This weekend's stellar interview on Fox News was Mike Huckabee and the Tuohy Family as they talk about the story behind football player Michael Oehr's success in this season's current box office blockbuster, "The Blind Side."
Sunday, U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) told Fox News' interviewer Chris Wallace that moving Gitmo prisoners to Thomson Illinois is "a serious mistake," for the Obama Administration.
McCain, who has been an outspoken opponent to harsh interrogation techniques and a prisoner of war for seven years during the VietNam conflict,' [...]
from the Dillard for Governor campaign
(Lisle, IL) - Republican candidate for Illinois governor Kirk Dillard has won the endorsement of the St. Charles Township Republicans, expanding his support in Kane County.
"Senator Dillard's leadership and plans to bring jobs to Illinois, balance the budget and clean up" [...]
There's a vicious and prurient rumor about some Illinois Republican lawmakers that's been steaming up everyone's email this weekend. But before believing what you read or jumping to conclusions, a word of caution...consider the source.
The source is a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat who first appeared as a promoter of Hillary Clinton's candidacy for President [...]
Earlier in the Democrats' ObamaCare negotiations, Illinois U.S. Senator Roland Burris insisted he would not vote for any version that did not include liberals' health care golden calf "public option." He argued his allegiance to "public option" back to constituents who voiced their opposition to ObamaCare.
Suddenly, Burris backed [...]
State Rep. Jack Franks (D-McHenry) wants to cut off pensions for state lawmakers. At least any new ones that are sworn into office after January 1, 2011, anyway. Last week, the moderate "Blue Dog" Democrat introduced legislation that would cut off one of the most profitable benefits of being a member [...]
Illinois' Tea Party movement has not decided upon one candidate for U.S. Senate, as Illinois Review mistakenly implied Friday in the first sentence of the post "Will Co. Tea Party Alliance plans to "Stop Mark Kirk"," state Tea Party contact Denise Cattoni pointed out Saturday.
"Each individual group can endorse a candidate'" [...]
Pennsylania prolife activists have been holding a prayer vigil outside U.S. Senator Bob Casey's home, praying that he would stand firm against a health care reform that would include taxpayer-funded abortions. Casey has apparently bowed to his Democratic colleagues, and will vote for Reid's bill after praying about it, as the senator's wife expressed her frustration [...]
from Americans for Tax Reform
With the release of Sen. Harry Reid’s Manager’s Amendment, the Senate healthcare bill now contains seven tax hikes on families making less than $250,000 per year.
Each of the seven tax hikes are in violation of President Obama’s “firm pledge” not to raise “any [...]
WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today:
"Today we learned that Harry Reid's backroom deals and closed-door meetings have led to a health care bill that will cost American taxpayers nearly a trillion dollars. And get this: Harry Reid and the Democrats are celebrating. '" [...]
A compromise that won Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson's support for the Reid health care bill today will do what he previously stated he would not support- use federal funds to subsidize abortions.
Wendy Wright, President of Concerned Women for America (CWA), stated:
"The Reid bill will put the US government in" [...]
by Phyllis Schlafly
The biggest political issue today and in the 2010 election is that one in six Americans are jobless. The political party that offers a solution has the best chance of victory but, so far, both parties just don't seem to get it.
We are told that the' [...]
Beverly Perlson, head of "The Band of Mothers" was featured on Fox & Friends early Friday morning. The Band of Mothers is coordinating with Tea Party activists to organize a rally shortly before a General Assembly hearing Tuesday, December 22, 1:00 PM at the Sterling High School in Sterling IL.
If you can't' [...]
by Collin Hitt
A Democratic Congress and a Democratic White House have steered stimulus dollars to Democratic districts far more often than they have to Republican districts. This is the finding of an absolutely knockout paper released today by the Mercatus Center.
Authors Jerry Brito and Veronique de Rugy note [...]
UPDATE 1x: Illinois Republican State Party Chairman Pat Brady told Illinois Review that Rasmussen has polling on the Illinois gubernatorial race including Jim Ryan that will be released next week. Stay tuned.
