[Peace-discuss] [Peace] Voting anti-war in tomorrow's primary (2)

Thu Mar 22 12:44:35 UTC 2018

David’s quite right about Tim (who’s even recently asked me to lecture to his UI classes - along with Rodney, I admit…)

Rodney may be shamed/pressured into emulating him. “NEVER” is a long time.

But the war-mongering Democrats are today excoriating Trump for congratulating Putin on his election, and talking peace with Eurasia!

Idiots.

> On Mar 22, 2018, at 7:23 AM, David Johnson via Peace-discuss <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net> wrote:
> 
> Indeed Deb,
> 
> Tim Johnson was a Champaign county Republican who interacted with his constituents and even helped registered Democrats with problems. He also had  libertarian political tendencies in regards to civil liberties and had one of the most favorable voting records in support of Unions . He changed his support of the war in Iraq to opposition while Bush and the Republicans still controlled the Presidency and Congress because he was responding to citizens in his district. Not that he didn't have his faults.
> Rodney Davis on the other hand is a corporate republican who is a solely owned subsidiary of the Koch brothers et al and doesn’t care what his constituents think. Davis will NEVER bite the hand of his corporate masters.
> 
> David J.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peace [mailto:peace-bounces at lists.chambana.net] On Behalf Of Debra Schrishuhn via Peace
> Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2018 5:26 AM
> To: Karen Aram
> Cc: peace
> Subject: Re: [Peace] Voting anti-war in tomorrow's primary (2)
> 
> What comes to mind is a paraphrase of one of the best debate lines
> ever: I knew Tim Johnson, worked with Tim Johnson, and Rodney Davis, you are not Tim Johnson!
> 
> Deb
> 
> 
> 
> On 3/20/18, Karen Aram via Peace <peace at lists.chambana.net> wrote:
>> Sorry, I don’t buy it, give me a reason why Davis might change his 
>> mind as did Tim Johnson, other than a miracle. I would prefer a 
>> Democrat we can pressure, with our votes. Davis has already had the 
>> opportunity to change his mind on many things due to constituency pressure, please name one.
>> 
>> And, lets be clear the Democrat Party maybe pushing Russiagate, and 
>> war against China, but to assume the Republicans are not, is sheer nonsense.
>> 
>> 
>> On Mar 20, 2018, at 06:39, C G Estabrook 
>> <cgestabrook at gmail.com<mailto:cgestabrook at gmail.com>> wrote:
>> 
>> No, it’s a recognition that any Democratic candidate in this 
>> Congressional district (except Gill) will be a war supporter.
>> 
>> Republican Tim Johnson, Davis’ predecessor, was, too - and changed in 
>> office.
>> 
>> Unlikely as it may be, we can hope for the same from Davis - while the 
>> Democratic party pushes Russiagate and war provocations against Russia 
>> and China.
>> 
>> —CGE
>> 
>> 
>> On Mar 20, 2018, at 8:30 AM, Karen Aram 
>> <karenaram at hotmail.com<mailto:karenaram at hotmail.com>> wrote:
>> 
>> Carl
>> 
>> I agree David Gill is the only viable candidate to be supported. 
>> However, Rodney Davis? Are you showing your true Republican colors, or 
>> is this a strategy to “bring it on,” the revolution, which we surely need.
>> 
>> Just as Trump is responsible for waking up the American people to 
>> “politics do matter,” after sleeping for eight years, I suppose you 
>> think Rodney’s re-election might have the same affect.
>> 
>> Good strategy, but I doubt it will work, the people will just wait for 
>> another chance to elect a Democrat. Pressure on some of our Democrat 
>> Representatives does have an impact, as we are now told Tammy 
>> Duckworth will support the Lee Sanders Bill, given her support for 
>> militarism, that is quite an achievement though we must be vigilant 
>> and keep in mind the Lee Sanders Bill is flawed.
>> 
>>  I too like Niloofar am surprised and disappointed that Bob would support
>> Betsy, when we have a candidate, David          Gill who is anti-war as well
>> as single payer supporter.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Mar 19, 2018, at 20:58, C G Estabrook 
>> <cgestabrook at gmail.com<mailto:cgestabrook at gmail.com>> wrote:
>> 
>> David Gill seems to be the only anti-war candidate for Congress in IL-13.
>> He’s the only Democrat who said in answer to direct questions that US 
>> troops (and weapons) should be withdrawn from the Mideast and N. Africa.
>> 
>> The other Democrats - Londrigan, Jones, and Ebel - all support US 
>> war-making. Londrigan seems uninformed, as Bob suggests, but Ebel is 
>> even worse: he seems to be one of the "extraordinary number of former 
>> intelligence and military operatives from the CIA, Pentagon, National 
>> Security Council and State Department [who] are seeking nomination as 
>> Democratic candidates for Congress in the 2018 midterm elections. The 
>> potential influx of military-intelligence personnel into the 
>> legislature has no precedent in US political history”
>> [https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/03/07/dems-m07.html].
>> 
>> Given what the national Democratic party has done to drive Trump back 
>> into the belligerence and war-provocations of the Obama administration 
>> - ‘Russiagate', notably - I can’t see voting for any Democrats for Congress.
>> If Gill is not nominated, I’ll vote for incumbent Rodney Davis - a 
>> war-supporter, yes, but one who might follow the example of his 
>> predecessor, former Rep. Tim Johnson (a Republican), and turn against 
>> the administration’s wars. —CGE
>> 
>> 
>> On Mar 19, 2018, at 9:34 PM, Niloofar Shambayati via Peace 
>> <peace at lists.chambana.net<mailto:peace at lists.chambana.net>> wrote:
>> 
>> Robert,
>> 
>> I'm surprised by your endorsement. She's totally an establishment candidate.
>> She has a big smile and no real agenda, except the generic "caring for 
>> families". Like her mentor, Durbin, she doesn't even support a 
>> national health care system (improved medicare for all). I hope to 
>> hear stronger arguments in her favor. Thanks!
>> 
>> Niloofar
>> 
>> On Mon, Mar 19, 2018 at 7:57 PM, Robert Naiman via Peace 
>> <peace at lists.chambana.net<mailto:peace at lists.chambana.net>> wrote:
>> https://www.facebook.com/robert.naiman/posts/10157099169132656
>> 
>> I endorse Betsy Dirksen Londrigan for Congress in IL-13.
>> I like all four serious candidates. I met with all of them. I went to 
>> every forum I could. They're all thoughtful, knowledgeable, and 
>> progressive, their intentions are pure, and they're in it to win it. I 
>> will vigorously support whoever wins the primary, in order to defeat Rodney Davis in November.
>> But in the primary, I have to choose one. I choose Betsy Dirksen Londrigan.
>> First: I engaged the four candidates about our campaign to end 
>> unauthorized U.S. participation in the catastrophic Saudi war in 
>> Yemen. Of the four candidates, Betsy Dirksen Londrigan listened to me 
>> the best. It wasn't close, actually. I explained how this war is 
>> different from the other wars, and she got it. The first time I 
>> engaged her, she didn't really understand what I was talking about; 
>> but none of them did. Betsy Dirksen Londrigan
>> said: send me something to read. So I did. The next time I saw her, 
>> Betsy Dirksen Londrigan knew exactly what I was talking about. Because 
>> she read the thing I send her and she understood it.
>> I don't need a know-it-all representing me in Congress. Know-it-alls 
>> are a dime a dozen. I need someone who listens to what I have to say 
>> and tries to understand it. By that criterion, it's Betsy Dirksen Londrigan in a walk.
>> Second: I like the fact that Betsy Dirksen Londrigan is endorsed by 
>> Dick Durbin. It's not that I think Dick Durbin is the alpha and omega. 
>> I've had frustrations with Dick Durbin. But as a practical matter, on 
>> my issues, if we don't have Dick Durbin, we're not even on the field. 
>> But if we do have Dick Durbin, then we can get all the Dick Durbin 
>> people onside. Today was a perfect example. I was very frustrated that 
>> on the eve of the Senate vote on the Sanders-Lee-Murphy resolution, I didn't know where Tammy Duckworth was.
>> So I engaged Durbin's people and said: where's Tammy Duckworth? Within 
>> an hour Tammy Duckworth's staffer, who had been dodging me and other 
>> peace activists, got back with me to confirm that Tammy Duckworth 
>> would vote yes on the Sanders-Lee-Murphy bill. So the fact that Betsy 
>> Dirksen Londrigan is a Dick Durbin person is a big plus for me, 
>> because it gives me great confidence that I can rely on Betsy Dirksen Londrigan when I need her.
>> Third: all else equal, I like the fact that she is endorsed by Emily's List.
>> Not that I'm totally in love with the politics of Emily's List in general.
>> But they are also in it to win it, and I'm confident that if Betsy 
>> Dirksen Londrigan wins the primary, Emily's List will be all-in to 
>> help her win the general, and she's going to need a lot of money and 
>> help to beat Rodney Davis in November.
>> Fourth: I strongly support increasing the diversity of our Illinois 
>> Congressional delegation. Obviously that doesn't mean I have to 
>> support someone whose politics are diametrically opposed to my own. 
>> But if it's a jump ball, if it's close enough, "the tie goes to the 
>> runner." And, in fact, Betsy Dirksen Londrigan is my best candidate 
>> anyway. She points out that only three members of our current 
>> delegation are women, and says that's unacceptable and we should 
>> change that. I agree. She's right about that. So while I certainly 
>> wouldn't make the decision on this criterion alone, and I wouldn't 
>> want anyone else to, I think it's perfectly wonderful to have this 
>> criterion in the mix. Given everything else that's true, I count this as a strong plus.
>> 
>> _______________________
>> 
>> 