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**Willinois** · 05-18-2011, 03:09 PM

I only caught the tail end of a public forum hosted by freshman Republican Congressman Bobby Schilling. A screening of The Billionaires' Tea Party was the same night, so after the movie, I rushed over for the last 10 minutes of Schilling's forum.

It felt like the movie never stopped. Hearing Schilling was no different than clips of speakers at tea party rallies. Except that Schilling had a calm crowd of about 20 people, half of which were suit-and-tie clad staffers for various Republican politicians.

One audience member asked Schilling why he supports high speed-rail. Schilling responded that he doesn't favor it because there's not enough money. He argued that Amtrak isn't profitable and we should instead spend money on bridge and highway projects.

That got a lively response from another audience member who asked if he opposed funding for the new Amtrak line in his district from Chicago to Rock Island/Moline. Schilling became a little defensive and tried to engage the audience member in debate. "So, you're an Amtrak supporter? Why do you think we need it?"

The guy in the audience said it's a good economic development opportunity for the Quad Cities and asked if Schilling really favored walking away from the investment that has already been made on the rail line. Just when things started to get interesting a staffer said they were out of time (7 minutes early) and cut off discussion. In any case, it's clear that Schilling opposes spending on passenger rail, despite the jobs and economic development benefits it would bring to the two largest communities in his district.

Since I didn't get the chance to ask a question I decided to introduce myself afterward. I let him know that I had recently moved into his district from John Shimkus' territory, and that I hope he won't join Shimkus on the lunatic fringe of anti-environmentalists.

He started to talk about climate change and he told me that "for every scientist who says it's a problem, you'll find another who..." I think he trailed off because he could see I wasn't buying it. I responded that it was something more like 1 scientist who claims it isn't a man-made problem for every 1,000 who do. Although it may be more like 10,000 to 1. Even the few prominent skeptics have been backtracking lately.

He next claimed that he was probably more green than me. We didn't get into the specifics of what makes his house green but he did brag about driving a car that uses E-85 ethanol. I didn't bother to tell him that no one other than ADM still claims that corn-based ethanol is green. When I mentioned pollution from coal power plants he deflected by bringing up methane from cow farts.

I was hoping to have a new Congressman who could at least carry on a reasonable discussion about environmental issues. It's not looking good.

Maybe he'll come around. For now, he sounds like he'll join Shimkus on the climate-denier fringe. A recent USA Today editorial put those who still deny the scientific evidence of the climate crisis, "in the same position as the 'birthers,' who continue to challenge President Obama's American citizenship — a vocal minority that refuses to accept overwhelming evidence."

I guess that's what makes the tea party so fascinating and frightening. Whether it's Obama's birth certificate, climate change science, or the imagined government takeover of health care, we have a very vocal group who holds onto irrational beliefs which cannot be swayed by any amount of evidence. How on earth do you deal with that, especially when news organizations give them nearly unlimited, uncritical coverage?

You'll likely hear more about Schilling. He's in a Democratic district and is one of the top targeted Republicans in Congress. I expect him to be a one-termer.

***NJMaverick*** · 05-18-2011, 03:20 PM

Quote:One audience member asked Schilling why he supports high speed-rail. Schilling responded that he doesn't favor it because there's not enough money

Real reason- Billionaires and Millionaires don't ride the rails

**Willinois** · 05-18-2011, 03:26 PM

(05-18-2011 03:20 PM)NJMaverick Wrote:
Quote:One audience member asked Schilling why he supports high speed-rail. Schilling responded that he doesn't favor it because there's not enough money

Real reason- Billionaires and Millionaires don't ride the rails

True. There's not enough money left over in the budget after giving billions in tax breaks to oil companies.

**RoyGBiv** · 05-18-2011, 03:42 PM

(05-18-2011 03:26 PM)Willinois Wrote:
(05-18-2011 03:20 PM)NJMaverick Wrote:
Quote:One audience member asked Schilling why he supports high speed-rail. Schilling responded that he doesn't favor it because there's not enough money

Real reason- Billionaires and Millionaires don't ride the rails

True. There's not enough money left over in the budget after giving billions in tax breaks to oil companies.

And as you're no doubt aware, those two things are intimately connected. Rail use is bad for oil company profits, so it's a double-whammy. We could start building a fairly decent rail system with the money saved just by cutting subsidies to oil companies, but that means oil companies both lose the tax break and have their bottom line attacked by more efficient and attractive rail service.

