SEIU Endorsements Tell Us Who NOT To Vote For

The Tea Party Patriots Chicago put together a good list of SEIU-endorsed candidates running in Illinois. As right-minded folks know, the corrupt SEIU's endorsement is a sure indication that a candidate is not fit for office because they are in the pocket of the union leaders and their wallets. Here is the list, which originally appeared today under the headline "at the Tea Party Patriots Chicago website as written by "Pat": Although I wanted to write a piece on who the candidates are and what they stand for, I have not had the time available to dedicate to such a task. So instead I thought of a way to generate a list of people we should be weary of. I grabbed a list of candidates who the SEIU has endorsed. This is the same SEIU who held rallies to raise our taxes. Therefore it is easy to assume that any candidate that the SEIU has endorsed will in fact have trouble with fiscal responsibility. So here is a list of SEIU endorsed candidates that probably do NOT deserve your vote: U.S. SENATOR Alexander (Alexi) Giannoulias, Democratic Party U.S. SENATOR (UNEXPIRED TERM) Alexander (Alexi) Giannoulias, Democratic Party U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, 1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Bobby L. Rush, Democratic Party U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Jesse L. Jackson, Jr, Democratic Party U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, 4TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Luis V. Gutierrez, Democratic Party U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, 5TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Mike Quigley, Democratic Party U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, 7TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Danny K. Davis, Democratic Party U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, 9TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Janice D. Schakowsky, Democratic Party U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, 11TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Deborah "Debbie" Halvorson, Democratic Party U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, 12TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Jerry F. Costello, Democratic Party U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, 14TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Bill Foster, Democratic Party U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, 17TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Phil Hare, Democratic Party GOVERNOR / LT. GOVERNOR Pat Quinn, Democratic Party ATTORNEY GENERAL Lisa Madigan, Democratic Party SECRETARY OF STATE Jesse White, Democratic Party STATE COMPTROLLER David E. Miller, Democratic Party STATE SENATOR, 1ST STATE SENATE DISTRICT Antonio "Tony" Munoz, Democratic Party STATE SENATOR, 7TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT Heather A. Steans, Democratic Party STATE SENATOR, 13TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT Kwame Raoul, Democratic Party STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 1ST REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT Susana Mendoza, Democratic Party STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 2ND REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT Edward J. Acevedo, Democratic Party STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 4TH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT Cynthia Soto, Democratic Party STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 5TH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT Kenneth (Ken) Dunkin, Democratic Party STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 11TH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT Ann M. Williams, Democratic Party STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 27TH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT Monique D. Davis, Democratic Party STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 32ND REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT Andre Thapedi, Democratic Party STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 114TH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT Eddie Lee Jackson, Democratic Party COUNTY CLERK, COOK COUNTY David D. Orr, Democratic Party PRESIDENT, COOK COUNTY BOARD Toni Preckwinkle, Democratic Party COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 5 Deborah Sims, Democratic Party COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 6 Joan Patricia Murphy, Democratic Party COMMISSIONER, COOK COUNTY BOARD OF REVIEW, DISTRICT 1 Brendan F. Houlihan, Democratic Party COMMISSIONER, METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT Mariyana T. Spyropoulos, Democratic Party Barbara McGowan, Democratic Party

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.

Libertarians Protesting WTTW For Debate Exclusion

Are the media favoring the two big political parties over others such as the Greens and Libertarians? Mike Labno, an Illinois Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate is not happy with the fact that he was excluded from a debate last week on WLS 890 AM, which included only Mark Kirk (R) and Alexi Giannoulias (D). Now, Labno and other Libertarians are upset with WTTW (Channel 11) and the City Club of Chicago for not including them in upcoming debates. They stage a protest tonight at 6:00 p.m. (Oct. 27) at WTTW studios, 5400 N. St. Louis Avenue, Chicago (see map). Here is Labno's October 27 press release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mike Labno, Libertarian Candidate for US Senate (IL) Responds to Partial Senatorial Debate Organizes Protest of Debate The Mike Labno, Libertarian candidate for the U.S. Senate and Lex Green, Libertarian candidate for Illinois Governor, as well as Green Party and Independent candidates are being excluded from the WTTW "Chicago Tonight" candidate forums for Senator and Governor, tonight and tomorrow evenings, hosted by the City Club of Chicago. We believe that WTTW, as a public station, is in breach of it's statutory mandate regarding "strict adherence to objectivity and balance in all programs or series of programs of a controversial nature." [Labno cited the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, as amended] Further, we believe that sponsor of the forums, the City Club of Chicago, is in violation of it's 501(c)(3) non-profit status by funding a forum which "has the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates." [Labno cited the IRS's Restriction of Political Campaign Intervention by Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations] We are organizing a demonstration for 6:00 p.m. Wednesday 10/27/10 outside of WTTW studios, 5400 St. Louis Ave. All excluded candidates have been invited to participate. Neither the producers of WTTW's Chicago Tonight or board members of the City Club of Chicago have responded yet to inquiries made by Mike Labno's representatives. Mike Labno is the Libertarian candidate for US Senate. He resides in Oak Brook, IL. He is the only pro-life, pro-second amendment, fiscal and constitutional conservative on the ballot. For more information visit https://www.labno4senate.com. NOTE: In citing the IRS's Restriction of Political Campaign Intervention by Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations, I believe Labno was most concerned with this sentence: "Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office." Labno's got a good argument against the City Club. By inviting only the Republican and Democrat candidates to participate in their debates, they are effectively participating in opposition to other such as Libertarians, Greens, etc. It is an intentional act on the part of the City Club and WTTW. Perhaps they feel that having more than two candidates debating would be messy, but running a democratic republic is messy business. A monarchy or dictatorship would be much easier in the way of stage arrangements and ticket sales for an evening of political indoctrination, but we live in a political system that demands that all voices be heard. WTTW and the City Club of Chicago are ignoring those voices, and shunning the ears that long to hear what they have to say. Shame on them.

New Chicago Tea Party Video, Plus Pre-Election To-Do List

Tea Party Patriots Chicago has released their first-ever video and it's gotten a lot of views since it was posted on YouTube on October 21. Watch it below, and then check out their list of Things To Do Before The Election!

Schakowsky Urges Voter Intimidation

Chicago - October 19, 2010: In a speech last night at the communist-owned Heartland Cafe in Rogers Park (video, right), incumbent Jan Schakowsky urged fellow Democrats (video, below) to intimidate voters into supporting her and other candidates. She told a roomful of liberals that the message for campaign workers should be "I don't get off your doorstep until you get out to the polls and vote." Others present at the event included: Alderman Joe Moore (49th Ward); State Sen. Heather Steans (7th District); David Orr, Cook County Clerk; Alexi Giannoulias, Mob Banker; Pat Quinn, Governor of Illinois; about 90 hypnotized voters.

Pollak and Hayes Video: "We're Not Stereotypes"

Two Chicago-area Republicans have produced a joint campaign ad in their fight against two corrupt Democrat incumbents. Isaac Hayes is running for Congress against Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. in the 2nd Congressional District (IL), while Joel Pollak it taking on Rep. Jan Schakowswky in the 9th District. It's not the first time that Pollak has joined forces with a fellow Republican candidate. In mid-September, Pollak's campaign team worked with that of Adam Robinson, who is running for Illinois State Senate against Blagojevich-enabler Sen. Heather Steans in the 7th State Senate District.

(Video) The Last Best Hope (Rendezvous With Destiny)

Why should you vote this November? Here's the answer, in a 3:10 video. How should you vote this November. Again, here's the answer, in a 3:10 video. Ronald Reagan has a voiceover in this: "This is the issue of this election. Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far distant capitol can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves." (Turn up the volume.) ALSO SEE:

Republican Election Judges Needed to Fight Democrat Voter Fraud

With a current shortage of Republican Election Judges, the Dems will try to steal votes yet again. Democrats love to steal elections. It's historical fact. Heck, it's an ongoing bad joke in Chicago and other big cities: Dead people voting as registered Democrats, Republicans mysteriously showing up on voter lists as Democrats or Independents, illegal aliens voting, and so on. We still wondering where a ballot box disappeared to in the April, 2007 aldermanic run-off election in Chicago's 49th Ward - and what Alderman Joe Moore's goons did with it for several hours before it reappeared without explanation. With all of that in mind, the following message from the Chicago Republican Party is especially important: A desperate Chicago Democrat Machine will be down to its last ditch strategy: steal the election in Cook County. But YOU can help stop them! Your Republican Party in Chicago and suburban Cook is very short of Election Judges for polling places on Election Day, November 2, 2010. If these positions are not filled by “real” Republicans by next Monday, September 20, 2010, the Republican Judge slots will be filled at random by those applying over the counter at the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners and the Cook County Clerk’s office. These people are not required to be actual Republicans, and few if any will be. Any remaining slots in the City will be filled by Chicago Aldermen for the respective Wards. You can count on those “Republican” judges to be Democrat hacks.

Hold on a minute: That bit about fake "Republican" judges is true. On July 14, 2010, Canada Free Press wrote that "American Thinker published an article by Lee Cary about an interview with a Chicago political machine insider. It contained the following warning: 'In Chicago, the Precinct Captains watch to see who votes and who doesn’t. Then, at the end of the day, others will cast votes for those who haven’t shown up to vote, all under the direction of the Precinct Captain. If the actual voter shows up later, they’re given someone else’s card. The Republican poll watchers don’t stop this. Hell, most of them are actually Democrats'."

Allegations that Ald. Moore's campaign committee committed ballot fraud, mail fraud and bribery still float around Chicago. Local bloggers published a picture of Moore standing right next to a person as they were voting in 2007 (photo, left), a clear violation of election law. Moore is hardly the only Democrat in Chicago who plays dirty.

[Back to the Chicago Republican Party message:] Can you serve as an Election Judge in your neighborhood on November 2, to change Illinois forever for the better? Judges of Election conduct the voting in their precinct. Every candidate on the ballot, and every voter in the state, depends on you to do your job well. It is a long day, from about 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., but you earn $125 from the government, and more If you receive official training. The greatest satisfaction is a country served, a community protected from fraud and a republic finally moving in the right direction. If you can serve, or would like to hear more, please contact us at info@chicagogop.com, or call Peter Bella, Executive Director of the Chicago Republican Party at 773-235-9467. Thank you! Eloise Gerson Chicago Republican Party - Chairman RELATED MUST-READS: What the Dems Know: Universal Voter Registration American Thinker 100,000 Stolen Votes in Chicago Heritage Foundation How to Prevent Voter Fraud: Advice from a former Chicago “Machine” Worker Uncoverage Democrat Voter Fraud is Far More Widespread Than You Think Canada Free Press Voter Fraud In Massachusetts: Democrats caught passing out absentee ballots today to rig vote for Coakley HillBuzz Could Non-Citizens Steal An Election? Illinois Review Democrats 'plan to steal the vote' World Net Daily Getting Out The Vote, Democrat Style American Chronicle Widespread Democrat Voter Fraud by ACORN UrbanGrounds Wisconsin and the Voter Fraud Agenda Wall Street Journal Online ACORN employees tell FBI of deliberate election fraud Daily Caller

Democrats For Bill Brady

Will any Democrats vote for Bill Brady over Pat Quinn in the Illinois gubernatorial election this November? You betcha, according to Carol Felsenthal, who wrote about this for Chicago Magazine's online edition. "A friend called to tell me that Democrats are secretly supporting conservative Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady," Felsenthal wrote, "because they predict he’ll be a one-termer. So they’ll grit their teeth for four years and then run a Democrat (who is not Pat Quinn) who can keep the office for multiple terms." Ah, but that's not the real meat of the story.... "Turns out my friend was half right. There are Democrats working for Brady; but they are working for Brady because, they say, he’s just what’s needed by the state of Illinois, which is teetering on fiscal insolvency. He’s a proven businessman, they say, while Pat Quinn is nice and well meaning but ineffectual and indecisive—the anti-businessman, so to speak." According to Felsenthal, there is a "ring leader" (two, actually) behind the Democrats for Brady movement. They are none other than the Vallas brothers - one whom is Paul, the former Chicago Public Schools Superintendent. He is currently the Recovery School District Superintendent in New Orleans. Felsenthal tells us that Paul Vallas has taken some heat for supporting Republican Brady. "When he threw his support to Brady," wrote Felsenthal, Vallas's friends asked him, "What are you, Karl Rove?" The full story can be read at ChicagoMag.com.

Hayes Has Plan To Bring Jobs To IL 2nd Cong. District

Chicago - Republican nominee for Illinois 2nd Congressional District Isaac Hayes released the following "Jobs Plan" to create employment and economic development. Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. continues to sell the citizens of Illinois Second District the promise of “the airport is coming.” Sixteen years later we are still waiting. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for some in the Second District exceeds 30%. We need someone who can do more than one thing at a time. People need jobs today, not ten years from now. More specifically, the Second District needs jobs in the Second District and not the Eleventh District. While the airport could certainly bring some regional investment, the residents of South Shore and Hegewisch need jobs in Chicago and not Peotone. I have long called for incentivizing manufacturing jobs to our district. Because of the failed policies of the last sixteen years, the Pullman community has suffered through a 30% unemployment rate. Today, they have hope of economic development because of the recently approved Wal-Mart - which I supported from the beginning. This development will bring $1 billion in investment and 12,000 jobs. However, we need more than Wal-Mart. Pullman was once a manufacturing powerhouse and can once again help America become a producer-nation by manufacturing green technology. This site once provided 12,000 jobs. Chicago Heights is another community in the Second District that has experienced unemployment upwards of 20%. I have supported this community as a prime location for one of President Obama’s clean coal plants from the 2009 Recovery Act that would bring $1 billion in investment and 2,000 jobs. [Editor's Note: See "Gangs, Crime, and Unemployment"at ProgressIllinois.] For the past 16 years the members of the South Shore Community have experienced poverty, failing schools and gang violence. This community houses the former U.S. Steel South Works facility. Through tax incentives we can bring manufacturing jobs back to this site. U.S. Steel once employed close to 20,000 people. Instead of using TIF dollars we can provide companies who move to economically distressed communities like South Shore with a lower tax rate as an incentive to bring jobs to our district. America has the second highest corporate tax rate in the world at 38%. I support lowering that rate to 25% for companies that are willing to invest in under-served communities. Expediting the I-57 connection to I-94 will also bring an economic boon to the communities of Dixmoor, Harvey and Posen. It is a clear choice for the members of the Second District. Wait for an airport in another Congressional district and hope to get a few of the promised jobs, or support a vision to bring twice that number right to our own district. This is in addition to my plan to encourage entrepreneurship by waiving federal taxes on small businesses for one year. I can do more than one thing at a time and my Jobs Plan is comprehensive. More importantly, those jobs will be right in the Second District and not 35 miles away. Contact: Janet D. Restivo - janet@isaac4honesty.com - 312-504-4085

Joel Pollak Holding Town Hall Meeting on Sept. 16

PARK RIDGE, IL - Joel Pollak, Republican candidate for the 9th Congressional district of Illinois, will hold his third town hall meeting on Thursday, September 16th from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The meeting is open to all, will be held in Park Ridge at the South Park Recreation Center at 833 Talcott Ave. The meeting will be hosted by FOX News Contributor and radio host on Chicago’s WYLL radio, Sandy Rios. “While Jan Schakowsky mocks with derision and laughs with glee at the thought of destroying the American healthcare system, Joel Pollak brings a serious and able intellect to restoring it. This long ago ceased to be a battle between Republicans and Democrats...it is a fight for the survival of the nation,” said Rios, who is the President of Culture Campaign. “Destructive Leftists like Jan Schakowsky must go and candidates who will fight FOR this country like Joel Pollak must prevail.” A serious challenger to decades of single party domination, Joel is offering a fresh start, well-conceived, practical, non-ideological solutions to the problems of our time—recession, pervasive joblessness, escalating government debt, increasingly brazen foreign enemies and increasingly anxious foreign friends. This town hall is one of a series for Joel to hear what is on the minds of all the voices in this diverse district that ranges from Evanston to Des Plaines. At previous town halls in Evanston and Skokie, he fielded hard questions and sometimes passionate arguments from both supporters and devotees of his opponent. On the massive unemployment in the nation in the district, Joel advocated the following positions: “Job creation must be Congress’s most urgent priority. I will propose an investment tax credit and lower business taxes and capital gains taxes to help businesses invest in new capital to create new jobs. . . I will oppose laws and government interference that hurts economic recovery and destroy jobs. . . We need to show entrepreneurs that the U.S. is once again a nation committed to free enterprise, job creation and economic growth.” Joel will answer every question, down to the very last one. Like previous town halls, this promises to be a packed house. The above is from a Pollak For Congress press release, Sept. 14, 2010 For further information, contact Shalom Klein: shalom@pollakforcongress.com or 773-547-3822

(Updated) Photos of Chicago's 9/12 Rally With Joel Pollak

The turnout was small, but the message was big: Smaller government, less interference in our lives by politicians, lower taxes, and... well, you get the idea. Updated: See "Post Script" below. Also: Chicago Tea Party 9/12 rally photo essay at Marathon Pundit There were about 300 people at today's 9/12 Rally, sponsored by Chicago Tea Party. Slideshow below! It's hard to compete with the first day of the official NFL season, and I'm sure a lot of people were enjoying one more good weather weekend of the season. Adam Andrzejewski of For The Good Of Illinois gave a great speech, as always. Rogers Keats, as always, gave a lackluster speech. The real star of the show was Joel Pollak, candidate for U.S. Congress, IL-9. He's running against incumbent Jan Schakowsky, and that's the reason why the Chicago Tea Party had their event up in Morton Grove: That's Schakowsky Country. Pollak's speech was strong. He's a dynamic speaker, and he did not disappoint. "We must win in districts like this one," he told the crowd with wife Julia behind him on stage, "because this is Ground Zero in the struggle for American freedom today. Jan Schakowsky is the most extreme left-wing member of Congress. She is also the number one biggest spender in the House of Representatives, costing each family in America an extra $10,000 per year. She is the worst in the House on economic growth and national security. She represents the worst of Washington." The crowd clapped and cheered, and Pollak pushed on. "Like many ideologues, Jan Schakowsky is a hypocrite. She attacks big banks and oil companies, but she owns shares in them through her extensive mutual fund portfolio. She wants to raise taxes on the rich, but she just took a private plane on her summer vacation. She even breaks her promises to her liberal constituents. She promised to vote against a health care bill without a public option, but voted for it in the end anyway." Read the entire speech here... Julia Pollak also gave a good speech. With husband Joel standing behind her on stage, she talked about growing up in South Africa and seeing discrimination at its worst. Julia is a U.S. Navy reservist and spoke about why she loves the United States. "I am proud to be here with you today–as a black woman, as a Jewish woman, as an immigrant, and as a future sailor in the U.S. Navy Reserve. I signed up for the Navy for the simple reason that I want to defend freedom, and because I know that the U.S. armed forces are the greatest force for freedom in the world today. I value that freedom, and I do not want to see it destroyed by enemies abroad or bad government at home. "I grew up in South Africa. When I was born, black people could not vote. I was born in a segregated hospital for “coloured” people. I was turned away from public schools that were set aside for “whites only.” My mother was part of the struggle against apartheid. I remember the day when she voted for the first time. Nelson Mandela appointed her to be on South Africa’s human rights commission. We fought for, and believed in, freedom. "I am not yet a citizen. I am a legal immigrant. Soon, hopefully, I will take my citizenship test. One of the questions on that test is as follows–number 41: “Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?” There are only four correct answers: 'A: to print money; B: to declare war; C: to create an army; D to make treaties.' That’s it! Anything else is the wrong answer! "Today, in Chicago and across the nation, people are gathering to support the Tea Party because we know we have to stop what is happening in Washington. We have to stop spending money we don’t have. We have to stop apologizing to regimes that oppress their own people. We have to stand up for the U.S. Constitution and for the American people and our future. That is why I am here with you today, together with my husband." Read all of Julia Pollak's speech here... POST SCRIPT: A reader left this simple-minded comment: "Suppose they gave a tea party and nobody came." Well now, that would be strange. I'd hardly call 300 people "nobody." The commenter is obviously a Lefty. Perhaps they're envious of the strength of the Tea Party movement. Perhaps they're fearful of it. Probably, it's both. The commenter probably knows too well that the Tea Party continues to grow even as the much weaker "Coffee Party" displays a flacid impotence on the political stage. To wit, an article from the California Independent Voter Network (CIVN). Excerpts: The Tea Party’s ability to make a noticeable presence in Sacramento says something about the movement’s ability to resonate with voters. It will be intriguing to see how much the Tea Party can chip away from the Democratic vote in California come the 2010 midterm elections.... Meanwhile, while the Tea Party movement seems to continue gaining strength, alternatives to the Tea Party movement seem to be quite weak. For instance, while the Coffee Party may have skyrocketed to nearly 300,000 members on their Facebook group, they have yet to hold a rally as big as the recent 9/12 events or even as large as the Glenn Beck “Restoring Honor” rally held in D.C. just a few weeks ago. Full article....

Joel Pollak Makes Formal Pledge, Reveals His Platform

We all hear campaign promises. Blah blah blah, right? How many candidates, though, are willing to put those promises in writing as a pledge? Not many, but Joel Pollak has done just that. Pollak is the Republican nominee for U.S. Congress in the 9th district of Illinois, and he's running against incumbent Jan Schakowsky. In a September 8 email blast, Pollak officially released his "Pledge to the People of the Ninth Congressional District." The email states that this pledge "forms the core of his platform." "The ideas in the Pledge will be my top priorities in my first term in the U.S. House of Representatives," Pollak said. "Each of them is straightforward and achievable, and each is a step along the way to creating jobs, fixing health care and protecting national security." Pollak didn't just sit down and make this stuff up. Rather, they came about as the result of Pollak's "listening tour" earlier this summer. Watch a video of the people he spoke with - and listened to. Suggestions by 9th district residents gave him the basis and inspiration for his Pledge. "I wanted to listen to the people first," Pollak said. "I'm glad I did, because there are many fresh ideas in the Pledge that were new to me." (Watch a video of the folks that Joel listened to below.) The text of the Pledge follows: I pledge to pursue the following legislative proposals in the 112th Congress, based on suggestions from residents of the District during my extensive listening tour:

1. Investment Tax Credit - Allow businesses to deduct 10% of each investment in new capital from their taxable income. Investments by large firms in small businesses and start-up companies will be eligible for the credit. (Ken Hechtman, Skokie)
2. Restore Impoundment - Grant the President the authority, through a line-item veto or by amending the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, to spend less than the amount that Congress has appropriated for any given purpose. (Cora Thomson, Glenview)
3. Replace AMT with flat-rate option - End the Alternative Minimum Tax, which hurts an increasing number of middle-income families, and allow taxpayers to choose between a simple, flat-rate and the current system. (Jason Mugnaini, Park Ridge)
4. Wind Down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac - Break up and reform the two mortgage giants and move them away from the government guarantees that have distorted the housing market and scarred our financial system. (Jeremy Kohn, Evanston)
5. Work Incentives for the Unemployed - Require enrollment in job retraining or community service as a condition for extended relief; waiting period for initial benefits to encourage saving; declining payment scale over time. (Lori Diversey, Park Ridge)
6. Repeal §9006 of ObamaCare - Immediately repeal provision of ObamaCare that requires small businesses to file a 1099 form with the IRS for purchases of goods over $600—even purchases from corporations. (Linda Forman, Evanston)
7. Sustainable Health Reform - Allow people to buy health insurance across state lines, and give federal courts discretion to award costs against litigants bringing frivolous malpractice claims. (Ken Hechtman, Skokie / Peggy Shapiro, Lincolnwood)
8. Military Option on Iran - Resolve that the United States will support Israel, militarily and diplomatically, if Israel determines it must pursue a pre-emptive strike on Iran; make clear that an attack on Israel is an attack on the U.S. (Serene Velasco, Uptown)
9. Supplemental EIS for O’Hare - Encourage a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement process to mitigate the negative impacts of airport expansion on the community, with the city and suburbs as joint participants. (Paul Hartjen, Park Ridge)
10. Restore Opportunity Scholarships - Undo the termination of the successful school voucher program in Washington, D.C., and re-establish it a model for school choice in the rest of the nation’s urban school districts. (Diane Gorman, Park Ridge)

Actress Vivica Fox Takes Joel Pollak Back To School

The Pollak for Congress campaign will welcome Hollywood actress and producer Vivica A. Fox to the 9th district of Illinois for a back-to-school event on Labor Day. Students that attend the event will receive complimentary educational gear. The event, “Back to School with Vivica A. Fox” will feature a discussion with Ms. Fox about her career and the importance of education in our community. Fox, a native of Indiana, hopes to send a positive message to young people in the 9th District. “Stay in school and always put your best foot forward as your future is depending on it,” she said. “Doors will open much easier for you if you have a good education to fall back on!” Joel Pollak, Republican nominee for U.S. Congress in the 9th District of Illinois, welcomed Fox to the community. “I'm delighted to welcome Vivica Fox back to the Midwest. From film to television, from acting to producing, she's done it all,” said Pollak. “She's an inspiration to young people in our district, and an example of what education and hard work can accomplish. It is a great privilege to share her message with our community!" The event will take place on Monday, September 6, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Martin Luther King Lab Magnet School at 2424 Lake Street, Evanston, IL.

Tea Parties Offer Free Campaign Activist Training

In this free, two-hour training session, you will learn how to be an effective part of the election process. The training is sponsored by the Cook County Tea Party, DuPage Tea Party, Homer/Lockport Tea Party and Lemont Tea Party. Although they're calling it "Election Volunteer Training," a more accurate name is "Campaign Volunteer Training." It's a good way to learn how to help support those candidates that you want to win in November! The event will take place at the Westmont Public Library, 428 North Cass Avenue in Westmont, Illinois (map here). The fun begins at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 7, 2010. Although the event is free to attend, please fill out this attendance form (by Anyvite.com) so they can know how many people to expect. Everyone is welcome, including high school and college students. Their invitation gives more details: There are proven procedures and techniques that win elections, such as educating votes through door knocking, phone calling and letter writing. You will also learn how to make your volunteer hours productive by targeting conservative and independent voters. Attend the class and learn how you can become an effective volunteer in the weeks leading up to the election on November 2. Together we can take back our country and state. Course Outline: 1. Introduction and overview of the class 2. Level of Involvement: a. Phone calling, faxing and/ or visits to congressmen and other elected officials regarding issues b. Petitions: (rules) Petitioning for candidates and/ or issues c. Election activities: election judging, poll watchers, bringing people to the voting venues. Voter registration. 3. Get out the Vote strategies: a. phone calling b. robo calls c. Door knocking statistics. 4. Door Knocking Strategies that work. Come learn how to make a difference... 6:30 p.m. - Check In 6:45 p.m. - Prompt Start! Library closes at 9:00 p.m. For more info, contact Laurie Hellmer of Cook County Tea Party: CookCountyTeaParty@gmail.com or phone 312-342-6988.

MoveOn.org To Protest Pollak - Ryan Luncheon

I'm not sure what MoveOn.org will be protesting at tomorrow's gathering of Republicans at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. Sure, the dynamic Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) will be talking about his endorsement of Joel Pollak in his run against incumbent Jan Schakowsky. Perhaps MoveOn has a problem with the right of free assembly? Free speech? Both? Yes, but specifically they're upset about Ryan's "Roadmap For America," which is aimed at "saving MediCare." We'll find out on Wednesday, September 1 - I'll be there, sitting at the Press Table, but you can bet I'll get there early to mingle with the communists - excuse me, progressives - milling about out front as they follow Aunty Jan's marching orders. Time for MoveOn to grow up and actually move on. Even most liberals are getting fed up with their tired old tactics. Here is the amusing email press release sent out this morning by the Pollak For Congress campaign: A few remaining tickets can still be purchased for tomorrow's Pollak for Congress fundraiser with Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). It is one of the most highly anticipated political events of the year. If you don’t believe us, just ask the people at MoveOn.org and Citizen Action/Illinois. [Editor's note: For more about these two George Soros-funded groups, visit Marathon Pundit.] Our friends from the radical left have decided to join the fun Wednesday afternoon by protesting outside the event at the Four Seasons Hotel. An email sent out to a list of MoveOn.org subscribers is encouraging members to take part in a one-hour demonstration (crowds are rented by the hour) to “protest the dismantling of Social Security and Medicare.” According to the email, our luncheon is kicking off “a national tour” by Republicans. “Would have been nice if someone told us,” said Field Director Paul Miller. “Now I have to wear socks to the luncheon.” Our opponent, incumbent Democrat Jan Schakowsky, sits on the Policy Council of Citizen Action/Illinois. Her husband, Robert Creamer, used to lead the organization until he resigned amidst an FBI investigation of charges of bank fraud and tax evasion, for which he later went to federal prison. Regardless, the Pollak for Congress campaigns welcomes and encourages our fellow Americans to use their free speech and peacefully assemble outside the Four Seasons Hotel. We also encourage them to read the document they are protesting. (It helps.) We wish our friends on the far left a safe protest, and hope they will also respect our right to assemble and exercise free speech. Tickets for this event are still available at http://www.pollakforcongress.com/paulryan. Sorry, MoveOn.org and Citizen Action/Illinois - no free lunches provided! I love a candidate who has a sense of humor, don't you? RELATED: MoveOn.org to protest Pollak fundraiser in Chicago Illinois Review Rep. Paul Ryan Joins Joel Pollak at Sept. 1 Luncheon in Chicago Chicago News Bench A distasteful move by MoveOn.org Los Angeles Times Pollak Throws Pie In Schakowsky's Face Chicago News Bench MoveOn Launching Effort to Censor Fox News in Public Places Weasel Zippers

Jesse Jackson Jr. Using Campaign Funds For Legal Bills

August 30, 2010 - Republican Issac Hayes has accused Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. of using campaign funds donated by ordinary individuals to pay off his legal bills. Hayes is running against incumbent Jackson for the 2nd Congressional District seat in Illinois. In a statement issued today, Hayes said that "During the first half of 2009 Jesse Jackson Jr.’s campaign committee spent $18,697- on legal fees. This comes in addition to the $100,000 he spent in December of 2008. Jackson is routinely under scrutiny for corrupt practices and even uses his donors’ money to fund his defense." Contributions to Jackson's campaign committee are down from previous years. Since and including 1996, contributions have been lower than today only in 2000. Source: OpenSecrets.org Hayes also said that “Jackson’s donors should be made aware that a donation to Jackson is a donation to his legal defense fund. This should speak volumes as to the lack of integrity that the 2nd district residents get when they place a vote for Jackson. I am quite certain people would not contribute their hard earned dollars if they knew it would be used for a defense against a congressional crime. I intend to offer the members of our district a clean break from the politics of the past by leading with honesty and integrity.”

ShoreBank Fails, Schakowsky Goes Nuts

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) pushed hard, very hard, to save her favorite Chicago bank. All her huffing and puffing and pleading and threatening couldn't save ShoreBank. This weekend, Schakowsky and her minions are crazy mad about this huge and very public failure of Schakowsky's influence. Schakowsky and her supporters are lashing out this weekend like crazy people, going so far as to have a supportive political action committee order the disruption of a campaign event by her Republican opponent Joel Pollak. It's a tactic more suited to the student senate campaign of a petulant 10th grader, but sadly typical of Democrats like Schakowsky. ShoreBank's website today shows the FDIC's notice (https://www.sbk.com/). According to the FDIC's Friday, August 20 press release, "This evening and over the weekend, depositors of ShoreBank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual." The Wall Street Journal reports that, "Regulators seized ShoreBank Corp. on Friday and agreed to sell assets to a team led by the community lender's executives and backed by several large U.S. financial firms. The bank closure, which is the 114th of the year in the U.S., caps months of uncertainty for a $2.16 billion Chicago bank that had ties to the Obama administration and deep roots on Chicago's South Side. The new institution will be known as Urban Partnership Bank and led by William Farrow, a former First Chicago Corp. executive who was ShoreBank's president and operating chief at the time of its failure." More at Wall Street Journal... That WSJ article continues with: "The attempts to save ShoreBank were complicated by calls for inquiries into the assistance offered by the nation's largest banks. Republican lawmakers have questioned whether the Obama administration pressured the big banks for help. The White House has said it didn't pressure the lenders. Rep. Darrell Issa of California, the top Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, will request a probe by the FDIC of ShoreBank, a spokesman said Friday." Schakowsky was a major player on the side trying to save ShoreBank. During her campaign for re-election in the 9th District of Illinois, her opponent Joel Pollak has often used the ShoreBank to highlight Schakowsky's corruption and thuggery. A May 14 article written by Pollak, for example, "Sachs + Schakowsky + Shorebank = Shakedown" at BigGovernment.com, addressed the shady manner in which Schakowsky was trying to save ShoreBank: "...Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein has been calling Wall Street friends to cough up $125 million to save ShoreBank, which faces federal closure next week. Rep. Jan Schakowsky suggested in January that Illinois taxpayers foot the bill. That would have been the first state-led bank bailout in U.S history. The idea was abandoned–so it appears the government is shaking down Goldman Sachs instead.... ShoreBank has close connections to the Obama administration, including controversial figures such as former 'green jobs czar' Van Jones. Its executives have contributed in the past to Rep. Schakowsky and other Illinois politicians. ShoreBank did not just make loans in poor communities–there are other local banks that do that without getting into trouble–but also specifically made loans that the recipients had little hope of repaying." More reasons why Schakowsky was so eager to save ShoreBank are listed in a January 19, 2010 press release from Pollak, as posted at Backyard Conservative: "The answer may lie in the history of campaign contributions by ShoreBank executives and employees. Federal Election Commission records reveal that ShoreBank executives and employees gave thousands of dollars to Rep. Schakowsky and Sen. Durbin. They also gave heavily to Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Indeed, Crain's Chicago Business reports that "President Obama and the first lady are former neighbors of ShoreBank executives. Other ShoreBank-related contributions include Democrats across the country and left-wing organizations such as MoveOn.org. The ShoreBank bailout would seem to be more of the same Blagojevich-style, pay-to-play politics that Illinois has suffered under for too long." Schakowsky is not the only Democrat who is upset by the failure of ShoreBank. Community organizer Barack Obama is probably ticked off as well, as noted by ZeroHedge.com: By keeping ShoreBank artificially alive for far longer than it deserved, the assets amortized far more than they would have had it been taken into receivership by a non-conflicted bank, and thus the final cost to taxpayers would have been far less. As it stands, Goldman and 11 other banks are receiving a multimillion dollar gift to conduct a portfolio liquidation run-off of ShoreBank's assets, while merely making sure existing deposits are serviced. At least we now know just how truly angry at Wall Street Obama is. We noted here, back in May, that the failure of ShoreBank would probably "cause Obama to go ballistic on Wall Street." It should be noted that although regulators seized Chicago's ShoreBank on Friday, "Ilwaco-based ShoreBank Pacific was not included in the closure." So reports The Chinook Observer, which reports that ShoreBank has multiple corporate identities. "FDIC will absorb total losses of about $367.7 million in the deal. The bank burned through a bundle of money in the collapse of the real estate bubble." HOWEVER, an August 22 article at Portland Business Journal reported that OneCalifornia would acquire ShoreBank in a stock purchase agreement, announced on Saturday evening, August 21. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The FDIC is part of the federal government, which means that taxpayers - you and I - will "absorb" those losses. Sadly, there is no reason to believe that Urban Partnership Bank will be any less tied in to the corrupt Green Mafia than was ShoreBank. It will likely still have the same stink of oligarchical elitism. As noted by Bill Zielinski at ProblemBankList.com, "Although the Government did not directly bail out ShoreBank, after reviewing the manner in which ShoreBank was closed and then resurrected by regulators, it appears that a 'stealth bailout' for the owners of ShoreBank was conducted. Providing direct cash from the TARP to ShoreBank would have been highly visible and controversial. Instead, ShoreBank was recapitalized through loss-share guarantees from the FDIC and a $367.7 million loss taken by the FDIC insurance fund." Joel Pollak, of course, wasted no time in putting out a press release on August 20 about ShoreBank and Schakowsky Connection: "The money for the management buyout comes from the big Wall Street banks whose arms were twisted by the Obama administration, through intermediaries like Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). Meanwhile, the government and the taxpayers are saddled with the responsibility of dispensing with ShoreBank’s bad assets. We are the victims of an insider deal, done at the highest levels of the administration and the Democratic Party. The ShoreBank bailout-turned-buyout is a corrupt collusion between Washington and Wall Street that will not create jobs or investor confidence in Chicago’s low-income communities. It will sustain the terrible idea that poor communities must depend on patronage to survive." True, but that's exactly how the Democrats like it. RELATED: ShoreBank fails; will be reincarnated as Urban Partnership Bank Chicago Business ShoreBank update: A shutdown…and a quick, smelly reincarnation Michelle Malkin Failure Of Obama's Pet ShoreBank Costs Taxpayers $368 Million... ZeroHedge.com ShoreBank to be seized by feds Marathon Pundit ShoreBank to be Split and Saved? National Legal and Policy Center ShoreBank, praised by Democrats, closed Friday by regulators The Hill Glenn Beck Dissects The ShoreBank Matrix Chicago News Bench Failing ShoreBank, Cap-And-Trade and Jan Schakowsky Chicago News Bench ShoreBank: Too Green To Fail? Central Illinois 9/12 Project

Pollak Throws Pie In Schakowsky's Face

The Ladies Love Joel Pollak

Joel Pollak is running the most brilliant campaign that I have ever had the pleasure to observe. His opponent in the 9th Congressional District of Illinois, incumbent Jan Schakowsky, must be having fits on a daily basis. That's about how often Pollak hits "The Schak" with new campaign punches, often throwing Schakowsky's own words and actions back at her to his own good advantage.

One of those actions is a call by Schakowsky's campaign to disrupt a Pollak event this coming Sunday. Rather than ring his hands about it, Pollak has ingeniously turned it around and tossed it right back at The Schak - like a pie in a clown's face. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Pollak campaign welcomes Schakowsky supporters to “Women For Pollak” event on Sunday, August 22

August 20, 2010 - A political action committee from outside the 9th District that supports incumbent Democrat Jan Schakowsky has told its members to “show up” and disrupt Joel Pollak’s “Women for Pollak” campaign event in Skokie this Sunday. 

The Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JAC PAC), which is based in the 10th District suburb of Highland Park, sent an email to supporters accusing Pollak of running a “smear campaign” and asking recipients to “show him we know better.”

Pollak, the Republican nominee for the 9th district congressional seat, welcomes JAC PAC’s attendance. “While our event will be devoted to issues facing women from the 9th District, we welcome members of JAC PAC to participate in our discussion," he said. "We are a diverse community, with diverse views, and all will be treated with mutual respect." 

The “Women for Pollak” event will be held on Sunday, Aug. 22, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn at 5300 W. Touhy Ave., in Skokie (MAP). Award-winning journalist Mary Laney will host, and entertainment will be provided by celebrity comedian Caryn Bark.

Click here to see the JAC PAC email.

POST SCRIPT: I received this insightful email from a friend who is a local political insider. He describes himself as a Democrat. He was asked recently whether he thought Jan Schakowsky is too powerful to beat, "given the fact that she usually racks up nearly 70% of the vote." He wrote to me about that:

"Not really. All that means is that Schakowsky's good at getting out her loyal followers to vote. Don't forget that the turnout is typically pathethic - 30% most of the time and rarely approaching 50% of registered voters. So that doesn't mean that most of the "eligible voters" in the 9th are in favor of her candidacy, it only means that she's good at getting out HER people to the polling place."

Schakowsky, of course, is a darling of the local Chicago Democrat Machine. She also has heavy union support (SEIU, for example) and can count on money and foot soldiers from them. Pollak has an uphill battle, certainly, but his campaign has been so well run and gotten such good publicity that it's safe to say he has strong name recognition in the 9th Congressional District. Perhaps enough people in the 9th are fed up with the insane Schakowsky-supported super-sized federal government and its totalitarian approach to legislation that this Novemember - just maybe - Schakowsky will be defeated.

Joel Pollak Featured On Front Page of Boston Globe

Joel Pollak is undoubtedly the best shot we've ever had at unseating Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL, 9th District). Click image to see full pdf version of the Boston Globe front page... Pollak has become something of a national sensation among conservatives and Republicans. He is featured on the front page of the August 19, 2010 issue of The Boston Globe. Read the article here... Pollak, a young man with wisdom beyond his 33 years, has been running an aggressive and powerful campaign, going after Schakowsky for her anti-jobs policies and big-spending voting record. Why is a Massachussetts newspaper writing about an Illinois congressional race? Because Pollak first gained national fame in his now-legendary confrontation with Rep. Barney Frank, a Masschussetts Democrat. You can see a video of that heated exchange here...