GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - December 28, 2007
GOPUSA Illinois Daily Clips for December 28, 2007 includes news and commentaries on the following topics:
- Giuliani
- Republican Party candidates, campaigns, and events
- Republican Party platform issues including limited government, abortion, homosexual activity, immigration, gambling, etc.
- Illinois, Cook County, DuPage County, and Chicago budget problems
and more . . .
QUESTION: When will the Combine let the Daily Herald, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, etc. report that Giuliani will speak at the 47th Annual DuPage County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner?
RUDY BLOGS
-- Giuliani to speak at 47th Annual DuPage County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner, Friday, Feb 1
http://www.rudyblogs.com/technorati-rudy/ (Cached by Google)
GIULIANI CAMPAIGN
-- DuPage County Officials Support Giuliani for President
(THE ARTICLE: (10/3/07) The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee today announced DuPage County, Illinois endorsements. Joining Team Rudy are DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba, DuPage Clerk of the Circuit Court Chris Kachiroubas and DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom. These endorsements come just as Mayor Giuliani makes a visit to the county tomorrow. Zaruba, Schillerstrom and Kachiroubas join a growing list of DuPage supporters, including State Senator Christine Radogno, DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph Birkett, and State Representatives Bob Biggins, Franco Coladipiertro and Dennis Reboletti. “There is no candidate who has been tougher on crime and is more committed to making our communities safer than Rudy Giuliani,” said Sherriff Zaruba. “I’m supporting Mayor Giuliani because he proved he can get results.” “Community leaders, elected officials and voters all over the state of Illinois are embracing Mayor Giuliani’s strong leadership and bold vision for America,” said Giuliani’s State Chairman Tom Cross. “Illinois is going to have a voice in determining the Republican nominee, which is why I’m excited by the strong organizational support for the Mayor across the state.” About Rudy’s DuPage County Supporters: Sheriff John Zaruba Sheriff Zaruba is a lifelong resident of DuPage County. He has been a member of the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office since 1974, was appointed Sheriff in April of 1997 and was elected to the office in 1998 and 2002 by the citizens of DuPage County. He has worked in nearly every facet of the office, including corrections, court security, patrol, accreditation and planning and research. Chris Kachiroubas serves as the Clerk of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court, which is the second largest court system in Illinois. Since 2004, when Kachiroubas became Clerk, he has made public service and access to the Court’s record his number one priority. He continues to focus on reducing customer wait times, increasing the use of technology supporting the court cases and has eliminated labor intensive processes. Bob Schillerstrom, as the County Board Chairman, serves as the chief operating officer of the County Board, supervising the implementation of the Board’s policies and programs. Schillerstrom prepares the proposed annual budget, makes committee assignments, appoints committee chairmen and recommends new and special committees as the need arises. * Title and affiliation of each individual listed for identification purposes only)
NAPERVILLE SUN
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Naperville Sun happily reports that DuPage County Election Commission Executive Director Bob Saar will speak at a "DuPage Against War Now" event, but the Naperville Sun does not report that presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani will speak at DuPage County Republican Party event
(THE ARTICLE: Election commission director to speak at DAWN meeting DuPage Election Commission Executive Director Bob Saar will be the guest at the DuPage Against War Now meeting Jan. 8. Saar will explain new election legislation and how it will affect voters in the coming elections. He also will bring a touch screen machine to explain and demonstrate. The meeting will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Glen Ellyn Public Library, 400 Duane St. in Glen Ellyn in the first floor meeting room. The DAWN meeting lasts until 8:45 p.m. DAWN Voter Advocates, DAWN's sub-group, is DuPage County's largest voter registration organization. The group has registered more than 8,000 voters since it began in October 2003. In addition to Saar's presentation, DAWN will explain the upcoming poll-watching effort for the Feb. 5 primary election. For information about DAWN, visit www.d-a-w-n.org. For information on DuPage Election Commission or to inquire about how to register to vote, visit www.dupageelections.com.)
-- Attorney: Furstenau dodging responsibility Lawyer for defendants says councilman offering misleading information - Kate Houlihan
LISLE SUN
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Giuliani puts DuPage County, and especially Lisle, in the limelight
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Who needs a new downtown? This year, the village of Lisle was chosen as one of the best in the country, even though plans to revitalize the downtown area will be coming in 2008. Not only was the village named one of the best places to live by Money magazine, but presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani opened his state campaign headquarters in downtown Lisle. . .Giuliani opens campaign headquarters - In June, Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani chose Lisle as his state campaign headquarters. The office, at Main Street and Ogden Avenue, accommodates eight staffers and the campaign's regional director. Giuliani had previously visited Benedictine University, and Mayor Joe Broda speculated that the area may have made an impression on the candidate. Because DuPage County is a Republican stronghold, it seems Giuliani is looking to secure votes with Republicans in the area.)
ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH
-- Chicago-area reps lead Illinois in use of congressional franking - Dennis Conrad
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- Obama and his 'red' counties "In the 2004 primary, he won only 15 of the state's 102 counties. Chicago and surrounding Cook County, a very blue area, represented 71 percent of his vote total." - John McCormick
(THE ARTICLE: NEVADA, Iowa – Sen. Barack Obama often talks about his past, while making his case for the future. So, it was no surprise that the presidential candidate mentioned his 2004 senate campaign in Illinois when he gave a speech today billed as his closing argument for the final days of campaigning before the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses. "We can change the electoral math that’s been all about division and make it about addition – about building a coalition for change and progress that stretches through blue states and red states," Obama said. "That’s how I won some of the reddest, most Republican counties in Illinois." But Obama may be overstating the facts just a bit. In the 2004 primary, he won only 15 of the state's 102 counties. Chicago and surrounding Cook County, a very blue area, represented 71 percent of his vote total. He did win the collar counties that surround Cook and the exurb of Kendall County. He also benefited from the college vote in Champaign and DeKalb Counties, while he also won Downstate counties of Iroquois, Jackson, Kankakee, McDonough, Sangamon and Winnebago. But he lost major Democratic vote-producing bastions such as St. Clair, Madison, Macon, Peoria and Rock Island. In the general election, he faced perennial candidate and conservative talk show host Alan Keyes, also an African-American, and won in a landslide.)
-- Jim Krenz challenging Tim Schmitz in 49th District 2 candidates differ on several key issues - James Kimberly
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Mexico defeats France, in Park Ridge and in Niles anyway
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The last morning bell will soon ring for "Frere Jacques" in a Park Ridge elementary school district. The French language, taught for a decade at two of the five elementary schools in Park Ridge-Niles School District 64, will be bid au revoir next year. Instead, Spanish will be the only foreign language taught in the district. Administrators said they are responding to the wishes of parents, who question the value of French in a country that is becoming steadily more Spanish-speaking. But Francophiles said that is a myopic view in a globalizing world, where French ties together far-flung countries and cultures. "In Africa, there are 20 countries where French is spoken on a regular basis. I've just had a student whose education was in French in Lebanon," said Eileen Walvoord, a Niles high school teacher and president of the local chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French.)
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: 10X7-INCH COLOR PHOTO IN NEW HOMES SECTION: Chicago Tribune promotes West Chicago and its Mayor Michael Kwasman big time
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Coming of age For West Chicago, maturity means building a more sophisticated downtown - Leslie Mann Mike Kwasman doesn't drink the stuff himself, but he recognizes Starbucks coffee as one of the harbingers of the gentrification of a community. As the new mayor of West Chicago, he was pro-Starbucks in what a local newspaper dubbed the 2006 "coffee wars." West Chicago now has its first Starbucks. "The town has evolved from mostly blue-collar to a mix of people at all income levels," explains Kwasman, a manufacturer's representative by day. "When I ran for mayor, people told me what they wanted built here, and that included restaurants, spas, health clubs, services such as dry cleaners and Starbucks." DuPage County's late bloomer, West Chicago is growing up, after a childhood as a quiet railroad town and teenage years marked by growth spurts in the 1990s.)
DAILY HERALD
-- Voters playing 'musical chairs' with candidates National poll finds many Americans still bouncing among presidential hopefuls - AP
-- Huckabee's hardening on immigration worries Hispanics - AP
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Females and men who have feminist views dominate public education and they are increasing their domination, nevertheless, the Daily Herald wants "search firms and our local school boards to strive for and perhaps even require qualified female candidates in their finalist pools as superintendent spots open"
-- Candidates in 8th District differ on Social Security - Bob Susnjara
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Daily Herald lists 17 "top" DuPage County stories in 2007, but the elephant walking in Wheaton's Independence Day parade story does not make the cut
-- Force accountability at all levels by vote - Ernie Ebner, Elgin
(THE LETTER: When are we, the voters, going to hold our mayor, council members, state legislators and members of Congress accountable? The mayor and council members of Elgin agreed to answer questions on the illegal immigration problems, then all seven used the same script, ducking behind loopholes and a court case that will be found unconstitutional if it ever gets to trial. They stated that English is the official language of Elgin. Why, then, all the Spanish language forms, information pamphlets and signs? My daughter-in-law missed all the printed material in her native language, Chinese State Rep. Ruth Munson has sponsored for residents of manufactured home parks, but she will be accountable to her constituents when she supports laws that do not give illegal aliens rights and privileges to which they are not entitled. State Sen. Michael Noland stood up for illegal immigrants before he ever was elected to office in candidate meetings, letters to the editor columns and with me in private. His position never changed. Sen. Dick Durbin supports all programs that benefit illegal aliens. He couches his positions against his citizen-constituents in the words "comprehensive immigration reform." He has never voted to fully fund secure borders and doesn't support worker verification laws. Think about your vote. We have five candidates for the open seat of Denny Hastert in Congress. Does anyone know their positions on Iraq, health care, illegal immigration and tax laws. Do you know how they would vote to reduce the federal budget deficit? Have any of the candidates told you how they would support trade laws that put American jobs on the line? What is their stand on lobbying, ethics, education and everybody's favorite -- earmarks? If a representative is not willing to support the positions of the voting public, then it's time to change representatives. We are not willing to ask candidates hard questions, and if we are not willing to force direct answers, it is our fault when we don't have the government we want. It is your dollars that are shrinking in value and your health-care costs going up very fast. It is your job in jeopardy, your home's value under pressure. There are no members of the city council, state legislature or Congress, who will be laid off unless we change our votes.)
-- Oberweis' tenacity, independence matter - Cheryl Puhl, Huntley
(THE LETTER: Jim Oberweis is a successful, independent businessman and my choice for U. S. House in the 14th District. He led the debate against illegal immigration before it was politically expedient. He was my choice for U.S. Senate four years ago and as second-place winner should have been the candidate when the winner withdrew. Instead, the party elite chose a candidate from out of state instead of the voters' choice. Oberweis was again my choice for governor based on his integrity and honesty. Fortunately for Illinois, Oberweis has the tenacity and commitment to face the challenges again. He will be an excellent representative who has the will and the means and the independent spirit to stand up for the best interest of the state and the nation.)
CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS
-- Lisa Madigan intervenes in health care spending suit -
(THE ARTICLE: Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan formally intervened Thursday in a lawsuit that effectively pits allies of her father, House Speaker Michael Madigan, against Gov. Rod Blagojevich in a political and legal dispute over health care spending. In an action in Cook County Circuit Court, Ms. Madigan sought and received permission to file arguments in a pending case that centers on whether Mr. Blagojevich improperly transferred funds to boost his spending plans. The transfer of tens of millions of dollars to fund health care for low-income people had been blocked by the Joint Committee on Administrative Regulations, a legislative panel that reviews rules proposed by the executive branch of state government. JCAR determined that the funds had not been appropriated for health care and could not be used for that purpose. The Blagojevich administration authorized the spending anyhow, challenging the constitutionality of the law that formed JCAR. A series of lawsuits was filed defending JCAR and accusing Mr. Blagojevich of exceeding his authority. The suits have been consolidated in Cook County, with Mr. Blagojevich on one side and plaintiffs including Illinois Manufacturing Assn. President Greg Baise and former GOP gubernatorial hopeful Ron Gidwitz on the other. Anne Spillane, Ms. Madigan’s chief of staff, said the office intervened because another defendant in the Cook County case, state Comptroller Dan Hynes, needed to be defended, and because the constitutionality of the JCAR law has been challenged. Ms. Spillane said she has “no idea” whether Speaker Madigan’s office was involved in drafting one of the suits that has been consolidated into the Cook County case. ( Crain’s, Greg Hinz column, Dec. 17). Even though the office is, at least in part, opposing Mr. Blagojevich’s view, “We are intervening so the attorney general can do her job and defend the constitutionality of laws enacted by the state,” Ms. Spillane said. Judge James Epstein set a hearing for Jan. 18 on the plaintiffs’ request for an order blocking the fund transfer. Mr. Blagojevich’s office did not have an immediate response.)
BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
-- Illinois lottery takes in $2 billion for the first time - Mike Riopell "Illinois Family Institute Executive Director David Smith agreed that the state's probably luring more players in. But he thinks that's a dubious accomplishment. Smith argued that lottery ads tempting lottery ticket-buyers with possible jackpots are misleading because hardly anyone wins those big payouts. "It's a terrible deceit perpetrated by the government," he said."
(THE ARTICLE: Illinois lottery takes in $2 billion for the first time - Mike Riopell SPRINGFIELD -- For the first time, the state took in more than $2 billion in Illinois Lottery receipts in a year, a mark officials say is a result of more people taking their chances with the games. In the 2002 fiscal year, the state pulled in just more than $1.5 billion. But in the fiscal year that ended in June, the state pulled in more than $2 billion. Lottery spokeswoman Katherine Ridgway said the increase is a result of more people buying tickets for the first time, rather than habitual players buying more. She credited promotions tied into popular TV shows like "Deal or No Deal" as possible draws for people who may have previously stayed away from scratch-offs. "Our biggest goal, really, is bringing in new players," Ridgway said. Illinois Family Institute Executive Director David Smith agreed that the state's probably luring more players in. But he thinks that's a dubious accomplishment. Smith argued that lottery ads tempting lottery ticket-buyers with possible jackpots are misleading because hardly anyone wins those big payouts. "It's a terrible deceit perpetrated by the government," he said. While overall receipts are up, income from the Mega Millions game was down to $195 million during the last fiscal year, down from $243 million the year before. The success of Mega Millions varies depending on the size of jackpots during a particular year, Ridgway said. Bigger pots tend to drive ticket sales. "We like to think any jackpot is a good jackpot," Ridgway said.)
LAKE COUNTY NEWS SUN
-- "Of the 414 homeless people counted on Jan. 26, 2006, 27 percent were chronic substance abusers, 19 percent were victims of domestic abuse, 17 percent reported having severe mental illness, 11 percent were chronically homeless, 22 percent were veterans and 2 percent had HIV/AIDS. Profile of homeless The majority of homeless people (51 percent) are between the ages of 40 and 59-years-old. Forty-one percent are between the ages of 18 and 39-years-old. Males make up 68 percent of the homeless. African Americans make up 53 percent of the homeless followed by 34 percent Caucasian, 7 percent Latino and 4 percent other."
WHEATON SUN
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Michael E. Dutton passed away December 21, 2007, he served 12 years as the Milton Township highway commissioner and 40 years as a Republican Precinct Committeeman
(THE OBITUARY: Michael E. Dutton, 72, a 47-year resident of Glen Ellyn, passed away Dec. 21, 2007 at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield. He was born Aug. 15, 1935 in Chicago. He served for 12 years as the Milton Township highway commissioner and was Republican precinct committeeman for 40 years. He was a lover of history and music, was an avid reader and fisherman, and an Illini and White Sox fan. He graduated from Arlington Heights High School and attended Illinois Wesleyan University and Elmhurst College. He is survived by his wife, Sandra (nee Feurn); children, Barbara of Wheaton, Edward (wife Marie) of Glen Ellyn and Dion (wife Julie) of Sheboygan, Wis.; and grandchildren, Wesley, Diane, Grant and Brendon. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Dorothy Dutton. Visitation took place Dec. 26, 2007, with a memorial service following at Leonard Memorial Home Ltd. with Canon Linda Potter officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Wanner Scholarship Fund, 224 S. Washington St., Wheaton, IL 60187, are appreciated.)
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Wheaton Sun lists six "top" Wheaton stories in 2007, but the elephant walking in Wheaton's Independence Day parade story does not make the cut
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: As smaller and/or older condominiums, townhomes, and single family homes languish on the market in Wheaton and in surrounding municipalities, Kathy Kregor, Chairwoman, Wheaton League of Women Voters Housing Group decries higher housing values in Wheaton
(THE LETTER: Applauds affordable housing effort - Kathy Kregor, Chairwoman, Wheaton League of Women Voters Housing Group Could you afford to buy your home if it were on the market today? Can your grown children afford to buy a home in Wheaton? Can your elderly parents afford a condo so they may stay in Wheaton? Even in this soft housing market, home prices are still dramatically out of reach for many families, and the proliferation of teardowns makes buying a starter home in Wheaton virtually impossible - even with two parents working. We need more moderately priced homes in Wheaton for our police officers, our college professors, our nurses, our young families just starting out and our seniors looking to spend their retirement years in Wheaton. That's why we applaud the City Council for identifying affordable housing as one of the six strategic issues to pursue for the year. Let's make sure that the people who work in Wheaton and serve our community can afford to live here, too.)
LAUZEN CAMPAIGN
-- National Security – Support Our Troops and Honor Our Veterans
MARTIN CAMPAIGN
-- Andy Martin discloses that Andy McKenna repeatedly gave campaign cash to Dick Durbin
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