GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - May 29, 2008

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- KASS: While seeking a presidential pardon for the Republican Ryan, Thompson's firm is also representing the Democratic Gov. Rod "He's next" Blagojevich, who is under federal pressure. I've given Thompson credit for establishing the sleazy bipartisan combine that runs the state, and for helping to ruin the Republican Party.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kass-29-may29,0,3274602.column
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Promoters of homosexual activity score wins in New York and California
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-gay-marriage,0,1238682.story
-- Sorry, but Mrs. Obama's fair game - Jonah Goldberg
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-oped0529goldbergmay29,0,6064081.story
-- House Democrats: little chance of passing capital plan - Ray Long and Jeffrey Meitrodt
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2008/05/house-democrats.html
-- Governor optimistic on big plan Blagojevich pushes public works, but others seek exit - Ray Long and Jeffrey Meitrodt
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-legis-29may29,0,5709673.story
-- DuPage County Board freezes most members' salaries - Joseph Sjostrom
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-dusalaries_both_29may29,0,7572615.story

DAILY HERALD
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: The anti-conservative Daily Herald, anti-conservative George Ryan, anti-conservative Jim Thompson, and their supporters all blame all problems on conservatives and on conservatism. So it is puzzling that the Daily Herald says "George Ryan violated his public trust and wronged the people of Illinois he had promised to serve. To grant him special favors after all that would not only be unfair, it would invite the public's continued cynicism about our institutions of government." Maybe the Daily Herald is mad at George Ryan for getting caught and for causing so much bad publicity for anti-conservatives and for anti-conservatism.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=199157&src=
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DAILY HERALD HIGHLIGHTS DEMOCRATS' AND RINOS' BELIEF THAT CHILDREN ARE HOPELESSLY PROMISCUOUS: Wheaton Warrenville School District 200: Wheaton Republican Mark Stern speaks in favor of continuation of abstinence-only sex education for middle school students. Milton Township Democrat Party Chairman Alicia Fitz and contraception education advocate Karen Henk speak against it.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=199410&src=2
(FROM THE ARTICLE: "Hopefully most (students) will postpone sexual activity for many years, and a few will wait until marriage," read Henk's speech. "But the purpose of sex ed should be providing ALL of the tools necessary to help young people make responsible decisions." District 200 residents looking for a swift resolution will have to wait. The school board did not have an immediate response. However, school board President Andy Johnson did clarify that abstinence-only sexual education classes were not instituted by board policy. District staff in a separate interview on Wednesday clarified that abstinence-only sexual education is a federally funded program, but District 200 does not take any of those dollars. The current program has been in place for about four years now. Students receive further sexual education as part of their health curriculum once they get to high school. As in many parts of the country, the sex ed debate may inject a political element. Republican Mark Stern quickly rebutted Henk's comments, saying they were not in line with the beliefs of the District 200 community as a whole. Meanwhile, Democrat Alicia Fitz, who was also in attendance, said Henk's comments have wide support.)
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD BUT NOT SURPRISING: Race based politics promoter Rueben Navarrette supports Obama's attacks on Dobbs and Limbaugh
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=199152
-- Lawmakers racing the clock on budget - John Patterson
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=199310&src=109
-- Bob Biggins arrested on DUI charge in Springfield - Amber Krosel
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=199299
(FROM THE ARTICLE: "I made a serious lapse in judgment and sincerely apologize to my family and those I represent who may be disappointed today," Biggins said in a statement provided to the Daily Herald. "I take full responsibility for my actions and will face any and all legal consequences.")
-- Chaplin v. Rathje: State: Hand over supply receipts Water agency board member takes tiff over office supplies to attorney general's office - Jake Griffin
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=199211&src=2
-- Former COD chief steps back in for the interim McAninch returns to president's office - Catherine Edman
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=199290&src=2
-- Illegal immigration is costly for country - Nancy J. Thorner, Lake Bluff
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=198174&src
-- The danger posed by drug companies - Jim Peterson, Hoffman Estates
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=198634&src=
-- Same-sex rulings raw judicial fiat - Jim and Phyllis Finnegan, Barrington
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=198635&src=

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: The anti-conservative Chicago Sun-Times, anti-conservative George Ryan, anti-conservative Jim Thompson, and their supporters all blame all problems on conservatives and on conservatism. So it is puzzling that the Chicago Sun-Times says "Ryan doesn't deserve a get-out-of-jail card." Maybe the Chicago Sun-Times is mad at George Ryan for getting caught and for causing so much bad publicity for anti-conservatives and for anti-conservatism.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/977057,CST-EDT-edit29.article

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- Pension reform bill advances to full House - Meagan Sexton
http://www.sj-r.com/news/x1353502221/Pension-reform-bill-advances-to-full-House
-- Bush once sought Ryan’s help; it’s a lot different now - Bernard Schoenburg
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x65833310/Bernard-Schoenburg-Bush-once-sought-Ryan-s-help-it-s-a-lot-different-now
-- Prospects for Illinois Works are dim - Editorial
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x2031258155/Our-Opinion-Prospects-for-Illinois-Works-are-dim

CBS2
-- The Price Of Pampering At The Conventions? $500K
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/political.conventions.price.2.735075.html

CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS
-- Auditor chides guv’s budget office for ‘poor example’ - AP
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=29611
-- Lawmakers hustle to craft spending plan - AP
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=29610

PIONEER PRESS
-- Mike Sweeney to lead Elk Grove GOP - Josh Singer and Kimberly Fornek
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/arlingtonheights/news/975881,ah-sweeney-052908-s1.article

BEACON NEWS
-- Birkett should now see there's no sure thing - Jeff Ward
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/opinions/973169,2_4_AU28_WARD_S1.article

NAPERVILLE SUN
-- College of DuPage president's contract terminated Trustees say removing Chand early was a mutual decision - Paige Winfield
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/976405,6_1_NA29_COD_S1.article
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Chand's departure came about as a "mutual agreement" he made with the college, board Chairman Mike McKinnon said in a written statement. David Carlin, another trustee on the eight-member board, also said the removal was a joint decision between Chand and the board. "Over the last couple months we've had discussions on different things," Carlin said. "It kind of played out as we were discussing things." The announcement came five days after a May 22 meeting during which the board conducted Chand's annual performance review. Carlin and McKinnon reportedly had a rocky relationship with Chand in recent months as they negotiated a $90,000 contract with Res Publica Group - a Chicago-based public relations firm. While Carlin declined to give specifics about any factors contributing to the decision, former board member Jan Herron said the announcement doesn't surprise her, based on the way the board leadership operated during her own tenure.)

REPUBLICANS FOR FAIR MEDIA
-- Obama, Dems, Media, In Denial: Wright and "Bitter" Flap Did Have Impact On White Voters - Daniel T. Zanoza
http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2008/05/obama-dems.html

GOPUSA
-- Are Religious Conservatives And The GOP Headed For Divorce? - Deal W. Hudson
http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/guest/2008/dwh_05281.shtml

POLITICO
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: RACE BASED POLITICS IS EXTREMELY DIVISIVE: What types of enhanced preferential treatment will Democrats promise Native Americans to get their vote?
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10676.html

TOWNHALL
-- Rachael Ray, Dunkin' Donuts and the Keffiyeh Kerfuffle - Michelle Malkin
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/MichelleMalkin/2008/05/28/rachael_ray,_dunkin_donuts_and_the_keffiyeh_kerfuffle

ACCURACY IN MEDIA
-- Journalist Sympathizes With Illegal Immigrants - Bethany Stotts
http://www.aim.org/aim-column/journalist-sympathizes-with-illegal-immigrants/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
-- Obama's Revisionist History - Karl Rove
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121201747075327643.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

WASHINGTON POST
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: "Deeply flawed" Ben Pershing says that Oberweis is "deeply flawed"
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2008/05/follow_the_leaders_out_the_doo.html?hpid=news-col-blog
-- In Rebuking Minister, McCain May Have Alienated Evangelicals - Kimberly Kindy
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/28/AR2008052803037.html

USA TODAY
-- Obama: A uniter or a fraud? Whether Obama would give America 'change we can believe in' is not knowable. But Bob Beckel and Cal Thomas believe one thing is certain: If he hopes to have a consequential presidency, bipartisanship provides the surest path.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20080529/commonlede.art.htm

NEWS BUSTERS
-- What Happens When the Ex-Press Secretary Doesn’t Trash His Boss - Rich Noles
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/rich-noyes/2008/05/28/what-happens-when-ex-press-secretary-doesn-t-trash-his-boss
(FROM THE ARTICLE: LAUER: "I can't let you go without asking about Jeff Gannon who's the reporter, the Washington bureau chief for Talon News, found out now that he had an alias. That of course he was asking some very easy questions of the administration. When you were the press secretary, you stopped going to him for questions. Why did you do that and are you surprised they went back to him after you left?" FLEISCHER: "Well I stopped calling on him because I heard he worked for something called GOPUSA. And my line in the sand is that if you work for a political party or candidate you're not a reporter but I was assured that GOPUSA, despite its name, was not a part of the party. His editor called me to tell me that and I confirmed it with the Republican National Committee." LAUER: "Were you surprised that the, the current press secretary went back to calling on him?" FLEISCHER: "Well I do think that there is a slippery slope if government officials stop calling on reporters based on ideology. Because that room is home to a lot of colorful characters left and right. And I used to call them mainstream reporters first and then I tried to get to the colorful characters at the very end. 'Cause they too are entitled to questions and the government should not pick and choose reporters on the basis of ideology.")

ANDY MARTIN
-- Andy Martin sets hearing in Illinois GOP 'Rigged Convention' lawsuit
http://www.pr-inside.com/corruption-fighter-andy-martin-sets-hearing-r613240.htm

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- OUTSTANDING: Birkett, Eckhoff, King, McBride, and Olson join Fortner, Henry, Suess, Claar, and Carlin in sponsoring the Chicago Highlanders in Wheaton's 2008 Independence Day parade; all but $250 of the $1,300 cost has already been pledged - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
(THE ARTICLE: Outstandingly, last year, Republicans Mary Jo Arndt, Alan Bolds, Fred Bucholz, Dave Carlin, Roger Claar, Franco Coladipietro, Mike Connelly, Paul Daniels, Kirk Dillard, Bob Earl, DuPage Young Republicans, Jim Flickinger, Mike Formento, Mike Fortner, GOPUSA ILLINOIS, Mike Gresk, Gwen Henry, Randy Hultgren, Bob Jacobsen, Chris Kachiroubas, Gary King, Mark Kmiecik, Bob Larsen, J.R. McBride, Debra Olson, Mike Prueter, Peter Roskam, Darlene Ruscitti, Leonard Sanchez, Ron Smith, Phil Suess, and Tim Whelan contributed a total of $3,300 to sponsor Big Queenie the elephant ($2,000) and the Chicago Highlanders ($1,300) in Wheaton's 2007 Independence Day parade. On Saturday, May 24, I asked them to consider again sponsoring the Chicago Highlanders in Wheaton's 2008 Independence Day parade. Outstandingly, already, Birkett has pledged $100, Eckhoff $50, King $100, McBride $50, Olson $50, Henry $150, Fortner $100, Suess $150, Carlin $50, and Claar $250.)
-- Gresk and Olson speak at outstanding Muehlfelt fundraiser Over 100 attendees include Bond, Bucholz, Carlson, Connelly, Crane, Dickson, Earl, Eckhoff, Edwards, Falbo, Fawell, Flickinger, Formento, Gilgis, Heidorn, Jacobsen, Keim, King, Larsen, McBride, Mitroff, Murphy, Rathje, and Smith - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
(THE ARTICLE: Wheaton Mayor Mike Gresk and DuPage County District 4 Board Member Debra Olson spoke at an outstanding fundraiser for Milton Township Highway Commissioner Gary Muehlfelt Wednesday evening at Manhattan's Bar & Grill in Carol Stream. The over 100 attendees included Pat Bond, Fred Bucholz, Lori Carlson, Tina Connelly, Lynn Crane, Mary Dickson, Bob Earl, Grant Eckhoff, Chris Edwards, Sal Falbo, Blanch & Jeff Fawell, Jim Flickinger, Mike Formento, Kyle Gilgis, Chris Heidorn, Bob Jacobsen, Joe Keim, Gary King, Bob Larsen, J.R. McBride, Pam Mitroff, Barb Murphy, Louis Rathje, and Ron Smith. Sponsors included Bond, Dickson & Assoc, Mr. & Mrs. Henry Dreisilker, Rick & Kyle Gilgis, Mr. & Mrs. Bob Jacobsen, Joe & Helen Keim, J.R. McBride, Barb Murphy, and Hank & Lucy Stillwell.)