Randy Hultgren at the Aurora METRA Station

Randy Hultgren at the Aurora METRA station in the worst wind storm to hit Chicago area in 75 years.

Say Goodbye to Phil Hare

A great closing ad from the Schilling campaign.

Attack Ads, Circa 1800

Or maybe, Attack Ads by a Unitarian and a Univeralist fellow traveler....

Pathetic whimper of a decaying liberal Ancien Regime

Nile Gardiner on Krugman via The Telegraph

Not only is Krugman’s article one of the most ridiculous pieces of scare-mongering in the history of modern American journalism, but it is the pathetic whimper of a decaying liberal Ancien Regime that is spectacularly crumbling. It also illustrates just how out of touch liberal elites are with public opinion, as well as economic reality. The tired old blame Bush line no longer works, and as a recent poll showed, the former president’s popularity is rising again.

Whether Krugman likes it or not, the American people are turning overwhelmingly against Barack Obama’s Big Government agenda, and are looking for free market solutions to getting the country back on its feet, creating jobs and cutting the nation’s debt. As poll after poll shows, Americans are rejecting the liberal status quo and embracing the political revolution sweeping the country. My guess is that historians will look back on November 2010 not as a “catastrophe”, as Krugman declares, but as the beginning of a powerful new era for the United States, when conservatism and the cause of freedom made a striking comeback.

A revolution for sure. A whole generation of Liberal Politicans into History's dustbin it seems, and the rest left groping why then calling the electorate fools.

A New Yorker endoreses Bill Foster

Considering Bill Foster seems to have moved to Long Island, it figures a Progressive from the Empire State endorses him.  Scroll down the link Progressive Candidates in Illinois for the accolades.

Local Officials Endorse Randy Hultgren For Congress‏

via Hultgren's campaign... so much for throwing stimulus bribes at local gov.

Local Officials Endorse Randy Hultgren For Congress

ST. CHARLES – The Randy Hultgren for Congress campaign today released the following list of local officials endorsing Randy Hultgren’s Congressional campaign, including more than a dozen mayors from across the 14th Congressional District.

“Having the endorsement and support of these local officials not only means so much to me, it’s a testament to the grassroots strength of my campaign,” said Hultgren. “The local officials endorsing me today know that Bill Foster’s record of spending, taxes, and bigger government is hurting small businesses and farms, villages and towns across the district. And as someone who firmly believes that local governments govern best, I look forward to returning control, responsibilities and funds from Washington DC to village halls across the district, re-empowering responsive local governments.”


Officials endorsing Randy Hultgren for Congress include:

· Kathy Loos, Burlington

· Donald Swope, Compton

· David Anderson, Elburn

· Bob Logan, Franklin Grove

· Rick Zirk, Gilberts

· Kathy Curtis, Maple Park

· Dale Berman, North Aurora

· Jared Nicholson, Paw Paw

· Tom Thomas, Sandwich

· James W. Hansen, South Elgin

· Donald P. DeWitte, St. Charles

· Sean Michaels, Sugar Grove

· Debbie Washburn, Virgil

· Tom Ekle, Waterman

· Mike Kwasman, West Chicago

Bill Foster Dodges Questions About Nancy Pelosi

Geez, Pelosi said jump, Bill Foster asked how high? Who's Foster think he's kidding here.

Meet the Hultgren Voters

And this is pretty much what we look like out west....

Schakowsky ally launches anti-gay attack

via the Pollack campaign,

Sue Walton, a close ally of Jan Schakowsky and Democratic committeeman for Palatine Township, has been identified as the perpetrator of an anti-gay attack against blogger Andrew Breitbart.

Walton’s identity was revealed on Breitbart’s website Big Government today. On September 18, Walton shouted, “I think he’s gay!” as Breitbart questioned left-wing protestors at the Right Nation rally in Hoffman Estates.

Schakowsky recently shared the stage with Walton at her get-out-the vote rally in the 9th district on October 3, and proudly introduced Walton to the gathering.

Democrat Dan Seals, who is running in the 10th district, also proudly advertises Walton’s endorsement on his website.

“This is yet another example of the intolerance that Jan Schakowsky and her allies display when they are confronted about their radical views,” said Joel Pollak, Republican challenger in the 9th district.

“I call on Jan Schakowsky to condemn Walton’s disgraceful homophobic behavior.”

The full story is available at Big Government:

http://biggovernment.com/amarcus/2010/10/25/identified-right-nation-protester-who-called-andrew-breitbart-gay-is-a-democrat-party-official/

Bill Foster Dodges Questions About Nancy Pelosi

The Ward Room: Westside Ministers Endorse Kirk

A curious move after the Hendon outburt but I think Rev Wilson reflects a lot of people feeling more independent lately.

In a first for Chicago politics, Rev. Willie Wilson and a group of Westside ministers Monday endorsed GOP senate candidate Mark Kirk.

"It's about the man, not the party," the group said in a statement.

Rev. Wilson, traditionally affiliated with Democratic causes, says he's more Independent these days.

"I've been trying to supprt people who will help our community," Wilson said, speaking from the Holy Corinthian Baptist Church in Maywood.

Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/reverend-willie-wilson-mark-kirk-endorsement-105682703.html#ixzz13QBtptoC

Illinois State Senator Ricky "Hollywood" Hendon Restoring the Sanity Chicago West Side style

A classic from a guy who ridiculed Obama as O'Bama on the floor of the Senate, and than nearly clocked him, or vice versa, depending on the version of the story.

Hendon's a real candidate for the Restoring the Sanity Rally.


Via The Trib H/T Backyard Conservative

A West Side get-out-the-vote rally Saturday backfired for Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn when the governor was forced to quickly distance himself from racially charged criticism about his Republican foe made by the man who introduced him, Chicago mayoral candidate state Sen. Rickey Hendon.

Several local politicians attended the rally, led by U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, at the New Tabernacle of Faith Baptist Church, which was filled with union workers when Hendon launched into his attack on Republican governor nominee Bill Brady, a state senator from Bloomington.

"Let me tell you a couple things. I've served with Bill Brady. I've never served with such an idiotic, racist, sexist, homophobic person in my life," Hendon told the crowd. "If you think that the minimum wage needs to be $3 an hour, vote for Bill Brady. If you think that women have no rights whatsoever except to have his children, vote for Bill Brady. If you think gay and lesbian people need to be locked up and shot in the head, vote for Bill Brady."

The crowd clapped loudly as Hendon wound up his sermon-style introduction, some shouting "No sir!" as Hendon ticked off his criticism of Brady.

John Powers in Chicago Daily Observer: If Mary Mitchell Ignores a Story, Did It Actually Happen?

So maybe this will be the story that only shows come the Mayoral campaigns. Powers via CDO,

A group of volunteers has recruited over 500 new Republicans to be election judges in Chicago this year, giving the Republicans a full slate of election judges for the first time in memory. These same volunteers have distributed over 100,000 election fliers, 20,000 door hanging sets and 1500 yard signs, walking the streets in many South Side neighborhoods.

I interpret that there is a predominantly African American Tea Party movement on the South and West Sides of Chicago that are not going to support Democrats this time, and may form the backbone of a new city-wide Republican party.

The Pledge Scandal in Illinois's 8th

And Moe Lane writes,

A follow-up to yesterday’s post on the Pledge scandal in IL-08: it turns out that the League of Women Voters moderator (one Kathy Tate-Bradish) just happened to be a hardcore OfA member and Obama supporter.  Everybody shocked, raise your hands… no, me neither.  Admit it: you didn’t even think that she was anything except a typical Democratic elitist, right?  And, oddly enough, you were clearly right to think that.

Also, guess what?  The local LWV grand poobah thinks that the whole thing was a Republican plot.  I don’t know what’s funnier: that the Democrats think that we’re plotting against them, or that they’re conceding that making Democrats recite the Pledge of Allegiance is a successful slam against their political party…

Moe Lane (crosspost)

Sharon Angle: Welcome to Nevada, Mr. President

Charles Hegna and William Stanford, their names now lost to history.

The back and forth with Steve Caldwell got me thinking to this event. I was working for Dept of Defense IG then in the Pentagon and the auditor who survived this attack --Charlie Kapar-- spoke at the Association of Government Accountants afterwords about how to survive being taken hostage.

SecDef Weinberger had just issued instructions about Surviving with Dignity and I asked Charlie about Weinberger's policy. He responded without humor, you forget about your dignity real quick when taken hostage like this.

Below via Foundation for the Defense of Democracies

In September of 1984, Hezbollah struck the US embassy in East Beirut againkilling 23 employees and wounding 21 others.

Three months later, Hezbollah hijacked a Kuwait airliner. They murdered the two Americans aboard: Charles Hegna and William Stanford, their names now lost to history. I’ll bet you have never even heard of them. Both were US government employees, auditors for the US Agency for International Development (AID).

Charles Hegna was 50 then, he would be 72 now. He lived in Northern Virginia with his wife Edwena. They had five children.

Charles Hegna had just done a financial audit in Yemen and was flying to Pakistan when four Hezbollah terrorists stormed the cockpit of his plane. They shot an air marshall and forced the plane down in Tehran.

Charles Hegna and another AID auditor, William Stanford, were singled out and murdered.

A third American with them was tortured but survived.

Hegna was beaten after he identified himself as an American. They then shot him in the stomach, and still alive, they threw him on to the tarmac, breaking his legs.

He was shot once more from above and for three hours he lay wounded, in agony in the sun, until an ambulance finally brought him to a an Iranian hospital where he died a few days later.

His wife Edwena, now in her 70’s, said a few years ago that the family had been destroyed by the murder.

“Our lives were put into quicksand,” she said.

When the bodies of Charles Hegna and William Stanford came back to the US, the elder George Bush, then vice president, made this vow:

"We shall know their murderers, with the long memories of those who believe in patient but certain justice."

So that was 24 years ago and the US “knows” their murderers all right. But we have done nothing about it –just like we have done almost nothing about all the other attacks by Hezbollah against Americans.

Charlie of course the third who survived.

RealClearPolitics - Video - Krauthammer Slams NPR's Hypocrisy Over Williams And Totenberg

RealClearPolitics - Video - Krauthammer Slams NPR's Hypocrisy Over Williams And Totenberg

Chicago Tea Party Ad

A nice start...many more to come I hope. If ever a place needed the Tea Party, it's Chicago.

Spouse of Ahmad Zeidabadi: “We Constantly Dream of His Freedom" / همسر زیدآبادی: رویای هر روز ما آزادی همسرم است

Here's an interview with a Muslim (and a journalist!) via Mir Hussain Mousavi whom you won't find Main-Stream-Media or Liberalism giving much of a hoot about.

In an interview with Kaleme, Mahdieh Mohammadi, the wife of Ahmad Zeidabadi, discussed his recent condition:

Since the arrest of Ahmad Zeidabadi, journalist and head of the Islamic Alumni Association a year and a half ago, he has not been able to receive a prison leave. In the past year, Zeidabadi has won the 2010 Golden Pen of Freedom Prize by the World Association of Newspapers and was issued one of the heaviest sentences for a journalist [by the coup government].

Zeidabadi is sentenced to six years imprisonment, a lifelong ban from activities associated with the media or politics, and five years exile in the city of Qonbad-e Qabus. Despite all this, Zeidabadi’s wife and children get through the days holding on to the hope that one day he will be freed.

And the English translation of the interview,

Kaleme: Mrs. Mohamamadi, may you please provide us with the most recent news on Ahmad Zeidabadi’s situation?
Mahdieh Mohammadi (MM): Mr. Zeidabadi is still held in Rajai Shahr prison along with other political prisoners including Isa Saharkhiz and Masoud Bastani. We get to visit him every week. But since men and women have to visit on separate weeks, I see him every other week. He calls the house twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Anyway, this is how we pass the days far away from each other.
Kaleme: Mr. Zeidabadi is one of the political prisoners who has not yet been given any time off from prison. Why is that?
MM: I have no idea why he is not allowed to benefit from prison leave considering it is his legal right. None of the political prisoners in Rajai Shahr have been given any time off from prison, except for Mr. Soleimani who a few days ago was allowed to leave for a very short period of time. The reason for not allowing a leave for my husband is unknown to us considering that it is a legal right for all prisoners.
Kaleme: What measures have been taken in this regard by you or his lawyer?
MM: We have requested a leave for him five or six times. One of the requests came directly from Mr. Zeidabadi and was received by the Tehran Prosecutor Mr. Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi. Interestingly, he said that it is out of his hands because the Ministry of Intelligence must grant the prison leave, and the Ministry has issues with my husband.  The Tehran Prosecutor stated that there is a lot of sensitivity around [my husband].
Kaleme: Your husband won the 2010 Golden Pen of Freedom Prize. How did that feel?
MM: I had two polar feelings. On one hand, I was truly thrilled and proud that I have spent years living by the side of such a human being; a person whose aptitude and influence is applauded by the world. On the other hand, I am worried that by being given this award, the Islamic Republic will be even more resistant to him. He will be deprived of more allowances, such as his right to prison leave. I’m afraid that prison conditions for my husband will be even more difficult now.
Kaleme: Did Mr. Zeidabadi have any reaction when he heard the news of the prize? What did he say?
MM: This award was given to my husband last year and the ceremonies took place this year. Anyway he was very happy to receive such an award. Mr Zeidabadi is an extremely knowledgeable and talented journalist. Our country is great at fostering the elite, but unfortunately it does not know how to utilize these great citizens. On one hand our universities produce exceptional students, then these same highly educated citizens are held captive in prison.
Kaleme: Mrs. Zeidabadi, you have three sons. How has your husband’s imprisonment affected their lives?
MM: You can imagine how important it is for a father to be there for his sons, especially when they are going through puberty. My two sons who are in their adolescence and the younger one need their father right now. But, unfortunately, my innocent children have been deprived of the blessing of a father for the past year and a half.
Kaleme: How are you holding up? Do you ever cry because of being so far away from your husband?
MM: Of course, yes, over and over again. I cry because of the injustices committed against my husband, me, and our children. I have aged  ten years in the past year and a half. Everyone needs a partner and confidant in their lives, and we had spent every moment of the last 20 years by each other’s side. I will never forget the moment my husband was arrested.
Through the camera lens on my i-phone I witnessed how they took him and dragged him away.  The memory of that moment is very painful. I have the responsibility of three children on my shoulders and [the imprisonment] has made my situation even more difficult. Anyway, we have trust in God, and we must try to have patience so God may provide retribution.
Kaleme: Throughout Mr. Zeidabadi’s imprisonment he has hardly complained or written any letters. Why is this?
MM: In practice, he does essentially recognize the law. Even though he is banned for life from any media activity, he does not accept this verdict, but prefers to heed to it because of the current situation in society. Additionally, at the start of the Millennium, he was sentenced to a five-year ban from any media activity. He has not involved himself in the press or conducted any interview since then.
Kaleme: How much hope do you have that he will be released before his sentence deadline?
MM: We have a lot of hope and get by every day holding on to this hope. I always tell my friends that if they told me on the day of his arrest that we would endure a year and a half of separation, I probably would not be able to bear it. Every day we hope that he will be freed. Every night we sleep with the hopes and dreams of his freedom. I cannot imagine, even for a moment, that he will actually spend another 4 1/2 years in prison.
Kaleme: Have you thought of the moment when your husband is freed?
 MM: All our daily and nightly dreams are about that moment.
Kaleme: During this time, what were the best and worst moments?
MM: The worst and most difficult moment was when I watched the i-phone video of how he was dragged forcefully and taken away by Intelligence agents. The sweetest moments are the phone calls. With every contact from him we become re-energized and I am able to discuss issues pertaining to the kids and make decisions [together] about our life affairs.
Kaleme: How will life change when your husband returns home?
MM: I think that even if he is freed, we will always live with the fear that at any moment, the doorbell will ring and they will take him away again. This feeling has been with us since the year 2000, the first time my husband was arrested; a constant feeling of insecurity and anxiety. With every unexpected doorbell or phone call our hearts begin to race.


منبع: کلمه
Translation by Laleh Irani - (Persian2english)

Ginnoulias on Kirk's Economic treason

Pretty tough talk from a kid who froliced on South Beach at Hotel Lorraine with Jaws Giorango and the girls while Kirk did two tours in Afghanistan.  Kirk may not be Audie Murphy, but geez, the guy volunteered and served.

BND.com: Formidable opponents: Dems must overcome themselves to keep Ill. Legislature

I'm guessing the straight-talk Mike Noland mentions ain't going to be enough,

Democratic campaign funds have raised $7.8 million since July, compared to $2.9 million for Republicans. At the beginning of the month Democrats still had more than $7 million in the bank, while the GOP had $3.2 million.

First-term Sen. Michael Noland, an Elgin Democrat, believes straight talk will rescue his party. He's engaging voters on tax reform - he voted for an income tax increase last year but wants it coupled with local property-tax relief - spending cuts, bolstering the economy, and limiting borrowing.

"We've got a real mess, and people know it. They understand it. And they realize that it's not just one party versus the other," Noland said. "They look at it as, 'Look, you guys are both to blame. Fix it. We're not wedded to one ideology versus another.'"

Steven Rauschenberger believes the problem for Democrats goes beyond party, too.

"What we're seeing nationally and locally is an anti-arrogance vote. It's not just about Democrats," said Rauschenberger, an Elgin Republican attempting a comeback against Noland, who took the seat in 2006 when Rauschenberger ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor.

"It's about incumbents who don't listen," Rauschenberger said. "It's about political power bosses who don't care."

That is what has contributed to the meltdown, Republicans say, where even Democrats can't agree in Springfield, where a Senate with a supermajority of Democrats and a House just a vote shy of one can't agree with the Democratic governor on budget spending priorities and simply hand him a lump sum to dole out as he decides.

Read more: http://www.bnd.com/2010/10/21/1446487/dems-must-overcome-selves-to-keep.html#ixzz1336ydWh1

Harry Reid Takes Credit For Saving The World

The guy's out of his mind....

Defund NPR

NPR free to fire Juan Williams and the US Gov has no business funding NPR either. The time's long past when there was a public interesting in funding other sources for news.  Let's pull the budget from NPR and let them stand on their own.  Sarah Palin's got it exactly right.....

At a time when our country is dangerously in debt and looking for areas of federal spending to cut, I think we’ve found a good candidate for defunding. National Public Radio is a public institution that directly or indirectly exists because the taxpayers fund it. And what do we, the taxpayers, get for this? We get to witness Juan Williams being fired from NPR for merely speaking frankly about the very real threat this country faces from radical Islam.

We have to have an honest discussion about the jihadist threat. Are we not allowed to say that Muslim terrorists have killed thousands of Americans and continue to plot the deaths of thousands more? Are we not allowed to say that there are Muslim states that aid and abet these fanatics? Are we not allowed to even debate the role that radical Islam plays in inciting this violence?

I don’t expect Juan Williams to support me (he’s said some tough things about me in the past) – but I will always support his right and the right of all Americans to speak honestly about the threats this country faces. And for Juan, speaking honestly about these issues isn’t just his right, it’s his job. Up until yesterday, he was doing that job at NPR. Firing him is their loss.

If NPR is unable to tolerate an honest debate about an issue as important as Islamic terrorism, then it’s time for “National Public Radio” to become “National Private Radio.” It’s time for Congress to defund this organization.

NPR says its mission is “to create a more informed public,” but by stifling debate on these issues, NPR is doing exactly the opposite. President Obama should make clear his commitment to free and honest discussion of the jihadist threat in our public debates – and Congress should make clear that unless NPR provides that public service, not one more dime.

Mr. President, what say you?

- Sarah Palin

Illinois Solidiers wait for ballots; Prisoners get hand delivery

A sad one via Big Gov h/t Tom Mannis,

Over 35 counties in Illinois missed the deadline to mail military ballots to our soldiers defending America. But in Chicago, county election officials have taken special steps to ensure that no inmates at the Cook County Jail are unable to cast a ballot.

The Chicago Board of Elections hand delivers ballots to the jail. They don’t even wait for the inmates to apply – they bring the applications with the ballots! Over 2,600 inmates have cast ballots so far – strikingly similar to the 2,600 soldiers who will likely not receive a ballot for the Nov 2 election.


Disgraceful does not begin to describe the Illinois Election system.

Who is Bill Foster?

Bill Foster for Congress

Chicago's West Side Garage Memories

I wasn't a gear head but my buddies were and I spent a lot of time in the alley with them.  The pics on this site brought back many fond memories.

Latest Polling on Kirk and Giannoulias

Rasmussen has Kirk up four points and I suppose Capital Fax and Tamara Holder will be complaining Raz didn’t include Labno the Libertarian among the choices. Eight percent want “Some Other Candidate”.

Those eight could be some Roland Burris fans, or plenty of other disgusted Illinoisians. Just having the "other" option keeps the Kirk and Giannoulias totals lower because they’re plenty voters unhappy with the choices. That “some other candidate” may not be a real person. Voters just want another choice.

Update: Capital Fax comes up with PPP poll showing Kirk up 2 points and takes a shot at Raz, the pollster who cannot be named, for… once again screwed up his numbers by using “some other candidate” instead of Libertarian Labno. Stupidity. 

Seems to me in a race were neither Kirk or Giannoulias popular, that “some other candidate” may have some powerful appeal to folks. What that means in the polling booth, well, my bet is it means a lot break for Kirk.

Did Mark Kirk write the Berman Iran sanctions bill or not?

via Foreign Policy,

...according to lawmakers, Congressional staffers, and outside groups who worked closely on the legislation, Kirk was in fact a key advocate for over four years of using gasoline and refined petroleum restrictions to pressure Iran to make concessions regarding its nuclear program.

In fact, Berman worked so closely with Kirk and others on the idea that media reports at the time acknowledged that Berman's Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, introduced in April 2009, borrowed language from related legislation introduced earlier by Kirk and Rep. Brad Sherman.

Even Democratic Congressional staffers gave Kirk credit for leading on the idea of petroleum sanction for Iran. They said that Berman's bill was clearly built off of Kirk's work, and criticized Berman for politicizing such a sensitive foreign policy issue.

"On this particular issue, Kirk has been a leader, if not the leader. When you talk about Iran petroleum sanctions, you talk about Mark Kirk," said one Democratic Hill staffer who worked on the bill.

"I'm all for a Democrat winning that seat, but this is not the way to do it," the staffer said. "It hurts our standing as Democrats in the pro-Israel community, because when you go to the pro-Israel community and say to them that Kirk didn't play a leading role, it just makes it hard to believe the next statement that comes out of our mouths."

Others who followed the progression of the Iran sanctions legislation closely also credited Kirk with a long history of leadership on this issue.

"There's no question that Mark Kirk was one of the first, if not the first member of Congress to advocate restricting the flow of gasoline to Iran as a way of pressuring Iran on its nuclear program," said Josh Block, who was the chief spokesman for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which was intimately involved in the bill's legislative journey.

nuff said. Kirk's been a key player. Consider where the SEIU guys have been on Iran.

Alexi Giannoulias's hire a Veteran initiative

Alexi's hiring Vets although it's not quite what one would expect. Via Illinois Review,

Just in case you didn’t think the Illinois Senate race could sink any lower, THE WEEKLY STANDARD has learned that Democrat Alexi Giannoulias is planning to launch a final ad campaign featuring a “veteran” to attack Mark Kirk’s service record.

The timing of this is altogether ironic, since Senator John Kerry, the former Democratic presidential nominee, is campaigning with Giannoulias today in Illinois. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, together they will go after “the same people who bankrolled the ‘Swiftboat’ attacks against [Kerry] when he was running for president in 2004.”

On Friday, however, a known anti-Kirk political activist with ties to the Giannoulias campaign posted a message on his Facebook account searching for “an Iraq War veteran who wants to be in a TV commercial slamming Mark Kirk.”

Proviso's own, Carl Nyberg, is leading the job search and he's none too happy with the Weekly Standard's coverage.

Hultgren presser on tonights debate

Below is the Hultgren presser. Dumbest moment was Foster explaining he programmed a TIP Stack or some such gizmo in response to a question on regulating the net. Highpoint was Hultgren's refuting Foster's ad on Hultgren advocating a 23% National sales tax.

Laughs at the end when Hultgren said his family wasn't making all the racket during the debate followed by Dan Karis saying it couldn't have been his supporters 'cause he could count them all out in the audience.

I'd say the Norris Centers first floor was over three quarters filled and it was an overwhelmingly Hultgren crowd.

Hultgren Was Tonight’s Winner In St. Charles

ST. CHARLES – The Randy Hultgren for Congress campaign issued the following statement tonight after the League of Women Voters candidate forum in St. Charles.

“With his clearly articulated, positive vision for the future and his commonsense solutions to the problems confronting our nation’s economy and workforce, Randy Hultgren was clearly the winner in tonight’s debate,” said John Cooney, Hultgren for Congress campaign manager. “Voters have a choice between Bill Foster’s unwavering support for Nancy Pelosi’s reckless agenda of rampant spending, higher taxes and bigger government or Hultgren’s plans for limiting the size and scope of our federal government, lower taxes and responsible government. Voters in the 14th District realize that Congress is broken and that Randy Hultgren will fight to restore a commonsense approach in Washington.”

Green Party's Dan Karis at the Illinois 14th Leaque of Women Votres debate

Except it wasn't a debate really. Just the League Lady asking each candidate a question.

Caught Dan before hand by his 1963 Rambler and shot this video. Told him I didn't think it was a very green car --totally original including brakes, only muffler is new-- but Dan said hey it was better than having it occupy space in a dump.

Isaac Hayes at Fire Pelosi rally in Matteson, IL

More from the tour....

Stop Pelosi Tour at St Charles Illinois Oct 14, 2010

And Michael Steele and me...

Herman Cain Right Nation 2010

Congressman Aaron Schock at Right Nation 2010

Dick Blumenthal Stumped On How To Create A Job

Man, this is the difference between Democrats and Republicans, between left and right, it can't be more clearer than this.

Hultgren up by six

An internal poll but with all the candidates. It looks like Foster's negative ads only doing him damage.

MEMORANDUM

TO: RANDY HULTGREN
FROM: BRIAN C. TRINGALI KEVIN HUDAK
RE: HULTGREN LEAD GROWS AGAINST FOSTER IN CONGRESSIONAL RACE
DATE: OCTOBER 5, 2010

The Tarrance Group is pleased to present the following findings to the Randy Hultgren for Congress campaign. The Tarrance Group was commissioned to conduct a telephone survey of N=400 registered “likely” voters throughout Illinois’ Fourteenth Congressional District. A random sample of this type is likely to yield a margin of error of +4.9% in 95 out of 100 cases. Responses to the survey were gathered October 3-4, 2010. Republican challenger Randy Hultgren’s lead has grown to 6 points in his race against incumbent Democrat Bill Foster. Since our previous survey in September, Hultgren has increased his lead on the ballot from 3 points to 6 points. Turnout modeling suggests that Hultgren would receive 50% of the vote if the election were held today – even with third party candidate on the ballot.

Ballot for U.S. Congress
May Sept. Oct.
% % %
Randy Hultgren 45 42 44
Bill Foster 44 39 38
Doug Marks* -- 4 --
Daniel Kairis -- 2 4
Undecided 12 14 16

* Doug Marks failed to make the ballot.

And the Hultgren campaings presser,

Randy Hultgren Up By Six

ST. CHARLES – The Randy Hultgren for Congress campaign issued the following statement from campaign manager John Cooney regarding new poll numbers.

“For months, Bill Foster has tried to run from his record of lockstep support for Nancy Pelosi’s disastrous agenda. Instead of trying to defend his votes for the failed stimulus, Wall Street bailouts and nationalized health care, Bill Foster instead has polluted the airwaves with lies about Randy Hultgren. Bill Foster’s desperate and negative attacks have failed to fool Illinois voters. Despite weeks of negative attacks and distortions, Randy Hultgren now enjoys his largest lead in this race, and is poised to defeat Bill Foster in November. Illinois voters do not want a Congressman who votes in lockstep with Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat Congress. They are ready for real leadership in Washington.”

Dick Morris: The Widening Turnout Gap

From Dick Morris on the enthusiasm gap. Kirk and to an extent Brady running negative ads of their own, explain a bit of the predicament their campagins are in: in a year when the GOP wants a big turn out, these two in Illinois worked against it with negative ads of their own.

The Democrats are widening the enthusiasm gap against them by running exclusively negative campaigns against their insurgent Republican rivals. The vast proportion of Democratic and allied independent-expenditure media is negative, portraying Republican congressional candidates as tax evaders, spousal abusers, mob-linked, eccentric flakes, sexual molesters and absentee officeholders (all actual charges against key GOP candidates). While these ads may chip away at the Republican vote share in the polls, they do nothing to generate a Democratic turnout.

The Democrats are without a theme, a message or a positive reason to go vote. Negative ads are supposed to depress turnout - the last thing Democrats need. But when they come up against Republican enthusiasm, they may not do much to check the GOP rise.

Randy Hultgren: Local Realtors Respond To Washington, DC-Based Realtor Ads

Between Fannie and Freddie, Democrats have devastated real estate markets for a decade. The lobbyists in DC have to be out of their minds.

October 5, 2010

CONTACT: (630) 632-1161

Local Realtors Respond To Washington, DC-Based Realtor Ads

ST. CHARLES – The Randy Hultgren for Congress campaign released the following statements from local real estate agents in response to the National Association of Realtors’ television ad campaign on Bill Foster’s behalf.

“I’m honored to have the support of our local realtors. Whatever the National Association of Realtors may say in Washington, DC, our local realtors know that we need common sense, Illinois values in order to restore fiscal sanity in Washington, and that Bill Foster's unwavering support of Nancy Pelosi, 92% of the time, is what continues to suppress the local housing market,” said Randy Hultgren.

Statements From Local Realtors:

“While the National Association of Realtors has chosen to support the incumbent, as a local Realtor and past president of the Illinois Association of Realtors, I have known Randy Hultgren and support the views that Randy will take to Congress. We need a non-Nancy Pelosi-led agenda in Washington that will not tax and spend us into a stagnant economy that hurts all Illinoisans. Randy Hultgren will work for common sense solutions that will get our economy moving again, and I’m proud to support him.”

- Pat Callan, Realty Executives Premiere; Past President, Illinois Association Of Realtors

“I’m dumbfounded and disappointed that the National Association of Realtors has chosen to support Bill Foster. Bill Foster hasn't fulfilled the promises he made to us in 2008, has shown no independence from Nancy Pelosi, and has been a willing participant in the binge-spending that has come out of Washington. I don't consider myself a conservative, but I want to leave something for my kids, and that means we need to get spending under control; I know Randy Hultgren will work to do that in Washington.”

- Chris Hansen, RE/MAX Excels, Geneva

Randy Hutlgren's response to Bill Foster's negative ads

Gotta wonder if Bill Foster has it in him to say some of this stuff to Hultgren's face. Courage doesn't strike me as one of Bill's strengths. Anyways, some responses from Hultgren's people to the Foster mailers.

Congressman Foster, Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the Congressional Democrats are so desperate to save their majority, they’ve started filling your mailboxes and TV sets with utterly false and malicious attacks.

None of it is true.

Think about it? What else does Congressman Foster have to run on? What possible reason would the voters of the 14th District have to re-elect him?

• His lock-step voting record with Nancy Pelosi 92.6% of the time?
• His support of the bailout?
• His support of the government takeover of health care?
• His support of the failed stimulus?
• His support for every single spending bill passed through Congress?

Voters have no reason to re-elect Congressman Bill Foster. His only option is to throw slime and distract voters from his awful voting record.

1. LIE #1: RANDY WANTS TO RAISE YOUR TAXES 23%.
2. LIE #2: RANDY GOT BAILOUT MONEY AND PROFITED FROM THE HOUSING CRISIS

RINO vs Rezko Banker

That's the subtitle on this one from Conservative American News: Giannoulias embraces Obama: Senate hopeful not shunning fellow IL Dem (RINO vs Resko banker)

As Democrats nationwide shun campaign help from the White House, Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias plans to buck the trend and stand boldly with President Obama during a presidential stop this week in Illinois. Despite the president's waning popularity, Mr. Giannoulias has hitched his campaign to Mr. Obama, running television advertisements touting his close relationship with the former senator from the Land of Lincoln. Such a move would be politically risky in many states where "tea party" fervor and anti-Obama sentiment runs high. But the president still holds some cachet in his home state, which Mr. Giannoulias hopes will help push…

Leave the Mob Bankers stuff to the bloggers Mark Kirk. Hammer away at Obama's failed policies: Recovery Summer, Obamacare, spending. The electroate's immoderate today, so forget trying to be one.

Bronze letters stolen off of Oak Park's Unity Temple

via Chicago Breaking News,

In 1909, Frank Lloyd Wright finished one of his many masterpieces, Unity Temple in Oak Park.

Since then, bronze letters reading “For the worship of God and the service of man” met guests at both entrances, a message from the famous architect about the importance of what was built.

But 101 years later, a thief ripped the words right off the wall.

Officials at Unity Temple are in a state of shock after about 50 bronze letters were stolen from outside the building last week. The letters were apparently pried off the temple, 875 Lake Street, sometime between 10 p.m. Sept. 28 and 9 a.m. Sept. 29. The letters, which are believed to be bronze possibly with other metals, are more than 100 years old.

A friend of mine is a member of a UCC Church not so far away from Unity Temple. It was once the First German Reformed Church of Chicago. They had brand new copper gutters and downspouts installed which was a big mistake. They were ripped off twice before they had the good sense to go plastic.

Valerie Jarrett Seen in Dirksen Federal Building

Getting pretty thick....



Per Chicago Fox News,

Her appearance at the courthouse set off speculation that she could possibly be there to meet with the FBI and be interviewed again, possibly with more questions, or she could be a potential witness for the next Blagojevich trial, or that she could have been testifying in front of a grand jury.

RIP: Dr. Farooq Khan

via Pakhtunkhwa Peace Forum

We strongly denounced the martyrdom of Dr. Farooq Khan a well known psychiatrist and an enlightened religious scholar who was killed by terrorists in Mardan. Dr. Farooq Khan was an enlightened religious scholar and he served Islam well and ...he wanted to take Muslims out of the present and prevailing quagmire. He had a feeling for the Muslims and wanted to bring them at par with other nations of the world. His services for the Muslims will be remembered for a long time to come. He was a vice chancellor of the Swat Islamic University and had started to rehabilitate those children who were suffered from the menace of extremism and terrorism. His death created a vacuum which will take a long time to be filled. We demand of the government to arrest the culprit and punish them for their such heinous crime against humanity. Dr. Farroq khan was a true son of this soil and his martyrdom exposed the true faces of terrorists who have only one agenda to kill.

And his vision from Pakhtun.com,

My Vision and Mission

I am humanist, Muslim, Pakistani and a Pakhtun. To strive for the well being of the whole humanity, to uphold the cause of Muslim Ummah and to exalt the dignity of Pakistan and Pukhtoons is my mission. There is no contradiction between their interests, provided every issue is seen with justice and fair play.

In my opinion there are ten basic values which should be honored by every individual, community, country and the whole mankind. These essential and fundamental values are:

• Human equality and democratic culture
• Justice
• Honesty
• Merit
• Hard work and thorough struggle
• Law abiding mentality
• Wisdom and patience
• Education
• Health
• Strong and well-coordinated welfare institutions for the down trodden classes.

It is not possible for me to address the whole humanity so I address Muslim Ummah, Pakistan and Pukhtoons. In my opinion the degraded and helpless position of all the above three communities is because of the lack of the above ten fundamental values. We lagged behind in fulfilling and abiding all these values. Without honoring these values, we will not be able to survive as prestigious communities and nations.

The Muslims usually blame others for their plight, but in my view the internal factors are much more important than the external factors and once we overcome our weaknesses and shortcomings then the external world will become favorable slowly and steadily.

Development and dignity of Pakistan and the Ummah is based on the efforts to achieve these ideals and standards. It is very clear that a thorough struggle is needed in this regard. This struggle should be totally free from any kind of violence, sentimentalism and provocative rhetoric.

I always strictly follow the teachings of Quran, Sunnah, and my conscience in pondering over all the collective issues and problems facing us. In my opinion, the Muslim Ummah needs a comprehensive discussion and consensus on the following issues:

• Status of Women in Islamic Society
• The real instructions of Islam regarding Jihad and Qital
• The true perspective of Islamic teachings in crimes and punishment
• Islamic instructions regarding relations between Muslims and Non-Muslims

I have written a few books on these Issues e.g.:

• Jihad, Qital aur Aalam-e-Islam (Urdu)
• Islam Kya hai?(Urdu)
• Islam and Women (Urdu & English)
• Dialogue with the West (English)
• Kashmir Issue (Urdu & English)
• Ikkisween Saddi aur Pakistan (Urdu)
• Jadeed Zehan Kay Shubhat Aur Islam Ka Jawab (Urdu)
• Hudood aur Qisas wa Diyat Ordinance Ka Tanqeedi Jaiza (Urdu)

In my opinion Muslim states must proceed according to the following four important points.

• To bring democratic culture in Muslim states.
• To resolve all the disputes and conflicts through peaceful means.
• To dominate and inculcate the above mentioned ten basic collective values in their states.
• To make a serious and conscious advance in the field of science and technology.
• I have written extensively on the above issues.

This is my vision and the struggle for this purpose is the mission of my life.

Isaac Hayes/Joel Pollak Ad

These guys are great!

Resko's ready to go!

A h/t thanks to ever faithful reader anonymous. Seems Rezko's ready to testify and his lawyer wants the world to know, although I've seen few blogs pick up this story. The full quote from Chicago Breaking News,

Political insider Tony Rezko today pleaded guilty to fraud charges in connection with the sale of his pizza restaurants.

His attorney said Rezko is "ready and willing" to testify for the government at the retrial of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Rezko, who has already begun serving time for his 2008 conviction for extorting money from businesses that wanted state contracts, pleaded guilty to a single count of wire fraud in connection with loans he arranged for business partners to buy a chain of pizza restaurants he owned in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan.

The plea change comes without a deal with prosecutors, who would not comment on whether Rezko was cooperating against Blagojevich. He was not called by prosecutors to testify against the former governor at his trial this summer. Rezko has yet to be sentenced for his 2008 conviction.

Outside the courtroom, Rezko's lawyer, Joseph Duffy, said Rezko would take the stand at Blagojevich's retrial if prosecutors called him.

"He is ready and willing to testify, and he would be a formidable witness, well-corroborated by the government's evidence," Duffy said. "I have a lot of respect for the prosecutors (in the Blagojevich case), but I don't control who they call (as witnesses).

Rezko's sentencing was set for Dec. 17.

Sounds like a deadfish wrapped in newspaper message to me. Who's it intended for?

Brady asks IRS to investigate Giannoulias tax write-off

via WLS This could be the tipping point in the race. Dodging your taxes something everyone understands.

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady is calling for an investigation into a tax write-off U.S. Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias claimed in 2009.

Brady is asking the Internal Revenue Service to look into a $2.7 million claim the Democrat made for work he says he performed at his family's Broadway Bank in 2006.

"We are talking about a huge sum of money and the IRS should not accept 'just trust me' as a legitimate explanation," Brady said in a press release.

According to a Wednesday report by the Chicago Tribune, Giannoulias claimed he had worked 500 hours in 2006 in order to fulfill his remaining responsibilities but said he could not provide any documentation to prove his work schedule.

Alexi Giannoulias, Broadway Bank, Democrat, crook

A hard ad....

Bill Foster: A Lockstep Vote For Nancy Pelosi’s Big-Spending Agenda

More from the Hultgren campaign on Pelosi and Foster's failure to deliver us a budget. Something to think about when you read Foster's pressers on all the pork he's brought to the 14th.

Bill Foster: A Lockstep Vote For Nancy Pelosi’s Big-Spending Agenda

ST. CHARLES – The Randy Hultgren for Congress campaign issued the following statement today regarding Bill Foster’s steadfast support for Nancy Pelosi’s big-spending agenda, after Foster once again voted to keep the money flowing.

“Congressman Foster’s vote last night to keep on spending wastefully, without a budget, is just more of the same from Big Spending Bill, who has voted for every spending bill since he went to Washington,” said Gill Stevens, a spokesman for the Hultgren campaign. “Bill Foster’s record of voting with Nancy Pelosi 92.6% of the time has been well-documented, but even more troubling is his 100% record when it comes to wasteful spending.[1] Even more outrageous than his support for the Pelosi agenda is his attempts to hoodwink voters: Bill Foster has regularly trumpeted his opposition to the Democrats’ big-spending budgets while still voting for those hundreds of billions of dollars in wasteful government spending.

Voting against the budget and for the underlying spending bills is the height of irresponsibility – it’s spending like a drunken sailor today with no plans for tomorrow. Bill Foster’s lockstep support for Pelosi’s big-spending agenda is demonstrates just how out of touch he is with his constituents’ concerns about our fiscal future.”