Congress

I found this discussion between Senators Grassley (R-IA) and Schumer (D-NY) on CBS's Face the Nation truly bizarre.

Most of the segment was spent discussing health care in the usual superficial, made-for-tv way with a handful of talking points and the obligatory promise of "bipartisanship". I felt dumber after watching the thing than before.

Mike Quigley thanks his supporters at John Barleycorn in Wrigleyville for their help in achieving this progressive victory.

On Addison near Cubs' Park. The Election is on Tuesday.

It says something about a public official when amid the euphoria of them winning election, there's a nagging tinge of regret for what they're leaving behind.

That's what I feel about Mike Quigley winning the Democratic nomination in IL-05. Finally a bit of good news coming out of Illinois! On the other hand, I think most people feel it's going to be a challenge at the local level to find someone to fill his shoes.

I'd be completely happy with Tom Geoghegan as congressman in IL-05 but I have no idea why his campaign is passing around the endorsement from this guy:

"Democratic primary voters face a choice ... between a brilliant independent progressive intellectual and a handful of legislators with strong organizational links, a veneer of independence, and little indication of profound progressive commitment or intellectual imagination."

Did contact from the FBI prompt Burris to change his tune? From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Authorities interviewed Burris at his lawyer’s office, ostensibly to keep the exchange out of the limelight Burris has recently found himself in.

First we got the bum rush from Blago & Burris. Now it's coming from the Chicago Tribune. Notice the use of the word 'swiftly' in this apparently personal editorial addressed to Gov. Pat Quinn:

If they were able to find out this much about Burris without even trying, think of what they'll get once they start making an effort.

Actually there are two problems. In his testimony before the Illinois House Impeachment Panel on 1/8/2009:

Frankly I'm happy that the GOP voted unanimously against the Stimulus Bill. If things go well, we get the credit and if things go badly, they do.

Them's the breaks -- but ideology has consequences and the GOPers have helpfully lined all their ducks so unambiguously.

UPDATE: Lipinski votes 'present'? Huh?