Illinois Review

Obama's entire campaign in one cartoon

Federal employees enjoy significant advantages over private sector workers

From Congressman Paul Ryan's (R-WI) -

Earlier today, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a study confirming the differences in compensation between federal government employees and their private-sector counterparts. While millions of Americans continue to struggle with stagnant wages and high unemployment, government bureaucrats in Washington continue to enjoy significant advantages over those whose tax dollars finance their compensation.

Key points from the CBO’s comparison of employee compensation between federal civilian employees and the private sector:

Taxpayers United blasts Pollastrini for misleading about group's endorsement

CHICAGO - The chairman of Tax Accountability (TAC), the political action arm of Taxpayers United of America (TUA), today issued a statement warning candidates for office that they must refrain from stating or implying they have been endorsed by Tax Accountability unless the organization specifically states that it has endorsed them. 

“Candidates must return our questionnaire and our signed and dated Taxpayer Protection Pledge in order for us to consider endorsing them,” said Jim Tobin, TAC Chairman. “Not all candidates who return our questionnaire and pledge end up being endorsed by us. It is not permissible for a candidate to state or imply he or she has been endorsed by TUA if we have not issued a formal endorsement.”

Tobin referred to the January 24 Naperville edition of the Chicago Tribune that ran a story written by 42nd Dist. State Representative candidate Laura Pollastrini, featuring a picture of her signing the committee’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge.

Rockford Rep Dave Winters Endorses Kinzinger for New 16th CD

From Kinzinger for Congress campaign -

Rockford, Ill. – Today, State Representative Dave Winters (R-Rockford) endorsed Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) for the newly drawn 16th Congressional District. Representative Winters represents portions of Congressman Manzullo's current district in the Winnebago County area, including Rockford, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Rockton, Roscoe and South Beloit.

Shortly after the new map was announced for the Illinois’ State Legislature, Representative Winters made the decision to retire rather than run against another Republican.  An eighteen-year representative, Winters felt it was time to step aside and allow a fresh voice to run for the 68th District.

Lawson thinks Mussman's out of whack with online dating bill

From the Lawson for State House 56 campaign -

SCHAUMBURG, IL – John Lawson, Republican candidate for State Representative in the 56th District, has challenged State Representative Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg) on her recent introduction of legislation regarding online dating sites. The legislation would further regulate online dating sites by notifying users that background checks have been performed by them. The legislation also mandates the font size used in the warning.

"I am outraged. It is disappointing that Michelle Mussman has used this issue as a smokescreen to cloud her and her party's mismanagement of Illinois' finances,” said Lawson. “At a time when unemployment in Illinois is at 10% and the state is $8.5 billion behind on its bills, I find it hard to believe that Michelle Mussman feels the most pressing issue we face is online dating standards. As a police officer for 27 years, I've never heard of online dating as a threat to public safety.”

Malkin takes sides with Santorum

A hot national debate among political online pundits is raging today, leading up to Tuesday's Florida GOP presidential primary. Ann Coulter has lined up with Mitt Romney. Sarah Palin said she'd "vote for Newt" if she lived in South Carolina. And yet another internet maven made her choice Monday.

Nationally-syndicated columnist and conservative blogger Michelle Malkin broke from the conservative blogger uppity-insider club and endorsed former Senator Rick Santorum for president Monday, citing several things Santorum did not do as her reasons for supporting him.

Read the endorsement at www.michellemalkin.com

The price of immorality

CHICAGO - We can't help but make note of a post in the Belleville News-Democrat Monday that points out Chicago is getting a $1 Million grant to pay for government-funded HIV testing and treatment.  The $1M is in addition to a previous $500,000 obtained through the city of Chicago for mental health programs.

Tell us again how social issues don't matter - and how only budget, pension and taxes are what matters these days.

Oh, that's right - those old-fashioned ideas like morality and monogamy are privacy issues, even when fellow workers are forced to pay for the consequences. 

If tobacco and obesity are so detrimental to Americans' health and the health care system, why shouldn't immorality be scorned just as much?

Illinois scrapes the bottom of the barrel in creating jobs

by Nancy Thorner -

As Governor Pat Quinn continues to use taxpayer money as perks to keep companies and jobs from moving out of the state to greener pastures, what returns are taxpayers receiving for their monies?

On January 26 The Illinois Policy Institute published a revealing Tax & Budget Brief - Wrong way, Illinois:  Failed policies lead more Illinoisans down path of unemployment -- that relates the stark truth about how Illinois's lack of economic recovery factored into creating jobs, using graphs to display Illinois's failure, unlike forty-six other states, to create an environment where people can be put to work. 

IR Interview: Lennie Jarratt, GOP candidate for Senate 31 - Part 3

ROUND LAKE - Lennie Jarratt, GOP candidate for Senate 31, spoke with Illinois Review a few weeks ago about his bid to succeed State Senator Suzi Schmidt (R-). Jarratt is active in the Lake County Tea Party and the Lake County Right to Life, while working to build his own precinct for the Lake County GOP. He's also been endorsed by the Illinois Conservatives Facebook group and the Illinois Center Right Coalition.

This is Jarratt's first time as a legislative candidate. He's struggled to raise campaign funds, but he's successfully energizing a conservative grassroots base that will be involved in getting out the vote in the 4-way GOP primary race on March 20th.

Part 3 of the 3-part interview with Illinois Review follows ...

IR: Has the Senate Republican leadership gotten involved in this 4-way primary?

Jarrett4a2

Chicago Police Supt.: It’s good to record officers

Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said last week the Illinois law against recording conversations between police and civilians is just as bad for the police as it is for citizens. McCarthy’s comments may help pass a bill out of committee Tuesday reversing that law. More HERE

Gas prices soar in Illinois

WLS is reporting that the most recent Fuel Gauge Report by AAA estimates that regular unleaded gasoline has increased 16 cents during the past month, which is nearly 30 cents more than last year at this time. In Cook County, self-serve regular unleaded gas averages $3.69. That's up 18 cents from last month and 32 cents higher than January of 2011.

Chrysler to announce jobs in Illinois

Chrysler is planning to announce plans to add 1,600 jobs at the automaker's assembly plant in Illinois this week, according two people familiar with the plans. Last week, Chrysler confirmed that it plans to hire 400 to 500 part time and temporary workers at the plant.

The additional 1,100 workers would be for a third crew at the plant to support production of the Dodge Dart, a new compact car, as well as Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot. The additional crew of workers will start in July, one of the people said. More HERE

Report shows Illinois finances dogged further

Illinois’ backlog of unpaid bills could go from bad to catastrophic, according to a new report from the Civic Federation that crunched state budget numbers looking ahead five years.

The analysis comes two days before Gov. Pat Quinn delivers his State of the State address, traditionally a chance for governors to tout the health of the state. The report shows Illinois’ $4 billion backlog of unpaid bills could climb to more than $34 billion by 2017.

“All governors like to talk about the positive aspects of their administration and certainly Governor Quinn has some positive aspects,” Civic Federation President Laurence Msall said. “But the fiscal reality of the state of Illinois isn’t rosy and it isn’t optimistic.”

More HERE

Walsh: "If Romney's the guy...we're going to get him elected"

SCHAUMBURG - Congressman Joe Walsh (IL-8) is featured in TheHill.com today, and Walsh insists that despite rumors to the opposite, the Tea Party movement is alive, well, and thriving, despite the fact they're not united yet around one particular presidential candidate.

“I am a Tea Party conservative first and I tell all the Tea Party crowds I’m in front of, ‘Look, Mitt Romney may not be your cup of tea, he may not be conservative enough but if he’s the guy, you’re going to hold my hand and we’re going to get him elected’ and generally the movement understands that,” he said.

Walsh said the Tea Party is growing every day and will continue to affect the political landscape.

One More Reason to Move to Texas

By Ghost of John Brown -

I've been threatening to move to Texas for the last couple of years, a thought that excites some of my critics no doubt. Sure they have lower taxes and the business environment is better, and while those are compelling reasons, the one thing that Texas has over Illinois is zero chance of glaciers any time soon. While I'm not actually predicting glaciers, it is hard not to believe that if you are going to stay here in Illinois, or at least northern Illinois, investment in a snow-blower would be a wise decision. This time at least, it isn't Mike Madigan's fault - it's the sun.

VIDEO: Little difference between Obama and Romney, Soros says

DAVOS, SWITZERLAND - Billionaire liberal financier George Soros sees little difference between Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama, he told a Davos Switzerland interviewer last week.

"The only difference is the crowd they bring with them," Reuters recorded Soros saying in the YouTube below. There would be a difference, however, if Gingrich or Santorum were to be elected, he said:

The Hubris of Newt, Bill, and Barack

By Mark Rhoads -

A college pal writes me from New York, "what is the difference between Newt Gingrich and Bill Clinton? Newt is a Reublican and Bill Clinton is a Democrat. Otherwise not a lot of difference."  I called him by phone rather than email a reply to clarify what he meant. He said both Gingrich and Clinton are "narcissistic baby boomers with little self-discipline." My pal and I are both aging boomers too and we know the type well. There are other similarities in that both Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich always imagine themselves to be the smartest guy in any room full of smart guys.

Holder notified of 2010 Border Patrol death within hours, DOJ documents show

The Daily Caller searched through a U.S. Department of Justice document dump late Friday night which shows that AG Eric Holder appears to have been informed about the death of a Border Patrol agent within hours of the tragedy. Holder stated the opposite at a Congressional hearing on the Fast and Furious "gun walker" scheme. It was later found the agent was killed by a weapon associated with Fast and Furious.  The DC reports:

An email from one official, whose name has been redacted from the document, to now-former Arizona U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke reads: “On December 14, 2010, a BORTAC agent working in the Nogales, AZ AOR was shot. The agent was conducting Border Patrol operations 18 miles north of the international boundary when he encountered [redacted word] unidentified subjects. Shots were exchanged resulting in the agent being shot. At this time, the agent is being transported to an area where he can be air lifted to an emergency medical center.”

That email was sent at 2:31 a.m. on the day Terry was shot. One hour later, a follow-up email read: “Our agent has passed away.”

VIDEO: Santelli on the latest Debt Ceiling hike

CHICAGO - From the Chicago Board of Trade CNBC's Rick Santelli was at it again this week, this time giving a run down of what the latest $1.4 Trillion debt ceiling increase means to each of us in dollars. (video below)

Pierce: Personhood and The Trojan War

by Sam Pierce -

"If I am a person, I must be a threat to Planned Parenthood's profits."

There is a serious threat to the Trojans! Not to mention the Durexes, Lifestyles, and the rest of the products available at condomman.com! What can it be, that could wipe out not only the condom market, but the entire birth control industry in one fell swoop? What has the power to exert such a forceful blow to the business of pregnancy prevention? Is it a pending natural disaster? Could it be that all the water supplies on Earth will be contaminated with Salt Peter?

What weapon has the capacity to destroy the birth control pill factories and alter the sexual behavior of human beings? It is the most dastardly, the most heinous… it is the Personhood Initiative! Aarghhh! Run for your (sex) lives!

Rick Santorum shares about special needs daughter Bella

Our prayers are with the Santorum family today.  Their youngest daughter, Bella, has been hospitalized, and for a 3-year-old with her special needs, it's a serious matter.  If you've not heard the Santorum's story of Bella, in the YouTube below, the former senator now running for president, shares it ...

O'Brien: Will Lawless Obama Admin be disqualified from 2012 Election?

By Teri O'Brien -

If we were to describe the Obama administration in one word, it would be difficult, but several options do spring to mind. “Stagnation,” certainly wold be on the list, when we think of our limping economy, which Barack Obama pledged to fix. Considering the frequent White House celebrity-studded soirèes, the lavish luxury vacations, Michelle’s full-time makeup artist and fly-ins for their personal trainer, “extravagance” is another word we could use, which brings us to something that probably comes a lot closer, “hypocrisy.”

All of these words are spot on, but there is one that captures the essence of this administration better than any other, and that word is “lawless.” Michele Bachman was completely accurate when she referred to “gangster government.” Consider the following: 

Team Weber for County Board Takes First Place

Whether or not Tom Weber wins a seat on the Lake County Board this year, he and his team already have earned bragging rights this year- they're first place winners in making tasty barbecue ribs ...

LAKE VILLA -  Tom Weber, candidate for Lake County Board District 3, and campaign volunteers receive first place trophy for best sauced ribs at Lake Villa Township's 2012 Winter Ribfest held Saturday January 28th at Caboose Park. Ribfest is an annual family friendly event for the community to come together, have some fun, sample great food and raise money/non-perishables for the Lake Villa Township Food Pantry.

"Throw Them All Out" author in Chicago Wednesday

As featured on '60 Minutes,' Peter Schweizer's explosive new book, "Throw Them All Out" offers shocking details on how politicians and their friends get rich off insider stock tips, land deals, and cronyism that would send the rest of us to prison.

Come to Heartland's latest Author Series event for a delicious lunch at Maggiano's in Chicago, a speech by Hoover Institution fellow Peter Schweizer, and a signed copy of his book. "Throw Them All Out."

Banking on a Distraction

By John F. Di Leo -

Bitten by the acting bug in my youth, I joined a small children’s theater company run by a pair of magicians.  We didn’t travel far, just around Chicagoland, but it kept my 8th grade weekends busy, riding around Cook County in a bus from show to show.

The magicians never shared any secrets with me, of course – proper magicians don’t give up the secrets to anyone except their assistants and their insurance agents – but one day en route to a gig, the director confided to me that the most important thing isn’t how you do the trick, it’s how good you are at the simultaneous distraction.

The one hand waves, or points a wand, or flashes a cape, or signals to the lovely assistant over there… while the other hand flips the false bottom, or slides open the false door, as the trick is completed.

So it can be in politics, and so it can be in economics.

Obama's citizenship viability finally receives a Georgia Court hearing

by Nancy Thorner -

President Obama has lots of explaining to do.  On January 26 a Georgia court case hearing was held which revolved around the Natural Born clause of the Constitution and whether or not Obama qualifies under it to serve.

More so, if found ineligible, Obama's name would not appear on the 2012 ballot in Georgia.  Obama's attorney, Jablonski, was a no show at the court hearing as was Obama, who had been subpoenaed to appear.

Chicago area prolifers honor Cardinal George

OAK BROOK - This year's SpeakOut Illinois gathered over 550 pro-lifers together -- over 400 adults and over 150 teens -- for their annual unity and training conference. The keynote speakers were Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood abortion worker turned prolife, and Cardinal Francis George, who received the Henry Hyde Life Leadership Award.

The panel discussions included a discussion of upcoming legislation featured Bob Gilligan of Illinois Catholic Conference, Ralph Rivera of Illinois Citizens for Life, and Dave Smith of Illinois Family Institute. Other panels featured John-Paul Deddens, Students for Life of Illinois, discussing ways to reach college campuses with the prolife message, and Tom Ciesielka of TCPR, discussing how to work with the media.

Public officials announced in attendance were Congressman Joe Walsh, State Senator Chris Lauzen, State Rep. Chris Nybo, Board of Review Commissioner Dan Patlak, congressional candidates Jack Cunningham and Rich Evans, Senate candidate Lennie Jarrett, Illinois House candidates Vince Romano, Dave Carlin, Chris Hage, Jeannie Ives, and Janet Silosky, Bd. of Rev. Comm. candidate Sean Morrison, and Bill Kelly. Peter Breen, of the Thomas More Society, served as emcee of the event.

Illinois Review thanks Peter Breen for the update

Republican Women of Park Ridge Endorse Sweeney, Patlak

PARK RIDGE - The board of directors of Republican Women of Park Ridge voted Saturday to endorse Susan Sweeney for State Representative in District 55 and Dan Patlak for re-election as Commissioner of the County Board of Tax Review. Both candidates are members of the club. 

McSweeney Receives Tax Accountability Endorsement

From the McSweeney campaign -

David McSweeney, candidate for State Representative in the 52nd District, has received the endorsement of the Tax Accountability organization. Tax Accountability is affiliated with the Taxpayers United of America and has been a taxpayer watch dog in Illinois for 35 years.

“I thank you for signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and opposing any and all efforts to increase taxes’” said Jim Tobin, President of Tax Accountability, in a letter sent to McSweeney.

Herman Cain Endorses Gingrich for President

ATLANTA, GA – Former presidential candidate and Georgia businessman Herman Cain announced his endorsement of Newt Gingrich for president earlier this evening at the Palm Beach County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner. In addition to his endorsement, Cain has accepted Newt’s invitation to co-chair the Tax Reform and Economic Growth Advisory Council for Speaker Gingrich.

"It is time for conservatives and Republicans to refocus their attention on the ultimate mission of defeating President Obama," Cain said. "I believe Speaker Gingrich is the bold leader we need to accomplish this mission."

Statement from Sen. Manchin regarding Sen. Kirk, and appreciation from Kirk family

CHICAGO - United States Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today released the following statement regarding Senator Kirk:

"I brought all the love and best wishes of the Senate to Mark and his family, including cards with good wishes from his colleagues. I also brought him some work to get done, some proposals to look at and some of the political magazines that have all the news in Washington. I spent the morning with his family, and I'm so encouraged with his prognosis and progress. He's getting more irritated at being in the hospital, which means he's definitely getting better. I look forward to coming to visit my friend again soon."

The Kirk family released the following statement in appreciation of Sen. Manchin's support:

"We want to express our deep appreciation and gratitude to Senator Joe Manchin for all he has done and continues to do to be a source of comfort and strength for our family. We know how much his friendship means to Mark. Joe is truly a class act.

We continue to grow more encouraged and impressed by Mark's progress each day. He is talking, making jokes and asking about work. We thank the people of Illinois for their unwavering support."

Schaumburg Republicans hold convention, issue endorsements and take straw poll

SCHAUMBURG - Nearly 200 Schaumburg Township Republicans gathered today for the Schaumburg Township Republican Convention, featuring Township Committeeman Ryan Higgins, Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady, Congressman Joe Walsh, and every Republican candidate running for office in Schaumburg Township.

"I was extraordinarily pleased with the attendance at today's Convention," said Higgins. "Republicans and independents in Schaumburg Township are energized, and today's attendees had an extraordinary opportunity to hear from every Republican candidate who will appear on the primary election ballot."

The Convention included a Presidential Straw Poll with Mitt Romney gathering 43.4% of the vote, Newt Gingrich 26.6%, Rick Santorum 19.6%, and Ron Paul 5.5%. 4.9% of attendees remain undecided.

Following the Convention, the Directors, Precinct Captains, and Precinct Associates of the Schaumburg Township Republican Organization voted to make the following endorsements:

• Illinois House, 56th District: John Lawson
• Illinois House, 44th District: Ramiro Juarez
• Illinois Senate, 28th District: Gayle Smolinski
• Illinois Senate, 22nd District: Cary J. Collins
• 13th Judicial Subcircuit, "A" Vacancy: Martin C. Kelley
• 13th Judicial Subcircuit, "Pietrucha" Vacancy: Paul S. Pavlus
• Cook County Board of Review, 1st District: Dan Patlak
• U.S. Congress, 8th District: Joe Walsh

No bright line between religion and politics

By Mark Rhoads -

The protocols for making distinctions between religion and politics are not the same as the as the constantly changing standards for the separation of church and state. The latter doctrine stems from the First Amendment statement that Congress is prohibited from endorsing any single specific religious denomination as was and still is the case in the United Kingdom where the monarch was the head of an official state-sponsored denomination. The First Amendment reads as follows:  

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." (Second clause text emphasis was added by me and in my opinion it should apply to judicial fiat as well as legislation.)

Rev Jackson to Gov Brewer: Keep your finger in your pocket

CHICAGO - The Chicago Sun-Times reports Rev. Jesse Jackson geared up the Rainbow PUSH audience today to heat up the phone lines about a photo taken this week when Arizona Governor Jan Brewer met President Obama on an airport tarmack visit in her state:

The Rev. Jesse Jackson on Saturday called on people to flood the phone lines and fill the e-mail inboxes of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s office after she pointed a finger at President Barack Obama during a heated exchange on a tarmac outside a Phoenix airport this week.

Calling Brewer’s gesture, “the ultimate insult,” Jackson told the crowd at the Rainbow PUSH headquarters, as well as to those “all around the country, you call the governor’s office next week.”

He gave out an 800-number to Brewer’s office, and urged those who call to say, “We don’t need her finger.”

Governor Brewer reported that she had just invited the President to visit the Arizona border, and he mentioned a segment in her book in which he said she incorrectly described a prior personal visit.  She said the president is "thin-skinned" and was "irritated," and that she felt intimidated by him during the encounter.

Two sides of Romney's "History Lesson"

This weekend, Mitt Romney's camp is teaching Floridians a history lesson about former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, according to NBC News' Tom Brokaw.

And the other side of the story from CNN and Townhall ...

Lauzen and Surges "Pay to Play" Accusations Without Merit

By Ghost of John Brown -

The English translation of what the original Chumash Indian tribe called the Los Angeles area is "Valley of Smoke". The low basins and dust made Los Angeles look like it was on fire when it wasn't. The same can be said of political attacks: smoke, when there is no fire.

With some interest I have been watching the accusations from both the Lauzen and Surges campaign regarding "Pay to Play" politics in government with consultants. This State DOES have a problem with pay to play and corruption. During the Blagojevich administration, the pay to play in regards to consultant contracts were endemic. Don't get me wrong, this has nothing to do with Democrats, it happens with Republicans too, trust me, I've seen it.

Denver prolife activist prevails against AG Holder

Illinois Review is honored to promote the Thomas More Society's gracious legal work, this time for a Denver activist.

DENVER - Thursday, Thomas More Society attorneys defeated a request by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder for a preliminary injunction against longtime Denver area pro-life activist Ken Scott. After a full-day hearing, U.S. District Judge Philip A. Brimmer ruled that the Attorney General would not be reasonably likely to prove at trial that Scott physically obstructed employees of the Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains abortion facility in Denver. The Attorney General has asserted ten separate violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act against Scott, seeking a $10,000 fine against him and an injunction to keep him 25 feet away from the facility. A copy of Judge Brimmer's ruling is available here.

VIDEO: Romney's blood money

Newt Gingrich's Super PAC "Winning Our Future" is running some hard-hitting campaign ads in Florida this weekend, leading up to Tuesday's GOP presidential primary. These are ads we'll probably not see aired leading up to Illinois' March 20th primary.

55% agree with Obama that wealthy Americans should pay more taxes

Recent polling shows there's a problem in getting out the conservative, pro-capitallism message that higher taxes means less investment in building businesses and encouraging entrepeneurial efforts. Rasmussen Reports -

Fifty-five percent (55%) of Likely U.S. Voters agree with the president’s proposal that wealthy Americans pay at least 30% of their income in federal taxes. But 49% also think federal, state and local governments combined shouldn’t take more than 30% of anyone’s income in taxes. These findings suggest that while voters feel generally that the wealthy aren’t paying their fair share, they remain more interested in fairness than in being punitive.

Sen. Marco Rubio reacts to Obama's SOTU in GOP's weekly address

Florida U.S. Senator Marco Rubio powerfully delivers the Republican Party's weekly address and effectively responds to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address.

Powers' Review: The Grey

By CJ Powers -

This artic thriller puts Ottway (Liam Neeson), a man who is hired to protect workers from wolves at an oil refinery, into a battle for his life against the harsh Alaska elements (Shot in British Columbia) while a pack of wolves track the survivors of the crashed plane and eat them off one at a time like a typical horror film. Neeson’s performance is excellent, but the film is very depressing with bloody remains soaking a great deal of the white snow throughout the adventure. 

Hats off to Senator Watson

Three Chicago Tribune reporters collaborated on a wonderful piece today focusing on stroke victims, and their challenges and victories in wake of devastating health traumas. On Page 4 of the online version, the story's focus is on former Illinois State Senator Frank Watson, who recounts his own 2008 stroke that forced him to step down from one of Illinois' highest political leadership roles.

The Tribune's must-read account relays the courage it took for Senator Watson to fight physical, mental and emotional battles while he continues to recover. (Watson is pictured right with his granddaughter)

"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" finds way into our inner child

"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" is an emotional drama in which an 11 year old is forced to face his greatest fears after "The Worst Day" of 9/11. With the help of those he encounters in his search to find answers, the key character, Oskar Schnell, eventually finds hope and encouragement, along with the realization that all have been affected in one way or another by the fallen world in which we live. 

Tea Party conservative Steve Balich squares off against liberal Dan Seals

McConnaughay announces support of pension reform, forgoes legislator pension

From the McConnaughay campaign -

State Senate candidate Karen McConnaughay today announced her support for the creation of a tiered state pension system that will move employees to a defined contribution system and away from the unsustainable defined benefit plan that has left the state with an unfunded liability of over $80 billion dollars. “I have great respect for the men and women in public service, and the worst thing we can do is to prop up an unsustainable pension system that will eventually drag down the state’s finances and force radical reductions in benefits,” said McConnaughay. “Moving to the type of retirement plan that the vast majority of Illinois workers have is not just common sense, it is the fair and responsible thing to do,” she added.

LaHood Appointed To Transportation Safety Committee

SPRINGFIELD- In December, State Senator Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap), a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, was appointed to serve on Democrat Secretary of State Jesse White's Advisory Committee on Traffic Safety. Last week, LaHood and the committee met for the first time to discuss a variety of traffic-related issues including abuse of disabled parking placards.

“I am grateful to have been given the chance to continue working with transportation issues in Illinois by serving on the Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Traffic Safety,” says LaHood. “Our transportation system is a vital lifeline for Illinois. I am proud to be able to work so closely with an issue that is of such importance to the daily lives of Illinois citizens and look forward to working with the committee to guarantee safety in our transportation system.”

Surges accuses McConnaughay of pay-to-play contributions

From the Surges campaign -

Republican Senate candidate in the 33rd district, Cliff Surges, calls for a stop to pay-to-play politics in Illinois. There have been many allegations made recently, that McConnaughay, while in her current position as Kane County Chairman, received large donations from vendors, at least 80% of her total donations, who have significant contracts with the county. There has been no detailed accounting of these connections from the McConnaughay campaign. While the Surges campaign alleges no specific illegal activity by our opponent, with transparency comes accountability, and she must be held accountable for her conduct while serving in public office.

“My opponent has continued to declare that her campaign donations from companies and individuals that do business with Kane County is above board because she has no direct ‘vote’ on these contracts. This is laughable!  Certainly even Ms. McConnaughay can concede that in her position as Chairman of the County, construction projects, development projects and county contracts do not happen without her oversight and ultimate approval. My opponent has, and continues to accept campaign contributions from individuals and companies that have or currently do business with Kane County.”

Kinzinger: Ener1 bankruptcy is latest example of a jobs program gone bad

Pat Buchanan and the MSNBC gulag

By Sandy Rios -

Pat Buchanan did something dreadful. He said politically incorrect things…incendiary, in fact and faces punishment in a New America where free speech is now applied more to rights to pornography and protections for curse words than to actual ideas.

What exactly did Pat do? He wrote a book, “Suicide of a Superpower: Will America Survive until 2025?”  He included chapters like “The End of White America” predicting whites will be the minority by 2041. In another, “The Death of Christian America,” he wrote of the assault on Christianity and its values, the loss of a moral compass as exemplified in gay marriage and abortion. He predicted that America is in the “Indian summer of our civilization.”

ILGOP announces 2012 Victory Program

The Illinois Republican Party announced it's 2012 Victory Program this week. The plan aims to maximize resources by using strategically placed volunteer centers to help candidates in races up and down the ticket, including suburban congressional races and Illinois House and Senate races. That effort includes the areas encompassed by the Northwest suburban 10th, 8th, and 11th congressional districts.

More HERE