A Rasmussen poll Friday pits the two Democratic Illinois gubernatorial candidates against McKenna, Dillard and Brady, and finds [...]
He killed 11 women, raped at least one other and beat her mercilessly with a 2 by 4. She alone lived to tell about her trauma and suffered through painful rehabilitation. After all that, Andre Crawford still didn't deserve the death penalty a Chicago jury determined today.
When the jury's verdict was announced, [...]
from the Bob Schillerstrom for Illinois campaign:
NAPERVILLE – Republican Bob Schillerstrom on Friday released the following statement in response to longtime State Senator Kirk Dillard threatening to take his name off of legislation to help bring the Navistar International Headquarters and nearly 1,000 out-of-state jobs to Illinois. As DuPage County Board [...]
There's an interesting development in the Cook County Commissioner 17th District race for the seat now held by Republican Liz Gorman of Orland Park. Primary challenger Mark Thompson of DesPlaines is accumulating a growing list of township GOP org endorsements.
Last weekend, Thompson won the Maine Township Republican Organization's endorsement [...]
Think it doesn't matter how you sign your name on a candidates' nominating petition? Think no one will notice or care if you write your name of print it? Guess again.
In IL House District 50, it appears now that three candidates will be on the Republican primary ballot on [...]
Those well-heeled producers of RedSpeed cameras just got a little bad news today from the Chicago Tribune's report today that red light cameras aren't the cure all they're hyped to be. The Illinois legislature votes to permit the expansion of the camera usage, and RedSpeed is [...]
Rasmussen reports this morning that an overwhelming majority think nothing is better than something when it comes to the Democrats' health care reform being debated in the U.S. Senate today, poised for a floor vote on Christmas Eve.
One of the last holdouts of the need 60 votes for cloture' [...]
Looks like starting January 4, WLS 890 AM's afternoon show host Roe Conn may have a new show partner -- one of Illinois conservatives' favorites, Cisco Cotto. Cotto's been doing morning shows with Big John Howell on WIND 560 AM for a couple of years, but, as Robert Feder reports' [...]
In case you're looking for a followup to the McKenna poll controversy, there's no news, the Chicago Tribune's Rick Pearson tells Republicans statewide. There was a meeting among a few Thursday, we're told, and they're deciding whether "there's anything there" so the rest of us don't have to worry [...]
Illinois' Tea Party movement has found their candidate for the GOP US Senate primary, and it's not front-runner Congressman Mark Kirk, it's attorney Patrick Hughes. On January 5, 2010 the Will County Tea Party Alliance is holding a "Stop Mark Kirk" rally at the Woodbine Country Club in Homer Glen,' [...]
by Dick Morris And Eileen McGann
A detailed analysis of the Obama health care program now before the Senate indicates that it will force big premium increases for all families especially for those under 30 years of age.
The study, by the consulting firm of Oliver Wyman, concludes that premiums for individuals [...]
from the McKenna/Murphy campaign
CHAMPAIGN - State Senator Dale Righter and State Representative Chapin Rose endorsed State Senator Matt Murphy today for Lieutenant Governor.
“Working alongside Matt, I have seen that he is determined to reform Illinois’ financial woes without raising taxes. Most importantly, Illinois needs [...]
from the Schilling for Congress campaign
EAST MOLINE, IL--Bobby Schilling, Republican candidate for the Illinois 17th Congressional District, criticized the so-called "New Deal for a New Economy Act" today, for using false predictions and bogus facts, and for ignoring the input of real people who know how to create real jobs.
"The" [...]
Millions of those involved in the medical industry gathered throughout the nation November 21, 2009 to demonstrate their opposition to the government takeover of health care. One of the speakers at Chicago's rally was Dr. Victoria Harris, who gave a clear, understandable explanation of the controversial public option Senator Joe' [...]
by Nancy Thorner
A Docs4PatientCare Town Hall Meeting was held this past Tuesday at the Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel in Northbrook, IL. The Town Hall Meeting was attended by 50 concerned citizens, including several doctors.
It was an event that deserves repeating throughout Chicagoland at various venues, as Congress presses [...]
We've been trying to tell those within the DC Beltway about The Chicago Way for a couple of years, but few would listen. There's another Congressman about to become a believer -- U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess of Texas. Burgess is expected to file a resolution calling for the White House' [...]
While Iran is building nuclear capabilities, threatening nearby nations, radical Islamists are terrorizing worldwide, H1N1 vaccines being recalled and unemployment over 10%, Barack Obama focuses on energy efficiency and tax credits for caulking. The "insulation is sexy" comment is at 7:13.
[...]
from Maria Rodriquez for Congress, 8th CD
Long Grove, IL - The U.S. House narrowly voted to raise the U.S. debt ceiling by $290 billion bringing the total amount the federal government can borrow to $12.394 trillion. Melissa Bean, the current representative from Illinois' 8th district, voted for the debt increase.
Maria' [...]
Illinois is finally getting public recognition for being the very best in something. The Animal Legal Defense Fund evaluated all 50 states laws for protecting animals, and announced today Illinois ranked "the very best of the best" in anti-cruelty laws for animals.
Not noted in the announcement, though, was the fact [...]
Washington, DC – Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) issued the following statement after Speaker Pelosi’s Stimulus II legislation passed the House today by a vote of 217 to 212.
“As the old axiom goes, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing twice and expecting different results. [...]
from the Hultgren for Congress campaign
State Senator Randy Hultgren today received the endorsement of Tax Accountability, the political action arm of National Taxpayers United of Illinois (NTUI), in his race for Congress.
Jim Tobin, the President of Tax Accountability, said the group is supporting Hultgren “in recognition [...]
from the Hughes for U.S. Senate campaign
"Two months ago Mark Kirk had no problem voting Yes for a H.R. 2892, a bill that would transfer detainees out of Guantanamo Bay and into our backyards. However, now that the detainees are being moved into Illinois and Mark" [...]
from the Hughes for U.S. Senate campaign
"As I have stated before, I oppose the transfer of enemy combatants from Guantanamo Bay to Thomson Illinois. However, because it appears that the transfer is imminent we need to impress upon the Obama administration that Thomson should be converted" [...]
Dear Attorney General Madigan:
As you are aware, last month Governor Pat Quinn announced his intention to consider selling the Thomson Correctional Center to the federal government for the purpose of establishing an alternative detention center to the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. In the weeks [...]
The rating cuts made by [...]
Chicago School Board members will decide today whether to dump their $24,000-a-year receipt-free expense accounts -- tabs (aka: "slush funds") in favor of submitting receipts for all work-related expenses.
They need to discuss and decide this?
[...]The same people who have brought you 10 percent unemployment, government run health care and a national energy tax are now attempting to bequeath you with another unwanted holiday gift. This time, however, the stakes are even higher as they want to [...]
The Daily Herald is reporting today that Lt. Governor candidate Rickey Hendon (D) thinks there is a conspiracy amongst the Democrat Party powers to "get" fellow Democrat Pat Quinn. According to Hendon, the leader of the conspiracy is none other than Mike Madigan.
If it weren't' [...]
After talking to several Republicans in Cook County who are challenged by primary opponents that have consistently voted in Democrat primaries, given to Democrats and are unknown to Republicans, it just seemed appropo to start out today's Southtown Star column like this [...]
Even though Illinois Review asked the State Party to confirm Michael Sneed's report that the State Central Committee was opening an ethics probe about a poll conducted last April that included McKenna's name, we couldn't get an answer from Executive Director Curt Conrad. And the McKenna' [...]
Liberal Democrat Bobby Rush claims that the “white-dominated” media is ignoring the only African-American candidate running for Obama’s old Senate seat - Cheryle Jackson. In an interview with The Hill, Rush said Jackson's candidacy hasn't gotten more attention because of her race. Noted Rush, "The'" [...]
We cannot afford to take our eyes off of Iraq as we focus more on Afghanistan. If we leave before a stable, functioning government and society have developed, we risk losing not only Iraq but all of the Middle East, including Afghanistan, to extremist [...]
Illinois Churches in Action says Illinoisans should take seriously the Chicago Tribune's editorial warning that state lawmakers may vote in January to stop municipalities from banning video poker in their localities. That means localities should pass bans now, while they have the chance. The editorial reads:
"This list of local government opt-outs" [...]
Federal Observer columnist Rick Biesada finds Governor Pat Quinn's dramatic shift from consistently supporting veterans and honoring fallen heroes to welcoming their murderers to Thomson prison a diabolical change of heart:
Pat Quinn has been an avid supporter of the Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run, whose mission statement [...]
Blogger Liberty Watchman makes the best of what appears to be a done deal between Governor Pat Quinn and Barack Obama, implementing the Chicago Way on the Thomson Prison plan:
Forget the appraisals, Mr Quinn. Figure out how much we paid to build the thing. Then add every dollar we ever [...]
from the Schillerstrom for Governor campaign
NAPERVILLE – Republican Bob Schillerstrom on Tuesday responded to the Illinois Republican Party launching an Ethics investigation into its former Chairman, Andy McKenna:
“I appreciate the decision of the Illinois Republican Party to investigate the conduct of its former Chairman, Andy McKenna. [...]
What the ACLU has to say about Gitmo North ...
NEW YORK – The Obama administration announced today that it will purchase the Thomson Correctional Center in Illinois for the purpose of holding some of the detainees currently remaining at Guantánamo. Though the administration is leaving unsaid which detainees [...]
If you're concerned about Obama's plan to move Gitmo prisoners to Thomson, IL and then hold military trial commissions on site, Denise Cattoni of Illinois Tea Party network tells us there's several things you can do:
1. Attend a public hearing Tuesday, 12/22, to determine whether the state of Illinois should sell the' [...]
Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes blasts Democratic gubernatorial opponent Governor Pat Quinn on his early release prisoner program undermines Illinoisans confidence in how he would handle the Gitmo-in-Illinois:
"As I said at the outset, I have full faith that President Obama would weigh this decision carefully and would never endanger the safety" [...]
from the Hughes for U.S. Senate campaign
(HINSDALE) - The Patrick Hughes for U.S. Senate campaign recently did a benchmark survey through Wilson Research Strategies on the Illinois Republican U.S. Senate primary race. The survey polled 600 likely Republican primary voters on December 9th and 10th. The [...]
from the Brady for Governor campaign
Senator Bill Brady, Republican candidate for Governor, released the following statement today:
It’s become abundantly clear in recent days that during his time as Illinois Republican Party Chairman, my opponent Andy McKenna, may have violated the conflict-of-interest ethics rules he himself put [...]
The Sun-Times Michael Sneed reports this morning that the IL GOP State Central Committee, now chaired by Pat Brady, has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the ILGOP's poll taken last April, while Andy McKenna was the party chairman, and before he decided to step' [...]
Senator Matt Murphy’s campaign for Lt. Governor continued to gain momentum this week with the endorsements of Maine and Libertyville Township Republican Organizations. Maine Township endorsed Murphy with a unanimous vote over his five Lt. Governor contenders.
“I am honored to receive [...]
House Minority Tom Cross sent the following letter to House Speaker Mike Madigan on November 25, 2009. The letter raises questions about the State of Illinois selling the Thomson Correction Center to the Feds for housing Gitmo detainees. It contains a list of questions raised by [...]
from Pulido for Congress (R-5) campaign
Rosanna Pulido, Citizen Candidate for the Illinois 5th Congressional district seat is strongly opposed to the Amnesty Bill legislation being introduced by Representative Gutierrez of the 4th district.
Pulido states that, ‘with one in ten Illinoisans laid off of work ,unemployment rates at the highest [...]
GOP candidate Adam Andrzejewski posted the photo below on his Facebook page with the title "Posterous Photos," something maybe should have been titled "Preposterous Photo"? Nevertheless, it occurred to us that this should be a featured Caption Contest photo for our clever and creative IR readers.
So, in this photo [...]
The Illinois Alliance for Growth today called on Illinois GOP gubernatorial candidates to reassure Illinoisans that they will hold the line against taxes and overcome their credibility gap with voters on the tax issue.
Polling conducted on December 2nd through December 8th on behalf of The Chicago Tribune by the Market [...]
by John F. Di Leo
Nobody can really be a "jack of all trades." As complex as the Presidency is today, it's unfair to expect any candidate to be expert in all of the myriad fields in which the modern President finds himself.
And yet... don't we expect a President to' [...]
Last week, candidates for US Senate, statewide offices, Illinois House and Senate, as well as DuPage and Cook County primary races received notification of Illinois Federation for Right to Life-PAC's endorsements. The full list of endorsements, IFRL-PAC's questions and the candidates' answers are now published at IFRL's website.
Among those listed, IFRL-PAC [...]
Chicago Tribune is reporting tonight that Senator Dick Durbin and Governor Pat Quinn will be in DC tomorrow when the White House announces that Thomson Correctional Center has been chosen to transfer between 35 and 90 Gitmo prisoners being detained for alleged terrorist activities.
Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has [...]
The taxpayer-funded Metra folks had to apologize today for refusing to allow 135 children on the Union Pacific line for their pre-paid "Polar Express" ride. Seems the Metra bureaucrats couldn't get their signals straight regarding the annual event. However, they were successful in leaving the kids - many in their' [...]
Hey, if you haven't noticed yet, Illinois Review is privileged to have alongside on your right a new IR sponsor -- this one "E-Voter," a service we hope you'll find helpful up through the February 2, 2010 primary. All you need to to is enter in your address, and E-voter [...]
from the Ryan for Governor campaign
Illinois gubernatorial candidate and former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan reacted today to revelations in an Associated Press story that Governor Pat Quinn secretly released more than 850 inmates since September by immediately awarding them months of good-conduct credit, some of [...]
UPDATE 1x: Thomson's Mayor Jerry "Duke" Hebeler says turning Thomson Correctional Center into a supermax prison to house Gitmo detainees while they await military or civil trial is his "dream." Sure, a few of the 559 locals may be concerned about Gitmo-in-Thomson, but Hebler told the Sun-Times today "they haven't contacted him."
The Village [...]
by Nancy Thorner
This week's Pioneer Press publication, the Lake Forester, published an ad that called attention to a group that is about a year old, Docs4PatientCare, a grassroots organization that not only recruits doctors, but is also open to all who are interested in advocating for responsible healthcare reform by' [...]
by Rafael Rivadeneira, candidate for 41st State Rep District
Well, we’ve got another case of Power to the Pork brewing among Illinois machine Republicans.
In the past weeks, former governor Jim Edgar and GOP gubernatorial candidates Kirk Dillard and Jim Ryan all refused to close the door on tax increases for [...]
from Illinois Republican Party:
CHICAGO – Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady today blasted Democrat Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky for ignoring President Obama’s call for earmark reform and defending millions of dollars in wasteful spending projects.
In 2008, Illinois Congressman Mark Kirk joined then-Senator Barack Obama in declaring a self-imposed moratorium on [...]
from the Adam for Illinois campaign
Last Wednesday, Adam Andrzejewski, Republican candidate for Governor, called on each of his 6 opponents for the Republican nomination for Governor to join him in supporting a new law to prohibit teacher strikes in Illinois. Support for this legislation was voted [...]
The Will County Tea Party Coalition released ratings and seals of approval for U.S. Senate candidates, based on "numerous factors," organizer Tim Kraulidis said, following last Wednesday's candidate forum held in Joliet. Not only did the group focus on which candidates' opinions, beliefs and record most closely aligh with issues [...]
from the Proft for Governor campaign
Nine is a small number with enormous consequences. Nearly all of our state’s public power and resources are concentrated in the hands of nine people. Of course, someone has to hold these positions, but it is important to recognize that the [...]
from Rodriguez for Congress campaign
Long Grove, IL - This weekend, Republicans in Libertyville Township voted to endorse Maria Rodriguez in the 8th district Congressional primary. The winner on February 2 will determine who will take on Melissa Bean next November.
In response to the endorsement, Maria Rodriguez stated, "I am thrilled" [...]NewsRadio WTAX and the Citizens Club of Springfield bring you a live forum with the Republican candidates for governor in Illinois this Monday night at 7:00 PM. Six of the seven candidates will be participating at the forum at the Hoogland Center for the Arts at 420 South Sixth.
WTAX [...]
from the Dodge for Comptroller campaign
Jim Dodge, Republican Candidate for Illinois Comptroller calls The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees’ endorsement of his opponent an illustration of “business as usual.” Judy Baar Topinka was the only Republican endorsed by AFSCME which has also backed others in the past [...]
from the Put-Back Amendment campaign
Monday at the State Capitol at 1pm, the principal author of the Put-Back Amendment, John Bambenek, will announce that individuals representing all points on the political spectrum have endorsed the Put-Back Amendment including former Republican Congressional and Gubernatorial Candidate Jim Oberweis has endorsed the Put-Back Amendment.
In [...]
In an Associated Press wire story released yesterday, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Ryan pledged to sign a ban on Assault Weapons and promised to veto any Concealed Carry legislation that reaches his desk.
In making these pronouncements, Jim Ryan was very clear that he would [...]
Early this week WLS 890 AM listeners heard talk show co-host Don Wade join the call for Barack Obama to fire his Safe Schools' czar Kevin Jennings. Wade's outrage was sparked by BigGovernment.com's review of obscene passages in books Jennings' organization Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Networkrecommends [...]
by Nancy Thorner
State Senate Republican Leader, Christine Radogno, was the featured speaker at the 2009 Holiday Coffee sponsored by the Women's Republican Club of Lake Forest/Lake Bluff at the Lake Forest home of William and Kim Madden. The WRC of LF/LB is celebrating its 67th birthday this year and is' [...]
by Mark Batinick of Plainfield, IL
I cannot say thank you enough, to both the organizers of the Tea Party movement, and its supporters. With the bank bailouts and the near trillion dollar stimulus, your blood pressure finally boiled to the point where you stopped yelling at the TV, and started [...]
You're the victim of a violent crime, your attacker is tried and found guilty, and as you continue suffering the after effects, you feel a little better knowing at least the culprit is getting his just due until you find out Governor Quinn secretly let him out of prison after' [...]
US News' blogger Robert Schelsinger wrote Saturday that Rasmussen's poll revealing that 51% of Illinoisans are opposed to the feds moving Gitmo-detained terrorists to western Illinois' Thomson Correctional Prison is the result of paranoid Republicans feeding irrational fears.
"If Rasmussen's polling is correct, we have a triumph of cheap" [...]
by Phyllis Schlafly
We were shocked to read a November report from the U.S. Army that 75 percent of America's 17- to 24-year-olds are not eligible for military service, largely because they are poorly educated, involved in crime, or are physically unfit. According to this report titled "Ready, Willing and'" [...]
You've got to wonder what changed American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees' mind about Judy Baar-Topinka from 2006, when they chose not to endorse neither her nor her gubernatorial Democratic opponent and eventual winner Rod Blagojevich. This week, AFSCME threw their support behind the former treasurer in her GOP primary bid for state [...]
Governor Pat Quinn appointed Chicago attorney Marty Castro as new head of the state's Human Rights Commission Saturday. Castro started a new endeavor this year called Castro-Rioja Enterprises, after being Aetna's regional vice president of external affairs for two years, and before that working at private law firms.
Castro is an [...]
