Politico: Five Questions for Mark Kirk

-By Warner Todd Huston

Mark Kirk has really made himself look foolish and if he loses this election it will be because of his ridiculous missteps on his biography. Why he felt the need to overstate his bio is anybody’s guess, but he did it. And not just once but at least five times. Politico details the bio inflation Kirk has perpetrated in a new piece headlined “Five questions for Mark Kirk .”

They say that Kirk was “once a favorite,” intimating that his stock has dropped. That is essentially true, but in my estimation Kirk has plenty of time to get past this if he handles it right and I think he’s still the favorite even with this foolishness because Alexi “the Mob Banker” Giannoulias has equally problematic bio problems — not the least of which was the $20 million that he and his bank lent to two known mobsters that never paid back the loan.

Politico presents five questions that they feel that Kirk must answer in a straightforward manner or expect to lose credibility as a candidate.
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Politico: Five Questions for Mark Kirk”


(2nd District) Hayes Says Supreme Court Decision Will Protect Families and Property

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

CHICAGO: Republican nominee for Illinois 2nd Congressional District Isaac Hayes released the following statement following today’s Supreme Court decision overturning the Chicago handgun ban:

“Today’s Supreme Court decision will allow residents being held hostage by urban terrorists the opportunity to defend themselves, their families and property. With 26 people being shot in Chicago this past weekend and 50 the week before, it is quite apparent the Chicago gun ban is not working.

“Gangs don’t honor gun bans so infringing on the 2nd Amendment right of law abiding citizens only leaves them defenseless against violent offenders. In communities across Chicago urban terrorists must now think twice before entering private property.”

This statement appears on the Citizens for Isaac Hayes website at:
www.isaac4honesty.com


2nd Amendment Rights Finally Considered a Right for Black Chicagoans Too!

-By Warner Todd Huston

At long last the 2nd Amendment has been considered a personal right per the Supreme Court of the United States. In McDonald v the City of Chicago the Supreme Court has ruled in a 5 to 4 decision that Chicago’s gun banning laws are not in keeping with the right to self-defense as enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. After 200 some years we are finally accorded our rights officially. Further, the Court found that the 2nd Amendment was meant to protect the very people that Mayor Richard Daley and his comrades are trying to forcibly disarm: black Americans. (See PDF of Decision)

The decision threw out the Seventh Circuit ruling upholding Chicago’s gun ban and ordered the Seventh to revisit its decision. This new ruling does not specifically strike down Chicago’s gun ban but the opinion leaves little room for the Seventh to up hold Mayor Richard Daley’s gun banning efforts.

One of the main questions before the Court was whether or not the 14th Amendment served to shore up the rights in the 2nd. The Court found that it did, indeed. In fact, it is interesting to note that the ancestors of the very people that the 14th Amendment was meant to specifically protect — newly freed slaves, called freemen — are today those that Mayor Richard Daley and others like him want to disarm. Daley and his ilk want to disempower blacks and other minorities and tie them plantation-like to their government authority.
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2nd Amendment Rights Finally Considered a Right for Black Chicagoans Too!”


Announcing Palatine Taxed Enough Already Rally on July 3rd

From the Palatine Tea Party…

(Palatine, Illinois) – A group of taxpaying citizens dissatisfied with government spending and expansion are planning a Taxed Enough Already (TEA) rally to be held in Palatine, Illinois. This peaceful rally is part of a national movement to increase public awareness of the spending of trillions of dollars which will leave our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren a devastating and ruinous debt they must re-pay.

This family-friendly rally encourages all citizens throughout the suburban area who want lower taxes and less government to participate by bringing their American flags, patriotic attire, and signs to display the spirit of the Colonial Patriots of the 1775 Boston Tea Party, which lead to American Independence July 4th, 1776. Re-affirm your commitment to our Constitution and our freedoms by being part of this energizing event on Saturday, July 3rd, 2:00pm to 4:30pm, at Volunteer Plaza in Palatine at the intersection of N. Northwest Hwy (Route 14) and N. Hicks Road.
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Announcing Palatine Taxed Enough Already Rally on July 3rd”


Supreme Court protects Chicagoans 2d Amendment Rights by Overturning Unconstitutional Handgun Ban

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

U.S. Congressional Candidate, David Ratowitz (IL-5) praises SCOTUS for upholding the 2d Amendment Rights of Chicagoans and urges Chicago’s City Council to respect the rights of law abiding citizens.

