With the election of Comrade President Barack Hussein Obama, we were promised, the nation would move beyond race. In January, 2008, Obama was finishing his Iowa caucus campaign. He was quoted by the Chicago Tribune as saying, "People are willing to look beyond race, particularly on issues as important as who is going to lead the country." It was a fantastical statement, given the fact that we still have racist institutions like the Black Congressional Caucus.

Oh? Perhaps Chicago's Black mayoral candidates missed that pronouncement from The Messiah. None of them is willing to "look beyond race," certainly not on an issue as important as who is going to lead the city. Today we still have self-proclaimed "Black leaders" (such as the Reviled Jesse Jackson) constantly whining that race is a dividing issue. Perhaps that's due in no small part to the fact that they just won't shut up about it and because they insist - in a knee jerk, involuntary manner - on basing everything they do, say and think upon racial issues.

To wit, the current mayoral race in Chicago, where Black "leaders" and candidates are conspiring about the best way to defeat Rahm Emanuel. Of course, it's all about beating the White Man, not about finding the best person to be our next mayor.

Carol Felsenthal writes about this in two good articles at ChicagoMag.com:

Rev. Jesse Jackson: The Davis/Moseley Braun meeting-and on the media covering the mayor’s race - December 30, 2010:
As previously reported, Jesse Jackson, Sr., met Wednesday night at his Rainbow PUSH headquarters with Danny Davis and Carol Moseley Braun, the two leading African American candidates for mayor. The purpose, Jackson told me in a telephone conversation Thursday morning, was to get them talking-to jump start the dialogue about one of them dropping out to give the survivor a chance to turn the momentum that has been building for Rahm Emanuel. Jackson predicted that the two “old friends” will reach an agreement: “There’s nothing hostile or petty about their relationship….They left the meeting on good terms.” Here’s the rest of what Jackson told me....

Danny Davis: Ministers want a single black candidate; Rev. Jesse Jackson brokering? - December 29, 2010:
Congressman Danny Davis says that, at the behest of various black ministers, he and Carol Moseley Braun will meet again later today to discuss whether one of them should drop out of the race for Chicago mayor. The two longtime friends—the leading African American candidates in the contest—met on Christmas Eve to talk shop about the campaign ...

The unspoken (so far) implication, of course, is that anybody who supports Rahm Emanuel must be anti-Black and, therefore, racist. We heard that spoken often enough during Obama's campaign and still here accusations of racism thrown at anybody who opposes His policies. Willing to look beyond race? I think most of us are, but we also wish the self-proclaimed Black "leaders" would just shut the hell up and keep their paranoid delusions out of politics.

RELATED:
Clinton and race in Chicago Politico - Rahm Emanuel's African-American opponents continue to use race as a wedge in a city with a history of fraught racial politics
Racial Politics in Chicago, of All Places National Review Online
Obama's Race Baiting Washington Times
Black Racism and “The Jena Six” FrontPage Magazine

Here is Part 1 of 5 of an interview series with Michael Carroll, candidate for alderman in Chicago's troubled 46th Ward (Uptown) and former Chicago police officer.

Interviewed by Tom Mannis for Chicago News Bench (www.chicagonewsbench.com) on July 28, 2010.

Michael Carroll's campaign website is www.carroll46.com.

Started in October of 2006, Chicago News Bench has become one of the most read conservative political blogs in Illinois, averaging over 10,000 readers monthly. We like to change our banner often, getting a bit artsy-fartsy now and then (it keeps the creative juices flowing, and it's fun). This video is a rapid-fire compilation of nearly 500 of our banners, set to a fun music track, created by blogmeister Tom Mannis. Enjoy.

I sent this by email (before Christmas) to my good friends at iOwnTheWorld.com. They were very helpful to me recently, and many of their good readers responded to my recent distress call and made generous donations to Chicago News Bench. That's what inspired this "card" (click to enlarge).

I was hoping that this would be shared... ah well, t'wasn't but that's okay. Through the miracle of the Internet, I can post here on my own website!

So, thanks again and Happy New Year to all the readers and staff at IOTW. You're the best.

December 28, 2010 - TREASON - The New York Post had this back in September, but today we get shocking audio (hear it below) of a meeting between New Black Panther leader Malik Zulu Shabazz, Louis Farrakhan and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. What did they discuss? "Ways," writes Gateway Pundit, "to build an alliance, secure raw materials and overthrow America." That's right: Overthrow the United States with a bloody Muslim-race war. Might they start by killing "cracker babies?"

Will we be hearing condemnations of Shabazz and Farrakhan anytime soon from President Barack Hussein Obama have to say about this? Or Jesse Jackson? Or Al Sharpton? Don't count on it. Does a meeting with a hostile foreign leader, in which you discuss ways to overthrow your own nation constitute treason? You bet it does.



Here's the New York Post's story from Sept. 27: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's six nights in New York featured a secret sit-down with militant minister Louis Farrakhan, heckling in a hotel bar, and a fear of being rubbed out that bordered on paranoia, the New York Post reported Sunday. The president shared a hush-hush meal with Farrakhan and members of the New Black Panther Party Tuesday at the Warwick Hotel on West 54th Street. Full story here...

RELATED:
Fox Interview of Malik Zulu Shabazz, Chairman of the New Black Panther Party
New Black Panther Party: "Lets kill some Cracker babies"

December 28, 2010 - After a couple of minor glitches, it's all good: Our new URL, www.chicagonewsbench.com, is fully functional. Bookmark it! When you click on that URL, it will take you to our original address: http://rogersparkbench.blogspot.com. And, just in case you're too lazy to type "www," you can get there by just entering http://chicagonewsbench.com. If you're really lazy, don't worry: You don't need to change your bookmarks, because the original URL still works, as indicated above. That's all been done automatically for you in the dark and dirty backside of things. Just remember: rogersparkbench.blogspot.com = chicagonewsbench.com

There are now less than two months until Chicago's next Election Day on February 22, 2011. That's when Chicago will elect a new mayor and more than 20 new aldermen. This is a big week for Michael Carroll's aldermanic campaign. They could use your help in a number of ways, as Michael writes below. Also, please watch Part 1 (of 5) of my video interview with Michael.

Our first critical campaign fundraising deadline is Friday, December 31st and we are trying to raise another $2,500 in support of the campaign before the midnight deadline. Your contribution will allow us to reach voters through direct mail, advertising, and neighborhood meet-and-greets. Please make your contribution today to help support our campaign before December 31st.

The deadline will be an early indicator of which candidate has broad support across the community and the most resources to win on Election Day.

Volunteers Wanted...
With only eight weeks left until Election Day, we need volunteers to help power our grassroots campaign. During this time, we will need people to work in the office, canvass door-to-door in key neighborhoods, and make calls to voters in the 46th Ward. If you’d like to join our campaign team, sign up to volunteer for 2 to 3 hours over the next few weeks.

Northwestern Bowl Game Watch Party on New Year's Day
As an alumnus of Northwestern, I was excited to see our Wildcats make their third consecutive bowl game appearance, sending Coach Fitzgerald and the team to Dallas to take on the Red Raiders of Texas Tech in the inaugural Ticket City Bowl. Because of the excitement surrounding this game, I wanted to invite you to join me for a watch party at one of my favorite places in the 46th Ward, The Spot. They're located at 4437 N. Broadway, just north of Montrose and about a block and a half south of the Wilson stop on the Red Line.

Join us New Year’s Day at the Spot
All of Wildcat Nation is welcome to join us - kick-off is at 11 a.m. so get there early. If you are interested, there is an optional $20 ticket for the event for purchase at the door. The ticket includes a select open bar and food specials as well as giveaways of Northwestern gear during halftime. The food at the Spot is incredible and the bar is creating a phenomenal spread for the watch party, not to be missed. I would love to see you all there on New Year's Day, please feel free to invite friends and family. You can RSVP on Facebook for the event.

Come help me cheer on Coach Fitzgerald and our Northwestern Wildcats this Saturday - and as always, Go Cats!

Thanks,
Michael

Here's a nice holiday wish from one great guy, Michael Carroll. A police officer in Chicago, Michael puts himself in harms way every day to help keep you and your family safe. He's also running for Alderman in Uptown's 46th Ward; the election is in February.

I am happy to share Michael's good wishes with you:

Dear Friend,

I want to wish you, your family, and your friends a happy holidays. During the holidays, we have an opportunity to remember all the things that we are thankful for and be reunited with the ones we love.

I am thankful to have friends like you supporting me in this campaign and look forward to working with you into the New Year. We should also not forget those who are less fortunate in our community during this holiday season. If you are able to volunteer at a local shelter, serve at a food pantry, or help a worthy nonprofit during this season - you can make a difference in our community.

Thank you again and happy holidays from Lisa and I and the rest of the Carroll family and campaign team!

Michael

Merry Christmas! Here's wishing you and yours all the best for this special time of year. Let's hope and pray for better times for everyone in the coming new year.

Some truly amazing Christmas light shows. These people are hardcore...



Candy Cane Lane!

This video has a surprise ending. It's actually a clever ad for TIGER Valley, a firearms and operational skills training facility located in central Texas. It's a good promotion for the Second Amendment, too.

December 23, 2010 - Chicago - 11:55 AM - Rahm Emanuel got his way this morning: The Chicago election commissioners voted before noon to allow him to stay on the Feb. 22 mayoral ballot. Kristen Mack reports: "The vote came just hours after a hearing officer recommended that the high-profile candidate be allowed to remain on the ballot. Joseph Morris' 69-page recommendation was issued at nearly 2 a.m., and the board began meeting at 9 a.m. (Read report here." Full story at Chicago Breaking News... However, attorney Burt Odelson, who represented multiple objectors to Emanuel's residency status, is already prepared for a followup challenge with a new lawsuit.

RELATED:
Odelson Preps New Anti-Rahm Suit‎ NBC Chicago (blog)
Election board: Emanuel can run for Chicago mayor‎ Houston Chronicle
Election board: Emanuel should remain on ballot‎ Chicago Sun-Times
Election board: Emanuel can run for Chicago mayor‎ Forbes
Elections Board Rules Rahm Emanuel Can Run For Mayor Of Chicago NPR

Imagine, if you will, Germans celebrating Adolf Hitler's birthday by placing thousands of flowers on his grave. Of course, there is no grave for Hitler, and such a display of affection for such a monster would be considered as extremely offensive. Yet, today, in Russia, thousands gathered to celebrate the birthday of a dictator who was far more murderous, and reigned much longer, than Hitler. That would be Josef Stalin, of course. The Edmonton Journal carried this story by AFP today:

Russian Communists placed 4,000 red carnations on Stalin's grave beside Kremlin walls Tuesday to celebrate what would have been the Soviet dictator's 131st birthday. Communist supporters raised 80,000 rubles (about $2,600) in a fundraising drive with the slogan "Two carnations for Comrade Stalin," organizer Igor Sergeyev told the Interfax news agency.
Carrying a red flag and led by Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, they piled the flowers beside a bust of Stalin that stands on his grave and round its neck.

Imagine "Two carnations for Der Fuerher." The AFP story continued...

Zyuganov on Tuesday called for the "re-Stalinization" of Russian society in an open letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who has frankly criticized the rights abuses of the Soviet era. The leader warned against a draft law, proposed by the presidential council for the development of civil society and human rights, which would ban the glorification of Stalinism. Full article at edmontonjournal.com...

"Stalin ruled for almost 30 years," notes Radio New Zealand. "He led Russia to the status of a great power and defeated Germany in World War II. He died in 1953. Stalin was voted Russia's third most popular historical figure in a 2008 nationwide poll."

What Radio New Zealand fails to point out, however, is that Russian - then the USSR - became a great power by means of brutal repression of its own people and the sometimes bloody oppression of the eastern half of Europe after WWII. While Russia was certainly an important ally in the fight against Hitler's Germany, Russia alone did not defeat Germany. Stalin was quite happy to maintain the Non-Agression Pact of 1939 with Hitler before he realized.

RELATED:
Russia Admits Stalin Ordered 1940 Massacre of Poles Wall Street Journal
Josef Stalin statue removed from hometown in Georgia The Telegraph UK
Film 'The Soviet Story' Reveals The Horror of Communism YouTube
The Age of Totalitarianism: Stalin and Hitler HistoryGuide.org
Famine and Genocide in Soviet Georgia faminegenocide.com

December 21, 2010 - 4:00 PM EST - Net Neutrality was adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this afternoon. It could mean the end of the Internet that we have all come to enjoy, use and rely on for personal use and critical business needs. The decision is tainted by corporate greed and influence. Supported by Barack Obama, it is yet another example of his broken campaign promises.

Jason Rosenbaum wrote this long headline, "FCC breaks Obama's promise, allows corporate censorship online with fake Net Neutrality," at Huffington Post:

....For the first time in history, the U.S. government approved corporate censorship of the Internet, putting the future of online free speech at risk. Unbelievably, the person leading the charge was Obama appointee Julius Genachowski (known in some circles as Judas GenaComcast for his historic sellout and notorious industry-friendly attitude).

Make no mistake. Rosenbaum, like many others, are pissed about this. "Today was another historic sellout to big corporations by the Obama administration, not some kind of 'win.' We need to set the record straight," he wrote.

Matthew Lasar reported for Ars Technica:


After years of debating, infighting, wrangling in court, and mostly just waiting, the Federal Communications Commission has approved an Order that will adopt "basic rules of the road to preserve the open Internet as a platform for innovation, investment, competition, and free expression." Net neutrality has finally arrived—but it's not what backers of the idea thought they'd be getting.

The result, it seems, is that nobody is very happy with this version of "Net Neutrality." Opponents hate it largely because they say it will lead to tolls and/or taxes on email and other services used by millions of people, and could have a chilling effect on free speech. Supporters of the principle of Net Neutrality don't like what the FCC adopted today because they say it doesn't go far enough.

Lasar's article continued: "Today for the first time the FCC is adopting rules to preserve basic Internet values," declared FCC Chair Julius Genachowski, who called the Order "a strong sensible non-ideological framework that protects Internet freedom." However...

Another report at Ars Technica points out the division and rancor over this FCC action, as reported by Nate Anderson:

Republican FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell unleashed a biblical jeremiad against the order, accusing the FCC of becoming a "vigilante" which was taking this action only to help President Obama meet "a misguided campaign promise." Today was one of the "darkest days in recent FCC history," he said, adding that he had received a final draft only at 11:42 pm the night before the vote. As for ISPs, "Nothing is broken in the Internet access market."

Hope and change. We're getting a truckload of it.

December 20, 2010 - Not only does this party tomorrow night sound like fun, it's also a great way to get out and support Mike Carroll, the best candidate for alderman in Chicago's 46th Ward. Here's his invitation:

I hope you will be able to join us tomorrow from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. for a holiday reception at our campaign headquarters located at 4700 N. Sheridan Road. It will be a great way to connect and stay involved in the campaign. The event is free to attend but contributions are appreciated. We will have light food, refreshments, and plenty of holiday cheer. Feel free to invite your friends, family, and neighbors as well. You can RSVP by replying to this e-mail or RSVP on Facebook. If you can't attend but still want to support the campaign, you can make a contribution easily online here.

Please RSVP to (773) 627-1410 or mjn@carroll46.com
Suggested Contribution Levels:
Host - $500; Sponsor - $250; Friend - $100; Guest - $25
Learn more about Michael at www.carroll46.com

Citizens for Michael Carroll
P.O. Box 4902 Chicago, IL 60680-4902

The winner of the prestigious PUK Awards is a mysterious person who goes by the name of "Hippie Critic."

Hippie Critic is a contributor to the internationally famous iOwnTheWorld website, known for its sharp political satire and brilliant photo parody. Get the full scoop at IOTW.

Photo parody, in fact, is what the PUK Awards are all about, and Hippie Critic is one of the best. (See all of HC's work at IOTW.) On Twitter he is HippieCritic.

The PUK Awards ceremonies were held in a secret location.

Business owners! Reach an educated and affluent audience with an ad on Chicago News Bench! This great advertising opportunity ALSO offers you lowered pricing and year-end tax deductions. You know this if you're a business owner. This is a limited time offer, though, because Uncle Sam won't allow the tax deduction for 2010 if you wait! CLICK HERE FOR INFO.

Put your ad on Chicago News Bench and you'll get great exposure on this popular blog (Page Rank 5; over 10,000 impressions monthly), plus discounted pricing, and it's tax deductible as a business expense! Hurry: The year is almost over and there's only so much space on the blog that we can sell. Contact us anytime at tmannis @ boxbe . com and find out how we can help your business. You can take a look at our demographics and more here...

December 18, 2010 - William J. Kelly has been one of the loudest critics of Rahm Emanuel's attempt to bamboozle the Board of Elections into believing that living in Washington, D.C. qualifies him as a full-time resident. Kelly was one of the objectors who spoke at the Emanuel residency hearings this past week. Kelly claims today that Emanuel is pressuring Chicago talk radio station WIND 560 AM to fire him. Kelly has a live talk show on Saturday nights at 6:00 p.m., and tonight's show promises a lot of verbal fireworks. You can listen to Kelly live on radio or on the web at http://www.560wind.com/. Kelly sent a statement by email today, which is reproduced below.

Dear Friends,

PROTEST DETAILS ON KELLY TRUTH SQUAD TONIGHT: Please listen tonight at 6pm on AM 560 WIND for more details on Thursday's protest and please support me. Rahm Emanuel's people are now putting pressure on AM 560 WIND (Chicago's supposedly conservative radio station) to get me off the air. Call and email WIND and tell them not to buckle under the pressure.

Call them at
(847) 437-5200 - WIND (local office)
(972) 402-8800 - WIND's corporate office in Texas

Are they a conservative radio station or not?

MORE PROTEST DETAILS: This Thursday, I am calling all TRUE activists to show up in protest at the Chicago Board of Elections on Thursday December 23, 2010 at 9AM (pack a lunch) (69 W. Washington in Chicago). They will be issuing the decision on whether Rahm Emanuel is eligible to run for Mayor of Chicago - despite that he doesn't qualify as being a Chicago resident.

I questioned Rahm Emanuel under oath this week and fought off the scores of unrelenting objections from his smug attorneys. You can watch the video of my closing argument here.

Since the hearings began, the Chicago media has helped portray Rahm Emanuel as an innocent victims in order to garner him votes. Do you want a Mayor Rahm Emanuel? Do you realize what will become of Chicago and the rest of the state if he is elected.

I am urging you to come out and make your presence known at this important hearing. If you have a group, email them. If you have a facebook group, please post to your wall and urge people to attend. If you have a tea party group, email people and let them know that this is something they need to do. Mark your calendars and plan to attend.

While the Chicago media is crying foul on Rahm Emanuel, they've completely ignored the one conservative in the race. Tom Hanson, an independent conservative businessman (and a very successful one - he's developed more than $550,000,000 worth of commercial properties) was kicked out of the race because the Chicago Board of Elections lost HIS Statement of Economic Interest. But have they said anything? No!

You can read the entire story and see me confront Langdon Neal, the head of the Chicago Board of Elections in my column at the Washington Times. It is the #1 story this week! Watch it here.

Please let me know if you plan on coming on Thursday. And please let me know if you will email and post this news to your facebook groups.

Thank you for your help and support!

Bill Kelly Web Sites:
Websites: http://www.friendsofwilliamjkelly.com/ and http://www.kellytruthsquad.com/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Williamjkelly
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/williamjpkelly
Rahm Stoppers http://justnotrahm.com/
RSS Feed: www.chicagonow.com/blogs/kelly-truth-squad/atom.xml

December 17, 2010 - You might have had a hard time finding us at our new URL "www.chicagonewsbench.com" since Noon today. Well, sorry, but there's a reason and - fortunately - it's a temporary problem.

I recently switched to that URL via Blogger and GoDaddy. Neither of them is to blame. In fact, both did exactly what I commanded them to do, and therein lies the problem. I chose to forward our Blogger URL, "http://rogersparkbench.blogspot.com" to "www.chicagonewsbench.com" with the masking option. That was a mistake.

I should have chosen forwarding without masking. Confused? So was I, but I "corrected" it today. Trouble is, the Internet will take 24 to 48 hours to catch up with the change. Really. However, once the change has been sniffed by the search engines out there, a search for or click on "chicagonewsbench.com" will lead you to this blog. Still confused? See this help article at GoDaddy: http://help.godaddy.com/article/422

Ice coats the light house and pier along Pratt Beach in Rogers Park, on Chicago's north side, along the shore of Lake Michigan. See the whole photo album at my Facebook page

The ice formed in a storm on Dec. 12-13. When I took these photos on Dec. 15, the temperature was about 19 degrees (F), with not much wind and a warm sun. .

The lighthouse is located near W. Pratt and N. Sheridan.

December 16, 2010 - Chicago - The Rahm Emanuel residency hearing wrapped up its final day of weirdness today just in time for the dinner hour. Today's bizarre session was one of several this week in the process to determine Emanuel's residency and eligibility to run for mayor of Chicago. People who object to Emanuel's candidacy for stated legal reasons have been allowed to make statements and even cross examine witnesses, which has led to many delays but also to many strange and often amusing moments.

Hearing Officer Joe Morris announced at 4:15 p.m. that final oral arguments by objectors would be heard, just after a short recess. He added that objectors who want to submit written briefs to him may do so, with a deadline of 12:00 Noon next Monday. The only rule for the briefs, he told the objectors, was that their briefs be legible. "Neatness counts," he said, and then broke the hearing for ten minutes.

During the recess, Mr. Morris told Chicago News Bench that he would consider all that he's heard this week in the hearings, and then carefully consider the written briefs next week. He said that the purpose of the briefs is to give objectors the opportunity to state in writing whatever they might not have gotten in orally this week, and also to clarify or support statements made by citing legal cases. Mr. Morris said he will base his recommendation on both what he's heard and the written briefs. He will then forward his recommendation to the Board of Elections, which will make the final decision. Mr. Morris told CNB that he expects a decision before Christmas.

Photos of items left in storage by Rahm Emanuel were shown and discussed. The photos showed boxes and other items, including a bed frame, in a crawl space and the basement of the house owned by the Emanuels but rented out while they lived in Washington, D.C.

The Sun-Times gave a strange report that said, in part, "Attorneys for Emanuel visited the house he owns in Ravenswood at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, located the much-discussed 'crawl space,' looked inside and found the valuable items Emanuel had maintained he had stored there. They have argued the fact they left the items there while Emanuel went to Washington D.C. to work as President Obama’s chief of staff shows he always planned to return to Chicago — and therefore should be eligible to run for mayor."

In the hearing, however, Attorney Dana S. Douglas testified under oath that she took the photos late last night, around midnight, and not "at 1:30 p.m." today as the Sun-Times mysteriously reported. Under questioning, Ms. Douglas admitted that there were a number of boxes that she and others with her did not open. Some objectors voiced the opinion that no matter what was shown in the photos, or found in the house, none of it proves Rahm Emanuel's intentions to have moved back to Chicago or to maintain his legal residence here. One could make a rational argument that many people leave valuable items in storage, in other cities or states, while they are looking for a house to buy elsewhere and that the items stored by Emanuel prove nothing about his intentions about residency when he left Chicago years ago.

RELATED:
Rahm Emanuel Residency Hearing Turns Circus-Like‎ - CBS News
Arguments End in Emanuel Residency Hearings‎ Chicago News Cooperative
Conservative Activist Presides Over Rahm Emanuel Residency Hearings CNB
Mainstream media ignores fishy story of Rahm Emanuel's GOP mayoral opponent Washington Times

Good news, more or less, from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF):

"In a landmark decision issued today [Dec. 14, 2010] in the criminal appeal of U.S. v. Warshak, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the government must have a search warrant before it can secretly seize and search emails stored by email service providers. Closely tracking arguments made by EFF in its amicus brief, the court found that email users have the same reasonable expectation of privacy in their stored email as they do in their phone calls and postal mail." Full article at EFF's website...

The court's decision, says EFF, "is the only federal appellate decision currently on the books that squarely rules on this critically important privacy issue, an issue made all the more important by the fact that current federal law--in particular, the Stored Communications Act--allows the government to secretly obtain emails without a warrant in many situations."

Yes, this is good news, I suppose, but before you pop a bottle of champagne in celebration, keep in mind that the government breaks its own laws frequently and all to often doesn't give a damn about what the Constitution says. Take a look at the quasi-fascist Obamacare, for example, which will require each of us - through the "individual mandate" - to purchase health insurance or pay a fine or, if you don't pay the fine, be imprisoned.

Also See:
Court Ruling Grants Email the Cloak of Privacy Technewsworld.com

Some of the best political satire artwork is at iOwnTheWorld.com. They've narrowed this year's competition down to a field of finalists for their internationally acclaimed PUK Awards.

AND THE WINNER IS: SEE WHO WON, UPDATED 12/20/2010

IronyCurtain, one of the IOTW creative geniuses, wrote to me and explained why they call it the "PUK" Awards:

"PUK was the screen name of Peter in the UK, a musician who was on the London scene during the early Beatles era. Peter was an early fan and supporter of iOwnTheWorld.com and was wickedly clever in his comments. Sadly, he passed away about a year ago. We named the award as a tribute to him." (Thanks again to IronyCurtain.)

See all of the amazing photo political satire at IOTW. You'll be so amazed that your amazing amazement will, not amazingly, amaze you.

Say, We Do Some Funny Stuff at Chicago News Bench, Too, By The Way...

Obama as The Little Dictator

Pelosi Pisses Off Pope

Dead KKK Guy Hanging Around U.S. Senate

The Manchurian Alinskyite

The Ultimate Goal of Obama's Change

Chicago Aldermen As Nazis, #3 In Series

New Heather Steans Campaign Posters

Joe Moore Tour Starts Today

Alderman Moore's Brave New World

Joe Moore Caption Contest!

Today's Satirical Funny Photo of Joe Moore

Avy Meyers Foie Gras Cartoon

Shillerism

Meter Rape

December 14, 2010 - Bangladesh - The Associated Press reports that "dozens of people" were killed in the fire that "raced through a garment factory that supplies major multinationals such as Gap and JCPenney near Bangladesh's capital on Tuesday. Many of the dead included trapped workers who jumped from the smoldering building engulfed by flames, witnesses at the scene said." The Guardian UK reports that most of the dead jumped to their deaths from the ten-story factory. Raw video below....

December 14, 2010 - Chicago - Rahm Emanuel continued to be questioned about his Chicago residency today. Running for mayor here, some say that he forfeited his residency status when he moved to Washington, D.C. to be Obama's White House Chief of Staff. Not so, says, Rahm.

I've been a big fan of attorney Joe Morris for a few years now, ever since I saw him speak at a conservative gathering at the Lincoln Restaurant.
Morris is one of the best-read and most engaging public speakers I have ever had the pleasure to witness. He has a mind like a steel trap and sense of humor as sharp as a titanium blade. The last time I saw him speak, he gave an entertaining lecture about Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals" in June, 2010.

Morris is a staunch conservative, and he is currently presiding over the petition objections to the mayoral candidacy of Rahm Emanuel in Chicago.

Tom Swiss, a local Republican insider, wrote that he is sure "this is not an accident." Swiss wrote that on December 6 on the website of the Chicago Republican Party. I would add that I am sure that Morris is relishing ever delicious second of the hearings, and that I can't wait to hear him describe it all at a future Lincoln Restaurant gathering.

Will Rahm Emanual Be Treated Fairly?

Does that fact that Morris, widely known in Illinois as "Mr. Conservative," is presiding over a bunch of squabbling Democrat contenders for mayor of Chicago mean that Rahm Emanuel will not get a fair hearing? Probably not. Morris is also known for his expertise in law, but he's also revered for his decency and honesty. Swiss addressed this, and made a prediction, in his Dec. 6 article:

"[Emanuel's] 'luck' and Republican's problem is Joe Morris is an honest man." wrote Swiss. "Morris will give Emanuel a fair hearing denied to so many GOP candidates in the past. Morris will correctly rule Emanuel did not forfeit his residency by serving the President of the US."

I'm not sure how Tom Swiss could know in advance how Morris will rule on Emanuel's residency issue. Suppose compelling evidence is presented that "proves" that Emanuel actually did lose his residency status? I would contend that Morris, being an honest man, would have to take that into consideration. I have no doubt that Joe Morris would agree with my contention.

ChicagoMag.com took a look at Morris today and published her profile of him at ChicagoMag.com. Friend Carol Felsenthal's article, "A Look at Joseph Morris, the Hearing Officer in the Rahm Emanuel Residency Challenge," gives a nice synopsis of Morris's life and then delves into his involvement with the Rahm Emanuel hearings.

"His plan," wrote Felsenthal, "is to wrap up the hearing on Thursday [Dec. 16], and then he will consider the testimony and write his recommendation on whether Rahm’s name should stay on the ballot. He will submit it to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, which will decide whether or not to accept it. The board’s decision will likely be appealed—first stop the Circuit Court of Cook County—perhaps up to the Illinois Supreme Court." Felsenthal also notes that Morris has been appointed to be a hearing officer for the Board of Elections a number of times over the past 20 years.

Joe Morris is also President, pro bono publico, of the Lincoln Legal Foundation, a member of the national Board of Directors of the American Conservative Union (of which I am a former Assistant Media Director), former Assistant Attorney General of the United States under President Reagan.

RELATED:

December 12, 2010 - Two spectacular videos to watch. It's fortunate that nobody was hurt when heavy snow in Minneapolis caused the roof of the Metrodome stadium to fall apart at around 5:00 a.m. today. Below, the first video shows a view of the collapse from outside. The second one shows the collapse inside the Metrodome.

December 12, 2010 - Haiti was rocked by violent protests last Wednesday as frustration with last month's election results came to a head. The election results are still being contested, but Haiti has been calm this weekend. Meanwhile, however, a cholera outbreak has been raging since mid-October. More than 2,200 people have died of cholera, and

"Haiti is still recovering from the Jan. 12 quake," reports Reuters today, "that killed nearly a quarter of a million Haitians a year ago, and the 1.3 million people made homeless by the disaster are still living in makeshift camps and under tents and tarps in the sprawling capital Port-au-Prince."

Despite the horrible conditions and multiple dangers in Haiti, groups from all over the world are hanging tough in their efforts to help the Haitians. One of those groups is Haiti Partners (HP), which is dedicated to providing education to Haitian children. HP provides "10,000 people each year in churches and literacy centers with Bibles and training, in partnership with the Canadian Bible Society."

Haiti Partners follows a "sustainable model for education developed by a grassroots organization in a remote area of Haiti. This model has shaped our Partner School strategy. We select schools with strong leadership but lacking in resources. With them, we develop an accord and work plan for supporting them over the course of three years by providing seed capital to create a social enterprise, teacher training, and funds to improve their building."

RELATED:
Donate to Haiti Partners haitipartners.org
Haiti Partners on Facebook

On December 12, 1901, a radio signal was sent across the Atlantic Ocean from England to Canada. It was the first time that a wireless transmission ever crossed such a distance, and in 2010 the credit for the invention of radio is still the subject of heated debate. Was the "father of radio" really Marconi, or was it a lesser-remembered scientist?

"Italian physicist and radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi succeeds in sending the first radio transmission across the Atlantic Ocean, disproving detractors who told him that the curvature of the earth would limit transmission to 200 miles or less. The message--simply the Morse-code signal for the letter 's'--traveled more than 2,000 miles from Poldhu in Cornwall, England, to Newfoundland, Canada." (History.com)

How did Marconi's transatlantic radio signal manage to cross the Atlantic? As any late-night listener of AM radio knows today, it "skipped" across, bouncing off of the ionosphere. When you're able to hear an AM radio station, or short wave or ham transmission for that matter, after the sun sets, it's because the ionosphere reflects the space-bound signal back to Earth, over the horizon.

Marconi was certainly a brilliant scientist, and he deserved credit for making his transoceanic transmission. In fact, he won a Nobel Prize for Physics for his work in 1909 (shared with Ferdinand Braun).

A century later, there is still debate over Marconi's role in the invention of radio technology. Guglielmo Marconi was a radio innovator, for sure, and he did much to advance radio. But who really invented the hardware, if you will, that made Marconi's work possible? Many, including the U.S. Supreme Court, say that it was really the Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla. (There is no mention of Nikola Tesla anywhere on the official website of the Nobel Prize.)

In an article titled "The Invention of Radio," writer Mary Bellis notes this:

"Nikola Tesla is now credited with being the first person to patent radio technology; the Supreme Court overturned Marconi's patent in 1943 in favor of Tesla." Full article at About.com...

Tesla was far ahead of the technology curve. So far, in fact, that he had already "invented radio and created the original basic design as early as 1892. In 1898 he patented a radio controlled robot-boat and demonstrated it at the Electrical Exhibition in Madison Square Garden." (Source: Tesla Society of USA and Canada)

Tesla sued the Marconi Company for infringement after Marconi won his Nobel Prize, in 1915. Tesla, however, "was in no financial condition to litigate a case against a major corporation. It wasn't until 1943—a few months after Tesla's death— that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tesla's radio patent number 645,576." (Source: Timelines.com) Marconi died in 1937.

Other Tesla inventions include a telephone repeater, rotating magnetic field principle, polyphase alternating-current system, induction motor, alternating-current power transmission, Tesla coil transformer, wireless communication, radio, fluorescent lights, and more than 700 other patents. (Source: Neuronet.pitt.edu)

RELATED:
Marconi sends first Atlantic wireless transmission History.com
Tesla Files Lawsuit Against Guglielmo Marconi Timelines.com
Who Invented Radio? PBS
United States Supreme Court decision (320 U.S. 1, 38) radiomarconi.com
Mayor Laguardia's eulogy to Tesla, January 10, 1943 TeslaSociety.org
Nikola Tesla: The Genius Who Lit the World (with video) topdocumentaryfilms.com
Tesla timeline, inventions, patents and more Tesla Universe
Tesla Society of USA and Canada
Directory:Tesla's Patent List peswiki.com
Nathan Stubblefield - Forgotten Genius Of Wireless Phones Rense.com
Earth Energy and Vocal Radio - Nathan Stubblefield HBCI.com

It's not like me to agree with Vladimir Putin, nor am I a fan of Julian Assange of Wikileaks. But even Putin can ask a reasonable set of questions now and then, which he did this week.

MOSCOW - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday led growing support from some world leaders for the beleaguered WikiLeaks founder, describing his detention in Britain as 'undemocratic'.

Mr Putin railed against the detention of the 39-year-old Julian Assange, the Australian founder of the website which has been releasing thousands of secret US diplomatic cables as well as Pentagon communiques.

'Why was Mr Assange hidden in jail? Is that democracy? As we say in the village: the pot is calling the kettle black,' Mr Putin said. 'I want to send the ball back to our American colleagues,' Mr Putin added. Full article at The Straits Times...

As for "calling the kettle black," perhaps the black kettle is calling the black kettle black. I know, that's a bit confusing. But then, so is Russian politics. Putin may have a point on the Assange issue, but he's no friend of democracy himself. Just ask Mikhail Gorbachev, who has noted the fragile nature of Russia's political tundra previously, but issued a more ominous advisory this week.

"Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has warned that Russia's undemocratic political landscape is threatening its stability," reports The Associated Press. "Gorbachev said in an article published Friday in Novaya Gazeta newspaper that the lack of political competition, flawed elections, shrinking media freedom and rampant corruption have slowed down Russia's development."

AP quotes Gorbachev as saying, "If we fail to overcome undemocratic trends, all our achievements of the previous years will come under threat."

RELATED:
Putin Slams West for Wikileaks' Assange Arrest ABC World News
Gorbachev on WikiLeaks: Fire Diplomats‎ NewsMax.com
Alex Jones on Coast to Coast Radio: Assange is just a scapegoat Examiner.com
Wikileaks Founder: Bigger Bombshells On The Way PrisonPlanet.com

This dream-like video has a soft jazz music track, perfect for the evening commute at sunset. We start our train ride at the Fullerton station on Chicago's north side and head north to the Morse station. Scenes of passing buildings, including Wrigley Field at Addison, combined with a few still shots give a relaxing and almost hypnotic effect. Video by Tom Mannis, made with Studio XI. Enjoy...

Warner Todd Huston posted a poignant post today about the vile, jew-hating Helen Thomas. Warner notes that the Helen Thomas ‘Spirit of Diversity’ Award was canceled after her latest anti-semitic comments:

A few days ago the miserable Helen Thomas, famed long-time Washington correspondent, let her hatred for Jews get the best of her once again. At a workshop held in Dearborn, Michigan dedicated to fighting anti-Arab bias in the United States, Thomas came out forcefully against the “Zionists” in Israel and the United States and refused to back away from anti-Jewish comments she’s made in the past.

It seems that Thomas’s latest anti-Jewish comments have caused her to lose support of at least one institution: her own alma mater, Wayne State University. The school from which Thomas graduated in 1942 announced this week that it will no longer be awarding its Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity in the Media Award to journalists that “stand out in their field.”

As Wayne State once described the award: “The award was established to recognize her leadership role in promoting diversity in the media and the issues of race in America.” It seems that “diversity” isn’t something that much interests Thomas, however. There's a lot more to Warner's post, which you can read at his Publius's Forum blog...

RELATED:
Helen Thomas Finally Gets The Hell Out CNB
Why Helen Thomas's Anti-Jew Remarks Were So Bad CNB

December 7, 2010 - England - Julian Assange, 39, is the evil genius and man of mystery behind Wikileaks, a so-called "whistler blower" web site.

Assange, an Australian national, was arrested today in England (United Kingdom) on charges of sexual crimes. Assange had been hiding out in London, but police knew his whereabouts. They did not arrest him for days because of legal technicalities involving a Swedish warrant for his arrest for sex crimes. After speculation last night that Assange might surrender to police, he did turn himself in this morning at 9:30 a.m (local time) and appeared before Westminster Magistrate's Court.

Many speculate that the Swedish sex crimes charges were trumped up in an effort to capture Assange and further prevent him from releasing more U.S. state secrets on the Wikileaks website. Gangster Al Capone, remember, was finally done in by charges of income tax evasion.

The BBC reports today that Assange "has been refused bail by a court in London but vowed to fight extradition to Sweden. Mr Assange denies sexually assaulting two women in Sweden. He was remanded in custody pending a hearing next week. A judge at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court refused bail because of the risk of the 39-year-old fleeing."

Assange has published many confidential documents on his Wikileaks, without regard for the damage his actions could bring to international diplomatic relations or even for lives that such releases may have endangered. Tensions are rising between NATO and Russia, reports CBS News, because of today's "Wikileaks' revelation of secret NATO plans to defend the Baltic states and Poland in the event of a Russian attack, the former communist country's envoy to the alliance says his country will demand NATO drop the plans..."

The Telegraph (UK) reported on November 28, Assange "denies he has committed any crime, was believed to have recently spent time in London but his whereabouts....were unknown. He had been under investigation in Sweden since August over rape allegations."

Wikileaks has been a thorn in the side of the United States for many months, but the last straw was the most recent Wikileaks release of hundreds of thousands of classified documents, called embarrassing by some and dangerous by others. He was hunted by Interpol, which acted on an arrest warrant from the International Public Prosecution Office in Gothenburg, Sweden. That's where the sexual assault charges were formalized.

The arrest of Assange will probably not have much effect on the operation of Wikileaks. Fox News reports today a WikiLeaks spokesman "said the flow of secret U.S. diplomatic cables would not be affected by Assange's legal troubles, nor by the group's increasingly rocky finances as both Visa and MasterCard cut off key funding methods" and that "WikiLeaks released a dozen new diplomatic cables, its first publication in more than 24 hours, including the details of a NATO defense plan for Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania that prompted an indignant response from the Russian envoy to the alliance."

RELATED:
Arrested WikiLeaks chief denied bail in UK (video) YouTube
British Police Arrest WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange (BBC video) YouTube
Julian Assange Arrest (France24 video) YouTube
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is refused bail The Telegraph
British Judge Denies WikiLeaks Founder Assange Bail Fox News
Interpol's Online Wanted Poster for Julian Assange
Profile: Wikileaks founder Julian Assange The Telegraph
Who is Pfc. Bradley Manning? Fox News
Pfc. Bradley Manning, Lady Gaga And How 250000 Top Secret Documents Were Leaked
Weasel Zippers
US says leaks are a crime, threatens prosecution Associated Press

December 6, 2010 - Obama, without his teleprompter, is often a stuttering, stumbling orator at best. In the past, he's blamed his verbal gaffes on exhaustion. He now has a more convenient - if no more credible - excuse to use: A recent basketball injury that required 12 stitches to his lower lip.

(For a funny, related video, see iOwnTheWorld's "Breaking News: Hell Frozen Over!")

Obama, speaking last night at the Kennedy Center, tripped on the word "superfluous." Of course, most of the media are giving him a pass on this (imagine how they would have savaged Bush for the same gaffe).

In the video of the event, below, you'll see and hear that Obama did manage to pronounce "superfluous" once with no problem (at 36 seconds), but then trips all over the word (at 43 seconds).

Obama blamed his mushy mouth on his recent lip injury, but he seemed to be joking about it. The media, however, has actually presented the lip injury as the real reason that Obama's brain misfired on the word. CNN, for example.


Did a split lip account for these Obama mouth malfunctions and brain farts?

December 5, 2010 - Chicago - The following is taken from a media release emailed out by William J. Kelly today. I was recently critical of Kelly (whom I consider a good friend) for accusing CBS2's Jay Levine of assault, but that does not mean I don't support Kelly in his overall campaign to stop Rahm Emanuel and, at the same time, call attention to the media's bias in Emanuel's favor. Kelly has created a very clever web site that highlights the ongoing battle against the imperial mayoral candidacy of Rahm Emanuel, at http://www.rahmstoppers.com./ (Also see the video below.)

That said, here is Bill Kelly's media release:

Monday, December 6, 2010 is an important day. The Chicago Sun-Times and other media outlets are attacking the objectors to Rahm Emanuel’s petitions. But are they questioning or attacking Rahm Emanuel? No, of course not.

I’ve filed an objection to Emanuel’s petitions as well. On Monday, please join me for a press conference in front of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners Building at 69 W. Washington in Chicago at 3:30p.m. At 4:00 p.m., we will have a rally (same location), and at 5:30 p.m. I am inviting everyone for an after-rally get-together at Berghoff’s. (17 W. Adams in Chicago).

Together, we need to stand up. The Chicago media and political elite have already elected Rahm Emanuel. Their reasoning? Why even have an election? What will happen to the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois once Emanuel is elected? It is a nightmarish scenario that we must band together to stop now.

My website at www.rahmstoppers.com is accepting donations to help defeat Emanuel – whether that is helping fund the lawyers opposing him or running TV ad spots against him. Donate today and spread the word to those that you know feel the same way we do!

Also this week…Human Events columnist, writer A.W.R. Hawkins wrote an excellent piece about Rahm Emanuel and New V. Old Media in Chicago in Breitbart’s Big Journalism. He discussed my case as well – thanks A.W.R.!At Chicago Now, I also pay tribute to some friends of mine in Beverly – the Flisk family. As you know, Officer Michael Flisk was killed last week in the line of duty and I wanted to people to know what kind of man he was.

Here are the links:

Old Media V. New Media - Chicago Style
http://bigjournalism.com/awrhawkins/2010/12/02/old-media-vs-new-media-chicago-style/

A Good Man Named Michael Fliskhttp://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/kelly-truth-squad/2010/12/a-good-man-named-michael-flisk.html

Website: http://www.friendsofwilliamjkelly.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Williamjkelly
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=106505343543&ref=ts
RSS Feed: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/kelly-truth-squad/atom.xml

One of the most influential, and most crooked, members of Congress was finally censured on the House floor today. Charlie Rangel was found guilty by colleagues for unethical behavior. Rangel, by the way, is the man whom Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) called her "leader." Yup. Pelosi made "culture of corruption" a household phrase. Words can boomerang.

"The U.S. House censured Democratic Representative Charles Rangel of New York for ethics violations," Bloomberg reported today, "including soliciting donations for an academic center bearing his name and failing to fully pay his income taxes. The vote was 333-79. Under the censure, Rangel stood on the House floor as Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, read the resolution outlining his violations." Watch Pelosi in the video below, dressed like a vampire, eyes glazed over, tongue thick with confusion, arm pits moist with tension, as she read the good news.


Below: Rep. Jan Schakowsky praises her "leader" Charlie Rangel: