Meet Sam McCann, Let’s repair and rebuild Illinois

From the Republican State Senate Campaign Committee of Illinois…

Recently, Illinois has been breaking records—and not in a good way. The state’s debt and bill backlogs are higher than ever, and Illinois’ Democrat leaders are pushing for a tax increase as the way to address Illinois’ fiscal woes.

Sam McCann says, “enough is enough.” A small business owner with a 17-year record of creating jobs, Sam wants to take his experience and leadership to Springfield. He believes that creating jobs and attracting employers is the only way to rebuild the economy and get people back to work in Illinois.
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Meet Sam McCann, Let’s repair and rebuild Illinois”


David Ratowitz Articulates the Relationship Between Patronage and the Hurricane Katrina Disaster

From the Ratowitz for Congress campaign (5th District)…

U.S. Congressional Candidate, David Ratowitz (IL-5) marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a series of articles exploring the role of government in the Katrina disaster and recovery. In this article, Ratowitz shines light on the role of patronage in the levee failures that caused the flooding of New Orleans.

Chicago, IL, June 24, 2010– Long time transparency and pro-liberty advocate Candidate for U.S. Congress from Illinois’ 5th Congressional District, David Ratowitz marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a series of articles based on his personal experience with the disaster and recovery process.
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David Ratowitz Articulates the Relationship Between Patronage and the Hurricane Katrina Disaster”


Ill. Dem. Senate Candidate Calls Fellow Dems ‘Bozos’

-By Warner Todd Huston

Fox News has a report of the odd way that Illinois Democrat Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias referred to fellow Democrats campaign appearance at a downstate agricultural forum.
“I have (known) plenty of Democrats that are complete bozos- that’s just the reality of it,” Giannoulias told the crowd.

While it is odd to see such a high profile Democrat candidate saying such a thing, I find nothing at all wrong with what he said. He’s right in context. There are a lot of Democrats that are “bozos.” He’s right that there are a lot of fine Republicans.

In fact, the concurrent reverse is true, too. There are a lot of “bozo” Republicans and a lot of nice Democrats, too.

Still, it is interesting that a guy in the middle of such a tight race was heard saying such a thing.
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Ill. Dem. Senate Candidate Calls Fellow Dems ‘Bozos’”


(5th Distict) David Ratowitz discusses government waste, FEMA trailers and the current stimulus bill

From the Ratowitz for Congress campaign (5th District)…

U.S. Congressional Candidate, David Ratowitz (IL-5) marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina by discussing the failures of government in hurricane recovery and economic stimulus through the example of FEMA trailers.

Chicago, IL, June 24, 2010– Long time transparency and pro-liberty advocate Candidate for U.S. Congress from Illinois’ 5th Congressional District, David Ratowitz marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a series of articles based on his personal experience with the disaster and recovery process.
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(5th Distict) David Ratowitz discusses government waste, FEMA trailers and the current stimulus bill”


Govt Officials Take Day Off To Raise Campaign Cash for Bosses

-By Warner Todd Huston

Must be nice to be a boss at the Cook County Board of Review. While there are 436,000 appeals for property tax appraisals sitting in its offices, the bosses of the Cook County Board of Review took a day off in the middle of the week to attend a fundraiser for Cook County Democratic Chairman Joe Berrios. And they invited their employees to join them.

It’s all fun and games working for government, we all know.

A dozen Board of Review employees and many of those lawyers and tax attorneys that make their living dealing with the Board attended the golf outing fund raiser for Berrios.

But who cares about work when there’s fundraising to be done?


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Govt Officials Take Day Off To Raise Campaign Cash for Bosses”


How to apply for Federal Flood Disaster Assistance‏

From the office of Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica…

The federal government has declared Cook County a disaster area due to the flooding that occurred in late July.

Those of us in the bipartisan contingent of local elected officials who fought for this declaration were pleased when it came last week. Thank you to all the residents, businesses, municipalities and townships that helped distribute and gather the data collection forms which helped us in our effort to garner this declaration.
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How to apply for Federal Flood Disaster Assistance‏”


Truth in Accounting: Illinois’ Budget Study Completed

From the Institute for Truth in Accounting

US Chamber of Commerce Looks for Solutions to Looming States’ Pension Crises

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s National Chamber Foundation and the U.S. Chamber’s Labor, Immigration & Employee Benefits division co-sponsored an event on July 30th underscoring growing budgetary pressures state and local governments are experiencing. The current economic downturn is underscoring the increasing retirement cost included in government budgets, due to increased pension benefits.
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Truth in Accounting: Illinois’ Budget Study Completed”


(5th District) David Ratowitz marks the five year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

From the Ratowitz for Congress campaign (5th District)…

U.S. Congressional Candidate, David Ratowitz (IL-5) marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a series of articles based on his experience during the storm and the long recovery.

Chicago, IL, June 24, 2010– Long time transparency and pro-liberty advocate Candidate for U.S. Congress from Illinois’ 5th Congressional District, David Ratowitz marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a series of articles based on his personal experience with the disaster and recovery process.

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(5th District) David Ratowitz marks the five year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.”


Quinn Loses Another Campaign Staffer, This Time His Chief of Staff

-By Warner Todd Huston

Did Quinn Fire Ethics Investigator to Help Chief of Staff?

Illinois Governor, Pat “the Accidental Governor” Quinn, has had a steady stream of campaign staffers quitting his campaign of late but this one is a bit different. Quinn’s chief of staff resigned Monday under a cloud of possible ethics violations.

Jerry Stermer, 67, is under an ethics probe for using his government sponsored email account to send campaign solicitations. Government officials are not allowed to use their government offices and other facilities for elections campaigns.

Stermer leaves a $150,000-a-year job and was Quinn’s highest paid staffer.
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Quinn Loses Another Campaign Staffer, This Time His Chief of Staff”


Roskam Seeks Increased Transparency in the House‏

From the office of Congressman Peter Roskam (R, ILL)…

As you may know, House Republicans recently rolled out a series of innovative tools for Americans to interact with their government and provide feedback on the issues facing our country today. These efforts, AmericaSpeakingOut.com and YouCut, are examples of the type of transparent and responsive leadership House Republicans will provide if we take back the majority in November.

I’ve had the privilege of serving on the forefront of this effort as the Vice Chairman and Job Creation Policy Director for AmericaSpeakingOut.com. Recently, House Republican Leader John Boehner, Rep. Aaron Schock, and I met with several organizations representing a range of businesses nationwide, organizations like the National Association of Manufacturers and National Federation of Independent Businesses. The purpose of this meeting was to hear suggestions directly from businesses responsible for creating jobs, generating growth, and restoring our economy to prosperity.
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Roskam Seeks Increased Transparency in the House‏”


(17th District) Bobby Schilling: Rep. Hare and I Have Very Different Versions of Winning

” The big win, from my perspective, is health care.”
-Rep. Phil Hare, August 17, on his major accomplishments in Congress this year.

Thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act………………..

Our national deficit will continue to grow. Just a month after the bill passed the Congressional Budget Office announced it would actually cost $115 billion more than previously thought, bringing the total cost to more than $1 trillion.

Higher taxes will be imposed on small businesses. While politicians like Rep. Hare claim to be fighting for small business, the real business owners, like those represented by the non-partisan National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), were not so easily fooled. “The fundamental mission of our organization is to promote and protect the rights of small businesses and the self-employed to own, operate and grow their business and this health care law directly undermines this core value,” wrote the NFIB president in a statement following the vote. The NFIB joined the 20 other states in the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the bill.

More people will lose jobs. In a study published several months before the vote, the non-partisan Illinois Policy Institute predicted the bill would cost Illinois 169,000 jobs. Newly added provisions in the bill are expected to significantly increase this number. Major employers in the17th district like Caterpillar and John Deere will see their costs rise by $100 million and $150 million respectively, in the first year alone. Why would any company hire workers when their costs are increasing by hundreds of millions of dollars? They won’t.

Our quality of care will decrease. Rep. Hare assured the 8 in 10 Americans happy with their health care they would be able to keep their current plans. However, according to the Associated Press, the Obama Administration itself, “estimates that many employers will be forced to make changes to their health plans under the new law. In just three years, a majority of workers-51 percent-will be in plans subject to new federal requirements.” In addition, the Obama Administration has acknowledged that “health insurance plans that are now offered by small businesses probably will not survive the transition to a regulated marketplace.”

Our cost of care will increase. Obamacare imposes billions of dollars in annual fees and taxes on drug manufacturers, prescription drug importers, and health insurance plans. Moreover, the bill establishes new taxes on certain retail sales by manufacturers and importers of medical devices. According to The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) these fees and taxes, “would generally be passed through to health consumers in the form of higher drug and device prices and higher insurance premiums.

Seniors will see major cuts in Medicare. The most drastic cuts ($132 billion), will be made to the popular Medicare Advantage program. Additionally, Medicare payments for home health care will be reduced by $40 billion and payments to certain hospitals will be cut by $22 billion.

www.bobby2010.com


Ill. Dem Senate Candidate Took Credit For ‘Job Creation,’ Now Illinois is 3rd Worst in Job Loss

-By Warner Todd Huston

Like his president and his party, the Democrat Senate candidate for Illinois, Alexi “the Mob Banker” Giannoulias, is quick to claim that they have “created jobs” with the various and sundry, and continuing “stimulus” bills. But now that Illinois has been reported as having lost the third most amount of jobs nationwide, will Giannoulias take credit for that too?

Back in July, Giannoulias appeared on Fox Chicago TV and told us all that he was proud to have helped “create jobs” in Illinois.

I’m also proud, not only have we helped create jobs here in Illinois, but I’m the only candidate who has actually fought for jobs. When they were going to close Hartmarx, a company that’s been around for over 100 years, 600 good-paying jobs, as State Treasurer I stood up to them, we fought to save those jobs.”

But even Obama’s own Washington establishment is reporting that Illinois lost the third most amount of jobs in July, the very month that Giannoulias was claiming that HE had created jobs in Illinois.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the largest over-the-month employment decreases in non-farm payroll were in North Carolina, New Jersey, and Illinois

So, since good ol’ Alexi is so willing to take credit for “creating” jobs — jobs that don’t seem to have been created at all — is he equally as willing to own up to the job loss in Illinois? If not, why not?
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Ill. Dem Senate Candidate Took Credit For ‘Job Creation,’ Now Illinois is 3rd Worst in Job Loss”


Gov. Quinn Fires His PR Firm

-By Warner Todd Huston

As a sign that all is not well in Pat Quinn’s race for his first full term as governor, news arrives that Quinn has fired his PR firm. Seventy some days before an election and “Accidental” Governor Quinn fires his public relations firm? Apparently so.

AKPD Media (the firm started by Obama advisor David Axerod) put out a press release on the parting of ways. “We and the Quinn campaign agreed that our divergent approaches to disciplined, professional communications are incompatible. We wish Pat well,” the firm said.

AKPD is certainly a powerful agency in Illinois and knows the state well. Still, it seems that Quinn has been battling the firm internally for the last few months.

Quinn has hired another firm to carry on with the rest of the campaign. Joe Slade White, a D.C.-based outfit, will be handling the rest of Quinn’s campaign… barring another falling out, of course.

This once again shows that Pat Quinn is not a very disciplined candidate. Alreaday he’s lost the services of three spokesmen and media folks. Bob Reed, Elizabeth Austin and Marlena Jentz all quit Quinn’s employ this year.
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Gov. Quinn Fires His PR Firm”


State Senator Noland Misleads With Untrue Campaign Mailings

-By Warner Todd Huston

The 22nd State Senate District is being badly served by its incumbent Democrat Mike Noland. Several of the campaign fliers that Noland has sent out to his constituents are filled with half truths and untruths and one of his emailed campaign solicitations was listed as being sent from his taxpayer-funded offices in Springfield and Elgin, a violation of campaign finance laws.

In one flier, Noland claimed he “affected change” in three major areas – creating jobs, achieving ethics reform and fighting for tax relief.

Noland claimed he created jobs by being the chief sponsor of a microloan program for small businesses. But that fact is the bill he sponsored, while it did pass, had all the microloan language stripped from it before passage. As it happens Noland didn’t create a single opportunity as he claimed. His bill was materially altered making his flier claim an outright lie.

The same flier also claims that Noland got “$40 million and 500 jobs for Harper College.” But this is a half truth. While the state did include the $40 million in its future projects, the fact is no $40 has been allocated and the “future projects” plans are not assured to ever be funded. This project may never be funded at all so Noland’s claims are premature at the very least.
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State Senator Noland Misleads With Untrue Campaign Mailings”


Hultgren for Congress (14th District): We’ve Expanded Our Lead In The Polls!‏

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

We Ask America released results that showed we’ve expanded our lead in the polls among registered voters!

Furthermore, we’re now leading by double digits among the crucial voting bloc of independents, who have rapidly recognized that Congressman Bill Foster has been nothing more than a rubber stamp for policies that grow jobs nowhere else but Washington.

With only 74 days to go before election day, we’re well on our way to restoring accountability in Congress.
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Hultgren for Congress (14th District): We’ve Expanded Our Lead In The Polls!‏”


Commissioner Peraica: Bringing Important Issues to Your Attention

From Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica…

While the County Board is out enjoying the last few weeks of summer — issues facing taxpayers and our citizens continue to mount.

That’s why I want to make sure you are aware of the following important issues facing the county board in the coming weeks.

  • On August 26 the county board will come together to discuss and deal with the flood issues facing Cook County.
  • The Cook County board will meet again on September 1 to kick off the 2011 budget process.
  • On September 15, a special meeting of the Finance Committee will convene to deal with the County Ethics Ordinance that we have put forth. The ordinance would prohibit lobbying by all elected officials of any legislative body.

I also invite you to watch my brief video update:

Tony Peraica
Cook County Commissioner
www.commissionerperaica.com/


Illinois 11th District, Dem. Halvorson Fires Campaign Manager

-By Warner Todd Huston

Congressman Debbie Halvorson of the Illinois 11th District has fired the campaign manager that has been with her since the start of the campaign.

Last month first termer Halvosrson was embarrassed by campaign manager Travis Worl when he sent a letter to the U.S. Air Force challenging the military status of Captain Adam Kinzinger, Halvorson’s Republican opponent.

Worl complained to the Air Force that Kinzinger’s website bio said that he “is” flying missions in Iraq when clearly Kinzinger was now at home and running an election campaign for congress. But Kinzinger pointed out that the bio was written during his service and just wasn’t updated to “was” flying missions.
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Illinois 11th District, Dem. Halvorson Fires Campaign Manager”


Hayes Calls on Fitzgerald to Begin Investigations into Jackson, Jr.

From the Hayes for Congress campaign (2nd District)…

CHICAGO, IL- With yesterday’s verdict of Rod Blagojevich being found guilty on count 24 (providing false statements to the law enforcement/FBI), it’s time to bring Jesse Jackson Jr. to the stand.

During trial proceedings Rod’s brother, Robert Blagojevich, testified that fundraiser Raghu Nayak had offered to raise $6 million for Rod Blagojevich if Rod named Jackson to the empty Senate seat.

Simply put, just because Jackson did not succeed in attaining the seat, does that mean he should not answer for his actions?
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Hayes Calls on Fitzgerald to Begin Investigations into Jackson, Jr.”


Ratowitz, 5th District: Blagojevich jury hung on 27 counts, convicts on one count.

From the Ratowitz fo Congress campaign (5th District)…

U.S. Congressional Candidate, David Ratowitz (IL-5) reacts to Blagojevich corruption verdict: “Jury has put ball in voters’ court”.

Chicago, IL, June 24, 2010– Long time transparency and pro-liberty advocate Candidate for U.S. Congress from Illinois’ 5th Congressional District, David Ratowitz expresses disappointment in the Blagojevich verdict, claims jury “threw the ball back into the voters’ court”.

“Like many Illinoisans, I am disappointed with the jury’s verdict in the Blagojevich trial. Many people had hoped the Blagojevich jury would do the hard work of cleansing Illinois politics of scandal and corruption, but they have declined to do so, instead they have put the responsibility for cleaning up politics back where it belongs: with the voters”, said Ratowitz this evening from his Chicago office.

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Ratowitz, 5th District: Blagojevich jury hung on 27 counts, convicts on one count.”


Dan Patlak’s Campaign For Cook County Board Of Review‏

From the Patlak for Cook County Board of Review campaign…

Today we are rolling out our third “Tax Facts” video for your review. The first two have been met with interest by Cook County taxpayers far and wide who find the information provided to be empowering. The first two Tax Facts videos are now posted in our Education Center at www.ElectPatlak.com. You can ask your own question about property taxes by clicking on “Ask Dan”.
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Dan Patlak’s Campaign For Cook County Board Of Review‏”


Ill. Dem. Senate Candidate Being Funded by Terror Connected Financier?

-By Warner Todd Huston

Daniel Halper asks a whopper of a question, one that could cause quite a lot of trouble for Democrat Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias of Illinois. Halper reveals that one of Giannoulias’ donors is a man connected with a foundation with link to terror organizations.

Sahloul is the former president of the Mosque Foundation, a Bridgeview mosque that has numerous links to terrorist organizations. The Mosque Foundation contributed roughly $400,000 to four Islamic charities that were later shut down by the federal government for links to terrorism. According to the Chicago Tribune, the organizations receiving funds were: the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, the Benevolence International Foundation, the Islamic American Relief Agency, and Global Relief Foundation.

Apparently the Mosque Foundation’s Imam led an effort to raise $50,000 to help with the legal costs incurred by Sami Al-Arian, a University of South Florida professor who was convicted of raising money for terrorism in Palestine.

So what about this? Is Alexi Giannoulias taking money from a group with certain connections to terrorism?

Is the what Illinois wants as their representative in the Senate?
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Ill. Dem. Senate Candidate Being Funded by Terror Connected Financier?”


Congressman Melissa “No Questions Please” Bean And Her Intimidating Enforcers

-By Warner Todd Huston

It is interesting to watch this video of a recent townhall held by Chicago area Congressman Melissa Bean (8th District). First she does her level best to avoid actually answering any questions and then when a constituent gets tired of the tap dancing she sends a guy that looks like a bar bouncer over to that person to stand over them in a threatening manner.

Notice that the enforcer comes over to intimidate not just the guy making the video here but another constituent, a middle aged woman.

Also I love the part about the questions. The congressman is right there for everyone to ask questions of her, yet she tells them to email her? Really? Email!?

If you’d like to contact the Round Lake Area Library where this happened, Lake County Tea Party has the contact info.
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Congressman Melissa “No Questions Please” Bean And Her Intimidating Enforcers”


Illinois Republican Party Launches ‘Dismiss Quinn’ Web Site

Site to Offer Updates, Summaries and Links to Coverage

The Illinois Republican Party today launched a comprehensive web site, DismissQuinn.com, to show voters why Pat Quinn should be “dismissed” as governor this fall. The “Dismiss Quinn” title refers to comments from the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. “Pat Quinn is a totally and completely undisciplined individual,” Washington said when he fired Quinn as his Revenue Director. “He was dismissed, he should have been dismissed. [His appointment was] my greatest mistake in government.”
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Illinois Republican Party Launches ‘Dismiss Quinn’ Web Site”


Illinois: Is the State Fair an Entitlement?

-By Warner Todd Huston

Let me start this by saying I am not against state fairs. State fairs have a long tradition in America and often serve as a focal point for the community, most especially the rural, farm community. But a state fair is neither a “right,” nor an entitlement. Unfortunately, the attitude that a state must have a fair is just another abuse of what the role of government should be, especially in the United States. We are not a monarchy and when a state is billions in the red a state fair is the last thing people should be wasting state money on.

In fact I’d say canceling the state fair because of the deficit that politicians have gotten us into might be one way to get people to understand that they should be voting these politicians out of office.

In Illinois this whole state fair discussion arises from Pat “the accidental Governor” Quinn’s ire over what a Chicago-based conservative think tank said about the bankrupt state spending money it doesn’t have on an elaborate state fair.
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Illinois: Is the State Fair an Entitlement?”


New Father Pfleger Reality TV Show: Blessing The Mayor’s Office

-By Warner Todd Huston

Those chickens have come home to roost… or at least they will during the upcoming mayoral election in the Windy City if the new reality TV show being shopped by Chicago’s incendiary Father Michael Pfleger is concerned.

Chicago’s gadfly Father Pfleger, close friend of Minister Louis Farrakhan, outspoken anti-gun crusader, sanctuary city supporter, and liberation theologist is the Southside religious leader who once openly wished for the death of a local businessman and also once said, “America is the greatest sin against God.” Pfleger has been the subject of many “reviews” by the Catholic Church and was once suspended after attacking Hillary Clinton as a “white person” who felt privileged because of her race.

New show producer, Bud Billikin of Chicago’s South Side Productions, Inc., has announced that the new show will follow the Father Pfleger as he embarks on the adventure of a lifetime, a run for Mayor of Chicago.

On Friday Pfleger is expected to announce his run against long-time Democrat strongman Richard Daley whose father, a Mayor before him, was famed for having “helped” JFK win the White House in 1960.
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New Father Pfleger Reality TV Show: Blessing The Mayor’s Office”


250+ Residents Pack Joel Pollak’s Town Hall‏

From the Pollak for Congress campaign (9th District)…

Niles, IL – Over 250 residents of the 9th congressional district packed Joel Pollak’s town hall meeting last night in Skokie at the Holiday Inn on Touhy Avenue.

For two hours, Pollak held an open forum in which residents were able to ask him questions and raise concerns about critical issues facing the district and the nation.

“I’m amazed by the turnout,” Pollak said. “It exceeded our expectations, by far. We had to ask the hotel to bring in extra chairs. Even then, it was standing-room-only.
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250+ Residents Pack Joel Pollak’s Town Hall‏”


Hilarious: Lefty Threatens to Sue Illinois Political Blog

-By Warner Todd Huston

This is pretty funny… well, not so funny if you are The Illinois Review, one of our fine political news blogs in Illinois. Apparently billionaire Nadhmi Auchi has sent a threatening letter to the blog demanding that they delete an August 9 post linking Auchi to Democrat Senate candidate Alexi “the Mob Banker” Giannoulias.

The letter issued by attorneys Carter-Ruck demands that the August 9 piece be removed due to “defamatory and untrue allegations.” The letter also says that Carter-Ruck thinks that the source for the blog post was the Observer (of London) and the New York Times.

Apparently the nitwits at Carter-Ruck didn’t actually READ the post in question, however. The actually source for the blog post is clearly featured at the top of the body copy. Any fool can see that the blog post came “from the IL GOP,” as is noted on the actual post itself. This is a press release from the Illinois Republican Party, not an Illinois Review authored piece.
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Hilarious: Lefty Threatens to Sue Illinois Political Blog”


Brady for Illinois: Rasmussen Says Race is a ‘Toss Up’

From the Brady for Illinois Governor campaign…

While political polls will come and go between now and November, we thought you’d be interested in some great news!

A new, independent poll released today shows Bill’s lead over Governor Pat Quinn is growing. The new poll shows Bill now leads Governor Quinn 48 to 35.
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Brady for Illinois: Rasmussen Says Race is a ‘Toss Up’”


It’s All In The Family In Suburban McCook

From the office of Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica…

In the small suburban Cook County village of McCook it’s all about hiring as many relatives to the village payroll as possible.

It is mind-boggling to find out that a village as small as McCook (only 250 residents) — has at least 12 relatives of Mayor Jeffery Tobolski, including his own wife who work or contract for something with the village of McCook.
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It’s All In The Family In Suburban McCook”