Illinois Review

Chicago Activists Unchained, Destroy Black Leadership [video]

By Rebel Pundit - 

Chicago activists Paul McKinley, Mark Carter, Joseph Watkins and Harold “Noonie” Ward recently went on the record with RebelPundit to deliver a message to black communities across the country.

More at Rebel Pundit

Rauner Campaign Launches New TV Ad [video]

CHICAGO - Bruce Rauner’s campaign for governor released a new television advertisement this morning featuring Bruce and Diana discussing why he is running for governor.

Script below:

Union-backed Illinois Freedom PAC launches new, anti-Rauner video

Fantasyland: Quinn uses actor Martin Sheen as "Former Acting President"

SPRINGFIELD, IL - Actor Martin Sheen, who played the President on the television series "West Wing" is featured in Quinn's latest endorsement video.

Prager University just released a video explaining the minimum wage HERE.

Oberweis says Durbin ready to spring Obamacare premium hike after election

SUGAR GROVE, IL - Jim Oberweis, GOP candidate for U.S. Senate, took aim at Dick Durbin today blaming him for his role in Obamacare. According to the Oberweis campaign, Obamacare premium hikes are on the way, but not until after the election.

Those planning to buy health insurance on the Obamacare exchanges won’t be able to do so on the website until Nov. 15. Last year the enrollment date was Oct. 1.

“Dick Durbin has set another time bomb for American consumers that will conveniently go off right after the election,” said Oberweis. “They are hiding the premium increases for obvious political reasons.”

Last year a study from the Brookings Institute said premiums increased 24.4% nationwide. Oberweis estimated that a similar increase looms for most Illinois health care consumers.

Oberweis was joined at a downtown Chicago press conference by supporter and former primary opponent Doug Truax, a health care expert and President and Managing Partner of Oak Brook-based Veritas Risk Services. Truax is advising Oberweis on health care issues.

“Dick Durbin has been downright deceptive about Obamacare from the start,” Oberweis added. “He repeatedly said when Obamacare was being considered it would allow you to keep your health care plan and doctor, I guarantee it. Then he went on national TV and deceived the American people again about enrollment numbers, earning four Pinocchios from the Washington Post. Nothing Dick Durbin says about Obamacare should be believed.”

Cook County Commissioner Garcia to challenge Emanuel in Chicago mayoral race

CHICAGO - Cook County Commissioner Jesus Garcia said Monday he will challenge Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the "non-partisan" February election. In announcing his plans, Garcia said the city is "not headed in the right direction."

Garcia joins Chicago Alderman Bob Fioretti in challenging Emanuel.

Emanuel dismissed Garcia, saying he's not concerned about the Commissioner's potential impact on the mayoral race.

Chicago to host US-China agriculture and trade meeting

CHICAGO - Government officials are coming to Chicago to discuss major agricultural trade issues between the United States and The People's Republic of China.

The 25th session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade will be hosted Dec. 16-18 by Obama's Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, who is a Chicago business executive and longtime friend of President Barack Obama.

Kirkwood: A Lesbian Mayor’s Lavender Fatwa on Pastors

By John Kirkwood - 

The Western world reacts in horror when some Third World Imam puts out a fatwa on a cartoonist or an author for merely challenging a point of Islam. We ask the “moderate” Muslim, why have you swallowed your tongue? Why aren’t you decrying this barbarism?

But when a lesbian mayor tries to enforce lavender Sharia against a group of Houston pastors for the crime of being Christian, where is the cry from the “homosexual community”? Pastors in Houston organize to stop a city ordinance that allows men to go into women’s bathrooms which was prompted by the LGBTQ agenda of Houston’s lesbian Mayor, Annisse Parker, then she subpoena’s the pastors’ sermons, emails, and all communication that they may have shared regarding the ordinance or even of the mayor herself. And where is the outcry from the homosexual community?

Liberal Congressmen to keynote NAACP banquet in Peoria

EAST PEORIA, IL - The highest-ranking African-American in Congress is scheduled to speak at an NAACP banquet in East Peoria.

The (Peoria) Journal Star reports that left-wing U.S. Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina is set to attend the annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Nov. 22.

Clyburn is assistant Democratic leader, the third-highest Democratic position in the House behind House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer. He served as the House majority whip from 2007-2011.

Clyburn has spent a career in government. He was first elected to the House in 1993 and is up for re-election on Nov. 4.

How the Largest Municipal Fraud in U.S. History was Committed in Illinois

By Nancy Mathieson - 

So, maybe you live in a city like Dixon, Illinois, population 16,000 where everyone knows everyone, people are polite, work hard, and they don’t ask their neighbors too many questions.  

In 2012, the mayor, everyone else in the city, and the national media discovered that Rita Crundwell, the city’s Treasurer and Controller had embezzled $53.7 million from the city over the past 20 years. How could the treasurer of an Illinois town with an annual budget of $6 million to $8 million steal over $50 million in two decades? Here is the toolkit for municipal fraud, as described by attorney Devon C. Bruce, who litigated the Dixon civil case and obtained the largest municipal settlement of its kind, $47 million.

How could this much money be stolen from a city?

Dixon’s mayor and five commissioners were part-time city employees, holding other full-time jobs in town.  Dixon had three full-time city employees, including Crundwell whose salary was $80,000 a year. Dixon had no accountants on staff.

Obama policies devastating Enyart's re-election bid [video]

MURPHYSBORO - "Make no mistake, the Obama-Enyart agenda is devastating families and bankrupting Southern Illinois," says a new ad put out by GOP challenger Mike Bost in the downstate 12th CD. That somber tone may be what's causing Congressman Bill Enyart's hopes of re-election to fade, Politico writes today.

“There’s no question it’s a tough climate for Democrats right now but it certainly doesn’t come as a surprise,” said Emily Bittner, a DCCC spokeswoman told Politico. “Heading into the final week of the election every single Democratic incumbent is still competitive, which is drastically different from the situation in 2010.”

PAC Asks: "Who Will Keep Us Safe?" [video]

WASHINGTON DC - Conservative Richard Viguerie's "Fed Up PAC" released a new ad Tuesday, pointing to the issues they see as leading the national debate during the days leading up to November 4th. Democrats and Republicans are in an intense race for control of the U.S. Senate, and political pundits are referring to this election as the "Chaos Election."

With anxiety about ISIS, ebola and crime in America, Fed Up PAC asks "Who will keep us safe?" when contemplating which party is to be trusted to lead in Washington.

The issues at stake in this non-presidential election year, Fed Up PAC says, are: immigration, abuse of power and national security.

Amazon.com to open warehouses in Illinois

CHICAGO - Amazon.com is preparing to add warehouses in Illinois - making it a bonafide "brick and mortar" business within the state's borders.

The expansion announcement means Amazon.com will begin collecting sales taxes during Illinois purchases, and the state's current honor system of remitting sales taxes will be defunct.

Company and state officials are to announce Tuesday plans for new facilities in the Chicagoland region.

ILGOP mailer warns about Libertarian Chad Grimm - again

CHICAGO - The Illinois Republican Party sent out a mailer last week warning their voters that Libertarian Party's Chad Grimm was being used to steal the election from Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner. This week another round of warnings filled hard R mailboxes. 

The flip side of the mailer condemns Chad Grimm's views on social issues and topics the ILGOP has avoided discussing, stating that Grimm opposes term limits, supports gay marriage, his "party supports" abortion on demand and he supports legalizing heroin. According to a recent media interview, Grimm is personally pro-life.

In bi-state visit, VP Biden lauds Quinn for adding to Medicaid rolls, scorns tea party

Vice President Joe Biden stumped for Dick Durbin and Pat Quinn in Rockford Monday

ROCKFORD - Monday afternoon, Vice President Joe Biden stopped in Rockford to stump for Democrats Governor Pat Quinn, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos' re-elections. 

After Quinn introduced the vice-president to members of IBEW Local #364 and locals, Biden credited Quinn and the Democrats for adding 500,000 to the Medicaid rolls.  

"Because of this guy, a half a million more people have Medicaid. A half a million people. What do the Republicans do? They want to kick 21 million people off of Medicaid over the next 10 years. That's what their budget calls for,” Biden said, Rockford's WIFR reports.

After his visit to Rockford, Biden crossed the Mississippi into Iowa to campaign for Democrat Brad Bralee in Iowa's tight U.S. Senate race with Republican Joni Ernst. There, Biden blasted the tea party for blocking negotiations in D.C. As reported by the Times-Union:

Where's Weyermuller?: At Freedom Summit with Bobby Jindal, Sean Hannity

By Mark Weyermuller - 

This past weekend over 900 conservatives got together for the Freedom Summit at the Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg, Illinois. The two day event was sponsored WIND-560AM radio and Uline Industries. This gathering brought together conservatives, tea party members, and libertarians from across the Midwest for education, inspiration, and motivation.

The event gave attendees the opportunity to hear from some of the nation' stop defenders of freedom. Fridaynight featured the Governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal.

Jindal gave a great speech about freedom and opportunity in America. I hear he may be running for president in 2016. After his speech, former congressman and WIND radio host Joe Walsh fired up the crowd of over 700 for the next speaker, Nationally-syndicated radio and television host, Sean Hannity. He spoke for about 30 minutes interrupted by numerous applause and standing ovations.

State Sen. Luechtefeld defends Bryant against opponent's negative TV ads [video]

OKAWVILLE, IL - State Senator Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville) cut an ad defending GOP State House candidate Terri Bryant against the Madigan/Chicago-style politics being used against her.

Kirk Hosts Hearing on ISIS’s Atrocities Against Women and Religious Minorities

CHICAGO – Illinois' Republican U.S. Senator Mark Kirk hosted a U.S. Senate Human Rights Caucus Field Hearing to discuss ISIS’s growing threats to security and human dignity in the Middle East. Witnesses included Sandra Raheem, an Iraqi Assyrian Christian asylum-seeker; Dr. Khalil Marrar, Assistant Professor at Governors State University; Reine Hanna, Director of the Assyrian National Council of Illinois; and Mar Gewargis Younan, Diocesan Bishop at the Ancient Church of the East.

“ISIS controls more money, fighters and land than al-Qaeda did on 9/11 and is committing mass atrocities against women, children, and ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East,” Senator Kirk said. “Members of Chicago’s Assyrian-American community and Illinois’ Middle East expert community highlighted how these barbaric terrorists pose grave threats not just overseas, but right here in Chicago.”

During the Field Hearing, Dr. Khalil Marrar explained why ISIS may target Chicago. “Where they really want to hit is what they call high value targets or significant value targets,” Marrar said. “Chicago, Illinois, is not just a major financial hub and a transportation hub,” he added, but also “a soft target” and “the hometown of President Obama.” This summer, a pro-ISIS Twitter user posted a photograph featuring a handwritten threat to Chicago, dated June 20th, with the city’s Old Republic Building in the background.

House Speaker Boehner Stumps for Mike Bost in Marion on Tuesday

CARBONDALE, IL - The Bost for Congress campaign announced that U.S. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) will be campaigning for Mike Bost, candidate for the Illinois 12th District Congressional seat today.

Details are below: 

Ebola: U.S. Domestic and Foreign Policy Options [video]

Months after the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa, the news of two American nurses becoming infected has sparked fear amongst the general U.S. population. With Ebola victims now in the United States, concerns are growing over the ability of the administration, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and hospitals to control the spread of disease.

Anderson accuses Jacobs of Using State Resources to Campaign in Nursing Homes

ROCK ISLAND, IL - According to 36th District State Senate Candidate Neil Anderson, his opponent, Mike Jacobs, has been using state resources to host campaign-related events at nursing homes throughout the district.

"We should absolutely be doing what we can to promote the health and safety of our senior citizens, but I have to wonder how many nursing home visits Senator Jacobs made, and how many senior fairs he hosted in October of 2013," said Anderson.

According to Anderson, Jacobs scheduled three "Senior Resource Fairs" throughout the district during the month of October. The first, on October 9 was in Rock Falls, and the second on October 15 took place in Fulton. The third and final fair scheduled by Jacobs is set to take place October 28 in Rock Island, just a week before Election Day.

Op-Ed: Conservatives, leave the U.S. Senate race blank

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and state Senator Jim Oberweis before the Chicago Tribune board

By Howard Foster - 

Jim Oberweis’ performance in the debate and generally has been defensive, tepid and apologetic. He abjures his past stands on everything, including immigration and gay marriage, as if they were unprincipled. What are his current principles? I challenge any reader to listen to the debate any consistent theme in his repertoire that is more than a sound byte.

Reducing government? He has not named any agency or program he would abolish. Opposing Obamacare is an instinct, not a well-developed position. And replace it with what, is my rejoinder? Does he want the government to do nothing about health care? Turn it over to the states (the true conservative position), or simply create a new federal bureaucracy to pick up the slack? Anyone seriously following his line of argument comes away more confused than enlightened or inspired.

What's the Right Minimum Wage? [video]

What's the perfect minimum wage: is it $10 an hour? $15? $20? How about zero? That's right. Zero. While Congress discusses a minimum wage hike, economist David Henderson shows that any minimum wage makes it harder for unemployed people (particularly young people) to find work and forces business owners to cut the hours of lower-skilled employees.

Graduation Ceremony of Iranian Policewomen's Training Course [video]

In 2005, Iranian TV reported on the graduation ceremony of a training course for Iranian policewomen. Dressed from head to toe in black robes, the women climb down walls, dangling from ropes, hang out of careening police cars, their guns at the ready, in a simulation of a police chase, and make mock arrests. The report was broadcast on March 12, 2005 by Iran's Channel 2.

Rauner, Shimkus support Ebola travel ban

CHICAGO – Gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner today expressed serious concerns over Governor Quinn’s refusal to support a travel ban applied to countries affected by Ebola.

“I support Senator Kirk's call on the State Department to issue a visa and travel ban on those attempting to travel from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone,” Rauner said. “It is troubling that Governor Quinn would not support a travel ban particularly given that O’Hare is one of the world’s busiest airports. Pat Quinn has failed Illinois on jobs, on education, on taxes, and on crime; we can’t afford another failure on a potentially very serious public health hazard.”

Congressman John Shimkus also weighed in on the topic, releasing the following statement:

“I strongly disagree with Governor Quinn’s opposition to an Ebola travel ban. A growing number of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are calling on President Obama to impose a commercial travel ban between the U.S. and Ebola-stricken countries in West Africa. My constituents are quickly losing faith in the Administration’s ability to successfully contain Ebola infections here in the United States. Now they’re forced to question Governor Quinn’s judgment as well.”

Michelle Obama considering U.S. Senate run in California instead of Illinois

From Western Journalism - 

Responding to a report from last week, Senate Intelligence Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-California) said she would be “flattered” if First Lady Michelle Obama decides to run for her seat when her term is up in 2018, but admitted she has “no idea” what she’ll be doing at that time. It has been suggested that Feinstein, 81, won’t seek re-election at the end of her term.

Feinstein responded to Candy Crowley’s question on CNN’s State of the Union Sunday about a report published in Orb Magazine Thursday suggesting that First Lady Michelle Obama would move to California with her husband after his final term as president and pursue Feinstein’s seat in the U.S. Senate.

...Orb Magazine outlines why California is the best place for the Obamas, as supposed to New York, Illinois, or Hawaii.

“Hawaii is too remote. Illinois is a cesspool of political corruption which they prefer to avoid, and New York, which they love, is too dense with Clintons and Clinton acolytes. They have many friends in Los Angeles, dating back to Barack’s student days at Occidental College, when he first left Hawaii."

Video below:

Bustos staff: Rockford 'urban' voters spend more time time 'in jail than church'

ROCKFORD, IL - On Monday, audio of a conversation between the staff at a district office of Illinois Congresswoman Cheri Bustos and another individual was released to the press by the Schilling campaign. The individual taping the conversation was asking the Bustos staffer about an issue in Rockford and Peoria, Illinois, which are partly represented by Rep. Bustos. The staffer described Rockford as "very urban" and "very underprivileged." She said constituents there spent "more in jail than church."

IR contacted Bustos for comment. There has been no reply.

The following is a transcript of the conversation:

Rep. Kinzinger: Rand Paul Presidential Run Would be 'Devastating' for GOP

WASHINGTON DC - Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) appeared on ABC This Weekand and suggested a Rand Paul 2016 presidential run would be “devastating” because of the libertarian-leaning senator’s support for cuts to defense spending.

For 2016, “I’d love to see Jeb [Bush],” Kinzinger said. “I’d love to see Chris Christie, and Paul Ryan would be a great candidate,” he added.

However, he continued: “The one person I don’t want to see is someone like Rand Paul who put out budgets to cut the military in half. I think that would be devastating for our party right now on national security.”

PolitiFact wrote of Kinzinger’s claims: "In 2011, Paul released a budget proposal that reduced annual defense spending quite significantly, but not anywhere near 50 percent. There are different ways to measure the reductions, but they’re in the range of 25 to 30 percent.

Paul later unveiled another budget that actually increased year-over-year defense spending, though it did not keep pace with estimated projections in growth."

Video below the fold:

Actor Kelsey Grammar encourages "yes" vote on IL victims' rights ballot measure

CHICAGO - Actor Kelsey Grammer may be best known for the roles he's played in the television series Cheers and Frasier; but starting Monday, you'll see him on airwaves with a more somber tone encouraging Illinois voters to vote 'yes' for the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights. Grammer's passionate involvement with this issue stems from the most horrific tragedies of his life. Grammer's father, Frank Grammer, was murdered in 1968. Seven years later, his sister, Karen Grammer, was raped by four men and murdered in Colorado.

Grammer's sister's murderer was eligible for parole earlier this year, but was denied. Grammer testified against his release. Due to the way the Illinois Constitution is written, a crime victim's family member in Illinois in a position similar to Grammer may not be properly notified about a killer's chance for release.

There is no recourse if proper notifications are not given, but the constitutional amendment to the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights (also known as Marsy's Law) will change that if enough voters support it in the upcoming General Election on November 4, 2014.

Grammer was not paid for making the ad promoting the measure. Opponents say that the measure will open the way for more lawsuits and trial attorney work. Marcy's Law proponents disagree.

Leslie Munger supporters launch letter-writing campaign

Leslie Munger and supporters

LINCOLNSHIRE - A hotly contested race in 59th House District has produced a flood of letters from Republican candidate Leslie Munger's grassroots, urging voters to reject Democrat incumbent State Rep. Carol Sente on November 4th: 

From Skip Seymour, Lincolnshire - 

Congratulations to newcomer Leslie Munger for earning all three major newspaper endorsements; the Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald and Illinois Observer. This is quite an accomplishment for a first-time candidate challenging an incumbent with Madigan’s money and minions of paid campaign workers.

The Chicago Tribune called Munger “poised and smart as a whip and a person who wouldn’t toe the Michael Madigan line in Springfield.” The Daily Herald said “She has the ideas and the character to make an effective legislator.”

Ebola Nurse’s Ties to CDC Scrubbed From Website – Is Far Left Progressive

From Gateway Pundit - 

The Ebola nurse who attacked Governor Christie for putting her in quarantine after returning from Africa is a Progressive with ties to the CDC.

Her LinkedIn profile was scrubbed this weekend. Natural News reported:

Kaci Hickox, the nurse who was quarantined in New Jersey over her high risk status as a possible Ebola carrier, has ties to the CDC which have been deliberately hidden by the mainstream media.

Right now, a war is waging between states like New Jersey, New York and Illinois — which have all decided to quarantine travelers at high risk of Ebola infections — and the federal government which is adamantly opposed to border security, medical quarantines and travel bans.

Kaci Hickox emerged in the center of this debate just yesterday when she complained of being “interrogated” and held in violation of her civil rights. Kaci’s LinkedIn.com profile, which described her links to the CDC, was scrubbed from the web earlier today, and even Google cache has strangely been cleared of her profile which previously detailed her ties to the CDC.

The now-famous DallasNews.com article [1] which published Hickox’s complaints failed to mention the nurse’s ties to the CDC.

It turns out that Kaci Hickox is a registered democrat and Obama supporter who works for the CDC. “The nurse currently quarantined in New Jersey is an employee for the Centers for Disease Control and a registered Democrat with a history of left-wing advocacy,” reports GotNews.com.

More at Gateway Pundit HERE

lllinois’ true unemployment rate an estimated 18.1 percent

More than 500,000 people not included in state’s unemployment calculation

CHICAGO – Despite modest job gains and economic growth in recent months, Illinois’ sluggish recovery from the Great Recession has caused significant harm to the state economy. Illinois’ official unemployment rate stands at 6.6 percent.

According to the Illinois Policy Institute, this number does not give the full picture of Illinois’ economy and job market. The unemployment rate does not take into account people who have stopped looking for work or people who are underemployed. When the underemployed and workforce dropouts are included in calculations, Illinois’ true unemployment rate jumps to an estimated 18.1 percent.

When people drop out of the labor force they are no longer considered “unemployed” and are not counted in the unemployment rate calculation. Since the start of the recession in January 2008, Illinois’ workforce has shrunk by 226,000 people. In that same time period, the state’s working-age population has grown by 300,000 people. This means that more than 500,000 people are not included in the state’s unemployment rate calculation who should be to give an accurate picture of the state’s economy.

Illinois Pastors Establish the Christian Emergency League [video]

CHICAGO - Seeing the increasing decay of the surrounding culture, three Chicago-area pastor have formed the Christian Emergency League to be a voice of truth for Biblical principles.

Op-Ed: Why you should vote "no" on every ballot question

By Eva Sorock - 

Illinois/North Shore voters are getting lots of referenda red meat on the November 4th ballot – making up, perhaps, for the choice between Democrat Quinn and Democrat-Lite Rauner for governor and not much else if you are represented by Uber-Democrat Jan Schakowsky.* No wonder most of the yard signs are for Bob Dold, running in a district that goes north from Scott St. in Glencoe. One yard sign that says it all might be the one that says Vote NO. Easy to remember as you wade into the verbiage of the state referenda, plus the special one for a New Trier tax increase.

Here’s a quick look at the reasons to vote NO:

Thorner & Lambrecht: SB16 controversy

By Nancy Thorner and Carl Lambrecht - 

Responding to an invitation to attend a public forum in the auditorium of Deerfield High School (District 109) hosted by state representative, Scott Drury (D-58) through his legislative office to discuss Senate Bill 16 on Thursday evening, October 23, the authors of this article attended as constituents of Rep. Drury.  Noted was that SB16 has driven more communication to Drury's office than has any other issue in the past month.

Among the 50 or so individual attending the Drury event were invited superintendents from Lake Forest School District 67, Michael Simeck; Lake Bluff Elementary School District 65, Dr. Jean Sophie; and Highland Park High School District 113, George Fornero. 

IL State Representative Scott Drury (D-58) does not support SB16 (School Funding Reform Act of 2014), which was passed in May of this year by the super majority Democratic Senate. If enacted, SB16 would make sweeping changes in how the state funds education and its apportionment among school districts. Those school districts with higher assessed property values would receive less state funding, while other districts (like Chicago and in downstate Illinois) would receive a sizable increase in funding, in an attempt by state legislators to provide greater equity among school districts across the state. 

No More Obama Girl? FEC proposes regulating free Internet political ads

WASHINGTON - Imagine an election without an "Obama Girl" ad influencing voters. It's possible. Change in policy is in the works, the Washington Examiner reports.

Friday, Democratic Federal Election Commission Vice Chair Ann M. Ravel announced plans to begin the process to win regulations on Internet-based campaigns and videos, currently free from most of the FEC’s rules. “A reexamination of the commission’s approach to the internet and other emerging technologies is long over due,” she said.

Under a 2006 FEC rule, free political videos and advocacy sites have been free of regulation in a bid to boost voter participation in politics. Only Internet videos that are placed for a fee on websites are regulated just like normal TV ads.

FEC Chairman Lee E. Goodman, a Republican, said if regulation extends that far, then anybody who writes a political blog, runs a politically active news site or even chat room could be regulated. He added that funny internet campaigns like “Obama Girl,” and “Jib Jab” would also face regulations.

Op-Ed: Governor Quinn's hateful campaign

By Howard Foster - 

There is a hypocritical and hateful tone to the Quinn campaign against Bruce Rauner. Quinn’s only argument is that Rauner has made too much money in the private sector. It might be a legitimate issue if his business success was the result of some quasi-illegal activity, like pornography or owning casinos. But Rauner’s business as an asset manager is not only above-board but has hugely benefitted his clients, including state workers, who enjoyed big returns on their money. The left has both a fascination and revulsion with great wealth.

We see President Obama spending an inordinate amount of time with A-listers and their associates, playing at the nation’s most exclusive golf courses, having fundraisers at the homes of billionaires and movie stars, and vacationing in jet- set locales. Yet, he attacked Mitt Romney with such vengeance as to betray a moral repudiation for the very nature of capitalism, a world where hard bargains are struck and enforced, lawsuits are vigorously defended, and people at the top make vastly more money than those at the bottom. 

Op-Ed: Political accusations about Rauner's business dealings are unjust

By Jesus Alaniz - 

I am surprised at the number of people who have taken the television commercials regarding Bruce Rauner’s company’s negligence as gospel truth. This is not the first time that the Democrats have launched the devil’s deed.

We begin with the first object in the Preamble of the United States Constitution’s purpose. To form a “more perfect union” “justice” must first be established. Not lies, hearsay, rumors etc. but facts. Only facts weighed by a jury of our peers can determine whether an individual is guilty of wrong doing.

To say that Bruce Rauner is guilty of wrong doing without a trial is an injustice. It is not uncommon for a lawyer to suggest that you “settle” with the other party to save money from a lengthy proceeding that can also lead to hurting your own reputation. Remember that the charges don’t need to be true. It is said that a zealot prosecutor has ability to “convict a ham sandwich” and how many horror stories have we heard where people were let out of jail because they were wrongly convicted.

Rhoads: The eccentric journey of Jeb Bush

By Mark Rhoads - 

Once upon a time many years ago I had a more favorable opinion of Jeb Bush than I had of his father or his older brother. But my opinion changed in recent years as the opinions of Jeb Bush have become more confused. Now a family source says Jeb Bush is serious about running to be the third member of his family to seek the office of president. But he has yet to state a clear reason he wants to run that is not murky and full of questions as to his motivation.

Jeb is now 61 years old and he has not held any office in more than 7 years. Nor has he been a highly visible leader of his party in opposition to President Obama during his semi-retirement years.

Pastor Corey Brooks: "Illinois is the worst place to raise black children"

Pastor Corey Brooks (center front) with Project HOOD supporters|Facebook

CHICAGO - Saturday morning, Chicago's Pastor Corey Brooks revealed the vandalism and theft his church experienced last week and the death threats on his family which started after he endorsed two Republicans in the November 4th election.

"Yesterday I received a number of phone calls making death threats against me and my family vowing to hurt my family and our church. Then last night, our church was broken into and vandalized," he wrote on Facebook. 

Sunday gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner joined Brooks at his New Beginnings Church in Chicago. During the press conference in answer to a question from Jeff Berkowtiz, Brooks said, in part:

Paul Caprio ... On the Governor's Race

By Paul Caprio - 

As most of you know, Bruce Rauner was not my choice to be the Republican nominee for Governor of Illinois. I supported Kirk Dillard because of his proven pro-life and pro-family record and his ability, if elected, to provide what I believed would be the talent necessary to prevent Illinois from further deterioration.

Although I supported Dillard, Family-Pac did not make an endorsement. Since we had donors supporting all four of the GOP candidates, I did not feel it was appropriate to use any Family-Pac funds to support Dillard. I wanted to keep Family-Pac united at a time when government infringement upon Christian values and religious freedom has never been greater.

Now I must squarely face the issue of Rauner, Quinn, the Libertarian, or a "no" vote tomorrow when I go to cast my vote.

Illegal immigrants having tough time getting driver's licenses

By Jim Anderson/Illinois Radio Network - 

CHICAGO - The secretary of state’s office is slow in issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, according to community groups trying to help them.

They staged a demonstration Friday in front of a driver’s license facility in Chicago, saying that applicants can’t get appointments to take the vision, written and driving test, says Ashley Moy-Wooten of the organization Paso in Melrose Park.

“After two years and just 16 percent of driver’s licenses issued for (illegal) immigrants is absolutely unacceptable, and we’re calling on Jesse White now to do his job, get his office in order, and issue the full 100 percent. Create a plan so that everyone can get their driver’s license,” she said.

The problem is acute in Chicago and the suburbs; applicants from there have travelled to Springfield and Carbondale for their tests.

The law allowing illegal immigrants who have lived in Illinois for at least one year to get driver’s licenses was signed in January 2013, and the system for issuing the licenses was up and running in December. Since then, the secretary of state’s office has scheduled 100,000 applicants and issued 70,000 licenses. (Those who didn’t get licenses either lacked the proper documentation, or had legal problems with their driving record, or were no-shows at the appointments.)

Initially, applications for these licenses were taken at 25 license facilities; that number is now 36.

A spokesman says the secretary of state understands the concern, but with so many first-time applicants - possibly 500,000 - this is going to take time.

An appointment takes about an hour. It involves a written test, vision test and driving test. The applicant’s documents are scanned and then examined later in Springfield.

Pack of wild Illinois coyotes help police nab fugitive

Last week, inmate Daniel Rice (photo right) was taken to a hospital in Muscatine, Iowa, where he managed to escape.

The 21-year-old Rice had gotten away but warrants were issued for his arrest.

On Wednesday, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Loud Thunder Forest Preserve in Illinois City, Illinois, after a 911 call about two men being chased by a pack of wild coyotes, Steven VenHuizen, chief deputy for the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office, told the Journal.

After deputies arrived they recognized Rice based on a description they had — not to mention the pacemaker scar on his chest. It was determined that Rice called 911 using a false name; he was taken into custody shortly after midnight and transported back to the Muscatine County Jail, VenHuizen told the Journal.

Rice is being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond; a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 3.

Image source: The Muscatine Journal

Hot Mess: Beyonce, J-Law, and the Incoherence of Third Wave Feminism [video]

Mollie Hemmingway addresses the Conservative Women's Network on Third Wave Feminism.

O'Brien: Obama's Pen and Phone in Action

By Teri O'Brien -

Start spreading the news, or the plague. Thanks to the ideological fanaticism of the Obama Regime, the deadly Ebola virus has made it to New York City. Not to worry, though, as we are reminded by an endless parade of government apparatchiks. It isn't spread by "casual contact," and can be contracted only by those with direct exposure to the bodily fluids of someone with symptoms, but what does that mean? Bottom line: once again, we're being lied to.

In the interest of political correctness, Obama refuses to seal the border and stop the flights from the Ebola hot zone, and you don't have to french kiss an Ebola patient to have contact with bodily fluids. We'll explain how that could happen, and how you can protect yourself and your family.

Repointing the Constitution [video]

The Heritage Foundation’s Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies is honored to host Judge Janice Rogers Brown as the seventh speaker of our aptly named Joseph Story Distinguished Lecture.

Afghan Intelligence Chief: Pakistan Behind Terrorism in Afghanistan [video]

Former head of the Afghan Directorate of Security Amruallah Saleh participated in a trilateral Afghan-Pakistani-Indian panel, hosted by the Afghan network TOLOnews TV. Saleh accused Pakistan of supporting the Taliban and sponsoring terrorism in his country.

Oberweis: DOJ needs to investigate threats against Pastor Corey Brooks and his family

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate candidate Jim Oberweis released the following statement today in reaction to death threats made to New Beginnings Church Pastor Corey Brooks:

"No person in America should be threatened for exercising their constitutional right of free expression. I am extremely distressed that courageous pastor Corey Brooks and his family received multiple vile racist threats and their church burglarized for expressing a political viewpoint he believes would best improve his community. I have the privilege of being friends with Pastor Brooks and believe there is no one in Chicago who has done more to stop violence in his community and courageously tell the truth about inner city problems. We all need to stand with him against these unacceptable threats. In addition, we need the Department of Justice to immediately investigate and hold accountable the persons responsible."

Pastor Brooks recently did a video talking about why he's supporting Oberweis for U.S. Senate.

More reports of potential voting fraud in Rock Island County, Illinois

Rock Island County Clerk defiant, lashes out in Facebook posts

ROCK ISLAND, IL - KWQC TV-6 reported yesterday about several complaints of electronic voting fraud with the early voting machines in Rock Island County.

Rock Island County Clerk Karen Kinney (D-Rock Island) offered no comment to the media about the allegations, but did take to Facebook last night to silence any criticism, calling the formal complaints "lies, & more lies" and accusing those who filed complaints of "making false allegations to suppress the vote."

 

The Schilling for Congress campaign reached out to the Illinois State Board of Elections on Friday to report the situation. The State Board of Elections made contact with the Rock Island County Clerk's office and recommended re-calibrating the early voting machines. As of yet, there is no evidence that a full re-calibration has occurred.

According to a press release, the Schilling campaign has now received more than 20 reports from voters who have had their vote switched on the electronic voting machines. Several formal complaints have been filed to the Rock Island County Clerk's office.

Yesterday, the Schilling campaign also heard from a voter who went to early vote at the County Clerk's office and was turned away after requesting a paper ballot.

Jon Schweppe, communications director at Bobby Schilling for Congress, released the following statement:

"Every vote matters. Every vote should be counted. Karen Kinney needs to stop victim-blaming on Facebook and start working to fix the faulty machines. Voters in Rock Island County are quickly losing faith in the legitimacy of our elections, and that's unacceptable. The Rock Island County Clerk needs to do something immediately."

Young conservative woman’s epic response to the vile little girl feminism video

Progressive feminists made a video where they dressed up little girls and had them drop F-bombs and talk about super inappropriate things, then they had the nerve to call their video “empowering”.

WARNING: VERY STRONG LANGUAGE

And here's the parody response to the potty-mouthed princesses: