Beat The Democrat Machine In IL-7th State Senate District

Help Adam Robinson defeat Machine Candidate Heather Steans in the 7th Illinois State Senate District. Let's throw out Steans, a Blagojevich crony who was hand picked by the Machine and its operatives. Steans and her husband Leo Smith contributed at least $180,000 to Rod Blagojevich over the years. Some estimate it to be over $200,000. Indeed, Steans is one of the Democrats who enabled Rod Blagojevich. You want "change?" Here's your chance, people. Visit Adam's website, learn about him, and consider clicking on that "Donate" button to help this guy go up against the big money vested interests of the Machine. Also see: Adam Robinson on Facebook and Adam Robinson on Twitter (@adrobins) Adam writes: Over the past several months, I’ve heard one consistent theme from people throughout my district – CUT THE WASTE. The majority of residents support my plans to implement zero-base budgeting in this state, and to place a statutory cap on spending increases. Voters also agree that the time has come to stop wasting taxpayer money on bureaucracy and bloat, and start focusing our limited resources on essential services like education and social services. Despite a $13 billion budget deficit and some $5 bill in unpaid bills from last year, state lawmakers opted to head home for the summer without taking any substantive steps to avert a complete financial meltdown in Illinois. Can you imagine running your household finances like Springfield manages your tax dollars? Read more here... Heather Steans has been part of the bad management in Springfield. It's time to fire her. RELATED: Heather Steans still taking money from Health Insurance companies Heather Steans Lies About Hubby's Blago Connections Sen. Heather Steans Lied on Her Resume Videos of Jim Madigan Owning Heather Steans See Heather Carry Water For The Machine. Contributions from Heather Steans & husband to Rod Blagojevich (pdf) Heather Steans' Husband Goes Nuts in a Gay Bar Flashback to Elder and Smith on Heather Steans Senator Heather Steans, For The Children

CPD Supt. Jody Weis, Fun With Numbers

Of course, you're just as dead no matter where you're killed. Chicago's Top Cop, however, thinks there's a difference. Why else would he create statistical categories for "indoor" and "outdoor" killings? The answer, of course, is politics. "This reeks of desperate statistical manipulation," writes Second City Cop. Peter Bella pokes Jody Weis, the buffoon also known as the Chicago Police Superintendent. Despised and resented by many CPD officers, Weis is an overpaid tool of the local Democrat Machine. He's Mayor Daley's lap dog in a crisply press police uniform, but Daley is so pleased with his performance that he is "suggesting" that Weis take a pay cut from his current $310,000 annual salary. Bella is a former police officer himself, so he's no stranger to this topic. He writes: Weis, in his professional capacity as court jester, has determined there will now be two types of murder in Chicago. Insdide murder and outside murder- innies and outies. He must be reading those famed police publications, Sports Illustrated and the Victoria’s Secret catalog. Fun with numbers, right? These classifications will give the perception the murder rate is not as high as it actually is. The city is not as dangerous as it really is. Voila! Eureka! Brilliant! The people will sleep much better now, knowing there is no longer need for rough men to protect them. If you have the sad misfortune to be killed indoors, you can rest assured- and in peace- you are not the victim of a vicious human being. Nope. You were the victim of a statistical anomaly. Read Bella's full post at ChicagoNow... Makes you feel better doesn't it?

Fighting Madigan's Iron-Grip of the IL Legislature

John Bambenek - Chicago News Bench

The following is an important message about the Put-Back Amendment in Illinois. It's from John Bambenek, a conservative activist extraordinaire.

I'd like to note (and I'm sure John won't mind) that although he addresses it to "Fellow Republicans," this message is also meant for anybody in Illinois who is sick and tired of the same old corrupt Machine bosses running the show. Libertarians, independents and, yes, even many Democrats are weary of the iron-grip control.

The shameful way in which Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and his accomplice Pat Quinn recently forced a duly elected primary election winner of off the Lt. Governor ticket is just one of many examples of how Madigan and the Machine put their own interests ahead of the People's will.

Whether you love or hate Scott Lee Cohen, he was elected legally by the People. For Madigan to decide, a la Big Brother, that the voters made the wrong decision is, to put it simply, dictatorship.

Fellow Republicans: Now that the primary election is over, we turn our sights towards the Democrats and ending their destructive reign over the State of Illinois. Of these, none is more dangerous and powerful than House Speaker Michael Madigan.

As we all know, he wields complete control over the Illinois General Assembly. Whatever law he does not want considered is dead on arrival. All important legislation he does in a back room free from scrutiny. This needs to end. That is why the Put-Back Amendment was conceived. Despite the fact that over 99% of Illinois citizens do not, nor cannot vote for Mike Madigan, he is in complete control.

We send 177 legislators to Springfield for a reason, so each corner of this state can be represented. It is time to end his iron-grip control. The Put-Back Amendment enacts term-limits of 8 years for Legislators so lifetime Chicago politicians cannot wield power for decades. It ends gerrymandering so Madigan can no longer have complete control over legislative maps. It requires all legislation be public for 7-day before a final vote and that 25 legislators can force a vote on any bill, including reform legislation Mike Madigan doesn't favor.

Imagine Republican legislators forcing spending caps, tax cuts, and transparency for a vote in Springfield. Put-Back does all of this and more. The Put-Back Amendment has been endorsed by prominent Republicans across the state including: Jim Oberweis, Adam Andrzejewski, Dan Proft, Bobby Schilling and many more.

To get this amendment passed, we need 500,000 signatures and that is where you come in. We need people all across Illinois to collect signatures by April 1st so that we can place this on the ballot. Chicago politicians cannot stop this. If we get the signatures, this WILL be on the ballot in November. If the voters say yes, it becomes law. You can download petitions and instructions here.

Together we can bring Mike Madigan's reign to an end. Please join me in supporting the Put-Back Amendment. If you are able, consider making a donation of $100, $50, or $25 to the campaign to bring REAL REFORM to Springfield. [Editor's Note: See below for info about donating.]

Thank you, John Bambenek  — February 9, 2010

P.S. Many of you may have heard of another amendment called the Fair Map Amendment. That amendment is unconstitutional and will be thrown off the ballot as soon as it is filed. Don't be fooled, the only real reform amendment is the Put-Back Amendment. 

IMPORTANT: Petitions need to be sent back to the address at the bottom of the form by April 1, 2010 so they can be filed on time! Listen to this recent interview with the author of the Put-Back Amendment that lays out the entire amendment.

You can help! Download flyers and petitions here for the amendment. NOTE: Be sure to download the petition for your city or county from the list. Here is a copy of the full-text of the amendment in PDF form (please have this with you when you circulate petitions).

Alexi Giannoulias Would Make Tony Soprano Proud

Who is Alexi Giannoulias? Find out in this cool video. Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

New Madigan Mailer Slams Steans for Blago Ties and Lying

More tough words from reformer Jim Madigan. He's running against the Machine-backed incumbent, Heather Steans, in the Illinois State Senate 7th District. Madigan's latest flyer, mailed to residents of late last week, points out that Steans (actually pronounced "stains") is "so desperate to hold onto her Senate seat that she'll do anything. Even lie." (Click on the images to enlarge them.) Those are strong charges, but Madigan details the lies from Steans and dismantles them with facts. Also see "Campaign Flyer Links Steans to Blago Pay-to-Play" and "Heather Steans Lies About Hubby's Blago Connections." Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

New Campaign Flyer from Evil Clown Heather Steans

Chicago - I was walking down the street today and just about jumped out of my boots when I saw the lovely photo (right) of Illinois State Senator Heather Steans (7th District) giving me that evil clown grin. It was so unexpected, and - I swear this is true - I spotted it in a trash can. I was waiting for the light to change, and the can was next to me. (Yes, we'll get into substance, but first indulge me.) 

Laying on top of the rest of the trash was the latest Steans flyer, literally staring up at me. I jumped back, stared at it, poked it with a stick, then plucked it out. I took it home, scanned it, then burned it. Tip: Click on images to enlarge them.  

I used to love messing with photos of Steans just to make her look goofy. After looking at this flyer, however, I think I'll give that up. They say truth is stranger than fiction, and the real Heather looks goofier than anything I could come up with in manipulation. 

Okay, Some Substantive Criticism... 

Yes, yes, the above was childish. All in fun, but this is a serious state senate race. Let's look at the substance of this flyer. Steans is running against a bright young lawyer named Jim Madigan in the Democrat primary, February 2. Madigan is untainted by the political Machine. He has not taken big money, as Steans has. Steans gives us the same old crap in this flyer. 

On the cover, just above the evil clown grin, Steans demonstrates that she is completely unaware of current events and of how pissed off most Americans are about the nonsense in Washington. "I support President Obama's efforts to reform health care. But we can't wait for Congress to act." Perhaps she is aware of the national mood and she's simply as stupid as I've always suspected. 

The voters of Massachusettes recently elected Scott Brown (R) over Martha Coakley (D) to fill the seat held by the late Ted Kennedy. Why? Because the people do NOT support Obama's efforts to "reform" health care, as did Martha Coakley, as does Heather Steans. Another reason: The people, the voters, were sick of having "reform" shoved down their throats with virtually no transparency. In short, they wanted Congress to wait. Ah, but Heather Steans says hurry up, we can't wait for Congress to act. 

Newsflash: Massachusetts didn't wait either, having passed their own "reform" under Governor Mitt Romney. 

The results of that rushed "reform" in Massachusetts, ironically, contributed heavily to the defeat of Coakley because the "reform" in Massachusetts did not control rising costs. To add irony to irony, the citizens of Massachusetts had what Washington called "Cadillac" quality coverage, which meant that they would have been taxed through their catheter tubes had "Obamacare" passed as written. Massachusetts voters said, in effect, if you don't like our health care mess, you'll hate the version that Congress has in mind. Even in Washington, it was a bipolar situation until the Brown win: The reform bill produced by Pelosi's House did not meld with Reid's Senate version. So Heather Steans lobs mindless platitudes like "we can't wait" without considering the fact that many Democrat leaders, including Howard Dean, are urging just that and more. Scrap both the House and Senate versions, they say, start over, but first concentrate on fixing the economy. Steans seems oblivious to this harsh reality.

The inside spread of the expensive flyer (money is no object to Steans), she continues with her health care chant. "Heather Steans fought to expand health care in Illinois," it says. And how is that working out for you? "She took on the big insurance companies..." blah, blah, blah. Really? How hard did she take on Humana Health Insurance to get that $1,500 contribution via Human PAC? 

As opponent Jim Madigan asked, "I wonder what reform was left on the table in order to ensure that the campaign cash would keep flowing from insurance companies?" Steans also notes that she has a "100% Pro-Choice Record" but does not qualify that: Does she also support the live-birth abortions that Barack Obama supported during his time in Springfield?

The back page of the flyer shows Steans strolling down a street talking with a constituent. I gotta say, I've never seen Steans walking down the street and I live in the 7th District, but she wants us to believe that she's out patrolling the byways and talking to everyone all day. Uh huh. "Heather Steans is working with police and community leaders," the flyer says, "to keep our families safe from crime and gun violence" and that "Heather believes it's time to move past talking about curbing violence. She's doing something about it."

Oh? Steans has done nothing more than make token gestures and giving a few unconvincing "public safety meetings." The results have been insignificant, if that much. After a July, 2008 meeting, Heather Steans said that her "positive loitering" initiatives had made several areas of Uptown "crime free." Crime "free" means no crime. Not a reduction, but an elimination of crime. "Free," not "reduced." 

When the audience was allowed to ask questions at another public safety meeting on May 12, 2009, I asked Steans to name the specific areas or corners that she had made "crime free," and to tell us if they are still "crime free today." She hemmed and hawed for a moment, then admitted that she should not have said "crime free." Steans was ready to not specify the locations, however, so I called out to her to do so. She mentioned a strip "near" a park, but couldn't be more specific. She couldn't even name the park. Meanwhile, violent crime continues in Uptown and throughout Chicago. Just get a police scanner and turn it on any day or night, and you'll hear the horrific, bloody non-results of Steans and her self-proclaimed efforts to "do something about it." 

Lies, half truths, exaggerations. Taken together, that's the most frightening aspect of this Steans flyer - and all of her flyers. It's even more frightening than her evil clown smile. 

RELATED: 

• Senator Goes Missing: Last Seen Hiding Under Her Desk 
• More posts about Heather Steans

Heather Steans Exposed

Finally, a Democrat with a combination of guts, smarts and media savvy who is not afraid to stand up to the Chicago Machine. Jim Madigan is running against Heather Steans for the 7th Illinois State Senate District seat, and he's been calling her out on hypocrisy and huge campaign contributions made by her and her husband. Now, Lorraine Swanson of Lake Effect News has weighed in with her take on what Heather Steans has tried to keep out of public debate for so long: Heather Steans was handpicked by former 7th District State Senator Carol Ronen to fill her seat after she resigned mid-term in October 2007. Since she first announced her candidacy for Ronen’s seat in 2007, two major issues have haunted her. More on those problems at LEN... RELATED: LEN: Madigan Puts Steans On Defensive In Candidates Forum CNB: Videos Jim Madigan Owning Heather Steans State Senator Heather Steans is a Coward - Loyola Republicans David Ormsby: Greg Harris Endorses Heather Steans Over Gay Rights Independent of What? Politics Chicago Reader The Chuck Cowdery Blog: Score One For Heather Illinois Review: Democrats Responsible for Blagojevich Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Poll for Illinois 7th District State Senate

Seems like "election season" never ends in Illinois. Somewhere, always, there's an election going on. 2010 is just around the corner (we're more than halfway through 2009 already) and the campaigning is about to kick into high gear. One of the more interesting races promises to be, again, for the Illinois 7th District state senate seat. Fasten your seat belts, and answer our little poll (below). The "choices": Heather Steans (D) is the incumbent. She was supported by the Machine and was a big financial supporter of Rod Blagojevich (remember him?). Jim Madigan (D) is the declared challenger. He's a gay activist and attorney. Suzanne Elder (D) has not declared herself to be a candidate, but some of those who still remember her hope she will run again. She was defeated by Steans in 2008. Leave a Comment... See Our Online Store Chicago News Bench RSS Feed We're on Twitter...

Sen. Heather Steans, Money Whore

Note: The following invitation text is real. The graphic at left is a parody of the real one, which is further down. Click to enlarge. From: Friends of Heather Steans Subject: I'm a Politician Get me Out of Here! Reply-To: info@heathersteans.com Host Committee (In Formation) Hon. Carol Ronen Hon. Greg Harris Hon. Harry Osterman Hon. Larry Suffredin Hon. Mary Ann Smith Hon. Joe Moore Hon. Helen Shiller Hon. Patrick O'Connor Hon. Gene Schulter Amy Brennan Michael Carrigan Sue Clark Dennis Gannon David Manning Mike McClain Phil Milsk John Peller Jenny Purdue Bruce Simon Dan Sprehe Robin Steans and Lenny Gail Jennifer Steans and Jim Kastenholz Lois and Helen Morrison Rob Uhe Beth White Dear family and friends, This invitation is for my upcoming fundraiser. This is the only event I have planned. No worries if you can not make it or support my campaign, but your attendance and/or any contribution you can make I very much appreciate. I am up for re-election in February for the primary (I will at some point get a four year term!), and thus your help means a great deal. Many thanks for your consideration, Heather What: Yes, a fundraiser for Heather! Where: 50 West Washington, Suite 400, Chicago, Illinois When: Monday, June 29, 2009, 5:00 - 7:00 pm Island Rescuer: $2000 Island Host: $1000 Producer: $500 Celebrity: $100 RSVP by e-mailing info@heathersteans.com, calling 773-681-1814, or making a contribution at www.heathersteans.com or by clicking here. Paid for by Friends of Heather Steans. A copy of our report is, or will be filed with the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois. Friends of Heather Steans 5539 N. Broadway Chicago IL 60640 Comments... Visit Our Online Store Chicago News Bench RSS Feed Hey! ChiNewsBench is on Twitter

Stroger, Daschle, Et. Al.

In case you missed it, Cook County President Todd Stroger is in some legal trouble. Ooops! Chicago Bunglow has a nice summary in their post "Stroger Failed to Report $733,000 Political Donations." RELATED: 2/2: First Geithner, Now Daschle? Todd Stroger Turns It On! Democrat Tax Cheats Want to End IRS Interest/Penalties... Daschle Pays $100k in Back Taxes Over Car Travel... Democratic Tax Cheats CNB RSS Feed

About Heather's Stains

No she didn't, yes she did. Illinois State Sen. Heather Steans (actually pronounced "stains") has a bit of a stink about her. Something doesn't smell right. Steans (actually pronounced "stains") claims that she was never really interested in political office until Carol Ronen resigned her 7th District Illinois Senate seat in January, 2008. However, Steans' own poorly managed, badly written web site contradicts her claims of political innocence. As the Illinois State Senate, of which Steans is a member, gets ready to try Gov. Blagojevich for high offenses, Steans is doing back flips in an effort to convince us that she - like all the others in that cesspool - were surprised and dismayed to learn about Blago's bad behavior when he was arrested on December 9. Like Sergeant Schultz in Hogan's Heroes, Heather Steans professes to know nothing. Steans knows a lot, however, and for her to sit in judgment of Rod Blagojevich is the height of ironic hypocrisy. Let's pause here for a brief backgrounder. Ask Heather Steans and she'll insist that she was not thinking about running for state senate until sometime in 2007. Steans (actually pronounced "stains") was essentially selected - hand picked - by the local Democrat Machine to fill the 7th Senatorial District seat after it was vacated by Ronen upon her retirement (that's a whole bowl of potpourri by itself). It was Ronen, in fact, who personally asked Steans to run to replace her. Steans, it is said, was "very flattered." Carol Ronen's resignation took effect Jan. 7, 2008. The Chicago Reader summed up the events leading to Ronen's resignation: On October 22, [2007] Seventh District state senator Carol Ronen sent out an e-mail with word that she was retiring from her seat on January 7 [2008]. "I am announcing this now so that anyone who wishes to run for the office will be able to file petitions for the February 5, 2008 primary election by the November 5th deadline," she wrote. (Source) Too late, really, because by the time that e-mail went out Steans was already the Chosen One. In fact, Steans was appointed on February 10, 2008 to replace retiring Senator Ronen. Source: Cook-Witter Report, Vol. 23, No. 2, March 2008 (PDF) Everybody else, anyone without connections, that is, was effectively locked out of the process. The Reader nicely presented the evidence of that (emphasis added): Within a day, Heather Steans, a prominent north-side Democratic fund-raiser, announced that she was running and had canvassers rounding up the 1,000 signatures needed to make the ballot. Ronen, who did not return calls for comment, quickly endorsed her. Jan Schakowsky--who plays a curiously active role in the 48th Ward, where Ronen is Democratic committeeman--chimed in with her support. Within a day! That's a pretty quick decision, and a big one at that, for a self-proclaimed political innocent to have made. Nevermind the roughly 348 contributions, totaling over $750,000 that Steans husban Smith have made, $200,000 of which went to Blagojevich's campaigns. Furthermore, to already have a small army of a thousand people gathering signatures for her asks us to suspend our disbelief and pretend that they just appeared out of nowhere, as though none of them were contacted and heavily coordinated for days or weeks by Steans and her supposedly yet-to-be-formed campaign committee. I've worked on campaigns, and it's difficult enough to find a dozen people to pass out flyers let alone a thousnd to patiently get ballot signatures. As for Schakowsky, she shares office space at 5533 N. Broadway with Steans, Ronen (who is now Democrat State Central Committeeman), 48th Ward Alderman Mary Ann Smith and State Rep. Harry Osterman. It's a one-stop shop for influence. It should be noted that Schakowsky shares another one-stop influence shop (photo), up in the 49th Ward, with Alderman Joe Moore, Democrat Committeeman David Fagus, and Cook County Commish Larry Suffredin. Schakowsky's tentacles are long are far reaching. Now, finally, we get to the coup de grace. A full page on the Steans (pronounced "stains") web site, titled "About Heather," is devoted to piece of public relations fluff, dated October 9, 2006 and written by "Administrator," telling us that "Heather Steans brings outstanding experience to her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for 7th District State Senator." What an odd thing to write for somebody who was "surprised" to be invited to run for that position a year later. Perhaps it was a Freudian slip for Steans to post it. October 9, 2006, the date of "About Heather," was posted a full year before Carol Ronen supposedly surprised Steans (pronounced "stains") with the flattering suggestion of running for her soon-to-be-vacated seat. To cut to the chase, Steans (pronounced "stains") was lusting after the senate seat for a long, long time. Well before Ronen publicly announced her intentions to resign, Steans had probably been fully briefed on what was to be by her chum Carol Ronen. Did Steans' huge campaign contributions play any part in her sudden selection? Patrick Fitzgerald might know the answer to that, but we can only speculate. The full text, then, of the Freudian web page: Written by Administrator Monday, 09 October 2006 07:49 Heather Steans brings outstanding experience to her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for 7th District State Senator. An advocate for good public policy, Heather’s professional career has focused on government finance, economic development and education reform efforts. She has: Managed the budgets of state agencies in Illinois and Wisconsin where she improved customer service and reduced costs. Developed the Chicago Public Schools’ multi-year strategic plan that produced education reforms. Directed urban economic development initiatives for the Civic Committee. Successfully launched programs to increase housing and asset development and promote job growth in Chicago. In addition, Heather promotes strong community forums and child development initiatives as a member of the Boards of WBEZ Public Radio and the Erickson Institute. She also is a past chair of the Donor’s Forum. Heather received her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Urban Studies from Princeton University and earned a Masters degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government where she serves on the Dean’s Alumni Leadership Council. Heather and her husband, Leo Smith moved to the Lakewood-Balmoral neighborhood 14 years ago to raise their three children, Ryan, Sam and Abby. It is curious, by the way, that Ronen's Illinois General Assembly bio still shows her as a member. "Years served: 1993 - 2000 (House); 2000 - Present (Senate)" hardly indicates that she resigned nearly a year ago. RELATED: Chicago Reader The Works: The resignation of state senator Carol ... Uptown Update: State Senator Carol Ronen Gets 'Golden Parachute' Steans swamps Elder for Carol Ronen's senate seat Subscribe to Chicago News Bench

Video: The Pay-To-Play Song!

Corruption in government is nothing to sing about. Or is it? The Blue State Cowboys think it is, and they came up with a very clever song about the dung heap of politics in Chicago and Illinois. This is funny as heck, and a darned good tune too. Check out the lyrics, below, then check out their video on YouTube. Chicago's Blue State Cowboys offer their musical take on the political cesspool once known as The Land of Lincoln. PAY TO PLAY (But Keep Love In Your Heart) Matt Farmer VERSE All my life I've been a workin' man On Chicago's northwest side Livin' check to check, never gettin' ahead No matter how hard I tried I had an old friend from the neighborhood He grew up to do just fine He couldn't read or write to save his life But I guess his boss didn't mind Now, I never quite knew what my old friend did To get that money rollin' in But life, I guess, can be pretty good For a state committeeman So, one night over beer at the local bar I said, "How'd you make your dough?" My friend just grinned a wicked grin And said, "Here's all you need to know" CHORUS You've got to pay-to-play in this town If you wanna make that deal go down It's who you know inside the Big Machine Just find the man that's behind the man And put some money in his hand That's how we try to keep our city green VERSE Well, the liquor flowed and the stories flew And my old friend bared his soul About rigging bids and getting neighbor kids Good jobs on a ghost payroll He said he'd be happy to help me out If there was anything he could do Like try to arrange a zoning change Or put me on a movie crew Well we talked and talked until last call And I told him I was beat Then he climbed aboard his hired truck To see a man about a Senate seat And late that night as I lay in bed You know I finally figured it out My friend didn't need to read or write 'Cuz he had himself some clout CHORUS You've got to pay-to-play in this town If you wanna make that deal go down It's who you know inside the Big Machine Just find the man that's behind the man And put some money in his hand That's how we try to keep our city green CHORUS You've got to pay-to-play in this town If you wanna make that deal go down It's who you know inside the Big Machine If you wanna stand out You gotta know who gets the handout That's how we try to keep our city green It's a daily job to keep our city green Subscribe to Chicago News Bench

The Blago Enablers: Part One by Marathon Pundit

John Ruberry does it again, poking fingers in the eyes of local politicians. He does that everyday at his blog, Marathon Pundit, and today he begins a post titled "Punishing the Blago enablers, part one: Jan Schakowksy." Nice and blunt, that's John. Rubery notes that his "congresscritter" is Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston), who "has made it clear that if there is a special election to fill Barack Obama's US Senate seat, she will run. Politically, she resides on the far-Left of the political sphere, somewhere between Obama and Bill Ayers.To my knowledge, Schakowsky, until last week, never denounced Blago. As noted here previously, Illinois Democrats are working overtime to convince you that they are not corrupt, that they were shocked (shocked!) by the Blagojevich Revelations, and that they will fix everything. Wrong, wrong, and wrong. Lies, lies, more lies. Watch this video of an Obama rally, with Schakowsky as the featured speaker. The room is full of Machine Democrats, some convicted criminals, some future convicts, and all very much participants in the "pay to play" culture of Illinois and Chicago politics. RELATED: The Bench: Ask Supreme Court to Remove Joe Moore, Too Obama: Same Old Crap, New Package ~ The Bench The Bench: Larry Suffredin: Tobacco Lobbyist REVEALED: SCHAKOWSKY IS "SENATE CANDIDATE 3" Anti-Schakowsky Sentiment a Sign of the Times The Bench: BREAKING: SCHAKOWSKY BRINGS IN BIG GUNS FOR SUFFREDIN The Bench: Joe Moore's Loans to a Criminal

Jackson Emissary: Daddy Jesse

The Bench speculates: Jesse Jackson, Sr. is the "emissary" who approached Governor Blagojevich about naming Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) to fill the US Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama. Daddy Jesse, we believe, did that without his son's knowledge. Is Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. "Senate Candidate 5," one of the people that Blago referred to in secretly recorded phone conversations of the Governor? Junior says no. We say, not so fast. Yesterday, Junior joined a flurry of Democrats who tripped all over themselves in a rush to deny any involvement in Governor Rod Blagojevich's "crime spree," as federal prosecutors are calling it. The "spree" includes the alleged attempted sale of Obama's vacated US Senate seat. Junior's father, the "Reverend" Jesse Jackson, Sr., is a man with a long history of extorting money from corporations. Squeezing people is just business to Daddy Jesse. His ego is enormous and he would undoubtedly like to see Junior become a US Senator, which would enhance his potential to one day become a viable presidential contender. Daddy Jesse ran for president but failed miserably. Like a non-athletic father who lives vicariously through his son the high school football star, Jesse Jackson, Sr. has personal high hopes for Junior in the game of politics. We don't hold the sins of the father against the son, but Junior's tightly crafted denial yesterday of any involvement in Blago's Senate seat scandal was less than satisfying. In fact, it was not a complete denial. Excerpts from his remarks on Wednesday, with analysis: JACKSON, JR: "I want to make this fact plain: I reject and denounce pay-to-play politics and have no involvement whatsoever in any wrongdoing." ANALYSIS: Perhaps... JACKSON, JR: "I did not initiate nor authorize anyone -- at any time -- to promise anything -- to Governor Blagojevich on my behalf. I never sent a message or an emissary to the Governor to make an offer or to propose a deal about the U.S. Senate seat (period)." ANALYSIS: This may be strictly, literally true. However, notice that he never denies knowing about someone approaching Blago on his behalf. In other words, just because Jackson "did not initiate nor authorize anyone" to pitch him for the Senate seat, does not necessarily mean that he did not know that someone was doing it. Furthermore, Jackson stated that he "never sent a message or an emissary to the Governor" about it, but Jackson said nothing about sending a message or an emissary to any of the Governor's agents. Most importantly, Junior never said that he himself never made "an offer or to propose a deal about the U.S. Senate seat." He said nobody else did, but did not deny doing it himself. "I never sent a message" is not the same as saying "I never said." (If I hand you a gift, did I "send" that gift to you?) JACKSON, JR: "I thought -- mistakenly -- that the process was fair, above board and on the merits." ANALYSIS: Did Junior just land on Planet Earth last week? Merits? Since when did the Machine or the Combine care about merits? Is Jackson really not aware that during Blago's re-election campaign in 2006, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said publicly that Blago was being investigated for fraudulent hiring practices? Did Jackson miss the news that Tony Rezko, Blago's top fund-raiser and adviser from the 2002 election, was indicted on corruption charges? Did Junior miss all the coverage of the Rezko corruption trial? Did Junior not grow up with a father who is up to his buggy eyeballs in the corruption of Chicago and Illinois? Does Jackson really want us to believe that he is so naive about the nature of local political corruption? Is he really as naive as that? JACKSON, JR: "I wanted to be considered for the appointment because I believe in public service....That's what I shared with Governor Blagojevich on Monday, when I had the opportunity to meet with him for the first time in about four years. I presented my record, my qualifications and my vision. Despite what he may have been looking for, that's all I had to offer. And, that's what we discussed." ANALYSIS: That may be true (although I doubt it), but once again it does not present a specific denial. JACKSON, JR: "I spoke to the U.S. Attorney's office on Tuesday. They shared with me that I am NOT a target of the investigation and that I am NOT accused of any misconduct." ANALYSIS: Now, really, if Junior is a "a target of the investigation," and if he is being investigated, do you think Patrick Fitzgerald and his team would tell him that? Junior may not be accused of any misconduct at the moment, but as the investigation continues there is always the possibility that new charges will be brought against more individuals. JACKSON, JR: "In the days ahead, federal law enforcement officials want to meet and discuss what I know about the process." ANALYSIS: No doubt. It remains to be seen whether after Junior has met with the feds, he is still not accused of any misconduct. Junior did not mention his father in his remarks. Jesse Senior has enough contacts with deep pockets that he could, in theory, make an offer to Blago on behalf of his son. If that happened, it could have happened without Junior's knowledge. But Blago knows, Blago's aides know, and the feds know. All that remains is for the rest of us to find out. RELATED: ABC News: Jesse Jackson Jr. Is Candidate 5 Unmasking Jesse Jackson Jesse Jackson, with No Role The Trail washingtonpost.com AtlanticBlog: Staying in the family business BlagoGate: Who’s Who? « RBO Washington Wire - WSJ.com : Blagojevich, Elected as Reformer, Is ... Michelle Malkin » Jesse Jackson disses Obama on race; castration ... Jesse Jackson unplugged - Mary Mitchell NewsMax.com: Commentmax Archives

FLASH: OBAMA TO QUIT SENATE ON SUNDAY

CHICAGO - Obama will officially leave the US Senate this coming Sunday, Nov. 16. Obama needs time, you see, to get ready for his new job - even though he told us before the election that he'd be ready "on day one." He just couldn't wait another week. If he had waited until, say, Nov. 23, he would have been able to get involved with next week's big Senate session to deal with the current economic crisis. But no, Obama is too busy for that stuff. He's getting ready for Day One, even though he promised us he was already ready for Day One. But here's the really fun part: In Chicago, the local Democrat Machine (of which Obama is/was a part) will now go into fits of hyperventilation as jerk after jerk jockeys for a good position from which to thrust himself/herself into Obama's vacated Senate seat. (More at Reuters...)

Joe Moore: Like Rodney Dangerfield

Chicago's 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore is an incompetent, discredited political hack, a joke locally and internationally. Best known outside of Chicago for his anti-goose liver legislation, he is the butt of jokes worldwide. The incoming Obama Administration seems to be signalling that they are well aware of this. While other local politicians are being tapped for plum positions within the Obama Administration, Moore sits in his crappy ward office making frantic calls, begging Obama's people to get him the hell out of Rogers Park. Moore has been the 49th Ward's guy in the City Clowncil for over 17 years. During that time, the 49th has gone from bad to bad, with a handful of businesses coming in but a drove of them leaving or failing. The mythical "streetscapes" of Howard Street and Morse Avenue are yet to happen, although Moore has been telling people for years now that the projects are imminent. Shootings are still commonplace along W. Morse Avenue and in the "North of Howard" section, but Moore and his sycophants deny this reality. While the media focuses on the wild west style shootings of nearby Uptown, Rogers Park actually has more shootings per year - they're just not as spectacular. Every night, prostitutes sell their wares right outside of Moore's ward office at Jarvis and Greenview (Moore lives only two blocks away, but drives to work every day). While Moore sucks up to CTA chief Ron Huberman by gushing over the renovation of the Howard CTA station, Moore ignores the Jarvis and Morse stations, where commuters must dodge pigeon crap at the entrances, step over human feces and puddles of urine in the stairwells, and worry about narcotics trafficking inside and outside of the stations. In April, 2007, Moore stole a victory in a tight run-off election. Oh yes, there were witnesses to that box of ballots that went missing for a couple of hours. Oh, indeed, we have a photo of Moore with his hand on the shoulder of an old woman as she is voting. You betcha, Moore's thugs lied through their teeth to voters and maliciously misrepresented Moore's opponent, Don Gordon, as a racist. Although these are typically tactics of Democrat politicians, the Democrat National Committee (DNC) lost all respect for Moore because he did them so sloppily. Moore has no sense of decorum, no finesse, no style, no grace. He's a lumbering, clumsy schmuck who outspent a political amateur by 8-to-1, over a million dollars of DNC money blown, and he "won" with approximately 250 (stolen) votes. You can't respect a putz like that, and the Obama-controlled DNC looks at Moore as an oaf, a liability, an embarrassment. Over the past eight months, Moore spent more time campaigning for Obama than he spent on issues needing attention in his 49th Ward. When he does attend to his ward, he is ineffective even with pot hole repair because the brass in Streets and Sanitation can't stand him. He wastes many hours every week with meaningless issues meant only to distract from the crime and blight. His "Green Corps" fantasy, for example, is a distraction. Does Moore really believe that free seminars on mulching will improve the daily routine for his subjects? Moore gives his constituents bread and circuses to take their minds of the fact that he has done nothing to improve the jobs situation in Rogers Park, although he's had 17 years to do something about it. So, Obama had a magnificent victory. A number of Chicago area Democrats will be plucked out of their current positions and uplifted to better ones in Washington or elsewhere, anointed by Barack Obama. That's cool - it's how the game is played. But one of the rules of the game, whether Democrat or Republican, is that you elevate the doers, the accomplishers, the smartest folks you know. Moore is none of those things. Barack Obama knows that, Rahm Emanuel knows that, Joe Moore's estranged personal attorney knows that, most folks in the 49th Ward know it, everyone at the DNC knows it. Moore cannot rest on his laurels, for he has none.

Eugene Schulter: From Eminent Domain to Imminent Demise

Because of Barack Obama's run for the presidency, the Chicago political cesspool known as "The Machine" has been abuzz with whispered rumor and speculation about how his election might affect the local politicos. Like dog droppings on a cold November morning, the political future landscape of Chicago is beginning to crystallize and harden. Obama himself is a product of the Chicago Machine, Democrats who have ruled this city with virtual impunity for decades. Corrupt and dirty, the Machine chugs along, well oiled by extorted campaign "contributions" and under the table donations from the likes of ACORN and the SEIU. Rahm Emanuel, another Chicago Machine cog, is leaving his Congressional post to become Obama's White House Chief of Staff in January. That will leave the 5th Congressional District in Illinois without a representative. Yesterday, a Chicago Machine cog named Eugene Schulter (left) announced that he will run to fill the void left by Emanuel's departure. Schulter is the long-time city councilman (alderman) in Chicago's 47th Ward, which is within the 5th Congressional District. He is known as "Alderman Killjoy," "Mean Gene," and a slew of names that The Bench refuses to print because children occasionally read this blog. "I've been with Rahm from Day One. He's a resident of my ward," Schulter told Lorraine Swanson of the Chicago Journal/News-Star. "I knew that the Obama campaign has been reaching out to him for quite some time. I talked to Rahm immediately after he made the announcement and let him know that I'd be seeking his position." It's all very inbred here in Chicago. All the Machine cogs are connected, grinding away to produce one thing and one thing only: Power. Not for the People, but for the furtherance of the Machine. Schulter, of course, is not the only cog to run for Emanuel's soon-to-be vacant seat. The Bench will make a prediction here and now: Alderman Schulter will not win. He is a mean spirited man, a petty dictator, and is hated far and wide for his role in foisting eminent domain on his own ward in a vicious land grab attempt last year in a part of his ward known as Lincoln Square. Schulter energized his constituents in that episode, but not in any way that he had hoped for. Rather, they were energized to work against him. Many of those people will donate to anybody but Schulter. They will volunteer for anybody but Schulter. They will vote for anybody but Schulter, and that is Schulter's primary motivation for running for Congress: He knows he cannot be re-elected as alderman of his own 47th Ward. It will be interesting and a lot of fun to watch Schulter pretend to be a man of the people when in fact he is a tool of real estate developers and special interest groups. It will be entertaining to watch him spin his role as an abuser of eminent domain. How he will do that, short of outright lies, is something that one can only imagine. Eugene Schulter is a man of the Machine, just as Emanuel, Obama, Gutierrez and others are. The Chicago Machine now owns the White House. If, God Help Us, our prediction of Schulter's imminent demise is incorrect, then Washington will simply have one more corruptocrat from the Windy City. Misery, after all, loves company. RELATED: Bullying, Plain and Simple: Challenging the Thieves of City Hall LINCOLN SQUARE BATTLE: HELL NO, WE WON'T GO LINCOLN SQUARE BATTLE RAGES Ald. Schulter: "Trust Me" Eminent Domain: All Your Bases Are Belong To Us EXCLUSIVE AUDIO: LINCOLN SQUARE PROTEST AT SCHULTER'S OFFICE FLASH: SCHULTER BLINKS EMINENT DOMAIN FIGHT CONTINUES Dictator of the 47th Ward Smells Like Steans Spirit Entries from Chicagoist tagged with 'eugeneschulter' Chicago Reader Blogs: The Food Chain Chicago Sun-Times: Neighborhoods: Lincoln Square Archives ILLINOIZE: Chicago's Lincoln Square faces eminent domain threat Chicago Sun-Times: Recently in Lincoln Square Category Save Lincoln Square Will Obama’s Windy City Vacuum be Filled by Nepotism?

NOTE TO MCCAIN: IGNORE FUNNYE MONEY CAPER

OBAMA'S HONEY'S FUNNYE MONEY CAPERS Barack Obama arranged for a grant to go to one of his wife's cousins. The McCain Campaign should completely ignore this story. Ya gotta love Chicago politics, where Barack Obama suckled at the teat of the Democrat Machine. Gad, Obama's as dirty as all the rest of them, this candidate of "Change." Now, AP reports on Michelle Obama's cousin, Capers Funnye (pronounced Fun-nay, which rhymes with mun-nay). Rabbi Funnye received Illinois tax dollaz courtesy of - yup - Barack Obama. Oy, there's that stink of impropriety. But not enough stink, in my opinion, for the RNC or John McCain to even mention, let alone make a big - uhm - stink about. Rabbi Funnye seems like a straight up guy. The way Obama arranged for money to go to Michelle's cousin (once removed) smells bad, yes, but this story has no legs. McCain's campaign would be well advised to completely ignore this. Unfortunately, they are unaware of my sage advice. Indications are that the RNC and sympathetic bloggers and pundits are using this already. Stupid. Leave it alone. You'll only be seen as attacking a do-gooder rabbi. There are bigger issues to tackle, folks. Rabbi Capers C. Funnye, Jr. is the Chief Rabbi at Beth Shalom B'nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation (Beth Shalom), the oldest Temple in the Chicago areaserving the Israelite Community. (Web site...) In 1999, Obama arranged for $50,000 for adult literacy and counseling services offered on Chicago's South Side by a group called Blue Gargoyle. A $25,000 grant for the group's youth services followed the next year. The group's executive director when the grants were awarded was Capers Funnye, a South Side rabbi and Michelle Obama's first cousin once removed. FULL STORY... As Right Pundits notes, "Worthy causes, all. But there was little or no oversight for this money. America, keep an eye on how your money is spent. You do not want it to wind up in the pockets of Obama’s friends and family, or his crazy pastor, or domestic terrorists like Bill Ayers." That's the Culture of Corruption that Nancy Pelosi used to talk about so much. It just keeps getting harder for Pelosi & Company to point their fingers when their own are in the cookie jar. RELATED: Capers Funnye News and Information from NBC5 Chicago Michelle Obama's Chicago Rabbi Cousin

Who Sent Barack Obama?

Machine-made in Chicago Steve Diamond's excellent posting discusses the mystery man Barack Obama and his hard-t0-explain rapid rise in politics. From street agitator to presidential candidate in what amounts to the blink of an eye, Obama's rise is so unusually fast that it begs questions, and Diamond not only asks the right ones, he provided interesting answers and theories for them too. An excerpt from Diamond's "Global Labor and Politics" blog: So it is reasonable to ask, who "sent" Barack Obama? In other words, how can his meteoric rise to political prominence be explained? And, of course, in an answer to that question might lie a better understanding of his essential world view. When I started looking at this question a few weeks ago I quickly grew more concerned about the kinds of people that seem to have been very important in Obama's ascendancy in Chicago area politics. FULL POST at Global Labor and Politics... "TPR" at the "Just Politics" blog addressed the point of Obama's allegiance to the Chicago Machine, but missed the point: When he endorsed a couple of the worst Machine hacks, including Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, it was less an act of obeisance to Daley than to the African American political base. But many read it as homage to the Machine. TPR acknowledges the endorsement of "the worst Machine hacks" in local Chicago politics, but quickly excuses that saying it was for Obama's "African American political base." TPR did not note the irony of Obama, who bills himself as post-racial, endorsing hacks for purely racial political reasons. [Source] But race cannot explain why, in 2006, Obama happily endorsed one of the clowniest clowns on Chicago's City Council, Alderman Joe Moore, 49th Ward. Moore, then a 48-year old white guy, is the goof who authored the internationally ridiculed anti-foie gras ordinance. He was in bed (metaphorically) with Cong. Jan Schakowsky's felon husband Robert Creamer, who was convicted by the feds for check kiting. Moore is roundly criticized for leaning on developers for donations, and there is at least one photo of him with his hand on the shoulder of someone while she is voting. Perhaps Evelyn Pringle puts it most clearly, and most bluntly: The most trusted leaders of the Democratic party, such as John Kerry and Ted Kennedy, ought to be ashamed of themselves for supporting Barack Obama. With use of the internet, a fifth grader could connect the dots to show a picture of a guy who was picked up in college and carried up the political ladder by a corrupt gang of influence peddlers. FULL POST at Countercurrents.org... RELATED: Obama The Practical Obama's 'No, I Can't' Moment - Real Clear Politics Obama Played by Chicago Rules - WSJ.com

Obama's Broken Promise

When are people going to wake up and realize that Barack Obama is just another tool of Mayor Daley's Chicago Machine? "Change?" About the only change Obama has brought us is his rapid-fire change of position on important issues. This story, however, is about the party hack Barack Obama, $100,000 of taxpayer money he grabbed, and the shattered promise he made to the folks in Englewood. From the Sun-Times today: As a state senator, Barack Obama gave $100,000 in state money to a campaign volunteer who failed to deliver on a plan to create a botanic garden in one of Chicago's most blighted neighborhoods. Obama -- who was running for Congress when he announced the project in 2000 -- said the green space in Englewood would build ''a sense of neighborhood pride." Instead, what was supposed to be a six-block stretch of trees and paths is now a field of unfulfilled dreams, strewn with weeds, garbage and broken pavement. FULL STORY...