Illinois Review

Illinois Hall of Fame: Charles MacArthur

By Mark Rhoads

The photo at right is from the website of actor James MacArthur, who was known for his role as Detective Danny Williams ("Book 'em Dano") on the Hawaii Five-O TV series (1968-1979). Pictured at right are his foster parents, former Chicago journalist, playwrite, screen writer, and author Charles MacArthur and his wife, stage and film actress Helen Hayes.

Charles MacArthur and fellow Chicago journalist Ben Hecht were the authors of the The Front Page, the classic comedy about politics, the Cook County Court House, and reporters in Chicago. The play was revived on Broadway and on TV many times and was also made as a movie at least four times.

National GOP Brand Damaged (Except in Illiniois Where We Have No GOP Brand)

By Lee Newcom

There is a great report from On Message Inc., a Republican oriented strategy firm, on why the GOP lost Congress in this election.  Based on analysis of voting attitudes in 12 key Congressional districts, they conclude that 5 years ago the GOP brand was very strong in voters mind.  Their diagnosis, the "brand" has been "shattered."  The GOP was simply "fired" by the voters "based on job performance".  The data is very telling and VERY TELLING FOR ILLINOIS!  Quite simply, nationally we are no longer seen as the party of fiscal discipline, low taxes, competence to run government, strong ethics or even superior in national security.

GA Can't Change Economic Laws

(Illinois Review welcomes Vernon Township GOP Committeeman Don Castella to our growing list of contributors.)

by Don Castella

Although the Soviet Union collapsed 15 years ago, its policies clearly live on here in Illinois. The utopian myth that the General Assembly can dictate minimum wages in violation of the law of supply and demand is straight out of Marxist ideology.

The twisted notion that prosperity for low-income wage earners can be legislated smacks of hubris by the GA. While their self-serving rhetoric justifying minimum-wage hikes may sound attractive and buy some votes, economic realities are quite different in the real world. Economics dictate that forcing Illinois employers to pay more wages to low-skilled workers, without a concomitant increase in labor productivity, will simply decrease the number of entry-level jobs available. This is an example of the law of supply and demand, something the GA cannot change by legislation.

A recent estimate by the NFIB suggests that raising the federal minimum wage to $6.65/hour would cost roughly 215,000 jobs nationally. In addition, over time, businesses would tend to replace higher-cost labor with greater investments in plant and technology, further reducing the number of low-wage entry-level jobs. There is also a tendency for more businesses to enter the gray market for labor as minimum wages increase, costing the state tax revenues and increasing the burden on other taxpayers. This trend is particularly true for increasingly exploited illegal-alien workers. Still other businesses will simply be forced to shutter, unable to compete due to higher labor costs.

McHenry County Board Too Shy for Comfort

by Cal Skinner

They’ve apparently hired Don Peasley to take the official photograph of the McHenry County Board that will serve for the next 2 years, but McHenry County Blog has been denied the opportunity to bring its camera to the place where new members will be sworn in.

When I called and asked if I could take pictures the last time the county cat tax was discussed, the pleasant woman that answered the phone told me that County Board Chairman Ken Koehler would have to grant that permission.

GOP chairman urges party to get on track

Outgoing RNC Party Chairman Ken Mehlman told a group of Republican governors today that as Republicans, "we have lost our way."

"It must be our party that faces the new challenges of the 21st century head-on. It must be our party that recommits itself also to being the party of change. Because it's the Republicans who are the party of reform on all these issues:  health care, job creation and the war on terror," he said.

Minimum wage passes Senate with 8 GOP votes

Read 'em and weep.

There's no defense for solid Republicans to assist liberals in stifling small businesses by voting with the Democrats to increase Illinois minimum wage by a dollar-an-hour.

"Fran Eaton is wrong"

I love it. 

Paula Morris of Park Forest is given a guest column venue in Sun-Times News Group's "The Star" today to blast last week's "Always Right" debut column. 

Her third paragraph consists of four words.  "Fran Eaton is wrong."

The "epitome of the best"?

Accuracy in Media's Cliff KIncaid wrote yesterday about the "Secret Gay Network" that was key in revealing Congressman Mark Foley scandal before the November 7 election.

Jeff Trandahl, of whom Kincaid wrote, left the second highest constitutional officer position in the U.S. House -- Clerk of the House for six years -- to become ED of the National Fish and Wildlife Federation last November.  Trandahl wasn't just a House staffer.  He oversaw a staff of 300 and a budget of $20 million.

GOP House members help pass minimum wage increase

Take note:  Ten House Republicans either 1. fear their seats are in danger, or 2. they're Democrats sitting on the GOP side of the aisle, or 3. they're confused and disoriented because they're meeting in the Old State Capitol. 

There is no other excuse for Republicans to vote for a state minimum wage increase that will exceed what our bordering states will be forced to pay in an upcoming federal minimum wage increase.  Not to mention the effect this second increase in three years will have on entry level jobs.

Message of the Day – An Elephant

by Cal Skinner

I’m not sure what this elephant in a net with a Christmas wreath on its butt means, but when I saw in at Disney World near the “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” playground, I knew it had a place on McHenry County Blog.

What message does it convey to you?

McHenry County Blog has a "Message of the Day" each day.  Most are a bit easier to understand than this one.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Mary Ann McMorrow

By Mark Rhoads

Mary Ann G. McMorrow was a pioneer among women in the Illinois legal profession for almost 53 years. She was the first woman elected to the Illinois Supreme Court in 1992 and the first woman to become Chief Justice in 2002.  She therefore was also the first woman to head one of the three branches of Illinois state government.

McMorrow was born in Chicago in 1928.  She is a graduate of Immaculata High School and Rosary College (now part of Dominican University) in River Forest.  She was the only woman in her class when she graduated from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law in 1953. She was admitted to the bar that same year. After several years working for the firm of Riordan and Linklater in the general practice of law, she was appointed as the First Assistant Cook County State's Attorney in the Criminal Division. She was the first woman to prosecute felony cases in Cook County. In 1976, she was elected a judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. She was appointed to the Appellate Court in 1985 and elected in her own right in 1986. Chief Justice McMorrow retired from the Illinois Supreme Court in July 2006.

George Ryan Free Until Appeal Over

by Cal Skinner       

When I read that former Governor George Ryan was granted his wish to stay out of jail pending completion of his appeal, I wondered who made the decision.

They are Frank Easterbrook, Terrence Evans and Diane Sykes.

Not having watched the appellate court, I have no grasp of the roles these folks play.

Al-Sadr withdraws from Iraqi government (for now).

by George Dienhart

      

When will the Iraqi Government decide enough is enough? Muqtadà al-Sadr is once again up to his old tricks, this time withdrawing his 30 member block of the Iraqi parliament.

    

This is an example of where the Iraqi’s need to do more. Everyone says the Iraqi’s need to do more about stabilizing their country. The Iraqi’s now have a military. They are also now receiving equipment. The first thing they need to do is start rounding up the bad guys. The Iraqi Government knows who in the government is corrupt. They need to appoint prosecutors and then go pick up the corrupt members of government. I know the initial responses on the street will be protests and bad feelings and violence. Unfortunately, giving birth to a democracy is painful. Without taking these measures, the nascent democracy will fall.

George wins a "get out of jail" for now

The Tribune is reporting  an appeals court ruled today that George Ryan will stay out of jail pending his appeal. . . which could be for how long? 

He was supposed to start his 6 and half year sentence in early January.

Wow, can this guy play Monopoly or what?

Warren responds to conservative leaders

Rick Warren answers back to his critics today, defending his decision to invite Barack Obama to address an AIDS Global Summit starting tomorrow and being held at his Saddleback Church.

In a press release issued this morning, Warren asserts his commitment to life and the sanctity of marriage, saying abstinence from sex outside of marriage is the most effective way to end the AIDs epidemic.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Paul Tibbets

By Mark Rhoads

The atomic bomb project that marked its first chain reaction with Enrico Fermi at the University of Chicago on Dec. 2, 1942 came full circle just 32 months later on the island of Tinian in the Pacific Ocean. There on Aug. 6, 1945 Paul Warfield Tibbets was pilot of the B-29 Enola Gay that took off on a mission to drop the first atomic bomb used in combat over Hiroshima, Japan.

Tibbets was born in Quincy, Illinois on Feb. 23, 1915. He spent his childhood years in Quincy and in Cedar Rapids, Iowa before his family moved to Florida when Paul was about 12.  At age 14, Paul returned to Illinois to attend the Western Military Academy at Alton for four years. He graduated from Western in 1933 at the age of 18.

Schools Fighting TIFs

by Cal Skinner

I noticed a Chicago Tribune article on Monday by Susan Kuczka about more school districts fighting a Tax Increment Financing district.

Other school districts may have been ahead of Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47 and High School District 155. If so, I wasn’t paying attention because my tax bill was not in jeopardy of being hiked by a mayor and city council whose fate I have no influence over.

If you are new to the subject of TIFs, it’s a method through which cities and villages can grab all increased tax revenue from property for 23 years (or even more, if they can get the General Assembly to pass an extension).

Save Nancy from Nancy Part 2

Bloomberg and AP report Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) came out of his meeting with Nancy Pelosi just now and he is out as Chair of the Intelligence Committee.  Both will issue statements shortly.

Score one for common sense and against cronyism. Good for Nancy.

City of Chicago: "Christianity is a Cancer on the Soul of the City and We Will Have it Out!"

The Associated Press is reporting that the City of Chicago has threatened the organizers of an annual German festival, Christkindlmarket, over one of their sponsors. This sponsor, according to the City of Chicago, would be "insensitive to the many people of different faiths… [and] contrary to acceptable advertising standards…"

Was this sponsor the KKK? The World Church of the Creator? No. The sponsor was a movie studio, New Line Cinema. New Line Cinema sponsored the event (until their money was turned down because of the threats of the City of Chicago) with advertisements of the movie, "The Nativity Story".

Predictably, the City tried to hide behind the "separation of church and state" doctrine. Skipping past the fact that the First Amendment requires institutional separation, not the purging of all things religious, the characterization of New Line Cinema as a religious institution is somewhat contrived.

The assault on Christmas comes to Chicago

by George Dienhart

To me, it seems like a marketing plan made in heaven. In Chicago there is an annual event, German Christkindlmarket. It is a Christmas Market. New Line cinema had struck an agreement to show a trailer for "The Nativity Story" on television screens at the  annual event. New Line also thought there was a natural synergy in advertising a movie about Christ and Christmas at a Christmas market.

Sadly, it is not to be. It seems that the City of Chicago has asked the Christkindlmarket not to show the advertisement during the festival. It seems the city is afraid of offending non- Christians.

Ummm . . . show us the money, please?

Philip Morris is off the hook, the St Louis Dispatch reports today.  No $10 billion payout for misleading advertising.  No appeal.

Help me out here.  Didn't we already borrow money on the expected share the state of Illinois was supposed to get from this lawsuit?

What happens now?  What if we say "Please"?

Link: STLtoday - News - Metro East.

It's ok to be outraged, but let's be consistent

Several national pro-life and pro-family leaders signed onto a press release yesterday expressing their anger with the pastor of a major evangelical church for inviting Barack Obama to address his congregation this week.

I share the outrage with these fellow conservatives (many who are staunch Catholics) about Pastor Rick Warren (of the huge evangelical Saddleback Church) providing a bully pulpit for Illinois' U.S. Senator Barack Obama to discuss the African AIDS epidemic this week. 

I do, however, caution those who have signed on to the press release to be equally outspoken when Catholic Faithful commune with and lend venue to national pro-abortion legislative leaders such as U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (IL) and Ted Kennedy (MA). . .   

Illinois Hall of Fame: Enrico Fermi

By Mark Rhoads

Enrico Fermi was born in Rome, Italy on Sept. 29, 1901. He married Laura Capon in 1928 and from 1927 to 1938 he was Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Rome. He took his family with him to Stockholm, Sweden in 1938 to accept the Nobel Prize for Physics.  But they never returned to Italy and instead used the trip to escape from Benito Mussolini's fascist government. They emigrated to the U.S. where Enrico eventually joined other scientists in Chicago who were working on the Manhattan Project (code name for production of America's atomic bomb).

The atomic age was officially born in Chicago on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 2, 1942. Enrico Fermi supervised the first controlled nuclear chain reaction for forty minutes inside the cinder block walls of a squash court. The building was under the cement football stands at Amos Alonzo Stagg Field at 5801 S. Ellis Avenue on the campus of the University of Chicago. Fermi and his wife lived in Chicago from 1942 on. They became American citizens in 1944. Enrico then taught as a member of the faculty at the University of Chicago for the last ten years of his life until his premature death from cancer on Nov. 18, 1954 at age 53.  He is buried at the historic Oak Woods Cemetery on the corner of 67th and Cottage Grove. The Enrico Fermi Institute at the University of Chicago and the FermiLab in Batavia, Illinois, are both named in his honor.

Jesus Back in Christmas

by Cal Skinner

Maybe this doesn’t mean much, but it might.

I was in Wal-Mart thinking about buying the movie "Cars," when what did I hear coming out of the pre-Thanksgiving week speaker system?

Oh, Come All Ye Faithful

Upon arriving at the Pop Century hotel complex at Disney World, I heard an old Methodist song:

Hark, the Herald Angels Come

I don’t know what Wal-Mart was playing last year and I’ve heard no complaints about Disney not being able to figure out that most of its family visitors are Christians, but it did pick up my cultural war spirits.

Posted first on McHenry County Blog.

How to talk to Iran

by George Dienhart

I am shocked by the recent "talk to Iran"movement that has recently risen. Lets take a second to reflect on how Iran talks to the United States, and the rest of the world. All quotes are attributed to Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

• “Thanks to the blood of the martyrs, a new Islamic revolution has arisen and the Islamic revolution of 1384 will, if God wills, cut off the roots of injustice in the world.”
• “The wave of the Islamic revolution will soon reach the entire world.”
• “Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation's fury,”
• “Iran is ready to transfer nuclear know-how to the Islamic countries due to their need.”
• “We ask the West to remove what they created sixty years ago and if they do not listen to our recommendations, then the Palestinian nation and other nations will eventually do this for them."
• "Israel is a rotten, dried tree that will be annihilated in one storm."

This is what the left wants to bargain with. I can see why. Giving North Korea what they wanted worked out wonderfully. President Clinton gave in to Kim Il Jung at every opportunity, and was rewarded with lies and misdirection. Surely, taking the same course of action with Iraq will provide us with the same results. Another nuclear armed terrorist state.

In years past we would never negotiate with our enemies. Now such negotiations seem to be the centerpiece of the Democrats foreign policy. Worse yet, elements of the right are eagerly jumping aboard this sinking ship. We are allowing the left to turn this war into another Viet Nam.

In Viet Nam, we won the major battles, but lost the war because the left would not stand up to defend American interests. The difference here is Iraq is much more important. A loss here reinforces the perception that we won’t stay to finish the job anywhere else. Allowing Iran to broker a pullout is a an immediate loss in that it enhances Iranian prestige, while showing the world that the United States doesn’t have the stomach to stand up to it’s enemies.

The only way to talk to Iran, is to explain that meddling in our affairs will not be tolerated. We must tell them that Iranian nuclear arms won’t be tolerated. We must tell them that we are in Iraq for the long haul, and then back it up by honoring our commitments. This is the only way to successfully talk to Iran.

Durbin calls for setting aside political agendas in confirmation hearings

Kansas GOP senator Sam Brownback and Illinois' own U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, now more prominent than ever with impending Democrat takeover in January, was featured yesterday on ABCNews' This Week with George Stephanopolous.   

One of the topics they discussed was the confirmation of George W. Bush's federal judge compromises -- a judge who attended a neighbor's lesbian union ceremony in 2003.  Brownback is concerned  Michigan Court of Appeals' appointee Janet Neff may have played her hand on the issue of gay marriage, a topic that is on several states' court dockets.

NARAL's Thanksgiving Message

So, what were you thankful for last weekend?  NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League, formerly National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws) blasted a Thanksgiving message to their supporters, giddy about pro-abortion victories in the past year . . .

Statue for Denny Hastert - Part 3

by Cal Skinner

I caught all sorts of grief for suggesting a statue of House Speaker Denny Hastert. 

It started with my being chided for spelling statue "statute." 

I admit that I won my last spelling bee in my 8th grade class at Olympus Junior High School southwest of Salt Lake City. And, we all know that spell check cannot tell you when you use the wrong word.

My readers on McHenry County Blog were not sarcastic, however.  They were on Illinois Review.

Save Nancy From Nancy

By Mark Rhoads

After foolishly backing Rep. John Murtha (D-Pennsylvania) of Abscam fame over the popular Rep. Stenny Hoyer (D-Maryland) for House Majority Leader and losing by a two to one margin, it looked like Speaker designate Nancy Pelosi might dive off another cliff by hinting broadly she wanted former convicted Judge and Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Florida) to chair the ultra-sensitive House Intelligence Committee instead of her California Democratic rival Rep. Jane Harmon who has the seniority on that committee. 

Boots: this year's political fashion statement

If you want to see the hottest winter fashions, you can take a walk either down Chicago's Michigan Avenue or along Springfield's Second Avenue. 

We’re Number 43

The latest federal numbers show Illinois ranks 43rd in the nation in job growth and continues to lag behind surrounding states after nearly four years under Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Siskel & Ebert

By Mark Rhoads

Roger Ebert, at left, and Gene Siskel, at right, are shown in this Chicago Tribune file photo from Feb. 1, 1995 when they were honored at a ceremony at the corner of Erie Street and McClurg Court. On that day the city put up a Chicago street sign that says "Honorary Siskel and Ebert Way." For 23 seasons these two native Illinoisans hosted a new genre of journalistic film criticism on a show that at one time reached 95 percent of all homes with TV sets in America. They helped to invent the new format for Chicago Public Television WTTW in 1975 and the program went national on PBS in 1978. It later went into commercial syndication under a different name. Both writers are profiled in brief below.

Stufflebeam Gets 700 McHenry County Write-In Votes

by Cal Skinner

The McHenry County Clerk’s canvass of the campaign is apparently completed and Randy Stufflebeam is the king of the write-ins for governor. 

Stufflebeam got 700 votes in McHenry County, which is 0.86% of the total cast for governor. Excluding the 602 votes that are listed but not broken out by candidate, Stuffbeam received 87% of the write-in votes cast for governor in McHenry County.

McCullough responds to IR

Friday, IR raised questions about NYC radio talk show host Kevin McCullough's comments concerning IL U.S. Senator Barack Obama and his upcoming visit to Rick Warren's Saddleback Church (here). 

McCullough responds today . . .

Penguins, penguins everywhere

by Fran Eaton

Is it just me, or are you noticing the bizarre attention penguins are getting these days and how the poor creatures are being used to promote social agendas?

So soon forgotten, or maybe not

If soon-to-be U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA) thinks she has to worry only about soon-to-be Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD) and his Blue Dog Democrats, she's embarrassingly naive.    She's got an untitled powerhouse preparing to flex his new muscle -- Illinois' own Rahm Emanuel (IL -5).

Iraq: Two options

From Daily Press' Lisa Benson

Express your thoughts on IR's poll -- currently the overwhelming majority of IR readers support sending more troops in, the "Go Big" option.

What do you think the US should do?

Black Squirrels in Lakewood

Downstate Olney has its white squirrels.

The Country Club Additions part of Lakewood have black ones.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Robert Lawrence

By Mark Rhoads

U.S. Air Force Maj. Robert H. Lawrence was the first African American pilot selected by NASA in 1967 to be trained as an astronaut for the manned orbital laboratory program.

He was born in Chicago on Oct. 2, 1935. Robert was only 16 years old when he graduated from Englewood High School at 6201 S. Stewart in Chicago in 1952. He was an outstanding student and he was only 20 when he graduated in 1956 from Bradley University in Peoria with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering.

Illinois prepares to hear "Dred Scott in a petri dish"

A wrongful death lawsuit concerning the destruction of a couple's stored embryos has reached the Illinois Appellate Court and advocacy groups on both sides are chiming in.  Tom Brechja, an attorney representing a coalition Illinois prolife groups who filed a legal brief in support of the plaintiffs, says the upcoming case is so significant, it is "the modern equivalent of Dred Scott in a petri dish."

Why is Obama's Evil in Rick Warren's Pulpit?

Sunday after next, Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life and pastor of Saddleback Church in California, will be hosting U.S. Senators Barack Obama and Sam Brownback to discuss the AIDS crisis in Africa.

Kevin McCullough, at one time radio talk show host on Chicago's WYLL 1160 AM, explains why he, as a committed evangelical, finds the upcoming forum so offensive in his Townhall.com piece, "Why is Obama's evil in Rick Warren's Pulpit?"

Illinois Hall of Fame: Bertha Palmer

By Mark Rhoads

Bertha Honore Palmer, wife of Potter Palmer, was the leader of wealthy socialites in Chicago in the late 1800s and early 1900s. She would have been famous just for being the wife of the richest real estate developer in the city. But her own buisness skills after her husband's death in 1902 were equal to or better than those of many contemporary men. So much so that in just 16 years until her own death in 1918, she doubled the size of her husband's estate from $8 million to $16 million. In constant dollars, that amount would be equivalent to an estate of $214 million in 2006.

Bertha was born on May 22, 1849, in Louisville, Kentucky.  Her wealthy family moved to Chicago in 1855. She married Potter Palmer in 1871 when she was 22 and he was 44.  She became the leader of society in Chicago through her active contributions to the artistic, cultural, social, and civic affairs of the city.

Happy Thanksgiving 2006

While our modern day lives may not allow us all to experience today Norman Rockwell's "Freedom from Want" portrait, its abstract setting expresses all of our deepest human longings for acceptance, security and peace.

Being ungrateful could be hazardous to your health

If you're having a difficult time being thankful today, you might want to do some soul-searching.  Your overall health and well-being may be at stake.

A University of Colorado research project on the physical and emotional value of being "grateful" showed the following results:

Illinois Hall of Fame: Potter Palmer

By Mark Rhoads

Potter Palmer was the central figure in the development of downtown Chicago real estate in the 19th Century and was the principal designer of State Street in old Chicago. He was born on May 26,1826 near Albany, New York. When he was 26, Palmer founded a dry goods store on Lake Street in Chicago called Potter Palmer and Company. 

Oberweis responds to True's IL GOP chairmanship suggestion

On Tuesday, IR wrote here that Colonel Raymond True announced Jim Oberweis would be assuming the role of Republican Assembly of Illinois chairman.  As noted in today's GOPUSA Illinois Daily Clips, RAI Executive Director Jim Leahy disagreed with True's comments.

It's okay to shop at WalMart

If fighting Big Box ordinances or anti-union chains is your thing, don't read on, nothing's changed at WalMart.  But if you're interested in supporting pro-family issues, there's news this morning that it's okay to start your Christmas shopping at WalMart this weekend after all. 

New Stanek WND column: "Abortion and the end of the world"

by Jill Stanek

The U.S. did not legalize abortion in a vacuum in 1973. The Guttmacher Institute, Planned Parenthood's research division, states abortion laws worldwide were undone "rapidly" between 1950 and 1985.

Guttmacher estimates 46 million babies are aborted worldwide each year. This means almost 1 billion babies have been aborted worldwide just during the past 20 years.

If current world population is 6.5 billion, as the U.S. Census Bureau indicates, all must acknowledge the profound impact of abortion on the human race, no matter where they stand on abortion.

In that regard, I have some theories on the impact of abortion on world history....

Continue reading my column today, "Abortion and the end of the world," on WND.com.

Brokeback Iceberg

Glenn McCoy on "And Tango Makes Three" . . .

Illinois Hall of Fame: George J. Mecherle

By Mark Rhoads

If ever a reputation for personal integrity and honesty was crucial to building a successful business, the importance of reputation was proven by the life story of George J. Mecherle.  Mecherle was a McLean County farmer and the founder of the State Farm Insurance Company, a company that today is number 22 on the Fortune 500 list. His last name is pronounced as if it were "Ma-herl." His parents were immigrants from Germany and he was born on June 7, 1877 as the fifth child on a family farm near the small town of Merna, Illinois about nine miles west of Normal. He only had one year of high school and married a neighbor, Mae Perry, in 1900.