Explore our content

All types | All dates | All authors
Environment
PI Original
by Steven Ross Johnson
12:46pm
Mon Nov 5, 2012
1 comment

Third Party Politics: Talking To Green Party Candidates On The 2012 Ballot

Election 2012

Often regarded as residing on the fringe of American politics, third parties have been viewed by their supporters as an important alternative to the platforms presented by the country’s two major parties. We talk to a couple of Green Party candidates on the ballot this year, including presidential candidate Jill Stein. 

PI Original
by Matthew Blake
5:55pm
Thu Nov 1, 2012
1 comment

Personal Bios, Coal Define 12th Congressional District Race

Election 2012

With five days left until the election, Illinois’ close 12th congressional district race has fallen into political mudslinging, with Republican Jason Plummer raising a fuss over the public pension of Democratic opponent Bill Enyart’s wife. Recent rhetoric aside, the race has focused on a Southwest Illinois economy long reliant on downstate’s coal basin.

Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
3:49pm
Fri Oct 26, 2012

What Brad Schneider Would Do, If Elected

Brad Schneider persuasively makes the case that there are “real differences” between him and his opponent U.S. Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth) in the deadlocked race for Illinois’ 10th district representative.

And Schneider need convince almost no one that Dold is part of a legislative body mired in “unbelievable gridlock.”

But like many candidates running for Congress, Schneider is caught in a moment of political uncertainty where there is an absence of bold policy ideas. Read more »

Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
4:39pm
Mon Oct 22, 2012

Local Issues Marginal in Walsh-Duckworth Race

The old expression “all politics is local” seems not applicable to the high-profile 8th congressional district race between U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh (R-McHenry) and Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth.

Unlike in the 17th congressional district race in western Illinois or even the neighboring 10th district contest, there is little in the 8th district race that is of exclusive interest to those particular voters. The battle between Walsh and Duckworth instead has focused on major national issues such as Medicare and Social Security, with Chicago and national media attention often covering the money being funneled into the race or the latest histrionics of Walsh, including his outrageous comments last Thursday on abortion. Read more »

PI Original
by Matthew Blake
11:27pm
Thu Oct 18, 2012

Dold's Voting Record Shows Loyalty With GOP Values

Election 2012

Dold is not the poster child for the Tea Party. But the more important fact for 10th district voters in Cook and Lake Counties is that their representative mostly sided with a rightward-moving Republican Party. We offer a closer look at the 10th congressional district race between incumbent Robert Dold and Democratic challenger Brad Schneider.

Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
4:14pm
Wed Oct 17, 2012

Presidential Candidates Pressed On Richer Variety Of Issues In Second Debate

In the second presidential debate, undecided voters asked the candidates questions on a range of important issues.

President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney were, for example, made to discuss outsourcing, which has been the central issue in Illinois’ 17th Congressional district race, and reproductive rights, which has emerged as a key issue in the 8th and 10th Congressional district contests.

There was also a clash on immigration policy and priorities, an issue ignored in the first debate, which mostly focused on fiscal policy.

At one point, President Barack Obama argued that, while obviously restrained by Congress and changing circumstances, a president mainly tries to do what they say they will do in their campaign. Read more »

Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
5:52pm
Tue Oct 16, 2012

What To Look For In Tonight's Presidential Debate (VIDEO)

If you enjoy long, abstract and poorly contextualized talking points about tax policy and health care costs, the first presidential debate was a blast.

However, for most progressives the debate held October 2 at the University of Denver was a dreary affair. President Barack Obama stood listless as Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney remade himself as the candidate against tax cuts for the rich and for robust spending on Medicare. Romney also suddenly professed a desire for greater regulation of big banks. Be it causation or coincidence, Romney has subsequently enjoyed a surge in the polls.

The first debate, which solely focused on domestic policy, also existed in an alternate, anachronistic reality where issues such as climate change, immigration, reproductive rights, and gay rights simply did not exist.

Here is one look at what should happen at the town hall debate tonight at Hofstra University in New York – and what may actually happen.

Read more »

Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
2:45pm
Mon Oct 15, 2012

Schneider, Dold Square Off In 10th District Debate

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Bob Dold and Democratic candidate Brad Schneider packed Lake Forest High School’s auditorium during their first live debate in the 10th congressional district Sunday afternoon.

Dold, a Republican from Kenilworth, and Schneider, a businessman from Deerfield, argued their positions on everything from taxes and the economy to protecting the environment and women’s reproductive rights.

Read more »