Illinois Review

Where's Weyermuller? At Illinois Tea Party's 2016 Golf Outing & Dinner

By Mark Weyermuller - 

Limiting the the size, scope, and cost of government is a hot topic as people leave Illinois due to high taxes coupled with massive spending and borrowing. There are people concerned and they are called the Tea Party. 

The Illinois Tea Party held their annual golf outing and dinner last Friday at The Links at Carillon in Plainfield, Illinois. The event was organized by Denise Cattoni with these goals in mind: Advocating for Limited Government, Free Markets, and Fiscal Responsibility.

 
Denise Cattoni, Larry Kaifesh, C. Steven Tucker - James Marter & Stephanie Trussell

Thorner/Ingold: Musings from the Right

By Nancy Thorner & Ed Ingold - 

Musing #1: 

While Obama’s complicity in Hillary’s email scandal might be impeachable, hers is definitely indictable. The punishment for impeachment is limited to removal from office. No criminal sanctions can be imposed. However if Trump wins, and a new justice department is organized, indictment of Hillary, Obama, Lynch and others becomes a distinct possibility. Look at the numbers. It takes a simple majority of the House to impeach, but two-thirds of the Senate to convict. It only takes 12 to convict in a criminal trial, and they’re not drawn from Congress. Even if an indictment were not to follow, the damage to Obama’s “legacy” would be devastating. His Presidential Library would consist of donations from Marvel Comics.

Reeder: Sandack's a good man that caught up in something awful

By Scott Reeder -

SPRINGFIELD – Sometimes smart people do really stupid things.

And sometimes good people do things that they wish they hadn’t.

None of us is perfect.

I’ve learned that in the 30 years I’ve been in the news business. When people make mistakes, if a public trust isn’t violated, sometimes mercy rather than judgement is the best response.

That’s why my heart goes out to former state Rep. Ron Sandack. He’s a good man who got caught up in something awful.

Biga: Expect Trump to win big, despite opposition on multiple fronts

By Frank J Biga III - 

Just a few short weeks ago, Donald Trump’s campaign for the Presidency was written off for dead by many. Hillary Clinton, after her well-choreographed convention and a few stumbles by Mr. Trump, was winning in some polls by 11 points. All of the battleground states, with few exceptions, were showing HRC with a small but consistent lead. Even a few generally Republican leaning states like Arizona and Georgia were dead heats or even had Hillary leading in some polls. Fear had gripped the GOP that not only would Trump lose big but the Senate could be written off and even the House majority was potentially in danger.

But my, oh my, how things have changed in just a few short weeks! Trump has been showing consistent leads in Iowa, Ohio and Florida and if this pattern can hold, he only needs to pick off a few more of the battleground states and he will win the Presidency. But polls in other states indicate Trump has gained ground. In Nevada he has been up in many polls. Virginia is tightening significantly, mirroring the 2014 Senate race by Ed Gillespie. Pennsylvania is within striking distance, as is Michigan. One poll by Emerson in Colorado the other day had Trump up 4. The GOP bigwigs in WI are doing everything in their power to put Cheeseland into the GOP fold. Trump even has a chance in Oregon and Minnesota.

Firearms instructor credited with stopping Somali stabber in St. Cloud shopping mall

ST. CLOUD - USPSA Shooter,  3-Gunner, and NRA-certified firearms instructor Jason Falconer has been identified as the man who shot and killed a 22-year-old Somali immigrant who went on a stabbing rampage inside a St. Cloud, (MN) Mall on Saturday. 

The apparent terrorist—who apparently asked victims if they were Muslims before stabbing them—was engaged by Falconer inside the mall, Bearing Arms reports.

Falconer is the president and owner of Tactical Advantage LLC, a shooting range and tactical training facility with a strong focus on arming concealed carriers. He’s also a former chief of the Albany (MN) police department, and he remains a part-time officer.

Read more HERE.

Karmeier elected as next Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice

Judge Karmeier | StLouisToday photo

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court announced today that Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier will be its next Chief Justice. Justice Karmeier was unanimously elected to the office by his fellow justices and will serve a three-year term commencing October 26, 2016. He succeeds Rita B. Garman, whose tenure as Chief Justice ends October 25, 2016.

An installation ceremony honoring Justice Karmeier’s election as Chief Justice will be held at the Supreme Court Building in Springfield on Monday, October 31. Justice Garman will administer the oath of office. Justice Karmeier will be this State’s 120th Chief Justice and the second person from Washington County to hold that office. Justice Byron O. House, for whom Justice Karmeier served as a law clerk, was the first.

“I appreciate the confidence shown by the other members of the court in electing me to this position,” said Justice Karmeier. “Since joining the court in 2004, I have had the privilege of serving under five different chief justices, all of whom have done an outstanding job. I will do my very best to live up to the high standard they have set.”

Planned Parenthood investigator to be honored in Lombard Thursday night

CHICAGO - Planned Parenthood investigator David Daleiden will be honored at the Thomas More Society's annual fundraiser Thursday night at The Carlisle in Lombard - and will share the inside story about his 30 month long work to gather evidence of how Planned Parenthood is illegally selling baby body parts. For more information on Thursday's event, go HERE.

Daleiden was featured at Family Research Council last week in Washington D.C.:

Rauner boots staffers associated with IDOT Patronage Hiring Scandal

SPRINGFIELD – The Rauner Administration announced Monday it has abolished the staff assistant position at the Illinois Department of Transportation. The position was central to the IDOT patronage hiring scandal that began under previous administrations, according to a press statement.

“Every day we are working to restore the people’s faith and confidence in government,” Governor Rauner said. “Ending this illegal patronage hiring and abolishing the staff assistant position is another step in regaining the trust of Illinois taxpayers. Government should work for the people and not the government insiders.” 

UPDATE: Bombing suspect apprehended in New Jersey

UPDATE: Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, the man believed to be behind the bombings in New York and New Jersey over the weekend, is reportedly in custody following a shootout with police in Linden, N.J. (More below) 

 

NEW YORK - The FBI is asking for assistance in locating New Jersey resident Ahmad Khan Rhami in connection with a bombing in which 29 persons were injured in New York over the weekend.

According to a local ABC affiliate, Rahami was shot several times before being taken into custody and is now en route to hospital. Two police officers were hurt in the shootout, but neither sustained life-threatening injuries.

Rahami was allegedly discovered sleeping in the walkway of a bar in Linden, and the owner called police. When police arrived, a shootout ensued.

Di Leo: Celebrating the Vision of America's Framers

By John F. Di Leo - 

Reflections on the Checks and Balances of America in honor of September 17, Constitution Day

When patriots gather, especially in the autumns of leap years, they sometimes drift into retrospection, and ask the question “Where did we go wrong?”

Not that any of us actually have a time machine, of course… we harbor no delusion that we could go back and fix the mistake if we could… but in the hope of learning for the future, we would like to know, for sure, if there was one point at which the nation turned away from the Founders’ plan for a nation of freedom and prosperity that could only be guaranteed by limited government.

Some make a case for the error being the election of a particularly destructive individual – Obama, Clinton, Carter, Nixon, Roosevelt, Wilson. Some make a case that an amendment or war was to blame – the income tax or World War One or even the Civil War.

And yes, a strong case can be made that some of those errors turned the nation severely for the worse.

Where's Weyermuller? GOP Fall Kick Off 2016 in Park Ridge

By Mark Weyermuller - 

Former Congressman and current radio talk show host Joe Walsh came out yelling to fire up the voters here in Park Ridge. He supported Donald Trump while saying the down ballot races are the key to the success in Illinois. He talked about the importance of controlling the redistricting process and getting Bruce Rauner reelected in the following election cycle.

Top IR picks for second week of Sept 2016

This week's most liked Illinois Review posts included:

• CHICAGO GOP WINS FEDERAL CASE TO KEEP DEMOCRATS FROM SERVING IN GOP SLOTS
• KIRK SAYS "I DO NOT SUPPORT TRUMP" IN NEW AD TARGETING HISPANICS
• KIRK IGNORES IL GOP'S BASE TO WIN VOTES FROM THE LEFT
• ILLINOIS MAN'S REFUSAL TO WATCH LGBT VIDEO COULD COST HIM HIS LIVELIHOOD
• WHERE'S WEYERMULLER: THINKING ABOUT 9-11 ON THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2016

Sandack police report reveals he was blackmailed

DOWNERS GROVE - The Downers Grove police report filed by former State Rep. Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) raises more questions than it answers. The report says that Rep. Sandack was blackmailed by a woman in the Philippines - and any details concerning what prompted the relationship and the financial exchange are redacted from the report.

What information did the woman have that would make Sandack feel compelled to wire her money? Why did he attempt to satisfy her demands rather than immediately file a report? Why did he feel it necessary to resign rather than deal with the issue in his role as a lawmaker?

The information below is found on Rich Miller's CapitolFax blog, accumulated by various Chicago area political writers:

Republicans choose Rauner's pick Tom Rooney to succeed Murphy

Rolling Meadows Mayor Tom Rooney | Daily Herald photo

PALATINE - Republican township GOP committeemen agreed with Governor Rauner and picked Rolling Meadows Mayor Tom Rooney Thursday night to succeed resigning Senator Matt Murphy. 

