Any Illinoisians with personal stories of Senator Obama helping them out?

[TheDoorbellRang]

I know lots of folks don't like to venture into GDP these days, but there is a post by a Clinton supporter who had a nice story on how Senator Clinton had helped her out. Now she is sincerely (IMO) asking for some personal stories from Illinoisians who have received assistance from Senator Obama. Anyone here have any? If so, please respond here. Thanks, all. :hi:

[AlphaBettor]

1. I'd go to Durbin

Honestly, if I needed help, I'd go to Dick Durbin. I'm proud that Obama is from Illinois, but I don't see him as a "nuts and bolts" senator. It was good to see him at the NIU memorial yesterday, though.

[murielm99]

3. I agree.

Durbin has been much more responsive, from what people tell me.

He is trying to get some help for Fermi Lab, since Hastert resigned and left them with a huge budget shortfall. Durbin has been trying to help.

[TheDoorbellRang]

6. That's interesting

I'm not too far from Fermi Lab, and I know they been hit hard with the budget cuts. Hope Durbin can help.

[murielm99]

8. My son works there.

Over this fiscal year, he has to take one-week furloughs until he has taken four weeks without pay. He has a bit of other consulting he can do, but the pay and the work is irregular.

He can apply for unemployment, too, but that will come on its own schedule, usually after a lot of paperwork, standing around and delay.

At least he still has a job, but it makes it hard to pay the bills on time.

Biggert and Durbin are trying to help. Obama is too busy.

If Obama becomes President, will he remember his old friends?

Fermi Lab is a big employer in the area, especially for the types of professional people that communities like to keep.

[rosesaylavee]

4. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[TheDoorbellRang]

5. Thanks for the input

and welcome to DU. :hi:

[dogman]

2. I attended an Obama town hall meeting and came away disappointed.

He could not answer a question about the National ID. He was not sure if it was good or bad. He is just another politician trying to ride the center lane IMO.

[TheDoorbellRang]

7. Well this has been a disheartening thread so far

I've only been in Illinois for less than a year, and so am not that familiar with Obama's record here. So far it's sounding like Durbin should have been running for prez.

Thanks for your input.

[dogfacedboy]

9. Senator Obama's office helped me out with a Freedom Of Info Act problem.

Does that count?

[rosesaylavee]

10. Obama was the only elected official

to write a letter of support for a non-profit effort I headed a few years ago. I sent letters of invitation to the opening of this effort to Durbin, Obama, Hastert and our local state senator and rep. Those last two live within 5 miles from where the event was happening. Only Obama sent a letter of support and encouragement.

As a junior senator he was just getting his feet wet as far as pulling weight around the state and locally. I feel confident he will remember the Fermi Lab when he is in the WH. Not only is it an important employer in the Fox Valley, the work performed there is done nowhere else in the world.

[murielm99]

11. Actually, the work they do is done elsewhere,

for example, at CERN. My son tells me that another lab of that type is being built in Europe.

The bush administration has done nothing for science. The rest of the world may continue to surpass us if something is not done.

I am glad that you are confident that he will remember Fermi Lab. I am not. He has been in Illinois politics long enough to know about Fermi Lab. The least he could have done was open his mouth about the situation. So far, he hasn't even done that much.

[rosesaylavee]

12. Yes, I do think he will.

I think the campaign has sucked pretty much of his brain space for the better part of the last year. Who knows, maybe after he sews up the nomination, he will turn his attention to critical matters here in Illinois. I know that CERN does tremendous things but Fermi is, I think, one of the few if not THE place in this country working on smashing atoms. I have a number of friends who work there and would be truly disappointed and upset if they closed the place down. It's been threatened before and they have found ways and means to keep it open. I am hoping for yet another extension to its extraordinary life.

[Critters2]

13. Actually, there are a lot of places that "smash atoms"--

There are cyclotrons at Argonne national laboratory and at the U of I in Urbana, just to name some in Illinois. I know there are two in Berkeley, one at Harvard and one at MIT. I'm sure there are dozens at other research universities across the country. A cousin of mine did his undergrad at Urbana, where he became interested in working with cyclotrons. He did his MA at the U of Chicago, doing research at both Argonne and Fermilab, and then did his PhD at MIT. Then he went to teach and continue research at UCLA. His work depended on access to "atom smashers".

[Critters2]

14. I've never even gotten a response to issues e-mails to Obama.

I know some have, because I have a parishioner who loves him for this reason, but I haven't gotten so much as a form letter. I always hear back from Durbin, once with a personal note, because he's a friend of one of my uncles. Even my congressman, whom I despise, has responded to me. But not Obama. Don't really know what to make of it. But it doesn't inspire confidence.

[Kittycat]

15. I always have.

And even where I didn't fully agree (like in my rantings), he was considerate to my comments. I've never written to Durbin.

[dogfacedboy]

17. Durbin and his staff are very friendly and helpful.

We are lucky to have him as a Senator. Even the last Repub Senator that we had wasn't a hideous neo-con. His office was always courteous to me. The Repubs hated him.

As long as we still get Senators here in Illinois in the mold of Paul Simon, we'll be in good shape.

[mucifer]

16. Durbin has been a senator much longer and Obama is a bit busy

right now. But, maybe I'm just making excuses. You all know if he is our next prez we will be disappointed. That said I'm still hoping he wins.