Republican Kirk says he would support Kagan (IL)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | July 23, 2010 | ABDON M. PALLASCH

[Hawk720]

In a move that could burnish his credentials as a “moderate” Republican, Senate candidate Mark Kirk announced Friday that he supports President Obama’s choice of Elena Kagan for the U.S. Supreme Court.

"Under the Constitution, only the President can make this nomination and Solicitor General Kagan is one of the more careful nominees he could have picked,” Kirk said.

Only two Republican senators have publicly declared so far that they are voting for Kagan. The vote will be over by the time Kirk would take his senate seat. But his announcement that he would support her makes it harder for Kirk’s Democratic opponent Alexi Giannoulias to paint Kirk as a lock-step conservative.

In 10 years as a congressman, Kirk fashioned an image for himself as a budget and military hawk, but as a social moderate or even liberal, getting high ratings from pro-choice and environmental groups.

Those groups have largely abandoned him for Giannoulias in the senate race, saying that Kirk is running to the right now. He switched his vote on the “Cap and Trade” bill which restricted carbon emissions of U.S. corporations. He explained his switch by saying that his early support for the bill as a congressman reflected the “narrow interests of his district.”

[Ol' Sparky]

In a move that could burnish his credentials as a “moderate” Republican, Senate candidate Mark Kirk announced Friday that he supports President Obama’s choice of Elena Kagan for the U.S. Supreme Court.

It's a move that is likely going to sink any chance he has of becoming a Senator.

[US Navy Vet]

-—sigh-—

[Dustbunny]

What a mental midget.

[Oldpuppymax]

Kirk is and has been a super RINO, being one of the eight republicans who voted for cap and tax. What a disgrace—yet how typical—that this is the best the republican party could do in Illinois.

[bushbuddy]

I didn’t vote for this knucklehead in the Republican primary because of his cap-and-trade vote last year. And he caught hell for that. But no way am I voting for Giannoulias. I guess I’ll just hold my nose and pull the lever for this guy, even though I would get tremendous glee in having a Republican take Barry’s old seat.

[Disambiguator]

What heck is the matter with these people? If you want to be a “moderate” (liberal) just switch parties.

[Lurker]

As an Illinois Republican I’ll take Alexi over this idiot. I’m leaving that spot on the ballot empty.

[newheart]

It's a move that is likely going to sink any chance he has of becoming a Senator.

Not in Illinois.

[skimbell]

No, he'll probably win. That's good. Kirk is not a "moderate", he's a lib. He'll probably win because the dims are actually running a worse candidate(all kinds of banking/crime issues).

The Republicans could have used this opportunity to put a real conservative in office but...

Anyway, Kirk claims to be a real Republican so he probably wont pull a Jumpin' Jim Jeffords on us. He's probably going to be sort of like Brown is turning out.

Anyway, it'll be another R in the senate.

[personalaccts]

he supported Crap and trade what do you expect. He’s a RINO. He’ll be Leslie Graham’s butt buddy.

[napscoordinator]

Not surprised AT ALL!!! This site has gone from no RINOs to, oh hell, as long as they have an R next to their name because we want the majority that bad. Well seeing what we are going to have next year, it is very possible that we will have the majority on paper only. We are adding quite a few RINOs to the deck this November and it is really bazaar that nobody cares at Free Republic....stunning!

[Ol' Sparky]

There are conservatives in Illinois. I would guess a good number of them will decide not to bother voting for Kirk after this pronouncement.

Conservatives have been elected to the Senate in Illinois. Being a liberal Republican doesn't help since Illinois is divide state between hardcore leftists in Chicago and very conservative types in most of the rest of the state.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Can’t wait for Castle’s answer!

[napscoordinator]

He is all on board with Kirk. He will probably announce to his Delaware constituents tonight the same thing. I have a feeling we are in deep trouble next year. We won’t be able to pass a thing. I have heard people say that we will just force them to toe the line.....ROTFLMAO. Please we are in the minority and can’t even control Brown who is our newest member. Sometimes they live in fantasy land...I swear. No doubt we are adding five RINOs next year and with our current five or so they can do A LOT of damage. Some folks here are Living with their head in the grown and it must be a wonderful thing though sometimes!!!