Chicago, IL, June 24, 2010– Long time transparency and pro-liberty advocate Candidate for U.S. Congress from Illinois’ 5th Congressional District, David Ratowitz supports the Supreme Court’s decision in McDonald v. City of Chicago.
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Supreme Court protects Chicagoans 2d Amendment Rights by Overturning Unconstitutional Handgun Ban”


11th District: Kinzinger Says Nuclear Power the Answer

-By Warner Todd Huston

I have been saying this for years, and now so is GOP candidate for the Illinois 11th District Congressional seat, Adam Kinzinger. In a recent Morris Daily Herald article Kinzinger said that the nation should prioritize nuclear power as one of the solutions to our energy woes.

Kinzinger told the *Morris Daily Herald that he would support building more nuclear power plants, he wants the country to further explore reprocessing spent fuel and supports developing a national long-term nuclear waste storage facility.

Essentially, the program would increase the nation’s number of nuclear stations and establish a long-term repository for storing nuclear waste. Also, the plan would follow Europe’s lead in reprocessing spent nuclear fuel for reuse, reducing the amount of waste in storage.

“I think the powerhouse, when it comes to nuclear energy, is to be able to go out and say, ‘Hey, look, we have three nuclear plants in our district, people in our district are employed, it’s safe, they are supportive, and it produces a lot of electricity,” he said in response to questions by the news media.

After all, here we are in the United States claiming that we are in the middle of an energy crisis yet Democrats, liberals and enviro-Nazis have put up roadblock after roadblock to stop the pursuit of energy independence in the form of nuclear power.
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11th District: Kinzinger Says Nuclear Power the Answer”


(5th District) Ratowitz Attacks Disclose Act‏

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

H.R. 5175 Disclose Act Sacrifices Freedom of Speech to Protect Incumbents.

U.S. Congressional Candidate, David Ratowitz (IL-5) defends Freedom of Speech and Liberty against nervous incumbents who seek to use the Disclose Act to protect their Congressional Seats.

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(5th District) Ratowitz Attacks Disclose Act‏”


10th District: Robert Dold’s ‘Let’s Get to Work!’ Bus Tour

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

From June 16-20 our “Let’s Get to Work!” bus tour touched every corner of the 10th District and took Bob’s message of small business growth and job creation to the voters. We visited numerous train stations, coffee shops, restaurants, baseball fields, farmers markets and businesses along the way. Collectively we spoke to and were visible to thousands of voters throughout the 5 days.


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10th District: Robert Dold’s ‘Let’s Get to Work!’ Bus Tour”


Ratowitz on Judge Striking Down Moratorium‏

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

Louisiana Federal Judge Struck down Obama Administration’s Oil Moratorium Request.

U.S. Congressional Candidate, David Ratowitz (IL-5) criticizes“ the Obama administration for banning an entire industry instead of addressing the problem of safely producing oil necessary for our nation’s economy.
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Ratowitz on Judge Striking Down Moratorium‏”


Hayes Calls Jesse Jackson a Coward

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

CHICAGO: Republican nominee for Illinois 2ndCongressional District Isaac Hayes released the following statement regarding the House Democrats delay of passing a budget resolution until after the November elections.

“Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. needs to show some leadership in the House of Representatives and demand Nancy Pelosi pass a budget this year as the 1974 Budget and Impoundment Act requires. This will be the first time in nearly 40 years that the House has failed to pass a budget resolution. But Mr. Jackson won’t stand up to Speaker Pelosi because he is part of the plot to hide the Democrats plan to raise taxes on working families after the November elections. There can be no other reason. Only cowards fail to be honest with their constituents when they have something to hide. In this case he is hiding increased spending, record deficits and higher taxes.”
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Hayes Calls Jesse Jackson a Coward”


Walsh Campaign Again Faces Lawsuit

Former Campaign Manager Files Amended Complaint for Unpaid Services

MORTON GROVE, IL — This morning in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Keith Liscio, former Campaign Manager for 8th Congressional District Republican nominee Joe Walsh, filed an amended complaint against Walsh’s campaign for unpaid campaign management services on behalf of his firm Patrickson-Hirsch Associates. Liscio originally brought suit against the campaign in January seeking payment of $20,000 in unpaid fees but that complaint was dismissed without prejudice last month on a pair of legal technicalities.

Specifically, the judge in the case ruled that Liscio’s complaint must explicitly state that Mr. Walsh and Mr. Liscio’s agreement in the case was oral and that the complaint must list Liscio’s campaign duties and responsibilities. The new complaint addresses both of those issues.

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Walsh Campaign Again Faces Lawsuit”


Ill. Senate Race: Accusations Fly About Niecestro’s Republican ‘Flake’

-By Warner Todd Huston

(New info updated at the end of the post)

Doug Ibendahl of RepublicanNewsWatch has named the “flake” operative that Senate candidate wannabe Mike Niecestro claimed screwed him out of enough signatures to file his independent candidacy papers this week. Ibendahl claims it was none other than former comptroller candidate William Kelly. I spoke to Kelly today about the accusations.

Mr. Kelly says that Niecestro’s claims that his whole independent bid fell apart because of Kelly’s failure to come through with the promised signatures is puzzling. “He didn’t even give me the final go ahead to do it until five days before the filing date,” Kelly told me.

Five days to get 25,000 signatures is not feasible, for sure.
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Ill. Senate Race: Accusations Fly About Niecestro’s Republican ‘Flake’”


(Ill. Senate Race) Niecestro Says ‘Flake’ Denied Him Petition Signatures

-By Warner Todd Huston

Conservative businessman Mike Niecestro has been making noise about running for the U.S. Senate against GOP candidate Mark Kirk for at least a year. Even just a few weeks ago he amped up his noise machine to say that he had the ballot petition signatures needed to make a run for the office as an independent.

But yesterday the filing time came and no Niecestro papers were to be seen. He told reporters that one of the operatives that promised him thousands of signatures didn’t even get him a single one. ABC’s Charles Thomas reports that Niecestro said the politician in question is “known as a ‘flake’ in GOP circles.”

This quote raises major concerns about the seriousness of a Niecestro campaign. If Niecestro knew the guy he was relying on to put him over the top in petition signatures was a well-known “flake,” then why did Niecestro rely on him in the first place? If Niecestro was putting all his eggs in a “flake’s” basket, this seriously calls into doubt Niecestro’s planning capabilities, doesn’t it?
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(Ill. Senate Race) Niecestro Says ‘Flake’ Denied Him Petition Signatures”


Stroger Serves Up a Tasty Double-Dip Doles Out County Job to Crony State Representative

From Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica…

The Cook County Board failed to override Todd Stroger’s veto of the board’s hiring freeze.
So it appears Todd is going to continue to thumb his nose at the taxpayers by hiring cronies for sweetheart, taxpayer-funded county jobs.

The latest is Todd’s friend, State Rep. Art Turner. You see, he makes more than $87,000 per year as a state legislator.

But now, thanks to Todd, Turner will also make a $110,575 salary as the director of the county’s President’s Office of Employment and Training (POET).

Do you want to be the first to receive important county reform updates like this?
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Stroger Serves Up a Tasty Double-Dip Doles Out County Job to Crony State Representative”


For The Good Of Illinois: Grand Relaunch

From For The Good Of Illinois….

The wait is over! Today, For the Good Of Illinois is officially relaunching!

We’re excited to announce the return of a legendary hero to champion limited, accountable and transparent government in Illinois.

A culture of corruption fueled by failed political parties, patronage armies and gerrymandered political fiefdoms threatens to crush the spirit of our once great state.
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For The Good Of Illinois: Grand Relaunch”


Kinzinger Says BP Should be Held Accountable (11th District)

-By Warner Todd Huston

11th District Republican candidate for Congress Adam Kinzinger has come out with his stance on the BP oil mess down in the gulf. But while Kinzinger offers his ideas on BPs culpability, his opponent incumbent Democrat Congressman Debbie Halvorson is less interested in serious discussion and more interested in turning the BP oil mess into a personal fund raising device.

For his part, Kinzinger says that the full force of the U.S. government should be used to focus on the clean-up and to stop the leaking well.

If he were in Congress, Kinzinger said he would press President Obama to basically use the full force of the federal government to cap the gushing well. Also, to support oil well owner British Petroleum in what it has to do.

“And to open dialog with other oil companies and say, ‘What do you guys have,’ and to other nations and say, ‘What kind of boats can you guys bring down here to help us skim the oil off,'” he said.

Kinzinger also notes that Obama has yet to waive the Jones Act so that foreign companies and governments can offer us assistance. Currently Obama has only accepted a very few of the dozens of foreign companies and nations that have offered us their expertise.

Even George W. Bush knew enough to waive the Jones Act when we need it in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
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Kinzinger Says BP Should be Held Accountable (11th District)”


Cook County Commish Caught Violating Own Ethics Rule

-By Warner Todd Huston

Oopsie. Cook County Commissioner Peter Silvestri (R, Elmwood Park) was caught violating his own ethics rule, one he wrote and ushered through the County Board himself. He says it was an accident — don’t they always say that, though?

As FoxNews Chicago reports, last Wednesday a full page ad paid for by a state disaster grant (in other words, our tax money) appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times. The ad featured a photo of Silversti and several other area pols all speaking in favor of the county’s flood relief grant program.

The ad violates Silvestri’s ethics policy because politicians are barred from appearing in ads touting public service campaigns when said pol is up for reelection. With this policy an incumbent is barred from flooding the voters just ahead of an election with ads paid for by county funds saying what wonderful things he’s done while in government.

Silverstri says he had no idea he was to be in the ad and when asked about it said he didn’t even know who authorized it all.
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Cook County Commish Caught Violating Own Ethics Rule”


Aide to Alexi ‘Mob Banker’ Giannoulias Manhandles Videographer

-By Warner Todd Huston

OK, OK, this one has been making the rounds all last week. It shows one of Illinois Democratic Senate candidate Alexi “The Mob Banker” Giannoulias’ staffers pushing around a videographer who was trying to get a look at who was attending a private fundraiser.

Yeah its uncomfortable to watch, but I have to come down on this in a way that is a bit out of orthodox from all the other conservative websites railing about this video. In fact, that’s why I hadn’t posted about it until now.

I just don’t think it’s a big deal that Giannoulias’ people wanted to keep a private function… well, private.

It was a reserved section, it was a by-invite event not open to the general public and the cameraman wasn’t on the guest list. As much as I think Giannoulias is a crook, deserves to be beaten in the election, and would make a horrible Senator if he wins, I think Giannoulias should be able to expect to see a private fundraiser remain private without being harassed about it all.

As far as this one incident goes, I don’t see any there, there. But, I’ll post it anyway and you decide.
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Aide to Alexi ‘Mob Banker’ Giannoulias Manhandles Videographer”


2nd District: Hayes Issues Position Paper on Israel

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

CHICAGO: Republican nominee for Illinois 2ndCongressional District Isaac Hayes released the following position paper on the relationship between America and Israel:

Supporting Israel’s Right of Self-Defense

The United States and Israel have a long and trusted friendship. I will continue to support this kind of strong and sincere friendship. Israel has an unfortunate and terrible experience with barbaric guerrilla/terrorist groups on its borders with the Gaza Strip, West bank, and Lebanon. The Israeli armed forces have successfully managed to defeat or curtail these terrorist groups.
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2nd District: Hayes Issues Position Paper on Israel”


Mayor Daley’s Newest Disingenuous Gun Argument

-By Warner Todd Huston

Mayor Richard “King” Daley is at it again, talking through his royal rear-end and simply making things up to push a false theme in order to support his anti-Constitutional gun-grabbing in Chicago.

The Chicago Tribune conducted an interview with his heinous and he uncorked another one of his primo spins on his latest desire to take away his subject’s Constitutional right to self-protection: it’s the “gun lobby” argument again.

In an interview with the Tribune, Mayor Richard Daley acknowledged an uphill battle against the gun industry, which he described as the most powerful lobby in the United States. Even so, he vowed that in the event residents are allowed to have handguns at home, the city would take steps to ensure that officials can account for the weapons.

Uphill battle against the gun industry? What spin, what glorious spin. There isn’t one person, one Supreme Court justice, one gun advocate arguing that Daley’s gun-grabbing is wrong because it hurts “the gun industry.” The “gun industry” has precisely nothing to do with the reasons that the anti-Daley forces are trying to defeat him.
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Mayor Daley’s Newest Disingenuous Gun Argument”


Commissioner Tony Peraica: Time to Make Reform a Reality

From the Office of Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica…

Thank you to UIC Law Professor Dick Simpson, who highlights our recent reform proposals in a new commentary piece in Chicago Journal.

Professor Simpson writes:
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Commissioner Tony Peraica: Time to Make Reform a Reality”


Hayes Sees Waning Support for Jackson in Recent Poll

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

CHICAGO: Republican nominee for Illinois 2nd Congressional District Isaac Hayes released the following statement regarding the recent poll by Kankakee City News.

Isaac Hayes believes the recent poll taken by Kankakee City News shows how frustrated the citizens of Illinois Second District are with Congressman Jackson and that they are ready to go against the grain for a long overdue “change of management.” Hayes said, “Our communities must have hope for their future and their children’s future and in order to give them that hope, we must have change.”
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Hayes Sees Waning Support for Jackson in Recent Poll”


Roskam’s Straightforward Fix to Medicare Fraud

From Representative Peter Roskam’s Office (6th District)…

Predictive modeling technology would save billions

“This is not about donkeys. This is not about elephants. This is not about liberals. This is not about conservatives. This is about being smart and using the technology that is available to us, investing in it and deploying that to the benefit of the taxpayers and the seniors that we’re here to protect.’”

Washington – As much as $60 Billion of Medicare claims every year are fraudulent. Rep. Roskam has a straightforward, commonsense solution to fix this. In fact, even Nancy Ann DeParle, the White House’s Director of Health Reform, called him a few weeks before the healthcare vote to learn why his amendment wasn’t included in the healthcare bill. Roskam’s solution involves the same predictive modeling technology that credit card companies and other financial services institutions use to discover fraudulent payments with amazing success – only 0.047% of their $11 trillion in annual transactions are fraudulent.
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Roskam’s Straightforward Fix to Medicare Fraud”


Alan Dershowitz Endorses Joel Pollak for Congress (Ill., 9th)

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

Today I am pleased to welcome Prof. Alan Dershowitz to Chicago, and humbled to receive his endorsement in the race for the 9th congressional district. It is an honor to be one of the few Republicans that Prof. Dershowitz, a life-long Democrat, has supported. And it is a privilege to welcome a sold-out audience to our fundraising luncheon today–200 enthusiastic supporters from both sides of the political divide.

Prof. Dershowitz is an inspiration to me, and to so many others. His book Chutzpah was the first political work I ever read. Later, at Harvard, I was his student and research assistant. We have worked together in debating the fiercest enemies of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Whether standing up for Israel or standing up against corruption, I have tried to emulate Prof. Dershowitz’s courage, and his refusal to yield to political bullying.
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Alan Dershowitz Endorses Joel Pollak for Congress (Ill., 9th)”


City News Poll Shows Hayes Tops Jackson With Voters

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

From City News:

Republican Candidate for 2nd District Congress Isaac Hayes is gaining ground on his opponent Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and polls are showing that Jackson’s image as being connected to former indicted Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is hurting the son of the nation’s number one civil rights leader, Jesse Jackson Sr.
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City News Poll Shows Hayes Tops Jackson With Voters”


Truth in Accounting: The National Discussion on Our Federal Budget Saturday, June 26

From the folks at Truth in Accounting…

Our national debt is projected to grow at an unsustainable rate if our country remains on its current course. Our nation’s leaders have decided that something needs to be done, but they need to hear from us and they are willing to listen. It is time to come together as a country to make the tough choices that will ensure America’s Future.

Join Americans at meeting halls across the country linked together by satellite and the internet to let them know what we think. The National Town Meeting is our chance to learn about the issues, find common ground and present your priorities to leaders in Washington.
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Truth in Accounting: The National Discussion on Our Federal Budget Saturday, June 26″


A Wonderful Example of Fascism at Chicagoland Radio and Media Message Board

-By Warner Todd Huston

The fascist way that the left deals with opinion differing from its own is just one of the many reasons why the left in America today is so hypocritical. Aside from the oppressive aire of our Universities and colleges no better example of the quashing of opposing views can be seen than on Internet message boards. And on the Chicagoland Radio and Media website we have as perfect an example as one can find.

The altercation that revealed a leftist’s fascist fascination with quashing differing opinion happened in a discussion analyzing a Chicago radio station’s relative political bent. This altercation occurred between the owner of the board me, a fellow that goes under the fake name “Larz.” (I posted under my own, full name.)

Over the years I have become wary of anyone that refuses to use his proper name on the web. Though I have done so in the past myself, I have shied away from it as time has progressed. It’s one thing to be just a commenter on a site using a fake Internet handle, but when it comes to people that wish to run major websites anonymously, that always makes me suspicious of their motives and veracity. We start off right away with a deficit of trust when people run sites under cutesy names. And after seeing the skewed “opinion” of this “Larz” fellow, trust is definitely a forlorn hope.

As I was saying we were discussing the political leaning of one of Chicago’s largest radio stations. It is, of course, a lefty station. Now, it isn’t that the station is a politics talk station, it isn’t, its programming is more for lite entertainment than politics. But the station is in downtown Chicago and politics is naturally a common topic of discussion. In fact it is almost a daily topic with one host or all.
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A Wonderful Example of Fascism at Chicagoland Radio and Media Message Board”


Gallup says Republicans in Lead – Keep the Momentum!‏

From the office of Representative Peter Roskam (6th District)…

It’s hard to believe but the November elections are just five months away and we have a critical task ahead – restoring a conservative Republican majority to the House of Representatives. This feat that once appeared to be out of reach is now well within our grasp if we keep our momentum going strong.

A new poll last week found that Republicans have opened their widest lead yet when it comes to which party voters prefer this fall. Gallup’s generic congressional ballot finds that the number of voters who say they will vote Republican has jumped to 49 percent, compared with 43 percent for Democrats. That’s not only the biggest lead Gallup has recorded for the GOP this election cycle – it’s the largest lead Republicans have ever had in the poll since it began in 1950.
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Gallup says Republicans in Lead – Keep the Momentum!‏”


Rauschenberger on Ill. House Speaker Madigan: ‘We Impeached the Wrong Guy’

-By Warner Todd Huston

Steve Rauschenberger is running to once again take the 22nd State Senate seat and during his as we discussed earlier this week.

I’d like to highlight some stark truth that Mr. Rauschenberger uttered that night about the particular failures of the Democrat Speaker of the Illinois House, Mike Madigan. Rauschenberger thinks we should have impeached Madigan instead of Blagojevich.

“Mike Madigan has been Speaker of the Illinois House for 28 of the last 30 years. He is the architect of the worst funded public pensions in America.It’s time we hold the Chicago bosses accountable.”

We support Rauschenberger to retake the 22nd District Senate Seat.
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Rauschenberger on Ill. House Speaker Madigan: ‘We Impeached the Wrong Guy’”