First Year in The Senate in Seven Minutes

The focus on Illinois issues upfront sorta interesting.

Mr. Hanania: We think thou dost protest too much

Mr. Hanania: We think thou dost protest too much

Follow the link to Ray Hanania's response to Fran Eaton's column on Hanania's original column on Rep. Kevin McCarthy. (A lotta columns I know, but deconstructing Southwest suburban politics an iterative process.)

Geez Ray, there's nothing wrong with being a character in Chicagoland. Our history full of them, Royko for starters; but just about everyone brands themselves in some Chicago-larger-than-life sort of way. There's money in it too (and that's not bad, we all gotta live).

But admirer Cicero's Larry Dominick? Ray, c'mon. You gotta explain that one to us.

Two Democrats file for 7th congressional seat — AustinTalks

Never heard of Conway before.  He’s challenging Davis in the primary: Two Democrats file for 7th congressional seat — AustinTalks

Here’s a bio on Conway.  Interesting guy….

Judicial Watch Announces Washington’s “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians” for 2011

H/T Jim Kouri

AG Holder makes the top ten this year.  Picture at left is Holder with now convicted Illinois Gov Rod Blagojevich announcing Holder’s hiring to prove Rosemont Illnois was not a mobbed-up community, and indeed worthy of an Illinois Casino license.  The b-girls and bookies on Mannheim Road were tickled to hear his selection I’m sure.

Attorney General Eric Holder: Attorney General Eric Holder now operates the most politicized and ideological Department of Justice (DOJ) in recent history. And revelations from the Operation Fast and Furious scandal suggest that programs approved by the Holder DOJ may have resulted in the needless deaths of many, including a federal law enforcement officer.

Fast and Furious was a DOJ/Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) “gun-running” operation in which guns were sold to Mexican drug cartels and others, apparently in hopes that the guns would end up at crime scenes. This reckless insanity seems to have resulted in, among other crimes, the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, who was killed in a shootout with Mexican criminals in December 2010. Fast and Furious guns were found at the scene of his death.

Judicial Watch Announces Washington’s “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians” for 2011 | Judicial Watch

Exodus of IL taxpayers means loss of $26B in taxable revenue

Exodus of IL taxpayers means loss of $26B in taxable revenue

The sucking sound in Illinois...

McHenry County Blog | Tammy Duckworth Doesn’t File on First Day

Today’s Duckworth’s last day to file.  Cal Skinner found she wasn’t first in line to file:McHenry County Blog | Tammy Duckworth Doesn’t File on First Day and wonders why.

Anshe Kanesses Israel synagogue

City moves to tear down historic West Side synagogue - Chicago Sun-Times

Terrible loss and one that would harm the eventual revitalization of Lawndale.

Check Brule Laker's photo stream for photos

John Curry: Candidate for Republican Committeeman in 32 | Welles Park Bulldog

From an interview with John Corry over at the bulldog.

Republican insiders believe that if only 23% of the City of Chicago went Republican, then the state would turn Red. Curry thinks that is very doable, “I think that’s very doable. Not in one cycle,” continuing, “If the party were to deploy people to do target outreach.”

John Curry: Candidate for Republican Committeeman in 32 | Welles Park Bulldog

The Next Russian Revolution? - NYTimes.com

From a Historian who should know.  Robert service in today’s NYT,

The opposition, having suffered from years of harassment at Mr. Putin’s hands, has not yet succeeded in taking advantage of today’s unstable situation. But the recent outburst of public protest has flummoxed Mr. Putin, as he finds that his authoritarian government lacks the pressure valves that allow liberal democracies to anticipate and alleviate expressions of discontent.

Mr. Putin can no longer take his supremacy for granted. It is not yet a revolutionary situation. After all, Mr. Putin, like Mr. Yeltsin before him, can count on the money and pork-barrel politics needed to win the presidency next year; and he has no qualms about letting the security agencies use force.

But Russians, having sleepwalked away from Communism, are awakening to the idea that if they want democracy and social justice, they need to engage in active struggle. Quiescent 20 years ago during Soviet Communism’s final days, they may at last be about to stand up for their rights.

The Next Russian Revolution? - NYTimes.com

McHenry County Blog | Bi-Partisan Coalition Led by Joe Walsh “Saves Christmas” or at Least “Merry Christmas”

For those who think the Rich run America, here’s a decidedly unrich guy, unloved by the political establishment in Illinois, who managed to connect, get elected, and have impact.  Cal Skinner sums it up here: McHenry County Blog | Bi-Partisan Coalition Led by Joe Walsh “Saves Christmas” or at Least “Merry Christmas”

McHenry County Blog | Illinois Gingrich Campaign Surfaces

Newtonians arrive in Illinois and Cal Skinner’s spotted ‘em: McHenry County Blog | Illinois Gingrich Campaign Surfaces

Indiawest: Congressional Candidates Converge on California

India West covers Krishamoorthi at a San Francisco fund raiser, and notes this stat about Illinois’s 8th district.

Illinois’ 8th congressional region underwent redistricting earlier this year. Krishnamoorthi believes he has benefited from that exercise: The new district’s population has the highest concentration of Indian Americans – almost 10 percent – of any congressional district in the nation.

Indiawest: Congressional Candidates Converge on California

Chicago Ward Redrawing Part II - The Surprising Case of 19th Ward

A look a the ward remap in the 19th via strannik01: Chicago Ward Redrawing Part II - The Surprising Case of 19th Ward  H/T The Sixth Ward

Alderman Matt O'Shea, who represents the 19th Ward, announced his intention to keep the borders intact. The problem is, given the demographic realities, I am not sure how he intends to accomplish it. The article points out that, during the last redrawing, the residents were successful in keeping the ward intact. What the article doesn't mention is that, at the time, Chicago gained population. Given how much the population dropped, especially in the South Side, the status quo will be harder to justify. As I discussed in the previous post on the redrawing, the African-American Caucus is desperate to keep its numbers intact. They're going to try to grab as much territory as they can possibly get.

On the other hand, Ald. O'Shea is a loyal member of the Old Guard with considerable political experience.19th Ward community organizations have numbers and resources few community organizations in the adjacent wards can match. The sheer number of municipal and union employees in the ward is nothing to sneeze at, either. Even if the 19th Ward residents don't get their way, they will put up one hell of a fight.

Edited to Add: It is worth noting that Morgan Park lost population in all racial categories. White numbers dropped by 8.1 percent. Black numbers dropped by 7.75 percent. Even Hispanics, whose presence was negligible, lost 7.3 percent of the population.

Those population declines are striking.  The trends well established and it will have a big impact on Chicago.

Iraqi Authorities Conduct Night Raid on Al-Qaeda Cell in Baghdad and Arrest Its Members

Iraqi Authorities Conduct Night Raid on Al-Qaeda Cell in Baghdad and Arrest Its Members

Good video from MEMRI....

Rahm has deep financial ties to new Sun-Times owners | Blogs On Politics | Crain's Chicago Business

Guess we can kiss investigative journalism goodbye. Investigations of the Machine that is; others will be in their sites:  Rahm has deep financial ties to new Sun-Times owners

Will Raja Krishnamoorthi step aside for Tammy Duckworth?

Just wondering if Krishnamoorthi will step aside (and what he would need to go) to allow a Duckworth a free shot at the nomination, and bank all that money for the General against Walsh.

After all, Krishnamoorthi’s Bright Star baggage seem ‘cause it sounded formidable and right up Walsh’s ally,

It is time for Raja Krishnamoorthi to answer some tough questions about his management and oversight of Illinois’ Bright Start program. Raja claims credit for supervising the Bright Start program, but who was actually watching the investments?

Raja claims Bright Start program is one of top College Savings programs, yet all but one of Illinois funds lost 50 – to- 400% more than their benchmarks?

Who’s going to compensate the 185,000 Bright Start families for the rest of the 40% of their tuition money lost in Oppenheimer’s derivative swaps trading in its Core Bond and Fixed Income funds?

Raja welcomed parents into the program and promptly switched the plan sponsor – his choice, Oppenheimer.

Raja left when most of the funds cratered, performing vastly worse than their benchmarks. Instead of staying with the office to fix what he broke, Raja left, to run for the next political office.

Raja has turned into the typical Illinois politician: Ducking responsibility for mistakes made, and leaving Illinoisans to pick up the pieces.

We don’t need a new generation of the same old talk. As the Daily Herald said, we need more than just talk.

I’m guessing K goes, but it’s going to take a price because the Indian Community may well see it an affront.

Marathon Pundit: Media bias: Tribune reporter Annie Sweeney still won't mention Obama when reporting on his crony Rezko

Marathon Pundit: Media bias: Tribune reporter Annie Sweeney still won't mention Obama when reporting on his crony Rezko

Elite media just refuses to make the obvious links.

Robert Creamer: Willard Mitt Romney Rails Against "Entitlement Society" -- That Takes Chutzpa

Bob “Terre Haute” Creamer of criminally acquired wealth fame takes a shot at Romney’s inherited wealth over at HuffPo:  Robert Creamer: Willard Mitt Romney Rails Against "Entitlement Society" -- That Takes Chutzpa

Get of the high horse Bob.  Please…  prison should have cut you down to size a bit, or are we all supposed to forget that time served?

American Thinker: Chicago Sun Times Does Hit-and-Run on Obama-Rezko Payoff Lead

H/T loyal reader anon for pointing me to this story in American Thinker on the Frawley saga.  Frawley’s sentencing by the way has been postponed… again.

Quoting from a December 1, 2010 deposition wherein Weaver's attorney, Daniel F. Konicek, questioned Frawley in the presence of his, Frawley's, attorney, Charles R. Franklin, the Sun-Times reported:

Later in the deposition, Weaver's lawyer, Daniel F. Konicek, asks Frawley about what specific information Weaver is supposed to have told Frawley to withhold from federal authorities.

'I'm assuming the information is about the payments made by Rezko to Obama, so we know we're talking about the right conversation, right?' Konicek asks Frawley.

Frawley doesn't answer. So Konicek presses him: 'Am I correct it was about Obama being paid by Rezko?'

Frawley replies: 'I'm not answering that question, based upon my attorney's instructions.'

Nobody directly involved with the deposition -- including Frawley and his lawyers, Weaver and his lawyers, and the FBI and U.S. attorney's office -- would comment.

Ben LaBolt, a spokesman for Obama's presidential campaign, called Konicek's suggestion that Rezko might have made any cash payments to Obama 'utter nonsense.'  [Emphasis added.]

Articles: Chicago Sun Times Does Hit-and-Run on Obama-Rezko Payoff Lead

Alsammarae’s back from Jordan too; making noise in front of the White House.

Chicago aldermen have no money for libraries but millions for ward map fight

Chicago aldermen have no money for libraries but millions for ward map fight: Another day, another alderman squabbling over the ward map.

Check out the map and the new First Ward.

Illinois Review: The Ron Paul Newsletters

Illinois Review: The Ron Paul Newsletters

Ghost of John Brown's take on the Paul Newsletters.

Once your name's out there, and the subscriptions pocketed, it's kinda hard to weasel out of some of this Doc.

Obama Blames Walsh For Defeating Payroll Tax Cut Extension | NBC Chicago

Remarkable, the President of the United States goes toe-to-toe with a back bencher from Illinois over whether the FICA tax holiday should go on for two, or twelve months.

Despite the Republican caucus’s unanimity, the Obama Administration singled out two congressmen for blame: Rep. Allen West of Florida, and Illinois’s own Joe Walsh. 

White House spokesman Dan Pfeiffer blamed West, Walsh and other Tea Partiers for undermining an agreement House Speaker John Boehner had struck with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The payroll tax cut extension passed the Senate, 89-10. 

“You don't get 89 votes for something like this without there being a complete understanding [that] the House Republican leadership was on board,” Pfeiffer told MSNBC. “Speaker Boehner got on the phone with his caucus, tried to sell it, we had a Tea Party revolt.” 

In an interview with the conservative website Newsmax, Walsh said he voted against the bill because a two-month extension is “not workable” for businesses. House Republicans want a year-long extension.

Obama Blames Walsh For Defeating Payroll Tax Cut Extension | NBC Chicago

That video of Walsh telling "President Obama, quit lying." must have really stung!  It did by the way, shut Obama down, and nary a word was further heard from him on suspension of SSA checks.

Forget Duckworth and Krishnamoorthi, Obama's getting in the ring with Walsh.  That's gotta be dumb presidential politics shining the spotlight on the humdrum burbs Northwest of Chicago.  Great story for us bloggers... and Walsh.

West Side congressman has to pay election fines — AustinTalks

The busy life of a Congressman.  Last I recall, Congress had a barbershop.

Davis (D-Chicago) is running for re-election to Congress and also to be Chicago’s 29th Ward Democratic committeeman. But before he can get on the March 20th ballot, Davis must clear up about $1,887 in fines owed to the Illinois State Election Board, according to WBEZ reporter Sam Hudzik.

The fines, imposed on two of his committees – Citizens for Davis and Davis for Mayor – were levied because campaign money disclosure reports were filed late or not at all.

Davis knew about them, but explained in an interview last week with WBEZ that the congressional schedule has kept him too busy.

“I’m here [in Chicago] for two days, and – damn – I can’t find time to go get a haircut,” Davis told WBEZ.

West Side congressman has to pay election fines — AustinTalks

Illinois Review: Ruscitti pulls out of 8th CD GOP race

Illinois Review: Ruscitti pulls out of 8th CD GOP race

...the path for Walsh clears.

Elgin’s Bystronic deal

I understand the need to make a place attractive to business, but this one strikes me as bad, in a bad economy, with people strapped. I have no idea who Bystronic is or whose crony they may be, but it’s the start of a crony capitalist arrangement I bet.

City Management Analyst Aaron Cosentino said Monday the jobs incentives package originally was put together when the prior council was seated but did not come up for approval until after the spring municipal elections. The new council wanted an analysis of the economic benefits of the incentives package compared with its costs to the city.

The cost of the Bystronic package totaled as much as $167,000. That includes as much as $85,000 in bonuses the city would pay the company for each employee it hires. The company would be required to maintain for the first five years at least 25 jobs with annual salaries of at least $40,000.  But the city would pay incentives to entice Bystronic to grow its workforce.

During the first five years of the agreement, Bystronic would receive $2,000 for each job created with an annual salary, before benefits, exceeding $40,000 and $3,000 for each of the initial 25 jobs created with an annual salary exceeding $70,000. After that, the benefit is cut to $1,000 per job paying at least $40,000 before benefits. Under the agreement, Bystronic is supposed to recruit and hire Elgin residents.

That part of the agreement is capped at $85,000.

The second part of the agreement would reimburse Bystronic $81,843 for impact and other fees associated with its new facilities in Elgin and would give the company two annual memberships to Bowes Creek Country Club for three years.

Two incentives deals before council tonight | Articles#disqus_thread

American Narcissus, Part 1,217 | The Weekly Standard

American Narcissus, Part 1,217 | The Weekly Standard

They don't call us windy in Chicago for nothing. The Prez shooting the breeze here.

That Guy, Whats-His-Name, Shakes Up Race By Leaving GOP - By Jim Geraghty - The Campaign Spot - National Review Online

That Guy, Whats-His-Name, Shakes Up Race By Leaving GOP - By Jim Geraghty - The Campaign Spot - National Review Online

Gary Johnson goes it alone as Libertarian. My post from Johnson's visit to Chicago and America's Future Foundation.

Walsh on a holiday mission | DailyHerald.com Blogs

Kerry Lester on Walsh on a holiday mission  

Sometimes the left just hands you an issue.  Banning Congressman (often guys with egos the size of a ham) from saying Merry Christmas?  geez

Mark-up for the Expedited Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2011

A bipartisan bill that deserved more coverage in the press…..

Mark-up for the Expedited Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2011

Chairman Paul Ryan
Opening Remarks, As Prepared for Delivery
December 15, 2011

The purpose of today’s meeting is to mark up the Expedited Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2011.

I am proud to be here today marking up legislation that was written in a bipartisan way with my counterpart on this committee, the Ranking Member, Chris Van Hollen.

Chris, I want to thank you and your hardworking staff for helping us advance this common-sense reform to improve government’s stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

The Expedited Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act gives the President an important tool to target unjustified spending, while also protecting Congress’s constitutional authority to make spending decisions.

This new authority would allow the President to specify spending provisions within an appropriations bill, while requiring stand-alone consideration of these rescission proposals by Congress. 

Legislation implementing the proposed spending cancellations would receive expedited floor consideration and an automatic up-or-down vote in both chambers of Congress. Should Congress approve the rescission bill, every dollar of savings would be devoted to deficit reduction.

In addition to this bill, there are a number of other budget process reforms that are badly needed and that I want to mark up in this committee. This bill, for example, does not address mandatory spending, which represents 60 percent of our budget and is the key driver of our debt. 

We also need to keep in mind that budget process reforms alone will not solve our enormous budget challenges, but this reform and others can give us tools to help us tackle the drivers of the debt and remove impediments to economic growth.

With that, I yield to the Ranking Member, Mr. Van Hollen.

Mark-up for the Expedited Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2011 | Committee On The Budget

Speaker Boehner on Extending Payroll Tax Relief for a Full Year: “Let’s Solve This Problem Now”

 

About says it all here: Speaker Boehner on Extending Payroll Tax Relief for a Full Year: “Let’s Solve This Problem Now” | Speaker of the House John Boehner | speaker.gov

WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 19) House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) made the following remarks at a press conference tonight urging Senate Democrats to put their vacation plans on hold, return to Washington, and work with the House to extend payroll tax relief for a full year in a way that doesn’t hurt job growth:

“The House Republican Conference met this evening to talk about our way forward. Listen, our Members believe that we passed a reasonable responsible bill that would extend the payroll tax credit for a year. It would take care of those doctors who treat Medicare patients – the reduction in their payments – solve that problem for the next two years. And extend unemployment benefits with reforms for a year. Exactly what the president asked us to do.

“Our members do not want to just punt and do a two-month short-term fix where we have to come back and do this again. We’re here. We’re willing to work. We will appoint conferees and we hope the Senate will appoint conferees because we’re willing to get the work done now and do it the right way.

“Lastly, it’s become clear that what the Senate did pass is going to cause job creators all kinds of problems. As we saw the report that came out today by those who actually run payroll systems that there was great confusion about the way the Senate bill was put together. I think it’s time to just do the right thing for the American people. Let’s solve this problem now. We’ll have plenty of time to deal with other issues next year.”

