GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - June 30, 2008

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: DuPage County is at the heart of Illinois Republican politics and Wheaton is at the heart of DuPage County. Outstandingly, Wheaton has an international reputation for being Christian, for being conservative, and for being Republican. Outrageously, for decades, Democrats, the Chicago Tribune, other newspapers, and TV stations have done everything they can to drive Christians, conservatives, and Republicans out of Wheaton, out of Milton Township, out of DuPage County, out of Illinois, and out of America. Outrageously, for decades, Democrats, the Chicago Tribune, other newspapers, and TV stations have demonized Wheaton's residents as being patriotic, warmongers, boring, mean-spirited, selfish, racist , sexist, bigoted, intolerant, wealthy, heterosexual, white, Christian, conservative, Republican, and worse. Sadly, because of that demonization, Wheaton's downtown and its Independence Day parade have suffered and some are reluctant to move to Wheaton or to stay in Wheaton. But surprisingly, the Chicago Tribune praises Wheaton for welcoming each year scores if not hundreds of refugees into its Wheaton Square apartment complex. That apartment complex surrounds Milton Township's headquarters and is at the start of Wheaton's Independence Day parades. Today, Diersen will again hand deliver parade flyers to each and every apartment in that complex, flyers that encourage the residents to watch Wheaton's Independence Day parade. This year the flyers report that Republicans are sponsoring two parade entries - the Chicago Highlanders and Cub Scout Pack 64. Sitting in front of me as I write this is a picture taken on July 4 last year of Big Queenie the elephant with the apartment complex in the background. Last year, Republicans contributed $2,000 for Big Queenie to walk in the parade behind Congressman Roskam. Before the parade began last year, the many who visited Big Queenie included residents of the apartment complex and many parade participants including Joe Birkett and Lisa Madigan.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-wheaton-refugeesjun30,0,3779580.story
-- VERY SAD: Politics, pageantry mingle at Chicago gay pride parade Participants seek support for same-sex marriage - Kristen Kridel
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-gay-pride-paradejun30,0,5796178.story
-- WHY DO SO MANY WHO DESPISE AMERICA WANT OBAMA TO WIN?: Obama to wrap his story around the Red, White and Blue - John McCormick
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-patriotism-mccormick_30jun30,0,7434622.story
-- Your Stroger-Daley Tax - Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/chi-0630edit1jun30,0,3891049.story

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- OUTSTANDING: Only 4 more days until Wheaton's Independence Day parade Republican participants include: Birkett, Bucholz, Eckhoff, Fortner, Hultgren, Kachiroubas, Olson, McBride, Milton Township Republicans, Muehlfelt, Sauerberg, and Roskam - Dave Diersen
http://www.wheatonjaycees.org/fourth/2008/index2.html
Please plan on coming to Wheaton on July 4 and watching its outstanding Independence Day parade. So far, Republicans Joe Birkett, Fred Bucholz, Grant Eckhoff, Mike Fortner, Randy Hultgren, Chris Kachiroubas, Debra Olson, J.R. McBride, Milton Township Republicans, Gary Muehlfelt, Steve Sauerberg, and Peter Roskam have registered to participate. Many thanks to Joe Birkett, David Carlin, Roger Claar, Kirk Dillard, Grant Eckhoff, Mike Fortner, Gwen Henry, Randy Hultgren, Gary King, J.R. McBride, Debra Olson, and Phil Suess for sponsoring the Chicago Highlanders. Many thanks to Mary Jo Arndt, Michael Connelly, Bob Larsen, Darlene Ruscitti, Tim Whelan, and John Zaruba for sponsoring Cub Scout Pack 64. Many thanks to All Star Printing for printing parade flyers.

CHICAGO PRIDE
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: All the religions of the world discourage homosexual activity. To participate in Chicago's Gay Pride Parade is to promote homosexual activity. Tragically, the parade's 232 participant entries and 14 advertisers reject all the religions of the world and promote homosexual activity.
http://www.chicagopridecalendar.org/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: A veteran uses the "Gay Pride Parade" to promote homosexual activity
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/1031266,CST-NWS-pride30.article
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Democrats blame "A band of fiscally conservative Republican senators" for HIV/AIDS problems
http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1029964,CST-EDT-edit29z.article
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: 65th House District: Laura Washington promotes Democrat Aurora Austriaco
http://www.suntimes.com/news/washington/1031505,CST-EDT-washington30.article

DAILY HERALD
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: More than 25 members of a Palatine "church" reject all the religions of the world and marched in the 39th annual "Gay Pride Parade" to promote homosexual activity
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=213677
-- Killing pay raises is a good place to start - Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=213705&src=
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: The increasing out-of-wedlock birth rate in America is one of America's greatest problems. In a personal conversation with George F. Will shortly after George W. Bush was elected President, I urged Mr. Will to urge President Bush to set a goal for America like John F. Kennedy had set a goal for America to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. I urged Mr. Will to urge President Bush to set a goal for America to bring the out-of-wedlock birth rate back down to pre-Great Society levels by the end of the decade. Sadly, Mr. Will did not take my advice.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=213717
-- High fuel prices pinch the working girl Trucker-reliant brothel biz seeing 25% downturn - AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=213565

CBS2
-- VERY SAD: Thousands Attend Annual Gay Pride Parade Theme of March Was "Live, Love, Be Proud" Mike Puccinelli
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/gay.pride.parade.2.759599.html (Includes video clip)

NBC5
-- VERY SAD: Organizers See Spike In Attendance At Gay Pride Parade
http://www.nbc5.com/news/16742236/detail.html (Includes video clip)

ABC7
-- VERY SAD: Chicago turns out to celebrate gay pride - Ravi Baichwal
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6235482

SOUTHTOWN STAR
-- Governor could blame proposed budget cuts on Madigan - Rich Miller
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/miller/1030930,063008miller.article

NAPERVILLE SUN
-- Local projects 'held hostage' by funding feud Naperville Republicans Cross, Dillard, Dunn, and Meyer blast Democrats over stalemate - Tim Waldorf
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1031194,6_1_NA30_CAPITAL_S1.article
-- "Prosecutors had sought a 60-day jail term for McCulloch, who previously worked on behalf of former U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert and U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam."
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1031354,6_1_NA29_FRAUD_S1.article

COURIER NEWS
-- OUTRAGEOUS: Bilingual classes required by law - Cigi Ross
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/1031273,3_1_EL30_A1BILINGUAL_S1.article

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
-- Where is Schock?
http://www.pjstar.com/news_columnists/x1816438202/Unfinished-business-for-library
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Schock isn't just a congressional candidate vying for the 18th District congressional seat. He still is an elected official. We're trying to let his constituents know where he stands on the issues. That can't happen if he doesn't talk. Some ranking Republican leaders in the 18th District are starting to get concerned. What is he thinking? Schock's campaign manager, Steve Shearer, has assured us Schock is just very busy and working hard at fundraising. And those same Republicans are wondering if Shearer is devoting enough time to Schock's campaign and instead is filling his plate too full. Shearer is angling for a position on the Illinois Republican Party's state central committee - a post that will be vacated by Demetra DeMonte, who recently was elected Republican national committeewoman. He also holds a pivotal role in Joan Krupa's campaign for Schock's 92nd District seat.)

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- Governor busy with federal agents
http://www.sj-r.com/news/x390621234/State-Capitol-Notebook

ILLINOIS REVIEW
-- Could non-citizens steal an election? - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/06/could-non-citiz.html
-- Yes, Non-Citizens can cast enough votes to alter election outcomes. - Mark Rhoads
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/06/yes-non-citizen.html
-- VERY SAD: Obama, the LGBT rights supporter - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/06/obama-the-lgbt.html

REPUBLICANS FOR FAIR MEDIA
-- Part 2 of Series What's Wrong With Journalism? Illinois Blog Blurs Lines of Journalism: A Matter of Trust - Daniel T. Zanoza
http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2008/06/part-2-of-series-whats-wrong-with-journalism-illinois-blog-blurs-lines-of-journalism-a-matter-of-trust.html

CAPITAL FAX
-- VERY SAD: Gay Pride Parade Shines Through Despite Rain
http://capitalfax.blogspot.com/2008/06/gay-pride-parade-shines-through-despite_29.html
(FROM THE REPORT: The biggest contingent by far was those who marched on behalf of Barack Obama. More than a hundred (maybe more than 200) people marched for Barack.)

ABC NEWS
-- McCain Pounds Obama for Position Flips - Tahman Bradley
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=5271961&page=1

WASHINGTON POST
-- Libertarian Barr Says GOP Is Played Out - Zachary Goldfarb
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-talk/2008/06/libertarian_barr_says_gop_is_p.html?hpid=topnews

NEW YORK TIMES
-- McCain Gets Praise, Not Backing, From Grahams - Robert McFadden
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/us/politics/30campaign.html?_r=1&ref=us&oref=slogin

LOS ANGELES TIMES
-- John McCain visits with Billy Graham
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/06/john-mccain-bil.html
-- McCain visits evangelist Billy Graham and his son A retired general has blunt words about the GOP senator's experience. Obama takes the day off.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-campaign30-2008jun30,0,4564705.story

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
-- Candidates' wives under media microscope - Carla Marinucci
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/29/MNIB11FM71.DTL

UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
-- McCain's judicial plan draws conservatives
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/06/29/McCains_judicial_plan_draws_conservatives/UPI-30321214783594/

CROSSWALK
-- Obama Backs Equal Pay for Women, Yet His Female Staffers Are Paid Less than Male Staffers - Fred Lucas
http://www.crosswalk.com/news/11578373/

MCCLATCHY
-- Lack of funds hobbling the 'Republican attack machine' - Steven Thomma
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/election2008/story/42490.html

CITY JOURNAL
-- Obama’s Boys of Summer A Who’s Who of 1968 radicals supports the candidate. - Daniel Flynn
http://www.city-journal.org/2008/eon0629df.html

HUFFINGTON REPORT
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who want Obama to win tell McCain that he must pander to Hispanics
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/30/primer-impacto-how-spanis_n_109856.html

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Illinois Memorial at the Vicksburg National Battlefield

Modeled after the Panthenon, the most impressive of the state memorials within the Vicksburg National Military Park honors the Illinois soldiers who took part in the campaign to capture the "Gibraltar of the Confederacy."

Leading up to the monument are 47 steps, one for each day of the siege.

Engraved inside the dome the names of each of the 36,325 Illinoisans who participated in this key battle.

Here's what Marlo Carter Fitzpatrick wrote about the memorial in Mississippi Off The Beaten Path:

Of the thousands of names listed, two are of particular interest. Fred Grant, the general's twelve-year-old son, is listed as his aide. Also listed is Albert D. Cashire, who served throughout the Vicksburg campaign. When Cahsire was hospitalized years later he was discovered to be a she--an immigrant named Jennie Hodgers, who had masqueraded as a man for nearly half a century.

Click here for Colonel Austin Bay's post on Vicksburg and the 26th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

To comment on this post, or to see read more about "My Mississippi Manifest Destiny," click here.

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Gay Pride Parade Shines Through Despite Rain

not even the rain could keep chicago away from the annual gay & lesbian pride parade. you'd like to say that a good time was had by all, but the very least we can say is, a very good time was had! some people are intent on bringing it all down, but they can hardly stop what basically turned into a huge street party.

the rain was not the only thing we had to worry about. a participant feel off a float, got run over and broke his leg, putting a stop to progress for 2/3rds of the parade's entries. an ambulance was dispatched, putting a big hole in the parade (this for a parade that always has huge gaps due to stoppage for cross-traffic). still, most of the politicians involved were never effected.

the biggest contingent by far was those who marched on behalf of barack obama. more than a hundred (maybe more than 200) people marched for barack. as always, vi daley, john fritchey and sara feigenholtz had strong contingents. and alexi giannoulias had a big group, many with very colorful (and new, at least to me) t-shirts. of course, this is the parade to go all out for! plus, alexi's very able chief of staff (and my former state rep) was there, as well.

deb shore was there, representing the metropolitan water reclamation district. roberto maldonado brought his message of bringing the government to the people to the parade. tom tunney also brought out a big crew. they were surrounded by the floats from the local television stations.

there were a number of politicians, though, who were effected by the parade stoppage. anita alvarez was among them and well represented. her t-shirt said it all (elect me!). jan schakowsky (and super-surrogate for barack obama) was another. the cook county democrats -- aka "the machine" -- had a float with joe berrios and todd stroger. stephanie neely brought up the rear.

more photos in the comments.

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GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - June 29, 2008

SOUTHTOWN STAR
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: McQueary reports on Blagojevich the horse
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/mcqueary/1028284,062908mcqueary.article
(FROM THE REPORT: Blagojevich's trainer also recommended turning the horse into a gelding, or castrating him, at a young age. Blagojevich, you see, was a bit too aggressive and unfocused. Horses that keep their reproductive parts are called "studs" and can be used for breeding. But they require special handling and separation from other horses because of their temperament. So Blagojevich went under the knife. While learning about horse health care, I stumbled upon something profound. There is, in fact, a completely legitimate medical condition to blame for all the aggression among Democrats in Springfield. Forget the jokes about testosterone, or even the very real talk of impeachment. What we need is a team of surgeons. But I digress. On the day I met Blagojevich, he was in his stall waiting impatiently for his morning jog. Like the governor, Blagojevich the horse jogs a few times a week for three or four miles at a time. To see his daily routine and my exclusive interview with Blagojevich, watch the video posted on our Web site, www.southtownstar.com. You'll see him run gracefully around the track at Balmoral, pulling the cart on which I sat with his trainer. I think Blagojevich knew I was a member of the media. He kicked enough sand and grit into my hair to plug a Fox River levee. I also got a unique view of his posterior. There's a joke in there that might apply to the governor. But I'll let you figure it out.)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD, BUT NOT SURPRISING: Democrats Barney Frank and Lisa Madigan blame foreclosures on Republicans
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-jesse-jackson-conference_both_29jun29,0,936320.story
-- Obama's brass monkey king good luck token charms Indians - Laurie Goering
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-india-obama_goeringjun29,0,410922.story
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Mary Schmich promotes homosexual activity
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-schmich_bd29jun29,0,3104649.column

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- VERY SAD: Neil Steinberg promotes homosexual activity, again
http://www.suntimes.com/news/steinberg/1029750,CST-NWS-stein29.article

DAILY HERALD
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: OUTRAGEOUS: Daily Herald promotes Obama, again
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=213468
-- High gas prices not oil companies' fault - Nancy Thorner
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=213091&src=
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Mike Sullivan of Mount Prospect blasts Birkett
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=212744&src=

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Schoenburg reports on Bill Brady, Joe Birkett, Dan Rutherford, Corvettes, and John Shimkus
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x2113787711/Bernard-Schoenburg-08-election-up-next-but-2010-talk-already-in-the-air
(FROM THE ARTICLE: State Sen. BILL BRADY, R-Bloomington, who ran in the GOP primary for governor in 2006, has strongly hinted he’s laying groundwork for another run. And DuPage County State’s Attorney JOE BIRKETT, who was running mate to GOP gubernatorial candidate JUDY BAAR TOPINKA in 2006, has posted articles on his campaign Web site, www.joebirkett.com, including one from the Naperville Sun headlined “Birkett considers run for governor in 2010.” . . . State Sen. DAN RUTHERFORD, R-Chenoa, who ran for secretary of state in 2006, has also let it be known that he is a likely statewide candidate in 2010. Oh, and Blagojevich is raising campaign money too. If the past is prologue, much of what he’s raising could go to lawyers. Still, if he has any left, he just might run again as well. Brady visiting Turkey Sen. Brady is among a bipartisan group of about a dozen Illinois lawmakers visiting Turkey. “They have meetings with members of Parliament,” said PATTY SCHUH, spokeswoman for Senate Republicans. “They’re an official delegation meeting with government officials of Turkey.” She said the trip was sponsored by the Turkish American Society of Chicago, a nonprofit group, and the Chicago Turkish American Chamber of Commerce. “I think they’ve been trying to reach out in a number of ways to build some relationships,” she said. Schuh said she believes lawmakers who went on the trip are from all four legislative caucuses and are paying their own airfare. The trip was from June 20 through Monday. Brady’s district includes part of eastern Sangamon County. Corvettes get a day U.S. Rep. JOHN SHIMKUS, R-Collinsville, recently sponsored a House resolution to name June 30 “National Corvette Day.” No, Shimkus doesn’t drive one, and he has never owned a Corvette, said spokesman STEVE TOMASZEWSKI. But there’s an annual Corvette Funfest put on by a company called Mid America Motorworks in Effingham, which is in Shimkus’ 19th Congressional District. The event, Sept. 19-21 this year, is expected to showcase 12,000 Corvettes. MIKE YAGER of Mid America, as well as the National Corvette Association, came to Shimkus with the idea for the resolution, Tomaszewski said.)

ABC7
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: National Association of Latino Elected Officials lets known McCain hecklers get in
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/politics&id=6233998
(FROM THE ARTICLE: McCain was interrupted four times by protestors, three of whom were identifiable as CodePink members. Four separate interruptions (as opposed to the number of people protesting, which can vary) may tie a record for recent McCain events. Of the first protestor, a woman from Code Pink who frequents most of McCain's stops in Washington, McCain quipped, "That's a very familiar voice to me." The woman was protesting the Iraq war, saying that she wanted a "peace candidate." . . . Before Obama took stage later in the morning, a NALEO official apologized for the protesters, noting they were not a part of NALEO and didn't represent NALEO. Protestors at a McCain events are not uncommon; many people are opposed to McCain's position on the war in Iraq. Especially in Washington, the likelihood of someone interrupting McCain is about as good as the likelihood of McCain addressing his audience with his signature appellation, "my friends.")

COURIER NEWS
-- OUTSTANDING: Elgin Township Republicans salute Shirley Rauschenberger - Betty Brown
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/lifestyles/brown/1028359,3_5_EL29_BETTYBROWN_S1.article
-- OUTRAGEOUS: Darlene Hulin adopts gay and lesbian pride, participates in annual parade - Gloria Carr
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/lifestyles/1028365,3_5_EL29_PARADE_S1.article

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
-- Let Illinois capture gas tax revenue, not Washington - Ronald Fraser
http://www.pjstar.com/oped/x1470893823/OP-ED-Let-Illinois-capture-gas-tax-revenue-not-Washington

CLTV
-- VIDEO CLIP: Obama's ties to the Chicago Machine
http://weareillinois.org/connect/newsDetail.aspx?newsID=4107

ILLINOIS REVIEW
-- The question remains: Who verifies who's qualified to vote? - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/06/the-question-re.html

NEW YORK TIMES
-- VERY SAD: Obama Supporters Take His Middle Name as Their Own - Jodi Kantor
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/us/politics/29hussein.html

LOS ANGELES TIMES
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Andrew Malcolm ridicules the GOP and a House GOP report on three recent special election losses
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/06/house-gop.html
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Grover Norquist blasts Obama
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-ticket29-2008jun29,0,6172074.story?page=1

ASSOCIATED PRESS
-- VERY SAD: Huge crowds expected for SF gay pride parade
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gBqeOWTjCr7tV6mRHqWnUMnU0RVgD91JMAH80

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Tragically, anyone involved in politics who has ever engaged in a homosexual act is subject to blackmail by homosexual activists. The Democrat Party platform promotes homosexual activity, but the Republican Party platform does not. People who believe that homosexual activity should be promoted vote for Democrats. People who believe that homosexual activity should not be promoted vote for Republicans. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Homosexual activity does not divide the Democrat Party because the Democrat Party will not let you hold an important position in the party unless you promote homosexual activity. Homosexual activity divides the Republican Party because the Republican Party routinely gives important positions to people who believe that homosexual activity should be promoted and they use their positions to demoralize, denigrate, and dive out those who do not agree with them. Tragically, for decades, people who believe that homosexual activity should be promoted have dominated and divided the Illinois Republican Party.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/06/28/IN5H11EA7E.DTL
(FROM THE ARTICLE: DeNunzio is not the stereotypical face of the GOP. When he was chairman of the San Francisco Republican Party, he was in the Gay Pride Parade. "I wasn't happy about being in a parade with people running around half naked," DeNunzio confessed, "but I believe in the big tent." And that the GOP should be "a party that welcomes everybody." In that spirit and in recognition of the GOP's historic ties with African Americans, DeNunzio made the S.F. GOP a presence at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast. As a member of Mayor Gavin Newsom's 10-year plan on homeless commission, DeNunzio believes that San Francisco has "created a homeless industry." And he wants to take on that industry, but with the understanding that city policies should "respect the dignity of the human being." Christopher Bowman, another indefatigable Republican, thinks DeNunzio "was a helluva fine commissioner" - both on the homeless panel and on the Aging and Adult Services Commission. "He does his homework, and he gets things done." "One of the problems has been that many Republicans have a defeatist attitude," former Police Chief Tony Ribera, now at the University of San Francisco, noted. "I know that Mike does not." DeNunzio is aware that he is in an uphill fight. So be it. "Half the tennis players are not going to win," he shrugs. "They still go out and play.")

MSNBC
-- ‘Hanoi Hilton’ jailer says he’d vote for McCain Former captor denies account of torture, says McCain made it up for votes - AP
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25418965

ASSOCIATED PRESS & CNN & BLOOMBERG & CHICAGO TRIBUNE & THE HILL & BALTIMORE SUN & SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE & DAILY HERALD & CBS2
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Race based politics is extremely divisive and extremely destructive. Very sadly, "700 Hispanics attending the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials conference" make it clear that they will promote whoever panders the most to members of their race
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i_NxbDHD1WStzVfTazDU_yduIPzQD91J8BQG0
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i_NxbDHD1WStzVfTazDU_yduIPzQD91JAOJ80
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/28/mccain.obama.latino/?iref=mpstoryview
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aw6wkf3t3gLA&refer=home
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-campaign-mccain-obamajun29,0,4476422.story
http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/mccain-obama-battle-for-hispanic-votes-2008-06-28.html
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/06/obama_mccain_walks_away_on_imm.html
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/29/MNTM11GVVK.DTL&type=politics
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=213467&src=110
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/heckler.mccain.obama.2.759339.html

ILLINOIS BAR ASSOCIATION
-- VERY SAD: MURDERERS OVERJOYED: Illinois State Bar Association Assembly Votes to Support Abolishment of Death Penalty
http://www.illinoisbar.org/

NEWSWEEK
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Conservatives support Republicans. Liberals support Democrats. Republican leaders argue that Hispanics are conservative, do why do so many Hispanics (65% in the most recent poll) support liberal Democrat Obama?
http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/06/27/is-the-hispanic-vote-really-up-for-grabs.aspx
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In early May, a Gallup poll showed Obama beating McCain 51 percent to 41 among Hispanics--a relatively narrow margin. But by the end of the month--as the Democratic race was winding down--Obama's support had skyrocketed to 62 percent, and McCain's had plummeted to 29. Polls taken since then have mirrored that massive 30-point gap, with the most recent (AP/Ipsos) showing Obama clobbering his Republican rival 65 to 21.)
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Newsweek sets up Alan Jacobs, 49, an English professor at Wheaton College, as the spokesman for "young evangelicals"
http://www.newsweek.com/id/143760

DETROIT FREE PRESS
-- Is Obama switching positions? Some say it's a reality in politics - Margaret Talev
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080629/NEWS07/806290585/1009/NEWS07

REUTERS
-- McCain says: “Obama’s word cannot be trusted” - Jeff Mason
http://blogs.reuters.com/trail08/2008/06/28/mccain-says-obamas-word-cannot-be-trusted/

ANDY MARTIN
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Andy Martin Responds to the Washington Post
http://www.pr-inside.com/andy-martin-s-response-to-the-washington-r672702.htm

WONKETTE
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Ms. Wonkette uses profanity to argue that Corvettes are gas guzzlers, but my 2005 is rated by her EPA at 18 MPG city and 26 MPG highway
http://wonkette.com/400796/breaking-house-passes-sweeping-national-corvette-day-legislation-making-oil-cost-like-four-cents

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Former State Treasurer and Cook County Appellate Court Justice Frances J. Lorenz Services Sunday and Monday

Former State Treasurer and Cook County Appellate Court Justice Frances J. Lorenz Services Sunday and Monday
Kathleen Bergan Schmidt, Chairwoman of the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee, has sent out an email concerning the Thursday death of transplanted Chicago politician Francis J. Lorenz.

Lorenz, who lived in Lakewood's Turnberry subdivision, was appointed state treasurer in 1960 and defeated for the office by Republican Bill Scott in 1962. A rematch for the office of attorney general in 1968 also saw Scott come out on top.

Lorenz had family in Crystal Lake and was passionately concerned with the treatment of a grandchild at school, according to a friend who conferred with him in the 1990's.

Locally, Lorenz was associated with Zukowski, Rogers and Flood, if my memory serves me correctly.

Here is Bergan Schmidt's email:

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death of Justice Francis J. Lorenz on Thursday evening.

Justice Lorenz was the 2007 Recipient of the Democratic Party of McHenry County's Thomas Jefferson Award for Lifetime Achievement. As was stated on the 2007 program:

Retired Illinois Appellate Court Justice Francis Lorenz began his career as a lawyer for the city of Chicago. He became a leading authority in eminent domain law, and led efforts for land acquisition for O'Hare Airport and the Skyway Bridge. He was elected Clerk of the Superior Court of Cook County in 1956, then Cook County Treasurer in 1958. He was appointed Illinois State Treasurer in 1960. In 1963 he became Director of Public Works and Buildings, where he oversaw construction of the Chicago area's toll roads and major highways. Justice Lorenz was elected to the Illinois Appellate Court, First Judicial Circuit in 1970, where he served until his retirement in 1992.

Justice Lorenz was a generous supporter of our local Democratic Party and was quite pleased with the recent growth in Democratic strength in our county. The Democratic Party of McHenry County has lost a great friend.

A floral arrangement has been sent on the behalf of the party. Thus far, I know of 3 members of the Democratic Party of McHenry County who will be attending the visitation and/or funeral mass for Justice Lorenz. If you would like to do likewise,

visitation will be from 3 to 9 PM on Sunday, June 29, at the Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E. Terra Cotta Avenue, Crystal Lake. On Monday, June 30, there will be a service at 9 AM at Davenport Family Funeral Home, followed by Mass at 9:30 AM at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church , 451 W. Terra Cotta, Crystal Lake.

Unfortunately, Lorenz retired so long ago there is very little information about him on the internet.

Posted first on McHenry County Blog, which contains articles on where Democrats are campaigning Sunday, plus details of State Rep. Mary Flowers single payer health care hearing in McHenry.

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Progressive Blogs Roundup

furthering the effort to provide a little balance -- and a weekly reminder that the blogs on the left end of illinois' political spectrum are intellectually diverse and highly spirited. some of the posts from this past week include:

* rob nesvacil mocks the republicans' hypocrisy for criticizing the "seal" at a recent obama event. if you think about it, the only thing republicans can do to prevent barack from becoming president is to keep him from looking presidential. which it appears they will go to extraordinary lengths to do.

* SCAM has a piece about Fear of a Black Planet President. he asks, "And if voters really want to cast their ballots based on fear, they should try this on for size: "Ninety-five more years in Iraq.""

* josh kalven writes about david plouffe's presentation on the obama campaign's strategy for winning the electoral college this fall.

* josh kalven chimes in on McCain's Chicago Mess: "Unfortunately for him, Illinois Minutemen leader Rosanna Pulido was present at the meeting and has been publicly expressing her "disgust" with McCain's private comments in the days since."

* ccdem notes that dan seals is the 50 States, 50 Candidates for illinois.

* the candidate himself, dan seals, wants Help Electing the Government We Deserve. we do deserve better representation than mark kirk in congress, so give dan a hand.

* ellen of the tenth live blogs mark kirk's campaign call on your tax dollar.

* josh kalven once again points out mark kirk's hypocrisy, this time about kirk's bogus china drilling claim.

* ellen of the tenth writes about mark kirk opposes Oil Drilling Lease Use it or Lose it Policy in the week after the american petroleum institute's red cavaney admitted that there is no idle drilling equipment out there so the oil companies can't even explore the lands they have a right to drill on, let alone add new capacity from ANWR or the ocean shelf.

* hiram wurf posts about scott harper's campaign against the increasingly out of touch judy biggert, who's got some 'splaining to do about her vote against recession extension of unemployment benefits.

* jeff berkowitz wants you to tune in to his interview with scott harper tomorrow.

* mose buchele writes about how the Legal Troubles Deepen For marty Ozinga.

* josh kalven asks if steve sauerberg is ready for prime time.

* david ormsby writes that gov. blagojevich wants to cut hiv/aids testing and drugs to balance the budget. he observes that, if you couldn't afford rod's high-priced fund-raiser this week to make your views known, you can try the gay pride parade on sunday. i suppose it's possible the governor will come out of his shelter.

* congresswoman (and indefatigable obama surrogate) jan schakowsky posts a diary about dan biss' bid for the illinois house seat in evanston.

* josh kalven looks into Sen. Durbin Creating Parallel Party Apparatus In Illinois

* adam doster finds Medill Reports' clearinghouse on all things Con-Con.

* mose buchele notes what is going on in the cook county state's attorney race. am i the only one who doesn't think peraica wants to be state's attorney, he just wants to have his name on the ballot to set up a 2010 rematch?

* ellen of the tenth posts that her mom wants you to know that "medicare is not free:" In fact it's kind of expensive and at risk of getting even more expensive and/or more difficult to use. As this country cannot seem to get a reasonable health care plan opting to throw the federal treasury down the Iraq toilet, the issue has been whether to decrease physician payments and increase the Part B premium paid by seniors or let the doctors scratch and keep premiums as they are.

* the inside dope blogs about why newspapers are struggling to adapt to the 21st century.

* UMRBlog asks what were people's experiences with the recent flooding.

* josh kalven wants to start a conversation about affordable housing.

* will reynolds writes about Green Tuesday in central illinois.

* carl nyberg wonders why we teach our children to love the war.


typical disclaimer: none of these blogs (afaik) are currently represented on illinoize, which is why i chose to write about them here...

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Chicago, city of broad strictures

In posting this Tribune opinion, I suppose I could ask one question. What happened?

Chicago's grit is the stuff of legend. The city's hard-scrabble history conjures images of wind-beaten dock hands; rugged immigrants working punishing factory jobs; and 500 acres of slaughterhouses and their hard-time killing floors.

At the same time, Chicago has always adopted a work-hard/play-hard mentality.

The city drank its way through Prohibition; its brothels became legendary, as author Karen Abbott detailed in a great new book, "Sin in the Second City"; and though Chicago today has a well-earned reputation for fine dining and cutting-edge cuisine, it is more known for sating its hunger with a greasy kielbasa, a thick steak, or an inch-deep slice from Gino's East.

But Chicago seems to have lost a bit of its hard edge. The town that poet Carl Sandburg called "a tall bold slugger set vivid against the little soft cities" has itself gone soft, thanks to meddlesome politicians and public health officials who think Chicagoans aren't capable of making their own decisions about health, risk and vice.
....
The fact is, a lot of "little soft cities" have become brassier and freer and, well, funner than Chicago.

At Reason Magazine, we recently took a look at how the 35 most-populous cities in the United States balance individual freedom with government paternalism. We ranked the cities on how much freedom they afford their residents to indulge in alcohol, tobacco, drugs, sex, gambling and food. And, for good measure, we also looked at the cities' gun laws, use of traffic and surveillance cameras, and tossed in an "other" category to catch weird laws such as New York's ban on unlicensed dancing, or Chicago's tax on bottled water.

The sad news, Chicagoans, is that your town came in dead last. And it wasn't even close.

Chicago reigns supreme when it comes to treating its citizens like children (Las Vegas topped our rankings as America's freest city). Chicagoans pay the second-highest cigarette tax in the country, and the sixth-highest tax on alcohol. Chicago has more traffic-light cameras than any city in America (despite studies questioning their effectiveness), restricts cell phone use while driving, and it's quickly moving toward a creepy public surveillance system similar to London's.

What happened to that gritty city of old? The city that was when I suppose my parents left the south to come up north to take advantage of the opportunities available. Of course this isn't necessarily about smoking up a storm at a neighborhood establishment, running a red light, drinking up all that bottled water, owning a gun at home, or even eating fatty foods. How did Chicago become soft?

Hat-tip Newsalert.

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GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - June 28, 2008

ASSOCIATED PRESS
-- Illinois urged to get out of death-penalty limbo - Nguyen Huy Vu
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gja3D19Pj1Fgl_887NDy3u1C8-4wD91J1FQ00

DAILY HERALD
-- FRONT PAGE IN DUPAGE EDITION WITH COLOR PHOTO OF MCCULLOCH: DuPage political consultant Rod McCulloch gets probation, community service in election fraud case - Jim Fuller
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=213059
-- State Representative Mike Fortner honored by the Metro West Council of Government, a group he helped found - Jack Komperda
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=213154&src=5
-- Government gridlock is fine in Illinois - Jacksonville Journal-Courier
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=213029&src=
-- Death penalty fate still undecided - AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=213292&src=109
-- Poverty doesn't justify abortion - C. E. Glomski, Elk Grove Village
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=212671&src=

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- Consultant Rod McCulloch gets probation for fake petition signatures Rips Birkett's prosecution case as 'politically motivated' - Dan Rozek
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1029851,CST-NWS-fraud28.article
-- No time for Obama to play it safe - Carol Marin
http://www.suntimes.com/news/marin/1029880,CST-EDT-carol29.article
-- Enforcement of immigration law is good news for low-skilled Americans - David Francis
(Not posted as of 6:00 AM)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- Ex-political aide Rod McCulloch gets 2 years' probation for election fraud in Milton Township
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-mcculloch-both-jun28,0,555571.story
-- OUTSTANDING: National Rifle Association sues Chicago, Evanston, Morton Grove, and Oak Park to repeal their firearms bans - Azam Ahmed
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-nra-gun-suits-both-jun28,0,5491548.story
-- 11th Congressional District: Supreme Court ruling unlikely to change Ozinga's money plans - Erika Slife
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2008/06/supreme-court-r.html
-- Obama's success fuels (RACE AND GENDER BASED PREFERENCE GIVING) foes - Charles Babington
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-obama-affirmativeacti,0,7252949.story

CBS2
-- Where Does Obama Stand On Second Amendment? - Mike Flannery
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/obama.second.amendment.2.759054.html (Includes video clip)

LAKE COUNTY NEWS SUN
-- OUTSTANDING: ICE arrests 43 illegals - Ryan Pagelow
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/1029174,5_1_WA28_ICE_S1.article

COURIER NEWS
-- Understanding the campaign cash ruling Foster and Oberweis try to grasp what it means for them - Dan Campana
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/1029748,3_1_EL28_A3FINANCE_S1.article

HERALD NEWS
-- "Illinois casino revenues have dropped sharply. A state smoking ban and a weaker economy getting the blame."
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/1029635,4_1_JO28_JOLIETBUDGET_S1.article

CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD BUT NOT SURPRISING: Second Amendment: Hinz blasts Scalia and praises Daley
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=29994

OTTAWA TIMES
-- State Senator Frank Watson tells how tables turned on governor - Charles Stanley
http://mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=362404

ILLINOIS REVIEW
-- 96th House District: Senger endorsed by Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/06/senger-endorsed.html
-- Tell the Chicago Police to enforce the law (RE: Gay Pride Parade) - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/06/tell-the-chicag.html
-- Registering illegals to vote? - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/06/registering-ill.html

PUBLIC AFFAIRS
-- A 13th CD Harper-Biggert virtual debate on the War - Jeff Berkowitz
http://jeffberkowitz.blogspot.com/2008/06/better-than-brokaw-hosting-meet-press.html

TEXAS OBSERVER
-- Texas Republicans sport stiff upper lips at their state convention - Dave Mann and Forrest Wilder
http://www.texasobserver.org/article.php?aid=2795

WASHINGTON POST
-- An Attack That Came Out of the Ether Scholar Looks for First Link in E-Mail Chain About Obama - Matthew Mosk
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/27/AR2008062703781.html?hpid=topnews
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Allen discovered that theories about Obama's religious background had circulated for many years on the Internet. And that the man who takes credit for posting the first article to assert that the Illinois senator was a Muslim is Andy Martin. Martin, a former political opponent of Obama's, is the publisher of an Internet newspaper who sends e-mails to his mailing list almost daily. He said in an interview that he first began questioning Obama's religious background after hearing his famous keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. In an Aug. 10, 2004, article, which he posted on Web sites and e-mailed to bloggers, he said that Obama had concealed his Muslim heritage. "I feel sad having to expose Barack Obama," Martin wrote in an accompanying press release, "but the man is a complete fraud. The truth is going to surprise, and disappoint, and outrage many people who were drawn to him. He has lied to the American people, and he has sought to misrepresent his own heritage." Martin's article did not suggest an association between Obama and radical Islam. Martin was trying to launch a Senate bid against Obama when he says he first ran the Democrat's name by a contact in London. "They said he must be a Muslim. That was interesting to me because it was an angle that nobody had covered. We started looking. As a candidate you learn how to harness the Internet. You end up really learning how to work the street. I sort of picked this story up as a sideline." Martin said the primary basis for his belief was simple -- Obama's father was a Muslim. In a defamation lawsuit he filed against the New York Times and others several months ago, Martin says that Obama "eventually became a Christian" but that "as a matter of Islamic law began life as a Muslim" due to his father's religion. The belief that Obama unavoidably inherited his religion was not uniquely Martin's -- as recently as May, it was proffered by Edward N. Luttwak, a fellow at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, in a New York Times op-ed piece.)
-- Tancredo Questions McCain - Jonathan Weisman
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/06/24/tancredo_questions_mccain.html?tid=informbox
(THE ARTICLE: He may be the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party, but John McCain has yet to heal all the wounds on his right flank. Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), a failed presidential rival of McCain's and an anti-illegal immigration gadfly, launched into the senator from Arizona for meeting in secret with Latino leaders last week in Chicago. One participant in the meeting emerged to criticize McCain for taking a tougher stand on illegal immigration on the campaign trail than the line he allegedly used behind closed doors. Now, Tancredo is taking up the cudgel in an open letter to his party's presumptive nominee. "Recently in Chicago, you had a closed door meeting with a group of Hispanic leaders," he wrote. "Strangely, the closed door meeting was not on your official events calendar, no press was invited and no press release appears to have been issued. Yet, according to several news reports, you promised the group that you plan to pursue 'comprehensive immigration reform.' Senator, given your past sponsorship of amnesty legislation, such statements raise troubling questions. Are you planning to break a promise you made in February to postpone all other immigration reform legislation until we have first secured our borders?" Ahead of a scheduled McCain appearance in July before the National Council of La Raza, Tancredo warned, "I challenge you to deliver a message to that assembly which does not pander to their amnesty agenda. You should speak to the La Raza convention and to all Hispanic audiences about America's need for secure borders as a priority above all other immigration reforms. Moreover, I hope you take that opportunity to make it clear that it is in the long term interest of Mexico and other Latin American nations to halt the massive out-migration of their citizens." McCain has promised Republican lawmakers and activists that he will set aside his push to grant illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship, at least until he can certify that the U.S. borders have been closed to illegal immigration. At the same time, he has tried to win back support from Hispanic voters who have fled the GOP since the party took up the immigration issue fervently in 2005.)

MSNBC
-- Veepstakes: Lieberman brings up Wright - Mark Murray
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/27/1171692.aspx

HOUSTON CHRONICLE
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Liberals want amnesty, want more guest worker programs, want more mass immigration, and want more homosexual activity. Conservatives oppose amnesty, oppose more guest worker programs, oppose more mass immigration, and oppose more homosexual activity. Those who want amnesty, who want more guest worker programs, who want more mass immigration, and who want more homosexual activity are going to vote for Obama, not for McCain. The more that McCain hints that he might be for amnesty, for more guest worker programs, for more mass immigration, or for more homosexual activity, the fewer votes that McCain will get. Therefore, those who want McCain to be for amnesty, for more guest worker programs, for more mass immigration, or for more homosexual activity want Obama to win and want McCain to lose.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/5861334.html

ALTER NET
-- Immigration Hard-Liners and John McCain: Strange Bedfellows or Forever Star-Crossed? - Jordan Smith
http://www.alternet.org/immigration/89755/?ses=aa31c59ca344da065e31de7297131d6a

VILLAGE VOICE
-- VERY SAD: Michelle Obama Woos Gay Democrats in Midtown - Julie Bolcer
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2008/06/michelle_obama_1.php

CORVETTE QUARTERLY-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Past/present Corvette owners include Joe Biden, Barry Goldwater, John McCain, Colin Powell, and Clarence Thomas. Diersen, who has owned a 1972 Corvette since 1971 and a 2005 Corvette since 2005, urges all Republicans, especially Republican candidates, Republican elected officials, and Republican party leaders, to own and drive American nameplate vehicles.www.gopillinois.com (Files page)

CBS NEWS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Sadly, Politico ridicules Congressman Shimkus for honoring Corvettes and therefore, sadly, Politico ridicules all past, present, and future Corvette owners. Sadly, Politico argues that Corvettes are not important because the are "truly a symbol of American pride," but instead, because they "help you get chicks" and because they look "really cool." The vehicle you drive says a lot about you. Who you ridicule and what you ridicule says a lot about you. Because Corvettes symbolize what is best about America's automotive industry, to ridicule those who honor Corvettes is to ridicule America's automotive industry.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/27/politics/politico/thecrypt/main4215883.shtml

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- New GOPUSA ILLINOIS poll: Why do you read GOPUSA ILLINOIS daily emails? You want information that helps you:
http://www.gopusa.com/illinois/poll.shtml
-- Advance the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) platform?
-- Get/keep/improve a job with an organization or individual that is involved in government or politics in Illinois?
-- Get/keep/improve a contract with an organization or individual that is involved in government or politics in Illinois?
-- Get/keep/improve some other type of income from an organization or individual that is involved in government or politics in Illinois?
-- Get/keep/improve government or political actions that directly benefit your personal or business financial interests?
-- Increase government or political preferences for members of your race?
-- Increase government or political preferences for those who share your gender?
-- Increase government or political preferences for those who share your national origin?
-- Increase government or political preferences for members of your age group?
-- Increase government or political preferences for those who engage in homosexual activity?
-- Demoralize, undermine, discredit, and/or demonize those who are involved in IRP politics to advance the IRP platform?

-- Only 6 more days until Wheaton's Independence Day parade Republican participants include: Birkett, Bucholz, Eckhoff, Fortner, Hultgren, Kachiroubas, Olson, McBride, Milton Township Republicans, Muehlfelt, Sauerberg, and Roskam - Dave Diersen
http://www.wheatonjaycees.org/fourth/2008/index2.html
Please plan on coming to Wheaton on July 4 and watching its Independence Day parade. So far, Republicans Joe Birkett, Fred Bucholz, Grant Eckhoff, Mike Fortner, Randy Hultgren, Chris Kachiroubas, Debra Olson, J.R. McBride, Milton Township Republicans, Gary Muehlfelt, Steve Sauerberg, and Peter Roskam have registered to participate. Many thanks to Joe Birkett, David Carlin, Roger Claar, Kirk Dillard, Grant Eckhoff, Mike Fortner, Gwen Henry, Randy Hultgren, Gary King, J.R. McBride, Debra Olson, and Phil Suess for sponsoring the Chicago Highlanders. Many thanks to Mary Jo Arndt, Michael Connelly, Bob Larsen, Darlene Ruscitti, Tim Whelan, and John Zaruba for sponsoring Cub Scout Pack 64. Many thanks to All Star Printing for printing parade flyers.

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Bill Foster: A Public Document for Offical Business

Bill Foster must think we in the sticks need big glossy pics to answer the questions on the small card attached to this Public Document for Official Business at the taxpayer's expense.

Gosh darn but we ain't that stupid.






xp Bill Baar's West Side

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Transportation jobs still in limbo

By Bethany Jaeger
The hype over moving an Illinois Department of Transportation building from Springfield to southern Illinois goes beyond the roughly 110 jobs at stake. It begs the question whether the administration will be sincere in following a statutory process for closing state facilities and whether politics will overshadow policy in the decision.

The governor announced this afternoon that he intends to move the department’s Division of Traffic Safety from Springfield to Harrisburg in Saline County. The press release says the move would save $12.8 million over the next decade, while allowing much-needed economic development in southern Illinois. Several local officials, on the other hand, argue that there are numerous options for cheaper office space in Springfield and no reason to move the workers, who travel throughout the state for their work, away from the centrally located city.

The governor made it sound as though the move was final, but there’s a process that must take place under state law before the state can close a facility. Skeptics don’t buy the logic and question the motivation. Whether politics or cost-savings are behind the move, it’s the process that deserves attention.

The public body in charge of overseeing that process is the bipartisan legislative Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. Dan Long, executive director of the oversight panel, says the State Facilities Closure Act is pretty clear: “No action may be taken to implement the recommendation for closure of a State facility until 50 days after the filing of any required recommendation.”

