Illinois Review

Notice the difference?

Murphy announces suburban endorsements in race for Lt. Governor

From the McKenna/Murphy campaign:

WHEATON -  State Senator and Lieutenant Governor Candidate Matt Murphy announced today the endorsement of Downers Grove Mayor Ron Sandack, State Senators Brad Burzynski, John Millner and Pam Althoff, State Representatives Suzanne Bassi, Franco Coladipietro, Michael Connelly, Sid Mathias, Bob Pritchard, Randy Ramey, Dennis Reboletti, Sandra Pihos and Ed Sullivan, Jr.

More opposition to Gitmo-in-Illinois

US Senate GOP primary candidate Patrick Hughes says he's opposed to Illinois selling the Thomson Correctional Facility to the feds for housing terrorists ...

'I am vehemently opposed to bringing enemy combatants, including the Gitmo prisoners, to Illinois and was also opposed the closing of Guantanamo Bay. This is failure of leadership of the Democrats – from the President down to Governor Quinn.  As U.S. Senator, I will enact policies that will advance America’s national security interests and oppose any plans that weaken those interests – like this one being proposed by the Obama Adminstration."

As is GOP gubernatorial candidate Andy McKenna:

Will Abortion Kill ObamaCare? Part 1

by Rhonda Robinson

Our world has changed immensely since the 1970s: computers no longer fill an entire room, we don’t play records with a needle, and we can watch a fetus that weighs less than a few paper clips as her heart beats while she sleeps inside her mother’s womb.

The abortion debate has also changed since the seventies. The original argument was that a woman had the right to her own body. That the child growing within was not a child at all, but a mass of tissue, therefore she had a right to have it removed and no government had the right to tell her otherwise.

What's broke?

h/t: Jim Hollenbeck

Obama: Environmental hypocrite

CNN is reporting that Obama is traveling with 71 cars in his motorcade while in China. What a hypocrite.

McCann Announces Candidacy for State Senate

Later this week, William “Sam” McCann will formally announce his candidacy for the 49th district Illinois Senate seat. According to a press release today, McCann has filed with more than double the required number of signatures. “I made it my goal early on to travel throughout the entire district, which spans 11 counties” said McCann. “I have personally reached that goal. We filed petitions with signatures representing support from people in most of, if not all, the precincts in the 49th District.”

Foster Tries To Reassure Voters, says Medicare Won’t Be Cut

From the NRCC:

“‘They say, wait a minute: For 40 years, the Democrats have been fighting to preserve Medicare, other people in the country are fighting to get rid of it. It's always been the Democrats that have stood up to protect Medicare,’ Foster said. ‘Now how likely is it that it's going to be the Democrats that are going to cut Medicare? I think the people have stepped back and thought it through and are questioning their sources of information that tell you about death panels and so on.’” (BRENDA SCHORY, “Foster nearly alone at Congress on Your Corner event,” Kane County Chronicle, 9/26/09)

NOT TRUE!

Trio of conservatives support terrorists in Illinois

David Keene, founder of American Conservative Union, Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, and former representative and presidential candidate Bob Barr have signed a statement in favor of moving Gitmo terrorists to Thomson, Illinois. HERE

Perhaps they wouldn't be so keen on the idea if it were their backyard.

Nybo attempts to remove reformers from ballot

from the Manzo campaign

Elmhurst. IL — Stealing a tactic from Barack Obama’s playbook, Chris Nybo of Elmhurst, a one-time Democratic operative running for state representative, personally challenged the petitions of Michael Manzo on Monday, the last day to file objections to candidate petitions. Manzo is a Republican candidate for state representative in the 41st District which includes parts of Elmhurst, Villa Park, Lombard, Oak Brook, Berkley, Hillside, Westmont, Westchester, LaGrange Park, Brookfield, and Riverside.

“Barack Obama got his start in the state legislature after successfully challenging the petitions of his rivals. As a committed Democratic student activist and a lieutenant in Barack Obama’s congressional campaign, Nybo learned firsthand from Cook County Machine Democrats, which includes groups like ACORN and SEIU, how to get ahead in politics by playing dirty tricks,” said Manzo.

Finally, President Obama's Procrastination is a Good Thing

by John Brown's Ghost

The World "leaders" and those that are trying to profit off of junk science are set to meet in Copenhagen next month to talk about climate change.  This has been seen as possible successor to the Kyoto Protocol.  German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently pleaded with the United States Congress to support a treaty on climate change.  I couldn't find any article on whether or not President Obama bowed to her or not.

Now comes perhaps the best news that I've read in a long time. 

Heritage Foundation: Death blows to Obama care

The Heritage Foundation points out these serious problems with Obama's health care plan that directly contradict what the President himself has been saying;

Health Care Costs Increase: “In aggregate, we estimate that for calendar years 2010 through 2019 [national health expenditures (NHE)] would increase by $289 billion, or 0.8 percent, over the updates baseline projection that was released on June 29, 2009.” In other words, Obamacare bends the cost curve up, not down.

Millions Lose Existing Private Coverage: “However, a number of workers who currently have employer coverage would likely become enrolled in the expanded Medicaid program or receive subsidized coverage through the Exchange. For example, some smaller employers would be inclined to terminate their existing coverage, and companies with low average salaries might find it to their - and their employees’ - advantage to end their plans … We estimate that such actions would collectively reduce the number of people with employer-sponsored health coverage by about 12 million.” In other words, Obamacare will cause millions of Americans to lose their existing private coverage.

US Senate candidates welcome imprisoned terrorists

Democrat U.S. Senate candidates welcomed terrorists to be imprisoned in Thomson, Illinois and questioned the war against terrorism in Afghanistan at a Rockford forum this past week, the Bloomington Pantagraph reported Sunday night.

They were especially hard on Republican Mark Kirk for taking a strong stand against imprisoning war criminals within Illinois borders, and referred back to the Bush-Cheney Administration:

"It's appalling to me because he's just going back to those old fearmongering tactics that we saw under (former President George W.) Bush and (former Vice President Dick) Cheney," [Democrat Jacob] Meister said.

HR 3962 will cost at least $935 billion

The Department of Health and Human Services' assessment of the Democrats' Health Care plan shows HR 3962 will cost Americans at least $935 billion more over the next ten years.  But if the plan reduces nation's care of senior citizens by over $500 billion as HR 3962's language specifies, it will cost us a net total of  $406 billion, or $40 billion annually.  There will be more demand on the federal health care system as small businesses are expected to drop their minimal health care packages for employees and encourage them rather to go into the federal Medicaid and SCHIP health care system. 

The DHS' report predicts of the approximate 50 million uninsured Americans now, about 27 million will be covered under HR 3962, leaving at least 23 million (or a tenth of the nation's population) still uninsured.

According to those figures, as generous as they may seem, 27 million more on the nation's health insurance plan will cost taxpayers $15,000 per new registrant.  And that doesn't start to account for what HR 3962 will cost senior citizens as their coverage is reduced reduced by $500 billion in Medicare cuts.

The report is available in its entirety HERE.

14th Congressional District Candidates' Forum

by John Brown's Ghost

Sunday afternoon, the Kane County Republican Advisory Council and the Kane County Republican Central Committee hosted a candidates' forum for the 14th Congressional District.  Sorry about the photo to the right, it was the best that came out of my camera.  Amongst the crowd was a hack from the Foster campaign who tried to videotape the private event (like we wouldn't think a guy in a cardigan sweater with a video camera stood out).  I'm sure it was a welcome site for the Foster campaign worker to see at least 300 people attend a meeting and hear a fine slate of candidates, one of which will send his boss back to being a private citizen.

It truly was a great site to see that many people show so much interest in one congressional race.  After a contentious primary last year, it was heartening to hear the candidates express unity for whoever the primary winner will be.  As Ethan Hastert said, "Any one of these candidates would do a far better job than Bill Foster".  It is a safe bet that everyone in the room (well, except for the Foster staffer) agreed with that statement.  Think of it - 300 people came out on a Sunday afternoon to hear about the issues in a Congressional race.  I was really blown away by the crowd.  A second adjacent room had to be opened up, and even after that several dozen people had to stand throughout the discussion.  It was a testament to the fine job that the Kane County Republican Advisory Council did.  Hats off to Brad Urhausen, Andy Faville, Mike Kenyon, Ellen Nottke, Lisa Wagner, Carol Berger, and all of the others that helped put on this event. 

Proft wins Niles Township; Dillard wins Evanston

Two north suburban Cook County township GOP organizations held endorsement sessions Sunday.  Political commentator Dan Proft won Niles Township's GOP endorsement, where Joe Hedrick is township commiteeman.

After three ballots, Evanston Township's GOP gubernatorial endorsement and 60% of the vote went to Kirk Dillard.  Linda LaFianza is township committeeman there.

UPDATE 1x:Republican outrage grows against Quinn's Gitmo-in-Illinois plan

UPDATE 1x:  Congressman Mark Kirk has set up a website:  www.noterroristsinIllinois.com to organize an effort in opposition to Dick Durbin and Governor Pat Quinn's Gitmo-in-Illinois plan.

Governor Pat Quinn's plan to cooperate with the Obama Administration to open Illinois' unused Thomson Federal Prison to terrorists now being held in Guatanamo Bay has created a firestorm of reaction from Republican U.S. House members as well as gubernatorial candidates. 

Tomorrow, U.S. Representatives Peter Roskam, Mark Kirk, Judy Biggert and Don Manzullo will hold a press conference to discuss their outrage with the plan.

And GOP gubernatorial candidate Kirk Dillard opposed the plan, saying this:

A Prayer for Obama

Psalm 109:8

American favorables to U.S. military at highest in 5 years

from November 15, 2009 Rasmussen Research 

Eighty-one percent (81%) of Americans say they have a favorable opinion of the U.S. military, the highest ratings in five years. Sixty-nine percent (69%) believe military service is good for young people.

Just 20% of voters, however, think the United States should have a military draft. Sixty-seven percent (67%) oppose the calling up of young people for the military.

In part, that’s because 66% of Americans believe military service is more stressful than most other occupations. Twenty-eight percent (28%) also think veterans of today’s conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan face more challenges when they return home than veterans of the Vietnam War.

Heated discussion over Stupak-Pitts continues

Witness firsthand how an MSNBC Bill O'Reilly counter wannabe is abandoning its first responsibility to get to the truth by refusing to hear both sides of the debate on the Stupak-Pitts Amendment to squash the expansion of elective abortion funding:

From Family Research Council -- On air, Dylan Ratigan is the one who lied when he accused Cathy of lying about the impact of the amendment. The facts are clear: the amendment prohibits federal funding of abortion and subsidizing plans that cover abortion. Under the Stupak amendment, women can still use their own money to purchase plans or supplemental policies that include abortions. Even NPR and PolitiFact.com have verified Cathy's facts.

Kirk gives Republican weekly address on health care alternative

What Your Member of Congress Voted For--And How to Stop It

by Joe Calomino

Last weekend, Representatives, Bobby Rush (IL District 1); Jesse Jackson (IL District 2); Daniel Lipinski (IL District 3); Luis Gutierrez (IL District 4); Mike Quigley (IL District 5); Danny Davis (IL District 6); Melissa Bean (Il District 8); Janice Schakowsky (IL District 9); Deborah Halvorson (IL District 11); Jerry Costello (IL District 12); Bill Foster (IL District 13); and Phil Hare (IL District 17), voted in favor of HR 3962, Nancy Pelosi’s national health care bill.  

There are dozens of heinous elements in this bill, but here is a short sample of the contents:

Dold Pulls Away In Super Saturday Votes

from the Dold for Congress campaign

Robert Dold, Republican Candidate for Illinois’ 10th Congressional District, continues building momentum in his campaign to replace Congressman Mark Kirk who is running for the U.S. Senate.  The New Trier Republican Organization (NTRO) today voted overwhelming to endorse Dold over his six Republican opponents.

“I am thrilled to receive the endorsement of the NTRO", said Dold who received more votes than all of the other six candidates combined.  “The NTRO endorsement was instrumental in Mark Kirk’s successful 2000 campaign and I am honored by the support of this important organization.”

Robber finds God...sort of

H/T JillStanek.com

The Health Care Deals and Political Intrigue

by Mark Rhoads

Various news organizations have revealed in recent days a series of deals made by the Obama White House in order to help Nancy Pelosi round up 220 votes and give political cover to some of her uncomfortable Democratic colleagues.

The pro-life lobby and some gullible Roman Catholic bishops were bought off at the relatively cheap price of simply allowing 64 Democrats from pro-life districts to make the claim they voted for something to keep the Hyde Amendment in place.

Patrick Hughes, Republican for United States Senate

by Sam Pierce

Concerned Illinois citizens have an important choice to make on February 2nd, 2010. We must choose the Republican nominee for the United States Senate seat once held, albeit briefly and often in absentia, by President Barack Obama. We must choose from an informed position as opposed to letting apathy or the money of D.C. "moderates" decide who wins the primary. Our choice must be ours, not Senator John McCain's or the NRSC's. Our choice, if we want to begin to make a difference should be a Reagan Republican as opposed to an Obama Republican.

We would do well to abandon the flawed yet seemingly permeating logic that suggests that the only way to return this seat to the Republican Party is to avoid Republican values and the Republican Platform. It makes no sense to take issues off the table by nominating one who will share positions with whichever Democrat candidate wins. It makes no sense to support "He Who Must Not Be Nominated" as I and fellow downstate Illinois patriot, Brian Milleville (of www.downstateiladvocate.com) have dubbed Congressman Mark Kirk.

by Sam Pierce

Concerned Illinois citizens have an important choice to make on February 2nd, 2010. We must choose the Republican nominee for the United States Senate seat once held, albeit briefly and often in absentia, by President Barack Obama. We must choose from an informed position as opposed to letting apathy or the money of D.C. "moderates" decide who wins the primary. Our choice must be ours, not Senator John McCain's or the NRSC's. Our choice, if we want to begin to make a difference should be a Reagan Republican as opposed to an Obama Republican.

We would do well to abandon the flawed yet seemingly permeating logic that suggests that the only way to return this seat to the Republican Party is to avoid Republican values and the Republican Platform. It makes no sense to take issues off the table by nominating one who will share positions with whichever Democrat candidate wins. It makes no sense to support "He Who Must Not Be Nominated" as I and fellow downstate Illinois patriot, Brian Milleville (of www.downstateiladvocate.com) have dubbed Congressman Mark Kirk.

Plummer wins New Trier Township Endorsement

from the Plummer for Lt. Governor campaign

Jason Plummer, Republican candidate for Lt. Governor, impressed the New Trier Township Republican Organization Saturday morning, which resulted in winning their endorsement by a large margin.  Later that day, Plummer stunned the Murphy campaign by splitting the organizational support in Wheeling Township, Murphy's political base, denying him the endorsement. Murphy needed 60 percent of the Wheeling precinct organization's support to win.

Voters pointed to Jason Plummer's experience and plans for creating new jobs and addressing the culture of corruption in Illinois politics, as the reason for his lopsided victory in New Trier Township and his strong showing in Wheeling Township.  "I am humbled and gratified that Republican Party activists are responding to our message and for their support," Plummer said.

Sorock scoops on New Trier GOP confusion

Eva Sorock gives us the facts about what happened at New Trier GOP this morning.  Frankly, it's disappointing we couldn't get the whole story from either the McKenna or the Proft camps.  Thanks Eva, for sending it over ...

Governor candidate Dan Proft cashed in on his articulate presentation of the way out of the anti-business, corrupt culture that has permeated Illinois politics (and sent governors to jail) for years. On the first ballot, Proft received 20 votes (and this is in moderate New Trier Township that went for Obama in 2008). The other candidates, most of whose familiar names have been part of the Illinois team for years, got votes as follows: Andy McKenna (14), Bill Brady (13), Kirk Dillard (10), Bob Schillerstrom (8) - downstate’s Adam Andrzejewski got 1 vote. In the second balloting, Proft and McKenna tied with 32 votes each, resulting in a joint endorsement from the township.

The scoop on other endorsements made today are here ...

New Trier Township Republicans Endorse McKenna for Governor

We're getting conflicting information, but this is what the McKenna campaign is putting out today ...we'll update as soon as we get to the bottom of this.

The New Trier Township Republican Organization today endorsed Andy McKenna for Governor.

“We are thrilled to receive the endorsement of the New Trier Township Republicans,” said McKenna. “It’s clear that Tolbert Chisum and his organization agree with our message of putting Illinois’ fiscal house in order and we thank them for their support.”

Gingrich: Contract with America round 2?

No guv, LG or US Senate endorsement in Wheeling

In Wheeling Township's GOP endorsement session Saturday, no candidate in the governor or lieutenant governor or US Senate was endorsed in Matt Murphy and Mark Kirk's districts, confirming that the top of the ticket races are dead heats, anyone's game.  One of the state's largest GOP townships did pick Jim Dodge for Comptroller, although primary opponents Judy Baar-Topinka and Bill Kelly were at this morning's meeting at the Arlington Heights GOP headquarters.

Sources say the gubernatorial top contenders were Kirk Dillard and Bill Brady, but after 3 ballots, neither came up with 60% of the vote.  Andy McKenna attended the endorsement session, and several spoke on behalf of Dan Proft, we're told.  As for LG, the third ballot came up 47 for Murphy and 46 for Jason Plummer, but since neither attained 60%, no endorsement was made. 

The 10th CD endorsement came very close to being awarded to Bill Cadigan. 

We'll pass along more information as we get it ...

Proft wins New Trier GOP endorsement

from a Dan Proft twitter

Won New Trier GOP township endorse this morning. Big win on McKenna's home turf. Nice momentum building for our campaign. Want to thank the captains who voted for me and Committeeman Tolbert Chisum for running a fair, transparent process.

So very Obama: U.S. President bows to Japanese Emperor

(photo: Los Angeles Times)

Treachery is bringing the war on terrorism home

Thomson IL is a town of 550 people  on banks of the Mississippi River, less than 3 hours west of Chicago.  Its claim to fame is that it's the "Melon Capital" of the world and home to a $145 million maximum security correctional facility that's never opened. 

And Illinois is billions of dollars in debt ... but we digress.

A story in the Chicago Tribune today puts Thomson IL as a top contender to become home to Islamic terrorists now imprisoned in Guatanamo Bay.  And Thomson's local village president as well as Illinois' own governor arevin favor of bringing war criminals onto American soil, specifically to the Land of Lincoln.  Our trusted elected officials, charged with the responsibility of keeping us safe on American soil, are seriously considering exposing all of us to these hardened criminals, and for what?  The sake of local economic development. 

A Class Act from Boystown

by Susan Ryan

From HillBuzz....yes, that Secretary of State Hill Buzz.  There are over a thousand (interesting) comments regarding this post:

Thank you former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush HillBuzz November 10

The Bushes went and met privately with these [Ft. Hood] families for HOURS, hugging them, holding them, comforting them.

If there are any of you out there with any connection at all to the Bushes, we implore you to give them our thanks…you tell them that a bunch of gay Hillary guys in Boystown, Chicago were wrong about the Bushes…and are deeply, deeply sorry for any jokes we told about them in the past, any bad thoughts we had about these good, good people.

Attention, Catholics: Given to ACORN lately?

by Richard A. Viguerie

You probably think you've never given money to ACORN and its allies.  But if you've contributed to the annual November Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) appeal of the Catholic bishops, you've done just that.

Each November, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops asks Catholics across the United States to contribute to the CCHD.  Until last year, much of this money collected by the bishops' appeal was funneled directly to ACORN. 

Are you going to again let the bishops use your contributions - money that's intended for charity - to promote extreme left-wing causes such as taxpayer-funded abortion-on-demand?

The President's Speech Writers

By Mark Rhoads

Many news pundits in MSM have said for a year that President Barack Obama knows more about how to make a great speech than any president since time began.  It is true at a first hearing, they sound articulate and full of soaring rhetoric.  But the odd thing is that when you read them the next day, they read like very badly-written college term papers that are packed with every cliche that any good English teacher has ever red lined.  But many social-science teachers reserve their fourth-grade sticky gold stars to highlight exactly the kind of cliches that overflow in Obama speeches.

Pelosi thinks its "fair" to send health insurance objectors to jail

H/T Illinois Policy Institute

Obama’s Latest Move to “Remake” (read “Destroy”) America

by Teri O'Brien

B. Hussein Obama’s second biggest lie is the one he has repeated ad nauseum all year about his plan to take over the health care system: “if you like your coverage you can keep your coverage.” His biggest, and most dangerous lie, “I wake up every day thinking about how to keep the American people safe, and I go to bed worrying about keeping the American people safe.” You can watch him recite this obviously memorized falsehood here.

UPDATE: Kelly remains in Comptroller race | misreport confirmed

Before posting the press release below, Illinois Review confirmed that there was indeed a mistaken report - from another source - that Kelly was getting out of the race.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

from the Kelly for Comptroller campaign

With false reports widely circulating that he is withdrawing from the Illinois Comptroller's race, William J. Kelly's campaign has issued this statement:

"As a lifelong conservative in Chicago, I know what it means to stand up for what you believe in. I believe in the future of the Illinois Republican party and that the Comptroller's office is key to reform. I also know that politics is a dirty business and that people who are not interested in real reform have tried to smear me out of this race. I will never be smeared out of my convictions and I will not be smeared out of this campaign."

Gutierrez insists on health care coverage for illegals

According to the Washington Post, Democrat Rep. Luis Gutierrez won't vote for any health care bill coming out of conference committee if it doesn't include health care coverage for individuals living illegally in the U.S., which could include not only illegal aliens, but terrorists as well. From the Washington Post:

"I am not going to vote for a health-care bill that includes provisions that exclude people using their own money to go to the exchange regardless of their immigration status," said Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.). "It is silly and stupid."

Beveridge joins race to unseat Bean

Saying he's "not a politician, and won't become one", Dirk Beveridge launched his campaign yesterday to unseat Democrat Congresswomen Melissa Bean in the 8th Congressional District. The 48 year-old resident of Barrington, joins a crowded field of Republicans vying to take on Bean, including John Dawson, Christopher Geissler, Maria Rodriguez, Greg Jacobs, and Joe Walsh.

Beveridge has received endorsements from several elected officials, and said he's raised $100,000 in six weeks. He is the owner of a small consulting business, and founder of a nonprofit organization, We Do Care, that supports U.S. soldiers.

Halvorson compares soldiers' sacrifice to rent

Speaking Wednesday at the Abraham Lincoln National Military Cemetery, Democrat U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson seemed to compare the sacrifice of American soldiers to "rent". As quoted in the Morris Daily Herald, Halvorson said of the sacrifices made, "It's the rent we pay for the lives we have been given."

Bean takes money from bailed out bank

According to Forbes, JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon visits Washington almost once a month, seeking out politicians like Illinois Congresswoman Melissa Bean. Dimon, whose bank was the recipient of a taxpayer-funded bailout, recently contributed $2,000 to Bean. More here.

Pro-biz group unveils $10 million campaign against health reform

The Employment Policies Institute (EPI), a group that helped defeat the Clinton healthcare plan, will be launching a $10 million campaign against the Obama health care takeover as well. According to The Hill, EPI, which "spent nearly $25 million to stall the card-check legislation that is a top priority of labor unions, said the $10 million campaign would be its largest ever on the issue of healthcare. It will run over the next eight to 10 weeks."

They plan to air ads in six states — Arkansas, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine, Nebraska and North Dakota — starting Monday. These are states represented by centrist senators whose votes are critical to passage of the healthcare bill.

Tea Party says Lipinski lied

Constituents in U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski's district feel betrayed. And they plan to let the Democrat congressman know it at his town hall meeting on Saturday. Members of the Chicago Tea Party are going to show up and confront Lipinski for what they consider a "backstabbing" vote on the health care bill.

Quoted in the SouthTown, Catherina Wojtowicz - who worked for Lipinski's father - said she met with the younger Lipinski and "he flat-out said he wouldn't vote for it." Said Wojtowicz, "He used me. He lied to me and his constituents by putting us off, saying that he was with us and was going to vote no. We cheered him. I thought we were friends, but friends don't lie to you."

So, Wojtowicz has been organizing Tea Party members to go to the town hall meeting at 10 a.m. at Oak Lawn Community High School's gymnasium, 9400 Southwest Highway.

SEIU to run TV campaign against Kirk

The Foundation for Patient Rights, a new 501(c)4 organization affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), has unveiled a new $400,000 television campaign against Republicans who opposed the House bill. One of the targets is Rep. Mark Kirk.

Is Durbin afraid to talk about health care?

Below are today's headlines concerning Illlinois' liberal U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. It seems Dick wants to talk about just about anything...except the Obama health care takeover. Wonder why?

Durbin plans stop Friday regarding FutureGen | Charleston Times-Courier, 11-13-09

Durbin to address unemployment issue | Chicago Tribune, 11-13-09

Durbin praises treatment at Tamms | Belleville News-Democrat, 11-13-09

Durbin discusses Marion VAMC changes | Marion Daily Republican, 11-13-09

Obfuscation nation

by Andy Haaf

Conservatives are missing out on a key opportunity to make progress in the health care debate. Rather than focus solely on politicians assuming control of the industry (notice I used politician instead of government), they should focus equally on the manner in which it is being executed.

For example, here is an excerpt from page 24 of the bill:

Quinn's persistant can-kicking puts Illinois further behind

Any conscientious citizen and taxpayer should be concerned about just what will happen when Illinois' obsession with kicking the proverbial "can down the road" will come to an abrupt end. 

This week, Governor Quinn returned to the Democrat standby of borrowing-on-tomorrow's-revenues-to-pay-today's-bills to prevent current rate hikes for the CTA.  During the fall veto session, he said, the legislature made changes in the Medicaid payment system, and "freed" up funds to be used towards subsidies, and another loan will pay for the CTA's current shortages and a 3.5% raise for CTA workers.

Here's how the Bond Buyer describes Illinois' plan: