This video is an animated portrayal of the alleged Al Gore sexual assault on a Portland, Oregon masseuse is incredible. It was produced by Taiwanese NMA News with the hilarious title "Al Gore reeling after sex-crazed poodle allegations." We should note that the video is not a documentary and that neither Al Gore nor his accuser are as attractive as the cartoon characters. As you can correctly assume, it contains sexual material, but will not visually shock you. I suspect the dirtiest parts are those that are spoken but, alas, it's in Chinese. I don't speak Chinese, but the visuals are self-explanatory. I can't wait for the feature-length movie. Perhaps they could call it "An Inconvenient Chakra."



Hat tip: Mediaite.com

BREAKING - June 30, 2010 - There has been buzz about a masseuse accusing Al Gore of groping her inappropriately for days. Portland, Oregon police have reopened the case. See the original police report (pdf) here (Advisory: Explicit sexual content).

Fifty-four-year-old Molly Hagerty is on the cover of the tabloid's current issue holding pants she claims contain Gore's DNA and calls the Nobel Prize winner a “pervert and a sexual predator.” The allegations come after she gave Gore a massage at the upscale Hotel Lucia in downtown Portland in October 2006. - KATU, Portland

We'll have more to say about this case as it progresses, but for now let's bring you up to date with some current headlines:

TODAY:
Police Re-Open Sex Abuse Case Against Al Gore‎ KPTV Portland
Portland police will investigate accusations that Al Gore groped woman‎ OregonLive.com
Al Gore 'a pervert and a sexual predator', massage therapist Molly Hagerty Adelaide Now
Al Gore a pervert and a sexual predator, says massage therapist ...‎ Herald Sun
Al Gore's Alleged Victim Reveals Herself‎ CBS 3

RECENT:
Tabloid claims Al Gore assaulted Portland masseuse KATU (June 23, 2010)
Al Gore Sex Scandal Depicted As Cartoon CNB

I asked this question on May 24, and it bears repeating today. Burris, a Democrat, was appointed by former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on December 30, 2008 to fill the Senate seat formerly held by Berserk Obama.

"I will not be a candidate in the 2010 election," Burris said at a press conference in July, 2009, "I will not run." (Source: The Hill)

In light of today's news about the possibility that Burris might have to leave office earlier than previously expected, we again wonder aloud why Burris still has his Senate campaign website up - with an active "Contribute Now!" button that leads to a PayPal donation page.

On June 16, 2010, the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decided that a special election must be held to replace Burris. The decision is based on the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which says - in effect - that Roland Burris is only a temporary appointee to the U.S. Senate until an election is held to fill the Obama seat. The decision says that whoever wins the court recommended special election on Nov. 2, 2010 would take office immediately, but would be replaced in January by whoever wins the already-scheduled election on the same day. Neither the Kirk nor Giannoulias campaigns have commented on this development yet. (See GERALD A. JUDGE and DAVID KINDLER, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. PAT QUINN, Governor of the State of Illinois, andROLAND W. BURRIS, U.S. Senator.)

Burris was sworn in as a U.S. Senator on January 15, 2009. Burris soon came under fire for contradicting himself a number of times about his contact with Blagojevich's brother Robert prior to being appointed to the Senate.

On February 14, 2009 Burris admitted that he spoke to the Blagojevich camp. A Burris spokesman said that Robert Blagojevich asked Burris "to contribute or help raise up to $10,000 in campaign cash before Burris was named a U.S. senator on December 30," according to CNN on Feb. 14, but "Roland Burris told reporters in January that his appointment has nothing to do with money." On Feb. 17, the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee opened an investigation into Burris's contradictions; on Feb. 20, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn called for Burris to resign. On Feb. 24, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) publicly asked Burris to resign. More and more pressure and embarrassment was piled onto Burris essentially made him a lame duck. Realizing that, and the disrespect he was getting from his own party, Burris finally announced that he would not run for election in November, 2010.

"He assured us there was nothing wrong, so we said, ‘Well, say it under oath.' It troubles me that there was a need to file an additional affidavit.” ~ Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL

I asked this question on May 24, and it bears repeating today. Burris, a Democrat, was appointed by former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on December 30, 2008 to fill the Senate seat formerly held by Berserk Obama..... Read the rest at "Why Is Roland Burris Soliciting Campaign Contributions?"

Hurricane Alex is currently pounding the U.S.-Mexican border. A much deadlier storm of sorts, however, has been ravaging Mexico and the U.S.-Mexico border for years - and shows no sign of clearing any time soon.

That storm is the rampant violence that has claimed thousands of lives in Mexico, one of the three North American nations in which violence - deadly violence - is a frequent part of the political landscape.

Like Hurricane Alex, that storm is spilling over the border into the U.S. "More people now die violently on our southern border," reports the NY Post, "than in Somalia, Yemen or even Afghanistan."

Gunfire killed Rodolfo Torre Cantu on Monday, June 28. He was the front-runner candidate for governor in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, running as the Institutional Revolutionary Party's (PRI) candidate. Torre died instantly when he and "at least four other people" were en route to a campaign event near the state capitol, reports the Financial Times, and Mexican authorities say that the murder "is the latest act of intimidation by Mexico's powerful drugs cartels." Tamaulipas is one of 11 Mexican states in which voters will vote in gubernatorial elections on Sunday, July 4.

There is little doubt that Torre's murder was the work of the cartels. Time Magazine says that "as Torre left the state capital to conclude his campaign, assailants showered his convoy with gunfire from automatic rifles and heavy-caliber weapons, killing him instantly. Army commanders said the attack bore all the signs of the Zetas, a paramilitary drug gang that was born in the state."

Mexico's political system has long been deeply corrupt, from the cop on the street to the top level of the country's federal government. That system has also spawned frequent political violence. Because of the corruption, the Mexican government at all levels is inept. If Mexico had its act together, it would have made use of it's incredible beauty and natural resources long ago to become one of most prosperous nations in the world.

Instead, Mexico is a violent, corrupt, filthy basket case with civil war in its south and drug gangs running the show in many cities. Those gangs, the drug cartels such as the Zetas, have become very effective paramilitary organizations, operating with professionalism that is alarming. This frightening efficiency is detailed by Ted Galen Carpenter at The National Interest:

Two features of Torre's assassination on Monday are indicative of just how brazen and powerful the drug gangs have become. One is the status of the victim; Torre's death is the most high-profile assassination since the killing of presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio in 1994. The cartels thereby sent a message that no one, no matter how prominent, is beyond their reach.

The second alarming aspect is the professionalism of the hit. His car was ambushed on the road to the airport, with one attacking vehicle blocking in front and another closing off any retreat, thereby creating a perfect free-fire zone. Multiple gunmen then sent a hail of bullets into their helpless target, killing Torre and several aides and bodyguards.

Unfortunately, that technique increasingly characterizes cartel attacks on Mexican officials, police and even military personnel.

This is not just a problem for Mexico, but also for its neighbors to the north. The drug cartel violence often spills over to the border states in the U.S. Imagine two houses. In one, the residents are constantly fighting, often violently, and sometimes the gunfire from within flies into the house next door. Now and then, some of the violent neighbors sneak into the house next door and do their illegal business there while completely ignoring requests to leave. Worse yet, the violent neighbors occasionally kidnap or kill some of their hapless neighbors. When the vicitms call on other neighbors for help, they are accused of being racists. Welcome to California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

Despite the assassination of Torre, the Mexican government has said that the elections will be held as scheduled on Sunday, July 4.

According to the Homeland Security News Wire (March, 2009), "The biggest and most violent combatants are the Sinaloa cartel, known by U.S. and Mexican federal law enforcement officials as the 'Federation' or 'Golden Triangle,' and its main rival, 'Los Zetas' or the Gulf Cartel, whose territory runs along the Laredo,Texas, borderlands. The two cartels appear to be negotiating a truce or merger to defeat rivals and better withstand government pressure. U.S. officials say the consequences of such a pact would be grave. 'I think if they merge or decide to cooperate in a greater way, Mexico could potentially have a national security crisis,' the defense official said. He said the two have amassed so many people and weapons that Mexican President Felipe Calderon is 'fighting for his life' and 'for the life of Mexico right now'."

We wish the Mexican voters all the best, but also send our sympathies. The drug cartels, after all, are not elected officials and will continue their deadly activities regardless of how the elections turn out.

RELATED:
After elections, will Mexico's drug war return opposition to power? CSM.com
Mexican Drug Cartels Threaten Arizona Police ABC News
Cartel threatens Nogales, Arizona police PoliJAM
Drug Cartels Threaten Texas Water Supply Dallas Blog
Mexico's civil war brings more than 15000 killed ArticlesBase
US Congresswoman: Hezbullah is working with drug cartels Jerusalem Post
Mexican drug cartels employ more foot soldiers than Mexican army HSNW
Mexican Drug Cartels Control Parts of Arizona Human Events
Mexico/Organised Crime: Gunmen kills 19 in Chihuahua Intelligence Quarterly

June 29, 2010 - Watch live streaming of the development of hurricanes (at ustream.tv). Hurricane Alex is featured as it crosses over northern Mexico and southern Texas. Also see: Worldwide: The oil spills that don't make the news.

June 28, 2010 - What are the politicians in Chicago's 46th Ward have to say about last night's double shooting in Uptown?

Virtually nothing, that's what.

Chicago's Uptown is all abuzz with talk of last night's senseless shooting. Around 9:25 p.m. on Sunday, a man fired a pistol into the intersection of N. Broadway and W. Wilson, the scene of many shootings in the past. Two men were injured, one with minor shoulder wound but another with a serious bullet wound to his abdomen.

Uptown is notorious as one of the most violent neighborhoods on the northern lakefront of Chicago. The issue of violence - especially gang violence - is guaranteed to be a major issue in the 46th Ward in the February, 2011 aldermanic election.

The only aldermanic candidate who returned my phone calls today was Don Nowotny.

Alderman Helen Shiller's website has nothing about the shooting (as of 8:45 p.m.). Shiller's website does not even have a "news" section (most aldermen's websites do.)

James Cappleman's aldermanic campaign website has nothing (as of 8:45 p.m.), nor did his Facebook or Twitter pages. Cappleman's partner, Richard Thale, is the CAPS facilitator on police beat 2312 and leader of a small group of "positive loiterers." As such, one would think that both he and Cappleman would have been aware of the shooting within minutes of it happening last night. Both men are gay, so it's hard to believe that neither would have anticipated the mass exodus after the big Gay Pride party in nearby Lincoln Park last night. That would have been the ideal time to have their "positive loiterers" loitering at Broadway and Wilson. But to be fair, even if they had been there last night, could they have - would they have - pounced on the shooter as he pointed his gun?

Neither Cappleman nor Thale ran the two short blocks from their home to the scene of last night's shooting to see it for themselves. Did nobody call either of them? I know for a fact that both men were aware of the shooting by 11:00 p.m. last night. Why no public statement yet? My 5:00 p.m. voicemail to Richard Thale's phone today has still not been returned.

This evening, at 7:00 p.m., about a dozen of Thale's positive loiterers were standing with their dogs at the intersection of N. Broadway and W. Wilson, the scene of last night's shooting. Why? To deter another shooting? While hundreds of people passed through the intersection last night in a peaceful and orderly fashion, acting in effect as positive loiterers, a lunatic opened fire into the crowd.

Do James Cappleman and Richard Thale really believe that twelve people are a deterent to crime on that very troubled corner? Or is it just political opportunism in play, a chance to get out there to show the world that they care so much about that corner? (If they care so much, why did it take them 22.5 hours to walk over there after the most recent shooting?)

I walked up to the group and hung around from 7:12 - 8:00 p.m. Thale and Cappleman both saw me. Both men know me. We made eye contact, nods were exchanged. I took their photos. They said nothing to me. In fact, they did their best to ignore me.

Don Nowotny is also running for alderman in the 46th. He was good enough to return my phone call early this evening, even though he was at "an event." Like Cappleman and Shiller, Nowotny still has nothing on his website, Twitter or Facebook pages.

Unlike Cappleman and Shiller, however, he has a good excuse. As the 46th Ward Superintendent for Streets and Sanitation, Nowotny gets up at 4:30 a.m. to be at work by 6:00 a.m. Because of his schedule, he was in bed before the shooting. He said that he learned about it around 5:15 a.m. when he read a news story online. Being in a hurry to get to work, of course, he did not pause to post something on the web.

"Shootings are something that everyone in the ward is outraged by," Nowotny told Chicago News Bench by phone. Amongst other things, he said, "we need to work together to eliminate the gangs."

"Police cameras, CAPS, the alderman's office and the 19th and 23rd police districts are all very important," Nowotny said. "Safety is at the top of my issues in my campaign."

There is currently no police camera at the intersection of Wilson and Broadway. "I would put a police camera at every corner where there is know to be gang activity," Nowotny said.

The Cappleman-Thale Loiterers were gone by 9:00 p.m. this evening. Had a gang gun battle broken out, which is not unusual for that corner, could they have - would they have - pounced on the shooters as they pointed their guns? Had the local television news crews shown up tonight, would Cappleman-Thale have declared that they had made that corner safe?

Action Alert! A source within the Chicago Police Department sent this email to me today: "Tomorrow's City Hall meeting at 1:00 p.m. [on Tues., June 29] will address today's Supreme Court decision concerning Chicago' gun ordinance. There will be buses from Area 3 [police] headquarters, 2352 W. Belmont, by 11:45 a.m. to City Hall. Please attend."

Chicago's City Hall is located at 121 N La Salle Street in the "Loop" (map). His Supreme Highness Richard Daley's office is on the fifth floor, by the way. He loves having voters stop in, so go up and say hi.

It should be a good show. While you're there, notice that even as Mayor Daley speaks about the evil of guns, the City Hall chambers will be protected by people who have - you guessed it - guns. Daley's own bodyguards, positioned nearby, will be carrying guns. Aldermen are (were) excempted from the handgun ban, and so there's a good chance that a few of them will be packing heat, too.

More photos that I took at the scene of the crime, moments after some nutjob opened fire at N. Broadway and W. Wilson on the night of June 27. For the full story see "Shooting In Uptown, Chicago Injures Two (Updated)."

She is, perhaps, the dumbest person ever to serve in elected office anywhere in Wisconsin. Hell, in the entire United States, for that matter. Democrat County Supervisor Peggy West of Milwaukee recently said that she could not understand why Arizona has such an issue with immigration, and demonstrated her stunning ignorance of geography to boot. The video (watch it below) is amazing. A possible boycott of Arizona was discussed at the June 24 County Board meeting. Here's a partial transcript of what West said:

"If this was Texas," said West, "which is a state that is directly on the border, with Mexico, and they were calling for a measure like this, saying that they had a major issue with, you know, undocumented people flooding their borders, I would say, I would, I would have to look twice at this. But this [Arizona] a state that is a ways removed from the border, and, uhm, it just, it doesn't make sense to me, that, when, you Google this subject, if you put in 'Arizona SB1070' that you see a picture of the governor of Arizona meeting with President Obama in May of 2010. If you have direct linkage to the President, there are already National Guard troops on the border, in Arizona..."

West is so stupid that she doesn't know that Arizona shares a long border with Mexico. Fortunately, Milwaukee County Supervisor Joe Rice straightened how out. "I just wanted to assure my colleague that Arizona does in fact share a border with the country of Mexico," he says in the video. The proposed boycott of Arizona was tabled for later discussion.

West spoke of searching for "Arizona SB1070" on Google, yet she apparently never actually read any of the results that Google presented to her. No doubt, she's probably never read SB1070, either. West is apparently aware that National Guard troops are "on the border," but which border did she think they were on? Had West simply searched for "Arizona" on Google, she might have seen the pretty pictures (maps) of Arizona that clearly show it bordering Mexico.

West, the "first Latino/Hispanic American to be elected to the Milwaukee County Board," favors boycotting Arizona over something that she clearly does not understand. Sadly, that's typical for those favoring the boycott.

The trash known as U.S. Senator Robert Byrd was finally been dropped into history's dumpster after 92 years of life. Byrd was a U. S. Senator since 1959, making him the longest serving senator ever. Before that, Byrd was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives in 1953.

West Virginia's Governor Joe Manchin III can name someone to replace him temporarily, but the state's law requires that a special election be held. "A quirk in West Virginia's laws," reports the Washington Post, "appears to state that the replacement will likely hold the seat for the remainder of the late senator's record ninth term, through 2012."

Good riddance to Byrd, a stinking piece of garbage and former Klan member. That's right, the Democrat from West Virginia was, for many years, a recruiter and officer in the Ku Klux Klan. I would join in the knee-jerk chorus and say "rest in piece," but I cannot bring myself to say it. Frankly, I hope Byrd rots in Hell. He was a racist before he was elected to the Senate, and undoubtedly remained one until he expelled his last foul breath. Oh, liberals will be offended by these disrespectful words for the dearly departed, but were they offended by Byrd's disrespect for so many of the living?

"I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side… Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds." ~ Letter from Robert C. Byrd, to Sen. Theodore Bilbo (D-MS), 1944

In March, 2001 Michelle Malkin wrote that Byrd, an "ex-Klansman," "allegedly ended his ties with the group in 1943. He may have stopped paying dues, but he continued to pay homage to the KKK. Republicans in West Virginia discovered a letter Sen. Byrd had written to the Imperial Wizard of the KKK three years after he says he abandoned the group. He wrote: 'The Klan is needed today as never before and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia' and 'in every state in the Union'." (Source: Capitalism Magazine) Malkin went on to note that Byrd filibustered the 1964 Civil Rights Act (which was supported by a majority of Republicans) for more than 14 hours. What a guy, huh?

The Democrat Party's presence in the Senate, as explained by The Badger Herald, will not be changed by Byrd's long overdue departure: "The balance of power will remain the same, as West Virginia has a Democrat Governor that will name Byrd’s replacement. However, the Democratic party has lost a huge Socialist leader and one of the most prolific producers of pork barrel spending this nation has ever seen. You can’t drive down a road or walk into a government building in W.Va. without it being named after Byrd."

The liberal-leaning Mainstream Media has always downplayed Byrd's KKK membership, and continues to do so today. In a laughable piece on cbsnews.com today, we read that "After six years in the West Virginia legislature, Byrd was elected to the U.S. House in 1952 in a race in which his brief Klan membership became an issue. He said he joined because of its anti-communism."

Really? Anti-communism? Then how does CBS account for Byrd writing about "race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds?" The man was clearly a racist who hated non-whites. He may or may not have been "anti-communist," but that doesn't explain his vile attitude towards "race mongrels" or his neo-communist pattern of voting in Washington. All that racism can be forgiven by liberals, of course, because Byrd was a useful tool who voted their way. His politics, you'll be told by the MSM, "evolved" and he was redeemed. That only applies to those on the Left, of course -- no conservative would ever be described as "evolving" by liberals, much less forgiven for past transgressions.

Byrd joined the Ku Klux Klan when he was 24 in 1942. His local chapter unanimously elected him the top officer of their unit.According to Byrd, a Klan official told him, "You have a talent for leadership, Bob... The country needs young men like you in the leadership of the nation." Byrd later recalled, "suddenly lights flashed in my mind! Someone important had recognized my abilities! I was only 23 or 24 years old, and the thought of a political career had never really hit me. But strike me that night, it did." Byrd held the titles Kleagle (recruiter) and Exalted Cyclops. (Source: Main Street Monroe [Ohio])

RELATED:
MSM Can't Bring Itself to Mention Robert Byrd's KKK Past…‎Weasel Zippers
The Kleagle Who Killed the Civil Rights Workers Impious Digest

Ah, freedom. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down Chicago's handgun ban as being unconstitutional. Mayor Daley, whose own bodyguards are heavily armed, must be soiling his pants this morning. Now that Chicagoans can legally possess a defensive weapon to protect themselves from the criminals who were never hobbled by the handgun ban, we thought we'd help you find a place near you at which you can load up on the latest self-preservation technology. In other words, guns and ammo. Click the map and start shopping.


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SHOTS FIRED, WILSON RED LINE CHICAGO...

June 27, 2010 - 11:55 p.m. - At least two people were struck by flying bullets at approximately 9:25 p.m. tonight in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood.

Four shots, perhaps five, were heard at that time as thousands of Gay Pride post-parade partiers were walking through the intersection of W. Wilson and N. Broadway. A suspect was taken into custody at approximately 9:55 p.m. (Click images to enlarge; See More Photos at "Slideshow - Shooting At Wilson and Broadway, Chicago, June 27")

Police and paramedics arrived rapidly and were tending to one of the victims in the intersection of Wilson and Broadway by 9:32 p.m. Witnesses told Chicago News Bench at the scene that one of the victims was “grazed” by a bullet one block east of the intersection, at the southwest corner of N. Kenmore and W. Wilson.

Update from FoxNews, June 28: "A Police News Affairs release early Monday said two men -- 47 and 25 -- were struck by gunfire and taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.... The younger man was in 'stable' condition with a gunshot wound to his shoulder and the other man was shot in the abdomen and was in serious condition, the release said." The man with the shoulder wound is the one that we reported above last night as having been "grazed." He was hit while he was in front of Beauty House, 1041 West Wilson Avenue (second photo, above). The rest of the Fox report pretty much repeats what Chicago News Bench published late last night.

Witnesses initially told Chicago News Bench that a “dark skinned black guy,” who was “wearing red shorts and no shirt” was shooting people inside of the CTA station. One of the witnesses who spoke to us said that the suspect was “shouting anti-gay stuff.” It was immediately obvious that this was not true, however, as there was no yellow police crime scene tape put up at the station. It was soon confirmed that the suspect taken into custody was, in fact, dressed in the manner described.

We spotted at least three spent shell casings in front of City Sports, on the northeast corner of the intersection.

This was eerily reminiscent of the February 25 shooting at the same corner, when two gunmen fired at least five shots across the street. One bullet hit a woman as she waited for a bus under the elevated train tracks. Shell casings were left in the exact same spot as in tonight’s shooting.

For more coverage, see Pride Weekend Ends Violently In Uptown.

Earlier today, more than 10,000 people were partying in Lincoln Park, just north of Montrose Harbor. As many of them headed toward the Wilson CTA Red Line train station, shots rang out. We cannot help but notice that this highlights the futility of “positive loitering” as a way to deter crime.

There were literally, in fact, thousands of people walking along the street as they headed home from the park. The train station was crowded. Despite this extraordinarily heavy presence of law abiding people, a man went berserk and fired into the crowd. The neighborhood’s “positive loiterers,” by the way, were once again AWOL.

In related news, a bar employee was tasered at 10:53 p.m. by Chicago Police at the intersection of W. Roscoe and N. Halsted. The Gay Pride Parade passed through that intersection earlier today. That neighborhood, known as “Boys Town,” is tonight very busy with a lot of very drunk and prideful partiers. (Source: Chicago Police dispatch for districts 19 and 23.)

Vince Vaughn and co-stars were in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood yet again to film more of Ron Howard's romantic comedy "The Dilemma" (formerly called "Cheaters"). They were filming at the Golden House Restaurant, "the pancake house" between The Riviera and Borders Books, at 4744 N. Broadway. That's just south of W. Lawrence Avenue, and spitting distance from their June 9th shoot at The Green Mill. Enjoy the photos. Sorry I didn't get in Vince's face for y'all; security on this film is rather tight. Click images to enlarge them. Also See: Filming In Uptown - "Cheaters" Gets Argyle Street Prepped For Action.

Help Adam Robinson defeat Machine Candidate Heather Steans in the 7th Illinois State Senate District. Let's throw out Steans, a Blagojevich crony who was hand picked by the Machine and its operatives. Steans and her husband Leo Smith contributed at least $180,000 to Rod Blagojevich over the years. Some estimate it to be over $200,000. Indeed, Steans is one of the Democrats who enabled Rod Blagojevich.

You want "change?" Here's your chance, people. Visit Adam's website, learn about him, and consider clicking on that "Donate" button to help this guy go up against the big money vested interests of the Machine. Also see: Adam Robinson on Facebook and Adam Robinson on Twitter (@adrobins)

Adam writes:

Over the past several months, I’ve heard one consistent theme from people throughout my district – CUT THE WASTE. The majority of residents support my plans to implement zero-base budgeting in this state, and to place a statutory cap on spending increases. Voters also agree that the time has come to stop wasting taxpayer money on bureaucracy and bloat, and start focusing our limited resources on essential services like education and social services.

Despite a $13 billion budget deficit and some $5 bill in unpaid bills from last year, state lawmakers opted to head home for the summer without taking any substantive steps to avert a complete financial meltdown in Illinois. Can you imagine running your household finances like Springfield manages your tax dollars? Read more here...

Heather Steans has been part of the bad management in Springfield. It's time to fire her.

