GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - March 17, 2008

SOUTHTOWN STAR
-- VERY VERY VERY SAD: Illinois GOP vulnerable to Obama effect: POLL: Obama-60, McCain-31 or Clinton-48, McCain-37 - Rich Miller
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/miller/845731,031708miller.article
(THE COMMENTARY: A new statewide poll confirms what most of us knew anyway. If Barack Obama is the Democratic presidential nominee, he will do a whole lot better in Illinois against Republican John McCain than would Hillary Clinton. But there's more to it than that. The SurveyUSA poll of 600 Illinois registered voters was released last week. It found Obama trouncing McCain in a hypothetical match-up, 60 to 31. Clinton, on the other hand, leads McCain by a far smaller margin and holds less than 50 percent, 48 to 37. The poll, conducted Feb. 29, found Obama has big leads with both men and women, while McCain would beat Clinton by 10 points among men (48 to 38). And Obama stomps McCain with independent voters 60 to 29, while Clinton has a slight lead, 39-36. In fact, according to the new poll, Obama wins every demographic except Republicans and conservatives, but his margins there are narrower than are Clinton's. Obama even wins the suburban collar counties against McCain by 20 points, 57 to 37, and he holds a 52-to-32 lead among downstate voters. Clinton trails McCain in the suburbs, 47 to 34, but does lead downstate, 49 to 42. Obama's margin in suburban Cook County, which will be the location of several state legislative showdowns this November, is far higher than Clinton's. Obama is up 60 to 32, while Clinton leads 51 to 32. The numbers clearly show why Illinois Republicans are so nervous that Obama might pull off a nomination win. McCain isn't doing particularly spectacular against either candidate, but the national Republican Party likely is to spend some money in Illinois if Clinton is the nominee. They'll likely abandon the state if Obama is at the top of the ticket, which could cost Republicans about a million dollars in national cash and could lead to some serious legislative blowouts in unexpected places. One top legislative Republican speculated last week that an Obama presidential campaign could cost the Illinois Senate Republicans at least two additional seats this fall. The House Republicans, who faced little opposition from the Democrats in 2006, likely would lose more. Republican congressional candidate Jim Oberweis' convincing loss in a suburban special election earlier this month also proves that in this environment, Republicans at the state legislative level - where name recognition is lower than the U.S. House - need to have strong candidates, and they need to work them hard and pray four or five times a day that Obama doesn't win the nomination and then cut ads for their Democratic foes. Oberweis was a disaster on just about every level, and few down-ballot Republicans are nearly that bad. But the Republicans need to recognize that every Republican in that district could be in danger come November when Oberweis runs again for the seat. Oberweis' November candidacy might very well pull down some of their down-ballot candidates. Add that to any Obama effect, and the Republicans have to be tearing out their hair right now.)
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Dillard v. Watson
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/miller/845731,031708miller.article
(THE RICH MILLER COMMENTARY: Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) last week said he is seriously considering resigning his unpaid leadership post with the Senate Republicans because he was "clearly misled" by Senate GOP leader Frank Watson. Dillard claims Watson promised to appoint him to recently retired state Sen. Todd Sieben's assistant minority leader slot. But that didn't happen. After Sieben retired, Sen. Dale Righter was appointed to the paid position. Righter, who has been serving as a sort of de facto floor leader for leadership during debates, had been the Senate Republicans' caucus chair, which also is an unpaid leadership job. Sen. Dale Risinger was then given Righter's old spot. Dillard said he would use the two-week spring break to decide whether he will continue as minority whip or step down from leadership altogether "since I believe I was misled." Dillard lost an election for the top Senate Republican Leadership job to Watson after Senate President Pate Philip decided not to continue leading the caucus when the Democrats took control of the chamber in 2003. Relations since have been somewhat tense between Dillard and Watson and weren't helped much when Dillard appeared in a TV ad for Obama's presidential campaign. With the Obama polling and Oberweis' candidacy problems, the last thing the Republicans need right now is another round of divisiveness. But that may be just what they get. The infamous Illinois Republican circular firing squad never seems to miss its target.)
-- 11th Congressional District: Republicans search for replacement candidate - Susan DeMar Lafferty
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/846173,031708baldermannfolo.article

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Dennis Byrne blasts "leaders" who are responsible for the Illinois Republican Party's (IRP) bad current condition, but does not name them. Does Byrne blame Tom Cross, Kirk Dillard, Jim Edgar, MaryAlice Erickson, Peter Fitzgerald, Dennis Hastert, Bob Kjellander, Andy McKenna, George Ryan, Jim Ryan, Jim Thompson, Judy Baar Topinka, Frank Watson, the IRP State Central Committee members with the heaviest weighted vote? Many of these leaders are orchestrating the IRP's quadrennial convention in Decatur on June 6-7.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-oped0317byrnemar17,0,1536037.story
(THE COMMENTARY: Illinois GOP's failures are so stunning that party must be rebuilt - Dennis Byrne Jim Oberweis perhaps should quit now as the Republican candidate in the 14th Congressional District -- former House Speaker Dennis Hastert's district -- before he sets some kind of record for most congressional elections lost in a single year. If Oberweis stays in the race and loses, it will be the fifth time in as many tries that he has failed to get elected to a major office. Oberweis' ego has embarrassed the party enough; another loss in November to Bill Foster, who beat Oberweis in the traditionally Republican district in the March 8 special election, likely will cement that seat firmly in the Democratic camp for many years. Then again, perhaps Oberweis shouldn't withdraw, since the likelihood is great that party officials would replace him with someone even worse. Someone such as Alan Keyes, the guy who party leaders brought in from the outside to run for U.S. senator after the primary's winner, Jack Ryan, was forced to withdraw when operatives in his own party outed him for allegedly taking his wife to sex clubs. That's old history, of course. The more recent history is the surprise that many suburban voters in the Cook County GOP primary got when they looked at their ballots and found a bunch of blank spaces because no Republican was running for county office, except for state's attorney (Tony Peraica). Some voters found no GOP legislative candidate or judge on their ballots. It has become so bad that Republicans couldn't even find the usual sacrificial lambs to maintain the pretense of the party's existence. Most amazingly, the moldering Republican Party hasn't leveraged to its advantage the fact the Democrats are almost exclusively responsible (exception, see below) for our corrupt, bungling and tax-sucking state and local governments. Todd Stroger, Rod Blagojevich, the Democratic-controlled House and Senate, the entire Cook County government. How many opportunities do Republicans need to be handed before they cash in on the totality of malfeasances, misfeasances and nonfeasances committed by Democrats? The problem, of course, is that too many "Republicans" have themselves cashed in by signing on to the various Democratic feasances. It's hard for Republicans to define themselves as the party of reform when many of the party's "leaders" are on their backs waiting for their tummies to be scratched by Democrats. No amount of rhetoric will convince reform-hungry voters -- I assume some exist -- that Republicans are serious until the corporate and civic bigwigs passionately and publicly cut their ties with the likes of Mayor Richard Daley. But wouldn't that be suicide? Isn't that the way we get things done around here? Yeah, sure. Just look and see how well everything is working. Governments mired in corruption that hits every taxpayer in the wallet. Governments confiscating more and more taxes to finance their buddy systems. Governments unable to efficiently provide basic services. Racking up record deficits. Dodging their creditors. Yes, you guys in the corporate and civic corner offices, this is a government that works. It's so wonderful, I'm sure you'd like to mimic it in your own operations. Obviously, it takes more than being not-Democrat to successfully run for office. Which is why Republicans have to begin finding a way to enunciate what they are for. Republicans have been at each other's throats for too long, for whatever reason. It's a cliche to say that Republicans have to stand for something, but it's true. Republicans here stand for nothing. The only passionate ideas are found in the nooks occupied by the ideologically pure, whose causes individually aren't enough to add up to a successful campaign. Republicans need to pick something they are fierce about. They can start by finding out what they agree on. But having ideas is no good unless you've got good candidates and an organization. E-mail correspondent Steven put it well: "I arrived recently in Illinois after 17 years in the Boston area. I was active, politically. The Illinois [Republican] Party is impenetrable to the newcomer . . . No reaching out; no organization; no desire. All of the worst that can befall a state party. This is a mess." It's time for the proven failures who are running the party to, if not step aside, then build a major league farm system. That means support the promising, bright and honest young candidates with money, organization and enthusiasm. Finally, it's time to recruit Democrats with a conscience into the Republican cause. These would be the Democrats who are fed up with corruption, higher taxes and waste. There are still a few Democrats around like that. Aren't there?)
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Associated Press demonizes employers for not hiring enough blind people. How many blind people does the Associated Press employ?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-blind-workmar17,0,6305199.story

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: BEYOND OUTRAGEOUS: Wright's church alleges that Wright "is being assassinated in the public sphere because he has preached a social gospel on behalf of oppressed women, children and men in America and around the globe." Pastor Otis Moss III speaks of "external forces" that want to "box us in and vilify us."
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/846305,CST-EDT-trinity17.article
-- Ferraro steps into growing racial divide in Democratic Party - Robert Novak
http://www.suntimes.com/news/novak/845873,CST-EDT-novak17.article
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD BUT NOT SURPRISING: It seems that Democrat Chicago Alderwoman Mary Ann Smith wants to ban elephants, the symbol of the Republican Party, from America. Smith complains about elephant abuse. Because no Republican would ever abuse an elephant, she must be complaining about Democrats.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/846034,CST-NWS-elephant17.article
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD, BUT NOT SURPRISING: Laura Berman, promoter of promiscuity, infidelity, and depravity, makes excuses for Spitzer
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/berman/846097,CST-FTR-berman17.article

BEACON NEWS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrat controlled Beacon News promotes Democrats, Kevin Burns, and Michael Kenyon
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/846210,2_1_AU17_KCTALK_S1.article

COURIER NEWS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD BUT NOT SURPRISING: Democrat Party controlled Courier News promotes Foster
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/846179,3_1_EL17_A3FOSTER_S1.article

DAILY HERALD
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Chuck Goudie decries "idiocy and meanness" in Carpentersville and Hinsdale
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=154829
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: McGowen asks Uttich: What political party do you think would most closely follow God's son's teachings? DIERSEN ANSWER: The Republican Party, because its platform discourages abortion, discourages homosexual activity, discourages race and gender based preference giving, discourages moral relativism, and discourages dependency on government. Outrageously, the anti-Christian Democrat Party platform all but argues that one gets into heaven by promoting abortion, by promoting homosexual activity, by promoting race and gender based preference giving, by promoting moral relativism, and by forcing others to pay higher taxes. Outrageously, the Democrat Party platform encourages surrender to anti-Christian terrorists who want to destroy America.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=154025&src=
(THE LETTER: Letter wasn't at all about political issues - Paula McGowen, Glen Ellyn I am writing to the Fence Post because I have been personally called to respond to the comments of a Martin Uttich from Carol Stream in his Fence Post letter, "Good question on DuPage turning blue," published in the Sunday March 9 Daily Herald. Uttich responded to my Fence Post contribution of Feb. 15. I had commented on quotes attributed to state Sen. Dan Cronin, an Elmhurst Republican and DuPage County GOP chairman, in a previous Daily Herald article by Jake Griffin, where Cronin had stated, "Why would anybody in DuPage County want to turn blue? Why in God's name would they want DuPage to look like Cook County or Springfield?" I had asked why Sen. Cronin had to bring God into this….using the Lord's name in vain. I never addressed any political issues that Martin Uttich brought out in his questions to me. So why, I must ask, is Martin Uttich asking me, "Why do you want DuPage blue? Is it because you want more taxes? Higher crime rates? More corruption? Why? I'm waiting?" Well, Mr. Uttich, please reread my comments, as I haven't advocated any of those things, but I do know right from wrong; wanting only what is right for DuPage County. But, Mr. Uttich, since you brought the subject of politics up, what political party do you think would most closely follow God's son's teachings?)
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: John Graham, who does not live in the 14th Congressional District, argues that Hastert should have endorsed Burns.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=153946&src=

ABC7
-- NOT SURPRISING: Obama's church angry over sermon controversy
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6024216 (Includes video clip)

ILLINOIS REVIEW
-- 6th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 14th, and 18th Congressional Districts: IL CD race updates - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/03/il-cd-race-upda.html
(THE ARTICLE: Word is that today 11th CD Republican chiefs are gathering to decide who will be their pick to replace the now-despised Tim Baldermann who backed out of the race shortly after winning the February 5th primary. The choices, we're told, are down to two potential self-funders, Monical's Pizza mogul Harry Bond and cement industry powerhouse Marty Ozinga. IR-touted Adam Kinzinger of Bloomington apparently isn't under consideration this time around -- currently in the military, he's not able to self-fund. Announcement is expected early next week. Whoever they pick will go against a Democratic all out effort to grab up the 11th with State Senator Debbie Halvorson, who's raking in cash from giddy Dems convinced the Obama tsunami will destroy any vulnerable Republicans not nailed down and left standing. And speaking of Congressional controversies, 8th CDers are unhappy today to see their Republican challenger Steve Greenberg tell the Daily Herald that he is more "moderate" than Bean's 2006 challenger David McSweeney. "David was way too far right for the district," Greenberg told the DH. "What people are looking for is someone who is right of center." Greenberg's comments line up with the reason he gave us in February for blowing off an offer to introduce him to our Illinois Review readers. "You know, they're trying to keep me in the middle of the road," he said. I told him its politically deadly in the middle of the road. He chuckled and that was all. Most stunning was that Mr. Greenberg and I had that conversation at a huge pro-life gathering, where he was asking for primary votes just a few days later. I never heard from Greenberg's media guy to arrange an interview . . . so, unless something dramatic changes, 8th CD voters will have to learn about their candidate through other dependable news sources -- you know, like the Daily Herald and the Tribune. As for Mark Kirk in the 10th and Jim Oberweis in the 14th? Locals are concerned about November in both districts. So concerned, in fact, there is now rumor that big bucks may be headed towards not only creating Democratic headaches for 6th CD freshman Congressman Peter Roskam, but also towards the 18th, where State Rep. Aaron Schock hopes to succeed retiring Cong. Ray LaHood. All bets are off right now, until things settle down everywhere and we all get a handle on how these races will actually fall into place. Stay tuned . . .)

NAPERVILLE SUN
-- VERY SAD: TERRORISTS OVERJOYED: Local interfaith service calls for an end to war - Paige Winfield
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/845988,6_1_NA17_IRAQ_S1.article
(FROM THE ARTICLE: At the service's conclusion, attendees signed a letter asking elected officials to bring the conflict to a responsible end. Other groups represented included the West Suburban Faith-Based Peace Coalition, Franciscans of the Western Suburbs, Pax Christi Servants and DuPage Against War Now. Last spring DAWN unsuccessfully tried in nine DuPage townships to have a question asking for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq to be placed on the November 2008 election ballot. The group was formed in 2002 in opposition to the war in Iraq. Karin Edwards, a professor of music at Wheaton College, accompanied service attendees on the piano as they sang songs centering on peace. A member of Lombard Mennonite Church, Edwards said the U.S. military had no right to invade Iraq, even to depose "a brutal dictator," referring to former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. "Why did we choose that one instead of going after the other ones in the world?" she said. "It was based on oil. Look how slow we were to get involved in the breakup of countries like Yugoslavia and Bosnia.")

CHAMPION NEWS
-- Defeat in the 14th: Beyond commentary and analysis and getting to the cure - John Biver
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=870
-- Republicans need to counter Democrat "data" misinformation - John Biver
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=868
-- Alaska GOP provides inspiration for Illinois GOP - John Biver
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=867

CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY
-- VERY SAD: Democrat Foster Who Captured Hastert’s Seat Rates Early Edge for Fall Race
http://cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002689369

AFP
-- VERY SAD: Democrats upbeat, eye bigger majority in US Congress
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i6TCUud__M15lFTgas9dsYcQkUng

POLITICS
-- Tom Delay: If I Had It To Do Over . . .
http://www.campaignsandelections.us/articles/index.cfm?ArticleID=70BABF22-AFAD-6FF9-62612EC89AD2CDCD

KANSAS CITY STAR
-- Ticket of Obama, Clinton seems truly far-fetched - David Broder
http://www.kansascity.com/273/story/534178.html

CBS NEWS
-- Romney Is McCain's Best VP Option - Fred Barnes
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/13/opinion/main3936762.shtml

NEWSMAX
-- Obama Attended Hate America Sermon - Ronald Kessler
http://newsmax.com/kessler/Obama_hat%20e_America_sermon/2008/03/16/80870.html?s=al&promo_code=9991-1

USA TODAY
-- Obama's Wright ties may be 'big problem,' some say - William M. Welch
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-03-16-obama_N.htm

CHICAGO DAILY OBSERVER
-- Sunday Hate U. S. and Whitey Sprees - All in God’s Name - Tom Roeser
http://cdobs.com/archive/our-columns/sunday-hate-u-s-and-whitey-sprees-all-in-gods-name874/

GEORGE KOCAN
-- Wheaton Hosts Revolution School - George Kocan
http://www.gopillinois.com/ (3/17/08 News Clips page)

NANCY J. THORNER
-- "Timing of Heritage Foundation event perfect"
http://www.gopillinois.com/ (3/17/08 News Clips page)

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- Negative campaigning has negative consequences - Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com/
(THE COMMENTARY: According to David Mark, negative campaigning includes the use of tactics, such as television and radio ads, mailings, and robo calls, that voters see as misleading, mean-spirited, or immoral. In 2004, after defeating John Borling, Andy McKenna, Jim Oberweis, Steve Rauschenberger, and others in the U.S. Senate primary, Jack Ryan withdrew. The reason he gave for withdrawing was that because so much attention had been drawn to the charges that his former wife had made against him, to defeat Obama, he would have to engage in negative campaigning, something that he would not do. When Hastert announced his retirement, your GOPUSA Illinois Editor, who is a member of the American Association of Political Consultants, joined with others in urging Lauzen and Oberweis to come to an agreement on which one of them would run to fill the vacancy. After it sadly became clear that no such agreement could be reached, I joined with others in urging Lauzen and Oberweis to not engage in negative campaigning. It is unclear who is harmed the most by negative campaigning -- the candidate who is the subject of it, the candidate who engages in it, politics in general, political parties, voters, democracy, or America. Negatives foisted on the winning candidate in a primary election are often foisted on that candidate during the general election. If to win a primary election, a candidate has to engage in negative campaigning that will bring defeat in the general election, it seems that candidate should not run. If one assumes that the candidate who is the subject of the most negative campaigning is harmed the most by it, then, that would help explain a) why Lauzen lost the February 5 primary election and b) why Oberweis lost the March 8 special election. Who encouraged Lauzen to go negative against Oberweis? Who encouraged Oberweis to go negative against Lauzen? Not that it matters, but who went negative first? Who benefited financially from the negative campaigning? Of course, I join with those who urge the Republicans who want to be our next Vice-President to not engage in negative campaigning against others who seek that position. If McCain selects Romney to be his running mate, negative campaigning against Romney will help elect Obama and/or Clinton on November 4.)