Senator Durbin is great

[cal04]

It must be the water.
Talking about Clinton and saying I was there!
3 of Clinton's nominees in the same circuit denied hearings
great signs and proof

[Dudley_DUright]

1. He is doing a great job!

I hope more than just you and I are watching.

[vman13]

2. don't worry...

...I' watching too.

[Dudley_DUright]

3. Oh good

Welcome to DU vman13. :hi:

[vman13]

11. Thanks For The Welcome.

Here's another fact about Priscilla Owen. She once rejected the appeal of a death row inmate whose lawyer had slept through most of the trial.

[cal04]

4. Welcome to DU Vman

:hi:

[Hippo_Tron]

5. Payback is a bitch

So much of one, that the GOP has to chane the rules.

[Jacobin]

6. Wish he were my senator

Very persuasive, logical, fact filled speech.

[Dudley_DUright]

7. Wish he was mine too

I am stuck with Martinez and quasi-democrat Nelson.

[cal04]

8. Hell the Texas Supreme Court didn't like her

fellow republicans criticize her, fellow justices
geez

[Prodemsouth]

10. Alberto Gonzalez, Bush's AG said she was too radical, called

her a judical activist.

[FreedomAngel82]

14. Oh wow

Texas didn't like her? Now that's bad.

[indigonation]

9. Durbin and Obama

You guys in Illinois have two great Senators. You must be so proud.

[alcuno]

12. Illinois should be the epicenter of the Democratic Party.

We are a blue, blue, state.

[Hailtothechimp]

15. And not just the senators, either.

Durbin and Obama are a great 1-2 punch in the senate. But look at who else we have: Gov. Blago, Mayor Daley, Rahm Emanuel, Jan Schakowsky, both Jesse Jacksons, Luis Gutierrez, Bobby Rush.....a pretty impressive group. Now if we could only ditch that wrestling coach who is speaker of the house, take back Henry Hyde's seat, and disregard anything Rumsfeld ever says (he's from IL too), we'd be perfect.

But let's not kid ourselves. It's Chicago that makes Illinois blue. The rest of this state is like Nebraska politically. Durbin got elected to the House representing Springfield in the early 80's, but that would never happen today. Nor would there be room for Paul Simon in Southern Illinois anymore. Those days are gone.

[Radical Activist]

17. I think you're way off on that.

There are many elected progressives in downstate. Durbin was last re-elected to his House seat in '94. Lane Evans is a very progressive downstate Congressman. There's no reason a more progressive Democrat couldn't get elected to Congress from the seat being held by Dem Jerry Costello right now. There are many progressive downstate state legislators like Jay Hoffman and Mike Boland. There's no reason to think that a Simon or Durbin couldn't come from downstate again, in fact that is the best way for Dems to win statewide since Chicago liberals have a harder time statewide than downstate liberals.

One reason Democrats downstate aren't stronger is a complete lack of effort and commitment from the state party. Chicago Dems don't want to spend the time and money in other parts of the state that might elect people who won't be under the control of their machine. I think the conventional wisdom people in Chicago have about downstate is consistently way off.

[benny05]

16. Except for one thing

Our governor, who is a Dem, is also a DINO. Durbin and Obama are good.

[tridim]

13. I always liked Durbin because he talks like Super Dave Osborne

I think they were separated at birth.