Governor Rauner's staff did reach out on behalf of those making the decision Thursday night, Wheeling Township Committeeman Ruth O'Connell confirmed. O'Connell's first preference was State Rep. David Harris (R-Mt Prospect), who dropped out of the race earlier this week, as did State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine). 

CapitolFax blogger cries foul over interview for anti-Madigan documentary

SPRINGFIELD - CapitolFax blogger Rich Miller says he was "duped" into participating in a documentary that he learned only yesterday is financially backed by the Illinois Policy Action - which, he believes, means the film is certain to be anti-Madigan.

"I had no idea that the Illinois Policy Institute was behind this thing, but I did get a couple of hints during Tuesday’s interview when some of the group’s stories were used as a basis for a few of their questions," Miller wrote on  his blog Thursday. "They also asked me about Rauschenberger, which I thought was kinda odd. So, I have no clue what they’re gonna do with my interview. Sigh..."

Miller, who is invited to private events hosted by high level Republicans as well as Democrats, is walking a tightrope in order to not offend his insider scoop sources on both sides of the aisle. 

The documentary that created all the furor drew attention Thursday when the Illinois Policy Institute distributed a press release about the anti-Madigan film scheduled to be released in October.

Left-wing group defends Dold from Democrat attacks in Illinois

According to POLITICO's Theodoric Meyer and reported by Natasha Korecki, a leading "gay-rights" group is defending Illinois Rep. Bob Dold - a prominent, GOP proponent of the left's anti-conscience agenda - against a new Democratic attack ad casting him as anti-gay.

As noted by Korecki, the ad highlights a rare split between the Democratic Party and the left-wing Human Rights Campaign, which has endorsed only one Republican House candidate this year: Bob Dold.

Where Your Electricity Comes From

Where does your electricity come from? Whether it's charging your phone or keeping your refrigerator running, the energy sources that power modern life have allowed electricity in the U.S. to remain inexpensive. But these very energy sources are under attack. What are these energy sources? And why are they under political siege?

Illinois School District U-46 “Progressives” Foment Hatred

By Laurie Higgins - 

A second article was needed to address adequately the problems exposed in Monday’s school board meeting in Illinois School District U-46 in the Elgin area. It is important for taxpayers in every community to pay close attention to what is being done and said by leaders in U-46, because the serious issues regarding modesty, privacy, the meaning of biological sex, parental rights, and gender dysphoria will confront every community. And the arrogance, ignorance, and hypocrisy of “progressives” who are driving this destructive assault on truth and reality will need to be identified and boldly confronted.

Chicago GOP wins federal case to keep Democrats from serving in GOP slots

CHICAGO - The Chicago Republicans are happy about a decision in federal court that allows them to control the party affiliations of people serving in their party - something one would assume was the case, which wasn't, until this week's decision made it clear.

Now a person can't vote in Democrat primaries and serve as a Republican committeeman.

Chicago GOP Chairman Chris Cleveland wrote the following to GOP Party Leadership today: 

Republican Party Leaders,

Late yesterday afternoon we scored a significant victory in federal court over Chicago Democrats and the Chicago Board of Elections. U.S. District Court Judge Milton Shadur ruled that we have a First Amendment right to prevent those who vote in Democratic primaries from being seated as Republican committeemen in Chicago, and to that extent our bylaws override state law. The net effect is that 13 ward committeemen have been permanently removed from office.

This ruling has broader implications for the Party in Illinois.

Comptroller's double-dipping charges on Dem challenger falls flat

Leslie Munger and Susana Mendoza among comptroller candidates | Sun-Times' Tina Sfondeles 

CHICAGO - Wednesday, Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger's campaign called on Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza to pass on one of her two public pensions to make up for ten years of simultaneously taking two government paychecks.

During a Sun-Times Editorial Board meeting Thursday, Mendoza defended herself against Munger's charges, showing a 2002 memo in which Mendoza specified to the City that her pay be "docked" for the dates the Illinois House met.

Munger campaign manager Phil Rodriguez's accusations about double-dipping were fierce against Mendoza.

Illinois' manufacturing takes hit with 4,400 jobs lost in August alone

CHICAGO– While the number of non-farm jobs in Illinois increased by over 40,000 since August of 2015, the manufacturing sector lost 4,400 jobs in August, bringing the year's loss for that sector up to 11,400, a report from the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) said Thursday.  

The unemployment rate in August decreased -0.3 percentage points to 5.5 percent and nonfarm payrolls decreased, based on preliminary data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and IDES. The decrease in Illinois’ unemployment rate is largely due to a decline in the labor force. Job growth is still below the national average, with Illinois -46,400 jobs short of its peak employment level reached in September 2000.

“In this 30-day snapshot, manufacturing losses were heavy, which contributed to more than half of the month’s decrease in nonfarm payroll jobs,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “The surveys have shown a great deal of fluctuation over the past year; seeing how the numbers develop over the long-term should make the trend clear.” 

FRCAction applauds Trump's Child Care Proposal

While conservative stalwarts shuddered at the idea of yet more government intervention into families, Family Research Council's political action group is raving about Donald and Ivanka Trump's child care proposal introduced this week. From Thursday's daily newsletter, FRC Action writes:

Trump and Tax Cuts: Made for Each Mother

The two presidential candidates may not be separated by much in the polls, but they're miles apart when it comes to most policy issues. Yesterday, the Trump campaign unveiled a pro-family revamp to the tax code that goes beyond any policy initiative that we've seen in years. At a meeting outside Philadelphia last night, Donald Trump proved that he understands the challenges of moms with young children by unveiling a proposal that will give families the flexibility they need to care for their own kids.

Spurred on by daughter Ivanka, a successful businesswoman in her own right, Trump set out to show that he has a lot more to offer than the competition in relieving at least some of the burdens parents shoulder in providing for their children. Believe it or not, Ivanka points out in a thoughtful op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, almost two-thirds of moms with kids under the age of six are working outside the home. "And the majority of these women," she explains, "work in low-paying jobs without flexibility or benefits."

Rhoads: Trust in Media at All-Time Low

By Mark Rhoads - 

It is not just conservatives who do not trust the mainstream media. A Gallup Poll today shows that trust by all Americans in the media is now at an all-time low.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY. 

Fringe Catholic group promotes abortion funding with national ad campaign

CHICAGO - An ad placed by "Catholics for Choice" in Monday's Chicago Sun-Times and 19 other news sources nationwide calling for taxpayer funding of abortion drew fire from the Chicago Archdiocese and Catholic leaders in the pro-life movement.

The ad launched a nationwide petition campaign the group is calling "Abortion in Good Faith," saying "Our campaign tells the stories of Catholics across the country who want meaningful, accessible reproductive healthcare choices for everyone, no matter how much money they have, where they live or what they believe. We believe hat everyone deserves access to abortion."

Catholics for Choice is not affiliated with the Catholic Church, and the ad was "deceptive," New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan said Wednesday. 

Transgender middle school student allowed access to opposite sex locker room in U-46

Photos from Jeanette Ward's Facebook page

ELGIN - Last week when Elgin, Illinois' U-46 School District students returned to class after the Labor Day holiday, a policy was set into action at one of the middle schools that would allow a transgender student access and use of locker rooms of the opposite biological sex. 

The new policy concerned board member Jeanette Ward that she had been notified of the change, but parents were not. So she posted a notice on her School Board member Facebook page, which was shared 251 times: 

Starting tomorrow, U-46 Administration is changing its practice concerning students' access to locker rooms of the opposite sex. Students who identify as the opposite gender (regardless of biological sex) will be able to use the locker room that corresponds with the gender with which they identify, at the same time as other students. U-46 has opted not to inform parents or the community at large of this change. I am informing you. I encourage you to contact U-46 administration about this matter if you have concerns.

Ward's Facebook post started a furor that culminated in a huge response to U-46 Board of Education's meeting Monday night, and coverage in the Daily Herald and the Chicago Tribune.

Board President Tony Sanders proposed that any student that wasn't comfortable with the new policy talk with their school principal.

Where's Weyermuller? Talking Trump at Republican Picnics

By Mark Weyermuller - 

ELK GROVE VILLAGE - Republicans gathered to eat hamburgers, talk politics, and to support Donald Trump along with local candidates. Who ever said Republicans don't have fun?  Probably a Democrat. On Sunday, about 1000 folks showed up at Busse Woods in Elk Grove Village for the 36th annual Northwest Suburban Republican Family Picnic. 

There was a petting zoo, an inflatable jumping jack, pony rides, canine police dog exhibit, Vietnam Veteran Display, face painting, hot dogs, burgers, ice cream, beer, campaign signs and, of course, lots of political speeches. There even was a pie eating contest.

Kirk says "I Do Not Support Trump" in new ad targeting Hispanics

CHICAGO - Republican U.S. Senator Mark Kirk wants Illinois Hispanic voters to know that he "does not support Trump" in a new ad rolling out Wednesday on Telemundo and Univision.

In Spanish, Kirk condemns the top of his own party ticket, saying in the ad that when Trump has said bad things about immigrants, "I have spoken out against him."

He also says he has worked with Democrats to fight gang violence.  Kirk is being challenged by Democrat Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth in November.

Letter to Editor: Affordable Care Act breaks more promises than it keeps

By Dan VanDerMolen - 

The impact of the Affordable Care Act has been the complete opposite from what was promised.

The ACA promised we could keep our plan. For the 20 years prior to the ACA, we were able to purchase affordable health insurance and never had a policy cancelled. Like millions of others we didn’t gain health insurance coverage through the ACA we lost our coverage because of it.

The ACA promised we could keep our doctors. The new ACA plans issued in 2016 gutted the number of doctors and hospitals available to us. We lost doctors, prescription coverage, and access to the specialists at the teaching hospitals in Chicago. 

Rauner's pick to succeed Murphy is Rolling Meadows mayor

CHICAGO - Sources inside the loop are telling Illinois Review that Governor Rauner's pick to succeed retiring State Senator Matt Murphy is Rolling Meadows' Mayor Tom Rooney. 

The Daily Herald is reporting that State Rep. David Harris dropped out of the six-person competition, leaving Rooney, State Rep. Tom Morrison, Palatine Township Republican Committeeman Aaron Del Mar, Palatine Township Supervisor Sharon Langlotz-Johnson and Arlington Heights Trustee Joe Farwell as those who are still in the running.

Rep. Morrison told Illinois Review Tuesday evening that he recommended support for Rooney.

IL Supreme Court says "Absolutely not!" on revisiting Independent Map referendum

SPRINGFIELD - Tuesday, the Illinois Supreme Court denied a motion to rehear their decision denying voters the opportunity to vote on a redistricting referendum in November.

“Today’s court decision is very disappointing, but not unexpected," Governor Bruce Rauner said. "Now that the courts have denied Illinoisans the right to vote on a redistricting referendum in November for the last time, it is up to the General Assembly to address political reform - term limits and independent redistricting - as soon as they reconvene this fall.”

And the likelihood of that happening is null - as House Speaker Mike Madigan was behind the court challenge and has been opposing the effort all along. Still, the Illinois Republican Party called on Democrat lawmakers to support the effort.

Dwight Kay faces stiff opposition in 112th District race

GLEN CARBON - State Rep. Dwight Kay (R-Glen Carbon) is facing stiff opposition in November from Democrat challenger Katie Stuart, who was backed Tuesday by the Illinois Alliance of Retired Americans - a group made up of retired members of labor unions such as AFSCME, the UAW, SEIU, AFL-CIO and teachers. 

Among the issues the IARA is interested in is expanding Medicare and Medicaid, lifting any caps on Social Security and "Fair Trade," according to its website.

Rep. Kay has faced stiff opposition by Democrats in the past, and was able to ward off the challenges.

The senior group, which is staunchly opposed to Governor Rauner as well, has endorsed Hillary Clinton in the upcoming presidential election.

Kirk ignores IL GOP's base to win votes from the Left

WASHINGTON - The Senate races in Illinois and Pennsylvania are likely must-win for Democrats, but liberal groups breaking ranks and endorsing Senator Mark Kirk are frustrating the Democrat leadership, a Hill story says Tuesday. 

While Kirk’s seat appears to be the one Republicans are most likely to lose, Pennsylvania's Senator Pat Toomey’s not far behind. The Democrats need to win four seats in order to gain back the U.S. Senate Majority.

Kirk has completely ignored and rejected any attempt to gain support from Illinois conservative ranks - instead, Kirk has courted and won approval from some of the Leftist of the Leftist groups.

Where's Weyermuller: Thinking about 9-11 on the 15th Anniversary in 2016

By Mark Weyermuller -

September 11, 2001 is a date  that will be remembered by people in my generation forever.  This being the 15th anniversary is no different for me: I'm as traumatized, scared, and sad as ever.

Fifteen years ago, four airplanes were hijacked and two crashed into the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York, one into the Pentagon in Washington DC, and the fourth in a Pennsylvania field. Nineteen Islamic terrorists hijacked the planes, killing over 3000 Americans. The country remembered with tributes and remembrances last Sunday. 

Ives: What Does $400 Million Buy in Illinois?

By State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) - 

Anyone paying attention in Illinois knows government operations are being held together with promissory notes, shoe laces and chewing gum. Most also probably know that all sorts of social service providers and parents of college students have been howling to get their funding. 

For perspective then, what’s the opportunity cost of $400 million?  

Here’s just a few examples of what $400 million can buy in Illinois, as verified by state agencies:

Thorner: Yet more opposing views about Al Gore's "Inconvenient Truth"

Dr. Jay Lehr and Dr. Scott Denning

By Nancy Thorner - 

As previously discussed, (read it here) renowned scientist, speaker, author and Heartland Institute Science Director Dr. Jay Lehr and Colorado State University Atmospheric Science Professor Dr. Scott Denning debated two film clips from Al Gore’s Oscar-winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. The debate was hosted by The Heartland Institute on Wednesday, August 31, 2016, to determine how the movie has fared through the test of time on its 10th anniversary.

The first two film clips debated in Part 1 were; “Solar Radiation in the Form of Light Waves Passes Through the Atmosphere,” and “The Coral Reefs Off the Coast of Australia Are Being Bleached and Destroyed Due to Global Warming.” (View the entire debate here.) In Part 2, I will recount how Lehr and Denning debated the final four of the six featured film clips.

Film Clip #3: Fresh Meltwater is Tunneling Straight Down Through Greenland.

Claim: Tony Blair’s Scientific Advisor said in 2005 that if Greenland breaks up (even half of it) maps will have to be withdrawn because the Netherlands and other low lying areas would be covered with water. Among areas affected would be San Francisco Bay, Beijing, Shanghai, and Calcutta.

Denning: Sea level rising has gotten much worse because of melting ice. Ice can melt very fast with a huge impact, such as in property loss and the creation of a refugee crisis worse than the one that exists today.

Lehr: This is fear mongering at its worst, a global warming fraud that is casting an extremely negative impact on the future of the world. Between 1000 and 1250 there was farming in Greenland during a mini warming period. Corn and barley were grown. As far as loss to our economy, billions have already been squandered trying to develop green energy to replace fossil fuels. Why? Because green energy sources are more expensive to operate and maintain.

Were the Founders Religious?

What did the Founding Fathers believe about religion? Were they Christians, or just deists? Did they believe in secularism, or did they want Americans to be religious? Joshua Charles, New York Times bestselling author and researcher at the Museum of the Bible, explains.

Trump responds to Clinton's "Basket of Deplorables" comment

NEW YORK - Donald Trump says Hillary Clinton referring to half of his supporters as a "basket of deplorables" could be the biggest mistake of the political season. Clinton made the comment during a keynote speech at a LGBT political fundraiser Friday evening.

Team Trump released this ad Monday morning: 

Trump spoke about it Monday morning just before the ad was released:

Rhoads: Tim Kaine Runs for Pope

By Mark Rhoads -

Democratic nominee for vice president Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) is often described by news media as a "devout Catholic" so he is making news when he predicts that the Roman Catholic Church will eventually change its position on what is called "gay marriage."

For a lay Catholic, Kaine is presumptuous in the extreme but there is a also larger problem with the way secular news media cover the immutable doctrines of the Catholic Church.  The secular press assumes that a goal of the Church should be to "get up to date" in order to make itself "relevant" to current social trends. That is NOT the purpose of the Church. The purpose of the Church is to remain true to eternal teaching of the Church and not to adapt to passing fads.  That is why doctrinal change happens only very slowly in The Catholic Church over centuries and not mere decades.

Illinois man's refusal to watch LGBT video could cost him his livelihood

CHAMPAIGN — A Social Security Administration employee who refused to watch a mandated "diversity" video about LGBT sensitivity, fears he may lose his job because of it.

David Hall, 42, of Tolono has worked for the federal agency for 14 years as an area systems coordinator, an information technology position.

In April, employees were required to certify that they had seen the video. Hall said he is a Christian — "not anti-anyone or anything," but "for God, for Jesus" — and believes the Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin. So he didn't watch it.

His supervisor gave him direct orders to do so. Hall refused. As a result, an official reprimand was placed in his file — the first he has ever received — and he was suspended without pay for two days, Aug. 15-16.

Hall returned to work on Aug. 17. His supervisor has explained he will receive further discipline if he does not complete the video. Hall said he expects he will eventually lose his job over his refusal to do so.

"I think this is an issue they are prepared to go to the mat with, but I'm not going to give up my faith or compromise my beliefs just to go along and get along. I don't believe God wants me to do that," Hall said. He believes the Constitution grants him certain rights and religious freedoms, just as it grants certain rights to others.

"I'm not judging the LGBT community ... But I believe tolerance is a two-way street," Hall said. "Unfortunately, I believe they're wrong. But neither of us should lose our jobs or livelihood for our beliefs.

Hall said he has prayed about this issue and talked it over with friends and family, including his wife and three kids. With a family to support, a mortgage, car payment and health insurance through his job, Hall said he is taking a risk making this stand.

"This is something I want to fight and expose," Hall said, "to give other Christians the courage of their convictions. I can't tell you how many I've worked with that have told me, 'Dave, we agree with you 100 percent. I wish I had the courage to do that.' But they're scared. ... Their fears are being realized through me."

h/t: The News-Gazette

What Would You Do to Save Your Child’s Life?

We have a catastrophic man-made bone marrow shortage on our hands.

John Fund explains: “When accidents happen and kill people, it’s a tragedy. But when Congress creates the equivalent of a legislative accident that kills people, it’s an outrage. Every single year, between 2,000 and 3,000 Americans die after failing to find a matching donor for bone marrow. One reason is that a 1984 law — the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) — bans people from being compensated for donating bone marrow. The ban is nonsensical. The law makes it legal to compensate someone for giving blood, sperm, eggs, or other ‘renewable tissues’ while prohibiting compensation for nonrenewable organs such as kidneys. At the last minute, a ban on compensating bone-marrow donors was thrown in, probably because it sounded like it involved an organ. But bone marrow — like blood plasma — is renewable, meaning donors ultimately lose nothing but their time. Bone marrow is the only renewable tissue for which compensation is banned.

“This is a problem for the 20,000 Americans who contract leukemia or other blood diseases treatable with bone marrow annually, and face big hurdles in finding a genetic match to begin with.”

More at National Review

Five Myths about Economic Inequality in America

Michael Tanner debunks five about inequality, including the notion that the really wealthy didn’t really earn their wealth: “Surveys vary, but it can be said with a fair degree of accuracy that the overwhelming majority of the rich did not inherit their wealth. For example, a study of billionaires around the world finds that fewer than 3 in 10 American billionaires got to that position by inheriting their wealth, and that ‘the share of self-made billionaires has been expanding most rapidly in the United States.’ And while that represents the richest of the rich, the slightly less wealthy may be even less likely to have inherited their wealth. A report from BMO Financial Group found that two-thirds of high-net-worth Americans could be considered self-made, compared to a mere 3 percent who inherited the majority of their wealth. Interestingly, this study also found that nearly a third of these people are either first-generation Americans or were themselves born elsewhere. Among these wealthy ‘new Americans,’ 80 percent reported that they earned, rather than inherited, their wealth.”

More at Cato Institute

Governor Rauner Attends Deployment Ceremony for Illinois National Guard

NORTH RIVERSIDE – Governor Bruce Rauner attended a deployment ceremony today for the 710th Area Support Medical Company at North Riverside Armory. The company’s 19 soldiers will be departing for training at Fort Hood, Texas, before deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.

“Today, on the fifteenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that shook our country, we are reminded of just how much our men and women in uniform sacrifice to protect our freedom and way of life,” Governor Rauner said. “Thank you for your service to the great state of Illinois and to the United States of America. Your patriotism and dedication are an inspiration to us all. The people of Illinois will keep you in our thoughts and prayers, and we wish you a safe deployment. God bless you.”

All 19 soldiers will undergo preparations at Fort Hood, Texas before deploying for the nine month mission. The group will assist area hospitals and clinics in the Bagram, Afghanistan area and provide medical support to both U.S. and coalition forces. The 710th Area Support Medical Company is commanded by Major Alhaja Swebatu Giwi-Falana.

Top IR picks for first week of Sept 2016

Illinois Review readers closed out their summers this week and started back to school and work with news stories like these on their minds:

• CATHOLIC HEALTH SYSTEM TO STRIP "ST." FROM HOSPITAL NAMES
• STARBUCKS CEO ENDORSES HILLARY, STEAMS TRUMP'S "BIGOTRY, HATE, DIVISIVENESS"
• IVES: 17 VOTES LATER, AND YOUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE STILL NOT FROZEN
• THORNER: 'THE CONSERVATIVE CASE FOR TRUMP' TAKES ON SPECIAL MEANING WITH SCHLAFLY'S DEATH
• GROUP HELPS WESTSIDERS ESCAPE HOPELESSNESS THROUGH MANUFACTURING CAREERS

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Thirty years of change in America's home school movement

Dr. James Dobson, Dr. Raymond Moore and Michael Farris, Esq.

By Fran Eaton - 

Thirty years ago, without the convenience of Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, an education movement sparked among American families discontented with the nation’s public school system.

Conservative families were some of the first to be inspired to take matters into their own hands while listening to Dr. James Dobson’s Focus on the Family radio broadcasts and reading Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore’s Better Late than Early and School Can Wait education philosophy handbooks.

With Dr. Dobson and the Moores’ assurances that their children would grow up to less dependent on peers and less plagued with behavioral problems if they delayed formal lessons until age eight, even up to 10, rather than at three, wide-eyed parents stepped into the unknown.

And as if that scenario wasn’t scary enough, many were met with angry school administrators looking for missing students and their attached state and federal funding for their red-inking budgets.

Dr. Dobson provided rationale for an alternative, the Moores' provided technique to take the first steps, leaving one vital area gaping open – the need for legal counsel.

Biga: Obama preaches theory of human origin steeped in Cultural Marxism

A young Barack Obama with his mother's parents

By Frank J Biga III -

A few months back, in response to the terrorist murders in Nice, France, our Dear Leader, in his most supine and politically-correct form, gave a speech to a group of foreign ambassadors about how terrorism would ultimately be defeated in the long term. Surely, young people - no matter what their race or ethnicity - would someday see the benefits of globalism and would turn away from the “chronic impulses” that now urge certain more nationalistic and sectarian elements of the world towards preferring their own kith, kin and religious group and resorting to terrorism to protect it.

Now, as a high school teacher and as someone who comes in to contact with people of varied backgrounds and faiths every day, I stress to my students that one should treat each person based on his/her individual merits. But at the same time, I know that deep down I have (and we all have to a certain extent) more of an affinity for my own ethnic group and religion. Like most people, I am comfortable with my own “tribe” and religion and do not wish to engage in a lot of experimentation just to make others feel better or just to be cool and say I embraced “diversity”. Barack Obama has distilled this natural feeling of most people down to a mere instinct or “impulse”, which the Cultural Marxists like himself must train us to ignore.

But whether it is an affinity or an “impulse”, what is the true nature of these feelings on our part? The answer, in laymen terms, is that we are more disposed to help those who are most like us biologically (or our family). In technical terms this is called "Fossil Kin Altruism."

Report: Illinois personal injury lawyers tip justice scales with $35M to candidates

METRO-EAST - A new study released jointly from grassroots legal watchdog group Illinois Lawsuit Abuse Watch (I-LAW) and the Illinois Civil Justice League (ICJL) shows that Illinois personal injury attorneys invested over $35 million into legislative and judicial candidates over the past 15 years.

The study, titled “Justice for Sale,” details the staggering sums personal injury lawyers have lavished on judges and legislators in an apparent attempt to stack the deck in their favor and block lawsuit reform efforts, the groups say.

“We now have 35 million reasons why Illinois continues to attract lawsuits and personal injury lawyers from all over the country while as a result shedding jobs to neighboring states,” said Travis Akin, Executive Director of Illinois Lawsuit Abuse Watch. “This new study proves that personal injury lawyers are gaming the system to their advantage by funneling millions of dollars in campaign contributions to Illinois judges, who continue to allow junk lawsuits that have nothing to do with Illinois to move forward here, prompting the question, ‘Is justice for sale in Illinois?’”

Rhoads: Obama's Foolish Risk to Internet Freedom?

By Mark Rhoads -

The late UCLA computer scientist John Postel (1943-1988) was the founder and administrator of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) until his death in 1988.

He was a highly eccentric but very nice man, according to one person I know that knew Mr. Postel personally. My source is another pioneer who I met when I was Vice President of the United States Internet Council from 1996 to 2000.

Pioneers in the internet industry used to joke that Postel kept domain names in a file in his back pocket but it had to be more complicated than that legend, I assume.

No suspects charged in four out of five Chicago homicides

CHICAGO - Nine days into September 2016, 18 in Chicago neighborhoods were shot and killed, 82 shot and wounded, bringing the numbers of those shot thus far this month up to 100. 

Thus far in 2016, 465 Chicagoans have been shot and killed and 2535 shot and wounded.

Not only did Chicago neighborhood violence cost hundreds of lives, the average medical cost of a shooting is $55,000 - not including the costs of rehabilitation and healing. 

And who are the culprits? Are those directly affected working with law enforcement to find the criminals and nip this behavior in the bud? In fact, in only one out of five of the shooting cases has a suspect been charged, according to HeyJackass.com's up-to-date stats:

Starbucks CEO endorses Hillary, steams Trump's "bigotry, hate, divisiveness"

NEW YORK - Think of it this way - every time you stop at Starbucks, you'll be endorsing Hillary Clinton for president - in one way - because this week, CEO Howard Schultz endorsed the former First Lady for president. 

That's a bummer, especially since they just brought back their pumpkin spice latte in the coffee shop's seasonal menu. 

"Hopefully Hillary Clinton will be elected president," Schultz told CNN's Poppy Harlow in a Facebook Live interview.

"I think it's obvious that Hillary Clinton needs to be the next president," Schultz said in an interview with Harlow at CNN Money's American Opportunity breakfast Wednesday. "On the other side, we've seen such vitriolic display of bigotry and hate and divisiveness, and that is not the leadership we need for the future of the country." 

Trump releases four school choice options for poverty-stricken children

NEW YORK - In stark contrast with Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Republican Donald Trump released four proposals Thursday that his campaign says will increase school choice and lead to better student performance.

If elected, Trump’s first budget will immediately add an additional federal investment of $20 billion towards school choice, the campaign said. This will be done by reprioritizing existing federal dollars. Specifically, Trump’s plan will use $20 billion of existing federal dollars to establish a block grant for the 11 million school age kids living in poverty. Individual states will be given the option as to how these funds will be used.

As President, Trump will establish the national goal of providing school choice to every American child living in poverty.