[LibLieSlayer]

He will only see the senate if he actually admits that he is a dim and runs on their ticket.

LLS

[ScottinVA]

It's a move that is likely going to sink any chance he has of becoming a Senator.

Not so much in IL.

[Prokopton]

Anyway, it'll be another R in the senate.

Which is helpful only to the liberals that can claim "bipartisanship" when they ram through the liberal agenda with help from these "Republicans". I would rather have a Democrat liberal in the position so it is easier for the uninformed voter to understand who is screwing them. With help from Riberals like this guy, the people will continue to get screwed in a bipartisan fashion.

[Carley]

Guess he wants to eat lunch in Chicago again.

[winner3000]

Hey, if I had to chose something for Kirk to do that would help him in the General election without actually hurting the conservative cause, SAYING what he WOULD HAVE DONE if he WERE in the Senate, is the least destructive.

I have long ago stopped believing what Politicians say, and started concentrating on what they DO (vote for). 90% of the time they turned out to be more leftist than how they ran in the election (that’s natural since their personal incentive is to increase their power, and that usually entails increasing the size of government). A notable exception has been Chris Christie in NJ. I never thought he was such a small government warrior!

That being said, Kirk’s voting record as a Congressman does make him a RINO. Even that “fiscal conservative” title isn’t deserved by anyone who voted for the Cap and Tax scheme... For now, I and every conservative in Illinois, will hopefully vote for him and give him a chance now that he would represent an entire state instead of a district dominated by Democrats. If he pulls a Lindsey Graham, I agree with the poster that we’d rather have a real Democrat instead of a RINO who is used to put a sheen of “bipartisanship” on leftist legislation. There’s plenty of time to defeat him in the next election.

[Lockbar]

Kirk: Clown and Idiot

[newheart]

Being a liberal Republican doesn't help since Illinois is divide state between hardcore leftists in Chicago and very conservative types in most of the rest of the state.

Agreed, but as a 5? term congressman (and by many accounts a moderate to left-leaner) I'm sure he figures the Kagan endorsement will help him tack to the middle. And apart from Peter Fitzgerald (conservative but kind of an outsider who barely beat the corrupt Carol Mosely-Braun) you have to go back to the 80s to find a Republican senator from Illinois.

[9YearLurker]

The fallacy is that the Supreme Court primarily deals with social issues—issues of constitutional rights and limits on government go to economics and freedom concerns across the scale.

[Buckeye McFrog]

thread needs a photo of Ricardo Montalban

[Ol' Sparky]

And apart from Peter Fitzgerald (conservative but kind of an outsider who barely beat the corrupt Carol Mosely-Braun) you have to go back to the 80s to find a Republican senator from Illinois.

There is NO reason why someone like Fitzgerald couldn't win this year.

Illinois is not a state of mostly liberals and moderates. It is state with liberals and conservatives, albeit more liberals. Moving to the left hurts the Republican candidate. Energizing a mass turnout form conservatives during a year when liberals aren't as motivated to show up is what is going to win an election for a Republican.

[Chi-townChief]

Sounds like Mark is trying to tank his election.

[itsahoot]

that this is the best the republican party could do in Illinois.

You really think this is the best they could do? They have a different goal than most sane people.

[itsahoot]

Anyway, it'll be another R in the senate.

Electing fake Republicans is what got us where we are. The enemy within, is the most dangerous.

[newheart]

There is NO reason why someone like Fitzgerald couldn't win this year.

You make a persuasive case, Sparkmeister.

[fieldmarshaldj]

*IL Politics Ping*

This liberal Democrat imposter Mark Kirk needs to be forceably removed from the GOP ticket at once.