The administration has to file its recommendation to close the Springfield facility by July 1. That hadn’t happened by Friday morning, even though the governor officially announced Harrisburg would receive the IDOT Division of Traffic Safety shortly after. An IDOT spokesman said the intent is to file the necessary paperwork by the deadline. A public hearing has to be held, currently scheduled for July 31 in Springfield. Then the administration can’t actually close the Springfield facility for 50 days, which lands on September 11. The governor’s press release says the move would take six to nine months.

“If they’re acting already to move before the 50 days after the recommendation’s filed, I think it’s a violation of the act,” Long said. If that happens: “I suppose someone could go to court and challenge it.”

A legal challenge could come from anyone from the commission itself, to the legislators who serve on the panel, to the legislators who represent Springfield, to the public employee unions that represent the IDOT employees.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 represents the 110 of the workers affected by the move, according to spokesman Anders Lindall. Management would remain in Springfield. Lindall said he won’t speculate about the administration’s intent but did say, “We’re troubled by the way this entire process has proceeded so far.”

He compared the move to previous attempts to close Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet and another correctional center in Pontiac. “What’s common to each of them is that it seems very clear that there’s no logic or planning or sound policy behind any of them. Whether it’s political or whether it’s meant as a threat, I don’t know. But I do know that we don’t think it’s appropriate for anyone to threaten people’s lives and livelihoods, to threaten their jobs. And that’s what’s happening here.”

One political undertone involves the ongoing negotiations between AFSCME and the administration. They have to agree on a contract that spells out the amount state employees make and the amount they have to pay for health care and retirement benefits for the next four years. Threatening any state employee jobs could be perceived as a threat to compromise — or else.

Another political undertone involves the legislators whose districts would lose the Springfield jobs. The move first was announced the day after Springfield Sen. Larry Bomke, a Republican, voted in support of a measure that would have allowed the public to decide whether to recall public officials, commonly seen as a swipe against Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Bomke said the motivation seems clear to him: Retribution for the recall vote.

“I don’t think [the governor] likes Springfield,” he said. “I don’t think Springfield cares much about him.”

But Bomke said he felt skeptical that the move will actually happen. “This governor has a tendency to make announcements and then not follow through. So I’m hopeful this will be another case of that.”

Rep. Rich Brauer, a Petersburg Republican, described the plan as an “ill-informed idea that should be dropped,” as it would move some data entry employees with disabilities away from their homes and potentially affect their health care options. But, he said, “Unfortunately, the process isn’t binding. It’s going to take public opinion to change the fact that he has a lot of leeway on where he wants [to station them] and the fact that state government is here in Springfield.”

The question is whether the process will work as intended. After the public hearing, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability has to review the information gathered and issue a recommendation about whether to close the facility and move the jobs. The commission’s opinion, as Brauer pointed out, is not binding. The governor could still move the jobs. But in the past, the governor has followed the commission’s recommendations.

The governor’s press office did not return repeated phone calls or an e-mail.

Bomke said the governor has thumbed his nose at the law before (mainly in his push for health care expansions), and this time also would come with consequences. “If he does, then it gives us clear grounds to sue him,” Bomke said.

Would he do that? “Absolutely. In a heartbeat.”

Note: The State Journal-Register posted this article saying IDOT employees who don't want to move to Harrisburg would be offered same-level jobs within the agency.

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GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - June 27, 2008

LOS ANGELES TIMES
-- Sen. Obama might be just Obama without law written by Sen. McCain - Andrew Malcolm
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/06/obama-mccain.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Funny how things go around and come around. In his initial run for the U.S. Senate in 2004, this fellow Barack Obama, who we seem to be hearing a lot about these days, was one of the very first beneficiaries of the so-called millionaire’s amendment that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Thursday. Obama’s main Democratic primary foe that year was Blair Hull, a wealthy investor who poured $28 million of his own money into the campaign. But under that same national campaign finance law, Hull’s immense personal spending on himself released Obama from the $2,100 per donor cap then in effect. And it allowed him to raise his own campaign money in increments up to $12,000 per donor. That national campaign finance law was co-written by another now familiar name, John McCain, the senator from Arizona. Now, McCain is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee who will face Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, on Nov. 4 to become president of these United States. Talk about unintended consequences. Some analysts believe that Obama might well have lost that crucial first step onto the national political stage without the financial boost he received from McCain's law allowing him to gather . . . sums in excess of that $2,100 cap. He certainly would have been unable to finance statewide television advertising. And then, talk about luck, an Illinois court also helped Obama further when it unsealed Hull’s divorce filing, allowing Chicago newspapers to report embarrassing details about the millionaire’s marriage at about the same time as the ads for this fresh Obama face began airing. But, wait! His luck wasn't over. In the ensuing general election, Obama faced Republican millionaire investor Jack Ryan. But, would you believe it, an alleged sex scandal involving his ex-wife forced him out of the race. And the Illinois GOP -- talk about desperate -- turned to that political powerhouse, Alan Keyes, who was destroyed by newcomer Obama.)
-- McCain seeks to reassure conservatives in Ohio - Peter Wallsten and Bob Drogin
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-mccain27-2008jun27,1,5132660.story

ABC7
-- OUTRAGEOUS: Gov says he won't stop contributions from state contractors - Andy Shaw
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/politics&id=6230828 (Includes video clip)

CBS2
-- Did Rezko Witnesses Lie? Or Did Governor? New Court Documents Show Blagojevich Denied Having Conversations Described By Witnesses - Mike Flannery
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/blagojevich.rezko.case.2.758300.html (Includes video clip)
-- McCain: Chicago Gun Ban Infringes On Rights Obama: 'What Works In Chicago May Not Work In Cheyenne'
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/mccain.handgun.ban.2.757688.html

DAILY HERALD
-- During the 1990s, DuPage County was the face of Republican Party dominance in Illinois politics. Now, not so much. But two county officials are often mentioned as possible candidates for statewide office in 2010. State's Attorney Joe Birkett recently told the Daily Herald he's considering a run for either governor or attorney general. He narrowly lost the attorney general race to Democrat Lisa Madigan in 2002 and was the lieutenant governor nominee on the GOP ticket that lost in 2006. County board chairman Bob Schillerstrom also seems to have increasingly fancied himself a political player in recent years. Most recently he helped put votes on the mass transit bailout in exchange for getting a state-approved sales tax hike in DuPage that bailed out his budget. So here's the question: Come November 2010, do you think either Birkett or Schillerstrom will be on the statewide ballot? Feel free to elaborate. - John Patterson
http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/214
-- Governor asked to raze raises before cutting other programs - John Patterson
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=212766&src=109
-- Fledgling DuPage economic group needs cash - Jack Komperda
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=212789&src=2

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- Illinois lawmakers: ruling to make it tougher to pass gun restrictions - Jeff Meitrodt and Rick Pearson
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2008/06/illinois-lawmak.html
-- Millionaire's amendment decision won't impact Illinois much - David Mendell
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2008/06/millionaires-am.html
-- U.S. investigators interviewed Blagojevich on 'multiple occasions,' court document says Judge in Rezko case releases filings about governor - Jeff Coen and Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-blago-federal-probe-webjun27,0,1951543.story
-- VERY SAD: HITLER, STALIN, AND OTHER DICTATORS AGREE: Repeal the 2nd Amendment - Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Chicago Tribune promotes illegal immigration, amnesty, more guest worker programs, again
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-detainees_27jun27,0,5096979.story
-- Anonymous newsmakers - Timothy McNulty
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-oped0627mcnultyjun27,0,2237804.column
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A few readers have claimed it is hypocritical for me to support limited anonymous sourcing in reporters' articles while opposing anonymous postings on the chicagotribune.com comment boards. I see protecting those who need protection as a legitimate concern. The anonymous postings, however, allow the cowardly mob to conceal themselves as they spread hate and falsehood. Anonymity is a worldwide issue. Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, visited the Tribune editorial board last week and discussed how the Internet, for all its glorious democratization, has also become a "superhighway for hate." He said Google and Yahoo and other Internet providers have not been able to find an acceptable way to reduce the widespread electronic hate speech without becoming censors. Few want regulations or legislation that endangers free speech. The ADL was instrumental in passage of an "anti-mask" law in Georgia in 1951, aimed at the Ku Klux Klan. Anonymous posting, especially the virulent ones that are racist and anti-Semitic, are, to my mind, the modern equivalent of wearing a mask. We ought not to allow it.)

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- Court blows away gun ban 5-4 VOTE Ruling D.C. law is unconstitutional triggers lawsuit challenging Chicago's curbs -- but experts doubt significant change here soon - Abdon Pallasch
http://www.suntimes.com/news/washington/1027715,CST-NWS-guns27.article
-- FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PHOTO OF BLAGOJEVICH: Who lied, witnesses -- or gov? REZKO TRIAL Feds reveal he denied pay-to-play remarks described by 2 in court
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/rezko/1027691,CST-NWS-rezko27.article
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: NOT SURPRISING: Deborah Douglas blasts Obama's critics
http://www.suntimes.com/news/douglas/1027960,CST-EDT-douglas27.article
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Chicago Sun-Times editorializes against Second Amendment rights, again
http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1027954,CST-EDT-edit27a.article

SOUTHTOWN STAR
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Kristen McQueary promotes Radogno
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/1027675,062708radogno.article

NAPERVILLE SUN
-- Choose DuPage wants more jobs for county Organization: $5.5M should be enough to push initiatives - Paige Winfield
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1027558,6_1_NA27_DUPAGE_S1.article

WHEATON SUN
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: The Wheaton Sun knows full well which Republican candidates and elected officials will walk in Wheaton's 2008 Independence Day parade because its Wheaton reporter, Hank Beckman, reads the GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails every day. Outrageously, the Wheaton Sun article on the parade does not include anything about which Republican candidates and elected officials will walk in the parade. Outrageously, the article does not include anything about Republicans sponsoring the Chicago Highlanders or Cub Scout Pack 64. Outrageously, the Wheaton Sun, which acts as an agent of the Democrat Party, promotes its bias against Republicans.
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/wheatonsun/news/1026114,6_1_NA27_WSFOURTH_S1.article

OTTAWA TIMES
-- Election awareness, forum Saturday
http://mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=362308

LAKE COUNTY NEWS SUN
-- Vote Republican - Phil Collins
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/opinions/letters/1025360,5_4_WA26_LETTERS_S1.article
(THE LETTER: I heard Sen. Barack Obama say that the 2008 elections should cause change and I agree. We can change the government by electing more Republicans. Democrats control the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Illinois Senate and Illinois House. If Illinois voters want to change the government, we'll ensure that Republicans regain control of those four houses. If that happens, those politicians will decrease tax rates, decrease spending, defend us from terrorists and discourage illegal immigration.)

ILLINOIS REVIEW
-- Illegal immigration: Stop the Debate, it's not welcomed - Rosanna Pulido
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/06/stop-the-debate.html#more
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Dave Gorak makes some additional points about illegal immigration
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/06/wednesdays-alwa.html#more
-- Sen. Obama Has Skillfully Played Not One, But Many Different Race Cards - Mark Rhoads
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/06/sen-obama-has-s.html

CHAMPION NEWS
-- State GOP Convention in Decatur: Just more proof that Republicans need the power to directly elect (Part 1) - Doug Ibendahl
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=1050
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Champion News has strongly supported the direct elections reform for a long time. We're talking of course about giving every Republican back the right to directly elect his or her own representative who sits on the Illinois Republican Party's senior governing board - that 19-member State Central Committee. We've made the case in favor and debunked every single one of the disingenuous talking points advanced by an old guard that is terrified at the thought of being held accountable by the Republican rank-and-file in a real election. But no written or spoken word could make a stronger case for this past-due reform than our recent State GOP Convention. Republicans who made it to Decatur were witness to the most slam-dunk case imaginable. Yes, the convention earlier this month was a divisive, rigged-up mess that did much to help guarantee disaster for many GOP candidates this fall, even the many decent ones out there. We certainly shouldn't be expecting John McCain for example to be spending any time in Illinois, other than for drop-ins to mine-out campaign cash for spending elsewhere. McCain's got to focus on states where the GOP leadership is competent and serious, especially since it's shaping-up to be another close election nationally. As long as the Illinois GOP keeps holding conventions where a few don't care how much they help the Democrats by demoralizing our own base, Republicans here shouldn't expect to be a player in a presidential election. And it really has nothing to do with native son Barack Obama being on the ballot. The same stupidity and unprofessionalism locked-up Illinois for John Kerry last time before the race had really begun. In many ways, this year's state convention was more destructive to GOP prospects than the last one in 2004 - and that one was pretty bad. And that's exactly the point. Through their actions, Andy McKenna, Jr. and his handlers did Republicans one big favor - unwittingly of course. They just reinforced everything we've been saying here at Champion News about the need for this Illinois GOP to wake-up and get serious. A lot of people got to see first hand in Decatur what happens when a handful of really bad players selfishly take advantage of a system where they feel immune from being held accountable by the Republican voters they are supposed to be serving. So we want to thank Chairman McKenna for becoming the Poster Boy for direct elections. Thank you Andy for proving our case.)
-- Effective GOP leadership still absent on Capitol Hill - John Biver
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=1049
-- Champion News Talk Radio welcomes state pension fund expert Bill Zettler
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=1048

TOM ROESER
-- See How the Archdiocese Cowed Pfleger? Back Bigger than Ever and on “Good Morning America!” . . . Fr, Andy Greeley Explains It All for You - Russert and Hesburgh Should Have Been Bishops. Figures.
http://www.tomroeser.com/blogs/blogview.asp?blogID=24637

CAPITOL FAX
-- What do you think the chances are that Sen. Radogno runs? What do you think the chances are of her winning the primary? - Kevin Fanning
http://thecapitolfaxblog.com/2008/06/26/question-of-the-day-554/

REPUBLICANS FOR FAIR MEDIA
-- Does the "O" in FOX Stand For Obama? Softball interview with Obama May Mislead Public - Daniel T. Zanoza
http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2008/06/does-the-o-in-fox-stand-for-obama-softball-interview-with-obama-may-mislead-public.html

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
-- VIDEO CLIP: VERY SAD: Gay Agenda -- Shapes U.S. Politics
http://www.illinoisfamily.org/davesblog/blogview.asp?blogID=22637
-- VERY SAD: Chicago Gay Pride Parade 2008 - Arlene Sawicki
http://www.illinoisfamily.org/news/contentview.asp?c=33939

POLITICO
-- Meet the make-believe political strategists of TV - Daniel Libit
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=BC9D1553-3048-5C12-00F5BE5F28096DD0

CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY
-- Jigsaw Politics: The Congressional Hotbeds - Bob Benenson
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002907403&cpage=2
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois: The fact that favorite son Obama will be the Democrats’ presidential nominee makes Illinois (21 electoral votes) one of the safest states for his party in November’s election. Obama gives Democratic strategists hopes for a “coattails” effect in the state’s host of six competitive House races. They are playing defense in two of these contests and are staging takeover bids for four Republican-held seats in a delegation in which they currently hold a 11-8 edge. The seat most vulnerable to takeover is the Republican-held 11th District, left open by retiring seven-term GOP Rep. Jerry Weller . Already benefiting from a blue-chip recruit in Debbie Halvorson, the majority leader in the Illinois Senate, the Democrats got a gift when the original Republican nominee dropped out of the race a couple of weeks after the primaries. The Republicans since have picked Martin Ozinga, a concrete company executive, as their replacement nominee, and he could ultimately make the race more competitive, but it is currently rated by CQ Politics as Democrat Favored. The Democrats’ other major takeover bid is in the 10th District, in the northern suburbs of Chicago. GOP moderate Mark Steven Kirk , one of the few Republicans to represent a district that favored Democrat John Kerry over President Bush in 2004, is also one of the nation’s best-funded incumbents. But he faces a rematch with the Democrat, business consultant Dan Seals, who gave Kirk a tough race in his 2006 debut as a political candidate. Democrats also are staging longer shot bids against 6th District freshman Republican Rep. Peter Roskam and for the 18th District seat left open by seven-term Republican Ray LaHood. Democrats are defending the seat that scientist/businessman Bill Foster won in a stunning special election upset this March. The 14th District seat he won had been held for two decades by Republican J. Dennis Hastert, the former House Speaker, who resigned his seat last year. Foster faces a rematch with dairy company executive Jim Oberweis, who is now burdened by four losses in major electoral contests this decade. Republicans are making another run at Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean , who has won two terms in the affluent, GOP-leaning 8th District in suburban Chicago because of her business background, campaign skills and relatively centrist image. She faces a challenge from Republican businessman Steve Greenberg. Both Bean’s and Foster’s races are rated Leans Democratic.)

CROSSWALK
-- This Time the Religious Right is Right - Sandy Rios
http://www.crosswalk.com/news/commentary/11578191/

CBS NEWS
-- Priest (PFLEGER) Who Mocked Clinton Stands By His Message - Scott Conroy
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/06/26/politics/horserace/entry4211585.shtml

WALL STREET JOURNAL
-- State Farm Sponsors Hispanic Voting Drive - Miriam Jordan
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121445311635606461.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Some conservative critics are wary of the campaign because Latinos have tended to support the Democratic Party. State Farm doesn't have a political action committee and doesn't give money to any campaigns, a spokesman said, though it is likely that executives and employees associated with the company have given to both parties' candidates.)
-- Conservative Leaders Urge McCain To Speak Out on Social Issues - Elizabeth Holmes
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121452732081709177.html?mod=todays_us_page_one

MOTOR TREND
-- 'Vette Owners: Drive Your Corvette to Work Day is June 27
http://wot.motortrend.com/6260375/events/vette-owners-drive-your-corvette-to-work-day-is-june-27/index.html
(DIERSEN: Sadly, because of the anti-conservatives at GAO's Chicago Office and their supporters, I do not have a paid job to drive to. Further, sadly, if I was still working at GAO's Chicago Office and they found out that I had driven a Corvette to work, they would say that evidenced my bad judgment, evil motives, and disrespect for their planet earth.)

MID AMERICA MOTORWORKS
-- OUTSTANDING: National Corvette Day Official! - Mike Yager
http://www.mamotorworks.com/
(DIERSEN: CO-SPONSORS INCLUDED: Costello, Johnson, Kirk, LaHood, Lipinski, Manzullo, Roskam, and Weller SEE: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:1:./temp/~bd8DIN:@@@P/bss/110search.html)
(THE PRESS RELEASE: We very excited to announce that last night, June 25, 2008, the U.S. Congress approved the vote, presented by Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL), to declare June 30th a National Day of Recognition for Corvette! As the longest running, most widely respected production sports car in United States history, the Chevrolet Corvette is more than a material possession. It is truly a symbol of American pride. In January, Mid America Motorworks launched a grassroots movement to honor America’s True Sports Car with a National Day of Recognition. Because the Corvette first rolled off a Flint, Michigan assembly line on June 30, 1953, we asked that June 30th be declared National Corvette Day. Be sure to remember your favorite sports car this Monday!)

DIERSEN: "It's the economy, stupid." It is obvious that Democrats are driving America's economy down to elect Democrats on November 4. Needless-to-say, it is very sad that so many are going to vote for members of a political party that drives America's economy down to elect its members. Democrats believe that "the end justifies the means." Real Republicans believe in the rule of law and they advance the Republican Party platform.

Read more...

Arlene Jones on the Brach Site

Arlene Jones has opposed plans for a new High School on the old Brach's site and suggested this recently,

If we as a community are truly concerned about wanting a state-of-the-art high school in Austin and want it to be a safe environment, then we need to take a page from the Mayor's handbook and put the school in a location where our children can feel just as safe as those who attend his alma mater. So I want to be the first to put forth my suggestion for an alternative site.

On Madison Street at Menard Street sits the brand new 15th District police station. It also has sitting across the street, 3 blocks of prime business land that was used to put in several parking lots for it. My suggestion is, rather than place a brand new school in a neighborhood that is still struggling socially, put the new high school for Austin on the land currently used as parking lots for the 15th District. With a school directly across from the police department, our children, like those at DeLaSalle, can concentrate on their education without the worry of having to deal with gang-bangers and drug dealers.

I still like the notion of putting a casino at Brach's but a new distribution site works. Jones nailed it here on where that new school should go.

On a related development note... there is a Menards coming to North and Kostner. I think it's the third store in the city. Strange how Menard's escaped the kind of flak thrown at Walmart considering stories like this: Slaves for big money at Menards. Menards must have better PR folks.

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Blagojevich: "...as they say in the Bible, the truth shall set you free.."

Illinois's given a new meaning to Audacity. You couldn't invent a guy like Blagojevich. From today's Trib: U.S. investigators interviewed Blagojevich on 'multiple occasions,' court document says

In March 2007, Blagojevich refused to answer whether he had been interviewed by federal investigators after 2005 during an appearance before the Tribune's editorial board. "I'm happy to make an appointment, talk to you guys about that," Blagojevich said then. "But I feel real good about all the different things that we do because we follow the rules and we do things right and at the end of the day, as they say in the Bible, the truth shall set you free. The truth is what it is. And the truth is we do things right."

Also today's Sun Times: Who lied, witnesses -- or gov?

As Rev Wright says, Blagojevich just doing what politicans do, at least in Illinois it seems; and doing it audaciously.

xp Bill Baar's West Side

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Morton Grove: My hometown's first-in-America gun ban in jeopardy

I live in Morton Grove, which prides itself, seriously, as the first municipality in the United States to institute a handgun ban. That was back in 1981, shortly after three prominent assassination attempts took place: John Lennon in late 1980, which sadly was successful, followed by the spring 1981 shootings of Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II.

That ban may be un-banned after today's landmark Supreme Court ruling striking down a similar handgun ban in the District of Columbia. Already the National Rifle Association is taking aim (Sorry, I couldn't resist) at anti-gun laws across America, including the one in Chicago.

Now if the Morton Grove Board of Trustees and our mayor, Rick Krier, are smart, they'd vote to toss out the gun ban, and save the 22,000 residents of Morton Grove thousands of dollars in legal fees. Fighting the ban is a losing cause. Besides, crime in Morton Grove, like most middle to upper middle class suburbs (I'm middle, by the way) involves the usual array of indiscretions shared with like-minded communities: shoplifting, driving under the influence, home burglaries, fistfights, petty vandalism, and domestic abuse. There may be a person or two who have reasons to fear for their lives, but as far as crime goes, making handguns legal won't change things much here. And almost all of those burglaries, like most others, take place when no one is home.

But late last year Morton Grove police were called to the home of a man who lives four blocks from me because his adult son told the cops his father had a handgun. The police didn't find any firearms, but discovered the man was allegedly producing fake credit cards.

Most, if not all of the arrests of people possessing handguns in Morton Grove are of motorists pulled over for serious driving indiscretions--this allows the police to search the offender's vehicle, where a gun is sometimes found.

Here is some background on the gun ban--from Morton Grove, 100 Years, A Tradition of Service, published in 1995.

On June 8, 1981, the Morton Grove Board of Trustees passed two ordinances relating to firearms. One prohibits the sale of handguns within the village, the other restricts the possession of handguns within the village. The genesis of these ordinances was in direct response to residents' requests that a gun store be prohibited from opening and doing business in their neighborhood.

During their thorough study of the issue, several trustees felt it appropriate to consider the broader question of handgun control. The result of their deliberations, which were closely watched and presented to the world by the international news media, was a vote of five to one to prohibit the sale of handguns and a vote of four to two to restrict the possession of handguns.

As a result, Morton Grove residents who own handguns have the option of storing them out of town or at a licenced gun club. The regulation is on handguns only and no other legally owned firearms.

As expected, the handgun ban was challenged in court, but Morton Grove won each round--and the US Supreme Court declined to hear the case after the village prevailed in a federal appeals court.

That was then, but today the Supreme Court ruled in favor of an individual right to bear arms.

And no, I don't own a handgun. I'm a law-abiding person.

To comment on this post, please visit Morton Grove's Marathon Pundit.

Read more...

Campaign finance law ruled unconstitutional

By Patrick O’Brien
Candidates for federal office who are running against deep-pocketed opponents could face tougher odds after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a key piece of campaign finance law today.

In north central Illinois, the race for Congress in the 14th District could be affected.

Jim Oberweis, the Republican candidate, already donated more than $1.7 million to his own campaign through the end of March. Oberweis previously self-funded his campaigns for elected office. The Sugar Grove resident runs a family-founded dairy company and an investment firm.

His opponent, Democrat Bill Foster of Geneva, donated more than $122,000 to his own campaign. Foster is a scientist who worked at Fermilab, as well as a businessman who helps run a company that makes theater lighting equipment.

The federal law previously allowed opponents who faced self-funded candidates to exceed federal limits for the amount individuals could donate to their political campaigns.

The 5-4 majority, represented by Justice Antonin Scalia, said the law “impermissibly burdens the 1st Amendment rights” of candidates to use their own money as political speech. Previous campaign finance laws also have been ruled invalid based on 1st Amendment arguments.

Not everyone agrees that the ruling automatically gives self-funding candidates a big edge, however.

“Regardless of how substantially a candidate self-funds, the voters still have to like what they’re hearing,” said professor Ron Michaelson, former director of the Illinois State Board of Elections. He currently lectures on campaign finance at the University of Illinois at Springfield.

He said he believes the “millionaires amendment” — part of the 2002 reform package sponsored by U.S. Sen. John McCain, this year’s Republican presidential nominee — was designed to limit the amount of money spent on federal political campaigns. He said it was a step in the right direction.

“I think it’s unfortunate. The amendment was an attempt to try to level the playing field,” he said.

The ruling likely will affect races for Congress only, as the amount of money needed to self-finance presidential campaigns is now in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Michaelson cautions that voter resentment of candidates who may appear to be trying to purchase higher office may backfire.

The ruling, coupled with U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s decision not to take $85 million in federal funds to limit his campaign’s spending in the presidential election, will bring campaign finance reform to the forefront this year, Michaelson said.

Obama defended his decision by saying the finance system was broken. He has said little during his campaign about reforming the system.

“If Obama’s elected, we’ll see how serious he is about the issue,” Michaelson said.

In another race for Congress ...
By Bethany Jaeger
Comptroller Dan Hynes endorsed Colleen Callahan, a Democrat, for the 18th Congressional District today in Springfield. At a press conference in the AFL-CIO building, Hynes said he supports Callahan, who is a longtime farm reporter for radio and television, in her race against state Republican Rep. Aaron Schock of Peoria. The district has long been held by Republicans.

Both Schock and Callahan say they grew up on farms and formed a hard work ethic. Schock has served on his local school board and represented the 92nd House District for two years, proving to be a strong political fundraiser. Three months ago, his campaign finance report shows he raised more than $1 million and had about $188,000 cash on hand. (See the report by selecting his name in this pull-down menu.) See more about Schock and his race against Callahan in the April Illinois Issues magazine.

Callahan has less money and says she has never worked as a public official, but she recently was named as one of 20 “emerging races” by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. That doesn’t guarantee, however, that the national party will flood her campaign with financial support. She expects her June 30 campaign finance report to show about $250,000 in contributions and about $130,000 and $140,000 cash on hand, although numbers could change between now and June 30. See her March report by selecting her as a candidate.

“I am a candidate who didn’t just dip my toe in the water here. I went right to the high dive in my efforts to serve our district and our country,” she said this morning. “This being a new process for me, I was told at the beginning and am learning that typically, the national party money from either party doesn’t typically come until later in the campaign.”

“Money begets money,” she added.

What-ifs
By Bethany Jaeger
While in Springfield, Hynes also addressed the state budget or lack thereof and sent a letter to legislative leaders and constitutional officers outlining what would happen if they failed to enact a state budget by July 10, more than a week after the new fiscal year begins.

The General Assembly approved a budget that Gov. Rod Blagojevich says is unbalanced by about $2 billion. He threatened to cut $1.5 billion if the House didn’t approve two revenue ideas that already passed the Senate. Expect to find out in the next couple of weeks whether the governor will go through with the cuts or call legislators back in a special session in an attempt to force them to vote on new revenue ideas to plug the hole.

If revenue ideas failed and the budget remains unbalanced and unsigned by July 10, Hynes says, first, about 4,900 state employees would be in jeopardy of not getting paid on time. Tens of thousands more would be at risk the longer the budget remains unresolved.

Second, the state couldn’t pay its other bills that reimburse health care providers and other social service providers. Most people focus on the payroll because they have a deadline and a more tangible effect, Hynes said, “but every day we don’t have a budget, tens of millions of dollars don’t go out the door and don’t go into businesses all over Illinois, which has a real impact.”

He called on the governor to lead and the legislative leaders, particularly House Speaker Michael Madigan, to do what they should have done months ago and sit down together to negotiate an agreed budget. (The leaders did meet, and Madigan did send his majority leader, Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, in his place.)

“We are now in a game of chicken,” Hynes said. “We are now basically in a staring contest to see who blinks first. And the ones who are going to get hurt in this contest are tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of vulnerable, innocent people.”

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Morton Grove - the ball's in your court.

Today, in a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court ruled in DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ET AL. v. HELLER that

"The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a
firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for
traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home'

and

"The handgun ban and the trigger-lock requirement (as applied to
self-defense) violate the Second Amendment. The District’s total ban
on handgun possession in the home amounts to a prohibition on an
entire class of “arms” that Americans overwhelmingly choose for the
lawful purpose of self-defense. Under any of the standards of scrutiny
the Court has applied to enumerated constitutional rights, this
prohibition—in the place where the importance of the lawful defense
of self, family, and property is most acute—would fail constitutional
muster. Similarly, the requirement that any lawful firearm in the
home be disassembled or bound by a trigger lock makes it impossible
for citizens to use arms for the core lawful purpose of self-defense and
is hence unconstitutional."

So, I wonder how fast the ACLU will sue Morton Grove to overturn their ban?

Not to mention the IL "gun lock" law.

Read more...

GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - June 26, 2008

NBC5
-- VIDEO CLIPS: Illinois Republican Party Chairman McKenna on City Desk
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XYI2SohK87Y (Part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JRDfN4_Quo&NR=1 (Part 2)
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ahern reports on Obama press conference
VIDEO CLIP: http://www.nbc5.com/politics/index.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Christine Radogno v. Bill Brady
http://www.suntimes.com/news/sneed/1025835,CST-NWS-SNEED26.article
(FROM SNEED: GOP grrr: Sneed hears there's trouble brewing in the Republican caucus. The great chagrin: Word is caucus member/state Sen. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), who lost her bid for state treasurer to Alexi Giannoulias, is making moves to run for governor. Headache heaven: State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) has already announced he's running. It ought to make for interesting gruff sessions in the fishbowl caucus of 22 members.)
-- Obama says he avoided city, state corruption - Abdon Pallasch
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1025587,CST-NWS-obamaforweb26.article
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Needless-to-say, because Obama is so outrageously anti-conservative and so outrageously anti-Republican, candidates, elected officials, and party leaders who support Obama are outrageously anti-conservative and outrageously anti-Republican
http://www.suntimes.com/news/novak/1025358,CST-EDT-novak26.article
-- Pelosi hops onto sexism bandwagon - Rebecca Traister
(Not posted as of 5:45 AM)

CBS2
-- VERY SAD: Obama Defends Chicago Political Roots Democrat Says Chicago-Style Politics Of "Getting Stuff Done" Can Help America - Jay Levine
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/obama.chicago.politics.2.757269.html (Includes video clip)

ABC7
-- Obama campaigns in Chicago - Andy Shaw
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/politics&id=6227996 (Includes video clip)

DAILY HERALD
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH 5X7-INCH COLOR PICTURE OF OBAMA: VERY SAD: Daily Herald promotes Obama, again
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=212326
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=212337
-- Odds are against using gambling revenue - Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=212253&src=
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Dave Crost of Prospect Heights argues that promoting abortion is the best way to reduce poverty
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=211780&src=

ILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE RIGHTS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Hate-filled anti-American Chicago Aldermen Cardenas and Flores introduce resolution condemning Americans who oppose a) illegal immigration, b) amnesty, c) more guest worker programs, and d) more mass immigration.
http://icirr.org/node/2886

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- Call special session in bid to fix this mess - Editorial
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x1743981413/Our-Opinion-Call-special-session-in-bid-to-fix-this-mess

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Homosexual activity promoter John B. Pryor blasts Bill Brady
http://pantagraph.com/articles/2008/06/26/opinion/letters/132079.txt
-- Governor's flip-flop on Pontiac prison closure draws skepticism - Kurt Erickson
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/06/26/news/doc4861c82bc76eb261066593.txt

CHAMPION NEWS
-- AUDIO CLIP: JUNE 22 PROGRAM: Guest Co-Host Pete LaBarbera joins Jack, John and Doug to discuss same sex couples getting married in California, the impact of the gay agenda on government policy and politics, and why morality matters.
http://www.championnews.net/talk/podcast.html

CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hinz editorializes about energy
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=29957

NAPERVILLE SUN
-- DuPage County allocates more funds for anti-crime groups
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1025553,6_1_NA26_MONITOR_S1.article
-- DuPage County receives budget award
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1025553,6_1_NA26_MONITOR_S1.article

SUBURBAN CHICAGO NEWS
-- DuPage County Auditor: Bob Grogan truly is only man for the job - Matt Caruso, Hinsdale
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/downersgrovesun/news/letters/999193,6_1_NA12_DSLETTERS_S1.article
(THE LETTER: Congratulations to Bob Grogan, the Republican nominee for DuPage County auditor. The deadline for submitting an opponent from the Democratic Party has come and gone without anyone stepping forward; thus, Grogan will be running unopposed for the position of county auditor next November. This development is a testament not only to the continued strength of the Republican Party in DuPage County, but also to the impressive credentials of Bob Grogan, CPA. I know Bob to be a very hard worker and a good, honest man with a great family. DuPage County is fortunate to have such a qualified candidate assured of taking on this important post.)

NEWS SUN
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Blagojevich proposes "political theatre" cuts, refuses to cut wasteful spending
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/1025351,5_1_WA26_BUDREACT_S1.article

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
-- Public Policy Group Calls Governor Budget "Cuts" More Political Theatre Budget Stalemate Represents Opportunity to Cut Wasteful Spending and Bureaucracy - Greg Blankenship
http://www.illinoispolicyinstitute.org/news/article.asp?ArticleSource=432

PUBLIC AFFAIRS
-- Kondracke calls yesterday’s Chicago presser with Obama “a joke”
http://jeffberkowitz.blogspot.com/2008/06/kondracke-calls-yesterdays-chicago.html

ASSOCIATED PRESS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Christopher Wills makes his editorial look like news, promotes liberalism as being good, promotes conservatism as being bad, and promotes Obama as being a good "liberal open to compromise"
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gA2VRM3QhIBwdNeApjcfZZ0SKbCQD91H8GT04

WASHINGTON TIMES
-- The downside of Obama’s youth vote mobilization - Dennis Prager
http://www.americasnewspaper.com

GOPUSA
-- The ACORN Obama Knows - Michelle Malkin
http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/mmalkin/2008/mm_06251.shtml

NEWSMAX
-- OUTRAGEOUS BUT NOT SURPRISING: Pelosi Defends Obama Over Rev. Wright Ties - Jim Meyers
http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Pelosi_Defends_Obama/2008/06/25/107193.html

CNN
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Outrageously, someone running as a Republican tries to take advantage of anti-Republican Obama's popularity
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/25/gordon.smith/

ASSOCIATED PRESS
-- "I don't know that McCain's campaign realizes they cannot win without evangelicals"
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gZB7CpodEzIQTyY0DRwYqNl8_9DQD91HK26G0

WALL STREET JOURNAL
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: If you do not respect the rule of law, you are not a conservative. Therefore, a criminal who says that he/she is a "conservative" harms conservatism and those who say a criminal is "conservative" harm conservatism.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121435075603401563.html

WASHINGTON POST
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: If Gordon Smith is an "uninvited" Obama coattail rider, is Kirk Dillard an "invited" Obama coattail rider?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/25/AR2008062503067.html?hpid=topnews

WALL STREET JOURNAL
-- It's All About Obama - Karl Rove
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121443823260805375.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY
-- Deal Hudson says Catholics don’t know the real Obama
http://catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=13058

Read more...

Illinois targets mortgage lender

By Patrick O’Brien
Illinois is the first state to sue Countrywide Financial, the nation’s largest mortgage lender, for its role in the current foreclosure crisis.

The lawsuit, filed by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan in Cook County today, alleges that the company used “deceptive practices” to lure borrowers into risky subprime loans with high interest rates. It also says the company “loosened the standards for selling its products,” ignoring whether prospective borrowers could repay the loan.

The suit says the company responded to signs that its mortgage business was unstable by making more risky loans and accelerating the practice of ignoring borrowers’ real financial situations.

The company’s practices were particularly harmful to Chicago and the surrounding counties, the suit says.

The Chicago area had the most subprime loans of any metropolitan area in the country, according to a 2006 study by the Chicago Reporter, an investigative magazine. And Countrywide held more of those loans than any other lender. The Chicago area also has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country.

The attorney general also says her office has received more than 200 complaints about the company since 2005.

In early 2007, the company issued nearly $8 billion in risky subprime loans, which generally are given to borrowers with poorer credit histories and lower incomes than those given standard loans.

Countrywide’s promotional materials on its Web site tout the bank as a leading lender to those with “less than perfect credit.”

The company is currently the subject of lawsuits by former employees and customers, as well as a federal investigation.

Bank of America actually acquired the company in a $4 billion deal today, as approved by shareholders, and it has promised to tighten lending standards.

Countrywide did not return repeated phone calls.

State employee update
By Bethany Jaeger
The largest public employee union, the American Federation for State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, is requesting a mediator to help bring closure to about 10 months of negotiations with Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration. The union represents about 35,000 state employees and held a massive rally in Springfield earlier this week, increasing attention that the union opposes a contract with the state if it were to increase the cost of employees’ health care and retirement benefits.

According to the union, the administration proposes a four-year contract that would do just that without a wage increase.

The existing AFSCME contract is set to expire June 30. The administration is not commenting on negotiations but confirmed AFSCME’s statement that the existing contract will remain active as a mediator steps into negotiations.

Anders Lindall, spokesman for the union, said the two sides first have to agree on the identity of the mediator, who would be an independent third party without a vested interest in either side. While mediators are common in other labor negotiations, Lindall said this is the first time in 10 contracts with the state that the union has had to request a mediator.

Read more...

GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - June 25, 2008

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- OUTSTANDING: Birkett, Bucholz, Eckhoff, Fortner, Hultgren, Kachiroubas, Olson, McBride, Milton Township Republicans, Muehlfelt, Sauerberg, and Roskam to participate in Wheaton's Independence Day parade - Dave Diersen
LINEUP: http://www.wheatonjaycees.org/fourth/2008/index2.html
Please plan on coming to Wheaton on July 4 and watching its Independence Day parade. So far, Republicans Joe Birkett, Fred Bucholz, Grant Eckhoff, Mike Fortner, Randy Hultgren, Chris Kachiroubas, Debra Olson, J.R. McBride, Milton Township Republicans, Gary Muehlfelt, Steve Sauerberg, and Peter Roskam have registered to participate. Many thanks to Joe Birkett, David Carlin, Roger Claar, Kirk Dillard, Grant Eckhoff, Mike Fortner, Gwen Henry, Randy Hultgren, Gary King, J.R. McBride, Debra Olson, and Phil Suess for sponsoring the Chicago Highlanders. Many thanks to Mary Jo Arndt, Michael Connelly, Bob Larsen, Darlene Ruscitti, Tim Whelan, and John Zaruba for sponsoring Cub Scout Pack 64. Many thanks to All Star Printing for printing parade flyers.
-- Schillerstrom blasts McKenna in letter to DuPage County Republican Precinct Committeemen - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
In a June 18 letter (posted in PDF format on the Files page of www.gopillinois.com) to DuPage County Republican Precinct Committeemen, DuPage County Board Chairman and DuPage County Republican Party Secretary Bob Schillerstrom blasted Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Chairman Andy McKenna. In his June 18 letter which transmitted a copy of his June 12 letter to IRP state convention attendees (also posted in PDF format on the Files page of www.gopillinois.com), Schillerstrom stated: "At our recent State GOP convention, our party Chairman chose to disparage Governor Thompson, me and DuPage County. His divisive statements maligned the great work that Republican leadership has accomplished in our County. It is a critical time for our party; nationally and in Illinois. With the financial and ethical crises in Springfield and Cook County, our party chairman should be honoring the work that has been done by Republicans in DuPage County and directing his ire at the Democrats. I wanted you to know how I responded to the Chairman's remarks. I also wanted you to know how much I appreciate working with my fellow Republican precinct committeeman and how proud I am of what we are all doing in DuPage County. Together, by ensuring continuing Republican leadership, we have made this a great county to live, work and raise a family."

LOU DOBBS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Dobbs to interview Rosanna Pulido during his radio program today at 3:15 PM CST
http://loudobbsradio.com/

RAFAEL RIVADENEIRA, VICE CHAIRMAN, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL HISPANIC ASSEMBLY OF ILLINOIS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Rivadeneira posts McCain video clip, blasts Pulido
VIDEO CLIP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ceIWuow3DI&watch_response
(RIVADENEIRA: Transcript of McCain: "And by the way, in case you didn't know and many of you don't know Arizona's history, in my state Spanish was spoken before English." My comment: When speaking in Chicago Wednesday to Hispanic leaders, Senator McCain did NOT say that Spanish was the FIRST language spoken in his home state. I attended the event and heard (as well as recorded) him say these words: "In my state Spanish was spoken BEFORE English . . .". That statement is true and Lou Dobbs should apologize for admonishing the Senator based on Pulido's false assertions. Pulido has an obvious agenda and has no credibility when it comes to quoting what the Senator said.)

TAKE BACK ILLINOIS!
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pulido responds to Rivadeneira
http://askalatina.vpweb.com/AboutUs.html

SOUTHTOWN STAR
-- State government's pandering to immigrants could be dangerous - Fran Eaton
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/eaton/1022637,062508eaton.article
(FROM THE OUTSTANDING ARTICLE: Downstate levees aren't the only endangered holdbacks Illinoisans are dealing with these days. Throughout the state, from every border, we're threatened by illegal activity to which our governor and state Legislature have strategically opened the floodgates. As a result, they've taken the pressure off neighbors as Illinois absorbs the heartland's influx of illegal immigrants. First, Illinois has the highest state-set minimum wage in the Midwest. That means we attract more low-income wage earners than neighboring states with lower standards. Second, we offer in-state tuition benefits for the children of those who have entered our country illegally. Third, we provide state-funded health care for any child, with no proof of residency or citizenship for themselves or their caretakers. And Chicago police are forbidden to ask suspected lawbreakers their immigration status, providing sanctuary and special rights for those who have sought immigrant refuge in Illinois. Consistently thumbing our legislative nose at federal immigration policy and extending government subsidies to noncitizens, Illinois has become a Midwestern promised land for those in America illegally. It's such a land of milk and honey that not only are Illinois taxpayers drowning in unprecedented debt and increasing financial burdens, they may be immersed in a federal lawsuit because Illinois has made it illegal for Illinois employers to confirm a potential employee's immigration status through Homeland Security's "E-Verify" program.)

DAILY HERALD
-- FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PHOTO OF BLAGOJEVICH: Budget tough talk Blagojevich making major budget cuts - Nick Shields and David Beery
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=211663
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: 23rd Senate District: Cullerton v. Pankau: Popejoy recuses himself from Cullerton ballot case
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=211978
-- Report: Justice Department rejected left-leaning students - AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=211949
(DIERSEN: Because the federal government is dominated by liberal Democrats, I am sure that for every one applicant not hired because of their liberalism, there were thousands upon thousands not hired because of their conservatism. Some have asked why, in light of my being a conservative, did liberal Democrat dominated IRS and GAO even offer me a job. I believe that my having been a union member while I worked for the Park Forest Post Office was one reason why IRS offered me a job and that my having been a union member while I worked for IRS was one reason why GAO offered me a job. IRS and GAO must have assumed that anyone who joins a union must not be that conservative.)
-- OUTSTANDING: 600 Corvettes to parade through Kane County
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=211972
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Everyone knows that Democrats want government to spend more on everything except national defense. So it is hypocritical for Democrats to complain about earmark spending.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=211615

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- Blagojevich moves talk away from impeachment, toward taxes - Rick Pearson
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2008/06/blagojevich-mov.html
-- Blagojevich leaning on lawmakers to get budget deal done Little hope of return to Springfield, Madigan spokesman says - David Mendell and Jeffrey Meitrodt
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-blagojevich-budget-25jun25,0,7206.story`1
-- Don't cry about Obama— it's just the Chicago Way - John Kass
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kasswedobamajun25,0,6475840.column
-- Political bias seen at Justice Dept. Liberals screened out for hiring, audit finds - Lara Jakes Jordan
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-hiringjun25,0,2519363.story
(DIERSEN: Because the federal government is dominated by liberal Democrats, I am sure that for every one applicant not hired because of their liberalism, there were thousands upon thousands not hired because of their conservatism. Some have asked why, in light of my being a conservative, did liberal Democrat dominated IRS and GAO even offer me a job. I believe that my having been a union member while I worked for the Park Forest Post Office was one reason why IRS offered me a job and that my having been a union member while I worked for IRS was one reason why GAO offered me a job. IRS and GAO must have assumed that anyone who joins a union must not be that conservative.)

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Carol Marin urges Obama to blame problems that women have on Republicans
http://www.suntimes.com/news/marin/1022876,CST-EDT-Carol25.article
-- $2 billion deficit: Blagojevich balks at budget Gov seeks to put pressure on House - Chris Fusco
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1023360,CST-NWS-blago25.article
-- Just veto the thing - Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0625edit1jun25,0,777208.story

ABC7
-- Gov. to make major budget cuts, pressure lawmakers
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6225057 (Includes video clip)

NBC5
-- Blagojevich Announces $1.5 Billion In Budget Cuts Schools, Health Care, Social Service Programs To Be Slashed
http://www.nbc5.com/politics/16696620/detail.html?dl=mainclick (Includes video clip)

CBS2
-- Gov. Blagojevich Says Madigan Has Secret Tax Plan - Mike Flannery
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/blagojevich.daley.casino.2.756196.html (Includes video clip)

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- Governor's proposed cuts could make for another long summer Lawmakers not worked up about threats, say they’re ‘nothing new’ - Bernard Schoenburg
http://www.sj-r.com/homepage/x222995356/Governors-proposed-cuts-could-make-for-another-long-summer

COURIER NEWS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Blagojevich wants the Illinois legislature to generate more money for him to spend
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/1023018,3_1_EL25_A1BLAGO_S1.article

NAPERVILLE SUN
-- Schillerstrom fills water commission vacancies - Paige Winfield
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1022963,6_1_NA25_COUNTY_S1.article

CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS
-- Blagojevich vows $2B in cuts unless Madigan caves - Greg Hinz
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=29944

SUBURBAN LIFE
-- Two County DuPage County Board members appointed to DuPage County Water Commission
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/hinsdale/news/x1713648021/Two-County-Board-members-appointed-to-Water-Commission
-- DuPage County Board sets budget calendar
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/lombard/news/x222994996/County-Board-sets-budget-calendar

PIONEER LOCAL
-- "DuPage County is one of the best places to raise children"
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/clarendonhills/news/1022673,ch-webcotillion-062708-s1.article

ASSOCIATED CONTENT
-- Illinois Polls: Barack Obama Maintains Stranglehold over John McCain - "TD"
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/838609/illinois_polls_barack_obama_maintains.html?cat=8

WASHINGTON POST
-- Potholes in Obama's Path - Howard Kurtz
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/24/AR2008062400554.html

REUTERS
-- Christian leader James Dobson says Obama distorting the Bible - Andy Sullivan
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2434371320080624

HUFFINGTON POST
-- Message to Obama and McCain: Don't Waste Time on Paul's Backers - Earl Hutchinson
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/earl-ofari-hutchinson/message-to-obama-and-mcca_b_108874.html

LOS ANGELES TIMES
-- Should Barack Obama play the Springfield card? - Don Frederick
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/06/should-barack-o.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: The Democrat Party platform is outrageously anti-religious - it promotes abortion, homosexual activity, dependency on government, socialism, and worse. Nevertheless, outrageously, more and more who claim to be religious say that they will vote for Democrats. Outrageously, 55% of Catholics want "bigger government and more services," 63% want government to go "deeper into debt" to "help the poor," 58% want homosexual activity to be "accepted," and 48% want abortion to be legal. Outrageously, 57% of evangelicals want Americans to "go deeper in debt to help the poor" and 48% want "bigger government." To want government to spend more on welfare is to want government to take over the roles that family, religion, and charities used to play.
http://blogs.wsj.com/politicalperceptions/2008/06/24/survey-on-religion-offers-good-news-for-democrats/?mod=googlenews_wsj

TOM ROESER
-- Ditch the Gloom, this Campaign Will Take Many Twists and Turns Before Completion . . . An “Event” that May Hurt McCain . . . Bob Creamer’s Ignorance of “Born Alive” Seems Phony
http://www.tomroeser.com/blogs/blogview.asp?blogID=24634

Read more...

WSJ: Illinois Plans to Sue Countrywide

Lisa Madigan makes a splash suing Countrywide and their CEO,

In an interview, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said Countrywide "broke the law and we plan to hold them accountable for that." She added that Countrywide's actions have led to widespread foreclosures in her state and have wrecked havoc around the world. "The impact on individual homeowners and communities and the country and the global economy is unbelievable."

Have to wonder where she expects the Friends of Angelo trail to lead.

xp Bill Baar's West Side

Read more...

Payments Lag from State to Community Colleges

If McHenry County College is any indication, the State of Illinois has community colleges on the "slow pay" list.

A report from MCC President Walt Packard notes,

"State revenue is currently 76% of budget compared to 99% of budget last year."

He points out that payments were almost $580,000 short of what the college had received through May of last year,

"due to a timely delay in the distribution of the fourth quarterly payment from the State."

More junior college stuff at McHenry County Blog.

Read more...

Tennis, anyone?

Gov. Rod Blagojevich wants legislators to come back to Springfield to fill an estimated $2 billion budget hole before he has to chop $1.5 billion from the version they approved before adjourning last month. Given that the new fiscal year starts July 1, the state needs an operating budget in place by July 11; otherwise, the first round of about 5,000 state employees would start missing their paychecks by about the 15th of the month, according to the state comptroller’s office.

But neither chamber wants to or plans to come back before the regularly scheduled fall session, according to spokespeople for the two Democratic leaders.

The governor announced this afternoon in Chicago that the ball is in the House’s court. You should be able to download the governor’s announcement here. Without action, he would be forced to reduce funding for major state functions, including higher education and social services. Employees would have to be laid off or not hired. (See a more detailed list below.)

Blagojevich said the General Assembly has never passed a budget this far out of balance. “Needless to say, I cannot sign this budget. For me to sign this budget would be lying to the people of Illinois. It would be like writing a check that I know would bounce.”

He added that he prefers not to veto the entire budget and require the legislators to start over. He would rather urge “shared sacrifice,” or ask state agencies to reserve spending about $500 million already approved. To avoid making $1.5 billion in cuts, he said he wants the House to OK the two revenue-generating ideas already passed by the Senate.

The Senate approved a $16 billion borrowing plan that would change the annual payments to the state’s five public employee pension systems and free up about $500 million. Senators also advanced a measure that would allow the governor to transfer about $500 million from dedicated funds to other state operations. Both measures stalled in the House.

Complicating the future of the pension bond deal is that it would require a three-fifths majority whether voted on now or in January. That requires at least some Republican support. Rep. Gary Hannig, a Litchfield Democrat and budget negotiator, says given that the House GOP rejected all budget bills this spring, they would be “hard pressed to get a majority.”

“I think that there’s a view that we really shouldn’t be selling bonds for the purposes of budget relief.”

In addition, the state’s contribution to all five public employee pension systems could start to back off in two years. For the fiscal year that starts July 1, the state was scheduled to pay about $2.7 billion. Next year’s payment would exceed $3 billion. But then the “ramp up” backs off. “I think most legislators sort of feel like, ‘We’re almost there, why don’t we just finish it?’” Hannig says.

House Democrats could have some more support for sweeping dedicated funds, although Hannig adds it might make more sense to vote on that idea in January. Not only would the legislation require fewer votes to pass, but also the economy by then could reveal a more accurate picture of state tax revenues. Until this fall, all revenue estimates are just that — a guess about what the economy will be doing a year from now, he says. It would be appropriate to consider fund sweeps as “kind of a mid-course correction.”

He puts the ball in the governor’s court. “Unless he calls special session, we simply aren’t going to come back. We don’t have a mechanism to come back that I’m aware of.”

For a special session to be convened, either the governor or both legislative leaders must call one, according to the state Constitution. That’s unlikely, given the questionable future of the revenue ideas in the House right now. And the Senate Democrats’ spokeswoman says it’s “absolutely not” the desire to call a special session.

Patty Schuh, Senate Republican spokeswoman, describes the governor’s announcement as a “non-event.” But the House’s response could be newsworthy. “We’re concerned that Democrats are setting it up for a tax increase in the fall,” she says.

That door is open. If the governor made budget cuts, Hannig says: “More likely we’ll come back to November and try to renegotiate some of those things. But we have to figure out, ‘What are our priorities?’ Because I don’t know that there’s enough money in sweeps that we can restore everything. So maybe we say we restore education. Or maybe we override him in education and say, ‘Now we’ll find the money.’”

Where they would find the money is the looming question.

Potential budget cuts
By Patrick O’Brien
Here’s a partial list of where the governor said he would have to cut without major revenue tactics approved by the House by mid-July:

Health care would be hardest hit, with a $530 million reduction in payments to Medicare providers, increasing the average wait for payment to 90 days. Nursing homes also would lose $55 million in funding for home care providers. And $260 million for social services, including funding for autism, people with all types disabilities and domestic violence victims, also would be cut.

Another $106 million in funding for veterans would include eliminating a 40 bed, $6 million expansion at the LaSalle Veterans Home. See more here.

Mass transit would lose $255 million, causing the state to end discounted fares for students and people with disabilities in the Chicago region and to eliminate state support for Amtrak.

School construction projects would be slashed $150 million. Education program cuts of $110 million, which are limited almost exclusively to higher education for financial aid programs for the neediest college students and education for nurses and pharmacists.

The anti-violence CeaseFire program again would lose $6.25 million. See more here.

Read more...

GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - June 24, 2008

DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, I totally agree with Congressman Shimkus that the Corvette is “truly a symbol of American pride.” That is one of the many reasons why I own two Corvettes -- a 1972 that I purchased new in 1971 and a 2005 that I purchased new in 2005. I worked for the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) 1980 - 1997. Sadly, virtually all of my GAO superiors and co-workers were liberal Democrats who vehemently despised not only conservatives, but despised anyone who was proud of America. Sadly, to make an anti-American statement, many of my GAO superiors and co-workers started buying foreign nameplate cars as soon as they became widely available. Outrageously, many of my GAO superiors and co-workers argued that my ownership of a Corvette evidenced bad judgment and evil motive. Please consider attending the Bloomington Gold Corvette show at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles June 26-29. If you are interested, please visit: www.BloomingtonGold.com.

ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH
-- OUTSTANDING: Shimkus Wishes You a Happy Corvette Day - Deirdre Shesgreen
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/dc-download/dc-download/2008/06/shimkus-wishes-you-a-happy-corvette-day/
(THE ARTICLE: WASHINGTON - Mark your calendars for June 30th. That will be “National Corvette Day” if Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, has his way. The House this week is scheduled to take up a resolution sponsored by Shimkus declaring this new sports-car day of observance because clearly, we’ve been remiss in honoring America’s first sports car (which, by the way, start at more than $45K). We’re not sure what kind of car Shimkus drives, but it’s probably not a Corvette. (His aides didn’t return our call for comment on this pressing issue.) These sleek speedy autos used to be built in St. Louis, but no longer. Now they’re made in Kentucky. Still, (GM) is about to turn 100 and it’s a “truly a symbol of American pride,” according to Shimkus’ resolution. Here’s the full text of the bill: RESOLUTION Expressing support for designation of June 30 as `National Corvette Day’. Whereas the Chevrolet Corvette is America’s first sports car; Whereas the first production Corvette rolled off a Flint, Michigan, assembly line on June 30, 1953; Whereas the Corvette is now manufactured in Bowling Green, Kentucky; Whereas the Corvette is the most widely respected production sports car in United States history; Whereas the Corvette is truly a symbol of American pride; Whereas General Motors is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2008; and Whereas the 30th of June would be an appropriate day to designate as `National Corvette Day’: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives supports the designation of a `National Corvette Day’ to honor the Chevrolet Corvette.)

CNN
-- VIDEO CLIP: McCain on immigration Rosanna Pulido and Leslie Sanchez discuss Sen. John McCain's immigration position on CNN's American Morning.
http://beta.cnn.com/video/?/video/politics/2008/06/23/am.pulido.sanchez.intv.cnn

POLITIC
-- RNC and Birkett push Rezko story ahead of Obama visit - Joseph K. Cooper
http://www.politickernv.com/jkcooper/1933/rnc-pushes-rezko-story-ahead-obama-visit
(THE POSTING: LAS VEGAS - Democrats aren't the only ones preparing for presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama's Tuesday visit to Las Vegas. Monday, the Republican National Committee hosted a conference call for reporters with DuPage County, Ill. State's Attorney Joe Birkett to discuss "Obama's questionable housing record and connections, and how they relate to his upcoming travel to Las Vegas, NV." Birkett, a former Republican candidate for governor in Illinois, raised doubts about Obama's judgment based on a 2005 real estate deal with the wife of Tony Rezko, a Chicago-based political fundraiser and real estate developer who was convicted earlier this month of sixteen federal counts of bribery, fraud and money laundering. Birkett said it was "more than bone-headed" for Obama to purchase a house in Chicago the same day Rezko's wife purchased an adjoining lot, and that Americans should question "whether or not [Obama] has the kind of judgment to be the president of the United States." Obama has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with either his land deal with Rezko or Rezko's multiple convictions. "Obviously, one of the things I do not do is speculate about criminal activity," said Birkett. "However, I can tell you this, that oftentimes we have seen during the course of the last several years in Illinois where public officials are having things done for them privately that do in fact turn out to be related to some deal, some quid pro quo." Birkett quickly added that he was "not aware of any quid pro quo and certainly would not accuse Sen. Obama of that.")

POLITICO
-- Retiring GOP reps (including LaHood) frustrate leadership - Ryan Grim
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11287.html

THE MODERATE VOICE
-- Rove Says Obama Is Like "Arrogant" Martini Drinking Country Club Member - Joe Gandelman
http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/john-mccain/20587/rove-says-obama-is-like-arrogant-martini-drinking-country-club-member/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- Study urges wariness of state gambling revenue Economy hurting industry, report says - Ashley Wiehle
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-gambling-study-22jun22,0,7531115.story
-- Schillerstrom to add 3 members to DuPage Water Commission - Thomas Bennington, Timothy Elliott, and James Zay - Bob Goldsborough
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-duwater_tuesjun24,0,3473663.story
-- Illnesses prompt shutdown of Arrowhead Golf Club restaurant in Wheaton - Joseph Sjostrom
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-wheaton-golfers-sickened-papjun24,0,6695383.story
-- Tribune's in love with Obama - Ron Dreisilker, Wheaton
(Not posted as of 5:30 AM)

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Chicago Sun-Times promotes Blagojevich taking over Illinois' health care industry, again
http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1021036,CST-EDT-edit24a.article

CBS2
-- Kirk, Biggert Announce Energy Plan - Mike Flannery
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/gop.energy.plan.2.755314.html (Includes video clip)

JOURNAL TOPICS
-- Michelle Obama To Attend Dan Seals Fundraiser
http://www.journal-topics.com/gv/08/gv080621.1.html

CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS
-- Spelling out 'con-con' cons - Bob Tita
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/mag/article.pl?articleId=30157

CHICAGO DAILY OBSERVER
-- Governor Aspirants Seek Role as "Tumor Remover" - Russ Stewart
http://cdobs.com/archive/our-columns/governor-aspirants-seek-role-as-tumor-remover%2C1283/

TOM ROESER
-- Tribune Editorials of Highest Quality, Truly Top-Rate . . . Steve Huntley’s “Sun-Times” Columns on Obama a Mark of Courage
http://www.tomroeser.com/blogs/blogview.asp?blogID=24632

PUBLIC AFFAIRS
-- Berkowitz w/Sen. Cullerton on Taxes, School Choice and Impeachment
http://jeffberkowitz.blogspot.com/2008/06/better-than-chris-wallace-wbiden-and.html

NATIONAL REVIEW
-- 10 Concerns about Barack Obama - William J. Bennett & Seth Leibsohn
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MzQ4YTY4YjQyMzRjYjA5MGZlNDBiZTkwYmEyODg5NTc=

WASHINGTON TIMES
-- Saving us from the race card - Wesley Pruden
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jun/24/saving-us-from-the-race-card/
-- VERY SAD: Is ‘tipping point’ for families closer than we think? - Cheryl Wetzstein
http://www.americasnewspaper.com/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: One truly ominous change was seen last year, when, for the third year in a row, the number of out of wedlock births jumped more than a percentage point, to 38.5 percent. At this rate, it will take just 12 years — when our 2006 babies are entering middle school — for fully half of all U.S. babies to be born to single mothers. If there is such a thing as a cultural tipping point, this ought to be one. Certainly this is old news for some of our population segments: 70 percent of black children and 64 percent of American Indian children, for instance, already are born to unmarried couples. What will happen when larger portions of white (now 25 percent unwed) and Hispanic (48 percent unwed) babies are added to the living-with-mother-only category? In 1993, American Enterprise Institute scholar Charles Murray antagonized untold numbers of intellectuals and activists when he called unwed childbearing a “social catastrophe.” “Throughout human history, a single woman with a small child has not been a viable economic unit,” Mr. Murray said in the Wall Street Journal. In small numbers, single-mother families are “a net drain on the community’s resources” he wrote. “In large numbers, they must destroy the community’s capacity to sustain itself.”)

THE BULLETIN
-- Obama Wants To Give Osama Full Legal Rights And Other Strange Positions And Political Gyrations - Herb Denenberg
http://www.thebulletin.us/site/index.cfm?newsid=19795161&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=8

KANSAS CITY INFO ZINE
-- Gay Rights Groups United on Cause, but Can Disagree on Details
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/28971/

GAY ADVOCATE
-- BEYOND OUTRAGEOUS: The Gay Goodfellas Inside the Gill Action Fund, the most effective pro-gay political weapon you never heard of. - Kerry Eleveld
http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid55888.asp

LOS ANGELES TIMES
-- Anti-illegal immigration groups confront upcoming presidential realities
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza/2008/06/anti-illegal-im.html

HARPERS MAGAZINE
-- Barack Obama Inc.: The birth of a Washington machine - Ken Silverstein
http://harpers.org/archive/2006/11/0081275

CANADA FREE PRESS
-- Media Excuse Obama’s False Advertising - Cliff Kincaid
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/3621

HUMAN EVENTS
-- Liberals want to force us out of our cars - Terence Jeffrey
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=26975
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Recent evidence that automobile use is declining in America and that some Americans are making significant -- and in some cases not readily reversible -- changes in their lives because of escalating gas prices should be worrisome signs for those who love liberty. No device is more in keeping with the American spirit than the automobile. Privately owned cars and trucks allow us to go where we want, when want. They are freedom machines. Still, some liberals would like to use government to force Americans out of their cars. They believe in socialized transportation, not free-market transportation. In a free-market transportation system, a person purchases his own vehicle with his own money, buys his own gas with his own money and can drive his vehicle anywhere there is a road -- and, if he has the right kind of vehicle, some places where there are no roads. Admittedly, the roads generally are constructed by government, albeit with funds extracted from the earnings and gasoline purchases of drivers. In a socialist transportation system, the government takes the taxpayers' money and purchases vehicles -- often buses or trains -- for itself or a government-funded agency. Where and when these vehicles go is determined by the government. In a free-market transportation system, a person travels solely in the company of people with whom he has freely chosen to travel. In a socialist transportation system, a person may be compelled to travel in the company of people he does not know and who could even be a danger to him.)

AMERICAN THINKER
-- The Obama Left - J.R. Dunn
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/06/the_obama_left.html

AMERICAN DAILY
-- Which Way the Wind Blows With Obama - Tom Brewton
http://www.americandaily.com/article/22446

BLOOMBERG
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Obama tells women that Republicans discriminate against them
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=ayr1G11RVQrk&refer=home

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- Outstanding Fortner fundraiser in West Chicago; attendees include Earl, Flickinger, Kwasman, and Marchese - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
(THE REPORT: State Representative Mike Fortner hosted an outstanding golf outing and fundraiser at the Prairie Landing Golf Course in West Chicago Monday, June 23. Buffet dinner and silent auction attendees included Milton Township Assessor Bob Earl, Milton Township Trustee Jim Flickinger, West Chicago Mayor Mike Kwasman, and Wayne Township Precinct Committeeman Gerald Marchese.)

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Sandbagging Machine

With all the sandbagging going on, I thought readers might be interested in an invention I saw a picture of for the first time this year.

It's called "Sandbagger."

What you see is a machine which makes the filling the sandbags easier. More photos of how it works are here on McHenry County Blog.

Just hold the empty sandbag under the stream of sand and it fills up.

People still have to carry them after they are filled, but it appears to me that about half of the work can be mechanized.

I don't have a contact for the manufacturer, but this one was being operated by the Nunda Township Road Commissioner. His name is Don Kopsell. His phone number is 815-459-4410.

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Seven days

By Bethany Jaeger
Illinois starts a new fiscal year in seven days. That means some new state laws take effect July 1. But also, for the first time in history, many public employees could have to work without a contract in place with the administration. Four years ago, the state’s largest public employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, negotiated a contract with the administration that spells out how much employees make and how much they pay for such benefits as health care and retirement.

This year’s negotiations between union officials and Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration have stretched about seven months, potentially creating the first time that Illinois’ AFSCME Council 31 won’t have an agreement in place before the existing contract expires. “That alone shows the level of contentiousness and the distance between the parties is unprecedented,” says Anders Lindall, union spokesman.

The lion’s share of the disagreement is health care, he says, but it’s complicated by the sagging economy. “It’s higher health care costs, higher pension costs, coupled with pay increases that don’t even keep pace. And at a time when people are being socked at the gas pump, they’re being soaked at the grocery checkout and everywhere else for higher cost of living, to have health care and to have pension funds going through the roof, it’s not acceptable. It’s not [the making] of a fair contract agreement.”

Negotiations continue this week after a few thousand union supporters rallied at the Capitol today. Neither the administration nor union officials would comment on what happens if the contract expires before they reach an agreement. They would only say they’re continuing “good faith negotiations” and are mindful of each other’s concerns.

Local union leaders and members gathered at the Capitol wearing green T-shirts and waving signs that said, “Governor, don’t cut our health care.” Marion Murphy, caseworker for the Illinois Department of Human Services, AFSCME Local 2806, is on the bargaining committee and spoke during the rally. She cited Blagojevich’s priority to ensure all residents can access quality and affordable health care. “But I guess he forgot about us,” she said. “Why should we be left out in the cold? He’s got the All Kids program, but what about our kids?”

