Illinois Review

Illinois Hall of Fame: Oscar DePriest

By Mark Rhoads

Oscar Stanton DePriest was a Republican Party leader and real estate investor in Chicago early in the 20th Century.  He was the first African American elected to the Cook County Board in 1904 and the first African American elected to the Chicago City Council in 1915.  He was also the first African American elected to Congress from any Northern state in 1928.  Before DePriest, almost all black members of Congress had been elected by reconstruction governments in the South.  When he took office in March 1929, Congressman DePriest was the first African-American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives since the retirement of Rep. George Henry White (R-North Carolina) twenty-eight years before in 1901. The vast majority of African-American elected officials at any level in the North between 1865 and 1932 were members of the Republican Party which they saw then as the party of Emancipation, the party of Lincoln, and the party of what was then called Negro opportunity.

Whistle Stop GOP Tour of Downstate

By Lee Newcom

The entire statewide Republican ticket is making a tour of downstate communities.  They were in my hometown of Bloomington this morning.  More here.  I have been critical of the lackluster Republican campaign and so want to give what is due in the presentation they are making.  This is a team that clearly gets along well and is fired-up with energy on this tour.  Each of the candidates gave an excellent speech and Topinka was her old self, energetic and lively.  She pounded Blagojevich's inept and corrupt administration of the state.  They are all down in the polls, but I believe they sense a momentum on their side for two good reasons.  First, the news for Blagojevich continues to be bad both concerning the Illinois economy and ethical problems in his administration.  Second, in spite of his massive $50 million war chest and the millions already spent, his polling numbers have not moved above 50%.  If this is a ceiling for him, it is hers to win.

Not a great topic - but one that has to be dealt with

by Joyce Morrison

Senator Dale Righter, (R) Mattoon, spoke in Shelbyville recently regarding the proposed new regulations for owners of certain septic systems and stated how unfair these rules would be to rural downstate residents.  He told the group, "We don't need to throw this kind of cost and overregulation on the homeowners."

State Representative Chapin Rose, (R), Mahomet, will be helping Sen. Righter with legislation to limit the proposed IEPA rules which would cost rural homeowners thousands of dollars most could not afford. This may not sound important if you have a metropolitan sewage system, but "it" still has to go somewhere.   A good septic system is a "must" for rural homeowners and they will spend extra dollars to guarantee they have a system that works properly.  Check out the News with Views article dealing with this issue.

Health officials throughout the state are saying that most of the septic systems have been regulated for over 30 years and should not have to comply with the strict new IEPA rules.  Public hearings will be held throughout the state in October.

Registering Latinos in DuPage County

by Cal Skinner

Illinois Review’s unpaid (and, formerly Illinois Leader’s not-paid before she quit) editor Fran Eaton could be putting bread on the table by working at Kohl’s or Starbucks.

But, since she is more interested in the political process than stocking shelves or scalding herself making lattes, she is being paid to set up voter registration drives in west suburban churches.

She has called all sorts of churches and has good relationships with numerous Catholic ones.

So, it was nothing out of the ordinary for her to have contacted the office of St. Isidore’s Catholic Church in Bloomingdale and dropped off a packet of registration information at the church office

.

Obama stirs animosity on African tour

Our junior U.S. Senator Barak Obama's in Africa this week, accepting accolades from Desmond Tutu and heaping criticism on the Bush administration.

In a speech at the South African Institute of International Affairs, the Associated Press reports Obama said the world is "less, not more secure" because of the Bush Administration's military intervention in Iraq.

Obama, whose father was Kenyan, also emphasized the need for the U.S. to build diplomatic bridges with countries angered by our stance on Iraq and other Middle East countries (i.e., our support of Israel?).

In other words, while our nation is leading the international war against terrorism, one of our two U.S. senators is using his bully pulpit to stir worldwide animosity towards us.   

What's wrong with this picture?

Pros and Cons of Early Voting

By Mark Rhoads

According to the Courier News, Kane County Clerk John Cunningham is setting up an ambitious program to open up a "voting window" between Oct. 16 and Nov. 7.  The idea is to open up more polling places where voters can vote before the traditional Election Day in order to off load some of the traffic on Nov. 7 to other days.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Marshall Field

By Mark Rhoads

"Give the lady what she wants."  - Marshall Field

Retailing pioneer Marshall Field was born the third of six children 172 years ago on August 18, 1834 on a farm near Conway, Massachusetts.  Field died one hundred years ago in 1906 and he is buried in Chicago's famous Graceland Cemetery.  But his business legacy, the great department store chain that was named after him 125 years ago in 1881, will officially disappear from signs about sixteen days from now.  Marshall Field is considered by many business historians to be the greatest retailer of all time and the inventor of the modern department store.  In 1853 at the age of 19, Field moved west to Chicago which then was a boom town of only eight thousand people with rows of wooden buildings on muddy streets.  He went to work for the largest dry goods store in town, Cooley, Wadsworth & Company.  His salary in 1854 was about $400 per year and he saved half of that by living at the store.

New IR Poll: Your chance to predict the future

Illinois Review recently asked our readers to tell us who conservatives should vote for in the upcoming gubernatorial race.  32.9% of our readers said conservatives should vote for GOP candidate Judy Baar-Topinka and 8.4% said they should support incumbent Dem Rod Blagojevich.

But an overwhelming majority -- 58.6% -- said conservatives should support neither Topinka nor Blagojevich on November 7.

In light of conservatives' obvious disillusionment with the gubernatorial race, IR is asking today in a new poll what is most likely to happen in the upcoming election:

• Peraica beats Stroger
• GOP gains back IL Senate majority
• GOP wins the IL House majority
• Topinka beats Blagojevich
• all the above
• none of the above

Voice your opinion today on the IR poll (located in the left hand margin) and tell your friends to chime in, too . . .

Drive home with Dan today on WYLL

Monday afternoon, from 3 to 5 PM, conservative Dan Proft will be guest hosting Scott Thomas' show on WYLL 1160 AM.

Guests will include:

John Kass, Chicago Tribune page 2 columnist to talk IL,  Chicago politics

Josh Hoyt,  Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights to talk about the Elvira Arellano, March to Batavia and immigration reform

Corey McPherrin, Fox Chicago Sports Anchor to talk White Sox, Bears, Tiger Woods

Ald. Joe Moore (D-49), to talk Chicago politics, Big Box ordinance, foie gras bans and the like

ED. NOTE:  Maybe Proft can ask Hoyt about his organization's press conference accusing IR's Editor of attempted infiltration?  More to come after the interview.

IR Conservative of the Week: Heartland Institute's Joe Bast

President and CEO of Illinois' nationally-recognized free market think tank Heartland Institute, Joe Bast is honored this week as Illinois Review's Star Conservative.

Bast and his staff of 30 provide thousands of elected officials with solid, pertinent research on legislative topics facing them each day.  The 501c3 group founded in 1988 has grown under Bast's leadership from an annual budget of $20,000 to a current $2.5 million.

Bast, a quiet, unassuming personality, has written ten books, several co-authored with his wife of 25 years, Diane.   Together they continue to serve the conservative, free market, smaller government community of legislators and activists by providing powerful thought ammunition and debate weaponry.

The Heartland Institute will be holding their 22nd annual benefit bash at the Chicago Hilton and Towers.  It's something any conservative- or libertarian-leaning mover or shaker should support. 

Congratulations, Joe.  Keep up the great work.

Human life as a commodity

Guest editorial by Bill Beckman, Illinois Right to Life Executive Director

When the founders of our nation stated in the Declaration of Independence that we are “endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights,” they declared their belief that human life is not to be treated like a commodity.  They recognized that each human being is unique with the same rights as every other human being. 

Fast forward from 1776 to 2006.  Last week, three separate reports demonstrated just how far we have fallen from protecting this principle proclaimed in 1776.  How can we claim to be more advanced when human life has become a commodity?

It's S-T-U-F-F-L-E-B-E-A-M

Apparently, Constitutional Party gubernatorial candidate Randy Stufflebeam (who was unable to acquire enough signatures to get on the November ballot as a third party candidate) is moving ahead with a write-in campaign.

The former Marine is looking for others to add to "Mom" and "Dad" who have endorsed his candidacy.

My understanding is that a candidate's name must be spelled correctly when written in or the vote is disqualified.   My unsolicited advice to the campaign is that they push correct spelling . . . it's S-T-U-F-F-L-E-B-E-A-M.

Of course, Randy's mom and dad should get that right.

See inside for a recent communication to the S-T-U-F-F-L-E-B-E-A-M network.

Illinois Hall of Fame: John Hughes

By Mark Rhoads

If you know where Shermer, Illinois is, then you probably know the general neighborhood where The Breakfast Club met, where Molly Ringwald celebrated her 16th birthday, where Ferris Bueller took part of his day off, where Uncle Buck made up with Illinois-native Amy Madigan, where many high school girls were pretty in pink, and where eight-year old Kevin McCallister fought off two burglars when he was left at home alone.  The town of Shermer might be fictional to a degree, but it is generally in the center of north Cook County suburbs that are located inside the imagination of film director, writer, and producer John Hughes.

Democrats' Messiah Visits Africa

Like some Malcolm X odyssey, Barack Obama has begun his trip to Africa. If the Tribune's front page coverage is any indication, it looks like we're in for step-by-step report of the Dem's messiah.

Story here. Pictures here.

South Dakota and Back in Less Than in 45 Hours

by Cal Skinner

Friday, former State Rep. Penny Pullen and I drove to a conference center on the west side of the Missouri River in South Dakota for a Saturday meeting of the leaders in the referendum fight to affirm legislation designed to challenge Roe v. Wade.

Pro-lifers are so much better organized and more unified in South Dakota than they are in Illinois.

More about the details when I wake up.  (I can't believe we saw an Illinois dawn, pictures of which you'll have to go to the bottom of the story to see.)

It took us almost 11 hours driving straight through, except for stopping for gas and a Johnson bratwurst at Wisconsin Dells.

On the way home, after crossing the Missouri River at 4:10 in the afternoon on Saturday, when our role in the meeting was over, we drove to about as far east as one can go and still be in South Dakota.

We had a meeting two miles west of the Minnesota border with South Dakota State Representative Roger Hunt, the sponsor of the bill being voted upon this fall. 

Then, we got gas at a Shell Station, which doubled as a casino.

Joe Might Have the Last Laugh After All

By Mark Rhoads

Left-wing Democrats may have celebrated too soon when Ned Lamont beat Sen. Joe Lieberman by 3.6 percentage points in the Connecticut Democratic primary on Aug. 8.  According to today's Washington Post, Lieberman currently leads Ned Lamont in the Quinnipac University poll by a margin of 53 to 41 percent for the November election in a three-way race with Republican Alan Schlesinger drawing only 4 percent.  That is not the best news for Republicans in Connecticut who prefer a real GOP senator.  But it is terrible news for any Democrat in Congress who pounced on Lieberman to withdraw on Aug. 9. The anti-war movement might have gambled much and lost on Lamont, who has no experience and no other issue going for him except for his personal fortune.

The Left figured they could bully or panic Joe Lieberman into getting out just because the Left was able to muster 3.6 more points in a Democratic primary.  They hoped to so demoralize Lieberman by his loss of the Democratic nomination label that he would just fade away.  Lieberman was smart enough to understand that the official party label means almost nothing in this contest. He is not fading away and now stands a better than even chance of remaining in the Senate.  A Lieberman victory in November would be a big boomerang on Left Wing Democrats in light of all the money Lamont has spent and will spend.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Edna Ferber

By Mark Rhoads

Novelist and playwright Edna Ferber was born on Aug. 15, 1885 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  Her father Jacob Ferber was a Hungarian-Jewish shopkeeper and her mother Julia Neumann Ferber was from Milwaukee.  As a child, Edna grew up in Chicago and Ottumwa, Iowa and moved to Appleton, Wisconsin at age 12.  She graduated from Ryan High School in Appleton and so impressed the editor of the Apppleton Daily Crescent at age 17 old that he hired her as a reporter for a salary of $3 per week.  Women newspaper reporters were extremely rare in 1902.  Her dream was to study at Northwestern University's School of Education but her family's finances were then too limited for that goal.  When her father Jacob died in 1909, Edna and her mother and sister moved to the South Side of Chicago.  For the next thirteen years throughout World War I and until 1923, they lived in different apartments on Vincennes Avenue, in East View Park, and finally at the Windemere Hotel in Hyde Park.

Your IR Editor -- an infiltrator?

I just got an email from the Daily Herald's Joseph Ryan, who said that the Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights held a press conference today, saying that I had tried to infiltrate their organization.

We'll see if the story is in tomorrow's Daily Herald. . . I'll give you my side of the story if it doesn't make it.

Feasting for the troops . . .

You gotta love it. 

The Kane County Young Republicans, disgusted by the recent anti-War on Terrorism hunger strikes led by Cindy Sheehan and Hollywood celebrities, think its time to fight back.  Well, maybe more like a major "eat back."

Kane County Young Republicans' President Mark Vargas will be featured on Deborah Rowe's talk show today at 2:20 PM.  Tune into WLS 890 AM to hear the details.

And plan to join Illinois Review at the August 28 event. . .

Another headache in Illinois

A pretty little dragonfly may prove to be a real headache if you live in Cook, DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois.  Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin will also find they have "critical habitat" designations because of  this same little fly.

The Hine's emerald dragonfly will take up approximately 27,689 acres or 11,205 hectares in 49 units in these four states, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Clash of the civilizations

In a mere five minutes, one articulate Arab-American psychologist concisely and passionately explains our world's "clash of the civilizations" here. 

A must view.

Judy's siphon hose to nowhere

Re: Blagojevich's threat to issue an executive order making the morning-after pill available over-the-counter, the Chicago Tribune on August 9 stated:

Blagojevich's action involves an important health issue, but it also has political implications.

Topinka, who supports abortion rights and is a moderate on many other social issues, could siphon away votes that might otherwise go to the Democratic incumbent.

Just who does the Trib think Judy's wooing on the life issue?  Certainly not pro-lifers:

All 27 of the state Senate Republicans have signed a letter to Blagojevich saying they are against further funding of embryonic stem-cell research. Republican State treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, however, has bucked her party and maintains support for stem-cell research. ~ St. Louis Post Dispatch, today

Parting ways with other Republican candidates for governor, Judy Baar Topinka said Monday she would not overturn Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich's rule requiring pharmacies to provide the "morning after" contraceptive pill. ~ Chicago Sun-Times, January 30

Topinka said she supports making the pill available without a prescription, but only for people of a certain age -- probably 16 or 18. ~ same aforementioned Trib article

Topinka people, stop calling me.  And I don't expect the other side wants to hear from you either.  Why should they leave their sugar daddy?

Dear Ms. Topinka, why do you want to be governor? The answer may just elect you.

Put another way, the common first question to a new candidate, why are you running for this office?

Judy Barr Topinka ran for the Republican nomination by arguing that she was the top GOP vote getter in the state and our best opportunity to defeat Rod Blagojevich.  Many good and experienced political people backed her because they agreed with that premise.  I cannot think of any other major public argument made for her.  Although many of us supported a different candidate, wanting a more philosophically conservative and engaged nominee, she won legitimately and now represents our party.   Now the "best candidate to beat Rod," has to convince ALL the voters.  To do that, she needs to answer that question: why?

The Topinka campaign answers that challenge by insisting they do not have money to be on-the-air with commercials now, and that their set of issues will be coming out in the next 80 days.  So far, campaign operatives, very high in the campaign, will admit privately that they are "praying" for an indictment close to the governor as their real chance to win.  So far, the answer to the question, why are you running, hasn't appeared with any clarity.

Federal Court Rules Protecting America is Unconstitutional

The ACLU has convinced a federal judge that monitoring overseas communications of terrorists is against the constitution. Despite the fact the preamble lists defending the nation as an acceptable federal government function, the ACLU and US District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor said that the risk "innocent" communications could be intercepted far outweighed the risk of Al Qaeda attacking the United States. Despite programs such as ECHELON, CARNIVORE, and others that existed happily (albeit controversially) under the Clinton Administration, the possibility that George Bush might actually defend the country is a threat the Constitution cannot bear.

Despite the evidence, the media still calls the case a matter of "warrantless wiretapping" despite the fact that the clear intention is to monitor international calls. This ongoing deception is an attempt to create hysteria that the US is becoming a "police state" and that the treats are from Republicans, not terrorists. This is the same political quarter that brings you the idea (despite all evidence to the contrary) that George Bush and not Al Qaeda is behind 9/11.

Springfield hometown boy makes new downstate Cub fans

SPRINGFIELD -- This morning, the state capital is abuzz over its new hometown hero -- not a politician, not a lawmaker -- but a young man who's reached his dream of not only pitching, but winning, his first game for the Chicago Cubs.

Ryan O'Malley got his call early Wednesday morning while playing for the Cub's Iowa farm team.  Tuesday night, an 18 inning tie game with the Houston Astros had used up all of the Cubs' 25 players, including the pitcher scheduled Wednesday night.

A  State Journal-Register story tells the story of how O'Malley's family and hometown supporters learned of his sudden call.  It's an inspirational story . . . one you don't want to miss reading today.

By the way, last night's score was Cubs 1, Astros 0.

David Smith to Head Illinois Family Institute; Peter LaBarbera Re-Launching Americans for Truth

The head of the Illinois Family Institute Peter LaBarbera is moving on to re-launch Americans for Truth, which will be based in Naperville. Its web site says it will be devoted solely to confronting the homosexual activist agenda.

“Homosexual, bisexual, and transsexual groups spend tens of millions of dollars every year to market and normalize their aberrant lifestyles, yet after all these years there is not a single, serious national group dedicated specifically to exposing and countering their agendas,” he said.

The "Mrs." stole the Roskam show . . .

by Fran Eaton

Today's Washington Post continues the buzz about First Lady Laura Bush's visit to Addison Monday to raise money for Republican Congressional candidate Peter Roskam (CD-6).

The WP notes the "politics is all in the family" remarks Mrs. Bush quipped when responding to Roskam's wife Elizabeth who, according to the normally-critical keyboard of the Daily Herald's Eric Krol, was the hit of Monday's luncheon. 

Fitzgerald Investigates Eddie Vrdolyak

by Cal Skinner

This name from the past was on the front page of the Chicago Sun-Times when I picked it up in the driveway.

The story is that Ed Vrdolyak--of “Fast Eddie” and “Vrdolyak 29” fame while a Chciago Alderman and Cicero afterwards--is being investigated by the U.S. Attorney's Office. 

Apparently, he is an acquaintance of Stuart Levine, who is talking to the Feds--also discovered by the Sun-Times.

Obama Preaches Fuel Efficiency From the Back Seat of an SUV

At his Town Hall meetings yesterday, Sen. Barack (the-sky-is-falling) Obama lectured everyone at the Metropolis Community Center about gas guzzling.

Ignoring the fact that it's August, and generally warm in Illinois, BO (Barack Obama) claimed that "the blame for the world's higher temperature rests on gas guzzling vehicles". His solution: switch to "higher mileage hybrids". Problem is, following his lecture, BO left in his GMC Envoy after "admitting to favoring SUV's".

BO's press secretary Tommy Vietor tried to cover up the junior senator's hypocrisy by explaining that what BO "has long advocated is the use of vehicles that are more fuel efficient, including, but not exclusively hybrids." According to Vietor, "the vehicle BO travels in while in Illinois is a Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV), which can (but I guess doesn't) run on e85, a blended fuel made of 85 percent ethanol."

However, according to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (see here), the GMC's Envoy is not e85 ready.

Story from Drudge and local News Channel 6 WPSD-TV can be found here.

The Liberal Brain Is Not Rational

by Lee Newcom

I am often amused, sometimes frightened at what my fellow citizens can think. Liberals simply are not usually rational.  They are dedicated to opinions based purely on emotion.  I am open to flaws in my political party and in my opinions.  I think most conservatives are.  We look at our issues and our leaders and are willing to change based on our core beliefs.  We are willing to support President Bush and the Republican Congress because they do some good things (like prosecuting the war-on-terror and cutting taxes), and we are willing to castigate them and hold them accountable when they betray the principles for which we elected them (like their free-spending irresponsibility with the budget).

What's Duckworth's problem?

Chalk up another district mayor Democratic CD-6 candidate Tammy Duckworth has aggravated in the past two weeks. 

Today it's Elmhurst Mayor Tom Marcucci.  That's because Duckworth stayed away from a candidate forum today sponsored by the city's Chamber and Kiwanis clubs.

Does Sun-Times Support Duckworth Over Roskam?

Because it is what blogger Tom Roeser calls “Chicago’s Democratic Party paper of record” (or something close to that), I suppose I should not have been surprised to see a picture of State Senator and 6^th congressional candidate Peter Roskam in the Sun-Times today with his eyes closed.

Rich Hein took a photograph of him and First Lady Laura Bush. Bush had her eyes open.

Birkett event left them laughing

by Fran Eaton

If anyone doubted DuPage Co State's Attorney Joe Birkett's courage before, I'd say he proved himself last night when he bet his campaign's biggest fundraiser on making Illinois Republicans laugh.  It was a tough challenge. 

Monday night at DuPage County's Drury Lane Theatre, Republican candidate for Lt. Governor Joe Birkett and several hundred of his biggest supporters enjoyed a full hour of laughs and chuckles with CHEERS' George Wendt and several Second City alumni comedians.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Bob Bell

By Mark Rhoads

"Possibly no clown has been seen for a longer period by more people than Bob Bell as WGN's Bozo."  This citation comes from the write-up for Emmy Award-winning actor Bob Bell when he was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame in 1996.  It is estimated that Bob Bell as Bozo the Clown was seen at various times in thirty million TV households not just in the Chicago area but nationwide due to the fact that so many cable companies carried WGN-TV between 1978 and 1984.

The character of Bozo the Clown was purchased in 1960 from original owners to be sold to local TV franchises.  Not that many TV stations specialized in locally produced programming for children but WGN-TV had long made children's shows one of its staples along with movies and sports.

Bob Bell played Bozo on WGN from the fall of 1961, when the new color studio was ready on Bradley Place, to 1984 when he was replaced in the title role by Joey D'Auria. 

First Lady in town to pitch Roskam

From First Lady Laura Bush's comments today on behalf of Republican candidate for the 6th Congressional District Peter Roskam:

I'm delighted to be here to support Peter's campaign for the United States Congress, and I'm delighted that each and every one of you are here, as well. It's very important that Peter is elected to the United States Congress.

After 31 years in the House, your great representative, Henry Hyde, leaves big shoes to fill. But as Congressman Hyde himself has said, Peter is the right man to fill them.

More at White House website here . . .

Sticking It To the Suburbs and Downstate

The Chicago Sun-Times had an article Monday about how property taxes are higher in most suburbs than in Chicago.

An accompanying chart showed all selected suburban homeowners (but those in Oak Brook) having a higher effective tax rate than Chicago homeowners. The lowest—Wilmette--was 13% higher, while the highest cited—Harvey—was 2 3/4^th times higher.

Mourning The Future Dead

By Lee Newcom

This is the day the UN "peace" agreement signed by Israel and backed by western governments took effect in Lebanon. This is a day of mourning the future dead.  This is the day that the feckless Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert achieved what Neville Chamberlain did in 1938, Peace in our time.  Churchill replied, "...and we will get war."  They did, as we know.  But for those who refuse, "to learn the lessons of history," we have little solace. We will too, again. 

IR Conservatives of the Week: Tax fighters Jim & Cathy Peschke

This week, Illinois Review recognizes Cathy and Jim Peschke, the founders and leaders of Citizens for Reasonable and Fair Taxes (CRAFT). 

The Peschkes were instrumental in stopping a major tax referendum in their home district and use what they learned in their success to inspire and equip other grassroots groups to hold their local public school systems accountable. 

Currently the Peschkes are encouraging parents with children in public schools to resist paying school fees, something the Peschkes say is inappropriate and should be challenged.

Can illegal immigrants register to vote?

by Fran Eaton

This immigration issue should remain on the front burner.  Yesterday I wrote that Illinois conservatives need to understand the urgency of determining the best way to deal with illegal aliens.  It is quickly emerging as one of the top three issues in the 2006 election cycle.

Over the weekend, several hundred immigrant rights leaders gathered in Hillside to discuss blanket amnesty for illegal immigrants and a moratorium on deportations being enforced by the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security.

Anyone promoting universal preschool should be spanked

by Fran Eaton

Last week, Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts) vetoed a plan for his state to provide universal preschool.  Before that, California rejected an attempt to place a universal preschool program on the November ballot.  While a couple of other states offer preschool for 4 year olds, Illinois continues to be the national leader in pulling toddlers away from their mothers.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Aunt Lizzie Aiken

By Mark Rhoads

During the Civil War, nurses were called "Angels of the Battlefield."  Maryland gave us Clara Barton who years after the war founded the American Red Cross.  Another famous nurse of that era hailed from Peoria, Illinois. Early in 1861, a young widow that soldiers called "Aunt Lizzie" Aiken showed up one day at the headquarters of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry also known as "The Governor Yates Legion" near Peoria.  She reported to the head surgeon Major Niglas to offer her services taking care of the wounded, building morale, and doing the hard jobs that then as now define nursing.  She also did missionary work, read the Bible to the soldiers, and wrote or read letters for them. She worked without any pay at first and without a military rank as a volunteer.  Even when she entered federal service in 1862, her salary was $12 per month when it was paid.  "What shall we call this kind lady?" a soldier asked Dr. Niglas.  "Call her 'Aunt Lizzie,' we all just call her 'Aunt Lizzie.'" 

Obama's head continues to swell

Almost a year after Hurricane Katrina, Illinois U.S. Senator Barack Obama told Xavier University's Class of 2006 Sunday to "Seek to make this a nation of no more Katrinas."   

Being introduced as a "possible future candidate for the presidency," Obama received an honorary PhD from the New Orleans' school. 

Obama's speech was covered by the Washington Post, CBS Evening News, LA Times, and other national news organizations. 

The Times - Picayune wrote . . .

Dems return campaign $$ to Metro East Trial Attorney

After giving over $700,000 to Democratic candidates over the past 12 years, Tom Lakin, of the huge Metro East injury law firm, got $15,500 back this week.  Two judicial candidates have decided that accepting Lakin donations is providing political fodder for their opponents.

Why, you wonder?  Today's Post-Dispatch provides the answer . . .

Illinois Hall of Fame: Herbie Hancock

By Mark Rhoads

Jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock was born in Chicago on April 12, 1940.  He was a child prodigy trained in classical music.  In 1951 at the age of only eleven, Herbie performed the first movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto Number Five in D Major at a young people's concert with the Chicago Symphony Orechestra.  Herbie graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1958.  While he never had a formal music teacher, Herbie studied the recordings of Oscar Peterson and George Shearing and other great pianists in different styles.  He attended Grinell College in Iowa where he studied for a double major in music and electrical engineering.

Court of Appeals Ruling Will Decide Marriage Referendum's Fate

Today's news from Illinois Family Institute's Peter LaBarbera and Dave Smith concerning the Protect Marriage Illinois petition drive . .

Dear Friends of Marriage in Illinois,

If you've read the newspaper reports about our referendum this morning, you may be led to believe that our campaign to get a Marriage Protection Referendum on the ballot is finished. That is simply not the case.

Immigrant rights: the issue of the day

by Fran Eaton

The Chicago metropolitan area is apparently the hot core of a national immigrants' revolution hoping to shake the nation this November.  This weekend, Chicago is hosting a major conference on immigration rights.

Labor Day weekend, an immigrants' march is being planned from Chicago to Batavia.  Religious organizations reportedly will be hosting events along the march's path.

Social conservatives should wake up to what's going on around them. 

Airport insecurity

From the pen of Newsday's Walt Handelsman

Laughin' out loud

If you haven't laughed out loud yet today, listen to this great clip circulating the internet this morning.  .  .

Download dudegetsbeatup.mp3

Cryin' like a baby

It's too bad the governor's 3 year old daughter was frightened by reporters yesterday at the State Fair, but it seems to me that the Governor himself brought it on.

Frustrated, and blaming reporters crushing in on him, his wife and daughters after the fair's opening ceremonies, Blago told reporters, "I've got a baby crying here," the governor said angrily, as he handed the girl to wife Patti. "You guys are asking questions like that."

Illinois Hall of Fame: Carl Sandburg

By Mark Rhoads

Pulitzer Prize-winning author, poet, and Lincoln biographer Carl Sandburg was born the second of seven children in Galesburg, Illinois on January 6, 1878.  His father was a blacksmith for the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad. The family home was located at 313 East Third Street and it is maintained today as a museum by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.  His family called him "Charlie."  But a childhood neighbor, Edna Epperson Brinkman later of Hinsdale, told this writer the kids called him "Cuffie."  He attended public schools until the eighth grade and dropped out of school to work and travel as a hobo.  He worked for a while in 1897 shining shoes at the Galesburg Grand Hotel.  In 1898, Carl volunteered for an Illinois unit that served in Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War.