Time to Clean House

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Saturday January 07, 2006 · 7:51 AM PST

2006/01/07 · 07:51

As everyone has heard by now, former Republican powerhouse lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to criminal charges this week and agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors. As many as 20 indictments of elected officials and government staff are expected as prosecutors build their cases with the new evidence he is providing. The temperature is rising in Washington, DC, this week and many prominent Republicans are feeling the heat. Tom DeLay and his lawyers must be working overtime to keep up with all of the subpoenas.

My question is this - what is it going to take to get the Republicans to call for DeLay's resignation? The Washington insiders are once again protecting each other. He needs to go. His escalating legal troubles are more than a distraction - they are a stain on our Congress. Where is the House ethics oversight? I am still not hearing that the Ethics committee is fulfilling their responsibility to oversee, investigate and censure members who have committed `improprieties.'
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Welcoming a Newcomer to the Race

Christine Cegelis

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Saturday December 17, 2005 · 9:39 AM PST

2005/12/17 · 09:39

I welcome Tammy Duckworth to the race.

What a week this has been! First of all, I need to welcome to the Democratic primary Major Ladda "Tammy" Duckworth, who is set to announce her candidacy for the 6th Congressional District of Illinois race this weekend. She joins Lindy Scott and me in the primary race for the open seat in IL-06.

Tammy Duckworth is an Iraq war veteran and my thanks and admiration go out to her for the great sacrifice she has made for our country. It is because of the service and sacrifice of the men and women serving in our armed forces that we all can live in a country with such a proud tradition of freedom and democracy.
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Urgent Action Needed to Prevent Cuts on Critical Programs

Christine Cegelis

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Thursday November 03, 2005 · 12:35 PM PST

2005/11/03 · 12:35

As all eyes remain riveted on the mounting crises at the White House, today's news and talk has been dominated by the implications of the Libby indictment, a looming avian flu pandemic and the nomination of the far-right Judge Alito. Unfortunately, the list of scandals and missteps goes on and on. The House Budget Committee is counting on these issues to distract us from their consideration of a disastrous spending reconciliation bill that cuts key services for those who need it most -- including Medicaid, student loans, child support, and food stamps.
The American public needs to understand the damage these cuts would inflict on our economy and our country's most vulnerable. I encourage you to read the details and the full list of cuts by following this link.
<http://www.democraticleader.house.gov/pdf/RECONCILIATION.pdf>
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Working to End Corruption and Cronyism

Christine Cegelis

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Thursday October 06, 2005 · 12:46 PM PDT

2005/10/06 · 12:46

I recently heard Senator Dick Durbin respond to a question all of us are asking. "What are the Democrats doing?" We hear a lot about what the Republicans are doing wrong but not about what the Democrats are trying to do to correct it.

Durbin's response gave me pause. He said there is ample legislation that is being proposed by the Democrats in Congress, but because they are the minority party, it rarely gets out of committee or receives press coverage.

Later in the same week, I was on a conference call with a congressman discussing what we can do to change the culture of corruption that is so prevalent in Washington. I was surprised to learn there are already two bills that have been proposed. And guess what? They are stuck in committee!
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Cegelis Googles Congress to Retire Hyde

Christine Cegelis

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Tuesday September 20, 2005 · 5:49 AM PDT

2005/09/20 · 05:49

Thanks to you and those like you, I made the cut in the Democracy for America All-Star Grassroots competition.(http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote/)
Now we're in the final round and I'm asking for your vote. All of the candidates in the final round will want your vote, so I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you about my own journey and my experience with the grassroots community.

When I first decided to run for Congress, I began by searching the Internet to find out what I needed to do to run. I learned about filings and petitions and election rules. But I didn't learn about the unwritten rules that say you should be connected or rich. I didn't learn that it helps to have "somebody" send you.
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Turn 44% into 54%: Take Back Henry Hyde's Seat

Christine Cegelis

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Tuesday September 13, 2005 · 2:07 PM PDT

2005/09/13 · 14:07

The time is now. Rep. Henry's Hyde's protégé has cleared the Republican primary field for 2006 and the Republican interests in Washington are willing to do whatever it takes to retain his seat. They've lined up Peter Roskam, a former Tom Delay staffer and Grover Norquist ally to fill Hyde's shoes. I'm Christine Cegelis and in 2004 I held Hyde to a career-low vote total. Now I'm challenging his protégé. I am asking you to stand beside me and join me in this fight. We can win this seat, we must win this seat, and we will!

