Alexi Giannoulias, The Perfect Democrat for US Senate

Alexi Giannoulias may be the ideal Democrat candidate for the U.S. Senate. He already has the requisite stench of corruption, after all, with mob ties and all. He and his family have even shown that their expertise in handling large amounts of money is about as good as any Democrat already in the U.S. Senate. The Giannoulias family's troubled Broadway Bank, in Chicago, is virtually bust, and must "attract at least $75 million in capital by late April to meet terms of a consent order with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. prompted by losses on commercial real-estate loans," according to BusinessWeek. "Even if successful, the family could lose control before November’s election, dealing a blow to Democrats and an Obama friend." Alexi Giannoulias is a close friend of Barack Obama, and they share another close acquaintance: Tony Rezko. BusinessWeek notes that "Some of the Broadway loans that have generated controversy involve Michael Giorango, a convicted bookmaker and prostitution-ring promoter. It has also made loans to convicted Illinois influence peddler Antoin 'Tony' Rezko and a family accused of having connections to organized crime." Giorango was actually convicted twice of federal bookmaking charges and also of promoting a nationwide prostitution operation. Michael "Jaws" Giorango is just one of Giannoulias' scummy acquaintances. Giannoulias has said that Giorango is "not a friend," but just "a customer” of his family's bank. “Any banker can tell you that you pull a credit report," Giannoulias said in March, 2006, "you look at their economic background. You don’t always get a criminal background. We’re a commercial real estate lender. We deal with thousands of clients.” However, in April, 2006 Giannoulias admitted that "he discussed with convicted bookmaker and prostitution ring promoter Michael Giorango his criminal past." Rezko. Giorango. Blagojevich. A broken bank. The perfect Illinois Democrat. He'll fit right into the U.S. Senate. Unless, of course, Republican challenger Mark Kirk defeats him in November. Credit: The "Alexi the Mob Banker" graphic by Warner T. Huston. RELATED: Suits awaken old ghosts for Giannoulias Marathon Pundit: Ethically challenged Chicago Democrat Giannoulias ... Giannoulias's Bank Funded Radical Anti-Israel Group ... BackyardConservative: Alexi in the Hot Seat Speaker Pelosi Blocks Investigations of Corrupt Democrats Video: Mark Kirk Ties Alexi Giannoulias' Broadway Bank To Chicago Mob Illinois Democrats no cure for what ails Obama The Corrupt Democrats Blagojevich, Rezko, and The Mob. Alexi Giannoulias would make Tony Soprano Proud Feds Target Rampant Democrat Corruption... Democrat Corruption has turned Capitol Hill into Tammany Hill ... No. 05-443: Giorango v. United States - Opposition Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Springfield Road Trip to Fight Red Light Cameras

JOIN US ON TUESDAY, MARCH 2 FOR A ROAD TRIP TO SPRINGFIELD! UPDATED ITINERARY BELOW... Remember that Red Light Camera protest in Chicago on February 14? Two days later, Illinois State Senate Transportation Committee Chairman, Senator Martin Sandoval (D-Cicero, 12th District), created a Subcommittee on Red Light Cameras to hold public hearings on SB 2466, a bill to ban red light cameras statewide. Now, a road trip to Springfield is being organized by State Senate Candidate Adam Robinson and State Representative Candidate Scott Tucker for citizens to testify before the Senate Transportation Subcommittee. Both men are Republicans. The road trip begins in Chicago on Tuesday, March 2nd at 11:00 AM (details below). You do not need to register, just show up! This is is a statewide issue. If you cannot meet up with us in Chicago or Channahon, just head to Springfield and meet up with us at 5:30 p.m. (see below). Itinerary: (Whether or not you hook up with us in Chicago or Channahon, the most important thing is to meet up at 5:30 p.m.) 11:00 AM - MEET AT 31st Street & Lake Shore Drive, southeast corner parking lot, free parking all day long. 11:30 AM - Press conference. 12:00 Noon - Depart Chicago for second rally point at Channahon, IL - To get to Channahon from Chicago, take I-55 South, Exit 248 (first exit south of I-80), turn left, cross I-55 via overpass: Carpool lot will be on your right. NOTE: If you miss us in Channahon, just keep going to Springfield! 1:00 PM - Arrive Channahon, Illinois. Press conference at 1:00 pm. 1:30 PM - Quick lunch break. 2:00 PM - Depart Channahon. 4:30 PM - Arrive Springfield. Quick dinner break, then on to the State Capitol at 301 South 2nd Street. 5:30 PM - Press conference at Lincoln’s Statue on the East Lawn in front of the Capitol Building. 6:00 PM - State Capitol, Room 400, Subcommittee on Red Light Cameras, 6:01 pm (or slightly later start time; Red Light Camera Subcommittee starts immediately after Transportation Committee adjourns.) *Anti-red light camera constituent testimony Return to Channahon and Chicago. Also See: Robinson "Thrilled" About Promised Red Light Camera Hearings IL Senate Hearings to Ban Red Light Cameras "Within Two Weeks" Robinson State Senate Campaign Comments on Transportation Committee’s Decision on SB 2466 Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Live Tsunami Coverage from Hawaii

This event is over. Hawaii was not destroyed. Whew! See "Hawaii Tsunami Video Shows Massive Tidals Waves" Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Earthquake in Chile Triggers Pacific-wide Tsunami Warnings

