I wanted to get this out fast - Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church , known for their notorious "God Hates Fags" demonstrations at the funerals of US war veterans and other hateful activities, will be gathering at Emanuel Congregation at 5959 N. Sheridan Road on Chicago's north side on Monday, August 3. This story is developing. Chicago News Bench will cover the event on Monday. More info on this story to follow... UPDATED with photos: See Slideshow of Westboro Baptist Church Protest
Here is the e-mail alert from 48th Ward Alderman Mary Ann Smith, sent today at 12:30 p.m.:
Agitators to Picket Emanuel Congregation
On Monday, August 3, members of Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church will be picketing Emanuel Congregation at 5959 North Sheridan Road.
Westboro is the group that pickets the
funerals of service personnel killed in action. They say these deaths are "proof that God hates America because we tolerate 'fags'." They also achieved "fame" for picketing Matthew Shephard's funeral and insisting that he's burning in hell.
Jews and Jewish institutions are the latest target of their bigotry and unending efforts to gain publicity. This Monday, from 11:15 a.m. until 11:45 a.m., they will show the "love of God" by protesting the existence of Jews and picketing near the synagogue.
The community is invited to respond to this bigotry by participating in a peaceful and respectful silent demonstration on synagogue property. The message we want to convey is that our community is too caring and too inclusive to tolerate such hatred.
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In a knee-jerk reaction to spectacular failure, Congress has just approved an additional $2 Billion for the "Cash for Cars" program. That's the program that ran out of money after much less than a month of operation. It's intended purpose is to stimulate new car sales by giving customers a rebate of up to $4,500 when they trade in an old car for a new one.
Let's do some math....
The program ran out of its original $1 Billion in a matter of days. So, how many more days will it be before the additional $2 Billion runs out? The program, officially known as CARS (Car Allowance Rebate System), is a bureaucratic nightmare full of red tape. In other words, business as usual for a federal program.
Rather than actually fixing the confusing program (see video report, WTNH), Congress simply threw more money at it.
RELATED:
US House approves $2 billion more for 'clunkers' - The Detroit News
McCaskill says no mas on “Cash for Clunkers” - Columbia Business Times
How Government Health Care Would Work (see Cash for Clunkers) - CNB
Let Ford Recycle Your Ride - Find out if you qualify! - Ford
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UPDATE 7/31/2009: $2 Billion More for Failed "Cars for Cash"
The federal government wants to help you buy a new car. They just don't know how to do that efficiently. How typical. A program called "Cash for Clunkers," which started on July 1, has already burned its $1 Billion in funding, and members of Congress are making a confused rush to "fix" the program. The program is officially called CARS (Car Allowance Rebate System) (see the website here).
The CARS website makes no mention of the program's funding crisis. A PDF document there says, "The estimated funds remaining shown on the gauge to the right are estimated funds only. This page will be updated daily for informational purposes only. This is not official fund balancedealers should refer to when entering in their transactions." Problem is, there is no guage shown and they are not updating it daily as stated. At 10:40 am (CDT) on July 31, the PDF stated that the document was "Last updated 7/28/2009 at 9am EST."
The idea behind Cash for Clunkers was to give hefty rebates to people for trading in their old cars. "Under the plan as enacted," reports CNN, "vehicles purchased after July 1 will be eligible for refund vouchers worth $3,500 to $4,500 on traded-in gas guzzlers. The trade-in vehicle has to get combined city and highway fuel economy ratings of 18 miles per gallon or less."
Poorly funded, poorly administrated, poorly planned to begin with, Cash for Clunkers serves as a precursor of how government run health care would work.
Moe Lane wrote a good summary of the situation on July 30, which noted the following (emphasis added):
"...the program started on July 1, they only published the actual rules Friday, and they’re still working out how to get the dealers their money. If you’re shrugging over that, consider this: what’s essentially happening here is that car dealerships are giving $4,500 interest-free, unguaranteed loans to the federal government… and the determination of whether or not those loans get paid off is more or less going to be at the discretion of mid-level bureaucrats at the NHTSA. Even if they do repay every loan, it’s apparently going to take time for the system to smooth out; it’s an open question whether it’ll straighten out before the official end of the program in November. And the car dealerships - the only producers of goods in this particular equation, and the ones that the government is ostensibly trying to help - get all the headaches."
How would you like health care to be run like that? You wouldn't, of course, but remember that the same fools who cobbled together Cash for Cars are the same fools who slammed together the 1,018 page health care legislation that just failed to pass in Congress. How many members of Congress have actually read the entire 1,018 page document, let alone actually understand it? The Cars for Cash legislation was far fewer pages and far less complicated, yet it collapsed in spectacular failure within a month of beginning.
In typical government fashion, more money is being sought to extend the horrible program. According to CNN, "One of the program's main champions in Congress, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., told CNN that the Michigan, Ohio and Indiana congressional delegations are working on a $2 billion extension of Clunkers program."
It is the stupidity and mad inefficiency of programs like Cash for Clunkers that has so many Americans leary of any government run health care. People are right to question how well an extremely complicated system such as health care - which directly affects life and death medical decisions - when a simple used car program is so badly screwed up by the very people who want to control your medical care.
RELATED:
Government's 'Cash for Clunkers' Program Runs Out of Gas Early ... - Wall Street Journal
Congress rushing to further fund cash for clunkers - Baltimore Sun
Cash For Clunkers Funds Gone in One Week? - autoloandaily.com
US Launches 'Cash For Clunkers' Initiative - Voice of America
Poll: More Americans wary of Barack Obama's health care plan ... CSMonitor.com
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The protest at Chicago's City Hall yesterday (July 29) was weird. Most protests are focused on one issue. You know, anti-war, anti-taxes, anti-this, anti-that. The one in Chicago yesterday, however, was a mish-mash of issue: Anti-Olympic games, anti-parking meters, anti-corruption, anti-gentrification, and more. See our video below. (Warning: The video is politically incorrect.) We also posted a slideshow yesterday with more than 100 photos of the protest event.
It is a case study of how communists co-opt a cause and twist it around for their own use. The show was run by local communists (their own self-description) such as International Socialist Organization and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. This was not good for "No Games Chicago," which is against the 2016 Olympics coming to Chicago and has little to do with class warfare. Many Chicagoans across all socio-economic situations agree that the games would be a big mess of traffic, corruption and tax money lost, yet No Games Chicago allowed itself to be co-opted by the communists and participate in their anti-gentrification, class warfare event.
The chanting was about equal parts English and Spanish. Most of the chanting was against gentrification and parking meters. At one point, the "No Games Chicago" organizer had to remind the communists running the show to include "Olympics" in the chanting. About 1/3 of the protesters spoke no English, providing a funny moment when many in the crowd couldn't correctly repeat what one of their leaders was chanting.
The protest was "initiated by" the Chicago Parking Meter Campaign groups involved with this multi-purpose protest were: ANSWER Chicago, Centro Communitario Juan Diego, International Socialist Organization, No Games Chicago and the Party for Socialism and Liberation.There is also a set of incredible legs in this video.
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State and Wacker, downtown Chicago. Sure, those are some nice legs, but I was actually trying to get a shot of that Yellow Taxi in the background, really. Honest.
(Click to enlarge)
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The voting is craaaa-zy in our exclusive poll of 7th District Illinois State Senate seat support. We opened the poll on July 17, and incumbent Heather Steans was ahead every day until Monday, July 27 when challenger Jim Madigan suddenly pulled ahead. But on Tuesday, Steans was ahead once again - but not for long. This evening, Madigan is way, way, waaaaay ahead. Steans and her husband have donated over a million bucks to a number of Illinois politicians over the past 12 years or so, including around $200,000 to Rod Blagojevich.
As of 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, Madigan has 77 percent of our poll voters, versus a puny 14 percent for Steans. (Has Madigan rallied his supporters to click over to Chicago News Bench?) VOTE IN THE CNB POLL NOW....
RELATED:
Forty-Eighth Ward Follies - Chicago Reader
Updated - Steans-Madigan Poll Numbers Changing Fast - Chicago News Bench
Steans Faces New Competition for 7th Dist IL State Senate Seat - Chicago News Bench
Greg Harris Endorses Heather Steans in 7th Senate District Race - David Ormsby
Sen. Heather Steans, Money Whore - Chicago News Bench
Senator Heather Steans, For The Children - Chuck Cowdery Blog
See Heather Carry Water For The Machine - Chuck Cowdery Blog
Steans Ejects Citizen Journalist From Victory Party - Chicago News Bench
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After many months of renovation, including repairs needed after a construction-related fire on February 4, Holy Name Cathedral will recontinue weekend masses beginning Saturday, August 1, 2009. Located at 735 North State, Holy Name serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
More information from the Chicago Archdiosese.
(Click photo to enlarge)
Update July 30, 2009: We've got an exclusive video up now.
Exclusive photos from Chicago News Bench of today's protest at Chicago's City Hall on N. LaSalle in downtown Chicago. We'll post our video of the protest on Thursday, July 30, but for now enjoy more than 100 photos in our slideshow:
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--- Note: This post has been corrected. See correction in red, below. ---
Writing like a confused and giggly 8th grade girl (lots of exclamation points!), Julie Hamos "announces" today that she is "running for Congress!" Julie was just sooooooo excited to make this announcement that she pre-announced it last weekend. So, like, today's "announcment" is technically not news. It's a formality, because she already announced it on July 27. Julie is just so excited that she really really really wants to make sure that we know that she's running for the 10th Congressional District seat in Illinois. Julie's also very excited about her brand new (not very exciting) video, called "Julie Announces Her Campaign for Congress."
Her email blast today (July 28) said, in part:
Today I am excited to announce my candidacy for the 10th Congressional District of Illinois! In just a few moments I will make my formal announcement to supporters in Highland Park but I also want to share a special message with you, my supporters across the state. It will take every one of us working together to bring strong Democratic leadership to the 10th Congressional District. I am grateful for your support as I explored a run for statewide office. Illinois is a big, diverse state with so much to offer. I truly enjoyed traveling the state and meeting so many of you.
That's the giggly part of the emailed "announcment," which follows yesterday's pre-announcement, which comes "a few moments" before she was to make the "formal announcement" in Highland Park. Wait, that's both giggly and confusing, isn't it? Here's more confusion from Julie! How many announcements does one need to make an announcement?!?
I wonder if Julie Hamos will announce that she will announce a time for her announcement that she will move to the 10th Congressional District. She and hubby Alan J. Greiman currently live in Evanston, which is in the 9th Congressional District and well south of the 10th. If she does move, then she can legally represent the 10th. Don't hold your breath for that announcement, they want to keep that quiet.
CORRECTION, POST-SCRIPT: Thanks to Jeff Smith, who is running for the Illinois House of Representatives in the 18th Legislative District, was kind enough to send this corrective info to me:
Under Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, a rep to the US House must be (at the time of the election) an inhabitant of the state they represent, but need not live in their district. A quirk of the Constitution. Technically I could run for Congress from Aaron Schock's district, win, and never move there. A virtual representative. So Julie doesn't have to move.
Of course, Hamos will have to move into the 10th Congressional District if she wins. Whether she wins or not, she is a carpetbagger by virtue of running to represent a district that she does not currently reside in. Legal or not, it stinks.
RELATED:
Julie Hamos is Lost and Confused
Julie Hamos Is Lost and Confused, Act Two
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Can erecting magical inanimate objects throughout a neighborhood reduce or even stop violence? A lot of folks (e.g., Liberals) believe so.
I stumbled across a great post this morning at "The Chicago Lampoon." The post, titled "I'm Getting Into The "Peace Pole" Racket," is about a manifestation of what I like to call "liberal magical chanting" or just "liberal magic." The blog's author deftly mocks this infantile tendency of the Left with biting sarcasm, attacking the stupidity of what he calls "the peace pole racket" in Rogers Park. The peace poles are inanimate objects thought by liberals to possess magical powers. They believe that these objects can magically prevent murder and mayhem. Perhaps if gargoyles were placed next to the peace poles, the power would be increased.
The post's author notes: "Catiana McKay, the lefty divorcee pastor of the lefty United Church of Rogers Park (that crumbling eyesore on the corner of Ashland and Morse) has come out with a sure-fire plan to combat the tsunami of violent crime that infests and infects that hellhole of a neighborhood." He goes on to comment that "The denizens of this rather eccentric Rogers Park church, truly are a mystical lot. More steeped in supernatural romanticism than the religious snake handlers, I think."
I won't quote the post at length, but I urge you to read it. I will quote myself however, from the comment I left there:
Crazy crap like candle light vigils, walks for peace, petunias for peace, and so on are no different than the now legendary attempt to levitate the Pentagon [in 1967] during the Vietnam War. It's almost a tacit admission by the Left that they don't have real answers to real problems, are a bunch of superstitious nutjobs (in spite of their often-antireligious posturing), and have little or no understanding of the basics of human nature. To believe that "peace poles" or "take back the night" walks will make criminals magically and spontaneously change their evil ways is akin to believing that sacrificing a lamb will pacify an angry rain god.
It is secular mysticism at its best, and it is best when it is tragically funny. East Rogers Park is presided over by Alderman Joe Moore (49th Ward), a man with no deep personal beliefs and a weak moral compass. Moore is a typical liberal elected official. Like any good minor prince of the Left, Moore is happy to pretend that he agrees with the lunacy of people such as Pastor McKay. Remember that Moore is the guy behind the infamous and ill-fated foie gras ordinance. He did that for two reasons: To appease a major donor, and to posture himself favorably in the eyes of two subgroups of secular mystics, the Vegans and the Animal Rights people. Hypocrite Moore hasn't grown his huge belly and wobbly double chin by never eating mammalian flesh, nor his fair share of fried poultry.
Do peace poles work? WorldCitizen (peacesites.org) thinks so, and they tell us that "Over 200,000 Peace Poles have been planted in 180 countries throughout the world. Everyone can promote peace through Peace Poles including: Individuals and Families, Groups, Organizations, and Businesses, Schools and Colleges, Police and Fire Stations, Places of Worship, Hospitals and Animal Shelters, and anywhere else you can think of." They don't tell us whether "peace" has broken out in any of those 200,000 locations, but we are asked to have faith that it has. Last time I checked, however, there was still plenty of violence and even full blown warfare going on in many of those 180 countries.
Let's wrap up with a suggestion for the peace pole crowd. Look, folks, we're in tough economic times. How about putting up "Prosperity Poles" throughout all of Chicago's neighborhoods? Just in case I'm wrong, and just in case your Liberal Magic really can work, wouldn't it be nice to prevent foreclosures, personal bankruptcies, lost change, and a host of other money-related incidents?
Wouldn't it be nice to know that you have magically, overnight, caused everyone in Chicago to suddenly be gainfully employed and have all the money they want? Sure it would. The success of Obama's insane stimulus programs may hinge upon it.
RELATED:
The Peace Pole Project
About Peace Poles (World Citizen)
The Impact of Petunias
Violence Vigil: More Empty Gestures
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UPDATE: It's now 12:30 p.m. on July 28, and Heather Steans has pulled ahead of Jim Magidan - again. Our poll now shows Steans with 41 percent to Madigan with 34 percent. This will undoubtedly change again, so keep watching the poll.
The original post:
Monday, July 27, 11:00 p.m. - Incumbent Heather Steans lags behind openly gay challenger Jim Madigan for the first time in a poll by Chicago News Bench. They are running to be the Democrat nominee in the February 2, 2010 Democrat primary for the 7th District Illinois State Senate seat.
The Results So Far: At 11:00 p.m. on July 27, 35% of respondents said they would vote for Steans, 38% said they would vote for Madigan, and 23% said they would vote for Elder (if she ran again). "Other" had a response of 4%. There is an error margin, but we don't know what the heck it is and freely admit that the poll is not scientific. Nevertheless, it's fun to watch. It's also fun to vote in it.
The CNB poll began on July 17. The poll asks who people will vote for in the primary: Heather Steans, Jim Madigan, or Suzanne Elder. Elder was defeated by Steans (rhymes with "stains") in a special election in February, 2008 to replace outgoing State Senator Carol Ronen. Although Elder is not a declared candidate, some people would like to see her run again. Illinois state senators serve a two-year term.
Windy City Times, a gay-oriented paper in Chicago, noted the already-tense feeling of the race for the 7th District. Reported the Times:
When asked what spurred him to run, Madigan responded, "For me, it’s the need to have legislators who will exercise independent judgment; who will challenge the party bosses and leaders in this state when it’s appropriate; and who will side with the individual voters rather than paying special attention to campaign contributors. I think [ Heather ] is a decent person, but I think the reality is that if she had not given [ former Gov. ] Rod Blagojevich $170,000, she would not have had that seat open up for her."( Steans, when notified of Madigan’s remark, responded, "Jim’s statement is based on faulty facts...." (Source)
Ironically, Steans's retort was correct. Madigan said that Steans gave Rod Blagojevich "$170.000," but in fact it was much closer to $200,000.
Also See:
Steans Faces New Competition for 7th Dist IL State Senate Seat - Chicago News Bench
Greg Harris Endorses Heather Steans in 7th Senate District Race - David Ormsby
Sen. Heather Steans, Money Whore - Chicago News Bench
Senator Heather Steans, For The Children - Chuck Cowdery Blog
See Heather Carry Water For The Machine - Chuck Cowdery Blog
Steans Ejects Citizen Journalist From Victory Party - Chicago News Bench
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This story will NOT go away. Why won't Obama the Usurper release all of his documentation?
The massive effort to force Barack Hussein Obama to become “transparent” about his birth place and circumstance, his college years and his passport records is gathering steam. Despite a million dollars in legal fees aimed at keeping Obama’s entire life history Top Secret, a relentless pursuit of the mystery messiah not only persists,—its going viral on the web and main stream in the press… FULL STORY
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You may remember the false charges brought against the Duke University lacrosse players in 2006. The District Attorney in that case, Michael Nifong, was convicted on charges of hiding evidence, lying, and perpetrating fraud on the court. More recently, Barack Obama made false charges against a Cambridge police officer for his response to Harvard University Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. Obama said that the officer overreacted and hinting at racism on the part of the police. Nifong was punished for lying, and for bringing distress to people who did not deserve it. When will Obama be made to pay a similar price for a similar offense?
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Government-run health care, that is.
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I think he's got it. As Uncle Jay describes this video, "Health care reform bill to Emergency, STAT! Obama makes a casual comment about Barbarians at Henry Louis Gates, and suddenly all health breaks loose!" CAUTION: Do not drink anything while watching this video, as sudden spewing of your beverage through your nose may occur.
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A child playing with a cigarette lighter caused a mattress fire at 835 W. Sunnyside Avenue on Chicago's north side today. The apartment suffered heavy smoke and water damage but there were no injuries reported. The Chicago Fire Department had the small blaze under control by 12:45 p.m., moments after arriving on scene. More details at Lake Effect News. See our slideshow below.
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Lake Effect News has it: Hot Off The Press – Wilson Yard TIF 2008 Annual Report
Also See:
What TIFs Giveth, the Olympics Taketh Away - Chicago Reader
Shiller Plans To "Experiment" With TIF Transparency - Progess Illinois
Uptown's TIF FAQs - Uptown Chicago Commission
Have any of the Uptown TIFs been amended since their adoption? - Uptown Chicago Commission
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Ald. Joe Moore (49th) is said to be salivating over a Schakowsky bid, as that would give him a shot at her 9th Congressional District seat. The national thrill of his foie gras crusade is long gone, and he wants it back. Still, since the Rogers Park pol barely won reelection in 2007, he may not be in the best shape to muscle another rung up the ladder.
(Source: http://www.juliehamos.org/news/articles?id=0041)
RELATED:
RUNNING MAN: JOE MOORE - Chicago News Bench - May 10, 2008
Congressman Joe Moore (God Help Us All) - Chicago News Bench - April 11, 2008
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July 27, 2009 - In an email blast this morning, Julie Hamos has announced that she will run for the 10th Congressional District seat. Hamos (D-Evanston) is currently a resident of the 9th Cong. District, and is the Illinois State Representative in the 18th Legislative District.
Monday, July 27, 2009 10:23 AM
For Immediate Release
Contact: Mike Fourcher, (847) 550-3777
Julie Hamos To Announce Candidacy For
Illinois' 10th Congressional District
WHERE: Heller Nature Center, 2821 Ridge Road, Highland Park
WHEN: Tuesday, July 28, 12:30 PM
WHO: State Representative Julie Hamos and supporters: State Representative Elaine Nekritz; State Senator Susan Garrett; State Senator Jeff Schoenberg; State Representative Karen May; Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin; Lake County Commissioner Anne Bassi; Buffalo Grove Mayor Elliot Hartstein; Northfield Township Democratic Committeeman Mike Kreloff; and others.
Rep. Julie Hamos will launch her campaign for Congress in the 10th Congressional District and will also be available for individual press interviews immediately following the announcement event.
RELATED:
Julie Hamos Is Lost and Confused, Act Two
All Eyes On IL-10
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It seems obvious now that Barack Obama and his Democrat allies in Congress will not make the August deadline for passage of a government-run health care plan. They're afraid not only that this is a fait accompli, but have a long-term fear that it won't pass in the fall, either. You, too, should be afraid, but not of the government-run health care plan failing. Rather, you should be afraid of the way in which the Democrats are censoring the Republicans' speech and emails.
Connie Hair wrote about this for Human Events on July 24:
Rep. John Carter (R-Texas), the secretary of the House Republican Conference and a former District Court Judge, is having his messages to constituents censored by Democrats on the Franking Commission. Republicans are no longer allowed to use the words "government run health care" in the communications to their constituents.
I'll be damned if I'm going to stop calling it "government-run health care plan," a phrase that is entirely accurate but scares the bejeezus out of the Democrats and the White House. Why? Because it gives the American people the correct impression that the proposed legislation (all 1,018 pages of the monster) will be run by - you guessed it - the government. That's exactly what has so many Americans turned off to the idea. After all, for decades we've seen how well the government runs the U.S. Postal Service and border security, and mismanages Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Amtrack, the Veterans Administration, and so on.
In their typical Orwellian style, with a dash of Stalin and a pinch of Hitler, the Democrats are demanding that Republicans not use the phrase "government-run health care plan." The Human Events article referred to freedom of speech being crushed:
“I would submit to you this is a free speech issue, guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States,” Carter said. A highly-placed Hill staff source tells Human Events this is the new policy being enforced by Democrats. Republicans will be forced to use the Democrats’ version of language describing their attempted government takeover of healthcare on their official communications with their constituents or they will have to pay for the postage personally.
The notion of one party stepping on another's freedom of speech is frightening. It is more frightening in the long run, even, than the economic disasters being wrought daily by the Obama Regime. As bad and far reaching as those may be, we can probably recover from them eventually. However, as soon as one party silences it's only viable opposition, we will have a dictatorship. That would be much harder to recover from than even another Great Depression.
"All propaganda must be popular and its intellectual level must be adjusted to the most limited intelligence among those it is addressed to. Consequently, the greater the mass it is intended to reach, the lower its purely intellectual level will have to be. But if, as in propaganda for sticking out a war, the aim is to influence a whole people, we must avoid excessive intellectual demands on our public, and too much caution cannot be extended in this direction." - Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, translated by Ralph Manheim. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1943
RELATED:
Democrats' Healthcare Censorship Shows How Desperate They've Become - U.S. News & World Report - July 24, 2009
Democrats For Censorship?...Only When It Serves Them... - American Daily - Oct. 14, 2004
Democrats Revamping censorship efforts - The Conservative Alliance - May 21, 2009
Democrats Gore and Lieberman threaten state censorship of US Entertainment Industry - World Socialist Web Site - Sept. 20, 2000
More Democrats Call for Censoring Talk Radio - Infowars.com - Feb. 13, 2009
Censorship and The Slide To Dictatorship - Capitalism Magazine - Feb. 22, 2009
Censorship in Nazi Germany - historylearningsite.co.uk
The long history of censorship - beaconforfreedom.org
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It should be canceled because it's phony, according to this Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) video report. Titled "Global Warming Doomsday Called Off," this is the full length version of the 2007 documentary (run time is 43:59).
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Turn up your volume. Now.
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...and gives a little campaign speech for the video camera. His name is Jeff Smith, and he's running for the Illinois House of Representatives in the 18th Legislative District. In the video below, Smith spoke to the Northside DFA on July 2, 2009. Can Mr. Smith go to Springfield? Personally, I hope so. Sure, my first choice would be a conservative Republican, but the reality is that the 18th belongs to the Democrats. Therefore, the best available choice (in my opinion) is Jeff Smith. I do have some unsolicited advice for him, however:
Note to Jeff Smith: Stop giving speeches in front of racks of liquor. Stop putting out videos made with cameras that can't handle low light conditions. Stop telling us that you were the first in your family to go to college - nobody really cares. Don't use the Argentina mistress joke ever again. Never, ever say that Jan Schakowsky and Julie Hamos are former reps of the 18th who are "a lot to live up to," because they represent all of the big money and special interest groups that you claim you don't represent. Stop chanting that "we must do something" and "we can do better" and "we can and we will" unless you are going to immediately followup with specific proposals to do so.)
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The Lisa Madigan decision, on July 8, to seek re-election to the Attorney General's office seems to have knocked Rep. Julie Hamos for a loop. She stumbles around in the dark, searching for a flashlight, stubbing her toes, but can't find the light.
Hamos is still lost and confused, but she's smart enough to know that looking lost and confused is not so smart. Too bad for the Illinois state representative that it took her two weeks to realize that.
Chicago News Bench noted on July 9 that Hamos (D-Evanston) seems to be dazed and staggering after her dreams of running for IL Attorney General were dashed when Lisa Madigan announced that she would seek re-election as AG.
That was the morning of July 8, and that afternoon Hamos sent an email blast that essentially admitted that she was not sure what course she should now take. More importantly, it was an admission that she had no great interest in seeking re-election as the 18th District's representative in Springfield.
Today, Hamos reasserts that admission. It's probably an unintentional (and clumsy) admission, but once again she says that she doesn't know what the hell she's doing. After two weeks of virtual silence, and of constituents wondering what course she will pursue, Hamos announced today that she will make an announcment on Tuesday, July 28. Her email today, July 25, said this:
"I am pleased to tell you that after a great deal of discussion with you and many other supporters," Hamos said in her July 25 email blast (shown above), "I have made some decisions about my future and I plan on making a public announcement next Tuesday at noon."
On July 8, a Hamos email said this:
"Over the past few months I have met with Democratic and community leaders and heard the concerns of voters across Illinois. In the coming days I plan to revisit those supporters and ask for their best ideas on how I can work for the people of Illinois. I look forward to hearing their ideas and input as I discuss my next steps with my family."
There's no substantive difference between the two emails. It's as though Hamos is still undecided, but she and her advisors realized that they had to say something, and fast, to placate what few supporters she still has. That, and to buy a little more time while she actually decides what to say next Tuesday. Imagine the frantic phone calls and meetings going on this weekend in Evanston.
The big question is, "What is Hamos running for?" Even her own web site gives no hint. On a page there, you can sign up for "alerts from our campaign," but clicking through gives no information. There, you are told only this:
Events move fast these days, so the best way to keep up is with e-mail. Please fill out the form below to receive regular updates from me on my new initiatives and on issues important to you. Your contact information is should be private and will remain so with us. We will never share your contact information with any other party without your express permission.
Fast indeed, so fast that Hamos seems to be in too much of a hurry to say just what her "campaign" is for. Will she make a decision before Tuesday, July 28?
RELATED:
IL-10: Hamos To Announce Next Week - Progress Illinois
Quinn: “I plan to run” - The Capitol Fax Blog
Julie Hamos - 18th District Illinois State Representative - official web site
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Who will you vote for in the 7th District Illinois State Senate seat?
Will you support incumbent Heather Steans? Or will you vote for challenger Jim Madigan be able to unseat her? Take the poll here and let everyone know who has more support in the 7th District.
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This is true, and comes to us from The Register (UK). (I'm happy to post about this important social issue, but I'm also overjoyed that the phrase "Swedish lesbians" will bring a flood of hits to this blog.)
Sweden's fertility clinics are racking up a serious backlog of people waiting for artificial insemination, due in part to a "spike" in demand from lesbian couples for vital supplies of man juice. So bad have things got that expectant customers at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg are now forced to wait 18 months for treatment.
To be fair, lesbians aren't the only cause of the shortage of sperm in Sweden, because Swedish law allows people to discover the identity of their biological father after they reach 18 years of age. Needless to say, this discourages some men from donating sperm. Perhaps the thought of their sperm being passed into a lesbian through a turkey baster and then being raised by two women discourages a few more. I'm just sayin'.
This reminds me that Michael Sneed, the female Chicago Sun-Times columnist with a man's name, reports that "Chicago Public Schools chief Ron Huberman and his partner, Darren DeJong, on the birth Thursday of their first child, Aiden DeJong Huberman. The dads are delighted." We're all supposed to be overjoyed, I suppose, that another child will be raised with no mother figure, no feminine influence, no mother. No word from Sneed as to whether the kid was conceived with a turkey baster.
RELATED:
- Pro-Homosexual Researchers Conceal Findings: Children Raised by Openly Homosexual Parents More Likely to Engage in Homosexuality
- The Impact of Fatherless Children - Associated Content
- Love Isn’t Enough: 5 Reasons Why Same-Sex Marriage Will Harm Children
- Synchronized Estrus for Efficient Artificial Insemination of Pigs
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The following message comes "Fix Wilson Yard," a group opposed to the Wilson Yard TIF debacle. It was emailed on the morning after Chicago Alderman Helen Shiller's laughable Wilson Yard Task Force meeting on Thursday, July 23. Shiller (46th Ward) wants to virtually double the current Wilson Yard TIF funding, and Uptown residents want to know what the money will be used for. After nearly two hours of an emotionally charged, contentious meeting, Shiller had not clarified anything and those who attended the meeting walked away scratching their heads. (Shiller's meeting was about as illuminating as Barack Obama's "explanation" of his health care proposals, televised on ABC on July 22.)
The email message from Fix Wilson Yard, oddly, does not seem to have been posted yet to the group's Facebook page, nor to their web site at http://www.fixwilsonyard.org/ (as of 1:30 p.m., July 24).
Dear Fix Wilson Yard Members,
As evidenced by the attendance and energy of Thursday's Wilson Yard Task Force meeting, the community is behind us and continues to support our efforts. For this - we thank you. Over 80 people attended the meeting and posed very legitimate questions and concerns regarding the potential increased allocation of funds. Unfortunately, most questions and concerns were met with vague explanations and political rhetoric.
According to Alderman Shiller, the Wilson Yard TIF is generating greater funds than anticipated since it's inception in 2001. She now seeks power to increase the budget by $54,000,000 - bringing the total Wilson Yard TIF - aka your tax dollars - to $112,000,000. But here is the rub...
During Thursday's meeting, the alderman suggested several different "possible" uses for the additional funds, however - the lack of specifics, firm commitments and guarantees left us and other attendees to question the real agenda for the additional $54 million. Furthermore, Alderman Shiller was unable to accurately tell the community exactly where and how much of the original $58,000,000 had been spent and/or committed to date. This lack of commitment and transparency is exactly why Fix Wilson Yard was started-and we won't be fooled again! Therefore, at this junction, until we can be guaranteed that the community will have a real voice in the allocation of funds and receive a firm commitment on the use and assignment of these funds, Fix Wilson Yard does not support the proposed amendment to the Wilson Yard TIF.
Furthermore, all should question whether this money should be spent at all. The City of Chicago is facing a $300 million shortfall this year, while the Board of Education is facing a whopping $475 million deficit. At the same time, the city's TIF districts ended 2008 with $1 billion in aggregate unspent funds-funds that were siphoned away from other taxing bodies, including the city and Board of Ed. Fix Wilson Yard would like to see Ald. Shiller spearhead the effort to return these funds to the general tax base, where they would go a long way towards helping our ailing taxing bodies. To learn more about how this could occur, read the following article by Progress Illinois.
This lack of commitment to specific projects, as well as lack of transparency in planning and spending, is what we have been fighting against since the beginning. Fix Wilson Yard is committed as ever to this fight. The future of the Wilson Yard TIF, as well as the future of Uptown, will be determined by the residents of Uptown if we remain committed to this law suit. The Fix Wilson Yard lawsuit fights for truth in our government and transparency in our tax expenditures. In light of the presentation given today, our fight is far from over.
Now more than ever, Fix Wilson Yard needs your help to continue this fight. We need you to spread the word about misuse of TIF funds, the lack of transparency and accountability and how Fix Wilson Yard continues to take the city to task. But to continue this fight, it costs money and we need your help there too.
RELATED:
Questions Linger After Wilson Yard TIF Meeting - Lake Effect News, 7/23/09
Shiller’s Fishy TIF Deal - Lake Effect News, 7/22/09
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Bill O'Reilly interviews two ACORN chiefs, Gloria Swieringa and Bertha Lewis. They dance around O'Reilly's straightforward questions in this amusing - and disturbing - interview:
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Listen to Rep. Steven King (R-Iowa) talk about accusations that ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform) has engaged in "fraudulent activities and widespread corruption," and how Congressional Republicans are calling for a criminal investigation into the group that has worked so hard for Democrats over the years.
According to Fox News, a congressional report released just this afternoon (July 23) "offers the first detailed account of the allegations that have dogged the organization in recent months....The report accuses ACORN, after receiving more than $53 million in federal funds since 1994, of blurring the legal distinctions among 361 tax-exempt and non-exempt entities to divert that money into partisan political activities. Evidence found in the report relies in part on documents provided by former ACORN employees." ACORN has received tens of millions of taxpayer dollars, and current "stimulus" legislation pegs millions more for the advocacy group.
RELATED:
Video: ACORN History - Glenn Beck
GOP Congressional Report Accuses ACORN of Political Corruption
In Vote Fraud Case, Acorn Challenges a Law as Unconstitutional
ACORN files lawsuit on voter registration - Washington Times
CNSNews.com - Will ACORN Get Cash Earmarked in Health Care Bill ...
Video: Glenn Beck, Acorn, Oversight Report, US House of Representatives ...
Video: CNN Exposes How ACORN Steals Votes For Democrats
Video: Lou Dobbs - ACORN Fraud & Obama Ties
Video: Bill O'Reilly with Glenn Beck - ACORN Investigation
ACORN WATCH: Should they work on the 2010 Census? American ...
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July 23, 9:30 a.m. - This morning's Wilson Yard Task Force meeting was highly contentious. The room was packed with about 70 Uptown residents, most of whom seemed opposed to Alderman Helen Shiller's proposed amendment to the Wilson Yard TIF that will add approximately $54 million to the fund, increasing it from the current $58 million to $112 million. Part of that would go to raising fish in an aquaponic project that Shiller hopes one day to have in Uptown.
The task force met to discuss the addition of $54 million even as Mayor Daley was getting ready for a press conference to detail his plan to force Chicago Police officers into early retirement. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, "If all or most of the candidates take advantage of the early-retirement perk, Chicago taxpayers could save $23 million over the next three years." That's about half of what Shiller wants to add to the Wilson Yard TIF District.
At one point, the crowd booed Shiller (photo left, center) when she verbally attacked attorney Molly Phelan 
(photo, below left) , a member of the task force. Phelan is with Fix Wilson Yard, a group that is suing the City of Chicago and Holsten Real Estate, the developer of the large Wilson Yard project that will be anchored by a Target store and other retail and office space, and low-income housing.
Phelan was persistent in asking Shiller to detail how the additional money would be used.
Shiller interrupted her. "I'm talking to a person who other people on this task force said I was crazy to let sit at the table, who's antagonistic and suing us..."
Many in the crowd immediately shouted "How dare you!" and "Let her speak!"
UPDATES:
Questions Linger After Wilson Yard TIF Meeting - Lake Effect News, 7/23/09
Shiller’s Fishy TIF Deal - Lake Effect News, 7/22/09
Timely Message From "Fix Wilson Yard" - Chicago News Bench, 7/24/09
RELATED:
Fix Wilson Yard gets okay to file another lawsuit - ChiTown Daily News
Have any of the Uptown TIFs been amended since their adoption? - Uptown Chicago Commission
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Barack Obama will speak to the American public tonight on ABC at 7:00 p.m. (CDT). He will try to convince people that he understands the 1,018 page health care legislation. He doesn't. Do you think that he's actually sat down and read the entire thing, and even if he has, that he's had time to understand all of the convolutions within it? What about our federal legislators? Do you think they understand it?
Actually, they do, all to well. That's probably why a number of Democrat senators refused to agree to an amendment that would require them to sign on to "Obama-Care," just like you and I will be. They know a raw deal when they see one, yet they're trying to convince you that the same pile of crap that they turned down for themselves is the right choice for America.
On July 20, a Wall Street Journal opinion column noted this:
Say this about the 1,018-page health-care bill that House Democrats unveiled this week and that President Obama heartily endorsed: It finally reveals at least some of the price of the reckless ambitions of our current government. With huge majorities and a President in a rush to outrun the declining popularity of his agenda, Democrats are bidding to impose an unrepealable European-style welfare state in a matter of weeks.... With the economy still far from a healthy recovery, and the federal fisc already nearly $2 trillion in deficit, Democrats want to ram through one of the greatest raids on private income and business in American history. The world is looking on, agog, and wondering why the United States seems intent on jumping off this cliff. Full column...
Watch Obama's speech tonight. If you have kids, make them watch too. It will be a good opportunity to teach them that most politicians, even the president, are bloody liars.
ALSO SEE: Obama's dwindling power - The Hill
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Can the 46th Ward of Chicago produce enough food locally that it would be able to feed itself?
No, of course not, but harsh reality hasn't dampened the fuzzy utopian dreams of Alderman Helen Shiller. She wants her 46th Ward to be self-sustaining when it comes to food production, and she wants to start with an indoor fish farm. Paid for, of course, with your tax dollars. Shiller would fund the aquaponic farm with funds from her proposed TIF increase, and she is using her usual fly-under-the-radar methods in the hope of sneaking through an amendment to the current Wilson Yard TIF with a minimum of public scrutiny.
The myriad of problems with Shiller's bizarre communist fantasy includes the fact that it simply cannot work. According to a report at Lake Effect News (July 22, 2009), the proposed project the National Fisheries Institute says that Americans each consume an average of 16.5 pounds of fish in a year. 16.5 pounds of any food, by itself, is not enough to live on. It's the equivalent of 66 McDonald's Quarter Pounders. So much for Shiller's dream of a self-sufficient 46th Ward.
For an indoor fish farm to be viable and make money, Burdette says a minimum of 10,000 to 12,000 square feet is needed to accomodate at least 40 tanks, allowing production of 200,000 pounds of fish per year.
Lake Effect News (LEN) interviewed aquaponics expert Doug Burdette, a man with 40 years of experience in this field. He told LEN that and indoor fish farm would require at least 10,000 to 12,000 square feet of space with 40 tanks to be able to produce 200,000 pounds of fish per year. With approximately 74,000 residents in the 46th Ward, that would break down to approximately 2.70 pounds of fish per person, far less than the national per capita consumption. Self-sustaining? Not hardly.
There are more problems, of course. The building that Shiller wants to use is the former site of a Salvation Army facility at W. Sunnyside and N. Broadway in Uptown, still vacant and boarded up. Seen on the left side of the photo here, the building is directly across the street from the controversial Wilson Yard TIF project, still under construction.
Shiller wants her fish farm to be in the basement of that building, but as expert Doug Burdette told LEN, such an operation would need at least 10,000 to 12,000 square feet of space. LEN reports that the basement in Shiller's target location has a mere 9,700 square feet. The nearly triangular shape of the building (and its basement) presents another obstacle for the placement of at least 40 corrugated steel tanks. In addition, Shiller wants a green house in the empty, narrow space next to the building. That's insane too, for any greenhouse there would be in deep shade for most of the day, wedged tightly between two buildings.
The physical problems with the building and its insufficient space should be enough to kill this proposal. The massive price tag, in a time when the City of Chicago is laying off hundreds because of spending sins in the past, should also be enough to kill it.
We encourage anybody who is able to attend Shiller's meeting at 8:00 A.M. on Thursday, July 23 at Truman College. You'll be looking for the Wilson Yard Task Force meeting there. Truman College is located at 1145 W Wilson Avenue, just west of N. Broadway and next to the Wilson CTA Red Line station. If you attend that meeting, ask Shiller where she intends to put TIF-funded factories for the manufacture all the durable goods that her ward needs, and where the TIF-funded farms to produce the rest of the foods needed for a balanced diet will be. Ask Shiller what her schedule is for the 46th Ward to secede from Chicago and from the United States, and when she plans to rename her new nation "The Peoples Democratic Republic of Uptown." Will the United Nations recognize the PDRU?
FOLLOWUP:
Ald. Shiller Booed at Wilson Yard Task Force Meeting" - July 23, 2009
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I just received a disturbing e-mail from Muslims and Infidels United Against Sharia and Dhimmitude, which is the Facebook group of the blog Muslims Against Sharia. I take an especially personal interest in this as I am an invited contributor to Muslims Against Sharia (Obama and the Chicago Shariah Scammer , Sunrise Equities Story Might Now Include Murder and IL Sec of State Investigating Sunrise Equities Scandal). Here is that disturbing e-mail:
Khalim Massoud sent a message to the members of Muslims and Infidels United Against Sharia and Dhimmitude.
--------------------
Subject: Defamation Campaign Against MASH - Updated
Two deranged individuals, Jim Sutter (supported by CAIR) and Bill Warner (claims Geert Wilders is a Nazi), have joined forces to defame Muslims Against Sharia and Khalim Massoud. Before you buy into their lies and distortions, please consider the sources:
http://www.facebook.com/l/;http://www.phonyrev.com/ & http://www.facebook.com/l/;http://insanepi.blogspot.com/.
Targets of Bill Warner's defamation campaign also include Ted Belman of Israpundit, Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs, David Horowitz, Jamie Glazov, Ben Johnson, and Michael Finch, of FrontPage Magazine, Alex Porter of Terror-Free Oil, Glen Reinsford of The Religion of Peace, Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch, Michael Travis, Geert Wilders of Dutch Freedom Party, and Dr. Paul L. Williams. Muslims Against Sharia and Khalim Massoud are honored to be in such company.
I, too, am honored to be in such company.
RELATED:
Sonia Sotomayor and the Future of Anti-Islamist Speech - Muslims Against Sharia
Dutch Politician Geert Wilders Banned From Britain - BBC
Geert Wilders attacks hate speech laws - The Copenhagen Post
Pamela Geller, Atlas Shrugs Interviews Geert Wilders
Bill O'Reilly Interviews Geert Wilders
Islamic Supremacists Meet in Chicago
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