38 Days Until the Primary In Illinois — A Web Resource

-By Warner Todd Huston

Just a reminder, folks. Since Illinois moved its primary up… waaaaay up … we are only 38 days away from primary voting which begins on Feb. 2!

That’s right, folks, 38 days to make up your mind about for which candidate you’ll vote for the GOP nomination for every office up for grabs in 2010.

So, once again, here are the websites of the state-wide offices and the local offices up for election in this mid term season.

U.S. Senate

John Arrington – arringtonforsenate.com
Patrick Hughes – patrickhughesforsenate.com
Mark Kirk – kirkforsenate.com
Tom Kuna – w-e-r-co.com
Don Lowery – judgelowery4ussenate.com
Andy Martin – andyforussenator.com
Kathleen Thomas – kathleenthomasforsenate.org
Ed Varga – e-varga.com
Eric Wallace – wallaceforillinois.com
Robert Zadek – robertzadek.com
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38 Days Until the Primary In Illinois — A Web Resource”


Chgo. Mayor Daley’s Bro Pleads for Dems to Return to Center

-By Warner Todd Huston

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley’s brother, William, is warning the Democratic Party that it is going too far left and will end up “in the wilderness” in 2010. William Daley has been a longtime political operative that has been connected with the Clintons for many years but that doesn’t make him an extremist lefty, apparently… at least in his opinion.

Daley wrote an op ed for the Washington Post today where he warns that the Democratic Party is in danger of going over the leftwing cliff.

With the revelation that Rep. Parker Griffith of Alabama is jumping the sinking Dem. ship and has declared that he is now a Republican and with the several Dems retiring from Congress, Daley warns that all the centrists are running away from the party and that will cause it to lose future elections.

In fact, he’s sure its too late to prevent major loses in 2010. He warns that if the party doesn’t return to the center they will lose more than just the next election.
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Chgo. Mayor Daley’s Bro Pleads for Dems to Return to Center”


The Good News About Springfield, Merry Christmas

A Christmas message from Adam Andrzejewski, Republican candidate for Illinois Governor:

In the coming weeks, you’ll most likely share time with friends and family to celebrate Christmas—an end-of-year festival tradition rooted in the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. This Christmas, I encourage you to give yourself an extra moment of pause to take inventory of the blessings that have been bestowed upon you by our Creator.

I also encourage you to remember the brave men and women who risk their lives to forge our great nation, and those who have paid the ultimate price for Freedom in America.

It is quite likely that someone you know—a family member or a neighbor—perhaps even yourself, has been laid off and dealt with challenging circumstances as a result. In Illinois, the unemployment rate is higher than the national average, our former governor’s impeachment still looms in recent memory, and our state is hemorrhaging money from a massive budget deficit. In spite of the dark cloud overhead, I encourage you to give thanks and celebrate Our Lord’s birth with rejoicing. And I’d like to suggest there is good news in the New Year. I submit to you that there is good news about Springfield.
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The Good News About Springfield, Merry Christmas”


Idiot We Call Senator Makes Fool of Self

-By Warner Todd Huston

Seat warmer Roland Burris, the doddering Illinois pol that bought his Senate seat from the criminal Governor that now sits awaiting to be sent to jail wanted to give the Senate some good cheer today during the socialist helathcare debate.

Burrie thought maybe a poem would help bring the Senate together in its hour of bickering…

… so much for the congeniality of the Senate, eh? This creep thought he’d use the Christmas spirit for partisan name calling and vitriol.

What a jerk.

But my friend Moe Lane had a better version that trades tit for tat…
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Idiot We Call Senator Makes Fool of Self”


Gitmo Lawsuit Could block Thomson Prison Transfer By Feds

From the William Kelly for Comptroller campaign:

GOP Comptroller candidate Kelly’s Attorney Planning to File Class Action Suit for Public Endangerment

(STERLING, IL) – This afternoon, protesters from Band of Mothers and Illinois Tea Party gathered in Sterling, IL to protest the move to transfer the Gitmo detainees to Thomson Prison. Among them was William J. Kelly, the GOP candidate for comptroller. Kelly is planning to file a lawsuit to block the transfer of the Thomson prison site to the federal government to house the Gitmo detainees. Kelly’s attorney, Greg Johnson, is exploring the merits of a class action suit on the grounds of public endangerment to prevent the prisoner transfer. “The public risks associated with the continued detention of war prisoners should not be forced upon the citizens of Illinois without sufficient public input and acceptance,” said Johnson.
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Gitmo Lawsuit Could block Thomson Prison Transfer By Feds”


Ill. Policy Institute: Santa’s Bringing….Dog Food???‏

What went into Congress’s latest $1.1 trillion spending bill? A $9.3 million bailout for the Windy City’s favorite financial black hole, the CTA (which runs deficits every year) and $340,000 to buy property no one wants. Kristina Rasmussen, our executive vice president, weighed in on Fox Business News last week. You can watch by clicking the video above.

Funding Four-Legged Friends
Does your neighbor have eleven cats? Just one dog? An ornery little hamster? If so, you may soon be funding these four-legged friends—that is, if Michigan Republican Thaddeus McCotter has his way. McCotter has proposed a $3500 tax credit for, yes, people’s pets. You can watch John Tillman discuss the issue tonight at 5:00 on CBS 2 Chicago.
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Ill. Policy Institute: Santa’s Bringing….Dog Food???‏”


5th District — Quigley-backed Chicago handgun ban: Negligible results, still unconstitutional

5th District Congressional candidate David Ratowitz responds to Rep. Mike Quigley and Mayor Richard M. Daley’s December 19, 2009, Sun-Times op-ed, “Threat to city’s handgun ban jeopardizes safety of all.”

Rep. Mike Quigley’s December 19 Chicago Sun-Times op-ed piece in defense of Chicago’s unconstitutional ban on gun ownership for law-abiding citizens displays arrogance, disregard for the facts and extremist zeal.
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5th District — Quigley-backed Chicago handgun ban: Negligible results, still unconstitutional”


Illinois GOP ‘Searching’ For Relevancy

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Illinois GOP tried on some “tongue-in-cheek” fun on its website this week concerning the mysterious candidacy of, “one Patrick John Ryan, who has filed as a Republican to run against Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan next year.”

The Illinois GOP has launched a sort of faux search for this supposed GOP candidate and have promised to support his candidacy. It’s all made in fun and to highlight that the Democrats are as underhanded as they are. Unfortunately, this bit of fun also highlights a very sad fact about the Illinois GOP: its impotency in Cook County.

Of course, it is pretty obvious that Illinois Democrats are a crafty, criminal lot. How is it that they can field a candidate pretending to be Republican, anyway? Why are they even doing it? As the GOP website points out, this Ryan fellow is a Democrat but has mysteriously shown up as a Republican candidate. It all tends to confirm the left’s reputation of being liars and crooks, of course.
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Illinois GOP ‘Searching’ For Relevancy”


The Fire ‘Em All Approach to Voting is Just Silly

-By Warner Todd Huston

Many good, honest conservatives want to fire all of Congress. One of the latest efforts is a website called goooh.com (as in GetOutOfOurHouse.com). Believe me, I understand the feeling. Congress has miserably failed to satisfy the voters. They’ve been arrogant, they’ve spent more time accumulating personal wealth than legislating, they’ve casually ignored the entirety of the Constitution, they’ve lied, stolen and become so filled with hubris that even when they stand silent people assume they are lying. Yes, I get it when people say that we should “fire ’em all.” But unfortunately the righteousness of the populist anger doesn’t make the sentiment the right prescription to cure what ails our nation.

Let’s be clear here, this contemporary disgust with Congress is in no way unusual. The fact of the matter is that you can go back to any time in our nation’s history and find that the same anti-Congressional sentiment abounded. The assumption that the current sad state of affairs in Congress is completely new is simply an ahistorical, ill-informed concept.
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The Fire ‘Em All Approach to Voting is Just Silly”


8th District Candidates Forum Jan 7

From the Lake County News-Sun:

8TH DISTRICT: The Republican Clubs of Antioch, Avon, Grant and Lake Villa townships have scheduled an 8th Congressional District candidate’s forum 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 7 at the Round Lake Park District, 814 Hart Road, Round Lake. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call Lilian Golonka at (847) 395-1872 or Bob Powers at (847) 546-8557. Republican 8th District candidates on the Feb. 2 ballot are Christopher Geissler of Barrington, John Dawson of Barrington, Maria Rodriguez of Long Grove, Dirk Beveridge of Barrington, Gregory Jacobs of Mundelein and Joe Walsh of Winnetka. Democratic incumbent Melissa Bean of Barrington is unopposed in the primary. Green Party candidate Bill Scheurer of Lindenhurst is also running for the seat.

The Candidate’s Websites:


My Last Straw With Bob Schillerstrom for Governor

-By Warner Todd Huston

For the most part I want my writing, opining and reporting of the GOP field of candidates in Illinois to be relatively even handed. I have avoided too much high strung rhetoric and have not made any obvious endorsements because I want all of our Republican candidates to have this forum and to get their message to Illinois Republican voters. But I will not from this point forward be loaning my forum to Bob Schillerstrom in his quest for the GOP nomination for Governor.

There are some things with which I agree with Mr. Schilelrstrom. He is generally a fiscal conservative which is good. However, he is also a pro-abortion candidate and an anti-Constitutional rights candidate. These two things are enough for me to jettison any further reporting on his campaign.

The final straw comes for me with Schillerstrom’s announcement of getting endorsed by a radical abortion advocacy group, the Personal PAC. This group claims to be “bi-partisan” but is far from it.
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My Last Straw With Bob Schillerstrom for Governor”


Video: Chgo Trib Editorial Board Interview With GOP County Board Candidates

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Chicago Tribune filmed its interview with two GOP candidates for Cook County Board Chairman, Roger Keats and John Garrido.

You can see he video on the Chicago Trib Video pages, or watch it here…
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Video: Chgo Trib Editorial Board Interview With GOP County Board Candidates”


Dillard Gets More Kane County Support

From the Kirk Dillard for Governor campaign…

Over the weekend, Republican candidate for Illinois governor Kirk Dillard won the endorsement of the St. Charles Township Republicans, expanding his support throughout Kane County.

“Senator Dillard’s leadership and plans to bring jobs to Illinois, balance the budget and clean up Springfield demonstrate he is the best candidate, and we are proud to endorse him,” said St. Charles Township Republican Chairman Ken Shepro. Dillard was also enthusiastic. “I’m delighted my friends in Kane County are backing my campaign, and it shows how my unique experience as former Governor Edgar’s chief of staff, my plan to make Illinois a “Destination Economy” and my legislative record are resonating with voters.”
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Dillard Gets More Kane County Support”


8th District: Joe Walsh Picks up Tea Party Groups Endorsement

From the Walsh for Congress campaign…

For Immediate Release: 8th Congressional District Candidate, Joe Walsh, is thrilled to announce the support of two influential Tea Party organizations in the 8th district — Tea Party Palatine and the Lake County Tea Party — in his run for congress. Two weeks ago Walsh was endorsed by the Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC.

“I am honored to have the support of two fine organizations comprised of selfless individuals who have chosen to engage in the political process rather than sit back and accept the status quo. These organizations and their memberships have ‘had enough’ and are working hard to take our country back,” said Walsh.
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8th District: Joe Walsh Picks up Tea Party Groups Endorsement”


The Lobbying Army in Congress for Healthcare

The Chicago Tribune has an excellent resource reporting the number of lobbyists that are involved in the healthcare debate as it winds through Congress.

For instance, did you know that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D, Nev.) has 13 of his former staff members now working as lobbyists for the healthcare industry? Our own Senator, Dick Durbin (D, Ill.) who is also the Majority Whip, has 8 of his former staffers lobbying for the healthcare industry and GOP Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has seen 5 of his staffers quit to lobby for healthcare.

The webpage is interactive and you can search by lawmaker and committee. You can also search by client and download all the data.

It is some very interesting info that you should check out.

The information was assembled by the Trib staff and the Medill News Service of the Northwestern University School of Journalism.


Follow the Elections at the Cook County Clerk Website

With the Primaries coming quick on the heels of New Years celebrations (February 2) I thought it would be a good idea to make sure everyone knows the websites of the Cook County Clerk and the Chicago Boad of Elections.

For Cook County (excluding the City of Chicago) you can go to:

www.cookcountyclerk.com

Now, because Chicago is it’s own animal in most things, the city has it’s own website to follow elections. That is:

www.chicagoelections.com

So, there are your resources to keep you eye on as the Primary unfolds.


Ill. Governor Candidates on Taxes and State Spending

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Associated Press asked the Illinois Gubernatorial candidates where they stand on both taxes and state spending this week. Interestingly, they asked what programs the candidates would cut to save money. With this question it was telling that the Republicans had specific programs that they’d cut while both Democrats dithered, hemmed and hawed on any cuts. Nearly all of them said “Medicaid spending” should be cut, but that doesn’t really answer to the question in my opinion. Of course Medicaid spending should be reformed as it is filled to the brim with waste and fraud, but no one is going to cut the program and cutting of programs was the question.

The AP’s questions on spending can be seen on the CBS Channel 2 website.

The AP also did one on taxes and that one can be seen on bnd.com, here the GOP contenders are interesting for one thing all but one of them said they’d hold the line. Only Dan Proft said he cut the state income tax. Naturally, both big spending Democrats (Dan Hynes and Pat Quinn) said they’d raise taxes.

In any case, both these AP pieces really shows the difference between the GOP and Democrat candidates. The Republicans want to cut spending and at least hold the line on taxes rates if not cut them and Democrats want to hike taxes and spend, spend, spend.

And let me say this about Dan Proft. He is always dead right on his answers to these issues. His points on these two AP pieces are perfect pitch.
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Ill. Governor Candidates on Taxes and State Spending”


Closing the Barn Door

-By Thomas E. Brewton

Procrustean regulation of banks and other financial institutions, passed by the House and pending in the Senate, will not prevent the next credit debacle and economic recession.

The House of Representatives has just passed a bill, primarily the brain child of Congressman Barney Frank, that expands the scope and detailed depth of financial markets’ regulation.

For public consumption, Congressman Frank’s legislation aims to prevent future financial meltdowns. This it will fail to do. It will, however, continue the long standing animosity between Democrat/Socialists and Wall Street and the business community.

Accepting the Democrat/Socialist Party’s nomination for the presidency in 1936, Franklin Roosevelt railed against the “economic royalists” who were allegedly seeking a “new industrial dictatorship.” Privately, he opined that businessmen as a class were stupid, that newspapers were just as bad. During the election campaign of 1936, in an address at Madison Square Garden, he fulminated against the magnates of “organized money.” To uprorious applause, he threatened: “I should like to have it said of my second Administration that in it these forces met their master.”
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Closing the Barn Door”


Jim Dodge Beats Out Topinka For Another Endorsement

From the Dodge for Comptroller campaign:

The Ford County Republican Organization voted Thursday night to endorse Jim Dodge, Republican candidate for Illinois Comptroller in the February 2, 2010 Republican Primary.

“I believe he has the intellect and the confidence to do the job and the ambition and integrity to follow through on the tough decisions that need to be made for the state,” said Eric Thompson, Ford County GOP Chairman. “Our organization sees that Jim Dodge embodies these characteristics that make him the right candidate for Comptroller.”
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Jim Dodge Beats Out Topinka For Another Endorsement”


Lt. Governor Race: Dennis Cook Gets Two South Suburban Republican Endorsements

From the Cook for Lt. Governor campaign:

(Orland Park, IL) – Lieutenant Governor Candidate Dennis Cook announced today that he has received the endorsements of Cook County and Palos GOP Chairman Lee Roupas, and Cook County Commissioner and Orland Township Chairman Liz Gorman.

Cook, Consolidated District 230 School Board President, said it is a great honor to have the endorsement of these two well-respected members of the Republican Party.
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Lt. Governor Race: Dennis Cook Gets Two South Suburban Republican Endorsements”


2nd District: Isaac Hayes Adds Phylicia Lyons as School Adviser

-By Warner Todd Huston

Republican south-sider Isaac Hayes has a tall order on his hands; face and defeat Chicago machine favorite and incumbent Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. But Hayes has added a new education adviser to his campaign staff that shows that he is serious in his effort to defeat Jackson and offer the voters a starkly different choice.

Joining the Hayes campaign in the role of Education Policy Director is Phylicia Lyons, President of School Choice Illinois.

Founded in 2006 School Choice Illinois is a policy group that has dedicated itself to pursuing vouchers, tax breaks and increasing the reach of charter schools all in an effort to give parents more options besides the failing public schools with which to educate their children. SCI feels that current laws stifle and prohibit parents from seeking more effective schools and its goal is to explore and create sustainable education policies that work for our kids.
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2nd District: Isaac Hayes Adds Phylicia Lyons as School Adviser”


Ten Ways to Stop Illinois Corruption

-By Warner Todd Huston

Jerry Agar is a Chicago area radio host and a member of the Illinois Policy Institute, a free-market centric policy center. Agar also has a column on the IPI website often centered around a list of one type of another. Today’s piece is titled, “10 Ways to Stop Political Corruption in Illinois.”

He begins:

Since 1970, more than 1500 individuals have been convicted, and the cost to Illinois taxpayers is estimated at $500 million a year. If we had that money back, instead of just watching an endless perp-walk, we would be in much better shape on several levels.

Agar goes on to list his ten points, but most of them seem to have an aspect of government transparency to them — such as number ten, “Appoint the Sunshine Commission”

Now, I have to say that I agree with an effort at state transparency. DuPage County has done a fantastic job putting all its business transactions, funding, and accounts online for everyone to see. This sort of thing can lead to two things. One, that govt officials might feel less likely to waste and steal tax money if their accounts are so easily discovered by the voters, and two… well, two is that the voters can see what their government is doing.

Still, transparency is not the only thing we can and should do to clean up government. We, the voters, need to be far more careful of who we vote into office in the first place. Being an informed voter is even more important than transparency.
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Ten Ways to Stop Illinois Corruption”


One Out in 10th Congressional District Race

-By Warner Todd Huston

There are still four candidates for the 10th District seat that is currently held by Mark Kirk (who is now running for Senate) but once there was five. Bill Cadigan has announced that he is no longer pursuing the nomination for the 10th. He reports that he just can’t raise the cash for the fight and is suspending his campaign.

Cadigan was endorsed by former State Senator Steve Rauschenberger and former Chairman of the Illinois Reform Commission Patrick Collins. He used to work for Congressman John Porter.

Cadigan has said he won’t be endorsing anyone at least until after Jan.1st.
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One Out in 10th Congressional District Race”


GOP Questions McKenna’s Use of Party Funds for His Own Polling

-By Warner Todd Huston

I meant to mention this story yesterday and didn’t get to it. I guess the reason why I wasn’t so all fired up to highlight it is that it all seemed as no surprise, it seemed like ho-hum news.

Don’t get me wrong, certainly it is big news that Gubernatorial candidate Andy McKenna is being investigated by the State Party over possible misuse of party money to fund his own first poll to ascertain whether or not his run for Gov. would be viable. No question that this is interesting news on several levels.

It is interesting, for instance, that the state GOP would even bother to investigate their fair hared boy in the first place, so, yes, that is interesting right there.

But it isn’t startling that Andy McKenna might be suspected of doing something underhanded. Here’s what happened:

Back in the summer when McKenna was still the Illinois Republican Party Chairman the party funded a $28,000 poll to flesh out the standing of the various folks on the Republican side that were close to announcing or had announced their intent to run for the party’s nomination for governor.
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GOP Questions McKenna’s Use of Party Funds for His Own Polling”


How the Candidates for Gov. Stand on Guns

-By Warner Todd Huston

The good folks over at icarry.org have compiled a nice little list of statements about the Second Amendment made by our candidates for Governor. On a veto of the so-called assault weapons ban, they found four GOPers stongly in favor, one is wishy-washy, and two oppose it. And on concealed carry they found three Republicans support it and three are against it.

Here is what icarry.org posted:
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How the Candidates for Gov. Stand on Guns”


Cook County Board: Interview With Roger Keats

Roger Keats is the candidate for Cook County Board President that is supported by the Cook County Republican Party. Linda Shelton has an extensive interview with Keats as well as a compilation of the positions he taken on his website. (Campaign website www.keatsforcook.com/)

It looks like Mr. Keats is trying to run of an anti-corruption/boost the economy platform.
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Cook County Board: Interview With Roger Keats”


Peter Roskam: Illinois Deserves Better Than This

A Statement from Representative Peter Roskam:

President Obama’s decision to relocate Guantanamo Bay’s inmates to my home state of Illinois is a misguided decision that will ultimately be regretted. Proponents of the decision have failed to prove how this move will make America safer. Let’s be clear: the Administration is not closing Guantanamo, they are simply moving Guantanamo to Illinois.

The multi-million dollar Guantanamo facility will be left dormant while U.S. courts extend an invitation to expand their reach into national security affairs. The move from a military tribunal to U.S. civilian courts will treat individuals who committed an act of war against the United States as common criminals. It flies in the face of logic, long precedence, and assumes the military is not capable of fairly administering justice.

Illinois deserves a better Christmas present than hardened terrorists.
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Peter Roskam: Illinois Deserves Better Than This”


Rep. Brian Billbray: Rep. Gutierrez is Creating the Next Wave of Illegal Immigration

-By Warner Todd Huston

Representative Luis Gutierrez (D, IL) will introduce another stab at “comprehensive immigration reform” this month and it’s been given another one of those Orwellian names that you know means the opposite of what it says in the title. Gutierrez is calling this mess the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity Act of 2009, or the CIR ASAP — in other words Comprehensive Immigration Reform ASAP.

The simple fact of the matter is that, regardless of the name, this legislation will do nothing whatever to help our security or our prosperity. In fact it will damage both.

In his press release touting this bill, Gutierrez said the following:

“We have waited patiently for a workable solution to our immigration crisis to be taken up by this Congress and our President,” said Rep. Gutierrez. “The time for waiting is over. This bill will be presented before Congress recesses for the holidays so that there is no excuse for inaction in the New Year. It is the product of months of collaboration with civil rights advocates, labor organizations, and members of Congress. It is an answer to too many years of pain —mothers separated from their children, workers exploited and undermined security at the border— all caused at the hands of a broken immigration system. This bill says ‘enough,’ and presents a solution to our broken system that we as a nation of immigrants can be proud of.”

This morning I spoke to Representative Brian Billbray in that nation’s capitol and found him chagrined by the whole thing. Billbray is the Chairman of the Immigration Reform Caucus and is from California’s 50th District which is situated in the San Diego County area.
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Rep. Brian Billbray: Rep. Gutierrez is Creating the Next Wave of Illegal Immigration”


Cops Insist on Getting Paid for Dressing Themselves

-By Warner Todd Huston

Here is another reason why unions need to be destroyed…

Do you think your boss should pay you for getting dressed in the morning or for taking off your day’s clothes to climb into your snuggly Pjs each night? No reasonable, sane person would. But unions are neither reasonable, sane, nor apparently interested in what’s good and right. At least the moron unionists in Oakland, California are illicit like that because the thugs of the police union have found some halfwit judge to agree with them that the city… that would mean the taxpayers… should pay them for zipping up their fly each morning and taking off their clothes at the end of each day.

In the height of arrogance, idiocy, and theft of taxes, these Cop thugs have been suing the city to get paid for “donning and doffing,” or in more sensible English, for putting on and taking off their uniforms each day. It’s bad enough these creeps had the gonads to make this idiotic attempt to steal the taxpayer’s money in the first place, but the feckless “legal” system in California has allowed it to go on AND have absurdly given these greedy public servants a victory over it all.
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Cops Insist on Getting Paid for Dressing Themselves”