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.

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.

again, the most important news is that early voting has begun.  for those who live in illinois' 10th congressional district, the ballot positions for the primary election are:

Daniel J. Seals
Jay K. Footlik

only dan seals completed the voter guide question.  his response notes:

After a short 11-month campaign and a lot of hard work, Dan shocked the pundits and incumbent Mark Kirk by winning 47 percent in the election. Dan is vying for the seat again in 2008, and this time with even more support.

this race isn't generating as much coverage as the others, simply because it is turning out to be not much of a race.  the endorsement interview at the chicago tribune can be found here:

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if you watch this video, which was ended abruptly where others were extended, the interviewer asks jay footlik the question that is on everyone's mind: why are you running, and "risk the possibility of perhaps splitting sensibilities among democrats when he (seals) came so close last time?"  it's the question on many democrat's minds in the tenth.

perhaps the most frequent question about the race for the democratic nomination for congress in the 10th congressional district -- what some consider to be "the biggest congressional race next year in Illinois" -- is why is there a primary?  lynn sweet predicts:

The contest will be one of the most expensive in the nation. Third quarter fund-raising reports gives Seals $498,872 cash on hand; Footlik, making his first run for office, has a $414,018 warchest. The winner faces Kirk, who has stockpiled $1.5 million and has no primary opponent.

"The issue here," carol marin says, "is whether the battle between Seals and Footlik will splinter Jewish voters, sap each campaign of cash and strength in the primary, and give Kirk the advantage he needs to capture a fifth term."

Just when the GOP is starting to catch some small breaks in the Senate, the situation in the House is rapidly deteriorating. As many had predicted, a growing number of Republican representatives do not find the prospect of life in the minority appealing and are calling it quits. Unfortunately for Republicans, a large majority of them represent competitive districts. The latest retirement were particularly shocking because they were completely unexpected -- especially Rep. Ferguson's in NJ-07. Democrats have golden opportunities to pick-up all of these seats, especially if the environment continues to favor them. But this also means Republicans will be forced to play defense and will not be able to contest that many Democratic-held seats, no matter how vulnerable they might be.

The full ratings is available here, at Campaign Diaries.

a couple of years ago, when howard dean came to chicago to thank those who helped him run for president, he asked why i thought he lost.  "you didn't ask anyone for their vote," i told him.  fundamental mistake.  less than six months later, when he decided to run for dnc chair, he called me: "i'm going to ask everyone for their vote!"  what a difference a change in tactics makes.

so color me surprised when jay footlik, who says he's running for the democratic nomination in the 10th congressional district, failed to show up to the new trier democratic organization's endorsement session on sunday.  just didn't show.  now you'd think that he'd know the importance of showing up to slating sessions, given the fact that the only incumbents the cook county democratic party didn't endorse were those who didn't show up!  but jay is from d.c., and he apparently didn't know the history of endorsement sessions in the chicago area.  (it really is different in d.c.)

but that wasn't the most incredulous part.  several people spoke up on jay's behalf, and their message was broadly the same: dan seals is a nice guy (ok, he is), but jay's more electable.

excuse me?!?!

roll call was in the area this weekend, interviewing all the candidates in the 10th and 14th congressional districts.  these two primary battles are getting national attention.

it may not have helped jay footlik, however, for this article to appear while the national reporter was in town:

splitting headache for n. shore dems
PRIMARY ELECTION | Intra-party battle could pave the way for Republican to win

October 21, 2007
BY CAROL MARIN Sun-Times Columnist

We already know Illinois is going to be pivotal in the battle for Congress. Republican Rep. J. Dennis Hastert of Plano is resigning; Democrat Melissa Bean of Barrington still has a target on her back.

But will Democrats sabotage their own chances in at least one of six defining Illinois races, five of which are now controlled by Republicans?

I'm talking about the 10th Congressional District and the seat held by four-term incumbent Rep. Mark Kirk of Kenilworth, a moderate Republican.