http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/illinois/chi-ap-il-xgr-statebudget,1,7111697.story

The vast majority of the public is under misconception that all parties are the same and that they have complete solidarity within their respective parties. An example of this is scene in Illinois as the Democrats pass a $56 budget from the Republican Govenor Rod Blagojevich. At first glance you would think the Democratic legislature would have fought to keep the budget from passing, instead of voting for the budget. Likewise you would think all of the Republicans would have been happy that the budget passed. But Peter Roskam gave the Democrats verbal notice that he thought the Governor's budget was dangerous and took us into uncharted waters, whereas a more even handed budget would not be nearly as dangerous. To many of us confuse political party affiliation with political ideology. As witnessed here in Illinois, we have liberal Democrats as well as conservative Republicans. All we can do is hope the voters take this into consideration come election day.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0604180268apr18,1,1261014.story


When you talk politics you generally end up talking about money, at least where canidates are concerned, and this week was no exception. Peter Roskam and Tammy Duckworth faced off for the first time and they were talking about taxes. The hot topic was the Alternate Minimum Tax (AMT). Duckworth took the stance that it was not hard enough on the rich and big business while taxes were inordinately harsh on the middle classes. Roskam on the other hand felt if it was going to be changed it needed to be changed across the board. Both canidates talked tough, but we'll have to wait and see if the winner puts their money where their mouth is after the election. Both of them spoke with conviction, but of course, they are politicians.

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2006/04/04/news/top_story/
589e04ebb08f555e862571460045f8c9.txt

In the upcoming election for the 6th district seat between Democrat Tammy Duckworth and Republican Peter Roskam, the Duckworth campaign was fairly confident about garnering the veteran/military vote. After Duckworth defeated her competitors for the Democratic nomination, the Roskam campaign needed to create some PR to counter Tammy's heavy popular 'veteran' spin. The Roskam camp started a 'help the veterans' program to give aid to our soldiers in Iraq. Just recently, Roskam's parents were traveling overseas and spent some time in Vietnam. Roskam's mother found a small streetside vendor who was selling American dog tags left over from the Vietnam war. Roskam's father, a former vet himself, urged his wife to purchase them so that they could be brought home and given to their rightful owners. Although extremely laudible, the timing of this is a tad suspicious. This is just the event that the Roskam camp needed to help combat the heavy influence Duckworth has with the military and veterans.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/west/chi-0603230151mar23,1,465518.story

Cegelis and Duckworth went into the Democratic primary ready to battle it out to the very end. Although a very close battle, Duckworth came out on top 44% to Cegelis' 40%. Cegelis was a gracious loser and called to congradulate Duckworth on her victory. The Duckworth camp is now setting it's sights on the November primary against Roskam. They are optimistic given the fact they have so much high powered in the Democratic party, both locally and on the hill. Meanwhile, the Roskam camp is also looking forward to November. With the Democratic party so split, some of those votes can only come his way on election day.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0603110091mar11,1,6723683.story

As the elections draw closer the Democratic nomination race is heating up. Both the Cegelis and Duckworth camps are talking tough and are assuring victory, saying that only they will have a chance against Roskam in the main election. Mealwhile, the Roskam camp is girding for the final confrontation with the Democratic winner. Despite the optimism of his Democratic opponents, Roskam is still far and away the man to beat in the upcoming election. A valiant effort may not be enough for the Democratic nominee (whoever that turns out to be, although my money is on Duckworth) to overcome the powerhouse campaign that Roskam and his people have put together.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0602240326feb24,1,7168421.story


There was some good and bad news for two of the Democratic canidates vying for the congressional seat of retiring Henry Hyde. Both Christine Cegelis and Tammy Duckworth gained some national support for their bids to run for Congress. Cegelis gained backing from the organization, Democracy for America. Whereas Duckworth has U.S. Senator Barack Obama appearing in her commercials. Although you could spin this as good news for the Democrats as a whole, I see it as a pretty strong division within the party. How can the Democrats hope to defeat Republican canidate Peter Roskam with such obvious uncertainty as to whom should best represent them. The Democratic race looks to be a good one, with long drawn out & lively debates. Although these will be entertaining, will the supporters of the losing canidates really swing their clout to the winner once everything is said and done? The Roskam camp can only see such strong support being divided as a good thing. I imagine they are looking forward to the Democratic party's debates almost as much as the Democratic canidates are.

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/mp/02-09-06-820212.html

As the primaries draw closer, the opponents of Peter Roskam dispair a lack of funds. The Democratic front runners are all in the same monetary ballpark which is more than $750,000 behind the sole Republican canidate. Tammy Duckworth's main competition appears to be Christine Cegelis who gained 44 percent of the vote in 2004 against Hyde. Duckworth suporters appear hopeful of gaining the Democratic nomination. But I don't see how once that is gained they think she could stand against Roskam, a veteran politician with strong ties in the business communty.