makes a good point. The fact that Kelly briefly ran as a Republican in '04 and then dropped out makes his candidacy this year suspicious.
nah, not realy John explained all that months ago and as recently as Carol Marin's piece in January.
He's in it for the 3rd Distict. How many progressive democrats have bailed on the Party - remember Ralph 'tin-foil-hat' Nader and all of Greenie Dems?
It's only rock and roll, but I like it!
Hickey, you are a stooge. I just wish you knew it. Quit promoting the Joyce agenda. The best was when Mike Joyce MADE you write the article bemoaning the campaign of Alexi because of Dan Shoman. Yeah, I do, because you're nothing more than a mouthpiece for them. But that's ok. As long as you're fine with it, I am too. Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day. Sorry I can't tip a few back with you. Cheers :)
Pat Hickey: "nah, not realy John explained all that months ago and as recently as Carol Marin's piece in January."
I mean, this is really a joke. Not to mention that the guy ran as a Republican the last time round? Hello, people, BS sensors up!
Also, you're wrong about seeing all of the Sullivan Campaign at that corner. That was just one end of the parade. We had another group (and another sign) at the other end.
But you know, even if we had only one guy dressed up as Santa Claus and ringing a bell, that still would have been more than the entire Lipinski-Kelly contingent.
Every other campaign was out there: Stroger, Claypool, Alexi, Dart, a half dozen or so people running for judge -- but no one from the Lipinski-Kelly Campaign.
You people who've been in a couple of campaigns, what does that tell you about the support (or lack thereof) that the Lipinski-Kelly Campaign enjoys? Remember, this was the last major event prior to the election.
Leo,
Happy St. Paddy's! Mike Joyce? Tall guy? Wears and ear-trumpet and pomade on Saturdays? Used to sweep up around here. Same guy?
I saw a nice picture of Dan Shoman in one of the society pages.
"I mean, this is really a joke. Not to mention that the guy ran as a Republican the last time round? Hello, people, BS sensors up!"
You care. You really, really do care.
Sullivan is waaayyyyyy to liberal for the district, just as Lipinski is waayyy to right for the district, but John Kelly is like the little bears porridge with Goldilocks, just right.
Sullivan supports GAY MARRIAGE (sorry but the Dem Catholics and Muslims don't support that radical step) and abortion on demand including partial birth abortion and no parental notice and taxpayer funded abortion--that is the radical feminist and gay agenda not the Kevin Joyce, Ed Maloney neighborhood values Dem agenda.
Sullivan also supports IMMEDIATE withdrawl from Iraq which is not realistic and will create more terrorism and McCain said.
However, Dan chickenhawk Lipinksi has no timetable. KELLY has a realistic 4 year timetable.
Dan Forgot where he came from Lipinski voted for the immigration bill for 2 billion dollars to build a wall with Mexico and to make it a felony to be undocumented and a crime to associated with an undocumented--lots of relatives of the Irish, Mexican, Polish, and Arabs in the 3rd District would be criminals.
Lipinksi also voted for the Bankruptcy bill.
Most importanly Lipinski didn't know where he lived, and was appointed and annointed. Kelly believes in Democracy.
Sullivan is waaayyyyyy to liberal for the district, just as Lipinski is waayyy to right for the district, but John Kelly is like the little bears porridge with Goldilocks, just right.
Sullivan is about as moderate as it gets. The only place where he might be "waaayyyyyy to[sic] liberal" is maybe South Carolina or Alabama. Happily we're living in Chicago Illinois.
None of the issues you list happen to be supported by Sullivan so accuracy doesn't appear to be your strong point. Not surprisingly, this is also a problem with the Lipinski-Kelly Campaign that you're representing.
Hickey, really, you need to stop. Go play Bingo at St. Christina with all the other old folks. Your time is passed. Mendel closed 30 years ago. Seriously, I wish I could've had a beer with you tonight. Yumm, it was tasty. Beer.
Homer,
Mendel's Closed?
How can one expect John Kelly to be competent if he can't add correctly? Unless someone can show where he actually took in $78000 and spent none.
I expect John Kelly to be a great Congressman. He listens and talks to his neighbors.
How many Irishmen does it take to make H W mayor? Two, Byrne and Daley. How many Irishmen to keep Lipper in office? Same scenario, but we KNOW Kelly is a plant and his job is to split the vote. Pat Hickey is clearly a pathetic wannabe who is aquaited with Mike Joyce and Kelly. He writes all this B S to shill for them. The problem is he oozes bias and his "facts" are goofy (the yard signs??) If Kelly is talking and listening to Hickey, we have another reason NOT to fall for this sham candidate!! Hickey old boy, go sit in a bar and talk of the past with the other old sots. The best thing about your articles is each one is more obvious than the next. Bend over Hickey, sycophants like you always get theirs in the end.
