Illinois Review

Top 10 Places to Shop and Eat on May 1

Check out Human Events' Online's Top 10 Places to Shop and Eat on May 1.  Reason?  They are the top 10 biggest donors to national Republicans.

Listed are:  Outback Steakhouse, Michael's, Wendy's, Scotts Miracle-Gro, Russel Stover Candies, Domino's Pizza, Best Buy, Ruby Tuesday, Fruit of the Loom and Krispy Kreme.

Hat Tip:  Teri O'Brien, Conservative Warrior Princess

Link: HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE -.

Topinka Perceptions Continue to Grow

By Lee Newcom

I've commented on the non-starting campaign of Judy Barr Topinka several times.  I would note that I have not criticized her on policy grounds (I did that in the primary, she is now the nominee), but on her seeming lack of any vision to actually become Governor of Illinois.  It is up to the voters now to decide if they want her philosophy and probable tax hike.   Tom Roeser pens an excellent analysis of what is wrong with her campaign with the departure of her campaign manager Terry Barnich. . .

Unwilling to do menial work? Not so

Business owners are preparing for a massive rally on Chicago's streets Monday.  Some are closing down restaurants and excusing employees from coming downtown to deal with an expected 300,000 extras flooding buses, trains and subways. 

The nationwide boycott is to emphasize how much America depends on illegal workers each day to do the work Americans don't want to do.

Eagle Forum founder Phyllis Schlafly firmly rejects the notion that Americans are unwilling to get their hands dirty in this week's syndicated column found here.

One president's views on immigration

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. "Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

— Theodore Roosevelt 1907

Hosea, can you see?

Who hasn't heard the silly joke about the Hispanic guy who climbed to the top of the stadium flagpole because he heard the baseball game fans sing, "Hosea, can you see by the dawn's early light. . .?"

Who would have ever thought that a media-manufactured debate about whether the national anthem should be sung in Spanish would emerge the weekend before the city of Chicago will be shut down with 300,000 upset Latinos marching the streets?

Limbaugh charged for 'doctor shopping;' Pleads not guilty

Even though for the past two and a half years Rush Limbaugh has been seeing the same doctor for help with his prescription drug addiction, the West Palm Beach state's attorney who has been investigating Limbaugh for the past three years put out a warrant for the radio talk show host's arrest Friday. 

GOP targets Illinois as battleground for House seats

Talk to people in the 6th Congressional District, and they'll tell you things there have dramatically changed over the past few years, as Democrats have begun moving into the western and northern suburbs.  The people who live in towns like Wheaton, Warrenville and Elmhurst will point to their neighbors and say the Republican stronghold Henry Hyde now represents isn't as solid as it used to be.

Topinka Stumbles, Bumbles

By Lee Newcom

I have been questioning the lack of any outreach or any apparent attempt on the part of Judy Barr Topinka to build a base or win the governorship.  Seems like the Daily Herald's Eric Krol agrees.

Link: Daily Herald: Post Primary Stumbles Could Cost Topinka | Eric Krol.

The Democrats now know how it feels . . .

by Fran Eaton

Let's see. . . where have we heard this scenario before?

It's shortly after the primary, and scandalous news comes out in the Chicago Tribune about a statewide primary winner.  Hints and rumors of problems had been in the press during the primary, but most shrugged them off as campaign cheap shots.

Despite the potential problems, the candidate is elected, and sure enough, a full blown scandal hits the air waves and press and internet, and well, the party leaders begin to fold.  One by one, they run the other way.  The candidate feels abandoned by his party leaders and decides he needs to protect his family's interest, quits the election and a hunt to find a replacement takes place.

The party's state central committee desperately looks for a candidate to fill in the spot early enough to help the public forget the embarrassment and eventually win the open seat despite all the negative press. 

Let's hope whoever the Dems come up with to replace their state treasurer candidate Alexi Giannoulias (if decides to pull out) is from out-of-state, and Senator Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) glides into being Illinois' next state treasurer.   Today's Trib practically endorsed Radogno as "one of the Republicans' best candidates in the November election." 

As I said yesterday, being willing to be the sacrificial lamb may have paid off for Senator Radogno.  She was at the right place at the right time.  Let's hope she wins.  It will be a beautiful and sweet turnabout in events.   The Dems should know how it feels . . .

Link: Giannoulias is elusive ... | Chicago Tribune.

Durbin wins, but doesn't celebrate

by Scott Thomas

Earlier this week, President Bush announced his plan to have the United States stop buying oil for its strategic reserves, hoping to cause a glut in world wide oil production and drive the price of crude lower. The end result, at least for a little while, would be, lower prices at the gas pump.

I think it’s a sad day for free enterprise and a banner day for political pandering.  When the entire world is paying higher gas prices, driven by futures speculators, increased consumption, and summer re-formulation, why should the U.S. government monkey with the supply and demand nature of a free market economy? 

Flight 93: A Moving Tribute From David Beamer

By Lee Newcom

Todd Beamer was the the passenger on United Flight 93, on September 11, 2001, who made famous the statement, "Let's Roll!" as the heroic passengers charged the terrorists, drove the plane into the Pennsylvania earth, and saved what is believed to have been the target, the United States Capitol building.

In today's Wall Street Journal his father, David Beamer, writes a moving tribute to the movie "Flight 93," and gives it his ringing endorsement.   Mr. Beamer also makes a statement on the War on Terror and our nation's resolve to see it to the end.  His words are really worth reading. Link: OpinionJournal - David Beamer Featured Article.

Durbin supports windfall tax on oil companies

In lively exchange between Fox News' Neil Cavuto and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today, Senator Durbin said he supported an oil company windfall tax and pointed to a strong possibility of oil company price gouging and price-fixing.

Cavuto suggested tax-gouging may be the problem.  . .

Ending Earmarks Americans' #1 Priority

According to Porkbusters the number 1 priority for Americans should be a pork free diet.  Somebody should let Cong. Ray LaHood (Nominal R-IL) know, just yesterday he was touting his dubious achievements.

Here's a list of his earmarks.

Link: Porkbusters: NBC News/WSJ Poll: Ending Earmarks Americans' #1 Priority.

Once a Black Panther, now a Congressman

by Fran Eaton

Yesterday the Chicago City Council evaded a potentially explosive situation when a city alderman decided not to call for a vote whether to name a Chicago street in honor of slain Black Panther leader Fred Hampton.

WTTW Channel 11 played an excerpt Monday night of a late 1960s television interview with then-Black Panther Defense Minister Bobby Rush.  Seeing Bobby Rush as the radical Marxist he was in 1969 was stunning to me.   

Today he's my Congressman.

Radogno: Right place at the right time

by Fran Eaton

What a bizarre set of circumstances is erupting in the state treasurer's race.  The Democrats' embarrassing  2006 nominee to oversee the state's $9 billion budget is Alexi Giannoulias, the vice-president and top loan officer of a family-owned bank who's loaned millions of dollars to convicted underworld felons. 

Yesterday, the 30 year old Giannoulias shared his regrets at being so cavalier when reporters asked him about his bank's financial ties saying, "I take it back."

You'd think the November 2006 election  should be a cakewalk for Giannoulias' opponent, right?  Not so fast.

Marriage Amendment Petitions

There are only 4 days left to get petitions signed and sent to Protect Marriage Illinois. If you've not signed the petition...do so. If you have petitions...send them in.

The where, what and how can be found here.

Pass The Plate And Damn The People

The Chicago Sun-Times reported today (see here) that Rev. Meeks is meeting with Gov. Blagojevich to try and work out a "financial" deal that will keep Meeks out of the gubernatorial race.

Like some political televangelist, Meeks' recent "preaching" to conservatives is entertaining, but politically (and theologically?) suspect. After all, as long as he gets "his", what does he care about anyone else.

In other words, Meeks' Faustian deal with Blago proves he's not fit to serve -- only to take.

"Day of Silence"

Today, high schools throughout the nation will be strangely quiet as students refuse to speak to each other and their teachers to demonstrate support for fellow students who are homosexual.  Dubbed a "Day of Silence," thousands of high schools are now participating in the annual observance.

In Case You Forgot

by John Ruskin

In case anyone needed to be reminded about one of the reasons we're in Iraq, take a look at the attached videos that has been used as evidence in the Saddam Hussein trial.

CAUTION: THESE ARE GRAPHIC VIDEOS

Here , here, here and here. (right click and hit "Save Target As" to download)

Another History Lesson

by Ralf Seiffe

Set the wayback machine to April 1917.  The War To End All Wars was raging in Europe and not going well for any of the belligerents. Neither side was able to break the stalemate in the trenches while the world waited for a dithering Woodrow Wilson to decide whether to commit America to enter the war.  If it did, the Germans would lose.

$175 Million in Windfall Profits

Correction:  It's a 5% sales tax on top of the taxes charged to pay for roads and infrastructure.  I mistakenly had it as $.05 even though I know better.  Thank you Jeff Trigg for helping me out.

$175 Million in excess revenue is what the state has brought in as a result of higher gas prices.  The Governor and Democrats are pointing the finger at Washington, they blame Bush of course, but the problem has been the Republican Congress, not Bush.  According to the WSJ editors lead editorial today it's now "Denny Pelosi" and deservedly so.

Illinoisans have been willing to pay gasoline taxes to pay for roads and infrastructure -- not that we're doing that now -- not for general revenues.  The $.05 we pay in sales taxes goes to the GRF.  If we're going to point the finger of blame at Big Oil and then it should be fair to point the finger at Big Government, too. 

And we should point that finger vigorously.  JBT's call for a cap on the tax is the kind of half measure that ensured the GOP was the minority party in Washington for forty years.  If the tax is bad, kill it.

Link: Herald & Review - Topinka proposes cap on gasoline tax to help keep surging prices down, By MATT ADRIAN - H&R Springfield Bureau Writer.

Drinking lots of coffee does no harm

Good news today for conservative caffeine consumers -- drinking lots of coffee doesn't harm your stone-cold hearts, Reuters is reporting today.

But one caution: combining freshly-brewed coffee with smoking cigarettes or consuming lots of alcohol isn't so harmless.

Lesson?  Conservative political nuts should relax and enjoy themselves while drinking coffee and discussing politics . . . such an experience may actually be good for you.   

There's likely to be another government-funded study on the way to produce those results. . .

Link: Drinking lots of coffee doesn't harm heart: study - Yahoo! News.

Will This Be A Gubernatorial Campaign of Small Issues and Smaller Candidates?

By Lee Newcom

Last week Gov Elvis hit Topinka with some commercials asking "...what is she thinking."  Yawn.

Now she hits him back with, hold on for some serious debate on the future of Illinois here, he filed an extension on his taxes.  Yawn.

The Agenda-driven MSM strikes again

by Fran Eaton

For those liberal lurkers who insist the Chicago Tribune and Peoria Journal are trusted objective sources for news, check out today's Exhibit A demonstrating how the mainstream media is blatantly agenda-driven. 

Marriage amendment organizers optimistic

From within the doors of Family Taxpayer Network, John Biver assures us in his piece, "Topinka v. Keyes:  can Judy do better than Alan?" that the advisory on the Marriage Amendment will be on the November 2006 ballot.

Amen! This IS how the GOP lost its way . . .

IR agrees with GOP-IL News editor Dave Diersen about the importance of the following quote from Saturday's Washington Post piece "How the GOP lost its way":

". . . Far from being driven by xenophobia and intolerance, conservative populists are motivated by a profound respect for the rule of law and by a patriotic regard for America's sovereignty and national security.

Upholding the rule of law and protecting our country's borders is important to conservative populists and to most Americans...

Link: How the GOP Lost Its Way.

Get your message out . . .

What's your message in politics?

One of the classes taught today by Leadership Institute's Bill Meierling in the United Republican Fund's Grassroots Training School held for Springfield area activists focused on a formula teaching conservatives how to develop a message in politics.

Meierling's formula for message development is simple: M=EC3:  "Message equals Emotion times Contrast times Connection times Credibility"

Windfall Profits Redux

In the period of high gasoline prices during the 1970's Congress passed a windfall profits tax in order to stick it to the oil companies for -- essentially -- being in a commodities industry.  The results?  Even higher gasoline prices and a drop in domestic prices.  Congress shot at oil executives and hit tax payers... Go figure...

Now, expecting a different outcome -- as if the laws of economics have somehow changed since 1970's...you know....suppy and demand... comes Ray LaHood suggesting another windfall profits tax. 

If you really mad at someone...the state government charges a sales tax on gasoline on top what we pay for our roads.  Since the sales tax is a percentage on the price of gasoline, Illinois has been recording windfall revenues.  Maybe we should look at punishing state government instead of us.

Granted, there won't be enough money to clean salt domes if we did such a thing... but hey sacrifices have to be made...and for once in Illinois maybe it should be the political class.

Link: SJ-R.COM - LaHood: Time to tax oil companies.

Don't forget Earth Day April 22

Spring holidays didn't end with the Christians' Easter celebration last Sunday.  There's more still to come . . .

As you make your plans to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, you may want to read a little more about what IR contributor Joyce Morrison writes this week about the radical nature of today's environmentalist movement.

Morrison suggests tree-hugging is nothing compared to the planet-worshipping going on in these circles in this week's NewwithViews.com column, "Earth Day or Earth Worship?"

Link: Joyce Morrison -- Earth Day or Earth Worship?.

Shouldn't IL pay her bills?

While AFSCME is funding robo-calls complaining about Republican senators voting "no" on the Governor's new program to build roads in southern Illinois, it's refreshing to see pharmacies, hospitals, small dental and medical practices writing to their lawmakers about being crippled with outstanding debt because the state is now up to to 150 days behind in its Medicaid reimbursements.

Seems like Illinois' agencies should at least get caught up on their bills before investing in new programs, even those providing jobs to AFSCME -- don't you think? 

Beauty mag denies abortion-breast cancer link

The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer is a Chicago-based organization which has been working for several years to educate women about abortion increasing the risk of breast cancer.   

In 2001, the coalition worked to promote a state task force to study the connection.  Then-Lt. Governor Corinne Wood, a breast cancer victim herself, testified against establishing the study and halted its progress.  Since that time, any resolution or legislation requiring women to be informed about potential post-abortion medical dangers has been squelched in the General Assembly.

Karen Malec, the Coalition's faithful head, challenged Glamour magazine this week for blatantly trying to cover up the link eight medical groups have recognized between breast cancer and abortion.  Glamour has denied the connection twice in less than a year.

"Follow the money," said Malec. "Glamour uses sex to sell its product. What's most appalling about these widespread efforts to propagandize the public is the stone-cold disregard for women's health."

It Was 27 Years Ago Today

By Lee Newcom

The attack that riveted a nation.

Who's In Charge?

by John Ruskin

After their investigation into gouging textbook sales, the Chicago Tribune ran a follow up report today in which they gathered responses from those in the majority. The comments were amazing. From Blagojevich, to Jones, to del Valle, to Lightford, each spoke as if they bore no responsibility for this state and local government chicanery.

Blagojevich - Governor - Democrat
Madigan - House Majority Leader - Democrat
Jones - Senate Majority Leader - Democrat
Quinn - Lt. Governor - Democrat
del Valle - Senate Assistant Majority Leader - Democrat
Lightford - Senate Education Chairwoman - Democrat

Need one say more? What ever happened to the Liberals' bleeding hearts?

"TV Turn Off" Week

Next week, your TV screens should be dark, a group called TV Watch says.  They have proclaimed the last week of April as "TV Turn Off" Week.

Mercury, Mumps and Weasels

by Rhonda Robinson

“Top Republicans -- Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., -- recently sold the future of our children to Big Pharma for a paltry $4 bucks a pop.”

George Ryan and the Combine Just Can't Help Themselves

by Lee Newcom

Now the jury is on trial.  Seven months of their lives, absent family time, big financial sacrifices from lost wages.  Now, for their service, the chumps who served on the jury are on trial.  And what are the charges...

God Bless the Patriot Guard Riders

Last night's 10:00 news featured footage of  300 flag-bearing Patriot Guard Riders as they lined South Holland streets surrounding the church where the family of a soldier slain in Iraq mourned yesterday. 

The awful truth about Bush's Poll Numbers

by Bruno Behrend

I spend quite a bit of time arguing with my listeners on gas prices.  Americans appear to believe they have a God-given right to cheap gas.

This is a load of poop.

SHHHHH!! Keep Quiet..The Republican Congressional Leadership is Still Napping

By Lee Newcom

I paid $3 a gallon for gas today.  That will resonate in November with voters as just another national problem attributed to the Republicans.  The truth is, the present Congress can do nothing to affect gas prices short-term.  These prices are the long-term effect of having neglected a national energy policy for this decade that the GOP has been in control of Congress.  Of course Democrats neglected national energy policy also, but they are not a political party serious about national policy, patriotic values or the future of the country.  We are, despite our problems and sometimes lack of resolve, that I am first to criticize.

A Thought On Illegal Immigration

By Ralf Seiffe

The immigration situation seems intractable.  On the one hand, conservatives demand that their government actually exercise its sovereignty and enforce our existing laws.  For this, they are called racist.  On the other, liberals, ignoring those same laws, propose to absolve anyone who can beat the border patrol and stir them into the melting pot.  For this, they are called opportunists.  Common to both sides is the imperative that the government be the arbiter of the issue.  This proposes another path.

Snow to replace McClellan?

Wow, how cool would it be to have Fox News contributor Tony Snow replace White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, who resigned today as the Bush Administration continues a mid-term staff shakeup? 

Link: cbs2chicago.com - McClellan Out, Rove Leaving Policy Post.

"No Cook County Taxes"

Taxes on "sins" such a liquor and cigarettes are painless to those who don't partake, but Cook County's newest hike in cigarette taxes has been a boon to the county's neighbors.  "No Cook County Taxes" has become a sign commonly posted to entice cigarette buyers into convenience stores in Cook collar counties such as DuPage, Will, Lake and Kankakee.

IR Reader Jim Economos, who sent us this photo, says he talked to a friend of his who owns a convenience store in Cook County, who reports cigarette sales have dropped by 50 percent since last month's Cook County tax increase.  The store owner says with licensing, regulations, fees and taxes, it has become too expensive to sell cigarettes in Cook.

Wait until the next property tax bills come out in the fall," Economos writes.  "Maybe then Cook County residents will say, 'Enough is enough,' and want to elect a new county board chairman." 

Republican Tony Peraica is challenging Democrat County Board Chairman John Stroger in November.

IR welcomes WYLL's Scott Thomas

Illinois Review welcomes WYLL 1160AM's afternoon talk show host Scott Thomas to its lineup of contributors. 

Among pro-family activists  referred to affectionately as "the gentle giant," Scott can always be counted on to voice a unique Christian perspective on Illinois news from his Elk Grove Village station mic every weekday from 3 to 5 PM.

Tune in on your drive home . . . and check out his thoughts here on IR.  Welcome, Scott, to the crossroads of Illinois' conservative community.

Ryan Guilty...Yawn

by Scott Thomas

In the hour, or so, leading toward noon on Monday, the anticipation that filled the news/talk airwaves in Chicago was palpable.  Full scale, multi-reporter, operations were in full swing at NewsTalk 560 - WIND, and NewsRadio 780 - WBBM.  A verdict had been reached in the George Ryan corruption trial. For those in the local news biz, this was no drill.  This was the real deal.

One reporter anxiously anticipated the reading of the verdict for the "trial of the century", really dashing the hopes of those of us who'd rather not think we've hit our jurisprudence peak just over 5 years into said century.  Trial of the year?  Probably.  Trial of the decade?  So far...at least around here.  But, trial of the century?  I doubt it.

I can give the "trial of the century" guy a break because, after all, this is what he lives for.  He  breathes, eats, sleeps this stuff and, like so many others in the media, he thinks we all do.  But, this, largely expected, verdict (guilty on all counts) did not put an exclamation point on the "trial of the century".  It simply put a comma in the run-on sentence that is politics as usual in the state of Illinois.

"Of all the words of tongue and pen"

By Mark Rhoads

"Of all the words of tongue and pen, the saddest of these are it might have been."  This once famous quote is of dubious origin but it has circulated for decades because it has the ring of truth.  The closest quote similar to it that one can document is from the writer Arthur Gutterman (1871-1943) whose work Prophets in Their Own County included the words "Of all cold words of tongue or pen, the worst of these are, "I knew him when."

I am sad about the Ryan verdict not because I think the jury was arbitrary or justice was not served, it was.  I am only sad because when I knew George Ryan as Speaker of the Illinois House in the early 1980s, he was always fair with me, supportive, and always appeared to be trying to do a decent job under difficult working conditions.  Were it not for the Willis family tragedy, one could be more sympathetic for the self-made series of wrongful acts that have resulted in the conviction of the former governor.

God Bless Partisanship

If you believe, as I do, that when Democrats and Republicans ally with one another they do so at the expense of the taxpayer, then you'll see this as a good thing.

Link: Democrats and Republicans working together? Not in Springfield.

The Willises

by Fran Eaton

In all the reporting on the Ryan jury decision yesterday, the only thing I really wanted to know was what Rev. Scott and Janet Willis thought about it.  CBS 2's Jon Duncanson spoke with Scott Willis yesterday (here).

I've been in the Willis' home and discussed the tragedy with the two of them a few years ago and have worked with them as they lobbied the Illinois General Assembly promoting the "Choose Life" license plates.

Guilty On All Counts

The verdict is in: George Ryan is guilty on all counts.

We'll try to stay current with what's happening.

What does everyone think?

Shhhhh, Be Quiet, The Republican Congressmen Are Napping

by Lee Newcom

George Will's ESSAY on the Republican majority in Congress turning their back of free speech is excellent, and right, and one of many.  Brilliant political observer Michael Barone thinks November's election could go either way, but will be close HERE.  My comment is simple.  Those guys sure can move fast when they want to, can't they?  Of course I wonder...

Why they can't seem to address the EARMARKS (and more HERE) which have lead to corruption and massive spending.

Why they can't cut the massive, obscene spending by following reasonable REPUBLICAN PLANS or even more REPUBLICAN PLANS.

Why they can't address a national energy policy that isn't held hostage by environmental wackos?

Why they can't get all those appellate judges bottled up in the Senate Judiciary Committee to the floor for a vote.  Yes they confirmed Roberts and Alito for SCOTUS, but have confirmed just ONE Circuit Court nominee in TEN MONTHS!

Why they can't demand the law be obeyed to seal and protect our border? (You don't need a new law, just enforce what we have!!!)

Wanna know how to lose the war on terror and endanger hundreds-of-thousands of American lives...get a Democratic majority who will spend the last two years of Bush's presidency with endless investigations and hate-motivated opposition.  Opposition which, lacking any productive political or national purpose, other than hating the President, will massively endanger the American people for decades to come.

They will be adjourning for this election year soon, having held one of the shortest sessions in memory.  In 2007, the then former Republican leaders will have retired to earn millions on their pensions, writing their self serving books, getting paid bookkoo bucks working for high powered Washington lobbying firms and doing TV appearances.

George Will is right.  If Republicans become a minority party in Congress in November, they will have earned it.  And what are our Illinois Republican Congressmen doing?  Apparently napping after they got all thier pet projects done with the earmarks and the photos taken for the folks back on the farm (that snide comment was not aimed at farmers).

Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z

What's Really Failing Our Students

by John Ruskin

The Chicago Tribune's lead story yesterday (see here) was a multi-page canard about Illinois students being forced to use out-of-date and dilapidated textbooks. The headline was "Aging Textbooks Fail Illinois Kids".

With out-of-control property taxes paying the ever-increasing costs of always-failing schools, does anyone really believe that textbooks are the problem?

It's not broken books that are failing our kids. It's the broken educational system stupid.