Comments on: Unconventional Wisdom - Scott Harper’s 13th Congressional Strategy

By: Roy Cone

Roy Cone — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:04:08 +0000

With all due respect, Hiram, I think it’s a stretch to blame Biggert, a lawyer educated at Stanford and Northwestern, for any of the bipartisan NCLB Act’s shortcomings for the political purposes of pitching Harper as the better choice in the 13th district. As you know, the law is relatively new, dating to 2004, the year the liberal NYT extracted that juicy quote of Biggert’s you cited above. Since then, progress has been made, particularly in DuPage County. Although you don’t realize it because you cite a three-year-old blog post of yours. State government and the schools (board, administrators and teachers) need to be accountable, too. After all, per the 10th Amendment, states are free to set the achievement standards. I’ll concede the NCLB Act could use some reform, but give it a chance, as even lead author Ted Kennedy himself stated last year that he remained committed to it.

As for the Iraq War, stop harping on her 2002 vote. Has anyone recorded Harper’s position at the time? It’s sooo easy to stump for votes proclaiming that one has opposed the war from the very beginning, yet was not privy to the information upon which to base a decision. Overall, violence in Iraq has decreased since the latest policy was put in place last year. And Biggert doesn’t want our troops there any longer than what’s absolutely necessary.

It’s late; I’m tired. I won’t debate SS or SCHIP with you at this time.

By: Hiram Wurf

Hiram Wurf — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:55:07 +0000

Hi Roy,

I agree that Congresswoman Biggert is no Jim Oberweis - but she does have the baggage of “No Child Left Behind” - a terrible law she helped write that failed an in district school where she served as former school board president, is an unfunded mandate (remember when Republicans hated them?) and threatens property values in Hinsdale - her response boiled down to “oops.” Knowing our past history - here’s the actual quote from the NYT:

“‘I never expected to see all these suburban schools on the watch list,’ said Ms. Biggert, who started her political career as president of the Hinsdale school board in the 1980’s and helped write the federal law. She said she was astonished at the list of schools with excellent reputations in wealthy Chicago suburbs slapped with the low-performing label.

‘I’ve been in all these schools and know how good they are and have concerns that so many schools of this caliber are getting labeled,’ she said.”

Congresswoman Biggert also has voted for the Iraq War (and the unending continuation of it), Social Security privatization (never smart - but given the current stock market it seems even less so), voted to deny expansion of SCHIP (children’s health care) and has taken a number of other unpopular positions.

I also think you underestimate Obama’s appeal. We’ll see how he stacks up against John McCain, but I suspect he’ll do extremely well.

By: Roy Cone

Roy Cone — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:13:15 +0000

I guess it’s up to the public servant. Marsha Blackburn, a U.S. representative from Tennessee, prefers to be referred as the masculine form of the title, “Congressman”. To each his/her own.

By: Hiram Wurf

Hiram Wurf — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:36:12 +0000

Dear “Gramar School,”

I looked up how “Congresswoman” Judy Biggert refers to herself - and you’re right. I’m correcting the post now and will use it in the future.

Thanks!

By: Gramar School

Gramar School — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:34:30 +0000

I have very low standards for the blog, but at least you could properly recoginze that it’s Congresswoman Judy Biggert…

By: Roy Cone

Roy Cone — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:52:47 +0000

Assuming Obama’s the Dem’s presidential candidate, Harper certainly has a chance to unseat Biggert. As Tip O’Neill once said, “All politics is local.” I take that to mean that real change happens at the state or local level. I have a hunch most voters in the 13th congressional district are smarter than those in Cook County, and will see Obama as merely a product of the Chicago machine. The primary last winter was one thing; the general election is another, as the voters will be much better informed on who the two parties’ candidates are. So it’s guilt by association for Harper. These voters will not want someone without any legislative experience whatsoever going to Washington. Furthermore, they may concede that the Democrat-controlled Illinois is an Obama state. As such, they will focus their efforts on protecting their 13th district home turf, which is a GOP stronghold. Finally, one thing that cannot be overlooked is the notion that unlike Oberweis, incumbent Biggert will continue to attract tremendous GOP support.