Posted on 10/25/2006 9:45:39 PM PDT by RWR8189
Few people who enter public life can ever hope to leave it casting as big of a shadow as Henry J. Hyde. The sixteen-term Congressman from Illinois sixth district is retiring this year, and he leaves behind a legacy as a passionate defender of conservative principles and also as one of the most fair-minded and equanimous members of Congress.
Republican Peter Roskam is running to replace Mr. Hyde, and having worked for him back in the 1970's and then watched him in action over the years, he fully understands the size of the shoes he is seeking to fill.
I'm sitting across from Roskam at Flips, a local hot dog joint in Glen Ellyn, Illinois that Roskam says he's frequented since his high school days. We've just come from a photo op with Chairman Hyde at the Marion Joy Rehabilitation Center, where the eighty-two year-old conservative icon, now confined to a wheelchair, pulled his former staffer close after the cameras had gone to offer some cheerful words of encouragement.
In between bites of a gyro and periodic pulls from the straw of his vanilla milkshake, Roskam is explaining what Henry Hyde's legacy means to the people of the sixth district. Though Hyde developed a well-deserved national reputation for eloquently engaging in big policy debates, Roskam says it was his attention to local issues that made him such a well-regarded figure at home.
"People in these communities are used to having access to Hyde," Roskam says, adding that Hyde's devotion to constituent service over the years made him seem "more like a city councilman than a Congressman" to the people who live here.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
We'll hold it. Roskam is up slightly in the polls, and I can't imagine we'll actually do WORSE than the polls suggest -- probably slightly better.
Tammy is doing the "moderate" democr at to the hilt, but has been caught in the john kerry flip-flops.
Duckworth queried on don’t ask, don’t tell(Duckworth backpeddling)
I have said many times that I will continue to help with this campaign for Pete, and I intend to go full blast on the last 72-hour push.
But I am amazed at how close this race is. Also, i am a bit discouraged that almost every targeted "swing" voter who is female seems to be dead set on voting Tammy Duckworth.
If you guys have any time to help, trust me, even a little push could make the difference. His office is in downtown Wheaton, just west of the post office; it's a converted house with lots of volunteers. ;-)
Don't take this seat for granted. From my anecdotal experience, especially with women in our district, it's going to be tough to hold this seat. You'll notice all of the recent TV ads are targeting exactly those swing women, and the "girl power" vote (by which I mean the usually reliable GOP women who cross parties to vote for the Democrat based on the critical international issue that she's a woman). The new school shooting ad that says, "Roskam sided with the NRA" - the ad with teachers saying Roskam wants to ban Dr. Seuss books --- like it or not, this is what usually gets those swing women to vote Democrat.
Turnout is ALWAYS key, but in IL-6, that wisdom is amplified. We are going to have to realize that the "independent" vote in IL-6 is likely to go overwhelmingly for Duckworth, which means we have to get a solid turnout in this slightly GOP district to seal the victory for Peter Roskam.
Luckily, the ground organization is more than solid -- it is rock solid. But anything you can do to help, will help.
*BUMP for Roskam*
Henry Hyde's "conservatism" has never impressed me all that much. I think he's something like "C" rated by the NRA, and while yes, I know I'm a single issue voter, a politician's stand on guns usually (IMHO) reflects their overall political views.
That said, yes, we have to hold the seat, no question. The Dems picked Tammy Duckworth because she's a war veteran, and because they can grab the women's sympathy vote every time they show her prostheses. Emotion over substance, every time with these people.
As a registered Republican and (multiple) gun-owner, i'm certainly inclined to continue voting for my party of choice and the NRA's endorsement. But after a recent debate with my loony leftist neighbor, a few points she made actually resonated with me. Why is Roskam against an assault weapon's ban (a ban supported by Henry Hyde) and why is he in favor of destroying records at gun-shows after 90 days. Initially, i didn't believe my neighbor when she told me this was Roskam's stance....but i checked it out myself and she's right. What's the deal??
If you're an NRA member, I beliveve those are the stands you'd want Roskam to have. He is endorsed A rated by the NRA, if I recall my endorsements correctly.
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