Hard to Believe That Alexi Giannoulias ‘Didn’t Know’ Of Mobster’s Crimes

-By Warner Todd Huston

Alexi Giannoulias is well known as the “Mob Banker” for the fact that his family bank lent $20 million to two mobsters while Alexi was an officer of the bank. The Illinois Democrat’s Senate candidate has finally answered to this loan a bit more directly than he has in the past and his answer is simply a bit hard to take.

On NBC’s Meet The Press on Sunday, October 10, Giannoulias uttered the laughable claim that he “didn’t know the extent” of the criminal activities of his mobster borrowers at the Broadway Bank.

This is a bit hard to take. Giannoulias seemed to act as if the two mobster’s activities were not as well known in 2005 as they really were at the time his bank gave these ne’er-do-wells multiple loans. Both Michael “Jaws” Giorango and his pal Demitri Stavropoulos were well known criminals by the time they were being served at Broadway Bank.
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Hard to Believe That Alexi Giannoulias ‘Didn’t Know’ Of Mobster’s Crimes”


Ill. Gov: GOPs Bill Brady 9 Points Up Over Incumbent Dem Quinn

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Sun-Times is reporting on a new poll showing Republican Bill Brady up nine percentage points over incumbent Democrat Pat Quinn for the race for Illinois Governor. The same poll finds the Senate race deadlocked.

The survey polled 1,000 registered voters:

Brady, of Bloomington, was favored by 38.4 percent of those polled, to 29.8 percent for Quinn.

In the race for the Senate, Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk was ahead in the poll by a negligible margin — 37.3 percent to 36.8 percent for Democrat Alexi Giannoulias.

Naturally, the poll also found that third party candidates have figured little in the race.
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Ill. Gov: GOPs Bill Brady 9 Points Up Over Incumbent Dem Quinn”


Libertarianism’s Folly: When the ‘Live and Let Live’ Mentality Becomes Vice

-By Selwyn Duke

While there was a time when I might have described myself as a libertarian, those days are long gone. In fact, I don’t even call myself a conservative anymore. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I agree with libertarians on many issues, and their governmental model is vastly preferable to what liberals have visited upon us. Yet there is a problem: However valid their vision of government may be, their vision of society renders it unattainable.

Thomas Jefferson once said, “The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” Now, I certainly agree with the first sentence, as it’s merely a statement of the obvious. But then we have to ask, what constitutes “injurious”? And, when determining this, do we completely ignore indirect injury? Then, if we do consider the latter, to what extent should it be the domain of government? (When pondering these matters, note that the Founding Fathers didn’t reside on the modern libertarian page. They certainly would have, for instance, supported the idea of state and local governments outlawing pornography and would be appalled at what is now justified under the First Amendment.)
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Libertarianism’s Folly: When the ‘Live and Let Live’ Mentality Becomes Vice”


Bill’s Boondoggle: Multibillion Dollar ‘Stimulus’ Still A Failure

From the Hultgren for Congress campaign (14th District)…

ST. CHARLES – The Randy Hultgren for Congress campaign issued the following statement today regarding the so-called ‘stimulus,’ a failed piece of legislation supported wholeheartedly by Bill Foster.

“Friday’s dismal jobs report, revealing that 95,000 more Americans lost their jobs and that unemployment remained stagnantly high at almost 10 percent, is a further reminder of the failure of Bill’s boondoggle, Congressman Foster’s so-called ‘stimulus,’” said Gill Stevens, spokesman for the Hultgren campaign. “We were promised that if the ‘stimulus’ was passed, unemployment would never go above 8 percent – but for seventeen consecutive months, unemployment has exceeded 9 percent.
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Bill’s Boondoggle: Multibillion Dollar ‘Stimulus’ Still A Failure”


Schilling Demands Hare Denounce Delusional Statement on Jobs

From the Schilling for Congress campaign (17th District)…

IL unemployment at 10.1%; Hare says “we’re on the right track.”

EAST MOLINE, IL–Bobby Schilling, Republican candidate for Congress in the Illinois 17th District, called on Rep. Hare to accept responsibility for his failed record on jobs and spending. In the four years Rep. Hare has represented the 17th District, the unemployment rate has doubled and the national debt has increased by $5 trillion.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released a report showing another 95,000 jobs lost in September. The unemployment rate is 9.6% nationally, 10.1% in Illinois. Illinois currently ranks 48th in job creation.
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Schilling Demands Hare Denounce Delusional Statement on Jobs”


Where is Waldo? Rep. Bean a No Show for Debates

From the Palatine Tea Party…

(Palatine, Illinois) – Illinois Representative Melissa Bean (D) Illinois 8th district will not talk with concerned citizens in the Illinois 8th district. She can not defend her votes or answer direct questions. She is hiding deep in her Bean Bunker!

On October 9th, 2010, Illinois Representative Melissa Bean (D) Illinois 8th district was a “No” show for a debate at the Civic Center located in Round Lake Beach. There were several questions asked to Melissa Bean’s empty table. The debate was moderated by the Mayor of Round Lake Beach.

Joe Walsh (R), Melissa Bean (D), and Green Party Candidate Bill Scheurer were all invited to debate topics on healthcare, jobs and the economy.

If you are outraged with Bean hiding and not answering direct questions, contact local media outlets and her local office (847) 517-2927 or DC (202) 225-3711 and vote her out in November!
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Where is Waldo? Rep. Bean a No Show for Debates”


Dems Drop Complaint Against Fox for Donating to GOP, Media Mum

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Old Media went into a feeding frenzy when it was revealed that News Corp., the owner of Fox News, had donated $1 million to the Republican Governor’s Association to help GOP candidates this election cycle. The left immediately used this fact as a fundraising meme and the media was thrilled to play the news up when a few days later the Democratic Governors Association filed a complaint with the Ohio Election Commission against Fox over the donation.

But while the media loved the story of the DGA filing its complaint, that same Old Media establishment doesn’t seem nearly as interested in reporting that the Democrat’s quietly dropped their complaint, abandoning it without comment. As Mediaite reports, its sources have confirmed that the DGA has dropped its complaint. And not a peep from the Old Media.
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Dems Drop Complaint Against Fox for Donating to GOP, Media Mum”


Tribune Endorses Brady!‏

From the Bill Brady for Illinois Governor campaign…

With only weeks to go before Election Day, our campaign to put Illinois back to work, and force government to live within its means today was endorsed by the Chicago Tribune!

As the only candidate who will stand up for families against big government, tax and spend politicians like Pat Quinn, today’s Tribune editorial page says Bill “…will say No to the power-clutching elites — House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton, that means you and your cronies — whose insider politics doomed this state to its own private tailspin.”
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Tribune Endorses Brady!‏”


United Republican Fund Announces 2010 Endorsements

From the United Republican Fund…

WINFIELD, IL – The United Republican Fund (URF) announced today their list of endorsements for the November 2, 2010 election.

The URF has a two-part endorsement process consisting of a candidate questionnaire that covers issues such as budget and taxes, state employment and pensions, education, Medicaid, state courts, state government efficiency, capital contracting, and social regulation. Following the completion of the questionnaire, each candidate is interviewed by a committee of the Board of Directors of the United Republican Fund.

“We’re impressed with the quality of the candidates this election cycle,” said Dennis LaComb, Executive Director of the United Republican Fund. “We’re also pleased that the majority of candidates interviewed were aligned with the URF LIFT principles of limited government, individual rights, free markets, and traditional values.”
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United Republican Fund Announces 2010 Endorsements”


95,000 More Jobs Lost in September; Unemployment 9.6%

From the Schilling for Congress campaign (17th District)…

Schilling: “These numbers remind us why we need a clean break from the failed liberal policies of Washington.”

EAST MOLINE, IL–The Bureau of Labor Statistics has released the jobs report for September. Total nonfarm payroll employment dropped by 95,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 9.6%. Bobby Schilling, Republican candidate for Congress in the Illinois 17th District, released the following statement regarding the report:

“14.8 million people in this country are unemployed, and the unemployment rates among youth (26%), African-Americans (16.1%), and Hispanics (12.4%) are disturbingly high. These numbers remind us why we need a clean break from the failed liberal policies of Washington. Over the past two years, Rep. Hare has consistently voted for more spending and higher taxes while refusing to promote policies that would create jobs. As a successful small business owner, I understand that our biggest priority right now is getting people back to work. While Phil Hare spends every minute he has ‘debunking the myth’ that our country faces a $13.6 trillion national debt, I’ll be fighting for jobs by advocating low taxes, less spending, and limited government.”
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95,000 More Jobs Lost in September; Unemployment 9.6%”


October 11,12: Illinois Turnaround Tour DuPage County & McHenry County

The Illinois Policy Institute is sponsoring a bus tour (The Illinois Turnaround Tour) of the state to get voters excited about the fast approaching elections. This week they have stops in nearby DuPage and McHenry Counties.

Real change starts here…and real change starts with you.

Think the national government is a mess? Take a closer look at Illinois.

For years, Illinois politicians have driven our state in the wrong direction—a direction that’s leading us to financial ruin. That’s why we’re launching the Illinois Turnaround Campaign, focused on practical, common-sense solutions to our state’s problems:

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October 11,12: Illinois Turnaround Tour DuPage County & McHenry County”


Patlak: A Critical Moment

From the Patlak for Cook County Board of Review campaign…

As we approach early voting on October 11th and Election Day just 27 days from now, we are pulling out all the stops to secure a victory and win back the 1st District Board of Review seat for the Republican Party. For over a year I have put aside my normal life to pursue this office.

We now find our campaign at a critical moment. We have a winning message and just received the endorsement of the Chicago Tribune but need more funding to get that message out to the half million people who will cast ballots. In order to purchase the minimum amount of media time necessary to be effective, we need to raise $20,000 by Friday October 15th. I am making an urgent request for additional financial help to allow us to bring our message of ethical leadership and political balance on the Board of Review to the people of Cook County. I want to change business as usual at the Board and I need your help. Please join me in this battle by sending your maximum contribution.
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Patlak: A Critical Moment”


ICYMI: House Republicans Plan $45 Million TV Blitz

From the Schilling for Congress campaign (17th District)…

Politico: “The newly added targets include Phil Hare of Illinois”

House Republicans plan $45 million TV ad blitz
-By Alex Isenstadt

House Republicans have drafted a go-for-broke blueprint for the final weeks of the midterm campaign that will bring them to $45 million in television ad spending, with spots reserved in 62 congressional districts across the nation.
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ICYMI: House Republicans Plan $45 Million TV Blitz”


Fact Checking Rep. Foster’s Lies

From the Hultgren for Congress campaign (14th District)…

With election day only four weeks away, Congressman Foster has grown increasingly desperate in his attempts to draw voter attention away from his abhorrent record.

Think about it, what else does Bill Foster have to run on? What possible reason would the voters of the 14th District have to re-elect him?

  • His lock-step voting record with Nancy Pelosi 92.6% of the time?
  • His support for the Wall Street bailout?
  • His support for the government takeover of health care?
  • His support of the failed stimulus that failed to keep unemployment below 8%?
  • His support for every single spending bill coming out of Congress?
  • His support for the upcoming tax increases that Congress has failed to prevent?

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Fact Checking Rep. Foster’s Lies”


Gains in Suburban Chicago Voter Registration Shows GOP Enthusiasm in Collar Areas

-By Warner Todd Huston

Chuck Goudie recently reported that voter registration is way up in the Republican dominated suburban Chicago and collar county areas this year while voters in the city itself has fallen slightly over last year’s registration numbers. The uptick in the suburbs seems to show that enthusiasm for Republican voters is much higher than that of city Democrats.

There has been a spike in suburban and collar county registrations and while city registration is 60,000 down from 2008, statewide registration is up from levels of four years ago.
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Gains in Suburban Chicago Voter Registration Shows GOP Enthusiasm in Collar Areas”


Highlights From Pat Brady’s Comments on Elections

Earlier this week Illinois GOP Chair Pat Brady hosted a conference call to discuss the state Party’s efforts for this election cycle. Here are some highlights of that call:

“As always we welcome the President at home but his campaign appearance in his home state speaks volumes as to the state of the Democratic Party nationally and the traditional blue state of Illinois in this election cycle…

“Democrats don’t even have their base here in Illinois, let alone the election deciding independents. And Illinois is the epicenter of what’s going on nationally, and I think we see that in the momentum we’ve had in our victory program. Today we’ve made 2.5 million voter contacts…

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Highlights From Pat Brady’s Comments on Elections”


Chicago Tribune Endorses Robert Dold (10th District)

From the Dold for Congress campaign (10th District)…

We’re thrilled to share with you the news that the Chicago Tribune endorsed Bob today! After outlining the two candidates’ position on major issues the Tribune ended the endorsement with, “we’re convinced [Dold] will be in the moderate, pro-choice, independent mold of Kirk. And Dold will take a much firmer line on out-of-control federal spending than Seals. Dold is endorsed.” Click here to read the full endorsement.

This is the second time the Tribune has endorsed Bob. In its primary endorsement it said, “Congress needs more people who genuinely understand what it takes to put people to work — and how government puts up roadblocks to employment. Dold makes a convincing argument that he does” and “would bring a fresh, common-sense perspective to government.” Click here to read the full primary endorsement.
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Chicago Tribune Endorses Robert Dold (10th District)”


Hare Desperate to Take Focus Off Record Uses Debunked Attacks on Bobby Schilling and ATR Pledge

-By Adam Radman, Americans for Tax Reform

The recent attacks by Rep. Phil Hare’s campaign against Bobby Schilling and the Taxpayer Protection Pledge lack credibility. Democrats like Rep. Hare have made these false and misleading claims over and over again across the country. A number of news sources have reviewed the charges and discredited them. Starting in April, FactCheck.org’s Brook Jackson condemned the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for making similar claims calling the attacks “blatantly false.” Jon Ralston, during his television show Face to Face, called similar claims against the Pledge in NV-03 “thoroughly misleading.” Even the DSCC and Democrat Senate candidates have attempted to distort the meaning of the Pledge. Democrat Sen. Patty Murray’s attempts were called “a stretch” by King 5 TV in Washington State.

Rep. Phil Hare has attempted to distract voters from the important issues this election cycle: jobs and economic growth. Voters should demand to know from Rep. Hare just how tax hikes on individuals and/or businesses create jobs. In fact, voters should also ask him why he left Washington before putting a stop to one of the largest tax hikes in U.S. History. By taking the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, Schilling has made a clear pledge to the taxpayers in IL-17 that he will oppose and vote against any and all tax increases on working families and employers
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Hare Desperate to Take Focus Off Record Uses Debunked Attacks on Bobby Schilling and ATR Pledge”


Endorsed by the Tribune — Early Voting Just Days Away!‏

From the office of Commissioner Tony Peraica…

Today, I was humbled to receive the endorsement of the Chicago Tribune for re-election to the 16th District Commissioner seat. Calling me a “warrior for taxpayers” who is “relentless in questioning business as usual”, the Chicago Tribune writes:

The Tribune endorses Peraica because he’s been a reliable thorn to Democratic officials who think citizens exist primarily to pay taxes.

How fitting, then, that this endorsement comes on the same day I am introducing two taxpayer-protection initiatives to the Cook County Board.

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Endorsed by the Tribune — Early Voting Just Days Away!‏”


New The Hill Poll: 12 Freshman Democrat Held Districts Show Major GOP Gains

-By Warner Todd Huston

On Wednesday The Hill reported on a new poll it has conducted of the 2010 midterms with initial focus on 12 districts held by freshmen Democrats and the news isn’t good for those incumbent Dems scrutinized. On the other hand, the poll seems to show that it isn’t pat that Republicans will necessarily run away with it all either.

On Wednesday The Hill reported that in 11 of the initial 12 races polled, Republicans are leading Democrat incumbents. In the 12th, the candidates are tied. While this may seem good for the GOP the downside is that none of the Republicans are polling over 50%.

However, a long held axiom states that an incumbent that can’t reach at lest 50% in the polls generally is in major trouble for re-election and if these polls show GOP leads in each case with not one of these incumbent Dems reaching the 50% mark, that says quite a lot about these midterms.

According to The Hill, the poll also shows that Obamacare is hurting Democrats. “A majority of voters in key battleground districts favor repeal of the legislative overhaul that Congress passed this year.”

To the question of repeal of Obamacare, 56% agreed with repeal and only 32% said no to repeal.
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New The Hill Poll: 12 Freshman Democrat Held Districts Show Major GOP Gains”


Alexi Bails on Senate Debate

-By Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Democrat Senatorial candidate Alexi “The Mob Banker” Giannoulias has withdrawn from a scheduled debate that was to be held October 21 at the WSIU studios in downstate Carbondale.

Giannoulias said that he was pulling out because the Libertarian candidate, Michael Labano, was not invited to participate.

“It’s disappointing, but these things happen in politics,” Yepsen said. “The rules we put together were that we would invite any candidate of an established political party. We’re not going to change the rules for one candidate.”

Independent candidates would only be invited to the debate if they had received at least a 5-percent vote in neutral polls, Yepsen said, and no independent candidates met the requirements.

The debate was to include Republican candidate Mark Kirk, Democrat Giannoulias, and Green Party candidate LeAlan Jones.

One wonders what Giannoulias is afraid of. After all, the rules for entry into the debate was known by Giannoulias when he initially accepted the invitation.
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Alexi Bails on Senate Debate”


Hultgren Endorsed By Council For Citizens Against Government Waste

From the Hultgren for Congress campaign (14th District)…

ST. CHARLES – State Senator Randy Hultgren, Republican candidate for Congress, released the following statement today after being endorsed by the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste. In their release, the Council praised Hultgren as “a bona fide fiscal conservative committed to reducing the size of government,” and “a principled advocate for lower taxes and smaller government.”

“I’m proud to be endorsed by the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, a group of concerned Americans who have fought passionately to cut wasteful spending and return fiscal sanity to Washington, DC, and I look forward to joining them in the ongoing effort to protect Illinois taxpayers,” said Hultgren.

Local Realtors Respond To Washington, DC-Based Realtor Ads

ST. CHARLES – The Randy Hultgren for Congress campaign released the following statements from local real estate agents in response to the National Association of Realtors’ television ad campaign on Bill Foster’s behalf.

“I’m honored to have the support of our local realtors. Whatever the National Association of Realtors may say in Washington, DC, our local realtors know that we need common sense, Illinois values in order to restore fiscal sanity in Washington, and that Bill Foster’s unwavering support of Nancy Pelosi, 92% of the time, is what continues to suppress the local housing market,” said Randy Hultgren.

Statements From Local Realtors:

“While the National Association of Realtors has chosen to support the incumbent, as a local Realtor and past president of the Illinois Association of Realtors, I have known Randy Hultgren and support the views that Randy will take to Congress. We need a non-Nancy Pelosi-led agenda in Washington that will not tax and spend us into a stagnant economy that hurts all Illinoisans. Randy Hultgren will work for common sense solutions that will get our economy moving again, and I’m proud to support him.”
— Pat Callan, Realty Executives Premiere; Past President, Illinois Association Of Realtors

“I’m dumbfounded and disappointed that the National Association of Realtors has chosen to support Bill Foster. Bill Foster hasn’t fulfilled the promises he made to us in 2008, has shown no independence from Nancy Pelosi, and has been a willing participant in the binge-spending that has come out of Washington. I don’t consider myself a conservative, but I want to leave something for my kids, and that means we need to get spending under control; I know Randy Hultgren will work to do that in Washington.”
— Chris Hansen, RE/MAX Excels, Geneva

http://hultgrenforcongress.com/


Joel Pollack For Congress (Ill. 9th District)

Joel Pollak is running (really running in this ad, anyway) for Congress in the Illinois 9th District. That district is in Chicago’s near north and side.

Pollak is running to knock out incumbent socialist Jan Schakowsky, one of the most ideologically extreme left-wingers in the House of Representatives.

http://www.pollakforcongress.com/


Chicago Tribune Endorses Dan Patlak‏

From the Patlak for Cook County Board of Review…

Today the Chicago Tribune endorsed our candidate Dan Patlak for Commissioner of the Cook County Board of Review. You can read the endorsement below or click here to read it on the Chicago Tribune website.

It would help Dan’s campaign immeasurably if you would forward this e-mail to all of your contacts. Thank you for your support.

From the Chicago Tribune:
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Chicago Tribune Endorses Dan Patlak‏”


National Debt Barrels Past $13.5 Trillion

From the Schilling for Congress campaign (17th District)…

Schilling: “The era of deficit spending and unbalanced budgets has to end.”

EAST MOLINE, IL–The national debt exceeded $13.5 trillion as the US Government’s fiscal year came to a close last Thursday. According to U.S. Treasury Department data, the national debt has risen almost $5 trillion during Rep. Hare’s tenure. Four years ago the national debt stood at $8.6 trillion. As of September 30, according to the Treasury’s “Debt to the Penny” web page, the national debt currently stands at $13,561,623,030,891.79.

Rep. Hare recently said (on C-Span), “Every day I have here is going to spent trying to debunk the myth that this country is in debt and we just can’t spend.”
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National Debt Barrels Past $13.5 Trillion”


GOP Chair Pat Brady: Tuesday – Last Day to Register to Vote in Illinois‏

From Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady…

With all of the busyness of the campaign season, it’s important to make sure all of our votes count. You can’t vote if you’re not registered. Tomorrow (October 5) is the last day to register for the November 2 election.

If you’ve moved recently or you’re not sure whether you’re registered, contact your local election authority, or go to the Illinois State Board of Elections web site to check your registration status. Click here for more on registration. You can download a voter registration form here.
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GOP Chair Pat Brady: Tuesday – Last Day to Register to Vote in Illinois‏”


Lefty Bloggers Eating Each Other, White House Not Amused

-By Warner Todd Huston

Politico has a delicious story detailing how lefty bloggers seem to be on the outs with the Obama administration over their constant stream of complaints unleashed about the president’s lack of supplication to the most extreme left-wing policies.

Politico found Peter Daou, another “progressive” blogger, who thinks he knows why Deputy White House Press Sec. Bill Burton didn’t name any left-wing bloggers along with his absolving of some of MSNBC’s hectoring on-air talkers.

Daou recently wrote a post hyperbolically titled, “How a Handful of Liberal Bloggers Are Bringing Down the Obama Presidency” exploring the idea. In it the blogger slams his own, claims that other lefty bloggers are tearing down the president among the progressives, and says it is damaging the administration.
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Lefty Bloggers Eating Each Other, White House Not Amused”


Roskam Video: The Road We are On is a Recipe for Disaster!

Representative Peter Roskam gives a rip roaring speech about the failures of Nancy Pelosi’s House of Representatives at a recent DuPage Republicans gathering.


Isaac Hayes and Joel Pollak For Congress: Better Than Your Average Politicians

Isaac Hayes is running for Congress in the 2nd District which encompasses Chicago’s South Side.

http://www.isaac4honesty.com/

Joel Pollak is running in the 9th District which is the North Side.

http://www.pollakforcongress.com/

Together, they can unite the City FOR the people instead of separate it FROM the people and for the politicians.