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Heather Steans still taking money from Health Insurance companies
Heather Steans Lies About Hubby's Blago Connections
Sen. Heather Steans Lied on Her Resume
Videos of Jim Madigan Owning Heather Steans
See Heather Carry Water For The Machine.
Contributions from Heather Steans & husband to Rod Blagojevich (pdf)
Heather Steans' Husband Goes Nuts in a Gay Bar
Flashback to Elder and Smith on Heather Steans
Senator Heather Steans, For The Children

North Korea wants $65 Trillion (US dollars) for 60 years of "hostility."

What makes the North Korean request so bizarre is the fact that they started the war for which they now want us to pay them damages. On June 25, 1950, the North Korean People's Army (NKPA) invaded South Korea across the 38th Parallel with 135,000 men. The South Korean military was badly outgunned and outnumbered and suffered heavy casualties. North Korean forces entered Seoul on June 28. The first battle between the U.S. Army and the NKPA was on July 5, 1950. (Source) In other words, North Korea started the war.

Comrade Obama responded to the North Korean demand. The Associated Press reports today that "The Obama administration ridiculed North Korea on Friday for claiming $65 trillion from the United States in Korean War damages, saying the communist nation is an economic 'basket case' due its own failed policies." I do believe that this is the first time I have ever agreed with His Regime.

Before the U.S. entered the war, however, it called on the United Nations on June 27th 1950, "to use force to get the North Koreans out as they had ignored the Security Council’s resolution of June 25th. This was also voted for and once again the Russians could not use their veto as they were still boycotting the United Nations..... On September 15th 1950, United Nations troops landed in an amphibious assault at Inchon. The landing was a huge success and the United Nations effectively cut the North Korean army in half and pushed them out of South Korea. MacArthur then advanced into North Korea – despite the warnings from Communist China. This resulted in a Chinese attack on United Nations troops and between November 1950 and January 1951, the Chinese managed to push back the United Nations force. After a clash with President Truman, MacArthur was sacked and the war degenerated into a war of stalemate with neither the United Nations or the Chinese managing to gain the upper hand." (Source)

The fighting stopped in July 27, 1953, when the UN and North Korea signed an armistice. A permanent peace treaty between South Korea and North Korea has never been signed (source). It has been more than 50 years since the Korean War Armistice Agreement was signed "and what was intended to be a temporary measure is currently the only truce that prevents resuming the war. In 1954, an unsuccessful attempt was made to create a formal peace agreement. To date, no peace treaty has ever been signed and the demilitarization zone (DMZ) is still defended today by South Korean and American troops on one side and North Korean troops on the other." (Source)

No peace treaty. Only an armistice, or cease-fire. Technically, we are still in a state of war with North Korea. (Be sure to watch the video below.)

Since then, South Korea has rebuilt itself with U.S. aid and trade, and a lot of hard work and ingenuity by the South Koreans. Their recovery could not have happened without having a democratic and capitalist system.

On the other hand, North Korea remains Communist and has been patronized and "protected" over the past 60 years by the communist Soviet Union (USSR) and China. No attempt was ever made by either of those powers to democratize North Korea or to improve their economic system. It remains a heavy handed dictatorship living in isolated paranoia and bitterness.

And now they have the nerve to ask for compensation? If anybody should ask for compensation, it's South Korea, the United States and the other nations who joined the United Nations in keeping South Korea free from the boot heel of communist tyranny. South Korea was damaged directly, obviously, while every participating nation defending it lost men and women in battle, as well as considerable treasure. North Korea should be apologizing still for its unprovoked aggression and its continued beligerence and its attempts at nuclear blackmail.

On a personal note, I'd like to sue Egypt for compensation for more than 3,000 years of continuous hostility toward my Jewish father's ancestors. Would $65 Million Billion Gazillion be too much to ask for?



RELATED:
US: N Korean war damages claim 'preposterous' (AP)‎
Legacy of Unresolved Korean Conflict Plagues US Policy‎ (VOA)
South Korea Consumer Sentiment Rose in June for Second Month‎ BusinessWeek
EDITORIAL: Our ongoing war in Korea‎ Washington Times
Forgotten Korea war continues‎ Yuma Sun
Inside North Korea (Video) National Geographic
The UN Offensive, 16 September - 2 November 1950
The Korean War Armistice Agreement
History of North Korea

June 24, 2010 - Chicago - Two former 50th Ward campaign workers were found guilty of "multiple Class A misdemeanor counts of attempted mutilation of voting materials and attempted absentee ballot violations" today. The charges came from violations committed during the the hotly contested 2007 aldermanic race between Stone, Greg Brewer, Naisy Dolar and Salman Aftab in West Ridge/East Rogers Park.

"A Cook County judge handed down guilty verdicts in the bench trial of two political workers for Ald. Berny Stone on charges that they had allegedly tampered with absentee ballots stemming from the 2007 aldermanic race in the 50th Ward," reports Lake Effect News (LEN) this afternoon.

On November 9, 2009 Chicago Breaking News reported that "Prosecutors said Anish Eapen, a precinct captain for Ald. Bernard Stone, 50th, and the ward's Streets and Sanitation superintendent, flashed his work badge and made it clear to voters that they could benefit if they chose his candidate."

According to LEN, "Anish Eapen, the former ward Streets and Sanitation superintendent, and Armando Ramos, a paid campaign worker for Stone’s political campaign committee, were both found guilty of multiple Class A misdemeanor counts of attempted mutilation of voting materials and attempted absentee ballot violations, " and "Both men were facing more serious felony charges that they had engineered absentee ballots of mostly immigrant voters in the 50th Ward favoring Stone. Stone was not charged with any wrongdoing. Eapen and Ramos face up to one year of jail time, two years of probation, fines or a combination of all three." More at Lake Effect News...

An earlier report by LEN said that Salman Aftab (photo) triggered the 50th Ward vote fraud investigation that led to today's verdicts against Eapen and Ramos. Aftab waged a very bitter campaign against Stone, which included personal attacks. Aftab lost in the February 27 general election, but on March 27, 2007 he gleefully announced his support for Alderman Stone in the pending April 17 run-off against Naisy Dolar. Aftab, who took only 5.2% of the ward's vote in February, said, "My community insisted that I endorse Ald. Stone and I'm doing what my community says," Aftab said. By "my community," Aftab was referring to the large Indian and Pakistani community of West Ridge. (Source: Chicago Tribune/Clout Street)

Stone won the April 2007 aldermanic run-off election with 52.93% 5,965 votes (52.93%). Challenger Naisy Dolar received 5,304 votes (47.07%). Source: AlderTrack

Aftab triggering that vote fraud investigation against two of Stone's political workers. Although it's a good thing that fraud was brought to the attention of the authorities.

Aftab was an early supporter of Barack Obama and of Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL9). He was an acquaintance of Salman Ibrahim, former head of Sunrise Equities, the Chicago sharia finance company that defrauded many dozens of investors in 2008. (There is no reason to believe that Aftab was connected in any way to the Sunrise Equities scandal.) Sunrise Equities gave Obama office space for his 2004 U.S. Senate campaign. There was a private ribbon cutting ceremony for that office space, and you can see Aftab in the photos of that event. Alderman Berny Stone was also present at the ceremony. You can see the photos here and here.

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We had a stormy, and sometimes frightening evening in Chicago, with tornado warnings and high winds.

As the turbulent weather blew away from the city out over Lake Michigan further points east, the remnants of the storm produced a magnificent sunset.

Golden light, to which my camera could not do justice, bathed the north side of Chicago in almost apologetic tones and hues.

These photos were taken between 8:30 - 8:45 PM, CDT, about two hours after the tornado warnings were cancelled for Chicago. Click them to enlarge.

Photos (c) 2010 T.H.Mannis
All Rights Reserved

49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore wants to paint over the crumbling infrastructure of CTA and Metra underpasses in Rogers Park. It's like putting lipstick on pigs.

Moore is good at coverups. We are all still wondering what happened to that box of ballots in the April 2007 aldermanic run-off election, for example, and we'd love to know what kind of paper Moore and convicted check kiter Robert Creamer used to exchange in a back office.

Another kind of coverup that the Rogers Park alderman is good at: Putting lipstick on a pig. While CTA and Metra underpasses are crumbling throughout the city, including his own 49th Ward, Moore wants murals on the rusting steel and crumbling concrete.

It won't improve the underpasses one bit structurally, of course, and undoubtedly some folks will not be pleased with the artwork that will finally be applied. In the photos here, we see crumbling CTA infrastructure. Is Moore trying to get this fixed? Nope, but he's elated that pretty paint will soon be applied to underpasses such as these. (Above: CTA underpass at N. Glenwood and W. Pratt. Left: Crumbling underpass at Jarvis CTA station, one block from Moore's 49th Ward Service Office.)

Moore and his leftist pals seem to have a phobia about blank spaces. If a wall is simply white or gray, it reminds them of how empty their own lives are and so they try to fill it with something, anything, just to fill it. They did this a few years ago by hiring an artist to apply a dreadful mural on the Morse Avenue CTA underpass (photo below). After the garish thing was completed, the Morse underpass was still crumbling.

The only difference the mural made: Instead of a white, crumbling structure, the Morse underpass became a crumbling structure painted in a garish, day-glo psychedlic acid trip vomit motiff. The mural has not reduced the level of crime near the station and it has not motivated businesses to move onto Morse Avenue. The mural was nothing more than a public relations stunt by Moore.

Today, the mural is peeling, cracking, and stained by water that leeches through the crumbling cement (see two photos below).

While the Morse Avenue Mural project was underway in 2008, Moore and others spoke dreamily of a "Mile of Murals" project along the CTA elevated tracks in Rogers Park, already well past the promised date of August, 2007. That didn't happen, in part because CTA backed out of the deal. Now, Moore has come up with an alternate plan, which he outlined in an email blast on Wednesday, June 23, 2010.

"Calling All Artists!" screamed the headline of Moore's June 23 email, "Applications to Design an Underpass Mural Now Being Accepted."

"Dear Neighbor," wrote Moore, "All Chicago-based artists are invited to submit a design for one of twelve murals that will grace the CTA and Metra underpasses in the 49th Ward. The 'Mass Underpass Murals Project' was one of the funding proposals that received voter approval in the Participatory Budgeting Election last April in which I gave the 49th Ward residents the power to determine how I would spend the 49th Ward's capital budget allocation."

The "Participatory Budgeting Election" that Moore refers to was a publicity stunt back in April. Moore "asked the residents of the 49th Ward to decide directly how to spend his $1.3 million capital budget for 2010. Over the past six months, 49th Ward residents identifiedneeds, researched projects, and prepared full spending proposals. Beginning April 5, 2010, with early voting, and culminating in an election held on April 10th,2010, all 49th Ward residents age 16 and over, regardless of citizenship or voter registrationstatus, were invited to vote for their favorite ward improvement projects. Each voter was entitled to vote for up to eight (8) projects. Ballots were cast by 1,652 ward residents." (Source: 49th Ward Participatory Budgeting Initiative April 10, 2010 Election Result - PDF)

The population of the 49th Ward is just over 60,000. There are approximately 20,000 registered voters, but Moore is very proud that 1,652 "ward residents" - including a few illegal aliens, no doubt - decided how to spend the $1.3 million capital budget. The items chosen are mostly laughable in these times of city budgetary crunches. The underpass murals will cost $84,000 ("estimated") and received an unimpressive 740 votes.

Compare that to these more practical items: "Additional Benches and Shelters on CTA 'El' Platforms" would also cost an "estimated" $84,000 but received only 487 votes. A "Traffic/Pedestrian Signal on Clark at Chase," estimated at $230,000, received only 494 votes. Another item, "Street Resurfacing: 1200-1500 W. Lunt," will cost an "estimated" $93,500 but received only 210 votes. In fact, it was a "runner up" project and received less votes than any other item. Another runner-up was "Intersection safety improvements at Clark and Farwell," estimated to cost a mere $2,600. That received 334 votes.

So, painting over crumbling infrastructure is a higher priority in Rogers Park than is street resurfacing, benches and shelters on CTA platforms, and intersection safety. And Joe Moore is pleased as punch about that. One wonders what kind of idiots voted in Moore's "Participatory Budgeting Election" and why their priorities are so screwy.

If you're an artist who is eager to rip off the taxpayers, you can apply to paint one of the murals here or pick up an application during regular business hours at Moore's 49th Ward Service Office, 7356 N. Greenview (at Jarvis).

The following CTA underpasses are designated to receive a mural: Columbia, Estes, Farwell, Greenleaf, Pratt. The following Union Pacific (Metra) underpasses are designated to receive a mural: Estes, Farwell, Greenleaf, Morse, Pratt, Rogers, Touhy.

A big family-friendly Independence Day part will be hosted by more than 10 Chicago-area Tea Party groups on Saturday, July 3, 2010, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm . The admission-free event will be staged at Siegel's Cottonwood Farm, 17250 Weber Road in Lockport, Illinois (see map).

There is plenty of free parking and free entertainment for the kids. Some of the fun activities are listed below.

This is a "combined" Tea Party event, with each of the Tea Party groups hosting their own booths with various activities (see list below). The booths will be on the outer parameter of a central picnic area. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from Siegel's Cottonwood Farm. Please remember to patronize Cottonwood farm for so graciously allowing the use of their facility for this event. Cottonwood Farms is also providing free children's entertainment, including train rides and inflatable jumpies.

Entertainment Events...

Cook County Tea Party - will be the soap box for the event. Do you have a speech that you want to give? Go to the Cook County Tea Party booth and jump up on their soap box and rant away! Please limit your speech to two-minutes.

Lemont Tea Party - will be "Campaign headquarters" for the event. All the candidates running for office are invited to distribute their campaign flyers and yards sign at this booth. At Campaign school you learn how to make phone calls, knocking doors and get signatures for Tea Party candidates.

Tri-Count-Teas (DuPage, Kane, and Cook counties) - will be providing musical entertainment featuring the music of Sue Lovato and Megan Fox from Homer/Lockport Tea Party.

Homer/Lockport Tea Party - will be presenting a short story about our founding fathers. You can also come to the Homer/Lockport Tea Party booth to Reaffirm the Declaration of Independence -sign your name to a copy the Declaration of Independence reaffirming your beliefs in the United States of America and the principals that our country was founded on.

Jim Nesci's Cold Blooded Creatures will be providing children's entertainment with "Bubba the Alligator" singing to along to God Bless America. Jim will also have many of his other animals to entertain the children. Sponsored by the Homer/Lockport Tea Party. Invite your friends, bring your families and please spread the word!

Other Participating groups include:

Joliet Tax Day Tea Party
New Lenox Tea Party
Plainfield Tea Party (on Facebook)
Palos Liberty Tree Tea Party (no website)
Gateway Tea Party (Will County Tea Party Alliance on Facebook)
First Tea Party of Bolingbrook (on Facebook)

Questions about the July 3 event can be sent to CookCountyTeaParty@gmail.com or call Laurie Hellmer (312) 342-6988. For more events see the Cook County Tea Party's Calendar. (Note: This has been posted elsewhere, but Chicago News Bench enhanced it with more info, such as web links, and correct names.)