GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - March 12, 2009

Articles of interest to Illinois Republicans recently posted by ABC7, NBC5, CBS2, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Crain's Chicago Business, Daily Herald, Suburban Chicago News, Suburban Life, Pioneer Local, Southtown Star, Rockford Register Star, Bloomington Pantagraph, Peoria Journal Star, Springfield State Journal Register, Belleville News Democrat, Southern Illinoisan, Illinois Review, Public Affairs, Champion News, Illinois Family Institute, Americans For Truth, Chicago Daily Observer, Tom Roeser, Capitalfax, etc. Since January 1, 2005, GOPUSA ILLINOIS has brought 42,876 such articles and information on many upcoming events to its subscribers' attention each morning, free of charge, and without any advertising. To view the March 12, 2009 GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips, please visit www.gopillinois.com or see below:

BEYOND BEYOND BEYOND OUTRAGEOUS: 18 ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS DECLARE FULL SCALE WAR ON ALL ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS:

CHICAGO GOP
-- Illinois Republican Party Holds Emergency Meeting - Passes Resolution - Tom Swiss
http://www.chicagogop.com/blog/772-Illinois-Republican-Party-Holds-Emergency-Meeting-Passes-Resolution.html
The Illinois Republican Party convened an emergency meeting Wednesday night to address the passage of SB600 out of committee. The resolution and bylaw amendment passed.
State Central Committeeman Dave Syverson voted "no" on the resolution and "pass" on the bylaw amendment. All other State Central Committeemen voted "yes."

A RESOLUTION OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTYWHEREAS, pursuant to Bylaw Article IX, Section B, any provision of the Bylaws of the Illinois Republican Party ("Bylaws") may be suspended by the Central Committee upon the vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the weighted vote; and

WHEREAS, the Republican Party of Illinois has a First Amendment right to freedom of association, and must be permitted to govern its own affairs, including its own nominating processes, without unconstitutional and burdensome meddling by the state legislature; and

WHEREAS, neither the Illinois Senate, nor the state of Illinois, may, under the United States Constitution, force the Illinois Republican Party to adopt a particular nominating process contrary to the Party's wishes; and

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court has explained this principle time and time again, see, e.g., Democratic Party of the United States v. Wisconsin ex rel. La Follette, 450 U.S. 107 (1981) (holding that the state of Wisconsin could not constitutionally compel the National Democratic Party to seat a delegation chosen in a way that violates the Party's rules); Tashjian v. Republican Party of Connecticut, 479 U.S. 208 (1986) (refusing to permit the state to apply its closed primary rule to the state Republican Party after the state Republican Party adopted a rule permitting Independent voters to participate in its primary); Eu v. San Francisco County Democratic Central Comm., 489 U.S. 214 (1989) (striking down restrictions on organization and composition of official governing bodies of political parties); California Democratic Party v. Jones, 530 U.S. 567 (2000) (striking down blanket primary law passed by California voters but opposed by the state Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, and Peace and Freedom Parties).

WHEREAS, the Illinois Republican State Central Committee ("Central Committee"), as the Official Governing Body of the Illinois Republican Party, believes that SB600 as passed by the Illinois Senate Elections Committee on March 10, 2009, in its current form or future amended form, runs contrary to the best interests of the Party, would greatly damage the grassroots composition of the Party, and would overturn the will of the overwhelming majority of delegates at the 2008 Illinois Republican Party Convention; therefore:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Central Committee, as the Official Governing Body of the Illinois Republican Party, publicly states its strong opposition to SB600; and

BE IT RESOLVED, the Republican Party of Illinois will expend whatever resources are necessary to defend its rights under the United States Constitution and to ensure that SB600, even if passed, is never enforced; and

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Republican Party of Illinois strongly encourages the individuals responsible for SB600 to reconsider the measure before such actions become necessary; and

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Central Committee shall suspend the meeting notice provisions of Bylaw Article V, Section C, pursuant to Bylaw Article IX, Section B, for purposes of voting on and passing this Resolution.

ILLINOIS REVIEW
-- State Party passes secret resolution on SB 600 - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2009/03/state-party-passes-secret-resolution-on-sb-600.html#comments
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Soon after we found out we'd need a replacement for our U.S. Senator Barack Obama last November, the Illinois Republican Party started a mantra about the people having a voice in picking Obama's replacement. We've published press release after press release from the IL GOP about the need for a special election to end the Blagojevich/Burris embarrassment. Their cry on behalf of the people gave the Republicans a credible argument for a special election that made the Democrats look smug and resistant to true democracy. Last night that same IL GOP leadership held a secret State Central Committee meeting to pass a resolution blocking the Republican rank and file from choosing their own leaders. Every state central committeeman except State Senator Dave Syverson supported the resolution. Thanks to Tom Swiss of the Chicago GOP, Republicans can read the secret resolution that resists any state party reform. Come back here and tell us what you think. . .Illinois Review reported on both sides of this until a couple of Sundays ago, when we wrote this editorial. . .This latest development by the IL GOP is more than disappointing, it's infuriating and insulting to the IL GOP rank and file. Either we believe in open elections and the people's right to determine their party leadership or we don't. The IL GOP should simply sit down and shut up about open processes and special elections. They've lost their voice.)

PUBLISHED PRIOR TO LEARNING OF THE ABOVE RESOLUTION:

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- Illinois Republican Precinct Committeemen anxiously await a phone call, an email, and/or a fax from their State Central Committee member - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
"Republican" Combine members and other anti-conservatives vehemently oppose SB600. With his vehement opposition to SB600, Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Chairman Andy McKenna increasingly acts as the chief spokesperson for "Republican" Combine members and for other anti-conservatives for this issue. Yesterday evening, the IRP's governing body, its State Central Committee (SCC), held a conference call. Without doubt, topics discussed included SB600, Senator Chris Lauzen and other SB600 supporters, strategies and tactics to defeat SB600, strategies and tactics to demonize and denigrate Lauzen and other SB600 supporters, lawyers who would file lawsuits if/when SB600 is enacted, etc. The tragic success that "Republican" Combine members and other anti-conservatives have had in getting Illinois Republican Senators to drop their sponsorship of SB600 and/or to vote against SB600 is one indicator of the "means" that "Republican" Combine members and other anti-conservatives have already used to achieve their "end." Some might call it carrots and sticks. Others might call it bribes and threats. Needless-to-say, Illinois Republican Precinct Committeemen anxiously await a phone call, an email, and/or a fax from their IRP SCC member for a full detailed report on what was said, who said it, and what was decided during yesterday's IRP SCC conference call. For those Illinois Republican Precinct Committeemen who do not get full reports today, I urge them to email their IRP SCC member this evening: Ruperto Alejandro (Congressional Dist. 4 at ale05@sbcglobal.net), John Birch (Dist. 18 at jcbirch@adams.net), Tolbert Chisum (Dist. 10 at tchisum@aol.com), Roger Claar (Dist. 13 bbmayor@aol.com), Jerry Clarke (Dist 15 at jerryclarke@yahoo.com), Steven Daglas (Dist. 1 at sdaglas@sbcglobal.net), Eugene Dawson (Dist. 8 at erdaw@comcast.net), Deb Detmers (Dist. 12 at ddetmers@charter.net), Judy Diekelman (Dist. 2 at diekelmanj@aol.com), Carol Donovan (Dist. 7 at carolsdonovan@yahoo.com), John Dorgan (Dist. 9 at jmdgop@yahoo.com), Chris Kachiroubas (Dist. 6 at katch99@msn.com), Craig Pesek (Dist. 3 at ccal2131@aol.com), Barbara Peterson (Dist. 11 at bjb2124@aol.com), Regan Ramsey (Dist. 17 at regan2@adams.net), Skip Saviano (Dist. 5 at skip@skipsaviano.com), Dave Syverson (Dist. 16 at sen1@aol.com), Dennis Wiggins (Dist. 14 dpw14th@comcast.net), and Bob Winchester (Dist. 19 at bobwinchester@hotmail.com). How satisfied are Illinois Republican Precinct Committeemen with their IRP SCC member's job performance? Did your IRP SCC member seek your input on SB600 prior to yesterday's conference call?
-- GOPUSA ILLINOIS nominates Senator Chris Lauzen to serve as the official spokesperson for Illinois Republicans who want to defend/advance the Illinois Republican Party platform - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
-- Political parties exist to defend/advance their platforms. The Illinois Republican Party (IRP) platform is conservative. In recent days, weeks, months, years, and decades, no one has done more to defend/advance the IRP platform than Senator Chris Lauzen. "Republican" Combine members and other anti-conservatives vehemently oppose SB600. With their vehement opposition to SB600, IRP Chairman Andy McKenna and Illinois Republican County Chairman's Association President Randy Pollard increasingly act as the chief spokespersons for "Republican" Combine members and for other anti-conservatives for this issue and for other issues. Therefore, GOPUSA ILLINOIS nominates Senator Lauzen to serve as the official spokesperson for Illinois Republicans who want to defend/advance the IRP platform. These Republicans are also known as "the base of the party" and "conservatives" and "platform Republicans" and just plain "Republicans."
-- DuPage County Election Commission Executive Director Bob Saar speaks at Milton Township Republican Central Committee monthly meeting; other speakers include candidates Gary Fasules, Jay Kinzler, Mark Kmiecik, Mike McKinnon, Michael Ledonne, and Allison O'Donnell; attendees include Bolds, Carlson, Connelly, Crane, Earl, Eckhoff, Edwards, Falbo, Fawell, Flickinger, Formento, French, Guerin, Heidorn, Hinkle, Ives, Jorgensen, Koch, Kotecki, Larsen, McBride, McKillip, Menna, Muehlfelt, Olson, Sanchez, Smith, Spitzzeri, Sutter, Whelan, and Zaruba - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
The Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC) held its monthly meeting on Wednesday evening, March 11, at the beautiful Wheaton Bowl Banquet Hall. MTRCC Chairman Mike Formento conducted the meeting which was attended by 68 precinct committeemen. DuPage County Election Commission Executive Director Bob Saar was the speaker. Other speakers included candidates Gary Fasules, Jay Kinzler, Mark Kmiecik, Mike McKinnon, Micgael Ledonne, and Allison O'Donnell. Past and present elected officials, candidates, and party leaders who attended included Alan Bolds, Lori Carlson, Tina Connelly, Lynn Crane, Bob Earl, Grant Eckhoff, Chris Edwards, Sal Falbo, Beverly Fawell, Jim Flickinger, Mike Formento, Dorothy French, Dan Guerin, Chris Heidorn, Gail Hinkle, Jeanne Ives, Ann Jorgensen, Mark Kmiecik, Georgia Koch, Roger Kotecki, Bob Larsen, J.R. McBride, Brian McKillip, Ron Menna, Gary Muehlfelt, Debra Olson, Leonard Sanchez, Ron Smith, Fred Spitzzeri, Ron Sutter, Tim Whelan, and John Zaruba. I had the honor of sitting at the same table with O'Donnell and Ledonne.

SENATOR CHRIS LAUZEN
-- Senate Bill 600 - An Update
http://www.lauzen.com/
(THE UPDATE: Here's a quick update on Senate Bill 600 which I wrote about in my last "Voice From the Senate Floor." This legislation would give every person who votes in a Republican Primary the right to select the equivalent of the Board of Directors of the Republican Party. For many decades before 1988, when then-Governor Jim Thompson consolidated his grip on power by removing our right to vote for leaders, Illinois Republicans voted for their leaders. Basically, Illinois Democrats have always retained their right to vote this way. Senate Bill 600 was passed out of the State Senate Elections Committee on Tuesday, March 10 by a vote of 5-4. The Committee's voting record on SB 600 was: Voting "YES": Senator David Luechtefeld (R), Senator M. Maggie Crotty (D), Senator Terry Link (D), Senator Michael Bond (D), Senator James T. Meeks (D). Voting "NO": Senator Dale A. Righter (R), Senator Dan Rutherford (R), Senator Randall M. Hultgren (R), Senator Louis S. Viverito (D). I now plan to move the Bill to 3rd Reading as soon as practical, but a few amendments need to be added before it is voted on by the entire Senate. One necessary adjustment to the legislation would be to give flexibility in allowing the Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee to come from either within or outside the State Central Committee. Another improvement to SB 600 is that it would be a requirement that any person running for a Republican State Central Committee seat would need to have voted in three of the four prior Republican Primary Elections. I believe that I have secured an Illinois House Republican sponsor who will call the Bill, if it is passed out of the Illinois Senate. Finally, I want to thank each and everyone of you who contacted the members of the State Senate Elections Committee. These were important telephone calls and helped move SB 600 out of Committee.)

CHAMPION NEWS
-- Senate Bill 600 - An Update - State Senator Chris Lauzen
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=1736
FROM THE POSTING: [EDITOR'S NOTE: State Senator Chris Lauzen is doing a spectacular job leading SB600 through the legislative process in Springfield. At every stage he's standing-up to the worst elements of our State Party - the same entrenched bunch that destroyed our once proud GOP. Lauzen writes more below. If you would like to thank Chris for his hard work and courage - and to also let him know you support SB600 - just drop him a note to admin@lauzen.com. We know he'll be very glad to hear from you.]
-- If we had a GOP, we wouldn't have a President BHO - John Biver
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=1733
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Every so often, the newly sworn in President Barack Obama said back on January 20th, the oath of office "is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms." Setting aside Obama's attempt to improve on the famous "dark and stormy night" line by fiction writer Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, the first six weeks of Obama's presidency has ushered in just the kind of change people weren't exactly hoping for. It's my view that the Republican Party hasn't had a good field of presidential candidates since 1988. While some worthy and accomplished individuals have stepped up to run, none of them had enough of what it took to lead the nation in the right direction. Sadly, this is the same problem faced all too often at the state and local level. This is the reason Champion News continues to emphasize the need for the construction of a genuine Republican Party. Without such a party, we'll never see better candidates step up to run at any level. Everything that good candidates need to win - message, manpower, and money - can flow from local and state GOP organizations. National campaigns can build upon that. That first one - "message" - has never been as critical as it is right now. As the main stream media slowly dies, the opportunity is growing for township, ward, county, and state Republican efforts to fill the informational gap that is being created. If anyone believes voters are receiving enough accurate information about the major public policy challenges we're facing - well, I'll just have to disagree. For those Americans who take the time to seek out news and analysis, this is a golden age. Never before have there been greater resources available - much with the point and click of a computer mouse. For those who aren't as interested - or are just lacking in time due to a busy life - Jay Leno's "man on the street" interviews reveal just how much work is ahead. People have the capability to take in the right information - they're just not getting it, as Leno's clips continually reveal. Champion News emphasizes the difficult work ahead - we need a renaissance and reformation involving a lot of Americans who haven't yet actively engaged in politics. Our hope - is that the change in their personal financial bottom line will inspire them to step up. We not only need better candidates running for President of the United States, but for every office. And those candidates will need all the help they can get to spread their message and win support for positive (as opposed to negative) change. Six weeks into the Administration of Mr. Hope and Change, articles like the ones below are becoming ever more prevalent. It's early of course, but make no mistake: the dark and stormy night is upon us. Join in the work to create a Republican Party that will insure the Era of Obama ends on January 20, 2013. What follows are a few excerpts from American opinion writers during the past week.)
-- "Think tank says more money is not the answer" - John Biver
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=1734
-- Politicians Ignore $118 Billion Unfunded Retiree Liability Those same politicians have proposed a law to save us from the terror of plastic bags. - Bill Zettler
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=1732

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
-- BEYOND BEYOND BEYOND OUTRAGEOUS: Republicans want more gambling to pad state coffers - Kurt Erickson (DIERSEN: The Illinois Republican Party platform opposes the the expansion of gambling.) (FROM THE ARTICLE: (CROSS AND RADOGNO) offered up a menu of gambling-related options that could be used to raise money to pay for a $25 billion construction program, including adding gaming positions at current casinos and racetracks and adding a casino in Chicago. They also said they could support a plan to allow for the purchase of lottery tickets on the Internet, as well as video poker. Radogno said some of the ideas already have won support in the Senate, but never advanced in the House. She acknowledged that expanding gambling might be distasteful to some lawmakers, but said it would be fairer on taxpayers because gambling is "voluntary." "The fact of the matter is, we have gambling," Radogno said.) http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2009/03/12/news/doc49b83e45e8b47800870055.txt

