Alex Armour: Slacker?

Alex Armour works for Joe Moore. Nobody outside of the Moore clan really knows what kind of black work Alex does, but one thing is probable: He's supposed to be an internet whiz kid, an uberblogger who worked for Congressgal Jan Schakowsky.

I don't know what he's being paid, but it's too much. His performance has seemed lackluster to date.

To wit: Today's weird email blast to approximately 4,000 residents of the 49th Ward in Chicago. From all indications, at most one (1) blogger was included in that blast. All of the other bloggers seem to have become aware of the email via that blogger's web site.

Now, if you were in Alex's size nine shoes, wouldn't you have put together a list of all known local bloggers for inclusion in all email blasts? Of course you would. So why didn't Alex?

Alex Armour was political advisor to Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (and paid $3,200 per month for his advice to her campaign). Armour lives in Highland Park. Shown at right with pal Mayor Daley (photo credit unknown). Mr. Armour is in tight with The Machine. But so is Alderman Moore.

Perhaps his heart isn't really in it. After all, he was on top of the world with the congressional race, and then he gets a crappy assignment to some dopey alderman.

Imagine that phone call between Alex Armour and Puppet Master Howard Dean:

Ring, ring, ring.

AA: Speak to me.
HD: This is Doctor Howard Dean. We need you to help Joe Moore get re-elected.
AA: The alderman? Are you shitting me?
HD: Yeah, I'm shitting you like a goose shits shit, Armour. I'm shitting you right into the shitty 49th Ward of Chicago, you putz. You got any complaints, Armour?
AA: Well...
HD: You ever wanna eat lunch in Washington again you'll do this for us. You did good by Schakowsky, yes you did. Work your magic for Joe Moore.
AA: An alderman? But Dr. Dean, I, I...
HD: Thanks, pal. Good luck. Do a good job on this one and we'll get you a nice gubernatorial race somewhere. Yeeeeaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

So here he is, farmed out to a triple-A farm team after working in the Big Leagues briefly. What a downer. What a buzz kill. What a non-starter in the motivation department. Gad.

Face to Face But No Debate: Pollak & Schakowsky, Oct. 10

There will be a forum this coming Sunday, October 10 at which Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and her Republican challenger Joel Pollak will share a stage. The forum is sponsored by the League of Women Voters and will be held at Niles North High School (details below). That's nice, but it's not a debate. Schakowsky thus far has refused repeated requests by Pollak to face him in an actual debate in the heated race in the 9th Cong. District. Is Schakowsky afraid to debate Pollak? Probably so, inasmuch as Pollak is a brilliant speaker with a razor sharp mind. Schakowsky, in contrast, has nothing to offer in a debate other than her tired Marxist platitudes. Then again, perhaps Schakowsky is not afraid to go head to head with Pollak. Perhaps she's simply so arrogant that she feels she doesn't need to debate, and that she doesn't need to bother. Judging from the attitude of Alex Armour, her Chief of Staff and Top Apparatchik. Armour dropped his pants and showed the whole world his filthy anti-American arse via Twitter back in mid-August. Armour's "tweet" revealed what some of us have known about him for a long time: Like his boss Schakowsky, Armour has nothing but contempt for the American people and the U.S. Constitution. Moe Lane posted about Armour's tweets in a piece with the amusing headline, "Meet Alex Armour, Jan Schakowsky’s (D, IL-09) CoS." There, Lane links to a screenshot of an offensive tweet by Armour. As for meeting Alex Armour, those of you who have been reading Chicago News Bench since October, 2006 are already familiar with him. We've covered him quite a few times over the years. Some of you will recall that Schakowsky loaned Armour to her good friend, Alderman Joe Moore, during his vicious re-election fight of 2002. Armour was key to helping Moore pull off all kinds of dirty tricks then. Here are the details about the October 10 Pollak - Schakowsky forum, courtesy of the Pollak For Congress campaign: Sunday, October 10th 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (doors open 1:30 p.m.) Niles North High School 9800 N. Lawler, Skokie IL 60077 Sponsored by: League of Women Voters Jan Schakowsky won't debate (yet)--so this is your best chance to see both candidates on the same stage, answering questions about the issues that matter most to the people of our district! We need to have a large, disciplined presence. That means we need YOU to be there! Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and there is no advance seating, so be sure to be there VERY early--we don't want to let Schakowsky stack Niles North the way she stacked Niles West last year! We also need our supporters to observe the forum rules carefully. This forum will be "won" in the audience, not just on stage, and we want to set an example of leadership. NO signs may be posted on school property. NO campaign buttons, and no clothing or accessories displaying candidate names may be worn in the forum. NO responses from the audience to candidates will be permitted. NO video recording or photography will be allowed, aside from credentialed media. Please observe these rules, even if "they" don't. The first round of questions will be asked by the League of Women Voters, and the second round will be asked by the audience. Only written questions, collected by ushers and screened by a panel, will be allowed. The forum will provide blank index cards and pencils. We will have a table with campaign literature in the hall outside the forum. And we will keep pushing for REAL debates--where the candidates can actually challenge each other's views, and answer more than a few screened questions! Questions? Please email our campaign at info@pollakforcongress.com.

JOE MOORE'S MAGINOT LINE

“Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed.” ~ Mao Tse-Tung, Chinese Communist dictator (1893 - 1976) Who are the "big guns" national-level political consultants, hacks and other outside supporters brought in to support a guy who represents a tiny two-square mile piece of Chicago? Here is a quick look at some of the "big guns" brought in to help 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore in his battle to retain his seat on Chicago's City Council. Moore is well known nationally, primarily for his activities with antiwar groups and local anti-goose liver (foie gras) legislation. Nevertheless, he is just an alderman, and that begs the question: Why so much outside money, so much outside consulting talent, and so much effort by the DNC put into play just to retain a local councilman? RPB invites you – and all readers – to share information or stories about these or other of Moore’s people. There are literally thousands of people around the nation who are members of their local city council or village board. Some of them, in Los Angeles or New York for example, have as much local sway as Moore does. No doubt some or most are more intelligent than Moore. Who are some of the big players from outside of the 49th Ward, some even from outside of Illinois, that were brought in to keep Joe Moore in place? Joe Moore is well-connected guy. He is a member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), which is headed by Howard Dean. Moore's campaign office is in a space shared with Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (Democrat); Schakowsky is one of the most powerful members of Congress. Schakowsky’s “blogger” and campaign hamster Alex Armour is near the top of Moore’s food chain, although he may have recently been replaced by this guy: Andrew Sharp, big time political consultant Andrew Sharp Consulting 210 South Union St. Alexandria VA 22314 Main phone : 202-448-6198 Fax : 636-533-5300 http://www.andrewsharp.net/clients.php The Moore people keep reminding us that the election is over. So then why is secretive high-powered political consultant Andrew Sharp hanging around the hood? His usual digs are Alexandria, Virginia right outside of Washington, D.C. Maybe the high crime in Rogers Park reminds him the nation’s capital. Andy was brought in to salvage a flagging campaign. Again, big guns. Andy’s client roster includes the DNC itself, as well as a local favorite, John Stroger. He’s a high profile political strategist and tactician, yet there is virtually nothing on the web about him, which is weird. Very weird. Most guys in his position would want tons of news coverage; news searches on various search engines show NOTHING for the guy. Creepy. “Politics is war without bloodshed. For a dozen years, Andrew Sharp has provided clients nationwide with general consulting and strategy to annihilate the opposition.” Quote stolen from Mao Tse Tung, on Sharp's web site. Alex Armour Schmuck with a newly worked-in mustache and political consultant. Also a “blogger” (although we’ve seen very little evidence of it except for a couple of bad stealth blogs). This weasle was a big shot in the last Jan Schakowsky congressional campaign, yet here he is schlepping for a lox like Joe Moore. Alex Armour was ordered in to the 49th Ward by the Deaniacs at the DNC. What, you think he volunteered to work on an aldermanic campaign after tasting the big time with Schakowsky? For more on Armour, see The Alex Armour Files and Nice Work If You Can Get It. Jan Schakowsky, Congresswoman, Gal Pal, Confidant With her convicted criminal husband Robert Creamer in tow, Jan the Man has been a big cheerleader for Joe, sharing a campaign office next to an abandoned tavern by the train tracks, over by dere. Jan and Joe’s ex-wife (Moore’s divorce papers are sealed) have been best pals for over 18 years. Joe and Robert used to exchange checks back and forth frantically. Robert got caught and convicted. Joe is still not an ex-con – yet. See Joe Moore's Loans to a Criminal. Howard Dean, Chair, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Nuff said. This nutbag is more reviled amongst rank and file Democrats than George Bush is. But he controls the DNC. Lots of dots in this puzzle, and DNC is one big dot with a lot of lines connecting to it. Todd Stroger, President, Cook County Board Todd is more reviled by the average citizen of Cook County than Howard Dean is. But Andy Sharp, the DNC and the other conspirators are all pals. Todd endorsed Joe. Joe endorsed Todd. What a lovefest. SEIU (Service Employees International Union) These goons, 1.8 million strong, would back a rapid skunk if they thought it would help their agenda. (I’m curious: How many of their member are forced to pay dues to a union that supports political causes and politicians that the membership does not like?) SEIU members were seen violating electioneering rules on election day, April 17. There were a bunch of them in the ward, just as there were over a hundred other outsiders hustled in for pay to push Moore literature and generally hang around looking lost. All those outsiders, by the way, is a big fat admission by Moore that he can’t find enough support from within the community he is supposed to represent. That’s pitiful. See Polling Violations by SEIU. ACORN Criminals. Labor law violators. Racketeers. Flouters of election laws nationwide. And there are dozens of court cases to prove those charges. ACORN zombies were seen skulking around the 49th Ward’s CTA stations handing out poorly written, poorly produced crap and lies to commuters. A few examples of ACORN’s shenanigans: “In Ohio , ACORN and its affiliate Project Vote submitted registration cards that had the highest rate of errors for any voter registration group. In Colorado , two ex-ACORN employees were convicted of turning in false registrations.” (Source: http://www.rottenacorn.com/index.html) Again, outsiders. For more on ACORN, see Shelling ACORN and Judge Him By The Company He Keeps.

Schakowsky's Cowardly Campaign

Schakowsky, like so many other Democrats, has been both dodging and twisting the truth. Rather than face her opponent in an actual debate (rather than a non-confrontational forum), Schakowsky steadfastly refuses to debate Joel Pollak in the race for the 9th Congressional District seat in Illinois. Worse yet, Schakowsky has been running a campaign of disinformation and outright lies, as friend Keith Liscio noted in a fine column on October 24: To anyone listening to the steady stream of misinformation emanating from the campaign of Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D), it would seem that she’s handily thumping her opponent, Republican nominee Joel Pollak, in debates for the 9th district seat. A recent post on her campaign website, for instance, was headlined: “Jan Trumps Pollak at KINS Debate.” There are two problems with this mischaracterization of the event, however..... Full post at Chicago Conservative Examiner. Pollak has invited Schakowsky to debate him at a Town Hall meeting that is scheduled for Wednesday, October 27th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn at 5300 W. Touhy Ave. in Skokie. Thus far, Schakowsky's campaign has not accepted. As of today, Schakowsky's campaign is still lying about it. Pollak wrote about this yesterday and offered "proof" is Schakowsky's dishonesty. An excerpt: My opponent is trying to duck Wednesday’s debate by pretending that she’s debated me already. She refused to debate all year; participated in “forums” that were explicitly not debates; then claimed credit afterwards for “debating” me (never beforehand). She’s lying to her own supporters, some of whom are calling on her to accept my invitation to debate this Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Skokie Holiday Inn at 5300 W. Touhy. She wants it both ways–to avoid a real debate, while pretending she’s had one. Here’s the proof that Schakowsky is lying–the full 6-part correspondence between my campaign and hers on the subject of debates. You will note that Schakowsky’s campaign manager, Alex Armour, never once refers to the “forums” as “debates.” The invitation to debate remains open, though we have yet to receive a response.... The Pollak post then reproduces email exchanges between Schakowsky's Campaign Manager, Alex Armour, and Ashley Kain, Pollak's Campaign Manager. You can read it all here. Just a thought: Lynn Sweet reported on October 11 that "Alex Armour said that Republican Candidate Joel Pollak's statements in the debate showed clearly that his right wing views are inconsistent with the progressive values of the 9th District." Armour is partly correct about the values of the 9th District. Let's turn his statement around: Democrat Schakowsky's far left wing views are inconsistent with the mainstream and conservative values which are also present within the 9th District. Armour's statement assumes that everyone the 9th is a "progressive" who agrees that more spending and higher taxes are the solution to our current economic malaise. That is simply not true; as with any other district, there is a diversity of opinion in the 9th, where the Schakowsky support resides primarily in the eastern portion among the "lake front liberals." Visit the western portion of the 9th District and you'll see quite a lot of Pollak yard signs. In fact, as Fred Dardick wrote recently, there are at least "20 Reasons Why Jan Schakowsky is Unfit for Congress," all of which should worry every voter in the 9th District -- whether they are one of Armour's "progressives" or otherwise. RELATED: Why won't Jan Schakowsky debate? Chicago Tribune Why won't Jan Schakowsky debate Joel Pollak? HillBuzz Jan Schakowsky: First You Lose, Then You Misquote American Thinker Pollak, Schakowsky Spar Over Campaign Finance, Support of Israel Skokie Patch 20 Reasons Why Jan Schakowsky is Unfit for Congress‎ Canada Free Press (Video) Schakowsky On Defense At 10-10-10 Forum Chicago News Bench Pollak Taunts Schakowsky's Campaign Manager at Big Fundraiser Chicago News Bench

