Illinois Review

ED Dept. Report Says Conservative Christian Schools Are Worst

The New York Times has reported that "an Education Department report says public school students 'performed as well or better in reading and mathematics than comparable children in private schools.' According to CT Online, "it also found that students in conservative Christian schools lagged significantly behind their counterparts in public schools on eighth-grade math. … The report separated private schools by type and found that among private school students, those in Lutheran schools performed best, while those in conservative Christian schools did worst.

The World Needs Superman

by Fran Eaton

Superman Returns is the religious movie you can't miss this summer. 

With all the anti-religious hype surrounding this spring's controversial movie The DaVinci Code, it's disappointing that Christians haven't understood and expressed appreciation to Hollywood for the clear Gospel message director Bryan Singer conveys in Superman Returns.  Superman has remained in the shadows of this summer's sensation, Johnny Depps' Pirates of the Caribbean.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Colleen Moore

By Mark Rhoads

Almost every little girl growing up in northern Illinois since 1949 has pleaded with her parents at one time or another to see Colleen Moore's world-famous doll house at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.  Colleen came to Illinois after she had already had a career as a major star of silent films.  In the 1920s, so many young women wanted to immitate the look and fashions of Colleen Moore that millions of them cut their hair short for the rage of that decade, a hair do called "the bob."

2008: Your Picks

By Thurlow Weed

Looking nationally, what Republicans do you prefer for the 2008 GOP Presidential nomination?  Allen?  McCain?  Giuliani?  Newt?  Cox (just kidding -- unless you actually do)? 

Most Inventive Towns in America

New blog Elect Prosperity has an intriguing post about the Wall Street Journal's recent story: "The Most Inventive Towns in America."  Check it out ...

Why liberals reject moral absolutes

Illinois Right to Life Committee's Executive Director William Beckman writes in a guest op-ed today:

So why did liberals reject moral absolutes?  Only because they disagreed with them!  They could never have really rejected the concept of absolutes because in their eyes, it is absolutely true that liberals are always right, and everyone else is always wrong.

Extreme Makeover: Trial Lawyer Edition

By Thurlow Weed

The Illinois Justice Blog has a link to a great ad placed in USA Today this week by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Leagl Reform regarding the Association of Trial Lawyers of America's decision to change its name to "American Association for Justice."

As the U.S. Chamber's ad says ... "Same Leopard ... New Spots."

IRS Intimidation of Churches Continues

The Los Angeles Times reports that 15,000 tax-exempt organizations, churches, and tax preparers are getting a memo from the IRS reminding them of the Political Activity Compliance Initiative, which was announced earlier this year. The memo, from IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson, informs the organizations that the IRS will no longer wait until it gets a tax return or until the end of the tax year to investigate allegations of wrongful campaigning. Instead, the IRS will now bring the full force of the Federal Government down on churches that they "believe" are violating the law at any time they deem necessary.

It would be interesting to know which churches are being targeted for intimidation by IRS. We all know which ones are not.

Read the LA Times story here.

Blagojevich forced to stop fetus farming plans

The day before Gov. Blagojevich forced Illinois taxpayers to advance $5 million more for embryonic stem cell experimentation, President Bush forced Blagojevich to shut down his plan for tax-funded fetus farms.

On July 19, President Bush signed the "Fetus Farming Prohibition Act of 2006,” a law that prohibits growing human embryos in animals or humans for research.

Blagojevich’s 2005 embryonic stem cell research executive order included “payment” for “transplantation, or implantation of [embryonic] tissue,” with no age restriction.  It also included “payment” for “cadaveric fetal tissue,” or dead fetuses.

In other words, Blagojevich was planning to harvest a new crop in Illinois, fetuses, in uterine farms.

Hezbollah makes Al-Quaeda look unorganized, expert says

Let's face it.  We're all consumed with what's happening at the Israel-Lebanon border. 

The Bush Administration is reaching out to Saudi Arabia for assistance in negotiating a possible cease fire between Hezbollah and Israel.  As air assaults continue, Israeli ground troops are poised at the border.  An invasion of southern Lebanon is anticipated.

One terrorist expert just commented that Hezbollah, formed 24 years ago, makes Al-Quaeda look weak and unorganized.   The War on Terrorism apparently is expanding.

What are your thoughts about what's happening today?  Was Gingrich right Sunday when he suggested World War III has begun?

The fight's now in your backyard

by Fran Eaton

Emotions are running raw today concerning the debate over stem cell research -- President Bush's veto  and Governor Blagojevich's in-your-face response.

Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West

by John Ruskin

Check out the move "Obsession" here. It looks like it's worth making the effort to see - if any theater will play it in the U.S.

It will certainly drive the security-challenged Democrats crazy. You know, the Durbin and Obama appeaser types who are convinced that any evil in the world must somehow be the fault of the United States.

Blagojevich Lies to Downstate Dems

It's IR's understanding that Gov. Blagojevich has just signed an Executive Order that provides $5 million for embryonic stem cell research in the state of Illinois. This, after he promised his fellow downstate Democrats that there was no hidden funding for such research in the budget.

At a time when Illinois can't even pay its Medicaid bills, the Governor has decided to exercise his extra-legislative privilege and foist upon the taxpaying citizens of Illinois a $5 million expenditure that we (or our children) will have to pay. This, despite the fact that our duly elected representatives in the Illinois General Assembly voted against it.

Make no mistake. This was no veto. This was an act of a Governor who is hell bent on winning re-election -- no matter what the cost to our families, finances, or freedoms.

Who Is The Aggressor?

Something from one of our readers.

Proof's In The Pictures

Some more photos of what the Democrats and the mainstream media tell us are poor, suffering Americans living in miserable conditions while being evacuated from a war zone they willingly put themselves in.

 

The upper left AP photo (click to enlarge) reads: "American citizens Fouad Gellad, left, and his wife Mona, from Baltimore MD, drink glasses of orange juice served by a cocktail waitress from the Orient Queen cruise ship in the port of the capital Beirut in Lebanon Wednesday, July 19, 2006".

The upper right AP photo (click to enlarge) reads: "Two American citizens swim in the ship's pool, as other back look at the Beirut city from the deck of the Orient Queen cruise ship in the port of the capital Beirut in Lebanon Wednesday, July 19, 2006".

Need one say more?

The Democrats' Dirty Little Secrets

Human Events Online (HEO) has a new Top 10 List of the House Democrat's "unhinged" agenda. As HEO notes: "each bill highlighted on the agenda is sponsored by a current Democrat ranking member on a House committee of jurisdiction. Many are also co-sponsored or supported by members of the House Democrat leadership. Collectively, these bills provide real insight into the agenda these ranking Democrat members are pursuing."

HEO continues: "The Real House Democrat Agenda is distinct because it shows what Democrat ranking members and elected leaders really support: a radical left-wing agenda that contrasts sharply with the vague and fuzzy public relations agendas that have been (and continue to be) rolled out for public consumption by House Democrat leaders."

Check out what the democracy challenged Party of the Left has in store for you - click here.

Personal thoughts about a hot day in the city

by Fran Eaton

For those who are unable to get to downtown Chicago this long, hot summer, thought you might want a take on what's happening up here.  The sites we saw yesterday on a jaunt with our son, his wife and two grandkids included:

Two Illinoisans running for President?

Two former candidates for U.S. Senate from Illinois may be in the 2008 Presidential race . . .

one IS now a U.S. Senator -- Barack Obama, who, Jeff Zeleny breaks in the Trib today, has agreed to headline a major Democratic fundraiser in Iowa this September.  Significantly, Obama has raised funds in 30 states, but this will be his first public appearance in Iowa. . .

the other is one who ran among several for the GOP nomination in 2002 and 2004 . . . Chicago businessman John Cox.  Cox has been appearing in both Iowa and New Hampshire -- the two presidential race kickoff states -- for the past several months.  Yesterday the Cox campaign unveiled his "Build America" agenda.

The Little March That "Didn't"

They marched again today. Those who celebrate anarchy. Those who speak of justice while refusing to obey the very law that provides it. Those who demand rights for illegal aliens by ignoring and diminishing the rights of all immigrants who have (and will) come to this nation legally.

The march took place. The reports vary. The organizers say 50,000. The cops say 10,000. The Chicago Tribune reports 2,000. (see story here) Most likely it was less than that. Again, a picture is worth a thousand words. This Chicago Tribune photo below seems to say it all -- the marchers were left with nothing but cartoonish characterizations that resulted in a handful of protesters posing for the cameras with nobody to carry the signs.

This latest celebration of law-breaking seems to have been the little march that "didn't". Perhaps we can now move past the radical, left-wing, fringe elements within this debate, and come up with a reasonable solution to the problem.

What Are They Complaining About?

The Dems and the Beirut "evacuees" are complaining that their taxpayer-funded "salvation" from a war zone they freely entered was not quick enough, comfortable enough, or free!

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, let me give you one:

This photo is from AP today. The caption reads:

"U.S. citizen Dr. Sam Dagher, left, looks on as his son Glenn, right, and his friends Jim Nasser, second left, and his brother Jeff, all from Scranton, PA, sunbathe on the deck of the Orient Queen cruise ship, with the Beirut skyline, background, in the port of the capital Beirut in Lebanon Wednesday, July 19, 2006"

Need I say more?

Jersey County citizens law suit moves forward

Taxpayers in Jersey County were victorious this morning when a ruling was given by the presiding judge before a packed court room for a "leave to file complaint."  The request was filed by a citizens group against the illegal sale of school bonds by Jersey Community School District No. 100 and this ruling will permit the lawsuit to proceed. This was music in the ears of Jeff Ferguson and his large group of followers.  Ferguson has over 800 pages of documentation he has collected over the past three years indicating the two new schools, which were built against the wishes of the taxpayers, were also built by the illegal sale of bonds.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Dick Van Dyke

By Mark Rhoads

Dick Van Dyke was star of one of the most popular situation comedies on television in the early 1960s. According to TV legend, Dick beat out Johnny Carson for the role of Rob Petrie in what became The Dick Van Dyke Show. Along with his series co-star, Mary Tyler Moore, Van Dyke presented a clean cut image for young marrieds during the Kennedy Administration.  The enduring popularity of re-runs of the show even today on cable TV outlets is testament to the timeless appeal of the show.

South suburban GOPers stay cool

While Illinois was hit with a typical July heat wave, south suburban State Senate GOP candidate Eric Wallace coolly celebrated his ongoing campaign against incumbent Maggie Crotty with an evening of jazz last night in University Park.

Choosing a new Cook County small business to emphasize the need for economic development, 47 year old Wallace congratulated the Savannah Club's owner Luther Rogers by gathering in friends and new supporters to listen and move to summertime jazz.

Two attendees said they were excited to join the campaign as volunteers Wallace had met while knocking on doors in Matteson and Country Club Hills.  "I liked the way he presented the issues on his mind," one lady said.  "I knew I wanted to help this campaign."

Wallace shared with the crowd what he's hearing as he talks to district residents this summer. "They're tired of paying high taxes and seeing businesses leave the area," Wallace said.  "There's no doubt there's a discontentment with the ways things are."

Wallace, the only African-American Republican running for Senate, was introduced by his mother Dr. Joan Wallace, former deputy U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.  "I'm very proud of our middle son, Eric.  I'm pleased he's chosen to run for Senate. But I'm also surprised he's chosen to do this, With his PhD in Biblical studies and as a Johnonian scholar, only God knows His plans for Eric." A "Johnonian scholar" has a study emphasis on the Gospel of John, she explained.

Later in the evening, Mrs. Wallace announced July 19 as her husband John Wallace's 81st birthday.  The two danced to "I've Got the World on a String" in celebration.

There's no question.  The Wallace campaign is hardworking, but the coolest State Senate campaign around this summer. 

Wallace hoped to raise funds at the event to ratchet up his ongoing campaign.  The 19th district includes Country Club Hills, University Park, Matteson, Oak Forest, Orland Park and Tinley Park, among others. 

Why Jesus Christ would not vote for Barack Obama

by Jill Stanek

In February 2004, U.S. Senate candidate Barack Obama's wife, Michelle, sent a fund-raising letter with the "alarming news" that "right-wing politicians" had passed a law stopping doctors from stabbing half-born babies in the neck with scissors, suctioning out their brains and crushing their skulls.

Michelle called partial-birth abortion "a legitimate medical procedure," and wouldn't supporters please pay $150 to attend a luncheon for her husband, who would fight against "cynical ploy[s]" to stop it?

But that's not why Obama's opponent Alan Keyes said Jesus Christ wouldn't vote for him.

Obama recalled Keyes' statement in a recent USA Today opinion piece but omitted his reasoning.

I know his reasoning, because I was there....

Continue reading "Why Jesus Christ would not vote for Barack Obama" on www.WorldNetDaily.com.

[Cartoon courtesy of Chicago Sun-Times, published during the Obama-Keyes senate campaign.]

Illinois Hall of Fame: Edward "Butch" O'Hare

By Mark Rhoads

Many Chicagoans know something about the basic story of Lt. Cdr. Edward "Butch" O'Hare. On his first day in combat on February 20, 1942, Butch O'Hare was flying his Grumman Wildcat fighter when he and his wingman spotted a formation of nine Japanese bombers headed in the direction of their convoy near the Marshall Islands.  After his wingman's guns jammed, Butch was the only defender to face the nine Japanese planes that were lined up in a V formation to attack his aircraft carrier, The USS Lexington. In just ten minutes, Butch shot down five Japanese planes and damaged a sixth when other American planes from his ship finally were able to join the battle to chase off the remaining three planes.  An ace is defined as a pilot who shot down five or more enemy planes.  Butch O'Hare was the first US Navy fighter pilot to become an ace in World War II and the first to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

O'Hare also was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He defintely saved the lives of 1,700 American seamen who were on board his carrier as well as the lives of men who were on nearby escort ships.  As crewmen were desperately refeuling other planes from Butch's squadron to join the fight, his fellow pilots watched with awe from below.  Butch's squadron commander said of the dogfight, "O'Hare just outnumbered them."  The exploits of O'Hare in those ten minutes were a badly needed shot in the arm for the morale of Americans that had suffered heavy losses at Pearl Harbor only ten weeks before.  In 1949, Col. Robert McCormick, publisher of The Chicago Tribune, led a successful campaign to urge the city council to re-name the Orchard Field (ORD) near Park Ridge as O'Hare International Airport in honor of Butch O'Hare.

Ahmadinejad's Sarajevo

By Ralf Seiffe

Over the weekend, the Sunday news shows were consumed by the situation in Israel and Lebanon with Newt Gingrich coming to the conclusion that we are watching the start of World War III.  The former speaker may be right; the same motivations and disabilities that created World War I are now operating in the Mideast and the two kidnapped Israeli soldiers may be filling the role that was once played by Franz Ferdinand.

Threatened tadpoles, endangered babies

by Fran Eaton

Did you know the Illinois Chorus Frog is threatened with extinction?   

Thus -- according to federal law -- it is illegal for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect Illinois Chorus Frogs, larvae or tadpoles.

But our U.S. Senate is debating Tuesday whether the federal government should pay for using human embryos (shall we say human larvae or tadpoles?) for stem cell research.  Sadly, there is no question where our U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama will come down on the issue:  strongly in favor of destroying humans at their earliest stages of development.  The only hope of slowing this type of human harvesting is President's Bush's veto pen.

Of course, Illinois Chorus Frogs aren't threatened by Governor Blagojevich's Executive Order establishing $10 million for taxpayer funded embryonic stem cell research last year.

Too bad American babies haven't been deemed threatened or endangered species.  Their embryos would be protected from state and federal Frankensteinian experimenters. 

Interesting note:  University of Illinois researchers hint the Illinois Chorus Frog's threatened extinction may be due to observed cannibalism during the frog's tadpole stage.   

Will we "higher-level-of-evolution" humans ever learn from nature? 

Illinois Hall of Fame: Oscar Micheaux

By Mark Rhoads

Almost four decades before Spike Lee was born in Georgia, pioneer independent film producer, writer, and director Oscar Micheaux was the first African American to produce a silent feature film in 1919 and the first to produce a talking picture in 1931.  Oscar was born near the Ohio River on January 2, 1884 in Masaac County about four miles east of what were then the city limits of Metropolis, Illinois.  He was one of eleven children of former slaves who had come north across the Ohio River from Kentucky after the Civil War.  Metropolis is northwest of Paducah, Kentucky on the south shore of the river.

More on the Trial Lawyers' Name Change ...

By Thurlow Weed

Ed Murnane, president of the Illinois Civil Justice League, writes at Illinois Justice Blog about the decision to change the name of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America to the "American Association for Justice":

Excuse me for giggling -- or gagging. 

What does George Soros Really Want?

By Mark Rhoads

Mr. George Soros has made a large fortune as a financial speculator.  Never mind if that sounds a little fuzzy, good for him and is this a great country or what?  Soros is also generously described as a "philosopher" in some venues that tilt to the port side of the boat.  There is no doubt that this super rich man would like the world to see him as a Great Thinker of Deep Thoughts.  But just exactly where his Deep Thoughts take him is a little cloudy at the moment.

Randy will run as a write in - Run RANDY Run

by Joyce Morrison

It appears Judy Barr Topinka and Rod Blagojevich are not taking any chances on losing any votes. The Constitution Party collected about 20% of the 25,000 signatures needed for a third party to be on the ballot.   Randall Stufflebeam's name will not be on the ballot this fall. 

IR Star Conservative of the Week Winnebago County's Jan Klaas

When President George W. Bush landed at Chicago's O'Hare to spend two days celebrating his 60th birthday, newly-elected Winnebago County GOP Chairman Jan Klaas (pictured right) was one of the first to wish him a happy birthday.  She, along with a few other distinguished conservatives -- including last week's IR Star Conservative Ruth O'Connell (pictured left) -- was given the distinct honor of greeting Illinois' special guest upon his arrival.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Red Grange

By Mark Rhoads

By far the most famous Illinoisan of the 1920s was not a gangster, businessman, politician, or entertainer.  He was a varsity halfback on the University of Illinois football team who was known by different monikers across the country such as "The Galloping Ghost" and "The Wheaton Ice Man."  For three seasons from 1923 to 1925, millions of Americans followed his weekly exploits on radio and in newsreels.  He was just a college senior when his picture at right appeared on the cover of Time Magazine on October 25, 1925.  Three-time All-American Harold "Red" Grange of Illinois was one of the greatest American football players of all time.  Red is listed on every All-Century team that has been devised by any sports news organization including the ESPN All-20th Century Team.  He is often ranked number one of the one hundred best all-time players.

The Big Bad US Economy

by Greg Blankenship

In case you missed this, Lawrence Kudlow recently put our economic growth into perspective:

World War III?

"This is, in fact, World War III," former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich said today on NBC national news concerning the ongoing attacks between Israel and Lebanon.

What do you think -- is it?   Is Newt right? 

Gay Games glide into Crystal Lake

The 2006 Gay Games held in Chicago this year kicked off  in sunny, humid and almost-100 degree weather.  One of the week's first competitive events -- rowing -- was held Sunday in the far northwest McHenry County's Crystal Lake.

Former State Rep. Cal Skinner, who lives in the area, has been documenting the town's controversy surrounding the Gay Games for a couple of months on his McHenry County Blog.

Illinois Family Institute, in association with several churches and activists, is sponsoring protests throughout the Chicago area, and one will be featured at a bathhouse catering to homosexuals in a north Chicago neighborhood.

Read more about the Gay Games controversy here, here and here. 

IR welcomes Rep. Skinner to our growing cadre of talented conservative bloggers as we add one more voice to the crossroads of Illinois' conservative community.

IR on NYT

This piece was provided by a friend and fellow reader of Illinois Review. I think it sums it up.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Benny Goodman

By Mark Rhoads

For about twenty years from 1919 to 1939, Chicago competed with New Orleans, St. Louis, Kansas City, and New York to be the city with the hottest bands of jazz and swing.  In the middle 1920s, Chicago was winning the race.  The city was host to many of the greatest musicians, orchestra leaders, and arrangers including King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, Bix Biederbecke, Jelly Roll Morton, Earl "Fatha" HInes, and later Charlie "Bird" Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Billy Eckstein.  All these and more got their professional tickets punched at different times with Chicago bands playing at Chicago venues.  Louis Armstrong met his second wife, Jazz pianist Lil Hardin, while Louis was playing with King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band at Lincoln Gardens at 451 East 31st Street in the twenties.  For most of the time between 1922 and 1930, Louis and Lil lived and worked in Chicago.  It was an important time in Armstrong's career and he bacame nationally famous while working in Chicago.  But among the white musicians of the swing era, it was master clarinet player and orchestra leader Benny Goodman who had the deepest roots in his native Chicago.

Church Leaders Quit Bush/Clinton Fund

The Washington Post reported that Black megachurch pastors T.D. Jakes and William H. Gray III, co-chairs of Interfaith Advisory Committee of the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, have resigned in protest. National Baptist Convention head William Shaw has also quit. The Post's Darryl Frears writes:

"Gray said board directors and staff members of the Katrina Fund —established by former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton— would agree with the committee's recommendations in meetings and then do the opposite. He said that he, Jakes and Shaw resigned when the staff sent $35,000 to a church without their knowledge, then refused to explain why. That particular church had not been inspected to determine its need, Gray said. … Gray said that he and Jakes feared their reputations might be stained if the fund delivered money to churches that did not deserve it."

The Post was unable to confirm Gray's claim that as many as eight of the nine committee members resigned, but notes that "Jakes, Gray and Shaw were the committee's marquee names." See story here.

USA vs. Muslim Terrorists | Good vs. Evil

by Paul Nowak

Illinois Hall of Fame: John Deere

By Mark Rhoads

John Deere lived and worked for fifty years along the Rock River in Illinois.  He founded what is today one of the largest agricultural and construction equipment manufacturers in the world.

Deere was born on Feb. 7, 1804 in Rutland, Vermont.  John was raised by his mother in Middlebury, Vermont where he got is basic education.  At the age of 21, he started his apprenticeship as a blacksmith in 1825.  He married Demarius Lamb in 1827 and the couple had four children by 1836.  Hard times and debt forced him to sell his blacksmith shop to his father-in-law in 1836 and he moved the family to Grand Detour, Illinois on the Rock River for new opportunities and because other Vermont neighbors had settled there previously.  Grand Detour is few miles northeast of Dixon, Illinois.

IR Commentor predicts November Dem sweep

Early Saturday morning, Illinois Review had a Hard D visitor comment on yesterday's "Fight Corruption.  Fire Blagojevich" posting.

You need to read it yourself if you need to be energized to write checks and/or knock on doors for GOP candidates this summer and fall. 

While millions of dollars are being raised for television ads and expensive mailings, there's absolutely no question that this year's battle for a red or blue Illinois will be a ground war. . . with passionate, motivated political warriors on the streets and getting out the right votes.

Don't miss "Dark Blues'" trash talk predicting Blago, Bean and Duckworth's wins in November. . .

Illinois Hall of Fame: Dennis Franz

By Mark Rhoads

Actor Dennis Franz was born on Oct. 28, 1944 in Maywood, Illinois.  His full name is Dennis Franz Schlacta. Dennis has two older sisters.  His father was a German immigrant and both his parents worked for the Post Office Department.  In 1962, Dennis graduated from Proviso East Township High School where he was active in baseball, football, and swimming.  He attended Wright Junior College and graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a major in speech and theater in 1966.  After SIU, he served with the Army including 11 months of duty in Viet Nam.  Returning to Illinois, he worked for the Post Office and renewed an interest in acting he first developed in high school. 

Fight corruption. Fire Blagojevich.

I just got a letter from Andy McKenna, asking for a donation to the Illinois Republican Party.  Tucked in the envelope is a red bumper sticker with bold white letters saying "Fight Corruption.  Fire Blagojevich."

The accompanying two-page appeal letter tells me how bad Blagojevich is. 

Cook County GOP hopes may lie in Peraica candidacy

It's always heartwarming to pull into the parking lot of a political fundraiser and have a hard time finding a parking space.  That's especially true when its for a Cook County Republican candidate.

Good for GOP candidate for Cook County Board President Tony Peraica -- the parking lot of Schaumburg's Alumni Club was overflowing when he arrived Thursday evening.

Once a Trial Lawyer, Always...

By Thurlow Weed

Today's Washington Post reports:

The venerable Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), the folks who sue tobacco companies, asbestos users, car manufacturers and so on for humungous amounts of money -- and are the targets themselves of the business community -- is changing its name.

Don't count your prairie chickens before they're hatched . . .

We have war in the Middle East, gas prices at over $75/barrel, and from southern Illinois we learn of yet another looming crisis -- the shortage of prairie chickens.

No kidding. . . a shortage of Illinois prairie chickens.

Which begs the burning questions:  Why did the Prairie State chicken cross party lines?     Have they checked for the Prairie State's political chickens coming home to roost in federal prisons?

Let the jokes begin. . . and don't get serious on us.

The mindgames begin . . . watch out, fellow Babies

David Horsey stirs the debate on Social Security.  While SS was an honorable way of taking care of seniors for the generation before the Baby Boomers, Horsey expresses the growing frustration about the phenomenal burden Social Security will be on the next generation.

Let's pit the spoiled Baby Boomers against the even more spoiled Gen-Xers and see what we get . . .

Those Ads Worked

Blagojevich now up by 11 points.

Rasmussen is reporting that Rod Blagoevich is up by 11 points. It sounds to me like all those ads did what they were supposed to do, and raised Topinka's negatives dramatically.

Net Neutrality

By Ralf Seiffe

The debate raging in Congress over the concept of “Net Neutrality” pits those who own the Internet’s wired distribution system against those who make the Internet interesting.  In the simplest terms this complex question allows, the debate is about private property rights versus the public’s access to privately-owned assets.  In some ways the quarrel is similar to the conflict between farmers and ranchers who argued over barbed wiring more than a century ago.