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by Cal Skinner
The 7th United States Court of Appeals, on a 2-1 vote, has denied former Governor George Ryan his request to stay out of prison pending his appeal to the United States Supreme Court.
Even dissenting Judge Michael Kanne, however, wrote of "the production of overwhelming incriminating evidence against the appellants." Appellate Court Judges Daniel Manion and Diane Wood rendered the decision.
by Jill Stanek
I had lengthy conversations yesterday with pro-life IL attorneys Peter Breen and Vince Tessitore about the Aurora Planned Parenthood zoning appeal situation.
They have both spent a significant amount of time on this key plan to shut down PP Aurora, for which we are all grateful.
In fact and coincidentally, when I spoke in Charlottesville, VA, earlier this month, I connected with pro-life attorney Mike Sharmon, who has overseen that city's successful legal effort to shut down its PP for zoning violations, and he said Peter had called him that very day.
(The Charlottesville PP is still open, despite 5, yes FIVE, straight court losses for PP and zero wins, because the county thus far has not acted on the court decision.)
So here's the update on our zoning appeal.
by Jill Stanek
Pictured right are Aurora Police Chief William Powell, IL Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner on October 26 at Aurora's Annual Police Luncheon. Madigan was the guest speaker and "honored for her office's efforts to fight the spread of illegal drugs."
The photo is taken from the AG's website. And here we see how politics works, the "scratch-back-while-watching-back" system. Madigan is Weisner's reward for being a good pro-abort Democrat as well as a subtle reminder of the support he will lose if failing to keep Planned Parenthood Aurora's doors open.
Haven't had a chance to check this out yet, but the State Board of Elections filings show that a Deborah Mell has filed to run for State Rep. Richard Bradley's 40th District seat. The Governor's sister-in-law is also Deborah Mell, an outspoken gay rights activist.
Bradley, one of the few House members loyal to the Governor, has yet to file his petitions. If he doesn't run for re-election, this race would be a shoe-in for Mell. No Republicans bother to run in that district.
Deborah Mell and her sister Patti Blagojevich are daughters to Chicago alderman Richard Mell.
Continue reading "Another Blagojevich family member to run for office?" »
The IL GOP issued a press release yesterday calling on the Democrats to take a stand on whether the recall process should be added to the Illinois Constitution. The question was first raised by a frustrated Tribune editorial board Sunday and overwhelmingly supported by Tribune readers the next day.
On Monday, Illinois Review called this whole recall issue what it is -- a diversion tactic. At best, the recall notion would be put on the 2008 ballot, where the results would simply be an advisory to the General Assembly. Recall can only take place if Illinois voters decide to open the 1970 Constitution for exploratory surgery, a dangerous prospect in a state dominated by corrupt and greedy elected officials.
This ridiculous whining about recalling Governor Blagojevich is embarrassing. The Governor isn't losing sleep about losing his job. He could care less about recall.
from the pen of Glenn McCoy
by Jill Stanek
Three aldermen in the City of Aurora have introduced a parental notification ordinance so the local Planned Parenthood could not abort underage girls without their parents knowing.
The State of IL passed a parental notification law in 1995, but it laid dormant 12 years awaiting judicial bypass rules, which finally came from the IL Supreme Court a year ago. The Supremes instructed rabidly pro-abort Attorney General Lisa Madigan (she voted as state senator against IL's Born Alive Infant Protection Act) to have the injunction overturned.
From the Giuliani campaign --
Lisle, IL – The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee today announced endorsements for Mayor Giuliani in Illinois’ Kankakee, Will and DuPage Counties.
Mayor Giuliani’s endorsements include several local leaders including Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jamie Boyd, Kankakee County Sheriff Tim Bukowski, Kankakee County Republican Chairman Darrel Smith, Naperville Township Republican Chairman Fred Spitzzeri, DuPage Township Republican Chairman Bill Mayer, and Troy Township Republican Chairman George Muentnich.
by Gary Varvel
by Cal Skinner
The Northwest Herald concentrated on the McHenry County Peace Group’s participation in the peace demonstration in Downtown Chicago Saturday. It ran video, including an interview with Crystal Lake’s Libby Pappalardo, but I’m told nothing appeared in the print edition.
There were supporters for Ron Paul’s Republican campaign for president there, too. The Ron Paul for President backers were gathering petition signatures from the peace supporters for their presidential candidate. Lore in the Libertarian Party says that only about half the signatures collected in Chicago are valid ones. Here is a report from the front:
Continue reading "Ron Paul Supporters Gather Signatures at Peace Rally" »
LISLE -- DuPage County Board member Michael Connelly will be filing petition signatures this week to enter the race for the GOP’s candidate for state representative in the 48th District.
This past summer, incumbent State Rep Jim Meyers announced he would retire rather than run for re-election in 2008. Meyers’ announcement opened the way for a primary contest likely to rival general election importance in other counties.
Connelly, a former Lisle village trustee, says he is proud of the District 5 he was elected to represent on the DuPage County Board in 2006. District 5, reaching from Lisle westward to Naperville, is twice the size of the 48th district he would represent in the State House.
“This is a district of achievers,” Connelly said. “They are used to working hard and seeing results. That’s what they want from their legislators. They’re tired of mediocre government.”
Continue reading "Meet the candidates: 48th District's Michael Connelly" »
by George Dienhart
There wasn’t much of my childhood left. It was bad enough that I turned 40 this year, but the losses suffered recently go way beyond my lost childhood days. Marshall Fields is gone. Heineman’s Bakery quietly killed my favorite pastry, the cheese flakey. The State Street Carson's. Garry Meier's radio comeback. They are all gone, existing, or soon to exist, only in our memories. All of these things, or people, were a part of my youth. A “Real American Hero”, G.I. Joe, will soon join them.
Let me elaborate. Joe isn’t going anywhere, only his American citizenship has disappeared. Hollywood has gotten its greasy, blood stained hands around the throat of another piece of Americana. In a new 
movie, G.I Joe will be part of a multi-national force, headquartered in Brussels. Frankly, people from Brussels don’t even deserve exile to Brussels. What did my dear departed childhood memories do to deserve this? Apparently, Hollywood believes that there is something wrong with being an American. That’s nothing new, a rash of anti Iraq movies has been made this year. God forbid that those in charge of the movie studios should actually appreciate the opportunities they are afforded, simply by being an American.
Should Rod Blagojevich remain as governor of Illinois?
He shows no inclination to resign from office. And while the state constitution does allow for his impeachment by the Illinois House and trial by the Senate, it's doubtful legislators could bring themselves to such drastic action. So the realistic question becomes this: Given the multiple ineptitudes of Rod Blagojevich -- his reckless financial stewardship, his dictatorial antics, his penchant for creating political enemies -- should citizens create a new way to terminate a chief executive who won't, or can't, do his job?
In Sunday's editorial, the Trib called for Illinois to adopt a recall provision to rid the state of future disastrous governors such as our current Governor Rod Blagojevich. While the Trib's frustration with the governor is understandable, the remedy it suggests leaves us in limbo, even if the process to establish recall was to begin immediately. The Illinois Constitution already has a provision to rid the state of the likes of Blagojevich -- impeachment.
Continue reading "Anything less than impeachment is dereliction of lawmakers' duties" »
What I miss most about the country I grew up in (America before 1960) is that most people then had a common understanding about public decency and privacy and there were socially-enforced rules of public conduct that were litigated not in courts of law but in courts of public opinion. It is certainly true that before 1960 in one region of the country there were dispicable social travesties such as legally sanctioned division by race for public restroom facilities. But a current problem is more subtle. A woman told me yesterday of her surprise and embarrassment when a 40-ish mother brought her seven and one-half year old boy into the Women's Restroom with her on the grounds that he needed her assistance due to a cast on his arm. Male teachers and the male principal working at the private school offered to accompany the boy to the Men's Room but that, the mother said, made her uncomforable even though the age of the boy was making other women in the restroom unhappy enough to complain.
Continue reading "Does Anyone Teach "Common Sense" Anymore?" »
Wait until NEXT Saturday night to move your clocks back an hour. Daylight Savings Time lasts this year until the first Sunday in November, thanks to the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005.
In order to save energy beginning 2007, DST will last 34 weeks.
by Curt Mercadante
Unless a stealth candidate appears next week, conservative Republican David McAloon will have a clear field in his race to unseat Rep. Careen Gordon in the 75th State Representative district.
Republican Sue Rezin - who had reportedly already gathered 1,200 petitions for the same district - announced yesterday that she would not challenge McAloon in the GOP Primary.
As profiled in this recent Illinois Review article, McAloon is a committed conservative who wants to reform Springfield. He has toiled in the trenches for many years, working to elect fellow Republicans to offices ranging from Appellate Court to Congress.
David will have his work cut out for him - and needs all the support he can get. Rep. Gordon is a product of the Madigan machine, having received almost a half-million dollars for her campaign last year.
David's districtwide grassroots operation will come in handy - and he has already shown this operation is active. He has coordinators throughout the district who have already been walking door-to-door, and a short drive in any direction reveals an early array of yard signs and 4x8 signs along country highways.
Good luck to David. Please check out his Web site to learn more and see how you can support his campaign.
Last night in DuPage County, Milton Township GOP's annual Oktoberfest fundraiser featured a presidential straw poll. Rudy Giuliani easily won, not a surprise, with DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett, former IL AG Jim Ryan and other key DuPage leaders backing him. The former NYC mayor continues to lead national polling for the GOP's presidential nomination.
Giuliani spoke last weekend to Family Research Council's Washington Briefing. The audience, consisting of social conservatives, broke into spontaneous applause several times...
Continue reading "Giuliani wins key GOP township straw poll " »
From Sunday's Tribune:
