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from the Tribune
The Hawks notched a 2-1 victory Monday over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 2 at the United Center in a game that was edgy but hardly as frenetic as the scoring bonanza in Game 1.
Marian Hossa broke an eight-game goalless streak, Ben Eager scored 28 seconds after that and Antti Niemi made 32 saves under tremendous duress from the Flyers late in the going to stake the Hawks a 2-0 series lead.
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by Sam Pierce
My father, Samuel Earl Pierce Sr. was born September 27, 1946. His mother was initially going to name him after her father, Earl, but her mother had a better idea. My great-grandmother suggested giving him the name Samuel, the name of one of her eight other children.
My dad, a Vietnam Veteran, was named for his late Uncle Sam.
Sam Hoff Enlisted in the Army in 1942 and was killed in action at some point during World War II. He was single and had no children of his own to carry on his name. I am glad my great-grandmother thought to suggest his name to my grandmother so that my father and by extension, me, could to some small degree honor his sacrifice.
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Courtesy of Operation Homefront-Illinois
(Chicago, Illinois) – Last week Marine Sgt. Denis Kisseloff was laid to rest after succumbing to injuries he suffered on May 14 when his unit was attacked by terrorist insurgents in Afghanistan. Tonight, on Memorial Day, thanks to an anonymous donor identified by Operation Homefront-Illinois in concert with Operation Homefront-Missouri, Sgt. Kisseloff’s two young children, both huge hockey fans, will be treated to attending Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals at the United Center in Chicago.
Sgt. Kisseloff, a graduate of York High School in Elmhurst, and his family resided in St. Charles County, Missouri. His wife passed away approximately two years ago and Sgt. Kisseloff’s children had been staying with their grandparents.
“We were honored to provide Sgt. Kisseloff’s children with perhaps a little bit of joy during this very difficult time,” said Dan Proft, Chapter President for Operation Homefront-Illinois. “It is a heartbreaking story. But it is also a searing reminder of the sacrifices made by our military men and women and of the needs we, as a nation, have a moral responsibility to meet for our soldiers and their families.”
Continue reading "Children of Fallen Marine Sgt. To Attend Game 2 of Stanley Cup Finals" »
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From the White House website blog, we read how Barack Obama's planned speech at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery southwest of Chicago was scrubbed during a Memorial Day downpour ...Also, check out more here .
"Good afternoon everybody. Everybody excuse me. Everybody listen up. Excuse me. Everybody listen up. We are a little bit concerned about lightening. This may not be safe. So I know that all of you are here to commemorate the fallen and that’s why we’re here. What we’d like to do is, if possible, have people move back to their cars, and if this passes in the next 15-20 minutes, I will stick around and we’ll come up and start up the ceremony again. But we don’t want to endanger anyone, particularly children in the audience. So I’d ask everybody to very calmly, move back to your cars. I’m going to move back to mine. We will wait to make sure that the thunder has passed. A little bit of rain doesn’t hurt anybody but we don’t want anybody being struck by lightning. God bless you everybody. We will be staying here and will make an announcement shortly. Thank you." Obama took shelter and the crowd did the same, trudging through a blinding downpour in make-shift ponchos and wind-breakers utterly overwhelmed by the deluge. Many in the crowd huddled under small rectangular canopies or near large trees, despite the lightning risk. Obama's motorcade waited briefly, then started to leave the cemetery. It stopped alongside several buses parked on the side of a cemetery road, drenched and disconsolate attendees inside. Obama hopped aboard, chatted briefly and exited to applause. The president held at the cemetery's administration building for more than 30 minutes deciding to cancel the speech and return to Washington, D.C.
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by Captain Adam Kinzinger
His name was Harry Arthur, and he lived in Bloomington. He dropped out of school after graduating 8th grade, determined to go make a living without a degree. He started out on the family farm working long days as many boys did at the time, and he had his eye on a young lady from Congerville who grabbed his attention. It all seemed like the perfect life, but that would suddenly change one fateful day – the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. A few years later, Harry’s life would exit the soft path as he left his family and picked up a rifle in the Army Air Corps. He would train as a recon car commander, though that was a cover. His real job remains a secret to those who knew him.
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The Chicago Tribune's editorial yesterday expressed the frustration and disgust we at Illinois Review share with the Tribune about the Democrat-dictated failed General Assembly. We, too, resolve to focus during the next 22 weeks on electing fresh, energetic and determined potential state lawmakers who are willing to turn this state upside down. Thank goodness, there are lots of candidates that fill that description chomping at the bit to assume legislative seats that have been worn and beaten down to dishonor.