**Willinois** · 05-18-2011, 07:45 PM

(05-18-2011 03:42 PM)RoyGBiv Wrote: And as you're no doubt aware, those two things are intimately connected. Rail use is bad for oil company profits, so it's a double-whammy. We could start building a fairly decent rail system with the money saved just by cutting subsidies to oil companies, but that means oil companies both lose the tax break and have their bottom line attacked by more efficient and attractive rail service.

It's almost as though he's serving the oil companies and not the people! Wow

**RoyGBiv** · 05-18-2011, 08:06 PM

(05-18-2011 07:45 PM)Willinois Wrote:
(05-18-2011 03:42 PM)RoyGBiv Wrote: And as you're no doubt aware, those two things are intimately connected. Rail use is bad for oil company profits, so it's a double-whammy. We could start building a fairly decent rail system with the money saved just by cutting subsidies to oil companies, but that means oil companies both lose the tax break and have their bottom line attacked by more efficient and attractive rail service.

It's almost as though he's serving the oil companies and not the people!

I know. Bizarre thought, huh? I can't even imagine ...

I have lived in cities with rail service, and I have lived in cities without it. I have jumped on a train in DC and gone to New York without a hiccup, and I have jumped in the car and driven from OKC to Dallas and wanted to get out of my vehicle and blow up the universe from the frustration.

I would sacrifice significantly for a decent rail system that served my area regularly.

**jaxx** · 05-19-2011, 09:18 AM

Schilling is my rep too, and a teabagger he is. Has 10 kids and a pizza parlor, but he's far right and some how beat out Phil Hare for the seat. Schilling is useless and I hope a strong Democrat runs against him and gets going fast on the campaign.

**Willinois** · 05-19-2011, 11:03 AM

(05-19-2011 09:18 AM)jaxx Wrote: Schilling is my rep too, and a teabagger he is. Has 10 kids and a pizza parlor, but he's far right and some how beat out Phil Hare for the seat. Schilling is useless and I hope a strong Democrat runs against him and gets going fast on the campaign.

I know the DCCC is already talking to potential candidates. Whatever the new district looks like, it will be a top target nationally. The rumors are that Schock and Schilling will be drawn together into a Democratic district.
Phil Hare may run again. As much as I like Hare, I think he needs to step aside and give someone else a chance to reclaim the seat. Mike Boland won western Illinois in his Lt. Governor's race and would beat Schilling easily. There are some other good names being tossed around like Porter McNeil.

Right now conservative Jerry Costello is the only Congressional Democrat outside the Chicago region. We need a good downstate progressive leader in Congress and this is the right district for it. I just hope party leaders don't get the idea that they need to nominate a conservative to win the district. A populist with strong union support is what plays here. We don't need to divide the party with a corporate conservative.

**jaxx** · 05-21-2011, 09:24 AM

GALESBURG —

Galesburg would double its representation in the Illinois House and Senate under the proposed redistricting of the electoral map, which has carved the city in two.

State Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, would lose part of Galesburg and Abingdon under the proposal, as would State Sen. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria. The territory Moffitt and LaHood could lose would be picked up by State Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, and Rep. Norine Hammond, R-Macomb. Moffitt would gain Mercer and Bureau counties.

<..> Sullivan would likely pick up votes from the southern part of Galesburg, regarded as predominantly Democratic territory. He defeated 22-year incumbent Republican Laura Kent Donahue to narrowly win his seat in 2002.

http://www.galesburg.com/newsnow/x318671...esentation

I think Hare is finished, JMO. We desperately need a Dem in DC for this district as Schilling votes like the tea party man he is. Moffitt is a fixture in this area....he had an opponent last election, but she didn't do all that well, and lots of time he runs unopposed.

**jaxx** · 05-21-2011, 10:23 AM

Senate Democrats propose districts
May 20, 2011
Click the map to see racial demographics Democrats used to redraw the 59 Illinois Senate districts

http://media.apps.chicagotribune.com/leg...posed.html

Pretty interesting to see where the districts would be.

**Willinois** · 05-21-2011, 05:51 PM

(05-21-2011 10:23 AM)jaxx Wrote: Senate Democrats propose districts
May 20, 2011
Click the map to see racial demographics Democrats used to redraw the 59 Illinois Senate districts

http://media.apps.chicagotribune.com/leg...posed.html

Pretty interesting to see where the districts would be.

Did you see the proposed House map? I'd say it's drawn by someone who wants a small number of downstate Democrats in districts that will be easy to defend.

http://capitolfax.com/2011/05/20/this-ju...ly-posted/

**jaxx** · 05-22-2011, 07:10 AM

That's a much better map. I see they are dividing my town right down the middle too, people don't like that. Whatever, we need Dems in office so I hope to hell this works.