Illinois Review

IR asks Dan Proft about working with Dems

More "Illinois Review asks" 2010 GOP gubernatorial candidates

• "Why are you running for governor?"
• "How would you fix Illinois' budget dilemma?"

"The Chicago Way" is Obama's way

Today your Illinois Review editor's Southtown Star column is about Barack Obama's use of "The Chicago Way" last week against the health insurance industry, and how he used "The Chicago Way" to punish Advocate Health Systems in 2004.

It was in the 1987 movie "The Untouchables" that we learned first about "The Chicago Way." Overall, the gist is that when someone's done something wrong, the victim retaliates with something slightly worse.

"The Chicago Way" seems to be the Obama administration's modus operandi.

The administration is teaching "The Chicago Way" to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Fox News and the health insurance industry. During presidential addresses, Obama drops hints of who's irritated him.

Obama's irritation with the health insurance industry was answered with federal "anti-trust" legislation focused on restricting health insurance companies -- "The Chicago Way."  But that's not the first time he's used "The Chicago Way." He and Attorney General Lisa Madigan pressured Advocate Health Care Systems to succumb to SEIU demands using "The Chicago Way" in 2004.

Read the rest ...

Who said this?

“A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers."

Answer below ...

Will Madigan get his "Chicago Way" again?

Carol Marin's column today hits the nail on the head.  Quinn's promise for a new day in Illinois politics has been a joke.  Even he had to admit the phony campaign reform bill that passed earlier this year was so bad he had to veto it after lauding it just weeks before. 

After Ryan and Blagojevich used Illinois' free-wheeling campaign contribution system to benefit generous state contractors and reward family and friends, Quinn gave us all the impression with his swearing in, that that scandalous era in Illinois politics was over.  And maybe it would have been, had not Quinn felt "The Chicago Way" pressure to "cooperate" with Speaker Madigan (also the IL Democratic Party chairman) and Senate President John Cullerton's determination to keep things the way they were.  

Marin writes:

McKenna says Schillerstrom's accusations are "more inside politics"

Yesterday, Illinois Review posted GOP gubernatorial candidate DuPage Co Chairman Bob Schillerstrom's criticism of former IL GOP chairman Andy McKenna allegedly misusing party resources to prepare for his own candidacy, and this morning Public Affairs' Jeff Berkowitz reports McKenna's response at his announcement yesterday in Chicago:

As to Republican Gov candidate Bob Schillerstrom’s allegations that McKenna, Jr. was getting proprietary information [as Party chairman] from the potential candidates at the same time as he was planning to run for something, that’s just “more inside politics.” McKenna tried to move on, saying he is going to talk about job creation, solving the spending problem, solving the corruption problem.

When challenged that he didn’t answer the above question, McKenna said the state party does polls at all times, it does that as it goes forward in election cycles…

IL Candidates wait at the ISBE's starting gate

Political Gasser was in Springfield early Monday morning to submit petitions, and took several videos so the rest of us could get an idea of what it was like waiting to get on the ballot. Pick out the candidates you know standing in line. Altogether, over 523 candidates in the February 2, 2010 primary submitted petitions. Thanks for sharing with IR, PG.

Quinn wants $900 million more for scholarships, healthcare

With Illinois already in debt, Democrat Gov. Pat Quinn wants to take out a $900 million loan for college scholarships and "to get Illinois’ rickety finances through traditionally lean months". What?

The request comes as lawmakers return to Springfield tomorrow for what is supposed to be the final three days of the fall session.

Durbin tells SEIU: "It's time for a showdown"

Monday night, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin joined the Service Employee International Union's showdown at the American Bankers Association annual meeting in Chicago. ProgressIllinois.com, an Illinois blog funded by SEIU, was there to video:

Schaumburg Sales Tax Rollback Effort Collects 1,250+ Signatures

Schaumburg – At the October 27th, 2009 Schaumburg Village Board meeting the Schaumburg Freedom Coalition will present to Mayor Al Larson and the Village Trustees over 1,250 signatures from local residents in support of reducing Schaumburg’s home rule sales taxes which contribute to a 12% total bar and restaurant tax—the highest tax of its kind in the United States—and its 10% retail tax, which is second only to the City of Chicago.

The advisory petition seeks to reduce Schaumburg’s home rule sales tax 1%, and the home rule food & beverage tax 2%, resulting in a 9% retail sales tax for both.

Schillerstrom responds to McKenna announcement

from the Bob for Illinois campaign

NAPERVILLE – Gubernatorial candidate Bob Schillerstrom on Tuesday released the following statement regarding former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna’s decision to run for Governor:

“Andy McKenna accepted a leadership position running the Illinois Republican Party when it was in desperate need of unity and new direction. During his years as Chairman, Illinois Republicans did not win a single statewide race, our Party became more divided than ever, and ultimately Andy quit early, saying it was better for the Party to move forward with new leadership.

“Now he says he wants to be Governor.

Hair Today - Effective Tomorrow?

Andy McKenna: Mayor Daley's Candidate for Governor

from the Proft for Governor campaign

(Chicago, IL) – In response to Andy McKenna’s announcement this morning, conservative Republican candidate Dan Proft released the following statement:

"Andy McKenna’s entrance into this race clarifies the choice Republican primary voters have. We can nominate a candidate beholden to a small group of affluent political insiders who give money to both parties. They win when Republicans get elected; they win when Democrats get elected. Either way, you lose.

Ten Ways to Start a New Day in Illinois

1. Pick a candidate -- federal, state, county or local -- that represents your political world view.
2. Take 10 minutes to call his or her campaign office and introduce yourself.
3. Write a check for $10 to support his or her campaign.
4. Tell 10 of your friends about him or her.
5. Encourage each of those 10 to write a $10 check, too.
6. Donate 10 hours over the next month to helping his or her campaign.
7. Count to 10 before you criticize or complain.
8. Take 10 minutes to write a short letter to the editor encouraging others to support your choice.
9. Write another check for $10 in a week or so.
10. Share this list with 10 of your friends.

Copyright 2009 IllinoisReview.com

Karl Rove to appear at Rutherford funder

From the Rutherford for Treasurer campaign, we learn about an upcoming fundraiser. Rutherford's campaign says the Pontiac state senator will file with 10,000 sigs next Monday, the last day petitions can be submitted to the State Board of Elections.

Senator Dan Rutherford (R-Pontiac), candidate for Illinois State Treasurer, is drawing another national figure to support his campaign with a personal appearance by Karl Rove, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff. Rove also served as Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush. He has been a political analyst and commentator for Fox News, Newsweek and the Wall Street Journal.

McKenna campaign launches

from the McKenna for Governor campaign

CHICAGO – Family businessman and community leader Andy McKenna launched his bid for Illinois Governor today, calling for a drastic change in the way Springfield does business.

“It is time to put our house back in order,” said McKenna. “We need to hold the line on taxes, reign in out of control spending and put a stop to the corrupt practices which have plagued our government for far too long.”

It's the bankers' fault we can't pay our mortgages

SEIU, ACORN, and a myriad of related groups converged at the American Bankers Association annual meeting in Chicago this week to blame them for the mortgage and foreclosure crisis. ACORN Housing is one culprit in this national fiasco that refuses to take responsibility. Allegedly counseling mortgage applicants to provide false and incomplete information on loan applications, forcing banks to loan funds to applicants who couldn't afford to pay back the loans, they're now blaming the banks and fund providers for the inability of those in over their heads to pay back. Thus, the nation's foreclosure crisis.

These seriously misinformed and misled folks have been lied to by union thugs and community organizers who have taken advantage of their natural desire to improve their living standards. Listen to the misled's own words on the YouTube sponsored by SEIU and related orgs.

McKenna refers to running mate's office as "outrageous spending"

With friends like this, who needs enemies?

The Sun-Times' Abdon Pallasch writes that at Andy McKenna's gubernatorial bid announcement this morning, he referred to his running mate Matt Murphy's desired office as an example of the state's wasteful spending...

Pressed for an example of the "outrageous spending" he would cut as governor, McKenna turned to Murphy and noted the state was still spending 2.5 million a year on the lieutenant' governor's office even though the state has no lieutenant governor now.

Wow. That would make one want to go all out to help his running mate's campaign, wouldn't it? Hint:   Murphy should be on the lookout for any approaching buses...

Gingrich Takes Heat From the Right, but Will It Stick?

Newt Gingrich is in Chicago today to address the American Bankers Association and a private Republican gathering at noon. Seemed fitting to feature questions being raised by nationally-syndicated columnist Matt Lewis about Newt's recent endorsement of a radically-left Republican in NY 23...

A few days ago, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich irritated many movement conservatives when he endorsed liberal Republican Dede Scozzafava over Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman for the upcoming special election in New York's 23rd congressional district.

The Chicago Way

In the 1987 film "The Untouchables," Jimmy Malone (Sean Connery) explained to Elliot Ness (Kevin Kostner) "The Chicago Way" for those who still don't know how our nation's now being run.

Tribune, Sun-Times Are Still Losing Readers

by Mark Rhoads

Acording to a report in Editor and Publisher magazine today, national newspaper circulation again declined another 10.6 percent compared to one year ago at the end of September 2008. Both Chicago newspapers continue to lose home delivery and newsstand sales. The Tribune lost 9.72 percent and The Sun-Times lost 11.98 percent since last year. See story details at  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Newspaper-circulation-down-apf-3182126693.html?x=0&.v=3

Here are losses for the top 15 papers by Monday-Friday daily circulation:

Durbin: Bankers to blame for ACORN-related mortgage fraud

A Bloomberg.com story about Monday's SEIU/ACORN protests at the American Bankers Association's annual meeting in Chicago reports our own U.S. Senator Dick Durbin's calls for more banking regulation:

“We need to ensure that the robber barons that are responsible for this recession don’t get away with creating it and then declaring themselves a dividend,” Durbin told about 700 people gathered in a Chicago hotel ballroom.

Durbin suggested the bankers get out and meet Chicago residents who have been hurt by foreclosures and mortgage fraud. He also urged more regulation of payday loan operators and criticized the financial services industry for providing political protection to them.

More on SEIU, ACORN and unionizing thugs

Illinois prolife activist and IR contributor Jill Stanek has been given a national platform on BigGovernment.com to tell her story about SEIU/ACORN and their full court press to unionize Illinois-based Advocate Health Care Systems back in 2004. In  a three-part post "Community Organizing with Barack, ACORN and SEIU," she lays out exactly how it was done five years ago, and how it could be in America's future with Obama's SEIU-backed national health care plan. 

by Jill Stanek

Earlier this month [Big Government's] Don Loos wrote about SEIU and ACORN’s “corporate campaigns,” thinly veiled but apparently legal extortion attempts to get big companies to unionize. Wrote Loos:

SEIU, along with its partners… stage disruptive demonstrations, place derogatory ads, hand out offensive flyers, send defamatory letters, and pressure politicians…. All of these actions are designed to irritate everyone in the community and hopefully focus the unrest on the employer, not SEIU. And, in the end, it’s all about money – union dues extracted from workers….

I saw this firsthand in 2004, somewhat from the inside. More at Big Government

Four Dems and five Republicans file for U.S. Senate

Nine candidates -- four Dems and five Republicans -- filed the first day of primary filings to fill the US Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama. Others are expected to be added to the ballot later this week. Filings end next Monday at 5 PM. Little known is a Republican Springfield woman named Kathleen Thomas and less known Springfield area's Don Lowery, who filed along with Mark Kirk and two others. Appointed vacancy filler Democrat Roland Burris will not be running for a full term in 2010.

Three Dems and four Republicans file for Governor

Two Democrats filed to challenge Governor Pat Quinn and four Republicans -- Bill Brady, Bob Schillerstrom, Adam Andrzejewski and Kirk Dillard -- had their petitions signed and ready to submit at 8:00 am Monday morning.  Three GOP candidates -- Dan Proft, Jim Ryan and Andy McKenna -- have stated their interest in running for the GOP nomination, but didn't file petitions today.  Andy McKenna's campaign announced over the weekend he would be holding a press conference Tuesday to kick off his and his LG candidate Matt Murphy's campaign.

Four Republicans vy to challenge 8th CD's Melissa Bean

Two Dems and two Republicans file for State Comptroller

State Comptroller Dan Hynes will be challenging Democratic Governor Pat Quinn in the February 2010 primary, and two Dems are vying to fill the vacancy. Two Republicans -- former State Treasurer Judy Baar-Topinka and Orland Park trustee Jim Dodge -- filed as well.

Four Republicans and three Dems file for party's LG nomination

Four Republicans and three Democrats filed for the currently vacant Lieutenant Governor spot. All three Democrats who filed are currently State Senators -- Terry Link, Rickey Hendon and Arthur Turner.

Four GOPers file in 14th CD

Vying for the chance to challenge freshman Democrat Bill Foster, four 14th CD Republicans filed their petitions the first day. Foster did not file as of 5:00 PM Monday.

Four Republicans file for 11th CD

Four Republicans filed to challenge Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson (D-11IL) the first day of petition filings:

Seven file for 10th CD primary

Mark Kirk's run for U.S. Senate opened a congressional seat, and seven candidates -- two Dems and five Republicans -- filed for the February 2, 2010 bid the first day of filing:

 

Garrido files in Cook County Board President race

CHICAGO - John Garrido took the next step in his campaign by filing his petitions for the Republican nomination for Cook County Board President. He issued the following statement:

"I am amazed at the outpouring of support for my campaign.  Republicans in Cook County are excited at the prospect of having an electable candidate on the ticket.  I have constantly affirmed my commitment to repealing the sales tax increase in Cook County, eliminating the unnecessary patronage jobs that Todd Stroger has used to reward his friends and family, reforming the county health care system, and expanding the Inspector General's Office to target corrupt public servants in Cook County.

He goes on ... 

Conservatives hold most prevalent political view

from Gallup Polling:

Conservatives continue to outnumber moderates and liberals in the American populace in 2009, confirming a finding that Gallup first noted in June. Forty percent of Americans describe their political views as conservative, 36% as moderate, and 20% as liberal. This marks a shift from 2005 through 2008, when moderates were tied with conservatives as the most prevalent group.

It's the Candidate's Job to Build Support of Voters, Not Vice Versa

by John Bambenek

Make no mistake, 2010 might be a really good year for Republicans but it's hardly a lock. Voters might just be pushed to the edge to vote for anyone but the Democrat, but hoping your opponents implode isn't the best strategy. Why do I say this? Because I've heard again and again, "We must support X, he's our best chance for us to win this seat..."

What's this "we" crap?

Political parties exist to obtain and maintain political power, nothing more and nothing less. That's how they think and that's not a moral judgment. However, in a democratic republic such as ours, the values of the voters matter. That's why parties adopt platforms. The reality is, most people are not members of the Republican or Democratic parties in any real sense.  They vote for them because they support certain values, not because they'll get a share (or even want one) of political power.  So maybe candidate X could win the seat, but if he's working against my values, why should I go to the wall to support him or her?

Liberals: Don't Dream It's Over

by Teri O'Brien 

Unlike that phony rigged, ABC/WaPo poll from last week, today’s Rasmussen poll isn’t good news for proponents of government-run health care. Gee, Keith Olbermann, I thought you had convinced everyone about the merits of socialized medicine by rebranding it “Medicare for all.” You spent the better part of your waste of bandwidth agitprop fest last Wednesday night patting  yourself on the back for using that phrase to put a nice friendly mask on the realization of the leftist dream of one health care system where everyone, with the exception of the elite political class and their favorites, is equal; that is, equally deprived of the care they need by rationing, long waits and, at the end of life, the decision by the bureaucrat in charge that the government has spent enough on your sorry ass, so take your pain pill and be happy about it.

No more of this disgusting perpetuation of the unfairness that has gone on in this mean country way too long, in which the quality of the goods and services you receive, be it your home or your health care, depends on whether you are a shiftless wino, an illegal alien or a small business owner who works 80 hours a week to provide for your family and jobs that support other people’s families. If Medicaid is good enough for the wino and the illegal, it’s good enough for you. The difference is that, unlike them, you will pay more and get less. They will continue to pay nothing and get more.

Plummer files petitions for Lt. Governor

from the Plummer for LG campaign

Jason Plummer, a businessman from downstate Edwardsville, filed his petitions for Lt. Governor in Springfield today and said if elected he would use the office to help create new jobs in Illinois and work to restore ethics in government.  If elected, Plummer will bring his unique experience as a successful businessman combined with his conservative Republican principles to revitalize the office of Lt. Governor.

Plummer currently works in the family business, R.P. Lumber, headquartered in Edwardsville, as well as subsidiary companies focusing on property development and technology investments.  “As a small businessman, I know what it takes to create new jobs in Illinois,” according to Plummer.  “Our family is proud and humbled by the fact that we employ hundreds of people in our lumberyards and other companies in Illinois,” he said.  

Insurance anti-trust controversy more of Obama's Chicago Way

Wednesday, Congress moved one step closer to punishing health insurance companies for releasing their recent report about the expected high costs of the Democrats' proposed health care takeover. Last Saturday, Barack Obama told the nation via his weekly address that health insurance industry's reports were "phony," "bogus" and "all too familiar."

“It’s smoke and mirrors,” Obama said. “It’s bogus. And it’s all too familiar. Every time we get close to passing reform, the insurance companies produce these phony studies as a prescription and say, ‘Take one of these, and call us in a decade.’ Well, not this time.”

Obama's "too familiar" slur shouldn't be overlooked. The President is very familiar with using "cherry picked data" to manipulate towards an ends.  Just before his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004, Obama himself used SEIU-ACORN authored reports to push an Illinois Senate Health and Human Services Committee into investigating Advocate Health Systems billing practices and eventually forced the hospital to succumb to union demands.

SEIU/ACORN crash ABA conference

Illinois Review wrote about SEIU/ACORN's planned three-day protests at a the American Bankers' Association conference in Chicago, starting yesterday.  SEIU/ACORN put together this video of yesterday's demonstration. See "SEIU/ACORN groups plan to "crash the bankers' party" next week in Chicago" for the list of groups and more info on today and tomorrow's schedule.

ACORN positioned to advise financial institutions

Although the US Senate and US House both voted to pause any federal funding on its way to the embattled ACORN until November 1, TradingStocks.com reports that last week US Rep. Maxine Waters successfully manipulated ACORN and its sister organizations into a new, even more powerful position --advising the nation's financial institutions:

During consideration of H.R. 3126, legislation to establish a Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA), Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee voted to pass an amendment offered by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) that will make ACORN eligible to play a role in setting regulations for financial institutions.

ACORN, you may ask.  How can we be so sure?

Malkin and Proft Agree: Republicans Need Clean Hands

from the Proft for Governor campaign

We cannot take the fight to the Chicago Democrats and speak with moral clarity on system-change reforms if we are on the dole of the very organizations that protect the status quo at the expense of people who play by the rules in Illinois. That is why I have pledged not to accept any campaign donations from public sector unions SEIU and AFSCME, and the teachers’ unions. I have called on my Republican opponents to do the same but they have declined.

You might think this wouldn’t be an issue for Republicans. Unfortunately, this is Illinois.

According to State Board of Elections records, State Sens. Kirk Dillard and Bill Brady have each taken tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from these public sector unions.

Team Andrzejewski collects 14,000 signatures

from Andrzejewski for Governor campaign

Elmhurst, IL (October 26, 2009)-  Republican candidate for Governor Adam Andrzejewski (ann-Gee-eff-ski) filed the maximum 10,000 petition signatures with the Illinois State Board of Elections.  Standing in line outside of the offices since 5:30am, Andrzejewski stated, “Our statewide network of volunteers and workers delivered 14,000 petition signatures gathered at local events, in neighborhoods, at county fairs, and at Republican party meetings.”  With seven potential candidates in the race, Andrzejewski was early in line to vie for the top spot on the ballot.

Leading the Andrzejewski grassroots effort on petition signatures were Adam’s parents from Herscher, IL, John and Janet Andrzejewski.  John, 71, and Janet, 63, turned in 1,967 petition signatures of which they personally gathered over 1,600!  “Our son Adam is the right leader, at the right moment.  As Governor, he will put the principles and values of small town Illinois to work on behalf of the people of Illinois.  We are certainly seeing that even on the campaign trail,”  John Andrzejewski stated.

Bill Brady Files First for Governor with signatures from every county

from Brady for Governor campaign

Springfield, IL – Republican Sen. Bill Brady was the first candidate to file candidate petitions for Governor Monday at the State Board of Elections in Springfield for the February 2nd Primary Election. Filing the maximum 10,000 signatures candidates for Governor can file, Brady was pleased with his campaign’s performance.

“I’m proud to have collected signatures from every single county in this state,” said Brady. “I plan to be a Governor for all of Illinois, and having signatures from every county in Illinois reflects the work we’ve put into the campaign for the last several years and shows our strength as an organization.”

Dodge To File Petitions Today in Comptroller’s Race

from the Dodge for Comptroller campaign

Jim Dodge, Republican candidate for the Office of Illinois Comptroller, today is filing his petitions with the State Board of Elections in Springfield.

“I am pleased to have reached a key milestone in this campaign. As the chief fiscal control officer for the state, it will be my responsibility to accurately keep track of the state’s finances,” Dodge said.  “Career politicians for the past decade or so have been making promises that the state’s checkbook can’t keep and as a result, Illinois owes roughly $82 billion in pension and retirement obligations that are not funded.”

Schillerstrom files with 10,000 signatures

from the Bob for Illinois campaign

SPRINGFIELD – Republican candidate for Governor Bob Schillerstrom filed 10,000 petition signatures with the State Board of Elections on Monday, doubling the Illinois requirement for support and ensuring a place on the February 2, 2010 Republican Primary Ballot.

Schillerstrom submitted 722 petition pages as doors to the state office opened on the first day of filing. As one of the first candidates to file, Schillerstrom earns an opportunity to be placed at the top of the ballot and just as important, sends a message to Illinois voters.

Time to see who's in for February 2

Candidates for US Senate to judgeships have been lined up in front of Illinois Board of Elections Monday morning, vying for the coveted top spot on the February 2, 2010 primary ballot.  The first candidate to register his or her petition signatures earns the top ballot placement for his or her office.  If two or more candidates' petitions are submitted during the 8:00 AM hour for a particular office, at a later date, those names from the same party will be drawn to determine ballot placement.

Candidates are not required to submit their own petitions at the Springfield office, but traditionally  statewide candidates often show up themselves for photo ops, rather than send representatives.

The petition submission period lasts a week.  Expect petition inspections and challenges of signatures.  Knocking candidates off the ballot is one effective way of eliminating competition and winning an election. 

The February 2, 2010 race begins in earnest today, when we learn who's really going to be on the Feb 2 ballot.

Quinn enlarges commission that's never met

Democrat Gov. Quinn appointed three people to the state's Latino Family Commission, which has never met since it was established in 2007. According to Quinn's office, the commission was formed "to advise the governor and the state General Assembly on issues and opportunities for Latino families."

The new members include Maria Esther Lopez, director of institutional advancement for the nonprofit group El Valor; Henry Martinez, director of the Mexican Community Committee; and Marisol Morales, associate director of DePaul University's Steans Center.

Schock may have Democrat Challenger

According to PJStar.com, Democrat Deirdre "DK" Hirner from Springfield may challenge U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock in next year's general election. Hirner is executive director of the Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group. Interestingly, she doesn't even live in the 18th District. More here.

Davis endorses Jackson for Senate

Democrat Congressman Danny Davis endorsed Cheryle Jackson for U.S. Senate Sunday. Davis was joined by other elected officials and community leaders Sunday as he gave his endorsement. He said she was the best candidate for the post and that s she thinks like he does.

Illinois GOP Women Elect New Officers

from the Illinois Federation of Republican Women

A new team will lead Illinois GOP women in 2010. Executive officers were elected at the Illinois Federation of Republican Women’s biennial convention held on Oct. 23-24 in Bloomington.

Joyce Hundhausen of Carol Stream will be taking the helm of the IFRW. She will replace outgoing president, Dr. Lois Frels. Other officers elected were: Penny Falcon of Aurora, 1st Vice President; Pat Fee of Naperville, 2nd Vice President; Carol Hornickle of Peoria, 3rd Vice President; Bobbi Snyder of Salem, 4th Vice President; Michelle Schurman of Mount Carroll, Secretary; and Cheryl Towne of Danville, Treasurer.

The joke is on conservatives

by Andy Haaf

Let's conduct a little experiment here. I am going to tell two jokes and you let me know which has more impact. Here we go ...

What do you call 5,000 lawyers at the bottom of the sea?

Now, contrast that with ...

What do you call 5,000 members of the American Bar Association at the bottom of the sea?

The first joke will resonate with nearly everyone in the room (unless of course you are a lawyer). However, tell the second version and you will hear nothing but crickets chirping (which just happens to be the ring tone on my iPhone).

Hottest places reserved for who?

by Mark Rhoads

There is a quote often attributed, whether correct or not is the subject of a debate, to the Italian poet  -- Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) who wrote about the circles of Hell in The Divine Comedy. The quote is "The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crises maintain their neutrality." But Dante lived in Italy almost 400 years ago and he never met a national association lobbyist in Washington, DC. If Dante had ever met a K Street bandit, he would surely have known that the hottest places in Hell are truly reserved for the professional lobbyists who dance on all sides of critical issues.