The number of vacancies also repeatedly came up, including the speech by Louis Volpi, president of AFSCME Local 1591 and employee of Tinley Park Mental Health Center and Howe Developmental Center. He said during the rally that the administration refuses to fill vacancies even though workers are forced to work overtime, as required by their contracts. His statements reflect a situation I wrote about in Illinois Issues magazine this month. We're waiting to get the actual number of vacancies from the Illinois Department of Human Services.

BUDGET WATCH
The state budget approved by the General Assembly May 31 hasn’t made it to the governor’s desk for review yet, preventing the governor from acting on solutions to what his office says is a $2 billion gap between spending and revenues. The legislature has until June 30 to send it over. Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, said it’s normal for such a huge bill to take the full 30 days allotted by law to process the legislation.

NEW STATE LAWS
By Patrick O’Brien
Also on July 1, some new state laws go into effect. A few examples follow. The full text of the laws and other information can be found at www.ilga.gov.

Minimum wage
SB 1268 (of the 94th General Assembly) The state’s minimum wage rises to $7.75 an hour beginning July 1. About 650,000 Illinoisans will see an increase, according to the governor’s office. The raise is part of a gradual increase of the minimum wage to $8.25 an hour by 2010.

Teen driving
SB 172 (Starts in third paragraph.) Student drivers will have to complete at least six hours of actual, on-the-street driving with a certified instructor when a new law goes into effect next week. It’s part of a reform package enacted last year to address accident rates among teen drivers. This portion of law eliminates the provision that allows students in high-school driver’s education classes to take a written exam after completing three hours of practice driving. It also removes current exemptions that allow the use of driving simulators and driving ranges as a substitute for street driving.

Home care pay increases
HB 4144 State home health care workers who provide housekeeping services will earn $1.70 an hour more beginning July 1, and the law also provides an additional $1.33 per hour for health care insurance for the workers. The total cost to the state is $64 million.

Truth in towing
SB 435 Any towing service that tows or removes a vehicle with the permission of the owner or person in control of the auto has to provide an estimated cost of towing. The document must be signed by both the tow truck driver and the driver of the vehicle.

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More unbiased, objective journalism from the mainstream media

One of the constant gripes from the practitioners of the mainstream media's brand of commercial journalism is that bloggers and citizen journalists are biased and don't practice objective journalism.

Kudos to Rich Miler for pointing out two instances in which a members of the MSM demonstrate failed to live up to these lofty goals.

In the first case, the Chicago Tribune was so eager to make a case for a so-called "pardon backlog," they trumped up the case of a man jailed for a rape he didn't commit and buried details about his conviction for a different rape, one based on a witness identification.

Also, Miller points out that all it takes to get favorable treatment from the Chicago Sun-Times is hire a public relations company that wines and dines^* the newspaper's bosses.

Feh.

The only difference between bloggers/citizen journalists and the MSM is that we proudly announce our biases and our conflicts of interest. We have to, because the Blogosphere won't let is hide them.

If you work for a newspaper or a broadcaster, you've probably attended journalism school, where they teach you how to trick yourself and your audience into thinking you don't have biases and practice "objectivity." This class is called "Journalism Ethics 101." They have another class that teaches the media how to say things they suspect might not be true, but still avoid libel. This is is called "Communication Law 101."

Throughout my former career as a journalist is that newspapers small and medium-sized, daily and weekly are filled with editors and reporters who had friends they propped up, enemies they attacked with glee, and causes they promoted. They selected stories based on their biases regarding race, religion and politics. They added and removed information based on these biases.

In other words, they practiced a form of journalism that looked like it followed the unbiased, objective model. Hell, they even won awards doing so. But it was advocacy journalism. In stealth mode.

Publishers? They didn't give a rat's ass, as long as money came in and their pals down at the country club didn't bitch too much.

Blogging doesn't pay much. But at least it's honest.

^* In the interest of full disclosure: Peoria City Council member Gary Sandberg let me have a slice of his pizza a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps if he hadn't, my criticism of the Library Board's plan would have been somewhat less severe than it has been. I leave it up to my readers to decide if I've been compromised.

Cross posted to The Blog Peoria Network.

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GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - June 23, 2008

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: ENTIRE FRONT PAGE WITH 5X8-INCH COLOR PICTURE: VERY SAD: Democrats increase Illinois budget deficit and increase Illinois debt by signing up 1,217 more for taxpayer subsidized health care insurance. More and more parents who lack education and/or job skills and/or have severe health, financial, and/or other problems and/or have children with severe health problems are coming to Illinois because "All Kids provides health insurance coverage to uninsured kids at a reduced cost, regardless of income or immigration status."
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/1019282,CST-NWS-kidhealth23.article
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Teresa Puente encourages citizens of Poland to immigrate illegally
http://www.suntimes.com/news/puente/1019500,CST-EDT-puente23.article

SOUTHTOWN STAR
-- Senator Sandoval plays hardball well with Obama, McCain - Rich Miller
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/miller/1018947,062308miller.article
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Sandoval met privately with Republican presidential candidate John McCain last week, and he told The Associated Press the next day he was leaving open the possibility of endorsing the man. Sandoval told me last week the meeting went well and said McCain promised to be an advocate for Latino issues. McCain, Sandoval said, did not ask him for an endorsement, but did ask that they continue to meet, which Sandoval agreed to do. McCain also apparently was aware Sandoval was on the outs with many of his Senate Democratic colleagues because of the fight with Jones, and McCain used that division to his advantage during the meeting. Immigration reform has been a political problem for McCain. His push last year for a bipartisan solution to the situation earned him heaps of scorn from the right wing of his party and just about killed off his candidacy. He started to gain ground about the time he flipped a bit on the issue. McCain reminded Sandoval that the last president to do anything major about immigration reform was a Republican, Ronald Reagan. Sandoval claimed McCain told him that the immigration issue would be "one of the hallmarks of my presidency." Reagan's immigration policy included an amnesty program for those here illegally, but McCain never uttered the "A" word. "I'm a Democrat, but I'm not wedded to any political party," Sandoval told me. "You need to reach out to us, meet with us, make us part of the strategy. If that's not there, then I'm not with them," he said of Obama's campaign. Sandoval dismissed a recent poll of 800 Latino voters in 21 states that showed Obama with a huge 60-23 lead over McCain, claiming the numbers would be a lot closer once Latino voters were in the privacy of the voting booth.)

CAPITAL FAX
-- The Decline of Chicago: The City that Doesn't Work
http://capitalfax.blogspot.com/2008/06/decline-of-chicago-city-that-doesnt.html

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- Sweet — and sour — home Chicago City's political image a risk for Obama - Bob Secter and John McCormick
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama-chicago_23jun23,0,4206167.story
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Chicago Tribune promotes homosexual activity, again
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/chi-0623edit1jun23,0,5332845.story

DAILY HERALD
-- A truth check on Stroger Do his promises match up with the math? - Rob Olmstead
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=211119
-- Algonquin Township GOP offers scholarships
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=210414
-- Pfleger's display sent wrong message - Lori Carlson, Glen Ellyn
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=210337&src=

ABC7
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Outrageously, Democrats constantly tell Blacks that Republicans are the cause of all their problems. Outrageously, ABC implies White racism because Republican McCain leads Democrat Obama 51 percent to 39 among White voters, but ABC fails to imply Black racism because Democrat Obama leads Republican McCain 90 percent to 7 among Black voters
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/politics&id=6221621

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- How can budget mess be solved? Blagojevich’s options: Increase revenue; veto entire budget; slash state spending - Doug Finke
http://www.sj-r.com/news/x1165650467/How-can-budget-mess-be-solved

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
-- State budget clock still ticking - Doug Finke
http://www.pjstar.com/news_state/x2113783050/State-budget-clock-still-ticking
-- LaHood near top of state's delegation in travel; says it's necessary to understand issues, aid local businesses - Dennis Conrad
http://www.pjstar.com/news_state/x1816436300/LaHoods-trips-cost-taxpayers
-- Illinois lawmakers feeling the pinch from gas prices - Karen McDonald
http://www.pjstar.com/news_columnists/x1816436290/Word-on-the-Street-Lawmakers-feeling-the-pinch-from-gas-prices

CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: The Illinois Democrat Party platform is liberal. Hinz complains that Illinois Democrat leaders are not doing enough to advance that platform.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/mag/article.pl?articleId=30155

BUSINESS LEDGER
-- The coming state and municipal financial crisis - David Nielson
http://www.thebusinessledger.com/Home/Archives/InTheNews/tabid/85/mid/393/newsid393/388/Default.aspx

WAND TV
-- Taxpayers pay $20,000 for Hastert travels
http://www.wandtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8537155&nav=menu589_1

ILLINOIS REVIEW
-- "So much corruption, so few prosecutors"- Cal Skinner
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/06/so-much-corrupt.html
-- Michelle woos radical feminists for husband's bid - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/06/michelle-woos-r.html

WASHINGTON TIMES
-- GOP courting blue-collar vote Traditionally Democratic bloc targeted - S.A. Miller
http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/jun/23/gop-courting-blue-collar-vote/

NEW YORK TIMES
-- Obama Camp Closely Linked With Ethanol - Larry Rohter
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/us/politics/23ethanol.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

SEATTLE TIME
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Article discusses what happens when politicians demonize whites
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008012020_obama23.html

ASSOCIATED PRESS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Democrats make it clear that you will be called a racist if you do not support Obama
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gvsn4IB5VKfr3SPBo5mh10Z0GJLAD91FLJ7O0

AFP
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Because Obama is outrageously anti-conservative, anyone who says that they are conservative and that they support Obama either has severe mental problems or is being paid by the Obama campaign.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hTmPa3TKWcnYhN5dNGmP7AWgtmIA
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Obama's strange appeal to high priests of US conservatism They're called the Obamacons -- the conservative thinkers who are disgusted with the Republicans and are rallying to Democrat Barack Obama as the nation's economic and diplomatic savior. They are joining younger evangelical leaders who see more to their religious mission than slavish devotion to Republican social mores, and fiscal conservatives who reject the war-fueled spending of President George W. Bush. "The Bush coalition is dissolving," pollster John Zogby told AFP. "We have polling showing one-fifth of conservatives supporting Obama," he said. It seems an unlikely alliance, as some of the star intellectual names who have long given philosophical sustenance to Republican rule clamber aboard Obama's bid for the White House.)
-- Tastes in sports, food divide McCain and Obama
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jtCqUNMDNIjesis_5EJYWQXAAx8g

WALL STREET JOURNAL
-- FRONT PAGE: VERY SAD: Planned Parenthood Hits Suburbia Abortion Provider Goes Upscale - Stephanie Simon
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121417762585295459.html?mod=hps_us_at_glance_health

GEORGE KOCAN
-- GEORGE KOCAN LETTER SENT THE WSJ EDITOR: Why Sodomite Couplings Are Bad for America
www.gopillinois.com (6/23/08 News Clips page)

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The Decline of Chicago: The City that Doesn't Work

Steve Bartin from this local blog known as Newsalert offers his two cents on the state of the city of Chicago in this online column. Something that's worth a pull from this column among other things I'd like to excerpt...

Recently, Crain’s Chicago Business reported on Chicago winning an award from Fast Company magazine. “Chicago stood out in our reporting for its creativity and vitality,” Editor and Managing Director Bob Safian said at a press conference here. “Chicago offers something distinctive.”

Fast Company Magazine is representative of much of the media: not much on hard facts about Chicago. The Windy City has distinctions but not positive ones. Chicago’s retail sales tax is the highest in the nation at 10.25 percent. Unions, high taxes, and political corruption have made Chicago one of the leaders in big city decline.

One of the great modern myths of big city America is that Chicago is some sort of successful town and a role model for others. By any traditional performance standards Chicago has failed. Like many old, big industrial cities, Chicago peaked in the 1950 Census with a population of 3,620,962. In the 1950s over two percent of the entire U.S. population lived within Chicago city limits. Over a half century later, while America’s population doubled, Chicago’s population declined. The 1960, 1970, 1980, and 1990 Census numbers showed Chicago losing population.

Mayor Daley and Chicago residents were quite excited about the 2000 Census showing Chicago gaining over 112,000 people (a growth rate at half the national average for the 1990s). It appears the 1990s were an anomaly for Chicago. Since the year 2000, according to Census estimates, Chicago again continued its population decline with a loss of 63,000 from 2000 to 2006 leaving a total of 2,833,321.

....

Though 2000 was a somewhat positive year, that year’s Census numbers mask some rather disturbing trends. The white flight out of Chicago continued with 150,000 non- Hispanic white people leaving Chicago from 1990 to 2,000. African-Americans, for the first time, began leaving Chicago with a net loss of 5,000. The population gain in Chicago during the 1990s was due to Hispanics.

Here's another problem highlighted...

What is even more pronounced is the lack of white children in the public school system. The entire Chicago Public School is only 9 percent white . Not a single public school has a population that is majority white. Not one.

Recently, the stubborn facts of Chicago’s population decline made news. As CBS TV Chicago reported in January of 2008:

Half-empty schools are ‘unacceptable’ because they don't serve their students or the communities they're supposed to anchor, Mayor Richard M. Daley said Thursday, setting the stage for the biggest wave of school closings in decades.

Officials contend 147 of 417 neighborhood elementary schools are from half to more than two-thirds empty because enrollment has declined by 41,000 students in the last seven years. A tentative CPS plan calls for up to 50 under-used schools to close, consolidate with other schools or phase out over the next five years.

Most of the underused schools are on the South and West Sides, often where the student population is largely African-American, and in lakefront neighborhoods that include Lincoln Park, Lake View, Uptown and North Center.”

The situation isn’t any better in Chicago’s Catholic School System. The Chicago Tribune reported on February 27, 2007:

Nicholas Wolsonovich, superintendent of schools for the archdiocese, called the exodus from Chicago's Catholic schools ‘mind-boggling.’ In 1964, he said, some 500 schools were spread across the diocese, with about 366,000 students. Now, the system has 257 schools and fewer than 100,000 students. Over the last decade statewide, the number of Catholic schools has dropped from 592 in 1997 to 510 this year, according to figures released at the conference.

Chicago’s political elite love to give speeches about the importance of public education, but not for their children. Mayor Daley sent his children to private schools. Deborah Lynch, the former head of the Chicago Teacher’s Union, sent her kids to private schools. America’s newest political superstar, Barack Obama, sends his kids to private schools. With the exodus of the rich from Chicago’s public schools, 69 percent of the children in the Chicago Public School system are poor.

The horrible public schools, high taxes, and crime have driven families out of Chicago. The city’s job base cannot compete with anti-union places like Houston and Phoenix.

Let's talk a little about business in Chicago. Chicago and Cook County already has the highest sales tax in the nation but what might be the after effects of that and other taxes on businesses here...

Chicago’s high tax life style has driven businesses and jobs to the suburbs. Chicago is one ofthe only towns in America with an employee head tax on employment. Companies with over 50 employees must pay $4 a month per employee to the city. Most of the major corporate headquarters in the Chicago area are located in Chicago’s suburbs. Motorola, Walgreens, All State, Kraft, Anixter, Illinois Tool Works, McDonald’s, Alberta-Culver, and Abbott Labs all have their corporate headquarters outside city limits.

Recently, Chicago got its first Wal-Mart. In most places in America, politicians allow consumers to decide whether a business should fail or succeed. In Chicago, with the power of the unions, Chicago’s city council has made it difficult for Wal-Mart to open up any more stores. Chicago’s poor are relegated to paying higher retail prices and have less access to entry-level jobs. The adjacent suburb of Niles has the unusual distinction of being the only town in America (with less than 45,000 people) with two Wal-Marts. One of the Niles Wal-Marts is located right across the street from Chicago.

The largest employer in the city of Chicago is the Federal government. Followed by the City of Chicago public School system. Other major employers are the city of Chicago, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Cook County government, and the Chicago Park District. These thousands of government workers provide the backbone of the coalition for higher taxes, generous pensions and “political stability”.

Chicago’s political system is inefficient and costly. There are no term limits in Chicago. The Democratic Party has controlled the Mayor’s office since 1931(a big city record). There’s no opposition: Democrat’s control 49 out of 50 seats on the city council. Corruption is everywhere. Barely a month can go by without a major scandal. The FBI has the largest public corruption squad in the United States located in Chicago . Chicago voters don’t seem to care. Those who care about high taxes, good public schools, and low crime are a small minority in Chicago.

I just post this here because there are some things to consider here. Does anyone think the City of Chicago is in trouble? Does anyone think there might need to be some changes made in how the city is able to attract and retain businesses here?

This column concludes that low-tax and low-regulation Houston, Texas will over take Chicago in 15 years. Does anyone think that will happen?

Cross-posted at The Sixth Ward.

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GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - June 22, 2008

LIZ MARTINEZ
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom gets a standing ovation -- 4 minutes long according to Lisle Township GOP Chairman Mike Prueter
www.gopillinois.com (6/22/08 News Clips page)
(THE PRESS RELEASE: Lisle, Naperville and Wheatland Township Republican Organizations Hold Tri Township Meeting/Rally for Local Candidates - Liz Martinez An outstanding Tri Township meeting of Lisle, Naperville and Wheatland Township Republican Organizations committeemen was held at White Eagle Golf Club on Saturday morning, June 21, 2008. This event, chaired by Township Chairmen Rachel Ossyra, Mike Prueter and Todd Morse, brought together committeemen from the three townships and local, county, state and federal officials to rally for Republican candidates. More than 100 attended the event. Party leaders who spoke to “What It’s Going to Take to Win” were: State Senator and DuPage GOP Chairman Dan Cronin, U.S. Congresswoman Judy Biggert, DuPage County Chairman Bob Schillerstrom, U.S. Senate Candidate Steven Sauerberg and State Representative Skip Saviano. There was a standing ovation for Bob Schillerstrom when he was introduced. Local Candidates who spoke to “Call to Action to Committeemen” were: Joe Birkett, Roger Claar, Mike Connelly, Darlene Senger, Terri Ann Wintermute, Fred Bucholz, Bob Grogan, Judy DeVriendt, Ann Dralle, Chuck Maher, Ed Kusta, Jim Healy, Gerry Cassioppi, Pat O’Shea, John Curran, and Linda Painter.)

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- Eckhoff, Formento, Fortner, McBride, and Olson speak at outstanding DuPage County District 4 Precinct Committeeman Breakfast - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
(THE REPORT: DuPage County District 4 Board Members Grant Eckhoff, J.R. McBride, and Debra Olson held an outstanding free breakfast meeting for Precinct Committeemen Saturday morning, June 21, at the beautiful Glendale Lakes Golf Course. In addition to Eckhoff, McBride, and Olson, State Representative Mike Fortner and DuPage County District 4 Forest Commissioner and Milton Township Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Formento spoke. Attendees included Lori Carlson, Tina Connelly, Lynn Crain, Chris Edwards, Jim Flickinger, Georgia Koch, Gary Muehlfelt, Leonard Sanchez, and Tim Whelan.)
-- Political advertisers in the Illinois Republican Party's 60-page state convention handbook - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
Arndt, Mary Jo - Page 43
Brady, Bill - 14
Chisum, Tolbert - 36
Christian County - 29
Claar, Roger - 54
Cross, Tom - 16
Dawson, Gene - 50
DeMonte, Demetra - 24
Dillard, Kirk - 15
DuPage Township - 55
Durkin, Jim - 25
GOPUSA ILLINOIS - 24
Greenberg, Steve - 51
Illinois Republican County Chairman's Association - back cover
Illinois Republican Party - 51
LaHood, Ray - 47
Mitchell, Bill - 24
Righter, Dale - 15
Risinger, Dale - 15
Sauerberg, Steve - 50
Saviano, Skip - 23
Schock, Aaron - 49
Stephens, Bradley - 37
Watson, Frank - 11

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Cal Skinner reports on the June 20 Republican State Senate Campaign Committee fundraiser at the Arlington Park Racecourse
http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/ (Scroll down)

LOU DOBBS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Video clip of June 20 Lou Dobbs interview of Rosanna Pulido concerning John McCain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bltpx32MPOw

BEACON NEWS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: "emily@saltijeral-demar.org" posts a detailed report and commentary on McCain's visit with Chicago-area Hispanics
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/opinions/valleyviews/1018242,2_4_AU22_VVDEMAR_S1.article
-- Birkett considering a run for governor - Jennifer Gotz
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1018235,2_1_AU22_BIRKETT_S1.article

COURIER NEWS
-- Elgin: Enforcement bid vs. illegal immigration - Stephen Johnson
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/1018561,3_1_EL22_A1ILLEGAL_S1.article

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- Impeachment talks swirling Blagojevich criticizes Madigan over memo - Ray Long and David Mendell
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-new-illinois-impeach-22jun22,0,4694778.story
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Chicago Tribune has its reporter Rex W. Huppke a) demonize religious people and b) promote homosexual activity
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-gay-midwest_thinkjun22,0,4341925.story
-- Stroger, banking on Palatine - Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0622edit3jun22,0,7204333.story

SOUTHTOWN STAR
-- Lame duck Blagojevich keeps state paralyzed - Tom Houlihan
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/houlihan/1016516,062208houlihan.article

DAILY HERALD
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Rueben Navarrette demonizes everyone who does not promote Michelle Obama
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=210276

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
-- 1,000-plus people show up for giant 'Save Pontiac Prison' photo - Tony Sapochetti
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/06/21/news/doc485d400a27f01863977815.txt
-- Corvette fans celebrate Bloomington Gold Corvettes USA Show at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles - Scott Richardson
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/06/14/go/doc4852ddf340419325617771.txt

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- The Rain Man strikes again - Doug Finke
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x1743978496/Statehouse-Insider-June-22

CNN
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Bill Schneider argues that most Hispanic Americans are single issue voters -- they vote for the candidate who promises to give Hispanics the most preference
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/21/mccain.hispanics/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
-- UNACCEPTABLE: OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTH RATE: White-28%, Hispanic-50%, Black-71%: The Tragedy of America's Disappearing Fathers - Juan Williams
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121340023355173717.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The extent of the problem is clear. The nation's out-of-wedlock birth rate is 38%. Among white children, 28% are now born to a single mother; among Hispanic children it is 50% and reaches a chilling, disorienting peak of 71% for black children. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, nearly a quarter of America's white children (22%) do not have any male in their homes; nearly a third (31%) of Hispanic children and over half of black children (56%) are fatherless. This represents a dramatic shift in American life. In the early 1960s, only 2.3% of white children and 24% of black children were born to a single mom. Having a dad, in short, is now a privilege, a ticket to middle-class status on par with getting into a good college.)

WASHINGTON POST
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Unacceptably, it is becoming increasing clear that Democrats will say that you are a racist if you do not vote for Obama. I was one of the 1,390,690 in Illinois who voted for Alan Keyes in 2004. Shortly after the Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee selected Keyes to run against Obama, I publicly asked Keyes to consider purchasing a home in my precinct. I arranged for Keys to speak at Wheaton's 2004 Patriot Day ceremony. I arranged for many Keyes signs to be displayed in my precinct and in downtown Wheaton.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/21/AR2008062101825.html?hpid=topnews

CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: OUTSTANDING: Crain's Chicago Business promotes "Bloomington Gold Corvettes USA Show at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles"
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/mag/article.pl?articleId=30171

CAR AND DRIVER
-- Fueling Debate: What Drives McCain and Obama’s Campaigns - Feature Heartfelt or phony, presidential candidates know that what they drive says a lot about them. - David Holzman
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/

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If the reduced cost health insurance for your kids isn't enough here is a gas card.

The Sun Times is reporting that the state is offering families $50 gas cards for enrolling for All Kids...

The cost of the cards is being covered by the Illinois Healthcare and Family Services Department.

Any bets on if the cards have Rod's name on them? Looking forward to what other state programs will give you incentives for participating.

If nothing else what does this say about us as a society when we have to offer a gas card to get people to sign their kids up for a state child health program or what does this say about our governor?


OneMan

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Progressive Blogs Roundup

in the effort to provide a little balance -- and a weekly reminder that the blogs on the left end of illinois' political spectrum are intellectually diverse and highly spirited. perhaps most interestingly, at a time when scott mcclellan is providing an inside look at the lack of intellectual curiousity of this president -- and the resulting need for spin to cover it up -- mark kirk is demonstrating the same defects. i know that, if i supported kirk, i'd be wanting him to keep his mouth shut while mcclellan was all over the media talking about how republicans lied and manipulated the american media (and electorate). it would have been the smart thing to do.

some of the posts from this past week include:

* RandySF writes about Mark Kirk: Shoot Obama On Sight at prairie state blue.

* adam doster of progress illinois posts about kirk's "two weeks" fallacy. i don't know if kirk doesn't believe that the economy is incredibly strained or just doesn't think that the people who are hurt by it deserve help -- given his reaction to dan seals' point that gas costs $1.85 a gallon when kirk was first elected -- but it might be easiest to conclude that kirk just doesn't care.

* adam doster continues coverage of kirk's falsehoods on local morning radio.

* josh kalven asks when Kirk [will] apologize for his falsehoods about health care, unemployment benefits, and who's drilling in the Gulf of Mexico? kirk did, after all, apologize for his comment that barack obama should be shot on sight. it probably was that visit from the secret service afterward.

* rob nesvacil of illinois reason posts about how Mark Kirk [is] caught in more fibs on Oil and Osama bin Forgotten.

* ellen of the tenth writes a diary about how McCain and Kirk Bad for Women.

* adam doster posts about the objections mark kirk has with the constitution (or maybe just how this rather conservative supreme court interprets it).

* adam doster notes the inclusion of $400 million in federal spending devoted to science research in the recent war supplemental in House, Foster May Stave Off Fermilab Cuts.

* curmudgeon tells us that the J Street PAC endorses Halvorson.

* wegerje writes another analysis of congressional votes from a progressive perspective: FISA: Of Authoritarians, Daleyists and Obama-Dog Republicans.

* rob nesvacil notes that there is A clear choice between prez nominees on flood response.

* leo of illinois demnet posts on Obama Supporters at Montrose Ave. Beach

* the inside dope wonders Is Blago toast?

* progress illinois has had extensive coverage of the flooding. posts from june 16 can be found here, june 17 can be found here and here, june 19 can be found here and here and here. friday's post on the floods suggests that Experts Link Midwest Floods To Global Warming.

* dave barrett diaries on Flooding on the Bike Trail in Moline.

* will reynolds writes more about the plans for Waverly ethanol plant.

* eric bell of illinois deserves the truth writes that the Mortgage Fraud Crackdown Hits Home.

* ellen of the tenth posts about the foreclosure crisis in Illinois: "One of the most troubling aspects of the housing crisis is its affect on seniors. Seniors are also more likely to be victims of predatory lending and mortgage rescue fraud. Even wealthier and more sophisticated seniors are having trouble sell their homes at prices that will help pay for needed assisted living situations."

* josh kalven writes about Life On The Line for those involved in the five year old strike at the congress hotel.

* adam doster posts about the record lows for youth employment this summer.

this week's big loser: mark kirk, who seems to be suffering from foot in mouth disease at the wrong time in the election cycle. OR, maybe this is why kirk has been staying inside the beltway so much. less contact with illinois voters means fewer opportunities to show them how you really think!

one word: none of these blogs (afaik) are currently represented on illinoize, which is why i chose to write about them here...

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Former Crystal Lake Mayor Inches Toward Big Blue Island Refinery Judgment

One of my earliest stories in 2005 was how former Crystal Lake Mayor Bob Wagner had won a class action law suit against the owners of the refinery in Blue Island. It is now owned by Valero Energy Corporation.

The suit was filed in 1995. Wagner joined it in 2000.

In 2005, in the article,

"Crystal Lake Attorney Bob Wagner Wins
Huge Blue Island Refinery Case,"

Wagner told me that the case was based on 15 boxes of information from the federal and Illinois Environmental Protection Agencies.

Wagner said there was “a pretty compelling case that there was a lot of pollution coming from that refinery that could have been avoided using reasonably available technology.

“The evidence showed refinery management was indifferent to the pollution released into the neighborhood and did little or nothing to prevent it because it was too expensive,” he continued.

“They put their profits ahead of public safety,” Wagner observed. “They were indifferent to the damage they inflected.”

A Cook County judge threw out the $120 million judgment and Wagner appealed. See

Bob Wagner May Still End Up a Multi-Millionaire

Now, the news is that the Illinois Appellate Court in Cook County has reversed the finding of the lower court on a 2-1 decision.

The plaintiffs, 6,000 area residents, are again in line for a $120 million judgment,

Wagner explained to the Chicago Tribune that there was also $25 million in interest since 2005 decision.

Naturally, the oil company will do everything in its power to avoid paying the money.

Posted first on McHenry County Blog, which doesn't go to sleep on the weekend. You can find out what McHenry County Democrats are doing this weekend.

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GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - June 21, 2008

CNN
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: JUNE 20 LOU DOBBS TV PROGRAM: Dobbs interviews Rosanna Pulido concerning McCain
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0806/20/ldt.01.html
(FROM THE TRANSCRIPT: Senator McCain is trying to have it both ways on the issue of illegal immigration as well. He's doing it by pandering of course to ethnocentric interest groups. He assured in Chicago, Hispanic leaders at a late-night meeting that he would help push through legislation giving immigration reform a top priority, giving amnesty to millions of illegal aliens. Rosanna Pulido, a Republican of Hispanic origin was at the meeting and she was troubled by many of the things Senator McCain had to say. She joins us tonight from Chicago. Good to have you with us. ROSANNA PULIDO, MINUTEMAN ILLINOIS PROJECT: Thanks, Lou. It is a privilege. DOBBS: This meeting, the McCain campaign objecting to the reports that it was secret. Was it secret? PULIDO: It was private. It was a private meeting. DOBBS: Right. And who, who was there? What group, what umbrella? PULIDO: Well, the Republican Hispanic Assembly was one of the sponsors of it. And there was a lot of different people including Illinois State Senator Martin Sandoval, who I know to be a Democrat. DOBBS: Right. And what did the senator say? I mean, what is the point of this meeting? He had said to us all, for months that, he had learned, one thing in the campaign and that was border security first. In this meeting he said something quite differently, apparently? PULIDO: That's correct. I was hopeful hearing that John McCain got it one day he got it that we want enforcement first. And so I was hopeful going to the meeting, but all I heard was the mantra was comprehensive immigration reform. That to me as an illegal immigration activist is a code word for amnesty. The crowd cheered every time he mentioned those words, those code words. And he also made a statement that did you know that Spanish was the first language spoken in my home state of Arizona before English. The crowd went crazy. DOBBS: You know the senator is absolutely wrong. Spanish was not the first language spoken in the state of Arizona. In point of fact there were a host of Indian dialects, native American dialects spoken there for hundreds of years before there was any Spanish spoken in Arizona, so somebody needs to counsel the good senator when he is pandering to ethnocentric interest groups. He probably offended a great deal, great number of people who are Native Americans, from his home state. Don't you think? PULIDO: Absolutely and he offended me as a conservative, a Republican, I wish he would pander to me as a conservative. That's what I would like, a little pandering our way. But as far as I'm concerned, John McCain is kicking the conservatives to the curb. DOBBS: Well we thank you very much, Rosanna Pulido for being here. PULIDO: Thanks, Lou. DOBBS: We, by the way, asked the McCain campaign to clarify what the senator was saying and what he meant and the purpose of such a dialogue if you will. They had no response or reply.)
-- Obama: "They're going to try to make you afraid of me" - Alexander Marquardt
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/06/20/obama-theyre-going-to-try-to-make-you-afraid-of-me/

ABC NEWS
-- McCain Double-Talk on Immigration? - Jake Tapper
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/06/title----mcca-1.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Pulido seemed to be in a rather interesting position to talk about McCain and immigration, so I gave her a call. An advocate and escort for seniors professionally, Pulido told me that she's one of the original Minutemen who stood on the border between Arizona and Mexico in 2005 and she's also Illinois spokesperson for "You Don't Speak For Me, American Hispanis Speaking Out On Illegal Immigration." Her parents were from Mexico, but she was born in the U.S. (She spent a year in Mexico in the 1980s as a Christian missionary.) Pulido says her activism against illegal immigration stems from her Christian belief system and sense of right and wrong, as well as the unmet needs she sees in the senior population through her work. "What they're doing is stealing from the American people," she says of illegal immigrants.)
-- Will Affirmative Action Roil '08 Race? Obama Against Connerly Initiatives; McCain Still Mum - Teddy Davis, Tahman Bradley, and Gregory Wallace
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=5213420&page=1

BOSTON GLOBE
-- Obama hits McCain on meeting with Hispanic leaders - Foon Rhee
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/06/mccain_meeting.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In a conference call with reporters, Obama communications director Robert Gibbs sought to portray the meeting as the latest example this week of double-talk from McCain because he said during a GOP debate that he would no longer vote for his own comprehensive reform bill. Gibbs also cited McCain's switch to support lifting the federal ban on offshore oil drilling and what he described as McCain's attempts to soften his stance on overturning Roe v. Wade. McCain is having a "tortured debate" with himself, and saying one thing to one audience and saying the opposite to another, Gibbs said. Gibbs insisted that Obama reversing himself on accepting public funding in the fall is not a flip-flop like McCain's. Obama is seeking more support from Hispanics, who mostly backed rival Hillary Clinton during the Democratic primaries. Illegal immigration is a hot-button issue, particularly for Republicans. McCain championed comprehensive reform, including a path to citizenship, but the proposal stalled in Congress last year under withering assault from conservatives. Under attack for his past stance during the primaries by foes who accused him of favoring amnesty for illegal immigrants, McCain emphasized border security, saying he would not pursue reform until the borders were secure.)
-- Obama, McCain trade jabs on flip-flopping Words heat up over who's soft on the issues
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/06/21/obama_mccain_trade_jabs_on_flip_flopping/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Obama's campaign, in turn, jumped on a private meeting that McCain had with Hispanic leaders to call him two-faced on comprehensive immigration reform. McCain assured more than 150 Latino leaders in Chicago on Thursday night that if elected president, he would push through Congress legislation to overhaul federal immigration laws, several of those in attendance said. Obama communications director Robert Gibbs noted that during the GOP primaries, McCain said he would no longer vote for the comprehensive reform bill he championed in Congress last year that included a path to citizenship. Under withering attacks from primary foes who accused him of favoring amnesty for illegal immigrants, McCain said he would not pursue the reform bill until the borders were secure. "He's one John McCain in front of white Republicans. And he's a different John McCain in front of Hispanics," said one of those at the meeting, Rosanna Pulido, who heads the Illinois Minuteman Project, which advocates for restrictive immigration laws.)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- A McCain flip-flop on immigration? - Rick Pearson
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/06/a_mccain_flipflop_on_immigrati.html
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/06/a_mccain_flipflop_on_immigrati.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Pulido said she found it ironic that the Obama campaign would try to use the immigration meeting and criticism of McCain for political advantage. "(Obama) really has little room to say anything because the only person who has a worse record than John McCain on immigration is Barack Obama, selling out his own people, the African-Americans who suffer more at the illegal immigration crisis than any Americans," she said. "Those people have just suffered more, their jobs and benefits and all that. It's really shameful that he is using it because his record is absolutely shameful." As for McCain, Pulido said, "He has lost his way in the Republican Party. I am a conservative before I am a Republican and I am at the breaking point, like other Republicans are. There is such a backlash with John McCain.")
-- Governors gather in show of support 16 Democrats meet with Obama in Chicago - John McCormick and Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama-campaign_satjun21,0,6712703.story
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Reacting to criticism over the decision to turn down public financing, the Obama campaign held a conference call with reporters to present its own list of alleged doublespeak by the McCain campaign that included using comments from a conservative activist and leading Illinois opponent of illegal immigration. Robert Gibbs, Obama's communications director, cited a closed-door meeting McCain held in Chicago on Wednesday with more than 100 Hispanic leaders where attendees said the Republican vowed to have Congress pass comprehensive immigration reform in the first year of his presidency. "He's one John McCain in front of white Republicans and he's a different John McCain in front of Hispanics," said Rosanna Pulido, director of the Illinois Minuteman Project, who attended the forum with the Republican contender and has dubbed him "Juan McCain.")
-- Devastating floods give political boost to Blagojevich - Deanna Bellandi
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-flooding-blagojev,0,8271.story
-- An answer to Zorn's question - James Finnegan, Barrington
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/chi-080617zorn_briefs,0,4059021.story
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: BEYOND OUTRAGEOUS: Chicago Tribune stereotypes older white law enforcement officers as being racists
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-dupage-trailblazer_both_21jun21,0,6818496.story

CHICAGOSUN-TIMES
-- BEYOND OUTRAGEOUS: Blagojevich offers parents $50 in free gas to enroll their children in All Kids insurance - Monifa Thomas
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/1017793,CST-NWS-govgas21.article

DAILY HERALD
-- Obama ends two-week tour on economy at Chicago forum - David Beery
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=210410
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: BEYOND OUTRAGEOUS: Daily Herald stereotypes older white law enforcement officers as being racists
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=210680&src=
(FROM THE RANT: In his early days on the job he dealt with all sorts of discrimination -- even from his fellow officers. But he knew the significance of his role in local history. He didn't walk around with a chip on his shoulder, but he didn't back down, either. He often confronted other cops who wouldn't ride with him, back him up or had even taken to calling him "Willy." That uncompromising approach led to several higher level-jobs, including the one he left -- chief of investigations for the state's attorney's office. He leaves with an unblemished record, numerous accolades and the knowledge that he blazed a sterling trail for other people of color who followed.)

NBC5
-- At Economic Meeting With Governors, Speculation Turns To Obama's VP Pick Governors Say They're Ready To Stump For Obama - Mary Ann Ahern
http://www.nbc5.com/politics/16668646/detail.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Noticeably absent from the group, Ahern reported, was Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. While Blagojevich did attend the private dinner party with Obama and the governors Thursday night, both Obama and Blagojevich both share convicted fundraiser Tony Rezko as a friend, Ahern also said. Lately, Ahern reported, they have stayed away from each other. "Is it because the ethical problems for the governor are so bad that he doesn't want to be by the press?" said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna. "Is it because they (the Democrats) can't balance a budget -- $2 billion in deficit?")

CBS2
-- Blagojevich Misses Obama Meeting To Tend To Floods He Tours Downstate Flood Zone Instead As Other Dem Governors Meet With Obama In Show Of Party Unity
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/obama.economy.meeting.2.752881.html (Includes video clip)

CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS
-- Obama rallies guvs for White House - Greg Hinz
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=29906
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Notably absent from the Chicago meeting on Friday was Illinois' own Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose office said he had to tour flood areas Downstate instead. Mr. Blagojevich and key associates are the subject of a corruption probe by the federal government, and his attendance at the event likely would have spurred distracting questions about matters such as the relationship each had with convicted fund-raiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko. Mr. Blagojevich did attend a private reception with the group in Chicago on Thursday evening.)

MORRIS DAILY HERALD
-- Illinois lawmakers see world on others' tab - Dennis Conrad
http://www.morrisdailyherald.com/articles/2008/06/20/state_news/395abstalawmakers.txt

WHEATONSUN
-- EX-WheatonWarrenvilleSchool District 200 chief's contract is public record, court rules - Hank Beckman
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/wheatonsun/news/1013038,6_1_NA20_WSCONTRACT_S1.article

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
-- Zorn's Question - David E. Smith
http://www.illinoisfamily.org/news/contentview.asp?c=33935

NATIONAL REVIEW
-- Independents Wary of Obama on Love of Country, Wright, Terrorism
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MzNlNzE4Nzk0YzBmMDU2NDE5OTM0ZWVkMGNjZjY2Nzg=

WASHINGTON POST
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Needless-to-say, because the Democrat Party platform is so outrageously anti-Christian (it is pro-abortion, pro-homosexual activity, pro-socialism, etc.), Christian leaders should not do anything to help elect Democrats
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/20/AR2008062002477.html?hpid=topnews
(FROM THE ARTICLE: With the Democratic presidential nomination in his grasp, Sen. Barack Obama is making a full-throttle push for centrist evangelicals and Catholics. It's a move that's caught some conservative evangelicals off guard. They say they are surprised and dismayed to see a liberal-minded politician attempting to conscript their troops. At the same time, they say that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has done little to court their affections. "I've never seen anything quite like it before," said evangelical author Stephen Mansfield, who wrote "The Faith of George W. Bush" and has a forthcoming book about Obama. "To be running against a dyed-in-the-wool Republican, and to be reaching into the Christian community as wisely and knowledgeably as (Obama) is -- understanding their terms and their values -- is just remarkable.")

WALL STREET JOURNAL
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: To promote homosexual marriage is to promote homosexual activity. Jonathan Rauch promotes gay marriage, therefore, he promotes homosexual activity.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121400362307993399.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- New GOPUSA ILLINOIS poll: What is the main reason why you are involved in Republican politics in Illinois? To:
http://www.gopusa.com/illinois/poll.shtml
-- Advance the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) platform?
-- Get/keep/improve a job with an organization or individual that is involved in government or politics in Illinois?
-- Get/keep/improve a contract with an organization or individual that is involved in government or politics in Illinois?
-- Get/keep/improve some other type of income from an organization or individual that is involved in government or politics in Illinois?
-- Get/keep/improve government or political actions that directly benefit your personal or business financial interests?
-- Increase government or political preferences for members of your race?
-- Increase government or political preferences for those who share your gender?
-- Increase government or political preferences for those who share your national origin?
-- Increase government or political preferences for members of your age group?
-- Increase government or political preferences for those who engage in homosexual activity?
-- Demoralize, undermine, discredit, and/or demonize those who are involved in IRP politics to advance the IRP platform?

Read more...

GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - June 20, 2008

ASSOCIATED PRESS & USA TODAY & CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- McCain meets with Illinois Hispanic leaders - Michael Tarm
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gHGkJbzOIZuuWMIZ5vXfszMc7CRAD91DH0980
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-06-19-hispanic-leaders_N.htm?csp=34
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ap-mccain-hispanics,0,7438054.story
(FROM THE ARTICLE: VERY SAD: "He's one John McCain in front of white Republicans. And he's a different John McCain in front of Hispanics," complained Rosanna Pulido, a Hispanic and conservative Republican who attended the meeting. Pulido, who heads the Illinois Minuteman Project, which advocates for restrictive Immigration laws, said she thought McCain was "pandering to the crowd" by emphasizing Immigration reform in his 15-minute speech. "He's having his private meetings to rally Hispanics and to tell them what they want to hear," she said. "I'm outraged that he would reach out to me as a Hispanic but not as a conservative." After the event, McCain met privately with Martin Sandoval, an Illinois state senator and Democratic convention delegate for former candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. Sandoval said he left open the possibility of backing McCain, citing his Immigration stance and pledge to keep business taxes low.)

BEACON NEWS
-- Hispanics mixed on McCain meeting - Andre Salles
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1016124,2_1_AU20_MCCAIN_S1.article
(THE ARTICLE: On Wednesday, a busload of Fox Valley Hispanics trekked to Chicago for a town hall meeting with Sen. John McCain, the apparent Republican nominee for president. They came away with mixed impressions of the event. McCain was in Chicago for a series of fundraisers at the Drake Hotel, and the town hall meeting was scheduled for immediately afterward. It was arranged by Fox Valley residents Julie Brady of St. Charles and Gabriela Wyatt of Aurora. Brady is the deputy co-chairman of McCain's campaign in Illinois, and Wyatt is chair of the Kane County Republican Central Committee and a delegate to the Republican National Convention. The two of them envisioned the event as a question-and-answer session, a chance for McCain to hear what Illinois Hispanics have to say. In the end, though, McCain only had time for a 10-minute speech and a few handshakes. According to Brady, he'd attended NBC newsman Tim Russert's funeral earlier in the day, which had thrown his schedule off. He arrived at the meeting about 45 minutes late, attendees said. And while some, like Auroran Robert Enriquez, were impressed with McCain and the event, others -- like Aurora Alderman Juany Garza -- thought McCain should have spent more time with the Hispanic voters he's trying to court. "That's the reason we were there, because they told us they would let us ask questions," Garza said. "He didn't give us a chance." McCain's speech touched on several issues, starting with immigration reform. He talked about guest worker programs, the importance of education and the value of Hispanic support of the U.S. military. The McCain campaign did have a number of volunteers scattered through the crowd, asking attendees which issues were important. One of the campaign volunteers was Gloria Campos, who said that while Hispanics in attendance were concerned about education and the economy, not one talked about immigration reform. She understood why McCain couldn't stay longer. "It would have been nice for him to answer questions," she said. "But it was nicer of him to take time off his busy agenda to greet us." Wyatt got to introduce McCain and said she was pleased with the event, calling his speech "positive and upbeat," with a focus on "solutions for our country." Brady said McCain would likely make another Chicago appearance before the campaign is over, but no concrete plans had been finalized.)

POLITICO
-- McCain's secret meeting with Hispanics - Jonathan Martin
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- VERY SAD: SNEED: An endorsement? Sneed hears Dem state Sen. Martin Sandoval showed up at a private meeting between GOP presidential contender John McCain and 200 members of the Hispanic community Wednesday night at the Drake Hotel.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/sneed/1015937,CST-NWS-sneed20.article
-- VERY SAD: Wright, Pfleger appear together - Abdon Pallasch
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/religion/1015939,wright062008.article
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: The main thing that Democrats are doing to elect Obama in November is driving America's economy down. Sadly, the Democrats are having success.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/1016194,CST-NWS-wrong20.article
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Michael Swenson demonizes those who do not promote homosexual activity, wants the "Gay Pride" parade moved to State Street
http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/letters/1015458,CST-EDT-vox20.article

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- VERY SAD: Pfleger introduces his "hero," Wright - Manya A. Brachear
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-wrightjun20,0,3103245.story
-- Wright, Pfleger tone message down for law group - Deanna Bellandi
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/wire/chi-ap-il-wright-pfleger,0,6051587.story
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Iowa politician Chet Culver blasts politicians, tells politicians to stay away because politicians "divert local law enforcement from the flood recovery effort"
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-ia-culver-mccain,0,3350511.story
-- NIU building proton therapy clinic West Chicago cancer treatment facility that would be 1st of its kind in state is scheduled to be completed in 2 years - James Kimberly
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-proton_therapyjun20,0,1377742.story
(FROM THE ARTICLE: DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom said the project will spur more development for the park. "This facility will help bring jobs to the DuPage Technology Park," Schillerstrom said. "That, in turn, will bring more businesses to the park and will create even more jobs.")

ABC7
-- Wright, Pfleger tone message down for law group
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6216350 (Includes video clip)

CBS2
-- Obama Campaign Stages "Educational" Meeting Former Colleagues To Tout Obama's Record In Illinois General Assembly - Mike Flannery
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/obama.springfield.record.2.752679.html

DAILY HERALD
-- FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN DUPAGE EDITION WITH 5X6.5-INCH COLOR PHOTO: Bill Simmons, DuPage County's first black police officer, chief blazed trail for others - Christy Gutowski
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=209871
-- NIU to build cancer treatment center - Jack Kompera
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=210193&src=2
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Among the politicians in attendance were DuPage County board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom, West Chicago Mayor Michael Kwasman and former U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert. "It's just natural that this place become a high-tech park," Hastert said. "It's people coming together to do great things … but when they put on those hard hats and take those shovels, the work won't be done." . . . Both NIU and Central DuPage Hospital had been rushing to be the first to get state approval to construct similar treatment centers in the West suburbs. The Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board has rejected the proposal by Central DuPage because of its proximity to the NIU site. The Winfield hospital has since filed an appeal to the state's decision. NIU remains opposed to that project. Several hospital officials from CDH attended Thursday's groundbreaking, including Jim Spear, the hospital's executive vice president. Spear at first declined to comment on his reasons for attending. He then said, "It's a great day for cancer patients in Illinois.")

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
-- Push for state construction plan isn't building any momentum - Kurt Erickson
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/06/19/news/doc485b2a2062d2a163417444.txt

KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE
-- Oberweis wants cheaper gas - Dana Herra
http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2008/06/19/news/local/doc4859ea6a567d9054479441.txt

CHAMPION NEWS
-- The real story behind McKenna vs. Schillerstrom (Part 2) McKenna's real motivation - Doug Ibendahl
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=1043
(FROM THE ARTICLE: It's actually very simple and hardly a secret, based on what sources in DuPage report. Like most Republicans who have eyes and a brain, Bob Schillerstrom knows Andy McKenna is doing a lousy job as State Party Chairman. The Illinois GOP is headed straight for another embarrassing disaster in November and McKenna doesn't seem to care. Anyone can see McKenna quit on the job long ago. The obvious question remains, why did Andy take a top post in our party when he clearly isn't taking it seriously, and when he doesn't even seem to enjoy the experience? At least part of the answer comes from a not entirely uncommon source - staff. When Judy Baar Topinka stepped down finally as State Chairman to run for Governor in early 2005, McKenna was put in by the Bob Kjellander crowd to aid Topinka's bid. They didn't necessarily need a leader, but they wanted at least a body to hold the place and to keep the State Party apparatus from becoming a tool for someone else. Topinka's crew arrogantly figured that her name I.D. could carry her to victory against the horribly damaged Blagojevich. Further, a professionally functioning State Republican Party might only give a lift to the Republican base. And those pesky voters who actually care about issues, if energized, might get a crazy idea like nominating someone other than another flawed Democrat in the GOP primary. McKenna had already allowed his name to be floated repeatedly as a possible primary challenger for U.S. Senate when the old guard was trying to send Peter Fitzgerald the message that he better not run for re-election in 2004. McKenna had proven he would go along with most anything, so he was the perfect placeholder. Plus his daddy's got money and connections. But in November 2006, a large majority of voters decided they liked Topinka even less than they liked Blagojevich. After that trainwreck, McKenna should have done the right thing and moved on too. But our State Party largely became the refugee camp for the defeated Topinka team. So now what we have is a State Party that's still run by Topinka people. And the operation is as vicious, inept and as self-serving as ever. Unfortunately, the one thing that old crowd is good at is self-perpetuation. If McKenna goes, so too do the old staff and various other hangers-on. So anyone who threatens the gravy train is going to be attacked - Republican prospects in November be damned. This also explains the dissimilar treatment of say Birkett compared with Schillerstrom in Decatur. In 2006 Birkett sold-out to the Log Cabin wing by teaming up with Topinka for her campaign. So McKenna's staff loves him now. Joe can do no wrong. So when staffers give McKenna his words to say, Birkett gets praise while Schillerstrom gets attacked - even though they both lobbied equally hard for the same tax increase. In other words, the whole tax increase issue was just a phony Trojan Horse in Decatur. McKenna and his staff don't care about any tax increase - or really any policy issue for that matter. We're talking simple self-perpetuation here. The tax issue was just a vehicle to attack a guy they perceive as a threat to staying on a political payroll. Schillerstrom needs to step up now I want to be clear. I'm not trying to make Schillerstrom out to be some kind of sympathetic victim or as some kind of hero here. Frankly, I don't see a lot of white hats among any of the incumbents in DuPage, just like I don't at the State Party level right now. I see a lot of good people and up-and-comers in the ranks, but few at the top. In some ways the DuPage GOP reflects the same arrogance and poor decision making Republicans see at the State Party level these days. So Schillerstrom's issues with McKenna may not be identical to the concerns I and most others have regarding McKenna. I see in McKenna a failed figurehead who can't lead and who isn't getting the job done. The divisive, rigged affair McKenna presided over in Decatur was just the latest example. John McCain and every other GOP candidate in Illinois has to suffer again this year simply because McKenna and his staff are determined to put their own selfish interests ahead of our Party. It's a travesty that our GOP in Illinois is in the same position today that it was going into the awful elections of 2002, 2004, and 2006. Most signs look worse today in fact, and Barack Obama has very little to do with it. But at least more Republicans start to understand why this old circle so desperately and nastily oppose giving Republicans back a direct vote for the State Central Committeemen. A State Central that was truly accountable to Republicans would be much more likely to do their job and dump an ineffective Chairman like McKenna. Hopefully, Schillerstrom sees the obvious too, but I just don't know for certain. I was a bit disappointed to see his recent letter to convention attendees where he tried to respond to McKenna's attack. Trying to hide behind "the 11th Commandment" is the wrong strategy and in this case it's a complete misapplication of that teaching. If Ronald Reagan was here he would be kicking butts and taking names. Reagan knew you can't win or even advance the GOP flag with a broken organization and you certainly can't ask real Republicans to unify with rotten behavior and unworthy leaders. I think I've only spoken with Schillerstrom once. A couple of years ago or so, my friend and all-around outstanding Republican Dave Diersen was getting some really vile emails from an anonymous source. We helped him trace the IP address of the sender to the offices of DuPage County government. In what certainly wasn't a coincidence, one of Topinka's former staffers had recently gone to work there. That kind of thug behavior was of course the stock in trade for Topinka's minions, a tradition that continues to this day. Anyway, I called Schillerstrom and told him about the problem. It stopped immediately. So from my very limited experience with Schillerstrom, I at least saw some concern for professionalism. That's a trait that's as lacking right now in our State Party as it was under Topinka. Again, it's no surprise given that McKenna kept largely the same handlers around. Schillerstrom shouldn't get a pass for working with the Democrats on legislation that is destructive to the Republican brand - just like our other GOP officials certainly shouldn't get a pass. But if the man is in the Log Cabin wing's crosshairs right now, he must be doing at least some things right.)
-- Self government and a republic in name only - John Biver
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=1042
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Peter LaBarbera on Champion News talk radio, Sunday, June 22, 8AM - 9AM
http://www.championnews.net/talk/
(THE ARTICLE: This Sunday, Guest Co-Host Pete LaBarbera will join Jack, John and Doug to discuss same sex couples getting married in California, the impact of the gay agenda on government policy and politics, and why morality matters.)
NEW YORK TIMES
-- The Two Obamas - David Brooks
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/20/opinion/20brooks.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- Judge Robert Anderson gives outstanding address at Wheaton Chamber of Commerce meeting - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
(THE ARTICLE: DuPage County Judge Robert Anderson gave an outstanding address at the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce's monthly meeting Thursday, June 19, at the beautiful Arrowhead Banquet Hall in Wheaton. Attendees included DuPage County Treasurer Gwen Henry and Wheaton Mayor Mike Gresk.)

Read more...

Jack Franks: "Not Yet"

Yesterday, McHenry County Blog reported on Chicago Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed's surmising that State Rep. Jack Franks would announce for governor against Rod Blagojevich at an upcoming Chicago fund raiser co-hosted by Blagojevich father-in-law Chicago Alderman Dick Mell.

Both Jack Franks and his father, Herb Franks, have gone fishing with Mell for years, accompanied by various Illinois Supreme Court justices and others.

It appears that the Northwest Herald decided to check out Sneed's Sunday report Thursday. Kevin Craver called him and got the answer that he would not announce at the fund raiser.

Franks told Craver:

“I’m certainly not ruling it out – I’m going to meet with people over the summer and get their ideas, and make a decision at the right time. I also want to see what happens in the November election, whether we have a President Obama or not.”

Maybe he'll decide he would rather be a federal judge...although the odds would have been better if Hillary Clinton, his candidate for the Democratic Party nomination, was going to be the general election candidate.

Posted first at McHenry County Blog.

Read more...

More people on the move and Medicaid

Abby Ottenhoff, Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s communications director based in Chicago, is resigning. She’s the third high-level employee in the governor’s office to step down within a month.

Deputy Gov. Sheila Nix resigned this month and was replaced by Bob Greenlee, a former chief of staff and deputy director of the governor’s budget office. Springfield-based spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch stepped down to join a St. Louis-based public relations firm and is replaced by Brian Williamsen, a former TV reporter in Springfield and in South Carolina.

Ottenhoff said in an e-mail that she plans to take some time off to travel and visit family and friends before returning to the professional world. She’s spent five years as the governor’s spokeswoman and previously was an aide to House Speaker Michael Madigan.

She’s replaced by Lucio Guerrero, deputy assessor at the Cook County assessor’s office since 2006. He also was a reporter, writing for the Chicago Sun-Times and its affiliate, the Post-Tribune in Indiana. He also worked for newspapers in Delaware and Florida, according to the governor’s office.

Transparency troubles
By Patrick O’Brien and Bethany Jaeger
The state auditor general’s office had a hard time getting timely and accurate fiscal information about a $1.2 billion Medicaid program overseen by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, according to an audit released this week.

Meanwhile, the state is pursuing federal approval to implement a similar but larger Medicaid program that reimburses hospitals caring for the most needy patients.

The audit notes “untimely and inaccurate submission” of records regarding the program, referred to as a hospital assessment because hospitals pay a tax and then get back $3.6 billion from the federal government over three years. Those reimbursements were delayed last year as part of political infighting, but state officials agreed to borrow money to secure federal matching funds and pay hospitals last fall (see more here by scrolling down).

The problem, according to the audit, was a discrepancy over the appropriate way to record the complex transactions of the hospital assessment program. The audit also notes that the department delayed the reporting process by hiring private consultants, which eventually agreed with the auditor’s findings.

Annie Thompson, spokeswoman for the department, said hiring external consultants on such a complicated, $1.2 billion program is routine. Director Barry Maram also wrote in a letter to the auditor general: “Our overall concern is that a misinterpretation could be made that the assessment liability is a strain on state resources, when in fact there was no strain but instead a net gain to the state.” The department agreed with many of the auditor’s other findings.

The department previously has been criticized for “deficient” accounting practices, as noted by previous audits (here and here) and by Comptroller Dan Hynes. Regarding the most recent audit, Hynes said in an e-mail Thursday: “Accuracy and timeliness of fiscal information from state agencies is a critical concern affecting the state’s ability to produce official financial statements that portray the state’s fiscal profile and creditworthiness. That process is potentially jeopardized by the conditions noted by the auditor general.”

As for the future hospital assessment program, which is pending federal approval, the plan’s structure is more important than some bookkeeping concerns, said Sen. Dale Righter, a Mattoon Republican. “We don’t want to give the federal government excuses to deny the assessment. It is troubling.”

Read more...

Illinoisans Trust Reform is Possible

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

A poll commissioned by the Midwest Democracy Network of voters in five Midwestern states found great distrust in state government and an urgent demand for reform. Over half of Illinois voters (55%) said that Gov. Blagojevich is doing a "poor" job in office. Just under a third (31%) said he's doing a "fair" job, while 13% said he's doing a "good job." The General Assembly fared only slightly better: 26% said it was doing a "poor" job while a majority (52%) said the General Assembly is doing "fair" and 17% ranked its performance as "good." Voters ranked "corruption in state government" as their second biggest concern, after high gasoline prices. But the suhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifrvey also found that reform is possible: by a 2:1 margin, voters disagree that "corruption in government will always be a problem." The results of the survey, including rankings of 15 possible reforms, are posted on ICPR's website. .

Read more...

Pigs Don't Vote

I collect buttons or at least I used to. Not the way Jack Schaffer does. I don't have anywhere to display them.

During the 1900's, the best political button--actually a sticker--that showed up in Springfield said,

PIGS
DON'T
VOTE

It was passed out by opponents to a bill to regulate large livestock operations. These neighbors were certain that their quality of life would be degraded by having pig poop smells wafting their way from the industrial operations.

I wondered how many objected to livestock operations are now under the Mississippi River's flood waters, so I asked the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

Here's the answer from Jeff Squibb:

"No livestock facilities along the Mississippi River have been flooded to date."

That's not the case in Iowa, as a front page story in the Chicago Tribune attests. With the loss of the pigs comes pig poop pollution.

I could identify because of the potential for aquifer pollution. McHenry County residents fought the siting of landfills in McHenry County going back to the mid-1970's, when one was proposed directly east of the north leg of Route 176 and Route 47.

Pollute our county's shallow aquifers and we have no chance of having enough water to satisfy

* the "let's put a subdivision on every acre of land the McHenry County Conservation District doesn't buy" folks...

* not to mention the rest of us who don't benefit from enormous population growth.

Dani Diamond graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2003. Her father, attorney Sam Diamond, playfully and proudly told me, "She's out to save the world."

After earning her law degree, Danielle Diamond got a Master of Arts degree from NIU in environmental anthropology.

"What's that?" I asked.

"The study of human interactions and the environment," she told me, "looking at human impact on the environment and the impact of the environment on humanity.

"My thesis was in an area called political ecology. We look at how political systems impact and shape human interactions with the environment.

What a fascinating approach. Someone will have a great thesis looking at the development of McHenry County from that viewpoint someday.

"I looked at how political influences on the federal, state and local level shape how we deal with and respond to agricultural pollution," she continued.

Her father said that she was doing something I'd be interested in.

He was right.

"I'm representing a coalition of citizens from all over the state who have either been impacted or will potentially be impacted by large scale industrial livestock operations, " the younger Diamond told me. "We have environmentalists and traditional family farmers joining together to protect their local environment.

"The name of the group is the 'Illinois Citizens for Clean Air and Water.'

"We just petitioned the U.S. EPA to withdraw the State of Illinois' authority to administer the Clean Water Act."

Why?

"Because Illinois is failing to regulate large scale livestock facilities, which are also called CAFO's or 'Concentrated Animal Feeing Operation.'

"We filed that at the end of March."

Locally, Diamond is advising a homeowner in the Harvard area whose well has been polluted with e. coli as has a tributary of the Kishwaukee River by a neighboring livestock operation.

= = = = =
The little pig farm show is just north of the Illinois-Wisconsin border on U.S. Route 14. Posted first at McHenry County Blog.

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Last One Out Turns Off the Light

And then there were none.

As the exit train picks up steam, word is that Abby Ottenhoff, the Governor's communication chief, is the latest to say 'see ya' to the Governor.

Her departure, comes in the wake of the adios parade led by Carol Ronen, Rebecca Rausch, and Sheila Nix.

According to Sneed:

Ottenhoff will be replaced by Lucio Guerrero, a former Sun-Times reporter who oversees media relations for Cook County Assessor Jim Houlihan.

From her days on House Democratic staff onwards, Abby was always simultaneously pleasant and professional. Abby always did her (admittedly tough) job well and proved that it could be done without being shrill or offensive. I wish her all the best.

To read or post comments, visit Open House

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GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - June 19, 2008

FREE REPUBLIC
-- Illinois Hispanics meet with Juan McCain in Downtown Chicago - Rosanna Pulido
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2033264/posts

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- John McCain high end fund-raiser ($100,000 for VIP reception) at Chicago's Drake Hotel on Wednesday - Lynn Sweet
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/06/john_mccain_fundraiser_in_chic.html
-- McCain Chicago Drake Hotel fund-raiser Pool report - Perry Bacon
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/06/mccain_chicago_drake_hotel_fun.html
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Even though Michelle Obama has made it clear that she and her husband blame all problems on older white male conservatives, Mary Mitchell argues that Michelle is not "bitter"
http://www.suntimes.com/news/mitchell/1013609,CST-NWS-mitch19.article
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Liberal feminist left wing Democrat Anna Quindlen insultingly argues that "the GOP sold out to the right wing, which sees women as a service industry for men"
(Not posted as of 6:00 AM)

DAILY HERALD
-- McCain calls for more nuclear reactors
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=209746&src=110
-- A boost to the effort to secede from Cook County? Stroger visit gives some hope; others say split would just be too hard - Kimberly Pohl
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=209148&src=1

ABC7
-- Senator Dillard for McCain, despite Obama ad cameo - Andy Shaw
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/politics&id=6212674 (Includes video clip)

NBC5
-- GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain comes to Chicago to raise money for his campaignhttp://www.nbc5.com/politics/index.html (Includes video clip)

CBS2
-- McCain In Chicago For Fundraiser - Mike Flannery
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/mccain.chicago.fundraiser.2.751664.html

FOX NEWS
-- McCain Holds a Fundraiser in Chicago - Shushannah Walshe
http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/06/18/mccain-holds-a-fundraiser-in-chicago/

CHAMPION NEWS
-- The real story behind McKenna vs. Schillerstrom (Part 1) - Doug Ibendahl
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=1041
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Just one of the odd episodes at the recent State GOP Convention in Decatur occurred during opening remarks before the entire delegation on Saturday. That's when State Party Chairman Andy McKenna, Jr. publicly slammed DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom. McKenna wasn't man enough to actually say Schillerstrom's name, but there was no mistaking who he was talking about. Here's how the Chicago Tribune reported McKenna's quote. Again, this was to all the convention attendees: "It's a disappointment to me when a county board chairman goes to Springfield and lobbies with Democrats for a sales tax increase because that makes people feel like that's what Republicans believe in," McKenna said. This has all added to a dustup that's been building for a long time. McKenna's jab at one of their own was also likely a big factor in the decision by most of the DuPage County delegates to walk out of the convention hall later in the program. Most of the attendees seemed to have had enough of McKenna's latest farce by then anyway. DuPage delegates weren't the only ones to leave early. Republicans were given no real say at this convention, but they could at least vote with their feet.)
-- Now hiring political fighters - John Biver
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=1040

ILLINOIS REVIEW
-- Embarrassing Obama ad dropped - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/06/embarrassing-ob.html
-- Genetics and Homosexuality - George Kocan
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/06/genetics-and-ho.html

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- Texas GOP cuts off vendor that sold racist button - April Castro
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-ap-texas-gop-obama,0,1659445.story
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: First Lady sides with Michelle Obama against Republicans
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-ap-michelle-obama-the-view,0,799496.story
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Zorn promotes homosexual activity, again
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-zorn-thurjun19,0,4956939.column

COURIER NEWS
-- Foster releases list of federal funding requests - Andre Salles
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/1013942,3_1_EL19_A1FOSTER_S1.article

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: In editorials made to look like news, the Rockford Register Star unabashedly promotes Obama
http://www.rrstar.com/communities/x833714682/The-Obama-effect-State-of-anticipation
http://www.rrstar.com/communities/x379970891/Obama-may-understand-us-because-he-s-been-here

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
-- Public hearing on Pontiac prison set for Aug. 12 - Kurt Erickson
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/06/18/news/doc485963cec9691700405949.txt

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- State representative Bob Biggins faces July 28 trial on DUI charge
http://www.sj-r.com/homepage/x833714684/State-representative-faces-July-28-trial-on-DUI-charge

CHICAGO HOT BLOG
-- BEYOND TRAGIC: With the increasing political participation of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans and the community’s relatively high financial resources through political action groups and as individual donors, Illinois politicians have increased their presence at the Chicago Pride Parade. Both the Illinois Democratic and Republican Parties are heavily represented, most noticeably by current Governor Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, and Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, a Republican. Both have strong support from many gay and lesbian groups.
http://www.chicagohotblog.com/pride-parade

TRIB LOCAL
-- DIERSEN QUESTION: Why aren't those who promote sexual activity outside of wedlock promoting "HIV education" in municipalities where the most sexual activity outside of wedlock takes place -- municipalities that despise conservative values?
http://www.triblocal.com/Glen_Ellyn/Detail_View/view.html?type=stories&action=detail&sub_id=21226

SUBURBAN LIFE
-- VERY SAD: DAWN ventures into immigration issue with panel discussion - Brian Hudson
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/wheaton/news/x2113779929/DAWN-ventures-into-immigration-issue-with-panel-discussion

WORLD NET DAILY
-- Barack Obama and the Comfort Room - Jill Stanek
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=67328

CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY
-- MCCAIN, DILLARD, OBAMA: Political Clippings
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=cqmidday-000002899690
(FROM THE POSTING: The Chicago Tribune reports that the campaign of presumptive GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain