Sunday, November 30, 2008

Garrard McClendon on Obama, the Mayor, and the Olympics

McClendon had one of the harshest attacks on Obama I've seen on TV. He played Obama's video in support of Chicago's bid for the Olympics and told viewers to watch carefully for the puppet strings as Daley manipulated him. Here's McClendon's blog on the bid.

I can argue it either way although I'm not as cynical as McClendon. You don't get the full sense of it from his blog as it came over on CLTV. I think we're going to get it though and the the city will be changed hopefully for the better.

Read more...

GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - November 30, 2008

GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - November 30, 2008

SOUTHTOWN STAR
-- Young Republicans aim for GOP resurgence - Nathaniel Zimmer
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/1305639,113008republicans.article

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- Dick Durbin misses the point about Ryan - John Kass
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kass-durbin-bd-30-nov30,0,3254091.column
-- Sarah Palin gets hit on and often - Frank James
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/11/sarah_palin_gets_hit_on_and_of.html

CBS2
-- California Priest: Voting For Obama Could Be 'Mortal Sin' Father Joseph Illo Says Parishioners Should Repent
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/priest.obama.sin.2.876509.html (Includes video clip)

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
-- Clemency for George Ryan? I have a better idea - Chuck Sweeny
http://www.rrstar.com/news/columnists/x415858047/Clemency-for-Ryan-I-have-a-better-idea

CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Greg Hinz presents his personal situation as being typical and uses his personal situation to promote homosexual activity
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/mag/article.pl?articleId=31028

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Bernard Schoenburg pontificates on Schock and Schock's November 21 fundraising letter
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x415857347/Bernard-Schoenburg-Fundraising-letter-by-Schock-has-a-campaign-feel
-- Be wary of another New Deal - George Will
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x541370385/George-Will-Be-wary-of-another-New-Deal
-- Where, exactly, will money for all this come from? - Patrick Buchanan
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x541370382/Patrick-Buchanan-Where-exactly-will-money-for-all-this-come-from

NAPERVILLE SUN
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: DuPage County: Tim West glorifies Schroeder and demonizes/denigrates Schroeder's critics
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/west/1306385,6_4_NA30_WESTCOLUMN_S1.article

LAKE COUNTY NEWS SUN
-- Nuclear power - Nancy J. Thorner
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/opinions/letters/1305013,5_4_WA29_LETTERS_S1.article

ILLINOIS REVIEW
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: "Elgin's Chuck Emmert" demonizes/denigrates/insults Ford Motor Company executives and managers, argues that they caused all Ford's problems
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/11/toyota-vs-ford.html
It would be great if "Elgin's Chuck Emmert" would provide a statement of:
-- Which of America's industries you consider to be vital to America's national security and why, and if America's automotive industry is not on that list, why not
-- Direct or indirect ownership interest or other interest that you or any close relative has in any company involved in the automotive industry
-- Your attitude toward unions in general, toward union members in general, toward the UAW, and toward UAW members
-- Your attitude toward people who own American nameplate vehicles
-- Your attitude toward people who own foreign nameplate vehicles
-- Your attitude toward General Motors and toward Chrysler
-- Your attitude toward General Motors executives and managers and toward Chrysler executives and managers
-- Your attitude toward General Motors retirees, toward Ford retirees, and toward Chrysler retirees
-- Your attitude toward General Motors shareholders, toward Ford shareholders, and toward Chrysler shareholders
-- Your attitude toward General Motors suppliers, toward Ford suppliers, and toward Chrysler suppliers
-- Your attitude toward General Motors creditors, toward Ford creditors, and toward Chrysler creditors
-- Your attitude toward General Motors dealerships and their employees, toward Ford dealerships and their employees, and toward Chrysler dealerships and their employees
-- Your knowledge of the automotive industry and how you acquired that knowledge
-- The make, model, and year of all vehicles you own, when you bought them, and why you bought them
-- Your attitude toward the prime target of anti-Americans, the Chevrolet Corvette
-- All items of any significance that you purchased from companies after they filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
-- Anything else that affects your attitude toward the American automotive industry
It seems obvious that the next new vehicle that "Elgin's Chuck Emmert" buys will not be a Ford. It would be great if he would provide a statement on each of the following possible reasons:
-- He agrees with those who argue that "nobody" buys vehicles made by General Motors, Ford, or Chrysler anymore
-- He agrees with those who argue that General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler build vehicles that "nobody wants"
-- He agrees with those who argue that vehicles made by foreign manufacturers are superior in terms of quality, design, reliability, cost, etc.
-- He agrees with those who argue that General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler will not be in business much longer
-- He agrees with those who argue that those who drive foreign nameplate vehicles are more intelligent than those who drive American nameplate vehicles
-- He wants to buy from a dealer that is nearby, but nearby General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler dealers have gone out of business
-- He disagrees with those who argue "Be American, Buy American," he disagrees with those who argue that vehicle manufacturing is a vital industry, and he disagrees with those who argue that American should not turn over that vital industry to foreigners
-- He is a "limousine liberal" or he wants to be viewed as being one
-- He disapproves of and wants to punish unions, union employees, and companies that employ union members
-- He disapproves of and he wants to punish the typical General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler vehicle owner -- an older White male conservative Republican
-- He agrees with those who argue that General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, their employees, their retirees, their suppliers, their dealers, their stockholders, etc. should be "punished"
-- He is employed by, owns stock in, or otherwise has an interest in one or more foreign vehicle manufacturer
-- SEPTEMBER 29, 2007 FLASHBACK: The tragic story of Ford Motor Company and Packey Webb Ford in Wheaton - Dave Diersen
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2007/09/gopusa-illin-28.html
Tragically, some Americans want to punish America's automobile industry by badmouthing the industry, badmouthing its employees, and badmouthing its products and by buying only foreign nameplate vehicles. I am a former automotive industry employee, albeit I only substituted for absent employees for four Mondays at Chrysler's Belvedere plant during 1970. As everyone knows, I urge all Americans, especially Republican candidates, Republican elected officials, and Republican Party leaders to "Be American, Buy America" and to buy American nameplate vehicles. I practice what I preach, I have always owned American nameplate cars. The cars I have owned in the past are a 1958 Chevy Bel Air (1964-1966), 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint (1966-1968), 1968 Olds 442 (1968-1969), 1969 Dodge Charger SE (1969-1971), 1962 Chevy Bel Air (1971-1978), 1974 Dodge Dart (1973-1974), 1978 Chevy Chevette (1978-1994), 1978 Olds Delta 88 Royale (1978-1996), 1962 Chevy Impala SS (1989-2005), 1968 Dodge Charger R/T (1994-2005), 1993 Ford Thunderbird (1994), and 1997 Chevy Cavalier (1996-2004). I currently own a 1972 and 2005 Corvette and a 1990 and 1996 Thunderbird. I purchased both Thunderbirds new at Packey Webb Ford in Wheaton, the 1990 in 1989 and the 1996 in 1995. As everyone knows, I urge all American individuals, organizations, and companies to not promote homosexual activity. Sadly, since 1995, a) Ford Motor Company has become one of America's leading promoters of homosexual activity (See http://www.boycottford.com/) and its sales and profits have plummeted and b) the service managers at Packey Web Ford in Wheaton have become extremely critical of me. The previous service manager there refused to correct defects in my 1996 Thunderbird and forced me to sue both Ford Motor Company and Packey Webb Ford. In 1998, the court forced Ford Motor Company to correct the defects, I got to keep the car, and I got a check for $6,000. Packey Webb Ford continues to be furious that I won the lawsuit and continues to punish me. Sadly, earlier this year, the current service manager refused to let the dealership work on my 1990 Thunderbird. It is tragic when companies like Ford Motor Company put promoting homosexual activity ahead of making a profit and staying in business.

TOLEDO BLADE
-- Ford tops safe car list - AP
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081125/BUSINESS02/811250254
-- India's automakers rev up for run at U.S. car market - Steve Eder
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081130/NEWS14/811300337

NEW YORK TIMES
-- FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Local Pillars, Auto Dealerships Teeter as Big Three Decline - Clifford Krauss
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/business/30dealer.html?_r=1&hp

LOS ANGELES TIMES
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Neal Gabler demonizes/denigrates/insults anyone whoever voted for a Republican
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-gabler30-2008nov30,0,2384758.story

WALL STREET JOURNAL
-- The Krugman Recipe for Depression Massive government spending is no solution to unemployment. - Amity Shlaes
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122792327402265913.html

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- Milton Township Republican Central Committee will have an uncontested slate of candidates for Milton Township offices - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
Milton Township Republican Central Committee members will vote at their December 10 meeting in Wheaton to slate candidates for Milton Township offices. Chris Heidorn has declared his candidacy for Supervisor; Gail Hinkle for Clerk; Bob Earl for Assessor; Gary Muehlfelt for Highway Commissioner; and Chris Edwards, Sal Falbo, Jim Flickinger, and Bob Larsen for four Trustee offices. Marie Jensen had declared her candidacy for Trustee, but withdrew it on Friday, November 28.

Read more...

Saturday, November 29, 2008

How Crystal Lake Got More Sales Tax Receipts This Year

I decided to see the damage that Mayor Aaron Shepley and his compliant city council caused local taxpayers with their 75% Crystal Lake city sales tax increase that went into effect July 1st.

The city fathers and mothers forced local shoppers to pull $408,353 more out of their wallets than they they would have had the tax hikers not gotten their way.

But, interesting to me is the fact that collections for the one percentage point upon which Crystal Lake officials piled on their extra 0.75 percentage point for their Home Rule sales tax went down.

Look at Crystal Lake collections for the two years:

7-2007 – $936,674
7-2008 – $896,405
So, regular city sales tax collections took a hit of $40,269 of 4.3%.

The question that came to my mind was, “Is that better or worse that the neighboring town of McHenry?”
Here are City of McHenry figures:

7-2007 – $551,520
7-2008 – $499,352

McHenry was also down. The $52,168 was a larger percentage loss than was seen by Crystal Lake—9.4%.

For a broader gauge, I looked at McHenry County. The figures you see below represent one-quarter of one percent of all McHenry County retail sales:

7-2007 – $642,399
7-2008 – $601,941

McHenry County saw collections decrease by $40,458 or 6.2% since last year.

So, what should we make of that?

If Crystal Lake can see less of a drop in sales tax receipts after it raises its sales tax rate by 75% than a city which kept sales tax rates constant, the law of supply and demand seems to have been repealed.

Higher costs should lead to lower sales.

And, discriminating shoppers like me and a local school janitor were shopping at the Super Walmart in Woodstock, rather than in Crystal Lake.

But I'll bet a lot of folks heading up Route 31 to McHenry and places north stopped at the new Super Walmart in Crystal Lake.

Besides the new Super Walmart, shoppers may have continued to shop in Crystal Lake because there was so little knowledge of the 75% hike in city sales tax as of July 1st.

The Northwest Herald ran no story. The Daily Herald rarely covers things dealing with Crystal Lake.

The city did not even bother to notify the local tax collectors, that is, local stores. Barnes and Noble had to eat the first few days of sales tax, as did at least one store in Downtown Crystal Lake.

Or, it may be that those shopping in Crystal Lake had less of an income drop than those in McHenry.

Or, maybe the

“I Shop Crystal Lake”

campaign worked.

Of a combination of the factors I have mentioned, plus others I missed.

Since Algonquin has the same .075% Home Rule sales tax as Crystal Lake, I took a look there, too.

The figures for Algonquin's Home Rule portion went down $2,514 or under 9/10 of one percent.

7-2007 – $291,831
7-2008 – $289,317

For its regular 1% tax on retail sales, the figures were up $21,980 or up 3.5%:

7-2007 – $536,740
7-2008 – $558,720

Why would the regular sales tax increase, while the Home Rule tax take decreased?


Probably because the Home Rule tax does not apply to food or drugs, while the regular city sales tax does. People stop buying food long after they stop buying non-necessities.

And, new stores are still opening in Algonquin, as you can see at the southwest corner of Randall and County Line Roads.

It also seems to me that as Crystal Lake's shopping opportunity's have deteriorated that shoppers may have driven south.

= = = = =
Notice was apparently not given to all merchants about the tearing up of the Downtown Crystal Lake sidewalks on November 13 that you see at the top of the article. I have also found merchants who were not notified by city officials of the 75% city sales tax hike was effective July 1st.

Published first on McHenry County Blog.

Read more...

Lincoln Log Cabin Historical Site Closing Sunday

This summer, squabbling by the tiny children in grown up clothes who run Illinois, the governor and the General Assembly, forced drastically cut hours, retreats from a seven-days a week schedule, and outright closings of many state parks and historical sites.

Several parks will close, possibly forever, tomorrow.

It could have been worse, but the end result may be the same in a year or so.

Funding from the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission will put most of the Lincoln sites on the same schedule they were on before "Blago" got his pen-knife out and started slashing. But remember that bicentennial is in the name, not tricentennial. Eventually that funding will dry up.

February 12 will mark the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth.

One Lincoln site was not issued a reprieve--the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historical Site near Charleston in Coles County. I've never been there, it was one of those "the next time in the area, I need to stop there" types of places. And I just a few miles away from there in May. Too late.

About the site: Shortly before reaching adulthood, Lincoln, his father Thomas, and his beloved stepmother, Sarah Bush Lincoln, left Indiana for Illinois. After his 21st birthday, Lincoln moved to New Salem near Springfield, while his parents finally put roots down in Coles County. Lincoln visited every year or two.

The cabin is a replica, the original was dismantled, sent to the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, where it was lost, or accidentally used for firewood.

Idiocy in Illinois is not a passing fad.

The volunteers and employees at the site are giving it a loving send-off. But it's a shame this place is closing down, especially since the president-elect is basking in the glow of Lincoln comparisons.

Barack Obama has shown a real talent for fundraising, and I believe if he put his name behind it, he could shepherd adequate donations to reopen the Lincoln Log Cabin Historical Site.

Compared to the cash he raised for his successful presidential campaign, all it would take is a pittance.

Read more...

GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - November 29, 2008

GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - November 29, 2008


CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- Why Blagojevich feels ex-Gov. Ryan's pain - Carol Marin
http://www.suntimes.com/news/marin/1305598,CST-EDT-carol30.article
(THE COMMENTARY: OK, psychology majors, let's think about this. The governor of the state of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, is arguing for mercy for the former and imprisoned governor of the state of Illinois, George Ryan. As FBI agents and U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald circle their wagons in Operation Board Games ever more tightly around the Blagojevich administration, suddenly this governor feels the pain of another. It wasn't always so. In the campaign of 2002, the one in which Ryan did not dare run for a second term given the federal heat, Blagojevich was relentless in referencing the corruption and scandals in Ryan's administration. "Pay to play" -- before it became the term of art to describe big Blago donors getting big contracts or board appointments -- was a term he weaponized to use against Ryan and the Republicans who ran against him, including former Attorney General Jim Ryan (no relation) and former state Treasurer Judy Barr Topinka. Now he sees his predecessor's agony. No doubt Ryan is suffering. And no doubt whatsoever that his wife, Lura Lynn, needs and wants her husband by her side. The scandal took just about everything away: his pension, his freedom, their savings, their life together. Blagojevich, who says he is convinced that the feds have nothing on him, sees a year in prison out of a sentence of 6½ as quite enough. You can understand why. Federal authorities have methodically marched across the alphabet, identifying Blagojevich friends, associates and appointees by a letter rather than a name as they press their investigation. Blagojevich, in court filings, is Public Official A. He has not been charged with any crime. Others have not been so lucky. Co-schemer A: Bill Cellini is the most recent indictee. He's a Springfield power broker, multimillionaire and bipartisan pal to the rich and powerful. Co-schemer B: Christopher Kelly has been a close Blagojevich advisor and top fund-raiser. He's facing gambling-related tax fraud charges. Stuart Levine: He's the Highland Park Republican who learned to love Democrats, raised money for both and used his connections on boards and commissions to rig real estate and other deals. Now singing like a robin in spring, Levine gave testimony that helped put away Tony Rezko. Tony Rezko: A fund-raiser to a wide and influential list of pols from Blagojevich to Barack Obama to John Stroger and Harold Washington. Guilty in one corruption trial, about to go to trial on financial fraud, he is reportedly ready to flip. The list is even longer, but the shortened version makes the point well enough. Prison -- beyond Ryan's plight -- must be very much on the governor's mind, given the growing list of people he knows who are ending up there. Anyone who has visited a prison knows the grim reality of that existence. Rather than argue for Ryan's reprieve, maybe Blagojevich should drive to Terre Haute to visit him. And talk about lessons learned.)
-- Does Cullerton's arrival signal a Springfield shakeup? John Cullerton is close to House Speaker Madigan, -- and that could tip the balance in any fight with the governor. - Dave McKinney
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/1305622,CST-NWS-cull30.article
-- What's the GOP supposed to do now? - Roger Simon
http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/1305161,CST-EDT-simon30.article

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: The Chicago Tribune says "Be patriotic! Go shop." But sadly, the Chicago Tribune does not urge Americans to buy American nameplate vehicles.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-1129edit2nov29,0,2284547.story
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats crow over their success in bamboozling Black Christians
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama-godsend_glantonnov29,0,7660180.story

