Illinois Review

Republican legislator explains why he supports Gitmo-in-Illinois

2009-11-21T07:46:26-06:00

State Rep. Jim Sacia, a Republican from Freeport, says those concerned about Gitmo-in-Illinois are over-reacting. He, as well as others, attended a discussion about Thomson Correctional being used for terrorist suspects and came away feeling pretty better, that Illinois could handle 100 detainees. He wrote in the State Journal-Register:

A fact not known to many of us before the proposed sale of the Thomson prison is that there are already 340 former Gitmo detainees currently being housed in federal prisons in the United States, 40 of them at the federal facility in Marion. It wasn’t made clear this week how many may be housed at other federal Illinois facilities in Greenville, Pekin and Chicago. It appears the transfers of those prisoners weren’t newsworthy because they weren’t tied to the closing of Gitmo.

No, the transfer of detainees here won’t result in the creation of terror cells in northwest Illinois. Detainees are not allowed visits from anyone other than clergy, lawyers and the Red Cross. Other prisoners at Thomson would retain normal visiting privileges.

Frankly, this is all still based on correcting past irresponsible spending for a correctional facility that must not have warranted building if it wasn't in need in the first place. Secondly, what is being continually overlooked is how federal law bestows constitutional rights on terrorists that they would not have until they came onto American soil. Are all of these international terrorists here without the American public's knowledge? Shouldn't we have had a voice in the decision to bring them here?

As for the foolish assurance that this will not create terror cells in Illinois, did the good state rep forget already about the Springfield terrorist that just attempted to bomb government buildings in our state's capital? The naitivete' of all this should bring us great concern.

For years, Christian workers were invited into southern Illinois' Marion prison to hold religious services. Now in demand are Muslim services, and Christian workers' are not as welcome as they once were. Muslims are evangelizing our prisons, and for the most zealous, that includes a belief that jihad must be perpetrated on Western civilization.

In reality, those that provide and enable jihad are bringing home to America the very war that was fought overseas to keep terrorism there. There will be a price to be paid for all this. And it won't be paid by economically relieving a town on Illinois' western boundary.

Vargas: What is Foster hiding now?

2009-11-21T07:13:20-06:00

Statement from Mark Vargas for Congress

Yesterday the veil of secrecy was lifted from the Federal Reserve in a historic bi-partisan vote by the US House Finance Committee. The margin favoring this vote was nearly 2 to 1, yet our own Congressman Bill Foster voted in the minority. The question I join many others in the 14th Congressional District in asking is simple... What is our Congressman trying to hide from the American People?

The Federal Reserve is a powerful agency charged among other things, conducting the nation's monetary policy by influencing monetary and credit conditions in the economy in pursuit of maximum employment, stable prices, and moderate long-term interest rates. When we look at the current financial state of our nation, it is imperative that we fully understand the Fed's actions leading up to our current recession.

We need a clear understanding of past actions to prevent future economic disasters. Businesses routinely conduct audits to allow their Board of Directors and stake holders a clear understanding of their financial status. Why would Congressman Foster prevent us from such a basic tool?

As I have met with voters, I have found an overall sentiment of distrust for their elected officials. People are out of work, and upset at the failure of our President and Congressman to steer the economy back on track. They seek answers, but Foster's secrecy continues to fuel their distrust.

I believe there is a simple solution. The American People have a right to know what the Federal Reserve has done with our money. As a Congressman I vow to continue to shed light on the actions of our government. Government must remain transparent to those it serves.

Democrats claim Rauschenberger not a Republican

2009-11-21T07:00:00-06:00

Senate President John Cullerton and his political hit team have found a Streamwood Democrat to file an objection to the nominating petitions of Steve Rauschenberger, who is running for Illinois State Senate in the 22nd district.

The basis for their objection is NOT the number of signatures or the qualifications of the signers or circulators. And it is not the signatures of the notaries or the notary seal.

No, the charge is that Steve Rauschenberger is not qualified to petition as...a Republican!

For those of you who don't know, Rauschenberger served for 15 years as Republican state senator in Springfield where he was chairman of the Senate Appropriation Committee (1994-2002) and assistant Republican Leader (2002-2006). In 2004 he ran statewide in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, and in 2006 he ran in the Republican primary for Governor and the Lt. Governor. And since 2006 he's served as President of the United Republican Fund.

So, how can Rauschenberger not be a Republican?

Well, the Senate Democrats are trying to expand a DuPage County court ruling used last cycle to bump an opponent off the ballot against Sen. Carol Pankau. In the case of Rauschenberger, they claim that because he pulled a Democrat township election ballot last cycle in order to vote for his sister for Elgin Township Trustee (there was no Republican primary), that he is now ineligible to run for office as a Republican.

This is the kind of tortured election process the political hacks in Springfield have given us. Time to throw them all out.

Connelly celebrates Eola Road interchange

2009-11-21T06:30:00-06:00

Naperville -- State Rep. Michael Connelly, (R-Lisle) joined local officials today to celebrate the opening of the Eola Road interchange on I-88 in Aurora. "I'm happy to see this project come to fruition,” Connelly said. "This interchange at Eola Road takes the pressure off of Rt. 59, which is a key arterial road for both the cities of Naperville and Aurora."

The interchange is the result of a public-public partnership that has taken several years. Connelly first started working on the project as a DuPage County Board member.

The interchange will allow suburban commuters faster travel times during the Rt. 59 construction.

Rep. Connelly also congratulates Mayor Tom Weisner of Aurora and Mayor George Pradel of Naperville and their city councils for their accomplishment in this project, as well as DuPage County Board chairman Robert Schillerstrom and board members Jim Healy and John Zediker for their help in the project.

The reality of Illinois campaign 'reform'

2009-11-21T06:00:00-06:00

Let's recap what recent campaign reforms have brought us:

In 2007, the politicians in the Illinois General Assembly moved the Illinois primary to February in order to help one of it's own (Barack Obama) in the Presidential Primary. No coincidentally, the move had the added benefit of making any challenges to their own incumbency more difficult.

In 2009, the same politicians in Springfield increased (almost doubling) the number of required signatures to petition onto the ballot - making it even more difficult for anyone to challenge their incumbency.

This fall, during veto session, they passed a law requiring candidates that are slated onto the ballot to fill a vacancy (and thereby provide choice to voters) to collect signatures equal to the number required if they had run in the primary. In addition, they established a new and separate challenge period for those petitions as well.

And don't forget, they also passed campaign finance reform that limits the amount of financial support citizens can give their candidates, while exempting Mike Madigan, John Cullerton, Christine Radogno, and Tom Cross from those same contribution limits. The ultimate in incumbency protection.

Give Springfield a few more years and we'll have a monarchy.

Tired of Tired Politicians?

2009-11-21T00:02:12-06:00

by Sam Pierce

Tired of following the lead of party establishment types who have likely been in their positions for way too long? Disgusted with the procession of career politicians being paraded as the "best chance for victory"? Had enough of the people that contributed to the budgetary, entitlement, and corruption mess that is the Illinois State government?

If you live in or near Clay County, IL, you can come to the Louisville Community Center to meet the gubernatorial candidate that offers a clean break from the tradition of the tired politician! The following is from fellow Tea Party organizer and concerned conservative citizen, Sally Henson:

GREAT NEWS!!!

Adam Andrzejewski is coming to Clay County next Monday November 23, 2009. He will be going to Louisville for a meet and greet for all people including businesses. This is such a great opportunity to ask Adam questions and dispel any myths or hesitations you might have in supporting him. He is the only true Outsider who is running for Governor AND I strongly believe he deserves downstate Illinois’ support.

Aren’t you tired of the status quo, business as usual, politicians? ME TOO.

Come and meet Adam Monday November 23, 2009 from about 3:30 PM to 5:00PM at the Community Center on the square in Louisville, IL.

Of course, Clay County is in the rural downstate region of Illinois that is frowned upon by some party hacks who turn their noses upward at the mere hint of political activism by those considered to be ignorant hicks, as BannedDaveBack, one of my biggest fans commented on Illinois Review last week:

Sam Pierce is a disgrace and has admitted he is a RINO. He only votes Republican when he likes the parties candidate.

He does not speak for people like me who work hard to elect Republicans and he comes from hick valley Illinois so he has no fundamental understanding of how demographics impact current Illinois

Yet, he likes to lose and some of us hating losing

support a loser Sammy Boy and do us a favor go protest an abortion clinic and sram

Of course, this sugary sweetness was in response to my piece in support of Patrick Hughes and such thoughts stir quite the emotional rage in supporters of "He Who Must Not Be Nominated" (aka Mark Kirk). Naturally, support for fresh candidates like Adam also illicits rage from some who prefer that things remain the same and that the same politicians continue to be recycled. Perhaps the umbrage of the party establishment is a good thing. Maybe it is time to stop giving the impression that there is no difference between the parties.

Hey, crazy idea! Consider supporting a candidate that does not fit the moldy old mold. How about supporting a candidate who will address the problems of the state instead of play the back-slapping political favor trading that seems to take up the time of those who have for far too long infested our capitol?

Fellow Illinoisans, what informs the belief that by doing the same thing election cycle after election cycle, the problems created by the politicians continually elected will be solved by the creators of the problems?

Cross-posted from "The Immoderate Blog"

Harry Reid's X-Files

2009-11-20T16:14:34-06:00

Members of Illinois Delegation Request National Security Council Briefing

2009-11-20T16:09:20-06:00

from Congressman Peter Roskam

Today, members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation joined Congressman Peter Roskam in sending a letter to President Barack Obama (see below) requesting a National Security Council (NSC) briefing, after one of the five Democrat Senate candidates, Alexi Giannoulias, disclosed that he received a NSC briefing in an interview this morning (see transcript below).

November 20, 2009

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

In the week since your Administration announced its plans to move terrorists to Thomson, Illinois, Members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation requested a briefing from the Department of Defense, called for security impact studies and sent two letters calling for additional information.

In light of today’s disclosure from Illinois State Treasurer and Democratic Senate Candidate Alexi Giannoulias that he has been briefed by National Security Council (NSC) officials on the plans to move al-Qaeda terrorists to Illinois, we are formally requesting a briefing from NSC officials in the interest of ensuring that the elected officials of the State of Illinois are provided the information needed to carry out their sworn duties for the people they represent.

Moving terrorists from Guantanamo to northern Illinois will have implications for the people of northern Illinois with respect to homeland security and lost economic opportunity. To ensure the people of Illinois are afforded the utmost consideration for their safety, it is important to have their federal elected representatives apprised of the details of this evolving situation.

Additionally, we urge you to eschew the increasingly political nature of this situation. Unfortunately, this deliberation has been tainted by the appearance of political favoritism given that one of the five prospective Democratic U.S. Senate candidates received a NSC briefing while elected Members of Congress have not. The people of Illinois will be best served by a process that forgoes the behind-closed-doors political approach and instead provides for open and transparent consideration.

Sincerely,


Peter Roskam
John Shimkus
Aaron Schock
Tim Johnson
Mark Kirk
Judy Biggert

Background:

“Most importantly I had a chance to talk to the National Security Council folks.” – Senate Candidate Alexi Giannoulias (WLS 890 AM’s “Don Wade and Roma Show”, 11/20/2009)

Listen to the full audio of the interview here.

(6:30 mark)

Roma: “Have you been briefed on this by the White House or since you are a state constitutional officer has Governor Quinn briefed you?

Giannoulias: “We’ve spoken to their offices, I’ve gotten some packets of paper, and I’ve read them. Most importantly I had a chance to talk to the National Security Council folks.”

(3:50 mark)

Giannoulias: “I’ve had a chance to talk to some folks on the National Security Council and they’ve told me that today, in this country federal prisons securely house approximately 350 inmates already including 35 already in Illinois and the U.S. military has demonstrated the ability to house those inmates, so I’ve heard some facts from them.”

Gingrich to Headline Hastert Fundraiser

2009-11-20T15:23:18-06:00

from Ethan Hastert for Congress campaign

GENEVA, IL – Ethan Hastert will welcome Newt Gingrich to the 14th Congressional District on Friday, December 11, 2009 for a fundraising event at Pheasant Run in St. Charles, IL, to benefit the Ethan Hastert for Congress Campaign. The breakfast event will begin at 8:00 a.m.

“I am proud to welcome Speaker Newt Gingrich to the 14th Congressional District. Newt Gingrich lead the Republican Revolution in 1994, resulting in the first Republican majority in 40 years, said Hastert. “As Speaker, Newt Gingrich insisted on a smaller, smarter government with lower taxes and less spending to ease burdens on taxpayers and produce unprecedented economic and private sector job growth. We need exactly that kind of fiscal discipline today.”

“In addition to Speaker Gingrich’s support, we have the support of an impressive host committee and hundreds of small donors from around the District. I am humbled by all the support my campaign is receiving,” said Hastert

“Ethan Hastert has earned my support and my admiration. He validates my firm belief that with principled young leaders, our legacy is safe. Ethan Hastert will fight to restore our conservative values and make our country worthy of the America we inherited,” said former Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Tickets for this annual event are $100 each and can be reserved by calling 630.752.9661 or emailing lisa@wagnerco.org.

Reid's bill contends for most bloated ever

2009-11-20T15:05:59-06:00

From Heritage Foundation

The People of Standish fight jihadists

2009-11-20T13:14:08-06:00

The folks in Standish Michigan are concerned about transferring Gitmo prisoners to their area, just as the people of Illinois are...despite what the liberal media and radical Democrats are trying to diminish with their pre-9-11 sarcasm.

Plainfield Township GOP endorses Andrzejewski

2009-11-20T12:50:08-06:00

From Garrett M. Peck: The Plainfield Township Republican Party officially endorsed the following for the February 2, 2010 GOP primary:

IL Governor--Adam Andrzejewski
US Congressional District 11 Adam Kinzinger and District 13 Judy Biggert
Will County Board District 5 -- John Argoudelis; Lee Goodson; Brian Smith

Will County Clerk -- Nancy Shultz Voots

Regional Superintendent of Schools -- Ron Pemble

Will County Treasurer -- Steve Weber

Attorney General -- Steve Kim

Secretary of State -- Robert Enriquez

Treasurer -- Dan Rutherford

State Representative 84th District -- Tom Cross

12th Judicial Circuit Judge -- Michael J. Powers

Southern Will County Republican Org endorses Proft

2009-11-20T12:41:14-06:00

from the Proft for Governor campaign

Last night the Southern Will County Republican Organization (SWCRO) which comprises six rural townships in Will County endorsed conservative Republican candidate Dan Proft for Governor.

“I want to thank SWCRO Chairman Bill Weidling and all of the Republican precinct committeemen from the SWCRO townships,” said Proft. “This endorsement sends the clear signal that our message of policy revolution plays just as well in southern Will as it does on the North Shore.”

The member township Republican organizations of SWCRO are: Jackson Township, Wilmington Township, Florence Township, Reed Township, Custer Township, and Wesley Township.

“This election is not about a person’s address; it is about their mindset,” added Proft. “Our economic opportunities are shrinking and our quality of life is deteriorating in both urban and rural communities, in big cities and small towns, upstate and downstate because Springfield politicians have consistently made the wrong policy choices.”

“The question facing Republican primary voters boils down to this: Will you be content with seeing the same faces pursue the same policies that serve only to manage the decline of our state or do you want to see policy revolution brought to state government?”

“By endorsing my candidacy, the Southern Will County GOP joined the Republican organizations of Schaumburg Township, New Trier Township and Niles Township in voting for policy revolution. I know this because I am the only candidate offering it.”

Gutierrez votes to increase everyone's banking fees

2009-11-20T10:30:00-06:00

The House Financial Services Committee voted Thursday to assess upfront fees on financial firms to pay for the failure of their peers and to require a sweeping congressional audit of the Federal Reserve.

"This amendment...will create a system going forward where we force the big-bank, Wall Street fat cats to pay [for] any mess they make," said Democrat Rep. Luis Gutierrez.

Looks like everyone's bank fees are going to be going up more in order to facilitate Mr. Gutierrez wealth redistribution.

Brady says he'd sell state assets

2009-11-20T10:15:00-06:00

GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady, told WBBM 780-AM that he "would consider selling the Illinois tollway to a private company if elected to the state's top post." Noted Brady, "I would look into it if it could be managed better for the taxpayers and the riders - and it is possible."

