Dan Seals spoke before Northside DFA at their October meeting, talking about why he's running for Congress in Illinois's 10th Congressional District.  

Seals spoke before a friendly audience, answering questions and giving his take on the Democratic primary.  Questions were pointed, but deftly handled.

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Mark Kirk likes to pretend that he's a moderate.  But the fact is, he's no moderate -- he's voted with George Bush 90% of the time.  By comparison, the ultra conservative Peter Roskam has voted with George Bush 90% of the time.

At least Roskam is honest.  Mark Kirk doesn't have Roskam's integrity.  Despite being the chosen candidate for the Club for Growth, Kirk has long pretended that he was "independent" and a political moderate.  Kirk obviously thinks that his constituents are stupid.

The Club for Growth, according to its own website, "has become a power broker of sorts with the conservative movement," and "has become a force in congressional elections, taking aim at moderate Republicans."

So it came as no surprise when the Neo-Con independent group, Freedom's Watch, invaded the IL-10's airwaves in support of Mark Kirk.  While Kirk may try to represent himself as an independent or political moderate, inside the Beltway, his friends know that they can count on him.  Just as they can count on ultra-conservative Peter Roskam.

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This story got me thinking.  Fact: Peter Roskam "votes with Bush over 90% of the time. Fact: he votes in favor of tax breaks for Big Oil. Fact: he voted against veterans benefits."

So what's the difference between Mark Kirk and Peter Roskam?  

Image, of course.  In politics, image is everything.  Voters are supposed to ignore the wizard behind the curtain.

Mark Kirk says that he's a moderate, but he has the same voting record (in this regard) as Peter Roskam.  Mark Kirk says that he's independent, but he has the same loyalty towards the president and his party as Peter Roskam.

Peter Roskam will tell you that he's a conservative.  At least he's honest about it.  But that's probably because Roskam has stronger ties to his district than Mark Kirk.  Roskam represents what he believes his district wants.  Kirk pretends to.

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In the last couple days, there have been several posts across the blogosphere citing what various candidates running for Congress have said on FISA and retroactive immunity for the telecoms.  But so far, it's been all over the map.  I'll try to corral all their statements into this diary, so you can see who the "good guys" are.

First, let's start off with the current House and Senate members who voted against this bill.  They do deserve credit, as it's their jobs on the line.

Follow me below the fold to see the dozens of Democratic challengers who are standing up for the Constitution, and are against this FISA bill and retroactive immunity.

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the reality is setting in.  barack obama is going to be the democratic presidential nominee, and he will have long coattails here in illinois.  how long?  well, we read that county commission candidates are worried:

"I could lose to Barack Obama," the board member whispered.

and they would be several slots down on the ballot.  who's next, after the presidential nominees?  yep, those congressional races.  and the collar counties -- those counties that surround cook -- will be the places where an excited democratic activist and voter base will be felt the most.

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