Illinois Review

ABA Still Refusing to Get Their Facts Straight on Domestic Violence

by Michael Burns

(CHICAGO) -- The American Bar Association can't seem to kick the habit. Two years ago they published "10 Myths about Custody and Domestic Violence," a report that purports to demolish falsehoods surrounding domestic violence within the context of divorce and child custody determinations.(1) But the report is a sham.

In fact, ABA's "fact-sheet" invents new half-truths and expands on the old ones.

Here's just one example:

"Swing Vote" is a funny satire worth seeing

by Mark Rhoads

Imagine a campaign where an incumbent GOP President running for re-election endorses unusual positions for his party such as gay marriage and wetlands protection while the Democratic candidate makes wild flips on his previous positions on abortion and immigration.  This fantasy world exists in a new comedy called Swing Vote, with an all-star cast including Kevin Costner, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci, Judge Reinhold, Paula Patton, young Madeline Carroll, George Lopez and others.  There are great cameo roles for Richard Petty, Willie Nelson, and a dozen nationally known political journalists who also play themselves.

Get off your a**, black people, get out and vote

"Obama is Here!" Yet another friend for Barack to add to his Facebook page...

If you haven't heard it for yourself yet, here's Barack Obama's favorite hip-hop brotha Ludacris' new controversial "Politics as Usual" that calls Hillary an irrelevant b****, says McCain should only be paralyzed, and that Bush is mentally handicapped.

"Yes We Can!" we hear and "I'm a believer!" "This is history in the making!" along with admonitions to "black people" to "get off their a**" and "get out and vote"...and how much Barack Obama loves Ludacris. That was then when Ludacris was in Barack's i-pod. But in his flip-flop hip-hop style, Obama's not so hip on him today.. [CAUTION: Offensive language]

Expelled -- back by popular demand!

by David E. Smith, Illinois Family Institute

The controversial documentary film, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed is going to be re-released to theaters after a very successful Spring run that was cut short by a lawsuit after its debut into the Top 10 at the box office. The film was released in Canada on Friday.

Expelled’s strong run should have compelled it onto thousands of movie screens across America, but just when it seemed that might happen, the film’s producers pulled it after Yoko Ono (widow of Beatles singer songwriter John Lennon) sued to block distribution of the film for its brief and credited use of Lennon’s “Imagine” song. The film’s producers feel that the lawsuit harmed the distribution of the film, which takes a thoughtful look at Darwinism, Evolution, Atheism and theories of life.

$$$-School

by Susan Ryan

Without the "capital development" concerns of people like David Brooks, that would be The Pre-School Issue in the header. 

Karen Braun, also known as Spunky, blogged his NY Times Op-Ed: The Biggest Issue.  One would wonder where Mr. Brooks is heading with this information below:

The meticulous research of Goldin and Katz is complemented by a report from James Heckman of the University of Chicago. Using his own research, Heckman also concludes that high school graduation rates peaked in the U.S. in the late 1960s, at about 80 percent. Since then they have declined.

Sun-Times: worse late than never

Good for the NRCC pushing back on the Halvorson campaign's lap dog, the Chicago Sun-Times, for pretending to make (not break) supposedly-scandalous news about Marty Ozinga's company taxes. 

Even with our limited resources, Illinois Review gave a heads up on Ozinga Concrete's tax facts weeks ago HERE ("Halvorson's tax problems"). Fact is much of what the Sun-Times claims was unpaid had already been absolved and the Ozinga case was cleared up months ago. Why wasn't that part of the story told, eh?

Breaking News: Al Gore Places Infant Son In Rocket To Escape Dying Planet

by John Ruskin

The Onion is reporting former vice president Gore launched his infant son into space Monday in the hope that his child would reach the safety of another, less polluted, world.

"'I tried to warn them, but the Elders of this planet would not listen,' said Gore, who in 2000 was nearly banished to a featureless realm of nonexistence for promoting his unpopular message. 'They called me foolish and laughed at my predictions. Yet even now, the Midwest is flooded, the ice caps are melting, and the cities are rocked with tremors, just as I foretold. Fools! Why didn't they heed me before it was too late?'"

Read the entire story here.

GOP House Candidate Forte-Scott Announces State Anti-Corruption Plan

From the Anita Forte-Scott campaign . . .

Schaumburg, IL - In an effort to restore the public’s trust in government and reform the way Illinois does business, State Representative Anita Forte-Scott (R-Schaumburg) unveiled a plan to enact the nation’s toughest anti-corruption laws. As part of the House Republican “Agenda for Action,” Forte-Scott is committed to putting an end to pay-to-play politics and providing greater transparency and oversight to state government.

Peraica responds to Sun-Times' smear story

This morning, the Chicago Sun-Times played the role of attack dog for Cook County State's Attorney Democratic candidate Anita Alvarez by running a story that reads like a page from Alvarez' campaign oppositon research files.  The "story" lists four Peracia donors who have felony records.

If the Sun-Times wants to run press releases as stories, they should have the courtesy of at least giving credit to the Alvarez' campaign press secretary, rather than claim credit for writing an investigative story. 

What should the policy for candidates be?  Run a criminal history on every donor who gives to their campaign?

Nevertheless, the Peraica campaign has issued a press response to the Sun-Times story.  In case it's not clear, this is a press release, not a "story" . . .

James Meeks Suportts Publick Skools

by Dan Proft

Supporting more money for the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is not the same thing as being a supporter of public education.

This distinction is lost on both the media and our political class as witnessed by PR stunts like the one pulled by Illinois State Senator James Meeks yesterday.

Meeks wants to bus Chicago public school students up to New Trier High School in Winnetka on the first day of school to protest the disparity in funding levels.

While it may be that per pupil expenditures for the Chicago Public Schools (roughly $11,000 per student) exceed the national average, exceed the state average and exceed the averages of each of the collar counties in the metropolitan region, Meeks believes that because another district is spending more then, by definition, Chicago is not spending enough.

My Prediction on the Outcome of the Presidential Race, and its Impact on HSAs

Barack Obama's gonna lose November 4, or so says Golden Rule Insurance's former chairman J. Patrick Rooney and Dan Herrin, who write about the upcoming election and America's health care future:

So let’s get right to the point: I predict Sen. Obama will lose the Presidential election. Secondly, HSAs will continue to be the fastest growing type of health insurance and the fastest growing type of bank account and the fastest type of growing investment account.

Link: My Prediction on the Outcome of the Presidential Race, and its Impact on HSAs | America's Health Care Crisis Solved.

H/T IR Reader Jameson Campaigne

Pelosi and Reid's Big Choice: Lower Gas Prices or Go on a Five Week Vacation? - HUMAN EVENTS

From Human Events.com's Newt Gingrich . . .

It's almost August, the time each year when many American families go on vacation. But if you're like many Americans, you're crunching the numbers and realizing this year's vacation won't be like recent years past. The cost of gasoline and its spillover effect on the price of food - and, well, everything else - has left your family with less money to spend. That's why over half of Americans are reconsidering taking vacation this summer to save money.

It's against this backdrop that Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and the rest of the leadership in Congress will have to make a big choice.

With so many Americans skipping vacation this summer because of the high cost of gas, should Congress get to go on a five week vacation without doing anything about it?

Link: Pelosi and Reid's Big Choice: Lower Gas Prices or Go on a Five Week Vacation? - HUMAN EVENTS.

Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL) calls for a vote before the August recess (see below the fold)

Obamagain off again about Iraq

by John Ruskin

Watchdog groups file lawsuit against Blagojevich and Jones for FOIA violations

From Americans for Prosperity-Illinois:

SPRINGFIELD, IL - The Illinois Chapter of Americans for Prosperity (AFP-IL), will announce that they have joined Washington D.C.-based Judicial Watch in its announcement that it had filed a lawsuit in Sangamon County against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and Senate President Emil Jones for violations to state regulations concerning disclosure of government documents.

RNC's BarackBook tells all (almost)

If you're into the ever-growing social network Facebook craze, you'll want to check into the RNC's hilarious new BarackBook, which introduces us all to Barack Obama's tawdry selection of friends and helps us to get an up-to-date grasp on who the real known-only-to-Chicagoans Barack Obama is. Check it out HERE.   Everyone's talking about it.

You'll notice there's no place for "Barack's friends thrown under the bus" which would include Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Father Michael Pfleger, Black Muslim leader Louis Farrakhan and Illinois' Governor Rod Blagojevich.  Nor is his "just now proud of America" wife Michelle yet mentioned. But it takes time on Facebook...

URF's 8 in '08: Ken Burzynski, 59th State Senate District

BENTON -- The heart of Benton Illinois’ historical district is the Franklin County court house, and for the first time in years, store fronts lining the town square are attracting sightseers, business and activity. One of the key energizing factors of the revival was Ken Burzynski returning to his home town square and opening the County Seat Antique Mall.

Gesturing toward stores all around the court house, the 61-year old Burzynski proudly points to antique-dealing competitors who've opened shops over the past few years, making downtown Benton a treasure cove for antique buffs.  The reputation of quality and good prices is pulling in customers from far and wide -- just the kind of thing that sparks the human spirit and energizes Burzynski.

Obama's thin resume

Let's All Apologize to Each Other for Every Crime

by Mark Rhoads

Official apologies are the "in thing" if you consider yourself a progressive or liberal because they stress collective guilt for any crime or anything bad that ever happened to anyone ever in US history. That way, no one specific is ever personally responsible or accountable for their bad deeds because we are all of us guilty.

Sen. Barack Obama spoke to a meeting of minority journalists yesterday in Chicago and while he did not endorse an official U.S. apology to American Indians, he said "the country" should acknowledge "its history" of poor treatment of certain ethnic groups. Obama did not even mention those most directly responsible for incompetence and harm, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, he instead cited "the country."

Arctic Meltdown?? Break Out the Parkas

by Matt Gauntt

Yep, you heard it loud and strong for the last year:

NORTH POLE COULD BE ICE FREE THIS SUMMER!!!!!!

Well, don't break out your bikini quite yet if you live up in Alaska.

Alaska may be headed for the coldest summer on record.

Interestingly, the sea ice extent for the Arctic is currently (as of July 16, 2008) approximately 1.05 million square kilometers GREATER than at this time last year.  If the main stream press was go eager to trumpet the notion that the Arctic was going to essentially be a giant hot tub this summer, It would really be nice if they would correct their fear mongering and mistakes and publish a story about what is really happening in the Arctic.

I know, I know.  I'm dreaming again.

Sauerberg calls for Stevens to resign

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Steve Sauerberg, who's challenging incumbent Dick Durbin in the November 2008 election, called for the resignation of U.S. Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) in light of today's announcement:

(Lombard, IL) – "Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) has forfeited his right to serve in the Senate and should do the honorable thing and resign his seat immediately.  The indictment of Senator Stevens today is an indictment of the career politicians on both sides of the political aisle.  The career politicians, like Stevens and my opponent Dick Durbin, have forgotten what the definition of public service really is – choosing instead to use the privilege of their office to enrich themselves, their family and their special interest friends."

With this resignation, it's a reminder of another Republican U. S. Senator that rode out an embarrassing storm several months ago -- and one wonders if Stevens will hang on, pleading innocent until proven guilty, just as Larry Craig from Idaho refuses to do 'til this day! 

What is it with these Senators?   

Natural Phenomenon and Democrats

by Lee Newcom

Your on-the-scene reporter continues to bring you the political news from Southern California, reeling from the 5.4 (yes it's been downgraded) earthquake.  So far some loose ceiling tiles and a few cracks in walls seem to be the damage.

Oh this is just so entertaining.  The Democrat office holders are holding a news conference.  The Los Angeles City Auditor is indignant that her staff was not prepared for this earthquake by authorities and no one has instructed them what to do. THAT is a Democrat who looks to the government for all direction.  She cannot assess the situation and make a decision that this is no big deal, get back to work.  Or maybe we want to be safe, aftershocks do happen, and send everyone home for the day. And you wonder why she needed someone else to figure out what to do in...earthquake prone Southern California.

More entertainment to follow tonight I guess.

Everything's Fine Thank You, Go Back To Work

by Lee Newcom

I am in the Los Angeles area tending to my mother, in the hospital suddenly for surgery.  A couple of hours ago it felt like a giant strode onto the grounds and gave the building a kick in the foundation. I am from Southern California and earthquakes here are as accepted as tornadoes in Illinois.  This 5.8 quake was no big deal and the only thing broken is apparently the psyche of a few cows in Chino, a rural dairy area where the quake was centered, though it was well felt from San Diego to points north of L.A.

Why am I commenting? 

Tonight's IL Conservative PTB*

Actually, there's two:

• Republican Congressional candidate in the 14th CD Jim Oberweis will be holding a town hall in Ronald Reagan's hometown -- Dixon Illinois -- tonight at 7 PM.  Details on IR's calendar in the right margin.
• Bruno Behrend and Al Salvi will debate whether or not Illinois should hold a Constitutional Convention in 2010 tonight at 6:00 PM  in Libertyville.  Check IR calendar for details.

If you make it to either of these events, drop IR a note or send us a photo, and be one of the first to earn "IR Intel" credentials .  . .

(*Place To Be)

Obama Noise and the Polls -- Part Two

by Mark Rhoads

Since yesterday, results of another Rasmussen Daily Tracking Poll have been released. The Obama bounce from his European trip has mostly evaporated by yesterday, the Monday after the Sunday talk shows all pushed Obama the Chicago pol as a trans national statesman. Obama's average of polls is now only 2.8 points and inside the margin of error--a virtual tie. The Rasmussen poll of 3,000 LIKELY VOTERS, not registered voters, showed him with a one point lead over McCain. CLICK HERE for the average on RCP.

Ozinga ad: Change we need

The ad will begin running Tuesday on cable stations throughout Will, Kankakee, Grundy and LaSalle counties, which together comprise about 85% of the 11th District vote. Produced by Anthem Media.

Illinois delegation via ACU: Hare worse than Schakowsky

The American Conservative Union released its congressional ratings and Illinois' delegation is as high as Cong. Don Manzullo's "96.17" down to Democratic freshman Cong. Phil Hare's "0".

Illinois top conservatives are Manzullo, Roskam and Hastert and our worst liberals are Hare, Schakowsky and Jesse Jackson, Jr.

How in the world did the folks in rural Illinois' 17th CD elect someone more socialistic than Jan Schakowsky? 

Barack Obama- On the Issues: Defense

by Matt Gauntt

Note to readers: This is the second of a continuing series on the proposed policies of Barack Obama. These series of reviews will be written by several different Illinois Review Contributors. We will take the issues as Senator Obama has laid them out on his website and other venues one at a time. Over the next few weeks, look for more in this series of articles.

I approached this article on Obama with admittedly, a preconceived notion on what I would find with the Senator on the subject of Defense. So in preparing for this article I started out looking at candidate Obama's website for his stance on the policy issue of defense.

Updated 1x: Roskam holds tele-town hall from US/Mexican border

While the Trib's Dennis Byrne douses Congressman Peter Roskam (R-6CD) with well-deserved accolades for rejecting the Democrats' flawed mortgage bailout plan last week, we at Illinois Review would like to urge a standing ovation for the 6th District freshman's courageous leadership in upholding our nation's immigration laws. 

Roskam's office sent out a press release Monday announcing the Congressman is traveling to the Mexico-Arizona border to talk with local law officials about the challenge of enforcing our nation's current immigration laws. (Photo courtesy of Roskam's office)

Biggins pleads guilty, sentenced to six-month driving limitations

State Rep. Bob Biggins (R-Elmhurst) pled guilty this morning in a Springfield court to driving while intoxicated charges and was sentenced to one month of no driving and five months of limited driving with court supervision.  The 15-year veteran legislator's sentence was based on his refusal to take the breathilizer test at the time of the arrest during the early morning hours of May 28, 2008.

McCain's Opportunity to Provide a "Change We Can Believe In"

by Dan Proft

During his address at the 99th annual NAACP Convention earlier this month, U.S. Sen. John McCain had an opportunity to make education reform a key issue in this year's presidential campaign. But, to paraphrase the immortal Don Adams (aka Maxwell Smart), McCain "missed it by that much."

McCain correctly fingered the fundamental hurdle to education reform when he said, "When a public school fails ... parents ask only for a choice in the education of their children ... No entrenched bureaucracy or union should deny parents that choice and children that opportunity."

Time Out on Obama Inauguration Plans

by Mark Rhoads

Two different national polls were both taken by the Gallup organization, and were both taken between Firday, July 25 and Sunday, July 27, while Sen. Barack Obama was in Europe.  The two Gallup surveys have different results that swing from an advantage of 8 points in favor of Obama on the Gallup Daily Tracking poll to 4 points in favor of Sen. John McCain on the USATODAY/Gallup poll.  What's the difference in method?  The daily tracking poll is a survey of 2,674 REGISTERED voters.  The USATODAY/Gallup poll is a survey of 791 LIKELY voters.

Forte-Scott mailing takes area GOPers by surprise

One of the candidates chosen for the United Republican Fund's "8 in 08" campaign, Anita Forte-Scott in the 56th House District, had a mailing from the URF's President Steve Rauschenberger hit Republican mailboxes last week. 

Download 2008fortescottletter1.pdf

Download 2008fortescottletter2.pdf

Forte-Scott is challenging once-Republican/now-Democrat State Rep. Paul Froehlich of Schaumburg.

URF's 8 in '08: Dwight Kay, GOP 112th House candidate

GLEN CARBON -- When Glen Carbon’s Dwight Kay saw Democratic 15-year incumbent State Rep. Jay Hoffman’s name come up on a list of the top six major Blagojevich fundraisers during Tony Rezko’s federal trial earlier this year, it confirmed what Kay and others in the district had been discussing for months -- 2008 is the year Hoffman may be vulnerable.   

Since first elected in 1992, Hoffman has abandoned his blue collar, conservative-leaning constituency and has morphed into a Blagojevich Chicago-lite liberal. Blagojevich and Hoffman's close friendship go back to the early 90s, when the two freshman House members from opposite ends of the state were room- and office-mates in Springfield. Through the years, Hoffman has raised almost $800,000 for the governor.

Now Hoffman is the governor’s point man in the Illinois House, and often conveys the governor’s viewpoint in legislative floor debate. He wedges solidly between Blagojevich’s arch enemy House Speaker Mike Madigan and a governor with historically-low approval ratings. Many wonder just how proned Madigan would be to sending in forces to help a weakened Hoffman.

Join us at IR: Time for Some Campaignin'

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Obama as Messiah

by John Ruskin

Schools Discover "Open Content"

by Susan Ryan

Some schools, that is.  The "Open Content" movement has little to do with textbooks and much to do with the sharing of research and educational materials, along with the internet.  The catch: it's almost always FREE.

Some teachers and school staff are still resisting the trials of email communications with parents, and the world wide web could be nothing but annoying for those in the teacher profession who are not curious or innovative.  But for those who like to test the standardized school boundaries and find new ways for children to learn, there are resources such as Open Educational Resources Commons.  (The oral history section is a treasure). 

From Edweek: Educators Assess 'Open Content' Movement by Andrew Trotter

Sanctuary policy fails San Francisco

The Washington Times' editorial today should serve as a warning to Chicago and other Illinois towns who endanger their own and their neighbor and families' lives by harboring illegal aliens' lives of crime. A triple homicide involving an illegal-run street gang leader and three innocent bystanders has heightened outrage against public officials who refuse to enforce that law and endanger the lives of law-abiding citizens.

The story of a young Salvadoran teen who grew to become a vicious killer is a tragedy for multiple reasons, but most haunting is if immigration law had been enforced in San Francisco, three innocents would be alive today.

Spe0cial protection for certain criminals, simply because of their illegal status,  should be unacceptable to the citizens of  San Francisco as well as Chicago.

McHenry County Democrats Out Raise Republicans

by Cal Skinner

During the first half of 2008, the McHenry County Democratic Party Central Committee raised $2,300 more than the Republican Party Central Committee.

The GOP took in $19,351, while the Dems raised $21,648. 

While raising less, the Republicans spent $1,629 more. The GOP spent $18,691, while local Democrats expended $17,062.

And, where do they stand as of July 1st?

Quiet MSM groanings of new life on the way

Maybe you thought Friday's posting about Southtown Star's Tom Houlihan being cut from the editorial staff was a bit overstated.  We focused on the value of Tom himself, rather than on the reason why his era ended so abruptly.  It was nothing to do with Tom's work.   (See Tom's final column in Sunday's SouthtownStar HERE.  He is a genuinely nice guy.)

In case it wasn't clear, the reason he was let go is that the SouthtownStar, the south suburban's portion of the Sun Times News Group is in serious financial trouble.   A guest column in today's SouthtownStar explains what's happening industry-wide. . .

Obama Noise and the Polls

by Mark Rhoads

The Real Clear Politics web site tries to compensate for the different sampling and question methods of many polls by publishing an average of results over a period of weeks. There are problems with the average itself, but their method is still a reasonable strategy for trying to get a clear picture of where the presidential race stands any given week. CLICK HERE to see today's average. The bad news for McCain is that Obama has led most of the month by more than the margin of error--about 4.8 points on average today. But the bad news for Obama is this, why isn't he leading by a lot more? Obama has a strong wind at his back, almost non-stop favorable to fawning news media coverage, and yet his recent trip to Europe so far seems to have produced a relatively modest bounce of about one-half of one percent.

Schock and Bush event featured in NYTimes

Illinois' own 26 year old "wunderkind" Aaron Schock is quoted in a New York Times' story today about the 18th CD congressional candidate's fundraiser in Peoria Friday featuring President Bush.  Over 1200 persons attended the $500/plate bash, raising over $700,000 in one fell swoop. 

“It’s an honor,” the young candidate said Friday, standing on an airport tarmac in the shadow of Air Force One, two weeks after the White House made final its offer with another call to Peoria confirming Mr. Bush was indeed available. “How often does the leader of the free world come to your town?”

The NYTimes grudgingly points out Bush is still the RNC's most effective fundraiser, having raised almost $106 million for the party his last year in office.

(Hope to get photo of Bush and Schock to post...check back.)

Link: Sidelined on Stump, Bush Raises Money for Party - NYTimes.com.

Mickey Ds to provide parents comfort, just in time

Between the pro-family groups' national boycott announced last week and a growing momentum in California to limit its unhealthy cuisine selections (see "More Crazies in Cali"), McDonald's public image suffered some pretty tough blows recently.  But they didn't get where they are in the corporate food chain by taking PR attacks sitting down.  Mickey Ds is fighting back. 

They chose this weekend to announce Oak Brook's corporate headquarters is giving $500,000 to build a facility near Peoria's Children's Hospital that will provide sleeping rooms and a kitchen for families whose little ones are being cared for in the hospital's Neonatal Intermediate Care unit (see HERE).

If legislation is introduced in Springfield similar to what's been bantied about it California, think Peoria legislators will now find it harder to support something similar?  You've guessed correctly.

You gotta be lovin' it.

We're thrilled Peoria-area parents going through trauma with seriously-ill children will have these comforts made available to them, courtesy of McDonald's, but that PR phony face lift won't remove her other more egregious public policy image flaws. 

McCain's New Ad: Country First

McCain's new ad responds to Obama's trip abroad last week. Not sure how effective it is for McCain to complain about Obama going overseas when McCain chided him into making the trip.

What McCain is finding is what we in Illinois have known all along -- Obama can maneuver his way through defensive lines almost as well as Chicago Bears' Walter Payton did.

McCain's got to figure out another play.

Of course we all want country first, but this ad/play won't keep Obama from making a touchdown. Try something else.

Marty mans the grill at Proud American Days in New Lenox

11th Congressional District candidate Marty Ozinga served up politics and pork at the Proud American Days Festival in New Lenox on Friday night. As he grilled pork, sausage and chicken for Proud Americans (as New Lenox residents call themselves) and other Lincoln-Way area voters, Marty heard their message loud and clear: they're tired of career politicians who serve their own interests and their own party instead of working across the aisle to tackle the tough challenges facing our country. 

Everywhere Marty has been in the last four months, people say they're concerned about the same things: high gas prices, an economy in shambles, and broken government. Marty's message to those voters has been simple:  the only way to change Washington is to change the type of people we send there. 11th District voters are hungry for change, and that's what Marty is offering. As for his grilling skills, people are already putting in requests for next year.

More Republicans at the McHenry Fiesta Days Parade

by Cal Skinner

With the Algonquin Founders Day Parade being held today at 11, it's appropriate to take a look at last week's Fiesta Days Parade in McHenry.

McHenry has a wide open parade. If a candidate wants an entry, the only requirement is that the candidate be in the parade. No proxies.

While Algonquin prohibits promotion of a candidacy of a non-incumbent, to which local Democrats have taken great offense and gotten lots of front page publicity, it allow inclusion of incumbents.

So far, that has benefited Republicans in McHenry County.

This is the third article about the entries of Democratic and Republican Party in McHenry's Fiesta Days Parade.

More Crazies in Cali

by David Hendrickson

Ever seen Super Size Me? You know, that stretch of a “documentary” about a guy named Morgan Spurlock, who goes on a McDonalds binge for 30 days just to see what would happen. Throughout the film, he targets the fast food companies as well as people, bringing up various points about greedy corporations, fat and lazy Americans, etc. Well a few days ago, there was an article in the Wall Street Journal about lawmakers in Los Angeles, who want to regulate how many fast food restaurants that can set up shop in the L.A. area. Jan Perry, an LA city council member, is the one leading the debate (or lack thereof) on preventing companies such as McDonalds, from opening new restaurants in her area and areas all around Los Angeles.

Media fawning

Steve Kelley

Tax dollars for Planned Parenthood?

by David E. Smith, Illinois Family Institute

Despite the fact that Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of spending taxpayer dollars to fund abortions, abortion organizations receive hundreds of millions of dollars every year through state and federal grants.

Watch the following YouTube video below of U.S. Representatives Joseph Pitts (R-PA) and Christopher Pitts (R-NJ), as he and other members questioned why taxpayer dollars are funding abortions and why there is a huge disparity between funding for abortion clinics versus crisis pregnancy centers.

End of an era at the Southtown

While the rest of us nonchalantly anticipate a quiet mid-summer weekend, in Chicago's south suburbs a journalistic era will close as Tom Houlihan, longtime veteran editor at The Star and most recently the combined SouthtownStar, leaves the office today.  He was told only on Monday he was being let go.

Tom called me on Tuesday to double check the spelling of a drug I mentioned in Wednesday's "Always Right" column.  I was surprised to hear his voice on the line, as he had moved away from the opinion page to working with neighborhood news when the Southtown and the Star combined earlier this year.  He finished up the conversation by telling me he had just been notified his tenure at the Southtown was done.  If I recall correctly, I'm fairly sure he's been there for over twenty years. 

Friday Funny: History Lesson

by Matt Gauntt

Humans originally existed as members of small bands of nomadic hunters/gatherers. They lived on deer in the mountains during the summer and would go to the coast and live on fish and lobster in the winter. The two most important events in all of history were the invention of beer and the invention of the wheel. The wheel was invented to get man to the beer.