8th District: Joe Walsh Opposes Thomson/Gitmo Move

From the Walsh for Congress campaign:

Lake Zurich, IL, December 14, 2009 : Joe Walsh, Republican Candidate for Congress in the 8th Congressional district has announced his strong opposition to the Obama administration plan to move terrorist suspects from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to Thomson, Illinois. The facility at Thomson, Illinois is an underutilized state prison that the state of Illinois has offered to the federal government for purchase.

“I am opposed to moving terror suspects from Guantanamo Bay to Thomson, Illinois. This move is being touted as a great economic development issue for Illinois but I find it really pathetic that our state would be painted as so desperate for jobs that it would become the home to terrorists. The local impact on jobs is terribly overblown. This is a political move pure and simple. I am also concerned that the same stigma and international attention, mostly negative, could become focused on Northern Illinois,” said Walsh.
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8th District: Joe Walsh Opposes Thomson/Gitmo Move”


62nd District State Rep Race: Mitchell Congratulates Opponent on Planned Parenthood Endorsement

From the Mitchell campaign:

Gurnee, IL-Republican State Representative candidate Paul Mitchell today extended his congratulations to his opponent, State Representative Sandy Cole (R-Grayslake) of the Illinois 62nd District, on her endorsement by Planned Parenthood Illinois Action (PPIA), the non-partisan political and advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood of Illinois. The endorsement was announced by PPIA on December 10th, 2009.

“I know that Mrs. Cole is too modest to make a big deal of this,” said Mitchell, “but I just think every Republican primary voter in the 62nd district would want to know about this endorsement.”
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62nd District State Rep Race: Mitchell Congratulates Opponent on Planned Parenthood Endorsement”


Tony Peraica Endorses 5th District Challenger David Ratowitz

From the Ratowitz campaign:

“His grassroots campaign is firing on all cylinders, aiming well beyond the February Primary to retake Illinois’ 5th Congressional District for Republicans in November.”

CHICAGO – December 15, 2009 – U.S. House candidate David Ratowitz (IL-5) has received the official endorsement of renowned conservative activist Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica in his run for the Republican nomination in the February 2 Primary Election. Peraica has released the following remarks:

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Tony Peraica Endorses 5th District Challenger David Ratowitz”


17th State Rep Race: Phil Collins Celebrates Endorsements

First time candidate Phil Collins, who is vying for the 17th District State Rep seat, is celebrating an impressive number of endorsements.

On Nov. 30, Collins was endorsed by the Illinois Conservatives Facebook Group. He was also endorsed by Jim Leahy, the executive director of the Republican Assembly of Illinois and by David Smith, the executive director of the Illinois Family Institute. He also picked up the endorsement of the Evanston Conservative, a great blog that is published by Gary Karlin; Eric Wallace, Randy White, and the Chicago Minuteman Project. And last week, his campaign was endorsed by the Illinois Federation for Right to Life and the Illinois Conservative Action Network.
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17th State Rep Race: Phil Collins Celebrates Endorsements”


62nd District State Rep Race: Paul Mitchell picks up Four Group Endorsements

From the Mitchell campaign:

‘This morning, everyone here at Paul Mitchell’s campaign office is in a celebratory mood,’ said a campaign volunteer.. ‘The list of endorsements is growing; we’ve just added four conservative groups to the endorsements list, with more to come!’

‘These four endorsements,’ says Mitchell, ‘show my credibility to my socially conservative base, my fiscally conservative allies, and to the reform/912/tea party movement.’
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62nd District State Rep Race: Paul Mitchell picks up Four Group Endorsements”


Topinka’s Union Endorsement is ‘Business As Usual’

From the Jim Dodge for Comptroller campaign:

AFSCME’s inflexibility is part of state’s budget problems

(DECEMBER 13, 2009 Orland Park, IL) Jim Dodge, Republican Candidate for Illinois Comptroller calls The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees’ endorsement of his opponent an illustration of ‘business as usual.’ Judy Baar Topinka was the only Republican endorsed by AFSCME which has also backed others in the past such as former governor Rod Blagojevich and Alexi Giannoulias. This election season they are backing only Democrats and Judy Baar Topinka.
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Topinka’s Union Endorsement is ‘Business As Usual’”


8th District Race: Joe Walsh Rally Dec. 17

If you have ‘HAD ENOUGH’ with the direction our country is heading, please join me for a WALSH CHRISTMAS RALLY!

Together we can plan the next 6 weeks to win on February 2nd to take the challenge to Melissa Bean in November 2010.

Thursday, December 17, 2009
Hackney’s Restaurant
880 N. Old Rand Rd.
Lake Zurich, Il
5:30P to 9:00P
Joe Walsh to speak at 6:30PM
(Free soft drinks & munchies, cash bar for beer/liquor)

This is an Open House event. Bring family, friends, neighbors who have ‘Had Enough’. Come join ‘Boots on the Ground’ to volunteer for the next 6 weeks and election day.

Together we become a Winning Team!


Champions Endorse Jim Dodge for Comptroller, With Kelly Shocker

-By Warner Todd Huston

The folks at ChampionNews.net have endorsed Jim Dodge for Illinois Comptroller. And they aren’t shy about saying what they think of the other two candidates, William Kelly and Judy Baar Topinka, either: they’re “clowns.”

ChampionNews.net is a conservative organization out of Chicago run by long-time area conservative Jack Roeser. Roeser ran for Gov. as an outsider Republican and got 26% of the vote in 1994. That was amazing considering the lock on power the good old boy GOP network had back in those days (and still does). Today Roeser is a businessman employing over 500 employees and a conservative activist. Additionally, the ChampionNews folks have a Sunday morning radio show on Chicago’s WIND AM 560 radio from 8AM to 9AM.

The folks at CN.Net have confidently endorsed Jim Dodge for Comptroller saying he is the “only credible and corruption free candidate.” But their endorsement of Dodge is more an indictment of William Kelly and Judy Baar Topinka. In the posting headlined “The race for Illinois Comptroller: Candidate vetting for dummies,” they pulverize Mr. Kelly’s campaign. They promise to do the same to Topinka in a future posting.

The folks at CN.Net are plainly not fans of Mr. Kelly’s TV work calling the shows “inane” and they say that his past radio work was “the radio version of a train wreck.” They paint Kelly as an “unserious person running for a very serious office.” But all that isn’t want is interesting to me in their piece, really. No what is interesting is this:
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Champions Endorse Jim Dodge for Comptroller, With Kelly Shocker”


TAPROOT: Christmas Candidate Forum

-By Warner Todd Huston

Tonight I attended the TAPROOT Christmas event and listened to 15 Republican state-wide and DuPage County candidates all of whom came to address those gathered at the Hilton in Lisle to hear them speak. From Gubernatorial candidates, Senate candidates, judges and local county folks to… is it right to say Lt. Gubernatorial candidates? If so, it sounds odd… anyway, it was a whirlwind session of candidates and a good time was had by all.

If it could be said that there was a theme of the day then it had to be jobs and the economy. Every candidate had something to say about the subject that weighs so heavily on all of us.

15 candidates is a lot of folks to hear from and each got about 5 or 10 minutes to lay out their case and then a few minutes for questions. We were pleased to hear from two candidates for governor and there were quite a lot of candidates for Lt. Governor, as well, three in all. Three Senate candidates appeared, two Comptroller candidates, one Sec. of State candidate, one Congressional candidate, two judges and a DuPage County commission candidate.

Appearing in order were:

I know, phew!
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TAPROOT: Christmas Candidate Forum”


Edgar Endorses Liberal GOPer Beth Coulson for 10th District

By Warner Todd Huston

Former Governor Jim Edgar has “proudly” endorsed Beth Coulson to take the 10th District seat that Mark Kirk is leaving behind in his run for Senate. The Coulson campaign celebrates the endorsement:

“As governor, I worked closely with Beth Coulson,” said Edgar. “I find her to be a person of tremendous talent, integrity and compassion. The same qualities that have made her an effective state legislator will make her an excellent member of Congress. The 10th District will be well served by electing Beth Coulson to Congress.”

Coulson, one of the most liberal Republicans in the state, is vying for the GOP nod in a crowded field in the 10th.
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Edgar Endorses Liberal GOPer Beth Coulson for 10th District”


Chgo Trib Poll of GOP Guv Contenders

By Warner Todd Huston

The Chicago Tribune has published the results of its poll on the candidate for Governor on both the Republican and the Democrat side.

GOP
31% Undecided
26% Jim Ryan
12% Andy McKenna
10% Bill Brady
9% Kirk Dillard
6% Adam Andrzejewski
2% Dan Proft
2% Bob Schillerstrom
2% other

With 31% undecided, though, it is plain that Republican voters can change this field considerably as the weeks move forward. One thing is sure, if we are foolish enough to pick the tired old candidacy of Jim Ryan, we will lose to pat Quinn. Ryan has already shown that he cannot win in a state-side election. Voters won’t forget that and the media won’t let him forget it.
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Chgo Trib Poll of GOP Guv Contenders”


Rauschie Beats Challenge

-By Warner Todd Huston

Former State Senator, long-time Republican operative, and member of the famed “fab five” cadre of conservative State Senators of 1990s vintage, Steve Rauschenberger is officially “allowed” to be a Republican.

The Illinois State Board of Elections has announced that it has thrown out the objections of Rauschie challenger Noland (D) who was trying to get him thrown off the ballot. Thankfully, here’s the last time I have to explain this idiotic challenge…

This from my previous post on the subject:

As it happens, Rauschie pulled a Democrat ballot last election in order to help elect his sister win an Elgin Council seat. This, say the local Dems, means that he is no longer a Republican. As idiotic as this challenge seems, it has a stupid precedent created by the moron Illinois GOP itself that launched a similar challenge, and won, against a Democrat in the past. (And this is but more proof that the petty petition situation in this state is bad for everyone)

Fortunately, the ISBE realized how downright stupid this particular challenge was. After all, Steve Rauschenberger has a 20-year record as an active and respected GOP lawmaker and pulled one… I say again, ONE… Democrat ballot out of familial love to help his sister (that’ll teach ‘im).
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Rauschie Beats Challenge”


Jim Ryan: Cut Aid to Township Governments

-By Warner Todd Huston

At a sit down with the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board this week, former States Attorney Jim Ryan, candidate for the GOP nod for governor, said that one of his cost-cutting measures would be a state-wide cut back on state grants to local township governments.

The Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, in a report last February, said capping revenue sharing and grants to local governments could save up to $300 million a year. Ryan said state cutbacks on income-tax revenue to cities and counties “will put them on a diet and also save us money.”

I say, good idea! As The Better Government Association discovered last month, many of these Townships aren’t in any way needy of more tax money. In fact, many are awash in large, surpluses in their bank accounts even as they continue to tax us to death.

In fact ABC 7 and the BGA discovered that many of these fat-cat townships don’t even spend their large surpluses on the actual, lawful purpose for which townships were created for in the first place.
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Jim Ryan: Cut Aid to Township Governments”


State Senator Randy Hultgren Commits to February 4 Republican Unity Event

Randy Hultgren is running for the GOP nimination in the 14th District.

St. Charles – State Senator Randy Hultgren confirmed today that he will attend a February 4 Unity Party, sponsored by the Kane County Young Republicans meant to bring all Republicans together following the February 2 Primary Election.

“I am well aware of the concerns Republicans have resulting from our bitter primary election experience in 2008,” said Hultgren. “No matter what is said and done between now and February 2nd, if we don’t come together following the 2010 primary election, the liberal Bill Foster will retain this seat in Congress,” said Hultgren.
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State Senator Randy Hultgren Commits to February 4 Republican Unity Event”


Lt. Gov. Race: Cook Earns Nat’l Taxpayers United of Ill. Endorsement

From the Dennis Cook campaign:

(Orland Park, IL ) – Lowering taxes is something Republican Lt. Governor candidate Dennis Cook is committed to, and this promise has earned him an endorsement from Tax Accountability.

“In recognition of your exceptional desire to fight taxes and support economic growth, Tax Accountability endorses you for the Feb. 2, 2010 primary election,” the political action arm of National Taxpayers United of Illinois (NTUI) said in its endorsement.
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Lt. Gov. Race: Cook Earns Nat’l Taxpayers United of Ill. Endorsement”


8th District: Joe Walsh Gets Ill. Fed. for Right to Life Endorsement

From the Joe Walsh campaign:

8th Congressional District Republican Candidate Joe Walsh announces Illinois Federation for Right to Life Endorsement

Lake Zurich: Joe Walsh, candidate for the Republican Nomination to the 8th Congressional District, is pleased to announce the co-endorsement of his candidacy by the Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC. The IFRL PAC notified candidates December 8th.
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8th District: Joe Walsh Gets Ill. Fed. for Right to Life Endorsement”


Senate Race: Hughes Got in Over Kirk’s Cap and Trade Vote

-By Warner Todd Huston

Conservative Senate candidate Patrick Hughes told the Daily Herald that he wasn’t even interested in throwing his hat in the ring of the junior Illinois Senate seat until Mark Kirk voted for one of the most destructive tax plans in American history with his yes vote on Cap and Trade.

“I had no interest in this race. I hadn’t considered running … then Mark Kirk voted for cap-and-trade,” said Hughes, a Hinsdale real estate developer.

Hughes is right to be concerned. Kirk is running around the state telling people he wants to build a “center right” coalition. The problem with his plan is that the person at the center of that coalition, Kirk himself, is center left NOT center right!
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Senate Race: Hughes Got in Over Kirk’s Cap and Trade Vote”


An IPI Christmas: Feeding The Hungry, Bringing Opportunity to Developing Nations

-By Warner Todd Huston

Last night I was invited to attend a Christmas get together sponsored by the Illinois Policy Institute. This year’s theme was feeding the hungry in Africa and bringing economic freedom to developing nations. We heard some interesting presentations from Paul Wormley of the One Acre Fund as well as Tim Probasco of Opportunity International, both involved with helping subsistence farmers in Africa and India to become self-sufficient and to work toward creating financial success by selling their products at market. Both organizations take different approaches toward the same market oriented goals and both are efforts worthy of support. Best of all both organizations base their assistance on free market principles as opposed to mere charity work.

But, before the serious discussions of hunger in Africa and India and economic assistance to the impoverished began, we were serenaded by a charming group of kids from a local Chicago school operated by the KIPP: Ascend charter school program.


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An IPI Christmas: Feeding The Hungry, Bringing Opportunity to Developing Nations”


5th District: Rosanna Pulido’s endorsement from Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC

From the Pulido campaign:

The Illinois Federation for Right to Life Political Action Committee (IFRL-PAC) announces the endorsement of Rosanna Pulido for the nomination as Republican candidate for the Fifth Congressional District in the primary election to be held in February 2010.

The protection of the lives of conceived but yet unborn children of Illinois and the nation is the foundation upon which we build all other rights. If we do not restore and maintain protection of the Right to Life for the weakest and most helpless members of our society, we ourselves become endangered.

We are pleased to announce our endorsement of Rosanna Pulido for nomination as Republican Candidate for the Fifth Congressional District. Not only has Ms. Pulido expressed a desire to protect unborn children, but she has also indicated her support for the disabled as well as those who are endangered at the end of life.

The Illinois Federation for Right to Life is a statewide organization with local affiliates throughout the State of Illinois.

For more information, visit Pulido’s campaign website: www.rosannapulido2010.com.


5th District: David Ratowitz Victorious in Nominating Petition Challenge

One petition bid challenge is down, at least. Now let’s hope that Phil Collins and Steve Rauschenberger find their challenges removed.

“All objections against District 5 congressional candidate’s signatures withdrawn at 11th hour”

CHICAGO – December 9, 2009 – Minutes before the Illinois State Board of Elections was set to formally dismiss the case, objectors to 5th Congressional District candidate David Ratowitz’s nominating petitions withdrew their challenge.

An official records review on December 3 overwhelmingly upheld the validity of Ratowitz’s petition signatures, finding that some of the objectors’ claims were based on technicalities overruled by the Illinois Supreme Court more than 30 years ago.
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5th District: David Ratowitz Victorious in Nominating Petition Challenge”


Publius Forum at Lucky 13 on Illinois Top Blogs

-By Warner Todd Huston

It’s the end of the year and that means LISTS! Over at Illinois Observer, David Ormsby has assembled the rankings of the top 50 Illinois websites and Publius Forum shows up at number 13 on that list.

Seeing as how we few, we unlucky few conservatives in Illinois live in a bloo, bloo state, it is not surprising that most of the sites are lib sites. But there are some great conservative sites represented in the list, as well.

Here are the conservative/libertarian blogs as they appear ranked (the number to the right is the Alexia ranking):
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Publius Forum at Lucky 13 on Illinois Top Blogs”


Guv’s Race: Rauschie Picks Proft!

-By Warner Todd Huston


This is a bit of a shocker. Former State Senator Steve Rauschenberger (R, Elgin), famed as one of the “fab five” conservative Senators from the late 1990s , has endorsed Dan Proft for governor.

On the Don Wade and Roma radio show on WLS on Dec. 8, Rauschie said Proft is his man.

“I am proud to endorse Dan Proft’s candidacy for Governor because Proft is the only candidate who has properly diagnosed what afflicts state government and is prescribing the right policy remedies,” said Rauschenberger, who is seeking to regain his old senate seat currently held by State Senator Michael Noland (D-Elgin)

“The other candidates believe we have a management problem in state government. Proft correctly understands that it is a system problem.”

I have to say this is a bit shocking to me. I didn’t expect Steve to go for Proft, not because of his positions (most of which is very straight line conservative) but because of the whisper campaign launched against Proft’s Cicero baggage.
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Guv’s Race: Rauschie Picks Proft!”


Complete Vernon Township Endorsement Session Results

Further Information: Don Castella, Vernon Township Republican Chairman, 847-275-5542 or email: dcastella@vernongop.org

Lincolnshire, IL Dec 8, 2009: Vernon Township’s Monday evening GOP endorsement session surprised local incumbents Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL 10) and IL State Senator Matt Murphy (R-27), who both failed to garner the nod in their respective state-wide races for US Senate and Lt. Governor. Kirk lost the US Senate endorsement outright to Hinsdale Businessman Patrick Hughes who grabbed the Vernon endorsement with 64.3% of the committeeman vote. Senator Matt Murphy finished ahead of Pastor Randy White in the Vernon Lt. Governor endorsement voting with 57.1%, but failed to garner the requisite 60% for the endorsement.
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Complete Vernon Township Endorsement Session Results”


Dold for Congress Holiday Gift Drive for the Troops

From the Dold campaign…

With Hanukkah coming up later this week and Christmas just around the corner, I would like to ask for your help in supporting our troops who are stationed overseas during the holiday season.

Dold for Congress has partnered with Any Soldier, Inc., a nationwide non-profit organization that sends supplies and packages to troops who are in need of basic items. We’re asking members of the 10th District community to help us make the holidays brighter for these young American servicemen who give so much to keep us free. We have selected three soldiers from Illinois—one stationed in Afghanistan and two in Iraq—who have provided Any Soldier, Inc. with a wish list of items they need during the holiday season.

Please drop off any of the items listed below at Dold for Congress Headquarters, 511 Lincoln Ave. in Winnetka, anytime between Tuesday, December 8 and Thursday, December 17, 2009. On Dec. 18, we’ll send out the holiday packages to the troops.
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Dold for Congress Holiday Gift Drive for the Troops”


2nd District Hayes: Harry Reid Needs a History Lesson

From the Hayes campaign:

CHICAGO – December 8, 2009: The following statement was released today by Rev. Isaac C. Hayes, the GOP nominee for Congress in IL-2, and opponent of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) in response to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) comparing opponents of heath care reform to opponents of the emancipation of slaves:

“Harry Reid’s rush to use race in the health care debate is exactly why we should not rush this bill” said Hayes. “History reveals that it was Mr. Reid’s Party that opposed the emancipation of slaves and the Republican Party that was the vanguard of freedom. A brief review of history will record the Republican President Abraham Lincoln abolishing slavery and the Republican Caucus voting in a larger percentage for Civil Rights legislation than their Democratic counterparts. It is quite evident Mr. Reid has not read a history book or the bill he wants to force through.”

www.isaac4honesty.com


14th District Race: 1 More Drops Out Amid Calls to Pull Names From Ballot

-By Warner Todd Huston

First time aspirant Mark Vargas (R, Elgin) has suspended his campaign for the GOP nomination for the 14th District leaving now three Republicans vying for the Primary nod. Vargas is the second to drop out of contention as Jim Purcell recently quit his bid in a move for party unity.

Both Purcell and Vargas have thrown their support behind Ethan Hastert (R, Elburn), son of former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert.

Vargas told the Kane County Chronicle that he is still ambitious but is “realistic,” as well.
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14th District Race: 1 More Drops Out Amid Calls to Pull Names From Ballot”


Et tu Adam?

-By Megan Fox

A few weeks ago I interviewed Dan Proft, Republican candidate for the IL governorship. I ran out of time on the air and asked him to please answer the rest of my questions over email. He agreed and I will have those for you soon. (I’m still typing them up between cleaning up spit up and red and green Christmas glitter that seems to be all over everything)

I want to share something with you about one of the other candidates in the race, Adam Andrejlakidjferjeski (as I like to call him because I CANNOT spell or say his last name). I gave Adam the opportunity to come on Clash Radio with me the same week Proft was on. I emailed him on Facebook. He directed me to his scheduling person who agreed he would be on with me. To be fair, and to make sure Adam had a chance to come up with a rebuttal for what I said about him that wasn’t flattering, I sent him a copy of the article I wrote about my impressions of the Tea Party debate. This was the one where I said Adam’s pants were too short, I had doubts about his ability to win this race, but I liked his responses and he was in my top three picks. Just hours after forwarding my article to Adam’s campaign, the interview was cancelled.
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Et tu Adam?”


The Illinois GOP Has Difficulty Talking Immigration

-By Warner Todd Huston

A recent round of posts between Gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft and Chicago Examiner website columnist Robert Moon of Macon County, Illinois shows the difficulty of trying to discuss immigration in Illinois today. Passions are high and it is hard to get past all the suspicion imbued in it all.

It all began with a segment of a Chicago radio broadcast in which Dan Proft addressed some of the more demagogic treatments of the immigration problem and echoed the worry made by many Republicans that the more wild-eyed treatments of the immigration problem is bound to force the GOP into permanent minority status due to the rising number of voters with Hispanic background.

Unfortunately, this snippet seems to do Proft’s full stance on immigration a disservice because it does not explain his larger views, some of which might tend to belie the initial impression. Mr. Moon construed Proft’s stance to be one of the “open borders” variety simply because the excerpt of Proft’s radio commentary appeared on the La Raza website (La Raza is a racist organization dedicated to taking back parts of the American south and all the south west for Mexico).

Moon mentioned that Proft has had “several pro-amnesty rants” featured on the La Raza website. I have tried to find these “rants” but have not located any so I cannot speak to this claim. If anyone has any links to these “rants” I’d like to see them. But if there are none (other than the one example), this single fact would tend to make Moon’s claim problematic.
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The Illinois GOP Has Difficulty Talking Immigration”


$2,821 of Hot Sauce Bought By YOUR Illinois Taxes

-By Warner Todd Huston

Kate Campigne Piercy, director of government reform for the Illinois Policy Institute, recently penned an interesting piece for The Chicago Sun Times that informed us all that the Illinois Commerce Dept. bought $2,821 worth of Hot Sauce during fiscal year 2009.

That’s not all, either.

What’s the need for a typewriter in a computer-centric world? The Illinois Employment Security Department spent $245.80 on a Brother ML100 Typewriter — in addition to $12,176.54 on a Canon Microfilm/ Fiche Printer.

The governor’s office shelled out $20,692.24 on “subscriptions.” The Commerce Department spent $3,770 for golf carts, $280 on soy crayons and $2,821 on hot sauce –all with Illinois citizens’ tax dollars. That must be some good hot sauce.

The good news is… well, some good news, anyway… we can now go to a new website where we can view these wastes of the taxpayer’s money so that we can have the ammunition we need to eliminate this wild spending and hold the politicians responsible to account.
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$2,821 of Hot Sauce Bought By YOUR Illinois Taxes”