GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - March 10, 2008

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- What if Oberweis withdraws? - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
(THE COMMENTARY: For decades, the Combine has dominated Illinois politics and the Illinois news media. The Combine wanted Obama to win in 2004 so it a) had the Illinois news media end Blair Hull's and Jack Ryan's chances of winning and b) forced the Illinois Republican Party to fill the Ryan vacancy with Alan Keyes instead of Oberweis. At the time, the Combine knew it could not dominate Oberweis. Oberweis had a chance of defeating Obama, but the Combine knew Keyes had no such chance. The Combine knew that conservative Keyes would make mistakes that the Combine and its operatives could foist on all conservatives. The Combine wants Foster to win on November 4. Tragically, it looks like the Republican who challenges Foster on November 4 will have about as much of a chance to defeat Foster as Keyes had to defeat Obama. But, if the Combine comes to believe that it cannot dominate Foster, the Combine could immediately end Foster's chances of winning. The Combine could, as it did with Hull and Ryan, direct the Illinois news media to trumpet Foster's divorce problem as being a fatal flaw. If Oberweis withdraws, who would the Combine want to fill the vacancy? Tom Cross, Kirk Dillard, Jim Edgar, Dennis Hastert, Alan Keyes, Bob Kjellander, Chris Lauzen, Andy McKenna, Jack Roeser, George Ryan, Jim Thompson, Judy Baar Topinka? If the Combine wants someone to fill a vacancy, either a) the Combine believes that it can dominate that person or b) the Combine is sure that person will lose to the Combine's candidate. Many believe that Oberweis' looking like he had agreed to be dominated by the Combine contributed to if not caused his defeat. Who does the Combine want to fill the Baldermann vacancy with? Many believe that Jim Thompson has the heaviest "Republican" weighted vote in the Combine. I hope that the Illinois news media asks Thompson about all this. But wait, the Combine dominates the Illinois news media.)

BEACON NEWS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Mike Cetera asks: Should Oberweis step aside for the good of the party and let another Republican take a crack at the seat come November? If so, who should that candidate be?
http://blogs.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconblog/2008/03/november_surprise.html
(THE ARTICLE: November surprise - Mike Cetera Did you hear the one about the upstart Democrat who cruised to an unlikely victory only to see his hopes for re-election taken away? Or how about the one about the loyal Republican who was tossed under the bus by his own party? Jokes? Nightmares? Or just Illinois politics? First, let's deal with Jim Oberweis. The results had barely come in on Saturday when the speculation began about whether the GOP would try to push him out in favor of another candidate come November. Statements about how this affects the national outlook aren't likely to help Oberweis' case: "It was a remarkable repudiation of Republican status quo, showing that voters all across America are eager for change," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, said Sunday. Republicans were quick to downplay the significance of the former House speaker's seat being taken over by a Democrat. Instead, they focused on Oberweis. Never a good sign. Republican strategists downplayed the importance of the race, insisting that Oberweis's past runs for office had badly damaged him in the eyes of voters. Oberweis, who owns a chain of dairies throughout the state, ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2002 and 2004, and governor in 2006. His previous primary campaigns were knock down, drag out affairs as was his primary win over state Sen. Chris Lauzen (R) earlier this year -- races that left his image among voters seriously tarnished. "The one thing 2008 has shown is that one election in one state does not prove a trend," said newly installed National Republican Congressional Committee Communications Director Karen Hanretty. "In fact, there has been no national trend this entire election season....The one message coming out of 2008 so far is that what happens today is not a bellwether of what happens this fall." Of course, Chris Lauzen probably didn't help. At the same time, there was no healing over Oberweis' bitter primary contest against state Sen. Chris Lauzen of Aurora, who did not back the GOP nominee. Lauzen had difficulties as a congressional candidate, but his decision not to endorse Oberweis sidelined a potent grass-roots organization that could have helped the Republican candidate. QUESTON: Should Oberweis step aside for the good of the party and let another Republican take a crack at the seat come November? If so, who should that candidate be? Now, on to Foster. He won. But there's still a challenge to his November candidacy from his own party. I'm guessing since the party bigwigs in Washington think Foster's victory is such a big deal, John Laesch is probably going to be getting a few phone calls with the not-so-subtle advice to just drop it. But should he?QUESTION: Is it time for Laesch to give up his quest to be on the November ballot?)

CAPITOL FAX
-- RICH MILLER: Now comes the big question: Will Oberweis be pushed out of the general election race? Republicans are furious that he could’ve lost Denny Hastert’s seat so convincingly. “He’s just not likeable,” was a phrase I’ve heard more than once tonight (SATURDAY, MARCH 8). Oberweis, for his part, said tonight: “We’ll have another run at it in nine months.” But pressure will likely be applied. I doubt that pressure will work, however. He’s a stubborn, if unsuccessful, politician.
http://thecapitolfaxblog.com/2008/03/08/oberweis-vs-foster-special-election/

ARCH PUNDIT
-- Bill Pasco's Feelings Were Hurt
http://archpundit.com/blog/2008/03/09/bill-pascoes-feelings-were-hurt/

CHAMPION NEWS
-- Oberweis defeat only adds to Hastert’s legacy - John Biver
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=850
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Oberweis spokesman Bill Pascoe said their campaign did not expect to lose to Foster. "I think everybody was surprised. We did not see it coming," Pascoe said. -- Northwest Herald news article, March 9, 2008 There is a gold mine of observations to be made as a result of yesterday's special election in the 14th Congressional District, and the news is already filled with them. For some of us in Illinois this is an old story, since we've been reading this headline for years: "The district was formerly a Republican stronghold but is now up for grabs." There are a lot of people who would ascribe this to "demographics," and though writers on this website have addressed this previously, we will again in the coming days. Suffice it to say for now that the notion that tens of thousands of Democrats are moving into Illinois is truly nutty. People are voting for Democrats because Republicans have not been offering a compelling message in this state for many, many years. Worse, when Republicans held power, they governed more like Democrats. One commentator has suggested that Chris Lauzen, who lost the primary to Jim Oberweis last month, is partly to blame because instead of endorsing Oberweis he remained silent. That argument doesn't make sense.)
-- Stick a fork in Oberweis and the Illinois Republican Party, they’re done - Doug Ibendahl
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=854
(FROM THE COMMENTARY: Some have been saying it for years, but now I have to agree. It's official. Jim Oberweis is unelectable. Like many others, I supported Oberweis for Governor in 2006 because Jim said he was a reformer. That message was easily the best thing Oberweis had going for him. Many of us were willing to look beyond some of Jim's personality weaknesses because at least he held promise to be an agent for change in Springfield. At the time, he was the best of an otherwise disappointing lot in that gubernatorial primary. But once Oberweis inexplicably jumped in bed with the un-reforming Denny Hastert/Judy Baar Topinka crew, he threw away his strong suit. Once Oberweis betrayed the trust of his staunchest supporters, it was just a matter of time until the next loss. Instead of building on a coalition that would have seen him as a leader long into the future, Oberweis cut-and-run in search of the perceived quick fix. Jim's made it pretty clear that if it's not about him, he's not interested. Oberweis and his latest friends can cry and point fingers all they want. But the simple fact is Oberweis lost because of Oberweis. The Milk Man brought losing on himself Saturday. The hero of the day is of course State Senator Chris Lauzen. It's extraordinarily refreshing to see an Illinois public official actually standing-up for principle for a change. Sure, Lauzen could have endorsed Oberweis. That would have been the easy thing to do. But it also wouldn't have been honest. It's true that we all normally like to see candidates come together after a primary. I'm sure Lauzen would agree. But there are exceptions, and this race was one.)

REPUBLICANS FOR FAIR MEDIA
-- Oberweis Loss Of Hastert's 14th District In Illinois: Plenty Of Blame To Go Around GOP Special Election Defeat Shouldn't Be Seen As National Trend - Daniel T. Zanoza
http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2008/03/oberweis-loss-o.html
(FROM THE COMMENTARY: Jim Oberweis' loss in the 14th U.S. Congressional District in Illinois is being reported as a huge defeat for the Republican Party by the national media and it is. However, the dominant press is saying the results of last Saturday's special election, to fill the remainder of former Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert's term, was an indication of things to come in November. Most reporting claims overall displeasure with Republicans resulted in the victory of Democrat Bill Foster over Oberweis, a wealthy dairy magnate. Nothing could be further from the truth. The reason Republicans lost the District was due to a rich man's ego, a departing legislator's greed and an Illinois Republican Party in full self-destruct mode. Many conservative activists and conservative Republican leaders begged Oberweis not to enter the race. Long ago, most political observers knew state Sen. Chris Lauzen (R-Aurora) intended to run for the seat, as soon as Hastert announced his pending retirement. In fact, many suggested Oberweis challenge a very vulnerable incumbent U.S. Senator, Dick Durbin. This would have been a perfect fit for Oberweis, but this advice fell on deaf ears, leading to last Saturday's disaster for Republicans. However, along the way, those who put personal interest ahead of good governance were planning what eventually turned out to be a catastrophe for all involved. I wrote numerous columns describing the trap which awaited Republicans, if Lauzen was challenged by another so-called social conservative in the Republican primary and, unfortunately, the worse case scenario became reality.)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD BUT NOT SURPRISING: Chicago Tribune publishes the Combine's spin on Foster's victory
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-foster-follow-both-10mar10,0,7609364.story (Includes video clip)
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Foster win a big blow to GOP Loss of Hastert's seat, Obama's rise could further hurt party in other races - Rick Pearson The election of Democrat Bill Foster to a congressional seat held by Republicans for decades illustrated once again the power of timing in politics—a contest framed by a sour economy that pitted a newcomer against a perennial candidate in a district shifting away from its GOP roots. As Foster made a special election thank-you tour Sunday of the massive 14th Congressional District that former GOP House Speaker Dennis Hastert represented for 20 years, Republicans and their losing candidate, Jim Oberweis, sought answers to prevent the same result in their fall rerun for the full 2-year congressional term. "I think it was an enthusiasm for something different," Foster said as he stopped at buffets and diners in Batavia, Elgin, Geneva and Dixon. But as much as the win by the little-known Foster reflected voters' desire for the elusive political factor of change, the election to finish out the retired Hastert's term that expires in January also was a referendum on Oberweis. And it symbolized the state of a listless GOP in Illinois that finds itself without a power base and plagued by infighting.)
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD BUT NOT SURPRISING: Chicago Tribune publishes the Combine's spin on Foster's victory
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/03/fosters_win_spells_trouble_for.html
http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2008/03/fosters_win_spells_trouble_for.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Foster's win spells trouble for GOP in House, Illinois - Jim Tankersley Democrats in Illinois and Washington are celebrating today, after scientist/businessman Bill Foster beat Republican dairyman Jim Oberweis in yesterday's special election to replace retired Rep. Dennis Hastert, the former Republican Speaker of the House. And with good reason. Republicans have cautioned against reading too much into the results and their implications for the fall elections. History, indeed, shows special elections sometimes foreshadow general-election trends and sometimes do not. But there are several reasons why this appears to be more than a typical pick-up of a House seat for Democrats - and why Republicans should worry in the coming months. Consider: This was not a "normal" seat in Congress. This was the home of the congressman who, until the GOP lost control of the chamber in the 2006 elections, was the most powerful man in the House. Oberweis was the candidate he backed to replace him.)
-- Investigations into Kathleen Savio's death could have political implications Drew Peterson's 3rd wife, now believed to have been slain, was initially thought to have drowned - Matthew Walberg
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-savio_politics_monmar10,0,1956170.story
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The second investigation into the death of Drew Peterson's third wife and a new autopsy indicating she was murdered have rekindled smoldering hostilities between former and current state's attorneys and fueled a challenge to Will County's longtime coroner. Kathleen Savio was found dead in a dry bathtub at her home on March 1, 2004, just weeks before she and Peterson would have finalized a divorce settlement. Her hair was soaked with blood, and she had a dozen small bruises and scrapes. An autopsy determined she drowned, and in May 2004 a coroner's jury ruled the death accidental. At the time, then-State's Atty. Jeff Tomczak was gearing up for what would become an acrimonious and losing election rematch with Democrat James Glasgow. Tomczak, a Republican, had won their 2000 matchup with help from an army of political workers sent by his father, Chicago water department official Don Tomczak, but the rematch played out against the backdrop of Don Tomczak's federal corruption trial. During that time, the investigation into Savio's death went nowhere, and questions about whether her case was adequately investigated have now intensified. Savio's sister, Anna Doman, said the family has long believed politics played a role in the investigation of her sister's death. Jeff Tomczak was supported by Mayor Roger Claar of Bolingbrook, the town where Drew Peterson was a police officer.)
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY VERY VERY SAD: If a group opposes illegal immigration, sooner or later, the anti-American Southern Poverty Law Center will call the group a "hate group"
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-immigrationmar10,0,5170486.story
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Report: Hate groups, crimes up Watchdog cites anger toward immigrants - David Crary NEW YORK - Anti-immigrant sentiment is fueling nationwide increases in the number of hate groups and the number of hate crimes targeting Latinos, a watchdog group said Monday. The Southern Poverty Law Center, in a report titled "The Year in Hate," said it counted 888 hate groups in its latest tally, up from 844 in 2006 and 602 in 2000. The most prominent of the organizations added to the list, the Federation for American Immigration Reform, or FAIR, vehemently rejected the "hate group" label. It said the law center was using smear tactics to stifle legitimate debate on immigration.)
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Combine forces reporter Jeff Long to find and promote a "lifelong Republican" who voted for Foster
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-foster-side-both-10mar10,0,122088.story
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The day after upset victory, Bill Foster offers thanks - Jeff Long Congressman-elect Bill Foster crisscrossed the 14th Congressional District on Sunday, stopping at buffets and cafes from Batavia to Dixon to thank voters as they dug into after-church piles of pancakes and bacon. "Congratulations," Cathy DeHaven told the new congressman at the door of a packed Paul's Family Restaurant in Elgin. DeHaven, 36, a lifelong Republican from Carpentersville, had been discussing the election with her husband, Gary, on the drive to the restaurant for their weekly Sunday brunch. As Foster elbowed his way from table to table introducing himself as the district's fresh face in Washington, DeHaven waited for a seat and conceded she had voted for Republican candidate Jim Oberweis. "I thought it was funny," she said of seeing Foster. "We were just saying how we felt bad for [former House Speaker Dennis] Hastert, giving up his seat and having a Democrat win it." Gary DeHaven, 42, allowed grudging respect for Foster's day-after tour of the sprawling district. "It's expected of him," Gary DeHaven said. Pausing during his own late breakfast at the Mill Race Inn in Geneva, Foster said Sunday was less of a victory lap around the district than the last opportunity he'll have to thank voters before heading to Washington. "A lot of our attention in the coming months is going to be directed toward Washington," Foster said. Foster did not attribute his victory Saturday to any particular dislike for Oberweis among voters. "I think it was an enthusiasm for something different," he said. Even Cathy DeHaven acknowledged that might be true. While some say Foster rode Obama's coattails, she said the Republican Party's coattails seem to be wearing thin -- and that may have hurt Oberweis in her traditionally conservative, Republican district. "Unfortunately, George Bush's policies are not very popular right now," she said.)

DAILY HERALD
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PHOTO: VERY SAD BUT NOR SURPRISING: Daily Herald promotes Democrat Foster
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=150579
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Foster eager to get to work in 14th Congressional District - Steve Zalusky What's more difficult, finding a subatomic particle or winning a seat as a Democrat in the 14th Congressional District? Former Fermilab scientist Bill Foster of Geneva couldn't quite answer the question Sunday when he thanked voters for making him the first Democrat in decades to hold that position. It's "a completely different set of brain cells," said Foster, who once participated in Fermilab's discovery of the so-called "top quark." By beating Jim Oberweis on Saturday and earning the right to finish Rep. Dennis Hastert's term, Foster did what once might have seemed impossible, winning a district held by one Republican since 1987, when Hastert succeeded another Republican, the late John Grotberg. Now, Foster will have until November to build a record he can exploit in the general election, when he will face Oberweis once again. Oberweis, of Sugar Grove, could not be reached Sunday, and campaign spokesman Bill Pascoe said Oberweis was spending the day with his family.)
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Daily Herald trumpets Stuart Levine and William Cellini as being a "REPUBLICAN POWER BROKERS" -- Who gave Levine and Cellini their POWER? It certainly was not people or organizations that really are REPUBLICAN.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=148602&src=143
-- 'Reformer' Blagojevich keeps state politics mired in the mud - Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=150408
-- Schaumburg GOP downturn the fault of Adelizzi - Kathy Manos, Schaumburg
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=150430

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY VERY VERY SAD: If a group opposes illegal immigration, sooner or later, the anti-American Southern Poverty Law Center will call the group a "hate group"
http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/834339,CST-NWS-immi10.article
(THE ARTICLE: Anti-bias group accused of bias Faces charge it is stifling immigration debate - AP NEW YORK -- Anti-immigrant sentiment is fueling nationwide increases in the number of hate groups and the number of hate crimes targeting Latinos, an anti-bias group said Monday. The Southern Poverty Law Center said it counted 888 hate groups in its latest tally, up from 844 in 2006 and 602 in 2000. But the most prominent of the organizations newly added to the list, the Federation for American Immigration Reform, or FAIR, vehemently rejected the ''hate group'' label, and questioned the law center's motives. FAIR said the center was using smear tactics to boost donations and stifle legitimate debate on immigration. ''Their banner may be 'Stop the hate' but it's really 'Stop the debate,''' said FAIR's president, Dan Stein. ''Apparently you can't even articulate an argument for immigration reform without being smeared.'' FAIR, which is frequently quoted by the media and whose officials often have testified before Congress, advocates an end to illegal immigration and tighter controls on legal immigration. In pursuing these goals, it says, ''there should be no favoritism toward or discrimination against any person on the basis of race, color, or creed.'' The law center said its decision to designate FAIR a hate group was based in part on the ideology of various people who established it, worked for it or donated to it over its nearly 30-year history. The center has issued a detailed report outlining its allegations, although little of that report deals with FAIR's recent activities. The center's critique of FAIR was endorsed by a major Latino group, the National Council of La Raza. The council's Cecilia Munoz said FAIR's leaders were polished in public forums, but represented ''a very unsavory set of views.'' Stein described the assertions of bigotry as ''a total fantasy.'')

ABC7
-- Foster thanks voters for win in 14th district
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6007477 (Includes video clip)

NBC5
-- Foster Celebrates Win In 14th District
http://www.nbc5.com/politics/15542621/detail.html?dl=mainclick (Includes video clip)

CBS2
-- Foster Thanks Constituents For Voting For Change
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/bill.foster.14th.2.673277.html (Includes video clip)

KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE
-- Oberweis v. Foster: Turnout low in election - Kate Thayer
http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2008/03/10/news/local/doc47d4e47265945743255129.txt

SOUTHTOWN STAR
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD BUT NOT SURPRISING: Associated Press promotes Foster
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/833969,031008foster.article

COURIER NEWS
-- 14th Congressional District: Few votes, a big cost - Dan Campana and Andre Salles
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/834144,3_1_EL10_A1CONGRESS_S1.article
-- DuPage County: Lobbyist eyed for EJ&E crossings cash - Paige Winfield
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/834208,3_1_EL10_A3RAILROAD_S1.article

HUMAN EVENTS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: 14th Congressional District: John Gizzi does a post-mortem
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=25404

POLITICAL WIRE
-- Upset in IL-14 is more bad news for the GOP - Nathan L. Gonzales
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/03/09/upset_in_il14_is_more_bad_news_for_the_gop.html

NEW YORK TIMES
-- Democrats Confident After Taking Hastert’s Seat - Carl Hulse
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/us/politics/10house.html

MADISON RECORD
-- Tax increases by Illinois Democrats jeopardize Illinois' future - Tom Cross
http://www.madisonrecord.com/arguments/208808-tax-increases-by-illinois-democrats-jeopardize-illinois-future

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Leitch, Risinger, Rutherford, Schock, and Sommer blast Blagojevich at Woodford County Farm Bureau meeting
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/03/09/news/doc47d4ac6da2fd6559568280.txt

ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH
-- VERY SAD: Casino issue always close to the surface in Illinois politics - Deanna Bellandi
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/4B09E1A206AE7C0686257408000E21D2?OpenDocument

HOUSTON CHRONICLE
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Anti-Americans trumpet their success in promoting more race based preference giving, more bilingualism, more amnesty, more guest worker programs, more mass immigration, and more progress toward turning America into Mexico
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5605684.html