Anonymous.
Here, sit down, breathe slower . . . that's better. Now, tell the boys and girls, do you really think you'll ever amount to much? There, let it out, sweetheart. Thaaaaaaaaaat;s better.
Now, get some sleep. The adults are busy.
Sullivan is a super liberal look at his positions and the IVI-IPO questionnaire
He is pro gay marriage
On the stump he says immediate withdrawl from Iraq
He is pro-abortion even up until the day of birth (called infanticide) and proudly claims so
This is a Catholic and conservative BUT Democratic district
Ever notice that when Hickey is presented with facts he responds in a sarcastic way? Rock and roll and I like it?, Sit down the adults are busy? You care you really, really care? Vain attemps at being clever. Thank God this has limited readership, as anyone who hasn't met the little runt might think all South Siders are as annoying as he. Pseudo-intellectual hacks like Hickey always pander to whomever will give them a nod. Tuesday we'll see Mike Joyces scam work and Lipper will win because of the votes his patsy Kelly siphones from Sullivan. And Hickey, what do you get from your little efforts?
'And Hickey, what do you get from your little efforts? '
. . .And still you come back for my small beer. As the purveyor of this modest product, the warm glow of satisfaction in knowing that the intended outcome landed with full fruition. Thanks for coming back; it means so much that old world craftsmanship is yet appreciated.
I checked Sullivan's IVI-IPO questionnaire. The only questions involving gay marriage were: 1) do you support repealing the Defense of Marriage Act; and 2) do you support a constitutional amendment prohibiting states from recognizing gay marriage.
Sullivan's answer to the question about DOMA was that he believed that the US Constitution controlled the question of whether states have to recognize gay unions made in another state. He also said he opposed a constitutional amendment barring states from recognizing gay marriage or civil unions.
These answers do not, as Hickey claims, show a support of "gay marriage." Try again to justify your claim.
The one thing these rambling confused blogs of Hickeys' have shown is that Sullivan is by far the better candidate. Those of us who search blogs seek verifiable information. Hickey offers yard signs and barroom banter. Fortunately those with facts are willing to respond. Perhaps the best thing to hope is Hickey will find a new hobby.
BREAKING SULLIVAN NEWS- Kelly Campaign Guru Mike Joyce Caught in the Act....
AND THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITY CONTINUES .... thought you'd all want to know the latest!
Last night, John Sullivan's campaign for Congress in the 3rd Congressional District put up 1,000 yard signs in the 19th Ward and Oak Lawn. This morning about 3 were left. The signs had been torn down over night.
That, evidently, was not enough for Sullivan's opponent John Kelly. This afternoon, Kelly Campaign guru Mike Joyce, drove his official Cook County car around the district to tear down more signs. He stopped out in front of the Sullivan campaign headquarters and his accomplice got out and ripped down all of the Sullivan signs in front of the Sullivan campaign office. Campaign Manager Andrew Moore ran out of the office and stopped the thief with signs in hand. In an act of courage, Mike Joyce drove off in his county car and abandoned his young accomplice. Later he called the kid on his cell phone and told him to take the bus home.
John Sullivan, who at the time of the sign theft was receiving the endorsement of the Concerned Latino Voters, said, "I can't believe that my opponents' campaign is more interested in campaign thuggery than in talking about the important issues in this campaign like the need for universal health care, a plan to get of Iraq, safeguarding pensions and protecting civil and human rights for all."
Sullivan went on to say "The county policy about use of cars is clear. They are only to be used for official county business, not political shenanigans. That county business hopefully does not include theft, vandalism and electioneering on a Sunday afternoon."
Sullivan received the endorsement of the Concerned Latino Voters because of Congressman Dan Lipinski's vote in favor of HR 4437. (Lipinski is Sullivan's other opponent in the race.) That bad vote by Lipinski served as the catalyst for the March 10 protest march in Chicago. Sullivan is strongly committed to the cause of justice and integral immigration reform that respects the human and civil rights of ALL immigrants.
John Sullivan can be reached at (773) 835-3106 Campaign manager Andrew Moore can be reached at (708) 221-3328.
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Press Contact: Kitty Kurth 312-617-7288
So the real story does come out!! I hope this is on ALL the blogs, papers and throughout the district. The families that expected the signs should spread the word too. Sullivan may be too progressive to some, but shows Kelly is too sleazy.
But wait - There's more! Lot's more. Look Up!
Give the old guy a break. This is all Hickeys got. Saw his lady friend, no Hickey. He doesn't know whats going on. Just what Joyce tells him to think. Poor old guy.
Thanks, Sonny. Got to rest up for the break-dance competition at Kelly's Victory Party. Leaving the false buckers in a glass of floradent that night, you betcha!
It looks like we won't be hearing from Hickey anymore
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