The Hooded Truth Squad

UPDATED: Funny thing that on March 19 I posted a piece entitled "Alex Armour: Slacker?" in which I pondered blogweiner Armour's lack of effectiveness in the local blog scene. The very next day, March 20, an anonymous blog attacking me and several other local bloggers appeared on the scene. Coincidence? I think not.... "The Truth Hurts" is the name of the blog, found at http://49thwardtruthsquad.blogspot.com. Who is this blogger? He/She/They are anonymous. Well, that's not very forthcoming, is it? That's a hypocritical way to pretend to be the Truth Squad. Look, friend, if you really want to do what you claim, then more power to you. Welcome to the neighborhood. But why the chicken poop anonymity? (Are you really Alex Armour?) So, the truth hurts, eh? Apparently for you it is also embarrassing, or else you would reveal your true identity. The very first posting starts off admitting that the blogger is neither objective nor without an agenda: "Negative attack blogs are playing a role in elections today. Here in beautiful Rogers Park, a couple of nasty people with way too much time on their hands have set to work to systematically set out to frame the debate surrounding the re-election of Alderman Joe Moore, a progressive with a prove record of accomplishment and distinction." What can we learn from that one paragraph? Quite a bit, really. First, this blogger complains about other bloggers not being objective, but unashamedly calls them/us nasty. Look, friend, I don't think any of us claim to be objective. I'll even defend my good friend and colleague Craig "Hell Hole" Gernhardt on that count. Only a moron would not be able to discern the injections of opinion in Craig's blog, my blog, or anybody else's blog. You want objective? Read the Washington Times, genius, not a neighborhood blog. Of course, the kicker is the completely objective phrase, "Alderman Joe Moore, a progressive with a prove record of accomplishment and distinction." Uh huh.

Alright, let's cut the crap. This cowardly anonymous blogger is most likely Alex Armour, Joe Moore's campaign fuhrer and former Schakowsky blogmeister. But maybe not. Whoever it is, they should grow a spine and admit who they are, and what their true agenda is.

Defending Truth and Free Speech

All the fuss from the fake progressives in Rogers Park ("Stalinists" is more like it) about the master of ceremonies duties of Chris Adams at the Americans For Prosperity (AFP) event at Loyola University on Thursday, Feb. 22 was pure propaganda. It was inaccurate, hateful, scare-tactics propaganda designed to imply that Chris Adams is some kind of crazy fascist. I have no evidence that he is. Nor do the liars in the Moore/Fagus/Armour camp. Please see my piece entitled, “Help Support Freedom of Speech.” Progressives Rogers Park, a secretive group of 109 members who apparently have nothing better to do than generate hateful propaganda. What twisted minds these must be. The description of the PRP reads: “Action alerts, news and discussion about progressive issues in Rogers Park and Chicago's North Lakefront: Affordable Housing, Diversity, Economic Justice, Quality Schools, progressive politics, community development, etc.” The usual buzz phrases and code words. In a ridiculous piece posted on Craig Gernhardt’s yellow blog a few days ago, the event of last night was made to sound like a Third Reich rally in Nuremburg. It was not. Gernhardt quoted Alex Armour, spokesperson for Alderman Joe Moore, as saying, “That Adams would choose to associate himself with such a right wing organization just shows how out of touch he is with our community's values." I was not able to find this quote anywhere else after a very thorough search of the web, chat groups, blogs and other areas of the internet. It is interesting – and telling – that Gernhardt, whom I maintain is a tool of Joe Moore’s campaign, got this exclusive quote from Moore’s campaign consultant Alex Armour. Why would Alex Armour, a top lieutenant in Moore's army, chat with Craig Gernhardt? Gernhardt capped his bizarre posting with this: “It's the trash like Jim Ginderske and Alderman Moore and the people they have around them that are making these accusations - they are spreading false information about good people.” Weird, saying that, after viciously attacking Chris Adams for freely associating with good people who are simply seeking to open a dialog. Here is a one-minute video of Edwin Eisendrath giving his talk to the forum. It was typical of the evening. Please point out the fascist aspects of this, if you can find any.

(Video Mashup) Joel Pollak Taunts Schakowsky's Campaign Manager at Big Fundraiser

I ran into Alex Armour, Jan Schakowsky's campaign manager, today. He was quietly lurking off to the side of a small group of protesters across from the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. Video below; click images to enlarge I actually said hello to him. I asked him, jokingly, if he was going inside to watch the speechifying at the Joel Pollak fundraiser. He said no, the admission was too expensive. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) was the special guest, and the protesters were ostensibly there because they don't like Ryan's Roadmap For America's Future. Of course, the whole thing was orchestrated by Armour. An SEIU hack who seems to be at all events even remotely related to Schakowsky was coaching the mostly-elderly protesters in the fine art of holding their signs and looking angry. Armour got into the event free, however, and with the full consent of the Pollak campaign (for the sake of accuracy, he did not sit or eat while in the room). While Armour was inside, busily texting away on his iPhone, some of the protesters tried to crash the luncheon. Here, with the permission of the Pollak campaign, is a video I made using excerpts from one by the Pollak For Congress campaign today (see theirs here). I mashed it together with their photos of Alex Armour, my photos of Jan Schakowsky and of today's protesters, and my own video of the protesters today still chanting at the moment they were quickly ejected from the luncheon (they never made it past the door). 400 people attended the luncheon and $150,000 was raised.

Alex Armour? Or Alex Armour?

Are these the same person? I'm just asking.

Similar nose, jaw line...

One is "British Female model Alex Armour from Edinburgh, United Kingdom." The other is Alderman Joe Moore's campaign chief. But with modern jet transportation, well, uhm.....

Alex Armour Spying at Morseland

Alex "The Nose" Armour was lurking at the bar on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 at a dinner club in Rogers Park, Chicago. Why was he there? Maybe just to drink? Or maybe to spy on Amy Sue Mertens, candidate for State Senate, 5th District Illinois. Why would Democrat Armour, one of Jan Schakowsky's top henchmen, be spying on Mertens? Because Mertens describes herself as "running against the Machine," and you don't get more Machine than Jan Schkowsky.

Bridget Dooley is Howard Dean's Buddy!

UPDATED & CORRECTED:

Bridget Dooley is tight with Dr. Howard Dean, so she must be one of Alex Armour's buddies! Alex, for those of you who don't know, is 49th Ward Machine Alderman Joe Moore's Campaign Schlep. Alex has done such a good job that he might be assigned to help a school board candidate in her election bid next summer!!! You go Alex! You go, you hotshot DNC weinerette and buddy of nutball Howard Dean! You go Grrrl!


CORRECTED: Mz. Dooley was the field director for former 50th Ward Candidate Greg Brewer. They're all such good Machine Cogs, elitists working for the Progressive cause between trips to foreign and exotic places. They work for the PEOPLE, ya know. See http://www.democrats.org/page/dashboard/public/gGBY4G and http://www.democrats.org/page/dashboard/public/gTrPC


DFA (Democracy For America) endorsed both Joe Moore in the 49th and Greg Brewer in the 50th. Nothing in common with each other? Nah! That's ridiculous, right?

Moore Desperation Spawns New Blog

Looks like Alex Armour - or someone else on Joe Moore's campaign - has been very busy. Busy busy busy. Worried worried worried. They have created a new blog entitled, "Rogers Park Daily," and it is so obviously a Moore-linked propaganda site as to be laughable. The first posting was March 28. The third and most recent posting on this new blog was March 30. It is titled, "The Truth About Moore." It is a pack of lies and half truths. "Claiming that Alderman Moore is propping up business at the expense of poor people in the 49th is a cheap play on an emotive issue and it is simply not true." Hey, they got that backwards! Joe Moore is propping up poor people at the expense of local business. But look, I'm just reporting. You decide.

Big Box and Joe Moore's Socialist Agenda

The next time you hear Alderman Joe Moore talk about a "living wage" or his puffery about creating jobs in Rogers Park, ask him what the hell he's talking about. In the summer of 2006, Comrade Alderman Joe Moore got his "living wage" ordinance passed in the City Council. 

Comrade Joe Moore

Some cheered that "progressive" law. Most of us, however, understood that this was (a) bad for local employment opportunities, (b) not the right way to achieve a better standard of living, (c) dangerous because it would scare other "big box" businesses (stores with 100,000 sq. feet or more) away from Chicago, and (d) it would only be a matter of time before the "progressives" behind the ordinance pushed for "medium box" and eventually any box they could get their "progressive" hands on. 

Sure enough, points out Marathon Pundit, it wasn't long before "Lowe's and Target announced cancelling new store projects in Chicago. But there is common sense in Chicago--Mayor Richard M. Daley vetoed the bill." Yesterday, Home Depot (a "big box") said it was hiring thousands of people nationwide, including 2,000 right here in Chicago. 

Thank God that Mayor Daley vetoed Alderman Joe Moore's idiotic and counter-productive ordinance, and that enough members of the City Council came around to common sense. Had they not, the hundreds of people that Wal-Mart has since put to work, plus the 2,000 Chicagoans that will find employment at Home Depot soon, would be - pardon my French - shit out of luck. This is not to say there are not problems with Wal-Mart and some other "big box" stores. 

I, too, have issues with them, not the least of which is there piggish buying of Chinese-made goods, goods that often have equivalents made in the U.S. or in nations friendlier to us than is China. But one of the good things they do is employ Americans right in our own backyard. False progressives like Joe Moore, however, would rather deny people an opportunity to work at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, or Target than have them work for the "non-living" wage of $9.00 per hour. 

Stop; let's not quibble about the exact wage. The point here is that anything over minimum wage is a hell of a lot better than nothing, and nothing is what too many people in some of our neighborhoods have. Joe Moore would keep it that way simply to score political points and have champagne toasts made to him by fellow "progressives." 

As I pointed out yesterday, this is good news for 2,000 Chicagoans. But Joe Moore must hate it. 

Again, Marathon Pundit: 

"One of the major supporters of [Alderman] Moore's bill was the Service Employees International Union. Had Moore, SEIU, and other short-sighted ones gotten their way, those Home Depot jobs wouldn't be coming to Chicago." 

Yes, but will that stop Joe Moore? No, he and his minion Alex Armour have an obsessive hatred of Wal-Mart and other "big box" stores, and their blind hatred causes them to drive against these business entities in spite of the fact that their actions have the potenial to destroy lives by denying people needed jobs. These guys are not "progressives." Progressives put people first, not selfish political ambition. Joe Moore and the Stalinists in his camp do not care about people; politics and tally marks are more important. Keep an eye on Moore; there will be future battles in this fight. 

Read Marathon Pundit's excellent reporting on yesterday's Home Depot announcement, and related items by clicking here.

49th Ward Vote Uncertain

JUST A REMINDER: DON GORDON HAS NOT CONCEDED. Now then, many in the embattled 49th Ward of Chicago question the veracity of the April 17 vote. I'm not saying it was fixed; I personally have no evidence of this, other than a number of photos and videos that show Joe Moore cheating, handing out cash, shaking hands with old folks as they voted and other smarmy items. In round numbers, Moore took half the vote in February, and again got half three days ago. Moore spent, by varying estimates, from $600,000 to $1.5 million on a campaign to stay on as a lowly alderman in a two-square mile area. Despite all the money, all the lies, all the imported foot soldiers, and the genius of Boy Wonder Alex Armour, Moore's vote tally did not improve by any statistically significant percentage. On the other hand, Don Gordon went from 29 percent in February's election to virtually 50 percent this week. AND HE HAS NOT CONCEDED.

Home Depot to Hire 2,000 In Chicago (Joe Moore will hate this)

Hey, Home Depot (like Wal-Mart) is an evil "big box" that Alderman Joe Moore would like to crush! But look! Home Depot is about to give THOUSANDS OF JOBS to Chicagoans. Confused? So should supporters of Joe Moore be. Will Joe Moore lead a rally against Home Depot? According to an AP story in Chicago Business today: "The Home Depot Inc. plans to hire about 15,000 new associates during the spring season, including 2,000 in Chicago, the company said Monday. "The push also includes plans to hire 2,500 people in Atlanta and 2,400 in Los Angeles and 2,300 in Washington." "So Where Does This Leave the Big Box Debate?" asks the Chicagoist today, and it's a good question. We'd love to hear Joe Moore's answer. Or Alex Armour. Or Jan Schakowsky. Or any of the others who condemn "big box" stores as inately evil. There will soon be another 2,000 newly employed or better employed Chicagoans who disagree with them.