In the same interview, Brady criticized moves by Mayor Daley to sell off taxpayer assets for massive windfalls upfront, including a leasing of the Chicago Skyway, I-90.

So, which is it - a good idea or a bad one?

10 things you should know about Reid's plan

2009-11-20T10:13:38-06:00

From the RNC -- 10 things you should know about Senator Reid's government-run health care plan ...

View This Research Briefing At www.GOP.com:

1. $493 Billion In Tax Increases On Health Insurance, Medical Innovation, Payroll And Small Businesses Would Pay For The Bill. (Douglas W. Elmendorf, Letter To Senator Harry Reid, 11/18/09)

2. Americans Won't See Benefits Of This Health Care Experiment Until 2014, But They Start Paying For It In 2010.(Page 13, Douglas W. Elmendorf, Letter To Senator Harry Reid, 11/18/09)

3. Reid's Bill Allegedly Reduces The Deficit By $130 Billion In Ten Years, But The Obama-Reid-Pelosi Spending Agenda Produced Deficit Of $176 Billion Last Month Alone.(Table 3, Douglas W. Elmendorf, Letter To Senator Harry Reid, 11/18/09)

4. $465 Billion In Medicare And Medicaid Cuts Would Pay For Two New Unsustainable Entitlements.(Douglas W. Elmendorf, Letter To Senator Harry Reid, 11/18/09)

5. Health Care Costs For The Federal Government - And Your Family - Would Increase, Not Decrease. (Page 16, Douglas W. Elmendorf, Letter To Senator Harry Reid, 11/18/09)

6. A New Medicare Commission Of Unelected Bureaucrats Would Ration Care.(Sec. 3403, H.R. 3590, Amendment In The Nature Of A Substitute, "Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act," Introduced 11/18/09)

7. The "Doc Fix" Provision That Would Add $250 Billion To The Deficit Is Not Included In The Democrats' List Price For Their Health Care Experiment.(Page 17, Douglas W. Elmendorf, Letter To Senator Harry Reid, 11/18/09)

8. Taxpayer Dollars Would Fund Abortions.(Sec. 1303(a), H.R. 3590, Amendment In The Nature Of A Substitute, "Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act," Introduced 11/18/09)

9. A New Entitlement Program For Long-Term Care That One Democrat Senator Called "A Ponzi Scheme" Would Be Created.(Douglas W. Elmendorf, Letter To Senator Harry Reid, 11/18/09; Shailagh Murray & Lori Montgomery, "Centrists Unsure About Reid's Public Option," The Washington Post, 10/28/09)

10. States Burdened With $25 Billion In Unfunded Mandates From Medicaid That Would Force Them To Increase Taxes.(Page 7, Douglas W. Elmendorf, Letter To Senator Harry Reid, 11/18/09)

Tea Party documentary to be released Thanksgiving Day

2009-11-20T10:03:01-06:00

www.TeaPartyMovie.com --"Cinematic Sneak Peek" Live Webcast with Movie Producer Luke Livingston, FreedomWorks’ Hon. Dick Armey and Matt Kibbe -- 2PM ET - November 23, 2009

Quinn - again with the tax increase

2009-11-20T10:00:00-06:00

Speaking after an event in Aurora where he collected Mayor Tom Weisner's endorsement, Democrat Gov. Pat Quinn said again Thursday that a tax increase he proposed earlier in the year would be the best way to help solve the states budget problems.

Foster ranked #1 richest Illinois congressman

2009-11-20T09:50:00-06:00

Democrat U.S. Rep. Bill Foster likes to project himself as some average man. A poor scientist who can understand the struggles of the middle class.

Unfortunately, it's a lie.

According to Opensecrets.org, Foster is the richest congressman in Illinois, and 19th richest in all of Congress. His net worth is between $6.6 million and $28.8 million. More here.

Democrats and Greens embarrassed by anti-Semite member

2009-11-20T09:32:00-06:00

According to the Daily Herald, both the Green Party and the Democrat Party are working to remove Richard B. Mayers - an admitted anti-Semite - from the ballot in February. Not surprising that someone who once made a Nazi salute in a Lake County court would find a home with the Greens and the Dems. They both have a penchant for tyranny and national socialism.

Halvorson won't take position on Thomson prison sale

2009-11-20T09:31:34-06:00

With the 2010 election getting closer, Democrat U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson is trying to play both sides on the plan to sell Thomson prison to the feds in order to house terrorists from Gitmo. She told the Herald-Review that she "needs more information before she can decide whether she'll back the controversial proposal;" and "would need to see a plan before she can support it."

What a profile in courage.

Democrats: Buy Health Insurance we approve or go to jail

2009-11-20T08:56:38-06:00

by Mark Rhoads

President Obama, who was a mediocre and non-leadership state senator in Springfield, has labored to explain why its OK to throw people in jail if they don't buy health insurance the bureaucrats approve. He often points out that many states require people to buy auto collision insurance if they drive a car. He is right up to a point but the key words are "if they drive a car." Until now no state legislature or Congress has ever tried to force any citizen to buy any commercial service or product just because they are alive in the boundaries of the United States. How can this be constitutional? It is not. Let me share a short brief from a policy analyst and constitutonal scholar I have known for many years:

This year, the Congressional Research Service delicately said "it is a novel issue whether Congress may use the [commerce] Clause to require an individual to purchase a good or service." Congress has the constitutional power to "regulate commerce . . . among the several states." But a Federalist Society study by Peter Urbanowicz and Dennis Smith judges it perverse to exercise coercion under the commerce clause "on an individual who chooses not to undertake a commercial transaction." As Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) says, there is "a fundamental difference between regulating activities in which individuals choose to engage" -- e.g., drivers can be required to buy auto insurance -- "and requiring such activities" just because an individual exists.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) says Congress can tax -- i.e., punish -- people who do not buy health insurance because the Constitution empowers Congress to tax for "the general welfare." So, could Congress tax persons who do not exercise or eat their spinach? Hoyer again does not know what he is talking about. "The phrase "promote the general welfare" only appears in the preamble to the Constitution of 1787 and is not linked to the power of taxation in that document. And Hoyer is evading the question of coercion. They are not taxing to help the general welfare, they are so convinced their plan cannot work that they much use the threat of jail time to force private citizens to buy a commercial service the government approves. Why stop there? If a low cholesterol diet is good for you, how about throwing people in jail who purchase eggs in the grocery store? Or jail them for failing to buy Romaine lettuce instead of Iceberg? Big brother is telling you what to do in the brave new world of Obama, individual freedom be hanged. Like all elitie socialists, only Obama 'knows' what is best for you and if you do not agree, too bad, you're off to the slammer.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/18/AR2009111802697.html

Illinoisans disengaged in political process, study says

2009-11-20T08:02:58-06:00

The National Council on Citizenship found that in comparing the states of New Hampshire and Illinois, that Illinoisans are disengaging from the political process, now ranking 40th in the nation:

The Illinois Civic Health Index indicates that residents of the state are disappointed and disengaged. Recent political scandals and the economy have taken a toll. Only 15 percent of residents say they trust state government to do what is right most of the time. Possibly even more concerning is the finding that 77 percent of those aged 15 - 29 report declining interest or involvement in civic education.

It's scandal and corruption that's turning Illinois off to politics:

"Corruption in Illinois and Chicago politics has been a comic's one-liner for too long. This study clearly demonstrates that the toll it has taken on the health of our civic life and trust in our government is not funny," said Michael Weiser, who chairs the National Conference on Citizenship and who was a Chicago resident for 50 years.

More HERE and HERE, including a video of a Chicago conference where the situation was discussed.

2010

2009-11-20T05:00:00-06:00

Gay leather master could dominate state rep race

2009-11-19T18:21:03-06:00

As if you haven't heard it all yet, well, Illinois now has a Democrat gay leather master running for State Rep. From the Chicago Reader's "A Kink in the Campaign":

Laiacona, a part-time computer science teacher at Columbia College, is running as a reformer against the incumbent, Deborah Mell, daughter of powerful 33rd Ward alderman Richard Mell. With the help of veteran election lawyer Richard Means, Laiacona has filed a gutsy challenge to her nominating petition, alleging that she's not a registered voter at her current residence. That has election watchers buzzing, but it's not what makes him a historic candidate. And he's an openly gay man going toe-to-toe with an out lesbian for state office in a working-class northwest-side district—a first. But there's more: if elected, Laiacona would be the first known leather master to take office in Illinois.

Yes, a "leather master." And he's a columnist and an author...

Under the alias Jack Rinella, Laiacona writes a popular column called "Leather Views," which ran in Gay Chicago Magazine from 1992 to 2008 and can now be subscribed to by e-mail at LeatherViews.com. He's published seven books on sadomasochism, bondage, and role-playing, including The Master's Manual: A Handbook of Erotic Dominance (1994), Becoming a Slave: The Theory & Practice of Voluntary Servitude (2005), and Philosophy in the Dungeon: The Magic of Sex & Spirit (2006). His writing, along with his lecture and seminar schedule, has made him a leader in the kinky community and a sort of Ann Landers in leather, and he has been tapping this underground group for financial support in his campaign. Now some leaders in the fetish community worry Laiacona could sacrifice his role in their community in the process.

Illinois' non-existent congressional districts

2009-11-19T18:03:04-06:00

from Kristina Rasmussen, Illinois Policy Institute

Picking up on a story from ABC News about stimulus jobs created in phantom congressional districts, I sorted the Illinois job count spreadsheet from Recovery.gov by recipient congressional district, and I found jobs/awards reported for the following "districts":

District "0"
20th District
21st District
22nd District
28th District
33rd District
34th District
42nd District
44th District
53rd District
59th District

Or as Stephen Colbert would say, "the fightin' 59th." Too bad he wouldn't be able to "better know this district," because NONE OF THEM EXIST. Illinois has 19 congressional districts.

Illinois Unemployment: 11% and rising

2009-11-19T16:15:00-06:00

The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the state's unemployment rate is now 11%. That's up from 10.5%. The river of unemployed is rising.

Bambenek: An Open Letter to Senator Bill Brady on Real Reform

2009-11-19T15:50:00-06:00

by John Bambenek

Dear Senator Brady-

As someone who has promoted reform for the last few years, I'm pleased that the arrest of Rod Blagojevich has inspired you to accept term limits and promote reform. You know better than I do after 15 years in Springfield how badly the system is broken. A cynic could view your conversion on reform simply a ploy to boost your gubnatorial ambitions, but I prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt.

As you know, I am running the Putback Amendment campaign that brings real reform to Springfield and, among other things, would put in place term limits and three member districts.

On August 19th at Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair I had a pleasant conversation with your campaign manager, Dan Egler. I sent him a copy of the amendment via e-mail that I have a record of. I recall generously consuming margaritas from Judy Baar Topinka's campaign under my "If You're Buying, I'm Drinking" doctrine.

On September 15, I had a conversation with a PR firm for work for Putback and discovered they were working on your campaign. I told them about the amendment and the slogan I was using, "Putting the People Back In Charge" but they declined the work for lack of time. I got a Washington DC firm instead.

On September 22, you unveiled your reform plan of term limits and three member districts, interestingly enough, with the motto "Putting the People Back in Charge".

On October 14, you finally introduced legislation to enact term limits (SJCRA77), but not three member districts.

I wanted to point out a flaw in your amendment. You limit terms to 10 years in the same House or Senate district. That's an interesting construction because every 10 years redistricting occurs. They could simply renumber the districts and then they are magically in a new district. Its term limits without the limits and we all know how Springfield loves to exploit loopholes.

More importantly, we both know that your amendment is dead on arrival. While you could have gotten co-sponsors (you haven't), we know the legislative leaders will never let real reform come to the floor.

I wanted to offer you the opportunity to show leadership by supporting real reform. Not only does the Putback Amendment enact real enforceable term limits and three member districts, it ends the "shell bill" back room legislating that has relegated rank-and-file legislators to being mere "mushrooms" with no real role in the legislative process. You know how 7-day public viewing of legislation and 25 of 177 members being able to force an up-or-down vote on legislation would break the stranglehold Mike Madigan has on the Legislature.

I end gerrymandering by allowing full public participation and objective criteria in map-making. There are many other reforms, but I don't need to go over them again, you were the first gubnatorial candidate to see the full language.

The most important aspect is that we don't need to kiss the ring of Mike Madigan or Springfield power-brokers to get amendment on the ballot. If we get 500,000 signatures from voters, the amendment will be on the ballot.

I wanted to encourage you to show the leadership we know you have to bring reform that is achievable to the state.

I encourage you to support the Putback Amendment, like your competitor Adam Andrzejewski has as have other leaders across the political spectrum, left and right.

I await your call.

Sincerely,

John Bambenek

Hastert responds to false stimulus reports

2009-11-19T15:30:00-06:00

Geneva, IL – Ethan Hastert, candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 14th Congressional District, today issued the following statement regarding the false and misleading reports published by the government relating to the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act:

“The government reports touting the number of jobs created by the so-called stimulus bill raise serious questions about the effectiveness of the stimulus bill and the reliability of Congressional Democrats. Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats in Congress promised a new era of transparency and accountability in government. This promise turns out to be more rhetoric than reality. With the unemployment rate in Illinois at 11% and climbing, Illinois residents deserve better.

"Rather than provide transparency and accountability as promised, the Democrats in Washington have used the stimulus program to provide false and misleading information about the number of jobs the government has created. The conclusions to be drawn from this reporting scandal are not kind: either the Democrats are not competent to provide accurate information or they are not interested in doing so.

“Either way, the ill-fated cash-for-clunkers program and the so-called stimulus program raise serious questions about whether the government can be trusted to manage our health care."

RTA approves plan to rob the poor and give to the rich

2009-11-19T14:55:44-06:00

The Regional Transportation Authority today gave its approval to Democrat Gov. Quinn's plan to borrow $166 million to avert a CTA fare increase and continue to allow wealthy seniors to ride free. The plan allows the RTA to issue bonds to provide the CTA with $83 million in cash over the next two years. More here.

Another fine day in the financial hell-hole of Illinois.

Will bringing Gitmo to illinois bring 'home' the war on terror?

2009-11-19T14:40:19-06:00

by Fran Eaton

This week's Southtown Star column is about Gitmo, Thomson, Thanksgiving, Arlington National Cemetery and our 3 year old granddaughter Gabby, and how they all link.

"...When Gabby's daddy was on the other side of the world last Thanksgiving, he would say that he was there to keep danger over there, far away from his family and loved ones. That's what made the Fort Hood tragedy so bitter. Many soldiers deployed overseas rationalize their absence from home as the way to protect innocent civilians from enemies, foreign and domestic.

And how unbelievably ironic it is that after these brave representatives of our nation have been fighting overseas against religious zealots bent on destroying Western civilization, those most dangerous could be brought from Guantanamo Bay to America's safe Heartland. And that our state's leaders - Durbin and Quinn, as well as the president and commander in chief, would be seriously considering hosting cold-blooded enemies of our nation's welfare and security."

The link came to mind as we visited Arlington National Cemetery a few days ago. More here.

Brady Unveils Education Reform Package

2009-11-19T13:48:55-06:00

from the Brady for Governor campaign

Sen. Bill Brady, Republican Candidate for Governor, unveiled a comprehensive education reform package today to give parents a greater choice in their children’s education and to better prepare Illinois students for college educations and 21st Century vocations and careers.

“Just as Illinois is economically challenged today with jobs leaving the state, so are we educationally challenged by not giving our students greater opportunities to receive the best education possible,” said Brady. “We must give our students a better education so they are ready and able to become productive members of our workforce. We must innovate, build on success and eliminate barriers that serve the educational bureaucracy, not our students.”

Brady’s plan includes lifting the limit on charter schools, increasing tuition tax credits, empowering school boards and parents to enact voucher programs and giving high school students the opportunity to earn a community college associate’s degree before they graduate.

“We need to give local school districts, parents and students a greater voice in education,” said Brady. “We need to work to ensure the greatest chance for success for every Illinois school and every Illinois student.”

“My plan to reform education in Illinois starts with a clean break from the rigid educational structure of today with the elimination of the State Board of Education,” said Brady of Bloomington. “Doing so will give local school officials, teachers and parents a greater voice in the operation of their local schools.”

“I will restructure our educational bureaucracy by creating a streamlined, efficient and smaller department truly accountable to the Governor and thereby the people of Illinois. This downsized department under the Governor will administer the financial disbursement of resources, helping school districts in a way that will ensure more dollars go to the classroom and not to educational administration expense.”  

Brady’s plan for greater parental involvement and greater student achievement includes:

Eliminating the cap on charter schools in Illinois, allowing an unlimited number of charter schools to operate in Illinois at any given time. Doing away with the cap would also lift the geographic constraints currently imposed on charter schools. Current legislation limits the number of charter schools to 120 at one time -- 70 in Chicago, 45 for the rest of the state and 5 devoted to re-enrolled high school drop-outs.

Increasing tuition tax credits by 50 percent a year. As it stands now, an eligible Illinois household can receive a maximum $500 in education expense tax credits a year.

Empowering school boards by action or parents by referendum to open their school district to vouchers, allowing state tax dollars to follow the student. The voucher would be at a minimum level equal to the pupil state support of that school district.

Allowing every high school student in Illinois the opportunity to achieve in their high school years a two-year associate degree through cooperative efforts between the state’s 49 community college districts and regional offices of education. This would ensure students graduate with a better education and more prepared to pursue a higher education in a four-year institution or enter the workforce.

“For far too long, our state has fallen behind nationally and internationally,” said Brady. “We have graduated students, in many cases, with a subpar education and a lack of skills needed for the workplace today. We can accelerate our students’ chance at success with a program that integrates our secondary schools and our community colleges.”

Brady unveiled his plan at the Chicago International Charter School's West Belden Campus, a K-8th grade institution in Chicago’s Austin-Belmont Cragin neighborhood.

“West Belden is a shining example of the educational opportunities Illinois children need and deserve,” said Brady, the only candidate with business and legislative experience.

Brady also reiterated his support for preserving the home school system.  

“As Governor, I will continue to ensure that parents who decide to school their children at home remain independent of state oversight and free of any bureaucratic requirements,” said Brady. “I will do all I can to make Illinois the strongest supported home school state in the nation.”

Mitchell & Rosenthal support NRA effort to overturn Chicago gun ban

2009-11-19T12:56:00-06:00

Taylorville… State Representative Bill Mitchell (R-Forsyth) and Wayne Rosenthal, Republican candidate for State Representative in the 98th District, are supporting the National Rifle Association’s effort to overturn Chicago’s controversial gun ban.

Mitchell has signed onto an amicus curiae brief being presented to the United States Supreme Court in support of the view that the 2nd Amendment is a fundamental right for all Americans, regardless of the state in which they live. The Supreme Court is set to rule next year on McDonald v. Chicago, which challenges Chicago’s gun ban as a violation of the 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

“We are proud to support the NRA on this important issue,” Mitchell said. “The City of Chicago has basically said that the Bill of Rights does not apply to them. The Supreme Court needs to demonstrate clearly that the 2nd Amendment applies to all law-abiding citizens, regardless of whether they live in a big city or in small-town America.”

Wayne Rosenthal, a retired Brigadier General and avid hunter who established the Wild Rural Park Hunting and Fishing Preserve, is backing the NRA’s effort because he is a strong proponent of the 2nd Amendment.

“As a sportsman and NRA member, I will always support the rights of law-abiding gun owners,” Rosenthal said. “The people of the 98th District deserve a State Representative who will stand up to Chicago and protect our constitutional rights. We can’t let Chicago’s anti-gun agenda spread across our great state.”

Chicago’s long-standing ban on handguns has not led to a decrease in its crime rate. In 2008, Chicago had 509 homicides, an increase of about 15 percent over 2007. By comparison, 314 U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq in 2008. For the first seven months of 2009, Chicago had 258 homicides. July alone saw more than 200 shootings with 42 deaths.

“More Americans were killed in Chicago last year than in Iraq – that’s astounding to me,” said Mitchell. “How can that happen in a city that supposedly bans guns? Any reasonable person can see that Chicago’s gun ban has failed to prevent violent crime. The gun ban should be overturned and law-abiding citizens should be allowed to protect themselves.”

Earlier this year, Representative Mitchell passed House Bill 367 out of committee to the House floor. HB 367 creates the Family and Personal Protection Act and establishes statewide standards for the issuance of permits to carry concealed firearms in Illinois. Mitchell strongly believes that concealed carry would reduce crime in Illinois.

“If 48 other states can have responsible concealed carry laws, so can Illinois,” Mitchell said. People should have the right to defend themselves and their property from criminals. But the way our law is now, the criminals are the only ones with guns. That’s unacceptable to me.”

Rosenthal pledged that as State Representative, he would vote for concealed carry.

“We need more downstate legislators to get on board the effort to pass concealed carry,” Rosenthal said. “It’s proven effective at reducing crime in other states and it just makes sense to allow law-abiding citizens to protect themselves from violent criminals.”

Hare's hypocrisy exposed

2009-11-19T12:40:00-06:00

Bernard Schoenburg uncovered some hypocrisy on the part of U.S. Rep. Phil Hare. To be sure, regular hypocrisy is not surprising for a Democrat. Especially one from Illinois. But this one is worth noting.

It seems that while Philly boy was using his father's death (Democrats have no shame) to push socialized medicine in a speech on the floor of the U.S. House, his additional remarks in the written record "were ghostwritten in whole or in part" by drug-company lobbyists. No doubt, drug companies that have donated to Hare's campaign. Hare's floor speech is below:

Andrzejewski: I would sell the state fleet of luxury aircraft

2009-11-19T12:16:16-06:00

from Andrzejewski for Illinois campaign

Elmhurst, Illinois – In response to Channel 7 investigative reporter Chuck Goudie’s report last night concerning the cost of operating the state fleet of 16 aircraft, Republican candidate for Governor Adam Andrzejewski says he would ground the aircraft, and then sell the $22 million fleet with the exception of the two helicopters and specific planes used by the Illinois State Police. (Story Online at http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/iteam&id=7126679 )

Andrzejewski re-emphasized his plan to conduct a forensic audit of the state’s expenses. He pointed out that Channel 7’s report indicated that state employees are using the planes regularly at a cost of $3,000 per hour totaling $4 million per year.

“While the state wasn't paying social service providers, which in turn, forced them to lay off staff and cost the state jobs, these planes were flying,” he said. “Illinois is in a budget crisis, and our state leadership is needlessly spending tax payer dollars. How many more millions of unnecessary spending would a forensic audit of expenses reveal?”

Andrzejewski also made reference to a recent article in the Peoria Journal Star in which Governor Quinn was asked about Illinois’ $13.2 billion budget gap for fiscal year 2010 placing it among the top three in the country. The ranking came from The Pew Center on the States report which cited Illinois for a lack of fiscal discipline to balance the state budget. Quinn’s response was "I think we've done pretty well. We've stabilized the budget. We have a long way to go, but we're not California."

Andrzejewski recalled a conversation he had with senior GOP leaders at the United Republican Fund Anniversary Gala at the Hilton Chicago Hotel. “I mentioned to those at my table that I thought we should stop using the fleet so excessively and ground the planes. To my dismay, the leaders at my table were firmly resistant to the idea.”

As governor, part of Andrzejewski’s plan for reform will bring the top-down transparency mandate by executive order to open up the books in Springfield. His second executive order would be a forensic top-to-bottom audit of state spending. The estimated savings of such measures would be $3-$5 billion!

Bill Brady says Jim Ryan his only competiton

2009-11-19T12:10:00-06:00

In an interview with the Herald Review, GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady said that Jim Ryan "is really the only competition" he sees in the race. He also noted that Ryan's name ID "is good and bad" because "two people for every one think he was George"; and "Republican voters are smart enough to realize that Jim [Ryan] cannot disassociate himself from George."

As to his own plans if elected, Brady said he would "call for several ethics reforms, including instituting term limits on lawmakers and imposing campaign contribution limits on political party leaders," noting that "The poster child for (term limits) is (Speaker of the House Michael) Madigan. He's been in the House for 40 years and spent 30 years as the de facto governor."

Governor Quinn - Is That You?

2009-11-19T11:50:00-06:00

h/t: Illinois Reformer

Democrat Hare endorses terrorists in Illinois

2009-11-19T10:46:41-06:00

Democrat Rep. Phil Hare today endorsed the plan to house enemy terrorists at the Thomson prison. Noting that it would create jobs, Hare snipped at Republican critics - and presumably every Illinoisan who disagrees with him.

Now there's some Hare today that should be gone tomorrow.

On the Issues: 14th Congressional District - Jeff Danklefsen

2009-11-19T10:12:49-06:00

by John Brown's Ghost

Yesterday, we published part one of the interview with 14th Congressional Candidate, Jeff Danklefsen. Part one can be found here.

Today we publish part two, which completes this interview.

Ghost of John Brown (GJB): If you win the Republican Primary, you will most likely face Bill Foster. He does have a primary opponent, but his primary opponent doesn’t at least appear to be all that serious. Given that the Congressman has kept a really low profile, and is seen as a businessman and scientist, how would you distinguish yourself? How would you convince voters that you would be a better Congressman than Mr. Foster?

Jeff Danklefsen (JD): Bill Foster campaigned as an Independent that would look out for the Taxpayer. Instead he’s voted with Nancy Pelosi over 90% of the time. He’s part of the spending that’s contributed to the national debt and the stimulus spending he supported hasn’t resulted in economic growth. Those policies have failed.

Foster ran on his experience as a scientist and businessman. As a scientist he refuses to acknowledge or hear any evidence that refutes Global Warming and as a businessman he endorses legislation that inhibits economic growth and adds to the National Debt. He opposes the very principles that made him a successful businessman.

Bill Foster votes based on whether or not Nancy Pelosi’s needs his vote. I think we need a Congressman with gumption.

I would vote my conscience and my philosophy is entirely different. I believe in free market principles, small government, and personal responsibility.

GJB: The most intense issue over the late summer/fall has been health care reform. There have been dozens of ideas about how to fix our rising health care problems and costs. What specific measures would you take to improve health care?

JD: Just because healthcare is a problem doesn’t mean Government is the answer. The recent Edmunds.com study estimating each car sold under Cash for clunkers cost the taxpayers $24,000 and the recent rationing of flu vaccines says it all. Government cannot do what the private sector can successfully or on budget. Why would anyone want them to control their healthcare?

I don’t support any of the proposed bills. Healthcare can be made more affordable by creating a consumer driven market including mandate-free insurance which allows the consumer to purchase the plan they choose, promoting Health Savings Accounts which give the consumer greater control over their own healthcare decisions, litigation reform to reduce the amount of frivolous lawsuits, and portable insurance would allow consumers to move their policies from job to job.

By 2005 40 Million Americans were covered by Medicaid or SCHIP. We have been conditioned to think that we’re not responsible for our own care and the line will only get longer as our politicians continue to give it away.

The proposed healthcare bill discusses rationing and direct payroll deduction. It will encourage employers to dump employees to the Government plan. It will reduce the quality of care for everyone and place the control of our medical decisions in the hands of the government at a steep price. I don’t believe the Congress has any role in determining our health care.

GJB: One of the most critical issues this year has been the economy. The President and Congress have proposed and passed several measures to stimulate the economy. How effective do you think government spending and government intervention are in helping the economy? What role should the government take in affecting the economy?

JD: Their efforts have failed. We’re on a path towards bankruptcy and massive inflation. What we need is a balanced budget and any proposed spending should be qualified by its Constitutionality.
We have an economic crisis because so many took on debt they couldn’t afford and in return our Government has taken on trillions of dollars in debt we can’t afford. Add up the entitlement programs, the national debt, the interest on the debt, and the funds it takes to run government and it doesn’t add up. We can’t pay for all of these items at once. It has to be reigned in now.

We’re becoming a nanny state because of government giveaways. The Constitution doesn’t guarantee equal outcome. It guarantees equal opportunity. Congress’ powers are clearly defined. They’ve violated those powers and that’s the reason for our current economic woes.

I would propose suspending or lowering capital gains taxes immediately to encourage job growth.

GJB: And the proof is one of those things that you mentioned earlier; the Edmunds.com study on cash for clunkers, and when you are going to give $4,000-$5,000 of worth away and it effectively costs $24,000, that’s not very efficient.

JD: Well, when you look at that study, you wonder, was it twisted, but then you think that sounds like the government. The government has good intentions but they don’t have the know-how, necessarily, to get it done.

GJB: Part of the discussion of efforts to reform health care in the United States is tort reform. I think you mentioned a bit of that in your earlier response. What is your view of tort reform both in the area of health care and in general liability?

JD: I agree reform is needed to reduce the amount of frivolous lawsuits, but I don’t necessarily support caps. A blanket policy may not truly reward full damages.

GJB: US Attorney General Holder is pursuing an investigation of the CIA officials that might have been involved in torture. Should the Attorney General continue this effort or abandon it?

JD: First we have to define torture. Secondly it must be determined if torture was used. My thought is the Obama administration is grandstanding for political favor. So no, I don’t believe they should continue.

GJB: The President recently changed our position on establishing missile defense in Europe. Was this the right move or the wrong move?

JD: It’s the wrong move. It’s a sign of weakness. World leaders will test our resolve because of that choice and our allies will not trust us.

GJB: Recently, President Obama imposed a 35% tariff on tires from China. Was this the correct move?

JD: He did have to answer to his union supporters, and I don’t necessarily fault him for that.
I support a free market. That being said, China doesn’t play on the same field as we do. They don’t have the environmental or labor costs that American companies have.

I see it as an opportunity to try to get tire manufactures to come back to the United States by lowering the corporate tax rate.

GJB: What is your position on abortion? Should it be legal in any case, limit tri-mester abortions, limit all abortions, allow for rape & incest, or a variety of other options?

JD: I’m Pro-Life without exception. Even in the case of incest or rape, it’s still the life of an innocent soul. I think that says it all.

GJB: Last Question, recently, we had the election of a Congressman in the New York 23rd Congressional District. This race brought to the forefront the issue of a “big tent” Republican Party that welcomes moderate to liberal Republicans in the party despite their views or a more “pure” Republican party that seeks candidates that are solid on core principals and will fight for conservative issues. Where should the Republican Party be?

JD: I believe in a strong conservative party. The Republican Party should welcome anyone wanting to take part in it, but it is the core principles of small government, personal responsibility, strong national defense, and fiscal responsibility that define the Republican Party. The party should not alter those values.

We’ve been losing elections because our leaders have strayed away from those fundamentals. I want to be part of the group that restores the voter’s confidence in the Republican Party.

GJB: Well Jeff, thanks a lot for sitting down and going through some of these questions and letting the readers of Illinois Review get to know you a little bit better.

JD: Well, I really do appreciate the opportunity, and I had a great time.

And the GOP Primary ballot order is ...

2009-11-19T08:51:43-06:00

When you go to the polls February 2, 2010, and request a "Republican" ballot, here's the ballot order you'll see -- as determined by an Illinois State Board of Elections drawing earlier this week:

For US Senate, the GOP ballot starting at the top:

Donald (Don) Lowery
Mark Steven Kirk
Andy Martin
Kathleen Thomas
John Arrington
Patrick Hughes
Robert L. "Bob" Zadek (an objection pending)
Thomas (Tom) Kuna (an objection pending)

Next, Illinois Governor:

Kirk W. Dillard
Bill Brady
Robert J. "Bob" Schillerstrom
Adam Andrzejewski
Dan Proft
Jim Ryan
Andy McKenna

Then, Illinois Lieutenant Governor:

Don Tracy
Jason Plummer
Randy A. White, Sr.
Brad Cole
Matt Murphy
Dennis W. Cook

Thomson more complicated than Tribune perceives

2009-11-19T07:48:14-06:00

The Chicago Tribune conveyed yesterday that it's ridiculous to oppose transferring GITMO terrorists to Thomson, Illinois. How short-sighted and how ill-informed. It takes more than simply waiting to see what position Republicans are taking, and then side on the opposite to determine what's best for Illinois and America, and yes, the world.

It takes checking out what liberties and freedoms the Tribune takes for granted that will be deemed upon these hardened war criminals when they are brought onto American soil. Things are ridiculously upside-down in the Obama Era. As conservative blogger Brian Faughnan tweeted a "Tweet of the Day" concerning President Obama and AG Eric Holder's plans to try Khalid Sheikh Muhammad on American soil:

"Look on the bright side: Even if KSM is acquitted, they can always lock him up for failing to buy health insurance."

In a RedState.com piece entitled "Did KSM get his Miranda Rights"? Faughnan wrote:

Some months ago we learned that the Obama administration had begun to 'Mirandize' terrorists when they were taken into custody. Now that Khalid Sheikh Muhammad is headed for a trial, I wonder if his government-funded lawyers will argue that this new policy was a tacit admission that the rights of people like Muhammad had been infringed. If so, I expect we'll be treated to an excruciatingly painful argument from the government-funded lawyers that everything Muhammad said after he was arrested is tainted, and therefore inadmissible.

And the Chicago Tribune thinks it's ridiculous to oppose bringing GITMO terrorists to Thomson, Illinois? It's not all about the Tribune's opinion. Frankly, someone should inform them of their right to remain silent.

Obama says there might be too much debt. Do ya think?

2009-11-19T06:05:48-06:00

by Mark Rhoads

Say what you will about Barack Obama, he's got chutzpah when it comes to reversing himself in public. According to Reuters, he told Fox News of all news groups (Yup, they're speaking to each other again) yesterday that "It is important though to recognize if we keep on adding to the debt, even in the midst of this recovery, that at some point, people could lose confidence in the U.S. economy in a way that could actually lead to a double-dip recession," he said. Duh.

The problem is that Obama's credibility on debt reduction is just a tad shaky. For Obama to start a campaign against debt now after his first year of wild spending proposals is like Typhoid Mary starting a crusade against the desease she started. Obama and Pelosi and Reid are carriers of the plague of debt and now they want us to believe they will save us from the plague. Notice how Obama said, "even in the midst of this recovery?" Is he delusional? What recovery?

The unemployment rate is higher than it has been in thirty years with no sign of going back down any time soon. All the Obama baloney about how the stimulus has "created" jobs in fictional congressional districts s finally being exposed even by the Obama-worshiping MSM. Not just Fox News, but also CBS and ABC blew the whistle on the Rovery.gov website scam.

Robling: Sleep soundly

2009-11-18T21:29:01-06:00

by Chris Robling

If you view this and can sleep soundly tonight, congratulations. I think our A.G. comes off as a blithering doofus on the key security issue of our age. He sounds exactly like my law school classmates who had not done the homework. Sen. Graham's point is so elemental in Constitutional Criminal Procedure as to be first-week chit-chat.

Will the real Kirk Dillard please stand up?

2009-11-18T17:30:58-06:00

Genuflecting lower than Obama to a Japanese emperor, Republican gubernatorial candidate Kirk Dillard seemed to sycophantically and reflexively attempt to curry favor with Greg Hinz today by not-so-subtly agreeing that "conservatives" are the problem in Illinois politics -- or at least within the Illinois GOP.

From Hinz writing that "moderate" Dillard will need to "get past snapping conservatives in the primary," to Dillard criticizing "conservative" groaning about his vote for a series of sales-tax hikes for the CTA, each seemed quite comfortable acknowledging their shared enemy.

Perhaps not surprisingly, today's Dillard seemed a sharp contrast to the one who even Hinz acknowledged is increasingly "pound[ing] the podium and ratchet[ing] up his conservative bona fides." -- or should it be insincerity?

Will the real Kirk Dillard please stand up?

Robling: Whose reform? How?

2009-11-18T16:46:02-06:00

by Chris Robling

NOTE: This post of mine fell away in an editing attempt, and then turned up again -- so I re-post even though the topic is a bit out of sync right now.

The "CHANGE Illinois" coalition statement of principles is here. The Tribune, on Sunday, threw up its hands with Change Illinois here.

Some months ago, Change Illinois sought the endorsement of a group of which I am a member. Especially with the final blow-up, my memo to committee members opposing endorsement of Change Illinois airs arguments against such groups -- and places the reform question in an Illinois context.

(The text of the memo below below refers to the paragraphs in the statement of principles linked above.)

Dear all,

On Wednesday we will be asked to vote on the “CHANGE Coalition” principles statement. As a reformer with a vital interest in cleaning up Illinois politics, I will oppose the statement of principles. I ask you to join me.

Why? I write today to keep my Wednesday remarks brief. I have no dispute with paragraphs #1 – 3 or #6. My differences with the document begin with language in paragraph #4 and encompass all of paragraph #5.

Changing Illinois elections

I have no idea what CHANGE Coalition proposes to accomplish when it says, “We must change the way that we elect our officials and require that government serve the common good” or “We need a different set of rules, laws and expectations so that corruption and fraud in Illinois are not only prohibited but also are actually difficult to accomplish...”

The second part of the first of these statements seems self-evident, except insofar as it presupposes that Illinois government today is insufficiently required to serve the common good. That assertion implicates the Illinois Constitution that we said, last year, does not need to be re-written in a constitutional convention. Thus I think the assertion actually contradicts our recently adopted position, and we cannot recommend it to the Board.

The first part of that first statement is far too broad for me. As a former election commissioner, and the only Illinois Republican election administrator to support adoption of state enabling legislation to implement “motor voter,” perhaps I take the election code more seriously than do others. Like any other creature of mankind, it has its own beauty and its warts. But, at a purely practical level, it is a fairly good – though not great -- election code, with many subtle balances between formal sufficiency on the one hand and speech and associational rights on the other.

If the CHANGE coalition wants to re-write our election code, then I may support that. In fact, my point when motor voter passed in the early 1990s was it provided Illinois with an opportunity both to re-write our code to implement the new federal mandates and to correct some of its longstanding, less appealing aspects.

But to state flatly we “must change the way that we elect our officials,” and then leave that assertion dangling, to be fleshed out later, asks too much, for me at least. I do not think any of us know whence the CHANGE coalition will follow that construction. I do not think we should ask the Board to discern its meaning if we cannot.

By the way, if anyone ever is interested in revising our election code, the first place to start is with the people who give it life every morning when they go to work – the Illinois’ Clerks, Commissioners and directors of election from Cairo to Galena. In this light, it is interesting to me that not one Illinois election administrator is listed on the provided roster, let alone any of the election administrator organizations with members in Illinois.

Making corruption difficult

The next phrase, about making corruption both illegal and difficult, similarly overreaches. Everyone wants corruption – like all other forms of violent and non-violent criminal behavior – to go away. Every serious person also knows that it never will. Criminal behavior is as old as human behavior. It is a fixture on the behavioral landscape like love, generosity, scholarship, farming, family-raising, etc. It has always been and will always be one component of the totality of human activity.

It is for this reason that we take the time to make it illegal, as laws and customs against bribing public officials date from ancient Egypt, and have been uncovered in numerous aboriginal cultures around the world. (See: Bribes: The Intellectual History of a Moral Idea by John T. Noonan, Jr., now serving in senior status on the Ninth Circuit.)

What I think the statement was after in stating “difficult,” actually is “making corruption easier to detect.”

Of all criminal behavior, we generally only discuss detected criminal activity, since by definition we have a loose grasp on that which is undetected. We understand that criminality – especially pre-meditated, “white collar” crime -- subsists in a sense of undetectability. It is true in general that new perpetrators of official corruption believe, despite all of the investigations, arraignments, trials, convictions and sentences we have witnessed, that they will not be caught, or that they will go undetected.

Essentially, they see themselves as economic free riders on the cash-strapped and attention-challenged local federal and state prosecutors. Because there is perhaps as much sense of stretched resources in law enforcement, and particularly white collar law enforcement, as there is about alderpeople convicted of illicitly assisting real estate developers, a random officeholder in Anywhere, Illinois, decides at some point that she may get away with it, and so she crosses the line. (Isaac Ehrlich, an economist at the University of Chicago in the 1970s, did a considerable amount of work in anticipated punishment.)

On this theory (‘easier to detect’ iso ‘more difficult’), the phrase would tie well into paragraph #6 and the Coalition’s call for greater transparency. But what it says points in a different – and uncharted – direction, away from the sound verbiage of paragraph #6. What it portends -- to make official corruption more difficult – I do not think any of us can say. If we cannot say, I do not think we should recommend it to the Board.

Changing Illinois campaign finance

The center of my disagreement with the principles is paragraph #5.

There is much to be said about this, but for the moment I will rely for the most part on Bradley Smith, Esq., a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission, and his attached remarks to the Collins Commission. If you have time please read them carefully. He cites his 1996 article in the Yale Law Review, which I have read and which I think is one of the best treatments of the question of limiting political speech via campaign contributions and its effect on challengers.

What Illinois needs, my fellow members, is more challengers, more up-the-organization candidates, more wild-eyed reformers, more prayerful goo-goos, more ideological firebrands, more barn-burner delivering demagogues, and everyone else who may fill in the empty spaces between. From Mayor Daley all the way down to the most obscure county commissioner in Calhoun County – what we need in this state is more political speech – not less. We need political opposition. We need choices. We need the accountability that only choices can bring.

How many times have we put down a Kass column and said, “the only thing that’s missing from this scandal is political opposition.” Unfortunately, we have been right. What is worse, with these kind of limits, it will always be thus.

Paragraph #5 stands athwart our need for choices and says to us, “No. The incumbent will carry the advantage.”

Lack of contribution limits is not Illinois’ problem. Our problem is lack of character. Contribution limits do not replace character. On average they make it harder to dispatch incumbents. In turn that fosters precisely the wrong attitude, “I am here forever, so I can do what I want.” From there, in my experience, it is a short step to, “I will not be caught.”

If you read the Smith testimony you will also find a disturbing series of quotes from the Brennan Center for Justice at the prestigious New York University School of Law. It is important for each of us to understand that the Brennan center is home-page committed to public funding of elections, legislative, executive and judicial. It is supported in this by The Joyce Foundation, which is based here. In turn, The Joyce Foundation’s president, Ellen Alberding, is a steering committee member of the CHANGE Coalition. I do not know what disclosure Ms. Alberding has made of her foundation’s support of Brennan and its various “reports” to her fellow CHANGE Coalition Steering Committee members. But, precisely the speech limits advocated by the CHANGE Coalition in Paragraph #5 are those universally sought by public-finance supporters as a proximate step to their goal of taxpayer-supported campaign consultants.

As someone who for years supported myself as a campaign staffer and consultant, I can think of no less appealing concept than taxpayer support – and the inevitable control that comes with such support -- for people like me and my opposite numbers on the other side of the aisle. I was joined in this view by President Obama last year, who wrote his own chapter in the history of pledging adherence to a public funding regime, but deciding otherwise when the moment finally came.

Please understand that The Joyce Foundation, which performs many noble deeds in our area, is hardly alone in its desire for this. Many of the CHANGE Coalition’s backers are taking to heart White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel’s dictum, to “never let a crisis go to waste,” and thus pushing now for these speech limits in hopes of taxpayer-funded campaigns as a follow-on. Others are not, but by recommending paragraph #5 to the Board, we put our organization decidedly in the company of those who would prefer a public takeover of political speech in elections.

I oppose both the speech limits and taxpayer financed campaigns, now and later. I support reform in many forms – but this is not reform because it strengthens incumbents at the expense of political speech generally and opposition in particular, which is pretty much what got us here. I hope you will read former FEC Chairman Smith’s remarks and join me in opposition on Wednesday at our meeting.

Thanks for your time and consideration.

Best regards, regardless of outcome,

Chris

John Kass: Proft's past in Cicero not the usual path to revolution

2009-11-18T16:43:50-06:00

John Kass on Dan Proft HERE.

ObamaCare Could Come Up this Week

2009-11-18T16:15:37-06:00

from Penny Pullen's Life Advocacy Briefing

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid appears to be moving forward on the Obama Regime’s scheme to assume control of America’s medical care delivery system. He is reported, by Eagle Forum’s legislative director to “most likely have his Congressional Budget Office [fiscal impact] score today [Tuesday], unveil his bill tomorrow (Wednesday) and file cloture [his motion to proceed] as well. So,” she writes, “if [Sen.] Reid files cloture tomorrow, that will bring us to a Friday vote on the motion to proceed.” Thursday filing of cloture would “bring us to a Saturday vote. And if he waits until Friday to file cloture,” writes the Eagle Forum lobbyist, “that would bring us to a Sunday vote” this weekend.

CALLS ARE NEEDED NOW to Senators, urging that they “vote against the motion to proceed to the ‘healthcare’ bill.” Calls may be placed via the Capitol switchboard at 1-202/224-3121; electronic mail may be sent to individual Senators via the Senate’s Internet website at www.senate.gov.

Special attention should be given to Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), usually an advocate for the right to Life but now telling the media, according to a CNN report “he would be satisfied with [abortion-related] language approved by the Senate Finance Committee.” That language is insufficient, as it does not explicitly exclude the expenditure of federal taxpayer money for abortion. Senator Nelson’s position, notes CNN, “is apt to help Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), who is trying to cobble together a healthcare bill – which is full of policy minefields such as abortion – without losing the support of any Democrats, many of whom support abortion rights, while others, like Nelson, do not.”

The House-passed “healthcare” bill contains an explicit exclusion of abortion, thanks to a hard-won Hyde-like amendment offered by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) and Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA). Abortion industry lobbyists and their fellow travelers in Congress have vowed to strip Stupak/Pitts/Hyde out of the final bill or to so corrupt it as to make it ineffective. Rep. Nelson, unfortunately, is contributing to their effort and should be encouraged to stay with his pro-life commitment and accept nothing less than Hyde Amendment language.

Other Senators thought to be key to blocking consideration of the massive takeover scheme are Democratic Senators Blanche Lincoln & Mark Pryor (AR), Evan Bayh (IN), Mary Landrieu (LA), James Webb (VA); “Independent” Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman (CT); and GOP Senators Susan Collins & Olympia Snowe (ME), according to an alert from Eagle Forum’s Washington office.

Questions still swirl around CPS Board President's death

2009-11-18T14:00:27-06:00

The coroner's declaration that Chicago Board of Education President Michael Scott's sudden death early Monday morning has his friends doubting that Scott committed suicide. The Chicago Tribune talked to one willing to go on record:

"I don't believe Michael committed suicide, I'll tell you that," said Nelson Carlo, president of Carlo Steel Company. "He had a great family life, a great career, everything was going very smoothly for him."

And...

Investigators had not found a suicide note or determined the registration of the gun found near Scott's body, police spokesman Roderick Drew said. He said police divers were looking for evidence in the Chicago River, but would not elaborate except to say they were not searching for another weapon.

Scott did have several controversies facing him ...

Chicago Public Schools faces a federal grand jury investigation into allegations of politically influenced admissions to Chicago's nine selective-enrollment high schools. The district also has been working to cope with the September beating death of a student in the street, which was caught on a cell phone camera.

Scott was among a number of officials to be subpoenaed as part of the grand jury investigation. He also drew questions over the summer about his service to the Chicago 2016 Olympic Committee and his involvement with a group developing city-owned vacant lots near the site of a proposed Olympic venue.

Michelle Malkin, author of "Culture of Corruption," is also keeping an eye on the Scott investigation and others are keeping track of Scott's association to people within the White House.

Illinois College Republicans: Illinois needs more creative thinking

2009-11-18T13:54:07-06:00

from the Illinois College Republicans

CHARLESTON - The Illinois College Republican Federation calls on Illinois' leaders to take a step back as they deliberate bringing Gitmo terrorists to Illinois.

During hard times, it is natural to grasp at potential solutions; however, more often than not, this myopic thinking does more harm than good. The current recession has been tough on Illinois. Bringing over 200 Taliban and Al-Qaeda terrorists to Illinois is not a serious solution to our problems.

Prisons across the country and in Illinois are overcrowded; Illinois is currently expanding it's own prisons. While jobs will indeed be created, we must ask why these jobs must be created by moving Gitmo to Illinois.

Senator Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the United States Senate, should use his clout in Washington to bring in federal money to open Thomson to more Illinois prisoners; he could work to bring in federal prisoners. Instead, Durbin is jumping at the chance to house 200 Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters in Illinois.

At a time when people around the world and within the United States are plotting to strike again, housing 200 Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters within 2 hours of Chicago would serve only to make the city a more attractive target.

Pay no attention to the real crisis behind the curtain

2009-11-18T10:34:59-06:00

Despite double-digit unemployment, jobs fleeing the state, political corruption, and fiscal bankruptcy, Illinois' legislators have finally focused on a real crisis - school bus safety.