What do Rahm Emmanuel, Luis Gutierrez, Jesse Jackson Jr., Danny Davis and Bobby Rush all have in common? Sure, they’re all Democrats, and they’re all congresspeeples but that’s not the answer Swami seeks from you. To get the correct answer, please read onward, dear souls …
All five represent the different districts that comprise the Chicago congressional delegation and all are Democrats.
And notice quite carefully and astutely, as the Swami has, that none one of them is Mark Kirk.
Swami takes note of this fact because Kirk, in almost all phases of his recent political operations, appears as though he’s representing the people of Chicago, though he actually represents the people along the shore in Lake County.
We’re sure he represents most of us here and maybe has just misplaced that particular memory chip. Or maybe he just likes to see himself on TV in Chicago. He does show up there quite a bit.
When there’s a big news conference about lousy water in Lake Michigan, Kirk is in Chicago trumpeting the news.
This week Chicago's Fox TV suggests that CTA computers are open to terrorist tinkering and the "Oh, it's awful" comment comes from a Kirk soundbite. Everytime a Chicago TV crew turns around, there's Kirk waiting for an on-air moment. PIck me! Pick Me!
We think he must have a Super Secret Love Loft somewhere in the Loop.
He's on Chicago TV so often it sort of makes the Swami wonder if Kirk isn't angling to run for a different office than Congressman - maybe Senate, for example? Maybe agianst Dick Durbin?
Meanwhile, this just in from his campaign headquarters. Apparently scared silly last time by Dan Seals’ unexpected leap from the nearby bushes, Kirk has been picking up dollars for his congressional run at a brisk pace. Says the campaign:
"
NORTHFIELD, IL - U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk released his second quarter fundraising totals today, ahead of the July 15 Federal Election Commission reporting deadline. Kirk raised $616,612 from April 1 to June 30 with more than $1,117,181 on hand. Kirk received donations from 978 donors in the second quarter, 76 percent from Illinois. For the second quarter in a row, Kirk will be near the top of all Republican members of Congress in fundraising. Kirk was the top Republican fundraiser in the first quarter with $640,244.
"I am humbled by the overwhelming support that the residents of the 10th Congressional District have shown for the work we are doing," Congressman Kirk said. "From every community in the district, people have responded to our successful legislative agenda in Congress. In the last six months, we've advanced legislation that makes our airports safer, expands resources for local schools and increases funds for environmental cleanup projects in the Great Lakes.
"Here at home, we broke ground on the first-ever joint Navy/VA hospital which will offer veterans, active-duty military personnel and their families state-of-the-art health care options. We are also fighting for suburban transportation projects that will reduce congestion and keep our state's economy strong. In the coming months, I will continue to advocate for common-sense legislation, such as expanding stem cell research and securing our borders. I am honored to represent the moderate and independent views of the 10th District."
Yes, Mark, but Swami wonders if you are ever going to vote against the Irag War on a measure that features more than symbolism.
Mark Kirk is going on Chicago TV because he can and because he is trying to hide his record as a lapdog for the Bush administration. Kirk's moment of awakening was the 2006 elections when he realized that there were some real upset swing voters out there. So he suddenly became way more progressive, after spending five years acting like a macho Republican tough guy Dick Cheney wannabe. He is in Naval Intelligence, he would scoff. He knows the real story of Iraq. But now? You would almost think that he cares about his constituents.