The Chicago Tribune: on Homeland Security


Adam Kinzinger: Republicanism means stronger defense and smaller government

When Adam Kinzinger was asked recently what it means to be a Republican in the era of President Donald Trump, the fifth-term congressman chuckled, then turned serious. "I still hold that being a Republican in general means supporting national defense and smaller government. What does it mean today? In the state we're in, I really don't know," Kinzinger said. "The Republican movement seems to be at the moment--and I think it's momentary--is just kind of 'own the libs, own the left,'" he said. "We've kind of become unmoored from that original view of conservatism."

Kinzinger has been virtually alone among members of his party in readily criticizing some of Trump's most egregious statements and proposals on social media and in national cable newscasts. He was the only one of the state's five GOP members not named by the Trump campaign to co-chair his efforts in Illinois.

Source: Chicago Tribune on 2022 Illinois Senate race Dec 29, 2020

Joe Walsh: Keep prisoners at Guantanamo; try them in military tribunals

Q. Should the Guantanamo Bay detention facility be closed?

A. Guantanamo Bay should not be closed and the prisoners there should not be transferred to the United States and specifically not to the state of Illinois. The individuals being held there are enemy combatants and should be tried in military tribunals, not civilian courts.

Source: Chicago Tribune Editorial board questionnaire responses Feb 2, 2010

Joe Walsh: All provisions of the Patriot Act should be renewed

Q. Some provisions of the Patriot Act will expire at the end of this year. Should these provisions be renewed?

A. All provisions of the Patriot Act due to expire at the end of the year should be renewed, including all wiretapping and provisions allowin subpoenas of all personal, medical and financial records without informing the person being investigated. I do not believe Congress should place any restrictions on the use of the Patriot Act and interfere with the President's execution of the war.

Source: Chicago Tribune Editorial board questionnaire responses Feb 2, 2010

Richard Durbin: Apologizes for comparing Guantanamo to Nazis & Soviet gulags

Sauerberg lashed out at a June 2005 speech in which Durbin said an FBI report on American treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, could be likened to the “Nazis, Soviets in their gulags” or the regime of Cambodian leader Pol Pot. Days later, Durbin apologized for his remarks and said he did not intend any “disrespect” for the U.S. military. Sauerberg called Durbin’s apology “weak.”

“I’m not sure what Sen. Durbin thought he was doing here,” he said. “I don’t know if he hates his country. I know they were terrible remarks that have hurt the people of this nation.”

“I think he’s resorting to personal, hateful personal attacks,” a Durbin spokesman said. “I don’t think that’s what people are looking for.”

Source: By Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune Jul 18, 2008

Steven Sauerberg: Ultraliberals hate America; focus on patriotism

Steve Sauerberg said Illinois voters should question the patriotism of Dick Durbin. On his website, Sauerberg noted Durbin’s opposition to a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning and said the nation’s founders never included one “because they neve had to deal with ultraliberal Americans who hate their own country.” Asked whether he was referring to Durbin, Sauerberg said, “I think he’s an ultraliberal. Whether he hates his own country, I cannot determine for the gentleman.” Sauerberg said voters “wonder a lot” about Durbin’s patriotism.

Sauerberg lashed out at a June 2005 speech in which Durbin said American treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay could be likened to the “Nazis, Soviets in their gulags.” Durbin apologized for his remarks, but Sauerberg called Durbin’s apology “weak.”

“I’m not sure what Sen. Durbin thought he was doing here,” he said. “I don’t know if he hates his country. I know they were terrible remarks that have hurt the people of this nation.”

Source: By Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune Jul 18, 2008

  • The above quotations are from Media coverage of IL political races in The Chicago Tribune.
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2020 Presidential contenders on Homeland Security:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Sep 18, 2022