[fieldmarshaldj]

A lot of us care. I’ve been vocally advocating the defeat of DIABLOs Kirk and Castle from day #1.

[NYCslicker]

Don’t do that.

Vote for this guy instead.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Look-Out-On-Your-Right-Mark-Kirk-96382454.html

[Graybeard58]

As an Illinois Republican I’ll take Alexi over this idiot. I’m leaving that spot on the ballot empty.

Ditto.

I've been busy educating everybody in my church about the ultra liberal Kirk, doing my best to persuade people not to vote for him. The folks in my church are very conservative minded anyway and would never vote for the likes of Kirk when they know the truth.

[Graybeard58]

Yet another lie from Kirk:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/elections/ct-met-kirk-coast-guard-20100722,0,7637895.story

The man can’t seem to stop.

[fieldmarshaldj]

What is it with liberal RINOs being pathologically unable to be honest ? This puke has GOT to go. Jack Ryan was run out of the Senate race for a lot less.

[Clintonfatigued]

Though I’ve been willing to cut slack for Republicans in Democrat-voting constituancies, Mark Kirk has used up his slack quota. This latest pandering is absurd at best, craven opportunism at worst.

[darkangel82]

And we know what that resulted in.

[BillyBoy]

>> If he pulls a Lindsey Graham, I agree with the poster that we’d rather have a real Democrat instead of a RINO who is used to put a sheen of “bipartisanship” on leftist legislation. <<

If he "pulls a Lindsey Graham", he'd have to move about 10X to the right of where he is now. Both Kirk and Graham have stabbed conservatives in the back in the past, but Graham is at a least reliable on several important issues like pro-life legislation, Iraq war, ANWR drilling, etc. Kirk is a reliable GOP vote on absolutely NOTHING, and is an EXTREME leftist on several issues (pro-partial birth abortion, F- rating from the GOA, rated more liberal than Obama than the Sierra Club), to the point where he votes worse than many card-carrying Chicago Dems. He'd run over his grandma if it meant advancing his career in Washington.

Kirk isn't even conservative enough to be a Scott Brown type centrist. Think Jim Jeffords or Linc Chafee reincarinated.

[BillyBoy]

>> What is it with liberal RINOs being pathologically unable to be honest? <<

Hey, cut him some slack. He's been abundantly honest about how much he despises conservatives and the GOP platform. Even most RINOs wouldn't be bold enough to ADMIT they're going to vote for Obama's marxist judicial nominees BEFORE they get in the Senate. It takes a real DIABLO combiner to say "damn the GOP base who will show up in November, I'll rub it in their faces"

Of course when it comes to his resume, integrity, ethics, and the reasons he gives for his Marxist votes, Kirk is indeed a pathological liar.

[PhilCollins]

I agree, since Sen. Graham is conservative. Sen. Graham usually agrees with the republican platform. He’s pro-tax cuts, pro-spending cuts, and pro-life. Rep. Kirk usually agrees with the democrat platform. He’s pro-tax increases, pro-spending increases, and pro-choice.

[LibLieSlayer]

These are the pukes that I reference when the gopukes call me and ask for money. I ask them, “When was the last time a republican incumbent was disciplined for liberalism and anti-American votes”? Then I tell them as long as lightfoot grahamnesty is a republican and steele is head of the rnc... there is no reason to call me whatsoever.

LLS

[Dengar01]

I just read this now, this makes me puke. I hate this state.

[Dengar01]

Kirk is such a loser he was up 10 points and now he is trailing, hmmm he just assumes we'll all vote for him.

I just beg IL conservatives to come out and vote for Bill Brady we can not have any more of Tax Quinn.

[BillyBoy]

=================================

MARK KIRK TRUTH FILE
JUST SAY NO TO SOCIALISM

" "The GREENEST candidate in the race... better than Barack Obama!"
- Carol Calabresa/The Sierra Club, 2008
" The strength of our campaign remains the Democrats"
- Mark Kirk, 2008

Freepmail me to get ON or OFF this list.

=================================

MARK KIRK TRUTH FILE
JUST SAY NO TO SOCIALISM

" "The GREENEST candidate in the race... better than Barack Obama!"
- Carol Calabresa/The Sierra Club, 2008
" The strength of our campaign remains the Democrats"
- Mark Kirk, 2008

Freepmail me to get ON or OFF this list.

=================================

MARK KIRK TRUTH FILE
JUST SAY NO TO SOCIALISM

" "The GREENEST candidate in the race... better than Barack Obama!"
- Carol Calabresa/The Sierra Club, 2008
" The strength of our campaign remains the Democrats"
- Mark Kirk, 2008

Freepmail me to get ON or OFF this list.

MARK KIRK TRUTH FILE
JUST SAY NO TO SOCIALISM

" "The GREENEST candidate in the race... better than Barack Obama!"
- Carol Calabresa/The Sierra Club, 2008
" The strength of our campaign remains the Democrats"
- Mark Kirk, 2008

MARK KIRK TRUTH FILE
JUST SAY NO TO SOCIALISM

" "The GREENEST candidate in the race... better than Barack Obama!"
- Carol Calabresa/The Sierra Club, 2008
" The strength of our campaign remains the Democrats"
- Mark Kirk, 2008

[Graybeard58]

I just beg IL conservatives to come out and vote for Bill Brady we can not have any more of Tax Quinn.

I'll vote alright but not for Kirk or any other liberal.

Prior to the 1964 election, the old sarge came around and said, "Fellers, it is time to request your absentee ballots". Being 19 at the time, I wasn't old enough to register and vote against Johnson, I was 23 years old before I could vote in a Presidential election in 1968, I haven't missed an election for national candidates since and have missed very few local ones either and I have never voted for a democrat, they are evil and Kirk is one of them no matter what letter he has behind his name.

Yes, Brady will get my vote.

[usconservative]

I heard this yesterday on WLS-AM 890 on the Don and Roma show, and frankly I wasn't surprised Kirk would vote for Kagan. I caught myself chuckling, saying "it figures" and I went on with my day.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Mike Niecstro isn't running:

With regards to my campaign. Nobody paid me off. My wife and I personally collected in excess of 18,000 signatures and with the help of my family and friends collected a total of 25,642 signatures. On June 16, 2010, William Kelly, who was introduced to me by Chris Arndt from the Bureau county TEA Party PROMISED he would get me 40,000 signatuures to help us through any challenge. I was suspicious and called the deal off on Saturday, June 19, 2010. I specifically told Chris Arndt I don’t trust him. He emailed me and told me I was losing my chance should he not help me. We donated $10,000 to REV Productions and he wanted $10,000. more when signatures were complete. All week leading up to the june 23rd deadline he gave us the false hope that all is great and we were to have a press conference once the signatures were done. That man delivered not one single signature and help ruin what my wife and busted our rear ends on for almost 3 months. The sad part was we would have won this race for we had much more money than noted. Now it is get even time. I will do everything in my power to see that Mark Kirk Losses. I will back Randy 100%

http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2010/06/mike-niecestro-fails-to-qualify-for-illinois-ballot-endorses-stufflebeam/

[usconservative]

Anyway, Kirk claims to be a real Republican so he probably wont pull a Jumpin' Jim Jeffords on us

I wouldn't bet on that if I were you, Kirk voted for Cap and Trade which makes him a de-facto Democrat in my opinion.

[usconservative]

There are conservatives in Illinois. I would guess a good number of them will decide not to bother voting for Kirk after this pronouncement.

A good number of us weren't voting for him before this announcement.

Peter Fitzgerald was the last Conservative to be elected to the U.S. Senate in this state, and the damn' RINO led state Republican party here ran him out.

Bastards.

[x]

Kirk says he would support Kagan

"Is that Kagan the hologram from Deep Space 9, or Janet Kagan who wrote Uhura's Song, or Kagan, King of the Vampires in BloodRayne?"