DAILY HERALD
-- FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN DUPAGE EDITION: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Outrageously, without notifying DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 41 Republican Committeeman Herb Wehling -- the person who did the most to put them up -- the "DuPage County Veterans Memorial Inc." unceremoniously and dishonorably and outrageously cut down 22 3-foot high 2-foot-wide steel crosses at the DuPage County complex that honored DuPage residents who had died in military service since September 11, 2001. Everyone is outraged over this, including Wehling's 108 fellow Milton Township Precinct Committeemen. Schillerstrom says "We're trying to figure out exactly what happened and make it right. . .We want to honor the fallen, and we don't want anybody to have bad feelings about this."
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=254460
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: ANTI-AMERICANS OVERJOYED: Sava Matevich of Naperville has no problem with foreign countries, foreign organizations, foreign companies, and foreign individuals taking total control of America. Soon, America will no longer exist -- it will just be a bunch of junk owned by foreigners.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=254126&src=

NBC5
-- Police Mull Charging Wal-Mart Tramplers (DIERSEN: How are the Democrats going to spin this story? According to the Democrats, we are in the middle of a full blown Republican-caused depression, all the stores are empty, no one is shopping for anything, and no one is buying anything. What does this story say about the typical Wal-Mart shopper? How many of the tramplers voted for McCain? How many of the tramplers voted for Obama?)
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/us_world/NATLPolice-Mull-Charging-Wal-Mart-Tramplers.html
(THE ARTICLE: Police were reviewing video from surveillance cameras in an attempt to identify people who trampled on a Wal-Mart worker killed when a crowd of post-Thanksgiving shoppers burst through the doors at a suburban store and knocked him down. Criminal charges were still possible, but identifying anyone in the store's videos may prove difficult, said Nassau County police spokesman Detective Lt. Michael Fleming on Friday. Other workers were trampled as they tried to rescue the man, and customers stepped over him and became irate when officials said the store was closing because of the death, police and witnesses said. At least four other people, including a woman who was eight months pregnant, were taken to hospitals for observation or minor injuries, and the store in Valley Stream on Long Island closed for several hours. It reopened shortly after 1 p.m. Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. called the incident a "tragic situation" and said it had tried to prepare for the crowd by adding staffers and outside security workers, putting up barricades and consulting police. "Despite all of our precautions, this unfortunate event occurred," senior Vice President Hank Mullany said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those impacted." But Fleming said the store didn't have enough security. Police said about 2,000 people were gathered outside the Wal-Mart doors before its 5 a.m. opening at a mall about 20 miles east of Manhattan. The impatient crowd knocked the employee, identified by police as Jdimytai Damour of Queens, to the ground as he opened the doors, leaving a metal portion of the frame crumpled like an accordion. "This crowd was out of control," said Fleming, who described the scene as "utter chaos." Dozens of store employees trying to fight their way out to help Damour were also getting trampled by the crowd, Fleming said. Witnesses said that even as the worker lay on the ground, shoppers streamed into the store, stepping over him. Kimberly Cribbs, who witnessed the stampede, said shoppers were acting like "savages." "When they were saying they had to leave, that an employee got killed, people were yelling, 'I've been on line since yesterday morning,'" she said. "They kept shopping." The 34-year-old Damour was taken to Franklin Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at about 6 a.m., police said. The exact cause of death has not been determined. Damour came from a temporary agency and was doing maintenance work at the store, Wal-Mart said. The 28-year-old pregnant woman was taken to a hospital, where she and the baby were reported to be OK, said police Sgt. Anthony Repalone. At least three other people were taken to hospitals with minor injuries. Suffolk County police said a shopper at a Wal-Mart in Farmingdale, about 15 miles east of the Valley Stream location, reported being trampled by overeager customers at around the same time Damour was killed. The woman suffered minor injuries but finished shopping before she filed the report, police said. Wal-Mart security varies by store. Officials wouldn't say how many security workers were at the Valley Stream location. The retail giant has rigorously resisted being unionized. But the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 termed the death "avoidable" and called for federal and state labor authorities to investigate. Union president Bruce Both said the store had failed to provide a safe workplace. The National Retail Federation, the industry's largest group, was unaware of any other store workers ever dying on the job in the post-Thanksgiving rush, spokeswoman Ellen Davis said. Shoppers around the country line up early outside stores on the day after Thanksgiving in the annual bargain-hunting ritual known as Black Friday. It got that name because it has historically been the day stores broke into profitability for the full year. Many stores open early and stay open late on Black Friday. The Valley Stream Wal-Mart usually opens at 9 a.m. Items on sale at the Wal-Mart store included a $798 Samsung 50-inch plasma HDTV, a Bissel compact upright vacuum for $28, a Samsung 10.2 megapixel digital camera for $69 and DVDs such as "The Incredible Hulk" for $9. The store was crowded Friday afternoon after the store reopened, but shoppers were more subdued. It wasn't immediately clear whether there was additional security.)
-- 2 Killed in Black Friday Toys 'R Us Shooting 2 men with handguns shot and killed each other (DIERSEN: How are the Democrats going to spin this story? According to the Democrats, we are in the middle of a full blown Republican-caused depression, all the stores are empty, no one is shopping for anything, and no one is buying anything. What does this story say about the typical Toys 'R Us shopper? How many of Toys 'R Us shoppers voted for McCain? How many of Toys R' Us shoppers voted for Obama?)
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/us_world/2-Killed-in-Black-Friday-Shooting-in-Palm-Desert.html
(THE ARTICLE: Two men pulled guns and shot each other to death in a crowded Toys 'R Us store Friday after women they were with got into a bloody brawl for unknown reasons, witnesses said. Scared shoppers fled but no one else was hurt. The violence erupted on Black Friday, the traditional post-Thanksgiving start of the holiday shopping surge, but authorities indicated the shooting shortly after 11:30 a.m. was not prompted by shopping frenzy. Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez said the fight was not over a toy. He said handguns were found by the men's bodies. He would not answer a question about whether the shooting was gang-related. The victims were identified as Alejandro Moreno, 39, of Desert Hot Springs, and Juan Meza, 28, of Cathedral City. Witnesses Scott and Joan Barrick said they were checking out of the store when the fight began between two women, each with a man. The women were near the checkout area but the Barricks believed the women did not have purchases. One woman suddenly started punching the other woman, who fought back as blood flowed from her nose, Scott Barrick, 41, said. The man who was with the woman being punched pulled a gun halfway out of his pocket, then shoved it back in, he said. "He pulled his gun right next to me. I turned to look for my wife and she was already hiding," Barrick said. "I was scared," said Joan Barrick, 40. "I didn't want to die today. I really didn't want to die today and I think that's what we were all thinking." The other man pulled a gun and pointed it at the first man but forgot to cock it, Scott Barrick said. The first man tried to run but was blocked by the line of people, then ran back toward the store's electronics section as the other man fired his gun, he said. The first man reached a dead-end in electronics, turned around and ran toward an exit, pulling his gun and firing back, he said. "He went up to the cash register, he went to put his hand on the thing and he just went phoomp," he said, indicating the man fell. He said he did not see what happened to the other man. Immediately after the shooting, about 20 people rushed into the World Gym across the street from Toys 'R' Us. Sarah Pacia of Cathedral City says she was in the store with her two boys, ages 4 and 6, looking at coloring books when she heard a commotion in the next aisle. She thought it was people rushing to get a sale item. Then she heard three or four shots. She says she froze, and store employees calmly escorted her out of the store. Palm Desert Councilman Jim Ferguson said police told him two men with handguns shot and killed each other and that there were 25 witnesses. Ferguson said he asked police whether the incident was gang-related. "I think the obvious question everyone has is who takes loaded weapons into a Toys 'R' Us?" he said in an interview. "I doubt it was the casual holiday shopper." City spokeswoman Sheila Gilligan said police told her the shooting broke out between "two groups of individuals that have a dispute with each other." Ray Turner, 20, said he was two aisles away when two women began shouting and screaming at each other and he had a clear view of the fight until a crowd clustered around them. Both women had children, he said. "We thought it was just a fight and then someone yelled, 'He's got a gun. He's got a gun.' You really couldn't see nothing because there was a crowd," said Turner. Rafael Gomez, 11, said he and his father had been in the store about 20 minutes before the shooting but were in a nearby Pizza Hut when they saw people pouring out of the store screaming. "We just saw them running and crying. I was kind of scared," Gomez said. "We got lucky." Toys 'R' Us issued a statement expressing outrage over the violence. "We are working closely with local law enforcement officials to determine the specific details of what occurred," the statement said. "Our understanding is that this act seems to have been the result of a personal dispute between the individuals involved. Therefore, it would be inaccurate to associate the events of today with Black Friday." The Barricks and others remained at the scene 120 miles east of Los Angeles long afterward because investigators would not allow cars to be taken from the parking lot until a crime-scene reconstruction was completed. Hours after the shooting yellow police tape was strung around the parking lot of the shopping center where the store is located. Police cars guarded each entrance and clusters of people, some with small children, sat on the grassy areas around the center. Traffic backed up for at least a mile in the area as other shoppers tried to make their way around scene. Ferguson said news of the shooting took him by surprise in the city in the desert resort region near Palm Springs. "Most years we have zero homicides," the councilman said. Immediately after the shooting, about 20 people rushed into the World Gym across the street from Toys 'R' Us, the gym's assistant manager Glenn Splain told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "They were crying, tearing and shaking," Splain said, adding that one woman came in cradling a baby.)

