Illinois Review

Sales Tax Hiker Aaron Shepley Appointed GOP Vice Chair of “Community Outreach”

by Cal Skinner

I was wondering why Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley didn't run for re-election as secretary of the McHenry County Republican Central Committee. Now I know.

He has been appointed a “vice chairman of community outreach” by Bill LeFew successor Mike Tryon. If Tryon wanted the local Republican Party to represent what Aaron Shepley stands for, fine. Shepley stands for approval of a minor league baseball stadium, which even the McHenry County Board voted unanimously to kill.

Shepley is probably the biggest tax hiker in McHenry County this year. He led his city council to increase its city sales tax by 75%. (No, you did not misread that figure. It was one percentage point. After July 1st, it will be one and three-quarters of a percentage point.)

Obama: Now It's Personal

by John Ruskin

For months Illinois' Obama refused to show outrage for his pastor's incessant hate speech and anti-Americanism. That is until Rev. Wright's antipathy got personal.

I guess it's good news for the world's tyrants. Hateful, anti-America despots like Hugo Chavez, Kim Jong-il, and Mahmūd Ahmadinejād will be safe from a President Obama if they limit themselves to attacking "the other" Americans - metaphorically or physically. Just don't attack Prez. Obama personally. That gets him angry.

Only a son of Illinois politics could be that self-absorbed, self-involved, and egocentric. The politicians in the General Assembly today prove my point.

Teens are going to ...

by Bill Beckman

The April 30 Chicago Sun-Times carried an editorial entitled "Abstain from taking abstinence-only funds". My response to the Sun-Times editor appears below, but is unlikely to appear in the Sun-Times:

Teens are going to...

Teens are going to drink alcohol. Most parents want their children to have accurate information to avoid blacking out, in addition to hearing about abstaining from alcohol. Teens are going to use drugs. Most parents want their children to have accurate information to avoid killing themselves, in addition to hearing about abstaining from drugs.

Open Letter on threat to religious freedom

by Bill Beckman

Pastors and Religious Leaders:

Below is a quote from a Canadian Human Rights Commission ruling explaining why Christian Horizons (CH), Ontario's largest community living service provider of care to some 1400 severely disabled individuals, was found guilty of discrimination.

Michael Gottheil, Human Rights Tribunal adjudicator, delivered the guilty verdict against Christian Horizons (CH). First Gottheil states, "Christian Horizons accepts all persons into its programs regardless of cultural background or religious belief."

It's O...zinga!!

Well, it’s official. There's a new "O" in the 2008 election cycle. This one is Marty Ozinga, who is now the official Republican candidate for the 11th Congressional District. As you can see from the “I Am Not a Politician” ad here in Illinois Review, he is out in full force this week. And his campaign sent out the following email this morning:

Dear Friends:

My name is Marty Ozinga, your Republican nominee for the 11th Congressional District.

I'm not a politician – CLICK HERE to find out why.

Obama: Once played a uniter, really a divider

Barack Obama's comments Tuesday has put the American black community into one of the most serious and potentially one of the most divisive dilemmas they have ever faced.  Who will they choose to follow:  Barack Obama or Jeremiah Wright?

Sex Education Will Be an Issue This November

From Illinois Family Institute's website: "Sex Education Will Be an Issue This November"

Last week, abstinence education opponent Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) called for Congressional hearings to discuss whether abstinence education is providing medically-sound information and statistically making a difference in our youth's decisions on whether or not to postpone sexual activity.

The abstinence education issue even made its way into Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's town hall meeting a couple of weeks ago in Pennsylvania. Obama said he wanted his daughters exposed to comprehensive sex education rather than "be punished" with an unwanted baby or an STD.

"Comprehensive sex ed" is really a pretty good description of what kids learn via those programs. They learn everything you ever wanted to know about sex and were afraid to ask, as well as everything you didn't want to know about sex but were forced to find out.

Comprehensive sex ed includes hands-on experiments in condom application skills, encouragement to shower together, as well as explicit information about oral and anal "outercourse" as an alternative sex to intercourse, among other numerous sexploits. Frankly, it's almost too embarrassing to describe in mixed company what our kids learn via Planned Parenthood's sex-ed curriculum.

The U.S. Congress allocated $370.5 million to such exploitive sex-ed programs in 2007, while at the same time setting aside only $174 million to teach kids that it's normal and preferable to wait for sex until marriage.

There's more here . . .

IL Senate's Version of Recall Amendment / Recalled Officials Can Run to be Their Own Successors

by John Bambenek

After the fiasco two weeks ago, when the Illinois Senate buried Rep. Franks' recall amendment (HJCRA28), Senator Hendon introduced his own recall amendment in the Senate.  This version (SJCRA70) is substantially similar to Rep. Franks' recall but has a few changes: the ability to recall judges, the Governor and Lt. Governor have to be recalled together, and salaried local officials can be recalled.

Two weeks ago, I testified at the Senate Executive Committee hearing on HJCRA28 and spoke specifically about the ability to recall judges.  There is understandably some concern with this (and rightfully so) that unpopular but legally sound decisions could cause a judge to be recalled from office.  I had proposed that as a prerequisite to recalling a judge, the judicial discipline process in Article VI, Section 15 of the current state constitution be used.  At the time, Senator Hendon expressed that he liked the idea and he has incorporated my suggestion into his current amendment.

Agreeing with Jeremiah Wright

by Cal Skinner

I finally found something I could agree with Barack Obama's former pastor on: “Nothing can get in the way if God wants Obama to be president.”

With that I agree. Do you suppose that the Senate Democrats caved on the income tax constitutional amendment because of Obama's loss of power?  Who voted how is below.

Rep. Arroyo owes Pulido and Jones an apology

Disrespect for citizens who take a day off work to go to the Illinois Capitol and express their concerns about pending legislation is not uncommon.  It should be.

Listen to Exhibit A -- Download HB2747committeehearing.wmv -- and the time of question and answer between State Rep. Luis Arroyo, House Executive Committee Chairman Daniel Burke and concerned citizens Rosanna Pulido (right) and Rick Jones, volunteer representative of the Chicago Minutemen Project. 

The first thing, Rep. Arroyo accuses the Minutemen of "stopping illegal people at the border and shoot[ing] them" then and goes on to demean Ms. Pulido, insinuating she is a traitor to her Mexican heritage for questioning HB 2747. In its original language, HB 2747 would have expanded the amount of time illegal detainees would have with spiritual counsel (pastors and/or lay people) from two hours a month to an unlimited number of visits.

Ms. Pulido and Mr. Jones expressed the unfairness of such provisions for illegal aliens who had committed a felony and were awaiting deportation.  Their concerns are valid, so much so that adjustments have been made to the bill since this hearing. HB 2747 passed committee that day with an 8 to 3 vote.  Those opposing the bill in committee were Rep. Bob Biggins, Rep. Dan Brady and Rep. Jim Meyers, all Republicans.

The Illinois House is not an "insiders only" secret society.  It is a place where the concerns of citizens should be heard with open minds. The arrogance of unchallenged Democratic House members like those who ridiculed these concerned citizens two weeks ago is unacceptable and should be reprimanded by the House leadership.

Our lawmakers are sent to Springfield by the people to make decisions on our behalfs.  They are bestowed those honorable positions as public servants.  They are not manor lords nor royalty, despite the Democrats' belief they own Illinois. 

Rep. Arroyo owes Mrs. Pulido and Mr. Jones an apology, as does the acting committee chairman Rep. Art Turner, who didn't shut down the exchange earlier.   

Call them in Springfield and tell them -- 217.782.2000.

Wednesday is crucial for Safe Neighborhoods in Illinois

by Rosanna Pulido

An important House Bill will be voted on Wednesday at 3pm on HB 5756. The Bill should be called the  "SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS ACT"!  It streamlines the process and lets correctional officers contact the proper authorities (DHS) alerting them to the fact that an illegal alien will be released from prison. Mayor Daley, Father Phleger, and the rest of the Chicago leaders who met in the Mayor's office last week at an emergency meeting and were worried about the violence in the streets should be all over this one!

With the violence that has taken place in recent weeks in Chicago, it only makes sense that we need to help our Law Enforcement officers and lighten their load. Besides giving them AK47's Mr. Mayor Let's send home those felons who are getting out of prison and send them to their homeland! It will give our police a few less crimminals to deal with, given our streets are so full of violence these days!

Let's help our Neighborhood have a chance at peace and quiet, and be safe havens for our children. Take the time to make a phone call to the members of the Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Committee. When you call ask them to support HB5756 and make our neighborhoods SAFE!

Methodist Libs Capitulate on Caterpillar

by Cal Skinner          

Not that I would imagine the company cares, but Peoria's Caterpillar is safe from the liberal Methodists who wanted to condemn it and worse for selling heavy equipment to Israel which was used to construct the wall to keep terrorists from blowing themselves up.

The so-called Board of Church and Society capitulated before the once-every-four-year international conference. These folks settled for talking with Caterpillar representatives.

Whatever.

Similarly motivated efforts to take Methodist investments out of Israel are being defeated in committee. 

Thump, Thump- Don’t worry, that’s just Obama under the bus…

by George Dienhart

It is a good day to be John McCain. That’s because the Rev. Jeremiah Wright bus/ media tour goes on- and Rev. Wright seems to be backing the bus over Barack Obama every chance he gets. Yesterday, I thought that this might be in co-operation with the Obama camp, but I think I am changing my mind on that. A representative from The Nation of Islam is currently escorting Rev. Wright, Jamil Muhammad. Thump, Thump. Rev. Wright announces his new book, thump, thump. Rev Wright calls Obama a (gasp) politician. Thump, Thump.

What really got me though, was this quote from Time magazine editor Amy Sullivan “As soon as the questions began, Wright transformed into a defiant, derisive figure, snapping one-liners at the unfortunate moderator tasked with reading the questions and stepping back with a grin on his face after each one, clearly enjoying himself.”  It appears that Rev. Wright is not just throwing young Barry under the bus, but he is relishing each and every moment spent doing so.

Ozinga announces Wednesday

Tomorrow, Democrat candidate for Congress Debbie Halvorson will officially have an opponent for Jerry Weller's  11th CD open seat.  Successful cement magnate Marty Ozinga will announce at 11:00 am at Mokena's Angelino's that the 11th CD's five GOP county chairmen have chosen him to fill the GOP vacancy left by New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann, who decided not to run in the Fall election.

Ozinga is 59 years old, married, has an exemplary family of which four of the six adult sons are now running the Ozinga family business.  Ozinga is a charitable, generous man.  His views on public policy stem from his strong Christian values.  He's started schools, Romanian orphanages and medical clinics, personally assisted refugees in Uganda, donated generously to pregnancy crisis centers, helped to start new churches, among numerous other community projects.

At the same time, he's built a business bringing 1500 good paying jobs to Will County.  He understands meeting payrolls, business regulations, political obstacles and competition.

Gun rights = election energy

With the Tinley Park Lane Bryant cold blooded murderer still on the loose, the call for Illinois women to have the right to protect themselves has resonated.  Since the Southtown Star column "Strict gun control laws do nothing to prevent violent crimes" was published, I've received letters and emails from an energized band of folks who agree with the call for Illinois to join 48 other states and allow the right to carry firearms.

Several have sent me their assessments of Illinois and Cook County laws.  Others have sent YouTube links they want me to see.  I've even been asked to address a group of Will County gun owners this summer.  Yesterday I got a link from an F. Don Transue who has painstakingly put together a map showing state gun laws.  Check it out here. 

With all the Democrats boasting about Illinois being a "blue state," according to Don Transue, Illinois is one of the two reddest in the nation.  And in this case, that's bad.

All this to say if these folks were to turn their frustration into election energy, we'd have a major power upset in the works for Springfield this fall . . . without that upset, the law-abiding people will be forced to continue to cower and hide from the criminals with guns.

Island Lake T-shirt Scares Village Board

by Cal Skinner

It's is pretty hard to believe, but this is what is appearing on the blog “What's Happening in Island Lake?”

BREAKING NEWS!

Island Lake Resident Told to Turn Himself In... 

Abortion is leading cause of death for African-Americans

Rev. Jeremiah Wright adamantly insists the U.S. government designed the AIDs virus to destroy America's black population.  His assertions do not line up with truth.  America is developing the cure for HIV/AIDs and spends more than any country in the world to help AIDs victims. 

By far, abortion -- which Wright supports -- is much, much deadlier.  New stats published in a new Human Life Alliance pamphlet shows 47 percent of American black babies are aborted.

It's the real black genocide that is eroding our African-American population.

From Penny Pullen's Life Advocacy Briefing this week . . .

Illinois Campaign For Legal Reform

Lawsuit abuse is one of the greatest threats to Illinois' weakening economy. Our state is now ranked 46th out of 50 states in the ILR Harris Poll on Legal Fairness - a drop of 12 places in 3 years!

In fact, two Illinois counties -- Madison County and St. Clair County -- are ranked by the American Tort Association as the #1 and #2 "Judicial Hellholes" in America. And Cook County now ranks as the second worst county in America for lawsuit abuse.

Check out a new website highlighting the problem in Cook County. http://www.ilrillinois.org/spotlight/cook-county.cfm

Good News for GOP Congressional Races?

by John Ruskin

CQ Politics has an interesting article that may finally be some good news for Republican congressional candidates. Read it here.

Rev. Wright’s Traveling Circus

by George Dienhart

Another day, another controversy- it has become standard operating procedure for the Obama campaign. It was bad enough that Rev. Wright’s over the top remarks left Senator Obama reeling and grasping for explanations. It was worse when Sen. Obama came up with lie after lie to justify his association with Rev. Wright. Now we are subject to Sen. Obama’s worst nightmare- Rev. Wrights traveling circus. In the center ring, please give a hand to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Marvel as he offends everyone. Liberals rejoice as he blames all the worlds’ problems on America. Wonder at the spectacle as Rev. Wright turns on star church member Barack Obama. With all good circuses, viewers may be subject to some slight of hand- and this circus tour is full of it.

Could this latest round or Obama’s nightmares be preplanned? We have seen he is not beyond such political tricks- think back to the fainting supporters earlier in the campaign. The situation always followed the same script- and I do mean script. Five events, five fainters, five times Obama reacts the same way- right down to his words. Are the latest of Wright’s antics more of the same?

Wright's Chickens

From Townhall's Glenn McCoy

And if you haven't heard yet, here's what happened this morning in front of the National Press Club from the perspective of Washington Post's Dana Milbank:

The Democrats' Sugar-Daddies

by John Ruskin

Check out the video below. This is what the trail lawyers do to our state, our communities, our neighbors, and our businesses. These same trial lawyers are the major funders of the Democrat Party in Illinois and throughout the country.

Democrats responsible for Blagojevich

Breathtaking as it is, Illinois Review agrees with the Chicago Tribune today. We agree it's time State Senator Emil Jones and this Democratic allies were held responsible for protecting a governor that has become a national embarrassment. 

We actually prefer impeachment proceedings to begin in the House, but since a recall measure has already passed the House and had momentum until it hit the panelled walls of the Illinois Senate, we'll support the Tribune's call and agree Blagojevich's protective Democratic Senate posse' should be called out, one by one:

• Emil Jones is responsible for protecting Blagojevich, 217-782-2728
• Michael Bond is responsible for protecting Blagojevich, 217-782-7353
• James Clayborne is responsible for protecting Blagojevich, 217-782-5399
• Jacqueline Collins is responsible for protecting Blagojevich, 217-782-1607

Roskam: "There Oughta be a Law"

BLOOMINGDALE, IL - Congressmen Peter J. Roskam (R-IL) today unveiled his “There Oughta Be a Law” initiative at a press conference in Bloomingdale.  Roskam was joined by State Senator Dan Cronin, State Senator Kirk Dillard, State Senator Christine Radogno, State Senator Carol Pankau, State Representative Randy Ramey, State Representative Sandy Pihos, Bloomingdale Mayor Bob Iden and Erickson Elementary School Principal Dr. John Markgraf. 

Roskam released the following statement:

Obama's "Balls of Fury" flap

Now Barack Obama is facing a new "Balls of Fury" controversy and taking a paddlin' for getting state money for -- and we're not kidding here -- Killerspin, a ping pong tournament promotion company owned by Obama's employer Chicago entrepeneur Robert Blackwell, Jr in 2002. At the time of the state fund request, Obama was a state senator. From the LA Times Sunday story: 

With support from Obama, other state officials and an Obama aide who went to work part time for Killerspin, the company eventually obtained $320,000 in state grants between 2002 and 2004 to subsidize its tournaments.

Hey, who blames Barry for throwing around influence to get $320,000 from our state coffers for something even half exciting as the table tennis match below...?

The Rev. Wright PR Counter-Offensive

by Mark Rhoads

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright problem is getting worse for Sen. Barack Obama as new radical and immature statements by Wright are revealed.  Starting with the Bill Moyers interview on Friday night and continuing with almost three hours on CNN Sunday night, a serious effort has been launched to rehabilitate Rev. Wright in the eyes of the public because Sen. Obama has been unable and unwilling to distance himself enough from wild statements by Wright.  Is any of this fair to Obama?  It depends on how close his association has been with Wright in the past 20 years.  We know that the relaionship is close enough that Obama was not willing to repudiate Wright at the time he was making his charges against the U.S. Government, including the slander that America started the HIV epidemic.  While Obama did repudiate that idea very recently, he was very late in doing so.

Start an Illinois business, chances are you'll be sued

Start an Illinois business, and chances are almost 1 in 3 that you'll either be sued or threatened to be sued.  If you're successful in business, those chances increase to 70%.

Still feeling entrepeneurial?   

Public Opinion Strategies recently performed a survey among Illinois businesses that showed 15% of those polled had been sued in the last two to three years and still another 18% had been threatened with a lawsuit.  Among larger companies the number of sued more than doubled -- 39% had been sued and 31% had been threatened with civil litigation.

When asked to describe their most recent horror stories involving frivolous and expensive lawsuits, several relayed lawsuit experiences and why Illinois needs drastic lawsuit reform.

Check out Institute for Legal Reform's latest findings by clicking on the ad in Illinois Review's right hand column and see some of those stories below . . .

Why one conservative senator voted to amend E-verify ban

After the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Illinois' new law banning the use of Homeland Security's E-verify system for employee immigration status verification, Senator Iris Martinez (D-Chicago) proposed a change this session to line up Illinois law with federal law.  The Illinois Senate recently passed unanimously SB 1878, which would lift the E-verify ban and allow its use, but still discourage employers from running the federal check on job applicants' immigration status. 

SB 1878 was picked up in the Illinois House by State Rep. Randy Ramey (R-West Chicago) who said after the bill sat for almost a week with no House sponsor picking it up, decided that the bill should be amended to make changes more likely to protect employers from unknowingly breaking federal law by mistakenly hiring illegal immigrants.

IR Contributor Rosanna Pulido voiced her concerns about the Illinois Senate unanimously passing this amendment on to the House.  Over this past weekend, State Senator Chris Lauzen (R-Aurora) responded on her April 14 post with this explanation for supporting Senator Martinez' bill in the Senate.  His response bears our full attention:

Constitution Party rejects Keyes

After leaving the Republican Party earlier this month to join the Constitution Party, former U.N. ambassador and IL 2004 U.S. Senate candidate Alan Keyes was rejected this weekend as the party's 2008 presidential nominee.  The Constitution Party's delegates instead chose their 2004 vice-presidential candidate Chuck Baldwin over Keyes by a 3 to 1 margin.

According to a newsletter report from Illinois' Constitution Party President Randy Stufflebeam, the Illinois delegation split half for Baldwin and half for Keyes.

See Illinois Review's  "Don't Let the Door Hit You on the Way Out" and "Keyes bolts GOP; announces yet another presidential bid"  earlier this month.

National Day of Prayer -- Thursday, May 1

DuPage County will observe the 2008 National Day of Prayer Thursday May 1st hosting Concerned Women for America's National President Wendy Wright as keynote speaker.

The theme for this year's observance is "Prayer! America's Strength and Shield."  The one-hour service begins at noon and will be held at Danada House located at 3 S 501 Naperville Road in Wheaton. 

The public is encouraged to attend.  Check www.nationaldayofprayer.org.

The high cost of Illinois driving

Our Illinois lawmakers could help with the exorbitant costs we're paying at the gas pumps these days. But will they?

Now that the weather is warming up, one outside place where more conversations are ensuing is outside of cars, standing at the gas pump. As motorists pay $70 plus to put gas in their vehicles, they mentally make decisions on what they'll not do that day to make up for the output at the pumps. 

"Won't stop for lunch at an inside restaurant, I'll grab a burger instead. Won't pickup that new pair of jeans for the kids, they can wear what they've got for another month," we think. "We'll get just the basics this week at the grocery store and, well, we'll pay enough on this month's credit card bill to pay off what we charged for gas last month."

The Casey Curse and the 2008 Elections, II

by Virginia Armstrong, National Chair. - Eagle Forum Court Watch

Exactly sixteen years ago, on April 22, 1992, the U. S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in what has come to be one of the most culturally and constitutionally disastrous cases it has ever decided — Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey. The impact of Casey on life, liberty, and law in America today has been incalculable. It is therefore especially appropriate for us to return on Casey's "birthday" to the analysis of Casey which we began in an earlier "Briefing/Commentary."

Because the Casey Court was so frenzied in its defense of Court power against criticisms by the "public" (i.e., all Americans except the Reconstructionist Justices and their elitist supporters), we note the comment made approximately a century ago by Supreme Court Justice David J. Brewer. Brewer invited us to a continuing scrutiny of the Court by declaring, "many criticisms [of the Court] may be, like their authors, devoid of good taste, but better all sorts of criticism than no criticism at all."

Do/Should Huntley Teachers Teach Character Education?

by Cal Skinner

There's been quite a debate on character education. Should parents inculcate values or should teachers?

I thought of that controversy when I realized that teachers made a big deal about being able to make an extra $10,000 a year just five minutes away.

Go Cardinals!

This season, our family's cheering for the Cardinals . . . well, in addition to our customary rooting for our hometown St. Louis Cardinals, we're cheering on the Lockport T-Ball League Cardinals.  Our biggest draw is #2, "Eaton," who, at today's premiere game, went 3 for 3.  (And so did every other 5 year old that played today.)

So how'd you spend your Saturday?

The DREAM Debate

by Rosanna Pulido

Students from Chicago-land high schools got a great education on the never dying "DREAM ACT" that Senator Dick Durbin has been trying to pass for what seems like an eternity! The Constitutional Rights Foundation of Chicago held their Illinois Youth Summit 2008 on Friday April 25th downtown at the Dirksen Federal Building.

Jerry Agar WLS personality had the high school students laughing and learning with his perspectives on the DREAM ACT and illegal immigration in-general.

What is significant about Jerry being a panelist is that he himself went through the process and is a legal immigrant from Canada.

The same old reasons to allow illegal aliens to skirt our laws were heard Ad-nauseam! One high school student exclaimed "But they are hard working" and Jerry Agar reminded her that drug dealers are hard working too.The students roared with laughter!

Impeachment talk on Chicago Tonight

Thursday night, WTTW's Chicago Tonight featured a segment on "Talk of Impeachment" found here.  Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) said recent revelations in Rezko-related plea agreements point to a need to investigate Governor Blagojevich's pay-to-play schemes, what would be included in a call for an impeachment investigation. 

Former Senator Carol Ronen and State Rep. Bob Molaro (D-Chicago) passionately defended Governor Blagojevich.  CL-TV reporter Carlos Hernandez-Gomez did a great job filling out the panel discussion.

Your IR Editor was unable to accept WTTW's invite to participate in this heated discussion.  I'm not sure anything I would have said could have added any further insight anyway.  Wow.

Dems' Not-So-Sudden '08 Death Match

Chuck Asay

Bill Moyers' Wright info-mercial

Bill Moyers' PBS interview with Dr. Jeremiah Wright last night was simply a non-profit and taxpayer-funded info-mercial for Wright, Trinity UCC and an excusing of Wright's deeply embedded racial bitterness.  Last night's Bill Moyers Journal is available online here.

How ironic that the truly bitter people in America are those to whom Wright's poison has been fed for years, not those people that are the backbone of America, those Barack Obama recently described as "bitter," who "turn to guns and religion."  Most fascinating is Wright's numerous references to the injustice of killing innocent babies, yet he advocates abortion rights.

The so-called religion Wright advocates at Trinity United Church of Christ, as well around America and the world, soothes the souls of those who feel cheated and angry about their life situations. This gospel is proliferated by Wright's key doctrine, the Black Value System.

Protect Worker Privacy

Unions say the proposed Card Check program ends management intimidation and right-to-work advocates say Card Check sets up union intimidation and takes away the democratic right to secret ballot.

Obama Strikes Out

by Ralf Seiffe

Children, especially those enjoying premium educations, seem to be enthralled with Barack Obama when he invokes the notion of “change”. While the candidate’s definition of change remains largely unexplored, my high school son tells me that Obama’s promise to repeal the “Bush tax cuts for the wealthy” is popular with his friends. They should reconsider because the junior senator from Illinois’ position on capital gains—the centerpiece of the “Bush” tax cuts—shows he’s neither the candidate of change nor a candidate with young people’s interests in mind. So, in the hope that one or two of the next generation are still open to discourse, let me make the case that Obama is not your friend.

Secure 96th GOP seat challenged by Dems

NAPERVILLE -- Naperville City Council member Darlene Senger shored up support of DuPage County area Republicans Wednesday with a fundraiser for her state representative campaign at downtown Naperville’s new La Chocolate dessert bar.

Senger, vying to succeed retiring State Rep. Joe Dunn, faces Democrat opponent Diane McGuire, retired teacher and union activist.  McGuire, like others in her party, was energized by an out-of-character large Democratic voter turnout in the March primary.  Because 2000 more Democrats than Republicans voted in the 96th District's 2008 primary, Democrats hope to ride the Obama wave in the fall and increase their State House majority.

Senger, a 52 year old financial advisor, intends to keep the 96th district seat a Republican one.

The Rod Versus Mike Show

by Greg Blankenship

This week, State Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) was, amazingly, allowed to push forward on legislation that would impose a single-payer health care system in Illinois. The plan includes taking private property from businesses and making private insurance illegal. In short, the plan is a disaster.

A few news outlets picked up on the plan, and they did a very funny thing. They took it seriously. My guess is that it's because House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) became an official sponsor.

Welcome to the latest edition of what I like to call the "Mike Versus Rod Show." Governor Rod is upset with Speaker Mike Madigan for--gasp!--following the law and the State Constitution regarding Rod's push for expanded Medicaid. As a result, the governor has begun bashing Madigan and the House Democrats for acting like they don't care about health care. You know, I hear the Gov is calling them Republicans or something.

Apparently, that horrible insult has had an impact on the House Democrats, so they've gone to Speaker Mike for cover. But what the speaker did, however, is most interesting. And I have a theory to explain it. 

Glass Houses

by George Dienhart

The Obama campaign has begun falsely accusing the McCain campaign of being behind the controversial ad that purchased, but yet to air, by the North Carolina GOP. This is clearly a charade, aimed at deflecting questions about Sen. Obama’s character. Has he demanded that the DNC stop attacking John McCain? The answer is no. The ad is unfair, in that it tries to link to statewide candidates in North Carolina to Rev. Wright. They are absolutely fair in linking Obama to Rev. Wright. My question is why is Obama criticizing McCain? McCain is actually demanding the NC GOP not air the ad. McCain has held himself to a standard that Obama himself is unwilling to conform to, yet the criticism continues to roll on from the Obama camp.

The sleaze and lies continue to ooze from the Obama Camp. He insists that he did not know what Rev. Wright’s sermons were all about, yet he was a 20-year attendee of Wright’s church services. He even commented on them a year before the controversy began. He sees nothing wrong with socializing with accused domestic terrorists and wants to negotiate with international terrorists. All this and he criticizes war hero John McCain.

Wright's Black Value System can't be ignored

Rev. Jeremiah Wright is back . . . and now he's appealing to Americans through an interview with PBS' Bill Moyers this Sunday Friday evening, pleading that "devious" sources are doing all they can to misrepresent portions of his sermons in an attempt to deflate Barack Obama's popularity.

Those "America's chickens have come home to roost" and "God D*** America" quotes were taken out of context, he contends.  But, according to the clips Moyers has leaked out, Wright doesn't back up one bit on his accusations that the American government initiated the AIDs epidemic, that we are finally getting our just due for the country's founding fathers' behavior and tolerance of the evils of slavery, among other notorious activities.

Apparently in the interview Dr. Wright, as Barack Obama's infamous spiritual mentor, will do all he can to wiggle out of the corner he's backed himself into, even suggesting that Obama doesn't turn to him for political counsel.

As Wright brings himself back into the spotlight (he just can't seem to resist it) the media should now open up Trinity United Church of Christ's Black Value System and ask him about that.  The Black Value System is what it is, and it can't be taken out of context (although it has been moved to an almost hidden place on the TUCC website.)

What about the Black Value System, Rev.?  Tell us it means nothing and that Barack Obama doesn't know anything about that, either. 

But denying something like that might be a little "devious," might it be . . .

“When It Comes to Hypocrisy...”

by Cal Skinner

That was the headline of the email I got Thursday from the Illinois Republican Party Thursday. It was about an article on this anti- Blagojevich web site, which, if you go way down to the bottom of the page, you learn is paid for by the Illinois Republican Party.

Nothing wrong with that, of course. It had this good line:

”Barack Obama’s Governor Rod Blagojevich ran on a promise to clean up Illinois state government and is now the most investigated administration in Illinois history,”

But, the thought keeps coming to me that the state party should be all over the Rezko trial. The problem, obviously, is that prominent Republicans keep popping into the news.

House GOP launches audio outreach

Driving along in your car or searching the internet, don't be surprised when you hear House Minority Leader Tom Cross on the air or online.  Through a 5-minute weekly audio the House Republicans are calling "Capitol Week in Review", they're launching a new effort to get the other side of the story out to taxpayers.   

Click below to hear Cross discuss the GOP's latest efforts to promote a sales tax holiday over the Memorial Day weekend, to pass a fair and well-funded capital program bill and his thoughts on the Democrats' recent attempt to raise our state income tax.

Download capitolweekinreview_108.MP3

Golly, Mr. Barron, are you gutsy

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Steve Sauerberg must have his victory over Dick Durbin in November in the bag because his press spokesman Chris Barron's been busy -- not promoting his boss Dr. Sauerberg -- but scolding a gay media outlet for running a "shoddy hit piece" about gay activists among DC Republicans. Today, a "Chris Barron" writes here on Out.com:

I am a Republican political consultant in DC, the former National Political Director of Log Cabin Republicans and an openly gay man. Your piece on Gay Republicans in Out was little more than a shoddy hit piece. If you were interested in talking about gay Republicans in DC you could have actually reached out to folks like myself – who aren’t “cowering in the closet.” Instead you chose to interview Democratic Congressman Barney Frank, an unnamed Democratic consultant, and Mike Rogers – a low-life left wing activist who has made a career out of partisan and shameless attacks on Hill staffers.

Chickens coming home to roost for the Democrats

by George Dienhart

I imagine things may be a little tense in the Obama campaign headquarters right about now. He is now tantalizingly close to a nomination that is his to lose. Problem is, he just may lose it yet. The delegate count stands at Obama 1714, Clinton 1589. First one to 2025 wins. There are about 727 delegates still up for grab- enough to put either over the top, or neither. There are 380 delegates yet to be chosen via the primary process. The remaining 347 are super delegates who are not bound to any vote. Here is a little breakdown of what I see happening:

I allocated the remaining delegates by analyzing existing trends in polling, the states election history and where I think the momentum will be. I also took into account fundraising, though I did not weigh it as heavily as I would have in the past. I chose to de-emphasize funding (to a degree) due to the McCain and Clinton comebacks.

Final Stretch for Protect Marriage Illinois Petition Drive

by Cal Skinner

Petitions to put the Protect Marriage Illinois advisory referendum question on the fall ballot should be filled out, notarized and mailed to  P.O. Box 6017, Taylorville, IL 62568.

Must be right to call for gun rights in Illinois

Our call last Saturday in the SouthtownStar HERE for women to have the right to protect themselves in the dangerous state of Illinois triggered an onslaught of letters to the SouthtownStar's editor.  And good for her, SouthtownStar's commentary editor Karen Sorensen chose to feature several of those responses in the paper's letter section today HERE.

Kudos to Ms. Sorensen for choosing to publicize the south suburban readers' passionate thoughts on Illinois gun laws and compliments to the SouthtownStar's hierarchy for allowing such radical "Always Right" thinking to be expressed (at least every other Saturday) in their Sun Times Group publication. . .

The letters are published here the SouthtownStar's website, but we've also saved them for future reference below on Illinois Review.