Update, Feb. 28, 2010: Hawaii was not destroyed after all. See "Hawaii Tsunami Video Shows Massive Tidals Waves" February 27, 2010 - A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Chile overnight. It caused damage there and now tsunami warnings cover the entire Pacific Rim. WATCH Live Tsunami Coverage from Hawaii This map shows estimated tsunami arrival times (click to enlarge). Projected energy model map by NOAA. Related story at sfgate.com. Nations and communities around the entire Pacific - about one fourth of the planet - are evacuating coastal areas and issued warnings and watches for tsunamis (tidal waves). French Polynesia and New Zealand have been hit by waves and suffered some damage. Watch live stream news coverage from Hawaii, where about 100,000 people have been evacuated away from beaches. The LA Times reports that "A forecast says waves could reach as high as 8 feet in some bays. Waikiki Beach is almost deserted, and the Navy acts to protect ships at Pearl Harbor." Theledger.com reports that "scientists say the major earthquake that struck off the coast of Chile was a 'megathrust' - similar to the 2004 Indian Ocean temblor that spawned a catastrophic tsunami." The Contra Costa Times says the quake "shook buildings in Argentina's capital of Buenos Aires, and was felt as far away as Sao Paulo in Brazil — 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) to the east. About 13 million people live in the area where shaking was strong to severe, according to the U.S. Geological Survey." RELATED: Huge quake triggers Pacific tsunami Chile Quake Is One of the Biggest in a Century Obama says US prepared to assist Chile if asked UK relief charity teams fly to Chile earthquake zone Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

The Battle for Free Speech On Campus

It's no secret that a disproportionate number college and university administrators and professors lean to the left politically. That would not be a problem if not for the fact that all too often they try to squash the free speech of many of the students they are supposed to serve. This goes on constantly, across that nation. Let's look at two current examples of the ongoing battle for free speech and liberty on America's campuses. One involves the University of California - San Diego. The other concerns the University of Illinois - Champaign. One of the best free speech watchdog groups out there is the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). Their mission "is to defend and sustain individual rights at America's colleges and universities. These rights include freedom of speech, legal equality, due process, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience — the essential qualities of individual liberty and dignity. FIRE's core mission is to protect the unprotected and to educate the public and communities of concerned Americans about the threats to these rights on our campuses and about the means to preserve them." FIRE has defended liberal students when their free speech was threatened, too, but the vast majority of cases involve suppression of free speech and other civil rights of conservative students (and sometimes faculty) by liberal educators. It should also be pointed out that student governments, often controlled by leftists, are as guilty of civil rights violations as are administrators and educators. SAN DIEGO DICTATORSHIP: One of FIRE's current battles involves "a blow-by-blow account of the First Amendment meltdown taking place at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD)." Frim a current FIRE report (emphasis added): "The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and its student government have violated the First Amendment by freezing funds for 33 student media organizations, dissolving the student-run television station, and threatening to punish students involved in a controversy over a party invitation for an event called the 'Compton Cookout.' Student government president Utsav Gupta has explained that his repressive actions were due to "fracturing of the student body on an issue" and 'hateful speech.' Further, under pressure from state legislators who seek to punish protected speech, UCSD has launched "aggressive investigations" into the party invitation. After many students came to FIRE for help, FIRE has written two letters to UCSD defending the First Amendment both on and off campus." Continue reading "University of California at San Diego: First Amendment Violations at UCSD" and also see their "brief rundown" of the UCSD events... FIRE maintains a list of their top current cases, which is well worth looking at. THE "ILL" IN UNIV. OF ILLINOIS: An interesting press release from a student group calling itself "Illinois Deserves Better" describes both the civil rights offenses being committed by the University of Illinois and the group's efforts to fight back. The Illinois Deserves Better press release (dated Feb. 24, 2010; emphasis added by me): Students Launch "Illinois Deserves Better" Organization to Combat Partisan Administrators Champaign, IL Students at the University of Illinois are announcing the official formation of a Registered Student Organization, the aim of which is to fumigate the Urbana campus of partisan and corrupt administrators. In reaction to a scandal wrought at the hands of Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Renee Romano and her staff in the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations (OIIR), ‘I Deserve Better’ is striving for a refreshed administration of integrity and mutual respect so that the campus may finally move beyond an era of clout. The group will advocate for the replacement of Vice Chancellor Renee Romano and Associate Vice Chancellor Anna Gonzalez and will call for a full review of their offices and financial endeavors. Those at ‘I Deserve Better’ believe that in a time of extreme economic hardship, when students and their families are asked to give more and faculty and staff are asked to work for less, that runaway administrative costs and malfeasance are exceptionally intolerable. While students had hoped to work with University of Illinois Administrators, actions by Vice Chancellor Renee Romano and her offices have lead to an institutional impasse that can only be bridged by the immediate replacement of those administrators in question. The offensive actions of those in question include Vice Chancellor Romano's refusal to acknowledge inherent student rights to free speech, partisan viewpoint discrimination against students who do not share administration views, and a refusal to answer the questions of students who want a logical, truthful explanation or admission of wrongdoing regarding the Students for Chief Illiniwek FOIA scandal. Similarly, the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations acted dishonorably by sending student interns to a meeting where student government members were drafting a resolution to admonish the actions of that student's employers. A Washington Lobbyist has contacted the organization and is eager to contribute his time in Springfield to help obtain legislative remedies to the situation. In addition to this, the Illinois Student Senate will be voting on a resolution tonight [Feb. 23, 2010] that admonishes the administration and calls for more accountable leadership in the Pine Lounge at the Illini Union at 7 P.M. Vice Chancellor Renee Romano and Associate Vice Chancellor Anna Gonzalez have further tarnished the University of Illinois' reputation with their behavior and Illinois Deserves Better looks forward to working with Interim President Stanley O. Ikenberry and Interim Chancellor Robert Easter to restore integrity to the great institution that is the state's flagship school. Contact INFO: Illinois Deserves Better President: Jerry Vachaparambil, 630-632-0808, jerrygvk@vachas.com VP of Membership: Daniel Gilpin, 309-825-0227, dgilpin08@gmail.com Marketing Director: Gabe Hartwig, 217-898-9041, ghartwi2@illinois.edu Communications Director Bobby McNeily, 630-885-0174, bobbymcn RELATED: ‘U.S. News’ Readers: FIRE's Red Alert List Exposes the Worst Violators of Campus Rights Who's Undermining Freedom of Speech on Campus Now Free Speech On Campus The New Republic Protecting free speech on campus - Washington Times firstamendmentcenter.org: Free speech on public college campuses ... University Of Illinois Political Ban May Extend To Students FOIA Request Reveals That University of Illinois Administrators ... FIRE on YouTube Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Just a Note to Republican Candidates

No more press releases, friends. The free ride is over. You want your message on this blog? Work me into your media budget. As for Democrat candidates: Screw off. Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Two Suspects Held in Uptown Shooting of Feb. 25, 2010

Feb. 26, 2010 - Two men are in police custody for an afternoon shooting that occurred on Chicago's north side on Thursday that left a South Side woman wounded. At about 4:15 p.m. five or six gunshots were fired during the busy afternoon commute at Wilson and Broadway in Uptown. Some people say they heard five shots, some say six.

Dontaneous Salley (right), 22, of the 4400 block of N. Racine and Jeremiah Moore (left), 20, of the 800 block of W. Sunnyside Avenue, were each charged with one count of aggravated battery with a firearm early Saturday morning. Both addresses are in zip code 60640 and in Chicago's 46th Aldermanic Ward.

Lake Effect News reports tonight that "witnesses told police that a man holding a gun at his side approached a small crowd of men and began firing at them. One of the bullets struck a 21-year-old woman in her thigh as she waited with her baby at the CTA bus stop at 1110 W. Wilson. Police picked up two men, ages 22 and 20, moments after the shooting and are holding them in police custody as the investigation continues. The men have not yet been charged as of Friday afternoon." 

LEN also notes that police say the suspects are members of the Conservative Vice Lords gang. They were taken into custody at Wilson and Sheridan, just two blocks east of Wilson and Broadway. Police recovered shell casings at 4601 N. Broadway.

Update with Photos of Broadway Wilson Shooting

UPDATE, FEB. 26: Two Suspects Held in Uptown Shooting of Feb. 25 February 25, 2010 - At approximately 4:17 p.m., at least two people were shot at a crowded intersection in Helen Shiller's 46th Ward of Uptown. More photos below. A young woman, standing with a number of other people at a bus stop, took a bullet in her leg as she stood across the street from Truman College in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood this afternoon. Her infant, next to her in a stroller, was unharmed. The woman's lost a lost of blood immediately, and standersby applied clothing and cloth to her to stem the bleeding. A friend of the woman, with her at the bus stop at the time of the shooting, took custody of the baby as fast-responding paramedics took her to Illinois Masonic hospital. According to police scanner chatter, and from I overheard on the scene from police officers, the woman is African-American and "late teens or early twenties." She was reportedly in stable condition. The woman seems to have been an innocent bystander who got caught in yet another gang-related shooting in Uptown near the intersection of N. Broadway and W. Wilson, half a block north of Alderman Shiller's ward service office. At least five shots were fired this afternoon. Click map and images to enlarge The shots originated from the northeast corner of the intersection and traveled westward, across Broadway, where at least one bullet struck the young woman, who stood about 20 yards west of the northwest corner. Police radio chatter said that "six casings" were found at 4601 N. Broadway, in front of City Sports clothing store. I saw five casings when I arrived on scene. The second shooting victim, a male, also suffered a leg wound. Police, on their radio frequency, said that he jumped into an SUV which reportedly drove west from the shooting scene. It is unknown at this time whether the second victim was a standerby or a participant in the violence. Lorraine Swanson reported this evening that "a source" called her and said "that a student from Uplift High School called the 23rd Police District to say that the Vice Lords and Gangster Disciples were going to fight on Broadway between Montrose and Wilson." At approximately 3:30 p.m., wrote Swanson, the same source called again and said that police had broken up a rival gang fight near Wilson and Broadway. It is not known at this time whether there is a connection between the gang fight at 3:30 and the shooting at 4:17. RELATED: Woman Shot at Wilson and Broadway - Lake Effect News Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Loudmouth Jody Weis Get Shot Down

Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis said he wanted to charge those responsible for this burglary with murder in the death of Sgt. Alan Haymaker. The third-generation police sergeant died early Monday morning when his car left Lake Shore Drive near Irving Park, as he sped southbound en route to a burglary in Wrigleyville. Weis got shot down big time today by Cook County States Attorney Anita Alvarez's Office.  

Sgt. Alan Haymaker

Weis said early on that "Under Illinois statutes it appears they could be charged with murder... that is something I think that we'll be looking at with the state's attorney's office," as the Chicago Tribune reported, "But I think it's something that we certainly will consider."  

"It appears?" What did the former FBI agent base that on? A guess? Wishful thinking? A poorly qualified legal "expert" on his CPD staff?  

A statement today from Alvarez's office said that "There is not a sufficient legal basis to charge the offender who has been arrested in this case with felony murder charges in connection with the tragic death of Sgt. Haymaker. While we certainly understand the pain and anguish felt by the Chicago Police Department in the wake of this tragedy, the states attorney's office does not have the evidence that would be required to meet the burden of proof to sustain a felony murder charge."  

Weis needs to think before he speaks. Murder charges aside - in fact, the entire burglary aside - Weis needs to re-examine the Lake Shore Drive ice issue, too. He contradicted CPD's Assistant Supt. James Jackson, who said on Monday that "icy road conditions were a factor" in Haymaker's death. (Source: Sun-Times)  

Meanwhile, the long-burning issue of lousy squad car maintenance has been rekindled anew by the death of Sgt. Haymaker. There are allegations that the tires on his car were treadworn. We've yet to hear a public statement from Weis about that. Dangerous, patchwork squad cars pose a deadly threat to officers and to the public at large all year round, regardless of the weather or road conditions.  

And while we're feeling bitchy, when the hell are Chicago's police officers going to get a contract?  

Also See:  

• Suspect will not face murder charges in cop's death  
• Is Supt. Weis Betraying Cops for Political Reasons?

 

Two Shot in Chicago's Uptown Neighborhood (Updated)

UPDATE, FEB. 26: Two Suspects Held in Uptown Shooting of Feb. 25 by Lorraine Swanson and Tom Mannis A woman described by police as "late teens or early twenties" was shot at approximately 4:17 p.m. Thursday beneath the L tracks at W. Wilson and N. Broadway (60640). She suffered at least one bullet to a leg. CFD paramedics transferred her to Illinois Masonic Hospital in stable condition. This much is known so far, according to police scanner calls. The following is based largely on posts to Twitter ("tweets") by Tom Mannis at twitter.com/ChiNewsBench, who tweeted what he heard on the police scanner in real time immediately after the shooting at 4:17 p.m. until 4:52 p.m.

• At 3 p.m., a source called L. Swanson to say that a student from Uplift High School called the 23rd Police District to say that the Vice Lords and Gangster Disciples were going to fight on Broadway between Montrose and Wilson.
• At approximately 3:30 p.m. the same source called L. Swanson again and said that police had broken up a rival gang fight near Wilson and Broadway.
• Shots were heard at approximately 4:17 p.m. (tweet)
• 4:25 p.m., police scanner calls reported that a man was down at Wilson and Broadway.(tweet)
• 4:27 p.m. person down at Wilson and Broadway. (tweet)
• 4:30 p.m., a report came in that a female victim was down at Wilson and Broadway. Female was reported shot in the leg. (tweet)
• Crowd gathering at 4:33 p.m. beneath the L tracks on Wilson, at Wilson and Broadway. (tweet)
• 4:35 p.m. two on the ground, arrested, at Wilson & Sheridan... ANOTHER victim was picked up in a dark SUV, fled west... (tweet)
• 4:37 p.m. Second victim was reported picked up in a dark SUV, fled westbound, also shot in leg. Black blazer, with Wisconsin license plates. (tweet)
• 4:38 p.m. Police looking for weapons on N. Broadway, near intersection with Wilson. Needing crowd control. (tweet)
• 4:40 p.m. Shooters were at 4601 N Broadway, east side of street, shell casings found there... still looking for weapon/s. (tweet)
• 4:41 p.m. Cops calling for more crime scene tape. (tweet)
• 4:45 p.m. Six shell casings found at 4601 N. Broadway. (tweet)
• 4:47 p.m. Another witness now standing by to look at suspects being brought to scene of shooting... (tweet)
• 4:48 p.m. Female shooting victim taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital. (tweet)
• 5:00 p.m. Helicopters hovering over Uptown. (tweet)
• 5:21 p.m. Three suspects have been taken to Area 3 at Belmont and Western. (Heard by L. Swanson on police scanner)

Lake Effect News and Chicago News Bench will continue to update this story as more information becomes available. Watch for more photos later this evening... Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

UPTOWN - SHOTS FIRED, ONE WOMAN SHOT IN LEG

UPDATE, FEB. 26: Two Suspects Held in Uptown Shooting of Feb. 25 FEB. 25, 2010, 4:17 PM - WOMAN SHOT IN LEG, AMBULANCE ROLLING You could have followed this on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ChiNewsBench Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Is Supt. Weis Betraying Cops for Political Reasons?

Stuporindendent Jody Weis

Incredible. Reports of icy conditions on Lake Shore Drive at the time of Sgt. Alan Haymaker's death early Monday morning are now being denied by Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis. This stinks of political coverup.  

The Chicago Sun-Times reports Weis's remarks today: Speaking after Sgt. Alan Haymaker was honored with a moment's silence at police headquarters, Weis said officers who were on the scene of Haymaker's death within minutes Monday morning found only "slush and standing water" on the road.  

Okay, Then What About This...? Weis' comments appear to contradict those of Assistant Supt. James Jackson, who said Monday that "icy road conditions were a factor" in Haymaker's death.  

Why Does This Stink? The stink is money and politics. There are many reports that a Streets and Sanitation dispatcher ordered plow crews to NOT lay road salt on Lake Shore Drive around 4:00 a.m. on Monday morning. That's about an hour prior to Sgt. Haymaker's fatal accident near the southbound Irving Park exit. Additionally, it is well known that Mayor Daley hates road salt because it contributes to pot holes and harms roadside vegetation, and Daley has been criticized in the past for not salting streets when needed.  

CPD Sgt. Alan Haymaker

As we noted previously, IF a dispatcher actually issued an order to not salt LSD, said dispatcher would probably have done so only if it was in compliance with standing policy or specific orders from above. IF that happened, it would open the City of Chicago up to a very embarrassing investigation and expose it to a multi-million dollar lawsuit by the late Sgt. Haymaker's family. It could also cause department heads to roll, and cost Daley any future bid at getting re-elected.  

Supt. Weis is often and widely criticized by his own troops as not caring about their safety and welfare. He is accused of being nothing more than an easily controlled political puppet of Mayor Daley. Weis' statement about a "lack of ice," even though "officers who were on the scene" said there was no ice, lacks credibility. Too many other people on the road at that time have reported that it was icy.  

Why, for several days, did CPD keep attributing icy conditions as a factor in the crash? Why the sudden about-face by Weis?  

Furthermore, any of the first responders at the Haymaker crash arrived after the car slid off the road and went over the curb. If there had been ice on the road, even just a patch of ice, at the moment Sgt. Haymaker lost control of his car, it could have melted before anybody got to the crash site.  

Weis is guessing about ice or lack thereof, and we're guessing that he's doing so to help cover some high ranking asses. That pun, by the way, is fully intended.

Man Charged in Burglary That "Killed" Sgt. Alan Haymaker

Suspect Larry Brown, 28

When Chicago Police Sergeant Alan Haymaker lost control of his squad car just past 5:00 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 22, he was en route to the scene of a burglary at Verizon Wireless, 3176 N. Clark Street, Chicago.  

Larry Brown, 28, of Markham, IL (photo) has been charged with burglary and with obstructing identification.

The CPD media statement (see below), and most of the media, are reporting that the burglary occurred "in the 3100 block of N. Clark St." Some media and blogs are incorrectly saying that the address was "3167 N. Clark St." 

However, I phoned Verizon Wireless at 12:03 p.m. today and asked the woman who answered if the manager was in. Yes, she said, then asked who was calling. I said "a reporter." She then said that the manager was not taking calls. "Okay," I said, "so you've pretty much confirmed for me that yours is the cell phone store that was burglarized on Monday morning, right?" Silence from her, then, "I can't say anything about that." And that, ladies and gentlemen, is an unintentional confirmation. Why is this important? Because a man who protected others for years was killed on his way to defend that address and the property inside of it, that's why.  

Sgt. Alan Haymaker

It is ridiculous to hide the address, since the Verizon Wireless store seems to be the only cell phone store "in the 3100 block of N. Clark Street" and divulging it cannot reasonably be considered as giving away private information. It's a bit like saying "the only ten-story building in the 3100 block of Makebelieve Street" and not expecting people to figure out which buidling it is just because you didn't give the exact address. Referring to "a cell phone store in the 3100 block" is just as stupid.  

CPD Supt. Jody Weis said he wants to charge those responsible for this burglary with murder in the death of Sgt. Haymaker. Initial reports were that two people were sought in connection with the burglary. It's interesting that murder is not one of the charges brought against Brown - not yet, anyway.  

From: nwsaffr@chicagopolice.org 

Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:29 Subject: Offender charged today in connection with burglary of cellular phone store on Feb. 22nd in the 3100 block of N. Clark St. Chicago Police have charged an offender today in connection with the burglary of a cellular phone store in the 3100 block of N. Clark St. The burglary occurred on Monday, February 22, 2010 shortly after 5:30 a.m. Larry Brown, 28, of the 16500 block of Park Av. in Markham, Il. was charged with: • Obstructing Identification • Burglary Brown is expected to appear in Felony Bond Court today. **Mug shot attached** Chicago Police Department Office of News Affairs (312) 745-6110 Fax (312) 745-6999

 

Watch the Health Care Forum LIVE, Here...

See it now at C-SPAN3 Believe it or not, this is pretty interesting stuff. Like it or not, it's going to affect you profoundly. Leave a Comment Conservative T-Shirts Follow CNB on Twitter RSS Feed

Tea Party Declaration of Independence

It's been said by many, incorrectly, that the Tea Party movement is a pawn of the Republican Party. 

Those who have said this, and think this - ordinary folks, pundits and politicians - could not be more mistaken. We've said this all along, we Tea Partiers: We're sick of Big Government and Big Spending, regardless of which party perpetuates those evils. 

The Tea Party movement, still fractured, still trying to find a stable point on which to orbit, may have moved a step closer to a codified manifesto with this "Declaration of Tea Party Independence." Some excerpts, below, and related articles following the excerpts. 

I. As the course of human events winds its way through History, it has found some paths lead to Tyranny and some to Liberty. In seeking a path to Liberty, a great and powerful movement is now rising from every corner of our land. Created by the Will of the American People, it rejects unconstitutional domination by the Government that is supposed to be its servant. This movement has arisen, in large part, because our elected officials have failed us. 

Another excerpt: Therefore, Individuals acting through the Tea Party Movement, seek to restore the policies, which are proven to safeguard liberty and prosperity for all. We will organize, demonstrate and vote until this restoration has been achieved. We will stay focused on this goal and remain INDEPENDENT from any persons or political parties who seek to distract us from this end. 

Read the entire declaration at http://policynotparty.com/ 

RELATED: 

• Tea partiers circulating “declaration of independence” from GOP 
• Tea Party Groups Declare Independence 
• Tea Parties Betrayed by Illinois GOP 
• GOP, Bow Down to the Tea Parties 
• Tea Party as Monster: King Kong vs Godzilla 
• Illinois Shows Limitations of Tea Party Movement 
• Anatomy of a Tea Party Pooping Endorsement 
• Come the Revolution Tea Parties - The Glorious Evolution

Videos Show Human-Dog Hybrid Eating Lunch!

Did scientists finally succeed in mixing humans and dogs? You be the judge.
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Funeral Details for Sgt. Alan Haymaker

Sgt. Alan Haymaker

Update, 2/25/2010: Man Charged in Burglary That "Killed" Sgt. Alan Haymaker  

Wake and Honors Funeral Arrangements for Town Hall (23rd) District Sergeant Alan Haymaker, who died as a result of injuries sustained in a traffic accident on Monday while responding to a burglary-in-progress call.  

THE WAKE will be held on Thursday, February 25, 2010 at Bethel Community Church, 7601 W. Foster, Chicago, IL 60656 Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. St. Jude will meet at 7 p.m. 

FUNERAL SERVICES will be held on Friday, February 26, 2010 with a public viewing at 10 a.m. and church services at 11 a.m. at the same location. Chicago Police to escort family to private interment afterward.  

Editor's Note: Neither Mayor Daley and Police Supt. Jody Weis will not be made to feel welcome at these events. 

Chicago Media Screwing Up on Dead Cop Story

Update, 2/24/2010: Funeral Details for Sgt. Alan Haymaker  

Update, 2/25/201: Man Charged in Burglary That "Killed" Sgt. Alan Haymaker

What kind of morons do the local media hire? Every one of the mainstream media - including Fox Chicago News - keep saying that Sgt. Alan Haymaker was killed when his car "slid off an exit ramp." That's wrong. 

Not only is that completely incorrect, the imbecile reporters actually show photos that contradict their own words. Fox Chicago News, for example.  

Sgt. Haymaker's car never got to the exit ramp

In what seems to be an otherwise good report on Tuesday night, the Fox anchor speaks over a picture of the crash scene, which clearly shows that the car went directly from Lake Shore Drive onto a grassy area where it crashed. 

Even as that is shown on screen, the anchor says that "his squad car slid off an exit ramp," but in the background you can see the ramp, which was obviously missed by the car. It wasn't even close to entering the ramp as my own report showed on Monday night.  

My own photos were posted Monday night and show that Sgt. Haymaker's car was never on the exit ramp (see more photos here). Why is it so difficult for the mainstream media to report such a basic fact of this story correctly?

Tea Parties Betrayed by Illinois GOP

Robert Moon finds that the GOP in Illinois is making a concerted effort to crush Tea Party candidates - and breaking the law doing so. "The Republican State Central Committee in Illinois is instructing its County Chairmen to illegally stack the deck against Tea Party reformers in the March 3rd elections," Moon writes at Examiner.com on Feb. 22. "The Tea Party movement has spent the last year recruiting new Precinct Committeeman candidates to take back the Republican Party for actual grassroots conservatives. But the votes of these newly-elected officials are now going to be nullified as County Chairmen across the state exercise their made-up, non-existent right to vote vacant precincts however they see fit." This is disturbing, but not terribly surprising. The solution, of course, is to push back and - ultimately - crush the useless, teats-on-a-bull Republican Party of Illinois. Today, Moon wrote his thoughts about how Tea Partiers can fight the GOP's attempt to silence them. Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Who Really Killed Sgt. Alan Haymaker?

Update, 2/24/2010: Funeral Details for Sgt. Alan Haymaker

 

Update, 2/25/2010: Man Charged in Burglary That "Killed" Sgt. Alan Haymaker

 

Sgt Alan J. Haymaker | Star 2532

On Monday, Feb. 22, we asked some tough questions about the sad and untimely death of Sergeant Alan Joseph Haymaker, the third generation Chicago police office who died early Monday morning when his squad car slammed to a deadly halt when it hit a tree near the Irving Park exit ramp on Lake Shore Drive. It seems we were not entirely out of line with those questions, and there are even more questions today - and not just by us.  

 

Before we ask who should be arrested on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter, let me clear up something that the rest of the media has repeatedly gotten wrong about this story. Sgt. Haymaker’s car did NOT "spin out" on an "apparently icy exit ramp on Lake Shore Drive” as incorrectly reported by The Chicago Tribune and other news media that have been too lazy to get off their overpaid asses to go look at the scene of death. Chicago News Bench did go, and we took photos that prove beyond doubt that Sgt. Haymaker never entered the exit ramp. 

 

In fact, from all visible indications, Sgt. Haymaker did not even attempt to drive onto the exit ramp. Indeed, it would have made no sense for him to have taken that exit ramp, as we pointed out yesterday, because he was reportedly responding to a burglary scene in the 3100 block of N. Clark Street, whereas the Irving Park exit ramp is at 4100 north. Sgt. Haymaker would more likely have been intending to exit Lake Shore Drive at either Addison or Belmont.  

 

So, Sgt. Haymaker did not “spin out” on the Irving Park exit ramp, because his car simply did not enter that exit ramp. Furthermore, from our first-hand observations and photographs, his car probably did not even spin out on Lake Shore Drive. Rather, the tire tracks of his car indicate that he drove in a straight line from LSD, over the curb, and straight onto the grassy area between the exit ramp and LSD. It seems that his car spun (fish tailed) about 90 degrees in the split second between jumping the curb and hitting the light pole a few feet before the tree that destroyed both him and his squad car. 

 

SO, WHO KILLED SGT. HAYMAKER - AND WHO SHOULD BE CHARGED? There are rumors flying that Mayor Richard Daley gave an order to not put road salt on Lake Shore Drive. Another rumor is that a Streets and Sanitation dispatcher gave an order to not salt LSD. Neither rumor has been substantiated. To play devil’s advocate, a dispatcher be very unlikely to issue such an order unless he/she was confident that it complied with existing city policy, whether that policy was publicly know or not. To do so would certainly raise eyebrows immediately, and probably bring disciplinary action shortly thereafter.  

Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis has his own idea of who killed Sgt. Haymaker, and it’s a weird idea at that. He blames the burglars that Sgt. Haymaker was en route to on N. Clark Street.  

 

WGNTV.com reports that Weis "said officials are in discussion with the Cook County state's attorney's office to see if felony murder charges could be lodged against the burglars responsible for the early morning break in at a cell-phone store in the 3100 block of North Clark Street, where Haymaker was headed.... Under Illinois statutes it appears they could be charged with murder... 'that is something I think that we'll be looking at with the States Attorney's office,' Weis said. 'But I think it's something that we certainly will consider'."  

 

Weis said he believes that under state law the person behind a crime can be charged with murder if responding officers are killed. The burglary is also under investigation because no one has been apprehended. If that’s what state law allows, fine. However, it does not address what actually, physically caused Sgt. Haymaker’s car to jump the curb and hit that tree. There’s the road salt question, of course, but there’s also questions about the condition of the squad car that Sgt. Haymaker was driving.  

 

SALT IN THE WOUND It’s been said that LSD, a major road, was icy at the time of the accident. But, why? The storm that hit on the evening of Sunday, Feb. 21 started dumping snow on Lake Shore Drive at approximately 9:00 p.m. by my own recollection. Sgt. Haymaker hit the tree just past 5:00 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 22, some eight hours later. LSD is no small side street, and should have been cleared of snow and well salted by then. Monday morning rush hour was about to begin, after all. It should be remembered that a decision to not salt LSD put thousands of commuters at risk of a fate similar to that met by Sgt. Haymaker.  

 

Item: The Department of Streets and Sanitation operates the big blue snow plows that also spread road salt. We hear from reliable sources that more than one Streets and San employee stopped to tell investigators at the scene of Sgt. Haymaker’s accident that a dispatcher gave the order to NOT salt Lake Shore Drive on Monday morning. 

 

Item: Second City Cop blog (SCC) notes that one of their commenters, “from a cop on traffic control at the scene,” said that a snowplow driver on the inner drive” waived him/her down “and he stated that they were under orders...NOT to salt Lakeshore Drive! The City Snowplow Driver seemed sincere and pissed off that a needless accident had to happen because of his direct orders.” SCC also noted that an e-mail to them seems to confirm this: “A friend who monitored the radio transmission this morning stated that someone from streets n san broadcasted the following... ‘No More Salt On Lake Shore Drive’! That was before the Sgt Crashed. Can someone pull the tapes for that Sgt's family! I figured your the best source of info relay.” See more comments about this at Second City Cop...  

 

Item: A local blog says that “Mayor Daley gave the order NOT TO SALT Lake Shore Dr. during snow storms - Due to the salt killing the plants in the center planters.... And now we have today's accident that claimed the life of Sgt. Haymaker.... There are many reports that the Streets and Sans guys were given the ordered NOT TO SALT LAKE SHORE DRIVE. Why? Because the salt gets kicked up into the cement planters and kills the plants and damages the soil.” (Source: Advisory for strong language) If orders were given to NOT salt LSD, perhaps Supt. Weis should focus his murder investigation on Streets and Sanitation, as well as on Mayor Daley.  

 

QUESTIONS REMAIN Even if ice was a factor in the accident this morning, why did Sgt. Haymaker steer his car off of Lake Shore Drive, over the curb, and into light post and tree, with NO sign of any spin out prior to leaving the pavement of LSD?  

 

There are now questions being asked as to why the road was so icy. Was it because there was no salt put on the road? Was Chicago Streets and Sanitation instructed to not salt Lake Shore Drive? Why would the City not want this large stretch of road traveled daily by thousands of people salted? 

 

Attorney Jamie G. Goldstein asks, "There are now questions being asked as to why the ramp was so icy. Was it because there was no salt put on the ramp? Was Chicago Streets and Sanitation instructed to not salt Lake Shore Drive? Why would the City not want this large stretch of road traveled daily by thousands of people salted?" We'll forgive her for being misinformed by the media that Sgt. Haymaker was on "the ramp," but her question about salt - or lack thereof - on the road Sgt. Haymaker last traveled is valid.  

 

Another frightening possibility might be found in alleged maintenance negligence. A commenter to one of the blogs cited above wrote that “There are reports on SCC that the pool car that the Sgt was driving was deficient too. Someone posted that the tires appeared to be nearly bald and that the airbag did not deploy.”  

 

For Supt. Weis to blame the death of Sgt. Haymaker on two at-large burglary suspects seems like an attempt to divert attention away from possible negligence by the city itself: Mayor Daley for his anti-road salt position, Streets and Sanitation for allegedly ordering salt truck drivers to not salt LSD, and the Chicago Police Department for possibly assigning poorly maintained vehicles to its officers. Weis might have legal ground to stand on when he says he might bring murder charges against the burglars, if captured, but morally he stands on thin ice by not demanding full investigations into Chicago’s own bureaucratic morass.  

 

FINAL QUESTIONS No disrespect to Sgt. Haymaker is intended by this question, but it needs to be asked: Was his blood checked for alcohol and/or drugs? I do not mean to imply anything by that question, but if anybody else had such an accident we would ask. The public has a right to know that even for a private citizen. We have as much right to know that when it involves a police sergeant.

 

RELATED:  

• Officer Killed on Lake Shore Drive - Too Icy or Not Enough Salt?  
• Mayor Relents, Full Plowing Returns Streets and San Ready, Steady, Plow?  
• Daley is the New Bilandic: More Plow Problems

Black History Month is No Time to Party

Star Parker, founder and president of the Coalition for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE), writes that it is "time for a new generation of Black Americans." What does she mean by that? "Studies show that it’s family and education that produces success in America. Income correlates with education and education correlates with family background," she explains, and then goes on to write a hard-hitting column that calls out irresponsible parents and those who look to Government for salvation. Black History Month 2010 is not a great time for a party. Unemployment at almost 10%, and well over 16% among blacks, doesn’t make for much of a festive mood. But if the mood is not festive, shouldn’t it be reflective? Certainly, there’s reason for pride in black achievement in the forty plus years since the Civil Rights movement. We’ve now got a couple black billionaires and a black president. The percentage of blacks with college degrees is three times greater now than in 1970. But black household income is still just 62% of white households. And the black poverty rate, at twice the national average, has hardly budged since the late 1960’s. Blacks should be asking hard questions when, over this period of time, many immigrants from different backgrounds have come to this country with little and moved into the middle class in one generation. The accumulation of considerable black political power – black mayors, governors, a 42 member Black Congressional Caucus, and now a black president - has made hardly a difference. It should be clear that black economic distress is not a political problem. Studies show that it’s family and education that produces success in America. Income correlates with education and education correlates with family background. Now consider that in 1970, 62% of black women were married compared to 33% today. In 1970, 74% of black men were married, compared to 44% today. Or that in 1970, 5% of black mothers were never married compared to 41% today. The Civil Rights movement was, of course, a religiously inspired and led movement. It made liberal use of the biblical imagery of the Exodus of the Israelite slaves from Egypt. Taylor Branch called his trilogy about Dr. King and the movement he led “Parting of the Waters”, “Pillar of Fire”, and “At Canaan’s Edge.” To the misfortune of blacks who put great hope in the redemptive powers of that movement, their leaders prematurely closed their bibles. The story of the liberation of the Israelite slaves did not end with their release from their Egyptian taskmasters. That was the beginning. They then proceeded to the mountain in the wilderness to receive the law to take with them and live by in the Promised Land. When it was clear that the former Egyptian slaves were not up to the task, they were condemned to wander for forty years in the wilderness so that a new generation would arise, enter the land, and build the nation. Let’s recall that the law they received was about family (honor your parents), about property and ownership (thou shalt not steal), and about being concerned about building your own and not what your neighbor has (thou shalt not covet). Rather than seeking redemption through this law, post-Civil Rights movement black leaders sought redemption in politics. The welfare state, entitlements, transfer payments, and the politics of differences and envy. Should we be surprised by the result? The New York Times recently reported that from 2004 to 2008, the political and charitable arms of the Congressional Black Caucus raised more than $55 million from corporations and unions. According to the Times, most of these funds were “spent on elaborate conventions…a headquarters building, golf outings,…and an annual visit to a Mississippi casino resort.” More was spent on the caterer for the Caucus’s Foundation annual dinner - $700,000 – than it gave out in scholarships. It’s now over forty years since the Civil Right movement. Enough wandering in the wilderness. It’s time for a new generation of black Americans to step forward. A generation to turn to the truths that will rebuild black lives, black families, and lead blacks to the freedom that Dr. King and all blacks have dreamed about. See more articles by Star Parker Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service Coalition for Urban Renewal and Education 722 12th Street, NW Fourth Floor Washington, DC 20005 202-479-2873 (CURE) http://www.urbancure.org/ Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Exclusive: Chicago Cop's Death on LSD Raises Big Questions

Update 2/24/2010: Funeral Details for Sgt. Alan Haymaker  

Update 2/23/2010: Who Really Killed Sgt. Alan Haymaker?  

Update, 2/25/2010: Man Charged in Burglary That "Killed" Sgt. Alan Haymaker  

R.I.P., Sgt. Alan Haymaker

Monday, February 22, 2010 - The tragic and untimely death of Sergeant Alan Haymaker just past 5:00 a.m. today has been blamed on "icy conditions," but that - and our exclusive photos below - raise more questions. Chicago News Bench visited the crash scene, and it left us wondering if CPD is telling the whole story of what really caused the accident.  

Note: Our photos, below, clearly show what the other media have not shown: That Sgt. Haymaker's car was never on the exit ramp, he did not attempt to take the exit ramp, and that he transitioned over the curb from Lake Shore Drive in a straight line with NO spin-out.  

In short, Sgt. Haymaker completely missed the well-lit, well-marked, easily visible Irving Park off ramp, and instead drove straight over the curb on Lake Shore Drive (LSD). He did not lose control on the ramp - in fact, he never entered the ramp. As he jumped the curb, his car continued in a straight line, knocking down a light pole and slamming to a stop when it hit a tree. It is not known whether Sgt. Haymaker was actually trying to take the Irving Park ramp - it seems very unlikely, however, because it was many blocks north of the burglary to which he was responding.  

Sgt. Haymaker was still well north of where he should have been getting off, which should have at Belmont to approach the burglary at 3167 N. Clark. Belmont is 3200 north. The Irving Park exit ramp, actually at Bittersweet and Marine, is 4100 north.  

The public "explanation" given so far by Chicago Police Department’s Major Accidents Unit is puzzling and insufficient in light of photographs (below) taken by Chicago News Bench on Monday afternoon.  

The photos we have seen elsewhere, like the one here by The Chicago Tribune, do not show the tire tracks of the car as they leave LSD, go over the curb, and straight toward a tree. Our photos show that. According to CPD, Sgt. Haymaker was driving south on Lake Shore Drive as he was en route to a report of a burglary scene at 3167 N. Clark Street, several blocks west and more than 10 blocks north of the Irving Park off ramp. Lake Shore Drive is well lit. While "icy conditions" were named as a reason for the accident, visibility was not mentioned. The stretch of LSD southbound lanes is long and flat in the approach to the Irving Park off ramp, so nothing should have been obstructing Sgt. Haymaker's view of the wide and well-marked off ramp.  

Our questions for the Chicago Police Department:

There is no mention in the reports visibility being a factor in the accident; what was the ground visibility at that location at that time?

Was Sgt. Haymaker attempting to enter the Irving Park exit ramp?

How fast is it estimated that Sgt. Haymaker's car was moving when it went over the curb?

Even if ice was a factor in the accident this morning, why did he steer his car off of Lake Shore Drive, over the curb, and into light post and tree, with NO sign of any spin out prior to leaving the pavement of LSD?

Was Sgt. Haymaker's blood tested for drugs and for alcohol?

Is CPD saying that Streets and Sanitation had not salted LSD and all off ramps by the beginning of the morning rush hour? Is CPD saying that a major road (LSD) was icy more than eight hours after the snow storm began?

Is it CPD's policy that officers drive at very high speeds to a burglarly at a retail address at 5:00 a.m., when there is no threat to life at the burglary scene?

The car seems to have spun after leaving LSD and before striking the light pole; had it continued straight it would probably have missed the pole as indicated by the tire tracks still clearly visible in the snow at 3:15 p.m. today. This indicates that the car may have fishtailed, most likely as Sgt. Haymaker tried to steer and/or brake on the slippery snow-covered grass of the median on which he suddenly found himself.  

Our photos below clearly show the path that Sgt. Haymaker's car took as it mysteriously went over the curb. There seems to have been no spin out prior to jumping the curb. We saw no skid marks on Lake Shore Drive anywhere near the accident scene.

		Click images to enlarge
		Photos by Tom Mannis