I'm asking you to vote for me in Democracy for America's Take Back the House: Grassroots All-Star Competition. (http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote/)I would not have received 44% of the vote against conservative icon Henry Hyde in 2004 without the grassroots support from members of Democracy for America, both locally and nationally. From walking precincts, stuffing envelopes, writing letters, hosting fundraisers, writing blog entries, and drafting position papers, the enthusiasm and hard work of local members continues to fuel my campaign.
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Where there is no vision, the people perish; Proverbs 29:18

Christine Cegelis

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Monday September 12, 2005 · 6:58 AM PDT

2005/09/12 · 06:58

No matter where one might stand on the political spectrum--Democrat, Republican or Independent--I believe most would agree with me that fundamentally our government has a responsibility to protect its citizens. What we witnessed with hurricane Katrina has been a colossal disaster on the part of those in charge.

We need to start thinking about turning in a new direction. And begin to believe that such a change in course is possible. We need a new direction, new leadership and a new, bold vision for our country. All of it is possible.
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Katrina and the Failure of our Government

Christine Cegelis

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Sunday September 04, 2005 · 2:27 PM PDT

2005/09/04 · 14:27

As a democracy we need to assert ourselves so that we live up to our vision of ourselves as a country. That has never been clearer than it is now, in the aftermath of Katrina. We need to help the citizens of the south reclaim their dreams. It starts with the basics - food, water, shelter, schools, and jobs. And it grows from there. That's the first step but there's so much more that needs to be done. Read More

Changing Dynamics in Congressional Races

Christine Cegelis

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Thursday August 04, 2005 · 8:03 AM PDT

2005/08/04 · 08:03

Progressives across the country have watched the special election in Ohio's second district with hope, excitement, and pride. Paul Hackett deserves our thanks and our admiration for a job well done. In the final days of the campaign, he received a groundswell of support from the netroots and from the Democratic party. He got that support because he campaigned honestly and tirelessly. He talked to the people in his district and they responded Read More

From Dollars to Donors

Christine Cegelis

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Thursday June 30, 2005 · 2:32 PM PDT

2005/06/30 · 14:32

As I've gained experience as a candidate, I've come to understand very well that the political establishment judges candidates solely on their ability to raise funds. I understand the importance of funding (I really do). It's what every candidate needs to reach out to voters, to get their message out.
But the number that really counts isn't the number of dollars raised, it's the number of donors, voters really, who support you. While the establishment judges our campaign on dollars, I'll judge it on donors. And we're strong. Read More

Cegelis on Air America Today

Christine Cegelis

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Saturday May 21, 2005 · 7:22 AM PDT

2005/05/21 · 07:22

Thank you for all of your support over the past several weeks and extending back into my 2004 campaign.

Because most of the communication I've had with blog readers is online only, I thought many of you might actually like to hear me speak. I will be on Air America today between 2:00 and 4:00 pm CDT. The radio show is celebrating Howard Dean's first one hundred days as chairman of the DNC, and as one of the 2004 Dean Dozen I'm pleased to take a part in that celebration. Read More

Congressional Race in IL-06 Officially an Open Seat

Christine Cegelis

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Monday April 18, 2005 · 8:48 PM PDT

2005/04/18 · 20:48

What we had long expected since we pushed Henry Hyde to the limit in 2004 became a reality today. With an announcement on his U.S. House website, Congressman Hyde made it clear that he would not seek re-election in Illinois 6th Congressional District in 2006.

We are officially running for an open-seat.

You may have read one of my earlier Kos diaries, "You have to run twice." Today's announcement is another example of why it is so important to make the difficult decision of running the first time, even in the districts many consider "un-winnable" because of a popular incumbent.
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