GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - July 6, 2008

DIERSEN QUESTION: If McCain had walked Wheaton's 2008 Independence Day parade like Dole walked it in 1996, what would have been the similarities, the differences? CNN's live broadcast of Dole's speech immediately after the parade included me camcording the outstanding event.

CNN
-- JULY 4, 1996 FLASHBACK: No Rain On Dole's July Fourth Parade - Candy Crowley
http://www-cgi.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/news/9607/04/dole.crowley/
(THE ARTICLE: WHEATON, Illinois (July 4) -- One mile of adulation and enthusiasm, and fireworks of the non-political sort were just what the doctor -- make that campaign advisors -- ordered (or should have anyway) for Bob Dole. "This is like going to Russell, Kansas," Dole quipped. July Fourth in Wheaton, Illinois certainly seemed like a tonic for the candidate who needed something after being beaten up over the tobacco issue. There was no rain on this parade. In fact, even a ray of political hope emerged in the form of Henry Hyde, the Illinois congressman in charge of working out the abortion platform problem at the Republican convention. "I'm telling you that it's going to be worked out," a casually dressed Hyde said. "It is almost worked out and we won't have a problem." As for the candidate, he was happy to bask in a controversy-free day, pushing the already-committed in this Republican stronghold. "The future of America is in your hands, and you will make important decisions -- the choice you make November 5, 1996 will be Bob Dole for president, Bob Dole for president, Bob Dole for president!" Still, this was the Fourth of July and this was a political speech. So a small poke at the Clinton White House was expected and delivered: "A nation, in Abraham Lincoln's words, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. I've been wanting to talk to Lincoln but all the lines are tied up." Friday, Dole meets again with his vice presidential search team. A lot of parade watchers thought Dole's parade companion, Illinois' popular GOP Gov. Jim Edgar, was a pretty good looking team. He's an oft-mentioned vice presidential possibility, and another photo in a photo-friendly day. It was a Norman Rockwell, main street, middle America kind of fourth. Enough to provide a respite, but probably not an end, to the tobacco controversy which has dragged on the Dole campaign on the first, second and third.)

NEW YORK TIMES
-- JULY 4, 1996 FLASHBACK: For Dole, Upbeat Crowd on a Spirited Day in Wheaton, Illinois - Adam Nagourney
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0CE5DB1039F936A35754C0A960958260
(THE ARTICLE: Clutching a tiny American flag, Bob Dole marched briskly down Main Street here today, celebrating the Fourth of July in one of the most Republican communities in the nation with a parade of screaming fire engines, marching bands and grizzled contingents of other surviving veterans of the nation's wars. It was one of the best receptions Mr. Dole has seen in his race for President. People from this community, 30 miles west of Chicago, lined the streets, three-deep on some corners, and shouted in excitement at the sight of him ambling down the street in a loose clutch of politicians and tieless Secret Service agents. And Mr. Dole responded by grabbing at outstretched hands across the route, pausing for seemingly every baby in a carriage or anyone in a wheelchair who caught his eye. We're going to make it!" he announced to no one in particular, referring to his election about a third of the way through the 1.3-mile route, which he completed in 48 minutes. "Wipe him out!" From the march, Mr. Dole headed for an outdoor arena to deliver a Fourth of July address that was a largely nonpartisan tribute to patriotism. "I would tell this audience here today, there is no place like America," Mr. Dole said. "This is America. Right here today is America. July 4th is America. This is America." Standing in front of a huge American flag at a rally that ended with fireworks from the stage, Mr. Dole paid tribute to the 19 servicemen killed in last week's terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia, and he called for those responsible to be executed. "We do not know exactly who was responsible for this latest outrage -- the long list of suspects makes clear that there is no shortage of those willing to attack innocent people," he said. "But together as a nation, we resolve that the murderers will be captured and brought to justice." In choosing this community, Mr. Dole came to a place that steeps itself in the traditions of the holiday, from this morning's parade to the barbecue later in the backyard of a supporter who, on a whim, had invited Mr. Dole to stop by. More important, Wheaton is so overwhelmingly Republican that the candidate was assured a friendly reception, in a state that President Clinton won last time and in which polls show Mr. Dole struggling this time. The onlookers at the parade swarmed as soon as they caught sight of Mr. Dole -- wearing a summer-weight light-blue jacket, blue shirt, chinos and tassled burgundy loafers -- coming around East Hawthorne Boulevard. Mr. Dole usually places a pen in his right hand, which was left limp by a war injury, to ward off those who want to shake it. Today the pen was replaced by the flag. "Save us from Bubba!" Bob Pietrzyk, 39, a banker, called out, in a reference to Mr. Clinton. Mr. Dole stopped when he spotted 15-month-old twins, Brian and Patrick Smith. Brian had food on his chin. "Look at that," Mr. Dole said as photographers snapped away. But even in this largely friendly setting, there were discouraging words. Panos and Anne Frentzos joined in yelling greetings to Mr. Dole, but after he passed, they observed loudly that he had not the slightest chance of winning. "People are more confident with Clinton right now," Mr. Frentzos said. There was also the occasional Democrat along the parade route. Peter Karpf, 41, a contractor, allowed that Mr. Dole "looks much healthier than I thought." Mr. Karpf said that he, too, thought "his campaign is dead in the water -- isn't' it? No offense." And there was Butt Man, a Democratic Party worker costumed as a cigarette to remind everyone of Mr. Dole's ties to the tobacco industry and, perhaps, to goad Mr. Dole into an ill-considered reaction. Today, though, even Butt Man seemed to catch the spirit, breaking into a dance nearby as Mr. Dole took the stage to a pounding, soulful version of the song, "I'll Take You There.")
-- JULY 4, 1996 FLASHBACK: "Butt Man rode on the Democratic Party's float at the Independence Day parade in Wheaton, Ill., yesterday while Mr. Dole walked the two-mile parade route in the town, which has long been considered a Republican stronghold."
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE7DB1039F936A35754C0A960958260
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Outrageously, Democrats demonize those who oppose illegal immigration as being selfish, intolerant, bigoted, racist, and worse. Businesses that employ illegals can and do drive their law abiding competitors out of business. Businesses that break the law by employing illegals are more likely to break other laws. The Democrat Party platform promotes illegal immigration. The Republican Party platform opposes illegal immigration. Candidates who want to promote illegal immigration should run as Democrats and candidates who want to oppose illegal immigration should run as Republicans. Outrageously, businesses that employ illegals have gotten Democrat candidates, elected officials, and party leaders to oppose tougher sanctions for employing illegals. Outrageously, those businesses are pressuring Republican candidates, elected officials, and party leaders to similarly oppose tougher sanctions. Tragically, little is heard from Illinois Republican candidates, elected officials, and party leaders about imposing tougher sanctions on businesses for employing illegals. Tragically, that a) discourages those who oppose illegal immigration from helping elect Republicans and b) helps elect Democrats.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/us/06employer.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Major article on Rush Limbaugh
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/magazine/06Limbaugh-t.html

REUTERS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Obama encounters a problem in friendly Butte Montana in 2008 that Bob Dole did not encounter in friendly Wheaton Illinois in 1996. Obama says: "This is the first parade where I haven't walked. The problem is if we start walking the Secret Service was going to have everybody put their hands up the whole parade route."
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSGOR57264020080705
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Obama and his family sat in bleachers and watched passing floats and trucks for about an hour in the broiling sun. He apologized for not walking in the parade, a tradition for most U.S. politicians, and blamed his Secret Service protection. "This is the first parade where I haven't walked. The problem is if we start walking the Secret Service was going to have everybody put their hands up the whole parade route," he said. "We decided that wasn't gonna be much fun for everybody." Obama later walked along the parade route for about 25 minutes anyway, shaking hands, holding babies -- at one point he took two at a time -- and wishing supporters a happy 4th of July. "Can't wait for the inaugural parade," Linda Beischel of Helena, who drove to Butte to see Obama, told the Illinois senator.)

MERCURY NEWS
-- McCain can end doubts on immigration stance - Ruben Navarrette Jr.
http://www.mercurynews.com/elections/ci_9800275

SOUTHTOWN STAR
-- OUTSTANDING: Bloggers react to last week's Blagojevich the horse column by Kristen McQueary - Rich Miller
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/miller/1039540,070608capitolfaxblog.article

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- Bernard Schoenburg: 18th Congressional District draws high-level attention, Rod McCulloch sentenced, Steve Brown blasts Blagojevich
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x223003040/18th-Congressional-District-draws-high-level-attention
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Doug Finke on the upcoming special session
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x2113792144/Statehouse-Insider-July-6

SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN
-- The 2010 governor's race is just as hot as the presidential one - Kurt Erickson
http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2008/07/05/opinions/guest_columns/24995443.txt

COURIER NEWS
-- Groups pushing for 'yes' in 2010 Constitutional Convention - David Gialanella
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/1041837,3_1_EL06_A1CONCON_S1.article
-- Kane County election judges to get raise - Steve Lord
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/1041720,3_1_EL06_A3CLERKS_S1.article
-- McCain's claim to be underdog may be understatement - Liz Sidoti
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/1041830,3_1_EL06_A7MCCAIN_S1.article

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: "Paul M. Howey" outrageously blasts the Pledge of Allegiance and outrageously argues that it should be retired
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-oped0704pledgejul06,0,2987262.story
(DIERSEN: "Paul M. Howey" outrageously blasts the Pledge of Allegiance and outrageously argues that it should be retired, and if not that, America should consider "finding a meaningful replacement." I am sure that many Democrats would consider the following to be a "meaningful replacement:" I pledge allegiance to the Democrat Party and to the anti-American anti-religious platform for which it stands, a platform that promotes appeasement, socialism, abortion, homosexual activity, race and gender based preference giving, illegal immigration, and worse.)
-- When outsiders look in on black America - Rex W. Huppke
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-obama-race-perspective,0,778860.story
-- Will Michelle Obama unite nation's feminists? - Amanda Erickson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama-black_feminism_bdjul06,0,1680281.story
-- Limbaugh goes against grain, again - Phil Rosenthal
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-sun-rosenthal-6jul06,0,2130892.column

DAILY HERALD
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Democrats have success in demoralizing Americans
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=215020
-- Stroger administration hunkers down against press - Rob Olmstead
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=214971
-- Editorial on federal leave disappoints - Colleen M. Kelley, National President, National Treasury Employees Union, Washington, D.C
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=214642&src=
-- Telling voters what they want to hear - Lou Eisenberg, Buffalo Grove
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=215013&src=

NORTHWEST HERALD
-- GOP candidate Greenberg to hold forum
http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2008/07/05/news/local/doc486f443bc57bb656133186.txt

WHEATON LEADER
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: CRIME VICTIMS ARE VERY SAD: CRIMINALS ARE OVERJOYED: Again, even thought the Wheaton Police report includes the armed burglary suspects's race, the Wheaton Leader report does not.
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/wheaton/news/x1743987960/Police-looking-for-suspect-in-armed-burglary

CHICAGO DAILY OBSERVER
-- Michelle Obama: Money for Nothing or Gifts for the Anointed? - Daniel J. Kelley
http://cdobs.com/archive/our-columns/money-for-nothing-or-gifts-for-the-anointed%2C1333/

DALLAS MORNING NEWS
-- McCain steps up efforts to woo religious voters - Wayne Slater
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/070608dnpolmccainchristians.40e5d1e.html

MINNEAPOLIS ST. PAUL STAR TRIBUNE
-- With the convention comes cash - Randy Furst
http://www.startribune.com/politics/23296614.html

ABC NEWS
-- Rove Urges Abortion Foes into Battle - Lisa Chinn
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/07/rove-urges-abor.html

POLITICO
-- Obama’s own voice may haunt him - David Mark and Kenneth Vogel
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/11542.html

OPERATION SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Sponsors for the July 19 fundraiser concert at Cantigny include:
http://www.osotil.org/rockin2008.html
Congresswoman Judy Biggert (Two Star)
Sauerberg For US Senate (Two Star)
DuPage County (One Star)
Friends of Michael Prueter (One Star)
GOPUSA ILLINOIS (One Star)
Naperville Area Republican Women's Org. (One Star)