Illinois Review

Pastors and Churches should ignore threats to be silent

WASHINGTON –  Pastors and churches should ignore hollow threats to be silent regarding biblical and moral issues that are relevant to this election, says Liberty Counsel.  Once again, like a broken record, Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State is sending out baseless, threatening letters to pastors.

“Americans United has not won a single threat against a church regarding tax-exempt status. No church has ever lost its tax-exemption over political activity,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “The best use of a letter from Barry Lynn is to line the bottom of a birdcage,” he said.

In the letter, Lynn states: “You should be aware that some national organizations have been urging religious leaders to engage in problematic activities. For example, you may be asked to distribute ‘voter guides’ during services or to make them available to your congregants. I urge you to be very wary of such overtures.”

Illinois Citizens for Life releases list of pro-life candidates on 2016 ballot

CHICAGO - Illinois Citizens for Life surveyed and reviewed public statements and/or voting records of candidates on the Illinois November 8th ballot on pro-life issues. Their findings are reflected on the group's scorecard released Monday.

The group - headed by lobbyist Ralph Rivera - gave the highest rating - a "U" - to presidential Republican candidate Donald Trump and a "1" to Trump's running mate, Mike Pence. Hillary Clinton received a "4" and her running mate Tim Kaine a "3." (Note: Updated after story's original publication)

None of the Illinois candidates for U.S. Senate received a "1" rating. ICL scored the top two candidates - Democrat Tammy Duckworth and Republican incumbent Mark Kirk - both with a "4" - indicating they are both "totally opposed to pro-life issues." 

Among congressional candidates, incumbent Democrat Dan Lipinski (03), Republican incumbents Peter Roskam (06), Mike Bost (12), Rodney Davis (13), Randy Hultgren (14), John Shimkus (15), Adam Kinzinger (16) and Darin LaHood (18) were rated with a "1" - meaning they are fully pro-life. (Davis and Kinzinger with a #, indicating a rape/incest exception) 

Among Republican U.S. Congressional challengers, 11th District's Tonia Khouri received a 1# rating and Patrick Harlan (17) with a 1 rating. 

None of the candidates for state comptroller are known to hold pro-life views, according to the scorecard.

Eleven state Senate candidates are listed as pro-life, and 57 candidates for the state House were given the top score. 

Several county and judicial candidates were rated as pro-life.

Review the ICL's Scorecard here. 

Latest video suggests illegal campaign coordination between Clinton and DNC campaigns

NEW YORK - Adults dressing up as Donald Duck and appearing at various Trump activities to antagonize the Republican presidential candidate and his supporters are the topic of the latest undercover video released by Project Veritas.

The conversations with Democrat operatives Bob Creamer and Scott Foval, recorded by conservative activist James O'Keefe, suggest Secretary Hillary Clinton may have been illegally consulted and gave approval for the mascot following around Trump.

Americans for Prosperity ex dir encourages "Yes" on Safe Roads Amendment

NAPERVILLE - Even among conservatives, there's a difference of opinion on whether or not Illinois voters should support amending the State Constitution to require all transportation funds be limited to use only for the state's infrastructure updates and repairs - a position benefitting construction companies and unions hold. 

The Americans for Prosperity Executive Director David From wrote in the News-Gazette back in August that he supports the Constitutional amendment, in contrast to Illinois Review's ("Is forcing a Constitutional amendment to fund safe roads the answer?") position. 

Trump supporter reported on cancelled Chicago rally agitators in March

CHICAGO - Soon after the Trump rally fiasco in Chicago in March 2016, a Trump supporter that was inside the University of Illinois-Chicago Pavillion gave an account of what happened from her perspective and shared it with Illinois Review readers. Her take lined up with what Democrat operatives described in the undercover videos being distributed by Project Veritas. 

In the first video released, Democrat operatives described how they hired mentally ill and homeless persons to agitate Trump rally attenders. Outside, U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (IL-04) was seen stirring up the crowd.

Suzanne Monk reported on how these agitators worked to successfully shut down the rally and keep Donald Trump out of the building and out of the area.

First published on March 29 - the details are HERE, and this is Monk's conclusion:

There is NOTHING to be proud of in a riot. No protest that erupts into that kind of violence and hate has ANY dignity to express. And most sad is the loss of understanding of free speech which is protected specifically from this kind of physical suppression thru intimidation.

I am changed after this. This election is not a debate. It is a BATTLE. The other side, the statists who demand larger government control and handouts, have drawn first blood. They are serious as a heart attack and will use any violent or aggressive tactic to win for their "leaders". They have no respect or understanding of Constitutional liberty, and many of them openly claim to seek to bring down society into anarchic chaos

You may notice my tone has changed since Friday. I'm no longer willing to stand down while a mob of racists and statists try to commandeer our once great nation. America is a nation of individual liberty, and that fact will be changed only over my dead body. You will have to pry my freedom from my cold dead hands. And I vow to do whatever it takes to restore my nation to it's former plural glory of "one nation under God"......starting with voting.

The rest is HERE. Related Illinois Review stories

• SCHAKOWSKY'S CHECK-KITING HUSBAND BEHIND TRUMP RALLY VIOLENCE, UNDERCOVER VIDEO REVEALS
• NEW UNDERCOVER VIDEO APPEARS TO SHOW DEMS' VOTER FRAUD SCHEME IN INDIANA, MICHIGAN
• CREAMER INDICATES HE IS "STEPPING BACK" FROM CLINTON CAMPAIGN
• GOP OPPONENT CALLS FOR SCHAKOWSKY'S RESIGNATION IN LIGHT OF UNDERCOVER VIDEOS

Creamer indicates he is "stepping back" from Clinton Campaign

CHICAGO - While Chicago mainstream media continue to censor any mention of videos released of Democrat operatives appearing to explain shady campaign operations while working for Leftist causes and candidates, Project Veritas' undercover videos are shaking the ranks. 

Tuesday, two featured in the secretly recorded conversations "stepped back" from responsibilities among the Democrat ranks. In one video, they appear to describe enlisting and paying activists to stir violence at Trump rallies and in another, they seem to outline schemes to commit voter fraud.

One of the recorded activists is Robert Creamer, who has served prison time in the past for bank fraud. He is married to Democrat Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09).

Creamer issued the following "stepping back" statement as a principal of Democracy Partners, which is paid by the Democrat National Convention. There was no clarification offered as to what exactly "stepping back" means for Mr. Creamer. 

New undercover video appears to show Dems' voter fraud scheme in Indiana, Michigan

Project Veritas' James O'Keefe rolled out a second video Tuesday in which a Democrat operative appears to explain to an undercover reporter how he and Chicago Democrat activist Robert Creamer scheme together to defeat Republicans in the polls. 

Scott Foval of People for the American Way appears to explain how people are brought in from other locations to vote and affect swing state elections. In the Midwest, Indiana and Michigan are this year's targets. 

Yesterday's video suggested Creamer's involvement in organizing a violent protest that caused Donald Trump to cancel a rally at the University of Chicago earlier this year.

Thus far, none of the major television networks nor mainstream newspapers have touched on O'Keefe's undercover investigations or videos.

Where's Weyermuller?At #P**ssygrabsback protest at Chicago's Trump Tower

By Mark Weyermuller - 

Things are heating up with less then 20 days till the election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Tuesday, about 200 anti-Trump protesters held an early morning demonstration in front of the Trump Tower in downtown Chicago. The plan was to form a human chain not allowing people into the hotel and condominium building that bears the Trump name.  The protesters were mostly women and many appeared to be students.

 

The protest (dubbed #pu****grabsback) was well organized and coordinated in several cities at the same time. Many of the participants were from Columbia College a few short blocks away. Several people mention that the students were given college credit to attend the event for one hour.

Schakowsky's check-kiting husband behind Trump rally violence, undercover video reveals

WASHINGTON - If you think accusations of corruption and election rigging are "loser hysteria," you need to take a few minutes and watch James O'Keefe's latest undercover video released Monday morning.

The video features the escapades of Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky's check-kiting husband Bob Creamer, who, according to one of his operatives, is a key instigator of Trump rally violence.

At about 3:30 in O'Keefe's latest 16 minute video, the subject turns to Bob Creamer, starting with an undercover interview with Creamer. 

"Wherever Trump and Pence are going to be, we have events," Creamer tells the undercover reporter. "And we have a whole team across the country that does that. Both consultants and people from the Democratic Party apparatus and people from the campaign, the Clinton campaign. And my role in the campaign is to manage all that."

O'Keefe provides background: 

Bob Creamer is Democracy Partners. He is the husband of Jan Schakowsky, a Democratic congresswoman from Chicago. In 2005, he pled guilty to tax violations and bank fraud. He was convicted and sentenced to five months in prison and 11 months of house arrest. He founded Democracy Partners in 2011. 

Creamer goes on in the undercover interview. "Just for a little orientation, Democracy Partners is kind of a group practice of a variety of consultants that do, essentially, a wide variety of different kinds of political consulting."

One of Creamer's associates says, "Bob Creamer is diabolical, and I love him for it." 

Colorado could be next state to legalize physician-assisted suicide

Governing.com reports on an initiative on Colorado's general election ballot that would legalize physician-assisted suicide. Polling in the state indicates 70 percent support the effort, while 22 percent oppose and 8 percent are undecided. In the state legislature, Democrats generally support the effort while Republicans oppose it.

The decades-old "pro-choice" movement appears to be evolving into an organization that not only embraces premeditated death for unborn children, but physician-assisted, self-inflicted death for those who seek it for themselves.

"My life. My decision." How effective they are in conveying that message will be tested on November 8th in Colorado.

Knight: The Last Real Election

Knight says Clinton win would assure a continued assault on the two-party system

By Robert Knight -

A Hillary Clinton presidency would bring many things, but one consequence is assured: a continued assault on our competitive, two-party political system.

We don't have to guess about this. Election integrity has been under siege for many years, particularly the past eight. Under Barack Obama, the Justice Department, the Internal Revenue Service, and even the FBI have been politicized and turned into blunt instruments against efforts to ensure honest elections or to hold miscreants accountable.

Under the dubious guise of a threat from Russian hacking, the Department of Homeland Security is laying the groundwork to interfere with the states' constitutional delegation of control over elections.

Foster: In case you missed it, Hillary Clinton is for open borders

By Howard Foster - 

Thanks to Wikileaks we know that Hillary Clinton gave a speech to a Brazilian bank in 2013 in which she said “My dream is a hemispheric common market, with open trade and open borders.” 

If the Trump campaign were focused on the real issues instead of survival, that statement would be front and center in the upcoming debate and might disqualify her for the presidency. No nominee of a major party has declared support for “open borders,” which means no restriction on immigration in our history.

Even during the decades of defacto open borders between the end of the Civil War and 1921, when severe restrictions were imposed for the first time, presidents always qualified their support for immigration by saying newcomers had to assimilate and could not be criminals, dangerous to public safety or likely to become a “public charge.”  The Democratic platform does not support open borders.  It supports our immigration laws (at least in theory) which limit the number of newcomers overall and by region of origin. 

Rhoads: Why I agree with Trump supporters on 6 points, but not others

By Mark Rhoads - 

Because I have been very critical of the Trump campaign, I want to emphasize those points that I agree with Trump supporters on and which points i do not.

First, I agree with Trump supporters that the main stream news media is biased against Donald Trump. There is nothing new about that. The TV and elite eastern newspapers owned by liberal publishers, have shown documented bias in both in news reporting and in columns and editorials against every GOP candidate for President since 1960.

Second, I agree that the failure of the FBI to recommend an indictment against Hillary Clinton for her blatant disregard for national security in using a private email server is not something that can be defended.

David Letterman to raise funds for Duckworth

CHICAGO - Although no details about when and where we included, Tammy Duckworth's campaign is offering an evening with retired late night host and comedian David Letterman. All one needs to do to enter the drawing is make a small donation before September 16th. 

"I have exciting news: David Letterman is coming to Chicago to help elect Tammy Duckworth to the U.S. Senate…and you could be there, writes Duckworth campaign director Leah Israel.

"Contribute by Sunday at midnight and you’ll be automatically entered to win a trip to Chicago for you and a guest to spend the evening with Tammy and David Letterman ..." the message says. 

"With an election season as crazy as this one, we could all use an evening of laughs. And most importantly, every dollar of your contribution will go towards electing Tammy and taking back the Democratic Senate majority."

A recent poll by Simon Institute shows Duckworth leading incumbent U.S. Senator Mark Kirk by 14 points, 48 to 34 percent.

IR Review: Kudos to the emerging Fifth Estate, "Madigan" rules

No matter how furiously Illinois' powers-that-be are working to suffocate interest in the newly-released documentary "Madigan: Power. Privilege. Politics," they can't overcome the 63 percent of the state's residents that disapprove of House Speaker Mike Madigan and their desire for truth about how their beloved state got in the dark hole where it is today.

Now a national laughingstock for appearing to tolerate political corruption, unprecedented debt and inability to pass a balanced budget, conscientious, big-shouldered Illinoisans are desperately searching for a way to escape further embarrassment and yes, ultimate financial destruction.

Naturally, Illinoisans look to the Fourth Estate for unbiased information and the courage to hold shady, power-mad politicians accountable. But over the years in Illinois, the mainstream media has been intimidated into silence, acceptance and finally, participation in an overall politically destructive plan.

To mix a couple of metaphors, we should walk a mile in their shoes before throwing stones at them for betraying us. How else can they gain access to the powers-that-be? And how else do they keep their jobs in a collapsing industry?

Dold boasts 7 point lead in IL's slightly blue 10th CD

Democrat Brad Schneider (l) and GOP Congressman Bob Dold (r) 

WASHINGTON - Incumbent Congressman Bob Dold (IL-10) is leading his Democrat challenger Brad Schneider by seven points, a new poll released by the Republican National Congressional Committee says.

That's significant in a blue state like Illinois in a Democrat-leaning district, where the Democrat presidential candidate at the top of the ticket is leading over her GOP rival by 25 points. 

The RNCC also boasts their poll shows Dold’s image at 45 favorable – 32 unfavorable, despite significant negative advertising by Schneider and Democrat groups. 

“Brad Schneider’s spin machine has spent millions to try and defame Bob Dold’s solid record of independent leadership, but it’s brutally clear voters aren’t buying the lies Schneider is selling and are poised to once again reelect Dold to represent their voices in Congress,” said NRCC Spokesman Zach Hunter in a memo released Thursday morning.

Catholic League's Bill Donahue calls for Clinton campaign manager to resign

The latest Wikileaks emails dropped reveals that George Soros and John Podesta have worked together to establish left wing Catholic groups - thus provoking the Catholic League's Bill Donahue to call for Hillary Clinton's campaign manager to resign immediately.

Donahue writes and posted on the Catholic League's website Wednesday:

Yesterday, I stopped short of asking Hillary Clinton to fire John Podesta, her campaign chairman. In light of the latest Wikileaks revelations, she has no choice but to cut all ties with this man. The man is hell bent on creating mutiny in the Catholic Church and must therefore be fired.

We have long known that George Soros is the single most influential donor to dissident, and anti-Catholic, organizations. Now we know from Wikileaks what I long have suspected: John Podesta has been the most influential point man running offense for Soros. Together, they have sought to manipulate public opinion against the Catholic Church.

UPDATE: Video ridiculing Illinois Policy's "Madigan" documentary banned from Vimeo

A notice made to resemble a press release from Illinois Policy Institute drawing attention to a 'hilarious trailer that mocks Illinois Policy institute's fake Madigan Documentary" hit media inboxes at 11:55 AM Wednesday morning. 

The email - from a phony address "illinoispolicy1@gmail.com" - linked to a video that has since been removed from Vimeo by a Illinois Policy Institute complaint, citing "copyright infringements." 

UPDATE: Illinois Media react to video censorship ... see below

Gay newspapers are unanimous: Hillary Clinton for President

CHICAGO - In an unprecedented move, all 12 of the nation's LGBT newspapers are each separately endorsing Democratic Hillary Clinton for president of the United States. 

Chicago-based Windy City Times, which has endorsed only once before in its 31 year history, is among the Clinton endorsers.

"This race for president is showing this country a clear choice of moving backward or moving forward on LGBTQ and other human rights," said NGMA spokesperson Tracy Baim, publisher of Windy City Times. "We know that the LGBTQ community is made up of diverse political voices. But the homophobia, transphobia, racism, anti-immigrant and sexist nature of Republican candidate Donald Trump means that we can't sit on the sidelines this election season."

It was at a New York City LGBT fundraiser that Clinton scorned Trump supporters as a "basket of deplorables" last month.

Democrats confident they'll regain U.S. Senate control

WASHINGTON - The Hill is reporting that Democrats are giddy that things are looking good for them to regain control of the U.S. Senate in November, and that Illinois' Mark Kirk will be one of the Republican casualties.

Democrats are now extremely confident they will capture control of the Senate next month in the wake of Donald Trump’s drop in the polls and an intensifying civil war in the Republican Party.

Winning the majority is a given, Democratic officials told The Hill, adding that signs point to a pickup of seven seats and possibly more on Election Day.

To win control of the Senate, Democrats need to pick up four seats on Nov. 8, or five if Trump wins the White House.

But they say the billionaire businessman has no chance of becoming commander in chief and that his bombshell comments about groping women have tilted races around the country.

Democrats contend they’re on track to pick up seats in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

O'Brien: Thank the Clintons for the coarsening of American society

The couple who helped middle schoolers learn all about oral sex—they are all about the children and education!—now see their political fortunes boosted by the decline of what we used to call “polite society.” ~ Teri O'Brien 

By Teri O'Brien - 

The last-century media’s latest “bombshell, “crude locker room remarks that Donald Trump made 11 years ago while appearing on an entertainment show are very revealing, but not in the way that many people think. Specifically, if it comes as a shock to you that Donald Trump said crude things about sex and women in the 1990’s, you should have been listening to Howard Stern’s show or watching the media coverage of the real estate mogul over the last 30 years.

News flash: this guy was the subject of a famous, or infamous, New York Post headline: “Best Sex Ever!” I wonder how much he had to pay them to write that….

In addition, another news flash: when men are hanging out in their man caves or out on the links, they sometimes say things they wouldn't want to have recorded and replayed at their Aunt Tilly’s next garden party gathering, or the PTA meeting. Not all men speak this way. I acknowledge that some don't ever utter these “abhorrent” “reprehensible” and “offensive” words. Most do. Live with it. 

UPDATE: Other senators join Kirk in calling for Trump to step down

CHICAGO - Immediately after a scandal-inducing video of Donald Trump and a Hollywood reporter hit the web Friday night, Illinois U.S. Senator Mark Kirk called on Trump to step down from his position as the Republican Party's presidential nominee.

Kirk has consistently condemned the Trump candidacy and has threatened to write-in military officials from General David Petreaus to former Secretary of State Collin Powell rather than vote for Trump.

UPDATE via The Hill

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) on Saturday morning rescinded his endorsement of Donald Trump, joining the list of Republicans distancing from the party's presidential nominee following leaked audio revealing Trump making obscene sexual remarks in 2005.

Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) have all called on Trump to leave the GOP presidential ticket as well. Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Martha Roby (R-Ala.) have rescinded their endorsements of Trump, and conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt has called on him to leave the presidential race.

Rhoads: Mike Pence for President

By Mark Rhoads - 

It is time for Donald Trump to end his childish and vulgar campaign against women and resign his nomination while there is still time for the Republican National Committee to replace Trump at the top of a new ticket.

There is still time for the RNC to save some down-ballot candidates and nominate Gov. Mike Pence, who can unite the party and defeat Hillary Clinton.

Mr. Trump supposedly issued two insincere "apologies" last night for the obscene statements he made about women to the host of the Access Hollywood TV show in 2005. The fake "apologies" will not be enough because his own words on tape go so far beyond what Trump dismissed as "locker-room banter" and called "a distraction."

National manufacturing group lauds nine Illinois Congress members' voting records

WASHINGTON DC - This week, the National Association of Manufacturing awarded Legislative Excellence awards to 301 members of Congress - including nine from Illinois. 

The NAM Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence honors members of Congress who demonstrate support for policies that enhance the ability of U.S. manufacturers to succeed in the global economy. 

All those from Illinois recognized for their scores are Republicans - eight members of the U.S. House and one from the U.S. Senate. 

New Simon Institute poll shows Illinois leaning Left in November

SPRINGFIELD - Depending on who is doing the polling and how those polls are interpreted, it is no surprise that Illinoisans as a whole are leaning towards Hillary Clinton and Tammy Duckworth for the November ballot's top two slots. 

The President in back in Chicago Friday to raise funds for them. 

To the degree Illinois voters are leaning Left depends on who is reporting.

President Obama acknowledges IL GOP Senate colleagues for career assistance

CHICAGO - At least three Illinoisans from the state's Republican ranks were recognized last Friday night at a White House reception for their part in helping President Barack Obama attain his success in politics: former State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont), former Republican Senate counsel Matt Jones and State Senator Chris Nybo (R-Lombard). 

Senator Nybo told Illinois Review that he first became acquainted with President Obama when the president was one of the Senator's law professors during the time Nybo attended the University of Chicago from 1999 to 2002.

"In 1999 (when [the President] ran against Bobby Rush in a Democratic congressional primary), I did volunteer work that was very similar to what I did in 1996 when Senator Bob Dole ran for President in the New Hampshire Primary," Nybo said.

"President Obama has always known I am Republican, and in fact gave me a lot of teasing when I told him I was volunteering for President Bush in 2000.  But I think he also knew that I am willing to work with and develop friendships with people who may not always agree with me. I'd like to think that's the reputation I'm developing in Springfield as well," he said.

Senator Nybo, who just was moved to a powerful position as Republican spokesman of the Senate Executive Committee, posted on his personal Facebook page about the event:  

Di Leo: Hillary Clinton and the Crime Campaign

By John F. Di Leo -  

We have long been accustomed to accusations of corruption concerning the Clintons.  Their family business is commonly known as the “Clinton crime machine,” and their biographies read like a rap sheet, listing scandal after scandal, from real estate fraud to rape, from investment fraud to bribery.

But the issue to be discussed today isn’t about Bill and Hillary Clinton and their personal corruption.   It’s completely policy-based:  Careful study of the Clinton-Kaine platform, amazingly, reveals – there’s just no other way to put it – a criminal-friendly, or arguably even pro-crime, agenda.

Perhaps this shouldn’t be so shocking, considering what we know of modern Democratic Party demographics and issue stances.  But to have gathered it all together in one place is truly surprising.

Biga: The Later Debates Are What Matters

By Frank J Biga III - 

There seems to be a lot of hand-wringing and angst on the GOP side over Donald Trump’s debate performance last Monday nite. To which I reply, "It won’t matter."

Did Obama’s abysmal and downright tired performance in the first debate affect him in 2012? No. Did Ronald Reagan’s seeming absent-mindedness affect the results in 1984? No. Did George Bush’s initial debate performance against John Kerry stop him from winning? No.

So there is little to justify this near panic by some in the GOP over the first debate. In fact, it sets up the expectations game for the coming debates and if Trump can improve each time (and save his choicest attacks for the last one), he will come out looking better and will poise his campaign for the final surge that will be needed to recapture our nation-state from those that wish its demise. But there is more to his debate performance than just the expectations game.

RNC releases new video: Tim Kaine interrupts

Tuesday night, Hillary Clinton’s and Donald Trump’s running mates, Tim Kaine and Mike Pence faced off in the vice presidential debate that defied "boring" expectations and instead was "stunning" at times. 

CBS News correspondent and CBSN anchor Elaine Quijano tried to moderate the 90-minute debate at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, but failed to keep Senator Tim Kaine from interrupting 72 times, according to the Republican National Convention's newly released video:

Letter: Vote "No" on Safe Roads Amendment

By Kelly Liebmann - 

This fall Illinois voters will make a choice on the ballot whether to support a constitutional amendment which would create a “lockbox” to prevent Illinois government from raiding transportation funds.

The legislation has been praised by politicians from both sides of the isle as a way to prevent them from raising taxes again. The amendment would guarantee all revenue raised through motor fuel tax, tollways, licenses and vehicle registration fees could only be spent on transportation projects, mass transportation, etc. and will not be diverted to fund other purposes.

Make no mistake Illinois taxpayers, this amendment does not protect funding for roads as our snake oil salesmen politicians would like you to believe. Monies from the lockbox will also be spent on government waste, planning, salaries, and any “necessary” projects our wonderful leaders choose.

Is forcing a Constitutional amendment to fund safe roads the answer?

SPRINGFIELD - A proposed amendment to the Illinois Constitution will be on the November 8th ballot, something that is news to most Illinoisans. Information from Secretary of State Jesse White is hitting mailboxes statewide and ads paid for by Citizens to Protect Road Funding are appearing online and on TVs. 

The argument they raise is that 4200 Illinois bridges and fifty percent of the state's roadways have fallen into disrepair and there's no money in the Illinois treasury to correct the situation.  Instead of keeping $6 billion in dedicated road funds safely set aside for infrastructure, state lawmakers passed budgets and bills that authorized "sweeping" the road fund over the past ten years to use elsewhere. 

That means Illinois' roads, highways and bridges are a mess with little hope of change. 

Former York Township GOP Committeeman publicly abandons Mark Kirk

ELMHURST - Immediately after Donald Trump became the Republican Party's presidential nominee, Chris Ladd resigned from his position as York Township GOP Committeeman and the Republican Party and made his reasoning public.

Tuesday, Ladd publicly blasted the state's incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Mark Kirk in Forbes.com because Ladd sees Senator Kirk as "a bitter disappointment, slipping into the timid habits of the party’s other moderates." Now, Ladd predicts, Illinois voters are about to bring him home. 

Ladd's condemnation of Kirk isn't because Kirk is too liberal. In the 30 year Republican's eyes, Kirk isn't liberal enough. 

Former President Clinton deems Obamacare "a crazy system that doesn't work"

FLINT MI- Monday, former President Bill Clinton raised eyebrows when he called Obamacare a "crazy system" where people end up with "premiums doubled and coverage cut in half." 

“… [I]nsurance companies and they’re getting whacked. So you’ve got this crazy system where all of a sudden 25 million more people have healthcare, and then the people who are out there busting it, sometimes 60 hours a week, wind up with their premiums doubled and their coverage cut in half and it’s the craziest thing in the world.”

While some are happy to hear a Clinton tell the truth about what's happening to health insurance with Obamacare, others say his comments are the beginning drumbeat for the European or Canadian single-payer system - one that's government controlled.

Illinois' Jill Stanek joins Trump's Pro-Life Coalition leadership

Jill Stanek (center) speaks with reporters

MOKENA - Mokena resident Jill Stanek has signed on as an advisor on the life issue to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, the campaign announced late last week. According to the published list of 32 of the national movement's most vocal leaders, Stanek alone hails from Illinois.

"I was happy to be asked to be a national pro-life co-chair for Trump. I am literally sickened by the prospect of Hillary Clinton being elected president," Stanek told Illinois Review Monday. "She would be catastrophic to preborn children."

Stanek said there is no question the former First Lady would push wider access and taxpayer funding of abortions - the main reason why pro-lifers need to support Trump.

Tryon endorses Allen Skillicorn to succeed him in 66th IL House district

MCHENRY - Monday, retiring State Representative Mike Tryon endorsed GOP nominee Allen Skillicorn to succeed him in representing the 66th District in the Illinois House. 

“Allen Skillicorn is a proven tax fighter with a record of success. As a village trustee he lowered taxes and demanded balanced budgets. The General Assembly needs people like Allen who will stand up to the tax-and-spend policies of Mike Madigan and his super-majority,” Tryon said in a statement.

Tryon, who has served eight terms in the Illinois House, said the only way to eliminated the "Madigan grip" in Springfield is to add to the number of Republicans in the House. 

Dold snubs GOP nominee Trump and party platform in latest ad

Congressman Bob Dold (IL-10) is very proud of his independence from the Republican Party's presidential nominee and the GOP's conservative leadership in the U.S. House. He boasts of how he's parted with their pro-Second Amendment and pro-life positions in his new ad:

Kolber: All-powerful Democrats have failed Illinois. Time to change direction

By Vince Kolber - 

The year was 2009. Looking back, we saw it as a crucial moment for not only our state, but our country as a whole. The change had come, and with this change, many leaders emerged from one party rule.

Chicago ascended to the highest position of power and influence in America. A little known Illinois senator became president of the United States, a Chicago school superintendent became Secretary of Education, Illinois' other senator rose to U.S. Senate leadership, a Congressman became White House chief of staff, and a Cook County commissioner became a congressman.

That congressman is my opponent today: Mike Quigley, in the 5th congressional district race.

Thorner: Article V Convention supporters are delusional new RINOs

By Nancy Thorner - 

The Article V Convention (ConCon) is an issue that has been prominent on the agenda of Eagle Forum for many years and which Phyllis Schlafly wrote extensively about before her death on September 5, 2016, at age 92.

This extremely important and timely topic was explored in a talk given by Publius Huldah on Sunday, September 18 at Eagle Council XLV held at the Marriott St. Louis Airport-St.Louis, Sept. 16-17-18, 2016.  Her topic:  When People Ignore Our Constitution, Is Amending It the Solution? 

Publius Huldah is a retired litigation attorney who now lives in Tennessee. Before getting a law degree, she got a degree in philosophy where she specialized in political philosophy and epistemology (theories of knowledge).

She now writes extensively on the U.S. Constitution, using the Federalist Papers to prove its original meaning and intent. She shows how federal judges and politicians have ignored Our Constitution and replaced it with their personal opinions and beliefs. She also shows how The People can, by learning our Founding Principles themselves, restore our Constitutional Republic.

Di Leo: The Federal Takeover of Puerto Rico… For Its Own Good?

By John F. Di Leo - 

On Friday, September 30, the United States government began its takeover of much of the financial operation of the US Territory of Puerto Rico. The island is bankrupt, so the feds moved in.

This is only somewhat unprecedented… while it’s true that it hasn’t happened before in Puerto Rico, there are states that have moved in to take control of bankrupt cities in the past. States have taken over local school districts, local utilities, even whole cities, when the financial straits were so dire that locals gave up any hope of recovery on their own. Detroit, Atlantic City, Flint… the list is longer than one might expect.  If people elect incompetents at the federal level, we shouldn’t really expect the same voters to do much better at the much less rigorously vetted levels of city councils and school districts.

So the United States government has begun its conquest of the little island first conquered by Columbus, 500 years ago.

The feds are beginning by taking federal control of Puerto Rico’s largest public university, many utilities, the central territorial government itself, and the territory’s terribly underfunded public pension programs.

And that may be just an opening gambit, with more to come, as Puerto Rico’s downward spiral continues.

Catholics rejecting Trump can't support Clinton, either

While Donald Trump is having a terrible time rounding up American Catholic's votes, a Catholic group insists there are six reasons why Catholics can't support Hillary Clinton:

What will Catholics in Illinois do? Tell us in the comment section below.

Illinois not necessarily in the bag for Clinton

CHICAGO - Illinois, normally a very blue, Democrat-controlled state, is surprisingly not a sure thing for Democrat presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, according to the nationally-renowned polling center Real Clear Politics. 

Citing two recent polls of Illinois voters, Clinton is ahead of Trump by 13 points in one and by six points in another. That puts Illinois in Real Clear Politics' "Leans Hillary" column - a real surprise since neither Clinton nor Trump have invested much into the state and focused more on surrounding "battleground" states like Wisconsin, Michigan,Iowa and Ohio. Neighboring states of Missouri and Indiana are considered "Leans Trump" states.

Insiders tell Illinois Review that current polling shows the downstate third of Illinois heavily in favor of Trump, the central third evenly balanced between Clinton and Trump, and the top, most populated portion of the state going for Clinton. State campaigns are hoping Trump will have coattails in the southern third of the state that could put conservative Downstate Democrats in play.

Naponiello: My Day with Donald Trump in Bolingbrook

By Joshua Naponiello - 

How crazy is it that I ended up volunteering for perhaps the next president of the United States?   I mean you would have thought that by talking to Roger Claar the Mayor of Bolingbrook, I would volunteer at a Trump fundraiser! I can only say it was the best event that I have worked on in my early political life.

Setting up tables was a challenge but greeting people by the door was amazing. Friendly faces, attitudes, familiar faces like (former State Senator) Kirk Dillard, (Bolingbrook Mayor) Roger Claar and (Chicago Cubs' owner) Todd Ricketts.  I also had the pleasure of sitting next to (former New York City Mayor) Rudy Giuliani during the lunch.

The speech that Trump delivered was electrifying. Reducing regulations, repealing Obamacare, and lowering taxes on the middle class. Straight to the point concise, was how his speech was, and everyone stood and applauded our future president of the United States. 

Rhoads: Trump Fans Deserve Better

By Mark Rhoads - 

I was a Republican state senator in Illinois for six years and I was elected as a Reagan delegate from Illinois to the 1980 Convention in Detroit. Although I have made no secret about my worries about Donald Trump as a candidate and potential president, I still understand the intense loyalty and devotion of Republicans who like Donald Trump and I respect that loyalty. But that is the reason why I think that Trump fans deserve better than Trump himself is giving them right now. 

Thorner: America's national security urgent, says two former ambassadors

By Nancy Thorner - 

John Bolton, who served as the United States permanent representative to the United Nations from August 2005 to December 2006 and Faith Whittlesey, a two-term U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland in the Reagan Administration talked about America's security future Saturday afternoon, September 17, at Eagle Forum Council XLV held at the St. Louis Airport Marriott.

Ambassador Bolton described the upcoming November election as "one of the most consequential elections we have ever faced. Very few things in life are perfect, but this election has come down to a choice between Hillary and Trump." 

Hillary was described as having been a radical in law school and as one who will do anything to be elected president.  Hillary's political philosophy is already akin to many of Bernie's ideas, and she didn't have to strain much to get there.

Dyslin: Hesitant conservatives must back Dold in 10th CD

By John Dyslin - 

As a strong conservative, I occasionally hear some consternation from my fellow conservatives that Congressman Dold is not conservative enough. No, the Congressman will never get a 100 percent voting record from conservative rating groups. However, please, friends, keep in mind that the Illinois 10th Congressional District is not a conservative district.

In fact, the 10th CD's voter registration is at least +10 Democrat over Republican. In other words, in order for a Republican to win the 10th District he or she must peel off some Democrat voters. It’s a tough district. In the last two elections it has switched from Republican Dold to Democrat Brad Schneider and back to Republican Dold. Let’s not let it slip back to the far left Brad Schneider in 2016.

Biga: Polls say Illinois Now in Play for Trump and Kirk

By Frank J Biga III - 

You read that right. Illinois is indeed a state that could go for Donald Trump in November. I doubt he will win Illinois in the end, but the chances have increased. In the last week a poll by Emerson had Donald Trump trailing Clinton here by only 6 points! The national trend for Trump heading in to the first debate is also good news and shows him either tied or up a few points. Illinois will be a tough nut to crack, though, and will likely only go for Trump in a 1980 landslide type scenario.

But I have been telling my friends for months that Mark Kirk is likely to win re-election to the Senate here in Illinois. And the possibility of him retaining his seat has increased substantially. The same Emerson poll showed Mark Kirk is only behind Democrat Tammy Duckworth by 2 and more importantly the trend is improving for him as the last poll by Loras College a week earlier showed Duckworth up by 5. He was behind by double digits early in the race so these newer polls are encouraging news.

Some history on Illinois’ elections. As many know Illinois has been a reliable bulwark in the Democratic column since Bill Clinton’s election in 1992. For six Presidential elections in a row Illinois has basically been written off by the GOP candidate. I do recall briefly in 2000 that George Bush came to Thomas Middle School in Arlington Heights as the polls had tightened enough to justify a campaign visit. But in the end Al Gore won the state by 12 points. And so it has gone ever since.

Thorner/Ingold: Monday night's debate and the "law and order" issue

By Nancy Thorner and Ed Ingold - 

One of the topics in Monday night's presidential debate was, naturally, crime, law and order. For some implausible reason, Hillary claimed that crime is down from it’s peak in 1991 and continues to decline. This flies in the face of yesterday’s report by the FBI that violent crime is up over 10% from 2015. If we look at a graph of crime rates, we see there was an 80% decline from 1991 to about 2010, when it leveled out then started to climb again in 2015. 10% is not a paltry sum. It means 1200 more murders, nearly 7000 more shootings and 300,000 more armed robberies. The importance of non-fatal shootings should get special attention, because the intent was almost always to kill the victim. Were it not for advances in trauma care, many more would probably die.

The surprising finding is that petty crime continues to decrease. The reasons are vague, but many jurisdictions are putting less emphasis on minor crimes in part due to the increase in violence.

Hillary proposes to keep guns out of the hands of those who would abuse them. Of course, there are thousands of laws which purport to do exactly that, yet criminals get guns anyway, and use them indiscriminately. There are approximately 300 million guns in the hands of citizens, and only a vanishing small percentage, 11 thousand, are used to commit murder. Eliminating guns is an unreliable goal for both practical and constitutional reasons.

Trump vs Clinton in dead heat; Monday night's debate could be crucial

D.C. - Matt Vespa at Townhall.com writes about the presidential polls being at a dead heat between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, and how Monday night's first of three debates between the two may be unusually crucial to the 2016 election outcome:

In a nationwide poll of 1,712 likely voters taken Sept. 22 through Sept. 24, 39 percent of respondents chose Trump, while while Clinton was the choice for 38 percent. The difference between the two candidates is within the margin of error. The other candidates in the race continue to trail behind the leaders, with Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson at 9 percent and Green Party candidate Jill Stein at 4 percent; 10 percent of respondents say they don’t know or have no opinion.

In a head-to-head matchup without the third-party candidates, Clinton edges out Trump by 2 points among likely voters, 44 percent to 42 percent, within the margin of error.

Among the slightly broader sample of registered voters, Clinton has a 1-point lead over Trump, 37 percent to 36 percent, with Johnson at 9 percent and Stein at 4 percent. Again, the difference between Trump and Clinton is within the margin of error.

Downers Grove official rejects revealing further info that led to Sandack's sudden resignation

Former State Rep. Ron Sandack with House Minority Leader Jim Durkin | Sun-Times photo

DOWNERS GROVE - Last week's redacted police report concerning former State Rep. Ron Sandack's reason for suddenly resigning from the Illinois House last month stirred more questions rather than putting the issue to rest. 

Despite Sandack's substantial list of allies commenting on Illinois Review and elsewhere that the whole matter is now private and none of the public's business, five Chicago area news sources appealed to the Downers Grove Police Department to release un-redacted versions of Sandack's complaint. The village's attorney refused the news sources requests.

What were the Downers Grove officials to do? Sandack's history with the village is substantial.

Trump on Charlotte riots: We need a national anti-crime agenda

PITTSBURGH - In an keynote in Pittsburgh Thursday, GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump addressed the racial riots that are escalating in Charlotte North Carolina this week.

Before going any further today, I want to address the turmoil unfolding right now in our country.

Our country desperately needs unity, and it needs the spirit of togetherness that has not only got us through our toughest times – but which has lifted us up, in the past, to our greatest achievements as a nation. Every day, I see people of different backgrounds working together for a common good, and we need to bring that spirit to every part of our country – and become One American Nation, united by our shared values and principles as American Citizens.

We all have to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, see things through their eyes, and then get to work fixing our wounded country.

Many Americans are watching the unrest in Charlotte unfolding on their TV screens. Others are witnessing the chaos and the violence firsthand.