Illinois Review

Better Presidents

Rahm voted for Alexi

How do we know? He told us so. Evidently the Obama people have loaned their Chicago email list to Rahm Emanuel for his Chicago mayoral bid because all of a sudden, we're getting updates from good 'ol Rahm. Maybe that valuable email list was his parting gift from the White House? Here's what the Rahmster said:

Dear Friend,

Election Day is nearly here, and you don't need me to tell you the stakes are high.

For months the Republicans have been licking their chops over the prospect of expanding their power in Congress and attempting to derail the President and his agenda.

Chicagoans have a particularly important stake in this election. And I wanted to take just a moment to share my thoughts on an important race.

I voted for Alexi.

Republicans show at Sycamore Pumpkin Parade

Republicans enjoyed marching in Sycamore's Pumpkin Parade this weekend, including Bill & Nancy Brady, Jason Plummer, Randy Hultgren, Mark Kirk and U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, Scott Brown. (Love the "Homeschoolers for Hultgren" sign!)

When is an endorsement not an endorsement?

from Ruth Munson for State Rep campaign

A mysterious Chicago-based organization has decided to endorse Ruth’s candidacy and share it with her voters by way of a political mailer sent just before Tuesday’s election. Except they aren’t really endorsing Ruth – they are using the “endorsement” as a guise to disenfranchise voters. Pretty insidious of them, a negative message in a seemingly positive endorsement for the sole purpose of fooling the voters. Dirty tricks at their best.

The organization is a political action committee (PAC) with strong ties to the Democrat party. The politicians typically supported by this group are not suburban Republican legislators. They are the likes of Pat Quinn, Rod Blagojevich and Speaker Michael J. Madigan – the guy who wants to make sure Ruth doesn’t make it to Springfield.

O Come Let Us Adore Him

Perhaps confused today is Halloween and not Christmas, this Chicago man kneels as his messiah Barack Obama's car pulls away from a Chicago diner this morning. (Reuters)

Monroe County GOP defends Kirk for U.S. Senate

The following recommendation for Mark Kirk for U.S. Senate has come from the Monroe County GOP:

Dear Friends,

There are two races in particular that are controversial even among conservatives. One of those involves the U.S. Senate seat, which was formerly held by Barack Obama.

Mark Kirk is the Republican candidate for this position, and is controversial because he is a moderate candidate. To be perfectly honest, he has cast votes in the fiscal and social conservative realms that do not reflect the values of Southern Illinois voters.

However, I would still like to make the case as to why Conservatives should support him in this election.

Illinois one of the top four U.S. Senate races to watch

Washington, Nevada, Colorado and Illinois are the four U.S. Senate races Doug Schoen said Americans should be watching through Tuesday on Fox News' America Live this afternoon. Those states will determine the U.S. Senate's party majority and Schoen as well as Scott Rasmussen agree that it will all depend upon the voter turnout. With the enthusiasm of Republicans charging forward, the eastern state of West Virginia could indicate the power of the Republican/Tea Party surge early in the evening, they agreed. 

Illinois is a serious concern to the Obama Administration. A win by Republican Mark Kirk would be a huge embarrassment to Democrats nationally and indicate the weakening influence of the President.

RNC Life lists Illinois' prolife candidates

Republican National Coalition for Life PAC supports the following 2010 Illinois congressional candidates.  The specifics of these endorsements are listed on the RNC/Life's website.  Not all candidates returned their questionnaires, and the omission of a candidate does not imply the RNC/Life's position.

 

Trick or Treat? Paychecks vs. Food stamps

Trick or Treat?

Welcome to our world, Harper Paige Kohn

IR Contributor Eric Kohn and wife Becca announce the arrival of their first child October 30, 2010 at 11:25 PM... She's Harper Paige Kohn, weighing in at 7 lbs 5oz and 19.5 in long.  Mother and daughter are resting comfortably.  Father Eric says he "is accepting congratulations in the form of future college tuition payments, tax deferred, and adjusted for expected inflation." 

Congratulations, Kohns! 

 

Stand Up!

Re-run of 2008: Say What? "Yes We Can!"

ABC 7 News reports on Obama's visit to Chicago Saturday that 35,000 filled the University of Chicago's Midway Plaisance where the crowd chanted "Yes We Can!"  Touting the event as a GOTV promotion for Democrats, one conservative said it worked as a reason for her to work even harder to get conservatives, independents, Tea Partier and Republicans to the polls Tuesday.

"Guard the change," Quinn says

The Tribune reports about the thousands of Obama/Giannoulias/Quinn fans that turned up at the University of Chicago's Midway Plaisance Saturday night, writing:

Gov. Pat Quinn, locked in a tough battle with Republican state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington, and other Democrats on the statewide ticket used the rally to make a late-campaign pitch. They want the city's powerful Democratic base to go to the polls to swamp a growing tide of independent voters who appear to be flocking to Republican candidates.

And here's Quinn's notable quote:

"In 2008, we changed the guard in America," Quinn said. "And in 2010, we're going to guard the change."

More.

Tea Party Express stops in Illinois

The Tea Party Express was in Springfield and Frankfort, IL this past Thursday. Here's a report filed with Tea Party HD:

H/T Marathon Pundit

Tell Us Again, Which Party is "Extremist?"

By Mark Rhoads

For almost fifty years, the favorite slanderous epithet of the American Left against almost any conservative is that a particular candidate is not fit for office because they are "extreme" in their views.  Long ago this word became the tired one note of the Democratic Party when they wanted to change the subject from their own policy failures. 

In 1964 the Left called Sen. Barry Goldwater extreme because he wanted to build up American military power in an era when the aggressive expansionist intentions of the Soviet Union were a real and present danger to freedom around the world.  But Lyndon Johnson was not extreme when he plunged tens of thousands of brave young Americans into a land war in Asia with no clear plan or intention of winning the war so they would be asked to die for a pointless stalemate. Fast forward 46 years to the present time and see how the Radical Left never tires of labeling people who love freedom as the extemist ones.

Will you vote red?

Illinois GOP Calls out Justice Kilbride

from Illinois GOP chairman Pat Brady: “This Guy’s Masquerading as One of Us”

(CHICAGO) – Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady today said voters should not be tricked by campaign literature portraying Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride as a Republican.

“It’s just not the case,” said Brady, speaking about a mailer sent to voters in Kilbride’s district on Friday. “This guy’s masquerading as one of us, when he’s being funded by Democrats.”

Kilbride, of Rock Island, serves in the 3rd Judicial District. He won his seat in 2000 with heavy support from Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and labor unions. To date, Kilbride has received $1.475 million from the Illinois Democratic Party and $450,000 from the Illinois Teachers Union.

Schilling: Say Goodbye to Phil Hare

The 17th CD's GOP challenger Bobby Schilling is the kind of guy that makes you proud to be a conservative Republican: pleasant, tough, congenial, tenacious and energetic. Sounds to us like the makings of a great congressman. Let's hope we can all say "goodbye" to Phil "I don't care what the Constitution says" Hare.

Walesa: The Pope, the people and a failed reformer

Former Polish President Lech Walesa briefly shared recollections of Communism's disintegration at a luncheon hosted by Adam Andrezjewski's "For the Good of Illinois" good government group last Thursday at downstown Chicago's University Club.  Walesa encouraged Illinoisans to not be discouraged when struggling to undermine the power of corrupt and dishonest political leaders. Sooner or later, he said, a struggle for good would be rewarded...

Chicago Tea Party Leader: "I'm Voting For Kirk"

This afternoon, Mark Kirk's U.S. Senate campaign pointed out to Illinois Review the following endorsement from Chicago Tea Party leader Catherina Wojtowicz.

Dear Patriots,

I have kept very silent about the U.S. Senate race because of the lack of conservative candidates.

This morning it was revealed that Libertarian candidate Mike Labno is being financed by Alexi Giannoulias.

For months, I had a very manic thought manner about this race.  Do I skip the vote?  Do I drink Kool Aid?  Do I vote for Mike Labno?

Mock The Vote

Perhaps "Mock the Vote" isn't as catchy as "Rock the Vote," the effort to use pop culture and celebrity to inspire those with mush between their ears to vote Democrat, but I think it fits. The target of Rock the Vote is the young voter, who has hopefully been indoctrinated in the the glory of a caring government that can serve the bulk of a citizens needs. The target consists of those who have not likely had the experience of earning a living or the responsibility of being a provider. The target is perfect for the party that seeks to swell the ranks of government dependents and keep themselves in demand.

The liberal AP is helping this year by reporting such as that done in the article, "Tea party movement alienating young voters." The article seems intended to admonish the "Tea Party" (as if there was a Tea Party and not individual Tea Party groups across the nation) to adopt a friendly view of big government to draw in the coveted youth vote. According to one fellow quoted in the article the young people are more apt to trust the government:

Matthew Segal, the 25-year-old executive director of the nonpartisan Student Association for Voter Empowerment, said the tea party's opposition to government action also turns off young voters. "The tea party is based on an anti-government premise, and young people are the most trusting constituency of government," said Segal, whose Washington-based organization promotes electoral participation by students

GOProud endorses Kirk for U.S. Senate

Friday, GOProud endorsed Mark Kirk in IL's U.S. Senate race, the Advocate reports:

In a statement, GOProud hailed Kirk for his commitment to “common-sense conservative solutions” that include opposition to raising taxes and his leadership against the Obama health care overhaul. GOProud notes that Kirk did vote against the Federal Marriage Amendment.

“Mark Kirk supports common-sense conservative solutions that will improve the lives of all Illinoisans, including gay and lesbian Illinoisans,” said GOProud executive director Jimmy LaSalvia. “From taxes to health care to jobs and the economy, Mark Kirk consistently supports policies that would benefit gay and lesbian voters in Illinois.”

UPDATE 1x:  "On Top" Mag online says GOProud's endorsement of Kirk is "controversial" because Kirk recently supported the military's DADT policy:

BAMPAC Endorses Isaac Hayes

CHICAGO:  Isaac Hayes Republican Nominee for U.S. House in the Second District of Illinois was endorsed today by Black America’s Political Action Committee (BAMPAC), the nation’s largest minority PAC.

Alvin Williams, President and CEO of BAMPAC, stated, “Having Isaac Hayes elected to the U.S. Congress would be great for Illinois’ Second Congressional District.  Mr. Hayes has proven leadership qualities and supports public policy that would accurately reflect the values and needs of our country and particularly the constituency of the 2^nd District.  The citizens of the 2^nd Congressional deserves leadership and representation that is unimpeachable.”

Abortion rights groups play both sides in IL U.S. Senate race

Abortion rights groups far surpass pro-life groups in campaign contributions to political candidates, OpenSecrets.org writes today.  It's pretty troubling and discouraging for pro-lifers in Illinois that both of their U.S. Senate candidates are on the list of the nation's top 20 biggest abortion dollar recipients in 2010.  So, no matter who's elected November 2 -- Mark Kirk or Alexi Giannoulias -- the abortion industry will be happy.

 

OpenSecrets.org also lists the top 20 candidates getting prolife group backing, of which three from Illinois are included: former U.S. Senate candidate Patrick Hughes (R), former U.S. Congress candidate Maria Rodriguez (R-8) and U.S. Congress candidate Adam Kinzinger (R-10).  The amounts of those prolife group donations are a fraction of those spent by pro-abortion groups.

Republican Weekly Address

from the Republican U.S. House leader John Boehner, who many predict could be the next U.S. House Speaker...

Not Again

Business groups dump $6.2 million into IL U.S. Senate race

Illinois' Kirk-Giannoulias race has become the biggest expenditure for Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce -- about $6.2 million -- a Bloomberg story says today.  And why?

A Crossroads spokesman, Jonathan Collegio, said it sees the Illinois Senate race as a way to shift the map of Democratic, or “blue,” states.

“This is a seat that belonged to President Obama in a deep blue state, yet Republicans have an incredible opportunity to pick it up,” Collegio said. “It’s a once-a-decade chance.”

The Kirk campaign has benefited from behind-the-scenes groups, but AFSCME alone reports spending $90 million nationwide, compared to the Chamber's $75 million. But you may not see AFSCME's $90 million on tv ads because it's spent in behind-the-scenes GOTV efforts.

Democrats, Madigans fail to keep the lies straight

As election day nears, the Democrats seem increasingly bipolar -- not to mention embarrassingly hypocritical. Take for example the two Dem pieces below.

The first one accuses Republican House Candidate Jeff Junkas of being a "pawn" for Democrat king-pin Mike Madigan. However, Junkas' Democrat opponent, Kevin McCarthy, is endorsed by fellow Democrat Attorney General Lisa Madigan - daughter of Mike Madigan.

And AG Lisa Madigan's endorsement for McCarthy ...

Claypool outraising Berrios in Cook County assessor's contest

Forrest Claypool is outpacing Joe Berrios in campaign fundraising in the Cook County assessor’s race.

Since July 1, Claypool has raised more than $720,000, while committees affiliated with Berrios have raised more than $450,000, according to reports filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

via newsblogs.chicagotribune.com

Illinois GOP Raises Election Concerns in Jersey County

(SPRINGFIELD) - The Illinois Republican Party is calling on the Jersey County, Illinois, State's Attorney's office to immediately investigate possible voting-related problems that have come to light in the final days before the November 2 elections.

Approximately 1,800 registered voter cards have been returned to the Post Office in Jerseyville because the voters no longer live at the respective addresses on record with the Jersey County Clerk's office. However, County Clerk Stephen Pohlman has refused to retrieve the cards, which are needed to ensure the accuracy of his voter lists.

"As we rapidly approach Election Day, lists of registered voters going out to the polling places will contain hundreds of names of ineligible voters, opening the potential for massive confusion on Election Day in Jersey County," said Brien Sheahan, General Counsel for the Party.

DNC early voting analysis suggests Democrat edge

from Lynn Sweet

Illinois Democrats are heading into the final weekend before the Tuesday election optimistic about the chances for Senate contender Alexi Giannoulias and Gov. Quinn based on an analysis of early voting turnout in Illinois by the Democratic National Committee. The early voting turnout is coming from Chicago and Cook County, according to the DNC, Democratic strongholds. With the Illinois governor and Senate contest a toss-up in most polls, turnout is the key. President Obama headlines a rally in Hyde Park on Saturday for the Democratic Illinois ticket. More HERE

via blogs.suntimes.com

Read Bill's lips: "No new taxes"

Days before the election, Senate GOP Leader Christine Radogno's comments about tax increases has conservative Republicans and Tea Party activists hopping mad and discussing a leadership change in the Senate Republican caucus.

In an interview today on WLS radio, Radogno said a tax hike "most certainly will not come anytime soon after the election." And when asked how her perspective and agenda corresponded with GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady's pledge to not raise taxes, Radogno responded that it is her "sincere hope" that Brady will be able to keep his vow, but noted that she has "never been one to say no, never," adding that she's "willing to be convinced we don't need a tax increase."

Brady responded this evening, stating that, “Despite Pat Quinn’s desperate political assertions and wishful thinking, let there be no mistake – a Brady Administration will not raise taxes. Period.”

He went on to say that “A Brady administration will force state government to live within its means, cut taxes, and raise long term revenue by enacting pro-growth economic policies that help create real jobs for families across Illinois.”

It will be interesting to see what the political fallout may be for minority leader Radogno after the election. A whisper campaign to replace her as head of the caucus has been picking up steam for several months; and there's increasing talk about challenging her in her next primary.

Illegals try to derail Kirk campaign

From WBEZ today comes this (click to listen):

Download Immigration_Kirk_101029_cm

UPDATE 2: Stop Running Kilbride’s Dishonest Ads

UPDATE 2: We've obtained the mail piece that Justice Kilbride is distributing (below). It clearly seems like an attempt to portray himself as a Republican in order to take advantage of increased GOP turnout this year. However, Kilbride has already taken $1.47 million from Democrat Party Chairman and House Speaker Mike Madigan this year; and has been a consistent liberal vote on the Illinois Supreme Court.

Earlier this week, paid "pro-family" lobbyists robocalled households on behalf of Kilbride in an attempt to mislead pro-life voters about his record and bona fides.

This kind of blatant dishonesty by a sitting Supreme Court Justice is disturbing, and would seem to strongly argue against retaining him.

* * * * *

UPDATE: Illinois Review has just learned that a new direct mail piece from Kilbride's campaign hit Third District mailboxes today saying, "Election Alert for Republicans" with a photo of a Republican Elephant. Kilbride seems to be trying to portray himself as a Republican. However, records show he's received millions in support from Mike Madigan, the Democratic Party of Illinois, and Labor Unions.

* * * * *

from Justpac

CHICAGO, IL — Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride has received 75% of his campaign cash from the Democratic Party of Illinois and a single teachers’ union — betraying his campaign’s commercials that claim he is an “independent” judge.

JUSTPAC, the political action committee of the Illinois Civil Justice League, has requested that TV and radio stations stop running these fraudulent ads immediately.

“Justice Kilbride’s campaign is running commercials and sending out mailers that say he is ‘independent‘ — but his fundraising reports show that claim to be dishonest and wrong,” said Ed Murnane, president of the Illinois Civil Justice League.  “We urge all television and radio stations to cease running these ads until Justice Kilbride removes the ‘independent’ moniker and starts telling the truth.”

Democrats Call on Marla Wilson to Pull Campaign Ads

ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- Rockford Alderman Nancy Johnson, Alderman Lenny Jacobson, Machesney Park Mayor Tom Strickland, Brad Long, President of Northwestern Illinois Building Trades, New Milford Mayor Bonnie Beard, Jim Hughes, a retired county board member, and Paul Williams of Rockton all signed their names to a letter, saying Marla Wilson's negative ads against her republican opponent Senator Dave Syverson, are inappropriate.

In Marla Wilson's latest campaign ad against Syverson, it shows him dancing at a fundraiser for the Burpee Museum. It's executive director Alan Brown says tying the charitable event to a negative campaign ad could hurt non-profit events in the future. He says he wants her to pull the ad as well.

via www.wifr.com

Want to Get Rid of Nancy Pelosi?

by Ghost of John Brown

Seemingly, all you have to do is vote for Randy Hultgren, Adam Kinsinger, Bob Dold, Isaac Hayes, Joe Walsh, Joel Pollack and Bobby Schilling.  Why?  Because if the Democrats lose the House, rumor has it that Pelosi, along with some of her Socialist comrades will just retire.  I'm starting to feel better already knowing that Nancy Pelosi could retire.  Work hard everyone - just a few days left.

Kettlecorn of trouble for Hare with non-endorsement

So on Monday, the media of the greater Quincy-Hannibal-Keokuk metroplex received this from Congressman Phil Hare's campaign:

Rock Island, IL-Congressman Phil Hare (D-Rock Island) will hold a press conference on Wednesday, October 27 at 10:30 am to receive the endorsement of the Illinois Corn Growers Association. Hare has been a consistent champion of agriculture, fighting for a strong Farm Bill, improvements in our river and transportation infrastructure, and continued investments in the ethanol and renewable fuels industry. The Illinois Corn Growers Association is a grassroots membership organization with 5,000 members.

WHO: Congressman Phil Hare; Illinois Corn Growers Association

WHAT: Press Conference to Announce Endorsement

On Monday, Hare also told WTAD's Mary Griffith he was getting the endorsement. Click the link below to hear that audio.

http://www.wtad.com/assets/files/podcast/Phil%20Hare%20-%20Corn%20Growers.mp3

So the event happens on Wednesday, there's no endorsement and there is this memo from Rodney Weinzierlm executive director of the ICGA:

It has come to my attention that the Illinois Corn Growers Association’s (ICGA) support for Congressman Hare’s efforts to upgrade the locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers was misinterpreted as an endorsement of his candidacy. The ICGA, as a matter of policy, does not endorse candidates for office at any level.

ICGA is certainly appreciative of the long-time support the Congressman has given river issues. The October 27th event at Meyer was organized to publicly thank the Congressman for his support of what’s known as the Capital Development Plan, a plan which ICGA, as a matter of policy, has endorsed.

via quincynews.org

Illinois has had a "bumpy road" with Pat Quinn

Democrats Weave a Tangled Web That Can Boomerang

by Mark Rhoads

In 1806, Sir Walter Scott wrote "Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive."  All over the country this year we have seen Democrats weaving a tangle web of decieit through campaign trickery of all sorts from offering jobs to candidates to drop out of races to recruiting fake "Tea Party" candidates to openly endorsing minor splinter parties just to "siphon off" votes from Republicans.  Most popular of all have been fake robo calls pretending to attribute endorsements to bad candidates or pretending those candidates hold positions they do not hold as in the case of Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride.  But there is good news and that is that more and more of these dishonest campaign tactics of old are being exposed in different media and the perpetrators are getting caught red handed as reporters learn what to look for.

Endorsements Line Up for Hultgren

by Hultgren for Congress

ST. CHARLES – The Randy Hultgren for Congress campaign today released the following list of local officials endorsing Randy Hultgren’s Congressional campaign, including more than a dozen mayors from across the 14th Congressional District.

“Having the endorsement and support of these local officials not only means so much to me, it’s a testament to the grassroots strength of my campaign,” said Hultgren. “The local officials endorsing me today know that Bill Foster’s record of spending, taxes, and bigger government is hurting small businesses and farms, villages and towns across the district. And as someone who firmly believes that local governments govern best, I look forward to returning control, responsibilities and funds from Washington DC to village halls across the district, re-empowering responsive local governments.”

Video: Meet the Hultgren Voters

Foster Dodges Pelosi Question

"True the Vote" should be in Illinois, too

Imagine all the frustrations and disgust with corrupt, deceitful and power-crazed politicians provoking average citizens to carry signs and join with thousands of other average citizens in their town squares all over America, demanding their voices be heard. Imagine leaders, young and old, rising to the challenge to lead America out of corruption and unaccountability by offering their names on the ballot. Imagine hundreds of millions of dollars being spent on getting out the message of a light at the end of the dark tunnel the nation finds itself in. 

And then imagine the turnaround election being stolen from those same energized, but politically-naive average citizens that intuitively think the best of their fellow man. The following video was produced to warn Texans about the dangers of voter fraud, electioneering and voter intimidation. We in Illinois should be all the more concerned about the same, considering this election could be one for the first time in over a decade in which Illinois Democrats' political tyranny is strongly challenged. 

Democrat Lies and Distortions Part 5,389,263

by Ghost of John Brown

Do these guys have no shame?  I'm being serious about that. 

Today I got yet another two fliers from the Lake County Democratic Party.  One of them , which can be downloaded here - Download Foster Mailer, compares Republican Randy Hultgren, Democrat Bill Foster and SocialistGreen Party candidate Dan Kairis.  Basically, the Democrats have so completely poisoned the water for both Randy and their own candidate, that they can't possibly run a positive mailer on their own guy.  Their only hope is to try and get conservative and independent voters (because they aren't mailing these to Democrats) to pick a Socialist like Kairis over Hultgren.

Celebrating Independence

No, That's Not A Jobs Program!

by John F. Di Leo

“Hello, my name is Eco Nomic Illiterate, and I’m voting for Scott Lee Cohen.”

Sorry if that seems cruel, but there are some commercials in the current cycle that are really bothering me, and they exemplify a much larger issue: the problem of economic illiteracy across broad swaths of the electorate. 

For most of our nation’s history, there was general uniformity in the understanding of what created jobs and wealth.  The Founding Fathers – Republican and Federalist alike – understood that a small government was good for the economy, and a large government was not.  They differed a bit on the margins, sure…  Hamilton favored a national bank; Jefferson opposed it, for example… but they still agreed in principle that the capitol should be small; that it’s the private sector that creates wealth, not government.

Video: Chinese Professor

A peek at our future if our nation continues to abandon the principles that made us great.

Illinois Sportsmen to DNR: Where's Our Money?

by Lee Williams, Illinois Policy Institute

Download a formatted version of this report, complete with a table of the Pittman-Robertson Act contracts awarded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, here.

Read the press release for this report here.

SPRINGFIELD, IL.—The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is misappropriating millions of dollars that should have been earmarked for the state’s sportsmen.

The Pittman-Robertson Act, an 11-percent federal tax on guns, ammunition, and fishing and archery equipment is about the only tax most sportsmen don’t mind paying, unless the funds are misused.

The funds collected annually by the Act are supposed to be returned to the states to increase fish and game populations, construct public shooting ranges, improve public hunting lands, and teach firearms safety to future hunters and shooters.

More HERE

Brady pumps Will County voters

Despite all the trash talk and semi-slanderous comments Dems are doing their best to cultivate, the Brady campaign remains focused on the finish line -- 7:00 PM November 2.  Dems tried their best to suggest the Brady campaign had run out of steam and funds today over an ad buy mixup, but like it or not, Dems, Brady ads will be on the air throughout Election Day.

Wednesday night's energetic reception of the Bradys in Homer Township clearly displayed where the conservative, independent voters are headed in Will County -- towards Brady/ Plummer for Governor/Lieutenant Governor, Kinzinger for Congress, Crenshaw for State Senate.    The Southtown Star's political columnist Kristen McQueary wrote today that the Democrats should be scared of the Homer Glen Tea Party folks.  And, frankly, so should tepid and weak Republicans from the Will County area ... heck, Republicans could sweep Will County in this environment, returning Illinois to its rightful place as a bellweather state, no longer deep blue. 

The Bradys energized the Homer Glen crowd and were joined onstage by governors Bobby Jindal (LA), Haley Barbour (MS) and Bob McDonnell (VA) ...

Berrios by the numbers

Through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to the Illinois Board of Elections and the Board of Review, the Claypool campaign has gathered and compiled data on the contributors to Joe Berrios' five different campaign funds and cross referenced them with 2009 tax year assessment reductions won at the Board of Review.

According to the study, of the $6.2 billion in assessment cuts awarded by the board this year, 92% (or $5.7 billion) went to those who used a lawyer who has donated to Mr. Berrios. That translates to just under $1 billion in taxes that were shifted to other property owners.

A couple examples of the Democrat's cronyism: The Willis (Sears) Tower, which got a $10.5-million cut was represented by Berrios major donor O'Keefe Lyons & Hynes; and 311 S. Wacker, got a $17 million cut and was represented by the law firm of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Below is a link to the entire Claypool study:

Warning - the data you are about to see is not appropriate for those who don't wish to be exposed to the "real" politics of the Democrat Party in Illinois.

http://www.forrestclaypool.com/cloutonamap.html