Super Tuesday voting, Niles Township's 58th Precinct, not hassle free

I just returned from my polling place, Thomas A. Edison School in Skokie, Illinois, with pride I selected a Republican ballot.

Even when I was living in Chicago, exercising my franshise was a confrontation-free experience for me. Not today.

I walked into the school's gymnasium where the voting machines are, declared my party preference, and saw a pile of political signs right behind the Republican judge. Right on top, albeit upside down, was a placard for the odious Jan Schakowsky, my congresscritter and one of the most liberal members of the House.

I complained to a Skokie police officer who was in the gym, and he replied in a classic "Da Bears" accent, "Don't even start with me!"

My retort was, "Well, c'mon, you know the law, and there aren't supposed to be any political signs within 100 feet of a polling place, those signs are inside."

Cop: "He's moving the ones outside now." (He was a sixtyish man, probably not an election judge, who I saw with a tape meaure outside as I walked into the school.)

Me: "Then why are those signs inside? "Besides (appealing to reason), it's not even that cold out there."

One of the judges then covered up the Schakowsky-topped pile with a coat.

And yes, I voted for John McCain.

You can't see them in the picture, but in front of the school there were a whole bunch of signs, probably a dozen, for Democratic State's Attorney candidate Larry Suffredin, someone who Schakowsky endorsed. More on that from The Bench.

UPDATE 7:30PM: A snarky commenter, probably a Schakowsky supporter, correctly pointed out that Edison School is in Morton Grove. The school is right on the border, but it is in a Skokie school district. And when I walked into the Morton Grove school, there was a Skokie squad car at the entrance of the gym.

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Liberals laud book by ex-con husband of Jan Schakowsky

This delicious morsel came to me via e-mail from a great American who prefers to remain anonymous.

Robert Creamer, not to be confused with the famed baseball writer, is now also going by the name of Bob, which I'm sure greatly pleases the more famous Creamer.

About Creamer the Lesser: For many years, he was the executive director of the Illinois Public Action Council. His wife, Jan Schakowsky, now a Democratic Illinois congresswoman who nominally represents me in Washington, was on the board of directors of the self-appointed consumer advocacy group. Creamer got caught kiting checks while running the group--he had done it before and was warned by federal authorities not to do it again. He didn't listen, and got nabbed by the Feds again, which got him a trip to a Federal Prison Camp for five months last year.

Rep. Schakowsky has not been accused of any wrong doing.

Click here for a good explanation of how check-kiting works, and how it undermines the integrity of our financical system.

Creamer has written a book, Listen to Your Mother. Stand Up Straight: How Progressives Can Win. Amazon lists it under "Robert Creamer," but the promotional hoopla mostly refers to him as "Bob."

Hey, I have no problem with an ex-con writing a book or trying to make a living. But I find it quite humorous that a whole bunch of big-time liberals, such as Sen. Dick Durbin, Jim Hightower, Rep. Jim McGovern, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, and a whole bunch of others fawn over Creamer in their endorsements of his book--and none of them mention his five months in prison last year, nor is that part of his life included in the summary of his public life below.

About those five months in the joint. Federal prosecutors had asked for a three year sentence, but US District Judge James B. Moran took mercy on Creamer. Coincidentally, Moran is the father-in-law of Peter Giangreco, a longtime Illinois Democratic insider who like Creamer, worked on Rod Blagojevich's successful 2002 gubernatorial campaign. Giangreco's endorsement is the first one I list.

To his credit, Creamer writes in his book, "I did much of the preliminary work on this book while spending five months on a forced sabbatical at the Federal Prison Camp at Terre Haute, Indiana."

Oh, Lynn Sweet, presumably the politically neutral Washington correspondent for the Chicago Sun-Times, gives an endorsement too.

Bob Creamer has been a consultant to Americans United since its inception in 2005 to successfully fend off the president's plan to privatize Social Security. Bob is one of the top political strategists in the country and he has spent four decades influencing the political and issues debates in America from Springfield, IL to Washington, DC. He has served as a consultant to some of the country's leading politicians and he has helped lead some of the most important issue fights in our nation's history.

Bob has taken all he has learned from his decades of public service and chronicled them in the definitive how-to-manual for how progressives can fight the right wing machine and win. Listen to Your Mother. Stand Up Straight: How Progressives Can Win is the Bible for progressive activists and politicians who want to and are willing to go toe-to-toe with the right over the future of the country. Please join Bob, his wife Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and a host of Senators, Representatives and leading progressive figures for a reception on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 (see details below)

Celebrating the publication of Listen to Your Mother. Stand Up Straight: How Progressives Can Win. Comments appearing in the book (can be found below). Credentialed media will receive one complementary copy of the book. (Note, if you want you are credentialed media, leave your e-mail in the comments section, and I'll give you the e-mail address where you can RSVP.)

You Are Invited
To a Reception Celebrating the Publication of Bob Creamer’s New Book
Listen to Your Mother. Stand Up Straight: How Progressives Can Win

Tuesday November 13, 2007
The Mott House
122 Maryland Ave. NE, Washington
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

New Book Says Progressives Must "Stand Up Straight" to Win

Washington, DC. A new book by veteran political organizer and strategist Robert Creamer says that progressives have an historic opportunity over the next two years to create long-term political realignment in the United States. But to be successful, he argues, progressives must forcefully reassert their commitment to fundamental progressive values and vision for the future.

"Some people think that in order to win, Democrats need to move to the political center by adopting conservative values and splitting the difference between progressive and conservatives positions," says Creamer. "History shows they are wrong. To win the next election and to win in the long term, we need to redefine the political center."

The book, titled Listen to Your Mother: Stand Up Straight. How Progressive Can Win, lays out a broad strategy for progressive victory and describes the tactics needed to win real-world political battles one at a time. In the book’s foreword, "Progressive today need to take direct responsibility for winning." This book lays out a game plan for victory.

As an organizer and strategist, Bob Creamer has won all kinds of improbable victories for progressive causes. This book is must-reading for his fellow progressives who seek to do the same, and to build a more decent world. Pete Giangreco, Democratic Political Consultant, Partner, The Strategy Group

Even before the book’s publication it has received wide acclaim.
If Progressives are ready to move beyond the "Age of W" into a winning era, they can start with Stand Up Straight. This is more than a call to arms. This is a battle plan from one of the best campaign minds in America. Bob Creamer takes his readers from values to votes with practical tactics and insight gathered over decades of experience. This book is for player...spectators need not apply.
Senate Democratic Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL)

If every activist in America read Listen to Your Mother: Stand Up Straight, we could change our country. This book will help bring on the New Progressive Era. It's that good." Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)

Creamer’s book is a one-stop shop for political junkies, from a novice to a know-it-all…While Creamer writes from the progressive Democratic perspective, his chapters on organizing, messaging, demographics and constituency groups comprise a how-to political manual. Chicago Sun-Times Washington Bureau Chief, Lynn Sweet

Stand Up Straight is nothing less than the bible for progressive political activists." Brad Woodhouse, President of Americans United for Change

Stand up Straight is a one-stop, nuts-and-bolts manual on how to run a winning campaign – and, in the process, return America to its progressive roots. Filled with learned-in-the-trenches lessons, Creamer's book is a master's class in electoral politics. Ariana Huffington, The Huffington Post

Stand Up Straight is a straight up shot in the arm for progressives. Robert Creamer has successfully turned decades of campaign and organizing skills into an essential handbook for understanding political power, activism, and progressive values. Creamer rightly argues that progressives should embrace their core principles and fight for the real political center in American politics today -- issues like universal health care and pre-K, energy independence, redeployment from Iraq, and a return to sane and sensible national security policies. John Podesta, President and CEO, Center for American Progress and former Chief of Staff to President William J. Clinton

Progress takes more than passion, it requires planning. This book is a blueprint for victory." Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

Bob Creamer's welcome book rightly instructs progressives to say and fight for what they believe. To Hell with the politics of timidity - a long-term progressive majority is within our reach." Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

Creamer's classroom has been (on) the frontlines and trenches of progressive organizing, from the Civil Rights Movement to the battle for children's health care. Here, he shows us how to replace fear with hope, to renew the call to commitment, and to create our society's next historical movement. Congressman John Lewis (D-GA)

A stand-up book from a stand-up guy, showing us how to put progress back into "progressive." From broad vision to minute details, Creamer offers an invaluable manual for those who want to reassert our country's historic egalitarian values of fairness, justice, and opportunity for all. Jim Hightower, best selling author, radio commentator and editor of the Hightower Lowdown.

In Stand Up Straight, Bob Creamer gives citizens an owners manual for Democracy. With a practical eye from his decades of experience, Bob shows how to do the real work of political organizing and win, by promoting deep progressive values. With hundreds of real world examples and step-by-step advice, Stand Up Straight is both inspirational and a serious tool. Thanks, Bob. Wes Boyd, Founder of MoveOn.org

This book is so important because it focuses like a laser on the one element that is essential to progressive victory: courage. With out exception, all of our historic victories have required that people had the courage to act -- and stand up straight. The lessons in Stand up Straight were learned the hard way by generations of Americans fighting for civil rights, women’s rights and important social change. It's a must read for anyone who is passionate about changing America – now. Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, President, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition

Jim Hightower's comment is my favorite. "A stand up book from a stand up guy..."

Try running that one past some bankers who had to deal with Creamers kited checks.

Also, considering the skeleton in her closet known as her husband, it's understandable why Schakowsky wants to bring back the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" to the public airwaves.

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Schakowsky to appear on Colbert Report tonight

Wow, my congresswoman, Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), who I've been very tough on, will be a guest on the Colbert Report at 10:30pm Central Time.

Click below to comment or for a Marathon Pundit Schakowsky primer for the uninitiated.

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Schakowsky: Let your moonbat flag fly

My congresscritter, Jan Schakowsky, made a little splash in the news recently by joining three of her colleagues in living on a "food stamp budget" this week.

Lost in the story is the that her activist-husband, Robert Creamer, ate on a similar budget while being incarcerated in a federal prison last year.

Her food stamp culinary adventure is mentioned on her political site, as well as her official congressional web site.

Earlier this month, Schakowsky was in the news when she agreed to sign on as a co-sponsor of fellow leftist Dennis Kucinich's resolution calling for the impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney.

Nothing about the impeach-Cheney resolution can be found on either her House or political sites.

Why not, Jan? Does the self-proclaimed "Fighter for Families" not want her constituents know her moonbat beliefs?

Go for it, Jan, let your moonbat flag wave proudly. Show the people you represent in Congress your true self.

Kucinich isn't afraid to do it.

Related Marathon Pundit post: Leftist congresswoman wants to reinstate "Fairness Doctrine"

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Crains: County prez must fix hospital system, Sen. Durbin warns

Something to chew on for those here who say our elected Federal reps have no business getting involved with CPD on Police Brutality. Crain's on Durbin, Emanuel, and Schakowsky's chit chat with Stroger about Cook County Hospital. They had no problem chewing out Stroger behind closed doors I guess. Wonder what happened to the rest of Cook County's delegation to Congress.

The meeting in Sen. Durbin's office "raised the expectation that Mr. Stroger show leadership and get a handle on the problems facing the health system," a spokesman for the senator says.

Among other key lawmakers present were U.S. Reps. Rahm Emanuel of Chicago and Jan Schakowsky of Evanston. Neither they nor Sen. Durbin could be reached for comment.

Update: Proviso Probe looked at the story and asked,

Is Stroger part of the problem because he wants to keep the perks of political power?

Is Stroger the victim, thrust into a situation where he has to commit "murder by spreadsheet" to deal with financial constraints he can't control?

I vote victim Carl 'cause I have a hard time seeing Stroger as a player but maybe that's just my old man's perspective of a Toddler.

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Schakowsky wants to reinstate "Fairness Doctrine"

The Chicago area has six daily newspapers, the Chicago Tribune, the Sun-Times, the Defender, the Daily Herald, the Daily Southtown, and Northwest Indiana's Post-Tribune. Most metro areas get by with just one or two dailies.

However, from anywhere in the Chicago area, a listener can easily tune into at least a couple of dozen radio stations. Some are talk stations, some just play music, some are foreign language outlets. There are no shortage of options on the AM or FM dials.
If you hear something you don't like, you move on, or turn off the radio.

Unless you're a leftist Democrat like Jan Schakowsky, who represents me, sort of, in Congress. Then you propose legislation to permanently silence voices you don't agree with.

What Schakowsky wants to do is to bring back what was became known as "The Fairness Doctrine" to broadcast media. Always controversial, the "doctrine," in short, stipulated that TV and radio stations should allocate equal time to opposing points of view in regards to major issues and public policy. The FCC repealed the Fairness Doctrine in 1987 for a variety of reasons, among them was that the doctrine may not have survived a court challenge--Anyone heard of the First Amendment?

Once the Fairness Doctrine was gone, it allowed for the growth of talk radio, dominated by conservatives such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. AM stations, considered dinosaurs in the 1980s, now had something besides sports play-by-play to attract listeners to its less-than-perfect frequencies.

Of course, liberals got into the act, but with almost no success. (Could it be that their ideas stink?)

Schakowsky doesn't see it that way, telling CBS 2 Chicago:

Look, we want to make sure that all positions are represented and we feel that there is an overwhelming bias right now.

Is there bias on NPR, Jan?

In Chicago, many of the conservative talkers broadcast on WLS-AM. Roe Conn, who hosts a popular issues-of-the day show each weekday afternoon, isn't happy about enacting what I call the "Unfairness Doctrine," telling the same CBS 2 reporter:

There's bias in everything.There's bias in government. I mean everybody has a point of view and perspective. Shouldn't the consumer decide what's right and what's wrong?

Makes sense to me. And he elaborates:

You gonna tell Rush all of a sudden he's got to have Hillary Clinton on to counterbalance him every step of the way?

Chicago has an Air America outlet, and its general manager is against the "Unfairness Doctrine" too.

What do you think of that, Jan?

And yes Schakowsky, an Evanston Democrat, is a committed leftist. The independent political site GovTrack produced a graphic that puts her on the extreme left end of the congressional dial, along with better known lefties such as Dennis Kucinich, "Baghdad Jim" McDermott, Lynn Woolsey, and Henry Waxman.

The left loves diversity of opinion. Along as they agree with it.

Related Marathon Pundit posts:

Cong. Schakowsky's husband enters federal prison

Chicago Tribune's John Kass on Schakowsky and Creamer

Cong. Schakowsky: Choosing her "anti-semitism" battles

Obama and Schakowsky: Sometimes no picture is best

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