“Don't compare me to the Almighty, compare me to the alternative.” -- Kevin White, Mayor of Boston, 1968–1984

An honorable and ethical young Democrat named Ben Lowe is seeking the 6th District House of Representatives seat--the one Henry Hyde held for 32 years.

quote:

“...consider who you want writing your laws: a candidate who depends on contributions from corporations and industries, or a candidate--such as myself--who refuses contributions from the corporations and industries that they are supposed to be regulating.” --Ben Lowe, 2010

In this throw the bums out, anything-could-happen election year--when we all want to see government answer to us, again--it could happen.

It should happen.

Vote on November 2nd. We are the Special Interests who need representation in Washington.., and it's never mattered more than it does this year.

LoweForCongress.com

This is the kid with the quote of the day sign at Lorraine and Roosevelt, no?

I guess the Dems have given up on defeating Roskam

Hardly. Although DuPage County is loaded with voters who practice free-market, for-profit Capitalism as an economic system, not so many think it makes a good political system. DuPage residents are generally intelligent and well-educated and do not appreciate having lobbyists write the laws and control our government. In short, Senators and Representatives should not enrich themselves by working for the highest bidder.

(And the politics of “Hell, No!” can hardly be called governing, but that's a whole 'nother discussion.)

Beyond that, Mr. Roskam's social positions are anything but in-step with the moderate and even centrist social views of most DuPage residents. Educated and intelligent people think for themselves and don't drink the kool-aid.

The country has been here before... McCarthyism... The John Birch Society... the Goldwater era... Reaganite extremists... 1994's Gingrich... Bush/Cheney... now the Teabaggers... it's always the same disastrous package wrapped in only slightly different paper.

The fact that government can not and should not be “run like a business” is always rediscovered, and the pendulum swings back. Government of, for and by the people always returns, and greedy special interests go into hiding for another decade or so.

There are a lot of areas in the U.S. of A. where Ben Lowe wouldn't stand a chance this year. DuPage County? Don't be so sure. Right person, right time, right place.

LoweForCongress.com

ho hum . If Lowe gets more than forty percent of the vote it'll be pretty amazing.

The Dems put up some well funded candidates against Roskam last couple of times. Even had National and State leaders campaign for them. This time nothing.

So yeah the Dems have given up on unseating Roskam this election.

I'll grant you this: the teabagger candidates supported by a small but vocal percentage of the electorate (about 20%) are laughingstocks in the eyes of most Americans (about 80%)...

But the right wing has done such a good job of promoting their extremist candidates that their inane words and actions have tainted virtually all nationally elected officials and candidates--left, right and center.

The result (as carefully crafted by the Right) is essentially, “Oh, why should I bother to vote... they're all the same anyway..”

They're not, of course... but perception is reality. So voters become non-voters, and the huge center of moderates fails to go to the polls because of the “What's the point” factor.

In the meantime, the radical right does turn out--and they win. Essentially by default. At least... that's the plan.

So, if it works, for the next four years the rest of us will wonder why the economy continues to go down the drain, why the deficit continues to increase, and why our buying power is less and less.

And we won't be able to figure out why wall street, big banks, the oil, gas and coal industries, insurance companies and big pharma etc. are laughing all the way to the bank while the rest of us can't pay our mortgages, can't get a loan, can't retire or send our kids to college.

Nor will we be able to figure out why we're still spending zillions in lives and dollars in wars in the Mideast, and why the rest of the world won't do things our way.

Duh.

So yes, if moderate DuPage voters also think, “Why bother,” a tiny minority of right-wing extremists will see to it that Mr. Roskam keeps his bought-and-paid-for seat.

But in every DuPage election since WWII the percentage of Democratic voters has increased, and the percentage of Republicans decreased. Two years ago it was almost 50-50. Almost.

This year... could the Dems win? Mathematically, they should. If they and moderate independents vote, then definitely. If they all stay home and pout, then no.

Before you put too much faith in polls... remember the Ross Perot lesson. Perot was tracking very high in the polls, largely because (as it turned out) voters wanted to “send a message” to Washington. But when several of the polls taken right before the election indicated that he might actually win, reasoned voters panicked and voted for Clinton instead. Perot got only about 20% of the actual vote.

History has a way of repeating itself. After years of running on “The politics of Fear,” Republicans are starting to scare people. Just like Perot. “Send a message,” indeed.

From what I've read 1/3 of the voters classify themselves as Tea Party members. So hardly a right wing fringe.

The people who tend not to vote are the marginalized in our society. Poor, minority African-American, Hispanic. One reason the Dems are in trouble is that they probably won't be able to get that large turnout they did in 2008.

Roskam is a conservative to moderate which basically tracks with DuPage county. He has beaten two better funded more well known candidates. The last one by sixteen points. So yes he will win rather handily.

The Democrats look to lose a lot of seats pretty much across the board. The reason is that they are running with a weak economy and apparently with not much improvement coming down the pike.

