Updated on November 9, 2004 at 2:00 pm
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Cong. Ray LaHood on the Fitzgeralds [Patrick and Peter], McKenna, Crane, Republican Gubernatorial candidates, the 8th CD, trade, Topinka, Rutherford, Bean and much, much more.
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Jeff Berkowitz: But, he [Patrick Fitzgerald] will have the opportunity to stay? He will have the opportunity to stay as the U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois?
Cong. Ray LaHood: Well, it is up to the President and the Attorney General, but I believe they will give him the opportunity to continue his appointment.
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Berkowitz: …Do you think he [Andy McKenna, Jr.] will get it [the State GOP Chairmanship]?
LaHood: If he wants it, he will get it.
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Berkowitz: So, you are not even going to make a prediction as to who would be the strongest candidate [for Governor]. Steve Rauschenberger comes to mind. Pat O’Malley comes to mind. Bob Schillerstrom comes to mind. Any of those folks sound to you like strong candidates?
LaHood: There will be a lot of—Dan Rutherford is thinking about running statewide. He is a state senator from my area.
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This week’s suburban edition and this coming Monday night’s City Edition [Nov. 15, 8:30 pm, Cable Ch. 21] of “Public Affairs,” features ten year Congressman Ray LaHood [R- Peoria, 18th Dist.] debating and discussing with Show Host and Executive Legal Recruiter Jeff Berkowitz Judicial and U. S. Attorney nominations in light of Illinois now having two Democrat Senators, Cong. Phil Crane’s prior importance to his District, Melissa Bean, Tax cuts, Free Trade, the Bush 2nd Term Agenda, Energy legislation, ANWR, Off shore sourcing of jobs, the impeachment of President Clinton, the viability of pro-choice statewide candidates in Illinois, job creation by trade, the Nov. 2 election and much, much more. [See, below, for a detailed suburban airing schedule of “Public Affairs.”]
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Jeff Berkowitz: Would you project a pick up of any votes [in the House of Representatives], or will it just stay the same?
Cong. Ray LaHood: I think we [the Republicans] will pick up four or five seats, primarily in Texas.
Berkowitz: So, you will go from about a 12 vote margin to about 17 votes?
LaHood: Yes, probably 17 to 20.
Berkowitz: What about the Senate?
LaHood: It is up for grabs; there are 10 seats in play.
Berkowitz: Want to make a prediction?
LaHood: I think we [the Republicans] will pick up 2 or 3 seats.
Berkowitz: So, you predict it will be…
LaHood: No, I think it will be 53-54 to--
Berkowitz: Something like that. Do you think that will help [the Republican Party]? Will that help on Judges?
LaHood: It will help.
Berkowitz: What about on appointments? Let’s assume that Barack Obama does win and assume, as you predict, that Bush does win, so you will have a Republican President and two Democratic Senators [in Illinois]. On judicial appointments, does that go to the Speaker of the House, then—In this case, the most senior member of the [Illinois] congressional delegation, who is your good friend, Speaker Dennis Hastert—
LaHood: Well, the most senior member in our [congressional] delegation is Phil Crane, but obviously the Speaker is--, by seniority
Berkowitz: Right, Okay, we are going to continue to speak as the credits roll… our guest has been Cong. Ray LaHood, the Republican Congressman from the 18th Cong. Dist., from Peoria and central and west Illinois.
LaHood: That’s right. West, Central Illinois.
Berkowitz: Now, the re-appointment of [U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois] Patrick Fitzgerald, that very well may come up. A lot of people thought that [Speaker] Dennis Hastert was not so enthusiastic about that appointment and that it was very much argued for and forced through by Senator Peter Fitzgerald. Now, will that come up and be controlled by Speaker Hastert and George Bush- the re-appointment of Patrick Fitzgerald?
LaHood: I think that if the President wins the re-election, which I believe he will, I think those appointments [the U. S. Attorneys] will continue; those people will stay in those positions.
Berkowitz: So, you think Patrick Fitzgerald will stay—
LaHood: Unless they decide to resign.
Berkowitz: But, he [Patrick Fitzgerald] will have the opportunity to stay? He will have the opportunity to stay as the U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois?
LaHood: Well, it is up to the President and the Attorney General, but I believe they will give him the opportunity to continue his appointment.
Berkowitz: Will Pete Fitzgerald continue to have a voice in the Illinois Republican Party or-- when he is no longer a U. S. Senator, will he fade away?
LaHood: Well, that is up to him. I don’t know what kind of--
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Berkowitz: …Do you think he [Andy McKenna, Jr.] will get it [the State GOP Chairmanship]?
LaHood: If he wants it, he will get it.
Berkowitz: Does he want it?
LaHood: Well, in my discussions with him, it appears that way.
Berkowitz: He is talking to people at the State Central Committee; they make the choice, right?
LaHood: That’s right. The State Central Committee, by a weighted vote, decides who the Chairman will be.
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Berkowitz: …Many people think that a candidate for Governor in the Republican Primary in the State of Illinois who is not Pro-Life cannot win…people say that there is now a very strong conservative [Republican] base that feels very deeply about that issue, and that if Jim Edgar were running for Governor in the Primary, he couldn’t win, nor could Thompson- at this point. Has that change occurred in the Republican Party-- at least in its base?
LaHood: The truth is that Governor Edgar did have a challenge in the primary by a [Pro-Life] fellow by the name of Steven Baer—
Berkowitz: Right.
LaHood: And Steven Baer got about 32% of the vote, but he didn’t get the nomination. Governor Edgar did.
Berkowitz: But, my point is- has that changed now? That, right now, that base- that Pro-Life base is much stronger and it is not simply Pro-Life. I would call it a social conservative movement within the Republican Party [in Illinois].
LaHood: Our party stands for- [stands] on the principle of being Pro-Life, Pro-Second Amendment, conservative on the social issues and conservative on the fiscal issues. Those are the issues that define our party and, frankly, I don’t disagree with those and I think it is difficult for a Pro-Choice Republican to win a Primary [in Illinois].
Berkowitz: Say that again.
LaHood: I think it is difficult.
Berkowitz: For a Pro-choice Republican to win.
LaHood: Yeah, Yeah.
Berkowitz: So, the point is- what does that do, as the party is rebuilding. Does that mean that Judy Baar Topinka is unlikely to be a gubernatorial candidate? Or is she—is she somebody who could not win in the Republican Primary for Governor?
LaHood: Well, she is the only statewide office, officer, Republican, that was left standing after the last election [2002].
Berkowitz: Right, but that was the Treasurer’s office. There weren’t many people [in that race] talking much about her views on abortion—
LaHood: I know that.
Berkowitz: Or on education, on spending, on taxes.
LaHood: I know that, yeah. Ah, the answer is-- she is very popular. Whether she could win a primary or not-- I think she is probably weighing that and will weigh that as she determines whether she is going to run for re-election for Treasurer or run for another office.
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Berkowitz: So, you are not even going to make a prediction as to who would be the strongest candidate [for Governor]. Steve Rauschenberger comes to mind. Pat O’Malley comes to mind. Bob Schillerstrom comes to mind. Any of those folks sound to you like strong candidates?
LaHood: There will be a lot of—Dan Rutherford is thinking about running statewide. He is a state senator from my area.
Berkowitz: But, not for Governor. Is he thinking about running for Governor?
LaHood: He is thinking about running statewide. I don’t think he has really said what he is going to run for.
Berkowitz: You like him. You like Rutherford? You support him?
LaHood: I think we have a lot of good candidates. And, I think it will be a very spirited primary.
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Cong. Ray LaHood [R- Peoria, 18th Dist.], recorded on Oct. 30, 2004 and as is airing on “Public Affairs,” this week in the suburbs and as will be airing through-out the City of Chicago on Monday, Nov. 15 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV]. See, below, for a detailed description of the Suburban airing schedule of “Public Affairs.”
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The suburban edition of "Public Affairs," is regularly broadcast every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
The suburban edition also is broadcast every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette and every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
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The City edition of Public Affairs airs throughout the City of Chicago every Monday night at 8:30 on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV].
The “Public Affairs,” show with Cong. Ray LaHood will air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday, Nov. 15, 2004 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21.
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**************************************
Cong. Ray LaHood on the Fitzgeralds [Patrick and Peter], McKenna, Crane, Republican Gubernatorial candidates, the 8th CD, trade, Topinka, Rutherford, Bean and much, much more.
**************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: But, he [Patrick Fitzgerald] will have the opportunity to stay? He will have the opportunity to stay as the U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois?
Cong. Ray LaHood: Well, it is up to the President and the Attorney General, but I believe they will give him the opportunity to continue his appointment.
****************************************
Berkowitz: …Do you think he [Andy McKenna, Jr.] will get it [the State GOP Chairmanship]?
LaHood: If he wants it, he will get it.
***************************************
Berkowitz: So, you are not even going to make a prediction as to who would be the strongest candidate [for Governor]. Steve Rauschenberger comes to mind. Pat O’Malley comes to mind. Bob Schillerstrom comes to mind. Any of those folks sound to you like strong candidates?
LaHood: There will be a lot of—Dan Rutherford is thinking about running statewide. He is a state senator from my area.
***************************************
This week’s suburban edition and this coming Monday night’s City Edition [Nov. 15, 8:30 pm, Cable Ch. 21] of “Public Affairs,” features ten year Congressman Ray LaHood [R- Peoria, 18th Dist.] debating and discussing with Show Host and Executive Legal Recruiter Jeff Berkowitz Judicial and U. S. Attorney nominations in light of Illinois now having two Democrat Senators, Cong. Phil Crane’s prior importance to his District, Melissa Bean, Tax cuts, Free Trade, the Bush 2nd Term Agenda, Energy legislation, ANWR, Off shore sourcing of jobs, the impeachment of President Clinton, the viability of pro-choice statewide candidates in Illinois, job creation by trade, the Nov. 2 election and much, much more. [See, below, for a detailed suburban airing schedule of “Public Affairs.”]
****************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Would you project a pick up of any votes [in the House of Representatives], or will it just stay the same?
Cong. Ray LaHood: I think we [the Republicans] will pick up four or five seats, primarily in Texas.
Berkowitz: So, you will go from about a 12 vote margin to about 17 votes?
LaHood: Yes, probably 17 to 20.
Berkowitz: What about the Senate?
LaHood: It is up for grabs; there are 10 seats in play.
Berkowitz: Want to make a prediction?
LaHood: I think we [the Republicans] will pick up 2 or 3 seats.
Berkowitz: So, you predict it will be…
LaHood: No, I think it will be 53-54 to--
Berkowitz: Something like that. Do you think that will help [the Republican Party]? Will that help on Judges?
LaHood: It will help.
Berkowitz: What about on appointments? Let’s assume that Barack Obama does win and assume, as you predict, that Bush does win, so you will have a Republican President and two Democratic Senators [in Illinois]. On judicial appointments, does that go to the Speaker of the House, then—In this case, the most senior member of the [Illinois] congressional delegation, who is your good friend, Speaker Dennis Hastert—
LaHood: Well, the most senior member in our [congressional] delegation is Phil Crane, but obviously the Speaker is--, by seniority
Berkowitz: Right, Okay, we are going to continue to speak as the credits roll… our guest has been Cong. Ray LaHood, the Republican Congressman from the 18th Cong. Dist., from Peoria and central and west Illinois.
LaHood: That’s right. West, Central Illinois.
Berkowitz: Now, the re-appointment of [U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois] Patrick Fitzgerald, that very well may come up. A lot of people thought that [Speaker] Dennis Hastert was not so enthusiastic about that appointment and that it was very much argued for and forced through by Senator Peter Fitzgerald. Now, will that come up and be controlled by Speaker Hastert and George Bush- the re-appointment of Patrick Fitzgerald?
LaHood: I think that if the President wins the re-election, which I believe he will, I think those appointments [the U. S. Attorneys] will continue; those people will stay in those positions.
Berkowitz: So, you think Patrick Fitzgerald will stay—
LaHood: Unless they decide to resign.
Berkowitz: But, he [Patrick Fitzgerald] will have the opportunity to stay? He will have the opportunity to stay as the U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois?
LaHood: Well, it is up to the President and the Attorney General, but I believe they will give him the opportunity to continue his appointment.
Berkowitz: Will Pete Fitzgerald continue to have a voice in the Illinois Republican Party or-- when he is no longer a U. S. Senator, will he fade away?
LaHood: Well, that is up to him. I don’t know what kind of--
***************************************
Berkowitz: …Do you think he [Andy McKenna, Jr.] will get it [the State GOP Chairmanship]?
LaHood: If he wants it, he will get it.
Berkowitz: Does he want it?
LaHood: Well, in my discussions with him, it appears that way.
Berkowitz: He is talking to people at the State Central Committee; they make the choice, right?
LaHood: That’s right. The State Central Committee, by a weighted vote, decides who the Chairman will be.
******************************************
Berkowitz: …Many people think that a candidate for Governor in the Republican Primary in the State of Illinois who is not Pro-Life cannot win…people say that there is now a very strong conservative [Republican] base that feels very deeply about that issue, and that if Jim Edgar were running for Governor in the Primary, he couldn’t win, nor could Thompson- at this point. Has that change occurred in the Republican Party-- at least in its base?
LaHood: The truth is that Governor Edgar did have a challenge in the primary by a [Pro-Life] fellow by the name of Steven Baer—
Berkowitz: Right.
LaHood: And Steven Baer got about 32% of the vote, but he didn’t get the nomination. Governor Edgar did.
Berkowitz: But, my point is- has that changed now? That, right now, that base- that Pro-Life base is much stronger and it is not simply Pro-Life. I would call it a social conservative movement within the Republican Party [in Illinois].
LaHood: Our party stands for- [stands] on the principle of being Pro-Life, Pro-Second Amendment, conservative on the social issues and conservative on the fiscal issues. Those are the issues that define our party and, frankly, I don’t disagree with those and I think it is difficult for a Pro-Choice Republican to win a Primary [in Illinois].
Berkowitz: Say that again.
LaHood: I think it is difficult.
Berkowitz: For a Pro-choice Republican to win.
LaHood: Yeah, Yeah.
Berkowitz: So, the point is- what does that do, as the party is rebuilding. Does that mean that Judy Baar Topinka is unlikely to be a gubernatorial candidate? Or is she—is she somebody who could not win in the Republican Primary for Governor?
LaHood: Well, she is the only statewide office, officer, Republican, that was left standing after the last election [2002].
Berkowitz: Right, but that was the Treasurer’s office. There weren’t many people [in that race] talking much about her views on abortion—
LaHood: I know that.
Berkowitz: Or on education, on spending, on taxes.
LaHood: I know that, yeah. Ah, the answer is-- she is very popular. Whether she could win a primary or not-- I think she is probably weighing that and will weigh that as she determines whether she is going to run for re-election for Treasurer or run for another office.
****************************************
Berkowitz: So, you are not even going to make a prediction as to who would be the strongest candidate [for Governor]. Steve Rauschenberger comes to mind. Pat O’Malley comes to mind. Bob Schillerstrom comes to mind. Any of those folks sound to you like strong candidates?
LaHood: There will be a lot of—Dan Rutherford is thinking about running statewide. He is a state senator from my area.
Berkowitz: But, not for Governor. Is he thinking about running for Governor?
LaHood: He is thinking about running statewide. I don’t think he has really said what he is going to run for.
Berkowitz: You like him. You like Rutherford? You support him?
LaHood: I think we have a lot of good candidates. And, I think it will be a very spirited primary.
***************************************
Cong. Ray LaHood [R- Peoria, 18th Dist.], recorded on Oct. 30, 2004 and as is airing on “Public Affairs,” this week in the suburbs and as will be airing through-out the City of Chicago on Monday, Nov. 15 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV]. See, below, for a detailed description of the Suburban airing schedule of “Public Affairs.”
*******************************************************
The suburban edition of "Public Affairs," is regularly broadcast every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
The suburban edition also is broadcast every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette and every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
*****************************************
The City edition of Public Affairs airs throughout the City of Chicago every Monday night at 8:30 on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV].
The “Public Affairs,” show with Cong. Ray LaHood will air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday, Nov. 15, 2004 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21.
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