The consequences of a Blago loss

[DanCa]

I was wondering if the really hardcore anti Blago people arent there arent focusing on the bigger picture.

First and foremost the democratic party is the minority party on the national stage. A blago loss would effect the balance greatly and shift us back into a further corner. A Topinka win would mean that the gop gets to set the agenda for Illinois. Remember that the gop wants to cut vet benefits, disability benefits, ban gay marriage, and outlaw restrict abortion. If anyone thinks that Topinka will stand up to the right wing base of the party, just look at Arnold in California. What a gop governor does and says is too different things. Most importantly is that Topinka and the gop will be able to influence the federal election in 08. Do you really want to see the gop gainning any more electoral votes than it all ready has?

Secondly lets look at the good Blago has done. He stopped the pharmicist for life crap, stood up for vets rights, pushed for stem cell research, and got health care for kids in Il. Sure he has done stuff that i disagree with. But he's human and a politician.

Thirdly I have parkinson's disease. My only hope for a cure is stem cell research The democratic party platform supports stem cell research the GOP Doesen't. That kinda trumps all issues for me.

Finally about the pension fund bullshit. Can someone please give me links to a story thats not a right wing talking point source? I swear that there are alot of Dem Posers on this page that want to see Blago fail and am disgusted by it. If your a rethug say your a rethug and
be done with it.

Of course I am a yellow dog democrat and I will vote for a (D) any day of the week. Just remember that the worst Democrat is still better on the issues than the best Rethug.

[davsand]

1. Better my asshole than theirs, I guess.

Blag may not have kept everyone happy in the IL Dem party, but he's at least ours. I'm gonna get a lot further calling Blag's people than I ever will if I am trying to lobby the GOP on an issue I care about.

Stem cell Is a big issue that will affect more people than just you, Dan. My Dad is in what is looking a lot like the end stages of heart disease. Stem cell has shown some very real promise in the treatment of congestive heart failure. Early testing has shown that stem cells implanted in the heart tissue can improve heart function a great deal.

While it isn't a cure right now, and nobody knows yet what the long term outcome will be, stem cell IS a treatment that can possibly improve the longevity and most certainly the quality of life for a large number of people. (Nearly 5 million Americans are living with heart failure, and 550,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.)

Stem cell applications for Parkinson's, Spinal Cord Injuries, and a host of other issues have shown some very real promise. We have to investigate stem cell applications further and the GOP will not push for that. Blag, at least, has.

As a pro choice woman I also look at the situation with the SCOTUS and I am very worried that Roe will be greatly weakened at a national level. My expectation (and I'm not alone in this) is that a great deal of the choice issue will revert back to the states. We stand a much better chance of women hanging onto control of their own bodies with a Dem Governor.

While that may not be a primary focus for some of you, I look at my 8 year old daughter and all the other little girls, and protecting their rights over their bodies is a very major issue for me. We simply can't put girls and women in a position where they may be at the mercies of back alley abortionists and other opportunists who feed off the panic and fear of women facing unchosen pregnancies.

Similarly, if we want to see a time when abortion is a rare procedure because women can do a better job of controlling pregnancy, we have got to do better at teaching on this issue. Again, the GOP's preference for the "just say No" approach is not going to work. Blag can help with that too...

Blag has pissed off some of the labor folks, but at the same time his administration has signed bills that have restored protections for workers.

I've admitted freely that Blag was not my choice in that Gubernatorial Primary four years ago. He IS, however, what we have now, and he is what we need to have for the next four years if we want to continue to progress in this state. I will fully support support him in the General and I hope that the rest of the IL Dems will too.



Laura

[DanCa]

2. Where on the same page Dasvand

I know Blago isn't the greatest but he's all we got right now. Keep your eye on thier prize, think of the good he's done, and vote. I am with you 100 percent, I am just tired of the posers on this page that want to see Blago fail, can't give him an ounce of credit for anything, repeat the rw smears, and pretend their democrats to boot. I am sorry for venting but I dont want my state to turn red again and tearring down our guy is not the way to win. Remeber better dead than red. :D :hug: I hope that were cool.

[dogman]

3. What are the alternatives?

Another Republican crook like Ryan, an extremist Bushy, or an Edgar type who will cut every program that helps the working person? I can't see any choice but Blagoyevich. The Republicans are such hypocrites. They created this deficit and are pissed that they could not force Blago to break his no tax raise pledge. He needs a way to communicate that issue and smoke them out. How can they demand fiscal responsibility at the state level and get away with supporting Bush. The message needs to be driven that the state is in trouble because of previous Republican spending and Federal cuts imposed by their Republican Administration and Congress. The message needs to tie the votes of Hastert and friends to the budget woes in Springfield. It seems to me this connection is completely ignored because Denny might get your town a new fire truck.

[benny05]

4. I would like to meet in person & discuss

I think it would be great if Chicago folks and Downstaters met to discuss Blago. I'm willing to listen to why he should be elected as long as the rest of you in Chicago are willing to hear us Downstaters about our concerns about Blago.

Can we? Would we? pax...

[DanCa]

5. can you please give me the links to the pension fund thing.

I really dont understand the number job - it seems to me like its a right wing hype deal just to cruccify Blago but I want to hear different view points than mine.
What scares me most about the administration is the fanatic theocrats who wont allow break throughs in medical science, and those "fiscal conservatives" who will gut disability programs that people like need to live off and pay our medication with.
I am sorry if I sounded harsh but this is a personal and scarey matter for me. Have a great weekend Benny.

[dogman]

6. Actually, I'm what is considered a "downstater".

I work with state employees and my county dem party has a large number of people connected with the state university. One thing that needs to be considered on the pension concern is that the same thing is happening to private pensions. This is partially due to the national economy and the lax controls and lack of concern at the Federal level. Pensions are being used in accounting tricks everywhere, look at social security. There is nothing good about it but it reminds state employees that they are not insulated and they must realize that this crisis was brought on by the Republicans and that no matter which Republican is in office it is worse for the entire work force. Sure they will make concessions to individual groups from time to time. That is just a ruse however to buy votes in the short term and to divide and conquer in the long term. State employees are faced with the same dilemma as private employees. Their pensions and jobs are at risk as long as fascists seek to advance corporate interests over those of workers.

[DanCa]

7. Well am totally out of the loop here, economics is not my strong suit.

But I really can't believe that Blago would out and out "steal" someones pension. But again I have been fighting for citezens with disabilities and obama, durkin, and blago is behind us 100 percent.
It's amazing how to good people can have such different views of one person eh?

[barb162]

8. Guvs take the money out of these funds and replace the funds

been doing it for years

[Creideiki]

11. How about those of us in the collar counties moderate?

We're not city, and we're not downstate.

From my perspective, the city has been neglected by the state for years. Some things that the city needs like improved mass transit (especially the type that would have a beneficial impact on the surrounding counties) cannot be funded by the city alone.

Also, when you look at the rural states around us, are they models we would want to follow? Is Missouri in better shape than us?

[barb162]

9. I want him as guv at the next election, I don't want another pug

in there. What was it, 30 years straight of Republicans?

[Chicago Democrat]

10. I wish there was a different Dem to vote for... Or an Independant

But Of Course I'll vote for him.. AND SUPPORT HIS CONVICTION FOR FEDERAL CORRUPTION CHARGES! Also notice how well he's behaving lately..


He's a horror.. and unmitigated horror.... a crook from day one. Blago's all mobbed up.

[mopinko]

13. link?

or at least something more detailed than broad brush smears?

[mopinko]

12. what i like about blago

first of all, he is a wonk. he loves his job. when he gives a speech, he could talk for hours about the state, and his plans, and how things can be better. now, i just like this, but it also shows that he is DOING his job, and not spending all his time finding was to steal, and covering up his misdeeds.
secondly, he's a god damn democrat, ferchrissakes. if roe is overturned, he will fight his ass off for choice in illinois. he slapped down those stupid pharmacists without waffling. he is expanding health insurance for kids. he is trying to keep programs for those that depend on them funded and working.
yes, he is making some hard choices as he cleans up from a generation of corrupt thugs. like so many dems, always governing from the bottom of a hole. but, i like him for that, too. when in a hole, stop digging. looks to me like he has stopped digging.
i think this pension thing is a serious problem, but the way it is being portrayed reminds me of the selling of a blow job as a high crime.
this party is sunk until we figure out how to resist the bait of media campaigns that hang dems for misdemeanors while thugs get away with murder.