As the Chicago Tribune writes:
It is with that conviction that this page looks beyond another inconclusive legislative session to focus primarily on the general election just 22 weeks away. The people of this state need solutions to three crises that have Illinois in a downward spiral. We believe Illinois is worth fighting for. We hope voters share that belief, and react less with hot anger than with cold resolve:
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by Ted Nugent
I live to remember. I have not forgotten that America is still at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, that our finest citizens have volunteered to put themselves in harm's way in the name of freedom. The media overall have done a grave disservice to our warriors and their families, who have been asked to sacrifice so much. The war is now barely covered by the media.
Maybe so-called journalists have forgotten. The media have moved on.
Not me. I have chosen to dig in and never forget. Not a day goes by that I am not reminded, often painfully, that America is at war. The cards, letters, pictures and e-mails I receive on a daily basis from America's finest and their families embolden me to be a better American, to be even more appreciative of the freedoms, liberties and opportunities provided me and you with the blood of warriors. These brave American warriors and the warriors who have gone before them humble me to my core. There are no words to express my appreciation for their bravery, commitment and sacrifice. The same goes for their families, who are left behind to soldier on while their loved ones go off to war. God bless them all.
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UPDATE: Note the strikeout - we were notified this morning that the Senate Republican caucus and the Illinois Republican Party have, in fact, assisted Crenshaw in her race.
GOP candidate for State Senate Cedra Crenshaw is "just one mom" going against the Democrats' political machine in Will County, but statewide as well. The Dems challenged her qualifying petition signatures last Friday at the Will County Board of Elections, and the decision will be made this week.
Mrs. Crenshaw's efforts to challenge incumbent State Senator Arthur Wilhemi (D-Joliet) were facilitated by Will County Tea Party supporters and ignored by the Senate Republican caucus and (see below), for the most part, the ILGOP. Mrs. Crenshaw advocates the staunchest Republican principles and does it with energy and focus -- as "just one mom" fighting for her kids' future.
She's a qualified accountant, a local school activist, a transparency advocate, a bridge to the GOP-ignored black community and most important, she's met the state's petition signature requirements to get on the ballot. Democrat nitpicking and refusal to spend more money on what they assumed would be a safe seat should not be reason to deny district voters a chance to have a competitive race in the 43rd Senate district.
We agree with the Herald News' editorial this morning. Crenshaw should be on the ballot. Let the voters decide on November 2.
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from Mark Kirk, candidate for U.S. Senate
I was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy Reserve in 1989. I have now served 21 years. For the last 10 years, as a Member of Congress, I served without pay because I love the Navy, her duty, honor, country. In uniform, I served during conflicts with Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti and Bosnia. I am proud of my service – it is the honor of my life to work with Americans who keep America safe.
Last week, I found that I misidentified a military award and corrected my biography. According to the Washington Post, their reporter worked with Alexi Giannoulias' campaign to write a story that turned out to be imprecise about the title of an award included in that biography.
The error was discovered last week by my staff. Going through my Fitness Reports for 1999/2000, we recognized that referring to an award as “Intelligence Officer of the Year” was not precise – so we corrected my biography with the official name of a very distinguished award that I am honored to have received.
Continue reading "My Navy Service Official Record Speaks for Itself" »
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from Robert Enriquez for Secretary of State campaign
Illinois Secretary of State Candidate Robert Enriquez depicted the present Secretary of state as a “CEO out of touch” with his daily operations. Hundreds of thousands of rusty plates on Illinois highways and streets are just one example. Many of these plates are graying around the numbers; others are outright rusting making the identity of vehicles a public security concern.
“Every day we see disastrous blunders compounded by inept governmental entities costing taxpayers billions of dollars,” said Enriquez, “most are avoidable with solid, ‘hands-on’ leadership practices.”
As importantly, “it is a major gaff when a Canadian firm becomes a source of Illinois License Plates. Why is our state trying to convince other manufacturers to stay here when we do not make all our plates in Illinois? They won’t divulge how many the Secretary of State had made in Canada, nor what they cost taxpayers,” said Enriquez, “this Secretary of State demonstrates he does not have a handle on what’s important to his constituency; to tax payers, manufacturers or to unemployed Illinois workers.”
Continue reading "Enriquez slams poor quality of Illinois License Plates " »
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from a portion of Mark Kirk for U.S. Senate campaign's response released Sunday afternoon ...
While Mark Kirk has served in the Navy Reserve for 20 years, Alexi Giannoulias never served in the military.
While Mark Kirk was running intelligence support for electronic attack combat missions in Operation Allied Force (Kosovo), Alexi Giannoulias was playing basketball in Greece. (Washington Post WhoRunsGov.com). In brief, while Mark Kirk wore a U.S. Navy uniform, Alexi Giannoulias wore a basketball uniform in Greece.
While Mark Kirk was supporting electronic attack missions over Iraq, Alexi Giannoulias was partying in New Orleans at Tulane Law School. (Washington Post WhoRunsGov.com)
Continue reading "How Does Alexi Giannoulias Compare to Mark Kirk?" »
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The Daily Kos questions today whether or not Illinois GOP's U.S. Senate candidate U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk may have been caught exaggerating or at best misstating his Naval Reserve service, similar to Connecticut's Democratic U.S. Senate challenger Richard Blumenthal. Blumenthal, currently Connecticut's attorney general, has been accused of misleading voters to believe he served in Vietnam, but instead was found to have served stateside only.
From our perspective, it's the Daily Kos liberals desperately looking for a way to put the emerging Republican Kirk on the defense and get him off message. After all, for the past several weeks, Kirk's Democratic opponent State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has been bobbing and weaving and his poll numbers are sagging.
But there's no doubt Kirk's military bio has evolved over the years. A University of Chicago website Mark Kirk bio given prior to an April 2006 speech refers to Kirk as "the only member of Congress to serve during Operation Iraqi Freedom" and that the U.S. Navy named him "Intelligence Officer of the Year in 1999":
Continue reading "TOPIC OF THE DAY: Is Kirk "Blumenthalling" his military service record?" »
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by Sam Pierce
Allow me to begin by clarifying that it is hard to imagine that there could be a worse candidate for U.S. Senate than current Treasurer of the broke state of Illinois and failed mob banker Alexis Giannoulias. Allow me, kind party-above-principle apparatus, to clarify that honest assessment of the candidate with the magical "R" behind his name does not equate to an endorsement of Giannoulias!
It is a shame that the state of the electoral process is such that the preceding statements would seem necessary. Of course, it may be fitting given the shameful state those in power have created for our state and our nation. There is a perpetual vermin infestation problem in the capitols of our state and our nation. Lucky us! We in Illinois get to choose between part of the problem and part of the problem in November's contest to fill the seat once used as a stepping stone by one Barack Hussein Obama.
Continue reading "Damn Politicians or Government needs an Enema" »
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Kirk campaign responds to media reports about Kirk's military service in a letter entitled "Desperate"
We knew Alexi Giannoulias was desperate. We just didn’t know he was this desperate.
It would appear that Alexi Giannoulias provided a poorly researched story to the Washington Post to distort Congressman Mark Kirk's military service.
Mark Kirk served in Operation Allied Force and was decorated for that service. You can read his Navy and Marine Corps Commendation official citation and his Officer Fitness Reports detailing that distinguished service to our country.
Mark Kirk’s military service should not be denigrated by a failed mob banker whose reckless lending practices cost the FDIC $394 million when they closed his family bank and also cost Illinois families tens of millions in losses from the state’s college savings fund.
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In a 6 to 5 nail biter on home ice, the Chicago Blackhawks won hockey's Stanley Cup opener, beating out the Philadelphia Flyers .
This is the first time the Hawks have been in the Stanley Cup championships since 1961.
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by Phyllis Schlafly
Would you be satisfied if your only access to a computer was to try to boot up one that hadn't been used or tested since 1992? That's the predicament of our nuclear deterrent on which we depend for our ultimate physical survival.
On April 8 in Prague, President Obama signed what is called the New START bilateral arms control agreement. It reads like it was written by the Russians and has nothing good in it for the United States.
Obama is demanding a rush to ratification, after which we can then discover the details of what the treaty requires. Does that remind you of the procedure used for Obamacare?
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from Family Research Council
Four days before Memorial Day and after ignoring requests from the top military brass and a host of veteran groups, Sixteen U.S. Senators on the Senate Armed Service Committee and 234 Members of the House of Representatives decided furthering a radical political agenda was more important than honoring the wishes and sacrifices of our troops.
To add insult to injury the Senate Committee also added a provision that would allow for taxpayer funding of abortions on military bases. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said of the vote, "Passing this amendment... respects the timeline of the Defense Department study."
Nothing could be further from the truth.
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