State Government

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. GOP Chairman: Coulson Thing a ‘Screw Up’

November 21, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Jeff Berkowitz cornered Illinois GOP Chair Pat Brady and asked him if the invite to Beth Coulson to the state-wide meeting with national party Chairman Michael Steele was a defacto endorsement of Coulson’s 10th District candidacy? Brady says no, there was no endorsement.

At issue was a press release by Beth Coulson, candidate for the 10th Congressional District, that could easily be read as an announcement of support from the national party because Coulson was invited to a meeting with the GOP chair Steele.

Brady, however, denies that this invite equated to an endorsement by either the state party or the national party. In fact, despite what Politico said and what the Coulson camp is saying, the meeting had nothing at all to do with any specific District but was a general meeting of what the national party’s goals are state-wide.
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Ill. GOP Chairman: Coulson Thing a ‘Screw Up’”

Barack Obama - Campaign Finance - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - President - Senate - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Slap on Wrist for Senator Burris

November 20, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Senate ethics committee has “admonished” Senator Roland Burris for all the lies that he’s handed them in his testimony over his involvement in disgraced and impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich’s pay-to-play scandal in Illinois.

As Blago was making his last pass around the drain over his countless illegal activities as Illinois Governor he appointed Roland Burris to the Senate seat that Obama left behind when he won the 2008 general election for the big seat in Washington.

Burris claimed, of course, that he played no part in the cash for a senate seat scandal. The truth, though, seems to be a bit different than the gauzy world that Burris inhabits.
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Slap on Wrist for Senator Burris”

Chicago - Congress - Conservatives - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Freedom - GOP - Illinois - Immigration/Immigrants - Liberals - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Guitierrez Amnesty Plan a Disaster, focus should be on American jobs

November 20, 2009 by

Rosanna Pulido, staunch defender for unemployed American citizens in her district, expressed outrage this afternoon at Luis Guterriez’s Amnesty reform bill, to be introduced some time this month. “With unemployment in Illinois at 10% and rising, our nation’s legal law abiding citizens do not need more competition for jobs”, Rosanna said. “It is irresponsible public policy”.

53 rallies have been held across the country this week protesting the Obama administration’s amnesty for undocumented immigrants already living in the United States, along with a promise of tougher enforcement and a streamlined legal immigration system. In other countries, if you enter their borders illegally, you could be shot or thrown in prison. Cross the border into America, you get a drivers license, Social Security card, welfare, Food Stamps, bank accounts and credit cards, subsidized rent or a loan to buy a house, free education, free health care, a lobbyist in Springfield and Washington and a voter registration card. All paid for by the Illinois taxpayer.
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Guitierrez Amnesty Plan a Disaster, focus should be on American jobs”

Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - President - State Government - Taxes - Uncategorized - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Board President Charges Racism

November 20, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Well, little Todd Stroger is at it again. With the Cook County Board now having been given more power by the State Legislature to overturn Stroger’s veto, the junior Stroger is now claiming it’s all about racism.

On an upcoming episode of “Connected to Chicago,” WLS radio’s Bill Cameron found Board President Stroger whining that it’s all about racism instead of his wild tax hikes. WLS is advertising its upcoming episode with this following Stroger quote:

If this was a Southern town it would be like an old fashioned lynching.

Stroger goes on to claim that he was told by the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune that they are “out to get me.” Cameron, though, reports that the Chicago Tribune denies that such a conversation ever took place and that they are not out to get him as the paranoid Stroger claims.
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Cook County Board President Charges Racism”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - GOP - Illinois - President - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Terrorism - Warner Todd Huston

Letter from Illinois GOP Congressional Delegation on transfer of terrorists to Thomson, IL

November 20, 2009 by

All Republican members of Illinois’ Congressional Delegation have signed the following letter to President Obama:

Dear Mr. President:

According to the Chicago Tribune, your Administration may transfer up to 200 Al Qaeda terrorists from their detention facility in Guantanamo Bay a prison in Thomson, Illinois, 150 miles from Chicago.

If your Administration brings Al Qaeda terrorists to Illinois, our state and the Chicago Metropolitan Area will become ground zero for Jihadist terrorist plots, recruitment and radicalization.

Furthermore, since Thomson is located in the Northern District of Illinois, any civilian prosecution of Al Qaeda terrorists would occur in Rockford or downtown Chicago.

As home to America’s tallest building, we should not invite Al Qaeda to make Illinois its number one target.

The United States spent more than $50 million to build the Guantanamo Bay detention facility to keep terrorists away from U.S. soil. Al Qaeda terrorists should stay where they cannot endanger American citizens.

As elected officials in the State of Illinois, we urge you to put the safety and security of Illinois families first and stop any plan to transfer Al Qaeda terrorists to our state.

Rep. Peter Roskam
Rep. Mark Kirk
Rep. Judy Biggert
Rep. Tim Johnson
Rep. Don Manzullo
Rep. Aaron Schock
Rep. John Shimkus

Barack Obama - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - President - Republicans - Security/Safety - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Statement on Giannoulias Disclosure of Receiving a National Security Briefing

November 20, 2009 by

Statement from Congressman Peter Roskam on the disclosure this morning from Democrat Senate Candidate Alexi Giannoulias that he received a National Security Council (NSC) briefing on possibly moving Guantanamo to Illinois:

“Given Mr. Giannoulias’ disclosure that he received a NSC briefing on possibly moving Guantanamo to Illinois, I urge the Obama Administration to eschew the increasingly political nature of this situation. Moving terrorists to Illinois will have tremendous security and economic implications, and now this situation has been tainted by the appearance of political favoritism given that a Democrat U.S. Senate candidate received a NSC briefing while elected Members of Congress have not. The people of Illinois will be best served by a process that forgoes the behind-closed-doors political approach and instead provides for open and transparent consideration.”
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Roskam Statement on Giannoulias Disclosure of Receiving a National Security Briefing”

Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - Republicans - Senate - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

The Illinois Primary Ballot Will Look Like This…

November 20, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

When you go to the polls February 2, 2010, and request a “Republican” ballot, here’s the ballot order you’ll see — as determined by an Illinois State Board of Elections drawing earlier this week:

For US Senate, the GOP ballot starting at the top:

  • Donald (Don) Lowery
  • Mark Steven Kirk
  • Andy Martin
  • Kathleen Thomas
  • John Arrington
  • Patrick Hughes
  • Robert L. “Bob” Zadek (an objection pending)
  • Thomas (Tom) Kuna (an objection pending)

Next, Illinois Governor:

  • Kirk W. Dillard
  • Bill Brady
  • Robert J. “Bob” Schillerstrom
  • Adam Andrzejewski
  • Dan Proft
  • Jim Ryan
  • Andy McKenna

Then, Illinois Lieutenant Governor:

  • Don Tracy
  • Jason Plummer
  • Randy A. White, Sr.
  • Brad Cole
  • Matt Murphy
  • Dennis W. Cook

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The Illinois Primary Ballot Will Look Like This…”

Chicago - Constitution - Cook County - Elections - Illinois - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Putback Amendment Gaining Steam

November 19, 2009 by

We have some great news from the trenches here. We just got a great poll result back that shows if voters have the chance to vote on Putback, they’ll likely vote for it.

Conference Call This Tuesday, November 24th at 9pm

On November 24th, we will be having a conference call for volunteers, supporters, donors and petition circulators on the Putback Amendment with the principal author, John Bambenek. The team will be available to answer questions related to circulating petitions, provide in-depth information about the amendment, and to let you know our plans to make the Putback Amendment a reality for Illinois! If you can tune in, please do.
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Putback Amendment Gaining Steam”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

You’re Invited to a Lunch With Adam Andrzejewski, GOP Candidate for Gov.

November 17, 2009 by

Republican Gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski will be hosting a luncheon at the University Club of Chicago tomorrow from 11:30 AM to 1:30PM.

University Club of Chicago
76 E Monroe Street

Chicago, IL

If you can’t make it, though, you can watch it all on the Internet webcast, or listen in by phone conference call.

Phone: (507) 726-4200
Passcode: 119275#
www.ustream.tv/adamforillinois

Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Illinois - Liberals - Mayor Richard Daley - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Board Hijinx: Peraica vs. John Daley

November 17, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Over at WBEZBlog, Tony Arnold posted his “soundbite of the day” featuring an insinuation, an angry reply, and a slam from today’s Cook County Board meeting.

Apparently, during a roll call vote, Commissioner Tony Peraica made some sort of veiled jab at Mayor Daley’s son who recently moved to Russia. I’m not sure what the heck Daley’s son has to do with anything — and Peraica said later that he regretted even saying it — but whatever Peraica meant it sure set John Daley (brother of Mayor Richard Daley) off about “attacking my nephew,” that’s for sure.

After Peraica said his line about the younger Daley’s move to Russia, John Daley started yelling back and that caused Board President Todd Stroger to shut off the mic, saying “You don’t know when to shut up,” to our erstwhile member of the Daley brood.

Still, later in the session, John Daley got his chance to throw out a jab at Peraica and in his blog post, Arnold expressed puzzlement over the comeback.
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Cook County Board Hijinx: Peraica vs. John Daley”

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Immigration/Immigrants - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

5th District Race: Ratowitz Responds to Immigration Question

November 17, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

On Nov. 14, Cao’s blog featured some pointed questions for 5th Congressional District candidate David Ratowitz on his stance on illegal immigration. That blog took the position that Mr. Ratowitz is an apologist for illegal immigration and is an amnesty supporter. We discussed that post here.

At that time, I asked for the Ratowitz campaign to clarify and shortly a short comment from the campaign was sent to me. The campaign also promised a longer treatment of the subject.

Today I received that longer treatment. Here it is in its entirety:
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5th District Race: Ratowitz Responds to Immigration Question”

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Elections - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Dold Pulls Ahead in Super Saturday Votes

November 17, 2009 by

An Update on Dold’s 10th District race from his campaign:

Wins New Trier Republican Organization Endorsement

Winnetka, IL- Robert Dold, Republican Candidate for Illinois’ 10th Congressional District, is proud to announce his endorsement by the New Trier Republican Organization. Having also recently won the endorsement of the Elk Grove Township Republican Organization, Dold has received the first two grassroots endorsements in the district. Dold continues building momentum in his campaign to replace Congressman Mark Kirk who is running for the U.S. Senate.

“I am thrilled to receive the endorsement of the NTRO”, said Dold who received more votes than all of the other six candidates combined. “The NTRO endorsement was instrumental in Mark Kirk’s successful 2000 campaign and I am honored by the support of this important organization.”
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Dold Pulls Ahead in Super Saturday Votes”

Anti-Americanism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Liberals - SEIU - Society/Culture - State Government - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Union Thug Attacks Young Boy Scout

November 17, 2009 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

**UPDATE** 11/20/09

17-year-old Kevin Anderson wanted to add another Eagle Scout badge to his well-earned collection and so spent some 200 hours over several weeks to clear a walking path along the river in east Allentown park in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Little did young Mr. Anderson know it but he was about to prove once again that unions have a pernicious influence on governments everywhere. After Kevin’s good deed the city’s public employees union went gunning for the poor kid with threats and gyrations meant to shake down the city and scare off any citizen that might dare to imagine that they could perform any act of charity or community service for their fellows without the union getting its piece of the action.

In his best Sopranos impression, the thug president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Nicky Balzano began to issue his threats.

“We’ll be looking into the Cub Scout or Boy Scout who did the trails,” Balzano ominously warned the City Council.
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Union Thug Attacks Young Boy Scout”

Chicago - Congress - Conservatives - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Patrick Hughes Featured on Jim DeMint’s Senate Conservatives Fund Website This Week

November 16, 2009 by

Jim DeMint’s Senate Conservatives Fund is feating Senate candidate Patrick Hughes as well as sponsoring a poll on who Illinois voters prefer: Kirk or Hughes.

If you are a Hughes supporter, be sure and stop by the 2010 Race Spotlight: Illinois page and cast your vote for Patrick Hughes.

There you’ll see that Mark Kirk is trailing Democrat Alexi Giannoulias by three points. This is the ideal opportunity for a fresh, conservative face to find his footing in Illinois and Patrick Hughes is just such a candidate.

DeMint’s Senate Conservatives Fund reaches out to conservative state candidates that might look worthy of support and offers some campaign dollars. Hughes certainly fills that bill, as well.

Business - Chicago - Conservatives - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Governor 2010: One Man’s Perspective

November 16, 2009 by

I had an interesting correspondence with Grant Noble of Lake Forest this weekend and he gave me the permission to post his thoughts on the 2010 Governor’s race. Mr. Noble is a former Republican precinct committeeman, Lake County coordinator for Steve Baer and other conservative statewide candidates, and is the former field director of Family PAC Illinois and Republicans for Poshard. (Glen Poshard was the 1998 Democrat candidate for Gov. that ran against the corrupt George Ryan, only our latest Ill. Gov. that ended up in jail. I let Grant know that I voted Poshard that year, too. It was the first time I didn’t vote Republican for a state wide office in my life as I just couldn’t stomach the corrupt Ryan.) — WTH

Illinois Governor 2010

If you want the Illinois income tax to go to 5% (minus a token property tax cut/increase in the personal exemption), then both major Democrat Governor candidates will gladly do that in 2011. If you want Chicago Democrats to control the Illinois legislature for the next 10 years and lose at least 2 Illinois Republican Congressmen to stop the Obama juggernaut, then allow the Democrats to control redistricting without a Republican Governor to veto their map. So that leaves the present Republican gubernatorial field.

Adam Andrzejewski is a nice guy but simply doesn’t have the business or political experience to be Governor. He has some money, but not enough to win a statewide primary. Jim Ryan has done little since being Illinois Attorney General other than leaving his law firm and seeing one of his chief aides convicted of corruption. After two colossal failures, the Ryan name is poison in Illinois politics.

As Du Page County Board President, Bob Schillerstrom spent big and raised taxes. As a strongly pro-choice candidate, he’ll fracture the Republican coalition. I supported Andy McKenna in his 2004 U.S. Senate primary run, but he was a mediocre candidate then and has been a bad Illinois Republican Party chairman since. If he wanted to run for Governor, McKenna should have resigned his party position immediately after the 2008 election and started his campaign then, not far too late in September 2009.
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Illinois Governor 2010: One Man’s Perspective”

Britain - Christianity - Conservatives - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Education - History - Liberals - Patriotism - President - Religion - Rights - Society/Culture - State Government - The Law - Warner Todd Huston - Western Civilization

ISI Conference Part Three: More British Than the British!

November 16, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

This is the final installment my three part report on the Intercollegiate Studies Institute’s one day conference on The Roots of American Order. So here is part two of mine titled Lift a Glass to the Past: America Rooted in Tradition or a New Covenant? (Click for parts one and two)

After a break for lunch, Mark C. Henrie took up America’s Britishness. Henrie wrote the ISI’s A Student’s Guide to the Core Curriculum that explains the value of a traditional core of studies in Western civilization and his session reflected that study.

Capitalizing on Birzer’s citation of Edmund Burke who praised the colonist’s essential Britishness, Henrie made the point that America is best understood not as a break from tradition but as the culmination of a long series of continuous ideals that range back through Western history, specifically through England.

Henrie says that we get four essentials from England.

  • The English language and literature
  • The common law and a respect for the rule of law
  • A desire for self government
  • Manners and a social order

One of the questions that researchers have often wondered is why American English and British English are essentially the same? Why didn’t America reinvent English for its own purposes in the same way the Dutch altered German, for instance? Henrie says that the reason is that the focal point of language in the colonies was contained in the King James Bible and that pervasive reliance on a single source of language arrested any development of a widely diverging American version of English. We Americans inherited the English language through the Bible.
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ISI Conference Part Three: More British Than the British!”

Britain - Christianity - Conservatives - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Freedom - Liberals - Patriotism - President - Religion - Rights - Society/Culture - State Government - The Law - Warner Todd Huston - Western Civilization

ISI Conference Part Two: Christ in Our Soul

November 16, 2009 by 4 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

This is part two of my three part report on the Intercollegiate Studies Institute’s one day conference on The Roots of American Order. So here is part two of mine titled Lift a Glass to the Past: America Rooted in Tradition or a New Covenant? (Part one can be seen here)

The second speaker of the day was Brad Birzer who regaled us on America’s Judeo-Christian History.

Bizer began his session by noting that historian Donald Lutz discovered that the founders used Christian references in their pre-war writing far more than any other source. St. Paul was the most referenced New Testament figure with Micah 4:4 being the most referenced Old Testament verse.

But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

On this Lutz quotation, though, I want to clarify something. Many have bandied about the claim that Donald Lutz said that 34 percent of the founder’s writing contain direct Biblical citations. This claim is not altogether true. On the other hand, it is not something to quickly dismiss as fans of the Enlightenment influence want to do, either.
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ISI Conference Part Two: Christ in Our Soul”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - House of Representatives - Illinois - Islam - Islamofascism - Liberals - President - Religion - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Terrorism - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois’ Gov And Senator Think Terrorists Bring ‘Good-Paying Jobs’

November 16, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Once again we see how clueless Democrats like Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Senator Dick Durbin are on matters of national security. With Barack Hussein Obama’s decision to treat the terrorists at Guantanamo Bay as if they are common American criminals, as the president bestows all American rights upon them, and with his decision to spread these monsters out across the U.S.A, we see Quinn and Durbin idiotically asserting that terrorists equal “good paying jobs.”

These jobs might come from the sale to the federal government of the Thomson correctional facility in west central Illinois where Obama could send some 100 detainees in preparation of closing down the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba facilities. Obama is struggling to figure out what to do with these detainees after his hastily made, ill-informed decision last January to close down the terrorist detainment facility.

After the idea was announced both Quinn and Durbin found themselves all excited to welcome these monsters into their state and both imagined that the occasion means that Illinois gets jobs. Durbin is quoted in the Wall Street Journal as saying that this is a dramatic opportunity.
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Illinois’ Gov And Senator Think Terrorists Bring ‘Good-Paying Jobs’”

Chicago - Conservatives - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

17th District Rep Race: GOP Dirty Tricks Edition

November 14, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Glenview resident Phil Collins is running for the 17th District’s State Rep seat (District Map) and he’s racked up some great endorsements so far for a first time run for office.

Collins has been endorsed by Tony Castrogiovanni, the vice chairman of the Cook Co. Republican Party; Eric Wallace, a co-chairman of the Cook Co. Republican Party; Ken Arnold, a former 3rd vice chairman of the Lake Co. Republican Central Committee and 8th Dist. congressional candidate in 2006 and ’08; Peter Karlovics, a former chairman of the Warren Township, Lake Co. Republican Party; Liz Eilers, the secretary of the Illinois Center Right Coalition and Central Illinois Field Director of Adam Andrzejewski for Governor; and the Chicago Minuteman Project.

An impressive list of endorsements for a first timer, for sure. But one name you’ll notice is missing in that list is that of incumbent State Rep Beth Coulson (R). Coulson announced that she is not running for reelection to her State Rep seat and will instead seek Mark Kirk’s Congressional seat since Kirk is abandoning that seat to run for the Senate. As she leaves her stint in the state legislature, Coulson made it known that she is supporting another candidate for the 17th, Hamilton Chang. And because Coulson is the incumbent, the state party under Pat Brady is backing her choice.

And so the dirty tricks begin.
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17th District Rep Race: GOP Dirty Tricks Edition”

Anti-Americanism - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

The Fix is In: State GOP Leader Backs Andy McKenna for Guv

November 14, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Until this Summer Andy McKenna was the Chairman of the Illinois GOP. He presided over a party that saw every single state wide office lost to it. He presided over a party that tried as hard as it could to make sure that Illinois’ Republican voters would be barred from voting their own leaders into place (even though Democrat voters do elect their leaders). McKenna presided over a GOP that seemed little more than a junior partner to the corruption plagued Democrats.

…and now McKena’s running for governor.

And guess what? House Republican leader Tom Cross is backing McKenna.

Yep, looks like the fix is in for McKenna as far as the state party is concerned and because of that you can bet that we will see Governor Pat Quinn win his own full term by November. Either that or we will see Quinn’s Democrat challenger, Dan Hynes, become the next governor. Which ever Democrat we are talking about here, the point is if McKenna is the face of the GOP for the 2010 election, a Democrat will win.
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The Fix is In: State GOP Leader Backs Andy McKenna for Guv”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Economy/Finances - GOP - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Guvs Race: Adam Andrzejewski Says Repeal Video Gambling

November 13, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski says if he’s elected Illinois Governor he’d work to repeal the video gambling law recently passed by the state legislature.

On WBBM 780AM radio (Chicago), Andrzejewski said, “It is bad public policy. It wasn’t vetted by the people.”

Andrzejewski said he will make repeal of the law a priority if elected and in order to do that he plans to stop funding for road, school or transit improvements backed by the gambling expansion. The measure signed by Quinn also uses liquor tax increases and expanding the lottery to the Internet, among other things, to fund the projects.

At least two other GOP candidates have expressed their distaste with the video gambling law. Bob Schillerstrom came out against the bill early in his campaign and Kirk Dillard claimed he was unhappy with the law. Of course, Dillard voted for the video gambling law in his role as a state Senator, so his claim of being unhappy with the bill seems a mixed message juxtaposed with his actual vote on the issue.

Andrzejewski has been a popular campaigner with the rank and file thus far on the hustings. He’s won at least four straw polls in carious parts of the state, three in a row of late. Andrzejewski is a true outsider never having held public office before.

Visit AdamforIllinois.com.

Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Board Race Gets Messy

November 13, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

OK, say you are running for the Cook County Board. And say your daddy is the village clerk in the very district where you are hoping to get a whole slew of by-mail and early votes. Also say your cousin is running for Governor and he’s already the State Comptroller now. Do you think your opponent might casually wonder if the fix is in?

… well, it is Crook County, after all.

Naturally, the above isn’t just some bad TV script, but a real situation in southern Cook County. In Orland Park where Democrat Patrick Maher is running to unseat Commissioner Elizabeth Doody Gorman (R, Or. Park) we find that Maher’s daddy just happens to be David Maher, the Orland Park Village Clerk, and Maher’s cousin just happens to be Dan Hynes, Democratic State Comptroller and current candidate for the Dem. nomination for governor.

Naturally, Commissioner Gorman is a bit wary of the whole situation and is raising some red flags about it all.
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Cook County Board Race Gets Messy”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Illinois - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Another Trade Show Dumps Chicago Over Union Ripoffs

November 13, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Another trade show is leaving Chicago this time for Atlanta, Georgia. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society meeting which has been held in Chicago’s McCormick Convention Center for quite some time is leaving the city due to the high costs that unions force upon its exhibitors.

In October we posted that the Plastics Industry Trade Association is also contemplating fleeing Chicago for southern hospitality for the same reason.

The HIMSS reports that 2009 attendance in Chicago’s McCormick Center was down by 5 percent compared to 2008. Attendance also dropped from 29,100 in 2008 to 27,500 this year. Additionally, HIMSS reports that they lost exhibitors over 2008, as well.
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Another Trade Show Dumps Chicago Over Union Ripoffs”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Watch Truth in Accounting CEO on WTTW Ch. 11 7:00 p.m. Tonight

November 12, 2009 by

Chicago – Sheila Weinberg, Founder and CEO of the Institute for Truth in Accounting, will be featured on Chicago Tonight – WTTW Ch. 11 this evening (November 12) 7:00 p.m. CST. The segment will highlight the budget gimmicks that have heightened Illinois’ current financial crisis. You can also watch the live telecast online at: http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=42,9

Eddie Arruza, Chicago Tonight’s host, will be discussing with Weinberg and the other panelists Beyond California: States in Fiscal Peril, a study recently issued by the Pew Center on the States. This study highlights that Illinois’ budget gap is by far one of the worst in the country.

Prior budget gimmicks have heightened Illinois’ current financial woes. These budgeting shenanigans include floating bonds to pay pension obligations, reliance on borrowing and paying bills late.
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Watch Truth in Accounting CEO on WTTW Ch. 11 7:00 p.m. Tonight”

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Rev. Hayes Facing Down Jesse Jackson, Jr. in Ill 2

November 12, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Republican Congressional candidate Reverend Isaac Hayes wants to be your 2nd District Representative. But to do that he has to defeat Jesse Jackson, Jr. and a gaggle of Greenies first. And he’s taking Jackson head on.

Hayes, for instance, has signed the “Taxpayer Protection Pledge” from Americans for Tax Reform pledging not to vote to raise taxes should he win office. He challenges Jackson to “renounce the unsustainable, statist spending plans of Speaker Pelosi and to pledge to not raise taxes.” But it isn’t just taxes Hayes is slamming Jackson for.

On Jackson’s vote for the Obamacare bill in the House, Hayes points out that on WVON radio, Jesse Jackson’s own sister, Santita Jackson, said she was “wary” of the 2,000 page healthcare bill. To Santita’s wariness Hayes says, “Mr. Jackson should listen to his big sister because it is apparent he is not listening to other hardworking Americans.”
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Rev. Hayes Facing Down Jesse Jackson, Jr. in Ill 2″

Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Board President Forum, Nov. 15 Republicans Excluded

November 12, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Better Government Association of Chicago is hosting a debate between candidates for Cook County Board President. Naturally, the extremely left-leaning Andy Shaw and his merry little group of faux concerned citizens are excluding the Republican candidates in their forum. Perhaps you might want to email the lefty Shaw and ask why he is excluding the two Republican candidates in his faux forum? Email them at countyboardforum@gmail.com or call them at (312) 427-8330.

Who is your choice for President of the Cook County Board? Still not decided? Perhaps you ‘d like to attend a free, live forum of the candidates on Sunday, November 15 at the DePaul Student Center. For details, read the following media advisory from our friends at the Better Government Association (BGA). Note: If you plan to attend, please let them know so that they can best accommodate a large crowd. RSVP to countyboardforum@gmail.com.

The Better Government Association & 43rd Ward Democrats Host Candidates Forum

Andy Shaw, Executive Director of the Better Government Association, will moderate a lively discussion among the Democratic Candidates for President of the Cook County Board: Todd Stroger, the incumbent; Toni Preckwinkle, 4th Ward Alderman; Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court; and Terrence O’Brien, President of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. The debate is a DePaul University Forum. Democratic Committeeman Michele Smith and the 43rd Ward Democrats are hosts of the County Board President Democratic Candidates Forum, which is being held at the DePaul University Center at Belden and Sheffield in Lincoln Park.

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Cook County Board President Forum, Nov. 15 Republicans Excluded”

Chicago - Constitution - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

The Putback Amendment, Putting Voters Back in Charge

November 12, 2009 by

Momentum is building across the State of Illinois for the Putback Amendment. We have volunteers in every corner of the state gathering signatures and just completed a big week of events all across the state. Together we CAN bring reform to Illinois. We all know Springfield will give us more of the same, together we can change the way business is done!

Our biggest needs are volunteers getting signatures and donations. Please consider getting signatures for the amendment before the holidays in your own neighborhoods.

Volunteers Needed in Chicago for Nov 14, 21, and 22!

There are several big events and rallies in Chicago the next two weekends and we need volunteers with petitions to gather signatures there. Some of the events are partisan in nature, but the Magnificent Mile Light Festival is a non-partisan event attended by many in Chicago and the surrounding area. If you have a few hours to spare, please contact John Bambenek at jcb@putbackamendment.com.
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The Putback Amendment, Putting Voters Back in Charge”

Chicago - Congress - Conservatives - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Senate - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Kirk Denies He’s Going Right With Palin Request

November 12, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Mark Kirk is denying that he’s trying to angle rightward in the run up to the GOP primary next year with his recent reaching out to Governor Sarah Palin to secure her endorsement for his candidacy.

“I think I am who I am. I am a social moderate, fiscal conservative. But this is a big race and we are building a broad coalition and it will be, for a Republican candidacy, a center-right coalition, but for me, I haven’t changed my views.”

This is, of course, rather interesting. Kirk is reaching out to conservatives by courting one of their idols in Sarah Palin, yet is also claiming he hasn’t changed his views. It makes one wonder just why a conservative would want to vote for him if he isn’t even interested in paying lipservice to their causes?

In essence, Kirk is saying vote for me… and I’ll ignore all you stand for. After all Kirk’s record is more often center left than center right.
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Kirk Denies He’s Going Right With Palin Request”

Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Feminism - Founders - Free Trade - Freedom - GOP - Liberals - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Meghan McCain’s Latest: Too Stupid Not to Comment Upon

November 12, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Just hearing her name causes me pain and normally I wouldn’t waste a minute’s time worrying about what this vacuous little child has to say on much of anything — as is evidence by the fact that this is the first time my keyboard has shuddered out her name. However, Meghan McCain’s latest blog post is a piece of conventional wisdom that, while not unique to little Meaggie’s fallow mind (which itself is de rigeuer for the girl, sadly), it is one that has been heard since the day women began to stride into the world of western politics. However, it is one that I think no longer applies. So, I’d like to address the empty reasoning on women in politics despite that it emanated from McCain’s somewhat barren pen.

Here is McCain’s prosaic premise: The attacks on Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton have made it harder for women and is proof that no woman will ever be “just right” for politics. To which anyone not looking to make excuses can only say a resounding “yeah, right.”

The simple matter of fact is that anyone that clamors for great power will stir great passions in those whom they wish to govern. And those that find wide support among the people will find that such support is ephemeral once decisions start having to be made. It doesn’t matter if the powerful is man or woman.
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Meghan McCain’s Latest: Too Stupid Not to Comment Upon”

Anti-Americanism - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Jobs - Liberals - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Women Becoming Majority of Union Workers

November 12, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Associated Press had an interesting article reporting that women are fast becoming the majority of union members and will be the majority in 10 years if current trends continue.

As it stand now, women make up 45 percent of union members today, up from 35 percent in 1983. Apparently white men now only make up 38 percent of the union workforce, down from almost 52 percent in ’83.

The AP notes that this preponderance of women is changing the goals of union negotiators.

“When you have a majority of women in the labor movement, issues like work-family balance, paid sick days and paid parental leave become more important,” said John Schmitt, an economist at the left-leaning think tank and one of the authors of the report.

And what has caused this change? The growth of public, government unions. At this point, the AP reports, that 49 percent of all union members are now working for local, state, and federal workers in public employees unions. 61 percent of public employees are female.
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Women Becoming Majority of Union Workers”