Senator Garrett on Cable and Streaming: Blago, Madigan, Thompson, Edgar and much more

Jeff Berkowitz: ... are you Rod's and Emil's girl...

Senator Garrett:... I don't think of myself as anybody's "girl."
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Senator Garrett: Yeah, [Blagojevich] has a different approach; he is younger, he is more progressive, he wants change, he wants it his way. And, Madigan wants it his way.
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Jeff Berkowitz: ...you’ve been there all those years. Has Rod been running a cumulative three billion dollar deficit?

Senator Garrett: ...Yeah, there are budget holes, they’ve been there with Rod Blagojevich, they’ve been there with George Ryan and they’ve been there with Gov. Thompson.
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This week’s City of Chicago and City of Aurora editions of Public Affairs features State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest, 29th Senate District). The show with Senator Garrett airs through-out the City of Chicago tonight [Sep. 24] at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV] and tonight at 7:30 pm on Aurora Community Television, on Comcast Cable Ch. 10 in Aurora and some surrounding areas. The Aurora station reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
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You may also watch the show with Senator Garrett and very recently posted shows with 14th CD Republican Primary candidate Mayor Kevin Burns and former Senator Rauschenberger on your computer at PublicAffairsTV.com. In addition to the very recently posted shows, prior shows on the "Public Affairs," podcast page feature a show with Senators Durbin and Dodd, Cong. Kucinich and others; Democratic Presidential Candidates Senator Barack Obama and Governor Richardson; possible Republican opponents to Senator Durbin next fall: Dr. Steve Sauerberg and Jim Nalepa; and 14 TH Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidates Jotham Stein and John Laesch and 14th Cong. Dist. Republican Primary candidate Senator Chris Lauzen (R-Aurora). Additional previously posted shows feature Presidential candidates Giuliani, McCain and Cox, and many other pols and opinion makers. You may also watch these "Public Affairs," shows, and others, at www.itunes.com
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For more about Garrett's District, tonight's topics and a partial transcript of tonight's show, go here.
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Another partial transcript of the "Public Affairs," show with guest Senator Susan Garrett is included, below:
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Jeff Berkowitz: ...The Senate President Emil Jones is lined up with Gov. Blagojevich-

Senator Garrett: um, um.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, are you Rod's and Emil's girl, if I can use that expression?

Senator Garrett: No, I am not Rod's and Emil's girl ... I consider myself very independent and I am very proud of my independence so I don't think of myself as "anybody's girl."

Jeff Berkowitz: But, Hillary Clinton said to some unions and others, "If you want somebody to fight, I'm your girl." So, it's okay to use that phrase, right?

Senator Garrett: I'm not their "girl..."
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Jeff Berkowitz: …the six-ring circus. What does that mean?

Senator Susan Garrett [D-Lake Forest]: …it’s Mayor Daley, it’s [Senate President] Emil Jones, it’s [Speaker] Mike Madigan, it’s [House Republican Leader] Tom Cross, and it’s [Senate Republican Leader] Frank Watson and—

Jeff Berkowitz: And, did you say the Governor?

Senator Susan Garrett: And the Governor.

Jeff Berkowitz: Yes.

Senator Garrett: Didn’t want to leave him out. That must have been subliminal. I am sorry about that.

Jeff Berkowitz: Some would say—the Governor runs a big tent. Does he run the biggest tent in the circus?

Senator Garrett: I think they all have—

Jeff Berkowitz: Is he the biggest guy, though? [Former Senator] Steve Rauschenberger said Rod Blagojevich is the most powerful Democrat and perhaps the most powerful politician in the state of Illinois. He said not necessarily the most effective, but he said he is the most powerful. That surprised me. Would you say Blagojevich is more powerful than Speaker Mike Madigan…

Senator Garrett: I think what we are seeing is a power struggle.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, Emil [Jones] is somewhere in there?

Senator Garrett: Yes. Power struggle between Mike Madigan and Rod Blagojevich.

Jeff Berkowitz: Mike Madigan…he would be the Speaker of the Illinois House

Senator Garrett: And the Chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party.

Jeff Berkowitz: And he has held both those positions for all but two years of the last thirty, or something like that?

Senator Garrett: Yes. Yes. So, he [Madigan] is seasoned. He has been there. He knows how the game works and I think Rod is coming in—maybe with some of his other colleagues—

Jeff Berkowitz: Rod Blagojevich, the Democratic Governor?

Senator Garrett: Yeah, he [Rod] has a different approach; he is younger, he is more progressive, he wants change, he wants it his way. And, Madigan wants it his way.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Because Rauschenberger said this…he was on the show a week or two ago [watch that show with Senator Rauschenberger streaming/cable on IllinoisChannel or on Public Affairs] and he said that Rod has always had holes in his budgets, cumulatively there is about a three billion dollar deficit, and I think that Dan Hynes, the Democratic State Comptroller backs that up. [Go here for more about the Rauschenberger show, including a partial transcript]. You’re in the State Senate, you’ve been there all those years. Has Rod been running a cumulative three billion dollar deficit?

Senator Garrett: Well, unfortunately, the way the budget works is that on June 30th, there is a balance, and it’s balanced. July 1st, you know the bills start coming in and the payment, so you can absolutely say that at any given point in time, the budget is never perfectly balanced. Yeah, there are budget holes, they’ve been there with Rod Blagojevich, they’ve been there with George Ryan and they’ve been there with Gov. Thompson.

Jeff Berkowitz: No, were they? Really?

Senator Garrett: It’s the way, it’s--

Jeff Berkowitz: You missed Jim Edgar. Were they there with Jim Edgar?
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Senator Susan Garrett, as she is airing tonight at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21, CANTV on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs and at 7:30 pm on Aurora Community Television, on Comcast Cable Ch. 10 in Aurora and some surrounding areas. The show was recorded on Sep. 9, 2007.[You may also go here to watch Senator Garrett and many other politicians on PublicAffairsTV.com].
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Richardson, Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Mitt Romney on Ethics, Kjellander and the Romney campaign

Governor Mitt Romney: He doesn’t have any role in my campaign. My chairman is here [Sen. Rutherford]. My finance Chairman… he is right over here...
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Governor Mitt Romney: …I think our Party was disappointed that when we were in charge we sometimes acted like Democrats. We spent too much. We earmarked too much. I think the Party expects leaders to abide by a higher ethical standard because they are in elected office.

Jeff Berkowitz: The Democratic National Committee today, as you may have seen, put out a press release saying, [Romney] talks ethics, and yet your stand-in in Illinois is often Bob Kjellander, a Republican National committeeman of whom the media have said, is the subject of a federal corruption investigation. [Plea agreements with the U. S. Attorneys office] refer to individual K—many think the K stands for Kjellander. In terms of this issue of kickbacks in the state pension investment program, given that and given all that has been said about Mr. Kjellander, are you comfortable having him as your “stand-in” [even though] you are talking as you are now, about the importance of changing ethics for the Republican party?

