Illinois Review

Instead of Honoring Our Nation's Fallen Heroes, Durbin to Spend Memorial Day Raising Money for Himself

(Lombard, IL) - "On Monday, tens of millions of Americans across this country will honor the memory of those who have given their life in defense of our nation and our freedoms," said Steve Sauerberg, M.D., candidate for U.S. Senate.  "Dick Durbin, however, has chosen to spend Memorial Day raising money for his political campaign.  This is a new low, even for Dick Durbin."

Pause the gas tax

We at Illinois Review agree wholeheartedly with GOP Metro East candidate for state rep Dwight Kay's comments published in the Madison County Record today about the urgent need to suspend Illinois' highest-in-the-nation gas tax...

Everyone's angry this weekend about the ridiculous cost of gas and our General Assembly's refusal to allow even a floor vote on pausing the state's gas tax...

Traveling tribute to veterans this weekend in Schaumburg

Take time to go visit Cost of Freedom's American Veterans Traveling Tribute at Schaumburg's Flyer baseball stadium this weekend. 

When you think of all that these unsung heroes have done for us, a few minutes and a donation to keep this sobering display traveling is so little in comparison.

Bloggers focus on Obama and Ayers

Thanks to Chicago's "With Both Hands'" blogger Pat Hickey, we've been made aware of a blogging movement that has gotten little media attention, but which has become a powerful mechanism on the Obama beat. 

This group of bloggers, led by local Chicagoans Anne Leary, John Ruberry and Bill Baar as well as a Santa Clara University faculty member, is effectively exposing more and more about the Obama-Ayers relationship and how it is another piece in the puzzle of helping us to discover exactly who this mysterious man who wants to rule the most powerful nation in the world is . . .

Democrats Solution to the High Gas Prices

by John Ruskin

In case you missed it, check out the Democrat's (liberal's) solution to rising gas prices. Only the Democrats could think that making every filing station the equivalent of the post office will solve the problem.

Call for two-party system in Illinois

Dear Friend,

Many brave veterans gave their lives so we could live in freedom and be free to choose our legislators from the political party of our choice or independents. The Illinois Democratic Party through their actions forces the citizens of Illinois to vote for legislators from the Democratic Party only. Illinois Democratic Leadership has turned Illinois into One Party System, where a group of individuals, self styled party bosses, dictates how and by whom our children  are educated, who gets government contracts without going through a proper bidding process, who can survive in the business climate they dictate, who can be a judge – if one cannot get elected, then the Party appoints them as “associate judges”, what kind of taxes and endless fees we pay to run so installed government units. Democratic Party bosses want to keep this way – there are no checks and balances, as there is always a majority to pass any legislation they deem appropriate and can benefit from.

State budget update: this week last chance for normal summer

The Southern has a good report on where the state budget negotiations are now that the House went home on Thursday and the Senate on Friday.  If the budget's not settled on by next Friday, we will enter another grueling, long hot summer.  There is no indication the Governor will accept what's been proposed and the two different versions will be negotiated by the Democrats over the weekend.

From the Southern:

For a Pro-Life Platform

by Charlie Johnston

Four years ago I engaged in a too-vigorous debate over the pro-life language of the 2004 Illinois Republican Platform on the now defunct Illinois Leader. I got in a very heated argument, primarily with Jill Stanek and Fran Eaton, about the bona fides of the language.  I regret having allowed things to get so heated.

I have come to believe Eaton is one of the best, but least heralded reporters in the state. Long before Sean Hannity had the story about the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s radicalism, Fran Eaton had it dead to rights. She examined and dismissed the errant smears that Barack Obama was secretly a Jihadist, but was saying over a year ago that Obama had a very serious problem with his church – and described just what that problem was. The Illinois media utterly ignored her. Shame on them.

As for Stanek, she writes a marvelously insightful regular pro-life column. We have spoken several times since the dispute and I am glad such a committed pro-life activist continues to keep up the good fight.

That being said, I continue to believe that the human rights language 12th Dist. Platform Committee Member Joe Behnken of O’Fallon is proposing for this year (as found on Illinois Review HERE) will dramatically water down the pro-life character of the Illinois Republican Party Platform. . .

Sun-Times and Tribune Cover for Mayor Daley

by Cal Skinner

The “Here we go again” indictment of 15 city employees, builders, etc., for taking and giving bribes seemed to me to be pretty big news.  But, the Chicago Sun-Times didn't think it was the biggest news of the day.  It ran the story on page 6.

Mainstream Media: Mouthpiece of the Right

by John Ruskin

Last night I was listening to Ariana Huffington argue that the mainstream media was controlled by the vast right-wing conspiracy and unabashedly doing the work of the RNC and John McCain. Then today I see this AP story about McCain releasing his health records, which show him to be fit and ready to lead.

Note the pictures they use. Tell me whose bidding their doing.

30 Caught in Bag Man's Snare

by Cal Skinner

Yesterday I gave you too much—the entire U.S. Attorney's press release on the indictment of the newest round of Chicago employees in the business of shaking down contractors and builders. Today, I'll add a tid bit I found in a footnote on page 7 of the criminal complaint by FBI Agent Tom Simon against architect Ronald Piekarz and MacArthur Milam.

“Cooperating Witness 1 has provided information about bribery activities about thirty individuals.”

Beginning June 4, 2007, with the exception of several weeks in January, through March 28, 2008, his every cellular phone call on his business phone has been taped by United States Postal Inspectors.

Let's see. 15 indicted. 15 to go. "Here we go again," as U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said.

Memorial Weekend Salute

Not Just another 3-day weekend holiday . . . with heartfelt gratitude, let us salute our troops, the sacrifices they've made in the past, the present, and surely will in the future.

Why The Environmentalists Won't Let Us Drill

by Ralf Seiffe

Demand for petroleum is rapidly and permanently escalating and gas prices are transmitting this historical event at every fill-up.  Prices have risen beyond mere pain.  Now above $4, they threaten American confidence in our living standards yet our representatives vote to exacerbate these effects.  Democrats in Congress have just voted to keep limits on domestic exploration and drilling, thereby securing U.S. markets for the world’s oil tyrants.  At the same time, the Illinois General Assembly has inflicted its own form of tyranny by sustaining the nation’s most complex and highest-priced gas tax system.  What would explain the reasons our politicians would vote  these self-inflicted wounds?  The answer is that the Left has recognized oil shock as an unprecedented, but explainable, opportunity to press their long-term agenda.

Illinois Budget Shenanigans Begin

Illinois Democratic lawmakers, driven to distraction by party in-fighting, are flaunting their majority status during the closing days of this session, delirious as they purposely block out Republican lawmakers. 

On Wednesday, House Democrats passed 28 appropriations bills to the Senate -- a flatline budget keeping everything the same as this year, and another, their dream budget. Not one of those bills received a Republican vote. The Republicans held together in opposition for two reasons: the proposed bills made up an unconstitutional unbalanced budget and the Democrats did not invite the Republicans to budget negotiations.

Thursday, the Democrats' budget follies moved to the Senate, where during crucial appropriation bills' discussion, Republicans were cut off from asking questions. The Daily Herald reports Republican Revenue committee members Bill Brady, Chris Lauzen, Carole Pankau and Matt Murphy walked out of the committee hearing in protest.

Democrats do not need Republican cooperation or votes to move legislation in the Senate, where Democrats hold a 3/5 majority. After May 31, Republican votes will be needed in the other chamber to pass legislation, as Speaker Mike Madigan's Democrats do not hold a 3/5 majority in the House.

Democrats Lie: Gas tax moratoriums work

Barack Obama is full of hot air about the non-effects of suspending Illinois gas tax in 2000, something he supported as an Illinois senator, and something he doesn't support at the federal level now.

Who can blame him and the other Democrats that refuse to pass a gas tax suspension? No liberal is ever for allowing taxpayers to keep more of their money, even in hard times like these.

Those scoffers falling for the "we won't conserve if we don't pay" crowd chant should seriously consider the findings of a national study group that focused on Illinois gas prices, the 2000 gas tax cut and how the cut worked dramatically to stifle out-of-control gas pump prices. Fact is, tax cuts are always good for taxpayers and always a conservative notion. Only liberal tax eaters hoard our hard-earned tax dollars, especially from those struggling to buy gas to get to work and feed their kids.

My encounter with an Obamaniac

from Jim Economos

Editor's Note: You gotta love guys like Jim, who are always thinking...and making others do the same, whether they want to or not.

A funny thing happened to me last week when I was driving on Route 53, when I saw a real estate agent driving her car with an Obama sticker on the back window. It seemed to me that a person in business would want to support someone who is business friendly, not someone who professes to socialize just about everything under the sun. I was curious and wanted to know what she was all about.

Since this agent had her phone number on the side of her car while she was leaving her carbon footprint for all to see, I decided to call her to ask why she was supporting Obama. Her initial response was the usual dribble regarding the rich not paying their fair share etc.

I then asked her if she likes rich clients or poor ones, to which she logically responded, "rich ones, of course." When I asked her what would happen of Obama got his way and raised the Capital Gains rate to double of what it is today as he's pubicly stated he would do, she did not have any response but silence. 

Trial lawyers calling the shots in DC

from Illinois Alliance for Parents and Children:

One of the ongoing scandals of the Democratic Party of today is the mutual support between the Party and trial lawyers. House Minority Leader John Boehner shines some light on the ties, and the relationship and the implications of the recent scandal involving über-tort bar firm Millberg, Weiss.

A sample from the Washington Examiner:

"The trial lawyer industry is, of course, a major source of campaign cash for the Democratic majority, which has happily accommodated the industry's agenda. At the behest of the trial lawyer lobby, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has stonewalled a bi-partisan national security bill needed to allow U.S. intelligence personnel to listen in on conversations involving al Qaeda terrorist operatives."

Sauerberg reacts to Durbin vote on troop funding

From the Sauerberg for U.S. Senate camp:

(Lombard, IL) - Today, Dick Durbin voted for yet another piece of pork laden legislation - this time voting to tie billions in pork barrel spending to funding for our troops. 

"If you want to know why the American people have completely and totally lost faith in the career politicians in Washington, one need look no further than the debate over the current funding bill for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Steve Sauerberg, M.D., the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate.  "Instead of debating how much funding was necessary to keep our brave men and women in uniform safe, the shameless politicians in Washington spent their time stuffing the bill full of extraneous pork barrel spending."

They Just Don't Learn

by Cal Skinner

Corruption must be so endemic in Chicago that city employees and those who must interact with the bureaucracy figure that law enforcement officials can't possibly have enough manpower to get around to their own corrupt practices.

They are undoubtedly correct. But 15 miscreants, alleged miscreants, that is, found out that assumption was incorrect for them yesterday.

The following press release just arrived from the U.S. Attorney's Office:

7,000 Posts

Illinois Review hit a milestone with this post as its 7,000th. Our thanks to each Illinois Review contributor for your thought-provoking commentaries, your humorous and tear-jerking anecdotes, your frustrations, your revelations and your gifts to Illinois conservatives.

Illinois Review's success is because we are unique in sharing this venue with many generous and prolific conservative writers. Since November 2005, the startup month of Illinois Review, we've learned much from each other. We look forward to learning more as we continue serving Illinois in the days to come.

To 7,000 more posts!

Update: National Committeeman & Committeewoman Bids

At the state convention on June 6 and 7th in Decatur, Illinois Republicans will have the opportunity to vote for two leadership positions in their state party -- Republican National Committeeman and Committeewoman.

Through news reports we've learned that retiring 18th CD Congressman Ray LaHood, DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom and that possibly State Senator Chris Lauzen (Aurora) may be interested in the position.  Former State Senator Steve Rauschenberger of Elgin, who challenged current RNC committeeman Bob Kjellander back in 2004, has submitted his application for consideration.

We've learned over the past few days that three women are interested in succeeding retiring National Committeewoman Mary Jo Arndt:  Carol Donovan, state central committee member from the 7th CD; Kathy Salvi, former Congressional candidate in the 8th CD; and Demetra Demonte, Tazewell County GOP Chairman.

These candidates must first submit applications to the IL GOP's nominating committee.  The nominating committee, headed by State Central Committeeman Bobbie Peterson (11 CD) will oversee the process and committee members, appointed by their state central committeemen, will vote upon who they recommend to the IL GOP delegates.  We don't know yet who these nominating committee members are, and we haven't been notified as to when we will know.  Whatever decision this committee makes on Friday during the state convention will be recommended to the convention delegates on Saturday.

The duties and responsibilities of the national committeemen and women are to represent their states to the RNC and work to obtain resources for the state party's needs.

Should the Human Rights section be added back in?

In 2004, unbeknownst to most IL GOP state convention delegates who weren't able to or didn't attend the state convention platform committee hearings held on Friday of the 2004 state convention, they voted to accept on Saturday an IL GOP platform missing a whole section from the 2000 version.

Joe Behnken, a convention delegate from the 12th CD who has been appointed to the platform committee, suggests the following be added back in to the platform this year.  It would be placed back where the section was in 2000, immediately after "Our Party's Philosophy":

Obama, Rezko and the state budget

Two main factors may be leading to the Democrats trying  a different budget strategy this year:  Barack Obama and Tony Rezko.

Associated Press notes House Speaker Mike Madigan's plan to get a budget to the Senate and leave it to them and the governor to make changes to balance the budget as required by the state constitution.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois House voted mostly along partisan lines today for more than a dozen bills that lay out spending priorities for the next budget. One set would mostly keep spending flat from the current year, while the other would add millions of dollars in extra spending for colleges, human services and other needs.

By the end of the day, 28 bills had passed the House. 

Time after time during the bills' discussions, Republicans would ask how the bills would be paid for, how much this would put the state of Illinois in the red, and time after time, the Democratic sponsor would wave off the queries, as if the concerns were irrelevant.

Indeed, State Rep. Rosemary Mulligan (R-Park Ridge) said Madigan's budget passage strategy was "insulting" because Republicans were not invited to participate in nor had any input into budget proposals. 

Democrats passed each bill with their own side of the aisle votes, making up a simple majority.  They do not need support of any Republicans unless the session goes past May 31st, when the votes required for passage rise to 3/5 of the House and Senate. The Senate has a Democratic 3/5 majority.

How does this budget strategy relate to Obama?  Democrats -- including Emil Jones and his head honchos -- reportedly are pushing to help out the Obama presidential campaign throughout the nation this summer.  Obama's looking to his old Illinois Senate buddies and staffers to push him to the finish line in November.

And Rezko? If the jury finds Rezko guilty, all eyes turn to the Governor, and he's not anxious to have 118 sets of House members' eyes focused on him during another hot, grueling fight over the state budget.  Those restless House members might start murmuring more that "impeach" word, something Blagojevich doesn't want to gain momentum.  Impeachment proceedings must originate as an investigation in the House.

Blagojevich's capital plan reportedly is DOA in the House, simply because it's his plan.

Blagojevich and Froehlich: Eerily Similar

Change Jimmy Carter Can Believe In

from Newt Gingrich

Campaigning in Oregon last week, Senator Barack Obama seemed to forget his campaign theme of "Yes We Can," telling his fellow Americans that more pain -- not more production -- is the answer. He responded to a question about America's role in reducing global energy consumption like this:

"We can't tell [other countries], don't grow. We can't -- drive our SUVs and you know, eat as much as we want and keep our homes on you know, 72 degrees at all times, and whether we're living in the desert or we're living in the tundra, and then just expect that every other country's going to say OK."

House Dems refuse gas tax relief

When you're standing at the gas pump this week paying over $70 to fill up your tank, thank House Democrats for refusing to grant at least some relief from our state's exhorbitant gas taxes.

Kudos to the House Republicans who tried two times to save us a few bucks at the gas pump, and more importantly tried to roll back taxes. There's a similar proposal dead on arrival in the Senate. Now tell us it doesn't matter who's in the majority.

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Republican legislators failed to get a vote Tuesday on a measure that would have lifted the state sales tax on gasoline during the summer months.

The measure would have reduced the state sales tax on gas until Sept. 15. Lawmakers estimated that would save drivers about 20 cents per gallon on gas priced at $4 per gallon. For an 18-gallon tank, that would have meant about $3.60 in savings.

The current state tax on gasoline is 6.25 percent. The proposal would have lowered it to 1.25 percent.

Link: STLtoday - Illinois gas tax cut fails to advance.

Friends in highly explosive places

Gary McCoy

How do we dismiss this? Let us count the ways

So many problems with this capital bill solution . . . see if you can find the ones we see:

Two former Illinois congressmen proposed a revamped $31 billion construction program, as time ticks down and lawmakers' doubts grow about whether they can break a long-running stalemate this spring. Dennis Hastert and Glenn Poshard put their political weight behind a proposal for roads, schools and other needs paid for by a mix of expanding gambling, selling the state Lottery and using excess tax revenues from soaring gasoline prices.

Read on or listen to the whole piece here: WGN Radio - $31 Billion Capital Plan Proposed {audio}. 

Staying in Bill Cellini's Old Hotel

by Cal Skinner

When the Renaissance Hotel opened in Springfield, it was the pride and joy of Bill and Julie Cellini.  I remember reading she did the interior decorating.  You can see her taste every time you see the flowers in the entry corridor.

NARAL fuels pro-abort civil war

by Jill Stanek

On Jan. 24, when the pro-abort divide between Clinton and Obama supporters was escalating into civil war, NARAL President Nancy Keenan issued an appeal for all sides to remain calm and focused on the real enemies, preborn children....

NARAL tried to redirect attention to the "staunchly, rigidly, undeniably anti-choice" Republican nominee John McCain in its almost daily e-alerts, which I receive.

But NARAL was unsuccessful. Thanks to sexier issues like Bosnia and Jeremiah Wright, the mainstream media didn't bite.

Meanwhile, the infighting continued. The Clinton camp kept pounding Obama as being soft on abortion because he voted "present" seven times as state senator on abortion legislation and because he wasn't a woman....

The Slow-Motion Brokered Convention Has Begun

by Mark Rhoads

Once upon a time many years ago there was a Republican candidate for Cook County Assessor, an office the GOP never came close to winning.  The candidate, Homer Fields, went to a meeting of the 49th Ward Regular Republican Organization.  After his erudite speech on county tax tables was over, a precinct captain asked Fields, "How many jobs does the Assessor have?  "About 1,400," said Fields.  How many of those jobs can you give to the 49th Ward?," said the captain.  Fields replied, "How many votes can you deliver?"

A similar line of questions is now being asked by Democratic super-delegates on a national scale.  One of two things will happen for Sen. Barack Obama in the next four weeks because of the fact that the Democratic convention has already started in slow motion.

McCain: Obama "Reckless" about Iraq

From the McCain for President 2008 Campaign:

My Friends,

Last week, Senator Obama made a few comments I would like to respond to. Senator Obama claimed that all John McCain has to offer is a naive and irresponsible belief that tough talk would cause Iran to give up their nuclear program. He should have known better.

I have some news for Senator Obama: Simply talking, even with soaring rhetoric, will not convince Iran to give up its nuclear program. And for the president of the United States to sit down for an unconditional, face-to-face meeting with the leader of Iran is simply reckless.

John McCain has made it very clear that we will not negotiate with terrorist organizations. By conducting a presidential meeting with the leader of Iran - the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism - as Senator Obama wants to do, we would legitimize a regime that is dedicated to the extinction of Israel and is responsible for the death of brave young Americans.

And it doesn't stop with Iran. Barack Obama has said he would sit down, unconditionally, with the leaders of oppressive regimes around the world. Today, as many celebrate Cuban Independence Day, we are reminded how the Cuban people continue to live under tyranny on that imprisoned island. The Castro regime, for decades under Fidel and now under his brother Raul, enforces strict limits against freedom of expression, association, assembly, movement and speech. This regime led by Raul oppresses its people and regularly flaunts its hatred of the United States.Yet, Barack Obama said he would sit down unconditionally, with Raul Castro.

Obama's clown diplomacy

Glenn McCoy

Durbin opposes funding U.S. troops in Iraq

Senator Dick Durbin is telling NPR that he will no longer vote in support of funding the war in Iraq.  What's his plan?  Leave the U.S. troops stranded, starving and defenseless?

The Senate's No. 2 Democrat voted for years to fund a war he opposed from the start, but he now says such votes are over. Majority Whip Dick Durbin has declared in recent weeks that he has no intention of voting for President Bush's final emergency supplemental spending request to fund the Iraq war.

Link: Senator Changes Course, Balks at Funding Iraq War : NPR.

Illinois-based Firm Launches China Relief Website

Illinois Review contributor Curt Mercadante, and his public affairs firm Revere Strategy Group has launched a new website designed to facilitate relief efforts in earthquake stricken China.

The site - www.ChinaReliefNow.org - will serve as an on-line portal to efficiently target financial assistance to organizations aiding those affected by the earthquake in China. The Web site matches people who want to contribute with reputable charitable organizations aiding in the relief effort.

BREAKING NEWS: House Dems Block GOP Efforts To Lower Gas Prices

Springfield...Illinois House Democrats voted with their party leadership today to oppose a Republican-led effort to suspend the state sales tax on gasoline.

House Republicans attempted to discharge House Bill 6318 from the Democrat-controlled Rules Committee. House Democrats blocked the effort, essentially killing the legislation and any hope to lower gas prices by reducing taxes. Had the measure been approved by the House, the suspension of the state sales tax on gasoline would begin immediately following approval by the Senate and Governor.

According to a legislative analysis, suspending the sales tax on gasoline would provide immediate relief to consumers by reducing the cost per gallon by at least 17 cents.

A similar suspension of the sales tax on gas was enacted in 2000 and achieved results for consumers, according to the AAA.

Illinois is only one of ten states in the nation that has a sales tax on gasoline and it is the only state in the Midwest that allows local municipalities to enact taxes on gas purchases.

Keep the pressure on by making sure your friends and family sign our petition requesting action. 

Democrat Appeasement

by George Kocan

President George W. Bush visited Israel on its 60th anniversary and spoke to its parliament. There he warned against appeasing terrorism, invoking the example of Neville Chamberlain who sought peace with NAZI Germany through appeasement. War came anyway.

Pres. Bush gave the standard exposition on what led to World War II. Why Sen. Barak Obama, or any other Democrat, should take exception to this is instructive. Democrats complained that the President took advantage of his visit and politicized the event to gain political points. In other words, they changed the subject from appeasement to Republican dirty tricks. In raising the smokes screen, Democrats hoped to dissuade the public from even suspecting that the Democrat Party is indeed the party of appeasement.

Obama: "Lay off my wife"?

by Jill Stanek

Michelle Obama has been speaking on her husband's behalf for years, interjecting her own ideologies along the way. That's fine.

But it's not fine to suddenly declare her untouchable, as Barack Obama attempted yesterday on Good Morning America, when complaining about an ad the TN GOP is airing that repeats back Michelle's own anti-American words. Here's the GMA clip:

Michelle can say whatever she wants unchallenged? I thought Barack and Michelle were feminists? Does Barack not think Michelle equipped to debate issues she espouses? Where are the feminist groups decrying Obama as sexist for trying to shield his Harvard-educated attorney wife, as if she is too weak to defend herself?

High fuel costs force state agencies to revamp budgets

Your family's not the only one being forced to make budget cuts with these skyrocketing gas prices and food costs as well as increased taxes.  While all appears well and in control on the surface, state department agencies are already beginning to feel the squeeze.  Within weeks, Illinoisans will not only feel, but they'll see the effects of Department of Transportation, State Patrol and Depart of Natural Resources budget cuts.

IDOT highway workers are reportedly suspending truck or tractor repairs. The only work they are doing is picking up trash along interstates. Using a crew cab truck to get to their work site, they can use one truck to fill potholes to do the only highway maintenance in their districts.  They are to do no mowing downstate.

DNR conservation officers are reportedly limited to traveling a radius of 15 miles a day. They are working from home and only going on emergencies.

There are security officers at only two state parks. No security at Pere Marquette State Park. In fact, we're hearing the state is considering closing the parks....except Starved Rock.

Some state policemen are reporting their department budgeted for higher fuel costs so they are not restricted as the other departments are -- yet. 

What kind of cutbacks are you hearing about?

UPDATED 1x: Chris Simcox: Tales from the border

UPDATE:  DePaul's Conservative Alliance President Nick Hahn is scheduled to appear on The O'Reilly Factor tonight at 7:00 PM CST.

by Rosanna Pulido

Minuteman Founder Chris Simcox gave an excellent presentation to the De Paul forum on Monday night. He promised he would talk about illegal immigration and tales from the border and that's exactly what he did. Chris Simcox brought solutions to the table in his ongoing efforts to secure the borders of America. Chris spoke about the humanitarian efforts of the Minutemen and tried to bring some reality to the propaganda that the open-borders lobby chooses to pedal.

The fear-mongering at this event was brought to you courtesy of Charles R. Strain a religious professor from De Paul. The students were given a lesson in leftist tactics, don't talk facts about a subject, just attack your opponent's character. Yes, Chris Simcox talked about illegal immigration and Professor Strain talked about Chris Simcox's character with a mention here and there about the virtues of Marxist Liberation theology as it relates to illegal aliens.

News from Baghdad: Operation Peace

Our 4th Infantry Division Army son-in-law in his third deployment to Iraq told us to keep an eye on the news this week. Part of Jon's job is to detect IEDs. We're guessing this morning that "Operation Peace" is what he couldn't tell us was about to happen.

Thin-skinned Obamas

Barack Obama told the Tennessee GOP yesterday to "Lay off my wife" over the following ad:

Is Obama saying his wife is above scrunity and not to be held accountable for reckless and insulting comments such as those she was video-taped saying on Hardball or at a huge Obama rally?

Those Obamas are very sensitive and extremely touchy, especially for two savvy professionals who want the nation to believe they are politically experienced and tough enough to lead a nation through perilous times, aren't they?  Oh, that Barack and Michelle were as sensitive about and so loyal to the very nation they say they are ready to govern.

How do you spell R-E-L-I-E-F from gas tax?

On Tuesday, May 20th, House Republican Leader Tom Cross and the House Republican Caucus will call for an immediate vote on House Bill 6318, legislation that would suspend the state portion of state  sales tax on gasoline, effective immediately.

House GOP candidates join call for gas tax relief

Schaumburg.…With gas prices rising past $4 per gallon and expected to approach $5 per gallon this summer, Republican candidates for State Representative Anita Forte-Scott and Peggy Brothman are calling on legislators to support an immediate suspension of the state sales tax on gasoline that is to be voted on this Tuesday by the Illinois House of Representatives. According to Brothman and Scott, suspension of the sales tax on gasoline purchases would provide immediate relief to consumers by reducing the cost per gallon by at least 17 cents.

“Nothing impacts a family budget more than the rising cost of gasoline,” said Anita Forte-Scott, candidate for State Representative for the 56th District. “Illinois’ high gas prices not only affect families at the pump, they have a trickle down effect by increasing the costs of every consumer product—from groceries to pizza delivery. Illinois families need relief and they need it now,” said Forte-Scott.

According the AAA fuel gauge, gas per gallon is averaging $4.05 per gallon in the Chicago area. Just one month ago, the average cost per gallon was $3.65.

Illinois GOP Convention Delegates: Sign in please

Illinois Review has had person after person contact us, asking us how we could facilitate getting the list of IL GOP State Convention delegates. The convention is coming up June 6-7, 2008 in Decatur, and we don't know who they are, and the IL GOP is evidently short-staffed and unable to provide the information yet.  We're sure they will sometime soon.

So. . . . in the meantime . . .

Something you can do about gas prices

Don't postpone signing the petition -- we can do something about these gas prices this week! Help House Republicans provide relief at the pump.

Illinois has the nation's highest gas prices. Help House Republicans work to immediately reduce the cost of gas by as much as 17 cents per gallon. The plan is simple, remove the state sales tax on gasoline purchases, saving consumers 5% on each purchase. If you agree with their plan, they need your help.  House Republicans intend to call their plan to a vote on Tuesday. Here is how you can help:

1. Sign our petition to support the House Republican effort to provide gas relief.
2. Forward this email to five friends and urge them to sign the petition.
3. Send a contribution to the House Republican Organization to support Republican candidates that will fight for working families!

"The Fall of Conservatism?" Silliness at The New Yorker

by Mark Rhoads

According to Wikipedia, George Packer is a 48-year old writer and novelist.  Although I have read only a few articles, I assume he is not a conservative given the magazines he has written for and given the fact that if he were a conservative I think I would have heard of him before now.  He came to my attention only today because he wrote a rambling article for The New Yorker magazine about what he calls "The Fall of Conservatism."  CLICK HERE to see his article.  No doubt he thought his title was "provocative."  Such writers normally do.

There are times when liberal (aka self-described as "progressive") writers do expand on common fashionable themes for mutual reinforcement.  The progressive theme this month is that conservatives have run out of ideas.  Why?  Because conservatives are not offering new "programs."  This is a liberal view of how conservatives should behave according to liberal behavioral norms.

John McCain's secret weapon?

by George Dienhart

I have to say that I suspected that this was going to be Obama’s strategy all along. In order to win, he needs a favorable contrast with someone. The McCain/Obama contrast doesn’t favor Obama, so he is left running against President Bush. I suspect this will be a good thing for Republicans, and President Bush. This is a high-risk strategy for Obama, and it will leave him constantly reacting to initiatives put forth by the McCain camp. In essence, this means that though he chooses to run against President Bush, he is in effect running against both men.

Liberals may be licking their chops at the premise of running against the Bush legacy, but in the end, it will not have the effect so desired by Democrats. President Bush is still extremely important in the fundraising arena. Since fund-raising is perceived as a McCain weakness, the massive amount of money that President Bush can raise for the RNC is a formidable weapon- a weapon that can be deployed to John McCain’s benefit. Let’s look at some numbers…

So far, Obama has raised $234,745,081 to McCain’s $76,691,826. In the 2004 Election, President Bush raised 374,659,453. In 2000, he raised $193,866,253. Obama currently has about 51 million on hand to McCain’s 10 million. That’s a big head start for Obama, but we must look at some other facts first.

Schlafly awarded honorary doctorate

Indeed, despite threatened walkouts, protests and demonstration opposing Washington University's plan to honor Phyllis Schlafly, the presentation took place as scheduled Friday.  After raising six children, the 84-year-old Mrs. Schlafly returned to college and earned  a J.D. 34 years after receiving her B.A.  She was awarded a Doctorate in Humane Letters this week.

Child support bill could undermine kids' welfare

Dear Friends,

Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) has introduced HB 5771 to help us create more confusion and disenfranchisement on the issue of "child support" here in Illinois.

IAPC encourages concerned constituents and pro-family groups to contact lawmakers immediately and insist that they VOTE NO on HB 5771 for the simple reason that it does nothing to help reduce conflict stemming from divorce and child custody determinations, which often drives low-income parents away from their children. HB 5771 does nothing to remove the incentives for divorce and out-of-wedlock child births, and helps create more litigation--thereby rewarding trial attorneys.

The unfortunate nature of this approach continues to place our most fragile citizens at-risk, especially those who evolve from low-income communities, by ignoring fundamental liberty interests in the care, custody, and companionship of children by fit, loving parents.

Illinois lacks many things in our current statutes concerning child support, and this proposal does nothing to address why we perform so poorly to begin with.

The problem?