SOUTHTOWN STAR
-- 45,000 Illinois drivers have one or more DUI - Michael Tarm
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/1305414,112908DUILicensedDriver.article

HERALD NEWS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: The countries, organizations, companies, and individuals that drove the stock market down to elect Obama finally get around to driving it back up a little. When will they drive it down again?
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/1305101,4_1_JO29_STOCKS_S1.article

SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Kathleen Parker demonizes and denigrates religious people and urges the Republican Party to dump them completely
http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2008/11/29/opinions/guest_columns/26911466.txt

HARRISONBURG DAILY NEWS
-- Rev. Buie responds to Kathleen Parker: GOP Must Be The Christian Party
http://www.dailynews-record.com/opinion_details.php?AID=33618&CHID=32

ILLINOIS REVIEW
-- All I Want for Christmas is. . .an abortion? - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/11/all-i-want-for.html

PUBLIC AFFAIRS
-- Obama, Blagojevich, Rezko, Fitzgerald, Volcker, Summers and Santa: the long winding road, 2002 to Present
http://jeffberkowitz.blogspot.com/2008/11/obama-blagojevich-rezko-fitzgerald.html

THE HILL
-- Don’t let the auto industry die - Peter Fenn
http://thehill.com/op-eds/dont-let-the--auto-industry-die-2008-11-18.html

SCRIPPS NEWS
-- GOP needs return to limited government agenda - Star Parker
http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/38686

NEW YORK TIMES
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: One of the Democrat Party's top priorities is to promote homosexual activity. Not surprisingly, Democrats blast those Blacks who do not promote homosexual sexual activity.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/opinion/29blow.html?_r=1&hp
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: The New York Times draws attention to trucking industry problems and extensively quotes Chicago's G. David Gerrard who runs the largest truck dealership in the United States.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/business/29nocera.html?ref=business
-- Wal-Mart Employee Trampled to Death - Robert McFadden and Angela Macropoulos
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/business/29walmart.html?em

ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Liberal Paul Waldman argues that those who voted for Obama want America to dump conservative principles and to dump capitalism and to embrace liberal principles and to embrace socialism
http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/2008/11/30/waldmaned_1130.html

ONE NEWS NOW
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: All the religions of the world not only discourage homosexual but discourage the promotion of homosexual activity. Liberals promote homosexual activity and conservatives discourage homosexual activity. The Democrat Party exists to promote liberalism, and especially, to promote homosexual activity. The Republican Party exists to promote conservatism and that includes opposing the promotion of homosexual activity. People who cannot or will not promote conservatism or who cannot or will not oppose the promotion of homosexual activity should not be allowed to hold leadership positions in the Republican Party.
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=334908

ASSOCIATED PRESS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Illegals are furious. Illegals acknowledge that America's stock market and America's economy had to be driven down to elect Obama. But illegals argue that it was driven down too much.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gbQvdqUns2PAUlkz7u5cKvzvPvWwD94O4H1G0

LIFE NEWS
-- Republican Party Chair Candidates Steele, Dawson: Keep Pro-Life View - Steven Ertelt
http://www.lifenews.com/nat4619.html

BAPTIST STANDARD
-- Huckabee says neglected ‘values voters’ are key to GOP future - Adelle Banks
http://www.baptiststandard.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8886&Itemid=53

AUTO BLOG
-- With GM on the brink, what will happen to the Corvette? - Jeremy Korzeniewski
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/28/with-gm-on-the-brink-what-will-happen-to-the-corvette/

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- In Milton Township, Wheaton voters showed the strongest support for Roskam - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
In DuPage County's Milton Township, Wheaton voters showed the strongest support for Congressman Peter Roskam in the November 4, 2008 election. Of Milton Township's 76,547 registered voters, 36,225, or 47.3% voted for Roskam. The percent of registered voters who voted for Roskam in the township's 109 precincts ranged from a high of 61.3% to a low of 21.3%. The range in the top 36 precincts was from 61.3% to 51.8% -- of those precincts, 30 were in Wheaton, 3 were in Glen Ellyn, 2 were in Winfield, and 1 was in Carol Stream. The range in the middle 37 precincts was from 51.3% to 45.9% -- of those precincts, 22 were in Glen Ellyn, 14 were in Wheaton, and 1 was in Winfield. The range in the bottom 36 precincts was from 45.6% to 21.3% -- of those precincts, 16 were in Wheaton, 13 were in Glen Ellyn, 3 were in Lombard, 3 were in Carol Stream, and 1 was in Glendale Heights. The Republican Party promotes conservative principles and the Democrat Party promotes liberal principles. It seems logical that if you favor promoting conservative principles and you are looking for a home to purchase in Milton Township, you would look first in those precincts that showed the strongest support for Republican Roskam -- Bill Opal's Precinct 25 was first with 61.3%, Heather Barilla's Precinct 57 was second with 61.1%, Joseph Caruso's Precinct 71 was third with 58.9%, Gary Muehlfelt's Precinct 106 was fourth with 58.9%, Barbara Intihar's Precinct 109 was fifth with 58.9%, Chris Levan's Precinct 61 was sixth with 58.8%, Julie Cuchetto-Livergood's Precinct 102 was seventh with 58.6%, Steve Muehlfelt's Precinct 37 was eight with 58.1%, Fred Bucholz's Precinct 107 was ninth with 57.5 %, and Gail Hinkle's Precinct 74 was tenth with 56.9%. Diersen's Precinct 9 in Wheaton was 31st with 52.6%. In my opinion, Precinct 9's ranking and percentage has dropped because as the precinct's older conservatives die or move into nursing homes, wealthy limousine liberals move in to take advantage of the prosperity and safety that conservatives created.

Read more...

Friday, November 28, 2008

GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - November 28, 2008

GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - November 28, 2008.

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- Beliefs that many George Ryan and Scott Fawell supporters seem to have - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
-- Moral relativism is good, the rule of law is bad, and the end justifies the means.
-- George Ryan and Scott Fawell are innocent of all charges and conservatives, that is, Republicans who support the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) platform, caused Ryan and Fawell to be investigated, to be indicted, and to be convicted.
-- Conservatives are "kooks" and "extremists" and they have caused all the world's problems, are causing all the world's problems, and will forever cause all the world's problems.
-- Conservatives must be driven out of the IRP as soon as possible.
-- You must be blindly loyal to incumbent party leaders and to their supporters to hold any kind of leadership role in the IRP, the DuPage County Republican Party, the Milton Township Republican Party, etc.
-- The greater loyalty that you show toward incumbent party leaders and toward their supporters, the greater the freedom you have to violate laws, to violate bylaws, to violate rules, to punish whoever you want to for whatever reason you want, etc.
-- To get into office and to stay in office you should spend most if not all your time a) ascribing evil motive, bad judgment, and lack of ability those individuals and organizations you cannot dominate; b) destroying organizations and destroying individuals that are critical of you; and c) pandering to the liberal news media.
-- Illinois Republicans, especially conservatives, should NOT be allowed to directly elect those who govern the IRP.

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- George Ryan should finish his sentence - Editorial
http://www.sj-r.com/editorials/x596321715/Our-Opinion-George-Ryan-should-finish-his-sentence
(THE EDITORIAL: U.S. SEN. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., told reporters on Tuesday that he was thinking about asking President Bush to commute the sentence of Illinois’ former governor, George Ryan, who is imprisoned after being convicted of corruption charges. We strongly urge the president to turn down any commutation request. THE POLITICAL CLASS of Illinois, particularly here in Springfield, has always had a soft spot for Ryan, especially after six years of the arrogant and truth-challenged Blagojevich administration. From former Gov. James Thompson - Ryan’s lawyer, under whom he served as lieutenant governor - to Durbin to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley to the most powerless backbench legislator, they all marvel at how Ryan “always kept his word.” The love for Ryan at the Statehouse is truly a bipartisan affair. Ryan, a Republican, may have kept his word to them while striking backroom deals, but he did not keep his word to the people of Illinois. GEORGE RYAN was a corrupt man who used state government and taxpayer money to enrich himself and his friends throughout his three terms as secretary of state and governor. His brand of pay-to-play corruption did not stop when he and his underlings went to prison. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has shown through Operation Board Games that corruption in Illinois is a bipartisan affair and has been pervasive in Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration. The message to Illinois’ political class has clearly not been received. That’s one reason Ryan has to remain in jail - as an example and a deterrent to those officeholders who would think that they can get away with it. ONLY THE MOST heartless would not be moved at what Durbin talked about Tuesday - Ryan’s wife, Lura Lynn, explaining to him the effect of her husband’s imprisonment on the Ryan family. It is profoundly sad that this nice lady is not spending her twilight years in the company of her husband, who will not leave prison until he is 79. But there’s a sadder story familiar to many Illinoisans. It is the story of the Rev. Scott and Janet Willis. In 1994, they were driving behind a semi when a heavy metal part fell off it, striking their van and puncturing the gasoline tank. The part threw off sparks, igniting the gasoline and engulfing the van in flames, killing the Willis’ six children. A trucking company official later admitted he paid to fix the license test of the driver whose truck was involved in the accident that killed the Willis children. The bribes went into Ryan’s campaign fund. The Willis story shows that the cost of corruption can be much more than taxpayers’ dollars and cents. THROUGH THE YEARS, Ryan has apologized for corruption that went on under his watch, but he has never taken personal responsibility. On the day he went to prison, Ryan said he had a “clear conscience” and maintained his innocence. Because of his lack of remorse, because of the deaths of the six Willis children, because of the unfairness of a commutation for Ryan but not others in the licenses-for-bribes scandal and because of the message it sends to those who engage in corruption, Ryan must finish his sentence.)