Dear Mr. Moore

Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2007 From: "Tom Mannis" Subject: Add me to your mailing list To: ward49@cityofchicago.org Dear Alderman Moore: I have lived in the 49th Ward for nearly nine years. I run a blog in the neighborhood. The fact that I am a blogger certainly does not make me special, but I know that you and your people are aware of my blog. You and I have had conversations about my blog. Alex Armour, one of your campaign workers, was well aware of my blog and sometimes wrote comments on it. You also know that I am making a video oral history of Rogers Park. I am certain that, as our alderman, you will be supportive of a video oral history project. I have an open invitation to anyone who lives or works in Rogers Park to be part of the project as an interview subject. I've been rough on you on my blog, but the video project is not a political piece in any way. If you were a major politician, would you snub an interview with CBS or NBC or ABC if one of their shows was critical of you? Not if your publicist was smart, you wouldn't. So think of me as a very tiny, microscopic CBS. One of my shows has been critical. Now another of my shows hopes for your participation in an objective, non-partisan production. As our alderman, Mr. Moore, you are (obviously) an important part of the community. It would be a shame to finish the project without you having consented to a brief interview, in which you are welcome to say anything you wish. Anything at all. No tough questions, Mr. Moore, just a rolling video camera. You are encouraged to say whatever you wish for posterity. You can even call me names, any names you wish, and I would not edit that out. I promise. I - and many others - hope you will participate. We look forward to hearing from you. P.S. - Mr. Moore, I have never been added to your office's email list, although I've asked on several occassions to be added. Please add me now to your email list so that I - like other residents of the ward - can receive your valuable information updates about meetings and events. Please add rogersparkbench@yahoo.com to your email info blast list. That would be appreciated. Sincerely, Tom Mannis

Meet Me at the Pier

Joe, Meet me at the Loyola Park pier at Pratt, tomorrow morning at 2:00 a.m. If you still want to share that information, I'm willing to listen. Do not wear a wire, come alone, no weapons. If I see Alex Armour or Andy Sharp the deal's off, got it? Alright then, see you there. And for God's sake, Joe, don't forget the damned bag this time.

Best Stupid Protest Sign at Pollak-Ryan Luncheon Today

This is priceless. Protesters from MoveOn.org and Citizen Action/Illinois stood across the street from the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago at noon today, where U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) spoke at a fundraiser for Joel Pollak. I asked this woman if I could take her picture. Sure, she said. I did, and then I told her, "You misspelled squander." Her quick-witted response: "How do you spell it?" The protesters are upset about Ryan's "Roadmap For America's Future." Lurking nearby was Rep. Jan Schakowsky's campaign manager, Alex Armour (more about him in a later post.) Pollak is running against uber-liberal Schakowksy in 9th Illinois Congressional District. See our own video mashup of Pollak taunting Schakowsky's campaign manager

Obama Angered by Hecklers at Connecticut Rally

October 30, 2010 - They booed Barack Obama at a get-out-the-vote political rally in Bridgeport, Connecticut today (video below).

According to the New York Times today, "President Obama was heckled Saturday by AIDS protesters, who interrupted a rally here, forcing the president to temporarily suspend his remarks to a stadium of 9,000 Democrats."

It would seem that Obama is unraveling somewhat under the last-minute pressure of a mid-term election that will cause his party to lose a considerable number of seats in Congress.

The Daily Mail Online (UK) has a headline that says, "Barack loses his cool: Angry Obama yells BACK at hecklers... as new poll shows his own party isn't sure he should be President in 2012." The pressure is on Barack Obama - and it is starting to show. The famously-cool President lost his temper in Connecticut today after hecklers interrupted a speech he was giving at a rally. Astonished attendees watched as Mr Obama interrupted his own speech as the hecklers - believed to be activists seeking more global Aids funding - began chanting at him. Full article...

"The President responded by asking the Hecklers," Politics and World News wrote today, "'I don't see why you think this is a useful approach to take.'"

Really? I wonder if Obama would have told Jan Schakowsky's campaign manager, Alex Armour, that it was not a useful approach to have union goons attempt to disrupt Republican Joel Pollak's fundraising luncheon on September 1. Heckling is a classic tactic of leftists. They love it -- unless it's used against them, of course.

P&WN continued: "He looked visibly very angry, and rightly so. Even if you don't agree with his political views, he's still the president and demands respect."

I disagree. With all due respect to P&WN, Barack Obama deserves as much respect as he gives, and that's very little. Telling Republicans that they'll have to sit in the back after they win big next Tuesday is disrespectful. Describing Tea Partiers and other Americans who opposed his socialistic policies as "enemies" is disrespectful. False campaign promises about transparency and the leashing of lobbyists was disrespectful. Taking weeks to pay a visit to the oil-stricken Gulf Coast? Disrespectful.

I could go on, but I'm sure you get the idea. Barack Obama has the right to speak, of course, but those who would heckle him have the right to do so by showing him the same willingness to listen to him as he has shown the American people.

48 Reasons to Oppose Heather Steans

Heather Steans is backed by Establishment Politicians, by Machine Politicos and she wants to "represent" the Seventh District in the Illinois State Senate. God help us. Steans will be more of the same old Blagojevich-style special interest messiness. She says she wants "change," but she's backed by the same old hinky political wonks. The Friends of Heather Steans Steering Committee is made up of 48 of those wonks:

1. Senator Carol Ronen, Chair
2. Cindi Anderson
3. Alex Armour
4. George Atkins
5. Michael Bauer
6. Margaret Blackshere
7. Karen Boehning
8. Amy Brennan
9. Jorge Cabrera
10. Kelly Cassidy
11. Cecelia Comito
12. Lynda DeLaforgue
13. Randall & Sally Doubet-King
14. Joyce Dugan
15. Wayne Fraizer
16. Maricela Garcia
17. Rick Garcia
18. Ireta Gasner
19. Jim Ginderske
20. Adam Gross
21. Greg Harris
22. Bill Helm
23. Aida Kulasic
24. Ronna Hoffberg
25. Thom & Lisa Hoffman
26. Kate Hogan
27. Ann Kalayil
28. Howard Learner
29. Brandon Lee
30. Suellen Long
31. Sheli Lulkin
32. Jack Markowski
33. Rob McCloskey
34. Brandon Neese
35. Harry Osterman
36. Befekadu Retta
37. Jamiko Rose
38. Pat Sharkey
39. Leo Smith
40. Mary Ann Smith
41. Nan Sullivan
42. Joe Teller
43. Sean Tenner
44. Michael Volini
45. Jennifer Walling
46. Lynn Walker
47. Maria Whelan
48. Beth White

Obama: Just Another Good Ol' Boy

Joe Moore and Todd Stroger and Barack Obama are buddies. And they have so much in common: Each other's support.

Both Moore and Obama are beholden to their master, the Howard Dean-controlled Democrat National Committee (DNC). The DNC has become everything it once criticized: An ingrown, self-absorbed, self-centered special interest group that has taken over the Democratic Party like some kind of body snatcher.

Barack Obama has shown himself to be nothing more than just another good ol' boy, part of the network that looks out for its own elite members, and the People are just tools to help them achieve their personal goals of power. So in a creepy way, the blind support that Obama has given to Moore is understandable: They both belong to the same country club, the DNC.

Moore's reelection campaign employs, among others, ex-Schakowsky minion Alex Armour, as well as Schakowsky's convicted felon husband. Incest makes for strange bedfellows.

Barack Obama, the guy who promised us he would serve out his full term as a Senator and not run for president in 2008, is running for president and - if elected - will not serve out his full term as Senator. Strike one.

But Obama's support of Todd Stroger's candidacy for Cook County PResident is hard to understand until you connect the dots back to the DNC. As far as I know, Todd is not a DNC member. If I'm wrong let me know, please. Why would Barack Obama back Stroger? The question is inescapable: Did he support Stroger just because Stroger is nominally a Democrat, or because Stroger is black?

In either case, why would a U.S. Senator, getting ready to run for president, bother with a county board presidential race? Again, the DNC. The DNC told - ordered - Barack to support Stroger. Just as they told him to back Moore, a freekin' alderman for God's sake. You think Hillary or Rudy are going to lend their support to aldermanic candidates in New York?

Barack Obama, who loves you and wants the best for you, endorsed Todd Stroger in his bid for Cook County President. Strike Two.

So Barack Obama, who claims to be different, a breath of fresh air, a guy who takes us in a new direction, has endorsed Chicago alderman Joe Moore (49th Ward). It seems more like a case of uncontrollable flatulence than a breath of fresh air. Strike Three.

Chicago Alderman Joe Moore, 49th Ward, is so proud of his recent endorsement from U.S. Senator cum presidential candidate Barack Obama. So proud. BFD. Obama would have endorsed a toaster oven had the DNC told him to.

Disappointing but so predictable. Barack Obama has shown beyond doubt that he is no different than any other hack. He takes orders from the Party. He supports fools just because they have a heartbeat and call themselves Democrats. Obama is a tool. Don't be fooled.