Illinois Review

Pro-abortion Republican group raises $100k to defeat pro-life IL GOP lawmakers

CHICAGO - “It has never been clearer than now that the abortion industry is desperate to solidify its hold on Illinois. Abortion giants have coerced moderate Republicans to do their dirty dealings - and against members of their own party, when they are already in the minority!" 

That's what Illinois Right to Life Action spokesperson Mary Kate Knorr had to say in reaction to the funds a new group of pro-abortion Republicans are spending to defeat their party's members in the Illinois House and Senate.

The "Republican Mainstream Committee" is spending over $100,000 in 13 key Illinois state house and senate districts, demanding Illinois Republican members in the House and Senate to abandon their pro-life positions. 

Di Leo: Allocating Blame after Tree of Life Horror

By John F. Di Leo - 

Who’s to blame?

Every time there is a shooting, a bombing, any kind of mass killing, a heartbroken nation asks ourselves, who’s to blame?

We must begin, of course, with the fact that the person who did it, did it. Period. The person who pulled the trigger, set the bomb, drove the van, was responsible. Unless he was hypnotized, or otherwise physically and mentally controlled from afar, the killer himself bears criminal responsibility for the crime he commits.  

No excuses, no reprieves, no blaming a cruel society or bad childhood. When a killer kills, he owns the responsibility, and he owns his due punishment.

That being said, however, there is more blame to go around, for the hatred and the errant philosophy that sometimes spurs such acts by these evil people.

Leahy: Illinois Democrats excited about hiking taxes in wake of anticipated Blue Wave

Jake Leahy

By Jake Leahy - 

Will there be a Blue Wave? A Red Wave? Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure, Speaker Mike Madigan is putting on the full court press to take back a supermajority of the Illinois House.

Under the Quinn Administration, a “temporary” income tax hike was passed with Democrat supermajorities in the General Assembly. Under Governor Rauner, some Republicans joined forces with the Democrats to form a supermajority to pass yet another income income tax hike, while overriding the Governor’s veto. J.B. Pritzker has made clear his agenda if elected, to get a new so called “Progressive” income tax passed.

Thorner: Pre-election events point to possible Red Wave on Horizon

By Nancy Thorner - 

Despite the heinous shooting at the synagogue in Pittsburgh, none of the Democrats are demanding more gun control, at least those seeking election or their mentors, as there would be no better way to sink their already shrinking margins. Democrats finally seem to recognize Bill Clinton’s warnings, learned when he lost Congress in his own mid-term, following the “Assault Weapon Ban” of 1994. 

The Assault Weapons Ban failed because deranged people find ways to murder others with whatever weapons they can find and are particularly ingenious in that respect. The only people affected are those whom habitually obey laws, at the expense of their means for self-defense. In Great Britain, the homicide rate is greater than in Utah, where carrying firearms is almost universal, only with knives, fists and feet.  For the first time in modern London has overtaken New York for murders for the first time in modern history after a surge in knife crime across the capital. 

The worst mass shooting in US history, aside from 200 or so striking miners in the late 19th century, occurred at Virginia Techwhere the gunman killed 31 students and faculty with a single handgun. While students huddled in classrooms, the campus police huddled outside for 20 minutes, because the doors were chained and they didn’t want to damage school property. Time after time ordinary citizens are expendable as long as politicians are safe. But this respite won't last long if Democrats take Congress.

A Clash of Judicial Visions

What is the purpose of the Supreme Court? Conservatives and progressives have very different answers to that question, write John Yoo and James C. Phillips:

Before they devolved into an ugly political and personal brawl, Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings revealed, among other things, the fault lines in American constitutional politics.

Democratic senators, as well as their expert witnesses called in opposition, advanced a view of a judge as simply the enabler of a political party’s policy preferences. They cross-examined Judge Kavanaugh on the specific outcomes he had reached in cases relating to certain groups of interest: minorities, women, environmental organizations, and the like. In their view, the only difference between a judge and a congressman is the former wears a robe.

Influenced by the Legal Realism movement, which is the basic approach taught in most American law schools today, these Democrats find law and facts to be mostly smoke and mirrors. Instead, to them, judges really exercise raw and unchecked political power in determining winners and losers. Judging is about outcomes, not process. To be a good judge is to pick the right winners. Lady Justice is not blind — she metes out justice with both eyes wide open so that she can favor the preferred class or group.