# # # # #

Illinois Review: Cross: Create jobs - repeal Democrat's corporate tax increase now

Illinois Review: Cross: Create jobs - repeal Democrat's corporate tax increase now

The income tax killing our jobs and economy. Ton Cross at IR above.

Occupy Chicago Eyes New HQ, G-8/NATO in Striking Distance

Looks like it’s going to be a hot spring: Occupy Chicago Eyes New HQ, G-8/NATO in Striking Distance

This one will get plenty violent.

WMAL Exclusive: Cuba Actress Calls Sean Penn 'Communist A**hole,' He Calls Her a 'Pig'

Christopher Hitchens and Newt Gingrich: What kind of war are we fighting?

Boehner demands Senate cancel its vacation - Washington Times

Boehner demands Senate cancel its vacation - Washington Times

Good for Boehner... a big reason for the economy's slow recover is the uncertainity caused by government. A deal for two months doesn't help.

Illinois Review: Questionable recordings stir controversy in Kane County

Illinois Review: Questionable recordings stir controversy in Kane County

Mike, tell me it ain't so. No idea what this one's about.

Bye-Bye Keynes?

Bye-Bye Keynes?

I had to read the General Theory for Macro Economics at Grinnell in 1974. I wonder how many students still have to read it? Samuelson at the above link on how the world's vastly changed in size and velocity since Keyne's time.

When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir? -JMK


Change they have: since 1935 and 1974.

Paul Ryan Defends Wyden-Ryan | The Weekly Standard

Ryan on Wyden-Ryan Medicare plan, Paul Ryan Defends Wyden-Ryan

"Are we moving Medicare from a command and control government run system to a market based patient centered system? The answer's clearly yes," Ryan said. "We're taking Medicare from a public-only option to a real-private option and a market-based option in a market-based system." Wyden-Ryan would transform Medicare from a single-payer system into a system in which those entering Medicare after 2022 receive a capped subsidy, or premium support, to purchase health insurance on an exchange. "It runs the money through the person rather than through the government. The marketplace, the patients and the doctors, can make a decision," he said. Ryan-Wyden maintains the exact same "risk adjustment" and means-testing provisions that the GOP budget did (i.e. the sick and poor get a larger subsidy, the healthy and wealthy get a smaller one).

• Also check: WSJ Editorial
• Wyden and Ryan themselves in WSJ
• and Fact Sheet on the plan

Illinois Review: Forum: Illinois must develop zero tolerance for corruption

H/T Illinois Review: Illinois Review: Forum: Illinois must develop zero tolerance for corruption

Labour and Management unite on the curse holding back Illinois.

Clarendon Hills Clarion: Going off the Rails on this Crazy Train

A new blog takes a look at the dollars behind the Chicago Moline train.  It’s not pretty.  Over here at: Clarendon Hills Clarion: Going off the Rails on this Crazy Train

Rep. Walsh on Fox News' 'America's Newsroom' Discussing AG Holder & Fast & Furious

Eaton: Property assessment and political clout in Cook County - Southtown Star

Eaton: Property assessment and political clout in Cook County - Southtown Star

Tax appeals and zoning: it's where all the nasty stuff in Cook County Politics happens. Fran Eaton above in the South Town on it.

Daniel Frawley sentencing December 20, 2011, Rezko partner, Deposition reveals Rezko payment to Obama, Companion Security link | Citizen WElls

Daniel Frawley sentencing December 20, 2011, Rezko partner, Deposition reveals Rezko payment to Obama, Companion Security link | Citizen WElls

Five more days.....

Judge recommends prison drug rehab for Rod Blagojevich - Chicago Sun-Times

Judge recommends prison drug rehab for Rod Blagojevich - Chicago Sun-Times

Blagojevich's a fitness nut. Zagel's giving him the rehab program to shave a year off the sentence just mocks the sentence.

Aiham Alsammarae's back in Washington today

Seems that way if google's Persian to English translation is working.  Via Reuter's TV

Here's a translation of Alsammarae's words today:

Maliki, said Iraq's former Minister Ayham Alsamrayy, really does not represent the Iraqi people. He represents the Iranian mullahs.
Patrick Kennedy said the White House and State Department's Foreign Minister and listen to someone who lies. Professional who will listen that he not only lied, but his name is Al-Maliki, Halahm on the subject is lying,

Meetings with Kennedy.  Meetings with State.  Outside protesting while Maliki's talking with Obama.  Poor Rod on his way to the cooler and all sorts of things start popping again.  Picture below of Alsammarae, Nadhmi Auchi, and Rod Blagojevich at that Four Seasons dinner where Obama allegedly dropped in briefly.
Alsammarae's to Rod's left and partially hidden.  Only in Chicago can a story like this happen!

Update: video of the demo here including Alsammarae speaking along with Tom Ridge, Louis Freeh, and Patrick Kennedy.

Update: Some background on camp Ashraf to help explain what this demo was all about. I'm just curious to see a Chicagoan here participating!

Footnote: Alsammarae on radio Sawa June 2008 supporting the insurgency in Iraq. What were Ridge and Freeh thinking?

Said Minister of Electricity former Ayham Samarrai, who holds American citizenship that operations targeting the multinational forces are the legitimate resistance, and wished to continue, pointing at the same time that he would return to Iraq for practicing his political career. The Samurai, who escaped from an Iraqi prison following a court order to detain him in issues of administrative corruption: "The resistance in Iraq legitimate resistance is against occupation and any resistance in the world against occupation is legitimate, and good resistance to continue and take the right of the Iraqi people and I look forward to increase the wings of political" in the context of a separate, Samarrai said in a press conference held in the Jordanian capital of Amman Sunday he donated as much as $ 2300 U.S. in support of the Democratic Party candidate Senator Obama in Chicago, explaining this by saying: "in the U.S. states you have the right to contribute amounts of cash, and I donated $ 2,300 to Obama." In response to a question by "Radio Sawa" on the membership of the party and its alliances revealed his quest to join the new cluster, led by Dr. Iyad Allawi, said: "We will be mass announced by Iyad Allawi, but not the movement of reconciliation. I support Iyad Allawi is a symbol of Iraqi Arab and agree together many of the of views. " Commenting on the question: "Radio Sawa" about whether he had an alliance with Hazem Shaalan or Mishaan Jubouri said: "I would be that the movement does not speak about names." and display the Samurai documents said that it confirms to stop all legal proceedings against him and his inclusion in the decision of the General Amnesty . referred to the Minister of Electricity former Which Samurai managed to escape from his prison in Baghdad after the suspension on charges of embezzling state funds and damage during his bag and the Ministry of Electricity in the transitional government led by Iyad Allawi. the details of the correspondent of "Radio Sawa" in Amman, Aws al-Tamimi

IBEW LOCAL 134 Endorses Raja Krishnamoorthi

Via his Facebook page. Raja's getting the local endorsements while the national players go for Duckworth.

