Comments on: Say hello to your new congressman http://elginite.org/blog/2008/03/09/say-hello-to-your-new-congressman/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:07:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Disappointed Too http://elginite.org/blog/2008/03/09/say-hello-to-your-new-congressman/#comment-44738 Disappointed Too Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:27:46 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2008/03/09/say-hello-to-your-new-congressman/#comment-44738 Among other reasons - in the end I voted for Bill Foster because I can't believe the amount of paper that was wasted in mailing campaign literature - I was getting 2 items 2-3 times each week, and Bill Foster was the lesser of the two in mail quanity. Additionally, Oberweis didn't respond to AARP's questionaire - I'm 8 years from retirement but he must not understand the influence AARP has. Among other reasons - in the end I voted for Bill Foster because I can’t believe the amount of paper that was wasted in mailing campaign literature - I was getting 2 items 2-3 times each week, and Bill Foster was the lesser of the two in mail quanity. Additionally, Oberweis didn’t respond to AARP’s questionaire - I’m 8 years from retirement but he must not understand the influence AARP has.

]]> By: RS http://elginite.org/blog/2008/03/09/say-hello-to-your-new-congressman/#comment-44722 RS Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:37:12 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2008/03/09/say-hello-to-your-new-congressman/#comment-44722 That's interesting, Todd. I'm not familiar with the ads. Did these run on television? Oberweis's immigration position is stated here: http://jimoberweis.com/issues/contentview.asp?c=42169 It is on the extreme side, because it opposes birthright citizenship, but I'm not sure that position has really been publicized. I think this could have been a case where his campaign was simply incompetent. It may not have been about the issues at all. It could have just been poor management. I think the first thing he should do Monday morning is fire the campaign manager and whoever else needs to be fired and bring in people who will take this seriously. There are numerous indications that this campaign has not been run professionally, and I think the people in Washington will very quickly put the pressure on him to get his campaign together. I think this could have been a combination of complacency on the part of Republicans who just assumed that Oberweis would win and so didn't bother to turn out, and a general lack of aggressiveness in the Oberweis turnout operation. Bill Foster has obviously run a good organization, and deserves a lot of credit for that. The question now is whether Oberweis can build a similar organization and corral the votes in seven or eight months time. I think he can, but he'll need to take drastic action immediately. That’s interesting, Todd. I’m not familiar with the ads. Did these run on television?

Oberweis’s immigration position is stated here:
http://jimoberweis.com/issues/contentview.asp?c=42169

It is on the extreme side, because it opposes birthright citizenship, but I’m not sure that position has really been publicized.

I think this could have been a case where his campaign was simply incompetent. It may not have been about the issues at all. It could have just been poor management. I think the first thing he should do Monday morning is fire the campaign manager and whoever else needs to be fired and bring in people who will take this seriously. There are numerous indications that this campaign has not been run professionally, and I think the people in Washington will very quickly put the pressure on him to get his campaign together.

I think this could have been a combination of complacency on the part of Republicans who just assumed that Oberweis would win and so didn’t bother to turn out, and a general lack of aggressiveness in the Oberweis turnout operation.

Bill Foster has obviously run a good organization, and deserves a lot of credit for that. The question now is whether Oberweis can build a similar organization and corral the votes in seven or eight months time. I think he can, but he’ll need to take drastic action immediately.

]]> By: TDM http://elginite.org/blog/2008/03/09/say-hello-to-your-new-congressman/#comment-44721 TDM Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:23:00 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2008/03/09/say-hello-to-your-new-congressman/#comment-44721 I served as an Election Judge for Elgin Precinct 29 for the Special Election. With such a low turnout (only 19%) and few minorities or young people voting, I thought Oberweis would have a decided advantage. I was wrong. I think the negative ads "Foster is quoted 'there is nothing in this life that can't be improved by throwing money at it' didn't work. People could tell that the words "throwing money" is not usually used to argue in favor of big spending. I also think his immigration views are seen as extreme by ordinary elderly voters. It's a shame. When I first heard about Overweis, I had a positive view of him from his excellent dairy business. Great ice cream and bottled milk with home delivery. I served as an Election Judge for Elgin Precinct 29 for the Special Election. With such a low turnout (only 19%) and few minorities or young people voting, I thought Oberweis would have a decided advantage. I was wrong.
I think the negative ads “Foster is quoted ‘there is nothing in this life that can’t be improved by throwing money at it’ didn’t work. People could tell that the words “throwing money” is not usually used to argue in favor of big spending. I also think his immigration views are seen as extreme by ordinary elderly voters.
It’s a shame. When I first heard about Overweis, I had a positive view of him from his excellent dairy business. Great ice cream and bottled milk with home delivery.

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