CAPITALFAX
-- VERY SAD: Police report: Skoien with two prostitutes (includes Fox Chicago News video clip)http://capitalfax.blogspot.com/2009/03/police-report-skoien-with-two.html

ABC7
-- VERY SAD: Former Cook County GOP chairman denies prostitution report
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6705794
-- Illinois House committee votes on Burris Senate appointment
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6704839

NBC5
-- VERY SAD: Former GOP Chief Beaten by 110-Pound Wife So THAT's why they call it a playroom
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Former-GOP-Chief-Beaten-by-110-Pound-Wife.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- VERY SAD: Police report: Skoien with two prostitutes - Abdon Pallasch and Dan Rozek
http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/1472092,gary-skokien-prostitutes-toy-guitar-031109.article(THE ARTICLE: Inverness Police say former Cook County Republican Chairman Gary Skoien admitted having two prostitutes in his children’s playroom when his wife walked in on him early Sunday morning. The allegation is in a domestic battery report from Skoien, 55, against his 36-year-old, 5-foot-4-inch, 110-pound wife. He said she beat him with her fists and an electric guitar. But Skoien said the police report inaccurately stated that he had prostitutes in his home. Skoien said he and a friend were talking in the playroom when his wife came down and began beating him. Eni Skoien spent two nights in a lock-up before being released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. The police report said Skoien had cuts and blood on his hands and there was blood on the walls and stairs near the playroom. The police report said Skoien “told [the responding officer] he did in fact have prostitutes with him in the playroom when his wife caught him.” The playroom looked like “a struggle of some kind took place there. . .There were items turned and tossed around the room,” the report said. “That’s how it was reported to us,” Barrington/Inverness Police Deputy Chief Jerry Libit said. Allies of Mayor Daley blasted Skoien four years ago when he offered a $10,000 “bounty” four years ago for information that would lead to Daley’s conviction on corruption charges. The remark got Skoien fired from his real estate job, cost him a seat on the Metra board and prompted calls for his ouster as party chairman, He survived a re-election vote, serving from 2004-2007 as chairman of the GOP, which has not elected a member countywide in 17 years. Current Republican Party Chairman Lee Roupas said, “It’s an extremely disappointing and unfortunate situation, if the allegations prove to be true.” Skoien was an aide to former Gov. Jim Thompson and serves as Palatine Township Republican Committeeman. He said he and his wife of 13 years have been living in separate sections of the house for a while and getting counseling but that he went to police after she hit him last Tuesday while he was brushing his teeth. “I went to the police to find out what I should be doing,” he said. On Sunday night, he said his wife was driven home from a function and she went to bed. Skoien called a friend who came over and they were talking in the playroom when his wife woke up and began beating him with her fists and “a hard heavy electric guitar,” he said. “I called police because I thought I was going to be killed,” Skoien said. Skoien went to talk to the arresting officers Wednesday after his stories hit the news, trying to convince them that he did not confirm his wife’s contention that she found him with prostitutes. “If they’re were hookers, I’m not sure why the police didn’t arrest me -- that’s illegal too,” Skoien said. He said the officer stuck to his contention that Skoien nodded in affirmance when told his wife’s version of events. Skoien said he disagrees. Skoien obtained an order of protection that prohibits his wife from having any contact with him or their three children, ages 5, 7 and 8, he said.)
-- Illinois earmarks. The complete list. - Lynn Sweet
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/03/illinois_earmarks.html

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- VERY SAD: Palatine GOP chief Gary Skoien says wife attacked him 2 women who were at his home were not prostitutes, he says - Carolyn Starks
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-skoien-wife-dispute-12mar12,0,7303553.story

DAILY HERALD
-- Despite rally, 'concealed carry' unlikely in Illinois AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=278475
-- VERY SAD: Candidates backing away from Skoien after domestic dispute Palatine Township Republican Committeeman denies he was with prostitutes - Kimberly Pohl and Joseph Ryan
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=278385
-- Take back state with vote on Senate seat - Dennis Reboletti, Republican State Representative, Elmhurst
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=278412
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PICTURES IN DUPAGE EDITION: Article includes a picture of a ballot for College of DuPage Trustee positions including Allison O'Donnell, Mike McKinnon, and Michael Ladonne. All three spoke at the Milton Township Republican Central Committee monthly meeting last night. I had the honor of sitting at the same table with O'Donnell and Ledonne.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=278392
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Communist China threatens America. How will Obama respond? How will those who benefit from unfair "free trade" with communist China respond?http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=278548
-- We must fight to keep capitalism alive - Steven R. Heuberger, Libertyville
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=278011&src=
(THE LETTER: I recently met several people who have immigrated to the United States from former Soviet Union nations. I cannot express their depression with the political environment of our country. As they say, this is why we left our homeland to get away from. They are very concerned that America is now becoming a socialist nation. Had they known that was what America was going to be, they probably would never had made the effort to come to our country. They have witnessed the failure to socialism. Hopefully, we as Americans will not have to go through that experience. Contact your representative and tell them how you support capitalism, which has made us the greatest nation in the history of the world, and you do not want us to go down the road of socialism.)

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- Obama misreads ‘mandate’ - Patrick Buchanan
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x108121732/Patrick-Buchanan-Obama-misreads-mandate

NAPERVILLE SUN
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Richard R. Furstenau is a Republican Precinct Committeeman. Not surprisingly, Democrat Bill Bird does not side with Furstenau in the Furstenau v. Naperville lawsuit
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/napertalk/1473194,6_4_NA12_PAGE2COL_S1.article

CHICAGO NEWS BENCH
-- OUTRAGEOUS: GOP Rolls Over, Plays Dead in 5th Congressional District
http://rogersparkbench.blogspot.com/2009/03/gop-rolls-over-plays-dead-in-5th-cong.html
(THE ARTICLE: Shame on Andy McKenna, Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party. Shame on the entire party, which seems hellbent on continuing its dismal record of losing elections. Although the Illinois GOP has won more "games" than the Chicago Cubs have over the past 100 years, at least the Cubs can honestly say they've been trying. The Illinois Republican Party seems content to roll over and play dead. Rosanna Pulido won the Republican special primary election in the Illinois 5th Congressional District on Tuesday, March 3. The election is being held to fill the seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel. You might not know this, however, from looking at the Illinois Republican Party's website (http://www.weareillinois.org/), where there are only two brief mentions of Rosanna Pulido. Pulido will face Democrat candidate Mike Quigley and Green Party candidate Mathew Reichel on April 7. We're not talking about a minor elected office. We're talking about a seat in the US Congress. Although it is unlikely that Pulido can defeat better funded Quigley, the GOP should at least be touting their candidate in the 5th. Barely a mention on their website. The GOP is making a lot of noise in support of a special election to replace Roland Burris, who was appointed by Gov. Blagojevich to fill the congressional seat vacated by Barack Obama. Yet the GOP is all but completely ignoring an ongoing special election in the 5th Congressional District. That's hypocritical and cowardly. It takes no courage to scream for a special election that will most likely not happen. It is cowardly to not support your own candidate in special election that is actually taking place. The Republican National Committee (RNC) is equally guilty of ignoring the 5th Congressional District election. GOP Chairman McKenna has a Facebook page. Did McKenna congratulate Pulido on Facebook? Did he even mention her? Nope. One person did post this to McKenna's Facebook page: I know a lot of people may feel that the 5th District is a lost cause, but they shouldn't. There is a strong GOP candidate here. Rosanna Pulido needs all of our help. I know it's not election season, but that is more reason for people like us to step up and show the Democrats that not only do we exist, but we can be contentious. All around. . .Read More voter turnout for the April 7th special election will most likely be low. Democrats expect that and they expect that the "silent" Republicans that reside in the district will not turn out. We CAN mobilize ourselves! We should be doing our part to turn up at the polls. This is something that is bigger than our district and our state. One more seat in Congress is one more step towards preventing the socialization of our country. If you live in the 5th you need to make the effort to mobilize yourself and others like you to vote! This election is not something that is lost for us. It is something we have gained! Why no such words of support for Pulido from McKenna and the Illinois GOP? Why are McKenna and the GOP "leaders" not thinking like the guy who wrote on McKenna's Facebook page? Not a word from either the RNC or Andy McKenna. Nada, zilch. There will be more about this next week. Much more.)

MEDILL REPORTS
-- Upswing in gun sales continues as Illinois shooters descend on Springfield - Leslie Patton
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=122221

WINDY CITY MEDIA GROUP
-- VERY SAD: "Quigley has spearheaded several pro-LGBT measures over the years, including a recent measure that changes a county ordinance to benefit same-sex couples that get married in another state. Among other accomplishments, he has also sponsored the gender-identity amendment to the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance."
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=20647

GALESBURG REGISTER MAIL
-- OUTRAGEOUS: Open primary bills clear first hurdle - Andrew Thomason
http://www.galesburg.com/news/news_state/x1676800104/Open-primary-bills-clear-first-hurdle

OTTAWA TIMES
-- GOP plans Lincoln birthday party for Sunday, March 29, in Ottawa
http://mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=376661

PUBLIC AFFAIRS
-- Berkowitz w/Tillman, Whitley, Zorn and Mendoza on Politics and Public Policy
http://jeffberkowitz.blogspot.com/2009/03/better-than-public-tv-watch-best-and.html

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
-- State FOCA Bill Moves to House Floor -- Contact Your State Rep. Today! - David E. Smith
http://www.illinoisfamily.org/news/contentview.asp?c=34297

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
-- VIDEO CLIP: Introducing the Illinois Economic Reform Agenda
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-w82-wZKjE&utm_source=Illinois+Policy+Institute&utm_campaign=5db073c148-Economic+Reform+Agenda+announcement-+03%2F11%2F09&utm_medium=email

CHICAGO DAILY OBSERVER
-- Why Won’t the “Trib” Come Clean About Fed’s Subpoena? - Tom Roeser
http://www.cdobs.com/archive/our-columns/why-won%E2%80%99t-the-%E2%80%9Ctrib%E2%80%9D-come-clean-about-fed%E2%80%99s-subpoena,3460

HUMAN EVENTS
-- Are 'Hope' And 'Change' Still Tax-Deductible? - Ann Coulter
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?fc_c=1377470x2893895x74008133&id=31041(FROM THE ARTICLE: According to their tax returns, in 2006 and 2007, the Obamas gave 5.8 percent and 6.1 percent of their income to charity. I guess Michelle Obama has to draw the line someplace with all this "giving back" stuff. The Bidens gave 0.15 percent and 0.31 percent of the income to charity. No wonder Obama doesn't see what the big fuss is over his decision to limit tax deductions for charitable giving. At least that part of Obama's tax plan won't affect his supporters. Meanwhile, in 1991, 1992 and 1993, George W. Bush had incomes of $179,591, $212,313 and $610,772. His charitable contributions those years were $28,236, $31,914 and $31,292. During his presidency, Bush gave away more than 10 percent of his income each year.)

FOX NEWS CHANNEL
-- Flashback: Carville Wanted Bush to Fail The press never reported that Democratic strategist James Carville said he wanted President Bush to fail before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But a feeding frenzy ensued when radio host Rush Limbaugh recently said he wanted President Obama to fail. - Bill Sammon
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/11/carville-wanted-bush-fail/

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
-- Limbaugh versus Carville on hoping presidents fail - Dave Cook
http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/03/11/limbaugh-versus-carville-on-hoping-presidents-fail/

POLITICO
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Matthew Dallek argues that Obama is not a socialist
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/19898.html

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
-- S.F. police union accuses Ayers in 1970 bombing - Demian Bulwa
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/11/BATK16DHA4.DTL

WASHINGTON TIMES
-- VERY SAD: Abortion a 'choice,' Steele tells GQ - Victor Morton
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/12/abortion-a-choice-steele-tells-gq/

MSNBC
-- AS MEN FALL FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND WOMEN EVERY DAY IN TERMS OF EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS, INCOME, ETC.: Obama creates White House women's panel
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29640901/