Illinois Review

New poll shows that despite policing concerns, Chicagoans want police to spend more time in their neighborhoods

While Chicagoans share many concerns over the city’s policing practices, 79% want the police to spend the same amount of time or more in their neighborhoods. That’s one of the key findings of a new Wirepoints/Real Clear Opinion Research poll that looked at a range of attitudes in Chicago on policing, race and Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s performance.

The desire for more police holds true across the city’s North (76%), South (80%) and West Sides (85%), as well as across whites (79%), blacks (77%) and Hispanics (87%). Only 15% of blacks and 10% of Hispanics citywide said they want the police to spend less time in their neighborhoods.

More HERE

A word from attorney Thomas DeVore

Attorney Thomas DeVore has been counseling bar and restaurant owners in Illinois on how they can stay open despite Governor Pritzker's expanding second COVID shutdown wave.

He's represented State Rep. Darren Bailey in his lawsuit to limit the governor's powers and he's encouraged restaurants like the FoxFire restaurant in Kane County to win a temporary restraining order and keep their doors open. Here's what DeVore posted on his personal Facebook page Friday:

I need to explain something to all of you. If you have noticed recently, a great many business owners, politicians,...

Posted by Thomas DeVore on Friday, October 30, 2020

Beckman: Integrity isn't Kamala's strong suit

Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown w/Kamala Harris circa 1995

By Hank Beckman - 

Last week’s column listed six pants-on-fire whoppers in the vice presidential debate, where Kamala Harris introduced herself to much of the nation as someone who tosses off fibs—big and small—as casually as she changes clothes; integrity isn’t her strong suit.

If she ascends to the presidency after the guy from the basement inevitably has to give up the presidency or dies, no honest person can be surprised if she dissembles about the Green New Deal, foreign policy, or Medicare for All; lying wouldn’t violate any of the principles that have governed her life so far.

What’s even more troubling is that Ms. Harris’s career apparently got a significant boost the old fashioned way—through a relationship with a man.

Di Leo: Donald Trump and the Other Cold War

By John F Di Leo -

Between August and October, 2020, President Donald Trump engineered the negotiation of three peace accords in the Middle East – between Israel and three former enemies, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and now even Sudan.

 

These agreements represent the first time in 26 years that an Arab country has formally agreed to peaceful relations with Israel... and President Trump says his team is seeing such progress with others, he expects several more in the coming months. 

 

Those of us who have spent our lives watching the Middle East know how significant this is... but for the many who are more casual observers of the world scene, this doesn’t sound exciting at all.  “There wasn’t a shooting war, after all, so what’s the big deal,” people might ask. 

 

Well, that question requires both some history and some geographical perspective. 

 

Justice Amy Coney Barrett: a new model for working women?

By Rev. Ben Johnson - 

Judge Amy Coney Barrett became Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Monday night. Barrett has called herself “a different kind of lawyer,” and now she’s breaking new barriers. ACB may serve as an innovative model for professional women, as well as an opponent of misguided government programs and policies that encourage workplace discrimination against women.

“Tonight, Justice Barrett becomes not only the fifth woman to serve on our nation’s highest court, but the very first mother of school-aged children to become a Supreme Court justice,” said President Donald Trump at the ceremony – a fact that he deemed “very important.” That it is. Barrett has steadfastly confounded the outdated narrative that women must choose between home or work through her undeniable success in both roles.

Dr. Larry Ollison: How Do I Know Who to Vote For?

By Dr. Larry Ollison, Larry Ollison Ministries - 

We are a product of our choices. The world we are living in today was framed by the decisions we made yesterday and the world we will live in tomorrow is being framed by the decisions we make today. Our decisions in life not only determine our future, but the destiny of generations to come.

Unfortunately, many decisions are made on perceived realities, or perceived fear or emotions. Only decisions that are based on truth and agree with the Word of God will bring future peace and prosperity. When decisions are continuously a result of tradition, prejudice, or emotion, in time they will bring frustration and failure.

In America, we live in a republic that elects its leaders through a democratic process, and these elected leaders determine the laws that we live by. Sadly, many politicians are elected to office because of their personality, race, or influence instead of their qualifications and abilities.

Some may say the truth is relative and changes with our national culture. That is not true. Truth is a constant solid line that never varies. The truth is not affected by place of birth, color of skin, money, or the constantly changing culture within a nation. Truth is based upon the Word of God. Jesus said that He was the way and the truth (John 14:6) and that only knowing the truth would set us free (John 8:32). Without the truth, there is continual bondage and confusion.

This brings us to the question: how do I know who to vote for?

A Clash of Constitutions

Debate over judicial philosophy center around two distinct views of the Constitution. James O. McGinnis writes:

The Senate hearing on the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court shows that we effectively have two different Constitutions today, because the interpretive methodologies of Democratic and Republican political actors diverge so dramatically. Republicans embrace originalism as a mode of interpretation. Democrats aspire to a method that bends the Constitution toward “the moral arc of the universe” where that arc traces the parabola of progressive politics.

Most Notables with COVID Got Better

From Hollywood and opera houses to the halls of Congress, state houses, and even 10 Downing Street, the COVID-19 pandemic has left its mark on people of prominence around the world, in addition to President Trump.

And like the mere mortals far from the limelight who were forced to contend with the novel coronavirus, most of the notables emerged victorious from their ordeal. Each notable has his or her own story to tell.

See a short list of some big names and how they fared against COVID-19.

More HERE

Teachers union pays members $15/hr to walk for Democrat state senate candidate

Shorewood, IL – Suppose you were working hard with a limited budget to win back a Democrat state Senate seat in a district that should be solidly conservative Republican, and you found out a teacher union was paying its members to walk for her? 

That's what happened to GOP state Senate candidate Thomas McCullagh. McCullagh says Wednesday he "was presented" internal emails  from the American Federation of Teachers Union revealing the solicitation of local teachers to walk for Meg Cappel's campaign.

This email comes just days after school boards voted to keep classrooms closed, out of fear for the safety of teachers from Covid19. Democrat Meg Cappell was looking for help, wrote American Federation of Teachers Local 604 Support Staffer Kathy Harris: 

"Meg Cappel and her campaign office has contact AFT Local 604 looking for help in the last week before elections," the text says. Cappel wanted 200 people and AFT is willing to pay $15 an hour for walking precincts or making phone calls, up to $600.

Will Co Restaurant Owner responds to COVID shutdown

The Facebook post written by the Tap House Grill in Plainfield's owner HERE went on:

Amy Morgan: Following a childhood dream isn’t a rose garden in Illinois

WASHINGTON, IL - Amy Morgan, owner of Le Fleur Floral Design & Events in Washington, Illinois, says buying the business seven years ago was a “selfish decision” to pursue a childhood dream.

But her dream wasn’t easy to pursue in Illinois. It provided a few challenges she didn’t expect.

“I was fed up with the corporate world,” said Amy, a former insurance risk analyst. “But I didn’t realize how many years I’d have to go without a paycheck owning a business.”

Di Leo: Honest Nation or Banana Republic? A Role Model at the Crossroads

By John F. Di Leo - 

The United States proudly stands in its place as a “City on a Hill” – a beacon of honesty and fairness, for others all over the globe to emulate.

This isn’t new.   It dates back to the nation’s earliest days, when our Founding Fathers railed against the corrupt deals that were core to the British system of empire. 

Some of the colonies were deals between a king and a governing family, like the Penns of Pennsylvania.  Both purchases and sales here in the colonies had to be managed by politically connected merchants in London known as factors.  Whole industries were outright banned here, in order to protect the politically connected manufacturers back home in England.

It was a crooked system, and our ancestors opposed it.

Lawmakers demand Pritzker answer questions on COVID shutdowns

SPRINGFIELD - Restaurants across the state are being forced to shut down despite the lack of data showing that they are the culprit for the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, says a group of Illinois suburban legislators, who also say the Governor has completely disregarded his original mitigation strategy, which would have allowed restaurants to remain open under reduced capacity.

Although requested many times by legislators, the Governor’s Administration and the Illinois Department of Public Health have failed to provide the “data and science” they claim is behind their recent resurgence mitigation rules that lumps bars and restaurants in the same category forcing both to close indoor service completely.

“Participating in a sit down dinner with your family versus drinking at a bar, mingling around, and standing shoulder to shoulder with strangers are vastly different activities with vastly different health risks,” said State Senator Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles). “So to place these activities in the same category with the same mitigation rules is simply unfair, especially to do so without providing contact tracing data that suggests these two activities result in the same outcomes.”

Orland Park Mayor uses COVID stats to challenge Pritzker's restaurant shutdown

ORLAND PARK - In response to Governor Pritzker's newest COVID restaurant and bar shutdowns in Cook County (effective Wednesday at 12:01 am), Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau released a video message to Orland Park citizens. 

The governor continues to move the goalposts," Pekau said. "This is about control and power and not about science and data. His restrictions targeting restaurants are capricious ..." 

Pekau goes on to cite Illinois Department of Public Health stats to raise questions about the Governor's plan - including citing DuPage County COVID stats that do not show DuPage restaurants as a key source of COVID transmission. 

BREAKING: Cook Co Commissioner calls on Pritzker to assure no COVID voting interference Nov 3

CHICAGO - A letter sent out to Chicago Democrats from Chicago Alderman Ed Burke fueled a rumor sizzling among political insiders Wednesday night: Would Governor Pritzker manipulate the state's COVID numbers to justify another statewide shutdown just days before the November 3rd election? 

Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison called on Governor Pritzker to publicly assure Illinois voters that would not happen. 

"I publicly challenge the governor to assure Illinois voters he will not interfere with the November 3rd election by proclaiming an emergency COVID shutdown similar to the one he proclaimed in March," Commissioner Morrison told Illinois Review Wednesday evening. 

An emphasis on Early Voting coming from Democrat political insiders is causing a sense of concern among Illinoisans who are seeing the Governor shutdown restaurants and bars throughout the state, one region at a time.

Commissioner Morrison pointed to the wording in Burke's letter as a basis for concern that he's hearing.

United States of America versus Google

On October 20, the Department of Justice (DoJ) filed a long overdue antitrust lawsuit against search engine giant Google.

According to a DoJ press release, "[a]s one of the wealthiest companies on the planet with a market value of $1 trillion, Google is the monopoly gatekeeper to the internet for billions of users and countless advertisers worldwide.  For years, Google has accounted for almost 90 percent of all search queries in the United States and has used anticompetitive tactics to maintain and extend its monopolies in search and search advertising."

More HERE

Ben Sasse’s Basic American Civics

A timely lesson in civics from Sen. Ben Sasse. Mike Sabo writes:

American civics has nothing to do with partisanship. It is, rather, the “stuff we’re all supposed to agree on,” no matter our policy differences. It’s the bedrock principles that we were supposed to learn in school – for example, “Congress writes laws, the executive branch enforces laws, and courts apply them,” as Sasse explained.

The American founders believed that all citizens needed a basic working knowledge of republican principles and how the government should properly function. As Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free . . . it expects what never was and never will be.”

Staver: Seize and Destroy - The War on Churches

By Matt Staver - 

In the wee hours of Sunday, May 17, 2020, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot tried to incite hatred against our client, Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church.

That morning, with no notice, the mayor banned people from parking in their own curbside parking spots. Every street-side car for nine blocks surrounding Elim Romanian Pentecostal church was towed. A letter was sent to residents declaring that their cars had been towed because of the church’s refusal to bow to Gov. Pritzker’s illegal church shutdown orders.

The message to Pastor Ionescu and his church was clear – give up now or the entire neighborhood will be punished for your defiance…along with all the church’s members.

NRCC poll shows King closing in on incumbent Democrat Cheri Bustos

EAST MOLINE – As the Illinois 17th Congressional District race tightens one week before the Nov. 3 General Election, Republican challenger Esther Joy King released a fourth TV commercial showing U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos is increasingly leaving constituents behind, a press release from her campaign says.

"Illinois families are struggling, yet Washington ignores us," according to the King spot "Gone Washington." "Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats are pushing a devastating agenda, crushing families and small businesses back home and Cheri Bustos is blindly following, voting with Nancy Pelosi 100% of the time, voting against tax relief for families ($1,442 a year)."

"Cheri Bustos, who is she working for, because it's not us?" the spot asks.

Thorner/O’Neil: Our Constitutional Republic is at stake, thanks to expected voter fraud

Cleveland.com photo 

By Nancy Thorner & Bonnie O'Neil - 

How prevalent is voter fraud? Unfortunately, it remains a serious problem in our nation, especially in the states that legalized "Ballot Harvesting.”  

Many citizens have the advantage of having their ballot mailed to them. They can then fill out their ballot and mail it back in the envelope provided by the voter registrar in their state or county.  

Ballot harvesting, however, allows anyone to go door to door and gather other voters’ ballots.  These “gatherers” are often hired to go door to door in areas far from where they live, claiming to citizens they will take their ballots to the proper source; some gatherers even offer to help the individuals fill out their ballots. This might sounds like a nice and thoughtful gesture to employ, particularly for those who are elderly or ill. However, everyone is not honest.  Surrendering your ballot to a stranger is not a good idea, particularly when it isn’t necessary.

Di Leo: It's time to stop lying about Tom Morrison and other GOP lawmakers

By John F. Di Leo -

I was born in Chicago, and I’ve lived in suburban Cook County most of my life.

I am also a law-abiding, employed, patriotic devotee of the vision of our Founding Fathers, particularly the Framers of the Constitution.

Unfortunately, these two facts – my geographical location and my worldview – are at odds.  Because of where I live, I have negligible representation in my government.

Where’s Weyermuller? With President Trump in Waukesha, Wisconsin

By Mark Weyermuller -

President Donald  J. Trump is barnstorming the country holding  huge rallies in battleground states this week. Saturday night,  I headed up to the Waukesha County Airport just north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin to attend his rally.  

Op-ed Marty Ozinga: Springfield should not be trusted with more taxes

An op-ed published first in Crain's Chicago Tuesday am by Marty Ozinga, President of Ozinga Bros - 

Fifty years ago, 116 delegates from 58 state senatorial districts were elected to represent the citizens of Illinois to draft a new state Constitution. My grandpa, Martin Ozinga Jr., was proud to be one of those delegates. One important part of that Constitution was the language limiting the power of the state government to tax its citizens. After much debate, the current state income tax structure was adopted as part of the Illinois Constitution, making it very difficult to change without the approval of a significant majority of the citizens of Illinois. This flat tax structure has been in place ever since. The wisdom of that decision is on the ballot this November.

My grandpa made the argument from the floor that government couldn’t be trusted to keep its word that it would limit the extent as to how many people a graduated tax rate would affect. He reminded people that the federal government’s original income tax was a single digit percentage tax and the government gave assurances at the time that it wouldn’t ever be much more than that. We know how that worked out. He pointed out that government, left unchecked, would continue to tax its citizens more and more. 

Today, there are promises being made that the so called “fair tax” will only affect a small number of higher income residents, that the middle class and lower income earners will not be affected. The likelihood of this being true indefinitely is extremely low. Even if you were inclined to trust what our Springfield politicians are saying about it, those making promises today will not be the people in power tomorrow.

Top-Down White Penitence Is Shaking Up and Roiling the American Workplace

A white physician working in Raleigh, North Carolina, says he has participated in multiple diversity training exercises—including two in the last two years—without a fuss. But he was taken aback when his employer, Duke University Health System, said this summer it will roll out a comprehensive strategy to purge the last vestiges of racism from the workplace.

The way it looks to him, Duke basically wants him to admit he’s a racist and repent.

Like a growing number of organizations around the country responding to the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement, Duke is adopting anti-racist advocacy as an organizational mission.

That mission doesn’t mention time-honored workplace goals like color-blindness, meritocracy, or equal opportunity; instead, its target is the so-called complicity of America and its citizens in “structural racism,” “oppression,” and denialism.

More HERE

Capitalism or Socialism: Which One Is More Democratic?

What is the difference between free-market capitalism and democratic socialism? And which system is actually more fair and responsive to the needs of the people? Here’s a hint: names can be deceiving. Dinesh D’Souza has the answers.

Civil Society Can Usher in a New Era of Education

Civil Society may save American K-12 education. Jude Schwalbach and Garret Hoff write:

It’s an article of faith among many conservatives, and some liberals, that we’re being swept by a Maoist cultural revolution destined to transform American society into a woke collective. Yet before surrendering basics like equality of opportunity, social order, and free speech to leftist authoritarians, we should consider whether they’re the ones who will wind up getting canceled.

Most Americans don’t favor defunding police or instituting race quotas; they are wary of the costs connected with the Green New Deal and of allowing Washington to control local zoning. Many are already voting with their feet, fleeing places that promote these ideas and seeking out areas aligned with more recognizable American values. Over the past 20 years, virtually all the most progressive large states—New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and California—have suffered massive outmigration, while red or purplish states like Florida, Texas, the Carolinas, or Arizona welcome more and more Americans to resettle there. On the metropolitan level, even before Covid-19 accelerated the trend, a steady, largely unacknowledged, movement from the deep-blue core to the less progressive suburbs or exurbs has been underway.

Carlos Ron: Venezuela’s Dictator Hugo Chavez Packed the Courts

By Carlos Ron - 

Almost from the moment Republicans said they intended to fill the Supreme Court seat vacated by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Democrats began to vow they would pack the court if Republicans went through with their plan.

“If [Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell] holds a vote [on a Supreme Court nominee] in 2020, we pack the court in 2021. It’s that simple,” Rep. Joe Kennedy, D-Mass., said the weekend Ginsburg died.

As a Venezuelan, this is not the first time I have seen an authoritarian measure like this. Changing the rules also was a strategy of Hugo Chavez, the former president of Venezuela.

Chavez had two fundamental rules—expel those on the court who were not attached to his party, and add enough seats to ensure his will was done. Chavez increased the number of judges on Venezuela’s highest court from 20 to 32 in 2004, and in so doing secured victories for himself until his death in 2013.

More HERE

Frustrated Suburban Mom to Gov Pritzker: We are done.

An open letter to Governor JB Pritzker from a suburban mom who's had enough with how he's dealing with COVID-19 in Illinois.

She says, "We are done" in a letter posted on "The Politics of Parenting" website.  Part of her thoughts:

Because of you.

Because of you, more restaurants are closing their doors permanently because they cannot survive another shut down.

Because of you more homes will be foreclosed. More cars repossessed. More college funds drained. Hopes and dreams lost as we remain powerless in your hands.

Because of you, another teen suicide was reported just yesterday, because teens are NOT meant to be secluded, and some literally cannot handle the isolation.

Because of you, those parents must grieve a loss that never should have happened.

She continues ... HERE

Pritzker demands more restaurants, bars to serve outside only again - despite snowy weather

COOK COUNTY - It snowed in parts of Cook and DuPage counties Monday, emphasizing how devastating Governor Pritzker's shutdown COVID-19 decrees now expanding to the most-populated Cook County will be for the area's restaurants and bars. In his shutdown orders focused on bars and restaurants, he allows only outside tables, and those until 11:00 PM.

While the Rockford area and Chicago suburban DuPage, Kane, Will and Kankakee counties were shut down last Friday, the governor's office calls for these rules to extend to more areas - Regions 4 (Metro East) and 10 (Cook County) starting Wednesday, October 28 at 12:01 am:

Bars 

• No indoor service 
• All outside bar service closes at 11:00 p.m. 
• All bar patrons should be seated at tables outside 
• No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)  
• Tables should be 6 feet apart  
• No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting 
• No dancing or standing indoors 
• Reservations required for each party 
• No seating of multiple parties at one table 

Restaurants 

• No indoor dining or bar service 
• All outdoor dining closes at 11:00 p.m. 
• Outside dining tables should be 6 feet apart 
• No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting 
• Reservations required for each party  
• No seating of multiple parties at one table 

Meetings, Social Events, Gatherings 

• Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25 percent of overall room capacity 
• No party buses 
• Gaming and Casinos close at 11:00 p.m., are limited to 25 percent capacity, and follow mitigations for bars and restaurants, if applicable 

These mitigations do not currently apply to schools.

Thorner: Censorship and Propaganda Run Rampant in Closing Days of Nov. 3rd Election

By Nancy Thorner - 

“Censoring and propaganda are but two strategies that shape and mold a population." 

Psychiatry professor Albert Biderman’s “chart of coercion” includes the following methods, all of which can be clearly related to the COVID-19 response.  Biderman’s article is worth reading in its entirety, Fear Secures Obedience in Covid-19,War.

The "Chart of Coercion:"

• Isolation techniques — Quarantines, social distancing, isolation from loved ones and solitary confinement.
• Monopolization of perception — Monopolizing the 24/7 news cycle, censoring dissenting views and creating barren environments by closing bars, gyms and restaurants.
• Degradation techniques — Berating, shaming people (or even physically attacking) those who refuse to wear masks or social distance, or generally choose freedom over.
• Induced debility — Being forced to stay at home and not be able to exercise or socialize.
• Threats — Threatening with the removal of your children, prolonged quarantine, closing of your business, fines for noncompliance with mask and social distancing rules, forced vaccination and so on.
• Demonstrating omnipotence/omniscience — Shutting down the whole world, claiming scientific and medical authority.
• Enforcing trivial demands — Examples include family members being forced to stand 6 feet apart at the bank even though they arrived together in the same car, having to wear a mask when you walk into a restaurant, even though you can remove it as soon as you sit down, or having to wear a mask when walking alone on the beach.
• Occasional indulgence — Reopening some stores and restaurants but only at a certain capacity, for example. Part of the coercion plan is that indulgences are always taken away again, though, and they’re already saying we may have to shut down the world again this fall.
• The Trampling of Privacy and Human Rights--The technocracy’s fingerprints are also evident in the invasive, privacy-shredding tracking and tracing programs that have been rolled out around the world, and the repeated warning that unless every man, woman and child gets vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, life will never go back to normal.

The truth is, the technocrats have no intention of ever letting us go back to normal. The plan is to alter society permanently. Part of that alteration is the removal of civil liberties and human rights, and it is now happening at breakneck speed.

Di Leo: Early Voting and the Costs of Lessons Learned

By John F. Di Leo - 

Some of us have been warning you all about the many risks in “early voting” for quite a while... there is always more to learn about candidates, and, strangely enough, most of it hits during the month of October. 

Some of you, for example, voted early, for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris... before the most recent debate, before the huge revelations about Joe Biden's family and their corruption network, which has now proven to be so much bigger than most of us ever suspected. 

How many Americans voted for Biden, days or weeks ago, and are now kicking themselves for voting before all the information was in?

Dr. James Dobson: The national election isn't about you

Dr. James Dobson

COLORADO SPRINGS - Dr. James Dobson, founder of Dr. James Dobson Family Institute and one of America's modern Christian Conservative movement's most revered elders, broke his silence on the upcoming election with an open letter to like-minded voters: 

With all respect, the national election isn’t about you. It certainly isn’t about me. It is about our kids and grandkids. It is about those who are yet to come, if they are allowed to live. This vote has awesome implications for future generations and the nation we love. It is about our Constitution and the immutable, God-given rights it protects. It is about values, and truth, and greatness, and hope. That is why the notion of choosing a president based on frivolous personality characteristics, such as style or rhetoric, misses the mark.

This election is for all the marbles… the next Chief Executive, the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Supreme Court. Together, they set the agenda for this country.

If you love America and don’t want it to be “fundamentally transformed,” it is time to do three things:

1. Pray like never before that God will spare this great nation from tyranny and oppression of religious liberty.

2. Volunteer to help your candidates.

3. Vote for the candidates who will best uphold your values and convictions.

Dobson encourages like-minded voters to share his open letter with friends, family, and others whom the reader might influence.

Does Biden Endorse the 'Great Reset'?

Joe Biden delivered a campaign speech in July that contained some language that sounds eerily similar to the talking points provided by the biggest supporters of the socialist Great Reset.

Government Worsened the COVID Crisis

There is no doubt that 2020 has become a unique event in almost everyone’s life due to the Coronavirus and the response of almost all governments everywhere in the world.

Few would disagree that we have been and are living through some unprecedented times in 2020. A global pandemic, government-imposed and mandated lockdowns and shutdowns of much of the world’s economic activities and social interactions, and total government debts that cumulatively are almost equal to the global economy’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

But while comparisons are being made between the impacts and effects of the coronavirus and the Great Depression of the 1930s and the war years of the 1940s, they are not really anywhere alike. To begin with, the Second World War cost the lives of an estimated 50 million people, combining military and civilian lives lost. Advancing and retreating armies and air bombardments undertaken by all sides in that conflict destroyed an immense amount of the world’s physical capital, especially in Europe and parts of Asia. Nothing during the last year comes even close to this from the coronavirus.

More HERE

Sunde: The forgotten child: Pandemic policies are leaving kids behind

By Joseph Sunde - 

The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed many victims, from the millions who have contracted the virus directly to many others who continue to endure its social and economic disruptions.

The suffering has been particularly acute for the children who continue to be confined at home, whether struggling to adapt to remote-learning regimens or remaining mysteriously absent altogether. For low-income and minority families, in particular, the road is even more difficult. As Jonathan Chait recently put it, “The social damage will not be spread evenly.”

Meanwhile, somewhat paradoxically, the public-health case for school reopening seems only to grow stronger. According to economist Emily Oster of Brown University, “Schools do not, in fact, appear to be major spreaders of COVID-19.” Observing a range of evidence from multiple states, Oster summarizes her findings as follows:

The Heinous Team-Up of Harris and Planned Parenthood

As California's attorney general, Kamala proved she'll be the most radical pro-abortion president ever.

It’s hard to believe some pro-life Christians are about to vote for Joe Biden, despite his strong pro-abortion stance and his other anti-Christian, anti-religious liberty policy preferences.

But upon reading a letter from some prominent ones, we see that these so-called Christians aren’t worried much about the killing of preborn babies. Instead, it’s racism and climate change that keeps them up at night.

It’s probably a good thing this group of radical leftists disguised as evangelicals doesn’t care much about abortion, because it’ll have good company if Kamala Harris becomes the next president. (Does anyone really think Biden will finish out his first term?) Then we’ll have the most radical pro-abortion president in American history.

More HERE

New Trump Ad: Joe Biden will ban fracking and destroy the energy industry.

On the heels of last night's debate, the Trump Campaign today launched a new ad exposing Joe Biden's plans to ban fracking and destroy the energy industry.

This ad will air in Pennsylvania and as a part of the $55 million in combined spending between the Republican National Committee and the Trump Campaign in the closing weeks of the election.

20 Things You Should Know about Pritzker's "Fair Tax" amendment

CHICAGO – Wirepoints’ new report lays out a set of 20 facts Illinoisans should know amid the complex and conflicting messaging appearing in ads across the state.

“All Illinoisans should know the facts regarding Illinois progressive tax,” says Ted Dabrowski, President of Wirepoints.

Some of the facts in Wirepoints’ report include:

• No. 2. What Illinoisans are not voting on. Illinoisans are not voting on tax rates. The amendment does not ensure 97% of Illinoisans will pay the same or less in taxes. Nor does it limit lawmakers to raising taxes only on the wealthy. The progressive tax structure allows the state to impose higher rates on any income group.
• No. 4. Without reforms, the proposed $3.1 billion progressive tax hike falls billions short of covering Illinois’ $10 billion structural deficit. The state’s structural deficit is made up of an annual budget shortfall of some $3-$4 billion, $1 billion needed annually to pay down the state’s unpaid bills, and $5 billion in missing actuarially-required retirement costs.

Illinois family moving to Indiana for in-person learning and sports

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and a suburban family is doing just that.

They are leaving Wheaton behind and moving to Indiana, so their kids can go to school in-person and play sports.

“It's been something, it's been cooking for a while. We did a lot of research on it,” said Dave Ruggles.

With high school winter sports up in the air and with in-person learning not an option, Ruggles has made the decision to relocate.

“Indiana starts with the premise that you need to have kids in school and playing sports, and Illinois has the approach of we're going to cut and run at the first sign of trouble,” he said.

More HERE

Pope Francis Calls for Civil Unions for Same-Sex Couples

Pope Francis called for the creation of civil union laws for same-sex couples in a new documentary that aired in Rome on Wednesday, breaking from the Vatican’s stance on the issue.

“Homosexuals have a right to be part of the family,” he said in Francesco, a documentary about his life, according to the Catholic News Agency. 

Read More

NPR Goes Full 'Enemy of the People,' Gives Astonishing Reason They Won't Cover Joe Biden Scandal

Taxpayer-funded NPR announced Thursday on Twitter that it is not covering the Hunter Biden laptop scandal because it’s not really a story, which prompted widespread backlash online.

“Why haven’t you seen any stories from NPR about the NY Post’s Hunter Biden story?” NPR wrote on Twitter.

NPR then answered the question, writing: “We don’t want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories, and we don’t want to waste the listeners’ and readers’ time on stories that are just pure distractions.”

More HERE

Pro-Democrat Navy Veteran: Hunter Asked Dad To ‘Sign-Off’ On Deals

A U.S. Navy Veteran who reportedly was a former business partner of Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, unloaded on Biden in a statement early on Thursday morning, saying that Biden lied to the American people when he claimed that he did not talk to his son about his son’s business dealings.

Tony Bobulinski, who left the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant, says that the few political donations that he has made in his life have been to Democrats. Bobulinski said in a statement to the New York Post that he has been contacted by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs and the Senate Committee on Finance requesting that he produce all documents related to his business dealings with the Biden family and noted that he is moving to immediately comply with the request.

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Lindsey Graham Derail Democrats’ Barrett Boycott Plans, Send Chuck Schumer Scrambling

Democrat plans to derail a Senate Judiciary Committee vote approving Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation to the Supreme Court ended up in shambles Thursday after Republicans moved up the vote by several hours, leaving Democrats scrambling to respond.

The vote to recommend Barrett be confirmed to the Supreme Court was scheduled for 1 pm, but after learning that Democrats on the panel planned to boycott the hearing, they moved up the vote to 9 am. Barrett’s nomination was passed out of committee on a party-line vote, 12-0.

Typically, a Democrat boycott might have forced the Judiciary Committee out of session, since it prevented the formation of a quorum, but Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-CA) allowed for a last-minute rule change, giving Republicans the power to pass Barrett out of committee on a simple majority vote.

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Nursery founder says Illinois' progressive tax proposal is like "pouring money down a dark hole"

ST. CHARLES - The company Peter Orum and his wife Irma started in 1969 now employs 300 people during Chicagoland’s growing season.

The Orums planted Midwest Groundcovers’ roots into five acres in St. Charles, Illinois. 51 years later, they’ve expanded to 700 acres in Illinois and Michigan.

“We can’t pick up our business easily. This is why Illinois’ political climate is a big problem for us,” Orum said. Midwest Groundcovers demands the very soil on which it exists, and the vast majority of it is in Illinois. “We can’t just pack up, load up and leave …”

Peter Orum came to America in the 1960s to pursue a dream, just as millions of other immigrants. He was born in Denmark into a family with a small nursery business where he learned naturally about plants, soil, and gardening. He studied as an apprentice in horticulture during his teen years and entered the Danish Army at age 19.

While in the Army, Orum learned about engineering, building and managing while rising to the lieutenant rank in two short years.

Rod Blagojevich endorses Willie Wilson over Durbin or Curran for US Senate

CHICAGO - The once-Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich is endorsing candidates in the upcoming election - and thus far, he's avoiding Democrat candidates. 

A few weeks ago, Blagojevich - who received a prison commutation from President Donald Trump earlier this year - picked Donald Trump in the November 3rd election over Democrat challenger Joe Biden. He also made know his support for a Republican running for State Senate - Tom McCullagh. 

This week, a press release was sent out on behalf of Blagojevich, saying he was supporting Willie Wilson (of the Willie Wilson Party) for U.S. Senate in November over Democrat incumbent Dick Durbin or Republican challenger Mark Curran. 

Thorner: Defining Factors in November Election

By Nancy Thorner - 

This election is all about corruption, particularly Chinese corruption.

“American Universities failed to report $6.5 billion in foreign gifts and contracts, an investigation by the Department of Education found...Universities reported receiving a total of more than $19.6 billion in foreign gifts and contracts from 2014 to 2020, including nearly $1.5 billion from China, almost $3.1 billion from Qatar, and more than $1.1 billion from Saudi Arabia...”

Facebook and the rest of the Silicon Valley oligarchs have also been thoroughly bribed by CHINA, which is why they are censoring the Hunter Biden story.

William Barr's March 24, 2019 letter summarizing the Mueller report was the start of the most bizarre election of my lifetime.  Russiagate helped the Democrats take back the House but wasn't going to help them beat Trump.   Biden had to get in the race then, because only Biden could raise the money needed because of his proven track record of delivering for the Chinese and other special interests.  This was confirmed during the summer of 2019 when heart throbs of the Democrat Establishment like Beto O'Rourke and Kamala Harris crashed and burned.  With typical Alinskyite tactics of accusing others of what you yourself are doing, impeachment of Trump over his request to get a computer showing the Biden's activities in Ukraine was used to cover up Biden's crimes.

What Kenosha Looks Like After the Democrat's Antifa Riots

In just 48 hours, over 40 businesses in the quiet city of Kenosha, Wisconsin were ravaged by violence, according to the Kenosha Area Business Alliance. Rioters looted and torched shops on the nights of Aug. 23 and 24.

Letter Threatens To Burn Homes Of New Hampshire Trump Supporters: ‘You Have Been Given Fair Warning’

Someone is sending letters to Trump supporters in New Hampshire, threatening to burn down their homes if President Trump loses the presidential election but will not concede defeat.

As WMUR reported, the letter, which Milford police stated has been sent to various homes in the town displaying support for the president, stated:

Dear neighbor. You have been identified by our group as being a Trump supporter. Your address has been added to our database as a target when we attack should Trump not concede the election. We recommend that you check your home insurance policy and make sure that it is current and that it has adequate coverage for fire damage. You have been given “Fair Warning.” Always remember, it was “you” that started this Civil War. Be prepared to face the severe consequences of your pre-emptive actions against democracy.

More HERE

Rossi: Hard Proof That Shutting Down Schools Is Child Abuse

By Randy Rossi - 

We are getting more proof every day that we are causing massive unnecessary harm to our kids that will hurt them for all their lives by shutting down our schools and replacing “In person learning” with disastrous “Virtual Learning”. The fact is that we are committing massive child abuse as a nation by allowing irrational and hysterical fear to rule over facts, logic, and love for our kids. Pretty strong criticism right? Well, here are the facts. First and foremost, The CDC just announced that as of October 10, only 74 kids under the age of 15 have died from Covid 19. Compared to that, during the 2019-2020 flu season, 434 children under the age of 18 died from the annual flu. That means the annual flu is almost 6 times more likely to kill our kids than COVID 19.  Do we shut down our schools every year because of the flu? Of course not. Why are we shutting down our schools now? There are over 50 million kids in the USA under 15 which means that only 0.000148% of our kids under 15 have died from Covid 19 so far, yet we have shut down all our schools. That’s insane. On top of all that, if a kid is unlucky enough to catch Covid 19, the CDC has reported their survival rate from COVID 19 is 99.997! Why the heck did we shut down our schools? The odds of our kids catching and dying from COVID 19 are about the same as getting hit by lightning.

DuPage Co family restaurant says they're staying open despite "Dictator Pritzker's" COVID shutdown orders

GLENDALE HEIGHTS - An 80 year old family restaurant in Glendale Heights declared on Facebook Wednesday they would defy "Dictator Pritzker's" COVID eat-in restaurant shutdown orders this weekend for DuPage, Will, Kane and Kankakee counties.

Ki's Steak & Seafood Restaurant on North Avenue in Glendale Heights declared on their marquee, "We are Americans" and that they are "Free and Open."

Tuesday, Governor JB Pritzker declared all eat-in restaurants in DuPage, Will, Kane and Kankakee counties to shut down starting Friday, due to an uptick in COVID cases in those areas. The Rockford region is already under similar orders.

Public health officials announced 4,342 new confirmed cases of COVID in Illinois Wednesday, with 59 additional deaths - the vast majority of which died were 70 years and older. 

"We are standing up for our freedom and we will stay open!" the restaurant's Facebook page said. "...No one is going to tell us we can't live out the American dream."

The restaurant is located just west of I-355 on North Avenue in Glendale Heights, Illinois.