Sauerberg or Koppie for U.S. Senate -- who the best to Defeat Dick Durbin?

LEARN WHERE THEY STAND ON THE ISSUES. Illinois Freepers, by copying and pasting the candidate's issue papers on their website and responces to the Chicago Tribune, I created the definitive thread on where your Senate candidates stand on the issues. Read, and learn:

My three most significant accomplishments are my 26-year marriage to a wonderful woman who helped me raise two children, my life-long commitment to the patients I continue to see despite my campaigning, and my willingness to step up and challenge a deeply entrenched incumbent because I believe he does not represent Illinois values.

I'm most proud of my career in the private sector. I left home at 17 with the dream of becoming a pilot and made it happen. Before retiring from Delta in 1996, I had served as Senior Captain for Delta Airlines out of Chicago's O'Hare Airport (then the busiest airport in the world) before transferring to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. During my career at Delta, I flew the majority of all major air routes across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. I was renowned as an airline Captain for my expertise, reliability, and steady hand. Still, nothing pleased me more than the fact it made my family proud. Second, I am proud of enriching the lives of people through my success in the farming market. At one time, my family owned farming operations that encompassed over 4000 acres in both Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Today, I continue to actively operate a family farm encompassing over 800 acres. This experience has given me a keen understanding of productivity and agriculture industry, and energy. Throughout my life I have been active in construction and land development of residential, commercial, and industrial properties. Third, I am proud of taking the plunge for my past campaign offices and using the opportunity to raise awareness of the evils of abortion and hopefully change the minds and hearts of some of those who would seek an abortion who would otherwise not have second thoughts about going through with it. Some have criticized me for my staunch opposition to abortion, but I will not apologize for telling the truth about abortion. If we save the life of even one unborn child, it's worth it. My former Senate campaigns and gubernatorial campaign made headlines with my efforts to bring a pro-life message to the voters of Illinois. I warned the people of this state that George Ryan was not a true pro-life candidate and would not govern as pro-life if he got elected to office, and that came to pass. Am I proud of the fact I put forth a valiant effort to prevent him from advancing to the office of Governor? You bet I am. His administration was a disaster for our state.

Write a brief essay that explains why you are qualified to hold this office.

I am qualified because I have the ability and the willingness to do what a U.S. Senator needs to do. I have the intellectual ability as well as an inherent capacity to understand the complex manner in which our world works. I am also willing to make decisions based on what is in the best interest of the American people rather than my desire for political power or reelection. I have been a small business owner for decades and I understand how taxes and energy and other critical issues facing us affect regular people. I have been caring for people of all walks of life for decades and I actually know how they react, what they think, and what they want from government. I am not afraid to provide real leadership and make tough decisions. I am in a position in my life to serve the people of my state and nation in the manner they expect, which is far different than what we have been seeing from our government. My personal values and those that I would bring to office reflect those of a vast majority of Illinoisans. In addition, on 9/11, I realized our lives had forever changed. In a post 9/11 world I became acutely aware of how important our elected leaders in Washington were to the safety and security of our families. I began to look closer at our elected officials and it became clear to me that the senior Senator from Illinois had become completely and totally out of touch. My main priority in office would be to reverse the course Dick Durbin has set in DC by returning our Illinois values to Washington.

I have the leadership, experience, temperament and values needed to serve the people of our great state like no other Senate candidate from Illinois this year. For over five decades, I have been active in both the political and private sector, and worked in productive American enterprises designed to better the quality of life in Illinois. During my service with Delta airlines, I achieved the position of Senior Jumbo Jet Captain, flying the Atlantic across all major ports of call in Eastern and Western Europe from JFK International Airport. Very few people can claim such a high-profile civilian career. I have an understanding of agriculture and industry like no other Senate candidate because I have been actively involved in my family's farm for years. My candidacy is unique on that I have broad-based appeal across many classes and occupations. I'm particular to middle class and working class values, and blue-collar voters. In fact, I held membership in various unions during my lifetime including the Airline Pilots Association, Cement Masons, Laborers and Hod Carriers, and the Railroad Construction Workers Union. I have also been involved in numerous public service causes and held various offices, both elected and appointed. I have run for and served on the Illinois District 300 School Board, Rutland Township Board of Trustees, Humana Hospital Board, and currently holds office as Kane County Regional School Board Trustee. I'm also a longtime member of the Illinois Center Right Coalition and whole-heartedly worked for its various campaigns to reform Illinois and root out corruption. I have the honor of its members electing me to the board of its 19-member steering committee, and currently serve the organization as its Vice-Chairman, the second highest officer on I.C.R.C. I've been twice nominated for the U.S. Senate before, and in 1998 I was the lone person with the guts to take on then-popular (but unethical) George H. Ryan in the Republican primary for Governor of Illinois. I made an impressive showing and received nearly 20% of the vote despite running on a shoe-string budget and witnessing the party establishment completely ignore my candidacy and unanimously unite behind Ryan at the time. Of the five candidates on the ballot for U.S. Senate this year, my experience and leadership in political causes is second only to the incumbent. I am the only challenger who has a track record of public service under my belt who has run for and been elected to office previously. The difference between myself and our incumbent Senator lies in the fact that I remain in touch with the average Illinois voter, a grassroots champion who fights for local communities and for constitutional values, abhorring government control over our lives and the good old' boys club of Washington insiders.

A. Passing a comprehensive energy package b. Passing market-based healthcare reform c. Passing an economic stimulus package that protects existing tax relief, cuts wasteful spending, and encourages jobs creation here in Illinois by approving free trade agreements like the Colombia FTA.

My top priority will be to restore the limited, constitutional government our founding fathers envisioned. This doesn't mean we would reduce government back to the way it was in 1789, but we as elected leaders do have an obligation to stop unnecessary, wasteful, intrusive government from remaining law. Under President Truman, great reforms were taken through the two Hoover commissioners that assembled a government task force that worked to eliminate waste, fraud, needless bureaucracy, and overlapping functions of our government departments. I would work to create such a commission today and get to work reforming government. Second, I will work to restore honesty and integrity to the United States Senate, which currently enjoys only a 9% approval rating from the American People. To that end, I will fight for transparency in government and press for needed reforms like a line-item veto, a 2/3rds supermajority needed to raise taxes, and stop the endless pandering to various groups on the basis of their religion, gender, sexual orientation, culture, nationally, etc., such as government quotas for affirmative-action, the passage of so-called "hate crimes" legislation, bilingualism, and government handouts to people too lazy to assimilate into American culture. Finally, I will work to establish a culture of life in Washington. Although I am very passionately outspoken against abortion, my office would not only work to end abortion but protect all types of killing of innocent life, including stopping euthanasia, drug abuse, and deaths through unjust or mishandled war policies. I will use the full power of my office to create and enforce the right to life and basic dignity for all innocent human beings under our Constitution that is sorely lacking today. Merely talking about "working together to reduce abortion" is a cheap cop-out, we need decisive action. We didn't end the moral outrages of slavery and the holocaust by just talking about it and "working together" to "compromise” with the people promoting such evils.

Should Congress approve a second economic stimulus package? If so, how should it be structured and how would you pay for it?

Congress should pass a real economic stimulus package – not another government spending bill. A real economic stimulus package is one that creates jobs and puts more money into the pockets of average Americans. A real economic stimulus package would ensure that the tax relief currently enjoyed by Illinoisans would be protected – and would find ways to further relieve the burden taxes place on the men and women of this state. In particular, Congress should decrease federal gas taxes, as well as eliminating the Alternative Minimum Tax. In addition to putting more money in the pockets of hard-working Illinoisans, Congress should pass an economic stimulus package that will encourage the creation of good, high-paying jobs here by approving pending trade agreements like the Colombian Free Trade Agreement. Finally, instead of passing the costs off onto the backs of taxpayers or future generations of taxpayers, Congress should seek to eliminate wasteful spending and programs to pay for the costs of any economic stimulus package.

We do need to give people of the United States back control of their money and make sure it's invested wisely through a stable economic future for America, but the way to do this is not through more government handouts. I support the free enterprise system -- based on private property, the profit motive, and competition -- as both the most moral and the most efficient economic system yet devised. Illinois places one of the worst burdens on private businesses, and that's why many people are fleeing our state. First and foremost, I support making the current tax relief permanent as taxes are already too high. However, business taxes must also be lowered nationally to provide more investment in Illinois’ economy. We need to encourage people to buy American and stop American jobs from being exported overseas. To increase the domestic job market and further stimulate the economy, I will work towards permanently eliminating the death and estate taxes.

