What do you think of your senators?

[Bradley Minoski]

For some reason i would like to hear input from people from illinois about what your senators, richard durbin and barack obama.

I got to ask what your think of durbin? have any of you lost respect for him about what he said about guantanamo bay over the summer.

Then leads to my big question, barack obama, what do you think. has he led up to all the expectations? cause alot of people over at the chicago white sox message board has a few choice words about him. but my opinion, i love this cause he's a strong senator who actually has guts and not to mention he's a great speaker.

[madaboutharry]

1. Oh, I thought we all got to answer.

I would take those two in a heartbeat. My senators are assholes.

on edit: I see.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

3. You live in Virginia, too?

George Allen and John Warner.

We are so fucked.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

2. Obama

I just found out that a woman who was my best pal in law school (in Chicago) was Obama's biggest contributor.

What's really funny about that is that, back then, she was the most conservative of Republicans, which was always a point of tension between us and ultimately contributed to our drifting apart.

Then she married a really rich guy who's a totally leftwing liberal Democrat - his cousin is Carl Levin, from Michigan - and now she's Obama's biggest contributor ($14,000).

Progress. For whatever reasons. But, I'm laughing ...........

[Bradley Minoski]

4. so i'm guessing....

you guys don't like durbin and obama...damn

[OldLeftieLawyer]

7. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Yeah, right.

I'd swap our Senators, and throw in a large chunk of cash and real estate, to get those two Illinois guys here in Mr. Jefferson's Commonwealth.

[dogfacedboy]

24. Two of the best!!! n/t

[raising2moredems]

5. Keepers

As we traveled through western IL (west of Macomb) taking the daughter to college, I saw yard signs for Obama in yards that otherwise had repuke signs for all other offices. This along a stretch of highway (we longer take thankfully) that has a barn sign that we should get out of the UN (taking over the world crap) and how the sheriff beats inmates. Like they live in the movie Deliverance.
I wish Durbin had stuck by his statement re: Gitmo and turned the table on the p^%%y boys whining.

[davsand]

6. I worked like a dawg to elect them both.

I plan to do it again next time around.

I absolutely love Dick Durbin, and can't think of any man alive that I'd rather have as my Senator. My respect for him is unswayed by anything that has gone on in the last year.

Obama is one of THE most ethical men I have ever met. After the first time I had the chance to talk to him in any kind of substantial conversation, I told my husband I'd march thru the gates of hell with Obama. I was serious then, and I still feel that way about him.

I am extremely proud of the Illinois Senators and I plan to do anything I can to keep them both in office. We need them.



Laura

[globalvillage]

8. I'll trade you.

Greetings from PA. Nuff said.

[Withywindle]

9. I like 'em both a lot

People who whine about Durbin's "apology" (and if you really look at what he really said, he was apologizing if any survivors of the atrocities in question were upset. He did NOT apologize to Bushco) forget all the very serious, very honest, very dedicated, very progressive stances he has taken and work he has done CONSISTENTLY over many years. He was one of only two Senators up for re-election in 2002 who voted against the IWR, for example. (Paul Wellstone, rest his soul, was the other.) Of course, most of it doesn't get to the level of the CNN talking heads, so maybe they don't know about it.

Do I always agree with him? Of course not. I don't have to.

Obama's votes so far have annoyed me exactly ONCE. I see him unjustly accused of voting for Gonzales and the bankruptcy bill all the time, and I'd love to know what this source of misinformation is, because he definitely voted NO on both. Meanwhile, he's done a lot of advocacy work for IL veterans and students, spends a lot of time meeting with people all over the state and listening, and I think that's a very good thing. And seeing some of the speeches he's made and questions he's asked on C-SPAN2...not bad for a freshman, not at all. :thumbsup:

Keepers, both of 'em. Nice pair!

[davsand]

12. Durbin and Wellstone were pretty close.

Durbin was here right after Wellstone died. We'd had a rally scheduled for some of the local candidates and Durbin was scheduled to swing thru. Durbin did still come, but he spoke about Wellstone and their relationship. He talked about the fact that the last time he'd seen Paul Wellstone was the day of that vote about Iraq and that they'd walked out that day without any significant farewell...

We all cried, including Durbin.

I have NO doubt in my mind that Durbin was sincere when he spoke about Wellstone's impact on him personally and on how Wellstone's death had changed his vision for the future. Durbin said directly that he was committed to progressive ideals and that working with Wellstone and knowing him had only re-affirmed that. Durbin was also incredibly moving when he talked about the fact that we have all got to work locally to start bringing along MORE Paul Wellstones and more progressives.

Something a lot of people forget about Durbin right now, is that when he stepped up into a role as a Dem leader he put on a GOP generated target. Durbin knew it was part of the job when he took it, and yet he STILL did it. He's swinging a brass set, and he IS committed to the party ideals or he'd have never been willing to take the job.

You are dead on, Withywindle, when you talk about how much gets past the talking TV heads and the mainstream media.



Laura

[RiDuvessa]

10. I think they are better then most.

And so far I am happy with Obama. I think that some expectations were too high for a freshman Senator. We should give him some time to grow into his job. He has a lot of potential, and we should not ruin his career with expectations that are unrealistic.

[kevsand]

11. We'll be keeping them, thank you very much.

I'm glad they're ours, and would not trade them for anyone, as I think they're both among the best I've ever seen.

I knew several members of Durbin's family when I was growing up, and they are the genuine article. He has been a tireless champion for progressives and the people, and is perfect for his current leadership post.

And if you read his gitmo statements carefully, you'll see that at every point he said exactly what needed to be said. If pressed, I would not be ashamed to say the exact same words in public myself. Far from losing respect, his stature actually rose in my eyes.

Obama's only fault is that he is so compelling in person that the hype and expectations reached rock star levels. I swear I had the feeling that people were expecting something akin to Christ's triumphal Passover entry into Jerusalem.

I saw him again at a town meeting last month, and he is still one of the smartest, most eloquent, most honest, and most compassionate politicians I've ever met. He will one day serve some role in the executive branch, but for now let's just enjoy his freshman gig in the Senate, okay?

We've had some legendary senators from Illinois, but these guys are both as good as any of 'em.

[keek]

13. The Midwest

has many great Democratic leaders and the Democratic party should focus on building upon its base here.

Obama should be the VP pick in 08. Durbin will succeed Reid. Illinois will save the country. :patriot:

[barb162]

14. I like both of them but I wish Obama hadn;t voted for Condi for

Sec. of State and that Durbin hadn't apologized for his recent statements aboiut Bush

[SIU_Blue]

15. Consider...

Obama is a first year senator, do not expect him to take big risks. I know that's not what anyone wants to hear, but give him time. He will take more risks politically as he gains experience.

As for Durbin, I'll be interning with him this summer, and I would not rather intern with any politician in the world. I have that much respect for him. I have talked to many a repub who has said that they have only voted for 1 democrat in their life, and it was him. Why? Because he is absolutely honest and incorruptable.

my $.02

[dogfacedboy]

25. In the past, many repubs also voted for Paul Simon.

IL has a tradition of Senators that both sides can get behind. Even Fitzgerald (R) bucked his party much of the time.

[rosesaylavee]

28. And we have Peter to thank for Patrick Fitzgerald

getting appointed in the first place. Good call from an honest Republican... a dying breed.

[stevebreeze]

16. I've only met Obama once, but Dirbin many times like them both

No they don't always agree with me, but sometimes I don't even agree with me. Between our two Senators in IL and Finegold from my native Wisconsin, we have a wealth of riches in the midwest.

[DanCa]

17. Durbin is a great parkinson advocate

I met him at the pan event in washington last year. He truly is noble and kind hearted. He sat down listened to everyone of our problems personally. Yes him not his aide. And than took us on a tour of the capital building - okay his aide did. A side note I started getting ill durring the meetting and Durbin himself gave me his donkey and flag lapell pins along with a glass of water for my medicine. These are on the table at my desk as I speak.
So yes i am behind senator Durbin 100 percent. May god bless him.

[il_lilac]

18. Durbin and Obama

:yourock: you rock!
Both keepers

[RaRa]

19. Even though I think the Roberts vote is a no brainer

apparently there are plenty of no brain Dems in the Senate. Thankfully I live in Durbin/Obama country (ick, actually also bastert country too - I think I saw his wife the other day. elderly lady driving a Jaguar with plates that said "
speakr" or something to that NCLB vibe.)

[dogfacedboy]

26. Yeah, I too am one of the "lucky ones" to have

Jabba the Hastert as my rep. Fortunately, his base is aging quickly and won't be around that much longer.

[terrya]

20. I like both of them very much.

Sure, there have been missteps on both of their parts.

But they're good liberals and Democrats overall.

[CarbonDate]

21. Why would we lose respect....

...for Durbin for correctly pointing out the torture going on in Guantanamo Bay?

[Rich Hunt]

22. I love 'em both

I don't expect them to be saints, only that they represent us well.

[pro_blue_guy]

23. I think that both of my Senators are dumbass Republicans!

[rosesaylavee]

27. Coming late to the discussion but

I would vote for both of them again easily. I don't see any other state that has two better senators. Durbin gets a bum rap because of his new position. And Barack - wouldn't be surprised if he isn't president within the next 20 years.

[Susang]

29. I love Durbin and like Obama

Durbin has a proven track record and I love how he treats his constituants. I like Obama quite a lot and am eager to see how his term plays out.

[pascal1947]

30. Hard to trust Obama after voting to confim Condi

Sen. Obama's vote to confirm war criminal Condileeza Rice as our Secretary of State was a huge, huge disappointment. What sort of Democrat speaks out against the Iraq war and then endorses one of the major architects of that war? No matter what else he does in his initial term, this asinine vote will dog him right up to his reelection campaign.

[pedantic]

31. z

[newyawker99]

32. Hi pedantic!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: