Corruption in Will County, Ill. GOP, ‘That’s What Democrats Do!’

-By Warner Todd Huston

ChampionNews.net has a sad tale to tell of the recent meeting of the Will County, Illinois Republican Party. It is an example of why the Illinois GOP is not accountable to the voters in any way. In fact, it proves that many parts of the Illinois GOP isn’t even accountable to the elected committeemen!

It is the story of Committeeman Mark Batinick of Plainfield, an elected member of the Will County GOP. In this tale of woe, Batinick details how even the votes of the committeemen are ignored by the “combine” styled, powermongers of the moribund Illinois GOP.

He reveals the events surrounding the crushing defeat of Will County Central Committee member Bobbie Peterson who in a straight up vote of the Will County committeemen voted Perterson out and voted challenger Cory Singer in. The lopsided tally was around 9,000 votes for Singer and 4,000 for Peterson according to Batinick.

That seems like a pretty convincing win for Singer, right? Well, hold the boat. It seems that Will County Chairman Dick Kavanagh (just returned to his spot himself earlier this same meeting) and his pals in the combine didn’t want Mr. Singer to take his seat as the 11th District State Central Committee Member no matter how lopsided Singer’s vote was.
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Corruption in Will County, Ill. GOP, ‘That’s What Democrats Do!’”


Conservative Bob Cook Takes Lake Co. GOP Boss Slot

-By Warner Todd Huston

Congratulations goes to Bob Cook of Wauconda for being elected as the new Lake County Republican Party Chairman.

Former chair Dan Venturi withdrew his bid to keep his position after it became clear that he’d likely have lost to Cook. Venturi said withdrawing was an act of unity so that Cook could be elected unanimously.

Some grumbling about Venturi occurred when he backed Maria Rodriguez for Congress in the recent GOP primary. Instead candidate Joe Walsh handily won the 8th District primary. Venturi was considered “out of touch” by some and a pawn of House GOP leader Tom Cross by others.

For his part, though, Cook says that picking candidates in a primary is a mistake that he won’t make. As chairman, Cook says he’ll never endorse candidates in a primary.

The Daily Herald claims that Cook’s elevation to party boss “represents a growing conservative trend among party members.” I am not sure there is any state-wide evidence for that, but it is good to see conservatives finally being represented in the Illinois GOP nonetheless.

So, congratulations to Bob Cook, Lake County GOP Chairman.
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Conservative Bob Cook Takes Lake Co. GOP Boss Slot”


8th District Walsh: Dirty Rangel Money Should Go to Charity Not Bean for Congress

From the Walsh for Congress campaign…

(Lake Zurich, Illinois) – Apparently, ‘I already spent it’ is a good enough reason for keeping dirty money, at least for Rep. Melissa Bean.

Bean is refusing to give back or to charity the $28,000 she received from Rep. Charlie Rangel who is under investigation from the House Ethics Committee for accepting lavish vacations from special interest groups with business before the powerful House Ways and Means committee while serving as chairman. He is also being investigated for failing to report assets, including his interest in a Dominican Republican guest unit, according to the Daily Herald.
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8th District Walsh: Dirty Rangel Money Should Go to Charity Not Bean for Congress”


Bean Defense for Refusing to Return Rangel Cash: “I spent it”

From the Palatine Tea Party…

(Palatine, Illinois) – March 5, 2010 – Melissa Bean has raised $1,004,549* and has $784,894* cash on hand as of Wednesday, January 13, 2010 and has to defend receiving $28,000 between 2005 and 2007 from the New York congressman Charlie Rangel. While other Democrats dump their cash, Melissa Bean’s spokesman Jonathan Lipman made this statement. “The money was given before Rangel was under investigation for ethics abuses. Plus, he says, the money has already been spent.”

So if we understand from Melissa Bean that as long as you spent the money, it’s okay?
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Bean Defense for Refusing to Return Rangel Cash: “I spent it””


It’s Over, Dillard Endorses Bill Brady for Governor

Well, it looks like Dillard is officially not going to pursue a recount. He’s just endorsed Bill Brady for Governor. From the Dillard camp…

Dillard Endorses Brady for Governor Calls for Party to Unite Behind GOP Nominee

(Chicago) – State Senator Kirk Dillard today threw his support behind State Senator Bill Brady in the race for Governor, saying it was “close,” but that Brady had won the Illinois Republican Primary. “I will help Senator Brady in any way I can to ensure the Republican Party wins back the Governor’s office in November,” Dillard said.

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It’s Over, Dillard Endorses Bill Brady for Governor”


Illinois Rep. Halvorson’s $60,000 of Dirty Rangel Money

-By Warner Todd Huston

First-term Democratic Congressman Debbie Halvorson (Ill., 14th District) was the recipient of $60,000 in political donations from the ethically compromised New York Representative Charlie Rangel, recently deposed Chairmen of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rangel was found guilty of multiple violations of House ethics rules that have gone on for decades and because of the mess he’s made of his ethical standing the long-time New York Rep. was forced to “agree” to step aside as Ways and Means Chairman this week. But even as Rangel was busy feathering his nest the congressman was also shoveling money to other representatives in a likely bid to bribe them to look the other way from his troubled ethics.

The Washington Examiner has a great list of pols that accepted Rangel’s tainted money that it is calling the “Dirty Money Watch.” But the Examiner is missing at least one person on that list: Illinois’ Debbie Halvorson.

Halvorson took $60,000 from Charlie Rangel and her Republican challenger has called for her to return that tainted money or at least donate it to worthy charities. GOP nominee Adam Kinzinger has been calling for Halvorson to relinquish this money all week.
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Illinois Rep. Halvorson’s $60,000 of Dirty Rangel Money”


Stop ObamaCare Rally this Saturday in Batavia‏ at Rep. Foster’s Office

Just got a note from Americans for Limited Government that they are planning a little Obamacare protest at the office of Democrat Rep. Bill Foster of the 14th District. Here is the info…

There is a protest rally against ObamaCare being held in your area, Batavia, this Saturday.
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Stop ObamaCare Rally this Saturday in Batavia‏ at Rep. Foster’s Office”


2nd District, Isaac Hayes: New Health Bill a Bait and Switch

From the Isaac Hayes for Congress campaign…

CHICAGO: After spending more than a year to pass a major overhaul of the American health insurance industry, the White House released its latest in a series of new health reform bills.

“This administration’s push to jam a bill that the majority of Americans oppose through reconciliation begs the question, who does this country belong to,” said Republican Nominee for Illinois 2nd District Isaac Hayes, “the people or politicians in Washington D.C.? The White House can try and use focus group words to deceive the American people, but putting lipstick on a pig doesn’t stop it from being a pig”.

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2nd District, Isaac Hayes: New Health Bill a Bait and Switch”


Melissa Bean is Missing-in-Action on Health-care

From the Palatine Tea Party folks…

(Palatine, Illinois) – March 4, 2010 – We reject Melissa Bean on the issue of health-care. The citizens in the 8th district do not have a voice with Melissa Bean. She hides from her constituents and can not defend her vote on health-care.

On November 7th, 2009 she voted yes for government run health-care and for federally funded abortion services. These votes do not represent the majority of people which live in the 8th district. She is out of touch with the voters.
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Melissa Bean is Missing-in-Action on Health-care”


Anti-Gay Activist Makes Bid For GOP Central Committee

Well, it is sure to cause the Gay Lobby fits, but Peter LaBarbera, President of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, is making a bid to become the representative for the 13th District on the Illinois Republican State Central Committee.

The 13th District encompasses the Naperville area where LaBarbera is an elected precinct committeeman. He is running against Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar, a long-time machine pol.

LaBarbera pattens himself after “Illinois’ own Ronald Reagan,” and says that the state party needs reform.
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Anti-Gay Activist Makes Bid For GOP Central Committee”


Giannoulias Misleads Chicago Sun-Times on Risky Investments, Loans to Organized Crime

News on Mob Banker Alexi Giannoulias’ bank mess from the Ill. GOP…

False Giannoulias Claim: “I would vehemently disagree that these are reckless or risky loans,” he said. The only reason Broadway Bank appears ready to collapse is because the bottom fell out of the real estate market, he said. (Chicago Sun-Times, “Giannoulias ‘clears air,’ denies risky loan-making, 3/3/10)

Get The Facts:

On January 26, 2010, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the FDIC ordered Broadway Bank to “cease and desist from engaging in unsafe and unsound banking practices.” (www.idfpr.com)
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Giannoulias Misleads Chicago Sun-Times on Risky Investments, Loans to Organized Crime”


8th District: Statement by Joe Walsh Regarding Personal Financial History

From the Walsh for Congress campaign…

Our country faces critical challenges. I’m running for Congress to address those challenges. It is incredibly disappointing to me – and to the majority of voters in the Illinois 8th Congressional District – that the news media has focused not on these issues that matter to the future of our nation, but instead has consistently sought to ridicule, demean, and condescend to anyone who tries to challenge the status quo.

The politics of personal destruction is the reason we so seldom see legitimate “change agents” running for office.

I won the Republican primary by a large margin, despite being outspent because voters identified with my message. I feel like I’m losing my country and too few we’ve sent to D.C. are doing anything about it.
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8th District: Statement by Joe Walsh Regarding Personal Financial History”


State Senator Chris Lauzen: Illinois Fiscal Anarchy

From the office os State Senator chris Lauzen, 25th District…

If constituents whom I serve fail to make their mortgage payments, the bank forecloses. If we don’t make our car payment, the car is repossessed. What happens to a State like Illinois when it doesn’t pay its bills for over six months to school districts and social service agencies?

Answer: We the People fire the decision-makers.
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State Senator Chris Lauzen: Illinois Fiscal Anarchy”


8th District: Walsh to Bean: Give the Rangel Money Back

From the Walsh for Congress campaign…

Joe Walsh, Candidate for Congress in the Illinois 8th, is calling on his opponent Rep. Melissa Bean, D-Ill., to return the $28,000 she received from Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., who is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for corruption.

Rangel, who just stepped down as Chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, is under investigation for accepting Caribbean vacations from special interest groups with business before his committees.
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8th District: Walsh to Bean: Give the Rangel Money Back”


Southtown Star Mad that Candidate is Against Socialism?

– By Warner Todd Huston

Southtown Star columnist Phil Kadner tried on his high dudgeon at 11th District GOP Congressional candidate Adam Kinzinger in his March 2 editorial headlined, “A different battle for Adam Kinzinger.”

Why was Kadner so upset at the 32-year-old candidate? What caused Kadner’s tsk tsking to fly? What low-end sort of campaigning evil did candidate Kinzinger perpetrate?

Well, it seems at a recent rally Kinzinger held up a T-Shirt given to him by a member of the audience. And on that T-Shirt was, *gasp*, the word “socialism” with a circle and a line through it.

That’s right, folks, Phil Kadner is upset with Republican Adam Kinzinger because the candidate held up an anti-socialism T-Shirt at a rally. Imagine, an anti-socialism T-Shirt at a tea party styled rally… with Republicans around and about… held up by a Republican candidate! And imagine any American standing against socialism! It’s just all so unheard of.
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Southtown Star Mad that Candidate is Against Socialism?”


Roskam On White House Health Summit and Democrats’ Overhaul

“The public understands what’s in this bill and they’ve rejected it … the premise yesterday was ‘what’s it going to take for Republicans to vote for this bill that Americans don’t like,’ and we’ve said, ‘let’s start over and start with a clean sheet of paper.’”
Congressman Peter Roskam (R, Ill.)

On FOX News today with Jane Skinnard Peter Roskam said that Americans and Republicans remained firmly opposed to Democrats’ massive health care takeover plans, instead urging an incremental approach that focuses on costs as a way to expand coverage. Roskam participated in President Obama’s Blair House Health Summit yesterday and felt that Speaker Pelosi, Senator Reid and the President were not willing to negotiate honestly with the GOP.

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Roskam On White House Health Summit and Democrats’ Overhaul”


Why Conservatives Can Win this Year in Illinois

-By Zahcary S. Oltmanns

I am more confident now than ever that Conservatives can take back Illinois and in fact most of the country. Everything the liberals have done the past few years has failed. Sadly, America has suffered. As I go from event to event I am meeting average citizens that are tired of the direction America is heading. In fact, 52% of Americans do NOT want President Obama re-elected in 2012 according to a CNN poll. The healthcare plan turned out to be a total disaster for the Democrats and it has hurt them deeply. The stimulus package has failed as well and it was run very poorly. According to recovery.gov Illinois has been awarded $3,905,380,000 and with that money we have created just 11,280 jobs. So by doing the math the American tax payer is paying over $270,000 for each job that stimulus package has created.

I have said this a lot but I will say it again, Americans are no longer asking for fiscal responsibility, they are demanding it! No longer will Americans accept our elected officials spending our tax dollars recklessly.
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Why Conservatives Can Win this Year in Illinois”


Andrzejewski Calls on Illinois Republican Party to Reverse Rule

From Adam Andrzejewski…

Today, Adam Andrzejewski, founder of good government organization For the Good of Illinois and former Republican Gubernatorial candidate, called for the Illinois Republican Party to reform itself in the name of good government. “In the election of the Republican State Central Committee, County Chairman are allowed to vote vacant precincts. This allows them to benefit from vacancies, and creates a strong disincentive to build our party. If county chairman can cast the votes of the empty precincts- why do the hard work of filling them?”, Andrzejewski stated.

“While running for Governor, my campaign took the time to identify and help hundreds of new people run for precinct committeemen. Allowing County bosses to vote vacant precincts dilutes the vote of committeemen who actually do the heavy lifting of electing Republicans,” Andrzejewski continued, “Let’s welcome our new committeemen, respect our existing ones.”
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Andrzejewski Calls on Illinois Republican Party to Reverse Rule”


On May 22 Charles Djou Could Take Hawaii For Republicans!

-By Warner Todd Huston

Incumbent Democrat Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii’s first district is expected to resign his seat in Congress in order to make a run at Hawaii’s gubernatorial seat. That leaves his House seat open and it is looking as if the Republicans have a good chance to win it with the candidacy of Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou.

A special election is now set for May 22 to fill Abercrombie’s seat.

If Charles Djou can win this seat it will be one more slight to Democrats because Hawaii’s District One is Barack Obama’s old hometown on the Islands.
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On May 22 Charles Djou Could Take Hawaii For Republicans!”


Republican Challengers in Chicago Unite for March 4 Fund-raiser

CHIGAGO – February 25, 2010 – Four Chicago-based Republican candidates will host a joint fund-raiser on Thursday, March 4 at 6:00 p.m. at The Stretch, 3485 North Clark St. in Chicago. Illinois state hopefuls David Anderson, Adam Robinson and Scott Tucker will join federal candidate David Ratowitz in a mass muster of support for their individual General Election campaigns.

Admission to the event is two-tier: $30 covers cash bar and appetizers; $60 includes appetizers and open bar from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The public is welcome; no RSVP is required.

Promotional opportunities are available for third-party organizations. Prospective event sponsors are asked to contact Caitlin Huxley, 312-841-0172 or CaitlinHuxley@gmail.com. Co-sponsors currently include Chicago Young Republicans and Illinois Log Cabin Republicans.
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Republican Challengers in Chicago Unite for March 4 Fund-raiser”


8th District: Joe Walsh Jumps in Fox Lake

From the campaign of Joe Walsh for Congress, 8th District…

Participates in Special Olympics Polar Plunge Charity Event

(Lake Zurich, Illinois) – February 25, 2010 –

Taking a break from his own campaign fund-raising, Joe Walsh, Republican candidate for Congress in the Illinois 8th, will be participating this Sunday in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge Charity Event to raise funds for the Special Olympics.
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8th District: Joe Walsh Jumps in Fox Lake”


Buffalo Grove Ponders Red Light Cameras Monday

-By Warner Todd Huston

These last weeks have been very busy for Barnet Fagel.

When the Buffalo Grove resident heard his town’s village board was going to discuss the possibility of bringing red light cameras to intersections within the Chicago suburb, he swung into action.

The 66-year old Fagel, a traffic researcher and a highway safety advocate with motorist advocacy group the National Motorists Association, is arguably this state’s number one expert on red light camera enforcement and also the industry’s strongest critic here in Illinois.

In the past two weeks, in between promoting and participating in a Valentine’s Day red light camera protest in Chicago, and multiple media appearances, Fagel has been busy preparing his fight against Buffalo Grove’s RLCs….

Read the rest at The Expired Meter.com
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Buffalo Grove Ponders Red Light Cameras Monday”


NYT Article: Tea Partying in Chicago

-By Warner Todd Huston

The NYT had a nice write up on Chicago’s own American Liberty Alliance and its leader Eric Odom. This piece also discusses several other conservative efforts in and around Chicago. Groups like Hartland Institute, the Sam Adams Alliance, and Ed Lasky’s American Thinker also based out of Chicago.

It is interesting to note that some very strong conservative ideas are coming out of this bluest of blue states where politics is rough and disassociated from any control by voters. Odom makes that point, too, when discussing his move here from Nevada.

“You come from Nevada, where you have the entire Legislature on your cellphone,” Mr. Odom said. “It is a small government compared to here, where it is all union-run and it is a huge bureaucracy, and there is no way you’re going to get meetings with anybody.”

But there is hope, folks. With people like Ed Laskey, Odom and groups like the ALA, Sam Adams Alliance, Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois Alliance for Growth, and The Heartland Institute, as well as the local chapter of Americans for Growth we do have a fighting chance.
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NYT Article: Tea Partying in Chicago”


Dillard Won’t Contest, Unless…

-By Warner Todd Huston

State Senator Kirk Dillard has said that he won’t ask for a state-wide recount of February’s primary votes unless he trails presumptive nominee Bill Brady by less than 100 votes.

After that Tuesday night, Bill Brady only led Kirk Dillard by 400 some votes and now that lead is down to 250. But there are still some downstate votes left uncounted. I wouldn’t guess that Dillard will pick up too many downstate votes.

What ever happens in the next few weeks, one thing should be said about the way Mr. Dillard has conducted himself during all this. He’s been quite even tempered and grown up about it all, I must say.
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Dillard Won’t Contest, Unless…”


Northside Republican Candidate Fundraiser!

PUBLIC NOTICE: Everyone’s cordially invited to our in-person fundraiser held by David Anderson, David Ratowitz, Adam Robinson & Scott Tucker. All of whom are working on Chicago’s north side to fight corruption & keep the Democratic machine at bay. They’re all coming together for 1 night to hold this event.

This event will be held at The Stretch on Clark just south of Addison.
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Northside Republican Candidate Fundraiser!”


U.S. House Candidate David Ratowitz Announces Small Business Listening Tour

From the Ratowitz for 5th District Congress campaign…

Illinois 5th District Republican challenger, frustrated with ‘jobless recovery,’ gathering feedback for alternate economic plan.

CHICAGO – February 15, 2010 – Illinois District 5 U.S. House candidate David Ratowitz today announced that his campaign will undertake a three-month “Small Business Listening Tour.” The initiative, slated to kick off in early March, will involve an extended series of individual consultations with area entrepreneurs, culminating in a proposed economic recovery plan that aims to bolster the disenfranchised small business sector.
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U.S. House Candidate David Ratowitz Announces Small Business Listening Tour”


Oh Lord, Bill Brady Goofs American History

-By Warner Todd Huston

Greg Hinz, the lefty columnist from Crain’s Chicago Business, has a quick post on our presumptive GOP nominee for Governor that doesn’t put him in the best light. It seems that Mr. Brady is a tad sketchy on American history, sadly.

After being asked by the media if his running mate, the 27-year-old Jason Plummer, was too young to be a proper Lt. Governor candidate, Brady said this:

“How old was Thomas Jefferson when he wrote the Constitution?” Mr. Brady asked. “Age isn’t the only barometer of qualification.”

Ugh. Brady needs to read a few history books as there are several things wrong with this statement.

First of all Jefferson was 33 when he penned the first few drafts of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Secondly, the Constitution was written in 1787, just over ten years later and by then Jefferson was in his 40s.

Thirdly, Thomas Jefferson had precisely zip to do with the Constitution. It was written while he was an Ambassador to France. Jefferson wasn’t even in the country at the time!

Columnist Hinz missed that third fact, as well.

Sigh. It’s such a shame that so many Americans just plain have no clue about American history. In this case a man who would be Governor and another in the media that thinks he’s in a position to critique him.

Maddening. Simply maddening.
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Oh Lord, Bill Brady Goofs American History”


A Conservative Candidate to Face Kirk and Giannoulias in Nov? Better Be Careful!

-By Warner Todd Huston

There has been some loose talk around conservative circles in Illinois about finding a more conservative candidate to run against both Alexi Giannoulias and Mark Kirk for the Illinois Senate in November. But the time for this was during the primary and that time is now passed. If we wanted a more conservative candidate than Mark Kirk we should have nominated him on February 2. A third party candidate at this time will only elect the mob banker, Alexi Giannoulias, to the Senate.

The only thing that wouldn’t make my statement above untrue is if a more conservative, third party candidate can mount a seriously funded campaign and can build a state-wide coalition over the next few months. By seriously funded, I’m talking at least four million dollars. The likelihood of this is remote at best.

And here is the thing: if a serious conservative candidate was able to get four million dollars together in only three months that candidate would have done so last October or November and would have been on that primary ballot.

It should also be pointed out that the state GOP will not be helping anyone but Kirk. Any insurgent candidate would have to build a state-wide network, or already have one, that could best the entire GOP establishment in order to run a credible race.

With Patrick Hughes out of the campaign due to his primary loss, there is no one else with the name recognition, state-wide network, or money to mount a serious campaign. Would that there was one.
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A Conservative Candidate to Face Kirk and Giannoulias in Nov? Better Be Careful!”