What steps should the U.S. take to reduce its dependence on foreign oil? Do you support offshore drilling? Do you support government incentives for alternative fuels? What action, if any, would you take to address global warming?

First and foremost, we must drill off-shore and in the Alaskan tundra, as well as expand our domestic oil refining capabilities. Additionally, any long-term energy policy must include nuclear power. It is a safe, clean, renewable energy source, and it will be a key element once our cars are run off electricity or hydrogen. Illinois already receives almost half of its electricity from nuclear power, but there is room for growth. We must lift the moratorium on construction of new nuclear power plants. As part of any plan to increase our use of nuclear energy we must open Yucca Mountain. Unlike my opponent, I will fight to open up Yucca Mountain to ensure that nuclear waste is stored safely. We must also invest in additional alternatives such as wind and solar power, and make a real investment in high speed trains. Ethanol is a viable energy source, but we must be certain we do not exhaust this resource and drive up the cost of other products, such as food. I would support common sense efforts – efforts which must be supported by good science – to reduce any negative impact global warming may have on our planet. I will not, however, support efforts based on junk science that would jeopardize the economic well-being of our country.

There is no doubt we need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil with the current price of the gas in the U.S. I stand with the American people and against the Washington establishment in my support for more domestic energy supplies. As Senator, I will work to create more oil refineries in the US, as well as open up areas of the ANWR region of Alaska, the gulf coast, as well as Green River Basin that lies in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, for drilling for oil. If we drill here, and drill now, we can pay less at the pump. Those who say we won't "see results for 10 years" were saying the same thing to prevent drilling 10 years ago! I also agree that the fact it won’t solve everything is not an excuse to do nothing at all when it comes to new sources of domestic oil. We also must work towards more alternate energy sources. I will oppose federal government interference with the development of other potential energy sources, including natural gas, hydroelectric power, solar energy, wind generators, and nuclear energy, among others. It is critical we heed efforts for sufficient supply of energy in light of national security and for the immediate adoption of energy independence for these United States. I will also work towards abolishing the Department of Energy -- our nation's energy needs were met just fine without it for the first 200 years of our existence. With regards to global warming, I am pro-environment and wholeheartedly support realistic efforts to preserve the environment and reduce pollution whether in air, water, or on land. However, I do NOT accept the argument that "global warming" is man-made, especially due to the fact there is no consensus on this issue and a large number of scientists and highly educated people in environmental science that hold doctorates on the matter dispute this idea.

Should the U.S. set a timetable for the withdrawal of combat troops in Iraq? If so, what time frame would you support? Should the U.S. increase its troop strength in Afghanistan? What steps should be taken to bring stability to Afghanistan?

I believe in a system of economic, political and military benchmarks to hold the Iraqi government accountable and to make it clear that Americans are neither giving Iraqi politicians a blank check nor approving of the status quo. Giving our enemies in Iraq a withdrawal timeline will lead to the loss of more American lives and destabilize a region that needs stability. The reality is that the surge in Iraq is working. Instead of relying on the judgment of politicians in Washington we should always listen to our military commanders in the field. As for Afghanistan, I believe that we should continue to trust the judgment of military leaders like General David Petraeus. The reason why we are winning in Iraq is because we chose to put faith in our military leaders and our brave men and women in uniform. We should follow that same path in Afghanistan. Questions about strategies for stability and the specific troop levels needed should be determined by our talented military leaders – not by opportunistic politicians in Washington looking to score cheap election year points.

I strongly oppose cutting off funding for our troops or unilateral disarmament and disengagement America's defense infrastructure in Iraq, as some attempted to do when the war was going poorly and they doubted the surge would be successful. Surrender in the midst of a war is the wrong approach. That which is hastily torn down will not be easily rebuilt. I oppose withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq until the nation is secured but I absolutely support providing benchmarks and a detailed exit strategy so this can be accomplished as quickly as possible and we are not perpetually occupying Iraq. We should not have a public "timetable" per say, and that would embolden the enemy by notifying them when and how we plan to leave, but internally we absolutely need to ensure our benchmarks are set into a detailed plan with realistic goals that can be accomplished within the next few years. With regards to Afghanistan, the whole point of our NATO alliance was that those members would stand as one in the event that one of their members was attacked, and that's precisely what happened on 9/11 with the Taliban. We must work to lobby for greater involvement from our allies and strategically secure our troops throughout more vital areas in Afghanistan. Afghanistan, not Iraq, should be our prime concern when it comes to region stability now. But in both Afghanistan and Iraq, strong progress has been made in the past and needs to continue. While I believe in seeking help from our allies, also believe in the sovereignty of our military and I completely disagree that the United States needs the permission of the UN or NATO to engage in combat with terrorists or act to protect our nation. I also adamantly oppose the placement of the U.S. troops under UN command or any other foreign body, as well as having to obligate the International Court of Justice demands for the rights of terrorists not to be executed.

Should the federal government provide universal health coverage? What measures would you support to address access to health care? What changes would you support to place Medicare and Medicaid are better financial footing?

The federal government does indeed have a role. Its proper role is to encourage a real market-based healthcare reform that will make affordable, quality health insurance available to all citizens. First, in order to promote coverage for every man, woman and child in the United States through the private sector, the government needs to encourage portability, competition, accessibility and individual ownership of quality medical insurance. Second, to protect patients and providers and to dramatically reduce healthcare costs we need to end frivolous lawsuits. Third, we must encourage innovation and promote best-practices at all levels of our healthcare system. Finally, without ending fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid we cannot fundamentally reform our healthcare system. We can reform our healthcare system, make quality affordable healthcare available to all, and do so without increasing costs to the federal government.

Socialized medicine does not and will never work. I am staunchly opposed to government takeover of the health care industry, as socialized one-payer situations in other countries such as Canada has never been successful That being said, we should work vigilantly to ensure all Americans have the opportunity to get access to the type of health care services they want. I support the right of all Americans to choose the doctor and medical treatment as they see fit without government restriction of access to medical care, supplies or treatments. As such, I would support the elimination of the FDA, as it has been the federal agency primarily responsible for prohibiting beneficial and safe products, treatments, and technologies from coming into the markets of the United States, especially those that are freely available in much of the rest of the civilized world. I will also work for the people of Illinois in fighting the government use of age or any other personal characteristic to preclude people and insurance firms from freely contracting for medical coverage. As Senator, I will stand with the people of Illinois in having my office personally assist patients to seek redress of their grievances through the courts against unscrupulous insurers and/or HMO's.

Congress approved a series of tax cuts in 2001 and many of those cuts are due to expire in 2010. Tell us your views on taxes. Should the tax cuts be retained or allowed to expire? Should federal income tax rates be changed? Should taxes for Social Security be raised or imposed on higher income levels?

The first step in any discussion of reforming our tax code is protecting the tax relief that Illinoisans enjoy today. We should make permanent the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003. We should eliminate the alternative minimum tax and we should encourage investment and savings by continuing to tax capital gains and dividends at lower rates. Congress and the President should look closely at the flat tax, fair tax, or any other proposals that will create a fairer, flatter and substantially simpler tax code. Dramatic overhaul of our tax code, however, is a long term goal that is going to require a tremendous amount of public pressure on Washington. No, social security taxes should not be raised. The underlying assumption in any tax reform proposal should be the premise that we believe individuals should be able to keep as much of their hard earned money as possible.

