Illinois Review

"The Mostests"

by Cal Skinner

Ah, ending the year with a December 19th Crystal Lake sunset across Main Steet's big empty field that my 9 year-old son picked as prettiest.

As of the end of 2006, 2,182 articles have been posted since starting McHenry County Blog in reaction to Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley’s and his city council’s promotion of Tax Increment Financing districts, which will increase taxes for all McHenry County property owners.

Last year Tribune columnist and blogger Eric Zorn asked for summaries of the year.  The question intrigued me, so I submitted mine. 

It was a lot of work, which probably explains why Zorn didn’t repeat the effort this year.

Last year I awarded a “Most Stunning Example of Left Stream Media Bias By a Reporter” award to a WTTW’s Elizabeth Brackett.

Best/Worst Communicators of '06

by Curt Mercadante

Communications coach Bert Decker unveils his Best and Worst Communicators of 2006. Most of these are obvious, but I must question some of his choices...

First, he ranks Obama as the "Best" of 2006. While it is true the junior senator from Illinois has dazzled the masses with his act of soundbites and slogans, recent weeks have seen him slip a bit. His handling of questions related to his relationship with indicted Democrat fundraiser Tony Rezko has been questioned by the Chicago media.

In addition, he has, at times, shown a healthy dose of naivete. For example, he angered many in his home state when, in an interview with Time magazine, he compared himself to Abraham Lincoln. His recent book, The Audity of Hope contains a passage in which he praises the pleasures of flying on private jets (paid for, by the way, by lobbyists and special interests.)

Obama has never been seriously challenged. He had a cakewalk in his Senate race against Alan Keyes. When challenged, however, he has yet to dazzle as much as he does in speeches to friendly, swooning audiences.

Obama calls for US to cut-and-run

Just a question  . . .

When Barack Obama suggests the U.S. cut-and-run (aka "phased redeployment") from Iraq, is he representing Illinois voters' opinions to the world, or just his own?

From a "Letter to the President" mailed Dec 29, Obama writes:

. . . That is why I believe we must begin a phased redeployment of American troops to signal to the government and people of Iraq, and others who have a stake in stabilizing the country - that ours is not an open-ended commitment. They must step up. The status quo cannot hold.

Our junior U.S. senator goes on . . .

Illinois Hall of Fame: Miles Davis

By Mark Rhoads

Miles Davis is found on any short list of great jazz musicians in the 20th Century.  He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Miles was born on May 26, 1926 in Alton, Illinois. He grew up mostly in East St. Louis from 1927 to 1944 and attended local schools.  Miles was from a relatively well-off family.  His father Dr. Miles Henry Davis was a dentist and the family also owned a ranch. His mother was Cleota Henry Davis who was a blues pianist. She wanted Miles to study classical music and the violin. But at age 13, Dr. Davis gave Miles a trumpet and arranged for a local music teacher and trumpet player Elwood Buchanan to teach Miles a variety of musical styles that embraced classical, dance music, and jazz.

During his high school years, Miles had diverse musical experiences.  He studied trumpet with members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.  Miles was also hired for a three-week temporary job to play third trumpet with Billy Eckstein's band when Billy was on tour in southern Illinois and Missouri in 1944.  He met trumpet legends Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie ("Bird") Parker who were with the band.  In the fall of 1944, Miles left Illinois for New York to attend the famous Julliard School of Music on a scholarship.  But his real goal was to get back together with Gillespie and Parker to play, write, and arrange jazz compositions. 

Questions raised on Obama's church in today's Star

by Fran Eaton

Barack Obama writes about his religious beliefs in the "Faith" chapter of The Audacity of Hope.  He is very proud of his affiliation with the Trinity United Church of Christ, located on Chicago's South Side.

I write about a recent visit to Trinity and ask questions about some of the church's doctrine and what it could mean to Obama's political agenda in today's Star column found here.  (Update:  also here)

Economics 101: Pelosi Style

And now for some quotes from our incoming Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

When asked about the strong economy and tax cuts, Pelosi said:

"Just another example of Bush policies helping the rich get richer. Bush cut taxes for the rich and the economy has rebounded with new record low unemployment rates, which only means wealthy employers are getting even wealthier at the expense of the underpaid working class".

A Onezie

In recognition of the New Year's Eve game between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers, I share this "Message of the Day."

You know what a “onezie” is, don’t you?

It’s a one piece outfit that a baby wears.

So, what happens when a Bear fan marries a Green Bay Packer fan and they have a child.

Someone goes out and buys a onezie with Chicago Bears logos.

Someone goes out and buys a onezie with Green Bay Packer logos.

Welcome to Hell Hussein

2006: The Year of Speaking Dangerously

Diana West looks back at the dissidents of 2006 who dared to "speak", "challenge", and "criticize" Islam - the religion of peace.

Read it here.

Overlawyered.com's 'Best of 06' from Illinois

Overlawyered.com is posting a month-by-month compendium of "Best of 2006" headlines, quips, quotes and other interesting stories related to legal reform/lawsuit abuse. So far, they're up to June. We've pulled the "Best of" from Illinois so far:

• Plaintiff can sue Illinois Burger King for being hit by car that crashed through restaurant.
• Plaintiff fakes injuries, wins millions, drives doctor out of Illinois.
• "Student Sues Illinois University After Deer Attack"
• Even Madison County asbestos juries have their limits.

Gay Games Still $25,000 Short

by Cal Skinner

The Chicago Reader’s Deanna Isaacs reports this week that the Gay Games is almost at the breakeven point.

Specifically,

Gay Games Chicago is still looking to raise about $25,000 to close the gap on its $8.8 million cash budget through donations (to be matched by an anonymous benefactor) and proceeds from the Gay Games VII DVD. The final financial report won’t be out until March.

The organization was $200,000 short in mid-October.

The Rush to Hang Adolph Hitler

By Mark Rhoads

Suppose that Adolph Hitler failed to commit suicide in 1945 but instead was tried along with other Nazi war criminals at Nuremburg in 1946.  Pretend further that The New York Times printed an editorial on Dec. 29, 1946 that looked just a little bit like one that actually did run sixty years later on Dec. 29, 2006. Substitute the name of Adolph Hitler in 1946 for the name Saddam Hussein in 2006 and change the name of some nations and minority groups.  By changing only about 15 words, here is how that 1946 editorial might have read:

UPI Editor warns Hussein hanging could be bad timing

After listing the atrocities perpetrated by Saddam Hussein, Claude Salhani, UPI International Editor warns the world that a hanging this weekend could cause tremendous violence in the Mideast as Muslims gather for a holy feast, Eid al Ahda, this weekend.  Salhani writes:

In Case You Feel Sorry for Hussein

For those who may be thinking that execution for Saddam is wrong, I would point you to a previous post and the attached videos (here). Watch...if you dare.

Don't forget to vote

Conservatives stayed home from the polls in November.  There's no excuse for not voting in IR's current election, however.  There are nothing but Illinois conservatives on the ballot, and the voting box is right there in front of you!

IR is asking you, our readers, to help us determine who should be IR's Illinois Conservative of the Year.  Through the input of our contributors, we've arrived at the top nine conservative nominees, and believe you should have an opportunity to express your opinion.  After all, we are the Crossroads of Illinois' Conservative Community.

The ballot box is conveniently located in your computer's far left margin. (Sorry it's on the left, but, hey . . .)

Polling will close on December 31 and the winner will be announced New Year's Day.

Editor's Choice: IR's Bests in 2006

The best graphic on Illinois Review in 2006 was.....found here.

We think the story ended with "Dorothy" finally making it back to Kansas (aka Riverdale). However, unlike the fairytale, this story did not have a happy ending.

Of course, I guess that depends on who you're talking to.

Activists Seek End of Mental Health Screening Law

by Fran Eaton

Heartland Institute's Dec 1 edition of School Reform News features an update (here)and another side story (here) on the children's mental health screening program and how it is expanding throughout the nation.

Illinois parents need to be reminded again and again that their children are being used by amateurs as guinea pigs to bolster the sagging psychology industry.  Beware of your kids being screened and analyzed for mental health issues without your knowledge.

Perhaps soon someone in our Illinois legislature will become concerned enough to pick up the cause and protect parents' rights to know and participate in making decisions about their children's mental and physical health.

Until that time comes, it is incumbent upon parents to ask questions and find out what is happening when their children enter school house doors every day.

Link: Activists Seek End of Mental Health Screening Law - by Fran Eaton - The Heartland Institute.

Durbin: Aiding and Abetting the Enemy

True to form, the new majority whip - our very own Dick Durbin (D) - is once again aiding and abetting the enemy. According to the Pantagraph, Durbin is now in Bolivia "dialog-ing" (rap session) with leftist, anti-American leader Evo Morales. (see story here).

In a stunning foreign policy move, Durbin's fellow traveler Harry Reid (D-NV) complimented Morales on his sweater, and declared a "different direction" for US-Bolivian relations. Kind of like "peace in our time" I guess.

New year, New laws, more Democrat tyranny

submitted by guest contributor Julie Price

If you hear a knock at the door and see this man's face, quick, make sure you have installed your new state-mandated carbon monoxide detector.  Thanks to Senate sponsor Chicago Democrat Don Harmon, on January 1, every homeowner in the state will be required  to have a CO detector within 15 feet of sleeping areas if our homes have attached garages, gas furnaces or gas water heaters.

The Democratic CO police admit this one may be tough to enforce. 

Pick up your detector at any local Lowe's or Home Depot for $20 to $50 each.  Just don't go to Wal-Mart or Sam's Club.  The Dems don't like those stores. 

We'll need to learn to play by the empowered Democratic tyrants' rules.   

Play nice now. . .

Link: New year, new laws: What's on the books | Chicago Tribune.

Radical homosexual groups receive UN accreditation with US support

by Fran Eaton

With the support of the Bush Administration, this week three radical homosexual groups -- including one that promotes adult/child sex -- were accredited as non-government organizations (NGOs) by the United Nations.   Such accreditation allows the groups to actively consult UN participants.

Austin Ruse, president of the UN watchdog group Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute, reports 23 nations supported the accreditation, 16 voted against it and ten abstained.

After promoting a federal marriage amendment for the past couple of years, this apparent fluctuation in the Bush Administration's social issues policy is a devastating slap to the faces of Bush's base -- traditional family voters who uphold the sanctity of marriage.

See Ruse's Friday Fax . . .

Obama and the Trial Bar

AEI's Ted Frank has an interesting post at Point of Law about Barack Obama and the trial bar. Bottom line: does Obama's voting history show that he will side with the trial lawyers or with reformers on key civil justice reform votes:

In one of his first votes, Obama voted for the eminently sensible Class Action Fairness Act. This hypothetically annoys the litigation lobby (though they can be expected to support Edwards in 2008) and the cast of usual suspects who opposed the bill; one can also find various members of the lunatic left thoughtlessly buying the litigation lobby hype that this minor procedural reform protecting against abusive forum shopping by the plaintiffs' bar had much larger consequences, and thus expressing outrage against Obama for voting for it.

So Obama may have annoyed the lunatic left with his vote for CAFA. As a reform supporter, I'm far from convinced that this makes him someone willing to cross the plaintiffs' bar. Eighteen other Democrats also voted for CAFA. CAFA would have passed the previous Congress, except for its unfortunate timing arising just as Edwards had been named the vice-presidential nominee; Democrats fell into line and filibustered the bill to avoid having a civil justice reform pass at the same time, which might remind people of Edwards's unsavory means of acquiring his fortune on the backs of pregnant mothers and obstetricians. Obama didn't participate in the negotiations to get Democratic support, and he voted for every Democratic attempt to eviscerate the bill with amendments. Obama didn't break with the Democrats on any seriously contested tort reform measures: he filibustered medical malpractice reform, and was one of the votes to kill the asbestos reform bill (which effectively failed by one vote). Obama claimed to support medical malpractice reform in his Senate campaign (or, at least, made pro-reform swing voters think that he did), but, then, so did Kerry and Edwards in their 2004 presidential campaign.

So, Senator Obama, just where do you stand?

Cross-posted by Curt Mercadante at Illinois Justice Blog.

Bush Worse Than Satan | Obama Equal to Jesus

A new poll from the Associated Press and AOL News has discovered that Americans are torn in terms of their perception of President Bush and his performance in '06. When asked to name the past year's biggest villain, Bush was, by far, the #1 choice, with 25% of the vote, distantly trailed by Osama Bin Laden (8%), Saddam Hussein (6%), President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (5%), Kim Jong II (2%) and Don Rumsfeld (2%). Satan only took in 1% of the vote, as did Hugo Chavez, Tom Cruise, Dick Cheney, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and Rosie O'Donnel, among others.

On the flip side, Bush also claimed the top spot when Americans were asked to name the year's biggest hero - but with only a trifling 13% of the vote. The troops in Iraq came in second (6%), followed by Jesus Christ (3%), Barack Obama (3%), Oprah Winfrey (3%), and rock star Bono (2%). Other do-gooders of 2006, receiving 1% each, included Warren Buffett, George Clooney, Bill Gates, Al Gore, Billy Graham, Angelina Jolie, Colin Powell, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Condoleeza Rice.

Oberweis TV Ad Complaint Still Outstanding

by Cal Skinner

With Oberweis Dairy about to start running TV ads again and there being talk about Jim Oberweis running for Congress, if Denny Haster resigns, I thought I'd take a look at what happened to the FEC complaints made about the dairy's ads in 2002 and 2004.

Both those times, when Oberweis ran for the United States Senate, opponents charged him with using Oberweis Dairy ads to advance his candidacies.

The Pettiness of Local Politics and Frivolity of Illinois Election Law

The election season for local offices is heating up in Champaign. Recently the deadline passed for city mayor and city council. Of the 13 sets of petitions to get on the ballot, 11 had objections. Some of those objections are significant. For instance, mayoral candidate Mingee did not get enough signatures. Others border on absurd, such as the objection to city council candidate Freddie Gordon (he didn't staple the forms). The entire list of petitions and objections can be seen here.

First, candidates for office should follow the rules and be fully familiar with them. If a candidate cannot be trusted to file paperwork correctly they can't be trusted with political power. It should be just as simple as that. Some of the packets that were filed in the election show that the candidates simply did not put much effort into them. There should be no reason to have "scratched out" content when the form can be submitted with no errors in the first place.

When Ford addressed the United Republican Fund

Just six weeks after pardoning former President Richard M. Nixon in 1974, President Gerald R. Ford keynoted Illinois' United Republican Fund's 40th Anniversary Dinner at Chicago's Conrad Hilton Hotel.

In the audience that night were notables such as Bears' owner George Halas, Mrs. Everett Dirksen, Senator Chuck Percy, Gov. Richard Ogilivie and at least one URF Board member who still serves the URF today -- Chicago businessman Bill Croft.

That night, Ford told a personal story about Senator Dirksen that would behoove us all to hear today  . . .

Far Away Places, Strange Sounding Names

By Mark Rhoads

As pointed out in the post below by George Dienhart, a trip to Peru, Bolovia, and Ecuador at this time is a curious priority for the U.S. Senate Democratic leaders even if President Ford had not died Dec. 26.  Curious, that is, unless one understands that the real reason for this trip is so that Senators Reid and Durbin can have a photo opportunity in the Inca ruins pictured above at Machu Picchu, the ancient capital city of the Incas in the mountains of Peru. This photo op is already on their schedule.  Likely the PR folks for Reid and Durbin must think since they cannot get as far as the Great Wall of China on this trip, the ruins at Machu Picchu must be the second best visual for their next commercials that try to dress up lawmakers with little foreign policy experience.  This photo op will take the better part of a full day on the schedule because of its remote location.

Durbin too busy to attend President Ford’s funeral

By George Dienhart

    

Once again, Sen. Dick Durbin is making us all proud in Illinois. This time he (along with Harry Reid ) has decided to skip President Ford’s funeral. He has stated that plans for his trip to the nations of Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru are locked in, and he can’t change them. Not even for the death of a United States president. While it is doubtful that he would ever skip the funeral of President Carter, evidentially President Ford is not important enough.

Kwanzaa: Anti-white and Anti-American

Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, founder and president of BOND, condemns Kwanzaa as a "godless holiday," and calls on Blacks to abandon celebrating it.

"Kwanzaa was designed to separate blacks from Christmas and Christianity.  Kwanzaa is anti-white and anti-American," Peterson said.  "Black Americans need to make a choice between the Prince of Peace and the Marxist Karenga."

Someone should share this information with Trinity United Church of Christ, where Barack Obama has attended for the last twenty years.  Their mid-week service last night was a celebration of Kwanzaa.

St. Clair County Judge to Hear DUI Case Against Madison County Judge

The Chicago Tribune reports that the Illinois Supreme Court has appointed an associate judge from Madison County to hear the DUI case against St. Clair County Judge Patrick Young.

Janet Heflin will preside over the traffic case involving St. Clair County Judge Patrick Young, who was charged with DUI after a Dec. 3 wreck in Belleville.

Heflin, 40, was criticized earlier this year when she allowed an Alton lawyer convicted twice of drunken driving to receive court supervision, despite a state law limiting supervision in such cases to once in a lifetime. Heflin has said that she was unaware of the prior matter.

Heflin declined on Wednesday to discuss Young's case or her appointment to it.

Want to Get Started in Politics in a Race You Can Win?

by Cal Skinner

How about running for library board, if you live in a library district?

Hardly anyone cares who is on the library board.

There are some exceptions.

A Special Message from The President

Here is a special Message from President George W. Bush, enjoy:

Who said it?

From pg. 209 in Barack Obama's book, "The Audacity of Hope":

One Republican colleague of mine in the state senate provided me with a blunt explanation of their strategy [in drafting Alan Keyes to be the IL GOP's 2004 U.S. Senate candidate] : "We got our own Harvard-educated conservative black guy to go up against the Harvard-educated liberal black guy.  He may not win, but at least he can knock that halo off your head."

2006 Tax Pledge Breakers

At Spontaneous Solutions I've posted Illinois' 2006 Tax Pledge Breakers and a link to the full report on the tax pledge in the states released by Americans for Tax Reform.

Before you read that post, I do want to reiterate one thing and make an observation or two.

IL GOP Chairman McKenna's statement on Ford

Statement from
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna
on the Passing of President Gerald Ford

Chicago, IL – The following is a statement from Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna on the passing of President Gerald Ford:

"Today, as we mourn the loss of President Ford, we honor his connection to our great state and celebrate the midwestern values he represented while in office.  President Ford was a dedicated family man, public servant and humanitarian who led this country with the utmost integrity and character.  He brought people together during divided times and his selfless devotion to our nation will always be remembered.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ford family during this difficult time."

Oberweis takes to airwaves again

by Cal Skinner

The Chicago Sun-Times’ man on the advertising beat, Lewis Lazare, reported Tuesday that Oberweis Dairy is about to start another round of television ads.

This one features a cow being interviewed by former U.S. Senate and gubernatorial candidate Jim Oberweis. 

IL's 51 landfills to reach capacity in 2025

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency predicts that Illinois' 51 landfills will reach capacity in 2025.  A report released today here indicates there are nine years left in the Chicagoland area's dumps and 51 years downstate.

I've got news for IL EPA.  Illinois reached its political waste capacity in 2006.  We're full of it.

Link: ABC7Chicago.com: State: Illinois has 19 years of disposal space left in landfills.

Who will be IR's IL Conservative of 2006

Later today, Illinois Review will be opening its poll to get our readers' input on who should be deemed IR's Illinois Conservative of the Year.

We will be offering the nine top names our IR contributors have nominated and will look to you for guidance on whittling those names down to the Conservative of the Year, to be announced on New Year's Day.

Check back soon . . .

GOP in-fighting leads to IL's new stem cell bill

by Fran Eaton

Emboldened by the new Democrat veto-proof majority in the Illinois Senate, State Senator Jeffrey Schoenberg (D-Chicago) says he will try once again next year to pass the Illinois Stem Cell Research Promotion and Human Cloning Prohibition Act (House Bill 138).  He will be assisted in the Illinois House by Republican Minority Leader Tom Cross (Plainfield) along with two other Republicans -- Beth Coulson (Glenview) and Carolyn Krause (Mt. Prospect). 

Just once more for the record: pro-lifers favor stem cell research.  They favor using adult and umbilical cord stem cells.  They oppose sacrificing the lives of tiny humans for the sake of experimentation.  The donation of adult and umbilical cord stem cells does not endanger lives.

Words from President Gerald Ford's 1976 Christmas Tree Lighting

Gerald Rudolph Ford, December 16, 1976, Christmas address, 23rd Annual Pageant of Peace Ceremonies, White House Ellipse:

As our Bicentennial Year comes to a close, it is especially appropriate to gather once more around the traditional symbol of family ties and friendly reunions, our Nation's Christmas tree. In doing so, we combine our year-long celebration of historical events with a personal rededication to timeless values.

The message of Christmas has not changed over the course of 20 centuries. Peace on Earth, good will towards men-that message is as inspiring today as it was when it was first proclaimed to the shepherds near Bethlehem. It was first proclaimed, as we all know, then. In 1976 America has been blessed with peace and a significant restoration of domestic harmony.

Former President Gerald R. Ford, RIP

By Mark Rhoads

Former President Gerald Ford died last night at 93.  Everyone will weigh in now on his legacy which includes years as Republican leader of the U.S. House and as president from August 1974 to January 1977.  He was a decent and honorable man who had a mostly conservative voting record but who nevertheless had little understanding of conservative political philosophy. 

The "Ev and Charlie Show" as reporters once called the news conferences of Senate GOP leader Sen. Everett M. Dirksen (R-Ill.) and Rep. Charles Halleck (R-Ind.) became the "Ev and Gerry Show" after Mr. Ford became GOP leader of the House in January 1965 until Dirksen's death in September 1969.  Dirksen and Ford worked well together.  If Ford lacked boldness in those years, his defenders would say it was because he had very few troops--fewer than 144 House Republicans to rely on.  He remained GOP leader in the House after Everett died until President Nixon needed him to serve as a vice presidential replacement for Spiro Agnew. 

McCain Style Campaign Finance Reform-When A (one) Bumper Sticker Becomes A Matter of National Importance

By Lee Newcom

Want to know why I am, A) so anti government, and B) so anti John McCain?

The Federal Election Commission went after a hapless back-marker NASCAR driver for the massive national matter of putting one bumper sticker for BUSH in 2004 on a single Nextel Cup Car.  A federal investigation was held on the matter of the bumper sticker, a federal hearing ensued, affidavits taken from the driver as to the potential maker of corruption at the highest levels of government, and just when the FEC General Counsel wanted to levy a huge federal fine, a single vote prevented it's absurd application.  The NASCAR driver and team, justly chastised for their violation of McCain/Finegold and illegal entry into politics, pledged never ever to be involved in politics again by doing anything as potentially illegal as placing a bumper sticker on their car again.  Ever!

This is a story worth a national campaign it is soooo stupid.  But this is what John McCain hath given us. RedState.com writes the story so well I will just refer you there.  Read it and weep...and don't you ever support this guy for President unless you want more of the same.

What would Dale Earnhart Sr. think?  The FEC goes after NASCAR. 

Taxation in Bethlehem & Illinois

by Cal Skinner

Considering the Christmas story starts with taxation, perhaps I should not criticize the Chicago Tribune for running Diane Rado’s Christmas Day story headlined,

Income tax hike in play for schools

with a subhead reading

Bipartisan caucus faces tough battle with Blagojevich

Still, must we think of taxes on Christmas?

I didn’t, as you can see from the date this is posted.

Yet Another Failure of Illinois Republican Legislative Leadership

By Lee Newcom

I keep wondering if and when Republicans in the Illinois General Assembly will figure out what their party is supposed to stand for.  You know, silly little ideas like SMALLER GOVERNMENT!  Maybe it's that some of us yahoos keep talking about a "combine" and they really just don't get it.

Here's the newest abomination. . .

Illinois Hall of Fame: Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe

By Mark Rhoads

"Less is more."  -- Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe

Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe was one of the most influential architects of the Twentieth Century. Mies was born in Germany on March 27, 1886.  His simple designs avoided ornamentation using glass, marble, exposed steel, and stone.  They came to be copied widely as typical of modern design.  As a young man, Mies worked in his father's stone carving shop before moving to Berlin to establish his own office before World War I.  After the Nazi government took power in 1933, Mies had little work to do in a country where everything including architecture was supposed to serve the state.

In 1937 as Germany prepared for war, Mies left his homeland and moved to Chicago to head the architecture school at the Armour Institute of Technology. In 1940, the Armour Institute merged with the Lewis Institute to form what is now called the Illinois Institute of Technology. Over the next decade Mies designed and supervised the construction of about 20 buildings on the IIT campus in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the South Side.

In 1944, Mies became an American citizen. He lived the last thirty-two years of his life in Illinois and that was also the most productive part of his professional life.  He designed the IBM Plaza in Chicago, The Seagram Building in New York, and many distinctive buildings all over the country in addition to the campus of IIT.  One of his most unusual buildings in Illinois was The Farnsworth House located on a 60-acre estate 55 miles southwest of Chicago on the Fox River near Plano, Illinois. It was built between 1945 and 1951 for Dr. Edith Farnsworth, a kidney specialist in Chicago.  The small glass and steel house has only one large room and fourteen hundred square feet in a secluded and wooded area where Dr. Farnsworth went on weekends to pursue her hobby which was translating poetry. 

Little Sign of Cultural War on Crystal Lake’s Rt. 14

by Cal Skinner

As our family returned home on Route 14 Christmas night, there was little sign of a cultural war.

Obama's "Black Value System"

Apparent presidential candidate U.S. Senator Barack H. Obama is an active member of the Trinity United Church of Christ, located in Chicago's South Side.  Obama and his wife Michelle were married at the church fourteen years ago, when Trinity's current pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Jr., performed their wedding ceremony. (Rev. Wright pictured with Obama)

Trinity UCC's motto is "Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian."

One wonders how America's commitment to the black community would change with a member of Trinity's congregation in the White House.

Below are the church's 12-precepts and covenantal statements called the "Black Value System." 

(Update:  02.20.2008 -- The TUCC.org's website has been recently revamped and the Black Value System was moved to a less prominent page  A link is at the very bottom now.)

St. Louis Judge deemed "controversial" for anti-liberal book

In a time when free speech adoration is at an all-time high, one would think St. Louis Judge Robert H. Dierker Jr's new book "The Tyranny of Tolerance" would be raved about in judicial circles.

But no. . . it's being called "political suicide," "shocking," "controversial." 

Education? It's not just the teachers, it's the . . .

From Chuck Asay's Gazette March 1998 archives, a truth that rings all the more true in upcoming 2007 . . . 

Ripped from the Front Page

Ever attend a Kids Christmas Pageant and think that you read an article about its theme before.

No, I’m not talking about some magazine article in which the liberal national news magazines do their best to shake the faithful with a “Was Jesus Really Born in Jerusalem?” or, worse yet, a "Was Jesus Ever Born?" piece or something like that.

This is one that could have been on that New York lawyer's show "Law and Order."

Merry Christmas Illinoisans in Service

By Mark Rhoads

People think it was started by some families of southern Illinois National Guardsmen in 2003.  Somehow, pictures of Operation Illinois Flag Overseas began to appear not just from Guard units but also from Illinoisans in regular Army, Marine, and Air Force units stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Samples of the pictures are shown on the Operation Home Front web site.