Governor Mitt Romney: Mr. Kjellander doesn’t have a role in my campaign.

Jeff Berkowitz: Has he stood-in for you at times when you weren’t there? I thought he has.

Governor Mitt Romney: No, No.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, he has no role in your campaign?

Governor Mitt Romney: No.

Jeff Berkowitz: You would not want him to have a role in your campaign?

Governor Mitt Romney: He doesn’t have any role in my campaign. My chairman is here [Sen. Rutherford]. My finance Chairman… he is right over here. I have got a lot of supporters, but I am pleased with my chairmen. [See here for more on the ever topical Bob Kjellander and how the Kjellander issue was handled by Gov. Romney five months ago].
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Abdon Pallasch [Chicago Sun-Times political reporter]: Mr. Kjellander was at the Straw poll where you won a couple of weeks ago down in Springfield. Do you welcome his support or are you distancing yourself from—

Governor Mitt Romney: I think I have said all I have to say on that.
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Governor Mitt Romney, Republican Primary Presidential candidate, answering questions yesterday around 5:00 pm at a Press Conference at the Chicago Club in the Chicago Loop. [See here for a report of Romney's last presser in Chicago].
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Richardson, Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Cruickshank leaves Sun-Times for CBC News; Who will replace Sun-Times' Jennifer Hunter?

Updated at 5:45 pm on Wednesday:

We may have been premature earlier in the day when we bid adieu to Jennifer Hunter. Or, maybe Hunter is simply putting up a brave front, engaging in some wishful thinking when she tells Crain’s she is staying put in her Chicago Sun-Times columnist job, primarily as Barack Obama’s chronicler. Hunter says she is keeping the family home in Chicago, with her kids fifteen minutes away at the University of Chicago, and her former boss and still husband Cruickshank a little further away in Toronto. Sure, it can be done. Lots of commuter marriages these days. And, many even work.

However, reliable sources say Jennifer is not the most popular “girl,” at the Apparel Mart; she won’t be Sun-Times homecoming queen (even without the competition from the models who used to walk the halls and pose adjacent to the tinted windows at the Mart) and she may have trouble sticking it out through the primary election.

Yes, even without hubby Cruickshank to cover her backside, Jennifer Hunter may have an angel in the crowd. But, how long that angel will fly around the Mart and how much good will that angel wants to use, on Jennifer's (or more precisely John's) behalf is anyone’s guess.

No doubt, Jennifer Hunter hopes this gig is good for a book on Obama’s run to the Presidency, even if he should come up short. But things may not be what they once were for the budding Teddy White.

It is one thing to interview a wrestler. It is quite another to wrestle with your colleagues and no longer be married to your boss. If Hunter runs into trouble again, her “Goose may be Cooked,” so to speak. Surely, Jennifer Hunter has an inkling what the future holds for her at the Sun-Times.

For corroboration from a Wilmette conservative expressed much earlier in the day, go here. The Wilmette mafia may still have insight about, and perhaps influence at, the Chicago Sun-Times.
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Crain’s Chicago Business reported this morning Chicago Sun-Times Publisher John Cruickshank will be leaving the paper to take a news job with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. CBC is Canada’s national public radio and television broadcaster [See here].

The Sun-Times' parent company confirmed shortly before noon that Cruickshank is leaving the newspaper. Crain’s cites a source suggesting that Cruickshank, a native of Canada, will become editor in chief of CBC News.

One would suppose that Cruickshank’s wife, Jennifer Hunter, will leave her position as a Chicago Sun-Times political columnist. If Hunter follows her recent history, she can be expected to join Cruickshank at a plush job with the CBC News, where maybe she won’t have to be bothered with such mundane aspects of journalism as checking facts or knowing what it means to be a staunch Republican [See here and here]. Perhaps Hunter can return to interviewing baseball players and wrestlers, or given her new environment-- do some NPR type interviews of hockey players.

With Hunter exiting the scene at the Sun-Times, this is an excellent opportunity for the paper to balance its lefty political opinions and coverage from the likes of Falsani, Greeley, Jackson, Marin, Martire, Mitchell, Ontiveros, Roeper, Sneed, Simpson, Steinberg, Sweet, and Washington with a journalist slightly right of center, perhaps even fair and balanced. Someone who knows national, state and local politics well; has a good grasp of law, economics and public policy issues; and over the last decade has interviewed 500 local, state and national politicians. Someone who could shake things up, be intellectually provocative and provide a little edge for the Sun-Times readers with their morning coffee. But, who that person could be, I just don’t know. I just don’t know.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Richardson, Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Sen. Garrett on Cable and Streaming: Kirk, Seals, Footlik; the Circus and more

Jeff Berkowitz: A lot of [Cong. Kirk's] views, you like. He’s pro-Choice. You’re pro-Choice. He’s strong on environmental rights. So are you. He’s strong on gun control. So are you.

Senator Garrett: Yeah. But, you know, the difference I think between let’s say a Dan Seals or Jay Footlik and Mark Kirk is that I think Dan and Jay will be much more, either one, would be much more accessible and ready to put themselves in front of the public, the real voters—answer questions.
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Commentary by Jeff Berkowitz: ...we will keep a watchful eye on Seals, Footlik and Cong. Kirk over the next four and half months and let our faithful readers and viewers know how they do, on this score. Democracy does not work well if its participants “duck and dodge,” the media and the citizenry during the democratic process.
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Commentary by Jeff Berkowitz: You may agree or disagree with Senator Garrett on the issues, but it does seem hard to fault her on her accessibility to her constituents and the voters.
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This week’s Chicago metro suburban edition of Public Affairs features State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest, 29th Senate District). See below for the Public Affairs suburban airing schedule.
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The show with Senator Garrett also airs through-out the City of Chicago this coming Monday night [September 24] at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV] and on Monday night [Sep. 24] at 7:30 pm on Aurora Community Television, on Comcast Cable Ch. 10 in Aurora and some surrounding areas. The Aurora station reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
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You may also watch the show with Senator Garrett and very recently posted shows with 14th CD Republican Primary candidate Mayor Kevin Burns and former Senator Rauschenberger on your computer at PublicAffairsTV.com. In addition to the very recently posted shows, prior shows on the "Public Affairs," podcast page feature a show with Senators Durbin and Dodd, Cong. Kucinich and others; Democratic Presidential Candidates Senator Barack Obama and Governor Richardson; possible Republican opponents to Senator Durbin next fall: Dr. Steve Sauerberg and Jim Nalepa; and 14 TH Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidates Jotham Stein and John Laesch and 14th Cong. Dist. Republican Primary candidate Senator Chris Lauzen (R-Aurora). Additional previously posted shows feature Presidential candidates Giuliani, McCain and Cox, and many other pols and opinion makers. You may also watch these "Public Affairs," shows, and others, at www.itunes.com
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Senator Garrett's Background and description of 29th District:

State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest, 29th Dist.) was in the State House for four years and is now in her fifth year in the State Senate. The 29th District, which she represents, includes all or part of: Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Highwood, Highland Park, Deerfield, Bannockburn,Northbrook, Mount Prospect, Des Plaines, Fort Sheridan, Glencoe, Riverwoods, Glenview, Prospect Heights, Niles, Park Ridge and Knollwood. See www.Garrett98.com for more on Garrett and her District.

Garrett was previously a businesswoman and was also President of the League of Women Voters for a portion of the North Shore. She currently chairs the Public Health Committee and is Vice Chair of State Government and Veterans Affairs.

Topics discussed with Senator Garrett:

Senator Garrett debates and discusses with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz what she perceives as a core difference between 10th CD incumbent Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park) and his potential Democratic opponents: Dan Seals or Jay Footlik; the different objectives and styles of Governor Blagojevich and Speaker Mike Madigan, how things might play out between the Four Tops, Blago and Mayor Daley regarding a capital budget, mass transit, health insurance, expanded gaming and new taxes; the Springfield six-ring circus; how the 29th District’s suburbs came out regarding state spending on education in their districts; Garrett’s proposals for budget process reform; RTA and CTA reform, education spending and education reform; charter schools in Chicago and much, much more.
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A partial transcript of the "Public Affairs," show with guest Senator Susan Garrett is included, below:
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Could Garrett support Kirk?

Jeff Berkowitz: I said, it might have been the case—you were almost a Republican to start with. Cong. Kirk is a moderate Republican. Many of the Democratic constituencies [in the 10th Cong. Dist.] have been co-opted by Kirk. Could you see yourself possibly supporting Mark Kirk in the general election ? [Ed. Note: Democrat 10th CD celebrity Scott Turow supported Republican John Porter, Kirk’s predecessor, at least some of the time in the 10th CD during Porter’s 21 year tenure].

Senator Susan Garrett [D-Lake Forest]: No. No.

Jeff Berkowitz: Because? Why?

Senator Garrett: You know. He’s—well, you know, it’s not that--.

Kirk and Garrett: Similar views?

Jeff Berkowitz: Come on, you like the guy. You’ve met him. You’ve worked with him.

Senator Garrett: I’ve worked with him.

Jeff Berkowitz: A lot of his views, you like. He’s pro-Choice. You’re pro-Choice. He’s strong on environmental rights. So are you. He’s strong on gun control. So are you.

Comparing Seals, Footlik and Kirk

Senator Garrett: Yeah. But, you know, the difference I think between let’s say a Dan Seals or Jay Footlik and Mark Kirk is that I think Dan and Jay will be much more, either one, would be much more accessible and ready to put themselves in front of the public, the real voters—answer questions.

Jeff Berkowitz: He’s [Cong. Kirk] coming out a bit in terms of making himself more accessible.

Senator Garrett: I hope so.

Kirk and the War protestors:

Jeff Berkowitz: He had a Palatine Township meeting and a lot of War protestors showed up and he engaged them—

Senator Garrett: Yeah

Jeff Berkowitz: That went for about two hours and about an hour [was devoted] to a discussion, a civil discussion about the Iraq War. I think that was a real plus for Mark Kirk. [See here]. The question is—will he continue that? But, if he does, and he is accessible, then maybe you would support Mark Kirk?

Senator Garrett: Jeff, here is the thing. It’s not about having a one time only town hall meeting--

Jeff Berkowitz: What if he had ten.

Well-publicized town-hall meetings:

Senator Garrett: that doesn’t get publicized. And you and I talked about this. When my reps [in the 29th Senate District] and I have town hall meetings, we send out fliers to the entire [29th ] District, whether people are Republican voters or Democratic voters.

Jeff Berkowitz: Yeah, but yours is a Democratic District—re-districted [in 2001-02] to be Democratic.

Senator Garrett: We send [the fliers] to everybody.

Jeff Berkowitz: Would you do it if it were a Republican District and you were a Democrat?

Garrett’s advice to Kirk:

Senator Garrett: I absolutely—you know what, I did. I’ve done that. But, I think this is a key point. It’s about reaching out in an inclusive way to make sure that everybody has the information, that anybody can come to a town hall meeting and voice their concern. That’s where I would like to see Mark go. Honestly, I think that would make a big difference. He would be much more appealing if he did that.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, that’s advice you are giving?

Senator Garrett: Yeah.

Jeff Berkowitz: Open, public advice telling Cong. Mark Kirk [R- Highland Park, 10th Dist] how to be more appealing—

Senator Garrett: I believe all of us, whether we are Republicans or Democrats at any level of government, are public servants. And, that means we have to make ourselves available to the public and listen to arguments on maybe votes people don’t like that we’ve taken.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, the model of good government would be the Democratic Party in the state of Illinois and the six-ring circus that they run down in Springpatch, or is it Springfield, IL?

Senator Garrett: The six-ring circus. Springfield, yeah.

Jeff Berkowitz: Tell us about the six-ring circus. What does that mean?
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Commentary by Jeff Berkowitz.

Comparing and contrasting Seals, Footlik and Cong. Kirk on accessibility:

In terms of candidates and the 10th CD incumbent being willing to face tough, but fair, questioning in front of their constituents and potential voters, there may not be a lot to differentiate Seals, Footlik and Cong. Kirk.

10th CD 2008 Dem. Primary candidate Jay Footlik has scheduled two appearances in the last three months on Public Affairs and canceled both. We have been told Footlik will try to appear on Public Affairs in the fall. We, our viewers and 10th CD voters look forward to Footlik’s appearance.

10th CD Candidate Dan Seals declined to appear on “Public Affairs,” in the primary or general election race in the 10th CD in 2006; his opponent in the primary, Zane Smith, appeared several times. We have been told Dan Seals, 2008 10th CD Dem. Primary candidate, may schedule an appearance on Public Affairs soon. We, our viewers and 10th CD voters look forward to Seals’ appearance.

Then 10th CD candidate Mark Kirk appeared a number of times on Public Affairs in both the 2000 primary and general election, with and without his opponents. He made several appearances subsequently, but has not appeared on Public Affairs in the last four years, declining because he now “does not like the show’s format.” We, our viewers and 10th CD voters hope Cong. Kirk will re-consider his decision.

While we don’t endorse candidates for office, Public Affairs does endorse the notion that candidates and incumbents should appear with and without their opponents on shows like Public Affairs that do not serve up softballs but provide tough, but fair, questioning for the candidates on the issues.

Public Affairs, in addition to other areas, airs in one half of the villages that make up the 10th CD.

In this election cycle, so far, Kirk appeared on Chicago Tonight and Footlik appeared on Fox Chicago Sunday. So, they can both argue they have made appearances on TV. However, they have been relatively short segments that avoided detailed, tough questioning on the issues and the segments appeared to give the candidates a fair amount of control over the content of the interview. This reporter and TV show host doesn’t think that is what the 10th CD wants to see out of its candidates and representatives.

Moreover, in the last few months that make up the 2008 election cycle, there appear to have been no public events in the District in which the public could get a sense of Footlik or Seals, and their positions on the issues. Cong. Mark Kirk appears to have had at least one such recent event [see here], but, as discussed above, that was not publicized to his 10th CD constituents, at large.

True, the 2008 primary campaign is early. So, we will keep a watchful eye on Seals, Footlik and Cong. Kirk over the next four and half months and let our faithful readers and viewers know how they do, on this score. Democracy does not work well if its participants “duck and dodge,” the media and the citizenry during the democratic process.

To her credit, Senator Susan Garrett [D-Lake Forest] has appeared numerous times during the last nine years, with and without her opponents, on Public Affairs, as a State Rep. and both as a candidate for the state senate and as a state senator. Moreover, she has held and publicized, to all, a number of forums in her district on the issues. You may agree or disagree with Senator Garrett on the issues, but it does seem hard to fault her on her accessibility to her constituents and the voters.
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Senator Susan Garrett, as she is airing this week on Public Affairs in 35 Chicago Metro suburbs. [See below for the suburban airing schedule] and as will be airing on this comingMonday, Sep. 24, 2007, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21, CANTV on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs and on Monday, Sep. 24, 2007 at 7:30 pm on Aurora Community Television, on Comcast Cable Ch. 10 in Aurora and some surrounding areas. The show was recorded on Sep. 9, 2007.[You may also go here to watch Senator Garrett and many other politicians on PublicAffairsTV.com].
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The airing schedule for the Chicago Metro suburban edition of "Public Affairs," is included directly, below.
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In twenty-five North Shore, North and Northwest suburbs, the "Public Affairs," show airs every Tuesday night in the regular weekly Public Affairs slot, 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19 or 35, as indicated, below.

In ten North Shore suburbs, the Public Affairs show airs three times each week in its regular slots at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as indicated, below. ********************************************************
The suburban episode of Public Affairs with guest State Senator Susan Garrett airs:

tonight at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette

And tonight at 8:30 pm 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.

and this week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday night at 8:30 pm, airing on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Richardson, Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Richardson, Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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14th CD candidate Mayor Burns: On cable, now streaming, and an abortion position clarified?

Jeff Berkowitz: But, you are not pro-Life in the sense that you would like to see Roe v. Wade overturned so other people who disagree with you could not go ahead and get an abortion. You don’t want to make abortion illegal, do you?

Mayor Kevin Burns: I don’t want Kevin Burns’ decisions to impinge the rights of others to make their own and as a congressperson I most likely will not have that opportunity. Public Affairs, Sep. 2, 2007
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Jeff Berkowitz: Would you support making abortion illegal except in those cases in which the life of the mother was at issue, or the mother was the victim of rape or incest?

Mayor Kevin Burns: I would certainly be amenable to considering such legislation depending on the details. Telephone Interview, Sep. 13, 2007.
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This reporter sought, in the course of a telephone interview last Thursday, with Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, 43, (one of three Republican Primary candidates seeking to replace Cong. and former Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Plano, 14th CD)) after he completes the current term, to clarify some possible ambiguity from the discussion Mayor Burns and this reporter had about abortion on “Public Affairs,” airing tonight in the City of Chicago, City of Aurora and other portions of the 14th Cong. District. [You can now watch the show on your computer by going to PublicAffairsTv.com or to Itunes.com; And, read a partial transcript of the show, here].

The show with Mayor Burns airs tonight through-out the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 at 8:30 pm. The show also airs tonight through-out Aurora and in some surrounding areas on Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10 at 7:30 pm. The Aurora station reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.

The abortion discussion on the show consumed only about three per cent of the show’s time, with other topics discussed including the War, trade, immigration, tax cuts, discrimination based on sexual orientation, etc. [See here for a list of topics]. However, abortion is a fairly important issue in both the Republican Primary and the general election in the 14th CD, so this reporter sought to clarify the apparently nuanced view of Mayor Burns on that issue. Mayor Burns is generally characterized as the “moderate Republican,” of the three Republicans in the Republican Primary [See here for a discussion of the 14th CD race, and its players.]

It looks like and sounds like, on the show, as if Mayor Burns favors the congressional ban on partial birth abortion that was legislated about four years ago [See partial transcript of tonight's show; the ban was held, this spring, by the Supreme Court to be constitutional]. However, the host had not received a clear answer on the show to his question on that matter. In last Thursday’s conversation, Burns indicated to this reporter than he does favor that ban.

Mayor Burns also said in this reporter’s phone interview of last Thursday with Burns, “abortion should never be used as a form of birth control. But, in the case of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is at issue, the abortion decision should be between a woman, her family, her physician and her God.”

However, that statement seemed odd because on our show, Burns seemed to eschew a generalized limitation on abortion, except for milder restraints, e.g., parental notice:

Jeff Berkowitz: But, you are not pro-Life in the sense that you would like to see Roe v. Wade overturned so other people who disagree with you could not go ahead and get an abortion. You don’t want to make abortion illegal, do you?

Mayor Kevin Burns: I don’t want Kevin Burns’ decisions to impinge the rights of others to make their own and as a congressperson I most likely will not have that opportunity. Public Affairs, Sep. 2, 2007 and see here. [Interestingly, this Burns view about not "imping[ing] the rights of others," is not that different from the abortion view articulated by Jim Oberweis in his first U. S. Senate Republican Primary campaign in 2001-02. Oberweis, also a candidate in the 14th CD, has modified his abortion views quite a bit since that time.

But, in last Thursday's phone conversation, Burns was articulating exceptions, but exceptions to what?

So, last Thursday this reporter asked Mayor Burns the central abortion question a little differently and got a response closer to a traditional pro-Life stance than the one that was given on the show:

Jeff Berkowitz: Would you support making abortion illegal except in those cases in which the life of the mother was at issue, or the mother was the victim of rape or incest?

Mayor Kevin Burns: I would certainly be amenable to considering such legislation depending on the details.

I asked Mayor Burns what he meant by the details, but he didn’t want to expand on his answer.

So, is Mayor Burns pro-Life or Pro-Choice on abortion? We discuss, you decide.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Richardson, Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com. Prior shows are available by clicking on the archives icon.
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Durbin and the Democrats: Too critical of partial success in Iraq?

Senator Durbin (D-IL) held a presser on Thursday evening at the Tribune Plaza in the Chicago Loop after President Bush spoke on television to the nation about Iraq and Senator Reed (D-RI) provided the Democratic Response.

The presser lasted about eleven minutes, with Senator Durbin fielding eleven questions from the Chicago media. Below are a few:

Jeff Berkowitz: Senator, General Petraeus argued that there was political progress at the grassroots level (from the bottom up) in Anbar Province as well as elsewhere in Iraq. Do you buy into that and did that [testimony] have any impact on the Democratic Party?

Senator Dick Durbin: I can tell you that when I visited Iraq I ran into some local people who were cooperating with American soldiers at risk of their own lives. I asked about the Central Government of Al-Maliki. They had no use for the Central Government. How in the world is Iraq going to emerge as a stabile nation if the Central Government isn’t respected. And, isn’t making hard decisions.
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Jeff Berkowitz: The President argues that oil revenue in Iraq is being shared by the Central Government with the provinces. Do you agree and would that be a sign of political progress?

Senator Dick Durbin: The President’s statement tonight is not consistent with reality. The Iraqi government has failed to pass a law for the division of oil revenues among the Sunnis, Shias and Kurds. And, until they do, they can’t reach a political solution. The President talked about some progress. The fact is that those who have looked at this objectively have concluded that that’s one of the failures of this government.
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As the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, it is apparent Senator Durbin has to toe the party line, after he helps develop the party line. However, the Democratic Party line is getting a bit stale. It is to argue, always, that American strategy in Iraq never changes, is not working and that America wants to bring its troops home.

Maybe that was the case, but is it still? General Petraeus testified this week in what, by all accounts was a balanced, objective, partially positive and partially negative assessment of the situation in Iraq. The assessment indicated there was progress by the coalition forces, some in the military arena and some in the political arena.

Both Congress and the President have low approval and credibility ratings. The military, on the other hand, has high credibility ratings. Democrat Senators Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Durbin, Reid and Reed argue, for their party, that President Bush’s surge policy was more of the same, and it has failed. General Petraeus, on the other hand, argues that the Coalition Forces, this year, have a new strategy of counterinsurgency and they are having some significant military and political success in Iraq with that new strategy.

Who will the American people believe? Did the Democrats overplay their hand? We discuss, you decide.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Richardson, Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Replacing Hastert? Mayor Burns, 14th CD Republican Primary candidate, Cable and soon streaming

Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, one of three Republican Primary Candidates in the 14th CD race: You know, I am pro-Life.

Jeff Berkowitz: You’re pro-Life?

Mayor Kevin Burns: Absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, that means, individually, you are pro-Life?
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This week’s Chicago metro suburban edition of Public Affairs features Kevin Burns, Geneva Mayor and one of three 14th Cong. Dist. Republican Primary candidates (Other candidates who are running in the Republican Primary include Senator Chris Lauzen (R-Aurora) and Jim Oberweis from Sugar Grove). See below for the Public Affairs suburban airing schedule.
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The show with Mayor and 14th CD candidate Kevin Burns also airs through-out the City of Chicago this coming Monday night [September 17] at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV] and on Monday night [Sep. 17] at 7:30 pm on Aurora Community Television, on Comcast Cable Ch. 10 in Aurora and some surrounding areas. The Aurora station reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
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You may also soon watch the show with Mayor Kevin Burns, as well as soon to be posted shows with Senator Garrett and former Senator Rauschenberger on your computer at PublicAffairsTV.com. In addition to the soon to be posted shows, recently posted shows on the "Public Affairs," podcast page feature a show with Senators Durbin and Dodd, Cong. Kucinich and others; Democratic Presidential Candidates Senator Barack Obama and Governor Richardson; possible Republican opponents to Senator Durbin next fall: Dr. Steve Sauerberg and Jim Nalepa; and 14 TH Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidates Jotham Stein and John Laesch and 14th Cong. Dist. Republican Primary candidate Senator Chris Lauzen (R-Aurora). Additional previously posted shows feature Presidential candidates Giuliani, McCain and Cox, and many other pols and opinion makers. You may also watch these "Public Affairs," shows, and others, at www.itunes.com
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For a general discussion of the 14th Cong. District race and Cong. Hastert's decision not to seek re-election, go here.
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Kevin Burns, 43, a 14th CD Republican Primary candidate who has lived in the District since he was 10, has been Mayor of Geneva (Population: 25,000) for the last six years, is generally referred to as the "moderate," in the 14th CD Republican Primary race and is a professional fund raiser for Midwestern University, debates and discusses with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz whether the U. S. should pursue more offense and/or defense in the global war on terrorism, more warrantless wiretaps, more aggressive interrogations of detainees at Gitmo, stay or change the course in Iraq, pursue more or less free trade, follow the Iraq Study Group's recommendations, pursue comprehensive immigration reform, make the Bush tax cuts permanent, pursue universal health care, keep abortions legal, require parental notice and/or parental consent, maintain the current ban on partial birth abortions, permit civil unions and/or same sex marriage, renew the federal assault weapon ban, permit concealed carry and much, much more.
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A partial transcript of the "Public Affairs," show with guest Mayor Kevin Burns (R-Geneva) is included, below:
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Partial Birth abortion bans:

Jeff Berkowitz: …Are there any abortions that aren’t permitted under the current law?

Mayor Kevin Burns (R-Geneva), 14th CD Republican Primary candidate: Well, certainly partial birth abortions.

Jeff Berkowitz: That [congressional ban] has been upheld [by the U. S. Supreme Court].

Mayor Kevin Burns: Absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, that had an exception for the life of the mother, but not for the health of the mother. Are you okay with that?

What does it mean to be pro-Life?

Mayor Kevin Burns: You know, I am pro-Life.

Jeff Berkowitz: You’re Pro-Life?

Mayor Kevin Burns: Absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, that means individually, you are pro-Life?

Mayor Kevin Burns: Clearly.

Jeff Berkowitz: You and your wife would probably not choose to have an abortion.

Mayor Kevin Burns: That means that I came to that decision through reflective thinking of my own and I have every respect for everyone else who perhaps has a different opinion.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, you are not pro-Life in the sense that you would like to see Roe v. Wade overturned so other people who disagree with you could not go ahead and get an abortion. You don’t want to make abortion illegal, do you?

Mayor Kevin Burns: I don’t want Kevin Burns’ decisions to impinge the rights of others to make their own and as a congressperson I most likely will not have that opportunity.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, right, that’s probably a judicial decision, but you would have some impact on that—as when the partial birth abortion ban was passed by the Congress.

Mayor Kevin Burns: Right.

Parental Notice.

Jeff Berkowitz: Parental notice. Would you favor parental notice?

Mayor Kevin Burns: I do favor parental notice.

Parental Consent.

Jeff Berkowitz: Parental consent. You favor that, too? Parents have to give consent before their minor daughter can have an abortion?

Mayor Kevin Burns: You know, it’s a case by case example. I think parental consent, flat out—you have some challenges to it.

Judicial bypass.

Jeff Berkowitz: [But], with judicial bypass,

Mayor Kevin Burns: Perhaps.

Jeff Berkowitz: The daughter can go to the judge, if there is a case of incest, rape, something like that—

Mayor Kevin Burns: And, it’s a bad family life—I mean, what are we doing to the child?
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Mayor Kevin Burns, Republican Primary candidate for the 14th Cong. Dist. seat, as he is airing this week on Public Affairs in 35 Chicago Metro suburbs. [See below for the suburban airing schedule] and as will be airing on this comingMonday, Sep. 17, 2007, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21, CANTV on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs and on Monday, Sep. 17, 2007 at 7:30 pm on Aurora Community Television, on Comcast Cable Ch. 10 in Aurora and some surrounding areas. The show was recorded on Sep. 2, 2007.[You may also soon go here to watch Mayor Burns on PublicAffairsTV.com].
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The airing schedule for the Chicago Metro suburban edition of "Public Affairs," is included directly, below.
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In twenty-five North Shore, North and Northwest suburbs, the "Public Affairs," show airs every Tuesday night in the regular weekly Public Affairs slot, 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19 or 35, as indicated, below.

In ten North Shore suburbs, the Public Affairs show airs three times each week in its regular slots at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as indicated, below. ********************************************************
The suburban episode of Public Affairs with guest Mayor Kevin Burns, 14th CD Republican Primary candidate airs:

tonight at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette

And tonight at 8:30 pm 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.

and this week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday night at 8:30 pm, airing on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Richardson, Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Sen. Steve Rauschenberger: The health care was an excuse. He [Gov. Blagojevich] has a structural deficit because of his unbalanced budgets for the last five years that approaches about 3.2 or 3.3 billion dollars. Isn’t it interesting that the tax increase that he was looking for was about 3.3 to 3.5 billion dollars?

Jeff Berkowitz: No, it was about 6 billion dollars.
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Steve Rauschenberger, former State Senator, member of the Fab 5 and President of the United Republican Fund of Illinois, is featured on Tonight's City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs. The show airs throughout the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm, Cable Ch. 21.

Sen. Rauschenberger is featured also on tonight's City of Aurora edition of Public Affairs , airing through-out Aurora and in some surrounding areas on Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10 at 7:30 pm. The Aurora station reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.

If you miss tonight's show on cable with
Senator Rauschenberger or this week's Chicago Metro suburban show with 14th CD Republican Primary candidate Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns , you can Go here to watch, soon, either show on your computer.
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For more about the topics and questions discussed in tonight's show, go here.
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What Blago really wanted?

Jeff Berkowitz: What he [Gov. Blagojevich] really wanted out of this was a big increase in state taxes, his Gross Receipts Tax, which got shot down.

Former State Senator Steve Rauschenberger (R-Elgin): I think that is what they really wanted, yes.

Berkowitz: And, he wanted a lot of that to go to his expensive health insurance program.

Sen. Rauschenberger: Perhaps.

Berkowitz: For low income people and also for education, about which he sort of had a deal with Rev. [and Senator] Meeks (D-Chicago), that he didn’t keep. Would that be accurate?

Sen. Rauschenberger: …What the Governor wanted was a large tax increase.

Why Blago wanted a large state tax increase.

Berkowitz: But, what did he want that money for.

Sen. Rauschenberger: The health care was an excuse. He has a structural deficit because of his unbalanced budgets for the last five years that approaches about 3.2 or 3.3 billion dollars. Isn’t it interesting that the tax increase that he was looking for was about 3.3 to 3.5 billion dollars?

Berkowitz: No, it was about 6 billion dollars [See here].

Sen. Rauschenberger: Well, if you add in the employer payroll tax, right? But, the Gross Receipts tax, the main tax that he was—

Berkowitz: Was only about three and a half billion dollars?

Sen. Rauschenberger: Was about three and half billion dollars. Just enough, if you imposed it that he could have covered his structural deficit and hid his budget problems from Wall St.

Blago and Bond rating companies

Berkowitz: So, he [Blagojevich] is afraid that someday soon the bond rating companies are going to say, “You want to issue more bonds? Fine, but we are lowering your ratings. You are going to have to pay higher interest rates.”

Sen. Rauschenberger: I think that is going to happen. Yes.

Berkowitz: Okay, so that is what Blagojevich was doing. Speaker Mike Madigan, what did he want?

Sen. Rauschenberger: Mike Madigan wanted to go home.
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Speaker Mike: A Blago Enabler?

Sen. Rauschenberger: Well, Mike Madigan endorsed and passed all of those budgets that created that structural deficit.

Berkowitz: So he is a part of that?

Sen. Rauschenberger: Yes, he is a part of the pension underfunding. I mean this man has been Speaker of the House for 28 of the last 30 years. I think we should hold him accountable for some of the problems the State has.

Berkowitz: But, the Republicans had the Governor’s chair for 25 of those 28 years, or —

Sen. Rauschenberger: That’s correct.

Berkowitz: … they had it for 25 years, from 1976 to 2002—

Sen. Rauschenberger: Correct.

Berkowitz: So, they get their share of the blame.
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President Emil: Even more of a Blago Enabler?

Sen. Rauschenberger: My point is when the Democrats control the legislature is when you don’t fund pensions, when you have unbalanced budgets and when you run up bills. We have now seen five years of the Blagojevich Administration with Mike Madigan running the House and Emil Jones running the Senate. I think you have to hold those leaders accountable for their budget.

Berkowitz: Emil Jones, he is a part of the problem, then?

Sen. Rauschenberger: Emil Jones—he is a big part of the problem, yes.

Berkowitz: Emil is the President of the State Senate?

Sen. Rauschenberger: Yes.
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Steve Rauschenberger, former State Senator and President, United Republican Fund of Illinois, interviewed on Public Affairs on August 26, 2007 and as is airing tonight in Chicago [8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21] and Aurora and surrounding areas [7:30 pm on ACTV, Comcast Cable Ch. 10], and as is now streaming on your computer at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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This week's suburban edition of Public Affairs features,
Kevin Burns, Geneva Mayor and 14th Cong. Dist. Republican Primary candidate.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Richardson, Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com

The Springfield Circus explained by Sen. Rauschenberger: Cable and soon streaming

This week’s Chicago metro suburban edition of Public Affairs features former State Senator Steve Rauschenberger (R-Elgin), who was one of the Fab 5 Republican State Senators elected in 1992 and who gave up his seat last year to run unsuccessfully first for Governor and ultimately for Lt. Governor as a part of the Gidwitz-Rauschenberger ticket. Rauschenberger, President of the United Republican Fund of Illinois and former President of the National Conference of State Legislators, has a great deal of wisdom about the State Budget, State Politics and national issues, which he puts to use in his analysis and commentary on our show and in his consulting business: Rauschenberger Partners.

See below for the Public Affairs suburban airing schedule.
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The show with Senator Rauschenberger also airs through-out the City of Chicago this coming Monday night [September 10] at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV] and on Monday night [Sep. 10] 7:30 pm on Aurora Community Television, on Comcast Cable Ch. 10 in Aurora and some surrounding areas. The Aurora station reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery. ***********************************************************
You may also soon watch the show with Senator Rauschenberger on your computer at PublicAffairsTV.com. In addition to the soon to be posted Rauschenberger show, recently posted shows on the podcast page feature a show with Senators Durbin and Dodd, Cong. Kucinich and others; Democratic Presidential Candidates Senator Barack Obama and Governor Richardson; possible Republican opponents to Senator Durbin next fall: Dr. Steve Sauerberg and Jim Nalepa; and 14 TH Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidates Jotham Stein and John Laesch. Additional previously posted shows feature Presidential candidates Giuliani, McCain and Cox, and many other pols and opinion makers.
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Steve Rauschenberger, former State Senator (R-Elgin) and currently President of the United Republican Fund of Illinois, debates and discusses with show host Jeff Berkowitz the reality of what has been and is still going on with the state budget between Blagojevich, Speaker Mike and others in the Springfield six-ring circus, what the Illinois GOP needs to do to make a comeback; whether state taxes should be increased; should and could the state move easily to school vouchers-school choice with little or no state mandated reform of public schools; are the pols who oversee state provided health care and/or health insurance, mass transit, education and a capital budget in Illinois ready for reform and much, much more.
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The airing schedule for the suburban edition of "Public Affairs," is included directly, below.
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In twenty-five North Shore, North and Northwest suburbs, the "Public Affairs," show airs every Tuesday night in the regular weekly Public Affairs slot, 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19 or 35, as indicated, below.

In ten North Shore suburbs, the Public Affairs show airs three times each week in its regular slots at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as indicated, below. There is a special airing of the show with Rauschenberger in those ten suburbs this week on Thursday at 9:00 pm.
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The suburban episode of Public Affairs with guest Senator Rauschenberger airs:

tonight at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette

And tonight at 8:30 pm 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.

and this week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday night at 8:30 pm, and a special airing on Thursday at 9:00 pm- airing on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Richardson, Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Picture this: the Democratic Presidential candidates at Al-Asad Airbase in Al-Anbar province

Revised on Tuesday at 12:25 pm
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All in all, should the Democratic Presidential candidates visit the troops at Al-Asad Airbase in Al-Anbar province? Absolutely...the American public is entitled to know how these folks would handle it-- before, rather than after the election.
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President Bush, making his third visit to the troops in Iraq since the War began more than four years ago, spoke yesterday to cheering and enthusiastic soldiers at Al-Asad Airbase in Al-Anbar province, delivering a message quite different from what the ”would be Democratic Commanders-in-Chief” are saying on the Presidential Campaign trail. Quite different from what Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is saying about the War already “being lost.” Quite different from Speaker Pelosi’s efforts to stop the funding of the War.

You see Sunnis who once fought side by side with al Qaeda against coalition troops now fighting side by side with coalition troops against al Qaeda. Anbar is a huge province. It was once written off as lost. It is now one of the safest places in Iraq. (Hooah roar of approval from the troops.) Because of your hard work, because of your bravery and sacrifice, you are denying al Qaeda a safe haven from which to plot and plan and carry out attacks against the United States of America. What you're doing here is making this country safer, and I thank you for your hard work. (Hooah roar of approval from the troops.)

The surge of operations that began in June is improving security throughout Iraq. The military successes are paving the way for the political reconciliation and economic progress the Iraqis need to transform their country. When Iraqis feel safe in their own homes and neighborhoods, they can focus their efforts on building a stable, civil society with functioning government structures at the local and provincial and national levels. And that's important, because a free Iraq, an Iraq that's an ally against these extremists and murderers will be a major defeat for the terrorists. [See www.whitehouse.gov for the full transcript of the President's remarks].

Perhaps the rapport between the President and the troops that would be apparent to anyone watching, on C-Span yesterday, the seven minute speech and aftermath of the President plunging into the crowd, shaking hands and posing for pictures with the troops was all orchestrated by the White House, but that would seem hard to do without the traveling press learning of it and hammering the President for it.

No, the President may be at a 36% approval rating across the country [which, BTW, is twice that of Congress), but in front of this military group, his approval is probably double that, if not higher. These troops believe in their mission, the counter insurgency that General Petraeus has led since early this year, and they believe in their General (with a Ph. D. in political science from Princeton) and in their Commander-in-Chief. These troops are very much a part of President Bush’s base.

It would be interesting to have Clinton, Obama and Edwards stop by the Al-Asad airbase and talk to the soldiers about the Democrats’ plans to remove most, if not all, of the American troops from Iraq by April 1, 2008. It would also be interesting to see the reaction of the troops to (A) Obama bragging that he would never have authorized the President to take military action in Iraq in 2003, (B) Edwards apologizing for his vote authorizing the President to act and (C) Hillary shouting out her famous line that if she knew then what she knows now, i.e., the President would abuse the authority she gave him, she would never have authorized the President to take military action in Iraq.

How big would the applause line for Hillary, Barack and Edwards be from the U. S. troops in al-Anbar Province? You could hear a pin drop. That left- wing anti-war stuff about supporting the troops by taking away their arms may play well in the Democratic Primary, but with the troops themselves? Not so much.

And, what would the traveling press from ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN and PBS report? I think we know.

And how would Fox handle it? I think we know.

All in all, should the Democratic Presidential candidates visit the troops at Al-Asad Airbase in Al-Anbar province? Absolutely, an idea whose time has come. Instead of the favorite phrase of anti-war protestors, "Bringing the War home," this would be "Bringing the would be Commanders-in-Chief to the War." The American public is entitled to know how these folks would handle it-- before, rather than after the election.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Richardson, Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Durbin, Dodd, Kucinich, Obama's Gibbs and more on Cable/Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz:...Hillary was talking about al Anbar Province as an example of what the U. S. troops can do, Barack didn’t quite match her on that point, is she focusing on the general election, and is he focusing on the Primary?

Robert Gibbs (Obama for America Communications Director): ... Had we listened to the judgment of Barack Obama four and a half or five years ago, we wouldn’t have...
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Rev. Jesse Jackson (President of Rainbow Push Coalition): I have not been asked to and I—

Jeff Berkowitz: You haven’t been asked by Barack Obama to give him your support?
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Jeff Berkowitz: You’re not going to tell me your numbers are up there with Hillary, Barack and John Edwards, are you?

Cong. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH): I'm telling you that...
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Tonight's City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs (8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21, CANTV) features an initial statement from Senator Dick Durbin [D-IL] and follow-up Q&A with the Senator, as well as Q&A with Presidential candidates Senator Dodd [D-CT] and Cong. Kucinich [D-OH], Rev. and former Presidential candidate Jesse Jackson, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, Obama for America Communications Director Robert Gibbs and Int’l Ass’n of Fire Fighters President Harold Schaitberger [whose union endorsed Senator Dodd for President last week] and a cameo appearance walk by Elizabeth Harper Kucinich to add a little sizzle to the last portion of the Q&A with her husband.

For more about the show, including the circumstances, time, location, etc. of the press conference and Q&A, partial transcripts of the show, links to additional partial transcripts of the show and partial transcripts of shows with Senator Durbin's potential opponents in the 2008 general election, go here.

Virtually all of the questioning on the show is from Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of “Public Affairs,” but Mary Frances Bragiel [WBBM 780 AM Radio, first question asked] and an unidentfied reporter have cameo appearances in the Q&A with Senator Durbin.
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The show with Senator Durbin, et al also airs on Thursday, Sep. 6, 2007 at 7:30 pm on Aurora Community Television, on Comcast Cable Ch. 10 in Aurora and some surrounding areas. The Aurora station reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery. The change to Thursday night instead of Monday night this week in Aurora and surrounding areas, for the airing of "Public Affairs," is due to special programming requirements on Labor Day.
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You may also now watch the show with Senators Durbin and Dodd, Cong. Kucinich, et al streaming on your computer at PublicAffairsTV.com. In addition to the recently posted Durbin, et al show, other recently posted shows on the Public Affairs podcast page feature Democratic Presidential Candidates Senator Barack Obama and Governor Richardson; possible Republican opponents to Senator Durbin next fall: Dr. Steve Sauerberg and Jim Nalepa; and 14 TH Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidates Jotham Stein and John Laesch. Additional previously posted shows feature Presidential candidates Giuliani, McCain and Cox, and many other pols and opinion makers. All of those shows are available by clicking on the archives button at the Public Affairs podcast page. These and other Public Affairs shows are also available at www.itunes.com.
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Jeff Berkowitz: On the war…, on a question asked about Al Qaeda…if we leave, Al Qaeda becomes prominent [in Iraq], what does the United States do then? Hillary Clinton was pretty strong—in fact, she was talking about al Anbar Province as an example of what the U. S. troops can do, Barack didn’t quite match her on that point, is she focusing on the general election, and is he focusing on the Primary?

Robert Gibbs(Obama for America Communications Director): You would have to ask Hillary Clinton about that. Let’s understand that there wasn’t Al Qaeda in Iraq until a group of people that sat on that [Democratic Presidential Candidate debate] stage cast misguided votes to invade a country that had nothing to do with September 11th. Had we listened to the judgment of Barack Obama four and a half or five years ago, we wouldn’t have gone to Iraq and Al Qaeda wouldn’t be there either.
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Rev. Jesse Jackson (President of Rainbow Push Coalition): I have not been asked to and I—

Jeff Berkowitz: You haven’t been asked by Barack Obama to give him your support?

Rev. Jackson: No, to campaign.

Jeff Berkowitz: If he does, would you do it?

Rev. Jesse Jackson: Well, that’s hypothetical. Right now, my focus is on…
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Jeff Berkowitz: You’re not going to tell me your numbers are up there with Hillary, Barack and John Edwards, are you?

Cong. Dennis Kucinich: I’m telling you that the race is in January.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, you think, seriously, by then, you can be ahead of those folks?
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Interviews with "Public Affairs" guests, as the interviews are airing tonight in Chicago [8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21] and this coming Thursday night (Sep.6) in Aurora and surrounding areas [9:30 pm on ACTV, Comcast Cable Ch. 10], and as they are now streaming on your computer at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Richardson, Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Berkowitz joins Paul Vallas on Roeser this Sunday night

Jeff Berkowitz will join Paul Vallas as a guest tomorrow night [Mother's Day] on Tom Roeser’s weekly, Sunday, call-in radio show, Political Shoot-out, WLS 890 AM Radio, from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

You say you don't live within the WLS broadcast area? Not to worry. You can go here to listen to the program, live, on the web. See here for Tom’s Blog which has Tom's thoughts on a great many matters, political and otherwise.

Upset with something Berkowitz said on his show [www.PublicAffairsTv.com], something he wrote on this blog or just the way he looks? Tom Roeser’s show on Sunday night is your chance to fire back. A free fire zone, so to speak. Also, you can help shape the show and its topics by calling in with your questions and comments—312-591-8900. Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Centrists, Independents, Peronistas, Communists [no collect calls, please] and others are, of course, all welcome.

The show tomorrow night may touch on the Springfield six-ring circus, including the possible impeachment of Governor Blagojevich and whether there is credible evidence of an impeachable offense by Blago [Watch here the forthcoming Public Affairs show with Rep. Durkin dealing in part with this topic], the Blagojevich meltdown and the toxic tone in Springfield among Dems which might help the Republicans be resurrected in Illinois; Are the Republicans in Illinois now the party of ethics and better jobs [Watch here this week's suburban edition of Public Affairs show with Senator Dillard dealing in part with this topic], will there be an operating or capital budget before May 31, should there be healthcare access for all low income and middle class individuals in Illinois Should there be a Chicago casino, should there be more gaming and perhaps additional casinos in Illinois,For a look back at how the more things change, the more they stay the same, See here for a March 25, 2007, retro TV interview with Illinois Chief Operating Officer John Filan about Gov. Blagojevich's long defunct Gross Receipts Tax, archived shows with State Reps. Mary Flowers [D-Chicago] and Jim Durkin [R-Western Springs] discussing State Budget and Tax issues ].

Who knows, we may even discuss education, economics, school vouchers- school choice, rcovery in New Orleans, Governor Bobby Jindahl's chances to be McCain's VP [Vallas now reports to Gov. Jindahl], charter schools, jobs and free lunches .

I don’t know the topics for tomorrow night—they are determined by Mr. Roeser, with some incisive suggestions, no doubt, by his lovely, dynamic and intelligent wife Lillian. However, an educated guess is that the questions will consist of various Illinois, including downstate and New Orleans recovery issues, possibly selected from the following questions, some of which are holdovers from prior episodes of "Political Shootout," or "Public Affairs."

Of course, you can call and ask any of the below questions or whatever you like. As with University of Chicago Ph. D. prelim questions in economics over the years, many of the questions on Political Shoot-out stay the same each week, only the answers change [or do they?]. And you are Free to Choose, so to speak, as this is the land of Milton Friedman, the late, great Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics from the University of Chicago [WWMFS, i.e., what would Milton Friedman say? is the question we classically ask, followed with:

--What would the last five years looked like in Illinois under a Governor Vallas? the next five years?

--WasChicago Sun-Times columnist Laura Washington correct, once upon a time, to be concerned that "concealed carry," would put a dangerous person with a gun next to her in a movie theater, or is that more likely to be the case without a concealed carry law?

--Was Barack Obama Emil Jones show pony, as Senator Rauschenberger contends?

--In light of what has transpired about Rev. Wright, Rezko and Ayers, does Sen. Dillard reqret the TV ad he cut for Obama last year. [Watch Sen. Dillard discuss this topic].

-Will the state GOP cave in the next few months on its hostility to increased taxes?

-Will 2006 10th CD Democratic nominee Dan Seals come back to beat Cong. Kirk [R-Highland Park] this year?

-Is WTTW's Chicago Tonight in need of an aggressive political interviewer to boost its sagging ratings and its lack of balance? Which cable TV personality in the Chicago Metro area could provide it?

-Is it time for a change in leadership in the State GOP
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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