I support retaining the current tax cuts -- but we need to go ever further. I have pledged to the people of Illinois NO new taxes and NO tax increases whatsoever. We are taxed far too much already; we don't need government to punish the taxpayers anymore because of their failures to govern wisely. I will not only fight higher taxes, but I will use my time in the Senate to work to overhaul and completely dismantle the existing tax code. I believe taxes should only be used to fund legitimate and necessary constitutional functions, and as such I will work to abolish and defund unconstitutional government agencies like the Department of Energy, the EPA, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, among others, so that taxes can begin to be reduced. According to the US Government Printing Office, the current tax code of the United States is 13,458 pages. It's time to do away with this awful government monstrosity and that's why I support overturning the 16th amendment to the United States constitution. I will work tirelessly in the Senate to abolish the current tax code and sponsor a new system of taxation that will end the IRS as we know it. Finally, Social Security should not be taxed, as was the idea when President Roosevelt created the system. It was Vice President Al Gore that cast the tie-breaking vote to start taxing Social Security annuities. I will not use the Social Security tax for a "rainy day" fund which politicians can pirate. I will support legislation so that individuals who have contributed to Social Security be allowed to withdraw those funds and transfer them into an IRA or similar investments under the control of the individual contributor. I will oppose any sort of merger between the U.S. Social Security System and that of any foreign country. I will work to have earning limitations on persons aged 62 and over be removed, so that they may earn any amount of additional income without placing their benefits at risk, and that those provisions of the Social Security system which penalize those born during the "notch years" between 1917 and 1926 be repealed, and that such persons be placed on the same benefit schedules as all other beneficiaries. Finally, Social Security should not be mandatory. As Senator, I will fight for the right of individuals to choose between private retirement and pension programs, either at their place of employment or independently.

It is appropriate for the US to use military force, as a last resort, in order to protect American interests at home and abroad.

Islamic Fundamentalism is threat to this nation must be taken seriously by our government, and 9/11 was a wakeup call. I fully support efforts to vigorously pursue terrorists and terrorist organizations as long as it is linked to countries and individuals directly involved in the terrorist cause and taking such measures that not infringe on the civil liberties of American citizens. As Senator, I will stand with the American people in pursuing all criminal acts of terrorists, and their organizations, as well as the governments which condone them. This includes any form of terrorism whether it is Muslim extremists, Northern Ireland "freedom fighters", or Puerto Rican "liberators" trying to overthrow the U.S. government. Individuals responsible for acts of terrorism must be punished for their crimes, including the infliction of capital punishment where appropriate. In responding to terrorism, however, the United States must avoid acts of retaliation abroad which destroy innocent human lives, creating enmity toward America and its people; or acting as the world's policeman in matters that do not pertain to our security. I believe in following Teddy Roosevelt's foreign policy advice, "Speak softly and carry a big stick". War must always be used as a LAST resort and only started when it’s in the best interests of the security of the United States. I also believe that any future war engagements that deploy American troops into combat must ONLY be authorized by a full declaration of war by Congress, pursuant to Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. We should not attack nations unless it's as a last resort, but when we do we should use the full force of the United States as nothing but victory is an acceptable option.

Do you support the reauthorization of the education reform law known as No Child Left Behind? What, if any, changes would you make in that law? Should the federal government even have a role in public education?

No Child Left Behind has been effective at establishing a system of benchmarks for providing quality education. No Child Left Behind (NCLB), however, is not perfect. We should work to ensure that changes are made to NCLB to give increased flexibility to local schools, to help to reduce class sizes, and to increase the number of highly qualified teachers in our schools. We should also recognize that education, like so many other areas of public policy, is best handled when individuals are empowered and local control is maximized.

I do not believe in the Department of Education and I do not support the Ted Kennedy written No Child Left Behind Act. Instead, I am a supporter of local control of community schools. The best schools are those controlled by the parents and their designated boards and administrators. I believe all parents should have the right to determine schooling appropriate for their children, which includes but is not limited to home schooling, private/parochial school, public schools, and charter schools. What this basically means is the federal government should not have a national education policy. I will oppose federal laws to provide for the subsidizing or regulation of the education of children. Under no circumstances should the federal government be involved in national teacher certification, educational curricula, textbook selection, learning standards, sex education, psychological and psychiatric research testing programs, or personnel. I will also oppose the creation or enforcement of any affirmative action laws whether it's on the basis or gender, race, wealth, or anything else. America should be a free and equal society, especially when it comes to education. We also have an excellent system in Illinois to allow for home schooling and I believe now is the time to help the other 49 states enact such laws.

Give us your views on free trade. Should Congress approve pending trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea and Panama? Do you think NAFTA should be revised? If so, how?

The greatest American export is free enterprise. Free trade is fundamental to the health of our economy. In an increasingly global economy, American businesses and manufacturers must be given every opportunity to compete and win in the international arena. I will support free trade agreements, like those pending with Colombia, South Korea, and Panama, that are in the long-term best interest of the American economy. In particular, it is shameful that Dick Durbin and his Democratic colleagues have failed to pass the Colombia Free Trade Agreement – an agreement that would level the playing field for Caterpillar, a critical Illinois manufacturing company, and create good paying jobs for Illinoisans. I do not currently support changes to NAFTA.

I favor more trade with nations that have similar economic and moral standards as we do, but that is hardly the direction our Congress has been taking this nation. The most important factor now is putting our country first. We need to encourage people to buy American and stop American jobs from being exported overseas. To increase the domestic job market, I will work towards permanently eliminating the death and estate taxes, and to support fair trade policies that mirror the trade policies of other modern industrialized nations. I do not support free trade with Latin America. Since the enactment of NAFTA over a decade ago, it's now proven that it only weakened the American dollar and strengthened foreign nations, resulting in Mexico getting our jobs while we get Mexico's citizens. I will work towards the repeal of NAFTA, CAFTA, and GATT (the latter of which would end our membership in the WTO), as well as opposing "permanent normal trade relations" with communist dictatorships such as China, Vietnam, and Cuba. I will also stand steadfast against the creation of any European style "North American Union" with shared currency.

America’s economic, political and military role in the world is to be a shining example of the virtue of economic and personal liberty. We must remain vigilant in our efforts to defeat the forces of global extremism, particularly those of radical Islam, which would seek to destroy America and extinguish the liberties we hold dear. Americans should be proud of our great country and proud of the sacrifices made by our brave men and women in uniform who have fought to defend our liberties as well as the liberties of so many others across the globe.

We are the world's last remaining superpower. As they famously said in Spider-man, with great power comes great responsibility. Personally speaking, I truly believe that the United States is the greatest nation in the world and the last, best hope for mankind. This is not to say that I look down on other countries and other people with standards different than ours, just that I am proud to be American and thank God that I was born American. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. It seems that kind of pro-American patriotism is sorely lacking in many of today's politicians. I don't "question" the patriotism of those who disagree with me on various political issues, but I do question the Patriotism of those who have a "blame America first" mentality and constantly accuse the American people of being hate-filled, bigoted, greedy, and so on and so forth. Our constitution is unique in that it lasted for over 200 years (what other nation can claim that?) and as such I think it can be used for great effect as a template for guiding people around the world. One such example is how successful post-war Japan is after adopting a constitution and standards similar to ours in the aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The United States should serve a beacon for advancing the causes of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We need to stand up internationally and call attention to human rights abuses around the world, like the genocide occurring in Darfur, the invasion of Georgia, and social breakdown of moral values and spirituality in Western Europe. No nation is perfect, but I refuse to believe our "abuses" are anywhere near as bad as nations like North Korea and Sudan. While the United States should lead and set the example, we should never impose our will on others and force those to adapt our standards, or be a bully to the world. As such, I'm not in favor of turning Iraq into a little colony of America and forcing them all to learn English and convert to Christianity, because there are still scars from when Europeans did that to our continent not so long ago. Use of force should only be when the very freedoms we hold in the U.S. are under direct assault from foreign powers. Otherwise, we should always speak out, but never compel others to give in.

QUESTIONS NOT ASKED BY CHICAGO TRIBUNE, BUT UNDOUBTEDLY OF CONCERN TO FREEPERS

NO POSITION LISTED ON WEBSITE. Says in general he opposes “activist judges” but that he will not have a “litmus test” for judicial confirmations. When asked by reporter Jeff Berkowitz: if he was willing to confirm an avowedly pro-choice judge, Sauerberg affirmed that he would. When Berkowitz further inquired if the same was true of confirming a pro-life judge, Sauerberg shrugged and said “who knows?”

I will not only pledge to support strict constructionist judges for federal appointments, but to vote AGAINST any judge who I believe will be a judicial activist and not sufficiently constitutional. What good is having another Justice Alito on the bench if you also swear-in another Justice Stevens to cancel out his vote? 97 Senators voted for Ruth Bader Ginsburg and that is simply unacceptable that so many "conservatives" would rubber stamp her appointment. I would have opposed her on the grounds that her career with the ACLU showed that she would not follow the constitution as written. I will support judges in the mold of Antonin Scalia, Janice Rogers Brown, and Roy Moore. To further the cause for constitutional judges, I will make personal recommendations to the President for such judges and have my staff prepare information on their merits. I intend to take the U.S. Senate's power of "advice and consent" seriously.

Nationalizing our nation’s financial industry is not the solution to the challenges facing our economy today said Sauerberg. “While the federal government can and should play a role in ending this crisis, its role should be a limited one. Taxpayer dollars should be seen as an absolute last option. The bottom line is that a trillion dollar blank check written on the backs of today’s taxpayers – and future generations of taxpayers – is simply too much.

SOURCE: Sauerberg2008.com, “Sauerberg weighs in on the bailout” press release

I definitely do not support the plan Congress just enacted, a pork laden $700 billion bailout on the backs of taxpayers to fund overseas banks, provide corporate welfare, and save the pensions of crooked Wall Street fat cats that caused this problem in the first place. Instead, we should be looking to eliminate the corrupt government programs that led to this environment in the first place. Here is what I would enact to fix to the economy: First, immediately repeal Sarbanes-Oxley, the 2002 accounting law that is an enormous drag on small business. Second, suspend capital gains taxes indefinitely, and set the capital gains tax rate at zero "matching the Chinese and Singapore" (to encourage private capital to flood into the market picking up properties without the taxpayers being at risk). This would bring as much as a trillion dollars of capital sitting on the sidelines back into the market. Also, cut America’s 35-percent corporate tax — the industrialized world’s second highest, after Japan’s — to boost U.S. global competitiveness. Since equity prices partially reflect long-term after-tax profits, lowering corporate levies should buoy stock markets. Third, privatize Fannie May and Freddie Mac after denationalizing them. These massive, corrupt mortgage giants, created in a government laboratory — are not creatures of the free enterprise system. We must ultimately take their monopoly powers away and return them to the marketplace. We should array Fannie’s and Freddie’s loans according to mortgage holders’ surnames. They then could be divided alphabetically into 26 units and auctioned off. Fourth, waive “mark-to-market” accounting. As the Competitive Enterprise Institutes John Berlau argues, when distressed mortgage-backed securities sell at bargain-basement prices, unhelpful new bookkeeping regulations require that similar instruments elsewhere — including viable loans — be valued at equally low prices. This needlessly stains balance sheets. This would stop the downward spiral in asset values and eventually replacing it with a three year rolling average. Finally, strengthen the U.S. dollar by repealing globalist measures that send our money and export our jobs overseas like NAFTA, CAFTA, GATT, and FTAA, which would include withdrawal from the WTO. Bernanke should boost U.S. currency, not pose as America’s uber-stock broker. A strong dollar lowers inflation, cheapens oil, and soothes world markets. Stick to Buy American principles and enact a comprehensive energy plan to make us energy independent.

NO POSITION LISTED ON WEBSITE. Often describes himself, ala Arnold Schwarzenegger, as a "fiscal conservative” on economics and a ”moderate" on social issues (Illinois Channel). He told the Daily Herald he thinks woman should be allowed to get abortions in “certain circumstances”, (but wouldn’t clarify what circumstances they were). At the Illinois Family Institute candidate forum, Sauerberg stated that he has “qualms” about overturning Roe v. Wade.

I am unabashedly 100% pro-life. Since Roe v. Wade was legalized in 1973, 50 million unborn children have been aborted. The holocaust, as tragic as it was, killed an estimated 11 million. As Senator, I will work tirelessly to have Roe v. Wade overturned and all unborn children recognized as human beings with an inherant right to life under our U.S. Constitution. I pledge as Senator to oppose any and all use of taxpayer funds or government money to be used for abortions -- either here or abroad. I will support all pro-life legislation to reduce or end abortion in the United States. I will also fight against the funding and legalization of bio-research involving human embryonic or pre-embryonic cells, which have been proven to be a red herring as stem cell research has shown to work far better with adult cells. I will also oppose all government attempts to legalize euthanasia, infanticide, or suicide in the United States. Thus far, I am the ONLY U.S. Senate candidate to pledge to the people of Illinois to stand for the protection of all innocent human life.

NO POSITION LISTED ON WEBSITE. Has said in the past he would support “reasonable” gun control measures, for example, he told the Daily Herald he would vote to re-enact the Assault Weapons Ban “if it's properly crafted."His opponents in the Republican primary often accused Sauerberg of being a closet gun-grabber. 'I got up in front of a bunch of gun owners and told them Sauerberg wanted ‘a little' more gun control and Sauerberg did not deny the accusation", noted Andy Martin, the current author of “Obama: The Man Behind the Mask”

I believe the U.S. Constitution means what it says when it declares "the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed". Chicago has proven "gun control" legislation doesn't work, as it has one of highest murder rates per citizen in the nation. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws have guns. As Senator, I will work to restore second amendment rights to all American citizens. I will vote against any new gun control measures and I will sponsor legislation to allow for conceal-carry laws nationwide, as we already have in 44 states but not in Illinois. I will also oppose the re-enactment of the so-called assault weapon ban.

NO POSITION LISTED ON WEBSITE. Told the Daily Herald he “personally” opposes gay marriage but he would not support a marriage protection amendment. His campaign spokesman, Chris Barron, is a longtime outspoken gay rights activist who once attacked not only President Bush, but even claimed John Kerry was not liberal enough on gay rights. Barron took leave as spokesman for the Log Cabin Republicans to work for Sauerberg.

The basic unit of our society is the family; consisting of a mother, a father, and children. Marriage has consisted of these components for thousands of years. I will oppose government recognition of any union outside the marriage of one man and one woman. I do not support government recognition of any kind of homosexual relationship, whether it is recognized as a "marriage" or given "equal" status by allowing a "domestic partnership license" or "civil union" or other such measure. This does not mean I hate homosexuals and want to discriminate against them anymore than opposing marriage for 10 year olds means I am anti-child and favor discrimination against children. Homosexuals have the right to marry all they want if they simply follow the same rules in society that the rest of us are expected to follow.

We must ensure our nation's security while also respecting the human dignity of all the people in our country. I oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants. As Senator I will work to 1) secure our borders, 2) oppose any effort to provide blanket amnesty or incentives to illegals and 3) support deportation of illegal immigrants who commit felonies.

Like most Americans, I am descended from people who came to this country from elsewhere to live a better life. I believe those who come here legally and obey the law should be able to pursue the American Dream. However, those who break our laws and invade this nation illegally have no such right. Illegal immigration costs Illinois taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars every year. I am committed to enacting measures with teeth to hold employers accountable who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. I will also work to end the provision of welfare subsidies and other taxpayer-supported benefits to illegal aliens, and to overturn the Supreme Court decision to bestow U.S. citizenship on children born to illegal alien parents while in this country. I will vote against any form of amnesty to illegal aliens, whether it's called "amnesty" or not. I also support granting citizenship only to immigrants who have fully assimilated and who share our values and language. I oppose dual citizenship. I support making English the official language of the United States and requiring all government business and documents (especially election ballots) to be provided solely in English

So in summary:

Sauerberg is a career medical doctor who has no experience or political record for the nation’s highest legislative office. On the issues, he supports keeping abortion legal, favors gun control measures like the assault weapons ban, pro-gay rights, pro-UN, supports federal involvement in health care, welcomes free trade (even with communist nations), supports tax cuts, favors off shore drilling, is pro-WOT, believe in global warming, opposes the bailout, is vaguely against “blanket” amnesty, supports the department of education and NOLB, and is open to confirming just about anyone, regardless of ideology.

Koppie is a retired senior jumbo jet captain and farmer who has long been active in politics -- having held both elected and appointed office -- and is well qualified to be U.S. Senator, with a record of proven leadership. On the issues, he is unabashedly 100% pro-life, strongly supports 2^nd amendment rights, opposes the gay agenda, strongly believes in U.S. sovereignty, opposes the feds being involved in health care and education, is strongly in favor of tax cuts and spending reductions, favors off shore drilling and ANWR, is pro-WOT, opposes the cult of global warming, opposes the bailout, is clearly against amnesty, and has promised to vote to confirm ONLY originalist and strict constructionist judges.

Which one would you want replacing Durbin and representing us in the U.S. Senate?

Illinois Freepers, choose your candidate wisely :

OPTION A:

STEVE SAUERBERG: Pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro-gay, pro-envirowackoism, and supports free trade with dicatorships

OPTION B:

CHAD KOPPIE: Pro-life, pro-gun, pro-family, anti-envirowackoism and opposes sucking up to dictators.

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