Kushiner: Manly Codes of Conduct

By James M. Kushiner, The Fellowship of St. James - 

Legend has it that radical feminists once proclaimed, "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle!" This could be a stand-up comedienne's punch line in a joke about a blind date with a jerk, but as a statement of human needs, it is laughable. Granted, it reflects the attitude of some women, including some who have had very bad experiences with men, but is it true for all women, for many happily married wives and mothers?

Since many women still need men, the new target for rejection by feminists has shifted to manhood or masculinity. A 2015 documentary, The Mask You Live In, claims that "Be a man!" are the three most destructive words you can say to a boy because they promote "toxic masculinity." So is the new slogan: "A man needs masculinity like a fish needs a bicycle"?

Here’s How Much Red Tape Trump Has Cut

Rolling back the regulatory state. The Trump administration is reducing the economic burden of regulation, writes Diane Katz:

The Trump administration on Wednesday reported $23 billion in savings from 176 deregulatory actions in fiscal year 2018. Even more consequential, the administration has issued 65 percent fewer “significant” rules—those with costs that exceed $100 million a year—than the Obama administration, and 51 percent fewer than the Bush administration, after 22 months in office. [...]

The administration in fiscal year 2018 took 57 significant deregulatory actions compared to 14 significant regulatory actions, according to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs data. [...]

What Are Stock Buybacks?

Many companies are using their savings from the 2017 tax cuts for stock buybacks. While perhaps not as obviously exciting as pay raises and bonuses, these buybacks still benefit millions of American workers. Check out this video, made in collaboration with Job Creators Network, to find out how.

What Do College ‘Chief Diversity Officers’ Accomplish?

What do College Diversity Officers do? George Leef writes:

Four Baylor University economists, Steven Bradley, James Garven, Wilson Law, and James West looked for any statistical evidence to show that having a CDO did anything to increase the hiring of “underrepresented racial/ethnic minority groups” for faculty positions. [...]

Their conclusion: “Using a wide variety of robust specifications, we are unable to find significant evidence that the presence of an executive level CDO alters preexisting trends of increasing faculty and administrator diversity.”

How Al Gore Built The Global Warming Fraud

Although his science is often seriously wrong, no one can deny that Al Gore has a flair for the dramatic. Yet his hyperbolic claims beg the question: How did this all start?

More HERE

Why Some Scientists Now Say Global Warming Is Out and Global Cooling Is In

In a world riddled with climate-change doomsday predictions, a small but growing number of scientists are saying that Earth could soon face something even more dire: global cooling

More HERE

New ad shows Casten embraces, defends anti-Christian personality Dan Savage

WHEATON - Democrat Sean Casten has said some outrageous things during his campaign to oust incumbent Republican Congressman Peter Roskam, but embracing and defending Dan Savage ranks as one of the most outrageous.

Savage's anti-Christian, anti-Bible mockeries of normal, principled citizens is shocking - and having a Congressman that defends Savage would be completely contradictory to Illinois' 6th CD constituency, Family Research Council Action's ad makes very clear. Released FIRST to Illinois Review:

The Illinois $100,000 Club: 94,000 Public Employees & Retirees Cost Taxpayers $12B

While Illinois is broke and it continues to flirt with junk bond status, the public employee class is living the good life.

Meet the Illinois $100,000 Club: it's 94,000 public employees and retirees who received six-figure salaries or pensions last year, costing taxpayers $12 billion.

Here are just a few examples:

• 30,000 teachers and school administrators including 11,600 retired educators receiving six-figure pensions.
• 20,000 rank and file workers in Chicago including tree trimmers and truck drivers with six-figure paychecks.
• 17,150 municipal government workers including village administrators making up to $324,000, out-earning every governor of the 50 states.
• 14,700 college and university employees and retirees including junior college power couple Dale and Linda Chapman who combined for $690,000 in compensation at Lewis and Clark Community College last year.
• 11,400 state of Illinois employees and retirees including a barber at the Department of Corrections making $105,300.

The examples are endless. Public employees and retirees are sucking the pay and pension systems dry while lining their pockets with taxpayer money. More HERE.

Interactive map HERE.

Trump inspires thousands in rare Southern Illinois stemwinder boosting Mike Bost

MURPHYSBORO - President Donald Trump closed his hour plus speech at Airport Hanger #6 in Murphysboro Illinois with a focus on Illinois - and its contribution to America's history. He stopped in downstate Illinois to rally around Congressman Mike Bost, who is facing a challenge in District 12. He also invited Congressman Randy Hultgren and Rodney Davis to the podium to address the crowd of 3000 plus.

Trump's words were met with cheer after cheer from the crowd that had been standing for hours waiting for Trump's arrival. Trump is boosting over 20 pre-election rallies throughout the country - urging Republicans to vote and work to keep control of the US House for his term's second half.

"We're going to keep on winning ... If you vote Republican this November, we'll continue to cut your taxes, cut your regulations  and raise your incomes like we've been doing. Think of where you are now, compared to three or four or five years ago - it's like a different planet." 

Former State Rep Ken Dunkin tells black conservatives: I'm a recovering Democrat

Former State Rep. Ken Dunkin (in black turtleneck) was at White House conference 

CHICAGO - "I'm a recovering Democrat," former State Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago) told the Young Black Conservative Leadership Conference in D.C. over the weekend.

Dunkin, who being "woke" a few years ago while heading Illinois House Democrat Caucus, said President Barack Obama was disappointing while speaking to a conference hosted by Turning Point USA.

"Gun violence in Chicago really started in 2008 - the year Barack Obama was elected the second time," Dunkin said.

Wirepoints: Pritzker's progressive tax plan will demand more from all hard-working Illinoisans

CHICAGO - Wirepoints, a website that reliably delves deep into Illinois' fiscal issues released Monday three possible courses J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Democrats could take if they are successful. The Democrats wants to toss Illinois' flat tax system and bring in their desired "progressive" tax schedule. None of the three bode well for hard-working Illinois taxpayers.

While at the federal level Republicans dramatically cut income taxes, state Democrats demand more from producers in Illinois. The gist? Get ready, Illinois - you're going to be paying more in income taxes soon after Pritzker is sworn in next January. 

To pay for all that the Democrat gubernatorial candidate is promising, he'll need between $10.8 Billion and $18 Billion more. Wirepoints writes:

The first scenario takes Pritzker’s promise at his word – that he’ll only hike taxes on the rich while protecting all other residents from a tax hike. That creates an extreme and improbable case of only two tax brackets: one for filers with millionaire incomes and one for everyone else. It’s a case that can be easily discarded as a nonstarter.

Wirepoints’ second scenario pushes higher tax rates further down the income ladder while still protecting the middle class – those with taxable incomes below $150,000 – from a tax hike. Unfortunately for Pritzker, the marginal rate on residents with incomes above $150,000 remains punitively high in this case. This scenario, too, can be easily discarded as unrealistic and unworkable.

And then, there's Wirepoints third scenario - the scariest for anyone making over $50,000: 

Just how charitable are Illinoisans, and how willing are they to pay what Democrats will demand?  

More at Wirepoints.

Thorner: Will domestic, lone wolf acts of terrorism affect the mid-term elections?

By Nancy Thorner - 

A hideous, evil and deadly postlude took place one day after the arrest of package bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc in Florida on Saturday, October 28, 2018, when a gunman, identified as Robert Browers, burst into a Pittsburgh synagogue shouting "All Jews must die!" during a circumcision ceremony at the Tree of Life Congregation. Sayoc was wielding an arsenal that included a semi-automatic rifle and three handguns. He killed 11 and wounded six others, including four police officers, during the 20 minute attack. 

While Cesar Savoc supposedly registered as a Republican in Florida in 2016, Robert Browers is not a Trump supporter. Brower - an anti-Semitic - complained that Trump was likewise not anti-Semitic, but surrounded by "too many Jewish people."

Pierce: Every Election Season We are Reminded that God Gave Us Two Hands

By Sam Pierce - 

Is Illinois special or do most states frequently suffer being presented a choice between two liberals seemingly every election cycle? I am assuming that we in Illinois are special indeed. It seems election time in Illinois is a time that tries men's souls, but also played on a loop every few years. In addition to having our souls tried, the loop plays a familiar reminder that God gave us two hands, perhaps with Illinois elections in mind.

Faithful Illinois Republicans, many of whom are part time conservatives, part time values voters, dutifully press play and urge full time conservatives and values voters to use their two hands in the manner intended.

Where’s Weyermuller now? Celebrating favorite holiday with 2018 scary Halloween yard display

By Mark Weyermuller -

There is nothing more scary in the fall in Illinois then a bunch of politicians showing up in one place. This is especially true just six days before these crucial midterm elections. For the past fifteen years I’ve decorated my front yard for various holidays. This Halloween is no different. Our yard display - like others in Wilmette, Illinois - consists of orange lights, pumpkins, air-blown characters, and life-sized figures of celebrities, candidates, and elected officials.  This one's is located on Lawndale Street.

Our decorations are made of scarecrow-type figures complete with hands, props, and a rubber latex masks. The display is non-partisan. I have one of the largest collections of Halloween masks of politicians in the country, a somewhat dubious distinction. (I’m guessing if I ever get nominated for a cabinet position or the US Supreme Court, this might come up in the confirmation hearings.) 

The real reason behind Trump’s nuclear treaty withdrawal isn’t Russia. It’s North Korea.

The INF withdrawal can help our North Korea strategy. Marc Thiessen writes:

In announcing his decision to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, President Trump cited Russia’s repeated violations and the fact that the treaty does not bind China, which is engaged in the world’s most ambitious ballistic missile development program. But Trump’s withdrawal may also be designed for another purpose. It sends a subtle but unmistakable message to North Korea: If you refuse to denuclearize, we can now surround your country with short- and medium-range missiles that will allow us to strike your regime without warning.

Tom Steyer’s Energy Orders

In a scathing takedown of progressive California billionaire Tom Steyer, the good folks at the Wall Street Journal use research from the Illinois-based Heartland Institute to prove their point.

More HERE

How Trump’s New Rule Aims to Expand Health Coverage and Lower Costs

More health care options coming. Robert Moffit details a new regulatory change by the Trump administration that could help those in small group plans:

The proposed rule, jointly developed by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Treasury Department, would allow employer-sponsored health reimbursement accounts to fund the purchase of individual health insurance on a tax-free basis.

Kirk: Don’t Believe Dems’ Tired Lies about Pre-Existing Conditions

Wheeling Illinois' Charlie Kirk - founder of nationwide org Turning Points USA offers exclusive commentary to Illinois Review

By Charlie Kirk -

For more than two years, Democrats have been trying to convince Americans that Donald Trump is out to scrap coverage for pre-existing conditions.

It was a lie in 2016. It was a lie in 2017. It’s a lie today.

In fact, President Trump and his Republican allies have done the opposite — they have worked hard to protect this important provision and ensure that Americans with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied health insurance.

"I will always fight for and protect patients with pre-existing conditions," the President said recently. "Some people think that's not a Republican thing to do. I don't care. And I'll tell you what, all of the Republicans are coming into that position now. All of them. And we'll do it the right way too."

Thorner: Is it too late to stop recreational marijuana in Illinois?

By Nancy Thorner - 

The stark truth is that both tobacco and marijuana have damaging effects, yet cigarette smoking is vilified while smoking marijuana is being marketed as harmless.

The effects of euphoria that cannabis users seek from the drug come primarily from its psychoactive ingredient, called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC. The THC content of marijuana in the United States has jumped from less than 2 percent in 1980 to 8.5 percent in 2006, making what is available today much more toxic and dangerous.

In the U.S. nine states and Washington D.C. allow for recreational use of marijuana. While many other states allow only for medical use, marijuana still remains illegal under federal law.

In 2013, the Illinois General Assembly legalized medical marijuana. In 2016 the same body of lawmakers decriminalized possession of marijuana, reducing it to a $100 fine. Now some want full legalization of recreational marijuana.

The future of legalizing cannabis may hinge on the Illinois governor's race. 

Di Leo: Of Drugs and Thugs and Pipe-Bomb Scares, Of Caravans and Kings

By John F. Di Leo - 

In the news this week – just two weeks out from a critically important midterm election – the news is full of stories about pipe bombs being mailed to prominent left-wingers.

It’s a fascinating story on several fronts.  The targets included an ex-president and an ex-secretary of state, an aging actor, the office of a liberal media outlet, and an activist financier so ancient that most people thought he must be dead already.  At this writing, none of these bombs went off, and most didn’t even reach their destinations because they were sent to people well known to be heavily guarded.

While it is too early – at this writing – to speculate, it certainly sounds possible, between the choices of targets and the utterly improbable type of pipe bomb, that these were never really intended to go off.  Which makes one wonder: what was really the purpose of such a project, two weeks before an election?

Two Pritzker staffers fired for posting blackface photo on Instagram

CHICAGO - CapitolFax's Rich Miller has been covering this Pritzker campaign embarrassment Friday - resulting in two of the Pritzker campaign staff losing their jobs. The whole kerfuffle is because Pritzker campaign staff posted a photo of Pritzker's deputy Get Out the Vote Director on Instagram earlier this week:

"What a stupid thing to do," Miller wrote on his blog where Democrats and Springfield insiders gather. "Your campaign is being sued for racial discrimination and you pose for this photo and a top official posts it online? I don’t care if it was a charcoal face mask. Nobody thinks over there? What’s the opposite of 'woke'?"

And the coincidence of this hitting the internet the same day talk show host Megan Kelly was fired from her NBC show for defending Halloween costumes with black faces made Pritzker's staff's behavior even more sensitive.

More at CapitolFax. Warning: CapitolFax's commenters there cannot and will not tolerate or welcome conservatives. 

Letter to Editor: Holding my nose, I'm voting for Rauner

TO THE EDITOR:

In the Illinois governor's race, pro-lifers know that Governor Rauner has betrayed his promise to stay out of the “moral issues,” having signed into law House Bill 40. The bill provides funding for Medicaid and state employee abortions, and restricts the free speech of pregnancy care centers.

So, is State Senator Sam McCann, the Conservative Party candidate, a good alternative for pro-lifers?Not so fast, pro-life voter!!  McCann isn't proclaiming the positives of the Constitution.  Oddly enough, McCann is attacking PRO-LIFE and conservative Republicans that are in races with Democrats. Former Gube candidate Jeanne Ives is outraged at McCann. McCann attacked several conservative lawmakers - including State Rep. Tom Morrison (Palatine) and State Rep. John Cabello (Rockford). 

America’s Cold Civil War

By Charles R. Kesler - 

Six years ago I wrote a book about Barack Obama in which I predicted that modern American liberalism, under pressures both fiscal and philosophical, would either go out of business or be forced to radicalize. If it chose the latter, I predicted, it could radicalize along two lines: towards socialism or towards an increasingly post-modern form of leadership. Today it is doing both. As we saw in Bernie Sanders’ campaign, the youngest generation of liberals is embracing socialism openly—something that would have been unheard of during the Cold War. At the same time, identity politics is on the ascendant, with its quasi-Nietzschean faith in race, sex, and power as the keys to being and meaning. In the #MeToo movement, for example—as we saw recently in Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation battle—the credo is, “Believe the woman.” In other words, truth will emerge not from an adversarial process weighing evidence and testimony before the bar of reason, but from yielding to the will of the more politically correct. “Her truth” is stronger than any objective or disinterested truth.

More HERE

Thorner: Will there be a Blue Wave or a Red Wall on Nov 6th?

 

By Nancy Thorner - 

The Left is counting on fear and extreme hatred toward Trump to bring about a change in the US House leadership spurred on by angry voter turnout in the November mid-term elections. But consider this development:    

Optimism about the economy, measured by Americans who are optimistic about current conditions and the future, hit an all-time high in CNBC’s All-American survey, the financial news network reported Monday. Fifty-one percent of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, according to the CNBC survey. This was the second consecutive CNBC quarterly survey showing that Trump’s handling of the economy was viewed positively by the majority of Americans. It further supports the finding Friday from the University of Michigan consumer survey that confidence in the government’s economic policies jumped to the highest level in fifteen years.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday, October 16, shows that 51% of likely U.S. Voters approve of President Trump’s job performance. Forty-nine percent (49%) disapprove.

Democrats bombarding Morrison district with phony photos and malicious mailers

PALATINE - If it weren't enough that gubernatorial candidate Sam McCann filled State Rep. Tom Morrison's district mailboxes full of deceptive mailers calling Morrison - who is a staunch conservative - a "Rauner RINO," Mike Madigan's Democrats are showing where they are focused - and Morrison is in Madigan's sites.

Morrison says the Democrats have sent a couple dozen mailers to his Palatine-based district's voters over the past few weeks. One after another, the mailers either stretch the truth or leave out important details in order to give the impression Morrison is against reasonable, rational policies. It's a tactic Mike Madigan's people use often. 

Here's what happened in a mailing on Tuesday in Morrison's district, according to Rep. Morrison: 

DECEPTIVE MAILER ALERT #25: They can't even use actual pictures! Today's mailer utilizes a doctored photo from Streetfest when I wore the Tax Fighter sash that had been given to me as a gift. Besides the photo, the mailer claims I voted No on "equal pay for equal work, denying women wages". The Illinois Equal Pay Act was signed into law in 2003 and became effective on January 1, 2004. My opponent refuses to run an honest campaign on the facts and the Tribune rightfully called her out on it. How can you trust someone to represent you when they deceive you so willfully during their campaign?

Below, see this particular mocked up mailer photo with a photo taken the same day. In the Democrat mailer photo, the words "Tax Fighter" are blocked from the sash Morrison was given and wore: 

The spiritual core of political hate

A new study confirms that creeping tribalism has Americans bitterly divided, acrimonious, and dismissive of others based on political differences. Behind this animosity lies a spiritual principle that Rev. Timothy Keller touched on during his address at this year’s Acton Institute annual dinner.

Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, offered his insights in a lecture he titled “Identity, Business, and the Christian Gospel” – but its lessons go to the heart of every human being.

More HERE

Thorner: John Lott debunks gun control advocates' arguments

By Nancy Thorner -

John Lott is known as the nation's preeminent expert on guns. Andrew Napolitano, senior judicial analyst at the Fox News Channel, in praise for Lott's latest book, The War of Guns (Arming yourself Against Gun Control Lies) described Lott as the "most dogged, intellectually credible, academic defender of the right to keep and bear arms in the United States today."

At Heartland Institute last week, Lott used his latest book (an essential book to read for defending your Second Amendment rights before they are taken away forever) as a sounding board for his remarks debunking the so-called "facts," "data," "arguments" of anti-gun advocates. His purpose is to expose how gun control movement has repeatedly twisted or ignored the real evidence, evidence that refutes them on every point.  Listen here to Lott's Heartland presentation.

The American Trinity: The Three Values that Make America Great

Nearly every country on Earth is defined by race or ethnicity. Not America. What makes the United States different? Dennis Prager outlines the values that have allowed the American people to flourish and, unlike immigrants almost everywhere else, transformed those who arrived from across the globe into full Americans—regardless of where they were born.

Letter to Editor: Why I support Ken Idstein in House District 62

Letter to Editor:

Here we are again, getting ready to go to the polls on November 6^th.  Big decisions to be made and I fear they are made on hearsay and sham information.

I support Ken Idstein for State Representative for District 62 because I have known him since the 1980’s. I have worked in real estate and he was and still is in the mortgage loan business. 

More Misplaced Green Outrage

Greens are angry that the Department of the Interior modified a rule they wanted to use to attack energy and ranching.

How we long for the good old days! That’s the tone of some environmental industry leaders who are screaming bloody murder (literally, not figuratively) about Department of the Interior actions under President Trump. The Department’s re-interpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act is a case in point.

More HERE

China’s Economy Isn’t What It’s Cracked Up to Be

China’s economy is probably not as big as you think it is. Gabriella Beaumont-Smith writes:

The purchasing power parity exchange rates are an extremely useful way to measure development and predict where a country might aim its GDP to achieve the same living standards as the United States. But to actually compare the sizes of the economies, it is better to use the regular market exchange rates, like you would to change your dollars to another currency.

McCann campaign scoops up millions from union PACs and Super PACs

PLAINVIEW - For a state senator that chose to run an independent bid for governor that polls show as still in single digits, Sam McCann is grabbing lots of attention among Illinois conservatives - and not for a good reason. 

McCann was making headway among social conservatives with ads running on Fox News cable channels and appearances on radio and tv. He had endorsements from conservative groups such as Illinois Family Action, Lake County Right to Life PAC and Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC. 

That was until this week, when mailers from McCann's campaign attacking Republican conservative candidates for not condemning Governor Rauner began hitting districts where those conservatives are already in very tight races. 

AARP IL unhappy about DCCC's unauthorized name use of AARP name in 13th CD ads

AARP Illinois’ statement regarding recent political ad paid for by Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee using unauthorized use of AARP’s name

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Use of the AARP name and letters resembling its logo in a recent political ad attacking Rodney Davis in the race to represent Illinois' 13th Congressional District were unauthorized and do not represent the views of the non-partisan organization that works on behalf of older adults and their families. 

“AARP does not endorse candidates or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates,” said AARP Illinois State Director Bob Gallo. “We have a proud 32-year history of non-partisan voter engagement, providing voters with information on where the candidates stand on issues important to our members and their families so they can make their own decisions on Election Day.”

Lake Co Right to Life withdraws McCann endorsement

LAKE COUNTY - Thursday, the Lake County Right to Life PAC withdrew their endorsement of Sam McCann as being the strongest pro-life candidate running for governor in Illinois.

"We were betrayed by a wolf in sheep's clothing," the group said in a press release. "We endorsed Senator Sam McCann based on his perfect candidate survey as well as his Pro-life voting record. 

They attached a copy of the mailer saying State Rep. Tom Morrison was a "Rauner RINO."

Thorner: Author George Barna upholds children as the hope for America's future

George Barna, author

By Nancy Thorner,  Photos by Mark Weyermuller - 

The 10th annual Illinois Family Institute Banquet was held on Friday, October 5, 2018, at Stonegate Conference Center, 2401 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates, IL, with 350 enthusiastic members and supporters of the IFI present. The theme of the night's event was "Keeping Our Eye on the Prize." 

Author George Barna outlines current public opinion of traditional issues

The evening's keynote speaker, author George Barna had much to say about children, family values and the church.  As stated by Barna: "Disciples are not born that way but are made.  Parents transform children into disciples by showing them the right path to follow and not hiding God's truth from children." 

As to the role of local churches, its role is to support parents so their children can become all they are meant to be.  Children are the leaders of tomorrow.  God also commands us to focus on children, Barna said.  

Will County GOP lights up I-55 with reasons to "Vote Republican" November 6th

JOLIET - "Protect our Constitution" a huge billboard on I-55 says - "Vote Republican."

The electronic sign lights up the night sky in Joliet through October 21st - easily seen for those driving north on I-55 before the Rt.52/Jefferson Street exit. 

And, Will County Republican Central Committee Chairman Marianne DeMeritt says, "Stay tuned - more reasons to vote Republican [will be posted] every week until the November 6th election." 

Illinois Right to Life Action: What McCann claims about Tom Morrison is "bold-face lie"

CHICAGO - Illinois Right to Life Action (IRLA) responded on Thursday to news of Senator Sam McCann, gubernatorial candidate in the Illinois General Election, attacking pro-life State Representative Tom Morrison in a mail piece to his district. The piece depicts Rep. Morrison as a “Rauner RINO” and advises constituents not to vote for Morrison.

“What Sam McCann claims is a bold-face lie,” said Mary Kate Knorr, spokesperson for Illinois Right to Life Action. “This is an unfounded attack on one of our best pro-life legislators. Rep. Morrison has repeatedly fought Governor Rauner’s deceitful actions. It is inconceivable why the senator would attack him so offhandedly, and it is clearly a political tactic in pursuit of his gubernatorial race.”

Beckman: Left slips into "Ridiculous-ism" via Witchcraft, Sexism, Racism and more

By Hank Beckman -

Is it just me, or are our liberal friends not handling the Kavanaugh confirmation quite as well as they might?

They completely infested our nation’s capital. Some dressed up in ridiculous Handmaid’s Tale costumes to signal their resistance to the Patriarchy. They progressed from merely acting like demented, spoiled children interrupting the Senate confirmation hearings to beating on the doors of the hearing room, chasing down Republicans in the hallways, shrieking about “believing all women,” and demanding an FBI investigation.

When two of them cornered the hapless Jeff Flake in an elevator, they bellowed in his face until he agreed to call for the Feds to review the case.

Hillary Clinton has intimated that civility can only return to our political process once the Democrats have regained control of Congress; feminist Jill Filipovic tweeted a call for women to divorce their Republican husbands, on the grounds that men who allow abuse of women don’t deserve wives; the outright threats to Maine Republican Susan Collins were so unhinged—one even calling for the rape of a female Collins staffer—that The New York Times actually noticed.

They’ve even appealed to the supernatural, with a group, or should I say coven, of witches convening to cast a series of “binding spells” to prevent Kavanaugh from doing the evil he was no doubt sent to do by the Patriarchy.   

Downstate GOP Congress incumbent reels in one union endorsement after another

ALTON - One downstate Republican incumbent in a tight race to be re-elected is going against his party's typical right-to-work flow by reaching out to public and private sector union members for their support - and he's reeling them in one by one. 

Over the past few weeks, second term Congressman Mike Bost (IL-12) has been sending out press release after press release with these headlines: 

• "Carpenters' Union Endorses Mike Bost"
• "Firefighters Union Endorses Bost for Re-Election"
• "Transportation Trade Union Endorses Bost" 
• "Infrastructure Union Endorses Bost"
• "United Mine Workers of America to Endorse Bost" 
• "Coal Minters Union Endorses Bost"
• "Federal Correctional Workers Endorse Bost"
• and "Illinois Education Association Endorses Bost" 

Alexis de Tocqueville, socialism, and the American Way

Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859) is perhaps best known among Americans as the author of the influential work, Democracy in America. He produced the book in two volumes -- the first, which came out in 1835 and the second, which came out in 1840 -- after taking a tour of the United States with his colleague and friend Gustave de Beaumont in 1831-32. His thesis in Democracy was simple. After careful observation of American customs, laws, institutions, and religion, he determined that the one defining factor in the United States was equality of conditions.

By this, Tocqueville meant that since there was no feudal tradition with all its social hierarchies, Americans were a highly mobile people. They were mobile socially and economically -- they could become entrepreneurs and build their own wealth without much to constrain them. They were politically mobile -- an American could rise from obscurity to power in America without having to worry about his parentage. And they were geographically mobile, moving westward from place to place in search of their fortunes.

More HERE

University of Chicago pres. slams 'privileging of feelings'

Robert Zimmer, president of the University of Chicago, defended his school's approach to free speech to the City Club of Cleveland.

He bashed those whom he says inhibit speech out of "self-righteous, moral, or political indignation, an agenda driven by such moral or political views, and comfort."

More HERE

This year’s Nobel for economics is a technology prize!

What this year’s Nobel Prize in economics teaches about climate policy.Bret Swanson:

On Tuesday, the Swedish Academy awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in economic sciences to two American economists, William Nordhaus of Yale University and Paul Romer of New York University’s Stern School of Business. Romer is well-known for his work on innovation, and although the committee focused on Nordhaus’ research on climate change, this year’s prize is really all about technology and its central role in economic growth. [...]

Illinois Family Action's statement reversing McCann endorsement

Illinois Family Action released this statement on their website, which up until today, endorsed Sam McCann for governor: 

Conservative Party gubernatorial candidate Sam McCann just committed an 11th-hour betrayal of fellow conservative Tom Morrison (R-54) so stunning and so manifestly dishonest that Illinois Family Action (and other conservative organizations) is rescinding its recent endorsement of McCann. In a phone conversation with IFA Executive Director David E. Smith this afternoon, McCann doubled down on his incredible claim calling Morrison a “Raunerite.” It seems that in addition to losing his moral compass, McCann has lost his political compass.

Ives' statement on McCann's mailer against Tom Morrison

Earlier today, Conservative Party candidate Sam McCann began losing support from conservative groups that had previously endorsed him. While State Rep. Jeanne Ives did not endorse McCann, she did speak out and encourage endorsers to withdraw support from McCann after a mailer calling State Rep. Tom Morrison a "Rino" hit 55th District Hard R mailboxes. (see mailers here)

Statement from former GOP gubernatorial candidate State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton): 

Is Sam McCann just looking for his taxpayer-funded job in the Pritzker Administration?

We don’t know, but it may explain why he sent out attack mailers on a common sense conservative like Tom Morrison.

Breaking: Illinois Family Action rescinds Sam McCann endorsement over mailer

Wednesday, Illinois Family Action rescinded its endorsement of Conservative Party's gubernatorial candidate Sam McCann after finding McCann sent out a mailing against one of the Illinois House's most conservative members - State Rep. Tom Morrison. 

State Rep. Jeanne Ives told Illinois Review she would be sending a statement to her statewide mailing list condemning McCann's mailer and actions against Morrison. 

Illinois Review obtained a copy of the mailer in which McCann skews Morrison as a "Rauner RINO" - when Morrison has consistently and publicly criticized Gov Rauner when he acted against conservative interests. UPDATE: IR is hearing that McCann was furious with Morrison for refusing to endorse him in the governor's race. Also, it is IR's understanding that no endorsement will be forthcoming from the state's conservatives on the governor's race. 

The mailer that stirred the controversy: 

More to come.