Chicagoist: Replacing Rahm

AlanAugustson

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:31:03 -0600

Thanks for the mention, guys. Here's a copy of the press release I sent out yesterday... FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUGUSTSON "WILL PROBABLY" FIGHT AGAIN FOR EMANUEL'S SEAT CONTACT: Alan Augustson Green Party Candidate U.S. House of Representatives Fifth District of Illinois www.augustson2008.us === With Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL-05) vacating his House seat to become President-Elect Barack Obama's chief of staff, and with an army of Democratic soldiers clamoring for his seat, his Green Party challenger announced today his willingness to contend for it as well. Alan Augustson, 44, an economist and management consultant, said that he had spent the day consulting with friends and party officials, and "will probably" begin campaigning in earnest as soon as Gov. Rod Blagojevich announces the date of the Special Election. "It may be even more important to run now, than it was in November," said Augustson. "(Sen.) Obama has been moving steadily back to the center since he won the Democratic nomination, and the choice of (Emanuel) as chief of staff now places him on the right of the spectrum. That's not indicative of the change we've been promised." Augustson's top issue? "The economy, naturally. Both Obama and Emanuel supported a bailout bill that won't create one job, nor will it protect the pensions or healthcare or retirement plans of our working people and retirees. Any economic stimulus plan that doesn't create jobs and protect benefits, will amount to more subsidizing of billionaires while we continue to lose everything." Retirees and homeowners, in particular, figured highly in Augustson's priorities. "I foresee widespread default on seniors' retirement and healthcare plans, as their former employers continue to go under. Somebody's got to be in Washington to make sure they're protected. Homeowners in my district are already bleeding; they're bearing too much of the tax burden. Now, no economic recovery is going to be tax-free, but I'm determined that it will be fair." Augustson's turnout on Election day amounted to 8,981 votes, or about 4% to Emanuel's 73.9%. "Not bad, for a guy with a zero budget and no media coverage," Augustson laughed. "The people who voted for (Emanuel) last time, were voting for Barack Obama. Now they need to vote for themselves. Tough times are coming, and everyone who isn't fighting for their rights will lose them." # Alan Augustson is an economist, statistician and management consultant living in Chicago. He is running for Congress for the Green Party, on a platform centered around job creation, through the expansion of mass transit and aggressive alternative-energy and infrastructure investment. # # #

dbreuer

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:37:22 -0600

Oops, missed your comment, sorry bunnybear! I agree, as with all Green Party candidates, his major task is to make himself known to all the voters - and eligible but non-voters (still the majority) - in the district. A huge task. It is the task that any principled, grassroots campaign must accomplish - electoral or issue campaign. Alan and Green Party candidates refuse to cozy up to extremely wealthy private interests in their districts (or states, or the nation) and so with out easy campaign resources, they rely on dedicated patriots to see through the media blackout and work towards real, structural and substantive change (rather than mostly just the sentiment of change). But there are two questions we can talk about here: 1, who is likely to win or 2, who should win based on the public interest of the people in the district being talked about. If your conversation is just about who may win, I don't think you're engaging in important public discourse and dialog. That conversation is more like what horse will win the Arlington Cup. But discussing who would be the best candidate for the people of the 5th district, that, to me, would be engaging in truly helpful public dialog. And in that vein, for example, I would ask: isn't it true that for the likely thousands of residents in the 5th district who suffer not having any or enough health care coverage, isn't the best candidate for them the one that will push for their interests in guaranteeing quality, effective health care, such as with a Single Payer system? And I can virtually guarantee you that the only candidate in the special election that will be pushing for that will be the Green Party candidate. I doubt any of the Democratic Party candidates thus far offered will push for a Single Payer system when the Party and most candidates receive direct and indirect funding and support and lobbying from private, for-profit health insurance corporations and HMO's. Is there agreement on this?

bunnybear

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:03:44 -0600

@dbreuer Look up the page a bit and you'll see that I mentioned him. At that point, when I checked his page, it no longer mentioned anything about the campaign for the 5th. Instead, it featured a banner and pitch to be FEMA Administrator. It appears that now that the 5th post is back up for grabs he has switched back to the banner for the House seat. I really can't see him winning when he was only able to pull 9K and noone appears to know he's out there.

dbreuer

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:52:16 -0600

Okay, I haven't head anyone mention the Green Party's candidate, Alan Augustson - http://augustson2008.us/, in the mix to contest for this office in the special election. Surely, some chicagoist readers are one of the 9,000 people that voted for the only candidate in the 5th who supports guaranteed healthcare coverage for 100% of the people living in the U.S. (via a Canadian style Single Payer system) - something by the way that will cost the economy a fraction of the costs of our current private system. What are the views about seeing Alan win this race? -Dorian Breuer

igo

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:37:53 -0600

Forrest Claypool looks like Kevin Spacey. Or Kevin Spacy looks like Forrest Claypool.

Marcus Gilmer

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:35:30 -0600

Come on, Joe. He's pro-steak!

JoeM500

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:44:15 -0600

I was going to vote for Franklin until I heard about his pro-cat stance...

bunnybear

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:20:49 -0600

Anyone know if the Greens are gonna take another shot? Looks like Augustson's already moved on after his loss--he's trying for FEMA Administrator--after moving on from his Presidential campaign.

BlueFairlane

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:56:30 -0600

Interestingly, Franklin and Sarah Palin have the same weaknesses. (Sorry ... I know it's over, but I had to get in one more somewhere.)

Marcus Gilmer

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:43:06 -0600

Franklin's strength is his thorough knowledge of tax code; weakness is a lack in foreign policy experience and a tendency to chew things he shouldn't. That said, he's running on a controversial pro-cats platform. Yes We Canine.

Stealth

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:39:05 -0600

Oh, and your dog looks like a good listener. He would feel my pain, I believe. So, yeah, I second the nomination. Do I hear a third?

Stealth

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:37:51 -0600

Daley. Just to see him work it out somehow where he can be mayor AND a congressman.

Albanyparkour

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:17:29 -0600

I nominate a rabid wolverine on some bad meth after being kicked in the jimmies. Sure, it would be a more relaxed congressman, but we'd get used to it.

ackack

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:05:55 -0600

He's my Rep as well. I heard a Tammy Duckworth rumor - i'm actually OK with that. I dig her - Rahm moved in from out of state for this seat, she can move in from the burbs. My nominee is Kathy the waitress from LeSabre. She also works for Greg Harris and at the farmers market on the weekends. The woman knows the 'hood. She's good people.

michael

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:05:21 -0600

Oh no! Cutest dog ever! However, I don't know if he's qualified for federal office. That picture is so sad with the head gear.

Chicago D

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:04:34 -0600

Tom Allen. Imagine getting aced out of State's Attorney when a bunch of other white guys decide to run, then stumbling into a Federal spot. That would be insane.

Marcus Gilmer

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:46:44 -0600

Actually, I swear i saw somewhere that Oberweis says he's done running for office.

xlprq

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:45:44 -0600

When are Tony Paraica and Jim Oberweis throwing their names in the running?