Illinois Review

God on the side of Democrats?

Former DNC national Chairman Don Fowler jokes the timing of Hurricane Gustav means "God is on our side. . ."

RNC shuts down Monday's events

Rick Davis, McCain's campaign manager, just followed Republican presumed presidential nominee John McCain's announcement that Monday's opening events of the Republican National Convention will be minimized to the bare essentials. McCain encouraged his fellow Republicans to take off their party hats and focus on the needs of those threatened by Hurricane Gustav.

Davis said the plans are to do as "much of the program as possible" this week, but couldn't promise anything more than a brief meeting to open the convention. The legal requirements will be met, but anything more than that is unpredicted until more is known as to the seriousness of the hurricane's damage.

Gustav keeps Bush away from RNC

The President and Vice President Dick Cheney will be RNC no shows due to the impending emergency expected with approaching Hurricane Gustav.  While New Orleans appears to be Ground Zero for the worst, Texas, Mississippi and other Gulf Coast states are in crisis mode as well. The White House says the president will remain focused on preparing for Gustav.

The Dems will cynically say this is politically convenient, but a more self-centered president would force himself on the convention no matter what was going on. Can you imagine a President Bill Clinton or a President Blagojevich ever missing an opportunity to receive accolades of any kind, even if low numbers forced staging with phony bused-in supporters?

Sarah Heath Palin -- 20 years ago

Now known as Alaska's "hockey mom" premiere, Governor Sarah Palin loved sports years before the Palins' son played hockey. Dubbed Sarah "Barracuda" Heath when she played women's college basketball, Palin was a tough female sportscaster in Anchorage twenty years ago. Now she's the Republicans' candidate for vice president. Circa 1988 -- the Big Hair era.

Downstate IL not Obama country

Bruce Wallace, chair of the Republican Party in Jackson County told Southern.com that he's seeing positive signs at the local level.

"I am extremely happy; we've got a lot of reactivation of the party faithful, and I am getting a lot of e-mails," he said. "What I've experienced is a real surge in volunteerism especially in young people."

Despite the prevailing view that Obama is destined to carry Illinois, Wallace says he's not conceding Illinois.

Instead Of "Country First", How About "You First"?

by Andy Haaf

This has been a great run for Senator McCain and now his partner Governor Sarah Palin. But despite their success, conservatives need to continue challenging our methods and approach for selling and advancing our principles.

I believe an example of where Senator McCain misses the mark is his use of "Country First" in his messaging. Senator McCain is a war hero and every American should thank him and appreciate his service and sacrifice. However, from a selling perspective "Country" is too broad. It is too disconnected from the individual. It does not resonate with people who do not share the same appreciation for our Country as Senator McCain and others.

Her name is "Sarah"

by Ed Jahn

Her name is Sarah – it means “princess”- but she is not a fairy tale – she is like most of us.

She is a 44-year-old mother of five, including one who had been diagnosed as having Down syndrome, yet she chose NOT to abort, and her oldest, who just joined the Army on the sixth anniversary of the September 11th attacks – (may America never forget).

Dear Mr. Obama

Thanks to Illinois Republican Party's National Committeeman Pat Brady for bringing this powerful pro-McCain YouTube to Illinois Review's attention. This young hero's name is Joe Cook, and he's one of three soldier sons of Bob Cook, an 8th CD McCain alternate delegate from Wauconda.

Palin: The Left's Tar and Feathering Begins

by Matt Gauntt

Obviously, the choice of Sarah Palin has made the left go a little nuts already. Their guy wouldn't pick their gal. Instead, their guy picked a pasty old white guy (yeah, I'm a pasty, somewhat old, white guy too). Our guy picked an energetic gal.

It's been interesting to see the attacks start to come out:

She identifies herself as a "hockey mom" - why, what about those career women? This is an affront to women, and bad for them.

Palin Spotlights Obama's "Sin of Omission"

by Cal Skinner

Both Barack Obama and John McCain's choice for vice president, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin live in corrupt states. Sarah did something about the corruption in her State of Alaska. She fought it.

If Barack Obama did anything about corruption in Illinois, someone please remind me what it was.

Oh, I know that now-convicted felon Tony Rezko was one of his major fund raisers when he ran for the Illinois Senate.

The Democrats Have Disqualified Obama

by Curt Mercadante

An interesting thing has occurred as the Democrats have fired up their talking points in attacking Alaska Gov./GOP VP Candidate Sarah Palin:  they have disqualified their presidential candidate.

How?

The Democrat argument against Palin focuses on her supposed lack of experience.  They are questioning her foreign policy credentials.  They are criticizing her two years as governor ... and being mayor of a "small town" in Alaska.

In doing so, they have completely disqualified their own candidate, Barack Obama.

Bean Annoyed by Having to Leave Convention for EJ&E Railroad Hearing

by Cal Skinner

Crain's Chicago Business reported on the “foul mood” of 8th Congressional District U.S. Representative Melissa Bean:

“Rep. Melissa Bean was in a foul mood as she arrived in Denver Sunday for the Democratic National Convention.

"The west suburban Democrat was grumbling about having to return home this week for a hearing on Canadian National Railway’s proposal to buy the Elgin Joliet & Eastern Railway, then return to Denver Thursday to hear Sen. Barack Obama’s acceptance speech.“

McHenry County Blog found a report on Bean's penchant for partying in February in an article in The Hill.

Palin Speech

In case you missed it.

Roskam for governor?

Today IR had a chance to do a sit down interview with Congressman Peter Roskam for the first time since he was elected in 2006.  We asked him if he was considering a run for Governor in 2010.

Check back Tuesday on Illinois Review to find out what he said.

Have a great Labor Day weekend. 

Respect the flag much?

Guess the Obama family doesn't teach respect for the flag . . .

Taken Thursday night by AP's Chris Carlson

Bauer shores up conservative base: McCain/Palin ‘08

by Gary Bauer, Campaign for Working Families

My friends, I believe we now have the most pro-life ticket in history, running on the most pro-life platform in history. I am very excited, and I hope you are too. So please get engaged right now! Go to www.cwfpac.com to make your most generous gift to help CWF! Now, here’s my reaction to Senator McCain’s choice of Governor Sarah Palin.

This selection is a grand slam home run!

The Palin Choice

by Ralf Seiffe

At the risk of repeating comments in the earlier post, here are a few reasons that Alaska governor Sarah Palin is a spectacular choice:

The usual choice for a country electing a “first” woman is a conservative like “Iron Lady” Golda Meir, the similarly ferrous Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi and more recently, Angela Merkel.  Palin is such a conservative.

Looks like it's Palin, and the game is on

Fox News has just confirmed its McCain's choice is Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.  It its true, this will be the most energized election in recent history. 

She was my choice in the IR poll. 

More to come . . .

The US of KKK? A Great Night in America

by Lee Newcom

Lets put aside for the moment the political views of Barack Obama, which are not healthy for America.

I lived in the South during the early 1960s and saw the segregated restaurants, schools, parks and churches.  I remember the "white only" signs.  I remember the three restrooms at the gas stations: men, women and "colored" (the "colored" in terrible condition). I fully understand the foundation of the generations of resentment represented by the Jeremiah "US of KKK" Wrights of the world, though I and all good hearted people should reject the hatred of a Wright.

DCCC targets Roskam

Early August polling indicated 6th CD voters are overwhelmingly pleased with freshman Republican Peter Roskam's performance as their U.S. Congressman, setting him 30 points ahead of his 2008 Democratic challenger.  The national polling blog RealClearPolitics' found Roskam's huge lead surprising, being he was first elected in 2006 by a slim margin, and the same poll indicated at the end of July likely voters favored by 8 points Barack Obama over Republican John McCain.

You'd think those numbers would take Rahm Emanuel's Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's target off Roskam's back this time around, but yesterday's hit piece in the Chicago Tribune shows the Democrats' are delirious as Obama's popularity in Illinois remains solid despite leveling off at the national level.

Jimmy Carter: Not Warm or Fuzzy, Just Pathetic

by Mark Rhoads

Consider this report from the Democratic Convention:

By Alan Gomez, USA TODAY--Aug. 28 - DENVER — Former president Jimmy Carter called Republican presidential candidate John McCain a "distinguished naval officer," but he said the Arizona senator has been "milking every possible drop of advantage" from his time served as a prisoner of war in Vietnam."

Barack Takes Over

by Ralf Seiffe

Last night’s “Triumph of the Bill” speech handed the Clinton’s position as the leaders of the Democratic Party to Barack Obama who now has to sell himself.  He will start that process, tonight, in an outdoor event that could have been choreographed by Leni Reifenstahl at the Invesco Field sportsplatz.  Beyond seeing the pageantry--which is an empty suit in a grand scale—I am interested in hearing how Senator Obama’s premise that “the American People are better than their government” will be remedied. 

Frankly, I am worried that the cure will be worse than the disease.

The real Obama Country

Antoine Members is a Republican challenging incumbent Democrat Bobby Rush in the 1st CD, the congressional district where Barack Obama lives.  Watch this zero-budget YouTube in which Antoine, a spunky 29 year old Chicago corrections officer, tells the world what it's like to live in Obama's home district. .

Illinois Review spent some time with Members earlier this week.  Watch for the upcoming interview and check out  Antoine Members for Congress.

Republicans Cavaletto and McCain lead in 107th House District

Good news today for Republican House candidate John Cavaletto in the downstate 107th.  After losing his second bid for the State House by 98 votes, polling indicates Cavaletto is running ahead this time by 24 points.  A win for Cavaletto would mean a GOP pickup and a hiccup in the Dems' anticipated Obama election tsunami this November.

The poll, conducted by TelOpinion Research (TOR), a respected national polling firm based in Alexandria, Virginia, shows 55% of district voters supporting the Republican over his Democrat opponent Patti Hahn's 31%.   

Union teachers back Obama

During the Saddleback Civil Forum, John McCain told Pastor Rick Warren that education choice was the answer to improving our nation's schools.  Choice in education "is a civil rights issue of the 21st century" and that we should "find bad teachers another line of work."  (See clip below the fold.)

Obviously, that didn't set well with the NEA. 

From the NEA's endorsement this week:

When Republicans nominated a Dem for Veep

by Michael Zak

Most history books written by Democrat professors downplay the fact that the Worst President Ever was a Democrat. Did the Democrats nominate him? No, he was the 1864 Republican nominee for vice president.

Andrew Johnson - Andrew Jackson Johnson, to be precise - was the only southern Senator not to go with the Confederacy. For being strong on national security, this hardline Democrat was nominated by the Republicans to be Abraham Lincoln's 1864 running mate. He was drunk at his swearing in as vice president, and it was downhill from there. A month later, the murder of the Great Emancipator made Andrew Johnson president.

The year that was: 1967

The year: 1967. 

The topic: upcoming presidential election. 

The characters: one now in New Jersey, another in California, one here in Illinois and the other now in D.C.

Who are these guys?

Manzullo warns of impending federal tax increases

by Cal Skinner

16th district United States Representative Don Manzullo came to Crystal Lake's American Community Bank to speak with members of the National Federation of Independent Business Tuesday night. The main topics of conversation were taxes and paying for health care.

“We're set for a barrage of tax increases,” Manzullo explained. “If you have a tax cut, the cuts expire in ten years. If you have a tax hike, it never expires.

“If you allow the tax cuts to expire, then you end up with a large tax increase,” the congressman explained.

Sen. Obama Pride vs. Sen. Obama Fantasy

by Mark Rhoads

The Pride of Obama:

Today's historic vote by Democratic delegates to nominate the first American citizen of half African heritage is a source of great heart-felt emotional pride to millions of Americans who either share some degree of racial identity with Sen. Barack Obama or who think his nomination marks a positive milestone on the path to healing old divisions that too long plagued American history.  I recall as if it were yesterday an election that is already now 25 years in the past. On April 22, 1983 Democratic Congressman Harold Washington defeated Republican State Rep. Bernie Epton by 3.7%, 51.7% to 48.0%, to become the first African-American mayor of Chicago. Washington was sworn in as mayor seven days later on April 29 and resigned his Congressional seat the next day on April 30. 

Republican Party Cmte Okays Pro-Life Platform

Today the RNC platform committee adopted this wording into this year's platform:

"Faithful to the first guarantee of the Declaration of Independence, we assert the inherent dignity and sanctity of all human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed," the final GOP platform draft says.

"We support a human life amendment to the Constitution, and we endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections apply to unborn children," it added

Link: Republican Party Cmte OK Strong Pro-Life Platform Condemning Abortion.

Chicago Tells

by Ralf Seiffe

Americans who value their constitutional rights rightly fret that politicians are forever trying to take them away.  One worry is that the politicians will first attack small or unpopular rights with the object of taking more, later.  This is the “slippery slope” argument; a process that starts slowly but as the speed of change increases, political objectives that would have been unacceptable initially, becomes unstoppable.  Avoiding such a fall often depends on recognizing small signs indicating one is in jeopardy and to move away from the clear and present danger.  Barack Obama and his Chicago political sponsors are presenting just such early, but now tiny signs which the rest of the nation should pay attention to avoid the slippery slope of losing our rights.

Times, they are a changin'

by George Dienhart

When I left Illinois, I had become accustomed to occasionally bumping into people that were familiar with my efforts here at the Illinois Review. Most often, people were supportive. Occasionally, people were less then supportive. On one occasion, I affirmed my connection and was answered with a raised middle finger. I guess I'm just happy no one took a swing at me...

Kum-by-yas drown out DNC discord

UPDATE 1x:  Holy Cow!  When we first posted this this morning, we had no idea what was going on in Denver. Illinois Democrats had a hugfest today for real!  Watch Blagojevich hug Madigan at the 5 minute mark.

As found on the SEIU-funded Democratic liberal blog Progress Illinois...

What she didn't say

A friend just called to ask my thoughts about Hillary's speech last night, and although IR commenter Aurora GOP doesn't understand why IR is touching on the DNC, I did have just a few thoughts - the same everyone else has had, I'm sure.

It's what Hillary didn't say last night that's got everyone's attention.

"I Would Have Loved You"

Tell us abortion doesn't matter this election. If you were born in 1973 or later, it matters a great deal. One for every three of your peers wasn't as fortunate...

Talk about it: Is this an effective way to get out the prolife message?

H/T Prolife Pulse

Obama Ticket – Doubling Up on Rezko

by Cal Skinner

Springfield Sun-Times Bureau Chief Dave McKenney knows his Illinois crooks, and their connections.

Know what jumped to his mind when he heard that our Illinois U.S. Senator Barack Obama selected fellow Senator Joe Biden (D-Delaware)?

Joe Cari -- the guy who fingered Governor Rod Blagojevich as “Official A.” Here's what McKenney writes:

Bill Ayers: Obama's New Rev. Wright

by John Ruskin

The ad that Barack Obama is asking the U.S. Justice Department to make sure you never see.

URF's 8 in 08: Darlene Senger, GOP candidate for 96th House District

The last in IR's series of eight candidates selected by the conservative, independent United Republican Fund to be a part of their 8 in '08 campaign. The URF's 8 in '08 consists of four House and four Senate Republicans who've been vetted and screened as to their views on limited government, individual rights, free markets and traditional family values.

NAPERVILLE -- Although Naperville City Councilwoman Darlene Senger has taken leave from her financial advising duties to campaign fulltime for the 96th Illinois House seat, she can’t get away from answering questions about financial issues. It’s one of the key topics voters want to talk about most this year.

“The people I talk to every day are concerned about higher taxes and what they can expect from Springfield,” Senger said during an interview at her downtown Naperville campaign office recently. “They’re worried about the economy, jobs and rising costs. That’s what people are telling me.”

Obama: Running on the Cult of Personality

by Phyllis Schlafly

Smarting from ridicule about the way John Edwards' sexual mischief was covered up or ignored for months, the mainstream media have decided to avoid similar charges that they are protecting Barack Obama. Hence the unprecedented New York Times page-one treatment of Jerome Corsi's latest best-seller, The Obama Nation.

Corsi's book, copiously footnoted, assembles thousands of facts to present a newsworthy picture of the personality and character of the presumptive Democratic nominee. After all, that's what Obama's supporters say is of primary importance.

Obama & Biden: First Democratic Ticket With No Service in 68 years

by Mark Rhoads

One reason Democratic handlers have leaned so hard on the dubious "credentials" of Sen. Joe Biden as Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (he is a very poor chairman), is to cover for both the lack of foreign policy experience or national security experience of Sen. Obama.  After the Gallup poll found no bounce at all for the Biden selection over the weekend and in fact a two point bump for Sen. McCain, bloggers around the country started talking today about an interesting fact.

Huntley Teachers' strike a national GOP opportunity

by Cal Skinner

Huntley might become quite the exclamation point for how education issues are handled in Obama's home state. Sunday, what could have been a big bargaining day to get a deal done for Huntley teachers, turned into a big fizzle.

The Huntley teachers only had time to meet with the school board for three hours yesterday the day before school starts today. Or did they?

Michelle ain't no Margaret

DENVER -- The DNC platform podium dripped with estrogen last night as Caroline Kennedy, who lived in the White House as a child, and First Lady wannabe Michelle Obama each gushed prescribed sentimentality and well-timed emotion to reach enthralled Americans throughout television land.

I turned off the TV after bearing through Caroline's intro to her beloved Uncle Teddy, Kennedy's charge to his fellow Democrats, then Michelle's Obama's mother and brother's mushy intros to Mrs. Obama's 9:30 PM CST keynote.  By 10:00 PM, there had been just too much liberal hogwash -- stereotypical, inch-deep, saccarine-tasting sweet talk.

Bill Foster Must Be Disappointed

by Andy Haaf

I wonder what Congressmen Bill Foster thinks of Senator Biden as the choice for Vice President? Hum, let's see what his website has to say on the matter:

"most often our country is put at risk by good people who have been in Washington so long that they start confusing their own interests and those of their party with the true interests of our nation. And when that happens, the people of the United States have usually had the good sense to thank their long-serving party and long-serving representatives for their way-too-long service, hand out the gold retirement watches, and rinse the system clean. As much as anything, that is what this election is about."

Given this statement, Congressman, when can citizens of the 14th District expect to hear your formal protest and disappointment of this selection? If you truly believe what you say, then how could you consider Senator Biden the appropriate choice given he has been Senator since 1973? Yes kids, that is over 30 years!

Black Republican PAC's new anti-Obama ad

Running this week in Michigan:

Thoughts?

H/T www.jillstanek.com

Forte-Scott Announces Cyber-Safety Legislation

SCHAUMBURG, IL - With over 230,000 new registrants a day joining the social networking website MySpace, sexual predators are now using the internet as their primary source to target children. To address this issue, Republican nominee for State Representative Anita Forte-Scott announced a cyber-safety “Agenda for Action” to protect children from online predators.

“Sexual predators use the anonymity of the internet to communicate with children,” Forte-Scott said. “Hidden behind fake names and profiles, they pretend they are children and exchange names, cell phone numbers and photos with unknowing minors.”

Schoenberg vies for Dem dynasty rule

KENILWORTH, IL — Republican Senate candidate Brendan Appel says the fact that State Senator Jeff Schoenberg is battling among fellow Democrats to succeed Senator Emil Jones as the Senate's next ruler should clearly define to 9th District voters why their Democratic incumbent should be ousted this November.

Schoenberg wants his line in Illinois' ruling Democratic dynasty.

Having chaired the Senate's powerful Appropriations Committee for several years, Schoenberg, rated by Illinois conservative group United Republican Fund as one of the Senate's most liberal members,  wants to reign over the Senate. 

Appel said Monday being a state senator is about serving the people of his district, not himself.

Special Interest Money Favors Democrats

by John Ruskin

Human Events has published the Top 10 biggest givers in American politics since 1989. The list was compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, and shows which party each giver favored.

1.   American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees $39,590,603
98% to Democrats, 1% to Republicans

McCain condom

Our friend Jill Stanek is one of two conservative bloggers at the Democratic National Convention this week.  She's featuring on her www.jillstanek.com blog a photo of a gift she received today from Planned Parenthood -- the McCain condom.

Check out www.plannedparenthoodaction.org for the other nine reasons to "Protect Yourself from John McCain (in this election)"

UPDATED 2x: Emil Jones "Uncle Toms" black Hillary supporter?

DENVER -- The Illinois delegation to the DNC is apparently still not succumbing to Illinois' Senate President Emil Jones' pressure to support Barack Obama.  Jones is being accused today of calling those stubborn Hillary supporters "Uncle Toms."  Would Barack Obama's Chicago mentor call fellow Democrats "Uncle Toms"? 

The Trib says Jones' denies calling the Clinton supporter Delmarie Cobb a racial slur, but rather admits calling her and the other Illinois-based Clinton supporters "Doubting Thoms" rather than "Uncle Toms."'

Campaign K-12: Union Tensions at DNC

Apparently, education reform is stirring tension within the Democratic Party -- will the GOP jump on this in Illinois or let Rev. Meeks continue to give the impression he's for school reform?

The education event that followed the NEA luncheon showed the growing tensions within the Democratic Party over school reform, and the role of teachers’ unions.

Though it’s no surprise an event sponsored by the Democrats for Education Reform would have a slight anti-union message; many of the speakers at the event took several shots at unions during the press conference announcing the Education Equality Project in June.

Today, the sentiment was strong and persistent at standing-room-only, three-hour forum called Ed Challenge for Change. In fact, some of the big-city mayors who participated predicted that had such a forum been held four years ago, a mere five souls would have showed.

Link: Campaign K-12: Union Tensions at DNC.