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 134 today endorsed Raja Krishnamoorthi’s candidacy for Illinoi’s 8th Congressional District. IBEW Local 134 is one of the most powerful local unions in the Chicago-land area and Illinois with 14,254 members.

“I am proud to have the strong support of IBEW Local 134 and its 14,000+ members,” said Krishnamoorthi. “I got into this race to fight for working class families, small businesses, and middle class prosperity.”

Krishnamoorthi’s role as president of a small business and a family man puts him on the front lines of this economic crisis every day and puts him in a unique position to understand what working families and small businesses are going through.

“As a job creator and the president of a local small business, I am the only candidate with the economic and business credibility needed to challenge Joe Walsh and the Tea Party’s radical economic agenda”, continued Krishnamoorthi. “I will continue to be a strong advocate for working families, labor, and small businesses both on the campaign trial and in the halls of Congress.”

IBEW Local 134 is the most recent labor organization to endorse Krishnamoorthi’s candidacy. Other unions that have endorsed Raja are:
Northwest Suburban Teachers Union IFT Local 1211
Illinois State Council of Machinists
Sheet Metal Workers Local 73
Painters District Council 30
Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association (Plasterers’ Union) Local 5

“Raja’s economic message really resonates with working families here in the district and that is why we have gathered the lion’s share of local support,” said Campaign Spokesman Mike Murray. “Working class families that know Raja know that he fights for the middle class and promotes progressive economic solutions to create jobs and grow the economy.”

“Raja is the only candidate with a depth of business and economic experience. Raja draws upon that experience to promote well thought out, progressive solutions to the hardships our economy faces,” continued Murray. “Raja’s strong local grass roots support is due to the fact that Raja is the only candidate in this race with the economic bona fides necessary to stand up to the Tea Party in Congress and defend the Democratic economic agenda as pro-small business, pro-working family, and pro-job creation.”

Pelosi, Hoyer, Reid Donate to Tammy Duckworth : Roll Call Politics

Pelosi, Hoyer, Reid Donate to Tammy Duckworth : Roll Call Politics

Democrats bring cash in wheel barrels for Duckworth.

Pelosi and Boehner Square Off in Illinois | NBC Bay Area

 

Pelosi and Boehner Square Off in Illinois | NBC Bay Area

Pelosi and Boehner bring the rumble to Illinois’s 8th.  Everyone things Duckworth’s going to get the nomination without much of a fight.  I think Raja’s going to prove that wrong.

Ousted Alderman Lands State Job - Chicago News Cooperative

Ousted Alderman Lands State Job - Chicago News Cooperative

Rice was hired last month as a $84,420-a-year deputy director of traffic safety for the Illinois Department of Transportation. The spot on the payroll is exempt from civil service rules, meaning that the Quinn administration was free to fill the post based on political considerations.

The Machine taking care of its own.

Charter school vote delayed; Sposato assailed; Solis paid

Via the trib, Charter school vote delayed; Sposato assailed

A non-Machine Sposato gets drawn out of his ward and then has to endure disrespect from a Solis over a contract to connected players. A Solis who pays himself out of campaign funds to march in parades,

Chicago aldermen get paid $114,000 a year, but a FOX Chicago News investigation finds two of them are paying themselves out of their campaign funds for extra work, like marching in parades, passing petitions, and slating candidates at political meetings.

Ald. Danny Solis (25th Ward) has paid himself $194,778 since 2004.

"My job is to promote the Democratic Party in the 25th Ward, and that's what I paid myself for," Solis said. "If I paid a consultant, they would probably get paid maybe a little more than that if they were doing this full-time."

It's the good people of the 36th and 25th Wards getting stiffed here.

Who Needs Democrats When Illinois Republicans Will Attack Each Other?

 

From over at Prairie State Review on the primary in the 52nd State Senate District.  Who Needs Democrats When Illinois Republicans Will Attack Each Other?

Gotta wonder what a party’s for when stuff like this happens.

Gillum Ferguson’s Illinois in the War of 1812

 

A new book over at the UI Press | Gillum Ferguson | Illinois in the War of 1812

In this engrossing new history, published upon the war's bicentennial, Gillum Ferguson underlines the crucial importance of the War of 1812 in the development of Illinois as a state. The history of Illinois in the War of 1812 has never before been told with so much attention to the personalities who fought it, the events that defined it, and its lasting consequences.

Endorsed by the Illinois Society of the War of 1812 and the Illinois War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission.

"For more than a century, there has been no book-length historical study of the War of 1812 in Illinois, but Gillum Ferguson has labored mightily to remedy that historiographical shortcoming. Massively researched and well written, Illinois in the War of 1812 is a pioneering work that will undeniably appeal to scholars, local historians, and interested readers."--Rodney O. Davis, coeditor of The Lincoln-Douglas Debates: The Lincoln Studies Center Edition

I never knew there was an Illinois Society of the War of 1812 or a Bicentennial Commission on it! Anyways, my kind of book, about a chunk of little known history.  Illinois was an awfully violent place, even then, and for will before then too.

Work to begin on Chicago-Moline rail route - PioneerPress

Work to begin on Chicago-Moline rail route - PioneerPress

By passing Dekalb and the Northern Illinois University seems a mistake to me. But there's a whole lot more freight on the UP's mainline to contend with than on the old Rock Island and CB&Q lines they're proposing to use.

Still, without a University town on the line, I don't see the patronage here.  Naperville to Genesso, who is going to make that trip?

Illinois Review: ILGOP blasts: Speaker Madigan continues Blagojevich legacy

Illinois Review: ILGOP blasts: Speaker Madigan continues Blagojevich legacy

A bit of a stretch putting Blagojevich away for 14 years while Speaker Madigan carries on the ways. IR quoting the IL GOP on Madigan's watering down Pension reform to satisfy buddies.

And that's the mild stuff Madigan up too. What about someone looking into the Madigan/Berrios nexus on property tax appeals. That was the bread and butter business.

Unmanned Crossing

The Top 50 Examples of Liberal Media Bias

I wouldn’t even know where to start for examples.  They abound.  So check Warner Todd Huston for a stab at the top 50  The Top 50 Examples of Liberal Media Bias | Western Journalism.com

Hultgren Campaign Open House St Charles Illinois 10 Dec 2011

Some video from today's Hultgren Campaign Open House in St Charles   Laura Wallet, Rep Bob Pritchared, and Daniel Sidmore.

Laura Wallett gives a nice stump speech in the second video. More on her at Illinois Review.





No big news at this event. Everyone just happy the race's taken the turn it has.

A pic of me and Randy. I'm not photogenic enough for office.

Crain's Retooling Chicago series

A couple of clips from Crain's Retooling Chicago series The second on Austin's PolyTech mentions the stats on Chicago's skilled labor shortage. Go occupy that.

Kinzinger: "The greatest disinfectant to terrorism is freedom"

Kinzinger: "The greatest disinfectant to terrorism is freedom"

Marathon Pundit: Human Events: Tea Party congressman Walsh running in Ill. 8th

Marathon Pundit writes Marathon Pundit: Human Events: Tea Party congressman Walsh running in Ill. 8th

It's the 8th! It'll be a great race whether Duckwork or Krishnamoorthi.

Update: Warner Todd Huston was there and talked with Joe, plus his take on the evening here.

The GOP’s Valentine’s Day Option | The Weekly Standard

The GOP’s Valentine’s Day Option | The Weekly Standard

Bill Kristol's still talking a Ryan Rubio ticket and explains how it could happen. The two are my druthers too. Hope.

Medicare chief's controversial exit creates squabbles among Democrats - The Hill's Healthwatch

Medicare chief's controversial exit creates squabbles among Democrats - The Hill's Healthwatch

A hearing with Don would've been grand. Bacus should have called him.

More via Paul Howard,

...in fact, Democrats did not even hold a confirmation hearing for him, which would have allowed him to confront and (potentially) persuade his Republican critics.

Instead, it was Democrats' tactical (read political) decision not to hold a confirmation hearing for Dr. Berwick, since the American people might have found his many past statements in favor of rationing or his praise for the British NHS health system (which actively rations access to, among other things, new cancer drugs) deeply problematic in the run up to the November 2010 elections. In fact, that record might have made it very difficult for Senate Democrats in swing states to vote for him - creating a bipartisan vote against his confirmation and a huge embarassment for the Obama Administration.

In other words, revisionist history notwithstanding, Democrats found it inconvenient to actually schedule a hearing and vote for the man who they now say is indispensable for Medicare reform.

I can assure readers, a confirmation hearing for Don would have been a grand Turkey shoot. A catastrophe for Obamacare. The consultant to NHS, who schmoozed NHS for contracts, then behind the doors told NHS all its problems, would have been the best evidence of the pathology of the Medical Industrial Complex.

Bobby, We Hardly Know Ye | The Weekly Standard

Barne's on Bobby Jindal, Bobby, We Hardly Know Ye | The Weekly Standard

As a result of disclosure, transparency, and ethics enforcement reforms, the Better Government Association lifted Louisiana from 46th to 5th on its Integrity Index. The Center for Public Integrity places the state 1st in its ranking of legislative disclosure requirements.

Ethics reform plays a significant part in Louisiana’s improved business climate. In 2009, the Gallup Job Creation Index ranked the state number three in the country. In 2010, Site Selection magazine rated its business climate number one in the nation. There’s no dispute that Louisiana’s economy is vastly better than it was.

A great story to be compared to the sorry narrative in Illinois and Gov Quinn. Go read the whole thing. What's with Illinois we can't produce a few of our own Bobby Jindls?

Once his defender, Quinn berates Blagojevich

Once his defender, Quinn berates Blagojevich

Quinn on Blagojevich above. What rock was Quinn under since 2002? Fitz repeated again yesterday Blagojevich ran a criminal enterprize for the moment he entered office in 2002. Quinn a good team player right through the re election. Either awfully stupid or lying through his teeth here.

Pensions probe focuses on Chicago union officials

Pensions probe focuses on Chicago union officials

More fish in the barrel for the Feds to net.

Federal authorities have begun a criminal investigation into how nearly a dozen union officials became eligible for inflated city pensions, according to subpoenas obtained by the Tribune and WGN-TV through an open-records request.

The Chicago municipal employees and laborers pension funds each received subpoenas from a federal grand jury in October seeking "records pursuant to an official criminal investigation." The request seeks documentation on 11 labor leaders who appeared in reports from a joint Tribune/WGN-TV investigation.

Illinois Review: Hultgren adds nearly 40 endorsements

Illinois Review: Hultgren adds nearly 40 endorsements

He's racking up the endorsements IR has the list at the link above.

Illinois Review: @GovernorRod tweaks IR Editor

Illinois Review: @GovernorRod tweaks IR Editor

Fran Eaton recalls a tweet from Blagojevich.

Illinois Review: Hultgren Statement on Blagojevich Sentencing

Illinois Review: Hultgren Statement on Blagojevich Sentencing

Randy's take.

We deserved better from Judge Zagel and Fitzgerald; we deserve the truth.

From Fitzgerald's comments on the Balagojevich's sentence,

In sentencing papers, the government contended that “Blagojevich’s criminal activity was serious, extended, and extremely damaging.” The crimes proven at trial were not isolated incidents, but, instead, were part of an approach to public office that Blagojevich adopted from the moment he became governor after he was first elected in 2002 on the heels of gubernatorial corruption and running on a campaign to end “pay-to-play” politics.

If the story's been ongoing since 2002, there is plenty left untold. For such high minded comments from Fitzgerald, he's walking away from the rest of the sordid tale.

You bet Illinosians have had the fabric of our political lives torn apart. Burying the scraps no way to stitch things back together. We deserved better from Zagel and Fitzgerald then just putting the guy who knows so much into a cooler for 14 years, and 600 hours of tapes sealed; never to be heard.  Jackson Jr walks unscathed.  Only the facts from the last act told and a big void from 2002 till then.

Update: Joel Kotkin: Illinois State of Embarrassment Obama's not a Socialist, he does things the Chicago Way,

The evolving scandal over “green jobs” — with huge loans handed out to faithful campaign contributors — epitomizes the special dealing that has become an art form in the system of Chicago and Illinois politics. Beneficiaries include longtime Obama backers such as Goldman Sachs , Morgan Stanley and Google. Another scandal is building up around the telecom company LightSquared. This company, financed largely by key Obama donors, appears to have gained a leg up for a huge Pentagon contract due to White House pressure.

If the Chicago system had proven an economic success, perhaps we could excuse Obama for bringing it to the rest of us. Most of us would put up with a bit of corruption and special dealing if the results were strong economic and employment growth.

But the bare demographic and economic facts for both Chicago and Illinois reveal a stunning legacy of failure.

Go read the whole thing for the sad sorry statistics on what we've done to Illinois.

Illinois Review: Illinois Humanities Council hosts online auction featuring Ayers and Dohrn

Illinois Review: Illinois Humanities Council hosts online auction featuring Ayers and Dohrn

Back in the 70s, I had a friend who had been in SDS with Ayers and Dohrn. He told me they were two of the kindest and gentlest people he had ever known (consider we were both in our early twenties). As I look back I realize my friend was describing cult leaders. People who seduce others into situations they otherwise wouldn't consider. In the case of my friend, arrest and expulsion from school lead him to Grinnell, rather than the Weathermen. A near miss with a violent cult.

Anyways, the pair's still seducing away at our expense per above link at Illinois Review.

Update: more over at Rebel Pundit How long must Illinois taxpayers keep subsidizing this crowd?

Update: Prairie State Reporter's take.

Rep. Walsh to announce his re-election plans at Chicago Tea Party meeting‏

Walsh knows how to work the suspense. I hate paying the parking downtown though....

Rep. Walsh to announce his re-election plans at 

Chicago Tea Party meeting

 

  "I did not run for Congress to become part of Washington, I went to Washington to change the way Washington worked"

  McHenry - Congressman Joe Walsh will make an important re-election announcement this Thursday at the Chicago Tea Party meeting. After spending the last week discussing his options with family, supporters, and party officials, Congressman Walsh believes the choice is clear.

 

Walsh stated "During my first year in office I upheld my campaign promise to do everything I could to rein in the mistakes that were made by the Obama Administration. From voting to repeal Obamacare, cutting spending, cutting taxes, and cutting the size of government, I have made it my mission to stop and roll back the damage that President Obama and Nancy Pelosi created. At the same time, I have also challenged my own party leadership when I think they did not go far enough. It is for that reason that I was one of only 22 Republicans who opposed the compromise that created the failed Super Committee.

 

I did not run for Congress to become part of Washington, I went to Washington to change the way Washington worked. It is why I have pledged to only serve three terms, it is why I turned down my health care and pension, it is why I sleep on my couch, and it is why I come home every single week and have hosted close to one hundred town halls.

 

During those numerous town halls I have heard from Republicans, Democrats, and Independents who feel as if both parties have failed them, and that Washington is out of control. Like me they feel as though their country is being taken away from them, and that it is time to be bold. Whether you call them tea party members or just frustrated, patriotic Americans, this group of individuals is growing. They are fed up and want change now. I can think of no better place to announce important news concerning my re-election than in front of these folks at the Chicago Tea Party meeting.

Chicago Tea Party Meeting

Thursday, December 8, 2011

7PM

The Cubby Bear

1059 W. Addison St., Chicago

Free Nasrin Sotoudeh Now

Kane County Races

James Fuller has a nice list of the candidates who have filed to run in local and county races. Lots happening in Kane County. It's the doldrums up in McHenry. The link here.

Ezekiel Bulver and "Bulverism"

For all the Libertarians, Conservatives, and those who think America can do better, some words from C. S. Lewis on Liberals habit of attacking the person rather than the argument. It's called Bulverism. H/T Peter A. Taylor

You must show that a man is wrong before you start explaining why he is wrong. The modern method is to assume without discussion that he is wrong and then distract his attention from this (the only real issue) by busily explaining how he became so silly. In the course of the last fifteen years I have found this vice so common that I have had to invent a name for it. I call it "Bulverism". Some day I am going to write the biography of its imaginary inventor, Ezekiel Bulver, whose destiny was determined at the age of five when he heard his mother say to his father — who had been maintaining that two sides of a triangle were together greater than a third — "Oh you say that because you are a man." "At that moment", E. Bulver assures us, "there flashed across my opening mind the great truth that refutation is no necessary part of argument. Assume that your opponent is wrong, and the world will be at your feet. Attempt to prove that he is wrong or (worse still) try to find out whether he is wrong or right, and the national dynamism of our age will thrust you to the wall." That is how Bulver became one of the makers of the Twentieth Century.

Illinois Review: It's 3:20 PM CST Monday, Dec 5th. Do you yet know where Joe Walsh will run?

Illinois Review: It's 3:20 PM CST Monday, Dec 5th. Do you yet know where Joe Walsh will run?

Well, we're all waiting.

Chinook Pilot takes a headshot... then flies the thing home

H/T Michael Yon

Derailed and deteriorating

Derailed and deteriorating

Pak railways falling apart.

There is worse news still for the Railways department and tens of thousands of passengers who travel on trains from day to day. Eleven further trains departing from the massive Lahore Railway Station, once one of the principal headquarters of rail travel in the country, have been cut. The trains provided services to Peshawar, Shorkot, Narowal, southern Punjab and other parts of the country. This takes the number of trains cut to 131, the highest in history.

US leaving Pakistan's Shamsi Air Base

AfPak's off way too many people's radar screens. Iran too, and I have the feeling it's all going to come crashing in on us in the next few months. Below via Bill Roggio's Long War Journal.

According to Dawn, US personnel have begun to vacate Shamsi Air Base in Pakistan's Baluchistan province. Shamsi has been described in the past as a hub for intelligence operations as well as a base for the CIA's unmanned Predator and Reaper drones. The Pakistani government ordered Shamsi closed within 15 days after US forces killed 24 Pakistani troops in a cross-border incident in the Mohmand tribal agency.

Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2011/12/us_personnel_begin_to_vacate_p.php#ixzz1fa7a4ZUI

36th Ward completely redrawn — the voters’ reward for electing a new guy - Chicago Sun-Times

36th Ward completely redrawn — the voters’ reward for electing a new guy - Chicago Sun-Times

The new alderman there is Nicholas Sposato, a former firefighter who got the job by beating John Rice in April. Rice had been appointed to the post on the recommendation of his more powerful predecessor, William J.P. Banks, the long-time Democratic ward committeeman.

In what surely qualifies as a prime example of the law of unintended consequences, the City Council’s mapmakers have preliminarily decided that the reward for 36th Ward voters who threw off the yoke of the Machine is to take away their ward.

The proposed new 36th Ward would abandon three-fourths of its current territory to move eastward in two prongs so that it can become a 67 percent Latino majority ward, filling a need to add another Latino ward on the North Side because of population shifts.

You can bet that new Hispanic Alderman's going to be a Machine Alderman first.

H/T Joe Lake

Justice Withdraws Inaccurate 'Fast And Furious' Letter It Sent To Congress : The Two-Way : NPR

From the guy Blagojevich hired to tell Illinoisians Mannheim Road at nighttime had nary a mobster.

Justice Withdraws Inaccurate 'Fast And Furious' Letter It Sent To Congress : The Two-Way : NPR: Under fire for losing track of weapons that turned up at crime scenes along the Southwest border, the Justice Department has taken the extraordinary step of formally withdrawing an inaccurate letter about the episode that it sent to Congress earlier this year

What else has Holders DOJ done that could use some daylight?

Illinois Review: Gingrich wins IL Value Voters straw poll

Illinois Review: Gingrich wins IL Value Voters straw poll

Newt wins. Don't underestimate the power of that fallen-then-redeemed-preacher archetype. Past wives don't seem to be an issue.

Manny's Deli Nov 11, 2011

I stopped at Manny's for Lunch before heading over to the Veterans Art Museum.

Veterans Day 2011

Some pics from Chicago's Veterans Art Museum.

Joe Walsh Town Hall Meeting 3 Dec 2011 St Charles Illinois

Update: More Joe here. At Allen Skillcorn's Value Voters Forum including video via The Prairie State Report. Joe doesn't rest.

Update 8:33PM Via Kane County Chronicle.

Update Dec 4 8:15AM The Daily Herald's coverage. and Clout Street at the Trib

Streamwood resident Jim Cook, 77, said he came to see whether Walsh was as much as a rascal as depicted in the media.

"But he's not," Cook said. "I found the man interesting. ... He has a lot of good ideas. Except that he is too conservative for my point of view. ... I have not voted for a Republican in all my life."

*****

Walsh starts the Town Hall with the Pledge and than recognition of Veterans in the audience.



Walsh responds to question about whether he'll run in the 8th. It's a twelve minute answer. If you don't want to wade through the video, just know he'll decide and announce next Monday. But it's twelve minutes of Joe at his finest. Worth watching.



One guy in the audience told Walsh he was as far left as Walsh was far right, but he'd still vote for him because he likes what Walsh was saying. There were a few of these occupy types in the audience and Walsh has a knack for engaging them.

Chicago Corruption Trials and the Sounds of Silence

Chicago Corruption Trials and the Sounds of Silence

A must read column by Larry Bell as Judge Zagel gets ready to put Blagojevich and the tapes into a very deep cold storage for decades. We need answers to all of the questions Bell asks here. People know those answers. People in high places. People in Foreign Places . People in Chicago. But not the American public.

H/T faithful reader anon.

Footnote: Afterall, Holder's DOJ a pretty slippery outfit.

William Galston: Our Deeply Daunting Jobs Hole | The New Republic

William Galston: Our Deeply Daunting Jobs Hole | The New Republic

To regain full employment (5 percent, which happens to be the same as the level when the recession began) with the pre-recessionary labor force participation rate, we would need 150.7 million jobs—10.1 million more than we have today. That’s a reasonable measure of the hole we’re still in, two and a half years since the official end of the recession.

Full employment is Bush's 5 percent? What Democrats were calling those Bush years fully employed?

Ethics panel extends Jackson probe - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room

Ethics panel extends Jackson probe - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room

At least someone's looking. It's really going to rub the wrong way if Blagojevich gets 15 to 20 and Jackson walks free.

William Galston: Slice The Demographics Any Way You Want, But Obama Is In Trouble | The New Republic

William Galston: Slice The Demographics Any Way You Want, But Obama Is In Trouble The New Republic:

With the exception of voters with post-graduate degrees, Obama is under water with every educational cohort: 42 percent among those with a high school diploma or less, 41 percent among those with some college, and 41 percent for voters with BAs.

Go figure...

McHenry County Blog | Would State Prison Threat Deter Political Corruption?

McHenry County Blog Would State Prison Threat Deter Political Corruption?

Cal Skinner asks if Blagojevich shouldn't be going to an Illinois State Prison instead of a Federal lockup. More of a deterrent maybe to spend 15 to 20 years with fellow Illinosians.

I don't know. My gut is to give the Guv probation. I think too many have gotten away, and I'd rather have Blagojevich doing a show on WLS with his mouth running in overdrive.

Russians Refuse to Shake Obama's Hand

No idea when this happened. Quite an insult.

James Fuller: Taxpayers could pay for Kane County fight with itself

Over at today's Daily Herald,

Taxpayers will apparently fund another potentially costly legal battle between Kane County officials as board members and Sheriff Pat Perez could not reach agreement Wednesday on who must pay for a 2 percent raise recently awarded to sheriff’s department employees and correctional officers.

Attention guys: taxpayers pay it all. Sounds to me like Sheriff Perez can't take the heat and ought to get out of the Kitchen. The Executive of an Agency takes the Budget the board sets, and then makes ends meet to complete the mission. Whining doesn't cut it. Going to court on the taxpayers nickle really doesn't cut. Taxpayers rightfully should start whining at the ballot box next year.