As for Ross Perot. He was doing pretty well in the polls. Then he withdrew claiming the GOP was out to ruin his daughters wedding. That pretty much doomed him. He got back in but by then it was to late. Still I think he got something like nineteen percent of the popular vote.

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From what I've read 1/3 of the voters classify themselves as Tea Party members. So hardly a right wing fringe.

Largely because of the rural and uneducated South and Southwest. I think you'd find far fewer Flat Earth Society members in DuPage.

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The people who tend not to vote are the marginalized

Yeah, like my neighbors in the McMansions with four kids who have neither the time to vote nor any interest in local, regional or national issues that affect their lives. I forget the exact DuPage turnout at the last mid-term election, but it was embarassing. Around 50%, as I recall.

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So yes he will win rather handily.

Perhaps. You get what you pay for. Well, you get what Corporate America pays for.

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not much improvement coming down the pike.

Thanks to the Party of Hell, No!

Perot remained simply an entertaining good-for-a-laugh hoot... until, at the very last moment, people thought he had a chance of winning.

Beyond that, you completely missed the point regarding polls.

People don't necessarily vote the way they poll.

People who respond to polls don't necessarily vote.

This applied to Perot, and I predict it will apply to many teabaggers. Lots of fans enjoyed the antics of the Three Stooges, but I doubt that many would have voted for them.

In any case, polling is a very inexact science, and is becoming more so as caller ID helps people avoid unwanted calls and cell phones replace landlines.

quote:

Originally posted by taxpayer:
From what I've read 1/3 of the voters classify themselves as Tea Party members.

Could you source that for me?

Slightly off closer to twenty five to thirty percent.

tea party support

behind the tea party: Faux news
nytimes.com...

Rokam's donors (note no. 12...The Koch family.)
opensecrets.org...

representing ME? i don't think so. my doctors, Blue Cross, edison, Koch Industries...he's their man.

(Edited to correct improperly formatted link.) Posters — please use the “URL" tab above the text entry box. Do not post long URLs directly. Thanks! —Ted E.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ted E.,

Taxpayer: You really should run for office the way you parse the language and numbers. That article you source says that about 25% "identify with" the Tea Party. You think that is "membership".


And 20-25% is "slightly off". You said you "read" 1/3 are members. That would be 8-10% of the poll. "Slightly off" doesn't begin to describe it.

The true Pete Roskam was sitting next to Joe Wilson and did not flinch at Wilson's rudeness. But, if you like him, Pete will be the guest of honor at the Benet Father's Club Mass on October 24. Preaching to the choir.

HUH? Gabriel, you now support Lowe.

Wasn't it you that said "I know Peter (Roskam) and worked as a volunteer for him in his last two elections."?

RMK, "Wilson" comment not fair to Roskam. It was widely reported at the time (including the Daily Herald) "Peter Roskam cringed when the Republican colleague sitting beside him suddenly shouted "You lie!"during President Obama’s health care address to Congress." Immediately thereafter, Roskam issued the following statement: ""I was thoroughly disappointed to hear a member of Congress interrupt the president in that fashion," Roskam said afterward. "Congressman Wilson shouldn't have treated the president of the United States that way."

The Daily Herald? Accuracy in action?

The picture I saw told a different story. See here. No cringing. No look of "WTF?". Almost a smirk.

rmk, i certainly believe everyone has the right to choose where their children go to school. but i find it interesting at least that Roskam has chosen to send his kids to a private school, especially when he himself went to West, and his choices as a resident of wheaton are WWS and WN (both schools, i believe, consistently rank better than the d87 schools.) in his first campaign he was real big on his ben franklin/hadley/west roots. hard to have a real interest in the problems of public education when you don't put your skin in the game.

RMK - It is difficult to tell at what point in Wilson's rude outburst that image was taken. To call Roskam's expression "almost a smirk" only proves your own bias.

howdy - Does your standard mean Obama doesn't have a "real interest in the problems of public education" because his kids have always gone to private schools?

"Peter and I did work together effectively on a whole host of issues." Pres. Obama 1/29/10

"We've got to be careful about what we say about each other sometimes . . . because our constituents start believing us." Pres. Obama 1/29/10

It would be a refreshing change if voters could simply voice the reasons they support a candidate, instead of relentlessly harping on why they don't like another.

It is going to be a long 28 days to the election.

Sorry GEmom2, I am biased. Although he and I are fellow Father's Club members at Benet, I don't agree with Peter. Note that no one in that picture seemed surprised.

I have no problem with Peter's "real interest in public schools" just because he chose Benet. It's a wise choice, albeit expensive. He cares about the kids.

RMK. Article says 27% identify with the Tea party . Not quite 1/3 but again like I said I was off.

As for identity versus say membership. Far more people may identify themselves as Republican or Democrats than say are members.

What actually constitutes membership in a political party.

Identifying and supporting/voting for are miles and miles apart in similarity. Criminy, I identify with every one of my gay friends . . . but I don't swing that way. To understand and feel sympathy or empathy for someone or to relate to somebody . . . will that really translate to votes at the polls? Doubtful.