14th District, Hultgren: The Momentum is Shifting!

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

Great news from the campaign trail!

This week non partisan political analyst Stu Rothenberg came out with his latest House race rankings, and he’s moved Rep. Bill Foster’s seat closer to the Republican column, calling it a “Pure Toss Up!”

Additionally, thanks to the huge outpouring of support from around the district, our campaign had its best fundraising quarter yet!
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14th District, Hultgren: The Momentum is Shifting!”


Hultgren Moves 14th District to ‘Pure Toss-Up’

-By Warner Todd Huston

According to the Rothenberg Political Report, the race in the 14th Congressional District is now a “pure toss-up” in a political climate in which 44 seats have been moved in favor of Republicans while only 4 have moved in favor of Democrats.

Currently, the 14th District is represented by Democrat Bill Foster who took the seat formerly held by Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert. The Republican candidate for the 14th is Randy Hultgren, currently the State Senator for the 48th District.

Hultgren won the primary pretty handily by defeating Ethan Hastert 54% to Hastert’s 45%.

Hultgren graduated from Wheaton Academy in 1984 and from Bethel University in 1988, Magna Cum Laude. He earned his doctorate degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1993. He’s been both a state rep as well as a senator in Springfield since 1998.

His site can be seen at: http://hultgrenforcongress.com/
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Hultgren Moves 14th District to ‘Pure Toss-Up’”


Is Scott Lee Cohen Eyeing Guv’s Chair, Now?

-By Warner Todd Huston

Former candidate for Comptroller William Kelly reported to Chicago News Bench that Scott Lee Cohen is thinking of running for the Governor’s seat. Could it be? Could the guy that the Democrat Party forced off the ticket when he won the Lt. Guv’s spot now be looking to take his revenge out against the Party by opposing them for Governor?

And if he does run, will he run as a Democrat or will he run as an independent? How will he do it? Or is he really thinking about the next run, not the 2010 run? There’s a ton of questions with this one, that’s for sure.

One thing is sure, though. Scott Lee Cohen has said to various members of the media, both new and old, that he will be running for something in the future… though to date he has not officially said what that office might be.

It would be a hoot if he decided to run for governor against Quinn and the Democrats both. It would be Chicago politics at its most circus-like. Political life under the big top, is what we have.

Tom Mannis has some other hot Cohen gossip at his Chicago News Bench site, so go on over and take a look.
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Is Scott Lee Cohen Eyeing Guv’s Chair, Now?”


Peraica’s Push for Transparency Reveals Waste

-By Warner Todd Huston

Commissioner Peraica sponsored a transparency measure that formed the basis for a recent ABC 7 report on waste in county government. Cook County government has started to put its check register online for all to see thanks to Peracia’s efforts.

Of course, we need more stories like the one seen here, ABC 7’s Chuck Goudie who usesd the online check register to identify questionable expenditures of your tax dollars.

One of the worst examples of waste by the County was its expenditures to C.R.O.E., the Coalition for the Remembrance of the Honorable Elijah Mahammad. Mahammad was the former leader of the militant Nation of Islam, a religion now run by Louis Farrakhan. The County is supposedly paying C.R.O.E. for “consulting” services. But no one really knows what sort of “consulting” they really do for the County.

In any case, with the County check register on line for everyone to see, the possibility of more easily finding the waste and graft by Cook County government is a good thing for eventually holding County officials accountable. We should see such efforts at every level of government.


Chicago Tax Day Tea Party Video: Ballad of the Tea Party

During the tea party protest downtown Chicago at Daley Plaza, 9th District Republican candidate for Congress Joel Pollak debuted his new song, “Ballad of the Tea Party.”

Pollack himself performed the tune. It has the ring of a good old Irish diddie.

“Hey, hey, what do we say? Don’t tax our freedom away!”

Lyrics:
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Chicago Tax Day Tea Party Video: Ballad of the Tea Party”


Cook County Commissioner Peraica at the Chicago Tax Day Tea Party

Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica produced this video of his attendance at the Tax Day Tea Party event held in Daly Plaza, in beautiful, corrupt downtown Chicago!

Tony is right to mention the “corruption tax” we in Crook County pay every day. Let’s hope that in November of 2010 these tea party efforts will help bring about the real hope and change that this country needs.


Proft’s latest: The Simple Math of Socialism

From Dan Proft…

The Simple Math of Socialism

If you’re like me, there’s nothing you enjoy more than listening to politicians you can’t trust try to explain legislation they haven’t read by arguing about accounting models they don’t understand lifted from government agencies they manipulate that leave you with tax bills you can’t afford.
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Proft’s latest: The Simple Math of Socialism”


Urgent Appeal: Stop the Cynical Attempt to Seize Control of Redistricting by Corrupt Power Brokers!‏

From the Putback Amendment effort…

For a few months now, I’ve been sending you e-mails about the Put-Back Amendment, a citizen-initiated amendment to provide term limits and comprehensive reform of the General Assembly. I encourage you to keep sending in signed petitions to help me get the 500,000 signatures to get this on the ballot. However, that is not the reason for my e-mail today.
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Urgent Appeal: Stop the Cynical Attempt to Seize Control of Redistricting by Corrupt Power Brokers!‏”


Prosecutors: Blago Wanted to ‘Personally Profit’ From U.S. Senate Seat

-By Warner Todd Huston

U.S. prosecutors released a document today detailing some of the charges against former Governor Rod Blagojevich one of which is that the ex-gov “repeatedly expressed an interest in personally profiting” from his responsibility to appoint a successor to fill Barack Obama’s Senate seat abandoned in 2008 when he won election to the White House.

The document reports that Blagojevich told a high-ranking aide, “Now is the time for me to put my (expletive) children and wife first, for a change.”

Also repeated is the allegation that Blago expected to turn his power to appoint a Senator into a future job for himself and/or his wife, a “good gig” as he put it, as heard on surveillance tapes in possession of prosecutors.

Much of this info has come out in drips and drabbles in the past, but this is the first time that prosecutors have assembled it all in a single document laying out their roadmap for proceeding on the case.

Quite a few shady financial deals are outlined in the document.
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Prosecutors: Blago Wanted to ‘Personally Profit’ From U.S. Senate Seat”


Daley’s Deficit: $180 Per Citizen

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Business Insider reports that Mayor Richard Daley’s budget shortfall is one of the top 15 worst deficit budgets of America’s cities clocking in at $530,000,000 through fiscal year 2011. That breaks down to $180 of debt per citizen.

But this is a bit deceiving because of the $1.15 billion that Daley got by selling the city’s parking meter franchise, not to mention his sale of the Chicago Skyway a few years ago.

In February, Daley announced a hiring freeze that he claimed would save the city $11 million and the Mayor himself will work 29 days this year without pay. Daley also laid off 1,500 employees of the city last year and instituted 24 unpaid furlough days.
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Daley’s Deficit: $180 Per Citizen”


Melissa Bean’s Washington Math Doesn’t Add Up for 8th District Families

From the Walsh for Congress campaign (8th District)…

(Grayslake, IL)– Incumbent Rep. Melissa Bean is fond of calling herself a “fiscal conservative.” If only it were true.

According to a new study by the nonpartisan Heritage Foundation, thanks to big spenders in Congress, the federal government will spend $31,406 per household in 2010 – the highest level in American history (adjusted for inflation). In fact, government spending has increased by $5,000 per household (or nearly 25%) since 2008 alone.
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Melissa Bean’s Washington Math Doesn’t Add Up for 8th District Families”


Ill. Policy Institute: Can we turn Illinois around?‏

A New Jersey Twist
“The best reality show on television today isn’t running on MTV,” William McGurn wrote in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal. It’s in the New Jersey state capitol, where Gov. Chris Christie is leading a dramatic campaign to make the state government live within its means. You can watch Gov. Christie discuss his dramatic attempt to turn New Jersey around here.
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Ill. Policy Institute: Can we turn Illinois around?‏”


10th District, Dold for Congress: We Can Do Better

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

It is once again Federal income tax season in the United States and this April is a reminder of the problems we face. For a large number of Americans, 2009 represented a year during which many made less than in previous years compared to their expenses. Yet we worked harder than ever and made sacrifices to meet the obligations of both our families and our nation. But those in Washington, DC who are charged as responsible custodians of our tax dollars have not met our sacrifice with the same diligence and seem disconnected from the reality of what it takes to earn those dollars. We now find ourselves facing the reality that we may be the first generation of Americans who leave to our children a country worse off than the one we inherited. We cannot and will not accept this. We can do better.
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10th District, Dold for Congress: We Can Do Better”


Tell the Insiders Not to Play Politics With Your Property Taxes: Text REFORM to 77007

From Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica…

This week the focus is on federal Tax Day — the deadline for us all to file our federal income taxes.

And, yes, while federal taxes are burdensome and growing, we must not forget about the tax shenanigans going on right here in Cook County.
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Tell the Insiders Not to Play Politics With Your Property Taxes: Text REFORM to 77007″


Announcing Palatine Taxed Enough Already Rally on April 15th

From the Palatine Tea Party…

(Palatine, Illinois) – A group of taxpaying citizens dissatisfied with government spending and expansion are planning a Taxed Enough Already rally to be held on April 15th in Palatine. 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 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 Thursday, April 15th, 3:00pm to 6:30pm, 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 April 15th”


‘Mob Banker’ Giannoulias Can’t Raise As Much $$ As Mark Kirk

-By Warner Todd Huston

Democrat candidate for Senate Alexi Giannoulias seems to be having some trouble raising campaign cash, at least when compared to the more successful efforts by GOP candidate Mark Kirk.

Giannoulias told reporters that his first quarter fund raising rang in at about $1.1 million for his race to win Barack Obama’s old Senate seat. For his part, Kirk reported that he raised $2.2 million.

The candidate have until April 15 to make their formal fundraising report.

Giannoulias claimed that his bank troubles were not a factor in his lower fundraising amount than Kirk’s. It has been discovered that Broadway Bank, the family bank Giannoulias ran, made over $20 million in bad loans to convicted felons, loans that were never paid back.

The bank is also in severe financial straits having lost $75.3 million last year alone. Regulators have given Broadway Bank until the end of the month to raise $85 million to cover its shortfall.

Quiet whispers among state Democrats have been heard questioning Giannoulias’ electability and rumors abound that state pols are considering alternatives to his candidacy despite his win in the late primary.

Desperate to refocus the news cycle upon Mark Kirk, Giannoulias tried to characterize Kirk as “obsessed” about Giannoulias’ Broadway Bank troubles. Kirk, however, has built a small 37-33 lead in the polls early in this campaign.

www.kirkforsenate.com
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‘Mob Banker’ Giannoulias Can’t Raise As Much $$ As Mark Kirk”


2nd District: GOP’s Isaac Hayes Gets City News Endorsement

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

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of City News. This endorsement by a community paper sends a strong message that the status quo is unsustainable. Empty promises and political corruption have persisted for too long at the expense of economically distressed communities. Illinois 2nd District needs new leadership, new ideas and a new face.”

Endorsement from City News

“The City News, an African American owned newspaper which circulates in Kankakee, Will and Southern Cook Counties today endorsed Republican candidate Isaac Hayes in Illinois’s 2nd Congressional District race.
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2nd District: GOP’s Isaac Hayes Gets City News Endorsement”


8th District, Walsh: Jobless Recovery? Only if Melissa Bean Gets Her Way

From the Walsh for Congress campaign (8th District)…

(Grayslake, IL)– In yesterday’s Wall Street Journal, former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich offered a fairly pessimistic view of any potential recovery from what he referred to as “The Great Recession”.

Since the start of the Great Recession in December 2007, the economy has shed 8.4 million jobs and failed to create another 2.7 million required by an ever-larger pool of potential workers. That leaves us more than 11 million jobs behind. (The number is worse if you include everyone working part-time who’d rather it be full-time, those working full-time at fewer hours, and people who are overqualified for the jobs they’re in.) This means even if we enjoy a vigorous recovery that produces, say, 300,000 net new jobs a month, we could be looking at five to eight years before catching up to where we were before the recession began.
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8th District, Walsh: Jobless Recovery? Only if Melissa Bean Gets Her Way”


5th District: Ratowitz Town Hall Announcement April 17

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

David Ratowitz, Republican Candidate for Illinois’ 5th Congressional seat, to hold Town Hall on the heels of speaking engagement at TEA Party Rally.

U. S. Congressional Candidate, David Ratowitz (IL – 5), states “The so-called health care bill is a radical change in 17% of the United States economy. People in the 5th District deserve to have a leader explain how this mammoth new bill will change their lives. If Mike Quigley doesn’t care enough about us, I’ll do it myself.”
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5th District: Ratowitz Town Hall Announcement April 17″


Is There a Tea Party Near You, Illinois?

Here is a good list of events being held across the Land of Lincoln on Thursday. See if one is near you and go protest the over reach of this out-of-control government.

April 15, 2010 Tax Day Tea Party Rallies in Illinois:

  • 11:00am Peoria Tax Day Tea Party Rally (Peoria Tea Party)
  • 11:00am Carbondale Patriot’s Rally (Carbondale Tea Party)
  • 12:00 Joliet Tax Day Tea Party (Joliet Tea Party)
  • 12:00 Naperville Tax Day Rally (Naperville Tea Party)
  • 12:00 Chicago Tax Day Tea Party (Tea Party Patriots Chicago)
  • 12:00 Champaign Tax Day Tea Party Rally (Champaign Tea Party)
  • 12:00 East Central Illinois Tax Day Tea Party – Danville, IL
  • 12:00 Marion Tax Day TEA Party (Marion TEA Party Patriots)
  • 12:00 Mt. Vernon Tax Day Tea Party Rally (Patriots of Jefferson County)
  • 3:00 Chicago Tax Day Tea Party Rally (Chicago Tea Patriots)
  • 3:00 Crystal Lake Tea Party (McHenry County Tea Party)
  • 3:00 Palatine Taxed Enough Already (TEA) Rally (Palatine Tea Party)
  • 3:00 West Central Illinois Tea Party Rally–Monmouth, IL
  • 4:30 Kane County Taxpayer Tea Party – Geneva, IL (Kane County Taxpayer Tea Party)
  • 4:30 Americans For Fair Immigration Reform March and Rally – Decatur, IL
  • 5:00 Salem Tax Day Rally (Salem T.E.A. Party Patriots)
  • 6:00 Effingham Tax Day Tea Party (Effingham Tea Party)
  • 6:00 Bloomington Tax Day TEA Party (Bloomington-Normal TEA Party)

List compiled by the Cook County Tea Party. The Cook Tea Party site has maps and other info about each event if you’d like more info.

H/T to Chicago News Bench for alerting me to this list.


Illinois Lawsuit Loan Sharks? Stop This Latest Trial Lawyer Bill

From the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform…

Illinois’ reputation for lawsuit abuse hurts our jobs climate.

The last thing we need are measures in Springfield that would encourage trial lawyers to file more lawsuits.

So then why are our state legislators considering a law that would do just that?

This wrongheaded bill (S.B. 3322) would legimitize a new “lawsuit lending” industry in Illinois — creating new “lawsuit loan sharks” who loan money to help people file lawsuits.

More Illinois lawsuits? That’s the last thing we need.
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Illinois Lawsuit Loan Sharks? Stop This Latest Trial Lawyer Bill”


Announcing Palatine Taxed Enough Already Rally on April 15th

From the Palatine Tea Party Folks…

(Palatine, Illinois) – A group of taxpaying citizens dissatisfied with government spending and expansion are planning a Taxed Enough Already rally to be held on April 15th in Palatine. 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 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 Thursday, April 15th, 3:00pm to 6:30pm, 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 April 15th”


Sam Adams Sammies Awards in Four Days

Don’t forget that the Sammies Awards are soon to be held in beautiful downtown Chicago, Illinois. I’ll be attending and (hopefully) live blogging — if my wireless works down there, which it may not. But, regardless, I’ll have a full report on the event.

So, here’s the last chance to attend the 2010 Sammies Awards show in Chicago! On April 16, 2010, Sam Adams Alliance will recognize six of the country’s finest free-market activists and government watchdogs, and feature Internet media entrepreneur Andrew Breitbart as our special guest at this year’s awards show. We are also fortunate to have John Fund, of the Wall Street Journal, joining us at this year’s dinner. Hope to see you there!
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Sam Adams Sammies Awards in Four Days”


More Between Candidate Isaac Hayes and Mayor of University Park

-By Warner Todd Huston

A few days ago I related an incident between Republican candidate for Congress Isaac Hayes and the Mayor of University Park, Alvin McCowan. Hayes claimed that Mayor McCowan freaked out on him at a recent networking event and kicked him out of a public place after Mr. Hayes had been scheduled to appear there. Apparently, though, the incident is still roiling.

Mayor McCowan is still name calling and mouthing off about this whole thing, it seems. The Hayes campaign released a message from McCowan that shows how much of a creep McCowan is. It starts with punk-act name calling and race baiting, too. What a cretin.

Someone is so desperate for news that the fabricated messages persist. So I suppose Hayes’s white campaign leaders can just come into UP and be disrespectful and talk to the mayor in a disparaging tone and that’s suppose to be acceptable. Then they use the Black press to bring down real Black leaders who have not sold out as Hayes has just to try to get elected. Another Allen Keyes. Stop being blinded.

Glad this race-baiting jerk is taking the high road, eh? Sheese. And this guy is an elected official!
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More Between Candidate Isaac Hayes and Mayor of University Park”


Bill Brady Still Leading in Polls

GOP Gubernatorial Bill Brady is still leading Gov. Pat Quinn 45 to 38 percent even as all the media wags keep claiming that Brady is “too conservative” to win in Illinois.

Brady appeared on Fox News Sunday…

As to the so-called “Mr. Republican,” former Governor Jim Edgar, this man is no Republican and never was. He’s the supreme RINO that should simply go away. He hasn’t held office for over a decade at this point and his left-wing counsel is not wanted.


Bean Ducks Walsh Health Care Forum, Residents Come Out in Force

From the Walsh for Congress campaign…

Melissa Bean may have declined Joe Walsh’s invitation, but nearly 200 concerned 8th district residents turned out for Walsh’s health care forum on Thursday evening at American Legion Post 911 in Wauconda.

In contrast to Rep. Bean’s controlled, closed-door, invite-only forums, Walsh’s was open to the public.
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Bean Ducks Walsh Health Care Forum, Residents Come Out in Force”


Ex-Gov Edgar Roots For Amnesty for Illegals

-By Warner Todd Huston

The state is abuzz with the announcement by former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar that he is now in favor of amnesty for illegal immigrants. At a press conference sponsored by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Edgar came out to chastise Republicans for fighting against illegal alien lawbreaking.

During the event, Edgar said that the GOP is making a big mistake to seem so antithetical toward immigrants and that immigrants have “brought a vitality to the Illinois economy.”

He went on for sometime about how wonderful immigrants are and that we need to work toward “comprehensive immigration reform.” It is easy to assume that Edgar wants total amnesty. But does he?

Sadly, Edgar was full of wonderful platitudes and kind words for illegals, but he was a far sight short of any actual policy suggestions. What did he mean to do with all these illegals? He just didn’t say.
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Ex-Gov Edgar Roots For Amnesty for Illegals”


The Breast… uh, Best… of ‘Chicago Republicans’

-By Warner Todd Huston

A tempest in a tea pot has roared into Chicago and this time it edges toward the risque. Riling the tongue cluckers is a website called Chicago Republicans which featured a post that ostensibly was to be about taking John Edwards and Bill Clinton to task for their exploitation of women. But the text of the post isn’t what is raising eyebrows. The photo accompanying the blog post shows some very healthy… er… lungs, if you will, of a very pretty woman.

The post titled The Female Century vs The Hetaerae Century & The John Edwards “Affair” features an artsy photo by Russian photographer Vyacheslav Potemkin of nude model Natasha Volkova and has tongues wagging all across the nets tonight. The post was written by Lumi Boldovici a Romanian immigrant and blogger at the Chicago Republicans site.
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The Breast… uh, Best… of ‘Chicago Republicans’”