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- OUTRAGEOUS: Blagojevich: Bush should let George Ryan out of prison - Maudlyne Ihejirika
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1303260,blagojevich-george-ryan-pardon-bush-112708.article
-- Juror: Pardoning Ryan would send wrong message 'I'm shocked that he thinks he's never done anything wrong' - Natasha Korecki
http://www.suntimes.com/news/georgeryantrial/1301737,CST-NWS-ryan27web.article
-- Cook County needs to cut spending, not borrow - Nicole Kurokawa
http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/1303968,CST-EDT-open28.article

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- OUTRAGEOUS: Ex-Gov Thompson issues news release 'on the issues of remorse and apology' related to ex-Gov. Ryan - Eric Zorn
http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2008/11/exgov-thompson-issues-news-release-on-the-issues-of-remorse-and-apology-related-to-exgov-ryan.html
-- OUTRAGEOUS: Free Ryan, governor says Blagojevich: Bush should release him as act of compassion - Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-blagojevich-comments-28-nov28,0,7417336.story
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2008/11/blagojevich-wan.html
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: OUTRAGEOUS: University of Illinois discriminates against non-athletes
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-jock-tutoringnov28,0,5918190.story
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Jonah Goldberg blasts Obama for sending his kids to a private school
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-oped1128goldbergnov28,0,48677.story
-- Edna Parker, world's oldest-known person, dies in Indiana nursing home at 115 years, 220 days - AP (FROM THE ARTICLE: Parker noted with pride last year that she and her husband were one of the first owners of an automobile in their rural area.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-obit-oldest-person,0,4754797.story
-- For Obama, many liberal wish lists await Stymied for years, groups see chance - Mike Dorning and Jim Tankersley
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama-wilderness-frinov28,0,7150793.story
-- Obama's donation to his campaign? Zip - Bob Secter
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-talk-donationnov28,0,4707549.story

DAILY HERALD
-- Rebuttal to letter about Obama's faith - Robert Graham, Naperville
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=254063&src=
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Outrageously and tragically, the College of DuPage increasingly focuses on creating "good little Democrats." The Democrat Party controlled Daily Herald sides with Democrat operatives who would love the rename the school the "George Ryan College of DuPage" or the "Democrat College of DuPage" or the "Anti-Conservative College of DuPage" or the "Anti-American College of DuPage" or the "Obama College of DuPage." Potential students and their parents should be warned that the overwhelming majority of the faculty despises conservatives, despises Republicans, and despises America.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=254047&src=
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Susan Menzimer of Elgin demonizes and denigrates everyone who voted for McCain - does Obama approve of that message?
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=253187&src=
-- Media out of touch, not the Republicans - Mari Russell, Kildeer
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=253804&src=
-- Auto industry driven by consumer wants - Peg Olsen, Elk Grove Village
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=253936&src=

NBC5
-- VERY SAD: Jim Thompson files George Ryan clemency request with President Bush
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/-Ex-Guv-Ryans-Wife-Laywers-Want-Him-Home-for-Holidays.html
-- GM Asks U.S. FAA to Bar Public Tracking of Leased Corporate Jet - John Hughes and Elloitt Blair Smith
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=afrKemH3i.2Y&refer=home

TOM ROESER
-- Don’t Chide Obama for Naming Retreads: The Lefty Moves Will Come Soon Enough - in the Form of Court Appointments.
http://www.tomroeser.com/blogs/blogview.asp?blogID=24830

ACCURACY IN MEDIA
-- Doublespeak and American Socialism - Cliff Kincaid
http://www.aim.org/aim-column/doublespeak-and-american-socialism/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: BEYOND OUTRAGEOUS: Countries, organizations, companies, and individuals that want to take over if not destroy America are overjoyed. Two Brookings Institution "senior fellows" want General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler to go out of business and to sell their all their assets to foreign companies -- to Toyota, Honda, BMW, Nissan, etc. How soon will these "senior fellows" urge America to sell Alaska, to sell Hawaii, to sell the southwest states, to sell the northwest states, to sell the southeast state, to sell the northeast states, to sell what is left of America to foreigners?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122783248646663009.html
-- Pension Agency Sounds Alarm on Big Three - John Stoll
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122783412760363185.html

WASHINGTON TIMES
-- Bush ready to go when time comes
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/28/washington-in-five-minutes-80179711/

DUPAGE COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE
-- DuPage Chairman Dan Cronin Declares Victory in the November 4th Election!
http://www.dupagegop.com

Read more...

Thursday, November 27, 2008

GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - November 27, 2008

GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - November 27, 2008

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- Who will speak at the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) luncheon on Saturday, December 13 in Bolingbrook -- McCain, Palin, Sauerberg, Biggert, Johnson, Kirk, Manzullo, Schock, Shimkus, Roskam? It seems that if Jim Thompson, Jim Edgar, George Ryan, Jim Ryan, Judy Baar Topinka, Bob Kjellander, etc. speak, they would denounce conservatives and denounce conservatism and call for taking all the social planks out of the IRP platform. But wait, conservatives are the base of the IRP and the those social planks are what distinguish the IRP from the Illinois Democrat Party. Will those who want to return to direct election of IRP State Central Committee members be allowed to speak? - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
The Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee (SCC) and County Chairman's Association (CCA) will meet on Saturday morning, December 13, at the beautiful Bolingbrook Golf Club. A joint SCC and CCA luncheon will follow the meetings. Illinois Republican precinct committeemen and precinct captains anxiously await details on the meetings and on the luncheon from their Township and Chicago Ward party leaders. Township and Chicago ward party leaders anxiously await details on the meetings and on the luncheon from their county party leaders. County party leaders anxiously await details on the meetings and on the luncheon from their SCC member. SCC members anxiously await details on the meetings and on the luncheon from IRP Chairman Andy McKenna. Elected officials, including township and county officials, state representatives and state senators, and congressmen anxiously await details on the meetings and on the luncheon from party leaders. What will be on the agendas for the SCC meeting, CCA meeting, and luncheon? What will be discussed in executive session? Who will speak at the luncheon -- McCain, Palin, Sauerberg, Biggert, Johnson, Kirk, Manzullo, Schock, Shimkus, Roskam? What will IRP Chairman Andy McKenna, IRP National Committeeman Pat Brady, and National Committeewoman Demetra DeMonte say about how America and the rest of the world views the IRP? Will candidates for statewide, congressional, and other offices use the luncheon to announce/promote their candidacies? What will Representative Jim Durkin say about the McCain-Palin campaign in Illinois? What will McKenna, CCA Chairman Pollard, Senate Republican Leader Radogno, and House Republican Leader Cross say about the 2008 election including efforts to get out the vote by precinct committeemen; precinct captains; township and Chicago ward party leaders; county party leaders; SCC members; and elected officials including township and county officials, state representatives and state senators, and congressmen? What will be said about the IRP's financial condition? What will be said about the IRP platform? It seems that if Jim Thompson, Jim Edgar, George Ryan, Jim Ryan, Judy Baar Topinka, Bob Kjellander, etc. speak, they would denounce conservatives and denounce conservatism and call for taking all the social planks out of the IRP platform. But wait, conservatives are the base of the IRP and those social planks are what distinguish the IRP from the Illinois Democrat Party. What will be said about returning to direct election of SCC members? Will those who want to return to direct election of IRP SCC members be allowed to speak? Which SCC and CCA members will announce that they will or will not run again in 2010? Will McKenna announce that he will or will not run again in 2010?
-- Milton Township Republican Central Committee to slate candidates for township offices on December 10 - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
Milton Township Republican Central Committee members will vote at their December 10 meeting in Wheaton to slate candidates for Milton Township offices. Chris Heidorn has declared his candidacy for Supervisor; Gail Hinkle for Clerk; Bob Earl for Assessor; Gary Muehlfelt for Highway Commissioner; and Chris Edwards, Sal Falbo, Jim Flickinger, Bob Larsen, and Marie Jensen for four Trustee offices.

CBS2
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Mike Flannery calls for Obama to make speeches that encourage Americans to be optimistic. Diersen calls for Obama to make speeches that encourage Americans to purchase General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler vehicles.
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/truth.in.politics.2.875049.html (Includes video clip)

PIONEER LOCAL
-- Congressman Peter Roskam puts auto executives on the spot - Josh Singer (DIERSEN: To some extent, all countries, all organizations, all companies, all groups, and all individuals are guilty of creating their own problems. However, it is a tremendously strong action to take to publicly charge someone with creating their own problems. By calling for the Big Three auto executives to "cut their salaries to $1," Roskam publicly charged them with being 99+% guilty of creating the Big Three's problems. Of course, sadly, all the others who are guilty of creating the Big Three's problems, including all those who hate America and want to turn America's auto industry over to foreigners, were overjoyed that Roskam did that. Who advised Roskam to demonize and denigrate the Big Three auto executives by calling for them to "cut their salaries to $1?" Was it the same advisor who told Roskam's predecessor, Henry Hyde, to say that his extramarital affair when he was 41 years old was a "youthful indiscretion?" Was it Japanese auto executives who say that they would "fall on their sword" before asking for a loan guarantee?)
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/schaumburg/news/1301967,sc-roskam-112708-s1.article
(THE ARTICLE: Garnering national media attention for questioning Big Three automobile executives during a meeting about a proposed government bailout, U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, R-6th, said that he just asked a "simple question." Roskam, who sits on the House Financial Services Committee, asked Big Three auto executives if they would be willing to cut their salaries to $1 given their request for taxpayer assistance. While many representatives grilled the CEOs during the Nov. 19 hearing about a proposed $25 billion auto industry bailout, responses to Roskam's question -- only Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli answered yes -- were picked up by television stations and newspapers across the country. General consensus held that the auto executives lacked a clear plan of how to use the government aid, so Congress delayed a vote on the bailout. Roskam said other issues, such as a lack of transparency, contributed to the decision. "Part of it was the cavalier nature of the auto industry," said the Wheaton Republican, adding executives were not forthcoming with fourth-quarter projections and based forecasts that the auto market would rebound on the assumption that it has already bottomed. The government has already approved $700 billion to rescue the finance industry. Roskam, who opposed both bailout packages, said leaders have used "audible plays" to decide how to use those funds, instead of a steady plan. He acknowledged problems caused by giving large amounts of taxpayer money to corporations at a time when many are struggling. "It becomes a situation of who do you say no to," Roskam said.)
-- Why did locals go for Obama? - Nancy J. Thorner, Lake Bluff
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/lakeforest/news/forum/1300531,Lf-letters-112608-s1.article
(THE LETTER: As Chicago's "favorite son", it was not surprising that Barack Obama received 62 percent of the vote in Illinois to McCain's 37 percent. Nevertheless, it was disconcerting to discover that 13 of the 21 precincts in Shields Township, which covers all of Lake Bluff and most of Lake Forest, went for Obama, including my own Precinct 240 in Lake Bluff. Only in Lake Forest did voters residing in Precincts 248 through 255 favor McCain over Obama. How did this happen? This is not a center-left country. Republicans in Congress did stray during their six years as Majority Party from 2000-2006. They forgot about limited government and went on a spending spree with taxpayers money. Democrats, however, during the same time period wanted to spend millions more. Damaging to the Republican Party was that for eight long years the Bush Administration was branded by the mainstream media and sold to the public as an administration that couldn't shoot straight and whose policies made other nations hate us. Also undermining the Bush Administration were powerful, unelected liberal bureaucrats in the Departments of Defense and State and the CIA who interfered with the Administration's defense and security policies (The Failure Factory by Bill Gertz is a must read.). But it was the October surprise, the economic meltdown, that made defense a non-issue, McCain's strong point, and the economy the dominant issue. Little credit was given to President Bush for keeping this nation safe and well along the road toward victory in Iraq. The public placed blame for the economic meltdown on Republicans, despite the role of prominent Democrats in creating the sub-prime mortgage crisis by their refusal to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Meanwhile Obama was packaged and presented to the public as a centrist, despite his leftist background and lack of experience, without vetting and with little criticism, as one who could save this nation after eight years of a failed George W. Bush presidency. Although it is impossible to foretell what will happen in an Obama Administration, it is a given that it will bring Americans more government, debt and taxation. Democrats seem to forget that government doesn't know how to make money, it can only spend it, and that wealth is created from the top down. Already announced is that president-elect Obama plans to rescind on Day One many of Bush's executive orders, replacing them with job-and-growth killing environmental executive orders which would bankrupt the coal industry and cause domestic energy production to shrivel away. Front and center over the next several years is whether this nation will remain a beacon of hope and freedom for people the world over or will it go the way of Socialistic Europe where culture has been eroded by high tax burdens, big government control, welfare rolls exploding, churches becoming empty, and national defense as an after thought? Future generations of Americans will have to live with whatever Obama's "change we can believe in" might prove to be, voted in by a majority of Americans on Nov. 4, 2008, even here in Shields Township. May history be kind and may God look favorably upon America as Americans usher in "Obamaland" on Jan. 20.)
-- Palatine Township: Voters select both Republicans, Democrats for office - Andrew Hellpap
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/hoffmanestates/news/1301862,he-voting-111308-s1.article

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- Keep Ryan and his "conscience" locked up - Eric Zorn
http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2008/11/keep-ryan-and-his-conscience-locked-up.html
-- Durbin puts clemency on the table, then takes off - Eric Zorn
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-zorn-27-nov27,0,1633946.column
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Chicago Tribune promotes Aaron Schock
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-schock-bureau-thunov27,0,7617545.story
-- BEYOND OUTRAGEOUS: Raul Castro tells Sean Penn he'd meet Barack Obama on neutral ground; suggests Guantanamo base - Anita Snow
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-cb-cuba-castro-penn,0,4133777.story

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Outrageously, but not surprisingly, the Chicago Sun-Times gives Obama credit when the stock market goes up. Of course, when the stock market goes down, the Chicago Sun-Times blames Republicans.
http://www.suntimes.com/business/1302907,Stocks112708.article
-- Cook County: Stroger's budget riddled with mistakes - Mark Konkol
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/1302666,CST-NWS-county27.article
-- Cook County Pension Fund letter was irresponsible - Liz Gorman
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/1302554,CST-EDT-vox27.article
-- Auto bailout cheap compared to Iraq - Roger Simon
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/1302459,CST-EDT-simon27.article

SOUTHTOWN STAR
-- Giving thanks prematurely for economic recovery - Kristen McQueary
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/mcqueary/1302467,112708mcqueary.article

DAILY HERALD
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Alfred N. Godinez of Prairie View and Walt Zlotow of Glen Ellyn argue that everyone who did not vote for Obama is a racist. How many Whites voted for Obama solely to avoid being called a racist? How many Whites did not vote for McCain out of fear of being called a racist?
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=253448
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=253484&src=
-- Congress is the fox in the hen house - Greg Stimpson, Wood Dale
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=253485&src=

SUBURBAN LIFE
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who promote "World AIDS Day" should a) acknowledge that homosexual activity and sexual activity outside of wedlock promotes AIDS and b) focus on discouraging homosexual activity and on discouraging all sexual activity outside of wedlock
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/wheaton/news/x541368072/Health-Department-honors-World-AIDS-Day

LAKE COUNTY JOURNAL
-- Zion’s reactor site deserves a second look - Nancy J. Thorner, Lake Bluff
http://www.lakecountyjournals.com/articles/2008/11/25/opinion/letters/doc492c5ecf5e4fa881484186.prt

CHICAGO ARGUS
-- What is going through Durbin’s mind when it comes to the fate of George Ryan? - Gregory Tejeda
http://chicagoargus.blogspot.com/2008/11/what-is-going-through-durbins-mind-when.html

TOM ROESER
-- Durbin Pleads for George Ryan Pardon. Marion Brooks Keeps a Straight Face to Interview Jeremiah Wright. “Catholic Colleges” are a Misnomer - with Few Exceptions.
http://www.tomroeser.com/blogs/blogview.asp?blogID=24828

CNS NEWS
-- VERY SAD: Unions Fight to End American Capitalism - Ben Shapiro
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=39965
-- MORE EVIDENCE THAT TRAGICALLY, ANTI-RELIGIOUS ADVOCATES OF PROMISCUITY AND HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVITY ARE MAKING PROGRESS: Religious Leaders: Churches Should be ‘Nonjudgmental’ about Behavior That Transmits HIV - Pete Winn
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=39962

FAMILY SECURITY MATTERS
-- Exclusive: Seven Things True Conservatives Should Be Thankful For - Gabriel Garnica, Esq.
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.1870/pub_detail.asp

AMERICAN THINKER
-- Barack Obama and the Strategy of Manufactured Crisis - James Simpson
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/09/barack_obama_and_the_strategy.html

MOTOR TREND
-- What Do GM's Troubles Mean for the Corvette? - Matt Stone
http://blogs.motortrend.com/6358607/editorial/what-do-gms-troubles-mean-for-the-corvette/index.html

Read more...

Todd Stroger's Budget

ST quoting Claypool on Todd Stroger's budget,

"I've never seen a government that put out a budget so chock full of errors, inaccuracy and misinformation. I don't even think they know their own financial picture," Commissioner Forrest Claypool said. "It shows remarkable ineptness and is symbolic of general mismanagement of county government that taxpayers pay a heavy price for."
I don't think Cook County is going to be able to pull out of this tail-spin.

Only hope is going to be a bailout from the Feds. That's gotta be what Stroger's counting on. Hope he has the good sense not to take a private plan when he goes to plead for it.

Read more...

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

A 2010 GOP Dream Ticket: Experience, Unity

The Illinois Republican Party has an opportunity to make major stides in 2010, and I am praying with every fiber of my being that they can find a way to fully take advantage of it.

The simple fact that two high profile statewide offices are on the ballot in the same years also allows the Republicans to overcome their greatest perennial hurtle: uniting the conservative and moderate factions. By slating an ideologically balanced ticket for the marquee races for Governor and Senator, we can hopefully avoid the “circular-firing squad” of recent election cycles. My advice would be to find a strong conservative with executive and/or business experience to run for Governor and a battle-tested moderate for the Senate.




My dream ticket: out-going Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (and former Downers Grove-based ServiceMaster executive) Steve Preston for Governor and Congressman Mark Kirk for Senate. Just think about it: a successful administrator (even Durbin had high regard for his work at SBA), unscathed by the Springfield circus….our very own Mitch Daniels! Paired with Kirk, who has a proven his ability to win the crucial suburban vote, this duo would be highly competitive by campaigning against the increasingly Chicago-centric Democrats (side note – isn’t it sad how the Democratic power base continues to shrink even as their voter base spreads? Don’t the ¾ of us who live outside the city deserve a few seats at the table?)

Alas, that probably is more like a pipe-dream ticket. But if this time next year, those two were campaigning as a team in the primary campaign, I’d have a lot more for which to be thankful.

Read more...

Now is not the time to commute George Ryan’s sentence

Cross posted from ICPR's blog, The Race is On:

The news this morning is full of stories about Sen. Dick Durbin’s very public mulling over whether to ask President George Bush to commute our former governor’s prison sentence. Sen. Durbin’s focus seems to be on how George Ryan is faring today. He, and his wife, are frail. To recall why he is in prison (pdf):

• He was convicted on 18 counts of public corruption.
• He structured his office so that hiring, promotions, and raises for staff were predicated on what they delivered to his re-election efforts.
• Equipment was looted to benefit his campaigns.
• He told a State’s Attorney investigating corruption in his staff to lay off “his guys.”
• He abetted the shake down of bidders over the awarding of contracts, and even of a small village over the location of a state prison.
• He apparently raised campaign money without disclosing where it came from, or when.
• He accepted bribes from contractors in the form of vacations and endeavored at the time to mask the bribes by writing checks to the contractors, which they surreptitiously paid back to him in cash.
• He arranged for bribes in the form of payments and loans to his relatives.



Ryan’s supporters cite several reasons for continuing to stand by the man. He got along famously with the General Assembly, and sheparded to passage a legislative agenda that many at the time said was too ambitious. But the reason with the most moral weight is always that, in the waning days of his administration, he commuted the sentences of dozens of prisoners, becoming in the process the man who emptied death row.

These are all true descriptions of some of what George Ryan has done with his time here on Earth, but none of them explain why Sen. Durbin is talking about him now. Nor is it because Ryan and his wife are advancing in age and declining in health. We are having this discussion because the President of the United States is about to leave office. It is no small irony that Ryan’s request that the President commute his sentence is based largely on his own decision, when similarly lame in office, to commute the sentences of dozens of prisoners.

From pay raises to pension enhancements, public officials have long used the tail end of their tenure in office for selfish acts. Now is the time when electeds are most insulated from voter backlash. Whether you see these as courageous or cowardly, they are always opportune.

So let’s not pretend that every fourth- or eighth- December is the time when prisoners subjected to excessive punishments always happen to reach a more proper measure of their debt to society. What Sen. Durbin is considering asking the President to do is not a delicate fine-tuning of the scales of justice but a blunt swinging of the lame duck’s ax. And the proper question is not, should President Bush commute George Ryan’s sentence, but is now the right time? Is barely one year in prison suitable for pervasive abuses of the public trust? For someone who has never acknowledged the breadth of his wrongdoing? Indeed, who has always maintained that “his conscience is clear” despite everything that has been proven? Who has failed to apologize to the Willis family who paid the ultimate price for the Ryan administration's corruption--the loss of six of their children? Who has yet to explain the $156,423.70 that magically appeared in his campaign fund on December 31, 2000? Who has yet to make a single act of contrition?

Now is not the time to commute George Ryan’s sentence.

To comment, please visit ICPR's blog.

Read more...

GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - November 26, 2008

GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - November 26, 2008

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE WITH A 5X10-INCH COLOR PICTURE OF THE RYANS AND A CHRISTMAS TREE: Laura Lynn Ryan's plea to President Bush: Bring George home for Christmas (DIERSEN: At the 2000 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) convention in Springfield, with voice choking, Laura Lynn Ryan argued that her husband must be innocent of all charges because he treated their grandchildren so well. Outrageously, anti-conservatives who continue to dominate the IRP, dominate the DuPage County Republican Party, dominate the Milton Township Republican Party, dominate etc., continue to argue that a) George Ryan, Scott Fawell, etc., are completely innocent and b) people who support the IRP platform, that is, conservatives like your GOPUSA Illinois Editor, caused all their problems and caused everyone else's problems.)
http://www.suntimes.com/news/1300317,CST-NWS-prison26.article
-- Statement by members of the Ryan trial team
http://media1.suntimes.com/multimedia/ryanstatement112508a.pdf_20081125_16_38_53_2.imageContent
-- No get-out-of-jail card for unrepentant Ryan - Editorial
http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1300102,CST-EDT-edit26a.article
-- An open letter to Sen. Durbin: Don't do it Asking Bush to free Ryan would profoundly break public trust - Mark Brown
http://www.suntimes.com/news/brown/1300331,CST-NWS-brown26.article
-- Durbin weighs asking Bush to commute ex-Gov. Ryan - Dave McKinney
http://www.suntimes.com/news/georgeryantrial/1298251,bush-ryan-durbin-pardon-112508.article
-- Like 1930s, liberals must push Obama for progress - Colleen Doody
http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/1299989,CST-EDT-open26b.article
-- Showing their hands Firms unveil plans as battle for state's last casino license heats up - Chris Fusco
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/1300123,CST-NWS-game26.article

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- McCain: Time for all to work together - Frank James
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/11/mccain_time_for_all_to_work_to.html
-- Obama pledges a 'new way of doing business' President-elect douses hopes for federal pork in Illinois, vows to scrutinize spending - John McCormick and Peter Nicholas
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama-transition-webonly-nov26,0,1604409.story
-- Durbin may seek commutation for ex-Illinois Governor George Ryan - Christopher Wills
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-durbin,0,6672994.story
-- Durbin may ask Bush to commute Ryan sentence Bush could be asked to free ex-governor from federal prison - Ray Long and Rick Pearson (FROM THE ARTICLE: But three former federal prosecutors who prosecuted Ryan in the licenses-for-bribes scandal said they opposed executive clemency for the former governor and noted he has never accepted responsibility for committing a crime. "A pardon or commutation for George Ryan would send a message to Illinois taxpayers and public servants that the consequences for public corruption in Illinois are less severe and would further fuel cynicism of our important institutions," Patrick Collins, Joel Levin and Zachary Fardon said in a statement. They said a pardon or commutation "would be a true disservice to all citizens of this state and to the judicial process.")
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-durbin-ryan-clemencynov26,0,1076596.story
-- No clemency for Ryan - Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-1126edit2nov26,0,7925238.story
-- DuPage budget may rise 17 percent
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/11/dupage-budget.html

DAILY HERALD
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: DuPage County: Eckhoff, Healy, McBride, Redick, and Sheahan vote NO on Schillerstrom budget. Outrageously, the budget includes "$1 million for nonprofit agencies, which is a 50-percent increase over last year's spending; $300,000 to bolster area food pantries;" Taxpayers have every right to give money to whichever nonprofit agencies and food pantries they select. But government entities should not have the right to take money away from taxpayers to give that money to nonprofit agencies and food pantries that those government entities select.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=253796&src=2
-- Casino investors place their bets - Joseph Ryan
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=253807
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: If asked who should be blamed for the increase in foreclosures, the Daily Herald would say old White male conservatives who drive American nameplate cars and pay lots of real estate taxes and income taxes
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=253805
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Daily Herald uses Thanksgiving to promote "diversity." Is there anything that the Daily Herald does not use to promote "diversity?"
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=253702&src=2
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrat Party controlled Daily Herald argues that the Democrat Party controlled U.S. Congress should follow the Democrat Party controlled Obama
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=253811&src=
-- Obama win symbol of political skulduggery and manipulation - George Kocan, Warrenville
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=253475&src=

NBC5
-- Wright Speaks Out About Obama, Media
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Wright-Speaks-Out-About-Obama-Media.html

CBS2
-- Will George Ryan Get A Bush Pardon? Sen. Durbin Considers Making Request To President - Dana Kozlov
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/george.ryan.pardon.2.874015.html (Includes video clip)

SOUTHTOWN STAR
-- Depression survivors knew what to be thankful for, do we? - Fran Eaton
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/eaton/1299863,112608eaton.article

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- State Capitol Q&A for new Senate leaders - Adriana Colindres
http://www.sj-r.com/state/x541366543/State-Capitol-Q-A-for-new-Senate-leaders

SUBURBAN LIFE
-- DuPage County Board approves $481 million spending plan for 2009 - Dan Petrella
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/westmont/news/x776460467/County-Board-approves-481-million-spending-plan-for-2009

NAPERVILLE SUN
-- DuPage County Board approves 2009 budget Chairman's reductions swayed vote - Paige Winfield
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1299929,6_1_NA26_COUNTY_S1.article

BEACON NEWS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Brad Alexander of Aurora should acknowledge that the Republican Party's problems are caused by a) its policy of letting people who reject most if not all of the Republican Party platform hold leadership positions in the party and b) people getting elected as Republicans who reject most if not all of the Republican Party platform.
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/opinions/openline/1298869,2_4_AU26_OPENLINE_S1.article
-- Towns deride new state plan to keep money meant for locals Emergency act: Governor may grab income tax dollars - Steve Lord
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1300393,2_1_AU26_LETTER_S1.article

AUSTIN WEEKLY NEWS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrat Allen Van Note sets an outstanding example for DuPage County Democrats -- he moves to Democrat Austin, where Democrat values flourish, and works hard there to elect Obama. Outrageously, some Democrats move to Republican DuPage County, where Republican values flourish, and unethically claim to be Republican, unethically become Republican precinct committeemen, unethically become Republican party leaders, and spend most or all their time unethically demonizing and denigrating people like your GOPUSA Illinois Editor who support the Republican Party platform.
http://www.austinweeklynews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=2016&TM=82883.74

MEDILL REPORTS
-- Cook County early voting turnout reveals social, economic disparities - Jen Thomas
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=107533

PUBLIC AFFAIRS
-- Berkowitz w/Senator Dillard on Caprio, Cullerton, Radogno and Deficits
http://jeffberkowitz.blogspot.com/2008/11/better-than-wttws-ponce-wcong-kirk.html

TOM ROESER
-- The Age of Obama - a Déjà Vu of the FDR Era that Didn’t Solve the Depression or Unemployment.
http://www.tomroeser.com/blogs/blogview.asp?blogID=24827

REPUBLICANS FOR FAIR MEDIA
-- Part I: Will Obama Bring Roots to Daley Machine and Long Line of Political Corruption to Washington, D.C.? - Daniel T. Zanoza
http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2008/11/part-i-obamas-roots-reach-back-to-a-long-line-of-chicago-corruption.html

ILLINOIS REVIEW
-- Has Senator Bill Brady really "outfoxed" himself? - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/11/has-brady-reall.html
-- Brady responds to Roeser's "outfoxing" accusations - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/11/brady-responds.html
-- New GOP leader Radogno plans loyal opposition - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/11/new-gop-leader.html
-- Should Bush commute G.Ryan's prison time? - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/11/should-bush-com.html

HUMAN EVENTS

-- JOHN GIZZI: Illinois: Brady Part of Gubernatorial Bunch "As governor, I want to help business thrive, help families grow and prosper, regain trust and unify Illinois." So wrote Illinois GOP State Sen. Bill Brady just days after Democrats led by favorite son Barack Obama swept the Prairie State. Coupled with an appeal to the President-Elect to retain Patrick Fitzgerald as U.S. attorney in Chicago, Brady became the first Republican to declare for the governorship held by scandal-tarred, two-term Democrat Rod Blagojevich. A moderate-to-conservative from Bloomington, the affable Brady made a late-starting but strong bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in ’06. In the race won by moderate State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka (who lost badly to Blagojevich in November), Brady placed third with 18 percent of the vote. The fourth-place finisher (11 percent) in that race, fellow conservative and former Helene Curtis chief executive officer Ron Gidwitz, is also reportedly eyeing another run for the statehouse. Doug Whitley, former head of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and considered more moderate than Gidwitz or Brady, is also said to be exploring a gubernatorial bid.
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=29651

AMERICAN SPECTATOR
-- Thanksgiving, Obama, and the Pilgrims - Mark Tooley
http://www.spectator.org/archives/2008/11/26/thanksgiving-obama-and-the-pil

TIME MAGAZINE
-- The Anti-Obama Ad Campaign That Never Happened - Michael Scherer
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1861831,00.html?iid=tsmodule

BAY AREA REPORTER
-- Gays mostly vote Democrat, figures show - Lisa Keen
http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=3522

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
-- The Conservative Movement Will Rise Again, Grover Norquist Writes
http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/2008/11/24/the-conservative-movement-will-rise-again-grover-norquist-writes.html
(THE ARTICLE: We have seen this before. After the Republicans lost elections in 1964 with Barry Goldwater, in 1974 following Richard Nixon and Watergate, and in 1976 and 1992 when Jimmy Carter and then Bill Clinton won the White House with unified Democrat control of Congress, the establishment cried out: "The GOP must move left. The conservative movement is dead." They were wrong. We moved forward to Reagan Republicanism—lower taxes, limited government, fewer regulations, and a strong national defense. Conservatism won elections. This will not permanently harm conservatism any more than Nixon did when he raised taxes, created new agencies, and instituted wage and price controls. He and Bush eschewed the Founding Fathers' principles of limited government, low taxes, and a strong national defense that we "conserve." Yes, with the help of hundreds of millions of dollars of coerced union dues and with millions of dollars of political grants to groups like ACORN, the now-famous vote-fraud facilitator, Barack Obama and the Democrats won this election. John McCain and the GOP were handcuffed with something called Feingold-McCain, which limited neither union nor taxpayer financing. But Obama ran as Reagan in his TV ads, saying he would cut taxes and accusing McCain of favoring higher taxes. Obama said that he would cut spending to offset any new spending. And where is America? Exit polling found that 34 percent of Americans call themselves conservative, 44 percent moderate, and only 22 percent liberal. America wants center-right governance but will get left-wing government. A November 9 Rasmussen poll found Americans divided 43 to 41 percent favoring Democrats over the GOP on the generic congressional ballot. Two percent? Some landslide. Some mandate. This is not a disappearing party. There are two models before Republicans and conservatives. In October 1990, President George H. W. Bush hammered out with the Democrats a bipartisan $137 billion tax hike and $274 billion in promised spending cuts. The cuts never happened - spending actually rose $22 billion. Voters fired Bush in 1992. Republicans who put their fingerprints on tax and spending increases are punished. Bipartisan big government hurts the GOP. In 1993, Clinton and the Democrats passed a tax hike on income, gasoline, Social Security recipients, small businesses, and investors. They increased federal spending for welfare giveaways to state and local governments by $250 billion over a five-year period. Not a single Republican joined in the tax hikes and spending spree. In November 1994, Republicans won the House and Senate. The lessons learned from the past: Don't let the establishment left fool conservatives into quitting popular policies of lower spending, limited government, and no tax hikes. And when in the congressional minority, don't rush to make bad policy bipartisan bad policy. The GOP and conservative principles will win in 2010 when America learns that "Obama" is simply French for "Carter and Clinton": More spending, taxes, and regulation and fewer jobs. Barack Obama, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi have never supported a policy that would increase your 401(k) or American jobs. Ideas they have pushed have already reduced your 401(k), jobs, and investment in America. They are the tribunes for the trial lawyers, the labor union bosses, and the big-city machines, three parasite groups. They live off the income and wealth created by others. They want you to pay more union dues, higher taxes, and legal bills. Obama, Reid, and Pelosi will deliver what they want—not what America thought it voted for.)

Read more...

  © Blogger template The Professional Template by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP