CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

NumbersGuy — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 23:30:54 -0000

Jennifer, thank you for your thoughtful post and for your good work with the Bradys. Unlike most of the knuckleheads above, I've met the Bradys and know the sincerity and importance of their cause.

I would agree that Treasurer Topinka owes an apology and I hope it is forthcoming.

Perhaps someone could opine about the apparent failure of single party controlled courts, law enforcement, and State's attorney's offices in Cook County to make a dent in these hideous crimes in their decades of control, no offense to the hard-working street cops who are as big a target of these thugs as the residents...

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

the ole precinct captain — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 22:49:14 -0000

If this does not get her campaign going south I am sure her future comments will. She cracked under pressure in the primary and certaintly will with the next barage. I would be shocked if she did not and unfortunately not get entertained by her comments.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

Jennifer from Brady — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 22:39:12 -0000

As a survivor of gun homicide myself, and in response to "Brady Exploitation" who expressed concern that we at Brady exploit gun violence victims, I say, how little you understand gun violence victims.

Those of us who are gun violence victims are merely allying with other victims and empowering each other and supporting each other in speaking out publicly in matters that we care deeply about and know more about that anyone else in the nation. Almost two-thirds of the state's Brady chapter Million Mom March members are gun violence victims. Illinois' own Jim Brady took a bullet meant for the President of the United States.

When we express outrage about a social condition how can you, "Brady Exploitation", question our common sense alliances with each other to express that? I have spent much of the past months with Deanna Woods, Siretha Woods, and the Reed families who we network with as fellow victims. They have asked for our help in their neighborhoods. And I have been at their side in their churches these last months, in their marches, in their school meetings, in their living rooms, at their gravesides, at their memorial events. Where have you been? How can you question the tears of frustration that little Siretha's mother expressed to me this morning when she heard what Ms Topinka said. Her exact words to me "That really upsets me!"

One should not joke about using assault weapons against people, and most especially not someone who wants to hold the highest office in our state in a campaign speech.

This kind of humor is not funny at all, Ms. Topinka, and it shows a lack of good judgment to make jokes like this at victims expense.

Deanna Woods threw her body over the children in her living room at the birthday party when the bullets came in her window, as she said, "they kept coming and coming" (I had to explain to her what a high capacity magazine was - one of the defining features of an assault weapon - the weapon in her case was a Tec-9 or similar weapon). She knows what it is to be under fire from these weapons. She wants to do whatever she can to rid her neighborhoods of these awful military style weapons. She is willing to re-live painful memories in order to do this. She is nothing but heroic for that.

Please do not question her motives. Please do not question mine. It is beneath us all, just as Ms. Topinka's remarks were.

It would be best if Ms. Topinka would just apologize for making an insensitive remark.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

Anon — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 21:31:29 -0000

Please someone tell me JBT does not have a FOID card or access to a weapon. The woman is loosing it, if she ever had it.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

Driver — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 21:08:23 -0000

You think arming yourself is the answer? Great. Why donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t you and your frat buddies pack up the heat, move to Englewood, and weÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll see how long you last. I bet you wet your pants the first time youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re out after dark, concealed weapon or not.

You are right, pass all the restrictive firearm laws you want for the liberal cess pool Cook County, but leave the rest of us downstate folks alone with your gun grabbing laws.But that's the problem, what you think is good for Cook County you also think is good for the rest of the state. And that my friend is wrong.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

GOPJay — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 21:01:38 -0000

You have got to be kidding me! 63 comments and counting on this non-issue?

What next, a rape victim calling Blago on his testicular verility comment? Lets get to the issues. There are still 50% of Illinois voters who don't realize yet another Illinois Governer is approaching indictment.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

Yellow Dog Democrat — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 20:07:04 -0000

College Republican - gangbangers don't vote, and Democrats don't have any sort of soft spot in their hearts for gangbangers. It's our neighbors that are hit by those stray bullets.

You think arming yourself is the answer? Great. Why don't you and your frat buddies pack up the heat, move to Englewood, and we'll see how long you last. I bet you wet your pants the first time you're out after dark, concealed weapon or no.

It's easy to talk tough when you're on a college campus 200 miles from the shooting gallery. Or 10,000 miles from Bagdad.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

NoneOfTheAbove — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 19:40:51 -0000

Imagine if George Bush said this, even about Osama Bin Ladin. Dems would be trying to force him into a padded cell:

"IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m the sword of justice and IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m going to cut him to pieces."

Alan Keyes, we're sorry. You weren't so bad afterall.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

anonymous — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 19:16:02 -0000

forsooth! is that a dagger I see before me? nay, a rolling pin. I'm really alarmed at the prospect of the debates now. Absolutely no props should be allowed.
If she really wanted to get downstate folksy she should have said"I'm going to warsh that varmint and hang him up by his ears with clothespins to dry" but do there really have to be separate messages for downstate voters? I know a lot of intelligent people who have grown up in these small parts, garshdawrnit

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

Huh? — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 19:08:53 -0000

Skeeter & Bill - nice to have you back. Keep up the good work. Too bad there isn't very much that you write that makes sense.

The anti gunners will try to make this into a big deal. It is nothing more than small ripples in a tea cup.

By the way, people - look at the various websites that list murder rates and find out just what types of objects are used to kill people. You would be surprised what constitutes a murder weapon.

Assault weapons is an inflamatory designation given to a type of rifle that has the appearance of a fully automatic military weapon.

Possession of a fully automatic weapon is a federal crime. The average gangster isn't going to have such a firearm.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

NoneOfTheAbove — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 18:59:10 -0000

Good for the Brady anti-gun people!

People on all sides of the gun debate can unite on the truth that Topinka is too nutty for office.

I would say she embarrasses the 2nd Amendment people most of all.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

a friend — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 17:50:32 -0000

skarfeld...

lol!

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

Skarfeld — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 17:45:06 -0000

Well, I accept your offensiveness, Brady Exploitation and find it O.k. that you approve my pointe. And upon my honour, nay, even mine ounst soule, wilst I say that the dragon was slain by yonder rolling pin and such splendor wast ne'er scene in the land of JBT.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

a friend — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 17:35:52 -0000

just a view...

the blago huggers are touchy? I thought just the opposite. the blagohaters are so used to the gov getting whacked that they got their panties all in a bunch because topinka's taking some well deserved heat today -- not that she hasn't said some really stupid things before as well, but things haven't stuck as easily to her before, which is why I assume rich posted this today. it should serve as a wake up call to her failed campaign.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

A. Nony-Nony — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 17:24:19 -0000

On the whole, probably a blip in the campaign, and unnoticed by most voters, but I don't see how it's going to win her any votes she doesn't already have. Using a homespun example like rolling pin is "indeed" an evocative way to challenge a political opponent's assault-weapons ban proposal; using it again after being ridiculed for it, though, risks giving your opponent's supporters a handy visual symbol to display at political rallies, debates, etc., not to mention demonstrating somewhat of a tin ear for politics. Plus, threatening to defeat your political opponent using an assault weapon of any kind - even a rolling pin, let alone a sword - is probably not going to win over any on-the-fence voters. Maybe it's time for Repubs to rethink the whole JBT candidacy and bring Alan Keyes back in an attempt to win some of that large black conservative vote....

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

Just a View — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 17:23:20 -0000

From following this blog today it sure seems the Blago huggers are a bit touchy today. It must be because they're always having to defend Blago's misteps that it must be refreshing to finally be able to attack someone else.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

Brady Exploitation — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 17:15:53 -0000

Skeeter - Topinka was refering to how poorly written the assault weapons definition was written.

To clarify your erroneous observations. I never once said the Democrats were exploiting the woman. I said the Brady group was doing the exploiting. Unless you assume all Democrats are anti-gun zealots like yourself.

The Brady Bunch exploited her grief by actively seeking her out so she could lash out in her grief so they could use it to make their own point. The Brady group has shown this tactic time and again its nothing new or un-documented.

Rich does not want us to argue pro or anti-gun platforms so I will refrain from enlightening you to the falicies of your 'rounds through a wall' sentiments. We'll leave that for another day's blog topic. Have a wonderful afternoon.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

RAI — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 17:07:12 -0000

Does anyone realize that these guns are already illegal in the ladies neighborhood? Nothing JBT does as Governor will change that. JBT is just saying she has the teticular fortitude to stand up to the Brady crowd.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

Skeeter — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 16:57:12 -0000

Back to the topic:

Another interesting point about JBT's statement it that it is incoherent.

What in the world is she talking about comparing a rolling pin to any gun?

Seriously -- What is she referencing? Does anyone have the slighest clue what she MEANT to say?

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

Skeeter — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 16:49:43 -0000

BE:

Please stop with the complete garbage about the mother being "exploited" as if the Democrats were somehow taking advantage of her.

Was it the mother's idea to allow these guns on the streets?

Was it the mother's idea to allow the manufacture of weapons capable of putting multiple rounds through walls of a house to kill her poor daughter?

No, it was the dingbat gun nuts in the ILGOP and the ILNRA who prevented us from having reasonable gun control laws.

Nobody is "exploiting the mother." Instead, we have a bunch of blowhards here who will not allow a mother to express her views on the weapons that killed her daughter.

If you don't want to hear the cries of the mother, then do something to get rid of the weapons.

Either way, stop claiming that a mother expressing her views about her own daughter's death is somehow being "exploited."

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

Skarfeld — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 16:45:36 -0000

Thanks, Rich. There seems to be an innate conflict in the use of that word in that context.

And Way North Sider, let me let you in on a little secret you may not know: SHE doesn't know it's a stupid statement--there it is and there you have it. Gnawed off her own nose to spite her face on that one . . .

Hicks, flip'er a quarter.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

Brady Exploitation — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 16:38:47 -0000

Skarfeld Ã¢â‚¬â€œ I guess youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re implying that it is bad for Judy to make a dumb statement occasionally but it is ok for your candidate Rod to do likewise. You must be quite overjoyed that you have a statement from Topinka that you can finally use to make a point. After all poor Rod makes these types of speaking gaffs on a daily basis so you must be extremely frustrated at always having to defend the words from his mouth and twist them around to a more favorable meaning.

Both of the candidates have made less than favorable statements on various topics but it is how their opponents attempt to use them that shed light on the integrity of who youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re up against. Poor Jim Brady, as you refer to him, is no innocent bystander in this exploitation of the anguished mother whose daughter was recently killed. This group has been doing this for many years and then after they get their press releases they completely forget about the person that they have just used and move on to the next piece of exploitation fodder.

Its not her statement that is so damning but the despicable way her opponents are attempting to use it against her by sacrificing the emotions of an anguished mother for purely political purposes. Does Topinka probably wish she hadnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t stated it in that particular manner? I would image the answer is yes. Is this one statement of paramount importance? Absolutely not, get over it.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

B Hicks — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 16:30:40 -0000

IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m telling you people, her medication is out of whack. What a class act.

Mad as a March hare.

That's right, the legendary Wukular at 50 whole chickens, feathers and all. One gulp I tell you.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

Way Northsider — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 16:16:31 -0000

Walking Wouned - I can assure you I don't "act like I'm offended", I AM offended. Not everyone on this blog is a political hack looking to score points. Some of us are regular voters who happen to be interested in politics. I am no Blago fan but I can't see voting for Topinka with or without this silly rolling pin statement. Glib comments about things like the difficulty of defining assault weapons just puts off average voters like me.

Whether or not I was allowed to carry weapons around, I cannot conceive of WANTING to. In any altercation, two guns being involved can only be twice as bad as one gun being involved.

Re: It’s things like this that can tube a campaign

Rich Miller — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 16:10:48 -0000

Skarfeld, I think "Topinkabots" might be a better term. Tightens it up a little.

As far as "tubing" a campaign, it means to kill it off, or thereabouts. It's probably slang from my teens.